Opinions at the range

T

thedudeabides

New member
I often bring my LCP along to the range, since it's my most common carry gun, and feed a few rounds through it at 5-7 yards.

A firearms instructor, of sorts, told me why would I bother training with/shooting a tiny mouse gun (he was teaching someone to shoot a compact 45). I told him he was welcome to his opinion, he then started to launch into a ramble about ballistics. Not sure if he was trying to impress his female client or give me sage advice.

Experts are everywhere, I guess.
 
You know, I'd take a .45 over a .380 every time however, there are times that I just can't conceal any thing bigger than my LCP.

If you are going to carry a gun, you are wise to practice with it and any expert, even if doesn't care for the cartridge, should see the value in that. If he doesn't, he might not be the expert he thinks he is.
 
I was just saying the same thing the other day at the gun shop. I don't know why, but almost everyone in this sport feels the need to offer expert opinion. I can't even imagine what it must be like to work behind the counter somewhere and listen to customers tell you all day long which firearm is the best and how inferior this or that gun is. Almost comical after awhile.
 
How to deal w/range "experts"...

1.) take a sheet of 8x11 copy paper and staple it to a piece of cardboard.
2.) position the paper/cardboard out @ 20/25 feet.
3.) shoot the staples out & watch the paper fall to the ground with as few number of shots as it takes. IIRC, I could do it with one magazine (10 shots) or less using my Ruger .22/45.
4.) just smile and ignore the smart alec comments from the "expert" about how you can't even put in a staple.....

eventually,,,,the "expert" will catch on to what you're doing & the paper is falling because there's 4 holes where the staples used to be....

5.) just smile as the "expert" packs up and leaves like someone set fire to his backside.....

Works every time......
 
Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion - some just choose to push their "opinions" on others. I have and carry an LCP and also own and will "sometimes" carry other/larger calibers. But I find that I carry the smaller, lighter weight handguns much more often. I understand ballistics, but I also don't want to have 32 ounces of whatever on me - it's why I choose to carry something smaller the majority of the time. That's not to say that I don't understand the desire to carry something with a bit more behind it, but I also want something that I don't have to dress around, is easily concealable and most importantly, something that I feel confident and comfortable with. Sometimes just thanking the person for their advice with a simple, "that's great...." is the best that you can do. Carry what you're comfortable with and let others carry what they're comfortable with.
 
A firearms instructor, of sorts, told me why would I bother training with/shooting a tiny mouse gun (he was teaching someone to shoot a compact 45). I told him he was welcome to his opinion, he then started to launch into a ramble about ballistics. Not sure if he was trying to impress his female client or give me sage advice.
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I would have said:

"Good thing I wasn't fool enough to pay for your dumbass opinion"

and then walked off.
 
I'd just say I agree 100% with them and I left my 10 45acp's at home cause I'm down to only 20,000 rounds of ammo.:rolleyes: It don't take long watching people shoot at the range to know who the "experts" are. If I want advice I ask otherwise it's taken as a grain salt.

I shoot for the enjoyment of the sport so if I'm shooting a gun it's a gun I wanted to own. If I wanted to own it I want to shoot it. That LCP is a cannon compared to my 22lr Bobcat M 21. And I really like to shoot that mouse gun.
 
IMO opinions are like backsides. Everyone has one & for the most part they're better kept to yourself because they're nowhere as attractive to others as you think.:eek:

I've had every firearm I've ever taken to a public venu criticised as "bad" or "Inferior" in some way. Many times the "reasoning" behind the criticism shows massive ignorance coupled with over-inflated ego on the part of the "expert" doing the belittling. Take it with a grain of salt & ignore it when you hear stupid remarks, al they are is stupid, so just shrug it off & carry on.:)
 
Feel safe with that mouse gun? I am happy for you.
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I am not going to feel particularly safe with any gun I have to pull and shoot because there is a good chance someone may be shooting back, not to mention the legal aspects afterward. If I need to pull a gun I would rather be somewhat proficient with one I have on me instead of the one I left at home because it was inconvenient to carry. Any gun is better than no gun.

BTW, I always have my LCP or J-frame on me when I'm dressed, except prohibited places and practice at least a few rounds from whatever I am carrying when I go to the range. On the rare occasion I go to "bad" or risky places, I carry a hi-cap 9mm or 45acp 1911. I try to avoid "bad" places.

If you are comfortable lugging around a 2 or 3 pound gun concealed go for it.
 
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Those of us who choose .380 choose it for conceal-ability. That's the same reason someone would choose to carry a .45 over rifle. And of course the difference in stopping power between a .380 and .45 is minutiae compared to the difference in stopping power between a .45 and a decent rifle round. If it ain't a rifle, we would be wise expect that we will need multiple shots to stop the threat whether or not we have a .380 or .45. Would I rather have a .45? Absolutely -- if I can carry it.

Lots of people who know a lot about guns just don't like .380 for a self defense caliber -- and I'm okay with that. The guy who taught my CCW class doesn't like or recommend .380 at all. The guy really knows his stuff, and I like and respect him. However, I don't have to agree with him on everything.
 
I wonder how many of the "experts" who claim this or that gun is useless have ever seen a gunshot wound or even known anyone who received one. Many years ago, I found out what those low power, worthless, harmless guns can do, fortunately on inanimate targets. I learned to respect any gun, even those the "experts" consider "mouse guns."

I have also read about and (thanks to You Tube) seen the results when some idiot shoots himself or someone else with a gun that "won't do any harm."

Jim
 
Take it with a grain of salt. When I first bought my LCP and took it to the range to shoot it along with my G22, one guy a few lanes over laughed at me for having a small .380 to carry instead of my G22. I get ballistics, but I just don't like the weight. I carry the bigger pistols when I can, but the LCP is always on me. A "mouse gun" in your pocket is better than that big hand cannon that you had to leave at home because it kicks like a mule and weighs X pounds and throws your back out if you carry it all day.

Keep calm and carry on! The LCP is a winner in my book.


Tapatalked via my highly abused iPhone
 
I often bring my LCP along to the range, since it's my most common carry gun, and feed a few rounds through it at 5-7 yards.

A firearms instructor, of sorts, told me why would I bother training with/shooting a tiny mouse gun (he was teaching someone to shoot a compact 45). I told him he was welcome to his opinion, he then started to launch into a ramble about ballistics. Not sure if he was trying to impress his female client or give me sage advice.

Experts are everywhere, I guess.
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Wow, really? I fortunately don’t get that or don’t hear it.
1. In the future, if someone is talking, just start shooting at your target. If they keep talking over the sound of you shooting, you won’t notice. ;)
2. I’ve had other people talking loudly to others with their opinion, but never directly to me. I in turn would never give an opinion, unless directly asked a question.
3. Frankly at the range, I’m just watching out for yahoos, and can’t hear anything anyway.
 
Oh Lord....yeah, I've been there too. Several times...Let me just say one incident now though.


I'm shooting with my custom SA Mil-Spec. Golf ball grouping at 7-10 yards.

Guy next to me, comes over and says "wow! I'm shooting the same gun! just different looking?"

I said, "yeah..did some work to it. Beaver tail, flat trigger, combat hammer, trigger job...etc"

10 minutes later...


same guy - "oh man, you run your gun way too wet..that's bad for the gun..attracts more dirt when you shoot it and could cause malfunctions"

All the while his gun looks like ish...his barrel looks like it was painted matte grey instead of like mine and/or a normal one that's supposed to be stainless and shiny.

I told him "what you don't know right now, could fill a book...look at the condition of your gun and compare it to mine. don't mean to sound mean brother, but come on..different folks different strokes yeah?"

he nervously laughed and walked away and didn't speak to me again.


-____-



I think I also mentioned something about the difference in our accuracy too...Ugh....
 
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I find it works better for me to offer advice when asked and to accept advice from well meaning shooters with a grain of salt.

I do shoot with some folks who really have their act together and when they offer advice. . .I listen.
 
I do not claim to be an "expert", however, with over 30 years in law enforcement I have seen hundreds of people shot with everything imaginable.

A 380 ACP beats a sharp stick in the eye. If that it all you are willing to carry, I hope you are good with it. I carry a Glock 27/33 with 14 rounds of 357 Sig on tap and a 640 Pro loaded with 125 grn DPX everywhere I go. With the proper mindset and carry gear I do not find it uncomfortable at all.

Carrying a gun for SD is a commitment.

I never worry about what some clown at the range thinks, though it is interesting to let them explain their logic.
 
If I knew that I would need an SD weapon on a given day, I would figure out a way to carry an M14. But if I have to carry all day, every day, something smaller would be pretty attractive. FWIW, as a LEO (in ye olde days) I carried a Model 19 in uniform and a Model 36 3" when in plain clothes. Strangely, I never felt helpless or unarmed, but then I never had any shootouts with a couple of hundred drug gangsters carrying machineguns, like on TV.

Jim
 
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