OK, you carry everyday but...

[ArmySon]

You are a CHL holder that carries everyday. Aside from straping on your holster, spare mags, or whatever else you tote all day, what steps have you taken to enhance your tactics? Have you taken on the responsibility to receive professional training? How often do you get to the range? How often do you practice drawing from your holster? Please share your knowledge.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I practice presentations every day, maybe just a half-dozen times, but each day. I make it to the range at least once per week. As a retired police officer of 25 years with the last 11 in tactical, I was fortunate to learn quite a few techniques for delivering accurate fire. For at least the last 20 years, I've practiced what Col. Cooper taught, not only the color-code thing, but his "game" in which you start out with a set number of points and lose them if anyone gets within a set number of feet of you without your knowing. That works and becomes second nature.
One can also just use a bit of common sense in where and when one goes certain places, if necessary, and avoid other places entirely.

Best.

 

[acp Mikey]

My wife and I have taken several courses and private lessons through a local shooting range. We have also done some defensive handgun matches and try to practice about weekly.

 

[Seminole1986]

I practice presentation each night when I retrieve my 232 from its holster in order to place it in the safe. Depending on time of day, I might do this up to 10 times (on the very high side).

I go to the range once every 2-3 weeks. At the range, I usually shoot 300 rounds. First box is DA only. Second is SA only. Third is mozambique drill.

And now for the BIG NEWS: I'm set to take Randy Cain's course at southern exposure this April. Please, no applause! Hopefully, this will start to fill the gaps that I believe exist in my knowledge of handgun tactics. (Not being a leo nor have any military experience, I assume my knowledge is limited.)

 

[hickman]

I have had the opportunity to take courses from TR, Gunsite, L. Awerbuck, PRI, M. Ayoob, and try to shoot a couple of times a month, practicing drawstrokes and weapon manipulation on the two primary guns that I carry (Les Baer Stinger and KT P32). The .45 is in a strong side holster usually, and the P32 in my R.front pocket in a U. Mike pocket holster.

 

[pax]

I try to get in some shooting practice once a week or so. It's actually working out to getting out every two weeks, but my goal is every week. Our shooting buddy gives my husband and me several different drills to practice when we are at the range and we talk about tactics with him fairly often.

I try to remember to practice drawing from concealment and dry firing every day. I'll be honest, though. Dry firing practice tends to go in cycles: sometimes I'm pretty gung-ho for a few weeks and practice religiously, and sometimes a couple weeks go by when I don't practice at all. But I do try.

I read a lot, online and in print, and envision what I would do in different scenarios. TFL is wonderful, and there are lots of other good sites out there for someone who is interested in self defense. Even just reading the evening news, I try to picture what I would have done if I'd been there when ____.

Reading really helps me to get the right mindset. Mas Ayoob and Paxton Quigley have probably given me the most, so far: Quigley for encouraging me to carry at all, and Ayoob for being realistic about the results if I ever do have to shoot someone.

When our tax return comes back, I'll be signing up for my first real shooting class; I'm very excited about that.

That's about it.

pax

 

[byerly]

I dry fire everyday. Go to the range once a week. Shoot one match a month(club level for now). Been through classes by Ayoob, Farnam and James Yeager. Also going to an Andy Stanford class next month. Usually reading a related book. You gotta keep the edge sharp.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I've started shooting IDPA matched in addition to what I normally shoot.

 

[RWK]

Dry fire and presentation daily. Range at least weekly (~300 rounds). No classes as yet. Thinking all the time.

 

[blades67]

Dry-fire and holster work every day. Backyard pellet gun practice three or four times a week. Range time one or two times a month. (Used to go once a week, but I now have two young boys. They need my time and money more than my shooting does. Six and a half years of military service, three years of high speed, low drag infantry training (averaged 270 days a year in the field, 80% spent on live fire ranges), three years Legal Specialist (not much live fire, but I did learn what not to do!).

 

[Pirate]

I shoot once a week and am planning on going to LFI when it comes around here in the spring.I'll also be starting IDPA at my club next month to help with awareness and fast drawing.My mind is always in the colored conditions from the time I walk out of my house(white,yellow,orange,red)and this has really become 2nd nature as I am always alert to my surroundings.

 

[Elmo]

Since getting my Top-of-the-Back holster and laser keychain pointer, I've decided I don't need training.

(Dang! Wrong forum AGAIN! )

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I try and do regular daily work with presentations and dry-fire; but like Pax I occasionally slack on this.

I make it a point to attend some kind of formal training course about every six months; mainly just because I like firearms and always manage to learn something new.

I shoot IDPA as often as I can work it into my schedule (about once or twice a month at the moment) and go to the range at least once a week. I had started out shooting phenomenal amounts of ammo (1,000 rounds or more a month) but have been seeing better results by concentrating on the quality of my practice - plus it just isn't in the budget.

 

[David Scott]

Ditto dry fire practice with presentations, and range time at least once a month. I have a BB gun to practice with but the manual of arms is different from my Ruger P95, so that's of limited value. I'm putting cash away for a Beamhit practice unit. http://www.beamhit.com Neat stuff.

I also do "scenarios" in my head while out in public. If we're in the Winn-Dixie, I'll spot someone coming in and think about what would go down if he pulled a gun and grabbed a cashier, or on the road I'll figure out what I'd do if that guy on the corner tries to get into my truck.

 

[riddleofsteel]

equipment is only a small part of the equation....but

in cold weather i am packing a P229 in .40 S&W in a Murph's pancake belt holster. i also carry an MK40 with night sights either in a weak side Kramer belt scabbard or weakside in a Kramer pocket holster. a Scorpion light and a Gerber EZ Out knife plus extra amgs in coat or vest pockets round out the arsenel.

as the weather grows warmer the P229 will give way to a semi-custom K40 in a strongside Kramer belt scabbard all other stuff the same.

when the real heat and humidity strike i resort to an MK40 in pocket holster, extra clip in the front pocket in a pocket sleeve and a lock blade folder.

as far as training, i practice drawing my pistol and knife several times a day. this is a practice my uncle taught me. he kept his shotgun behind the kitchen door and rarely did he pass it without picking it up and swinging it around to draw a bead on one of the mounted animals hanging in the den. when the time came to shoot the gun, mounting, swing and aim were second nature to him. i feel the same about my CCW weapons. i also shoot at least once a week. i have understudy guns in .22 for most of my weapons so that simple economics don't prevent me from shooting a lot. i try to alternate flatfooted shooting from the firing line of the local indoor range with action shooting of reactive targets and tactical solutions to made up defensive situations.
I also try to be aware of my enviroment and constant run mental senerios of "what if" problems. i think it makes life a little more interesting to think "tactically" about a trip to the store or running into the local "stop and rob" for that loaf of bread the wife can not live without.

 

[blades67]

I also engage in paintball with friends two or three times a year to keep my mindset in sync with my tactics. Nothing gets the juice up like force-on-force training, not even IDPA, USPSA/IPSC, or whatever club match is available.

 

[The Observer]

When I have firing on the range, I usually practice how I can draw and fired my pistol as fast as I could from my Inside Waist Holster in condition two. Sometimes, I put my pistol ready on condition one and draw it and fired as accurate as I could. My purpose is to mimic the real scenario how I draw my hidden pistol in real situation.

If there is local competition then I practice to draw my pistol from Outside Waist Holster.

In bedtime, I put my blank bullet for dry firing and all decorations in the room or sala will be my imaginary target.
It sounds silly but do this from time to time.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I compete in IPSC/USPSA matches constantly.....

I shoot regularly.....

I think always.

Oh, and I live in Vermont!

 

[Captain]

In addition to my primary carry gun, a Glock 23, I carry a S&W 642 as a back up. I also carry a pepper spray from Bodyguard, a Benchmade 970 and a Dejammer type Kubaton from Ayoob.

I have been to training with John Farnam (two pistol programs), Ayoob (LFI 1, 2 and 3), Hackathorn (the best tactical training available!) and Larry Mudgett from LAPD.

I practice at least weekly, more if I have the time. I also compete in IDPA matches.

 

[Shin-Tao]

I don't need to practice.

I watch 3 action movies a day and play several combat video games.

I practice looking formidable and serious in the mirror.

I watch cops.

I go to securityarms.com and study.

I walk with exagerated purpose.

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