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Editor's Notebook: First Things First
by Rich Grassi
Buy a small gun for concealed carry if you must but instead of accessories, spend time and money learning how to safely and effectively use it.
A colleague was shopping in a gun shop recently and observed an interesting exchange. A customer was examining a compact pistol of Eastern European manufacture with the intent of purchase for concealed carry. Of all the questions a new pistol packer could ask, what do you think he wanted to know?
Did he want to know the cost and availability of ammunition and parts? Did he want to price more magazines? Did he want to know the breadth and depth of the holster market for such a gun? No.
"What accessories do you have for it?"
"Accessories?"
"Yeah, I'd like to add stuff to it. Got any ivory grips?"
My friend intervened, asking if he had any idea what he was trying to accomplish. He was buying for concealed carry, even had a permit. He "shot expert on the shooting course."
There is no classification scheme for licensees in the state in question. You either pass or go to Category B. He meant he got 100% of the shots fired "in the middle." Well the target's big and there is no time limit.
What did our hero need? Well, a serviceable pistol for one. It should fit the shooter's hands and body type. Quality ammo should be available, as well as quantities of ammo - you can't get good without practice.
A holster that fits you and your needs; are you having to conceal while wearing a shirt and slacks with no jacket? Is the shirt always tucked?
Once you've got the gun and holster, it's nice to get enough ammo to work through familiarity issues.
It's helpful to train beyond the CCW class. There's a lot more we need to know going into this thing than they can cram into eight hours. Get out and sign up for some classes. Work until the new gun and new holster feels like part of the team. It's not just practice on your own, it's performing for an instructor while learning something new.
What gun do you get? Well, first get the best advice you can from people you trust. Then buy the best you can afford. Get plenty of spare magazines and training ammunition.
Train like your life depends on it.
Speaking of our hero who wants to accessorize his sub-$200 eastern European auto, another story was told by a retail clerk at a big "Mart" store. A gent came in and purchased a centerfire rifle to which had been affixed an optical sight. The purchase was to facilitate his hunt for venison. The rifle and scope combination were fine for the purpose and the customer asked about ammunition. The clerk showed what they had.
"Twenty?" the customer asked incredulously. "I don't need twenty (rounds), just enough to fill the rifle! Three will do!"
The clerk told him he'd need to zero the optic, to which the customer shook his head.
"Nope, if they put the scope on at the factory it's fine! It'll work!"
The customer left thinking he'd been cheated into buying 17 rounds more ammo than he needed. I just hope he doesn't wound and lose a deer.
If it's your sport and your passion - or if it's your livelihood or if you depend on it to save your life - it's your duty to study firearms and to know more about the topic than Hollywood does.
To learn more about firearms skills, learning how to teach firearms skills, or to learn how to conduct firearms training on a budget, check out Rich's book, POLICE FIREARMS INSTRUCTION: PROBLEMS AND PRACTICES, available from Amazon and other fine book sellers.