Tips, tricks and training RSS

When choosing a weapon light it's not always about the biggest and brightest light you are willing to carry.

Remember that for most people they are only needing to identify an immediate threat INSIDE their property. Always consider your application, need and use case before making a purchase. Think about the "throw" of the light - how far will your potential threat be? Consider the "spill" of the light - how large / broad a light do you need to cast to illuminate your surroundings? And ALWAYS consider reflection - light walls and shiny surfaces will reflect the light right back at you, so as with anything - practice dry! Do dry fire drills in your house to identify obstacles and objects to make yourself aware and keep yourself sharp.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Weapon Mounted Lights (WML) have their place and we support them, but a handheld light is an EDC essential in our opinion. Even the best WML doesn't replace a handheld. You don't want to have to point a gun at something to identify it... a good torch is a non negotiable in any EDC setup.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

If a carry gun modification is not well tested, a failure could be catastrophic.

Modifying or replacing your trigger with subpar components can lead to a failure to fire or your pistol going full-auto.

A trigger upgrade is a reasonable mod to make but it needs to be done correctly and with ample testing before using it in your carry gun. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

There are lots of options when it comes to how you carry a handgun and they all have their pros and cons.

What works for one does not work for all. Be prepared to make mistakes along the way as you figure out what holster, position and carry method works for you.

SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Stippling your carry gun can help give you a more secure grip in recoil.

Done wrong, it could also make your gun almost unshootable in high round counts.

There are a few places on your grip you actually want to smooth out such as the back and sides of the tang and under your trigger well.

For the newer shooter, we recommend putting a few thousand rounds through your gun before making this modification.
#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

You can't hit what you can't see.

Weapon mounted lights are critical for ALL self defence weapons. Remember that you will need to have a holster that is compatible with your specific weapon mounted light, so take this into consideration when purchasing. Another thing to think about is the ability to replace a battery rather than recharge one. You never know what the situation may bring, and its always easier to replace a battery in a limited time than to wait for a battery to recharge...

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

If you're running iron sights on your carry gun they need to be simple and strong.

No distracting pictures, excessive dots, or weird pictures.

If you do have a dot, we suggest a tritium vial or fiber optic rod on the front sight only.

Both sights should be made of metal for one-handed racking if needed.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Flared Magwells are great on duty or competition guns.

Unfortunately, they're terrible for concealment.

They add length & width to the very place that is often the most difficult to conceal.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Occluding the dot doesn’t force you to target focus, it just shows you whether you are or not.

Chasing the dot is an incredibly difficult habit to break. There's this big, glowing red orb bouncing around your field of vision and your eyes want to chase it down. Occluding the dot is a great diagnostic tool and one we return to frequently.

A common issue in training almost any skill is simply not being aware of what you're doing. We all like to think we're doing the correct thing, that we're above average, and of course we wouldn't make *that* dumb mistake.

But progression in any skill requires the humility to check yourself. It's a mindset. You don't need to be crippled with insecurity or constant self doubt, but you should be willing to routinely check and verify that you're doing what you think you're doing.

Don't trust your gut blindly. Don't assume you are correct. Check, verify, diagnose. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Red dots on a carry gun: when concealment is the priority, the smaller the red dot, the better.

A red dot that is approximately the width of the slide is optimal.

On a duty gun or open carry, a larger dot and larger window is better. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Zeroing a red dot isn't as hard as we often make it.

Shoot 4-5 round groups. It's not a rifle so a few extra rounds will give you a better idea of where your dot is aimed. Draw a dot where the approximate center of the group is.

Do the math on paper (or the target) not in your head. Much frustration can be avoided by getting the adjustments right the first time.

Make exact adjustments from where you're hitting (the dot you drew on the target) to exactly where you're aiming. A drawn dot or contrasting paster can give a precise aiming point and reference point for measuring how far off you are.

We have limited time and ammo to spend on getting a pistol sighted in, so make it count. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

When installing optics on pistols, rifles, etc. you want to know that your screws aren't loosening on you.

A paint pen of some kind has been used for a long time to give you a visual reference to see if the screws are still where you put them.

Torque your screws according to the manufacturers specifications then use a paint pen on the edge of the screw to mark alignment. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

One should generally not draw a gun into an entanglement until proper position and control is established.

The right answer almost always is to get the person off the gun and not draw it from the holster while the attacker has his hands on it.

However, if you have to draw your gun, don't get stuck thinking the only way out is to pull up harder than your opponent is pushing down.

If needed, dropping your hips to draw, is a thing.
#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Colder weather usually means bulky layers.

These are not ideal for drawing in tight spaces.

To make your gun more accessible, make it a habit to prep your clothing as you sit in the car. You might unzip some layers or ensure the seat belt is not pinning some of your clothing down. #SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Keep your finger off the trigger (indexed) until your sights are on the target. The rule is to keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. What we mean by that is not just keeping your finger technically off the trigger. What we're saying is index your finger. Indexing your finger is not just keeping it outside the trigger guard. Your finger needs to rest high up on the slide. If you're not indexed up on the slide, it's easy to get that finger down in the trigger guard, on the trigger when you don't intend to.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Remember - knives don't run out of ammunition! By far the scariest weapon to face, and the deadliest. Make sure you build this into your training for any and every self defence situation. 

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Does printing matter? We're of the school of thought that advertising is never a good thing unless you're a social media influencer. Drop the #ShootMeFirst gear (cammo pants / tacticool clothing / giveaway caps etc) and let your training speak for itself should the need arise. With a good concealed holster like those from @southwestholsters there is not need to be printing. Get your rig setup correctly and learn to carry optimally.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Your gear should work so well you don’t even notice it.

Holster, jacket—if it’s made right, you just do what you need to do.

Can your gear keep up in the elements?

Rain, sweat, dirt—none of it should slow you down.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Dummy rounds are a useful tool to have when conducting dry fire practice. They are most useful when practicing malfunction clearances. They are also useful if you have weighted dummy rounds so that you can use them to simulate the weight of a fully loaded magazine when practicing reloads.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

1.) Firearm of choice.
2.) Ear protection.
3.) Eye protection.
4.) Spare magazines.
5.) Holsters (multiple if you have and are wanting to practice different draws)
6.) Permanent marker.
7.) Tape or target patches.
8.) Basic tools (to make any range repairs or adjust your optic)
9.) Spare batteries (if you're using an optic / red dot sight)
10.) Ammunition (yes, the least important thing, because you can ALWAYS dry fire)

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence

Some sort of illumination tool is essential to carrying a gun.

The two primary options to ensure positive identification (PID) are a weapon-mounted light or a handheld light.

What camp are you in? Let us know in the comments.

#SelfDefence #Firearm #FirearmTraining #GunLicence #FirearmLicence