This is another topic that grew from a Man Cave discussion. Should you carry your pistol with a round in the chamber? Let me answer that like this. A carry gun is used for self defense. That's the only reason that you have it on your person at all times. If you knew when you would need it, you could leave it all those unnecessary times and only put it on when there was danger around. Doesn't make sense? It never will! There is no way for you to know when and where your life will be in danger. If you did, staying out of those situations would be a simple fix. The world we live in is full of idiots with total disregard for others. There is no way to know which person or which place will give reason for you to use force to protect yourself or your loved ones. For that reason, I ALWAYS have a round chambered in my concealed carry gun. I keep gas in my car, I keep insurance coverage, I keep a first aid kit, I even keep jumper cables in my trunk. No clue if I will need any more use out of any of that than normal, but just in case, I know I have it. The same goes for carrying with a round chambered. I never know when i will need to use my firearm to defend my life. If and when that time comes, i want it to end as quickly as possible with me walking away. I don't know if having to rack a slide will be the difference in life or death, but I'm not willing to find out. I can't afford to be the guinea pig, I have to go to work in the morning...
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This might be one of the most important things that anyone who handles guns needs to lean, but somehow, neglects to do properly. The best way to eliminate negligent discharges is to make sure, doubly sure, and absolutely positive that the gun is empty and free of ammunition. This is called "clearing your weapon". It's a very simple process and I'm going to share with you the best way I've found to do it. 1. Lock the slide to the rearThe first thing you want to do is lock the slide to the rear. This is achieved by pulling the slide as far back as it will go and pushing up on the slide release lever. When you let go of the slide, it should stay in the rearward position. The reasoning behind doing this first? It ensures that the firearm is not in any condition to be fired. 2. Release the magazineSimply push the magazine release, usually located right under where a right handed shooter would place his thumb. After that, the magazine will fall out, I recommend catching it with your free hand. 3. visually and physically check the chamberLastly, look into the chamber of the gun. You want to see nothing. No rounds, no magazine, nothing in the gun but the gun itself. After you are sure the gun is empty, check again! Remember, gun safety is up to the gun owner. We all know that accidents happen, do as much as you can to prevent them.
One question that I get asked a lot is what pistol would I recommend for home defense. My answer is always the same, none. I'm a firm believer that the best firearm for home defense is a loaded 12 gauge shotgun. Call me old fashioned or set in my ways, but they have been proven to work. And if my life and home are in danger, that's what I must have. Of course, I'm not ignorant to the fact that this might not be feasible to everyone. Some people aren't familiar with shotguns or aren't comfortable handling them. For those, there are other options. No one needs to be helpless in their own home. Some people really like pistols, and there's nothing wrong with that. If a pistol is what you feel most comfortable with, by all means, use it. But when considering using one for home defense, there are a few things you want to keep in mind.
As with any firearm, it's always a good idea to train with your weapon. Also, designate a place that is readily accessible to safely store your pistol until you need it. I can already tell that some people are going to disagree with this one, but i don't care. I hear it all the time, "An assault rifle is terrible for home defense." First of all, what the hell is an assault rifle?? Second, I can tell you have never needed to defend your home. MODERN SPORTING RIFLES are excellent options for home defense. You can get them in various lengths to fit your frame. They are extremely easy to customize to fit your needs. They are able to hold a lot of rounds. They have very light recoil. These all sound like pretty good reasons to me. of course, like pistols, there are a few things that are needed to make sure you can handle yourself when the time comes.
As always, training with a weapon before you need to use it is paramount. I know I said there are other options, but I just couldn't not discuss shotguns. It's a shotgun! The official mascot for home defense! A good, reliable shotgun with a light and side saddle to hold extra shells is the perfect setup. They're simple to work, come in all sort of configurations, and are relatively inexpensive. Plus, let's be honest, the racking of a shotgun might be the sweetest sound known to man. Well, if you're on the right end of it. No matter what you choose, a few things are essential across the board. You have to take care of your firearm, there's no way around that; You need to make sure that you have plenty of rounds available; You definitely need a light on you weapon; and YOU MUST TRAIN! Having a firearm for home defense is one thing, knowing how to use it when you need to is something totally different.
Before we begin, please ignore the grip being used in the picture. It may work for some, but for most, it's garbage. I'll discuss a much better technique in a future post. Grip safeties, as the name suggests, are located along the back side of the grip of a handgun. It must be depressed in order for the gun to fire. Thump safeties are the ones that most people are familiar with. They are meant to be toggled from safe to fire with the thumb when ready to fire and back to safe when done. |
AuthorKeep in mind that I am by no means a gun expert. I have had some safety, handling, and shooting training, but nowhere near the amount I feel is needed to claim the "expert" title. With that being said, I am a man that owns a LOT of firearms, knives, and gear! I have been shooting since I could hold a rifle and have even competed in and won a few competitions. The advice and tips that I give are based on personal experience, but are by no means to be taken as law. Please consult a trained, certified professional for all your firearms needs. Enjoy! Archives
May 2016
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