Actual CCW contact survival experiences?

Like a civilian asking a combat veteran about their "experiance" you will likely get very few responses, and what you may get, may not be what you were looking for. Those who have been there, usually don't talk about it.

I heard that some guy and all like that.. that was the best story ever!

charlie echo said:

Well, that is what I had guessed, not many, if any at all, want to publish an "It Happemed To Me" kind of story with their concealed sidearm...

Many confuse what it takes to kill vs. what it takes to stop an attemp-to kill-in-progress when surprised, often involving multiple shots returned, fire under duress, with movements involved, likely in dim lighting...

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If you are willing, pray tell.

Look up Tom Givens. He made a DVD of the stories his students were in. Actual encounters analyzed by Tom and broken down into useful stages. Very insightful.

There have been many historic events. Do not occupy your mind with historic events.

do not know any useful stories myself, tho I refer to the lessons of the Miami 1986 FBI incident: basic knowledge...
-wear a holster.
-carry speed loaders or magazines, practice reloading while timed
-practice accurate shooting while timed.
-load for as much penetration* with the HP or wide meplat (wadcutter, flat nose) bullets that can be controlled in rapid fire.
-if you can't find cover/concealment then close the distance while continuing aimed shots
-try not to get caught alone: prevention by awareness beats having to be the only one shooting back

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There are far better cases that apply to CCW holders than a group of law enforcement agents attempting to apprehend dangerous and armed fugitives in a vehicle. Citizen uses of a concealed weapon pretty much never go down that way.

If one wants to read actual accounts go here:
http://www.nrapublications.org/index.php/armed-citizen/

nevermind

one of the most interesting stories I have read..

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xdtalk...one-year-update-survivor-guide-update-op.html

This question is asked regularly, and the responses nearly always run along the lines of what you are seeing here.

Bottom line--you are very likely fishing in an empty lake.

-if you can't find cover/concealment then close the distance while continuing aimed shots

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No civilian is taught to close the distance in an armed encounter. Pistols are close range weapons, and that means that getting out of the range of the threat is your best option (yes, that is assuming that the threat is also wielding a handgun). If the assailant has a knife, again, why would you close the distance?

You are not going to get any answers from people who have had to protect themselves with their handguns, it, like combat, is just not talked about much by those who experience it.

a few weeks back i got home from the night shift and there was a stray dog in the yard he barked and growled at me. i popped on off in the ground in front of him and he ran off. a good swift kick with my steel toes would have probably done the job but i didnt want to get that close.

i hope thats the closest i ever get to having to use my gun.

No civilian is taught to close the distance in an armed encounter. Pistols are close range weapons, and that means that getting out of the range of the threat is your best option (yes, that is assuming that the threat is also wielding a handgun). If the assailant has a knife, again, why would you close the distance?

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You know I would think that "closingthe distance" between your asailant is probably a really bad idea legally as well. I've always heard that the bottom line is that if you do have to use your ccw to defend yourself, you had better be able to prove in a court of law that it was necessary. If possible, you really should be trying to retreat from danger in as controled and calm a fashion as possible. I realize that is really hard if someone s trying to shoot you, but if someone witnesses you "going after" or advancing on your attacker, it could turn out really bad in court if you actually hit, or hit and kill that individual.

Personally, I'd just try to retreat while trying to end the threat at the same time. Howevr, returning fire would be more of a distraction so I could get out of there.

Do I want to shoot anyone? Hell no. Will I to protect myself or someone I love? Hell yes. Will I advance on an attacker? No..... I don't want to go to prison or live with the knowledge that shooting that person was not the only option. I realize things get fuzzy and crazy in this type of situation, but this is my plan if ever in the situation. Get the hell out of there!

Personally, I'd just try to retreat while trying to end the threat at the same time. Howevr, returning fire would be more of a distraction so I could get out of there.

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When I say not to advance on a threat, I don't mean to turn your back to it and run. I mean engage the threat, but if cover is not available, try to get out of range of the threat while still engaging it to keep it at a distance.

The only time that I would close the distance on a threat would be if someone that I was trying to protect from said threat was in immediate danger and closing the distance would be the most effective way of neutralizing the assailant.

Folks sure have some really weird ideas and preconceived notions about how a potential gunfight might play out. You simply cannot account for the unknown, nor can you say "always" or "never". As in, "gunfights always happen at close range" or "never close the distance". The bottom line is that you should be prepared for anything and everything. Period.

The only time I ever came close to drawing my pistol against a would-be attacker, it was a wannabe 1%-er with a scoped rifle. The distance was 20yds and all I had was a little KelTec .32ACP in my pocket. In this case, had he decided to shoot, it would've been a very good idea to close the distance while he tried to find me in his optic. You'll probably find yourself with the devil by the tail and you never know what you'll have to do in order to survive. I survived because I stayed cool and my would-be aggressor was bluffing. Luck only plays into the latter.

In this case, had he decided to shoot, it would've been a very good idea to close the distance while he tried to find me in his optic

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When I posted about not closing the distance I did say, "(that is assuming the threat is wielding a handgun)", and you are right, even that is not 100% true depending on the situation. I completely agree with you if the assailant is wielding a long gun with a magnified optic, closer does give you a slight advantage.

My question is, after that encounter, do you still feel like a .32 ACP is enough gun? Not trying to argue your choice, I am just curious as to if that encounter impacted your decision on what you carry.

At the time, it was all I could carry. I was a field tech, carrying against company policy and printing was NEVER an option. At best, I could've upgraded to a .380. I would hope that simply firing a shot in his direction would've been enough to allow me to get somewhere. Whether closer or further, behind cover either way. Fortunately the rifle was his only advantage. If it even was one. He was irate, I was calm. I was ready to fight, he was ready to puff up like a rooster but nothing more. I've been a regular shooter since childhood but he did not seem to be proficient. He had shown his cards but I still had the element of surprise. If it had come to blows, I would surely have rather had a good 5" 1911 under my shirt but sometimes you have to work with what you have.

we all like to picture those scenerios where you get into a gunfight, lots of times with multiple bad guys, you need the 17 round 9mm with a few spare mags, and maybe a backup gun too. we all do it. fact is i have never known a civilian who ever used his gun in defense and just one cop in our small town.