So I went to Academy last night looking for jeans. It has been getting hard to find the ones I like in my size lately. So I went there with the family.. They went one way & I went the other. I found a pair of jeans my size, tried them on & decided to go see what ammunition they had in stock. While looking at ammo I made a bit of small talk with a fellow that was open carrying.
I noticed the FN logo on the grip of his pistol. Asked if it was FN. Noticed the hammer & asked if it was DA/SA. Then I noticed the hammer was back. I asked you carrying cocked & locked (was actually wondering if that were possible with that pistol. I have never owned or handled one of them). Then I saw the safety off. I said you're carrying cocked & unlocked. He said that the chamber was empty the hammer was cocked & the safety was off to make the slide easier to rack. Blew my mind.
I asked about decocking. He responded that the first DA trigger pull was very long & heavy. I said I know that you just have to learn two trigger pulls. Told him I used to carry a DA/SA & for a long time I spent 5 minutes a night on dry fire practice with a dime balanced on the front sight to learn the DA trigger. He looked a little befuddled & embarrassed & I backed off as I felt I was overstepping the bounds of politeness. I went back to commenting on the ammo available, prices, etc. & left.
After leaving it occurred to me I should have asked what he would do if he didn't have both hands free during an encounter. I should have also relayed my own experience that carrying a DA/SA safety off doesn't necessarily mean the safety will be off when you reach for the gun (they can get bumped on). As I was leaving he told me the only reason he carries that gun is because it is his only .45 with 15 round capacity. I said something about everyone has their caliber preferences & left.
Now I feel like I should have said more. I mean we should either learn the manual of arms necessary or carry a different weapon. If given a choice between proficiency & higher capacity I believe proficiency to be more important. So I feel like a blew a chance to be helpful.
Does anyone have any suggestions about how I could have handled this better. I don't want to slam the guy just figure out how to encourage someone to educate themselves without insulting them.
I noticed the FN logo on the grip of his pistol. Asked if it was FN. Noticed the hammer & asked if it was DA/SA. Then I noticed the hammer was back. I asked you carrying cocked & locked (was actually wondering if that were possible with that pistol. I have never owned or handled one of them). Then I saw the safety off. I said you're carrying cocked & unlocked. He said that the chamber was empty the hammer was cocked & the safety was off to make the slide easier to rack. Blew my mind.
I asked about decocking. He responded that the first DA trigger pull was very long & heavy. I said I know that you just have to learn two trigger pulls. Told him I used to carry a DA/SA & for a long time I spent 5 minutes a night on dry fire practice with a dime balanced on the front sight to learn the DA trigger. He looked a little befuddled & embarrassed & I backed off as I felt I was overstepping the bounds of politeness. I went back to commenting on the ammo available, prices, etc. & left.
After leaving it occurred to me I should have asked what he would do if he didn't have both hands free during an encounter. I should have also relayed my own experience that carrying a DA/SA safety off doesn't necessarily mean the safety will be off when you reach for the gun (they can get bumped on). As I was leaving he told me the only reason he carries that gun is because it is his only .45 with 15 round capacity. I said something about everyone has their caliber preferences & left.
Now I feel like I should have said more. I mean we should either learn the manual of arms necessary or carry a different weapon. If given a choice between proficiency & higher capacity I believe proficiency to be more important. So I feel like a blew a chance to be helpful.
Does anyone have any suggestions about how I could have handled this better. I don't want to slam the guy just figure out how to encourage someone to educate themselves without insulting them.