Beware the man with one gun

[CoRoMo]

"Beware the man with one gun as if he knows how to use it".

 

[230therapy]

I don't beware the man with one gun. The vast majority of them have no idea how to use the one they have!

 

[gym]

Back in the old days, 70's, in certain states you could only get 1 gun on your carry, NY was one. So when I shot every week, with my gun club, I shot that 1 gun. Maybe that is what that refers to, you get pretty good with that 1 gun if that's the only one you have. When I came down to FL in 94, it was as many know and have mentioned, a breath taking experience to see that you could buy as many as you wanted.
There are a lot of people who may have a hundred guns that they dont shoot on a regular enough basis to be as effective as possible, that is my guess as to what it meant. Recentlly I decided to go with 1 type of carry gun, and even though I have a couple of calibers, it is the same frame and the grip tape sights and holsters are all the same, this way if there was an emergency, I know exactlly where all the controls are, "if any" and limit my thinking for that 1/10 of a second that may make the difference.
This is just my guess
In a post last week there was a link to an article called "the Marine", it was about a 71 yr old ex-marine who carried a 1911 all his life. When in a situation faced with multiple gunmen, and no choice as they were leading them into the back room to lay down" IE: Lane Bryant, he drew his 45 and killed both men, after it was over he had no recollection of even removing the saftey, but IMO, it was second nature and muscle memory. he had done it so many times in the corps. and at the range, that he didn't have to think. Any time a 71 yr old man can draw and fire his weapon while having men with their guns drawn and pointed at him, it takes a lot of the mystery out of the one gun theory. I am not saying that it can't be done with multiple guns, especially in younger men, but this may be an example of the man with one gun phrase.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I understand the thought, but never understood the mentality. If all youre good with is that "one gun", just what good are you really? If that special gun isnt present, and you need to work with whatever may become available, what then?

Ditto. <edited out unnecessary comment to make the point> I think the best practical shooter is the guy that can pick up his dead enemy's gun and still manage to kill a bunch more with it.

My apologies for non-THR comment.

 

[hardworker]

also I think this saying originated back in the days when people didn't spend thousands on guns and ammo. Back in the family farm days, one gun was all many could afford. If that gun was a 22 revolver, the owner could probably shoot the wings off a fly with it. Not tactical in the least, but being tactical and being efficient don't mean the same thing.

 

[psyopspec]

A stitch in time saves nine or a penny saved is a penny earned.

Now you're just getting ridiculous. Quit making stuff up.

 

[psyopspec]

 

[30mag]

I think the best practical shooter is the guy that can pick up his dead enemy's gun and still manage to kill a bunch more with it.

I don't think PRACTICAL is quite the word you're looking for.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Being able to use most any gun well sounds pretty practical, AND tactical (tactically prepared), to me.

 

[oldbear]

The older I get the more this makes sense to me. I'd rather pracitice with one gun and be as proficient as I can with it than spend my time practicing with and carrying several.

+1. The older I get the more I am affected by C.R.S., so I just adore the K.I.S.S. theory.

 

[Rexster]

Let's keep in mind that when the words were spoken/written, which probably pre-dated Col. Jeff Cooper, a firearm was relatively more expensive than today, and the middle class was much smaller and not as relatively wealthy as today. Having one gun was a significant deal back then, and having several was some kind of accomplishment, unless one belonged to the upper class. Now, a working class guy with a steady income can own quite a few nice firearms.

Then, as now, though, there was probably a widespread perception among duffers that the ability to buy technology equated to skill, and that the more firearms one owned, must be an indicator of skill. I believe Col. Cooper was actually poking a stick at wealthy snobs.

As I think back to when I read Col. Cooper's first extended story containing the line in question, I think he was referring to a rifleman. The context of the story was, if I remember correctly, hunting. While Col. Cooper is best known for his influence on handgunning, his greater love was for rifles and hunting.

Lastly, I want to say "amen" to what 9mmepiphany has written in this thread.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

My grand dad was a sharecropper during the great depression. He had traded for the little .22 rifle. It was a big deal to come up with the few cents a box of .22 shorts cost. Little thought was given to buying a second rifle. It took everything they could muster just to feed the one.

 

[30mag]

Being able to use most any gun well sounds pretty practical, AND tactical (tactically prepared), to me.

It sounds like an unlikely scenario that would be difficult to train for.
It is unlikely that you will ever have to shoot anyone, much less be in a firefight with multiple BGs and are for some reason forced to use a firearm that is not your own.
Difficult to train for:
To be able to use any gun WELL requires that you learn to shoot: handguns that are too large or too small for your hands, or chambered in more powerful calibers (.44mag, 10mm, etc.) than you are comfortable shooting.

 

[fireside44]

People knock the saying but I know guys who have scores of guns that can't shoot worth a crud either.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Lastly,

Thank you for reading and appreciating it

 

[30mag]

Edit: double post thing from mobile phone.

 

[ChCx2744]

"Beware the man with one gun and 20, fully-loaded, 33-round, high-cap mags."

 

[Mp7]

Beware ot the man with a sharp mind.

The rest is knowing the tools.


A detective special ....EDC practiced with for decades ....
will end a gunfight at close range quickly.
In the right hands and mindset.

Sun Tsu. In a way.

"The Fox runs for dinner. The Rabbit runs for his life."

 

[JohnBiltz]

I have learned in this thread that I will be a better shot simply by owning a bunch of guns. I somehow doubt this.

What I think is most people have a limit on how many shots they can practice over a given time. It might be limited by cost, time or opportunity but there is a limit. I choose to shoot my rounds with my carry gun. I don't consider this foolish. I'm not the best shot here, my eyes are bad and I'm getting old with an active life full of physical stupidity behind me that I'm paying for now. But I'm trying to be as good as I can be if I need to be. I could care less about having a bunch of guns in a safe at home. I'd rather spend the money on ammo.

 

[AK103K]

The older I get the more I am affected by C.R.S., so I just adore the K.I.S.S. theory.

Im finding that as Im getting older and finding CRS as well as the physical symptoms creeping in, that I do much better with both, if I keep my brain and body as active as I can. Stagnation, in both respects tends to be very detrimental, and unfortunately, very "American". The longer you actually think and physically do, whatever it is you like, the longer you'll be able to continue to be able to do it.

To be able to use any gun WELL requires that you learn to shoot: handguns that are too large or too small for your hands, or chambered in more powerful calibers (.44mag, 10mm, etc.) than you are comfortable shooting.

It does, and its really not difficult to do, if youre of a mind to do it. Its not so much being an "expert" with all of them, as much as its being familiar with the gun, knowing what to do with it, and expect from it when you pick it up and shoot it, and not being intimidated or frustrated by it, because you dont know or understand it.

How many threads do you see here alone, where people complain about all the different platforms, and its obvious, many of them are "one gun" shooters, simply because, they cant shoot the gun they are bitching about, so there must be something wrong with it. Regardless of the platform, 99.9% of the time, its not the guns fault if you cant shoot it. We will almost always be the weakest link in the equation.

It sounds like an unlikely scenario that would be difficult to train for.

Its only limited by you. If you arent willing to try, then you'll never know, and your the one that loses.

One thing too about "scenarios", they always seem to be so....."narrow of thought". Pretty much anything you can think of, and probably a lot that may never occur to you, are possible, even if they seem pretty far fetched. Just becasue you dont think they are realistic, doesnt mean that you wont get to be the next one to solve that very problem. An open, and realistic mind, and the willingness to explore things that others may put down, to me, makes you the better person. At least you tried it and may or may not have proved its worth. At least YOU really know. The one with the negative thoughts, only has those, with nothing to back them up. You learn by doing, good or bad. Reading about it is a good start, but YOU have to do the leg work to prove its right, or not, for you.

You would have to have some magic hands to have the ability to shoot any handgun well.

Other than some extremes, hands really have nothing to do with any of this. Its whats between the ears thats usually the problem.

Beware ot the man with a sharp mind.

The rest is knowing the tools.

There ya go. Some do understand.

 

[ChCx2744]

I've always believed a good idea was to research the type of guns and ammo the local law enforcement used, therefore if a crisis situation were to occur where you would have to use a *possibly* fallen officer or soldier's gun (With legal justification to the preservation of human life and property), that you would know how to operate it. (I.E. the guys around here have GLOCKs, M&P's, Mossberg 500's, Remmy 870's, AR's, etc.) I've tried to pinpoint my focal point of firearms training to these types of weapons, because of that fact; everything else I shoot or play with are just for recreation or personal enjoyment. The AK and 1911 are usually for play, nowadays; the GLOCKs, AR's, Berettas and 870's are what I shoot the most.

Hell, you may be involved in a robbery or active shooter scenario and an officer may be in need of a mag that you just happen to be carrying a spare of. In that situation, I'd be glad to share. Coincidental miracles are great during panic situations, I'm sure many can agree.

 

[GD]

A meaningless statement. The majority of people with only one gun, probably own an old rusty .38 or .25 jennings.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The majority of people with only one gun, probably own an old rusty .38 or .25 jennings.

That is an assumption that will be very difficult to prove.

 

[Fat Boy]

The statement always made me think of a time when people either couldn't afford multiple firearms, or were unwilling to part with the money to buy more than one gun. Again, in my thinking, this was a time when people used their firearms for harvesting game and defending against 4 legged predators more than for defense against the 2 legged sort. I always admired the story of a person who owned a single revolver and made it work for multiple applications, often because in the circumstance they needed to make one gun work for everything.

Those of us who are able to afford multiple firearms or other items that we enjoy using are privileged when compared to others who lived in time gone by.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[gym]

But guys in the 50's to the 80's and still in some states you only are allowed to get one pistol on your license, that's if you can even get a license. In some parts of the country it is a privlage they extend only to those who can fulfill certain criteria. Like Trump, he gets to have a gun, you have to be either in the security business with full disclosure, tax forms, bank statements, letters from your attorney accountant and bank, along with 3 letters of personel recommendation from 3 people who know you for a minimum of 5 or 10 years. Or you need to show that you make deposits and carry at least 50 thousand dollars in cash, at any given time. Also in order not to be limited you need to show that sometimes it is necessary to take that money home with you so you aren't limited to a permit that can only be used during your employment hours. So please don't think that everyone has the ability to go and buy as many as they like, because that may be true wher you live but not where a lot of people live. And it may only be true where you live, for the last 15 years or so. I only knew a few guys who were not cops who had licenses in NY, when I had mine. It was called a gold card, and at that time the amount was only $5000.00 instead of 50,000.00. The gun with it's serial number goes on the license, you get a purchase order at 1PP, police plaza, to go and but the gun, and bring it back along with the purchase order so that it can be entered on the license you carry. It's called a Carry permit, not a concealed weapons permit. And you are held to a very high standard in order to renew each cycle, with an outrageous amount of money to renew. This is important fo people to realize that we are not living in a country where everyone gets the same rights, nor the ability to live as a free man should. Just so you understand that it's not the same everyware. And those who need to work in the financial center or the "meca" of busines, and the center of the universe for many fields in the U.S. are not allowed the same rights as the average joe in most other states.