If you have a gun for self-defense, which have you spent more $ on, guns or training?

[Essex County]

I spent it all on guns. I was fortunate to have a Dad that started Me on handguns in my early teens. Familiarty and common sense goes a long way. I still chuckel at the Air Force's handgun and marksmen requirements. Essex

 

[CWL]

Some of us have alot of guns...
If you asked ammo+training, then my expenditure would be around the same.

 

[ShackleMeNot]

Your first professional training class will matter a lot more than your 17th new gun that will spend 99% of its life in your safe.

 

[Tim Burke]

6 week long classes at fixed facilities. One 4 day class. At least 24 weekend classes, most of which were Fri-Sun. 8 NTIs, 3 Tactical Conferences. 1 CCW course.

 

[Kevin108]

About $2000 on various guns, $40 on training to get my CHP.

 

[Ithaca37]

What did the human race do to survive before these firearms training courses that cost an arm and a leg? Given the supposed inadequacy of doing anything but spending $2000+ on a 5 day crash course it is amazing that we have made it as long as we have as a species.

 

[Leitmotif]

'che. Spent 1/6th of the price of my Usp on training. Spent the other 5/6ths in ammo practising in the next six months.

 

[scout26]

"Training" means "being formally taught by an instructor". It does not cover money spent on ammo, money spent on competitions, or money spent on practice.
"Guns" are firearms and accessories only.

So I guess if this were to apply to say my daughter's softball pitching. The $150 I spent on the fast-pitch training camp is worth more then the 1-2 hours per day that she spends practicing on honing the skills she learned.

I don't know how you dismiss practice costs as not part of training. I don;t know of any instructor that upon the completion of the course states "You now know everything there is to know about this subject, you have no need to ever practice again, as you are now an expert, always and forever."

The good ones say "You now have the basic skills, you need to continously practice to maintain and improve those skills, if you do not practice, then those skills will diminish over time."

 

[ShackleMeNot]

What did the human race do to survive before these firearms training courses that cost an arm and a leg? Given the supposed inadequacy of doing anything but spending $2000+ on a 5 day crash course it is amazing that we have made it as long as we have as a species.

How do you know what is taught at these "arms and a leg" worthless classes if you have never taken one?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Time Shortage

I would have to take time off work and travel.

Not many opportunities for that.

So I have the guns but not the training.

Practice? Yes, but not enough.

Maybe I can find a good local trainer.

* Sigh *

 

[Sonora Rebel]

FORMAL Training?

I think I was born with a gun in my hand. I spent 20 years in the Navy workin' on weapons (all kinds)... 'n went to war twice. I've been a cop... 'n thought 'not much' of the formal training provided. I s'pose that happens when you already know more than the instructors.... having operated ranges myself. I've actually had to shoot people... so therein' lies the difference I s'pose between punchin' holes in paper targets 'n gettin' some lead downrange against somebody who's tryin' to kill YOU. I carry a pistol everywhere... everyday... openly inna holster onna gunbelt. 'Just like wearin' my cowboy hat... 'don't leave home w/o it. I've known PhD's who couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on te heel. No common sense. I'm not all that impressed by fancy hi-dollar guns or fancy certificates that say the owner knows what they're doing. I've seen enuff dumasses with guns who had both.... including cops, 'hunters' (LOL) 'n 'suits' who brag about their CCW like some macho right of passage.

 

[lanternlad1]

Guns. Definately.

Always trying to find the "Holy Grail" of carry weapons...

It would help if I knew what it looked like...

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Bought a few used guns along the way, spent some on training, then some more on training, bought different guns, sold some (hey! SELLING guns comes off the top of the spent-on-guns column ...right?) oh hell, now I've lost count.

 

[Tin Gizel]

Two ways to look at this.....the US government spent a lot of money training me to use firearms.

I've spent a lot of money (IMO) on firearms.

I am now shifting gears and spending money on training. Starting with Tactical Response in September, spending "an arm and a leg" for "4 day crash course" oh btw, 4 days equal $800.

I'll be sure to let you all know how i feel about the classes after i'm done.

 

[duck_god82]

more on the firearm. most of my training has come from the military. I have only paid for one class and that was my concealed class the state requries me to have.

 

[stevelyn]

I spend more on guns.

My training has been paid for by y'all.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I don't think that money spent on training, with no follow practice through afterwards, means much of anything.

And I've taken training that cost me nothing. Many of us have.


Tom Givens has seen more of his graduates involved in gunfights than any other private firearms instructor today. He's humble, and won't advertise that fact, but he has. I know of only 2 who didn't survive, and neither of them had their guns with them when it happened. The majority of his students only took a few day's worth of training. But he managed to pass onto his students what they need to know, in a way they would retain it. That says a lot in my book.

Alphazulu6 said: Get a nice 12 gauge and buy the bird loads to train with. Seriously it does not take Annie Oakley to shoot a friggin 870 express with deadly accuracy.

Alph, its not about just shooting. Until we've taken quality training, we're unconsciously incompetent in many areas. We simply don't know what we don't know.

 

[Tim Burke]

Until we've taken quality training, we're unconsciously incompetent in many areas. We simply don't know what we don't know.

Which is why I keep training. I have enough guns; I'll never have enough training.

 

[Hokkmike]

Point a gun at a guy and the last thing on his mind is "hmmmm, I wonder how much training he has?" Spend ALL your money on the gun that is the most effective and easiest for you to use!

I would suggest that nothing beats practice with a gun to get proficient. As far as any training you might need goes, most all of it can be had for FREE.

Now, if you have the time and interest and want to be indulgent, competitive, and/or certified -then sure ,go for training. Why not?

 

[scurtis_34471]

Under your criteria, I picked guns, but I think it is wrong to separate training from practice. I read articles on shooting to help improve my technique. I try to spend at least ten minutes a day doing dry fire exercises. I spend 2 to 3 hours a week at the range. The only training I've had has been informal training from more experienced shooters. I practice holster draws at home. I practice rapid target acquisition, double taps and rapidly cycling through targets at different ranges when I shoot. Why does that not count? I'm building a strong proficiency.

 

[jlbraun]

I picked guns, but I think it is wrong to separate training from practice

I don't. Practice means practicing what you know how to do, right or wrong. Bullfrog has it right:

Alph, its not about just shooting. Until we've taken quality training, we're unconsciously incompetent in many areas. We simply don't know what we don't know.

Burning ammo at the range only practices skills you already know, and does not correct your bad habits. Practicing a bad habit over and over again does not make you better, you just get better at hiding it.

I hold to my separation of formal training from practice ammo costs.

I do have a question: How much pistol training does the military do? I was under the impression it was pretty cursory.

 

[ShackleMeNot]

I am now shifting gears and spending money on training. Starting with Tactical Response in September, spending "an arm and a leg" for "4 day crash course" oh btw, 4 days equal $800.

I'll be sure to let you all know how i feel about the classes after i'm done.

You should come back here and post a review after each class to give some of the people in this thread an idea of why training might be more important than buying 5 more guns.

 

[GRB]

I spend more on guns, but then I get my training for free on the job. Of course I spend a good amount of my own time and money on range time which goes toward training; ranges here in lower NY are expensive, but still more on guns over the years.

 

[crebralfix]

how would a criminal know if you have $2000 of training while staring down the barrel of your favorite handgun? My boy has $0 of training - well, other than my cost for 45acp rounds and range time - and he is very very accurate with my Taurus.

Accuracy with a weapon does not mean that person knows how, or even when, to fight.

A concealed carry class doesn't even come close to the necessary training to become proficient. It is merely the fulfillment of a contract with the State--it informs the applicant of the law and establishes a baseline of performance (an exceptionally low standard).