Most Important Accessories For A Pistol

[gravis86]

Lets assume someone has only one handgun for target practice, home defense, and personal defense. What are the most important things for that person to have? (Besides plenty of ammo) I'm trying to compile a list. So far I have:

Good cleaning kit
Extra mags
Holster
Concealed Carry License
Flashlight
Training of some sort

Anything missing from my list? Something you think should be required?

 

[.cheese.]

mag pouch wouldn't be a bad purchase.

Sure you could carry an extra mag in your pocket, but that's both uncomfortable and impractical.

Oh and a spare recoil spring is a good idea.... keep it at home. You'll need it if you go to the range with any regularity.

 

[Black Majik]

Good list so far. I'll add a good quality gun belt to that magpouch and holster.

 

[Autolycus]

With the addtion of those two, you pretty much have it. Though I would suggest a variety of holsters. OWB and IWB are the two. Perhaps a shoulder holster for other situations.

 

[doberman]

Too vauge.

What kind of gun?

 

[ATAShooter]

If it is a gun that you cannot dry fire, I suggest snap caps so you can spend some time with it learning the feel of the trigger pre-travel, Break and overtravel.

 

[shooting time]

Crimson trace laser grips
I just put on some crimson trace laser grips on my model 60 and they work great real powerful laser that you can sight in easily.

 

[Jayb]

TRAINING........ everything else on your list will follow, as your knowledge grows. Learning can be fun.

 

[ID_shooting]

Since I havn't seen it posted yet, some type of lockable container to keep it all when not in use. If this is the olny gun a person has then there are plenty of affordable safes on the market that can range anywhere from 1 - 3 cubic feet in size.

 

[Ed Ames]

I second the lockable container... but not just for use at home.

If you want to travel at all (even interstate driving) you need a lockable hard case. You need it for airline travel, going to some ranges/going to the range in some states, crossing states where you need FOPA protection, etc.. You may want it for other uses like keeping prying fingers off the gun when you aren't around.

A plastic pistol box may be good enough. You can get them for a few bucks. Some guns come with them, many do not. They really aren't secure though.

I have one of these: secure-it box -- it's small, fairly innocuous looking, can be cabled to a car, bed, or similar to prevent casual walk-off theft. Toss it in a suitcase and you can fly with it. Toss it in the trunk of your car and you can drive through any state with it. (The gun must be unloaded for either of those to be absolutely true though.) There are other choices but that would be my minimum.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I would add Crimson Trace Laser grips, if available for the gun.

After several years of practicing several evenings a week with good gun lasers and laser/lights ALL my defense guns are equipped with a good laser or Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Gravis86...With all the equipment that has been suggested you may want to invest in a wheel borrow or a wagon to carry all this fine stuff...

 

[Ed Ames]

I second the wheel barrow... but not just for carrying stuff.

A tactical wheel barrow....

I should add on to my previous post the fact that my favorite part about the store-it containers is that they are quite small and easy to carry compared to some of the plastic cases that seem to double or tripple the dimensions of the gun.

 

[Shawnee]

I'm with JayB on this one.

 

[hamourkiller]

Cases and cases of ammo!

 

[earplug]

Membership in a range and some sort of shooting competion.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Shucks folks...All I carry is a Auto in an IWB holster in the summer with a spare magazine and a revolver in an IWB holster the winter with 10 extra rounds in loops on a belt slide...Oh...Forgot the pocket knife and my keys and a hankerchief and my wallet...Pockets are starting to get crowded with just this much stuff...

Training and practice is the key...

 

[Claude Clay]

2 sets eye's & ears ( so your significant other can practice also). a range bag to hold all your goodies. assorted small tools for range use. paper or reactive targets. small staple gun and masking tape & what all others have said also. small hi intensity flash light & folding belt knife ( like a Gerber ezout). night sights on a sigp239 in 40 would meet you 3 criteria nicely. good luck

 

[Don Lu]

Good set of night sights....

 

[gcrookston]

The very first accessory I purchase is extra magazines... I don't like to have less than 5 per pistol

 

[gravis86]

ID_Shooting and Ed Ames:

Lockable container? It depends on if the person carries the gun or not. If the person CC's the weapon, it would never need to be locked in a container. It's either on the person, or on the nightstand next to the bed.

 

[OldTXCop]

How about a good knife.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I still (more then ever) recommend that wheel barrow...You'll need it.

 

[RPCVYemen]

Maybe training?

I am not a know it all. I just bought a semi after shooting a SA revolver for a while. There is a local gun store/range that offers 1 hour one-on-one instruction for $60. I am thinking of doing an hour. My impression is that instruction does not replace practice, but might help me learn faster.

Any reaction to that?

Mike

 

[possum]

Good cleaning kit
Extra mags
Holster
Concealed Carry License
Flashlight
Training of some sort

my thoughts in order
1) extra mags
2)holster
3)training
4)cleaning kit
5)night sights
6)flashlights, hand held and weapon mounted.