As I understand it, the shotgun is so popular because it's rugged, time tested, inexpensive, and most importantly simple to use effectively. So when did all this rabble start about having to get proper training in the use of a shotgun when it's kept for HD? I don't get it? Is this real or just another way for the experienced shooters to feel better about their experience?
Okay. What's with the training jag?
- Thread starter Amadeus
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You need training in order to operate any weapon effectively. It's not just something that was made up to make experienced shooters feel better about themselves.
The shotgun has controls that you need to learn and you have to be proficient in the manual of arms for your particular shotgun in order to prevail in the fight. Most of them have a small capacity compared to other defensive arms so you have to be proficient in loading.
Some people are born naturals, but in my experience they are few and far between. The rest of us need to train and practice.
Jeff
The shotgun has controls that you need to learn and you have to be proficient in the manual of arms for your particular shotgun in order to prevail in the fight. Most of them have a small capacity compared to other defensive arms so you have to be proficient in loading.
Some people are born naturals, but in my experience they are few and far between. The rest of us need to train and practice.
Jeff
Okay -- sure sure--- I can see how it makes sense from a perspective of practice and learning the manual of arms for your chosen firearm. I
Repetition Becomes Habit - Habit Becomes Faith
Lady Luck ain't always around, Murphy's Law usually is.
Simple stuff like the proper gun mounting 25 times a day ( repetition) is a HUGE benefit to the shotgunner.
Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays shooters and the like benefit , these shooters tend to manage transition into 3 gun because of repetitive skills ( gun handling, mounting and very importantly keeping the gun fed).
These folks are also better in transition into more "serious shotgunning"
The shotgun becomes an extension of shooter , shooter is focused on threat...not fumbling/fighting the shotgun.
"Dead Bird" = good, but only temporary in the whole scheme of things.
"Dead Shotgunner" = Bad , Dead is Forever.
Lady Luck ain't always around, Murphy's Law usually is.
Simple stuff like the proper gun mounting 25 times a day ( repetition) is a HUGE benefit to the shotgunner.
Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays shooters and the like benefit , these shooters tend to manage transition into 3 gun because of repetitive skills ( gun handling, mounting and very importantly keeping the gun fed).
These folks are also better in transition into more "serious shotgunning"
The shotgun becomes an extension of shooter , shooter is focused on threat...not fumbling/fighting the shotgun.
"Dead Bird" = good, but only temporary in the whole scheme of things.
"Dead Shotgunner" = Bad , Dead is Forever.
Sweat in peacetime so you don't bleed during war. Remember, you even had to "train" to learn to go to the bathroom correctly, do you really want to try applying deadly force under stress without training?
No weapon,even an 870, is a Magic Amulet warding off Evil by its mere presence. Weapons training has been essential since Cain and Abel. Cain trained, Abel didn't.
A shotgun in trained hands is a fearsome weapon. One in less trained hands loses effectiveness quickly and may even be a detriment rather than an aid.
A note from Nam....
Some records kept during that debacle show that a grunt had three times as much chance of dying in his first fire fight as the subsequent ones.
Anyone who has been in combat can tell you just how little conscious thought plays a part. Reflexive actions based on training over and over enable us to operate our weapons even in a state of absolute terror, when sphincter failure is but an annoyance and the veneer of civilization sluffs off in milliseconds.
When deep down in your viscera you KNOW why they wanted to know who were your next of kin, priorities change.
Those who have not walked through the Valley of the Shadow haven't a clue.
That's why we train. And, luckily, lots of recreational shotgunning can serve as training, from the fast shucks used in shooting doubles to the quick reloads in a hot dove field to the move/mount/shoot of brush hunting and so on.
Few folks achieve more than minimal proficiency with a shotgun who do not use one recreationally and extensively.
And that's one reason why I get repetitious about BA/UU/R.
A shotgun in trained hands is a fearsome weapon. One in less trained hands loses effectiveness quickly and may even be a detriment rather than an aid.
A note from Nam....
Some records kept during that debacle show that a grunt had three times as much chance of dying in his first fire fight as the subsequent ones.
Anyone who has been in combat can tell you just how little conscious thought plays a part. Reflexive actions based on training over and over enable us to operate our weapons even in a state of absolute terror, when sphincter failure is but an annoyance and the veneer of civilization sluffs off in milliseconds.
When deep down in your viscera you KNOW why they wanted to know who were your next of kin, priorities change.
Those who have not walked through the Valley of the Shadow haven't a clue.
That's why we train. And, luckily, lots of recreational shotgunning can serve as training, from the fast shucks used in shooting doubles to the quick reloads in a hot dove field to the move/mount/shoot of brush hunting and so on.
Few folks achieve more than minimal proficiency with a shotgun who do not use one recreationally and extensively.
And that's one reason why I get repetitious about BA/UU/R.
Sm, Mr. McCracken, and others have it right...Lady Luck isn't always around, but you can bet your last penny that Mr. Murphy is always standing on your shoulders, while kicking you in the head.
And as I practice/train more, I gain more confidence that if need be, at the end of the day, I WILL be the Last Man Standing.
And as I practice/train more, I gain more confidence that if need be, at the end of the day, I WILL be the Last Man Standing.
When using a shotgun defensively, if you aren't shooting you better be reloading! And while you are reloading you better be focusing on improving your tactical position/situation - moving, scaning,scooting, shooting. You had better be 100% proficient at reloading while otherwise occupied or you will be the victim - and the winner will be with his homies shuckin, high-fivin, and jivin about how easy his latest victim was.
Amadeus, what you say is true about the shotgun, but not necessarily about the man.
There are no magic swords or talismans. The Yeehawist motto of "all you need" will get you in trouble. Education will strengthen your foundation of mindset, gunhandling and marksmanship.
Guns do not fight, men do.
There are no magic swords or talismans. The Yeehawist motto of "all you need" will get you in trouble. Education will strengthen your foundation of mindset, gunhandling and marksmanship.
Guns do not fight, men do.
Contrary to some comments,there is nothing "instinctive" about shooting.We demonstrated this recently with a pump shotgun that had no buttstock just a pistol grip. Typically people without training shoot low and to the left with this gun which is fired from the hip. The pump shotguns also can be seriously jammed if they are short cycled. There are also a number of different designs which means different loading techniques etc. Training for HD ?? it's your life!
You train for the worst circumstances so if they happen they won't be a surprise.
You also train for mindset and to think both tactically and strategically. So many times I read here about "which shotgun is best for home defense" when actually which type of gun is less important than having a strategy in place to deal with likely events.
So you have your gun, it's 3am and you hear the sound of breaking glass? Do you single-handedly begin a houseclearing exercise in your shorts without knowing the nature of the threat? Call 911? What is your next step is after you find the phone line's been cut? There's a lot of stuff to think about beyond which gun and do you know how to use it.
Plan your response and respond according to your plan. With training comes the comfort in knowing that you have a plan, know your response, know the terrain and are most likely up against someone who knows none of the above.
You also train for mindset and to think both tactically and strategically. So many times I read here about "which shotgun is best for home defense" when actually which type of gun is less important than having a strategy in place to deal with likely events.
So you have your gun, it's 3am and you hear the sound of breaking glass? Do you single-handedly begin a houseclearing exercise in your shorts without knowing the nature of the threat? Call 911? What is your next step is after you find the phone line's been cut? There's a lot of stuff to think about beyond which gun and do you know how to use it.
Plan your response and respond according to your plan. With training comes the comfort in knowing that you have a plan, know your response, know the terrain and are most likely up against someone who knows none of the above.
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