Practicing with your CCW

[PlayboyPenguin]

While I was at the range yesterday someone asked me about how I liked my firearm (.357mag Ruger SP101 2.25"). When I told him it was my CCW he said it was odd that I was at the range with it. He said he is an NRA instructor and most people do not plink with their CCW. I find that hard to believe since this is the weapon you are trusting your life to in an emergency. I take mine at least once a week to practice. I like to practice with it from the hip. I think everyone should be able to get the torso with their ccw from the hip since you might not have time to raise and aim in a firefight. I am not saying I am great with it from the hip. I am happy to get all five shots somewhere on the torso at 10-15 yards much less get any type of grouping. The SP101 can be a bit of a beast to shoot. Do you practice with your CCW and if so how often and with what form and stance?

 

[PaulBk]

CCW

I use my CCW for at least 80% of my practice time. I also separate training time from plinking time.

-PB

 

[EddieCoyle]

I take mine to the range every time. It's already on my hip, I might as well practice with it.

 

[Lupinus]

practicing with it makes perfect sense to me, in fact it is not practicing with it that would make no sense to me.

Though I also remember a post here awhile ago that said his instructer said he should carry (think it was glock, might have been something else but I think glock) because that is what the police issue was and that police coming in seeing a glock drawn on someone would be more likly to think you were a cop.

Just cause the teacher teaches it doesn't mean there is any truth to it

 

[AirForceShooter]

man is an idiot!!
there are 2 guns I always take to the range.
My dinky little .22 and my CCW.
Always!!!

AFS

 

[middy]

Since my CCW is my only handgun... yep.

I put 200 rounds through it (Glock 26) once or twice a month. I practice drawing from my carry holster (concentrating on smoothness rather than speed, speed comes naturally once your muscles are trained to a smooth, efficient draw), obtaining a flash sight picture, and double taps to COM. I can draw and put two rounds COM at 15 yards in about 2 seconds; as could almost anyone with a little practice.

I'd like to practice from the hip more, but my range doesn't allow it unless you've attended their defensive pistol class. It's nice that they allow holster work though, most ranges don't.

I also attempt some bullseye at 25 yards, but mostly it's the draw and double-tap exercise.

I think you're exactly right with your philosophy PP. Everyone should practice with their CCW and work on practical defensive techniques.

 

[geekWithA.45]

You should shoot your carry gun until it becomes a natural extension of your hand. Then you should keep shooting it. If it should _actually_ wear out, buy another.

 

[w1423]

+1 for PlayboyPenguin
I don't know how many people rush out and get their CCW's and then don't shoot them after that.
I have seen this too many times to count when I asked them how many times they've been to a range after they got their CCW. It's simply amazing to me.
I hope I'm not close by when they have to defend themselves with it or there is reallllly goooooood cover to get behind.

 

[benEzra]

My CCW pistol (S&W 3913LS) is also my fun shooting/plinking pistol. Ditto for my wife (Glock 26).

It helps that they're 9mm's, relatively inexpensive to shoot...

 

[fastbolt]

Well, after having been convinced to help teach our CCW classes for the last several years, I would offer an observation that the significant majority of the CCW licensees I talk to seldom, if ever, actually practice with their handguns.

A few of them occasionally say they may pick up a box of whatever ammunition is cheapest before their next renewal class, and go fire some rounds before the class ... and I know one person who often competes in IPSC ... but most of the folks I ask admit to only shooting their CCW handguns at the actual renewal class/range qualification.

Naturally, I could understand how it might be more likely for folks who visit these sorts of firearms forums to be more inclined to regularly practice.

Of course, practice and training are subjects unto themselves, too.

 

[Drav]

I put at least 100 rounds through my carry gun every single time I go to the range. Not practicing with your carry gun is inexcusable.

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Odd Remark, From An NRA Instructor

It only makes sense to be proficient with your CCW handgun. To that end, one would take it to the range and practice with it! Mr. Penguin, you never know who you'll run into at the range..or what rationality.

If you raced cars for a living..betcha you'd do practice laps in the Car You Were Going To Race In!

While we have the subject of NRA instructors on this thread: They could really help advance our 2nd Amdt right by Donanting their time as qualified instructors to defray cost, and make CCW more affordable to many whose Only reason for not having a concealed handgun license is the inability to fork over $150.

Assuming the NRA IS Pro 2nd, why not prove it and donate some expertise?

 

[outofbattery]

I shoot mine on average of 50 rounds per week.However,I tend to shoot it more at silhouettes and plates than shooting at bullseyes though I did use it in my rod and gun club's pistol championship last year to see how well I could do with it ( a reasonably respectable 5th-it says a lot that a SIG compact can at least come close to target Kimbers,Smiths and a fine tuned Dan Wesson,at least up to 25 yards-I was toast when we stepped to the 50 mark but that's an extreme range for defensive shooting and I'm still comfortable that I can hit somewhere near COM with it...as long as he was standing broadside and still of course! )

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

as long as he was standing broadside and still of course!

Don't you hate it when bad guys don't have he decency to stand still.

 

[iamhistory]

I use my CCW for at least 80% of my practice time. I also separate training time from plinking time.

-PB

+1

There are times when I go out on my range (yes, I have one right off my front porch) and just play with whatever I feel like shooting that day. But, I always shoot my carry firearms regularly and typically with the rounds I will be carrying in them. I am a firm believer in training and practice. When doing so, I try to practice and prepare for the situations I may find myself in including details such as specific clothing, carry methods, etc.

Use it or lose it.

 

[Tigerseye]

OK.

I have had my CCW pistol for about 20 years and have carried it daily for at least part of the day for the past 6 years.

It is a Colt Officer's ACP Lightweight. It is not "fun" to shoot, but I am quite good with it.

I shoot at least 4 times per week, and shoot a variety of guns, but mostly .22 target pistols with which I compete.

I only shoot the CCW pistol 3 or 4 times per year and then clean it and reload it.

Flames will be ignored.

Tigerseye

 

[Firehand]

Practice with it, usually with 50 rounds of ball, then put on the conversion and shoot a box or so of .22s with it.

 

[ezypikns]

I'm wondering........

why go to the trouble and expense to obtain a concealed carry license if you don't practice with it. Seems like you would want to be more than proficient with a weapon you're entrusting with your life. The other thing is, once you've shot a handgun, how can you stay away from it? It's just so much fun.

 

[HighVelocity]

When I go to the range the first thing I do is draw from concealment and hose down the target with the ammo that's been riding in the gun. It's a little reassurance that, yes, if I have to use this it's going to work.

The last thing I do before I leave the range is reload my CCW with ammunition from a known good box. If I have to open a new box of Ranger or whatever then I will run a mags worth from that box through the gun before I leave. That way I know that the ammo in that box worked. I will then write down the date and number of rounds tested on the box with a sharpie.

I don't put faith in anything mechanical that I have not tested, and re-tested.

 

[hm]

Isn't this a little bit like a baseball player always practicing with one bat, but actually playing with another? That player is gonna have a tough time making it out of the farm leagues...good thing his life doesn't depend on his performance.

 

[bakert]

It's surprising how many folks buy a gun for home defence or carry purposes then shoot it very little if any. I know more than a few people that seem to think a new gun is OK as is and never practice or make sure it's reliable. At the indoor range I shoot at though, a remark like the one from the "NRA instructor" would get him laughed out of the place.

 

[jer1949]

I'm an NRA Basic Handgun Instructor as well as a qualified CCW instructor. I doubt that the person that told you that was really NRA affiliated. I least I hope he's not.

You should practice with your carry gun as much as feasable. Not only to hit the bad guys but to NOT hit the innocent ones.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

In this case I am actually pretty sure he is an NRA instructor. I think he actually teaches a CCW class locally. I do not think he was saying that it was a good idea to not practice with your CCW. I think he was just saying that so many do the old "buy it, shoot it once, then carry it for years" thing. He probably sees that alot as an instructor.

 

[distra]

I use my carry gun at our tactical matches. It's a nice environment to gain confidence in the firearm. We practice reloads, retention firing, using cover, simulated jams (real ones every once in a while) and accuracy. I feel 150% more confident in my ability to draw, fire and actually HIT the target. For me, it has built confidence in the fact that the firearm goes "bang" when I squeeze the trigger. I can't imagine NOT doing this training and carrying. As a matter of fact, I have insisted my wife participate in these matches to build her confidence and abilities. My $0.02

 

[CubDriver]

I plink with my carry gun as much as I can afford. I also shoot it in all of the practical matches I go to. I don’t see how you could REALLY use it to the best of your abilities unless you practice with it. If you had two of the same gun I guess an argument could be made for using one for carry with some practice, and the other exclusively for extensive practice. I cant afford two of my carry guns at this time, so I will just practice with it.