OT
If Dave and other mods will allow – I will address the questions if I may.
I was born you might say in a environment that BGs wanted what we had access to. When I born in ’55; awaiting my arrival home was a loaded .22 revolver, I learned to shoot with that revolver. I remember “helping†my grandmother shoot that High Standard Sentinel at age 3 . At age 6 I shot my first center-fire handgun , a Gov’t 1911 in .45 ACP. "Gunny" at the NG taught me.
Shotguns and Rifles came very very soon afterwards.
My mentors had served in Conflicts, in various branches of the Military. Firearms and Firearm safety were part of what a family and circle of friends taught, and practiced. Firearms could be purchased by filing out a postcard, and paying COD when the postman delivered it to one’s door.
No pieces of paper giving permission to carry a handgun, we all did it, personal responsibility for one’s self and family. Men, women and kids, made no nevermind, no big deal to see a gun in purse, on a man’s hip, a kid walking down the street or riding a bike. Vehicles, be it the back seat or gun rack…and yes , the guns were always loaded.
In the home...damn skippy the guns were loaded and handy, even with us all kids.
To paraphrase Mark Twain:
Nothing more dangerous than an unloaded gun.
Now I had Folks that served in Korea, Vietnam and some could not tell me where they had served or what they had done, teach me. Teach me to SURVIVE at all costs.
Repetition becomes faith – faith becomes habit.
I made a decision at a very very young age to stay with a few platforms, as taught and suggested. I made MY decision based on gun fit to me, what I could manipulate under stress and get quick accurate hits. I have stayed with these, these being the 1911, the BHP and S&W revolver – especially the K frames.
My choices on Shotguns and Rifles are based on the same thought and training process.
I refuse to own a DA/ SA, I refuse to own a slide mounted safety on a handgun. I " finally " accepted the DAO...it is a revolver with a magazine , and yeah, I 'snick" off the non- existent safety on it too. Simple Green and Windex bottles have a staight finger off trigger ...and before getting horizontal with target ....I snick them off too...
When my elders and mentors whom had survived, taught me , from real life experiences – I paid real close attention.
For instance , when I draw a handgun , by habit I come to horizontal to target – the safety is snicked off a 1911 or BHP. This same repetitive motion on a K frame revolver has NO ill effect on the K frame and the ability for me to hit target. I shoot Semi’s and Revolvers the same way, it is called “high thumbs†today.
When a Helicopter pilot and crew is downed in SE Asia and Charlie is coming to get ‘em, hurt , bloody and praying for the Calvary ( literally ) to save their bacon….A Government Model, a Model 66 and a Model 19 all “operate the same†. The man with the injured right hand , from training with his weak hand , did not miss a beat snicking off that safety with an index finger….they didn’t issue ambi-safeties.
The Ithaca 37 and Model 12 kept tossing slugs , even with the mud and debris from the Rice Paddy. A Leather Handled K-Bar will stop Charlie at contact distance…and still open the C rations later….damn P 38’s …never around when you need one.
I took up skeet to be a better bird hunter. I enjoyed the competition, I have a competitive nature. I had fun at that GAME but I took it very serious, sometimes too much. 16 practice rounds in one day, 25K rds of 12ga alone in one year- for many years , for example.
My elders, mentors, said that it most likely won’t be sunshine and 70* when the elephant comes. So that means me and the firearms most likely will be subjected to elements. One has to KNOW the person and the firearm will work.
You pour sand down a 1911 and shoot it. Same with a long gun , in this case a shotgun. You toss your sidearm and shotgun in mud puddle and have it stepped on, you have to wade or swim a body of water and shoot.
My mentors didn’t play games with me. “ Train for the worst and hope for the best, and more important train to NOT get in the situation in the first place".
Only rules – the 4 rules of safety. I may have my gun ( s) taken away and loaded for me. That target was trying to kill me, I had to survive. My gun may not have been loaded, the mags may have dummy rounds….
They may “tether†me to make me fall and stumble by pulling on the rope( s) They may throw sticks and tennis balls at me, they may shoot blanks all around me, they may bind my arm, or leg to simulate a injury…. It sucks to have tether tied to a sling and have it yanked out of one's hands to simulate getting caught on something...., gun ( a 1300) survived that fall okay. 1300s being used as a club will break the stock at the wrist tho'....oh well , I "survived"....gun stocks can be replaces and finishes - refinished better than my body .....
Whatcha gonna do to survive Steve?
Dave mentioned “ being out of the loopâ€
I have participated in 2 and 3 gun events I have partcipated in IDPA an IPSC – I choose to not continue to participate in IDPA, IPSC, 3 gun for a reason. I have played games, skeet, 5 stand sporting clays and live pigeon. I made friends, I had fun, I was good enough to win.
Back to training-
We will start not knowing what the stage is. I have been led to the starting area blindfolded, my guns loaded for me. At the sound of a blank pistol, I turn strong side with shotgun in hand and scan…and have a target coming at me, like a Tueller Drill…I cannot make it to cover, I have to shoot. Yes you can engage a target from low ready with a shotgun and get 3 hits in the time it takes that target to reach you from 21 steps. I've done it many times with a pump. I have done it with a Semi , SX1, 1100, Beretta 303 for example as well.
I can do it with a model 94 in 30 -30 as well.
We do this with single shots, O/U and SxS as well...I can get a single shot off from a single, two for sure from a double gun ...and not too shabby on getting two more stuffed in the chambers like on a Safari as I haul butt for cover...the SxS is far more easier for me btw to reload like this.
Another “stage†( if you will) I have been handed a “baby†and in the processes of trying to unlock the vehicle, I am fired at….Well unlike the groceries , I can’t very well drop the baby now can I ? You better have a weak side BUG, because most likely that baby is gonna be placed in your strong side arm.
I don’t expect folks to understand , or agree. It might perhaps explain the reason why I choose the platforms I do. Why I have punched a steel target with my shotgun muzzle and ruined it, why I broke stocks on a 1911, not allowed to have a BUG, or a knife and only 1 rd loaded in the mag for me, why I busted the stocks on a K frame the same way…
Explains why the “old farm†truck had banged up ( moreso) bumpers from “moving†the vehicles fore and aft to get away at a "stoplight"….or the deep gash on a door from the vehicle trying to box me in “ a parking spotâ€. I got out of there - fast!
Yep – I shot the windows out of a “vehicle†…I saw no need to expose myself anymore than needed to get a shot(s) off….shortest distance is a straight line…it is said. Do you know what vehicle glass does when slugs are fired through them at contact distance? I do. Ever fired your shotgun under a "vehicle" ....how about your handguns for CCW?
Someday I will perhaps have the money to attend a Awerbuck Class. Heck- I’d like to have the money to afford some of his books.
Until I can be taught – Correctly – I guess I’ll continue to be wrong.
kudu - warned you folks.
I would get untrained if I started going that wrong. 
