Firearm Fundamentals: Tips and Advice

Former Marine infantry. Marksmanship instructor. SWAT member. SWAT Sniper.

Best advice… DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. YOU’LL FIND IT.

Be prepared. Be vigilant. Have a plan. But don’t look for situations to test your perceived skills. Leave the violence to us. But indeed be prepared. Your life and safety matters.

Fuck gun grabbing rejects. They hate police, gun owners and themselves… But love criminals.

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You’ve got some years on me :sweat_smile:

I got to experience Parris Island’s summer weather in 2013 so I doubt our paths crossed. We also had scopes (although not great ones) so we learned Kentucky Windage with flags pointing multiple directions lol.

I’m left-handed but right-eye dominant. In boot camp they told me I had one chance to qualify left-handed and if I didn’t, I had to switch to right-handed. I did fine left-handed. You spend a lot of time sighting in before you go to the range, so it wasn’t that hard. I’ve tried to shoot rifles and shotguns right-handed and it feels awful and I can’t hit a thing. I shoot pistols about the same with either hand.

95 to 03. Still iron sights. On SWAT we have Vortex optics. $15,000 rifle set-up.

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The actual training of gun fighting as a martial art and marksmanship in general are very important, but just as important is understanding the circumstances that surround lethal force situations. Responsible gun owners have an obligation to educate themselves as well as they are able to about the ethical, legal and practical concerns that arise when you choose to be armed.

Here is a book I believe to be the armed citizen equivalent to Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 2nd Edition. Massad Ayoob explains the core concepts in a way that’s accessible to everyone, deeply informative and backed up with real-world examples while still being fairly concise.

An updated version is being released on paperback and Kindle in November, but for now this 2014 book remains a good way to spend thirteen bucks.

I was one of the last platoons to train on iron sights on Parris Island. I think it helps teach marksmanship in a way that can’t be replicated with a scope, but it’s probably just me being nostalgic.

I don’t have a ton of advice besides keep a low profile, don’t be that person who open carries, and pay attention to the unofficial 4th safety rule - know your target and what lies beyond it. Avoid trouble, but if it comes, be aware that stuff exists behind and around what you’re shooting at.

Also, don’t be the person who stockpiles thousands of rounds and plays tactical operator but can’t drop what they’re doing and run a mile.

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Good philosophy. People are too reliant on technology now. Most probably don’t know sight alignment / sight picture.

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I agree with this. Before my dad would put a scope on my hunting rifle I had to keep a sub 2” group at 100 yds with iron sights. Really honed my technique quick.

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Yeah - that’s really what it was - the best way to teach the fundamentals. Clear front post, blurry target - it’s much different when it’s an intangible reticle. You can learn and be a great shot, of course, but it’s like skipping over a step.

@cyclonengineer Yup! Too many people skip the fundamentals. My biggest advantage was that I had never shot a gun before boot camp. Everyone else talking all that trash about shooting on their farms as soon as they could walk had horrible technique and had to unlearn and relearn, which is way harder than just learning. I ended up going to designated marksman school and being honor grad. Had some great teachers along the way.

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Absolutely. Avoiding conflict seems like a skillset most women have mastered… but that also means most of us are underprepared for threats when they show up at our doorstep, surround our cars, or follow us into dark alleys.

Those are the scary moments I want to be ready for.

It’s super weird to me. They hate the police… but want the police to be the only ones armed. LOL.

Thank you so much for this recommendation. I ordered the book!

Now I need a how-to guide on responding to the anti-gun folks on social media. I tend to get nervous and just mute their accounts when they get argumentative, but it seems like having conversations with people about our second amendment would be far more persuasive than either trying to “own them” or avoid them.

I appreciate you dropping by this thread!

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Ooooh that’s a load of good advice. Thank you! :exploding_head:

Exactly… Kinda painted themselves into a corner. Which is something they excel at.

And honestly… Been a police officer for 14 years in St Louis. Too many of our officers are not proficient enough with firearms. Defunding us means less of the training we need. Brilliant move.

Ok, Dani and I have obviously talked about this stuff when she was first learning to shoot, and she knows all this now, but for firearm newbies who might be following along:

I’ve known two people who accidentally discharged their semiautomatic firearms because they thought that “magazine removed = unloaded.” Both times they had a round in the chamber. Luckily, no one was killed, but one person was hospitalized.

And I’ve read about others who got a semi-auto handgun for self-defense, had to use it for that purpose, and didn’t know (or remember under stress) that magazine loaded does not mean gun loaded – they didn’t rack the slide.

For this reason, I’ve always suggested simple revolvers for people who want a gun but just aren’t going to train with it regularly. Perhaps even a hammerless model (one less thing to worry about). Maybe they shouldn’t have one at all, come to think of it, but you get the idea.

Be realistic about owning a firearm. Know how the damn thing works. Take a class or three. Train.

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I’d suggest magazine fed firearms really. Easier learning curve imo… Especially loads / reloads. You made a good point though.

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If a guy or gal wanted a carry revolver, what would you recommend? The cylinder seems like it might make the gun fairly wide? Maybe a 5 shot in a medium caliber (9mm or .380)?

Loads/Reloads - for sure, agreed. In most defensive situations, it’s just a 1 or 2 shots though, so hopefully a reload wouldn’t be necessary. Usually it’s not a gun fight situation. Legally, taking a few extra shots at a wounded or fleeing intruder makes you the bad guy in the eyes of the court… sadly. I’d suggest a semi-auto too for most people willing to get trained.

Coincidence:

I also keep a semi-auto locked up in the quick access safe on my night stand. But if I’m not naked I have a J frame in my pocket. The learning curve is steeper, but I can shoot it pretty good inside 10 yards. Reloads probably aren’t going to happen under stress, but my goal is to break contact, get family to safety.

Yes, that’s always the drawback of revolvers for legal carry: not as flat or easy to conceal, very generally speaking. Something like a Ruger LCR is “light and tight.”

You can get it from .22 all the way up the .357 mag – but that would be a big POP in such a small gun! A 9mm would require moon clips but that does mean faster reloading if necessary.

For hammerless, S&W makes a wide variety, and Kimber’s newer model looks nice.

When I was in Texas and had my concealed carry license, I actually popped one of these in my pocket often: North American Arms mini-revolver.

Yes, a single-action micro-gun is a terrible choice for defense! Terrible! But it was “the firearm you could carry when you couldn’t carry a firearm,” if you know what I mean. I could even fit this thing on me comfortably when going for a run in shorts and a tank top. I even had the neck-carry accessory. (Bling that goes bang.)

Many people search for the perfect defensive firearm for legal concealed carry, only to find that the best gun for self-defense isn’t always the kinda gun they’d actually carry. So being realistic and saying “Would I actually want this thing in pants?” is a good question to ask. Usually the bad guys, “mostly peaceful protesters,” and rapists don’t allow you to go home and get your firearm.

But sure, there are some that daily carry a full-size 1911 and two spare mags. Most “regular” people wouldn’t though.

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