I've been noticing a rather disturbing trend lately. I've seen several ads in the INGO handguns selling forum where people say stuff like "only 14 rounds fired...only carried for a few weeks" or "carried a bit but never shot".
W-T-F?????
I been carrying for over 25 years so I guess that either makes me OLD or OLD SCHOOL or maybe both. I've never had any formal training but I have read a LOT and shot a LOT. I got into guns before the web was a thing so I read THOUSANDS of gun magazines - American Handgunner and Combat Handguns were my favorites. Massad Ayoob is probably my favorite gun author. (incidentally I am reading his latest book now and highly recommend "Deadly Force: Understanding your right of Self-Defense" (2014) ) All these experts always stressed to TEST your carry gun with your carry ammo (as well as range ammo) for several things BEFORE you consider carrying a gun:
1) Is it reliable?
2) Is it reliable with your carry load?
3) Can you hit with it?
4) If it's an auto are ALL your magazines reliable?
The minimum amount of rounds fired before it's "good to go" is debatable and varies from expert to expert. If you are carrying a wheel-gun the answer is NOT MUCH. If you are carrying a semi-auto my personal standard is 200+ range ammo (ball) and at least 50 rounds of your carry ammo.
So I'm wondering are the new generation of gun people not getting the information they need? I guess I should have saved all those gun magazines!
W-T-F?????
I been carrying for over 25 years so I guess that either makes me OLD or OLD SCHOOL or maybe both. I've never had any formal training but I have read a LOT and shot a LOT. I got into guns before the web was a thing so I read THOUSANDS of gun magazines - American Handgunner and Combat Handguns were my favorites. Massad Ayoob is probably my favorite gun author. (incidentally I am reading his latest book now and highly recommend "Deadly Force: Understanding your right of Self-Defense" (2014) ) All these experts always stressed to TEST your carry gun with your carry ammo (as well as range ammo) for several things BEFORE you consider carrying a gun:
1) Is it reliable?
2) Is it reliable with your carry load?
3) Can you hit with it?
4) If it's an auto are ALL your magazines reliable?
The minimum amount of rounds fired before it's "good to go" is debatable and varies from expert to expert. If you are carrying a wheel-gun the answer is NOT MUCH. If you are carrying a semi-auto my personal standard is 200+ range ammo (ball) and at least 50 rounds of your carry ammo.
So I'm wondering are the new generation of gun people not getting the information they need? I guess I should have saved all those gun magazines!