Practice w/EDC

[Old cop]

I went to the range today w/my nickel 442 and ran 100 rounds through it and my hand/wrist are both pretty sore. I put up a standard 8" paper plate and run it out to 3, 5 and 7 yards. Then I empty the gun as fast as possible, combat reload w/a speed loader and repeat. Time increases w/distance but your goal is to keep all 10 shots on the plate. I was able to do just that at all distances using mostly standard pressure loads w/some +P (my 442 is not +P rated) so my confidence is maintained w/my edc. This is something I try to do several times a year.

I'd be interested in hearing from others who practice w/their EDC, what do you do to keep your skill level up?

 

[Trons]

Last year we shot almost every other weekend. I own some property so we set up a little area out back a couple hundred yards behind the house. I generally print some targets and put them up. The targets have 5 3" targets on them.

I generally slow shoot for most of a box, focusing on technique. We will sometimes compete, who can shoot closer to the bulls, tightest group, ect. Towards the end, I'll put a piece of paper up, load 5 rounds into each mag and do a draw, shoot, reload, shoot and see if I can keep all 10 rounds on the paper. We usually shoot at 7yds, but sometimes go out further.

We will also throw soda cans and water bottles (Depending on what we're drinking) out there to change up the target size, distance and angle. It's also fun to watch them jump.

This year, most of the people I've been shooting with, including myself, have been working 6 or 7 days a week, so we've only got to shoot about once a month. Hoping with weather warming up, that'll change and we can go back to shooting more regularly (But my pocket book hates that).

 

[Kanewpadle]

I went to the range today w/my nickel 442 and ran 100 rounds through it and my hand/wrist are both pretty sore. I put up a standard 8" paper plate and run it out to 3, 5 and 7 yards. Then I empty the gun as fast as possible, combat reload w/a speed loader and repeat. Time increases w/distance but your goal is to keep all 10 shots on the plate. I was able to do just that at all distances using mostly standard pressure loads w/some +P (my 442 is not +P rated) so my confidence is maintained w/my edc. This is something I try to do several times a year.

I'd be interested in hearing from others who practice w/their EDC, what do you do to keep your skill level up?

Friend of mine put one of these on his 642. Looks funky and awkward. But boy I tell ya, they work great.

DELTA GRIP? - HANDGUN GRIPS - Products

I only put 20 rounds through his gun but it was a breeze. No knuckle slap and the gun pointed naturally. Reduced felt recoil too.

 

[Rastoff]

Anyone who carries should practice with their carry gun a lot.

I practice controlled pairs from concealment. Never more than two shots in one event. My defense paradigm is to shoot a controlled pair, move and then assess the situation. It is my belief that the first two shots are the most important. They are the best representation of what will happen when defending yourself for real.

I practice from 3-15 yards, but mostly at 7 yards.

25 rounds a week is better than 100 rounds a month. 100 rounds a month is better than 400 rounds once a quarter. Any practice is better than no practice. Shooting is a perishable skill.

 

[Fox4506]

Friend of mine put one of these on his 642. Looks funky and awkward. But boy I tell ya, they work great.

DELTA GRIP? - HANDGUN GRIPS - Products

I only put 20 rounds through his gun but it was a breeze. No knuckle slap and the gun pointed naturally. Reduced felt recoil too.

I have Delta Grips on my 642 also. I agree they do look a little funny...you get used to it...but they do make a difference when shooting. Being able to get all 3 fingers on the grip makes a big difference for me. They're also thinner than the factory grips which makes them print less when I carry in my front pocket.

Fox

 

[RABULL]

Like I have said before, these are carry a lot, shoot a little but you do have to practice with it once in awhile to keep your skills up with it.....

 

[Voyager28]

Practicing with your EDC is certainly very important. But, IMHO, there is something most people leave out when they practice. That is shooting with the weak hand. Make sure, should the need arise because of injury or whatever, that your weak hand can also get the job done.

Bob

 

[ibewbull]

Practicing with your EDC is certainly very important. But, IMHO, there is something most people leave out when they practice. That is shooting with the weak hand. Make sure, should the need arise because of injury or whatever, that your weak hand can also get the job done.

Bob

e ,

I agree, weak hand. Plus prone, sitting and simulated recovery from a trip or fall.
Many will step back if startled tripping and ending up on the keaster.

 

[Fox4506]

I agree. Weak hand shooting and one handed shooting is very important. I practice both every time I shoot. If you ever have to use your gun in a self defense situation there's a good chance you might be holding someone off with one hand while you fire with the other hand.

I can't practice prone, simulated recovery etc. because I use an indoor range...but if you can those are great too.

Fox

 

[petepeterson]

I shoot at a range where there are rarely people present, so I can simulate quite a few things. My 442 and Kel-Tec aren't exactly fun guns to shoot, but I typically shoot them (15-20 rds) every couple of weeks. It gives me a good reason to keep them clean. My 3914 gets shot at every range session, then the fun stuff comes out.

 

[old&slow]

I only practice & shoot my model 60 EDC gun a couple times a year. However, I usually shoot at a local club match every weekend , about 8 or 9 months of the year. Probably about 100 to 200 rounds a match. Sometimes I shoot a auto ,, sometimes a revolver.

About once or twice a year the club has a CCW match and I use the model 60.. That is were I found out J frame HKS speed loaders aren't very good
( never had any problems with HKS in the L or N frames. but prefer Safariland )

If not I practice with 50 or 100 rounds a couple times a year, just to make sure I remember how it works..

 

[OLDSTER]

Old cop; we subscribe to the same EDC practice regimine. I do about the same with my 642, and stay competent and confident with the "J"

 

[Ranger17]

i dont yet carry but i make sure that each range visit every 2-4 weeks or so that in addition to playing with my .22's I also go thru 50-150 rounds in my M&P 9's (a compact as well as now a full size).
I do that not only to build consistency and familiarity but to continue improving with said 9's. And frankly i really enjoy shooting them so any practice is not a chore but more like a hobby for me. Main thing i'll be adding would be holster work and more defensive style shooting down the road.

But on point, i cant imagine carrying and not practicing with that firearm. Just my .02 of course.

 

[ChiefStealth]

I practice nearly every week. 2-hand. 1-hand. Weak hand. Standing, kneeling, sitting. Just about any way I can think of. Only thing I'm missing, is draw and shoot practice. My range doesn't allow that. No drawing from holsters. No simulated drawing from holsters. So, my drawing practice is dry-fire, at home. Still looking for a place where draw and shoot is permitted.

 

[CaptRon956]

The range I go to is also where the DHS officers train at and many times I'll stand back behind the glass & watch how they do it, the distance, and I'll mimic what they're doing. Recently I've been practicing shooting 3-5-7 yards strong hand, then weak hand, then two handed grip.

Also my range has weekly defensive competition matches where we get together and use our EDC's (mine is a Shield 40) and time ourselves at multiple quick shots at center of mass & head. Whoever gets the fastest timed shots with the highest score wins..

 

[pharmer]

I used to go 3 boxes fmj in my 6906 4X a year plus a mag of 12 SD ammo for a total of 624 rds/ yr. I have cut back to 2 boxes 3X/ yr plus 12 rds SD ammo(changing once a year has no greater failure rate, I never chamber a round more than once in a rotation,2/3 are never chambered until firing). This is at 5 and 7 yds. Just enough to be competent without overconfidence. Joe

 

[camsdaddy]

I shoot my EDC more than anything else. I may take one other gun and run 20-30 rounds but most of my shooting is my EDC. I shoot strong, weak and two hand from 7-25+ yards. I would shoot closer but I'm normally shooting plates and splatter is painful. I shoot a few into paper from 0-7. In the beginning while cold I always draw and shoot from concealment. I'm lucky to have a range and schedule that normally allows me to shoot alone and anyway I want.

 

[66 shooter]

Hey Old Cop...good to see that you are still doing "qualification" stuff, too bad a lot of us retired LEO's don't do the same, even though they still carry daily. My carry regime is pretty much the same as yours when practicing. Also do some dry fire stuff at home. Be safe and keep up the good work.

 

[prplbkrr]

On a B-27-Q target (1/2 size man silhouette) at 7 yds. I pocket draw and point shoot by placing the butt of the gun on my lowest rib bone (seems to be my natural POA) and fire 2 shots. Not all shots are COM, but someplace on paper there is a hole. I am using a 640 Centennial w/full house .357 loads. Been doing this drill for 7 yrs.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Because of limited resources, I use some interesting training ideas that I've picked up along the way.

My range doesn't allow shooting at multiple targets so I'll use either 3"x5" or 4"x6" adhesive mailing labels at different heights across my target.

I like to use 8.5"x11" sheets of paper, especially when I'm working on speed.

Negative targets can also be useful from time to time. I cut out a 8.5"x11" hole in the COM area of a silhouette target. Get the rounds in the hole. It keeps me from trying to look for bullet holes in the target as I'm shooting. I first read about this idea from Michael DeBethencourt's website.

I recently shot at a range with programmable turning targets which was a great exercise in reaction shooting, especially since I don't have a shot timer.

Sometimes I do squats before firing a sequence to get my heart and respiration rate up. I considered doing push-ups, but (1) I don't want to freak out the range officers by lying on the ground and (2) they might not appreciate where the muzzle of my holstered gun would end up pointing.

I try to move "off the x" when drawing at the range, but the lane dividers limit that option.

I always try to do some strong-hand-only shooting, especially when drawing at close range. I don't do as much weak-hand-only shooting as I should, though.

I also work in some reloading because JHP are a little more difficult to reload than FMJ-profile dummy rounds.

Everything else I do at home using dummy rounds and dry-fire practice. I've practiced falling down and drawing my gun then getting back up. I practice some basic empty-hand techniques to create space so I can draw. I practice reloading techniques in awkward positions (ever tried fishing a speed strip out of your pocket while crouching behind low cover?).

If you want to have some real fun, try doing weak-hand-only reloads with a snub and dummy rounds.

Whenever I practice something, I try to visualize a scenario and respond accordingly. Some scenarios end up with me not having to fire.

I should note that I don't do everything mentioned every time. Most of my time is spent getting my gun out quickly and getting rounds on target. But I try to work in other skills periodically.

Edit: I guess I should mention that I do all this with the 642 I carry.