What some clueful instructors carry as their defensive firearm

[forrestinmathews]

Instructor gigs are money makers and as such there exists a certain culture oriented around protecting that opportunity for guys retiring from the government service. Personally, your ability to stand in formation or direct traffic for twenty years doesn't mean anything to me. Nether does it matter if you have one twenty five National championships. Although Jerry and Rob could teach you a helluva lot more about cheating and winning than any cop or SF guy ever could. So maybe there is something there...the bottom line is you have to have some sort of schtick to play the game and you'll likely end up being sponsored by a big company with money. I don't think Bond Arms will be sponsoring me anytime soon to teach self defense classes with their weapon, but I'm holding out for NAA...

 

[Wise_A]

Holy hell, forrest, bitterpost of the year! Pretty sure you hit everyone with that swing!

I'd add the caveat:

"Instructor gigs are moneymakers unless you're good at it and try hard not to suck."

 

[Old cop]

Interesting thread and very informative. I particularly liked the comments about instructors who charge for their “expert” advise yet have never been in an armed confrontation. I’ve never taken training from any of these “experts” aside from my LEO training and qualifications, yet somehow survived three armed confrontations likely b/c I did what my range officers told me.

 

[Protected One]

Interesting thread and very informative. I particularly liked the comments about instructors who charge for their “expert” advise yet have never been in an armed confrontation. I’ve never taken training from any of these “experts” aside from my LEO training and qualifications, yet somehow survived three armed confrontations likely b/c I did what my range officers told me.

I agree with you Old Cop.

In my engineering education I didn't have a single professor that spent even 1 day working in the industry, yet their teaching has served me in good stead for over 40 years of my career.

Experience in armed conflict is not a requirement for teaching someone how to survive it. Proven knowledge and the ability to teach that knowledge are the only things required.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Trying to digest all this isn't easy for ChattanoogPhil.

Not a LEO... not a soldier... I need training from someone with been there done that gunfight experience in the streets. Who should I get training from, MS-13?

 

[GerSan69]

Instructor gigs are money makers and as such there exists a certain culture oriented around protecting that opportunity for guys retiring from the government service...

Heh. Ya know, I probably wouldn't be as blunt, but I actually kinda agree. I spent 35 years doing the job, attending training, getting into all the stuff that happens in good as well as bad parts of town. I would no more give anyone advice or "training" on firearms stuff than I would give financial advice. For one thing, having been a training officer (not in firearms) for over 20 years, I know how some people will take what you say and turn it into something that "works" in their own mind. And I also don't have such a lofty opinion of my own tactics that I'd share it for money. Nah, I just do what I do, I'm happy, and that's about all that matters.
Oh, By the way, quite a bit of the time, I don't carry anything but a Kahr .380. I work a part-time gig in a dicey area of town, but the company doesn't like guns, so I carry the easiest-to-hide gun I have. I figure I'd rather be fired for protecting myself than being a poster child for why you should be armed. No one knows what I do, although they know I'm a retired cop. And, of course, I don't recommend my strategy to anyone.

 

[Ziggy2525]

Trying to digest all this isn't easy for ChattanoogPhil.

Not a LEO... not a soldier... I need training from someone with been there done that gunfight experience in the streets. Who should I get training from, MS-13?

As long as your spanish is good, they probably have the most hands on experience.

 

[Walkingwolf]

Trying to digest all this isn't easy for ChattanoogPhil.

Not a LEO... not a soldier... I need training from someone with been there done that gunfight experience in the streets. Who should I get training from, MS-13?

How will you ever know how to stand while being shot at? Don't forget knowing the proper tactical clothing to wear.