What's your excuse?

[Wheelgunner840]

I know this has been discussed before, but I had yet another encounter with a guy at a gunshop that made blood squirt out of my eyes. I am looking at some guns, and another guy is next to me. We start talking about the guns in the case, and he mentions that he just bought one of the new Sig .380s for carry. I asked him, "How does it shoot?" He answered that he didn't really know because he hadn't shot it yet. I asked if he had read the recent article suggesting that one should put at least 200 rds. through it to break it in before trusting ones life to it.

He just shrugged, patted his front pocket, and said, "I have a carry permit, so I figured what the hell, I'll carry it!"

I guess having to actually shoot it never occurred to him! I just assume that EVERYONE who carries a gun should at the very least have shot the darn thing before putting it in your pocket. If for nothing else, just to see if the ammo you stuffed it with will cycle it! Is it just me who thinks that it is insane to carry a gun that is not tested and broken in?

There was a post in a thread here or elswhere where someone stated that they are more afraid of some of the CCWers (with concern to bullets hitting an innocent bystander) than they are of the criminals. I am almost in agreement with that.


Wow, just Wow!


WG840

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Makes no sense to carry a gun when you don't know if it will work, if the ammo you are using will work, and where the rounds will hit in relation to your point of aim.

 

[The Big D]

You are spot on, wg840; you, too, Tracer.

That there are jurisdictions where one can be afforded a CCW permit or otherwise be allowed to carry absent any training/qualifications whatsoever is troublesome to me, also.

Be safe.

 

[Evil One]

I am of 2 minds on that...
You have the right to keep and bear arms...
You NEED to practice with your weapon.I dont personally know of anyone who practices enough, including myself.
And I reload so I can have my range time.
I am putting out rounds twice a week.

But as for making a restriction on a law abiding citizen exercising their 2A rights...


Jim

 

[Scrapper]

Sounds to me like the Ol saying "Don't put the Cart Before the Horse" applies here.

You may as well just carry a big stone. lol

I think Titan has a good point.

 

[Titan]

I think any of us here (at least most of us) would think practice is essential to build proficiency.

Unfortunately, the Obama gun panic has likely brought a lot of new gun owners quickly into the mix, who are legal to carry, but unprepared to.

I'm sure there are lots of folks who've bought guns as a result of the panic itself and the fear that they might not be able to get one later. I'll bet there are LOTS of folks who didn't take the extra steps to join a club, or go to a public range for practice.

I suspect many people are now carrying guns who have never shot them. I'll bet they also know very little about the gun laws of their state.

It's unfortunate, but there isn't much that can be done about other peoples' behavior. I just hope their lack of attention to legal carry doesn't bite the rest of us in the arse, down the road.

 

[tops]

My son told me a few weeks ago at the range a man shot a revolver empty and then kept messing with it. Finally he asked my son what would cause the empty shells to stick. My son looked at the gun, pushed the ejector rod and the shells poped out. The man said I thought there was something else I needed to do. Last week at the same range a man came out with 2 plastic pistols he had just bought. A 9m and a .40. He wanted to see if they would shoot before he started to carry them. He put 2 shells in each gun and shot into the dirt backstop. They each shot the 2 shells. He said now it would be ok to carry them. The bad part is that those people are voting and driving. I'm scared. Larry

 

[Scrapper]

My son told me a few weeks ago at the range a man shot a revolver empty and then kept messing with it. Finally he asked my son what would cause the empty shells to stick. My son looked at the gun, pushed the ejector rod and the shells poped out. The man said I thought there was something else I needed to do. Last week at the same range a man came out with 2 plastic pistols he had just bought. A 9m and a .40. He wanted to see if they would shoot before he started to carry them. He put 2 shells in each gun and shot into the dirt backstop. They each shot the 2 shells. He said now it would be ok to carry them. The bad part is that those people are voting and driving. I'm scared. Larry

"Holy shoot'in only 2 rounds to validate a carry weapon Batman"

This is truly unbelievable!!! I hope he practices more than that as I'm on my knees pray'in to GOD!!!

 

[USAF385]

When I buy a new gun to carry, I put at LEAST 100 rounds through it before carrying. It's usually more, but I only put 100 through my G27 before I carried it. Of course I've put many more through since then.. but anyway...

I want to make sure I know how the guns feels and that the ammo feeds properly.

I also handle a new gun long enough to be able to take it down and re-assemble it without looking. If I'm going to carry it, I really get to know it.

 

[PDL]

I think we're all agreed that it's pretty stupid to try to depend on a firearm without knowing the basics of - will it function, can I hit at least a stationary target etc. But I don't agree with letting some government agency make a decision on my right to carry. Maybe it cause i'm in this totalitarian state behind the lead curtain.
I've been shooting since I was 12 or so and I can hit a target. I also spent 5 years with a .45 on my hip daily,(almost). But I don't want the bureacrats telling me something like center mass isn't good enough, you've to to put all rounds thru the same hole.

 

[RogueJSK]

Just more examples of people who view a gun as a "magic talisman" that will protect them from evil, but have neither the training nor the mindset to use it effectively if it is ever needed.

 

[flop-shank]

A lot of people do what it takes to play, not many of them prepare to win.

 

[roundgunner]

This is a paragraph from my tactical handgun class. I stress this to all students.

I would estimate about 500 rounds of target ammo to break in a new semi automatic handgun and become familiar with it. At the same time you are making sure you trust it to go bang every time you pull the trigger. The break in period for a revolver is much less. The trigger pull will become smoother and lighter but reliability should not be an issue. If you get a failure to fire with a new, or new to you revolver, stop using it immediately, have it looked at by a competent gunsmith. You will still need to put a few hundred rounds thru it to become familiar however.

I had a husband and wife take a class recently. He knew everything about self defense, she was learning to handle a handgun. She took a real shine to my full size M&P 40 with laser grips. He never did get it right.

 

[442js]

I don't have a CCW yet, and probably won't for some time. I put about 300 rounds through my Five-Seven, and fifty rounds through my 442-2. If I had a CCW, I probably feel comfortable right now with the Five-Seven, but definitely need more time at the range with my revolver. My hands did not like the recoil with the +P ammo.

Can't see spending the time and money buying a gun, and then not practicing or even trying it. Last place anyone should want to be is having to draw a gun because of a home invasion, robbery, or whatever, and having no clue if the gun will work (and if it does, you don't want to hurt an innocent bystander).

 

[cowboy85306]

Howdy
Back when I was a LEO ( until I found I didn't care for many of the people I was meeting ), most of the guys ( and gals) I went through academy with had fine resumes and degrees. Sadly, even with training by officers who had full time jobs doing just that, the majority who qualified on a first attempt did so by the proverbial skin of their teeth. They just weren't "gun people" as most of them put it.
Since then, I've met many IPSC shooters, SASS shooters, and "3 gun match" shooters- disappointing few of whom are in law enforcement, but most of whom are at least mechanically proficient in gun handling, to those with astonishing ability. MOST of them have a carry permit, but they are a fraction of the gun OWNING public.
It just follows that the vast majority of people not prohibited from legal carry won't be bothered with the realities of carry, no matter how ill advised.I can hear how a higher bar COULD be the equivalent of a "poll tax" to exercise the right to bear arms, the argument for responsibility is entirely up to the individual after the fact. Here in AZ the required range time, though modest, beats the heck out of the requirements of , say Florida, where the range test was one round within the confines of a qualification target at 7 yards.
Yeah, greenhorn hour at the range is when I avoid shooting. Some folks think a dirty look is equal to " thanks!" when I am compelled to tell them something that will keep them ( and those around them) safe.

 

[The Big D]

...l agreed that it's pretty stupid to try to depend on a firearm without knowing the basics of - will it function, can I hit at least a stationary target etc. ...

Most firearms function just fine; just about all of them are fully capable of hitting a target.

As I see it, the problems arise with the folks holding them. Many people are wholly unprepared to use a gun mentally...some physically. The real problems present themselves when both negatives are in effect.

Be safe.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Just got back to reading the replies to this thread. Thanks for posting folks.

In this state, you must "qualify" at the range to apply for a carry permit. What that means is that you have to shoot a certain score on an Army-L target with 30 rds. at 25 yards. As an instructor, I am authorized to qualify people and sign off on their applications or renewal forms. Most folks who seek me out (I don't advertise) are proficient shooters. I just make sure they are handling the gun safely, and then let them get to shooting.

Some folks only shoot once every 4 years when it is time to renew, and I have to spend quite a bit of time going over basic safety stuff, and the fundamentals of shooting just to get them to hit the paper. I am not required to do this extra stuff (It's not like I get paid to qualify people), but I would rather have people that are going to be carrying guns know how to handle and shoot them safely. I won't sign off on anyone who doesn't.

The guy in the gun store just caught me off guard. If I were a betting man, I would guess that this guy has zero shooting experience. Couple that with putting a gun in your pocket that you have never fired before, and we are looking at someone who will be on the late night news in no time.


I reckon I can only help the people that I deal with. I am not going to worry about the rest.



WG840

 

[PDL]

Most firearms function just fine; just about all of them are fully capable of hitting a target.

As I see it, the problems arise with the folks holding them. Many people are wholly unprepared to use a gun mentally...some physically. The real problems present themselves when both negatives are in effect.

Be safe.

Not sure why you quoted that part, but maybe I didn't express myself very well.
I think it's very important to have the skills, safety conciousness, situational awareness, and proper mind set to be carrying a firearm. I just don't need a government stamp of approval to tell me I know what I'm doing.

 

[The Big D]

Not sure why you quoted that part, but maybe I didn't express myself very well.
I think it's very important to have the skills, safety conciousness, situational awareness, and proper mind set to be carrying a firearm. I just don't need a government stamp of approval to tell me I know what I'm doing.

Pete, I wasn't referencing you, personally. Suspect you do have the requisite mindset/skills. Some obviously do not as evidenced by the guy in the original post.

Be safe.

 

[BarbC]

I wouldn't worry about him shooting bystanders because he's so out of touch with his gun that when he is accosted by a bad guy, he won't have time to get it out and work it.

His fumblings, if he does remember the gun in his pocket, will most likely result in his being disarmed by a determined bad guy and the gun stolen.

In the meantime, he can impress his friends with his conversation piece.