Oct102011
130 Comments
Just for women: 23 Truths about Firearms
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PDF- You can never have too much ammo. It’s amazing how quickly one or two people can shoot through 100 rounds or more in a single target practice.
image by joanneQEscobar
- If you’re smart, your firearms will be common calibers. It will be easier to find ammo and easier to get replacement parts.
- If you’re even smarter, you own firearms that are of popular makes and models. It will be easier to find a gunsmith capable of making repairs and customized requests.
- Unless you’re at the range every day, it’s hard to get too much practice. If the range masters know you by name, that’s a good sign that you’re getting enough practice!
- It’s a mistake to limit your practice to shooting at a piece of paper under optimal conditions. Take classes that will challenge your shooting skills in high-pressure scenarios. Until the adrenaline is really pumping and your brain feels scrambled, you’ll never know how you’ll respond in a life or death situation. (Note: The first time I was firing a gun under pressure, I got so rattled that I was using my non-dominant eye. I was fortunate that any shots hit my target!)
- A shotgun should be at or near the top of your list when it comes to firearms for home defense. Your choices are the 12 gauge, 20 gauge and the 410. Once you’ve made your decision, get to the range and practice, practice, practice. When it comes to stopping power, a shotgun can’t be beat.
image by InAweOfGod'sCreation
- Don’t fall into the trap of buying the smallest gun at the store. Believe it or not, a larger gun will be more comfortable and accurate to shoot.
- Learn how to clean your own gun. Learn how to completely dismantle it (field strip), clean each part, and put it back together.
- Your safety is your responsibility. Not your husband’s, nor the police, nor your kids.
- A gun isn’t the end-all when it comes to personal or home security. Think in terms of layers: situational awareness, home security systems, a watchdog, cacti along the back fence. It all adds up to more peace of mind and less dependence on any one strategy.
- If a gun isn’t possible or desirable in your circumstances, come up with Plan B. One of my friends keeps a baseball bat near the front seat of her minivan. Another always has the most powerful pepper spray on the market in her purse, and yet another keeps an 18″ length of steel rebar wedged between the driver’s seat of her car and the middle console. Whatever your choice, always be aware of the location of your weapon, practice using it, and be comfortable with the thought that one day you may have to use it.
- Don’t listen to celebrities and politicians who go on hysterical anti-gun rants. Remember, they can afford armed bodyguards and state-of-the-art home security systems. (Interesting that it’s okay if their bodyguards are armed but they don’t think law-abiding citizens should be able to own and carry guns.) I am my kid’s armed bodyguard.
image by roblisameehan
- Practice rapid firing when you’re at the range. If your life, or that of your children’s, is ever on the line, and your only choice is to draw your gun, your best tactic will be multiple, rapid shots at the bad guy(s).
- Don’t assume you will only ever have to deal with a single bad guy. Just like roaches, bad guys stick together. You may very well be confronted with several all at once. Keep that in mind.
- There’s a reason why experts prefer to keep their sidearms concealed. Open carry is okay if you’re trying to impress people, but it also makes you a target.
- Your life should never depend on a gun you’re afraid to shoot. If the recoil is too powerful, if the trigger pull is too heavy, if firing it hurts your hand, do not plan on using that gun as a defensive weapon. Sell it. Throw it away. Give it away, but whatever you do, have a gun you are comfortable with and actually enjoy shooting. If that life or death moment should ever come, there cannot be even a moment’s hesitation due to fear of using your gun.
- If you choose to carry your handgun concealed, practice drawing it from its holster or from its concealed location. And then practice another hundred times.
- It’s a really good idea to keep an extra loaded magazine in your purse, the glove compartment, wherever it will be safe and easily accessible.
image by Secretly Ironic
- You just might be able to easily handle a larger caliber of handgun than you think. Don’t underestimate your ability.
- Nothing beats not being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Be willing to back down in a confrontation or willing to run or call for help. Your goal is to survive, not show off to the world your awesome marksmanship skills.
- Every gun-nut has his/her own opinion about the best make, model, caliber, shooting stance, etc. Be willing to listen but keep in mind that they are just opinions.
- Don’t get overly cocky just because you have a firearm in the house, your purse, or have a certificate from your shooting range for completing an advanced course. Law enforcement officers miss their target in a shooting confrontation about 70% of the time. Think about that.
Are there any other truths I’ve missed?
Related posts:
Two things my kids know about guns
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(130) Readers Comments
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An Interview with Professional Survival Mom Suzanne
The shop looks great. Going to get the book now. Thanks!!
Oz
If you choose to buy a gun, become proficient in it, and carry it, then I believe you should also buy this book, read it, and assimilate it:
http://www.amazon.com/In-Gravest-Extreme-Personal-Protection/dp/0936279001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336675307&sr=8-1
Steve
I shoot the Glock 19, recently I had the chance to try out the G26 (9mm) subcompact. I was amazed at how easy it was to shoot right of the bat and the recoil was alot less then my own G19, there was no pull to the left like my own G19, easy to shoot and hit the bull’s eye.
Like my instructer said to me; if you can’t hit the target and the gun is uncomfortable, then it doesn’t matter what caliber you are shooting . Hope this helps you ladies in choosing your weapon choice.
thesurvivalmom
The G26 is my next handgun purchase. I, too, was surprised by how comfortable it was. And your instructor is smart!
Aili McKeen
#24, if a pistol is too hard for you to slide the rack, but is otherwise perfect, get the spring changed to a lighter one. Costs about $15 and takes 4 minutes for a world of difference in comfort & ease.
Lisa
Most important is accessibility. If your firearm is not accessible for what ever reason when you are in need of it (which may be at the most unusual of time) you might as well not have one. Here in my city a a woman was robbed in a parking lot on the way to her automobile. Her firearm was IN the automobile.
John Atterberry
#25 Ammunition. Each gun will prefer a certain bullet type, weight, & speed. Each gun may have a different preference. Handguns need practice ammo and carry ammo. You must take the time to find these for each and every gun. It could save your life. Don’t wait to find out your gun won’t cycle the brand you always get because it was on sale.
Joe Ritrovato
Hi Mom.
Good advise. Your right about only shooting sunny days with no wind. You need to practice in all kinds of weather. My late Friend Dave and I would shoot every weekend rain shine wind no matter. I really looked forward to it and I miss it and him. For Night shooting check with an Indoor range I had Mondays off for years and during the day I would be the only one at the range. They would dim the lights for me.
I guess that’s it except practice practice.
Joe R
PS Bring back the Garand no matter what your publicist say’s.
JR
Steve B
Most of this stuff is good advice but there are 2 things that are very, very bad. Number 15 says that open carry is ok to impress people. Nothing can be further from the truth. Open carrying a gun is faster to draw than concealed carry, especially for women in most situations because if a woman conceal carries in a purse then you can add between 1.5 to 3 seconds at the minimum to draw time. Also, Open carry doesn’t necessarily make you a target but it absolutely makes the perp aware that you are serious about your personal protection. The perp has to think that “if that woman is serious enough to carry a gun, then maybe she is extra aware of her surroundings too” among other things involving her and her family’s personal protection. The other thing the author is wrong about is that in number 16 he/she tells you to throw away your gun if you don’t like it/can’t use it comfortably. Throwing away your gun may have 2 serious consequences: 1. Someone finds your gun and uses it in a crime, possibly killing some innocent person, possibly a child. 2. Someone that finds and uses your gun in a crime and that gun is registered to you then you will have a hell of a lot of answers to come up with. Then there are all the other wild-card possibilities of which none are any good. As much incite and good advice as the author has, don’t heed these 2 items. Oh and for the reason that police miss about 70% of the time is the same reason that infantry uses so much ammo for just one kill, they have their body behind cover and don’t stick their head up long enough to properly site in their target who is usually also behind cover and/or moving therefore making a high-stress shot that much harder. So, yeah, think about that. Think about how serious self-defense actually is and it is your job to take it that serious for your sake, for your family’s sake, or even for your neighbor’s or fellow citizen’s sake.
Dave RN
Unfortunatly, all the ranges around here will onmly let you you double tap. No quick firing of more than tow rounds is allowed!
Lori
Women, women, women…. before you run out and buy a gun, practice, and feel like you’ve done everything to be protected…. please, take a class, talk to your psycho, whatever – with regard to killing another human being in times of threat. You must be able to accept the fact that you are shooting to kill. Unprepared women, when it comes down to it, will hesitate…. some being overtaken and killed with their own weapon. We may think we are protective ‘mama bears’, but therein lies the problem. Don’t think it, KNOW IT ! Know it with all your heart and soul, and be able to live with the aftermath of what you have just done…you’ll be faster at the trigger.
Rick
Lori – I have to agree AND disagree. I strongly support taking a class to learn how to safely handle (whichever) gun you choose for your personal defense. Also, it is very important to examine yourself and see what you are willing or not willing to shoot at (or for that matter act like a grizzly bear protecting her your and attack and destroy) another person – you certainly do not want to provide an attacker of you or your family with a weapon they didn’t already have. But I also disagree strongly with your assertion that your are “shooting to kill” – those of us trying to protect ourselves or our families (and those of us that teach concealed carry courses) shoot to “STOP THE THREAT” to our safety.
I strongly believe none of us here would ever want to kill another human being – but we all are responsible for protecting ourselves and our families.
I certainly hope none of us ever have to use this ability because it will surely change your life – but we must be prepared.
Thanks Lisa for all you do. God Bless us all
Anonymous
I disagree with you. If someone is coming after you or into your home, you don’t shoot to wound. You are protecting yourself. If your in a life and death situation, then it’s you or them. With your scenario… Let’s wound them. What happens when they come back later prepared.
Dan Russell
Shoot to wound, and you can COUNT on a personal injury lawyer being in your life. Bad as it may sound, you must shoot to end the situation — the bad guy(s) didn’t break into your home to have tea & crumpets with you, and a wounded bad guy can still function pretty well.
Rick
Dan and anonymous,
I NEVER said “shoot to wound” – I said “SHOOT TO STOP THE THREAT!” It is all about attitude and intention. I will definitely shoot to STOP someone from hurting my family or me. To do that I shoot center mass and until my sights are clear (the threat is stopped). If the magazine runs empty, I reload and continue until the threat is STOPPED. What happens to the threat to my loved ones is then out of my hands – if they die from the gunshot(s) it is not my fault.
You see, I don’t see that I would ever want to kill anyone – but if you threaten my loved ones, I will do everything in my power to stop your threat – and as I think it was the Soviet boxer in Rocky 4(?) that said “If he dies, he dies.”
If anyone is shooting to wound (or shoot the weapon out of the creeps hand) they are seriously mistaken – and overestimating their abilities.
Hope that clears things up.
Terry
I would go farther than Lori. It is not just the issue of “maybe” killing someone. I teach, as I have been taught, that you do not draw your gun unless you mean to shoot it, and you do not shoot unless you mean to kill. Trying just to wound an attacker is like pulling your punch, you end up the loser. And your kids. If you do not have the kill attitude, then you need for find some other method of self defense, because the perp will sure as shooting (pardon the pun) grab your gun and use it on you and yours. I shoot between 200 to 400 rounds a week in several different guns under different conditions. That gun has to be part of your hand and you better not need to think about the next step. Practice, practice, practice.
A side note. Many people get stuck in a conflict between what they were taught “Thou shalt not kill” and the need to kill in self defense. First, the commandment actually says to not murder, which is to say taking the life of an innocent. You are required to defend your life, the lives of those who depend on you, and your property according to the Old Testament, New Testament and the Koran. I haven’t gotten around to checking other sacred writings, but you get the point. By attacking you with lethal intent, the attacker has forfeited his own life. He is not an innocent.
Cathi
I disagreed with #15 and that part about throwing a gun away in #16. Steve B gave great advise on both of those points. Just found this blog last week and I’m loving it. I try to spend a few minutes each evening reading past posts.
thesurvivalmom
Good grief! How about a little sense of humor here?? My comment about throwing a gun away was meant to be humorous, and it seems that most of the thousands of people who have read this article get that!
Paul
Well, you did ask for comments.
Brian
Two of the most important Key factors in this article and some of the comments made are” realistic type training and proper mindset.” Law Enforcement does miss 70-80% in their shooting confrontations , A lot of this is because of training that consists of static range shooting in good lighting !! Not reality !!
We teach that in most defensive shootings there are 3 key factors: #1 Low Light !!! #2 Its going to be close !! #3 This situation will happen fast !! The need for good instinctive shooting skills is paramount!
We could care less about your sight picture , just your ability to aggressively drive the gun into the target and hammer the trigger until their is no threat left , then asses your situation and see if their is any other scumbag the Lord has blessed you with the opportunity to shoot today !!! THAT is the MINDSET part ,the most important part !!
mt. top guru
my 2 cents: Merely wounding someone, may not stop the threat. It is amazing what pain a human can endure and still function. Especially if drugs are involved. The circumstances may not dictate deadly force. But, you have to be pyscologically ready to take a human life. A human attacker can cover over 20 feet in 1.5 seconds. You will not have time to make a moral decision then. You must make the decision ahead of time. Then you have the problem with multiple attackers. You can’t waste ammo on warning shots, leg shots, wounding shots. You need to eliminate the attackers’ abilities to sustain violence before you have to dig for your spare clip.
Other blog sites have raised the issue of being prepared to deal with legal consequences. I think Zimmerman was justified in shooting a guy on top of him and beating him to death. But, that does not stop the government from bringing criminal charges for political purposes. Nor does that stop the attacker himself or his family from bringing civil lawsuits against you for personal injury or wrongful death. IMHO, a person who is evil enough to attack you and require you to defend yourself, will not hesitate to lie under oath and make up stories. He cannot lie in court if he is dead. He cannot retailiate against you and your loved ones. I am not recommending murder. I am strongly suggesting to NOTshoot to wound. Think about it this way: You are only going to shoot your weapon if you believe that life or physical safety is immediately at risk. You will be trained to only draw your weapon if you plan to shoot it, not to scare someone. Therefore, you will only draw and shoot and kill when you are justified to do so.
You will have enough hell to go through with the legal process, attorney fees, media, etc. You don’t need to be looking over your shoulder for your attacker – again.
Anonymous
You’re absolutely right.
Rick
I agree completely and again to clear up any misunderstanding, I said shoot to Stop the Threat NOT shoot to wound.
If you do have to shoot, from what I have seen and heard – it IS going to change your life – but better to have your life to change than to have lost your life of the life of a loved one.
I pray that I never have to use the skills. I practice in case I have to use the skills. If a loved one is threated with their life – I will use the skills (any and all I have) to stop that threat and will live with the changes that may occur.
Blessings to all,
Terry
On another blog, a long time LEO said – shoot, mute, scoot. In other words, don’t do like Zimmerman and call 911. Defend yourself, get out of the area and don’t talk about it. Applies if it is not a home invasion of course, but that is a different kind of legal battle, and depends if your state has the Castle Doctrine.
James Brian Peterson
During hurricane Katrina, The entire world witnessed the fact that in any natural or man made disaster, the first priority of the pernicious communist rapacity that too many people still consider to be “their government”is to forcibly disarm the innocent.This was done by out-of-state and heavily armed National Guard troops and Federalized police officers going door-to-door,by squads,block-by block,forcing their way into private homes at gunpoint and seizing the lawfully owned guns from peaceful(albeit,terrified) Americans in their own neighborhoods:in their own city and state. The point to this is that yes,arms and ammunition are a non-negotiable prerequisite component of any successful survival strategy.However,the best way to avoid a firefight is simply not to be there.While the unified pernicious communist rapacity of LOCAL STATE & FEDERAL “GOVERNMENT”were busy “serving and protecting” New Orleanians by unexpected and unprovoked close-to-medium proximity (potentially) lethal attack by military force of arms and numbers,under color of law and(contrived)”emergency”-the storm having passed.My wife and I ,with our furry little dog,Lady the wonder mutt,were staying in a small private hotel in Texas,where we spent a comfortable and quiet 3 weeks before returning to Louisiana to rebuild our home. we were able to do this because we had planned comprehensively and far ahead with everything that we would need in any such emergency.Incorporate your weapons and ammunition into a strategy of low-profile avoidance.Never involve yourselves in anything that would endanger your life liberty and property unless otherwise unavoidably necessary.
Andrew
“Don’t get overly cocky just because you have a firearm in the house, your purse, or have a certificate from your shooting range for completing an advanced course. Law enforcement officers miss their target in a shooting confrontation about 70% of the time. Think about that.”
The thing is, most people are ready to kill, including the “pros”. A lot of soldiers in real wars dun even take aim. You need to be psychologically, philosophically and spiritually ready to kill. Else your subconscious will be conflicted and you will sabotage your aim. You would see this at the range but you can see from the stats this phenomena is real.
Andrew
Correction.
The thing is, most people are NOT ready to kill, including the “pros”.
Dan W
As for hitting only 70% of the time,
that is likely optimistic.
It has to with many things. Stress, time, movement, stance, and the fact none of them will be ideal.
I grew up shooting. My dad ran several ranges. I shot for many teams, to include the army rifle team.
Also spent time as a sniper. And have hunted since I could carry a gun with my dad.
And I consider it a good day if I hit a rabbit running in the timber with about half my shots. My two boys have good days if every fifth or tenth shot gets a bunny. The oldest was captain of an ROTC rifle team. The middle boy just won a junior trap contest and averages about 94 out of 100 (16yd)trapshooting.
Bunnies don’t shoot back.
When lead starts flying, and things get to moving real fast – someone who is a good shot will hit more often than a bad shot. They won’t hit a lot, but if you can just get there faster than the other guy…
As for killing, most folks have a hard time with it. Just pulling the trigger is hard if you are looking at someone. If you are someone who would have a hard time shooting a rabbit because they are cute – wait until your target looks a lot like your daughter.
You need to face that before you get there. And make your peace with it. Because the one that looks like your kid, just might be the one that kills your kids parent if you don’t.
That’s my two cents.
Pingback: Episode 59 – Politics and GUNS! | Politics and Guns Podcast
Flippydidit
I’m writing to you from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. I’ve got to say, that I generally stay out of forum chatter. Unfortunately, there were far too many baseless comments made, and I feel duty bound to answer them. Unchallenged falsehoods have a tendency to gain a life of their own.
I’ll start with my “qualifiers” (since other forum members have ordained it mandatory). I’m a former U.S. Army infantryman who honorably served 10 years with multiple combat deployments. I’ve been awarded the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge and a Purple Heart (among others). I’m currently a military and civilian gunsmith working for the DoD in Afghanistan. I’ve been a ‘prepper’ long before it became cool. I come from a stock of Americans who believe it better to do what is necessary and right, than to talk about it. I consider myself a member of the silent professional community.
That being said, I wanted to refute a few of the points made that seem to be either meritless or downright misleading.
First, (because it is a personal affront) “Steve B” states that:
“police miss about 70% of the time is the same reason that infantry uses so much ammo for just one kill, they have their body behind cover and dont stick their head up long enough to properly site in their target who is usually also behind cover and/or moving therefore making a high-stress shot that much harder. So, yeah, think about that.”
His statement is insulting on many levels, but I’ll try and delineate his fallacies clearly. Police and infantry are not to be placed in the same group. There are many law enforcement groups with dramatically differing levels of training. From the beat cop that “gets” to qualify with his service firearm annually, to high threat units that train daily. Active duty infantry receives more training than any law enforcement entity I know of. Personally, Uncle Sam provided me with hundreds of thousands of rounds to shoot every year (remember that I served for 10). His statement that we don’t stick our head up to “site” should reek of ignorance to the reader with any common sense. Making broad inaccurate generalizations shouldn’t require rebuttal, but I’ve noticed how ignorant and arrogant statements become trafficked popularly. For that reason alone I speak up.
There are many men and women who have even more training and combat experience than I do. Such statements should be publicly recognized as shameful and without honor. Additionally, it’s very difficult for me to stand quietly and listen to “Monday morning quarterbacks” or “armchair ninjas” with minimal or no experience try to educate others. I’m speaking specifically of those who profess to challenge the potential mental state of someone who might have to take another life. Especially when they haven’t done it themselves. When you actually do kill another human, then you will be qualified to speak on the matter. I’ll add that with that statement I am more than qualified. The other people who fall into this category are unfortunately a dime a dozen. I speak of the “goonsmith”. This is usually a well-intentioned, though highly-opinionated person who knows just enough (sometimes) about firearms to feel qualified to “guide” those new to them. They are almost never someone who does it as their profession.
Hopefully you wouldn’t take or request legal advice from an attorney’s secretary. Or request and heed a diagnosis from “someone who reads a lot of medical books”. My point is that if you don’t “do something for a living” and “have experience”, be quiet. I apologize, as my patience wears thin with demonstrable incompetence. Those who profusely jump to assume the lead of “the blind leading the blind” surely have no place in leadership; they should be identified loudly and clearly for what they are.
Other comments have been made to the effect of “if a 20 gauge is too powerful, you can reduce the load”, or other such well-intentioned “help”. Yes, you can. Of course if you were a gunsmith, you could install a recoil reducer in the stock. Thereby someone who had difficulty with a 20 gauge self defense load could probably move up to a 12 gauge. Instead of “wrapping duct tape around a leaky radiator”, try “taking the car to a professional”. There are more ways to tailor a firearm to the shooter than there are ways to tailor a dress to a bride. Many things an ACTUAL gunsmith can do to a firearm can significantly increase a shooter’s capabilities.
Lastly, a laser sight is a definitely useful tool. In Iraq many of the locals were conditioned to having pistols and rifles waved around and pointed at them. In fact, there were three things that I personally observed which immediately received their full attention. A laser dot on their chest. A shotgun pointed at them. Or a machinegun pointed at them. That being said, a hardened criminal who has made the choice to deprive you of life or property, will most definitely not be stopped or turned by a laser dot, or the sound of a shotgun cycling (“racking”). A laser sight will aid you immensely in most combat situations…..whether a “lady” or not.
I hope my observations have helped. Survival Mom is doing a great job. While I disagree with her on some things, they are tremendously outweighed by her positive effect on our community and nation. She is a true patriot and deserves none of the untenable, opinionated slander I see so readily spewed from the mouths of those sycophantic forum groupies. Keep preparing.
Those with the most to say should speak the least.
Terry
Thank you for your input, it is most valuable to us stay-at-homes (voluntary or otherwise) And thank you for your service. God bless.
Kim
All sound like good ideas but I would like to add keep wasp spray handy. It can be used at a fair distance and is effective for temporarily blinding someone so you can get away. Of course, this may not be your best option, but it may be the only thing you can get to quick.
thesurvivalmom
When Greg Ellifritz was the guest on a Survival Mom webinar, he said to not count on wasp spray. He said that it hasn’t been tested on humans, so you won’t be sure how effective it will be. OTOH, pepper spray HAS been tested on humans countless times. You can listen to a recording of that webinar here, https://connectpro19068335.adobeconnect.com/_a1007933682/p20cvtq9gk1/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal
Don Russel.
I’ve had MANY 1000 rd days at the range (just me shooting) but they were .45′s that I cast the bullets out of wheelweight lead, and reloaded the ammo. I’ve had many, many more such 1000 rd days, when half of the shooting was .22 lr, and the rest was said .45 reloads. but yes, you can have WAY too much ammo, but it’s unusual.
As hard as it may be to believe, SOME people have quad mount 308 electric gatlings, 6 barrels, rotating. 50c per shot for tracers, 16,000 rds per minute! Google for Dillon Reloading. He has a video about doing this shooting, in the AZ desert.
Don Russel.
top competitors in the handgun matches shoot at least 40,000 rds per year, and a few shoot 2x that much. not just 1 year, but every year, for decades. Many of them are sponsored by gun companies these days, but back in my day, the late 70′s,. a few did it on their own. I made up those .45′s for 3c per shot, and I used a college loan of $2000, plus Gi Bill money for college ($250 per month) , and worked full time, and had very little other expenses and shot 40k rds per year, for 3 years. I had 10,000 rds of .45 casings. I’d cast bullets and load ammo all winter, then shoot 1000 rds per week during the season.
marla
Excellent blog post. Just found your blog via Pinterest. I am new to the world of guns. Passed my Hunters Education class this weekend in CO. I will visit here often to learn lots more!