Why Calgunners don't train seriously?

[smak28]

I don't believe that "training" is necessary to effectively defend yourself with a firearm. People have been defending themselves without "training" with firearms for hundreds of years.

Also if you aren't military or law enforcement, and doing the class as a requirement for that job you are practicing, not training. Training sucks for the most part, it's rewarding, but it isn't very much fun a lot of the times. When I see photos from "training" classes my friends attend I see old fat guys smiling, they all talk about how much fun it was. And for the price they pay it should be fun, and that doesn't mean their skills didn't improve, but it ain't training.

Training and then practice, practice, practice is critical to effectively defend yourself. Is it necessary? Depends on the situation. It takes about 1 second for an attacker to reach you from 7yds away. For someone who hasn't trained and practiced effectively, I say it's nearly impossible for the person to be able to draw from their holster and ensure their shot placements are on target (two shots in the chest and two shots in head). Another situation is what if your primary arm is injured or shot? Would the person know how to stop the bleeding with a tourniquet and still effectively defend himself/herself with a firearm. Impossible. Training is useless without practice and practice is useless without training. Training is also about really being able to handle a firearm safely. Without training and practice, the risk of accidents increase substantially.

[71MUSTY]

Me my wife and my some attend at least one serious multi day training every year. Aside from that we try to spend at least one hour each at the range every month. Sometimes we miss a month and notice a bit of skill fade the next trip to the range.

If you haven't trained in a year or so be prepared to be depressed by your abilities next time you go to the range. Good news is it does come back with a little work.

[Citizen_B]

First, the average Calgunner doesn't have a CCW, so they don't carry outside the house and are statistically more likely to get eaten by a shark than have a gunfight inside their home.

I didn't know the pet shark tank business was doing so well.




Kidding.

[jcj]

Devoting 2,3, or 4 days just isn't usually possible for me, given work and family commitments.

Secondarily, in every training class video I've seen, there are way too many of the "operator" types for my taste; some people take themselves way too seriously, for any kind of prolonged contact. That's doubly true for guys who couldn't do a pushup to save their lives.

[Mayor McRifle]

I've taken a lot of training classes over the years. Some were very good. Many were close to useless. There are a lot of crappy "trainers" out there.

[Adam_12]

I don't have a whole lot of time or money but the money I do have is usually spent on guns I may not be able to buy in the future thanks to certain politicians.

However, I've had some basic training from ex-LEO who knows what's-what with a gun and have also taught myself to be ambidextrous just in case. Not as accurately as with my strong hand, but I can effectively throw lead downrange with my left hand.

[shakyshoot]

It's a Hobby, Not a lifestyle for me.. Supposed to be Fun..

^^Same here.

Shooting for me is 80 percent hobby, 10 percent competition, and 10 percent self defense. Most of what I do is bullseye type shooting, no faster than an NRA rapid fire pace, which is 5 shots in 10 seconds. I do carry regularly, but I don't do all that much that I'd call "training" for CCW. But hey, I shoot about 1500 rounds a month, so I think I'd have some advantages vs a guy who DOESN'T shoot 1500 rd a month.

[Citizen_B]

People have and shoot guns for different reasons. That is their right and people shouldn't dictate to others what they should or shouldn't do (assuming safe, legal, and responsible).

For those that have/shoot them for defense, they would benefit greatly with formal training and/or competing. A lot of shooters don't know what they don't know so think they would do 'alright' in their imaginary scenario, without any practical experience remotely related to the hypothetical scenario.

I would guess a common reason shooters who are 'serious' about training but don't take training classes is it's just not high enough priority in their mind, and don't see the value on the price tag. Everyone has time and money - priority is a personal decision.

[mikeyr]

I don't carry and I don't plan on ever carrying a weapon. When home my guns are locked up in a safe in a other room from my bedroom so not accessible. I do keep a shotgun in the bedroom at the ready. But I also don't clear my house when I hear a noise, if I can confirm the noise I lock the hall door, call 911 since I have good insurance on everything in the house. If the bad guy comes through the hall door he has to walk down a long well lit hallway with my shotgun firing at him, but I won't go clear my house, bad guy has to come to me.

Since I don't plan on ever carrying, I don't clear my house, etc. I don't need to train any better than I am already. I can fire the shotgun down the hallway quite well (I assume, not actually done it yet) although I am a better shot with my 45Colt SAA.

I just shoot because I enjoy shooting, if I wanted to take any training it would be on becoming a better more accurate shooter, not playing police officer and clearing a house or anything tactical.

[Tall Tree]

I went with bacon because everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face.

[CSACANNONEER]

The average calgunner who owns a firearm for self defense probably practices with it 2-5 times more often than the average LEO who carries for a living.

[smak28]

I don't carry and I don't plan on ever carrying a weapon. When home my guns are locked up in a safe in a other room from my bedroom so not accessible. I do keep a shotgun in the bedroom at the ready. But I also don't clear my house when I hear a noise, if I can confirm the noise I lock the hall door, call 911 since I have good insurance on everything in the house. If the bad guy comes through the hall door he has to walk down a long well lit hallway with my shotgun firing at him, but I won't go clear my house, bad guy has to come to me.

Since I don't plan on ever carrying, I don't clear my house, etc. I don't need to train any better than I am already. I can fire the shotgun down the hallway quite well (I assume, not actually done it yet) although I am a better shot with my 45Colt SAA.

I just shoot because I enjoy shooting, if I wanted to take any training it would be on becoming a better more accurate shooter, not playing police officer and clearing a house or anything tactical.

I would say one thing for your consideration from my experience. I've been shooting for 20 years before I took my first class, so thought I would be able to shoot without a problem. However in my first class, which I was the only civilian vs. Law enforcement attendees, I was put into a stressful situation and my hands were shaking holding my pistol. My shot was waaaaaay off the center. I naturally thought that after shooting at a range, untimed, no pressure, & for the last 20 years, I would be fine but the pressure and stress changed the reality and my nerves got in the way of my shot placements. Because of the class, training, practice, I know I can handle stressful situations. If you've never been thru classes nor training, the nerves can get to you in a life threatening situation and you may not be able to think straight to be safe. I've seen it happen with a newbie at another class...he was so nervous that the chief instructor had to sit him out for a bit and then had to slowly coach him but he was absolutely fine the second day of class....just like I was fine second day of class after getting all the jitters out in stressful situations.

[jdben92883]

As professed by several LEOs I've spoken with over the years, a good many sworn officers aren't "gun people" nor are very proficient with their firearms. I don't know why the bar would be higher for forum enthusiasts than those who use guns as the tools of their trade. I enjoy all kind of firearms. I operate them effectively. I shoot, I don't "train".

I'm trying to get inside the mind of the Cal gunner. I recently spoke with guys that went through the requirements for CCW and was amazed by the lack of overall knowledge and interest in actual shooting.
I was amazed by the things that impressed good, normal, everyday people.
I understand a lot of guys here are LE/MIL trained, have taken classes in the past or compete in 3-gun, IDPA, ISPC, USPSA, but very few receive dynamic training often.
Essentially no training for what you may one day encounter, with loss of life hanging in the balance.
I'm trying to sort out a way to get guys out more, proficient with their weapons, confident in realistic scenarios, taught by great trainers.
I'm primarily talking about the carbine and handgun.
Individually and together.
I feel like the competition, active shooting and training section should be as active and popular as the Off Topic section.
I've already grilled my close friends and now look for a broader view.

[Dezrat]

Many shooters may possibly have this "distorted" perception of owning firearms because they just enjoy shooting.
Far greater statistical chances of being seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Wonder how many drivers out there fail to see they really should be getting some formal, organized, expertly oversighted training in evasive and defensive driving. How many practice panic braking on varied surfaces and slide control on a regular basis? Or do all these types of drivers figure they've taught themselves well enough, when lives hang in the balance on a daily basis? It's all about personal perspectives(or obsessions) I guess.

[smak28]

As professed by several LEOs I've spoken with over the years, a good many sworn officers aren't "gun people" nor are very proficient with their firearms. I don't know why the bar would be higher for forum enthusiasts than those who use guns as the tools of their trade. I enjoy all kind of firearms. I operate them effectively. I shoot, I don't "train".

My chief instructor is in SFPD for over twenty five years and he and other law enforcement individuals from two other cities said hat I shoot better than most law enforcement people they work with. They all said the department doesn't enforce or pay for training and have had colleagues shot and die because they lacked training in high stress situations.

If you haven't been training or put thru high stress scenarios, you have no idea how much your nerves or adrenaline can cause you to make mistakes or react quickly in a life threatening situation. It is a different world than just being in a stall shooting paper targets that don't move or shot back.

For those that just shoot paper targets in a stall, please do not think you would be prepared for a life threatening situation. However if you want to be prepared just in case, then classes and training will really help, but find good instructors and classes.