Why you should train

[ruchik]

The other thread over in the 2A forum about "not getting a CCW because you're not ready for it" would have been more appropriate with the tagline "Why you should train", and it got me thinking about an old thread I came across a while ago. It may have been posted here before, I don't know, but it's good enough to be re-posted. I posted the link over in the other thread too, but I wanted to open up a separate topic here since my reply is likely to get buried in the other thread.

It concerns a former Marine and his service time in Iraq. I believe this is an absolute imperative read for anyone who owns weapons, and intends to use them in self-defense if necessary. The Marine in question made several mistakes during a firefight, and one glaringly simple mistake in particular cost him the use of his legs. And it's a mistake that I see everyone doing at the range these days. Read the story, it doesn't take long, and the lessons learned may save your life someday.

[Oceanbob]

Good read, thanks.

[sierra m37]

I ran an IDPA course for the first time last weekend and it was an eye opener. Many changes will be made to my practice routine which never included firing while moving and reloading while under duress. Great advice. Practice so you fix the little things.

[Bainter1212]

Good read.

I never understood why anyone does serious training where they retain their empty mag.

Just drop the dang thing and get moving!

I haven't had a chance to shoot IDPA yet but I heard that speed reloads aren't allowed...which seems like a bad way to train.

[JohnnyMtn]

Thanks for sharing. Very good read.

I'm so impressed by the Marine who wrote that piece. Years after the incident that changed his life, he still has the wherewithal to be positive and is looking to help others by sharing his hard-earned knowledge. Impressive.

[viet4lifeOC]

Great read. Lots of great advice.

Thanks OP.

[Condorguns]

Now this is much more useful than the original thread on 2A. Ty

[CaffeinFeign]

great read...thanks for posting it...

[Bainter1212]

Thanks for sharing. Very good read.

I'm so impressed by the Marine who wrote that piece. Years after the incident that changed his life, he still has the wherewithal to be positive and is looking to help others by sharing his hard-earned knowledge. Impressive.

Yes I agree....he sounds like a great guy.

It is also a shame our soldiers don't get the best training available.....seems like he wants to change that.

Kudos to him.

[skosh69]

Great post and read...thanks for sharing!

[hermosabeach]

For those of us who have taken a pistol class, many end with a man on man shoot off against steel or paper targets.

Both shooters shoot side by side to see who can finish first.

What is amazing is that the guns ran fine for the first 98% of the class.

During the man on man shoot off where you are going as fast as you can, it is very common to see both Malfunctions and horribly mashed shots.

How the stress of the shot timers buzzer and another person shooting causes the shooter to lose what they know and to seriously induce a malfunction and to seriously miss is pretty eye opening....

OP - good read- thank you

[curtru]

To me it reads train your butt off like your life depends on it because some day it may

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[1CavScout]

Good read.

I never understood why anyone does serious training where they retain their empty mag.

Just drop the dang thing and get moving!

I was specifically trained not to retain empty mags. If you have a chance to top off behind cover, you can retain the partially full mag in a pocket. Never replace it back into a mag carrier though. Only full mags are kept in the carriers. Mags in Carriers are always full and indexed. I am shocked that the Marine Corps did not train these guys on mag changes. Thanks for the link.

[socom2shooter]

Good read, thanks

[jonzer77]

Good read.

I never understood why anyone does serious training where they retain their empty mag.

Just drop the dang thing and get moving!

I haven't had a chance to shoot IDPA yet but I heard that speed reloads aren't allowed...which seems like a bad way to train.

IDPA is a game and games have rules. IDPA shouldn't be used to substitute for training but it does get you accustomed to shooting while moving which has value.