Exactly spot on. I carry a P365 but every class I have taken the instructors show up dressed "tacticool" with their battle belt and completely non-stock full size pistol with all the accessories. Then they proceed to show off and are not really showing me what I need to do with my EDC. I even had one make fun of my tiny gun. As a result I am always looking for a new instructor. Have not done repeat business yet with any of them. Same way with the You Tubers I have watched. I am enrolled in your Practical Handgun class so we will see how that goes.
I always start the shooting portion of my classes at point blank range. Mostly because the bad guy usually likes to get close to you before announcing that he is a bad guy. From a couple of close up drills, we work our way back, normally the goal being 21 feet, then discussing other options. I think close up work has more value in a personal defense situation.
@@kevinparkin3322, I agree. They rarely stand still because a criminal wants an easy target! You draw a gun; You are no longer an easy target ( easy victim), and the criminal is running away.
OMG, thank you for this(glass shattered)great info!!! I am a new gun owner/shooter since 2019 and have been taking a class at least every other month and this video is SPOT on! Every instructor has this huge pistol with a magwell an Trijicon red dot, while I'm there with my 2 EDCs, FN 509 Midsize & M&P Shield 2.0. Even my instructor for Arizona CCW had a Glock 34, which made no sense to me at that time as a CCW! Love the channel, keep up the great work!
I get frustrated with venues that do not allow practicing shooting from the draw which is how most of us will use a concealed gun in a holster in a real life situation. Some make you rent a whole big inside firing room (bunker) if you want to practice that and I believe an Instructor there with you.
The liability of owning a range and allowing anyone to draw from concealment without extensive training and blue gun practice is prohibitive. At the range I work at, you used to be allowed, after about a 15 minute Qual, that was observational only. We just changed to a two hour manditory holster draw class and Qual format. It's not safe on a live range, with the public in bays beside you, to have new shooters drawing and reholstering without a high level of skill and muzzle/trigger discipline already in place.
@MartyBugg I understand...but cannot afford to take all the classes I would love to take...lol. and something inside me says it's not near the same drawing at my safe and cozy home environment, using an app as it would be with added tension in a class which would still be less than actually needing to use a fast draw to save my grandkids, hubby,and self... etc
@@marthasundquist5761 Martha it's a simple question of who would be liable if you were wounded by some person standing next to you when that person wounded you. I remember getting struck by a piece of a bullet jacket on a range when the bullet shattered on the ground...that was on a police qualification range, too !!
They don't allow it because of quick draw is a major factor in ND's. You can practice drawing with an inexpensive polymer training gun, replica airsoft, or empty gun.
@@marthasundquist5761 Martha, practice at home with blue gun or cleared/empty is not the final step in developing skill safely. It's just to develop muscle memory and safe procedures before going to SLOW repetitions with hot gun. Step 3 being speeding up that process gradually as you develop skill level. That requires hundreds if not thousands of repetitions depending on the person/aptitude. When Jeff Cooper said "owning a guitar doesn't make you a musician" it was a way of explaining the discipline and dedication required to develop expert level skills. Then, and only then would it be a good idea to apply those skills, under pressure at your maximum speed on a populated range, without a trainer present. Safety has to be a top priority at every step of your progress. I tell students often "I'm over 60 years old and still occasionally trip or bite my tongue". Humans will never have zero chance of errors. We minimize human error, we can't eliminate it. So creating safe senarios at every stage is imperative with firearms.
I don’t compete or have a race gun. My carry gun is my range and training gun. I may bring a second gun just for fun but most rounds go through my carry gun. Great advice.
Exactly. The classes I have taken, I used my CC Handgun for exactly the reasons you discussed. Also, I shoot stock. My philosophy is practice is more important than ANY other factor.
Great team! Love it when you and Mac drop knowledge. When you guys do videos together I feel like I’m getting a free class. Maybe it’s because when you combine your knowledge it brings twice the perspective. Much appreciated.
Great advice. My carry guns are around Glock 19 size and I do the majority of my training with the guns I actually carry. My nightstand gun is a "Super Gun" so I also train with that. I feel one should train often with the guns you might actually need to use.
Love your great honesty! Because I've been sharing your videos with my wife that has NEVER shot i gun! We live in different states because of jobs! But i think i found a gun store range with a great trainer for her! Trainer spent time talking with her on hus time! Listen to her questions! Seemed very smart and welling to be her trainer even after basic classroom settings!
I have to agree with you 100%. Too many instructors, particularly on UA-cam, demonstrate their skills using a tacticool gun. To the uninitiated, marksmanship expectations are very misleading.
Great advice ! I am a terrible shot but all I do is practice with my small little mossberg because fits my hand all other bigger guns do not work and be bad to try to even try to shoot with a larger handgun . My first class the instructor thought I was terrible and i felt shamed for not getting the target until my brother who can aim well could barely aim my little gun 😅.
Its funny, I just was talking with my instructor about the same thing. She has different womens groups and she always does different drills that will help us in real life. Most of the women bring what they would carry. We get great instruction and drills for real life. I always said you have to love and be one with the gun you carry because in an emergency you don't have time to think about what gun you have. It needs to be second nature. Thanks guys.
I started with a 3.1 shield then moved up with the 4" shield plus OR. Now for the last 6 months been carrying the 4.25" M&P metal. All three guns are very comfortable to carry. Great video
Great take on ccw training. I totally agree. No red dots or lights on my carry firearms. M&P shield in summer, M&P 9c 4" barrel in winter months. I have been in classes where others show up with the "super" guns and I think no way are they actually carrying that gun ever day. Great video and thanks for saying the quiet part outloud.
No reason you can't run a red dot on a ccw, especially these days. Actually works better for ccw than irons, minus some potential holsters not working. But there are holsters. Cost is really the only prohibitive reason.
@@kennethbaker5223 the comment is about in general for anyone who may think his way is the suggested or only way. And addition to the cost prohibited aspect, if you do use it in defense, there is a good chance you won't get it back.
Totally agree I say the same thing all the time. People get impressed by flash and not basics and then when they screw up don't understand why. Then the other side of coin some instructors teach the bare minimum of course that they designed covering minimum and not what they should be taught or need to be taught.
Good points! When I 'compete', I'm there for the training value and shoot my carry gun. Because I try to run stages realistically (good cover, etc) I usually come in dead last, but since I don't have any scoring expectation, I have fun! ALSO, I saw your 'bullet hole' drill and used it at my last range session, and it was a fun new challenge!
I started iwb I guess because that’s what was suggested. Since, I’ve found I can conceal at four o’clock owb MC9 just as easily and much more comfortably and that turns into much more consistently.
Prior service infantry and career SoCal cop. I’m carried a J frame off duty. Now retired in Texas, I carry micro except maybe in the winter. I can sometimes carry full size if it’s really cold out. Good advice in this vid.
I am enjoying listening to you and your wife. You are very articulate and easy to understand. I bought my wife a P365X Macro and my Marine son just bought himself a Glock 42. I carry a Glock 19 and am thinking about going to one of those two guns since they are quite a bit smaller. Both guns still carry 15+1 like mine and are still super accurate. Classes have been great, but you are right about the guns they used. and NONE of then used conceal carry holsters and did not teach how to draw from them quickly and safely. I have been using UA-cam for that
I have a friend new to firearms that is interested in home defence. Lives in N.J. where concealed carry is almost a non option. Never shot a gun before. 1st guy pulled out a G43 for er. 2nd range guy pulled down an Ar15 for her. Not many places/ people concentrating on 1st time home defence. All that being said i LOVE my 686 plus with its 5" barrel! My sister loves hers also. It was my 2nd purchase. 1st one was a Ruger Mark 2 5" slab barrel. SWEET SHOOTER! Not a bad old school way to start my gun journey.
The guys I’ve trained with insist on the whole skill set even difficult positions as well as from the draw, with your intended concealed carry weapon. Thanks for good info.
Hello! I shoot NRA Action Pistol with my comp gun. But I shoot BUG and Steel matches with my carry gun, a Sig P-365. Everything you said is such great info for anyone carrying concealed. Thk you both!
I do train with my 686-6 with either 38s 38+p and 357 -125g magnum. And I also use my G2C 9mm. I have speed loaders for my 686-6 and extra mags for my 9mm. I stay familiar with both of them I’m 55 and I can still handle the recoil of 357 mags. Good video and thanks for sharing.
As usual, a great concise video with loads of great information! Thanks for making me feel better about always using my little buddy (Sig Sauer P238) in all classroom and range training.
Im attending a yr long ladies' only class, however my instructor shoots competition, she carrys a Staccato but her mindset is focused on shooting competition not how to protect yourself properly w/ your gun
I never had the experience you talked about with people coming to class with big guns. I've had my CCW permit for 15 yrs. We were not around law enforcement, just people wanting to carry legally. There were Kahrs, Glock 42, Taurus, Keltec 3AT, mostly guns like I mentioned that had 6 round magazines and didn't cost an arm and a leg.
If you take a concealed carry course and the instructor (whatever their resume) is running a full size battle belt setup, maybe it’s time to find a different instructor…
I agree 100%. I shoot 250 rounds a week with my CC which is a staccato C2. However I love carrying my alien and staccato XC. I’m just very cautious of the light trigger when I carry concealed.
Well said! Also, instructors should clearly market who their classes are intended for - everyday civilians who have a CPL and a "less than Gucci" gun, or high end classes intended for "operators" or competitors and, as you said, teach the classes with similar equipment.
Hello I had my first Basic Pistol Class yesterday with about 6 hours classroom discussion followed by shooting 70 rounds at the range. I'm 60 years old and I am near sighted with astigmatism. I wear glasses that have progressive lenses in them so the top half is for distance and then in the middle it is corrected for mid range and then if you look more and more towards the bottom it becomes reading range. My suggestion is for someone like me if you would do a video on correct sighting through the iron sights and if the rear sights are supposed to be a little blurred and the target a little blurred and the front sight in focus how to get tight groups and know you're aiming and seeing correctly. Thank you.
Hi Guys! Great video. You guys do a great job! I especially like when you cover live fire because you're actually filming at my range a lot of the time! Keep up the great work! Thank you both..
I shoot IDPA. I recommend it for anyone that wants to carry. I only use my Hellcat, IWB without the pinkie extender. The only thing I'll change is using a kydex holster instead of the hybrid (more concealable), just because you're going to do a lot of reholstering and the hybrid is very slow. Draw is close to the same. I do check the scores, but I'm only competing against me. 🇺🇸
Great video. I started shooting USPSA with my 3in XD9. I was getting my butt kicked BUT it was more holster, shooting and moving practice. In time I upgraded to my Shadow 2 but still rocking iron sights. 100% agree. Train with what you use/have day in and day out. Now that I work at a range I see those coming in to requal for their CCW permit stressed out since they haven’t shot in months or even a year. Thank you for the content.
I took a short low light course once. I have always believed as you do about training with what you carry so I had a stock Glock 26 & my Streamlight protac. An officer was next to me on the line with his duty rig; a tricked out Sig P320 with light & night sights(no red dot). I do have XS Big Dot tritium sights on mine, this one has the newer ones that also have a luminous ring around the tritium on the front sight. I understood why he used a duty gun & it was the appropriate choice for him. The thing I learned that day is you can't buy accuracy. My target looked much better than his at the end. But we both improved. The one thing I would also suggest is to keep your demonstrations to a minimum as I'm sure you would in an in person class. Students pay to learn & improve, not to see an instructor shoot. Thank you both for what you're doing. You're helping a lot of people who might not otherwise learn.
All this can be fixed with a class title and course description. Example, our Concealed carry class is called Concealed Carry. Our instructors are carrying concealed in that class because it's a concealed carry class and students know what the purpose of the class is. Our competition classes are a completely different curriculum because competition shooting is a completely different animal. If you show up to a shooting competition, you shouldn't be surprised to see competitors with tricked out guns. There are different types of people at those competitions. Some people are trying to win, some people are trying to build skills and test themselves, some people just wanna have fun.
As a firearm instructor myself and a Army veteran. I would much rather take a practical ccw class from you guys than a super duper navy seal/ operator. I have found many of them are very disconnected from what the majority of people need because they focus on a military mindset where you have an entire squad of heavily armed men with you. Most of us wont have that, it will be just you against one or multiple opponents and you will probably be fighting with your snub nose 38 or little kel tek 380. Great video.
I was surprised to hear you had changed from the shield plus to the glock 42. If you've already covered this I apologize, but would you mind covering your decision process on this?
Excellent info I like that you make a point to train students with the same style.gun that most people carry. I have the Glock 17 and 22 full size. But my carry is either mt sheid 2.0 or sig p365 macro. Thanks for all the information and insight. LKeep up the great work. Yall make a great team
Great point about the micro carry guns that everyone is carrying these days. Just about everyone I know or work with carry micros or .380 LCPs. Great. Don’t say ‘oh you can’t carry a full size gun (to them Glock 19 medium frame size). You need a solid belt & rig. You also need to dress around it. I’m not a LEO or military like Mac, but you can do it if you commit to it. I’ve carried a PX4, 1911, Glock 17, or yes a CZ 75! You need to train with what you will most use. You guys are great! Best of luck.
Train with them all. Not all classes are the same, CCW, defensive, USPSA match classes. I don't have any race guns but I train with every gun I own. VP9SK, VP9, USP45T, Mark 23. My VCC is the USP45T.
Classes also go through about 300-400 rounds. And to be reloading say a shield. Even with a few extra bags. Would be a long class. Plus most of the drill are in 3-5 string shots. You'd be constantly behind moving onto the next drill. Trying to reload your 7 round magazine. I know this how. I took a class with my shield. I had 6 extra magazines. I still couldn't keep up for the next drill. The first few drills, yes. Just my personal experience.
I took probably a dozen classes at MFS wheb Mac was there. Most of those were with him. I always shot with my wheel gun, my LCR was what I always felt comfortable with. It's still the one I carry today. I got pretty efficient, on reloads with that. LCR, even Mac had commented how well I was doing at the time.
I've taken a few classes from Michigan Defensive Firearms Insitute (MDFI). Trek from day one has encouraged students to bring what you carry. Run your stuff. Test your stuff. Work out the kinks. For real. Some other things that that Trek has done in setting up classes. Every class begins with (after the who are you and what do you want/expect?) a safety briefing. --4 safety rules--discussed --What if something bad happens?--medical and 911 --A single theme. Each class has a one-sentence simple take-away theme. (eg: from Foundation Handgun (HG1) "I will not accept a non-working gun.") Just some quick thoughts. Good stuff here. Train with what you carry!!
OMG, I am SO guilty of this!! I have a S&W Shield as well as a Bodyguard. The Bodyguard is no fun to shoot so I tend to train more with the Shield but it's so much harder to conceal. Despite training more consistently with the larger gun, when running out the door I tend to grab the Bodyguard almost every time!!
That's why I like my LCP II in 22lr. I can train for hours and hours with a gun that has the same ergonomics as my carry pistol. Only difference I need to work on is the recoil.
.. Totally agree .. I go to put time with a carry gun of choice much of the time a S&W Sheild .45 acp but also take along a Sheild Compact in .22lr ... to have more trigger time with almost the same platform ,, but have shooting time just for fun at a greatly reduced cost for ammo .... I do the same when training with my revolvers in having a like firearm in .22lr ....
When I go to the range I usually take most of my handguns and put a few rounds down range but my carry gun gets the most attention and lots of rounds through it! Regular carry is Kimber ultra carry II with crimson laser in alien gear IWB. Sometimes in the summer it’s my Sig 938 in alien gear IWB.
What you said makes perfect sense. People seem to love the all or none approach. If you're a collector, you most likely have multiple firearms. What's the point in only training with your EDC? Obviously the bulk of your training should be with it. As noted, a real-life situation will mostly occur within a few feet, so you don't need to be an expert marksman to hit the target and neutralize the threat from a short distance. I'm not advocating not training with your EDC, but if you like to try different firearms at the range, enjoy yourself.
Well my issue is time, i found a lot of drills to try its just not being able to find time or transportation to the range. I hate not having a car it sucks lol
Yes, as an instructor, it’s important to be able to demonstrate what you’re asking your students to do, with a similar gun as their own. I carry a WC SFT, with a red dot, shoot the occasional local IDPA match with it, and train with this gun. But in class, I also demonstrate with a smaller, iron sight equipped gun. It’s good practice for me while also showing students that what I’m demonstrating and asking them to do, is doable with a gun similar to theirs. An aside to students: don’t assume that police officers are necessarily good instructors, nor good shooters simply because they’ve been, or are, police officers. Edit: by the way, this last comment is not a criticism of the poster, whom I believe is good at both. 👍
I love what you both do with your channel. I recently purchased a red dot for my Walther PDP compact, but don’t know at what yardage to zero it in at. The web is very controversial on what is best. Do you have an opinion about this? Keep up the great work!
That is the problem with so many videos I watch. They are all about tactical carry as if I am at war. Very few actually are about concealed carry, and draing from actual concealment, etc.
How funny, the timing of this video. I finally got a CCW last year here in NJ right after Bruen. My cc is a shield. My favorite is a full size Walther pdp... And i find myself using that more at the range. I enjoy it more and I'm much better with it. I received an email from the police dept regarding the change required in the state. Turns out i need to requalify with the new requirements. I'm going to do that today at two o'clock and i want to bring the walther bc i haven't been practicing all that much with the shield. I don't have a holster for the walther, but i do for the shield, and i need to requalify with a holster. So that's what I'm bringing today. I have to do it today... The state issued the new rqmnts in really July and we have until October 1st. All that time i thought my previous training and qualification was sufficient, until that email from my township police (they won't accept it). Wish me luck 😊
Good luck....I'd grab a holster for the PDP and figure out the shield later...but this subject is going to be one of our next vids....if you love the pdp why are you not carrying the walther PPS M2?? That's the closest thing to the pdp....
@@bobmacquarrie money. I had to pay for the ccw permit, the fingerprinting, the required classes (and now pay again). I'll have to pay for another purchase permit (have to for each handgun). The pdp is too big to carry concealed. I should've used the shield at least as equally so that's my bad. I will check out your suggestion though. Maybe in a couple of months I'll buy it if I like it.
This was very informative, so thank you for your perspective. You mentioned that you both competed in an IDPA competition; something I will be doing soon for the very first time. As recommended, I intend to carry my EDC to make the most of the training. Here is a question: how many mags should I have for this competition? I carry a Sig P365.
😂I've pocket carried G23, duty carry for the Sheriff's Dept. I was in a hurry 🤷♂ I've carried several platforms, first was 686 (also the first guy I had to shoot was with that), then a 96DAO, 5 shot Taurus, 1911 Commander, P10-45... The "church gun"... tried out carry with friend's sidearms that they weren't using at the time. Very agreed. Shoot what you carry, carry what you *_will_* carry. Choosing a comfortable holster! Probably not going to get it right on the first try. Pretty simple to teach a student how to break their pistols down and what's what and why w/ their function. Makes them more comfortable. I never showed what I was carrying till teaching them on the range. If you've got like minded friends, ask to shoot theirs. lol Your first choice for carry may change 🤣
I really get why people only carry one CCW. In over 20 years for me I've always rotated except for whatever ankle back up that I was using at the time. I went from 5 different firearms through the week for a long time now I do 7. I mean what's the point of having them if you don't use them. This has been working for me & I'm happy with it.
Man, then I must be a true oddball with my 3" k6s dasa. That being said, yes. I've gone to two or three competitions and they are DECKED OUT dripping with cutting edge gear. It was kinda bad that I was slowing down the group's as I was new and running regular gear. Question: started getting the wife into it. She finally chose her firearm (kimber micro 380) and has had her first private lesson and really enjoyed it. How would yall propose to get her going to the range more? Want to eventually get her comfortable enough to carry it.
Exactly spot on. I carry a P365 but every class I have taken the instructors show up dressed "tacticool" with their battle belt and completely non-stock full size pistol with all the accessories. Then they proceed to show off and are not really showing me what I need to do with my EDC. I even had one make fun of my tiny gun. As a result I am always looking for a new instructor. Have not done repeat business yet with any of them. Same way with the You Tubers I have watched. I am enrolled in your Practical Handgun class so we will see how that goes.
I always start the shooting portion of my classes at point blank range. Mostly because the bad guy usually likes to get close to you before announcing that he is a bad guy. From a couple of close up drills, we work our way back, normally the goal being 21 feet, then discussing other options. I think close up work has more value in a personal defense situation.
Self defense shooting = duck and cover ... followed by verrrrry quick target acquisition. Bad guys rarely stand still while their victims take aim.
@@kevinparkin3322, I agree. They rarely stand still because a criminal wants an easy target! You draw a gun; You are no longer an easy target ( easy victim), and the criminal is running away.
OMG, thank you for this(glass shattered)great info!!! I am a new gun owner/shooter since 2019 and have been taking a class at least every other month and this video is SPOT on! Every instructor has this huge pistol with a magwell an Trijicon red dot, while I'm there with my 2 EDCs, FN 509 Midsize & M&P Shield 2.0. Even my instructor for Arizona CCW had a Glock 34, which made no sense to me at that time as a CCW! Love the channel, keep up the great work!
I get frustrated with venues that do not allow practicing shooting from the draw which is how most of us will use a concealed gun in a holster in a real life situation. Some make you rent a whole big inside firing room (bunker) if you want to practice that and I believe an Instructor there with you.
The liability of owning a range and allowing anyone to draw from concealment without extensive training and blue gun practice is prohibitive. At the range I work at, you used to be allowed, after about a 15 minute Qual, that was observational only. We just changed to a two hour manditory holster draw class and Qual format. It's not safe on a live range, with the public in bays beside you, to have new shooters drawing and reholstering without a high level of skill and muzzle/trigger discipline already in place.
@MartyBugg I understand...but cannot afford to take all the classes I would love to take...lol. and something inside me says it's not near the same drawing at my safe and cozy home environment, using an app as it would be with added tension in a class which would still be less than actually needing to use a fast draw to save my grandkids, hubby,and self... etc
@@marthasundquist5761
Martha it's a simple question of who would be liable if you were wounded by some person standing next to you when that person wounded you. I remember getting struck by a piece of a bullet jacket on a range when the bullet shattered on the ground...that was on a police qualification range, too !!
They don't allow it because of quick draw is a major factor in ND's. You can practice drawing with an inexpensive polymer training gun, replica airsoft, or empty gun.
@@marthasundquist5761 Martha, practice at home with blue gun or cleared/empty is not the final step in developing skill safely. It's just to develop muscle memory and safe procedures before going to SLOW repetitions with hot gun.
Step 3 being speeding up that process gradually as you develop skill level. That requires hundreds if not thousands of repetitions depending on the person/aptitude.
When Jeff Cooper said "owning a guitar doesn't make you a musician" it was a way of explaining the discipline and dedication required to develop expert level skills. Then, and only then would it be a good idea to apply those skills, under pressure at your maximum speed on a populated range, without a trainer present.
Safety has to be a top priority at every step of your progress. I tell students often "I'm over 60 years old and still occasionally trip or bite my tongue". Humans will never have zero chance of errors. We minimize human error, we can't eliminate it. So creating safe senarios at every stage is imperative with firearms.
I don’t compete or have a race gun. My carry gun is my range and training gun. I may bring a second gun just for fun but most rounds go through my carry gun.
Great advice.
Exactly. The classes I have taken, I used my CC Handgun for exactly the reasons you discussed. Also, I shoot stock. My philosophy is practice is more important than ANY other factor.
Great team! Love it when you and Mac drop knowledge. When you guys do videos together I feel like I’m getting a free class. Maybe it’s because when you combine your knowledge it brings twice the perspective. Much appreciated.
Great advice. My carry guns are around Glock 19 size and I do the majority of my training with the guns I actually carry. My nightstand gun is a "Super Gun" so I also train with that. I feel one should train often with the guns you might actually need to use.
This is a great point, and great video. I carry an HK P30SK, and when I complete I use my P30L. Different size, but absolute duplicate operation
Could not agree more. Amazing the number of cats at CCW classes wasting their time and money. Good vid.
Love your great honesty! Because I've been sharing your videos with my wife that has NEVER shot i gun! We live in different states because of jobs! But i think i found a gun store range with a great trainer for her! Trainer spent time talking with her on hus time! Listen to her questions! Seemed very smart and welling to be her trainer even after basic classroom settings!
I have to agree with you 100%. Too many instructors, particularly on UA-cam, demonstrate their skills using a tacticool gun. To the uninitiated, marksmanship expectations are very misleading.
This is 100% spot on. Thank you for addressing this.
Great advice ! I am a terrible shot but all I do is practice with my small little mossberg because fits my hand all other bigger guns do not work and be bad to try to even try to shoot with a larger handgun . My first class the instructor thought I was terrible and i felt shamed for not getting the target until my brother who can aim well could barely aim my little gun 😅.
Glad you found something that fits you!! Keep practicing, but practice correctly :)
I have found the Mantis system helpful in improving my aim with my concealed carry pistol.
Its funny, I just was talking with my instructor about the same thing. She has different womens groups and she always does different drills that will help us in real life. Most of the women bring what they would carry. We get great instruction and drills for real life. I always said you have to love and be one with the gun you carry because in an emergency you don't have time to think about what gun you have. It needs to be second nature. Thanks guys.
I started with a 3.1 shield then moved up with the 4" shield plus OR. Now for the last 6 months been carrying the 4.25" M&P metal. All three guns are very comfortable to carry. Great video
Great take on ccw training. I totally agree. No red dots or lights on my carry firearms. M&P shield in summer, M&P 9c 4" barrel in winter months. I have been in classes where others show up with the "super" guns and I think no way are they actually carrying that gun ever day. Great video and thanks for saying the quiet part outloud.
No reason you can't run a red dot on a ccw, especially these days. Actually works better for ccw than irons, minus some potential holsters not working. But there are holsters. Cost is really the only prohibitive reason.
@@matthewriegner5180 Not against them. If you like to carry that way then you do you. Respect
@@matthewriegner5180 He stated HIS firearms, not yours.
@@kennethbaker5223 the comment is about in general for anyone who may think his way is the suggested or only way.
And addition to the cost prohibited aspect, if you do use it in defense, there is a good chance you won't get it back.
I too carry a smaller hand gun, when I carry; however, I don't want to be a great shot; I just want to survive a situation.
Excellent points. I agree! 😁
Totally agree I say the same thing all the time. People get impressed by flash and not basics and then when they screw up don't understand why. Then the other side of coin some instructors teach the bare minimum of course that they designed covering minimum and not what they should be taught or need to be taught.
100% truth! I’ve witnessed exactly what you describe countless times in the past. We MUST train with what we’re actually going to carry 👍🏻
Good points! When I 'compete', I'm there for the training value and shoot my carry gun. Because I try to run stages realistically (good cover, etc) I usually come in dead last, but since I don't have any scoring expectation, I have fun!
ALSO, I saw your 'bullet hole' drill and used it at my last range session, and it was a fun new challenge!
Appreciate your honesty and authenticity. God bless you both!
I started iwb I guess because that’s what was suggested. Since, I’ve found I can conceal at four o’clock owb MC9 just as easily and much more comfortably and that turns into much more consistently.
Great job both of you 👍🎯 always well thought out points 👉 🛡 be well 💪🏽🗽🙏 carry on 🔫 🇺🇲
Thank you for sharing this, you are an amazing young woman. God bless u
Prior service infantry and career SoCal cop. I’m carried a J frame off duty. Now retired in Texas, I carry micro except maybe in the winter. I can sometimes carry full size if it’s really cold out. Good advice in this vid.
This is exactly how I feel thanks!
I am enjoying listening to you and your wife. You are very articulate and easy to understand. I bought my wife a P365X Macro and my Marine son just bought himself a Glock 42. I carry a Glock 19 and am thinking about going to one of those two guns since they are quite a bit smaller. Both guns still carry 15+1 like mine and are still super accurate. Classes have been great, but you are right about the guns they used. and NONE of then used conceal carry holsters and did not teach how to draw from them quickly and safely. I have been using UA-cam for that
I have a friend new to firearms that is interested in home defence. Lives in N.J. where concealed carry is almost a non option. Never shot a gun before. 1st guy pulled out a G43 for er. 2nd range guy pulled down an Ar15 for her. Not many places/ people concentrating on 1st time home defence. All that being said i LOVE my 686 plus with its 5" barrel! My sister loves hers also. It was my 2nd purchase. 1st one was a Ruger Mark 2 5" slab barrel. SWEET SHOOTER! Not a bad old school way to start my gun journey.
The guys I’ve trained with insist on the whole skill set even difficult positions as well as from the draw, with your intended concealed carry weapon. Thanks for good info.
Great philosophy on training. It's really only effective if it matches the real world application
Great video thanks 🙏 may God bless y’all 💯
Hello! I shoot NRA Action Pistol with my comp gun. But I shoot BUG and Steel matches with my carry gun, a Sig P-365.
Everything you said is such great info for anyone carrying concealed.
Thk you both!
I do train with my 686-6 with either 38s 38+p and 357 -125g magnum. And I also use my G2C 9mm. I have speed loaders for my 686-6 and extra mags for my 9mm. I stay familiar with both of them I’m 55 and I can still handle the recoil of 357 mags. Good video and thanks for sharing.
As usual, a great concise video with loads of great information! Thanks for making me feel better about always using my little buddy (Sig Sauer P238) in all classroom and range training.
You and me both!
Basically, beware of the hardo instructions in full SWAT gear. Good tip.
You're both great.. Stav I carry because of you....
You are right bring what your going to carry 👍👍
Thank you I agree. 365XL 15 round mag puts me in the middle. 12 rd mag w Gym shorts, tee shirt 1 size bigger than my actual. Nobody knows.
Really appreciate your thoughtful considerations. Its exactly how i feel in some classes. Thank you Stav and Mac.
Im attending a yr long ladies' only class, however my instructor shoots competition, she carrys a Staccato but her mindset is focused on shooting competition not how to protect yourself properly w/ your gun
I carry the Taurus GX4 but have a Walther for home defense (bump in the night). I try to train with both but the scenarios are different
Thanks so much for this valuable information. Keep up the great content😊
Excellent advise as usual!
Excellent advice!
Great vid. Thanks! 😊
Good information. My friend that teaches carry and conceal classes teaches with 22 semi automatic.
I never had the experience you talked about with people coming to class with big guns. I've had my CCW permit for 15 yrs. We were not around law enforcement, just people wanting to carry legally. There were Kahrs, Glock 42, Taurus, Keltec 3AT, mostly guns like I mentioned that had 6 round magazines and didn't cost an arm and a leg.
Excellent advice guys, as always! You complement each other, bring great balance and perspective to your instruction! Thanks much, Blsgs, gg
If you take a concealed carry course and the instructor (whatever their resume) is running a full size battle belt setup, maybe it’s time to find a different instructor…
I agree 100%. I shoot 250 rounds a week with my CC which is a staccato C2. However I love carrying my alien and staccato XC. I’m just very cautious of the light trigger when I carry concealed.
My local IDPA and USPSA groups have BUG competitions once a month
Well said! Also, instructors should clearly market who their classes are intended for - everyday civilians who have a CPL and a "less than Gucci" gun, or high end classes intended for "operators" or competitors and, as you said, teach the classes with similar equipment.
I carry iwb my only gun which is a S&W 380EZ Shield for personal protection.
Hello I had my first Basic Pistol Class yesterday with about 6 hours classroom discussion followed by shooting 70 rounds at the range. I'm 60 years old and I am near sighted with astigmatism. I wear glasses that have progressive lenses in them so the top half is for distance and then in the middle it is corrected for mid range and then if you look more and more towards the bottom it becomes reading range. My suggestion is for someone like me if you would do a video on correct sighting through the iron sights and if the rear sights are supposed to be a little blurred and the target a little blurred and the front sight in focus how to get tight groups and know you're aiming and seeing correctly. Thank you.
Great Advice! I agree 100 percent!
Great informative video. Thank you both for sharing your experience.
Hi Guys! Great video. You guys do a great job! I especially like when you cover live fire because you're actually filming at my range a lot of the time! Keep up the great work! Thank you both..
My class at Maxon in Des Plaines didn’t have that. I think they are getting better at knowing the class
Great video, Great information.
Well said and much truth.
I shoot IDPA. I recommend it for anyone that wants to carry. I only use my Hellcat, IWB without the pinkie extender. The only thing I'll change is using a kydex holster instead of the hybrid (more concealable), just because you're going to do a lot of reholstering and the hybrid is very slow. Draw is close to the same.
I do check the scores, but I'm only competing against me. 🇺🇸
Great video. I started shooting USPSA with my 3in XD9. I was getting my butt kicked BUT it was more holster, shooting and moving practice. In time I upgraded to my Shadow 2 but still rocking iron sights. 100% agree. Train with what you use/have day in and day out. Now that I work at a range I see those coming in to requal for their CCW permit stressed out since they haven’t shot in months or even a year. Thank you for the content.
I hear ya'! Practices what you preach! Nice job, good video.😎
you guys are great!! keep teaching. thanks
Good talk, thanks!
another great video
Great content as always! Love the pink yoga mats at the range!
I took a short low light course once. I have always believed as you do about training with what you carry so I had a stock Glock 26 & my Streamlight protac. An officer was next to me on the line with his duty rig; a tricked out Sig P320 with light & night sights(no red dot). I do have XS Big Dot tritium sights on mine, this one has the newer ones that also have a luminous ring around the tritium on the front sight. I understood why he used a duty gun & it was the appropriate choice for him. The thing I learned that day is you can't buy accuracy. My target looked much better than his at the end. But we both improved.
The one thing I would also suggest is to keep your demonstrations to a minimum as I'm sure you would in an in person class. Students pay to learn & improve, not to see an instructor shoot.
Thank you both for what you're doing. You're helping a lot of people who might not otherwise learn.
All this can be fixed with a class title and course description. Example, our Concealed carry class is called Concealed Carry. Our instructors are carrying concealed in that class because it's a concealed carry class and students know what the purpose of the class is. Our competition classes are a completely different curriculum because competition shooting is a completely different animal. If you show up to a shooting competition, you shouldn't be surprised to see competitors with tricked out guns. There are different types of people at those competitions. Some people are trying to win, some people are trying to build skills and test themselves, some people just wanna have fun.
As a firearm instructor myself and a Army veteran. I would much rather take a practical ccw class from you guys than a super duper navy seal/ operator. I have found many of them are very disconnected from what the majority of people need because they focus on a military mindset where you have an entire squad of heavily armed men with you. Most of us wont have that, it will be just you against one or multiple opponents and you will probably be fighting with your snub nose 38 or little kel tek 380. Great video.
I was so excited to find your channel! Where are you in Massachusetts, and do you do any in person classes? I’m interested!
I was surprised to hear you had changed from the shield plus to the glock 42. If you've already covered this I apologize, but would you mind covering your decision process on this?
This was a great video!
Great advice as always.👍
Great video. I love watching both of you. You always have good sound advise. 💜
Excellent info I like that you make a point to train students with the same style.gun that most people carry. I have the Glock 17 and 22 full size. But my carry is either mt sheid 2.0 or sig p365 macro. Thanks for all the information and insight. LKeep up the great work. Yall make a great team
Great job - as always!
Great point about the micro carry guns that everyone is carrying these days. Just about everyone I know or work with carry micros or .380 LCPs. Great. Don’t say ‘oh you can’t carry a full size gun (to them Glock 19 medium frame size). You need a solid belt & rig. You also need to dress around it. I’m not a LEO or military like Mac, but you can do it if you commit to it. I’ve carried a PX4, 1911, Glock 17, or yes a CZ 75! You need to train with what you will most use. You guys are great! Best of luck.
Train with them all. Not all classes are the same, CCW, defensive, USPSA match classes. I don't have any race guns but I train with every gun I own. VP9SK, VP9, USP45T, Mark 23. My VCC is the USP45T.
Classes also go through about 300-400 rounds. And to be reloading say a shield. Even with a few extra bags. Would be a long class. Plus most of the drill are in 3-5 string shots. You'd be constantly behind moving onto the next drill. Trying to reload your 7 round magazine. I know this how. I took a class with my shield. I had 6 extra magazines. I still couldn't keep up for the next drill. The first few drills, yes. Just my personal experience.
I agree with idea of shooting IDPA with actual firearm that you carry. I shot a match with an HK P7. By the way, one of the safest guns to carry.
I took probably a dozen classes at MFS wheb Mac was there. Most of those were with him. I always shot with my wheel gun, my LCR was what I always felt comfortable with. It's still the one I carry today. I got pretty efficient, on reloads with that. LCR, even Mac had commented how well I was doing at the time.
I've taken a few classes from Michigan Defensive Firearms Insitute (MDFI). Trek from day one has encouraged students to bring what you carry. Run your stuff. Test your stuff. Work out the kinks. For real.
Some other things that that Trek has done in setting up classes.
Every class begins with (after the who are you and what do you want/expect?) a safety briefing.
--4 safety rules--discussed
--What if something bad happens?--medical and 911
--A single theme. Each class has a one-sentence simple take-away theme. (eg: from Foundation Handgun (HG1) "I will not accept a non-working gun.")
Just some quick thoughts. Good stuff here.
Train with what you carry!!
Remember folks! “Slow is smooth. And Smooth is fast”
Ha! I carry an original Ruger LCP...I can't even imagine competing with that. 😂 I do, however, practice at the range with it very often. 👍
OMG, I am SO guilty of this!! I have a S&W Shield as well as a Bodyguard. The Bodyguard is no fun to shoot so I tend to train more with the Shield but it's so much harder to conceal. Despite training more consistently with the larger gun, when running out the door I tend to grab the Bodyguard almost every time!!
That's why I like my LCP II in 22lr. I can train for hours and hours with a gun that has the same ergonomics as my carry pistol. Only difference I need to work on is the recoil.
.. Totally agree .. I go to put time with a carry gun of choice much of the time a S&W Sheild .45 acp but also take along a Sheild Compact in .22lr ... to have more trigger time with almost the same platform ,, but have shooting time just for fun at a greatly reduced cost for ammo .... I do the same when training with my revolvers in having a like firearm in .22lr ....
My SCCY 9mm CPX 2 - Gen 3 is the only one I carry so I practice with it all the time.
When I go to the range I usually take most of my handguns and put a few rounds down range but my carry gun gets the most attention and lots of rounds through it! Regular carry is Kimber ultra carry II with crimson laser in alien gear IWB. Sometimes in the summer it’s my Sig 938 in alien gear IWB.
What you said makes perfect sense. People seem to love the all or none approach. If you're a collector, you most likely have multiple firearms. What's the point in only training with your EDC? Obviously the bulk of your training should be with it. As noted, a real-life situation will mostly occur within a few feet, so you don't need to be an expert marksman to hit the target and neutralize the threat from a short distance. I'm not advocating not training with your EDC, but if you like to try different firearms at the range, enjoy yourself.
Well my issue is time, i found a lot of drills to try its just not being able to find time or transportation to the range. I hate not having a car it sucks lol
Yes, as an instructor, it’s important to be able to demonstrate what you’re asking your students to do, with a similar gun as their own. I carry a WC SFT, with a red dot, shoot the occasional local IDPA match with it, and train with this gun. But in class, I also demonstrate with a smaller, iron sight equipped gun. It’s good practice for me while also showing students that what I’m demonstrating and asking them to do, is doable with a gun similar to theirs.
An aside to students: don’t assume that police officers are necessarily good instructors, nor good shooters simply because they’ve been, or are, police officers.
Edit: by the way, this last comment is not a criticism of the poster, whom I believe is good at both. 👍
I love what you both do with your channel. I recently purchased a red dot for my Walther PDP compact, but don’t know at what yardage to zero it in at. The web is very controversial on what is best. Do you have an opinion about this? Keep up the great work!
That is the problem with so many videos I watch. They are all about tactical carry as if I am at war. Very few actually are about concealed carry, and draing from actual concealment, etc.
How funny, the timing of this video. I finally got a CCW last year here in NJ right after Bruen. My cc is a shield. My favorite is a full size Walther pdp... And i find myself using that more at the range. I enjoy it more and I'm much better with it. I received an email from the police dept regarding the change required in the state. Turns out i need to requalify with the new requirements. I'm going to do that today at two o'clock and i want to bring the walther bc i haven't been practicing all that much with the shield. I don't have a holster for the walther, but i do for the shield, and i need to requalify with a holster. So that's what I'm bringing today. I have to do it today... The state issued the new rqmnts in really July and we have until October 1st. All that time i thought my previous training and qualification was sufficient, until that email from my township police (they won't accept it). Wish me luck 😊
Good luck....I'd grab a holster for the PDP and figure out the shield later...but this subject is going to be one of our next vids....if you love the pdp why are you not carrying the walther PPS M2?? That's the closest thing to the pdp....
That'd partly why we like the glock 42....stav loves the glock 34....that's our primary HD pistol...we have two 34's and two 42's...
@@bobmacquarrie money. I had to pay for the ccw permit, the fingerprinting, the required classes (and now pay again). I'll have to pay for another purchase permit (have to for each handgun). The pdp is too big to carry concealed. I should've used the shield at least as equally so that's my bad. I will check out your suggestion though. Maybe in a couple of months I'll buy it if I like it.
This was very informative, so thank you for your perspective. You mentioned that you both competed in an IDPA competition; something I will be doing soon for the very first time. As recommended, I intend to carry my EDC to make the most of the training. Here is a question: how many mags should I have for this competition? I carry a Sig P365.
😂I've pocket carried G23, duty carry for the Sheriff's Dept. I was in a hurry 🤷♂ I've carried several platforms, first was 686 (also the first guy I had to shoot was with that), then a 96DAO, 5 shot Taurus, 1911 Commander, P10-45... The "church gun"... tried out carry with friend's sidearms that they weren't using at the time. Very agreed. Shoot what you carry, carry what you *_will_* carry. Choosing a comfortable holster! Probably not going to get it right on the first try.
Pretty simple to teach a student how to break their pistols down and what's what and why w/ their function. Makes them more comfortable. I never showed what I was carrying till teaching them on the range. If you've got like minded friends, ask to shoot theirs. lol Your first choice for carry may change 🤣
I really get why people only carry one CCW. In over 20 years for me I've always rotated except for whatever ankle back up that I was using at the time. I went from 5 different firearms through the week for a long time now I do 7. I mean what's the point of having them if you don't use them. This has been working for me & I'm happy with it.
Man, then I must be a true oddball with my 3" k6s dasa.
That being said, yes. I've gone to two or three competitions and they are DECKED OUT dripping with cutting edge gear. It was kinda bad that I was slowing down the group's as I was new and running regular gear.
Question: started getting the wife into it. She finally chose her firearm (kimber micro 380) and has had her first private lesson and really enjoyed it. How would yall propose to get her going to the range more? Want to eventually get her comfortable enough to carry it.