Concealed Carry Skills

I am writing this post to accompany my "CCW skills" that I will be uploading to rumble.

There are several things a person must master before they can consider themselves competent enough to be a “good” carrier of concealed firearms.  First, and not really a “skill” is the ability to actually conceal their firearms on their person.  Second is the knowledge of local laws and the common sense to know when using deadly force is the right thing to do.  We can not address these in a blog post or in a video, there are far to many different variables and situations for us to discuss.

I would like to discuss the weapons handling skills that I consider important for a person who wants to carry a firearm for self defense.  They are accuracy, the draw (or presentation), failure to stop, contact shooting situations, shooting at night, and unconventional draws.  These skills might or might not have been covered in classes you had to take to get your concealed weapons permit.  Some people might not even have had to take such a class.  

I want to place a disclaimer.  Blog posts and videos are no replacement for competent firearms instruction.  I am not an expert witness that you can call in your defense.  I am only breaking down the skills I think are important and ways to achieve them.  I always recommend training under reputable instructors.

#1 Accuracy

The first skill a person needs is to get good hits.  On a battlefield or range, misses are not nearly as bad a thing as in a civilian shooting in what should be a peaceful parking lot or convenience store.  I have read that in a high stress situation that accuracy is about 5 times worse than good range day accuracy.  For this reason I'm a big believer of “stress inoculation” where in physical or mental stress is added to training once you can achieve some beginner level of skill.  Adding in cardiac exercise or the stress of competition are two things almost anybody can do.  Force on force training is also a very good thing.

In any situation, what is good enough?  I think being able to get two shots in a 3x5 index card at seven yards, from the draw, is pretty good.  I also think all CCW weapons training should start and end with accuracy.

#2 Presentation (The Draw)

There are plenty of videos and articles on how to draw a gun from concealment.  And, speed of access vs conceal-ability are always a concern.  I recently saw a TV cop show where an retired cop, after being mugged, came to the conclusion that “ankle holsters suck.”  Does that mean you shouldn't carry in an ankle holster?  No, if an ankle holster is what you need to have your pistol on you when you need it.  But to not have practiced with it is negligence. Decide how you can conceal, and PRACTICE.  Most people never practice the presentation.  You should practice drawing your pistol HUNDREDS of times before you consider yourself competent, and then KEEP practicing.

#3 Failure to Stop

The skill I am taking about here is that you need to assess the threat before, during and AFTER you engage them

One of the worse habits that people can get in is the “double tap.”  The idea that you shoot a bad guy twice in the chest and you're done with them.  The easiest way to get in to this habit is lots of pistol competitions, trust me... it's happened to me.  (I still recommend competition as a way to train.)  But ever now and then you need to step away from the competition and practice the two plus one drill or something similar.

#3 Contact Shooting

Odds are good, that if you need to shoot someone to protect yourself or others, they will be within touching distance.  To a person that stands on a square range and shoots paper plates this is a strange feeling.  It's another thing that can be practiced at home and then done at the range if the opportunity presents itself.

#4 Shooting at Night

Bad things happen at night, and shooting in low light is an important skill.  If you can't practice it at the range unload your gun and practice in the garage.  Getting a sight picture at night is a skill, again, that most people never try. I used to run a night pistol match, and I can not count the number of shooters that didn't realize they couldn't see their sights until they tried it when the buzzer went off.  Simply unacceptable.

#5 Unconventional Draws

Most of our practice is, out of necessity, squared up on a range while standing or siting at a shooting bench.  You have got to practice presenting your pistol under any situation you might find yourself.  In the car with a seat-belt on?  What about if your two year old is in a child seat next to you?  These are things you need to practice.  The first time you do it should not be the one time it's really going to count.

Conclusion

I have tried to break down the basic skills, I have tried to give ways to practice them, but you have to do it.  To carry a concealed weapon is a serious lifestyle choice and huge responsibility comes with it.  There is a huge curve in developing these skills, but if you ever need to do it it will be a sudden traumatic event that will change your life forever.  You will thank God for every round you shot at the range and every practice draw you did in front of the mirror.  If you have comments or questions please talk to me.

Noted firearms instructor John Farnam was fond of saying; “when it's least expected, you're elected.”  Don't let us down.