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noob training plan for CCW

5K views 32 replies 23 participants last post by  gqucool 
#1 ·
so I've been shooting paper for awhile and now want some training for CCW.

I wrote this training plan and working my way thru these items. Sadly my neighborhood is changing a bit too much in the wrong direction and I'm wondering if I will have to move.

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training plan for CCW
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1. my situation
geezer age some health issues not physically fit operator type
favorite pistol ruger lc380 with galloway trigger kit
light schedule for range trips and local ranges are good
classes at local ranges are too much effort and equipment

2. mindset attitude
safety first all these items else serious injuries hospital stays
train for some level of future incidents
how to transition from shooting paper to shooting people
videos at liveleak.com clik safemode off search for robber

3. legal issues
carry CPL with gun else legal issues
when ok to shoot when ok to get involved what to do after shooting
read pdf files from second call armed citizen concealed carry
expect lots of attention from police and lawyers and media and more

4. when where why to carry
carry CPL with gun else legal issues
why is gun needed is local area not safe enough ? move soon
errands grocery store gas station library driving around car repair
watch out for gun free zones hospitals post office schools malls
doctors offices all have parking garage issues
totally avoid unstable places trouble spots protests riots
metal lockbox for storage

5. range trips
safety first gun rules
basic capability shooting paper with 2 hands 1 hand
5" groups at 7 yards medium pace
ruger lc380 DAO trigger 7lb pull 1/2" travel
activities handling load unload slide clearing jams cleaning storing
range trip ear muffs notes camera gun magazines loaders ammo

6. holster
which holster for occasional appendix carry slide right left as needed
walk semi run bend over crouch down sit get up from chair sofa in out car
does gun print thru clothes tshirt button up hoodie jacket gloves
durability for occasional carry
try nylon and kydex holsters

7. practice drawing and reholstering
use snap caps for practice drills at apartment
drawing effectively for first shot with 1 hand 2 hands
clothes jeans tshirt button up hoodie jacket gloves
standing sitting walking turning around also with car
local range has 50hr rental laser training
last step how to practice with live ammo

8. tactical
pay close attention what is happening what looks different
health issues affect focus ability mobility
how many troublemakers where are they what are they doing
engage or run determine wimp factor me vs how many troublemakers
stress adrenaline loss of fine motor skills loss of thinking ability
distraction act nervous stutter drop wallet wait for tm to look away
quick draw surprise first hit keep shooting until tm falls reload magazine
move before during or after shooting look around lower gun then call 911
10 Essential Tips for Concealed Carry Holders

9. planning scenarios
apartment door window banging breakin walking to car trash office dogs
robber nutter jihadi at grocery store gas station library restaurant
make notes from liveleak links about what happened what to focus on
clik safe mode off search for robber plenty of good and bad incidents

10. case histories on shooting scenarios

youtube channel has commentary
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsE_m2z1NrvF2ImeNWh84mw

for some reason the links from liveleak.com don't post ?
add these strings to end of liveleak.com for these videos

/view?i=344_1484428921
/view?i=2c9_1326042178
/view?i=113_1308738068
/view?i=fd4_1480096343
/view?i=e44_1481395309
/view?i=3ca_1484122349
/view?i=c94_1447802214
/view?i=b9e_1333568849
/view?i=9ad_1436341627

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#4 ·
#5 ·
Not sure about the ranges by you, but our ranges offer the 4-8 hour courses but also have private lessons by the hour. I'm sure if you have health issues they would be willing to work with you

A majority of gun owners want to encourage others to own guns. And I can't speak for all, but those same people are usually all for helping, teaching and training others, especially those that are newer to gun ownership. Ask around and see if they can work with you. Training is always good. But the YouTube guys aren't always as much of an expert as they claim and you can learn bad things there. And having someone else there is good because they can watch and see things that you are doing and help to correct
 
#7 ·
Our Sheriff gives free classes to new CCW people.

Id try an find something like that to cover some of the legal aspect.
 
#10 ·
YZ!

Almost everyone is saying the same thing - there's no substitute for some formal training. You've assembled a pretty comprehensive list. That's a good start and perhaps great criteria for what you should seek in your training. Carrying is a big responsibility.

I learned a long time ago that if a bunch of people whose opinion you respect are all saying the same thing, there's probably something there.

Try to find an instructor who will work with your limitations. You'll be glad you did. If for no other reason (and there are a lot of them), you'll be better defendant should you ever need to use a weapon in self defense.

Good luck and stay safe!
 
#17 ·
Almost everyone is saying the same thing - there's no substitute for some formal training.
Additionally, there is no substitute for REPS handling and shooting your weapon! For example, one of the top safety rules is don't put your finger on the trigger UNTIL you are ready to fire the weapon. Initially, you should think about that rule before handling the weapon but that rule has to become instinctive so in the future you always pick up the weapon correctly without thinking about it. I picked up that instinct around 45+ years ago when I was learning to hunt and it serves me well today.
 
#13 ·
advice x 2

I would offer you 2 bits of advice on the subject, one based on my humble opinion, the other based on actual experience.
1) Take a course at a local shooting range...or take two or more if you have the time. There is no substitute for being prepared. I think once you get going you will really enjoy the training.
2) This is the part I have experience in. You said your Neighborhood is changing to the point you feel uneasy. That is no way to live. You do not want to live your life by running away of course, but then again you deserve to be comfortable in your own neighborhood. I would move if that is a possibility. My wife and I packed up and left when our area took a sudden turn for the worse. We had kids in middle school and grade school then and did not want them to grow up in a neighborhood and school district that was giving in to the thugs, so we HAD to go. Maybe you do not have to. Maybe you want to stick it out. But safety first means not living where the trouble is...
 
#18 ·
thanks for the replies to this thread :)

yes I agree that classes are a good idea "in general" but as for me, I thought I typed about that in 1.1 and repeated in 8.2 above...

1.1 geezer age some health issues not physically fit
8.2 health issues affect focus ability mobility

am I being too cryptic here ? what do y'all think these words mean ? that I get up in the morning run 5 miles then 1 hour workout only 1 day a week instead of 7 days a week ? well no it does not mean that I suppose I can attention whore my health issues here but really I'd rather not :D

what I'd like to read from people who have attended those shooting classes are what kinds of important things you learned

I like internet stuff and it suits my needs and purposes very well. I don't want to be some tacticool operator able to shoot down multiple targets doing double taps while running and kneeling behind barricades etc I just want to be a quiet old geezer who manages to surprise some piece of sh*t and shoot back a few times
 
#20 ·
Just because you are older with health issues does not mean you cannot train with a professional. It may mean one on one training, besides you should avoid the mall ninja type trainers anyway. Plus you can train on your own. A short time in a class is not going to make you the best you can be.

Keep in mind I am 62 years old, have had several heart attacks, several procedures including bypass surgery. I survive with a pacemaker defibrillator in my chest, and am not the most spry youngster on the block.

I train every single day, because of my disabilities I become better at what I can do. I suggest the purchase of a blue gun for practice drawing, they are about 50 bucks. Well worth it to avoid a trip to the ER, or worse. I also train point shooting daily with an airsoft replica, about 200 rounds a day. A replica will cost you more or less than 100 bucks.

I also carry a hardwood cane, and I practice using that cane for SD. A cane is in your hands all the time, no need to draw. It can give you time to draw, and does very well at keeping thugs away from you.

The most important training is situational awareness, this will likely keep you out of the deep stuff in the first place. You already do this when driving a car, though some people are better than others at it. Take the same awareness you use for driving, apply it to public carry, and you will be ahead of the game.
 
#19 ·
I don't know what your state's requirements are. In NV, the 8 hour class is mandatory. While it would probably cost more, I would think you could find an instructor who would break it up across several days. Maybe one of them does evening classes for the after-work crowd.

Greatest value of the class to me was the legal side. What the law says, and how it's actually enforced (absolutely critical). My class was taught by a retired LEO.

Don't need to go "tactical" to have a CCW. Hopefully the people who go to the class are (mentally) mature enough to know life isn't a die hard film.
 
#22 ·
WhyZee, I commend you on your thought and preparation that you have shown in your post. There are too many people out there going after and getting a cwp for the wrong reasons and attitudes. It is something to take seriously and it is not just something neat - it's a lifestyle and needs to be treated with the proper respect, I think you understand that. There are a lot of good advice by the previous posters, nothing replaces experience but unfortunately the best experience you'd receive for the reason for carrying is conflict and that should be avoided whenever possible. Practice and learning from people that are trained properly is my advice. Be careful who you listen to, there's a lot of know-it-alls that don't have a clue. I wish you luck and safety in your endeavors.
 
#25 ·
I realize the OP believes he is handicapped by age and health, but there are classes specifically for these types of people. I took one a few years ago that had people with lower mobility, all the way to wheelchair bound, and everyone there shot over 1,000 rounds over two days in spite of breaks and allowances for health.

Frankly, the OP doesn't want a hands on class, they just want to learn from books, videos and the experiences of others. But there are two parts to learning, knowledge and skill. Knowledge comes from books, but skill ONLY comes from doing. If you want to pretend you can handle a self defense situation I have no problem with that. But if you happen to be near me when it all goes down, stay on the floor so I have a clear shot.

Jeff


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
#27 ·
My options were two 8-hr or one 16-hr class. I took the 16-hr class and it's all worth it!
 
#28 ·
there is so much info on internet for me to get the basics and that is good enough for now, maybe later I'll look into private classes


:rolleyes: Having taken a number of courses from folks that have "been there, done that" one of which at one of the big facilities - Thunder Ranch - I can say what you find on the internet is a FAR cry from what should be taken in as something worthwhile. The mall ninjas and keyboard extras FAR outnumber anything else on this world wide web. If one is honestly serious, they'll take the GOOD classes. Not the way too basic, bare minimum courses encompassing maybe 8-10 hours but a GOOD course.
 
#29 ·
I'm in the same age bracket as you , in 2004 I was "involved" in an armed robbery and attempted murder and have been carrying since that time for personal protection .
So old dude to old dude:
1.)Don't overthink it . you can't be totally prepared for every situation that could possibly come to pass.
2.) Be aware of your surroundings and the people in them. If something looks or feels sketchy....leave.
3.) have a gun on you. Mine was in my desk drawer...no good. Have it on your person.
It doesn't matter what caliper, revolver or semi-auto....whatever you can shoot accurately.
4.) Don't take it out unless you absolutely have no other option , don't wave it around or tell the bad guy you have a gun, for him to drop his....all this will get you killed.
Last resort , no other option...take it out and shoot for center of chest.
5.) Be prepared to get arrested and/or sued...that's just how people treat the good guy these days. The criminal gets all the breaks not us.
 
#30 ·
I am always amazed at the number of people who think that 8 to 16 hours a year will make them a ninja. REAL martial arts experts have worked at these skills for years, and have thousands of hours.

Now shooting skills are not that hard to obtain, it takes time, but it can be done. People have been doing it for a couple hundred years.

What that leaves is legal aspect of self defense, and some common sense. The latter can't be taught, the other needs to come from somebody who is not trying to get rich playing a ninja trainer.

I usually suggest people get the basics of gun skills, and then practice. Spend the rest of their money on an affordable martial arts trainer well versed in SD skills. Probably could get months of training from a true artist, than some BS artist that charges thousands of dollars to become part of the tactikewl club.

I have seen hundreds of SD cases among civilians, most of those were untrained individuals with a will to survive, or protect their loved ones. The best self defense is not to be in a situation that needs a firearm in the first place.

If you spend hundreds of dollars to learn fancy skills, and then do stupid things, in stupid places you wasted your money.
 
#31 ·
WhyZee, you're being thoughtful about the process and that says a lot about you. I've weighed in earlier encouraging you to seek some formal training and you've pushed back for reasons only you really know. Since you're thoughtful in every other way, I'm going to assume those are valid reasons. NRA offers some pretty solid training online and so does Ruger for that matter. Avail yourself to all you're comfortable with and as always, good luck and safe shooting.


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#32 ·
I see you put your location at Puget Sound, so presume it is Washington state? Not sure of regs. for your state for ccw/carry. In Minnesota one can take an online class at their own leisure. I believe there are 30 some other states also. I was getting ready to retire and decided to get my carry permit(in Mn. can carry concealed or openly) I was working graveyard(2400/0800) so decided to use online at my leisure. I finished in a little over 2hrs of the reading and test taking. Then set up for my firing portion. Took 30 mins. I also have issue physically but took test with a 22lr and no issue. We did have a person in a wheel chair who also qualified. Hope you get to where you are comfortable carrying. Good luck.
 
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