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I forgot to mention...this friend of mine (the trainer) told us to practice with gloves on. Especially reloading. He told us that fine motor skill is diminished in a high stress situation, and that if you are struck by a bullet ANYWHERE on your body that fine motor skill just goes AWAY.

With gloves, your sense of touch, and fine motor skill with fingers is lessened a LOT. Wearing gloves simulates, to a degree, losing a certain amount of fine motor skill in a high stress situation....so if/when it happens, you've practiced and should do better when the time comes.

Even with things like reloading and releasing the slide on a semi-auto handgun... he showed us how to not use the ends of our fingers to drop/swap mags, and charge the weapon.

After many months of just basic practice drills he gave us, we started practicing CQB drills with primary and secondary weapons. The range safety officer (a position we swapped around), would sometimes load mags with a round that was GUARANTEED to produce a jam. In addition, with CQB, the firing line isn't static. You might have somebody 10 feet behind you, 5 feet to your right firing. An AR-15 at that distance tosses a LOT of distraction your way!

We learned why HRTs, SEALs, and tactical entry teams practice the way they do. There's simply no substitute. Having said that, there's also no substitute for incoming fire, but paintball comes close! Unfortunately, the Islamic terrorists know the value in training people to shoot under stress effectively, and set up entire training camps for this purpose (among others).

All in all...it was a HUGE shock to us. We're a bunch of "good ole boys" who thought we were "pretty good" with our guns. Actually....at that time in comparison to the people who already knew what we didn't, we were no better than a bunch of second grade girls. :-)

It's always interesting to take a guy who "thinks" he's effective with his weapon to our little range and run some of the basic starter drills. We always let one of my kids start. :-) The kid has the .45 ACP, or .40 S&W (Browning) HP), pointed to the ground, cocked and locked, and his back is to the target. The safety officer walks with him on his RIGHT (for right handed shooters) and at approximately the third step gives the command to FIRE. The shooter turns to his RIGHT, continues until the weapon is on target, and has to fire twice, striking the target in center mass.

With either of my boys, this is a "cakewalk". They make it look easy. So our "visitor" of course thinks he's going to do well. :-) Visitors hardly EVER even hit the target the first several tries. Also, they do things like turn to the left, which is a BIG NO-NO for a right handed shooter....ESPECIALLY with the safety officer standing there! ALWAYS turn to your RIGHT if you can! Some forget to take the safety off before firing and get flustered.

Most just shoot too fast and miss completely.

I have to tell you though, the people on this planet who are the exception to this are FEMALES. Most females who we've taken to that little range to practice these things at LEAST hit the target the first time.

In any case...far too many people have a fantasy about what they're going to do, and how they're going to do it during an encounter with "unfriendlies". Talk to somebody who's survived a gunfight (like my trainer buddy). They have a VERY different perspective. :-)

These "pros" all say the same thing though if you ask them....PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE... :-)

PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE...

The average minimum cost for an average weapon should be ~$1,000:

the weapon,

~1,000 rounds of ammo,

a high quality holster/sling,

cleaning kit,

basic reloading tools and supplies includinmg bullet casting,

and PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE...

In crisis, as backup to your 12 G., always carry your handgun and mags/speedloaders with a blinding bright light (Surefire's 65 lumin with extra batteries and a small LED light when blinding a suspect is not called for. Discrete is better, but at the ready is manditory. Many on-the-hip or shoulder rigs are great.

Nothing is more gravely serious than self-defense. Exercise physically, mentally and emotionally - everyone in your household.

The proper translation is: "Thou shalt not murder."