Winchester Marksmanship Program

Have you looked at this?  Information is available on the NRA site under Programs.  This is a great program, even for an experienced shooter.  It uses the honor system, except for the final level, where you meet minimum standards to achieve each level.  They get progressively harder as you progress. 

I’m working the Pistol Qualification program now.  I just finished the third level, where I had to shoot two handed grip with strong and weak hand.  I had shot one handed before, but never two handed leading with my weak hand.  It was a challenge.  I think that was the idea. 

I’ve heard people say that no one does this program anymore.  I would like to see that change.  This is a great way to measure your progress against defines standards.  It encourages work on fundamentals and shooting skills.  It addresses a variety of firearms, not just pistols, but rifle and shotgun as well.

I’m still an advocate for formal training, but we can’t go to the range with an instructor every week.  This program adds a touch of discipline to my practice sessions, and gives me a goal to work to meet.  This isn’t the only way I practice, but it is one aspect of my practice. 

Let me know if you have worked through this program or considered it.  I’m very interested in what others think.

Safe Shooting!

Racking the Slide - Yes You Can!!

How many times have you been told that women don’t have the strength to rack a slide on a semi-automatic?  There are some guys out there who have trouble with it.  If you are a new shooter, and find wracking the slide a challenge, that’s ok. Don’t give up!  There are a couple things you can do.

First, position is key.  Have a firm grip on the pistol with your strong hand (the one you write with).  This should be similar to your shooting grip.  You can pull the gun in closer to your body.  With the weak hand, cup the top rear of the slide, it is often ridged for an easier grasp, being careful to ensure that your hand does not extend over the ejection port, and pull straight back while pushing forward with your strong hand.  Pull the slide straight to the rear, and then let it go.  Yes, let it fly, if you hold the slide as it is returning to position you can create several issues such as a mis-feed, failure of the gun to return to battery (ready to fire).  This takes practice.  It is also harder on tiny gun, you may need to adjust the position, but…you can do it!

If you need to strengthen your hands, there are products available for that purpose.  My personal favorite is the GripMaster , available in multiple resistance levels at Amazon.com.  It can be used to work the fingers individually.  The other advantage to this exercise is that is helps with your trigger control.  Some triggers are harder to pull than others.  Ironically, the triggers on revolvers, which do not have a slide and are often recommended to women, have a harder pull than many semi-automatics.

Lastly, a good instructor can help you to adjust your hand positions so that you can be effective.  Don’t hesitate to ask for help.  If you are at a range that has NRA Certified Range Safety Officers, they are all instructors, and therefore can offer you some advice or assistance if you need.

Safe Shooting!

Practicing your Draw

I carry my Glock 19 almost every day.  I can’t carry on my commute because I use public transportation, cross through DC and into Maryland, and work in a Government Building.  That is four strikes.  But, in Virginia, I carry everywhere I can legally, and I have a small safe stashed in my car if I need to run into a post office of court house.  But carrying isn’t enough.  I need to be able to get to my gun quickly in an emergency.  I’ve adopted a practice regimen that works for me and I’m outlining it here for your consideration.

First, I practice with a blue gun.  I encourage you to use your designated dry fire area.  It takes discipline not to practice drawing with your carry gun until you have confirmed that it is unloaded, twice, and you are in your dry fire area, but it is better than a negligent discharge.  Most major models are available as blue guns, they are inert models that have no moving parts but a similar weight and feel as the real thing.  I also use them to break in, or get used to a new holster or carry method. 

At the end of the day when I remove my carry gun, I grab the blue gun spend a few minutes practicing my draw.  I draw and re-holster at least five times, then I pick a spot on the wall, close my eyes, draw and come up into my point of aim, then open my eyes.  With practice I have been able to draw on my intended target, acquire my point of aim, to within a fraction of an inch, with my eyes closed.  By doing this 10 or 15 times a night, I’ve developed confidence and speed.  I practice drawing with my shirt tucked in (I carry inside the waistband) and I practice brushing aside whatever I’m wearing to draw from full concealment. 

A bad guy can cross 25 feet in just over two seconds.  I need to be able to allow time for awareness and draw.  Can I do it?  I hope so.  Can I do it if I don’t practice…not a chance.  When I first started practicing, I was so slow, it was scary.  Now, I can draw and be on target in 1-1.5 seconds.  I practice with my husband telling me “go”, I practice with my hand hovering, I practice walking, spinning and drawing.

The only guarantee in an emergency is if you do not practice, you will not be able to draw under stress.  You are practicing to build muscle memory, skill, and speed.  But the key is to practice safely.  I mostly practice drawing my real gun at the range.  Draw, fire 3-5 shots quickly and go to low ready.  Sometimes I draw and empty the entire magazine on target.  I try to vary it, and I practice reloading and coming back on target and firing.  A habit I had to break, and it was hard, DO NOT catch your magazines.  Let them fall where you stand as you are indexing the fresh one into the mag well.  If you catch them in practice, you will catch them in an emergency. 

Like so many things in live you must Practice, Practice, Practice.  But, practice right so you can build good muscle memory and habits.  If there is any doubt in your mind, practice in your dry fire area, even with a blue gun. 

Women and Guns

Numbers don’t lie, more women are buying guns and learning to shoot!  Shooting used to be a male dominated sport, but there have been stand out women for more than 200 years.  In the 1500s the earliest settlers had to shoot to eat and defend their homes.  The Ladies were a big part of that.  Think of Annie Oakley doing trick shots in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show starting in 1885, and starring for 17 years.  Julie Golob has been shooting, and winning competitions, for more than 20 years. 

 More and more women are learning to shoot, in classes around the country, some mixed gender, some women only.  They are discovering not only the relaxation that comes with the focus of a trip to the range, but sense of strength and empowerment that comes with mastering a new skill and knowing you can defend yourself and your family.  There can be a sense of camaraderie going to the range with friends.  There is a calming focus in going to the range alone.  

 More and more women only classes are popping up around the country and women’s shooting groups are getting easier to find.  The NRA has a Women On Target program that promotes this.  For some women, they may be more comfortable with other women.  Some don’t care.  If you have been threatened or violated by a man, you might find comfort with a women only program.  I’ve never participated in a women only shooting event, although it is on my goal list for 2012.  I did sing with a Sweet Adeline’s Chorus for several years.  If someone had told me you could put 100+ women together every week, keep them focused, even under pressure of competitions and shows and still have a supportive environment, I would not have believed it before that.  Now, I know better.  I do a lot of research into women’s issues with shooting, concealed carry, dressing to hide the gun, shopping for a gun, etc.  I’ve read a lot of books, talked and corresponded with a lot of prominent women shooters and authors.  Ladies, if you are just getting started, The Cornered Cat by Kathy Jackson is a must read!  She has a way of writing that appealed to me on several levels, not the least of which is I’m a cat lover and she relates some things back to cat behavior that makes me laugh because she is dead on!

I enjoy teaching mixed gender classes.  I think it is good for the men to see the women learning and succeeding right next to them.  Guys, be warned, the ladies tend to outshoot you in the beginning classes.  It can be good for women, too, to see that they can keep up with, and sometimes, exceed the skills of the men.  About 12 years ago, I went shooting with someone I was dating at the time.  He had a macho attitude and was (no pun intended) cocky.  So, I shot well, but not great, deliberately hitting various areas on the target.  We were down to the last magazine of ammo we had brought and he made some stupid comment about how I could get better if I practiced.  That did it, I drilled my next ten rounds through the middle of the bulls-eye, laid the gun down, turned around and just smiled.  We didn’t date much after that.  Luckily, my husband, who I met not long after that, is not a shooter, but is very supportive.  Women should never feel that they need to do less than their best to protect the egos of the men, and the men should never expect it.

Women, discover shooting and all it can bring to your life.  Take classes, make new friends, ask questions…learn, practice and find your inner power.  If you don’t know where to start, the NRA website lists instructors all over the country and can help you find qualified instruction.  If you take a class and don’t click with the instructor, don’t get discouraged.  NRA Certified instructors follow a set curriculum with emphasis on safety and fundamentals, but we all have our own personalities and you may like one of us better than another.  Don’t get discouraged, don’t give up.  It is a great hobby, a great skill, enhances your awareness of the world around you and…it’s fun!

Safe Shooting!

Carry Purse versus Carrying in Your Purse

First, I do not advocate off-body carry as a primary method of concealed carry. However, I do understand that there are some occasions when carrying off-body might be preferred.

Ok, the more I’ve studied on this topic the more TV and Movies makes me crazy. The woman walking down the dark street who suddenly turns and pulls a gun out of her purse and aims at the man approaching her menacingly…Charlie’s Angels reruns where they pull their small revolvers out of purses almost as small…an article in the January edition of Elle about Facing Your Fears. Ok, Ladies, be honest, how long does it take to find your keys in your purse? 5 seconds? 10? 30? Have to dump it upside down? If you can find your keys in under 10 seconds, you are doing great! Now, how long will it take to find a gun in your purse? It is probably heavier than everything else, so it will drift to the bottom. How will it be oriented? Will you have to fumble around to get the grip in your hand, pushing aside your wallet, hairbrush, tissue, compact…What will be in the barrel? Oh, there’s that pen I was looking for! How about in the trigger guard? There’s my lipstick! How many times will you muzzle yourself trying to get a proper orientation and grip? If you are really good, and can find, clear and draw your pistol in under 10 seconds, is that good enough?

A young, healthy aggressor can cross 20 feet in 2.5 seconds and get to you. If you didn’t see him coming, you really can’t ask him to wait to attack you; “Excuse me, I have a gun in my purse, would you mind not knocking me to the ground while I reach into my purse to get to it?”

A carry purse has a dedicated area for your gun, with a holster. You always know where your gun is, how it is oriented and you can get to it, with practice in 2 seconds or less. Gun purses are available from a variety of sources, including USGalco, Gun Toten Mamas, Midway USA, even Amazon! If you must carry in a purse, only use a purse designed for carrying.

There are risks to carrying in a purse. First, purse snatchers! They get not only your bag, but your gun! If you go anywhere you must maintain control of your bag at all times. Yes, you must be aware of the innocent, the young, the foolish and the evil. You can’t hang it on the back of a chair at a restaurant, you can’t set it on the floor at your friends home, you can’t leave it at the table while you go out to the dance floor. You must protect your gun from the innocent, curious and guilty. It is your responsibility to safeguard your gun. If you must carry off body, remember, that you are responsible for your safety, the safety of those around you, and the security of your gun. I have a couple carry purses, but I use them very rarely. When I go to the Doctors office and I know there is a chance he will be listening to my lungs, rather than remove my gun and wrap it in my coat under the chair (leaving my holster in place) I will use my carry purse. Ok, for those who are wondering, why would I carry to a Doctor’s office? Why not? I don’t carry when I think I might need it, I carry period. I’ve never been really good at precognition, if I was, I could now when I would be in a dangerous situation and avoid it. But I don’t know. I prefer to be prepared if it ever comes to that.

Be safe!