Posted: 11/8/2009 4:59:09 PM EDT
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I have been hearing about getting proper training for your SHTF weapon of choice around this forum lately. That said, I got to looking at my list of wants and needs in the weapons department and decided to fit a high quality training class in. I am happy with the assortment of weapon I currently own and have no plans to purchase anymore. My ammo situation is doing well so I don't need to spend much improving that. I have spent the past couple of years doing a bunch of upgrades and only have a few projects like that planned for next year. It has been 3-4 years since I have attended a class of any kind, and I would like to get some current training but am undecided on exactly what that training should be. My interests run in all different disciplines when it comes to guns, everything from pistols to shotguns to ARs to precision rifles. I wanted to take a class that would be most relevant to a SHTF situation, but deciding what that class should be has been difficult. In the past 12 years I have taken two pistol classes and one carbine class.
What do you think the most important weapon to be highly skilled with is come a SHTF scenario? See poll to vote and post your specific recommendations and why here. Recommendations on specific classes is also welcome. |
| I would think about the area I was in! Urban pistol because that's what you will have on hand most of the time. Rural I would go with rifle after living in the rural desert for sometime I would have gone no where without a rifle! You can carry a rifle 99% of the time when in a rural area. Now ask yourself where I'm I going to be during most of my SHTF time? I think YOU need to pick what would work best for you! As we don't know what area you are in or want to be in during a SHTF! This question is like the old 1911 vs Glock both are great weapons both have there pros and cons! But what one works best for you me or someone else is all about the person who is holding said weapons! |
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I voted pistol because it's the weapon i'm most likely to have to use at any given time not just shtf. It's also the hardest weapon to master~ IMO I've taken Fighting Pistol twice Advanced Fighting Pistol Once and Fighting Rifle Once with Tactical Response. http://www.tacticalresponse.com/ I'm a poor cheap bastard if I didn't find value in them i most definitely wouldn't spend the money........ |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. Then carbine rifle after the pistol class(es). That way you know what you're doing in the transition drills. Pistol first because you're (hopefully) always going to have a pistol on your person for personal defense, even in good times. John |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! This could complicate things. I live in a rural farming community, my nearest neighbor is a half mile away. The next closest house is over a mile away. Out my front door are ranges over 1000 yards so even a carbine is not always the most useful weapon depending on the threat. |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! This could complicate things. I live in a rural farming community, my nearest neighbor is a half mile away. The next closest house is over a mile away. Out my front door are ranges over 1000 yards so even a carbine is not always the most useful weapon depending on the threat. Designated marksman/urban marksman might be a thought too... Paul Howe and others offer something like this |
| I just took a fighting pistol class a month ago and It was worth every penny. I am going back the the same school for a fighting rifle class very soon. As it was said before "Train for the most likely first and the least likely last." Since I carry my pistol EVERYDAY if I couldnt get back for more training due to unforeseen events the pistol class would probably be the most practical to have under my belt. YMMV |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! This could complicate things. I live in a rural farming community, my nearest neighbor is a half mile away. The next closest house is over a mile away. Out my front door are ranges over 1000 yards so even a carbine is not always the most useful weapon depending on the threat. Designated marksman/urban marksman might be a thought too... Paul Howe and others offer something like this +1 You have pistol classes and a rifle class, but in the open country you live in you'll get more out of a class that is more about ballistics. Learning to stay hidden and take better shots can't be a bad thing. I thing it's one of the most important skills need for SHTF, most can't hit what they can't see. |
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Get training on a handgun first.
Getting good with a handgun can take lots of practice and the handgun is what you'll most likely have with you. Next up I'd go with tactical rifle... cause it's way more powerful than a handgun and you can easily have one available in your home or car. After that... I'd go with precision rifle. If SHTF and there is war... precision rifle is probably the one that counts the most. Then some kind of hand-to-hand training (Krav/Jiujutsu/Mui Thai/etc) There's lots of good trainers out there. I've found that working 1-on-1 with an instructor for handgun works the best for me. Don't forget to do force-on-force training. It's THE BEST. These are some trainers that I don't think you'll go wrong with:
PS. You should probably check out your local IDPA club. It's a cheap way to practice. http://www.idpa.com/ |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! This could complicate things. I live in a rural farming community, my nearest neighbor is a half mile away. The next closest house is over a mile away. Out my front door are ranges over 1000 yards so even a carbine is not always the most useful weapon depending on the threat. my answer is a combo of tayous and TJs. prepare for the most likely SHTF based upon the AO you'll be in when it happens. how much of your time is spent out on your property? if you farm it and spend 90% of your time there, then go to an apple seed ($70ish) and take a carbine course. if you're like me, and spend 8-12 hours of your day away from your property and in town, then you'll need to become proficient w/ both. start w/ the one your least proficient w/. |
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Get training on a handgun first. Getting good with a handgun can take lots of practice and the handgun is what you'll most likely have with you. Next up I'd go with tactical rifle... cause it's way more powerful than a handgun and you can easily have one available in your home or car. He has this covered already. Quoted:
After that... I'd go with precision rifle. If SHTF and there is war... precision rifle is probably the one that counts the most. +1 |
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Tactical Response has two new classes scheduled for 2010. They are both week long classes. One is called "The Way of the Pistol" and the other is "The Way of the Rifle". You can check out this thread for more info. http://getoffthex.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/588104742/m/555102474?r=686109515#686109515
I have trained with these guys several times and I can't wait to take these two classes, even though I have done parts of them before. I'm hoping to do the Rifle class April 5 - 9. Anyone else interested? |
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Pistol, it is the most likely weapon that you will have with you when the SHTF. +1 Depends on the area you are in! If you are urban then yes! If your rural then no! Also a pistol is a means to get to a rifle! If I shot 50 rounds of pistol and hit nothing and get to my rifle then I feel the pistol has done its job! This could complicate things. I live in a rural farming community, my nearest neighbor is a half mile away. The next closest house is over a mile away. Out my front door are ranges over 1000 yards so even a carbine is not always the most useful weapon depending on the threat. Just about any AR-15 can reach out to 500+ yards 20 inch barrel and 16 inch barrel if you do your part! Like others said the Appleseed might help you out the best if you can hit a man at 500 yards with Iron sights you should be good! If someone is 1000 yards away from me and I see them I'll set up in an ambush and wait for them to come to me where I have the upper hand! I don't see the need to take out something more then 500 yards away! I'm not in your area so I don't know you might have something you feel that 500 yards is to close for you! If that's the case then I take a long range rifle course might be the best pick for you! If I felt I need the long range rifle course I would still go to the Appleseed also! Appleseed is a cheap course and from what I heard its a good course a lot of the guys on here have gone to them and only said good things about them! Hell $70 is just about nothing! |
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For most people a handgun course, especially one that focuses on CCW, will be best since it's the gun you'll most likely have with you when the SHTF. On top of that most SHTF scenarios arent going to be Mad Max. You can carry a hangun while cleaning up after a storm, helping your neighbors, going to the store, pretty much everywhere. A long gun, even broken down in a backpack, isn't going to fit as many situations.
Since you've already taken 2 handgun courses an a carbine course how about something like this from Thunder Ranch: Home and Vehicle Defense with Trauma Block- HVD HVD specifically addresses two of the places we spend a lot of time, at home and in vehicles. This course covers planning and implementation of defensive and offensive protection procedures for these environments. Initial blocks cover manipulation and shooting skills updates and review. It also includes blocks of classroom discussion about ballistic trauma and tactical medical care, with material presented by a tactical emergency medicine physician on gunshot wounds, emergency care under fire, and the selection and preparation of a trauma first aid kit. Handgun format. Tutorials available for long gun applications. Nominal 800 rounds of ammunition. |
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If we evaluate training the same way we evaluate how we prepare for the unknown (from most likely to least likely) then I'd say start out with handguns, then build on that and move to carbines. And then eventually to the precision level.
Mix in a shotgun class whenever after handgun training... JMHO. |
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Take a class in the CAR system. They are offering civilian classes now. I have a friend who went with no handgun shooting experience. I was blown away by what he learned in only 3 days. I know Mr. Castle has some week long courses coming up this spring. This type of shooting is very practical for combat shooting with pistol.
http://www.sabretactical.com/CAR/car.html Just send an email to him regarding training schedules. |
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1)Handgun 2)Unarmed 3)Knife - - 4) Carbine Left a couple places for defensive driving and first aid FerFAL Excellent points on the defensive driving and medical training...perhaps throwing a basic construction course and/or small/large engine repair would be advisable. You are as likely to have to change our a fan belt or water pump, or dig a well or fix your house as fight off invaders. Plus, mobility is life and defensive obstacles are worth 10 defenders. |
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First, I say take care of your body. Eat well, exercise, get sleep. I also feel focusing on balance, agility, speed, power, flexibility and joint mobility are very wise moves. Cultivate awareness and a sharp mind.
Unarmed and weapons training with knives, sticks, kubatons etc. can often be and often are best learned together, such as in filipino martial arts, escrima or other real combat arts. Unarmed combat arts can also be a great part of fitness too. Then handgun. Then carbine. But in truth, we each need to find a way to integrate all of these. I feel we need to move away from the separation of these. |
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I'm changing my answer to bladed weapons - as in, what to do when he has one and you don't. Secret below:
RUN! I just took a couple of classes on unarmed combat, as well as weapons fighting with stick, knife, and compared to teh pistol and carbine classes, the knife stuff was very educational. Right now, I know in a knife fight, I'll probably die either there or a short time later. |
