Posted: 5/2/2011 3:34:09 PM EDT
| Im a Firearms Trainer and have been for over 20 years.A question was raised among other trainers and I would like some other opinions.Does it hurt your proficiency if you shoot a number of handguns while training yourself at range.for instance,if I shoot a 1911 45Acp and then switch to a Glock21.Also I practice with a glock26 along with a Browning HiPower.Also I sometimes do the same with revolvers.Basically all theses are my favorite handguns.My carry guns are either the Glock 26 or 21. |
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To some extent, fundamentals are fundamentals. But yes, training can conflict. For example, I used to practice with both a Sig 229 and my Glock, and shot both really well. But then I intentionally stressed myself shooting the 229, and guess what? I missed the trigger reset (the Glock's was shorter). I had programmed myself for one, and under stress the other fell apart.
So I dumped the 229, as I didn't need another range toy, and spent *all* my practice time with my Glock. YMMV. |
| I could see losing some of the skillset with the 1911 with the external safety. I notice when I go too long without shooting my 1911 I lose the muscle memory to get a proper grip to disengage the grip safety. I have also noticed that when I shoot my HKs or Sigs I automatically sweep the nonexistent thumb safety off as I’m coming up on target. I think if you practice enough with different guns you’ll be fine. What I’ve started trying to do is finish each session with my carry 1911. I’ve found a range that doesn’t care if I practice drawing from concealment which makes it easier. |
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Quoted:
Im a Firearms Trainer and have been for over 20 years.A question was raised among other trainers and I would like some other opinions.Does it hurt your proficiency if you shoot a number of handguns while training yourself at range.for instance,if I shoot a 1911 45Acp and then switch to a Glock21.Also I practice with a glock26 along with a Browning HiPower.Also I sometimes do the same with revolvers.Basically all theses are my favorite handguns.My carry guns are either the Glock 26 or 21. Yes and no. A competent instructor should be able to shoot just about anything acceptably well because he should know the fundamentals well enough to run just about any handgun you give him. At the same time, if you split your effort between 5 different handguns unless you have essentially unlimited time and ammo you'll not see the same tangible benefits that you would get from focusing all of your attention on the gun you carry most. Using other handguns won't automatically make you suck, but using a bunch of different handguns won't automatically make you awesome either. Now if you carry something offbeat like a 1911 or an H&K P30 and you're teaching a lot of Glock shooters it would behoove you to spend some time learning to use the Glock really well just so you can demo to your students. I've encountered the "yeah, but that's an H&K. They're more accurate than Glocks." before and I've had to holster up the P30 and either borrow the complaining student's pistol or pull out my G17 and run the drill with basically the same results to actually make the dude understand that the gun is irrelevant. People are really quick to blame the fact that you can hit a target they can't or achieve a time standard they can't on the fact that you're using X gun and they're using Y. Being able to demonstrate the level of performance you're asking of the student with their weapon/equipment has a way of breaking through that. |
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Interesting timing of this question as I get asked this question all the time. I am asked why I shoot so many different styles of handguns and doesn't that affect how I shoot, or don't I get confused. Well here is a video that is a part of my FAQ series that I shot last week and uploaded on May 1. I was planning on putting out the video's one or two per week but since the question is here, this is my response on video. This video along with a good deal of the series is still unlisted so you will need to access via the link below. It will not show up on my channel.
Edit - Sorry I had to re arrange the video order so it is down now. |
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it should increase your proficiency. As long as you don't disconnect your brain, You know your holding a Glock verses your SIG. Stress inoculation and muscle memory does not mean you turn off your thinker. If you have a helmet fire induced by shooting multiple firearms well...........
operator... |