I’m willing to wager $100 to $1 that the majority of firearm owners are no where near as prepared as they should be if they encounter a defensive situation.  Even more astonishing is the fact that most firearm owners are probably not even close to being mentally prepared to take a life….even if it does mean saving their own. Understanding that the purpose of defensive firearms is to stop a threat quickly is of paramount importance, and with effective training, firearms owners should always have a plan should the need to defend oneself is presented.  Not having a plan will undoubtedly morph training sessions into a waste of money, time, and effort.

Shot Placement is key… As mentioned in a previous post, PSA strongly believes that shot placement is paramount when faced with a defensive situation.  Being able to effectively place a shot in a bad guys chest (or face) vs. their shoulder may very well be the deciding factor between winning the fight or ending up 6 feet under!  Training for shot placement as opposed to simply putting lead downrange is one of the most important parts of training sessions.  If you find that your shot groups are equal to, or larger than 2-3 inches then you should bring the target in closer.  This will aid in finding the issues with the mechanics of your shooting, and thus aid in correcting your errors.  Remember that in a defensive situation, the first thing that we lose is our fine motor skills.  In other words, being able to quickly line up your sights isn’t gonna happen!!!  Training is imperative to increasing the effectiveness of shot placement.

Consistency is key….  Imagine the shooter that uses a variety of grips when practicing vs. the shooter that practices the same grip every time at the range.  Which one of these shooters will pose the most threat?  When you train with your personal defense firearm it imperative that you train with consistent movement.  You should train until these movements become muscle memory.  This will undoubtedly bode well if you are presented with a defensive situation.  Training consistently will all but remove the thought process of drawing your firearm into the ready position of your choice.  The process of loading, unloading, and clearing common stoppages should always be a part of the training process, in order to produce results that are usable in the field.  Remember that, if confronted by an attacker, your fine motor skills will leave immediately, so having that muscle memory in your tool box from consistent practice gives you an ace in the hole (so to speak).

Shooting (defensive) position is key…  Chances are that if you are actually confronted by an attacker (and your firearm is needed) you won’t be standing prone at the firing line.  In other words, it is imperative that your training regiment entails the practice of shooting from different defensive positions.  In today’s hectic world, chances are that unfortunately some of us will be faced with situations like the young lady in the picture above.  Our training process will make achieving this position effectively, that much easier.

***If you are unfamiliar with ammunition, firearms, or firearm accessories and want to learn more, PSA strongly suggests that you find, enroll, and attend a comprehensive and reputable firearms safety course. Firearms safety is all of OUR responsibility.  

We want to thank you for taking out the time to stop by our lane at the shooting range!!  We hope that you enjoyed your stay and hope that you stop back by early and often to catch up on all PSA updates!  We truly hope that we were able to hit the target, and if you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot them our way!!  We look forward to shooting the breeze with you soon again!!

And as always….remember to watch your six and stay low!!!