First Class Notes

West Armory – 1st Class Basic Notes / Highlights

3 Rules for Safe Gun Handling

·   Always keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction

·   Finger off trigger until the decision to fire has been made

·   Keep weapon unloaded until ready to use (if you are carrying the gun you are ready to use it if you need it, so keep one in the chamber, and continue to follow previous rules)

3 Most Common Ammunition Malfunctions

·       Misfire – Trigger has been pulled and round did not go off (Click -> No Bang)

·       Hangfire – Trigger has been pulled, initially you get a click, but a few seconds later the round discharges ( Click -> Delay -> Bang) This is generally cause by poor storage of ammunition

·       Squib Load- Powder inside cartridge has been compromised resulting in reduced velocity. Generally this causes the projectile to fall out of the muzzle (if your lucky) or it gets stuck. If the projectile gets stuck, firing another round without clearing the stuck projectile in the barrel, commonly causes the firearm to explode. (if it doesn’t sound right or feel right, STOP! Use your flashlight and shine down the barrel from the chamber end. If the light comes out of the muzzle on the bench, there is nothing in the barrel. If the light doesn’t come out, something is stopping the light, ie, a projectile)

The Average Gun Fight:

Based off of FBI statistics, data, and records, the FBI concluded that the average fight contains the following parameters:

The fight on average will be:

·       3-7 yards (9-21 feet)

·       3-5 rounds are fired

·       3-5 seconds is how long the fight generally last

In class we talked about:

·       Safety : 3 rules to safe gun handling ; 3 most common ammunition malfunctions

·       Sights: equal height/equal light; marksmenship vs defensive shooting

·       Trigger Control : Prep – Exhale – Squeeze smoothly to the rear

·       Grip: Get up high on the tang; Death grip not generally needed; Roll elbows outward.

·       Stance: Feet shoulder width apart; Slight bend in knees; Get weight off your heels and moved on to the balls (front part of feet near toes)

THINGS TO CONSIDER!!!!!!

·       Every bullet has a lawyer attached. Very commonly even legal shots come with legal advice

·       We shoot to stop the threat, NOT to kill. Saying you shoot to kill, means you plan to kill which is premeditation and can be used against you. There have been court cases before that were originally considered lawful self-defense until the prosecutor was informed that the defender has said statements like “ I shoot to kill”, the prosecutor then pursued criminal charges.

·       You’re in the fight until you’re not. Just because you are hurt or injured doesn’t mean you’re out of the fight. At all possible means, swallow your ego and avoid the fight. Only fight when you have no choice ( this could help you if you were to go to court), if you do have to fight, the only time to stop is if 1 of things conditions are met; You Won, You’re Unconscious, You’re Dead. Once you quit, you lost.

·       You don’t have to be the best, you just have to be better than your attacker. We accomplish this by training.

·       80% of your training should be safe dry fire practice. 20% of your training should be live fire.

EVERYONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL YOU GET PUNCHED IN THE MOUTH - MIKE TYSON