Advanced Concealed Carry Training

It is no secret that Texans love their firearms. In fact, Texas and the Second Amendment probably go as well together as a Shiner Bock and a T-bone steak!

With that said, I often get asked by license to carry permit holders what they can do to improve their firearm handling skills, and where they can get such training. Most of these individuals felt that the State of Texas' minimum standards taught at most concealed handgun courses do little to teach you how to deploy your handgun from a concealed position and engage your target.

In fact, the only skill you need to know to get your license to carry (LTC) is how to properly load, aim, and shoot your pistol at the target. During the qualification portion of the LTC test, students must put their pistol, unloaded on a table in front of them, and are not allowed to draw and shoot from a holster.

The fact is, the basic LTC course is NOT INTENDED to teach you advanced techniques, instead, the intent of the state is to teach the legal aspects of carrying a weapon, and to see if you are able to hit a human sized target at fairly close range (3 yards - 15 yards). 

Understandably, the State of Texas used the “lowest common denominator” (LCD) method when designing their regulations for the LTC courses.  For those unfamiliar with the “lowest common denominator”, this is the person that probably has no businesses holding a firearm (much less a pair of scissors), but, since they meet all the requirements, they are allowed to qualify for their permit.

I have yet to meet a student without prior weapons handling experience come out of a LTC class and tell me, “Wow! I feel confident about drawing my weapon from concealment and engaging a threat!”  Actually, it is usually just the opposite response.

Proper training is essential to ALL individuals who carry; this includes inexperienced civilians, as well as experienced law enforcement and military personnel.  On a side note; even though law enforcement and military personnel usually receive above average training with firearms and are more than proficient in drawing and engaging from a normal duty rig; the truth is, most do not practice drawing and engaging from a concealed carry position.

What Kind of Training Do I Need?

For those of you that are new to pistol ownership, once you have purchased your pistol, I would not recommend signing up for the first LTC course that you come across; instead, shop around for a good basic handgun course.  Granted, many beginner courses are similar to a LTC class in that you will not be shooting from a holster, but leaving them on a bench or table on the range. 

The reasoning behind this type of training is so that you become familiar with the pistol and the common firearms safety rules.  Again, do you want the “LCD” individual practicing his/her quick draw technique next to you?  Believe me, the more time you spend with just the basic firing and weapons manipulations, the better off you will be later down the road.

Once you become familiar and comfortable with your pistol, now is the time to figure out what kind of holster you want to carry, and how. Holster selection is important and the shooter needs to select the most comfortable and most practicable one they can. The three most common holsters on the market are ankle holsters; belt holsters (paddle and tradition); and inside the waistband (IWB) holsters. Each has their specific function and purpose, and I will go into further details on that in a later blog, but I will add, spend the money on a good quality holster!

Practice….Practice….Practice….

Once you select your holster, you will need to practice drawing your weapon from it to ensure that it is both comfortable to carry and easily accessible (make sure it is easily concealable as well if you do not want to open carry!)  Remember! SAFETY FIRST! Do not point your weapon at anything that you are not willing to kill, destroy, or buy! 

The safest way to practice your drawing techniques is to purchase a dummy gun (known as a “blue gun” or “red gun” by law enforcement). They are hard rubber replicas of actual pistols and will fit your holsters perfectly. Another alternative is to purchase an airsoft pistol and use it to practice (I would not load the air-soft rounds in it).

Train….Train…Train…

Once you are comfortable with your pistol/holster combination, it is now time to seek out some more advanced training!  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of firearms courses available to the general public all over the U.S., and each offers just as much of a variety of training. Do your homework though, make sure your instructor is well qualified.

After taking a basic pistol course, I would suggest moving up the ladder to an advanced pistol course.  Most of these courses teach you how to clear weapon malfunctions, engage multiple targets, and shoot on the move, all of which are realistic elements of what a gunfight incorporates.  Speaking of moving! If you engage in a firefight…you better start moving! You know that paper target you shoot at while on the range? Well, that is exactly what YOU will look like to the bad guy if you just stand there!

Hopefully after taking an advanced pistol course, you will seek out other advanced courses such as lowlight tactics or participate in defensive shooting competitions to hone your skills. Never stop training and take as many courses as you can, and from as many different instructors as you can!

Where do I go?

As I mentioned before, firearms schools can be found everywhere, but do not just sign up for one because it has a cool name or neat looking logo.  It is important to do your homework to find a school that is up to par. This means asking friends and searching for firearms forums on the internet.  Be wary of those schools that claim to be the best or bad mouth other schools. I sometimes hear, “Well, I was trained by John Shootemup, 5 times world pistol champion, and that other guy down the road, well, he has not been to any of the “name brand” schools I’ve been to, so he is not that good.”

What you may not know is that the guy down the road just spent the last two decades in the military stationed in a combat zone and took two bullets in a firefight, while the “name brand” guy, well… he is a good shooter and instructor, but has never been in a gunfight in his life! Best thing to do!?! Go to both of their schools and go home with the best ideas from each.

A martial arts instructor once told me that there are just so many ways you can punch, kick, and grapple and what makes the difference is how each is applied.  This is how mixed martial arts came about; the best of all arts were combined into techniques that worked effectively in a combat situation.  Pistol (and other weapon systems) training should have the same concept applied to it.  Gather training from all the best instructors out there and then use what works best for you!