High-Dollar Gun or High-Dollar Training?

To sum this article up (although I still hope you read the rest), why to both? But, for me, the bigger question is, is one more important than the other? I’d answer, unequivocally YES.

Throughout this article I don’t mean to demean or insult ANY weapons manufacturer. And sure, if I had the money laying around, I’d go out and spend three, four or five THOUSAND dollars on a daily carry gun. But is it necessary?

Yes, if I had the money to throw around and nothing else going on every weekend, I’d go out and take probably tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to get training from all the best and most respected names in the training industry. But is it necessary?

I’ve been shooting weapons, rifles, shotguns and handguns, for about 45 years now. For roughly forty of those years, I carried a handgun every day in the line of duty. In the Army and then in the Army National Guard, I trained with and carried rifles, automatic weapons and even grenade launchers. As a police officer, I became an instructor quite some time back and a firearms instructor immediately thereafter. I’ve trained officers with all of those types of weapons: handguns, rifles and shotguns.

You know what I’ve noticed? Most modern guns are better than most modern shooters. Yes, there are absolutely some shooters who are skilled enough and train enough that they can wring the very last bit of accuracy potential out of a custom built handgun. I think I can count them if I use both hands… but that’s still ten or less. I’m sure there are plenty I don’t know… But I somehow doubt that the over 88 million gun owners in this country have the capability to out shoot their weapon.

I’m pretty sure, having trained a few hundred of them (or more), that most law enforcement professionals I know can’t out shoot their issued duty weapon or selected off-duty weapon. It pains me to think about the skill levels of most citizens carrying a gun either without any permit (constitutional carry) or with a permit, without having (on average) about one-tenth of the training the average police officer gets.

Now, there are people who go out and buy the newest, coolest gun they read about in their favorite magazine, blog or social media expert video. I’m sure the gun manufacturers love people who buy the guns simply because they can. My question is: for the average shooter, who will not dedicate himself to even monthly training, monthly cleaning and on-going legal education, is a $4,000 handgun going to make them shoot any better? Nope.

Just because it’s so well known, let’s talk about Glock handguns as the example. I own several and carry one every day. I’ve seen test reports where a Glock 17, fired from a ransom rest, can shoot 2”-2.5” groups or better at 25 yards. My challenge is this: I’ve never seen a shooter who can shoot 2” groups at 25 yards, even from a supported position. And if a shooter can’t shoot it with a Glock, will they be able to shoot it with a high dollar custom built handgun?

At the end of the day, marksmanship is the practice and mastery of seven things: Stance, grip, sight alignment, sight picture, breath control, trigger press and follow through. In real world shootings, from what I’ve seen and experienced, stance and breath control are usually sacrificed pretty quick. Moving and adrenaline will do that. Forever, we’ve been front sight focused but with the advent of red dot sights, we’re becoming target focused (and that’s a good thing).

If I have a good quality handgun, which the Glocks are - as are all of the major manufacturers in the law enforcement industry - am I short-changed in my duty weapon, or the weapon I carry off-duty, simply because it isn’t a one of a kind custom built handgun? Absolutely not. I’m still well armed and, provided I do my part with a modicum of skill, the weapon will do its part.

If I go and pursue regular training from folks who have the knowledge to help me improve my skill level (not all trainers can do that, by the way), it becomes easier for me to accomplish my goal of accurately hitting a target in compressed time frames. Whether I do that with a $600 gun or a $4000 gun… I have to do my part and keep increasing my skill level.

Author’s Note: The “not all trainers can do that,” isn’t meant as an arrogant statement. There are plenty of shooters in the country I can learn from. What I meant was that many commercial trainers aren’t invested in their students beyond collecting money. There are LOTS of trainers out there who decided to stand up a training company simply because they could and it would result in them getting paid to shoot, potentially allowing them a tax write off to do something they already enjoy doing. None of that says anything about their skill level, their knowledge of building or delivering training, or how well they diagnose and coach other shooters.

When I get to the point where I can shoot my current carry gun at the 99.5-100% level, no matter the drill or qualification, then maybe it’s time to look at the weapon and see if I can make any sensible modifications that will enable me to shoot accurately faster.

So, to my way of thinking, the high dollar gun and the high dollar training are a trade off. In fact, I’m not sure either one is required. A quality handgun with good ammunition and carried in quality gear is vital. An on-going, gradually increasing in challenge level of training is required. When you have mastered the weapon, in all circumstances and situations, then go out and get that custom built, one of a kind handgun that is yours and yours only. Then go train with the true masters: those men and women who have been living behind a gun for 20, 30, 40 or more years.  As I said, I’ve been at it well over 40 years and I know several men who can out shoot me; maybe not with ease, but they can do it. They are the people I want to learn from.

I consider it an honor to shoot beside them and learn from them. Not a one has ever laughed at me for not having a high dollar gun. I’ve been complimented that most of them have seen me shoot and said, “Yeah… I’d go through a door with you.” To me, that’s a high compliment.

For the record… I still think all my handguns are capable of more than I can drive them to. I’m a decent shooter but I don’t feel like I could do justice to a custom built handgun. Maybe one day. In the meantime, I’ll keep investing in quality training. Maybe one day I’ll be as good as my gun.