Learned a lesson over the weekend --- Not enough just to own a firearm. In fact - it's not enough to be a good shot, either. Here's the scoop:
I acquired my first firearm about 15 years ago.
I've been shooting on weekends - about once a month since then.
I always thought I was a good shot. Sitting at a shooting bench, I can easily put a .30-06 round onto a paper plate at 200 yards. I can also hit 20 clays out of 25 trap/skeet shooting (I do both). I regularly shoot my .22 revolver, and I'd say I'm decent with a handgun, as well.
A friend of mine invited me out to a shooting range for a round of 3-gun shooting ---- and man --- I ate humble pie. If you haven't heard of 3-gun shooting (I hadn't), the course require you to handle firearms under timed conditions. You move through a course, and face different threats. It's a different situation, all together.
I had the top score in shooting accuracy (only 10 guys)
but I was next-to-last, overall ---- seeing that I could not accomplish my shots in a timely fashion.
I admit to being less-than-enthusiastic about tactical training. However, I left the course having learned a lesson --- there's a difference between knowing how to shoot (I'm decent at that --- not the best --- but fairly good) --- and being able to survive.
I suppose it all comes down to assumptions. Being a gun owner (and shooter) - I've always assumed that I'm prepared. The course proved otherwise.
All of this is to say this ---- if you're interested in self-defense (I understand that not everybody here is) --- be careful with your assumptions.
There's a few ways to get tactical training - and 3-gun is just one of them. I will likely take a CCW course, since I clearly need more training with a handgun. (unpaid endorsement for the Bailey handgun training folks)
