Give your self defense carry gun a test every once in a while….

[Yukon Cornelius]

My buddy came over to practice drawing from concealment. With his M&P he's been carrying for over a year. Draws it and "click" racks the slide. New round "click."
That gun went back in the safe. Now he has a Glock

This totally sounds like it was in the living room at first. I assume a range.

So was it ammo or gun?

 

[ThorM465]

You can worry about where and when you carry a gun and I'll worry about myself. Thanks for your concern.

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The problem with the world today is weak and effeminate men. Particularly those who can't handle reasonable criticism on their positions. You were reasonably and light heatedly criticized for living as though you can predict the future. In fairness WY is one of the few places left in America where its reasonable to do so? However, as a rule this is a naive at best and lazy at worse position to take.

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here, but I think that's a respectable decision.

I sincerely hope that you are. It's a bad practice that (thankfully) most will get away with, without consequences... right up until they don't. I'd rather be slightly uncomfortable then spend the rest of my life wishing I had sacrificed my comfort.

However, if what you mean is that at least he always carries when he's with his family then fair. That's respectable. The problem with that is if he gets a call while he's out that they need him for something then he has a choice to make.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Pulled out my S&W shield last week at he range. It’s been loaded and packed on my pack’s hip belt for years. It fired every time but was surprised to find I couldn’t hit anything with it at 20 yds . The reality is if you’re not practicing on the regular, might as well not carry it. I’m way more accurate with bear spray.

 

[Mk44]

A buddy of mine brought his first and only pistol 4yrs ago and tells me he hasn’t fired a single round through it to this day. He carried it hunting but has yet to fire it. I told him he needs to train with it.

I try to shoot often. I put 50-100 rds through my pistols on each range vist. They get torn down and clean after each visit. I always shoot it again when I’m sighting-in my rifle for hunting season.

 

[Team4LongGun]

I have an XDM in 10mm with a light and red dot that I keep on the night stand. Occasionally I use it for backup when hog hunting too. I like the power of the 10mm and the high capacity of the XDM. I am planning a trip where i will take it with me so I decided to take it to the range to see if the red dot is still on.

To my surprise, the first two rounds did not fire, there were light primer strikes. I pulled the slide off and found that the firing pin seemed to be gummed up. I gave it some oil and got it working but took it home and field stripped the slide. The firing pin was not that dirty, but i guess there was some old oil or grease on it that made it sticky. I cleaned it up well and lubed it but will make sure I test fire it a little more often. I think it has been a couple years since the last time I fired it. I'd hate to really need it and it not fire.

So, test your carry guns occasionally to ensure they function well and are ready when you need them.

EXCELLENT point.

A buddy came over the other day, we decided to do some drills. He is an accomplished competitive shooter. He only had his "under the seat" glock 19 and right out the gate on a cold, double bill drill his glock would not function. The trigger reset would hang-from .5 to 2.5 seconds and required manipulation to to get it to reset.

Took it apart, it was dirty-he had subscribed to the "never clean" method and because of the lube and grime, it had fuzz/lint with it from riding under the seat.

While I won't tell another man what to do/not do, I'd highly encourage folks to test fire and clean periodically.

 

[grfox92]

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here, but I think that's a respectable decision.

To be clear on my decision it wasn't exclusively because of my shitty shooting.

I still always have a gun in the truck, but here's the compounding reasons I went from carrying 24/7 to not.

I'm a builder. I got tired of trying to carry under tool bags so the gun wound up in the truck. Then I go to lunch, I put the gun back on me. Now I have to use the bathroom, now the gun is non top of the toilet paper holder, will I forget it? It can happen. Im sitting there eating and I grab my waistband with a mini heart attack, where is my pistol? Of its right where it's supposed to on my belt. I get back to work and put it back under my seat. Then I get home and I go feed horses and go back inside to say hello. My pistol under the seat in my truck, my kids are playing outside.

It became too much. I live somewhere where there is virtually zero violent crime. I made the decision to keep a gun in my locked truck. When I go out with my family I carry to I protect them. I could give zero F's what anyone thinks of this decision. Its what works for me and seems to be the most responsible. I plan on taking some classes and getting a .22lr pistol to get more affordable range time in. I will re assess from there.

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[Steve300xcw]

and getting a .22lr pistol to get more affordable range time in. I will re assess from there.

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depending on the pistol. A 22lr slide for your gun makes a lot of sense IMO

 

[grfox92]

depending on the pistol. A 22lr slide for your gun makes a lot of sense IMO

I'm switching over to Glock, so I'll have a 19 and a 44. Same frame so it will be the perfect pairing.

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[ThorM465]

To be clear on my decision it wasn't exclusively because of my shitty shooting.

I still always have a gun in the truck, but here's the compounding reasons I went from carrying 24/7 to not.

I'm a builder. I got tired of trying to carry under tool bags so the gun wound up in the truck. Then I go to lunch, I put the gun back on me. Now I have to use the bathroom, now the gun is non top of the toilet paper holder, will I forget it? It can happen. Im sitting there eating and I grab my waistband with a mini heart attack, where is my pistol? Of its right where it's supposed to on my belt. I get back to work and put it back under my seat. Then I get home and I go feed horses and go back inside to say hello. My pistol under the seat in my truck, my kids are playing outside.

It became too much. I live somewhere where there is virtually zero violent crime. I made the decision to keep a gun in my locked truck. When I go out with my family I carry to I protect them. I could give zero F's what anyone thinks of this decision. Its what works for me and seems to be the most responsible. I plan on taking some classes and getting a .22lr pistol to get more affordable range time in. I will re assess from there.

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Oh that's fair. I think most of us work a job where we don't or can't carry while on the clock. Carrying under a tool belt sounds like a bad and useless idea. I think there's a big difference between leaving it in the truck during the work day versus leaving it in the safe. I think being concerned that your kids will get to it in the truck if you happen to leave it there is a bit silly. Does it not lock? If it doesn't then fair enough. I make it a practice of sliding it back into the appendix position when I get back in the truck before I get on the road. Not saying you have to, but it's a suggestion.

 

[Speaks]

I try and shoot carry guns very close to once a month.

 

[grfox92]

Oh that's fair. I think most of us work a job where we don't or can't carry while on the clock. Carrying under a tool belt sounds like a bad and useless idea. I think there's a big difference between leaving it in the truck during the work day versus leaving it in the safe. I think being concerned that your kids will get to it in the truck if you happen to leave it there is a bit silly. Does it not lock? If it doesn't then fair enough. I make it a practice of sliding it back into the appendix position when I get back in the truck before I get on the road. Not saying you have to, but it's a suggestion.

Well now that I leave it in the truck I always lock it. Otherwise I leave my keys in the ignition.

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[*zap*]

In the truck when your not in it or at home when you are not home is useless for you. Even in the safe when you are home can be useless.

 

[jayhawk]

Don’t your firing pin assembly. The entire channel should be intentionally cleaned/dried. Also if gummed up parts is something you’re trying to avoid, NO FROG LUBE!

This. Never oil/grease your firing pin. It will gum up. On free floating pins it can cause slam fires

 

[checkrog]

All the dirty failure to fire guns makes a strong case for carrying a revolver, no?

At least for the lazy low maintenance guy..

 

[Pharmseller]

To be clear on my decision it wasn't exclusively because of my shitty shooting.

I still always have a gun in the truck, but here's the compounding reasons I went from carrying 24/7 to not.

I'm a builder. I got tired of trying to carry under tool bags so the gun wound up in the truck. Then I go to lunch, I put the gun back on me. Now I have to use the bathroom, now the gun is non top of the toilet paper holder, will I forget it? It can happen. Im sitting there eating and I grab my waistband with a mini heart attack, where is my pistol? Of its right where it's supposed to on my belt. I get back to work and put it back under my seat. Then I get home and I go feed horses and go back inside to say hello. My pistol under the seat in my truck, my kids are playing outside.

It became too much. I live somewhere where there is virtually zero violent crime. I made the decision to keep a gun in my locked truck. When I go out with my family I carry to I protect them. I could give zero F's what anyone thinks of this decision. Its what works for me and seems to be the most responsible. I plan on taking some classes and getting a .22lr pistol to get more affordable range time in. I will re assess from there.

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1. Your decision. You don’t have to explain it.

2. Bolded text. Of course you care, otherwise you wouldn’t have taken the time to explain it.

3. And that’s okay.

 

[Pharmseller]

All the dirty failure to fire guns makes a strong case for carrying a revolver, no?

At least for the lazy low maintenance guy..

Five (or six) for sure!

One of mine is a 5-shot Ruger SP101 in .357 Mag. Cool little wheelgun.

 

[Steve300xcw]

All the dirty failure to fire guns makes a strong case for carrying a revolver, no?

At least for the lazy low maintenance guy..

Lot more moving parts in a revolver. I like them but it really doesnt take much to shut one down

It pains me to say that

 

[displacedtexan]

To be clear on my decision it wasn't exclusively because of my shitty shooting.

I still always have a gun in the truck, but here's the compounding reasons I went from carrying 24/7 to not.

I'm a builder. I got tired of trying to carry under tool bags so the gun wound up in the truck. Then I go to lunch, I put the gun back on me. Now I have to use the bathroom, now the gun is non top of the toilet paper holder, will I forget it? It can happen. Im sitting there eating and I grab my waistband with a mini heart attack, where is my pistol? Of its right where it's supposed to on my belt. I get back to work and put it back under my seat. Then I get home and I go feed horses and go back inside to say hello. My pistol under the seat in my truck, my kids are playing outside.

It became too much. I live somewhere where there is virtually zero violent crime. I made the decision to keep a gun in my locked truck. When I go out with my family I carry to I protect them. I could give zero F's what anyone thinks of this decision. Its what works for me and seems to be the most responsible. I plan on taking some classes and getting a .22lr pistol to get more affordable range time in. I will re assess from there.

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I just think people should make well thought out decisions based on their situation and abilities.