V. Defensive Uses of Firearms

Break these rules once, and you are kicked off the firing line for the day. Break them a second time, and you are ejected from the class, and you will not get your registration money back.

If you need to get a magazine or put on your muffs, holster the gun. LFI-1 uses a cold range (gun unloaded at all times except when you are on the firing line and have been given the command to load). A hot range (guns always loaded) is good for skills maintenance; a cold range is better for skills acquisition, which is what one does at LFI-1.

Safe handling of revolvers is not too hard. It takes a number of mistakes to AD (accidentally discharge) a revolver. Semi-autos are trickier in that respect; you only have to be stupid for a second, or let your mind wander for a moment.

Clearing a semi-auto -- drop the magazine, but don't (as often seen) hold it between last two fingers of dominant hand. Put the magazine in waist band, pocket, or armpit of dominant arm.

Ejecting a round -- not with hand on slide, into dominant palm. If round discharges, brass could literally cripple your hand (overlength ejectors can ignite primer, especially Glocks and S&Ws). Rotate the gun to the left (for right-handers) with ejection port away from you. Eject the round onto the floor/ground.

Unloading -- get used to checking by both sight and feel; make it an automatic reflex. (It could save you an AD in the dark when you can't check by sight.) With semi-autos, use little finger of non-dominant hand to probe magazine well and chamber. With revolvers, open cylinder; weak hand holds cylinder open, index finger of dominant hand presses into each chamber.

Operating the slide on semi-autos -- shows problems with various common techniques, such as overhand method. Too much resistance on the slide can force you towards a higher leverage (unsafe) position. If you need to reduce resistance on the slide, pull back the hammer. Use slingshot technique. Dominant hand holds pistol in safe direction. Support hand comes over from behind, using opposing thumb, and pulls.

Pinch check/press check -- manifestly unsafe; don't do it. This was developed by armorers, in whose offices/shops ammunition is strictly forbidden.

Holstering -- one-handed, but strong grip ... index finger extended ... thumb behind hammer or slide. For tactical reasons, learn to reholster one-handed, by feel. There have been four injury-producing ADs at Chapman Academy and Gunsite; all were all 1911s, and all during holstering. Get into the habit of getting the thumb behind hammer or slide.

Drawing -- one-handed as well ... Two-handed means muzzle crosses weak hand (see rule #2) ... If you have a thumb break, snap that one-handed too ... Hand in full firing position, finger extended, weak hand comes in from side and behind, safety off/finger on trigger no sooner than 45 degrees.

Low ready position -- finger off trigger; on safe (for guns with safeties) or decocked (for guns with decockers). Decock with firm hold, gun pointed in safe direction. Hold gun at 45 degrees to target; lower than this is unsafe. High ready may make sense in certain tactical (police) situations but is unsafe on a range. Ayoob prefers to see finger crooked above trigger.

Accidental discharges are an occupational hazard. The chances of having one are 1 in 100,000, but we're telling you to train ... to do 100,000 repetitions. It will happen, but if you remember the cardinal safety and handling rules, no one will be hurt.