The Problem
You are relatively new to handguns and the concepts of concealed carry. You know the day will come when a gun will be part of your everyday gear, but you are not ready.
You have taken a basic-handgun course and are considering more advanced training to become more confident and competent in your handgun skills. Through your research online and asking questions of some who carry concealed every day, you are confused as to what training courses you should attend. You see many courses offered as Advanced, but fail to see how they are differentiated from standard course offerings other than how much ammunition is expended. How do you know how much training is enough for your current needs? Should you consider taking an Advanced Techniques class even though you do not see the immediate benefit at this time?
The Solution
You must set your own goals as to what your objectives are related to firearms and their use. Your training and education can be guided by answering the questions of exactly what you want to know (the academic/intellectual part), and what do you want to be able to do (the practical actionable part) related to your use and interest in firearms.
Regardless of where you end up in your endeavors, the starting point is pretty much the same. Your basic firearm class should have covered the primary consideration when working with a variety of guns, which is safety. If you remember nothing else, a conscious awareness of where the muzzle is pointed at all times, as well as a conscious awareness of what the index finger of the dominant hand is doing 100 percent of the time, will likely result in keeping you and everyone around you with the same number of holes with which you were born. Muzzle management and trigger-finger discipline will also play a significant role in successfully hitting your intended target.
It is important to learn the nomenclature of the gun, which will allow communication between the teacher and the student with understanding. The nomenclature of the gun is important in that it names the parts of the gun so there is no confusion resulting from being unfamiliar with the firearm in use.
It is helpful at this point to put some thought regarding ammunition as it relates to the firearm being trained with as to caliber and a cursory overview as to the variety of types available for the gun.
The next essential component of your firearm education are the basics: loading, unloading, cleaning, basic maintenance and storage. After this, basic shooting techniques, both in dry-fire and then live with the addition of ammunition. Even though there are many techniques that can be taught to achieve a similar result, two things to keep in mind will put shots on target. If you can stabilize the barrel’s muzzle on the target and pull the trigger without affecting the muzzle’s stability, you will hit the target.
If owning a gun and being able to handle it safely and proficiently is your goal, you are at a good place. Regular practice and repetition of your learned skills will keep you proficient until you set new goals for additional skills.
Advanced training builds on already-learned skills and focuses on areas of specificity in the use of firearms. Using concealed carry as an example, holsters and associated gear differ from that used on the range when they get started. Carry location, clothing and type of gun often differ as the objectives change. Learning new ways of drawing and reholstering the pistol are just two other techniques that could be considered advanced compared with your prior foundational training. Taking it a step further, dynamic training—such as shooting while moving, utilizing concealment and cover and shooting from improvised positions—are all skills that can be considered advanced over standard foundational training.
A cap on that could be interactive role-play training where you pit your skills against other students in scenarios where you have to think and act in potential real-world situations. This, of course, occurs while using the appropriate safety equipment and firearms that project marking pellets verifying hits or misses. All of these skills are enhanced by refining the basics originally learned, which equate to hits on target when and where you want them. Advanced training reinforces previously learned skills as well as adding to those skills with new problem-solving techniques that are useful in the right situation. Practicing these added skills usually requires additional repetition, which equates to more ammo fired. The decision is yours as to how far your training needs to go. The fact that you asked for help is a sign that you are on the right track.
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