Pistol Tactics for Tactical + Combat Shooters

What makes a pistol tactical?

When looking for a gun to use for tactical purposes, first and foremost, the firearm needs to be reliable. Using a firearm for personal defense means that you need to be able to use it effectively and trust it to function as advertised. Bringing your firearm to a local gunsmith can let you know if your firearm is in working order, safe, and up to manufacturer standards.

Take your firearms to the range and test out your consistency of group patterns at different distances. Run at least 100 rounds of target ammo through the firearm and keep track of the malfunctions. If the target ammo passes the first round of reliability test testing then move onto at least one box of the ammo that you will be carrying for self-defense. Some firearms take different brands of ammo as if it was universal and other firearms can be picky with the ammo that you feed them. It is important to understand what works the best with your firearm.

Drill Example:

1. Take your magazine and load it to capacity. 
2. Then insert the magazine into your firearm and rack, one round into the chamber. 
3. Take your magazine out and reload it to capacity by adding one round. 
4. Reinsert your magazine into the firearm. 
5. While on target shoot as fast as the range allows you to shoot and see if your firearm can hold up to the stress.

A tactical pistol will also be one that you are able to conceal. The concealability of a firearm is highly dependent on the holster you are using and your body type. Some people can carry outside the waistband on their strong side and still fully conceal firearms. Other people have to try out different methods of carry like appendix in order to conceal the firearm. A tactical pistol for you might not work for another person that’s trying to accomplish the same goals. This is why we circle back to training and understand exactly what we are doing with our firearms and how they fit our specific goals.

Training

Training with your handgun is important because it builds a foundation of knowledge on your skills and your abilities. Without understanding your limitations, you cannot successfully plan for a situation where you would need to use your handgun. 

Training pushes your skill level by giving you the opportunity to test out new drills. If you shoot targets at different distances, you will be able to understand how accurate you are and at what radius you would consider yourself safe. When you add in holster draw training, now you know how long it takes you to get on target and fire, or in other words, how long it takes you to react to a threat. 

Having some variation of a shot timer can give you a great picture of your skill level. However, the best tool to use would be the Mantis X10. The Mantis X10’s holster draw breaks down your draw stroke into five segments of time. It tells you how long it takes for you to get a grip on your gun, pull it from the holster, get the firearm horizontal, punch out to the target, and press the trigger. With the full picture of your holster draw, you will be able to adapt your pistol tactics to the way you carry your firearm. Using the holster draw analysis can help you figure out which holster is actually better for you and helps you get on target faster. If you plan on carrying different ways, depending on your outfit, using the X10 can help you verify if the way you are carrying is safe for you. For example, if you are carrying in a crossbody purse, and you are testing out the holster draw, you want to make sure that you can get the firearm out and on target within a reasonable timeframe.

Don’t forget to work on your level of physical fitness. Your physical fitness can help with recoil management and removing yourself from the area where the threat is occurring. When you are dealing with life or death situations, seconds count so being able to remove yourself from a threat can be indicative of your chance of survival.

Situational Awareness

The goal is to effectively respond to the situation at hand. Focus on being present in the moment. If you are trying to multitask you could be missing important ques. Try testing yourself by seeing if you can tell if someone isn’t acting normal at a gas station or grocery store. The environments you put yourself in have different levels of risk. It is your job to be aware of your situation enough to know what risks you might face. Pistol tactics are a small piece of a bigger picture. If you need to engage in any of your pistol tactics, it may be because you did not have any strategic plans or processes to get you out of high risk situations before they happen. For a more comprehensive dive on situational awareness check out Steve Tarani’s book, "Your Most Powerful Weapon." 

Ask yourself the questions below.

• How many exits are there out of my house?
• How many exits are there in my workplace?
• Where are the exits in the restaurant?
• What type of businesses are around my house?
• Where do I store my firearm at home? How quickly can I access my firearm? Can anyone else access my firearm?
• Is there anyone in my vicinity that looks suspicious?
• Is there any suitable cover nearby?
• Where are my family and friends in relation to a potential threat?
• How much distance can I cover and how fast?

Answering these questions about your situation can help you prepare a plan before you need it. You can only rely on yourself to determine what risks you face.

Equipment

If you carry just a handgun, you are using one piece of equipment that pairs well with others. There are other items you can select to help you prepare. Carrying a spare magazine will help you reload if you have a malfunction or need to use all of the ammo in the first magazine. Many people carry a tourniquet or trauma kit with them if they have a firearm, because if they can make holes, they may need to reduce bleeding or patch holes.

In some instances, you may need to use force, but not lethal force. You can prepare for these situations by carrying a Byrna or some variation of pepper spray  or tasers. All of the equipment you carry gives you more options on how to respond to different levels of risks and threats.

Another piece of equipment that can be very helpful are flashlights. When you choose to take your firearm out of the holster and aim it is very important that you know what you are aiming at. Flashlights are great if you plan on traveling a lot at night or have certain rooms where your firearm and the light switch are not in reaching distance from each other. You can choose between having a handheld flashlight or a weapon mounted flashlight. Both lights have different functions and rules of deployment. 

Summary 

If you are able to comfortably carry and use your equipment, then you are giving yourself more tactical advantage. Find a reliable gun and train with it at the range, but don’t forget to train your mind as well. Stay present in the moment and adapt to the environment you are in. As you train you will find the equipment that works best for you.