This is a guest article from CR Williams, firearms instructor and author of several books on self-defense and firearms use (see our reviews of his book Facing the Active Shooter and Gunfighting, and Other Thougts About Doing Violence). You can follow him at In Shadow In Light — Shepherd
You can’t stop with just the gun if you’re going to do it right.
NOTE: This is not a 930DMG and the name is not a misprint. There are few differences between this one and a 930DMG that I can see but it is a separate model. And yes I did get confused about it for a while too.
I’ve been doing it all along—we all have—but I didn’t bring the concept toward the front until I purchased the TNW Firearms Aero Survival Pistol I previously reviewed here. And I didn’t start with the concept in mind even before I purchased before now.
That concept, the one we all abide by without thinking about it like I just did, is of the Weapon’s System which I define as the weapon and everything that supports its use as a fighting (or for some a sporting or competition) tool. With handguns that includes the gun, the holster you carry it in, the belt you carry it in the holster on (if it’s a belt gun) or the purse or bag or case if you don’t carry it on-body as well as magazines (or speedloaders/speedstrips for revolvers) and ammunition as well as you, the person that will be using that gun to fight with. In general if it’s needed to get the gun to the fight (known or unknown) and get and keep it running during the fight and your training for that fight with it, it’s part of the overall weapons system. I will sometimes as I do in this article subdivide this system into a Gun System and a Transport and Carry System. (The capital letters make it sound more pretentions and maybe complicated than it really is. I’m not really overthinking it as much as this may look like, trust me. It is in my view an important concept to grasp, however.)
It is important to understand that every part of the system contributes to the very best possible shot(s) in the counteroffensive fight. Too many people don’t grasp this essential point and end up reducing their ability to most effectively and efficiently defend themselves and their loved ones by not getting the best support gear for their chosen weapon that they can afford. This is a false economy for two reasons: Unsuitable or sub-standard equipment reduces your overall capability and increases the risk to you and others if you have to fight with it, and it raises the cost of the weapon system when you end up replacing (sometimes repeatedly) unsuitable or sub-standard gear. That’s why it is important where possible to examine and research all the choices of equipment you need or intend to purchase and why those who are serious students of the fight put time into their own tests of and practice with everything they get. “Buy once, cry once” is not just a marketing slogan.
Read the Remainder at ShortBarrelsShepard
Reblogged this on Brittius.