If you are a student in a handgun class, here’s some further tips for success:
- Bring lots of magazines. I would say 5 is a bare minimum, and there’s not really any such thing as too many magazines.
- Make sure those magazines are clean and functioning.
- Have a magazine brush on you, in case the magazine gets that dirty that you need to clean it to keep it running. Of course, this is slow and takes time and class may not have a break in the action to clean them. This is why it’s good to have as many magazines as possible, so you can just set the broken/dirty one aside and grab a working mag and get back into class.
- Have appropriate ways to carry those magazines. At least 2 mag pouches on your belt, more if you can and/or is appropriate. Have a way to carry more magazines to the line, like wearing cargo pants.
- Make sure those magazines are clean and functioning.
- Load all your magazines before coming to class (e.g. night before, at home).
- The magazines should be appropriate to the context. A 33 round Glock magazine is not appropriate for a defensive handgun class (unless you’re somehow able to conceal a 33 round Glock magazine). A 33 round mag might be appropriate if it was a competition class. Whatever, just consider context and be appropriate for it.
- The “Sabrina” is rarely a good thing to do.
- If you are the sort that always racks your slide after inserting a magazine, likely dumping a live round on the ground, at the appropriate time please pick up your live rounds off the ground. Not only is it a waste of good ammo, but it’s more work for us that have to clean up after you to have to sort out all your live ordinance.
- If the range policy is no steel nor aluminum cased ammo (i.e. brass-only), please honor that policy.
- Electronic ear muffs aren’t required, but they are nice for hearing range commands and receiving instruction.
- Safety glasses that completely enclose your eyes are good. So it’s not just from the front, but also from all sides. Things fly around, especially if you’re shooting steel… little lead fragments can and do happen.
- If you’re not on the line shooting, you should be reloading magazines. While you do that, keep one ear and one eye on the line so you can be aware of what’s going on, especially if any instruction or teachable moments happen.
- Keep hydrated.
- Don’t skimp on your gear. Good belt. Good holster.
- Make sure that good holster allows you to reholster without looking and without having to use your other hand to work the holster… putting your other hand in front of the muzzle isn’t a recipe for success.
- Keep a little note pad and pen in your pocket, so you can take notes on the drills, your progress, or whatever else you deem important.
Anything to add?
Stuff From Hsoi 
And just to keep it going between us 🙂
This is one of the reasons that I say that training the best way to start.
Currently I have 2 magazines for my Taurus, do I want more, yes.
Taurus PT-145 magazines — minimum costs $26 X 3 more to meet your ‘suggested’ quantity — $78.
Good holster — have that after using a cheap holster for nearly 6 months — $85.
Good belt…still to be purchased – I have belts that are acceptable. For the ones I’ve looked at $50 to $120 – call it $80
Way to carry earlier mentioned magazines — none in my possession. Low cost double magazine holders — $30
And based on work dress code, current laws; the mag holders for class would be range only affairs for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that after a certain point training with others is the best way to get needed skills.
But the barriers raised in taking classes often make it prohibitive to people having just spent money to purchase a firearm.
The other aspect of the magazine holders is one that I wanted to talk about: How useful is it to learn a method that I probably won’t be able to duplicate in “real life”?
I can’t walk around with half a dozen mags hanging on my belt. I would probably only carry one and that would be IWB. Currently I pocket carry a magazine when I carry one.
See the conundrum?
You are right. The added costs do raise the barrier of entry. So it becomes like anything in life…. gotta figure out what you want and save the pennies.
But of course, different training courses have different requirements. Some of this list comes off my just past experience taking a very advanced course, and seeing some people in that course not having the necessary equipment makes things difficult for them and could also be a drag on the rest of the class. Other courses could have other requirements that aren’t so steep.
I mean, I do feel the pain. A friend invited me to a 4-day carbine class. It would cost me nothing in terms of tuition, and we could even keep travel costs low using a relative’s RV and making our own meals. But looking at the ammo costs and all the other gear that would be needed to take the class (even simple stuff like having a Camelback, elbow and knee pads, etc.) all those things added up and at this point I just don’t know if I can take the course…. same problem you have.
So I’m sympathetic to what you’re saying.
As for the mag holders….
You are right, and that’s something I struggle with myself in classes vs. “real life”. In real life I carry a single reload. In class, I want at least 3 reloads on my belt, and I put a 4th in my front pocket in a pocket mag pouch, and others in my cargo pants. Is that realistic? Heck no (not for me anyway), but it helps class run smoothly so I can do the drills. That’s class. Then when I go home and practice, I replicate the drills in my setup, which would be a single reload on the belt.
Classrooms aren’t always going to be like real life. It’s a classroom setting and all that comes with that. But the classroom is the place to learn the lesson, then you have to go out and meld what you’ve learned into your life and roll it from there.
Bob,
If I could without stepping on HSOI’s toes.
Best way to train realistically is if you have a single mag pouch that you would wear on the street, wear it for training and practice so you get used to that pouch. Put the extra carriers behind that across your backside. When you reload the gun, do it from the primary/carry pouch. Then as you relax between drills, move a fresh mag into the primary position. That way you always are prepared as you would be on the street.
As for pocket carry, it is better than not having a spare at all but have you practiced getting it out in a hurry? Crouching behind cover? Belted into your car seat?
Those are also considerations on a holster as well as spare mag.
There are always impossible possibilities, rolled over onto your strong side against a wall under a car in a culvert pipe. Possible? Probable? But you should be prepared for the usual unusual positions that are likely to be someplace or someway you would actually be in a defensive position of cover or concealment.
Always good to chat,
TXGunGeek
No toe stepping…. your input is always welcome. 🙂
Jeeze, belted into my car is a nightmare. I’ve only tried drawing from my IWB holster a couple of times while parked in the garage and with a jacket and seatbelt on it is virtually impossible. Since I have a standard transmission it would probably be a better use of my time shifting into gear and attempting to drive away than to draw the pistol.
I’ll bet a desert eagle would fit in the door pocket just fine though…
Yes, hitting the gas pedal is generally the best response.
TxGunGeek,
I recognize that pocket carry is not ideal for anything but have to balance getting piston rings repaired on one car and the transmission on another with buying a mag holder.
Do I practice getting it out of my pocket, actually no. Because at this point, I’m not at that level of training (solo or with others) because I’m more concerned about being able to get the pistol on target reasonably well. It is a matter of priorities and time.
The infernal triangle as I call it (Hsoi mentioned aspects of it in his reply) — Time, Energy and Money.
I also think that getting to the level of reloading while laying on my side in a culvert is a higher level of a skill set than I’ll need for a while.
Please don’t get me wrong, I think that type of training is great but how many folks find themselves needing that skill set?
I like the idea of keeping only what I would carry (any advice on a reasonable double or single mag holder for a Taurus PT145?) as primary and feeding back to that in between drills. I’ll incorporate that best practice (business speak for steal shamelessly) when I get there.
I currently carry my spare mag in my back pocket (not completely unaware of tactical considerations) because I have considered reloading while crouching. And I carry it on weak side for that reason also.
Enjoy chatting with you and Hsoi, I always take away useful information and it is greatly appreciated. How many other people would give away things they are paid to teach…thanks