In a world where there are so many “experts” in the shooting / gun field of endeavor, I not only hesitate to refer to myself as an expert but I avoid it pretty much in every way and deny it if someone refers to me as such. Earlier today, while I was spoiling myself with a decent cigar, some Birch Beer and work out in the shade on my patio, it occurred to me that, although I don’t consider myself an “expert” in the gun world, there are a few areas of it where I carry quite a bit of experience; in some cases, decades worth of experience. I found myself breaking the blocks down into pieces that could be defined as a given area of experience and thought I’d share with this question: What’s YOUR shooter resume?
Way back in the day, when I started in the Army as an MP (in 1982) we were still issued a Government Model 1911 .45ACP pistol and an M16-A2 rifle. Separating those two weapons from each other…
I started out my experience with a single action semi-automatic pistol. The Government Model 1911 functions differently from double-action/single-action pistols, safe action pistols, etc. Obviously it’s different from a revolver. I’ve been, fairly regularly, carrying a Government Model 1911 .45ACP, quite often actually, ever since then so I can realistically claim more than three decades of experience with that type of weapon.
Taking a look at the M16-A2, it was a select fire, box magazine fed rifle with a decent recoil system and mechanical sights. I qualified with it, engaging targets as close as 25 yards and as far away as 360 yards. I qualified annually with that weapon and carried it on various assignments. I considered that three years of experience with that weapon and I consider it different from a semi-automatic only weapon of the same design and caliber. (More on that in a minute)
In 1985, after I was out of the Army, I went to work for a campus police department that was still issuing Smith & Wesson Model 10 4” blued revolvers in .38 Special. At that time, for off-duty use, I purchased a S&W Chief’s Special; a stainless steel .38 Special with a five-shot cylinder and a 2” barrel. Both of them are double-action / single-action revolvers but I was specifically trained NEVER to shoot them single action. I changed agencies in 1987 and my new agency also issued me a revolver although the “new” one was chambered for .357 Magnum and had a 6” barrel. I only carried that until I could afford to purchase my own 4” .38 which I ended up carrying on duty until a year later when the agency switched to semi-autos. Although I have stayed competent with that type of revolver since 1985, I consider myself carrying 30 years of experience with it. I DO NOT consider myself as experienced with a “snubby.” While I qualify with one every year, I only carried it off duty for about three years and haven’t regularly carried one since about 1990. I don’t even own one anymore and have to borrow one for qualifications.
Remington 870 12g shotgun.
Also starting in 1985 I was trained with a pump action shotgun in 12g as part of my law enforcement training. I qualified at least twice annually with such a weapon and carried it on duty until October of 2007 (when I retired the first time). I still qualify with that weapon (same one I’ve had since 1988 actually) at least annually and it sits in my gun safe as I type this. I consider myself reasonably experienced with said weapon carrying thirty years of experience with it.
In 1989 my police agency switched to the Sig Sauer P226 9mm handgun; a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol with no manual safety but incorporating a decocking lever. Ever since 1989 I’ve been issued such a weapon: a semi-automatic double-action/single-action pistol in a variety of calibers. I consider myself competent and experienced with that genre of weapon since I’ve got 25 years of carrying one both on and off duty.
In the early ‘90s, as Glocks grew in popularity – the first “safe action” on the American market – I picked up a 2nd Generation Glock 19 for off duty carry. As soon as I could I went to armorer school for the weapon (in the same month as I went to armorer school for the Sig and for Beretta 92s). I’ve owned and carried, even if only off-duty, a Glock safe-action pistol since 1992 giving me 23+ years of experience with that.
In 1999, after the Columbine High School active shooter incident, everyone started trying to get rifles in their patrol cars and by 2000 I was a patrol rifle instructor, owning, qualifying with, instructing on, etc. the AR-15 style of weapon. This is essentially a semi-automatic only weapon otherwise identical to the M16 I was trained on back in the early ‘80s. With about a 15 year break in between carrying one regularly, I was familiar but needed to get refamiliarized and competent with it. I did so and remain so and consider myself well versed in the carry, manipulation and use of these weapons. I count roughly 18 years of experience with them. Now, here’s my outlook on this weapon: while I qualified out to 360 yards with such a weapon in the Army and considered it a primary combat weapon, law enforcement agencies (in general) only qualify out to 150 yards and use it as a special response tool. Because my last fifteen years with it is in such a role I’ve come to view the AR platform rifle as a (relatively) close quarter combat weapon. It’s a special response tool in my outlook.
In 2002 I had benefit of attending Sniper school and learned what true precision marksmanship is (or can be). I got qualified as, and was, an operational law enforcement sniper for approximately six years. I submit to you that those skills truly are perishable and, as I haven’t really regularly used or practiced them since 2008, I no longer consider myself even competent. I believe I’d have to go back to school and or a serious requalification program to become “competent” again. I KNOW how to do it; I haven’t DONE it sufficiently in the past few years to consider myself appropriately skilled to speak about it and definitely not to teach it.
Having been through all that, I’ve documented competency with:
- A single-action only semi-auto pistol
- A select fire rifle
- A double-action/single-action revolver
- A double-action/single-action semi-auto pistol
- A pump action shotgun
- A semi-automatic rifle
- A bolt action precision rifle
I submit to you that “expertise” with any of these weapons includes knowledge and skills not only about how they work or using them accurately, but also knowledge about carrying them and caring for them. What holsters work best for what use? What slings are versatile and/or functional? How do you clear malfunctions? What are the strengths and weaknesses? What’s the transition drill from shotgun to handgun? Or from rifle to handgun? How do you carry a shotgun for breaching and transition to a close quarters weapon for entry or assault work?
I encourage you to look through this list and some of you will add parts to your resume that I don’t have, sub-machine guns being the example I can think of easily. Those of you who can list all of the same weapons experience I can, but probably for different numbers of years (some more, some less), take a look at your experience impartially (without an inflated ego) and fairly. What do you have to share? What do you still have to learn? ALL of us are perpetual students OR we begin to lose the knowledge and experience base we’re carrying.
As a final point, I’d ask you to take a look at your use of force knowledge and experience. When was the last time you reviewed the loss governing your carry and potential use? Do you know what your actions need to be afterward? Do you know what’s going to happen to your weapon(s) after the fact? Do you know how to get them back when the time comes?
I know a couple men who I consider true experts – not just court recognized or generally recognized by peers in the field – but experts who have forgotten more than I’ll ever learn or have ever known. If you know folks like that, seek out time with them. Learn from them. NEVER stop learning and increasing your experience. I was once told that if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. NONE of us who work behind a gun can afford to do that… so don’t!!!
Now, I put the question to you again: What’s your shooter resume?
