Tune in on Thursday, January 14, at 8 PM CDT to have your general personal defense and defensive shooting questions answered by our very own Rob Pincus. See you then!
Rob, I am very disappointed to hear that the only location you are doing live training in Florida is St. Augustine, which might as well be considered South Georgia. We have locations such as Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Ft. Myers and Naples where I am sure you could have large groups of students. Please give this some consideration in the future.
Best Regards,
Sol Mandel
Bonita Springs, FL (Lee County)
unfortunately my (indoor) range does not REaLLy allow drawing and firing from h
olster. Or even multiple fast firings. appreciate safety, but hard to train. …….
Thank you Rob,
Great job as always, Brother.
Great assortment of questions and two hours would have been too short.
Thank you again, Rob …..
Be well and be safe out there…
…~Benny
Thanks Rob for a great site I have learned a lot. I live in south Texas and I am disabled and I am an ex coast guard vet and your info is top rate. Great info great site. Thanks I am disabled and wish I could train with you I just don’t have the money so I learn right here on your site. If you can come to Texas to train us.
Thanks, Ernest… I actually taught in Texas last week… and I’ll be back in February as well. Thanks for taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from PDN!
Last night, I had a close call while out with the fam. A guy looked like he was working with others to set us up for an armed robbery. I always carry (where legal) and have taken courses in combat shooting, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, etc. I also study violent encounters from online sources from a self-defense perspective. I feel confident pertaining abilities to defend myself. Yet, I felt uncomfortably nervous through the ordeal and was shaky. I have read about guys who through repeated exposure to violent encounters in their law enforcement or military careers have ability to remain cool headed and shut down nerves, fears, emotions in these type of potentially deadly confrontation. What do you recommend for mindset development?
By specifying “modern striker fired gun”, it is unlikely that someone will end up with a gun that isn’t rated for +P to be fired safely. I was making the point that the gun you are using in 2016 should be fine with “any” 9mm pressure loading.
Those are measures of weight… you can find 9mm rounds from under 100 grains to over 150. Bullet design will be at least as important as weight in regard to performance and the speed of the bullet is a factor as well.
I currently carry a 9mm with a 7 round capacity and am thinking of getting a Glock 19 due to its 15rd capacity. My reasoning is that it seems most crimes are perpetrated by several assailants in a group. Home invasions seem to be getting more prevalent and usually involve 2 or more assailants. What are your thoughts on this concern?
I did a video on the “need for high capacity magazines” a couple of years ago that you can find here for more detail, but generally, more bullets are better than fewer… as long as you can carry and shoot the gun well.
Recently suffered a detached retina in my dominant eye. Happy to report that post-op course is going well and expectation is full recovery… but right now my dominant (sighting) eye is out of
service. Any suggestions for right hand, left eye’d sighting in home defense? Handgun mounted laser is my current solution. Any other advice? Rob’s great experience and teaching strategies are MUCH appreciated. PDN member!
As I said in the Q&A, it really shouldn’t matter much. At this point, your “shooting position” may be compromised a bit and the more you have practiced, the more you’l notice… especially at the range. Under stress, your brain will put that gun in front of whichever eye is seeing better at the moment. If you don’t overthink it (rarely a factor in a fight), you should be fine.
As a follow up to my question, I am a USPSA Grandmaster shooter, and am Alumni to multiple shooting schools and have been training for almost 20 years, I have trained at Gunsite and some other well known training schools, so I have experience with the use and application of these tools.
It’s okay… but, I think your time would be better spent truly practicing defensive shooting techniques. The problem with the games is that if you take your score seriously, you may start to compromise your technique and gear selections to get a better score.
What are your thoughts on using law enforcement style equipment, example, body armor, law enforcement branded ammo(+p+) M-4 style rifles for defense, how could some of these tools be good or bad in the aftermath of a self defense or home defense scenario, and what about carrying these type of things daily in my vehicle etc, for carry, I live in an environment that we are 100 miles from the next nearest town in ANY direction.
Without getting into too much detail, I will say that you shouldn’t worry about whether or not the gear is “Law Enforcement Style” as a primary issue. Carry and Stage gear that makes sense for you and your needs first. Then, if there is an option between a “civilian” brand and a “LE” brand, why not go with the civilian brand just to avoid the potential aftermath issues?
I am pursuing a job in law enforcement (LE). As a former LE officer, what aspects of a police mindset transfer and positively affect a personal defense mindset as a civilian? What mindsets do the two have in common?
I answered part of that above, but I will add that one should be careful about looking for more overlap than there really is. The conditions of personal defense are very different from being an armed professional… and the gear can be as well.
How can you help people with limited hand strength and or mobility because of age or medical condition, practice without stressing the condition? And suggestions for drills and firearms?
You can do a lot of good with reduced caliber, airsoft and even dry fire… but, always consider that you MUST practice with your intended gun with normal ammunition as well. I’d prefer shorter sessions with real gear than longer sessions with reduced realism.
You once received a lot of push-back for championing the idea of storing a firearm in your children’s rooms. I think it’s brilliant and, as an instructor, have recommended it since. Do you still stand by that recommendation?
Being in the state I’m in I’ve opted out of getting a cc permit. But I’m worried more about home defense. So for at home my question would be what would you consider to be the best home defense ride to have other than a shotgun?
The end of your question wasn’t entirely clear, but I generally recommend a handgun as the best choice, then rifle, then shotgun when it comes to home defense.
Is it a bad idea to change you glock trigger to one of the flat aftermarket triggers on your carry gun. I’m always hearing about possible law suits if you have to use your firearm.
Its not about the lawsuits, it is about reliability and need. I can’t remember the last time I had a student have any trouble with a stock Glock trigger…. we frequently have trouble with aftermarket ones. Two that I can think of in the last month or so…. and the Holiday Season is slow for training courses. I don’t think people need aftermarket triggers and very few people really benefit from them in plausible shooting scenarios.
Hey, CCW Permit Holders, don’t forget about weapon retention training! (seriously, unarmed skills are important. take a listen to the Extreme Close Quarters Q&A we did with Craig Douglas…)
After taking a enhanced concealed carry course, I would like to know what classes you would recommend taking? I would like to take a trauma class also, because you never know when you can help a family member, neighbor or even myself. I just don’t know of any classes in my area. Southern Idaho. Thanks for this network, great job.
Being a former police officer, firefighter and EMT, I would recommend taking a 48 hour Emergency Responder (EMR, First Respoonder) course through your local fire department or EMS agency.
I agree that emergency medicine courses are very valuable. Keep an eye on the PDN Tour Calendar that will be posted soon for the Spring and Summer, you may see something in your region. Otherwise, you might reach out to some of the instructors you are interested in and invite them to your area.
Hi Rob,
I enjoyed watching you on the Outdoor Network until my cable company dropped it. My question, What position do you suggest for IWB carry, 3-5, Small of back or Appendix?
Depends on the person…but, I have found that Appendix Carry is a superior choice for most people. lots of information about AIWB and “center line carry” in general on the website here.
I realize that a handgun is preferred for home defense, but my wife has a hard time racking the slide. Other than have the gun racked and safety on would a shotgun be a better choice. I know it’s harder to wheel around but I think it takes less to pump it for her. Your thoughts , thanks
As I discussed on the show, 95+% of the time I hear that someone can’t rack the slide it is technique, not capability. That said, I would sooner recommend something like an AR or lever action rifle than a shotgun.
Different people want different things from the “insurance” programs, not all of which are true insurance. I have a membership with CCW Safe, Lockton Insurance and have been supporter of ACLDN since it launched. I’ve even used the latter to find an attorney for something at one point. I strongly suggest researching the details of at least those programs and then seeing which one fits your interests bests.
US Law Shield. It’s not a traditional prepay legal defense fund. There is not cap. Many plans have caps. This covers civil & criminal cases, with 2A lawyers. 24 hour hotline. Multi state coverage. It’s not a reimbursement program either, many are…. Just my thoughts
Depends… no easy answer. The default that I recommend is loaded but not chambered. If you have a trigger guard or holster, then loaded and chambered may be a better option for you. In the safe with the magazine next to the gun is also an option for some people, though I don’t believe it is really safer than loaded but not chambered.
I don’t think it is the best. I do think it is a viable option. I recommend seriously considering the 20ga as an option, if you decide to go that way. You can definitely download a shotgun so that penetrating walls is less likely, but I wouldn’t recommend that in most situations.
I use Crossbreed Holsters. Outside of them, I would suggest you find a quality kydex manufacturer that makes a holster for the specific gun and position that you want to carry. Without at least knowing the position, it is hard for me to narrow it down much more than that.
Somehow we have to bring the average Mr. & Mrs. America come to accept our second amendment rights as something like brushing your teeth in the morning. It means they need to be educated from the time they first begin to learn.
Hopefully, you heard the answer in the Q&A. There really is no ONE magic skill set.. but, I think there are a lot of people who think they are good “shooters” that haven’t spent the appropriate amount of time learning to present realistically.
Hi Rob, great to have to opprtunity to reach out to you was even better to train with you not long ago. I was just wondering what your take on carrying less than lethal/ non lethal options are. Currently I carry a Glock 19 with and extra magazine a KaBar TDI and Freeze +P spray which is a blend of OC and CS. I feel like during these current times it helps to be prepared for every scenario…luckily I’m trained professionally with all these tools but when is too much too much off duty? Thank you!
Body Armor should probably only be considered after money and time have been spent on good gear, training, practice, quick access safe(s) and a solid home security/barricade system. I wouldn’t worry about legal issues after its use, as long as it is legal in your state.
Rob, I am very disappointed to hear that the only location you are doing live training in Florida is St. Augustine, which might as well be considered South Georgia. We have locations such as Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Ft. Myers and Naples where I am sure you could have large groups of students. Please give this some consideration in the future.
Best Regards,
Sol Mandel
Bonita Springs, FL (Lee County)
Depend on PDN for excellent advice
None at now Firs time ..
Enjoy learning about personal defense, I believe in you need to always need to be learn more and training all the time
Thanks, great job to ALL of you. Know there are a couple of extra peeps with camera in the background.
unfortunately my (indoor) range does not REaLLy allow drawing and firing from h
olster. Or even multiple fast firings. appreciate safety, but hard to train. …….
great material. I want more
Thank you Rob,
Great job as always, Brother.
Great assortment of questions and two hours would have been too short.
Thank you again, Rob …..
Be well and be safe out there…
…~Benny
Thank you very much for sharing your information with us. It’s really appreciated
Thanks Rob for a great site I have learned a lot. I live in south Texas and I am disabled and I am an ex coast guard vet and your info is top rate. Great info great site. Thanks I am disabled and wish I could train with you I just don’t have the money so I learn right here on your site. If you can come to Texas to train us.
Thanks, Ernest… I actually taught in Texas last week… and I’ll be back in February as well. Thanks for taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from PDN!
Body armour pro/con for home defence and leagal issues after defensive gun use.
Last night, I had a close call while out with the fam. A guy looked like he was working with others to set us up for an armed robbery. I always carry (where legal) and have taken courses in combat shooting, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, etc. I also study violent encounters from online sources from a self-defense perspective. I feel confident pertaining abilities to defend myself. Yet, I felt uncomfortably nervous through the ordeal and was shaky. I have read about guys who through repeated exposure to violent encounters in their law enforcement or military careers have ability to remain cool headed and shut down nerves, fears, emotions in these type of potentially deadly confrontation. What do you recommend for mindset development?
Try to find some well run Scenario Training.
Why do you specify striker fired pistol when you were discribing 9mm ammo?
By specifying “modern striker fired gun”, it is unlikely that someone will end up with a gun that isn’t rated for +P to be fired safely. I was making the point that the gun you are using in 2016 should be fine with “any” 9mm pressure loading.
what is the difference 9mm 115 grain and 9mm 145 grain I’m new to the gun world.
Those are measures of weight… you can find 9mm rounds from under 100 grains to over 150. Bullet design will be at least as important as weight in regard to performance and the speed of the bullet is a factor as well.
I currently carry a 9mm with a 7 round capacity and am thinking of getting a Glock 19 due to its 15rd capacity. My reasoning is that it seems most crimes are perpetrated by several assailants in a group. Home invasions seem to be getting more prevalent and usually involve 2 or more assailants. What are your thoughts on this concern?
I did a video on the “need for high capacity magazines” a couple of years ago that you can find here for more detail, but generally, more bullets are better than fewer… as long as you can carry and shoot the gun well.
Recently suffered a detached retina in my dominant eye. Happy to report that post-op course is going well and expectation is full recovery… but right now my dominant (sighting) eye is out of
service. Any suggestions for right hand, left eye’d sighting in home defense? Handgun mounted laser is my current solution. Any other advice? Rob’s great experience and teaching strategies are MUCH appreciated. PDN member!
As I said in the Q&A, it really shouldn’t matter much. At this point, your “shooting position” may be compromised a bit and the more you have practiced, the more you’l notice… especially at the range. Under stress, your brain will put that gun in front of whichever eye is seeing better at the moment. If you don’t overthink it (rarely a factor in a fight), you should be fine.
As a follow up to my question, I am a USPSA Grandmaster shooter, and am Alumni to multiple shooting schools and have been training for almost 20 years, I have trained at Gunsite and some other well known training schools, so I have experience with the use and application of these tools.
What is your opinion of shooting IDPA to get more proficient with a hand gun? I shot last season and it seemed to help my accuracy.
Thanks!
It’s okay… but, I think your time would be better spent truly practicing defensive shooting techniques. The problem with the games is that if you take your score seriously, you may start to compromise your technique and gear selections to get a better score.
looking forward to learning from Rob
What is your choice for concealed carry insurance?
answered above…
What are your thoughts on using law enforcement style equipment, example, body armor, law enforcement branded ammo(+p+) M-4 style rifles for defense, how could some of these tools be good or bad in the aftermath of a self defense or home defense scenario, and what about carrying these type of things daily in my vehicle etc, for carry, I live in an environment that we are 100 miles from the next nearest town in ANY direction.
Without getting into too much detail, I will say that you shouldn’t worry about whether or not the gear is “Law Enforcement Style” as a primary issue. Carry and Stage gear that makes sense for you and your needs first. Then, if there is an option between a “civilian” brand and a “LE” brand, why not go with the civilian brand just to avoid the potential aftermath issues?
I am pursuing a job in law enforcement (LE). As a former LE officer, what aspects of a police mindset transfer and positively affect a personal defense mindset as a civilian? What mindsets do the two have in common?
I answered part of that above, but I will add that one should be careful about looking for more overlap than there really is. The conditions of personal defense are very different from being an armed professional… and the gear can be as well.
How can you help people with limited hand strength and or mobility because of age or medical condition, practice without stressing the condition? And suggestions for drills and firearms?
You can do a lot of good with reduced caliber, airsoft and even dry fire… but, always consider that you MUST practice with your intended gun with normal ammunition as well. I’d prefer shorter sessions with real gear than longer sessions with reduced realism.
Is this what I want
Please repeat the questions – a lot of feedback making questions unintelligable
You once received a lot of push-back for championing the idea of storing a firearm in your children’s rooms. I think it’s brilliant and, as an instructor, have recommended it since. Do you still stand by that recommendation?
I do… more thoughts in the Q&A!
Being in the state I’m in I’ve opted out of getting a cc permit. But I’m worried more about home defense. So for at home my question would be what would you consider to be the best home defense ride to have other than a shotgun?
The end of your question wasn’t entirely clear, but I generally recommend a handgun as the best choice, then rifle, then shotgun when it comes to home defense.
Is it a bad idea to change you glock trigger to one of the flat aftermarket triggers on your carry gun. I’m always hearing about possible law suits if you have to use your firearm.
Its not about the lawsuits, it is about reliability and need. I can’t remember the last time I had a student have any trouble with a stock Glock trigger…. we frequently have trouble with aftermarket ones. Two that I can think of in the last month or so…. and the Holiday Season is slow for training courses. I don’t think people need aftermarket triggers and very few people really benefit from them in plausible shooting scenarios.
As a former LE officer, what would you say is a key mindset that transfers from LE work to civilian personal defense?
Not to trust that people always have the best intentions or that they are even being honest with you about what theirs truly are.
Remind CCW permit holders about weapon retention training.
Hey, CCW Permit Holders, don’t forget about weapon retention training! (seriously, unarmed skills are important. take a listen to the Extreme Close Quarters Q&A we did with Craig Douglas…)
hello
please discuss how to form an ATF TRUST to retain weapons under NFA for ones family
We recently posted an article about Gun Trusts here at PDN… but, it is important to note the rules may be changing in regard to Trusts and NFA.
After taking a enhanced concealed carry course, I would like to know what classes you would recommend taking? I would like to take a trauma class also, because you never know when you can help a family member, neighbor or even myself. I just don’t know of any classes in my area. Southern Idaho. Thanks for this network, great job.
Being a former police officer, firefighter and EMT, I would recommend taking a 48 hour Emergency Responder (EMR, First Respoonder) course through your local fire department or EMS agency.
I agree that emergency medicine courses are very valuable. Keep an eye on the PDN Tour Calendar that will be posted soon for the Spring and Summer, you may see something in your region. Otherwise, you might reach out to some of the instructors you are interested in and invite them to your area.
Hi Rob,
I enjoyed watching you on the Outdoor Network until my cable company dropped it. My question, What position do you suggest for IWB carry, 3-5, Small of back or Appendix?
Depends on the person…but, I have found that Appendix Carry is a superior choice for most people. lots of information about AIWB and “center line carry” in general on the website here.
I realize that a handgun is preferred for home defense, but my wife has a hard time racking the slide. Other than have the gun racked and safety on would a shotgun be a better choice. I know it’s harder to wheel around but I think it takes less to pump it for her. Your thoughts , thanks
As I discussed on the show, 95+% of the time I hear that someone can’t rack the slide it is technique, not capability. That said, I would sooner recommend something like an AR or lever action rifle than a shotgun.
just wanting to say thank you guys for all got great help in teaching us the ways of safety and how to…. Techniques .
U Guys Rock.???
Looking forward to the discussion.
Best concealed carry insurance
Different people want different things from the “insurance” programs, not all of which are true insurance. I have a membership with CCW Safe, Lockton Insurance and have been supporter of ACLDN since it launched. I’ve even used the latter to find an attorney for something at one point. I strongly suggest researching the details of at least those programs and then seeing which one fits your interests bests.
US Law Shield. It’s not a traditional prepay legal defense fund. There is not cap. Many plans have caps. This covers civil & criminal cases, with 2A lawyers. 24 hour hotline. Multi state coverage. It’s not a reimbursement program either, many are…. Just my thoughts
Loaded or unloaded in the safe
Depends… no easy answer. The default that I recommend is loaded but not chambered. If you have a trigger guard or holster, then loaded and chambered may be a better option for you. In the safe with the magazine next to the gun is also an option for some people, though I don’t believe it is really safer than loaded but not chambered.
Is a shotgun the best home defence firearm? Is it less likely to overpenetrate walls etc.
I don’t think it is the best. I do think it is a viable option. I recommend seriously considering the 20ga as an option, if you decide to go that way. You can definitely download a shotgun so that penetrating walls is less likely, but I wouldn’t recommend that in most situations.
1. Recommended IWB holster for a 1911.
2. Recommended IWB holster for a Springfield XD.
No attachments on either handgun.
I use Crossbreed Holsters. Outside of them, I would suggest you find a quality kydex manufacturer that makes a holster for the specific gun and position that you want to carry. Without at least knowing the position, it is hard for me to narrow it down much more than that.
Tulster, Crossbreed, Bladetech, you got to do a lot of your own research and T/E. Invest in several types for different occasions.
Check http://www.n82tactical.com. Best IWB I’ve ever owned. Retired LEO.
Somehow we have to bring the average Mr. & Mrs. America come to accept our second amendment rights as something like brushing your teeth in the morning. It means they need to be educated from the time they first begin to learn.
If you could only become proficient at one thing related to carrying concealed what would it be?
The very first thing you must develop is MINDSET. You have to accept the possibilities and be prepared to respond to them instantly.
Hopefully, you heard the answer in the Q&A. There really is no ONE magic skill set.. but, I think there are a lot of people who think they are good “shooters” that haven’t spent the appropriate amount of time learning to present realistically.
Hi Rob, great to have to opprtunity to reach out to you was even better to train with you not long ago. I was just wondering what your take on carrying less than lethal/ non lethal options are. Currently I carry a Glock 19 with and extra magazine a KaBar TDI and Freeze +P spray which is a blend of OC and CS. I feel like during these current times it helps to be prepared for every scenario…luckily I’m trained professionally with all these tools but when is too much too much off duty? Thank you!
I hope you heard the answer during the Q&A… not horrible to have it, but the circumstances are definitely different off duty.
Body armor for home defence. Pro/con. Leagal issues after DGU?
Body Armor should probably only be considered after money and time have been spent on good gear, training, practice, quick access safe(s) and a solid home security/barricade system. I wouldn’t worry about legal issues after its use, as long as it is legal in your state.