CONCEALMENT #4

With winter’s grasp extending across the United States, now is a good time to consider what we can do as individuals to better protect the ones we love. In this fourth issue of CONCEALMENT, we consider options available to the law-abiding citizen when having a firearm would land them in trouble — just because you’re forced to leave the most effective tool behind, shouldn’t mean you’re completely unarmed. Make no mistake, a motivated and trained individual can still be an adept guardian, even if their holster is empty — as the saying goes, it’s the Indian, not the arrow.

This was brought home to me recently when attending a law enforcement match that incorporated stages drawn from real life-and-death experiences. Expertly hosted by personnel from a metro area with the highest homicide rate in the country, the match drew competitors who were highly motivated to train on their own time. Officers shot the match with their duty pistols, most of which were high-capacity, striker-fired, and 9mm, representing the current state of the art in defensive handguns. I used a single-stack .45, which by rights should have been completely overmatched, but it managed to turn in a respectable finish.

What was a revelation, however, was that my score could have been way better, were it not for a stage involving a lot (and I mean a lot) of buckshot, launched through a police 870. I tanked it because my skills with a shotgun — which is probably in 10 million closets across America — weren’t where they should have been. And for someone whose job depends on expertise with a gun, that’s unforgivable.

It sometimes takes a good slap upside the head to make us recognize the skills we’re lacking. We all like to train on the things we’re good at, but what about the stuff we find difficult or don’t particularly enjoy? My 2017 resolution is to address my personal weaknesses, which means more combatives training, a refresher on first aid, and, yes, more time spent stuffing shells into a 12-gauge.

To preview the issue click here: Concealment 4

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL

For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).

Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.

You want this. Trust Us.