Many of you, no doubt, are interested in protecting your family so you have made the decision to become proficient with your handgun.  If you practice this lifestyle let me tell you what I think is the foundation of any system you employ while out on the street.

You might think it is a particular firearm.  We assume you have chosen a quality firearm of your preference.  If you like it, and it works for you then you already have that covered.

You might think of it as the holster you choose.  Many of our readers ask what we like to use.  The truth of it is, we use quality kydex and leather from a variety of makers whenever they suit our purposes.

The foundation of any carry system is your belt.  It makes no difference if you have the fastest draw in Tombstone, and you firearm is the best.  A belt holds it all together.

It’s often funny to me that we spend upwards of $500 on a firearm, but go to Walmart for our belts.  If you are carrying off duty or as a citizen, a belt keeps the foundation stable.  The last thing you want as an off duty cop is for the bad guys to see you printing through a jacket.  A flimsy belt will not allow your holster to keep the firearm close to your body. Gun belts are sturdy and made specifically for the task.

Take some time to look over the following links of belt manufacturers.  You will find many styles and price points.  Even the cheapest gun belt is better than any belt you will get at the mall.

Bianchi

Galco

Milt Sparks

Wild Bill’s

There are three different types of Misfires that can happen when you are training.  Each one is a little different in your response.  Be sure to understand them so that you can respond appropriately.

1. Misfire-This is a cartridge that doesn’t ignite when the primer is struck.  If you think about it this way it might help: It misses the opportunity to fire.  In all my years of shooting I have seen this one quite frequently it cheap rimfire ammo, but I personally have only experienced one rifle round that was a misfire.  Oddly enough that happened this week while testing.
2. Hangfire-A hangfire is a delayed ignition of the propellant that causes the cartridge to fire after it should have gone off.  The proper response for hangfires is to wait 30 seconds while the gun is pointed downrange and then remove the faulty cartridge.  Think of it like this: It hangs around then decides to leave.  While this does happen, I have never had hangfire.
3. Squib-A squib load goes off under less than normal pressure leaving the bullet lodged in the barrel.  This one is potentially dangerous if you don’t remove the obstruction from the bore.  If you chamber another round and shoot it could blow your barrel.  You will generally know a squib load because they are softer sounding than all the other rounds you have been shooting.  While a normal round may sound like a BANG, a squib will be a pop.  Often the slide will not cycle and you will have the spent case still in the breach.  Field strip your pistol and use a cleaning rod or a dowel rod to remove the bullet from breach to muzzle.  I have never had a squib load, but one of shooting buddies had about 4 one day at the range.  He had gotten a little hurried while reloading and didn’t add powder to several cartridges.

Knowing and understanding these misfires will help you clean up any ignition problems you run into at the range.

Many of you are familiar with IDPA, but for those of you who are not it is the International Defensive Pistol Association.  Shooters must shoot basically factory guns that can only be modified lightly.  Magazines are loaded to 10 rounds maximum and you shoot with a concealment garment.  In short, it is about as fun as gets.  Being in Nashville, we have the luxury of shooting IDPA almost every week at a different match.  If you are looking for a Nashville match, check out the Music City Tactical Shooters.  These are great guys who run solid matches.

One of the great questions that exists is whether or not IDPA is simply a game or whether is actually good for training.  I think the answer is actually YES!

IDPA is a game.  There are rules, points, and timers.  You are shooting made up courses of fire that may or may not ever happen.  You are competing against a clock and your fellow competitors.  If you don’t think so go watch the bantering that takes place between friends at these matches.

No doubt some of the rules are argued about in the “tactical” community.  A word about such community is in order.  Just because you read it in an internet forum doesn’t make it true or tactical.  There are plenty of places to get tactical advice, but keyboard commandos are not who you want to listen to.  Get some training.  But I digress.

The rules can be argued about, but they work for the game, while being generally sound practice for your private world.  Remember that at the end of the day you are participating in a competition.

However, IDPA does give you some training.  It teaches you to shoot faster and more accurately.  You must remember stage protocol, reloading your firearm different ways, shooting from cover, and it gives you a little pressure.  Nothing like having 40 of your new best friends watching you flub a stage.

I encourage all you to check out some form of competition in the next few months.  You will discover quickly that it will be a wonderful learning experience.  Check the rigs people are using.  Check out their shooting styles and learn as much as possible.  Above all, have a great time enjoying your sport while getting better.

For the month of July if you sign up 2 friends you can attend the TN Handgun Permit Class for 1/2 price ($55).  If you sign up 4 friends you come free.  Not a bad way to get some solid training is it?  All you have to do is know some people.  Keep the money for yourself or discount everyone’s training in your group.  The choice is yours.

p.s. we won’t tell anyone what you do.

We have had good response to the Mossy Creek Training launch.  Right now we have classes scheduled on July 2, 10 and 17.  We have also had some inquiries for the Women’s only classes.  Look for them in August and September.  If you need a class date, we only need a few people to have one, so email us wiith a date that works and gets some friends together and we will have a class.

We are so excited about the opportunity to offer the Handgun Permit class in Nashville next month.  July is looking to be very busy for the Training section.  I wanted to remind some of our female readers about the opportunity they have to train in a women’s only environment and whythat is so beneficial. 

1. No stupid questions.  There is no such thing as a stupid question, but sometimes we feel like our questions are stupid if the crowd we are in already has a solid base of knowledge.  This might make us hesitant to ask something.  Not so in a women’s only class.  It is a given with our instructors that everyone is starting at the beginning.  You are free to ask anything you need. 
2. No macho junk.  We are not training the army.  We are training citizens.  We don’t conduct classes like boot camp.  No one is going to yell at you or insult you. 
3. Camaraderie.  Shooting is a great sport to be involved with.  It is actually something to be enjoyed by you and your friends.  We will introduce you to hobby that might end up saving you or your family’s lives. 

If you don’t have any equipment we have it all.  We will rent you a firearm, provide the ammo, and show you how to use it.  We will also put you in a position to purchase a firearm that is right for you.  If you have any reservations feel free to email us and ask any questions (remember no stupid questions,), and set up a class date for you and several of the girls.  We will answer your questions and get you ready to start shooting.

If you have been considering obtaining a TN Handgun Permit you are required to take a class that is at least 8 hours long that will cover some of the basic fundamentals of shooting  and safety as well as give you a basic understanding of TN laws pertaining to the handgun permit.  You may be thinking that the course is worthless because you are already a great shooter, have knowledge of the laws because you found them on the internet, and have a full understanding of the responsibilities being a handgun permit holder.

I want to encourage you to revisit all 3 of those assumptions.  Are you familiar with the liability that TN places on each bullet that leaves your firearm?  Have you no room to improve by revisiting the fundamentals?  One of my favorite things to do is to take “good shooters” to an IDPA match and let them discover a dynamic world that isn’t shooting cans on the back 40.  It can be humbling.  We all need to be reminded of the fundamentals as we progress.

At our handgun permit class you will be challenged to improve your general knowledge of firearms use, nomenclature and function.  You will be taught by competition shooters, sworn law enforcement and even a FBI certified firearms instructor who regularly qualifies the marksman for a TN law enforcement agency.  All of our instructors bring something to the table that will help you become a better shooter.

Don’t blow off the class as something to go through.  These classes will build a solid base if you are a new shooter and help the seasoned shooter refocus on fundamentals and marksmanship.  In the end it might be 8 hours that saves your life and livelihood.

If you are looking for a course to satisfy the TN requirements to get your Handgun Permit you can sign up now for courses that are starting in July.  We have 3 dates available right now; July 2, 10, and 17.  The cost of the course is $110 which includes training materials and the NRA Basic Pistol book which is an incredible reference.

I believe that we have put together one of the most professional, well qualified cadre of instructors in Middle TN.  If you are in the Nashville area, we hope that you will choose to train with us.  We promise that you will leave a safer, better shooter when the class is finished.  If you are looking for a cookie cutter class to pass you through, you need not apply.  This is a serious course that will take at least 8 hours.

Space is available, but it is limited.  We intentionally limit our classes, so check out the Training Page for more info and sign ups.  We look forward to working with you.

Mossy Creek Training is one step closer to offering the TN Handgun Permit Class that will qualify you to obtain a CCW permit.  We hope to have a class scheduled by the end of next week for June.

Price for the class is $110 which includes all materials you need for the TN Handgun Permit Class as well as the NRA Basic Pistol Course.  We have decided to offer both simultaneously.

If you are looking for a class to pass you through to your permit, you will need to seek out somewhere else.  We are interested in training people in the Basic Pistol course which gives you the skills necessary to become a great shooter.

You won’t find Rambo teaching our classes.  We are not interested in sounding Tactical, or even Tacticool.  We want you to be a proficient shooter who has the confidence to handle your firearm safely.  What you will find are some of the best instructors around today.

Classes will run a full 8 hours.  When you finish you will have obtained an NRA Basic Pistol Course certification and your Handgun Permit Certificate.

Need to start at the very beginning?  Try our NRA First Steps Course.  You don’t need to own a firearm to attend.  Everything is provided for you.  Cost of the course is $75.

If you need a specific course date, please feel free to email us at training@mossycreekcustom.com

I want to preface what I am about to say by mentioning that I don’t own a gun store.  I run a customization business, so I am not against Big Box stores because they hurt my business. They do hurt the shooting community in many ways, but they can also be beneficial.

I was at a Big Box store this week with several friends.  While I was perusing the gun stuff I overheard a sales associate trying to answer a customer’s question about the difference between double and single action firearms.  The associate was not very clear, and couldn’t decide if a Glock was single action or double action.  I stepped in and answered a few questions about what a single action revolver was and why the Glock was a striker fired system.

The customer was an older gentleman who had no business buying a firearm because he was not educated about what he was looking at.  What he really needed was to take the NRA First Steps Class.  He was in need of fundamental training.  Purchasing the Glock 19 he was looking at would have been like me buying a Persian Rug.  All of us have our areas of ignorance.

What was frustrating about the encounter was that the employee didn’t know enough not to sell the man the gun.  He should have recommended a training course, perhaps an intro to firearms.  I am not saying this needs to be taught by Mossy Creek Training.  The store could certainly do it and make loads of money, but that is not their gig.

Before you buy, consider the source.  Is it wise to purchase something you have no clue about?  Take the opportunity to get some good training.  The worst thing you could do would be to get a firearm, and never learn how to properly use it.  That is nothing short of dangerous.

The NRA offers Basic Courses and the First Steps Course all over the country.  Check out there website for more info.  Soon we will be offering the First Steps Course as well as many other courses that will help you reach proficiency with your firearms.  Take the time to learn your system and you will love shooting and find a lot of satisfaction in the shooting sports.