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I’m continually amazed every month as I start a new defensive rifle course at the varying array of rifle types, styles, and accessories a new student will bring. As we sit in the classroom and discuss why they selected their rifle and accessories, most just scratch their head and come back with something like “I want everything I can have for any situation” or “I did my homework for the best, most accurate match rifle possible” or something to that effect. I see match rifles, lasers, high-magnification optics, etc. Nothing is wrong here, but there’s a much more important thing to understand.
At some point as we near the end of our roundtable discussion, some will realize before I say it – “Your mission matches your gun.” Your defensive rifle is a tool used for dealing with unexpected threats. Threats that come at any time and from any direction. There may be more than one threat. Your reaction time is critical and your rifle needs to be close, ready and minimalized as much as possible so as not to slow your reaction time. Do you really have time to activate a laser? Will a laser give away my position? Does anything require a battery that might be DOA or 10-7? How do I plan to see in the dark? Lots of questions we all must answer for our specific mission. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place and time for extreme accuracy, high magnification, and other accessories. That’s another mission. It’s just not the mission of the defensive rifle.
The same holds true in concealed carry. A group of students will arrive with a pistol that is just wrong for them. Their selection was based on a recommendation from a friend, family, or the guy behind the counter that needs to achieve his sales quota for the month. Your handgun needs to fit like a glove. It also needs to be slim and small enough to be part of your normal daily dress routine. Our reaction time is critical to stop any threat from any direction, at any time. You need to have enough reserve ammunition on hand.
Your fight is dependent on your equipment, and the selection of your equipment depends on your mission. Think about that during your next gun purchase and remember to ask yourself “What’s my mission?”