STAY IN THE FIGHT!

RELOADING SKILLS ARE CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL SELF-DEFENSE.

- Paul Rackley

When folks get into firearms and self-defense, the first thing they put a lot of thought into is the gun, followed immediately by learning how to shoot it accurately. In doing so, they fire quite a lot of rounds … which leads to quite a few reloads.

It’s too bad most folks don’t use any of that reload time as training, because reloading skills are just as important as accuracy.

In fact, gun manipulation might be even more important than accuracy. Any person can point and pull a trigger to stop a bad guy, but it takes a skilled defender to successfully fight off assailants in an attack for which point-and-shoot doesn’t end the situation. In these scenarios, folks need to understand movement, communication, cover and firearm manipulation—which includes clearing and reloading.

And all this needs to be performed under the extreme stress of a potentially life-and-death attack.

This is why experts tell beginners to purchase a decent self-defense handgun and holster rig and then spend two to three times that amount on training—just to start. Being truly prepared for whatever comes along is a lifelong journey that requires commitment and dedication, but it’s the price that must be paid to protect the “sheep” from the “wolves.”

Understanding and mastering the various types of reloads should be at the top of every defender’s training list.

Now, the first thing to remember is that if a person isn’t shooting, he or she should be moving or reloading. If possible, reloads should be performed behind cover. With practice, reloads can be completed within two or three seconds. However, even during that small amount of time, one becomes quite vulnerable.