Worst gun advice you’ve ever heard

[Alan]

I’ve heard some pretty questionable gun advice over the years, and a few lines still make me shake my head. What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever heard someone give about firearms?

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

At an outdoor range in Houston back in the day…
“That 1911 is going to get you killed. It only holds 7 rounds.”
I was working on splits with a shot timer and had 8s and better at 10 yards.
His target looked more like it had been fragged.

 

[Wendell Reich]

This was reloading advice when I just started.

Buddy got all the reloading tools. I asked him where his scale was. He looked confused.

“If you don’t have a scale, how can you measure how much powder you put in there?”

“It comes with a scoop. You put one scoop in it.”

Out of love for my friend, I took all his reloading gear and kept it. He never asked about it again.

 

[Wendell Reich]

The guy who taught our hunters Ed safety course said nobody should ever own a 7 Mag because it shoots 2 miles and nobody should ever shoot a round that goes that far.

I’ll say it again … he taught Hunters Ed Safety course.

 

[RF2650]

The most common bad advice is that you must carry a round in a semi-auto pistol chamber. Even highly trained professionals who should be competent to carry chambered have negligent discharges.
Professionals must follow their orders so I have no argument with that but as a civilian, if you think you might need to quick draw at any moment then your tactics suck.

In a combat situation, hell yes I am chambered and looking for an enemy to kill but not when I am just wearing the weapon in the typical everyday situations.

Don't be disappointed when I won't respond because I already know that 99% of those of us who carry will disagree.

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

“if you think you might need to quick draw at any moment then your tactics suck.”.
Last week I had someone come up in my truck’s blind spot and tried to yank my door open. My tactics are pretty sound, but I know that I don’t always control the scenario. I don’t have anything negative to say about your choice, but mine is different.

 

[Mike s]

The most common bad advice is that you must carry a round in a semi-auto pistol chamber. Even highly trained professionals who should be competent to carry chambered have negligent discharges.
Professionals must follow their orders so I have no argument with that but as a civilian, if you think you might need to quick draw at any moment then your tactics suck.

In a combat situation, hell yes I am chambered and looking for an enemy to kill but not when I am just wearing the weapon in the typical everyday situations.

Don't be disappointed when I won't respond because I already know that 99% of those of us who carry will disagree.

I respectfully disagree. "Highly Trained" people 'may' have NDs, but it is a rarity; I don't see it as the norm, nor an endemic problem. If there are 'Professionals' having frequent NDs, then they lack the discipline for their profession (or, the standards / training was poor in the first place).

If someone isn't comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber, then they absolutely shouldn't (until they have mastered trigger finger discipline).

But, I disagree with the sentiment that "Its bad advice to carry with a round in the chamber'.

- NOT Carrying with a round in the chamber would be bad advise.

- NOT overestimating ones competencies & ALWAYS being mentally present with safe handling would be good advise.

 

[Drycreek]

I respectfully disagree. "Highly Trained" people 'may' have NDs, but it is a rarity; I don't see it as the norm, nor an endemic problem. If there are 'Professionals' having frequent NDs, then they lack the discipline for their profession (or, the standards / training was poor in the first place).

If someone isn't comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber, then they absolutely shouldn't (until they have mastered trigger finger discipline).

But, I disagree with the sentiment that "Its bad advice to carry with a round in the chamber'.

- NOT Carrying with a round in the chamber would be bad advise.

- NOT overestimating ones competencies & ALWAYS being mentally present with safe handling would be good advise.

No argument with this !

 

[scooter1954]

I watched a video presentation of an "attacker" vs an armed "victim". The presentation first demonstrated an attacker from 25 ft or so, while the victim had to draw, chamber a round, and acquire sight picture on the rapidly approaching attacker. In the second presentation, the victim simply drew and acquired sight picture.

After watching this presentation, believe me when I tell you, you WANT ONE IN THE PIPE. It could, and very likely would, be the difference in your survival.

 

[Stewie]

“Just pull the trigger, the gun will do the work.”

 

[Alan]

At an outdoor range in Houston back in the day…
“That 1911 is going to get you killed. It only holds 7 rounds.”
I was working on splits with a shot timer and had 8s and better at 10 yards.
His target looked more like it had been fragged.

People obsess over capacity while ignoring skill

 

[Alan]

This was reloading advice when I just started.

Buddy got all the reloading tools. I asked him where his scale was. He looked confused.

“If you don’t have a scale, how can you measure how much powder you put in there?”

“It comes with a scoop. You put one scoop in it.”

Out of love for my friend, I took all his reloading gear and kept it. He never asked about it again.

Wow, that scoop method makes me cringe. You definitely did the right thing taking that gear...better one awkward moment than a dangerous mistake.

The guy who taught our hunters Ed safety course said nobody should ever own a 7 Mag because it shoots 2 miles and nobody should ever shoot a round that goes that far.

I’ll say it again … he taught Hunters Ed Safety course.

That’s wild! Teaching Hunter Ed while misunderstanding ballistics that badly...

 

[Alan]

The most common bad advice is that you must carry a round in a semi-auto pistol chamber. Even highly trained professionals who should be competent to carry chambered have negligent discharges.
Professionals must follow their orders so I have no argument with that but as a civilian, if you think you might need to quick draw at any moment then your tactics suck.

In a combat situation, hell yes I am chambered and looking for an enemy to kill but not when I am just wearing the weapon in the typical everyday situations.

Don't be disappointed when I won't respond because I already know that 99% of those of us who carry will disagree.

I respect your reasoning and your choice. Different contexts call for different approaches, as long as someone thinks it through, I won’t argue with them

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

“People obsess over capacity while ignoring skill”
I’ve always thought those folks are likely to run out of time before they run out of ammo.

 

[Alan]

“if you think you might need to quick draw at any moment then your tactics suck.”.
Last week I had someone come up in my truck’s blind spot and tried to yank my door open. My tactics are pretty sound, but I know that I don’t always control the scenario. I don’t have anything negative to say about your choice, but mine is different.

Your experience is a good reminder that not every threat is something we can anticipate tactically.

 

[Alan]

“People obsess over capacity while ignoring skill”
I’ve always thought those folks are likely to run out of time before they run out of ammo.

Exactly, if you can’t place shots under pressure, all the rounds in the world won’t save you.