" I don't even fully remember what she had me do". " I felt that the gun wasn't even loaded, but it was". I think that you need a bit more " awareness" as to what condition your firearm is in, at all times. I realize you may have been a bit nervous(maybe not) but knowing what condition your firearm is in, is of utmost importance, always. IMHO, you need to familiarize yourself with your firearm more, before you start carrying it around. Everybody's practice times are different. Some feel that a couple hundred rds. a year are enough, others shoot thousands of rds. a year. No one can tell you how much range time you think you need. How much range time do YOU think you need. If the firearm is going to stay in your home, versus carrying....I would think that practice time would vastly increase if your going to carry. Personally, I don't see how anyone could CCW a firearm, and not shoot at least 400-500 rds. a year, depending on your backround and prior experience.

Everyones different, but shooting is a perishable skill that needs to be maintained to keep proficiency with a weapon. I suggest try to work on drawing from the holster & dry firing at least once a week. I would think live fire your weapon at least once a month... round count is what you can afford. Buy snap caps and practice malfunction drills as well. That's my opinion as an NRA instructor and Tactical Handgun/Carbine instructor.

Everyone should know or be able to figure out how much time they need for practice based on experience and proficiency.

Congrats on your CPL/CCW.

A normal learning regimen must include 10 minutes of dry-fire practice a day, plus at least 50 rounds of live-fire practice on one day of each week.
This course of behavior teaches both familiarity with the tool, and familiarity with the process. (However, never let familiarity become overconfidence or complacency.)

As your skill improves, you should then add-in presentations from the holster, and then, when you're comfortable with that, presentations from the concealed holster.
Every presentation at dry-fire should end with a "shot." The process should be a completed one.
Most formal gun ranges will not allow presentations from the holster, so live-fire training will become an issue. Maybe you can find a place which will permit this.

The next step is a presentation from concealment which ends in a "double tap," that is, a two-shot presentation. In dry-fire practice, only the first "shot" will be functionally represented, but the second one can be faked with success. Many ranges will not permit live-fire "double taps," so that, too, may become an issue.
Then go to "double taps" on more than one target: Either "one on each" of two targets, or even "two on each" on as many as three separate targets.

There's more, but the above regimen will occupy more than a year of learning.


At least lightly clean a gun, including the barrel's bore, after each live-fire session.
Detail-strip it for deep cleaning after every 200 to 500 shots. (Instructions may be found in the book that accompanied your pistol.)
Wipe it with a lightly-oiled rag after every use, including dry-fire practice.
Do not store a gun in its holster.


If you properly strip a 1911 pistol, the recoil spring will not hit you. You must control it with your thumb, as you rotate the barrel bushing to set it free.
Once the spring is no longer compressed, taking the gun apart becomes quite simple and somewhat intuitive.

I've been at this for 45 years and there certainly have been times when I have been lax on my trips to the range. But never a year between sessions; probably not more than three months between them at the most. However, for some time now I have been pretty diligent with my practices and for the past year and a half, I have been going every two weeks.

As has been mentioned, shooting and good gun handling techniques are skills that need to be kept up with frequent practice if you hope to expect to be good enough to call upon your sidearm should the need arise. I would set aside time several days a week for dry practice (drawing, trigger discipline, proper hold, sight alignment, etc.) and hit the range at least once a month.

BTW, in what part of Virginia do you live?

The broke man perspective:

I can't tell if you have a .45 or what caliber you have, reguardless buying ammunition is expensive. I recommend you stock up on some ammo and rotate when you go to the range.

Dry fire with snap caps is good as well. Practice drawing. And another member on the forum brought up something very good. Awareness. Thats number 1 when your carrying and when your observing the enviornment around you. Always have the jump on the baddies my friend.

Lastly research, there's alot of fine print and things you need to know should you ever have to use your weapon. I suggest listening to people who have drawn or used it, theres alot of gun youtubers who have, read some laws, read forum stories, get a sense for what it means and possible consequences. Nevertheless be firm and if the time comes be ready and prepared!!!

I've been shooting for 37 years and feel I need to be at the range at least once/week. I've carried a firearm daily for the last 33 years. You will want to become intimately acquainted with any firearm you stake your life on. You'll want to develop the muscle memory needed to make your firearm an extension of yourself. You've received good counsel from the replies to your post. I hope you heed the sound advice you've received so you can enjoy the shooting sports. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

There's more, but the above regimen will occupy more than a year of learning.

I'm going to buy from my gun dealer two holsters, an open carry and concealed carry holster. I'll practice drawing the gun from both. I'll concentrate on the open carry holster first. I'll also practice shooting while I duck down behind something. First, I'll use snap caps and then go to the shooting range.

But, I'm curious what else can I do to improve my chances of surviving a real serious attack.

I don't want to neglect things necessary for survival!

Take a Tactical Handgun course... look for some in your area and look at the instructors credentials. My advice is to look for a company with instructors with LE or Milirary backgrounds so you get practical knowledge and not just "theory" instruction. Look for a course with dynamic shooting (outdoor) vs static target shooting on a traditional range. Some even offer a moving target systems to practice on.

Check out FPF Training, they are in VA and have a pretty good reputation.

What state are you (OP) located in?

Originally Posted by TAPnRACK

Take a Tactical Handgun course... look for some in your area and look at the instructors credentials. My advice is to look for a company with instructors with LE or Milirary backgrounds so you get practical knowledge and not just "theory" instruction. Look for a course with dynamic shooting (outdoor) vs static target shooting on a traditional range. Some even offer a moving target systems to practice on.

I agree with you on the training part. As far as the LE or Mil background, I have to disagree on. There are very good instructors out there that were neither. As long as they know the craft, that should work. JMO

I just feel those who have experienced either combat or deadly force confrontations on multiple occasions may have more to offer in way of practical application gained through personal experience vs someone who has never actually been in a high stress deadly force confrontation.

I do think there are some amazing instructors out there with no real life experience... but far too many bad ones who read a book or took an 8 hr instructor class as well being Tacti-cool.

Just my opinion... based on the many schools I've attended and the feedback from students at the company I teach for.

Would you rather go to a Sniper School ran by real Snipers with time in the field or a group of Hunters who shoot long distance for a hobby?

Originally Posted by TAPnRACK

I just feel those who have experienced either combat or deadly force confrontations on multiple occasions may have more to offer in way of practical application gained through personal experience vs someone who has never actually been in a high stress deadly force confrontation.

I do think there are some amazing instructors out there with no real life experience... but far too many bad ones who read a book or took an 8 hr instructor class as well being Tacti-cool.

Just my opinion... based on the many schools I've attended and the feedback from students at the company I teach for.

I can understand your point. Some of the instructors I have run into thru my training schedules have been there and done that as civilians. Some of the LE have never pulled there gun in the line of duty. You are right about checking creds, it does help. I have seen to many times someone that was in LE or Mil were not what they claimed. IE: A truck driver in the Mil. or a desk jockey as LE. Some of us have seen the elephant....

Very true... there are a lot of those out there too.

Originally Posted by TAPnRACK

Very true... there are a lot of those out there too.

And a lot, and I mean a lot of the tacti-cool instructors as well. Its really bad in some areas...Sometimes I have to wonder what the hell the training counselors are thinking letting some of these jokers thru....

Originally Posted by Harryball

And a lot, and I mean a lot of the tacti-cool instructors as well. Its really bad in some areas...Sometimes I have to wonder what the hell the training counselors are thinking letting some of these jokers thru....

A lot of it is lack of oversight after the fact/certification. They can fake the funk pretty well and let's be honest, a NRA Very is not that hard to get.

Originally Posted by VAMarine

A lot of it is lack of oversight after the fact/certification. They can fake the funk pretty well and let's be honest, a NRA Very is not that hard to get.

No its not if you find the right training counselors. lol The last classes I had we really good. The instructors was a no BS kinda of guy, and the class was fun, and interesting. To be honest if you pay attention its not that hard, but it was much better than the last bunch of guys.

The advanced instructor set is what you want anyways, thats not so easy to get...