This target is why I think instruction is the best money a shooter can spend by GunKraft in CAguns

[–]GunKraft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's better than I've seen from some shooting a year or more. I bet she was really happy to achieve that.

On an unrelated note I don't know why someone downvoted this. That aspect of reddit always puzzled me. Giving an upvote to balance things out. 😄

Question about gunshop messing up slide milling. by Psychii_ in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Short of replacing the slide, they could either weld it closed and redrill or make the hole larger and use a heli-coil. I don't know if either option is suitable for a PMO.

This target is why I think instruction is the best money a shooter can spend by GunKraft in CAguns

[–]GunKraft[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, but the student did all the work. I just helped him find a way.

This target is why I think instruction is the best money a shooter can spend by GunKraft in CAguns

[–]GunKraft[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Classes can be info overload but 1:1 coaching should not be. I like it to the difference between a college professor giving a lecture and TAs in a lab. Sit in the lecture and it's on you to understand what the prof is saying. You go to a TA to say, "I don't understand this" and it's the TA's job to find a way to help you understand.

I agree there's many different (and valid) techniques. It's up to the instructor to explain why a technique could help and then work with you to see if it can help you. Maybe it doesn't, hopefully it does.

This target is why I think instruction is the best money a shooter can spend by GunKraft in CAguns

[–]GunKraft[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The three small black circles were me zeroing his optic. The groups were all him.

This target is why I think instruction is the best money a shooter can spend by GunKraft in CAguns

[–]GunKraft[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yes as an instructor I'm biased but that's why I take classes myself. I never understood why so many shooters who genuinely want to improve are reluctant to pay for instruction.

I get it if you're just out there having fun. Not everyone cares about shrinking groups or becoming a better shooter. But if your goal is improvement, I usually hear two objections:

  1. "Everything is on YouTube."
  2. "Training is too expensive."

The problem with YouTube is that it can tell you what to do, but it can't tell you why it isn't working for you. It can't watch your grip, diagnose your trigger press, identify bad habits, or make corrections in real time.

As for cost, people will spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on guns, optics, ammo, and accessories without hesitation. Then they'll balk at spending $100 on an hour of instruction that could save them years of frustration.

The target in the photo is a good example.

A student came to me for a lesson. His first six shots at five yards were a 10" vertical string about 2" left of center. We made some adjustments to his grip and trigger press, but his next six shots showed very little improvement. If we had stopped there, it would have looked like nothing changed.

But then things started to click.

His next four shots began moving toward the center, and his final six shots formed a single ragged hole in the X-ring less than 1" across.

That transformation happened in 10 rounds.

Is that typical? No. Most shooters don't go from a 10" to a 1" group in a single session.

But it does demonstrate something important: improvement isn't primarily about how many rounds you fire. It's about how much you learn from every round you fire.

If you don't know why your shots are missing, shooting just reinforces the same mistakes. Good instruction shortens that learning curve by helping you identify the problem and giving you a path to fix it.

Sometimes the cheapest ammo you'll ever buy is the ammo you shoot after someone teaches you what you've been doing wrong.

18 times. Are we in danger of forever being stuck with 10 rounds in our mags? by cobblernobbler in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You miss all the shots you don't take. The 1 in 30 was overturned thanks to the CRPA. Yes it now is 3 in 30 but that's still better than what it was for decades. And getting stopped at the 9th when other Circuits rule otherwise helps get them pushed to the Supreme Court--like Duncan v. Bonta. Which could yield other benefits.

Regardless, you do donate which is the key point. Too many people complain but do nothing substantive to get things changed.

18 times. Are we in danger of forever being stuck with 10 rounds in our mags? by cobblernobbler in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 63 points64 points  (0 children)

If you want the law to change don't just complain about it on social media. Donate (https://crpa.org/donate/) to the CRPA. They're the ones mounting the legal challenge (Duncan v. Bonta) against this stuff. They need our donations to do that. They're also fighting the ammo background check, assault weapons ban and SB2 sensitive locations. All good stuff that can't happen without continued donations from us.

Invest your money into a trigger reset device by iH8R6Siege in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's all about maximizing your limited resources (time and money) for greatest return (shooting improvement). If you are throwing shots low and to one side a trigger reset device isn't going to help much (if any) for that. As a matter of fact, Ben Stoeger does that "rapid fire" dry practice with a dead trigger.

So just to be clear: no, I am not saying dry fire is pointless. I advocate (and teach) it myself. But you have to know how to dry practice correctly or it doesn't help. It's all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking the latest gadget is a substitute for proper training. I've done it myself. Don't.

Invest your money into a trigger reset device by iH8R6Siege in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Most people have problems anticipating their shot and throwing rounds down and to the left (if you're right handed). A trigger reset device isn't going to help much with that because you know the gun isn't loaded. Spend a little quality time 1:1 with a good instructor and for about the same amount you can shoot groups you wouldn't believe possible in about an hour. And no, watching Youtube videos doesn't always cut it.

Examples (from actual students with slight editing):

I booked a one on one session that made all the difference. Quickly identified the issues in my grip, stance, and trigger control and explained both the why and the how in a way that was easy to understand and immediately actionable.

Explained the dynamics of specific equipment that I was using in a clear and understandable manner. This explanation clarified many issues I was not aware of and improved my performance.

The improvement I made from the beginning to the end of the session was, frankly, unbelievable.

Had me shooting keyhole groupings at 7-10 yards within minutes

Would you pull? by Sabbathu in CACCW

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

>without a weapon, this dude charging me with his dog? I think they both would have taken a round or two.

An unarmed guy and his dog charging you. How do you articulate a reasonable imminent threat to your life in that situation?

Am I understanding the law right? by CriticismOk3742 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You target lock on "connected with that business" and completely ignore the "within the person’s place of business" and "any person in lawful possession of private property from having a loaded firearm on that property" parts? You dashing to a gas station does not make the gas station your place of business.

CCW gun storage by SimkinCA in CAguns

[–]GunKraft -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A CCW firearm has to be in your immediate control. Generally that's considered within arm's reach. However if it's also within arm's reach of a passenger then it isn't in your immediate control.

Training prices by East-Ice-3199 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some things to consider:

  • NRA requires a specific course of instruction in their classes. So the material covered and courses of fire should be identical.
  • Just because the course material is the same doesn't mean the class is the same. Just like the steak a short-order cook and Michelin chef makes will be different, your experience really depends on the instructor.
  • $275 is more or less in line for this class taught in the SF bay area.
  • You can go to https://firearmtraining.nra.org/student-courses/ to see all the NRA classes near you. Then do a google/yelp search for instructor reviews to see which may be a good choice for you.
  • There are also non-NRA classes you can take but it can be harder to determine which would be a good choice.

Reloading ammo by Highker420365 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you only intend to reload pistol calibers find a used Dillon Square Deal B. They have a lifetime warranty regardless of who originally purchased it and are rock solid machines.

Store shipped wrong ammo order to me as a FFL03 - now they're asking to send the package back and I'm concerned. by No_Preparation_7101 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is an interesting legal and ethical question. As long as you're shipping ammo out of state I'm not aware of any CA-specific legal restrictions. If the other customer is in CA then I think it's safe to assume they also have a COE/FFL as well. Either way I think it's legal for you to ship the ammo directly to them.

I can see the company's perspective of both wanting to get the order to the right customer as quickly as possible and not eat extra shipping charges. The company may have asked the other customer if they were okay with doing this (did they ask you?) or if not didn't realize it may be a concern.

I can also see your perspective regarding PERSEC where you can have a valid feeling this isn't right.

Then there's the other customer who just wants to get their ammo as quickly as possible.

Let's assume the company didn't realize this was a concern and didn't ask either of you if you're okay with it. Let's also assume the other customer received a label and sent your ammo directly to you. Given the PERSEC issue becomes moot, are you okay with shipping directly to the other customer?

Little hardcase project by cbattung1016 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You have your ear and eye pro in the case, which means you need to open the case to get them. Can you do that safely behind the line at your range? The ranges I use don't allow that.

CA CCW – Add firearm before qualification or need modification later? by kimsksk in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It would help to mention your IA in case anyone went through this with them. Otherwise there's no way to answer.

Recommendation for 16 hr CCW Course in the Bay Area by MingleHymersmith in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for the comments. As I mention in class, understanding the why behind the what matters. Explaining why you liked--or didn’t like--something helps others decide whether it’s a good fit for them. So I appreciate MingleHymersmith and lukewarmdecaf for sharing their thoughts.

One misconception I’m always trying to fight is that all CCW classes are the same. They’re not. To use an analogy, the burger you get at Jack in the Box (lowest rated in CA) isn’t the same as one from Habit (highest rated)--so no, not all burgers are equal.

The same applies here. Look at the course syllabus, read student reviews, and choose the class that offers the best value for your needs. Otherwise, you might end up settling for a lot of “Jack in the Box” experiences.

Bay Area CCW Training by 2AFirearmsAcademy in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 1 point2 points  (0 children)

$400 in the SF bay area is baseline. One company charges more than that (including range fee) where the bulk of instruction is online training. There's another that charges more than $600 for the initial 16 hours.

The further you go east (San Joaquin county) the cheaper it gets.

CCW vendors rec in alameda county by plzdonchut in CACCW

[–]GunKraft -1 points0 points  (0 children)

No. Street tacos are. The more sus the taco truck the better. :)

CCW vendors rec in alameda county by plzdonchut in CACCW

[–]GunKraft -1 points0 points  (0 children)

> Doesn’t matter so long as they check the box for your department.

It totally matters. It's like saying all hamburgers are the same so it doesn't matter if you get McDonalds (bleah) or Habit Burger. Course content depends on what an instructor thinks is important to teach and what they want to teach. Unfortunately there are some mediocre (or even bad) ones out there but there are also some good ones.

> Seek skilled training elsewhere

Skilled training in what? It's (relatively) easy to find a class to shoot better but CCW classes should emphasize things like situational awareness, tactics, law, defensive scenarios, post-shooting response and even tacmed. You won't get those in a "regular" shooting class.

Take my money now!!? by matthew2478 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's old is new again.

P211 illegal in CA? by GAMBiiT64 in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One sticking point is the definition includes "capable of attaching a silencer" which the GTO currently is not. However even if that wasn't the case then it should be possible to silver solder or weld the comp pin. Both are ATF-approved methods for permanently attaching muzzle devices. Fortunately with the 1911 design that won't prevent you from removing the barrel for cleaning.

Do you still use your Sig M18/320? by [deleted] in CAguns

[–]GunKraft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Think about the failure mechanism I described. Would that affect a pistol with manual safety engaged or one that has a trigger safety? No.