The gifts are opened, the eggnog is gone and you don’t have to take down Christmas lights until next week. What you really want to do is go to the range and pull the trigger several hundred times. It is freezing cold outside and you don’t want to go out in the snow, how can you keep your skills sharp in the winter?
There are a several options available: You may be lucky enough to live near one of the indoor ranges in the area. Besides warmth, some of these have the added benefit of gun rentals if you wish to try out a new gun. One local range (the Firing Line) even has a 50 yard rifle range allowing rifle calibers up to 30-06 and shotguns (slugs only), so you can stay practiced with your long guns as well.
I actually enjoy winter outdoor shooting at my local range. Dressed properly an hour shooting session is very manageable. I am usually the only one there when the temperature plunges below freezing so the range time is very efficient and without the distraction of other shooters.
Cold temperature shooting provides an insight into the effects of temperature on both man and machine. Cold fingers do a good job of simulating the loss of small motor function you may experience in a self-defense encounter; I know one instructor that advocates soaking hands in ice water before shooting to replicate the physiological effects of high adrenaline and reduced blood flow to the extremities. Can you still release the safety, pull the slide to clear a malfunction, or reload?
Temperature can affect your equipment as well. Modern ammunition is formulated to be functional at most temperatures. However, that new “Whiz Bang” super grease you got from Uncle Joe might get very thick at low temperature and slow down the slide and action of your gun creating malfunctions. Better to know these things ahead of time.
Assuming you want to stay warm and dry there are many things you can do inside. First and foremost you need a place that you dedicate to practice that has NO ammunition in it, NO boxed or loose ammo, NO loaded magazines, NO loaded guns period!
Nobody ever had a negligent discharge (notice I said negligent not accidental) with a loaded gun, they all swear they thought it was empty.
Practice pulling your gun from your holster using your weak hand to pull your cover garment aside. Practice in front of a mirror so you can see the motion, making sure you keep the muzzle in a safe direction, never placing a portion of your body such as your arm or hand in front of the gun.
Practice magazine changes or reloading your revolver (using dummy rounds) with a speed loader or speed strip. Cycle your slide using one hand only and your pants pocket or a piece of furniture to simulate running your gun while injured.
If your gun is equipped with a laser you can place a target on the wall, draw and pull the trigger. This is great practice for point shooting and also helps you improve your trigger control. Take note of the laser movement when pulling the trigger and practice a smooth consistent pull that keeps the laser dot from dancing around the target.
A new product by Laserlyte, the “Laser Trainer” uses technology long used by Law Enforcement and the Military is now available to the public at reasonable cost.
The laser caliber specific laser emitter goes into the chamber of the gun and is triggered by the firing pin. The target records the shot location and displays by aiming at the display sensor. Another sensor resets the device to start again.
Next Month: Gunshows