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What Have I Learned This Year?

What Have I Learned This Year?

I’ve learned that I’m not quite as bad of a shot as I thought I was. Don’t get me wrong, I still ain’t Rob Leatham, but the fact is, based on some of the junkets I’ve been on for my job, I’m better than the majority of my peers, which isn’t bad. 

I’ve learned that I need to stop resting on my laurels, and pursue excellence in marksmanship. I have a tendency to say, “Ok, that’s good enough,” and that’s been prevalent in my practice and training regimen as of late. I look at John Hearne’s automaticity chart and I say, “Yeah, High C / Low B class, that’s good enough for me,” but the fact is, it shouldn’t be. I expect my students to hone their craft, so I should do the same. I shouldn’t settle for competency, but rather strive for excellence.  

Something else I’ve learned is just how good a 1911 is as a carry gun. I’m running a Tisas Stingray right now, which has the size of a Glock 19 (or thereabout), the capacity and thinness of a Glock 48 and better still, as John Murphy remarked on social media, compared to a striker-fired gun, a 1911 feels like cheat mode. The shorter travel, lighter weight and quick reset make a 1911 so much easier to shoot than even the finest of striker triggers. 

But Kevin, I hear you say, what about that manual safety? 

Well, what about it? It comes off right after I clear leather, and it goes back on before I reholster. It’s as natural as breathing for me. So yeah, maybe Jeff Cooper was right all along, and the 1911 is actually one heck of a carry gun. 

Mostly, though, I’ve learned the wisdom of Romans Chapter 5, where St. Paul says “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.“ 2014-2018 were pretty awful, but these last four years have been rather spectacular. 

Let’s see what 2023 brings.