Confidence with your carry gun can mean a lot of different things to different people, but it’s all personal. So for today’s Pro Tip I am going to walk you through a variety of guns each with a special feature that will help you become more confident with whatever you choose.

Let’s start out with a revolver, this is a Body Guard .38. It’s a very, very simple tool. It has a cylinder release, five shots, all you have to do is line up the sights and pull the trigger. Light weight, simple to use. It’s a great option if you’re looking for that design.

But if caliber is something you care about, this M & P Shield is in .45 ACP. You’ll have a lot of stopping power in a small package. Plus, it comes with a confidence builder, an integrated Crimson Trace green laser.

But if you have a hard time manipulating the controls on a semi-auto this M & P 380 Shield EZ is the ticket. Everything about this firearm is simple and easy to manipulate. The slide moves back and forth very, very easily, and it is something that will help you build confidence in order to manipulate the firearm properly.

If you’re looking for something with a bit more capacity, that’s where this gun comes in. This is an M&P Compact in nine millimeter. It’s a four inch model. You have all of the great options with the M&P line, with the four different grip sizes, but it also allows you to have that extra round capacity, a 15 round magazine or you can go with a standard 17 rounder as well.

So how do you decide which option to choose? Well you need to take a hands-on approach. Go to your local dealer. Often they have try before you buy program, or you can go to a rental range.

The bottom line is, you need to see and feel how this is going to work during recoil and one of the best ways to do this is by shooting a slow fire group.

Set a target at three to seven yards, acquire a good firing grip, line up the sights, then press the trigger smoothly, straight towards your nose for every shot.

This is not about speed. Make each shot as perfect as possible. Once you’ve established the confidence that you need with slow fire, now it’s
time to bring speed into the equation. And to do this a great drill is called the press out.

You are going to start at the chest or low ready area and as soon as you press out to the target you’re going to squeeze the trigger like so.

The press out and quick controlled pair will test your ability to grip the pistol and control recoil.

The best concealed carry firearm is the one you are most comfortable and
confident with, as well as being able to shoot it proficiently. And the best way to do that is to head to your local range. Until next time, be safe and have fun.