“I keep a gun in the house for the same reason I keep a fire extinguisher.”
This is one of my favorite quotes. It pointedly justifies widespread gun ownership. A significant difference between the two is that the proper use of a fire extinguisher can be taught in minutes. Operating a firearm for self-defense is much more difficult.
You’d think that a customer willing to spend his hard-earned money on a gun, ammunition, holsters, and accessories would dedicate the time for training, but they typically don’t. There are many reasons: lack of time, the high cost of ammunition, the limited availability of a safe range, etc.. What if you could remove all those excuses? What if you could provide a solution that made training fun? You can by having them step outside and get some fresh air.
I’m referring to air-powered guns. Often seen as mere toys, modern air guns are much more. In the hands of your customers, they can become practical training tools that encourage regular practice. They will seek it on their own.
Let’s look at a realistic training scenario that could be used with air guns.
There’s an unknown number of bad guys in your backyard, and your daughter can’t be found. You arm yourself with your trusted M&P and tuck two extra magazines in your belt before heading out the back door. You hear noise around the corner on your right, so you start in that direction. As you do, a target appears. He was hiding behind the large tree on your left. Two rounds to the high center chest, two to the pelvic girdle, and one round to the head stops that threat, but the noise on the right continues. It sounds like a struggle. Approaching the corner of the house, a second bad guy comes into view. Two rounds of high center chest, two in the pelvic girdle, and one in the head also stop this threat. You can hear angry threats and your daughter's cries, so you start “slicing the pie,” inching forward slowly, making more of the area visible as you move.
As the target comes into view, you can see it is a hostage situation. The bad guy hides behind your daughter, with only his head visible over her right shoulder. If you make a wrong move, she might die. You aim carefully, trying to hit the area of the brainstem that will make him drop instantly. You take the shot, and he dies before hitting the ground. You have your daughter run inside and lock the door behind her.
As soon as she’s safe, you continue. Walking toward the back of the yard and scanning the area presents two more bad guys. One is close. The other is farther away. Your response is the same as the first two bad guys: two rounds to the high center chest, two aimed at the pelvic girdle, and one to the head. The first two shots are fired, but your slide locks to the rear after the next two. Damn! It’s time for an emergency reload. Cover isn’t available, so you conceal yourself behind the gazebo curtains. As you pull a spare mag from your belt, the empty mag falls from your gun. You drive it home, seating it firmly. Your hand comes across, pulls the slide to the rear, and releases it. You’re back in business. You aim before you quick-peek around the curtain and take the final shot to the head. The bad guy goes down, and you continue with the second target. That threat falls, too. There’s a gate on your right side that’s partially open. You approach and use your weak hand to open it. There’s another bad guy. He’s within touching distance and is swinging an axe at you. Your weak hand comes up instinctively, and your palm strikes his jaw, pushing him backward. At the same time, you fire five shots single-handedly as fast as possible, aiming at the center mass. The axe and bad guy fall to the ground.
You’ve now reached the shed and can lean against the outside wall. Two distinct voices can be heard from inside. You try to recall how many rounds you’ve fired, but it’s useless. A tactical reload is in order, so you drop the partial magazine into your off hand and shove it into a pocket. Then you pull a fresh mag and drive it home. The slide is racked, and you are active again. One guy emerges while you’re still behind cover. This one is easy. Two, two, and one. You slice the pie at the door until the second bad guy comes into view. Again, it’s two, two, and one. Turning around, you notice another bad guy near the house trying to open the rear door. He smashes the window and reaches inside to release the lock. He enters the threshold, so you drop to one knee and take your shots. This time it’s all your remaining shots to the head in rapid fire. Your slide locks to the rear, so you drop the mag and insert the partially used one from your pocket. You’re ready again. You made it. Your scenario was a success. That’s nine bad guys and 41 rounds fired.
Was that fun? Most of the people I know would say yes and ask to do it again. I’d let them, but I’d tell them to do it as fast as safety allows. The second run will be timed.
There are two remarkable things about this training. First, it was completed in my own backyard. Second, none of the neighbors had a clue. Sound impossible? It's not if you use air-powered guns in place of real guns. And, if you sell your customers air guns, they can quickly set up their own scenario, with their imagination as the only limit.
The beauty of it is that so many gun options are available. If you prefer Berettas, it’s no problem. If you’re a Glock fan, you’re also covered. I’m a fan of the M&P guns and have a model almost identical to my carry gun. Chances are you’re good at finding an air gun for any model your customer prefers. Customers can practice using standard or concealed holsters. If they have a tactical light, it can be attached as well. This practice is realistic and transferable as real-life firearm skills.
As an exercise for you as a salesperson, reread the scenario. How many firearms skills can you list from this scenario? After getting your skills list, determine the sales opportunities the scenario presents. Don’t forget to imagine it during daylight and at night. Last, figure out the cost difference between live fire and the scenario above. These exercises should be eye-opening and give authentic information you can pass on to your customers.
Scenarios can be done anytime with or without anyone else present. However, have two or three of your buddies present to get the most out of it. They will add stress but can also pick out mistakes, offer corrections, or ways you can improve. There are a few skills that can’t be emulated with air guns. Recoil management and its resulting flinch is the main one. That’s not a disadvantage. Taking recoil out of the training equation makes learning and practice more effective, ensuring the skills are correctly learned before beginning live-fire training.
One last thing worth noting: Various air guns are available, including many popular revolvers and long guns. Customers will want more than just the one matching their carry gun. In fact, I’m eyeing an AR-15 model now. Who’s going to sell me one?
