CCW | Work Behind The Gun
You invested in a quality gun that has everything you want in a firearm. Its lightweight, accurate, good trigger press weight and the trigger pull distance is just right with grips that fit. It’s also compact enough for great concealment. New gun owners might rest right there but returning veterans know better than to do that. Military service taught me that weapons won’t take care of me unless I take care of my weapons.
The first thing veterans do with a new weapon is learn how to break it down (field strip), inspect, clean and lubricate it. After doing this and getting to know the pistol, I recommend dry firing but not everyone agrees. I’ve been told that dry firing is not recommended for all pistols so check with the manufacturer. Former military get to know their weapons like they would a new puppy. Both might one day save a life.
You might as well hear this from me but having a CCW permit comes with more responsibilities. Returning veterans need to always be up to date with ever changing regulations that affect your permit. Learn what to do or not do if you get stopped by law enforcement. Regulations vary greatly from place to place. Know well in advance where you can and cannot take a concealed firearm. Find out what violations may cause your permit to not be renewed, suspended or revoked.
Then I recommend locating the nearest gun range. Take at least 5 boxes of ammo and shoot each round. You might try more than one type of ammo to get a feel for what works best in your weapon. Hopefully you’ll have zero misfires and begin a relationship with your gun. Try to prepare yourself with mental roll playing too by planning for what you’ll do in various situations. Note: Nothing can totally prepare you for a bad situation but more practice certainly does help. Visit the range once or twice a month and always keep your firearms clean.
I am not a Lawyer so take my advice for what it’s worth. Veterans should never brandish your firearm by waving it around or threatening someone with it. Don’t take it out of it’s holster unless you’re prepared to use it. Shooting to wound an attacker like in the movies is not a good idea for more than one reason. Using your firearm for any reason other than to save your life or the life of someone else will probably get you put in jail. Some of us believe that it’s better to be judged by 12, than carried by 6.