In theory, the cost of one gun is going to be less than several guns. On it’s face, that assumption would be correct when JUST counting the gun and nothing else, with all things being equal. However, your ‘one gun to rule them all’ can end up costing you more. For example:
- Glock 19: $500
- Streamlight TRL1HL: $150
- Iron Sights: $100-200
- Red Dot Sight: $200-500 (Holosun-Trijicon)
- Custom Grip Stipple: $50-100
- Trigger/Action Modifications: $50-200
On the other hand, I have gotten several Police trade-in pistols from websites like www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com and have paid less than that one modernized gun. The only modification the guns have seen is a $2 front sight coloring from a bright pink paint pen I got from Hobby Lobby. The point here is that how you use your money is important and just saying one costs less than many is conditional and subjective.
In my experience, 99% of people spending so much to modernize a single gun, feel that each item is a valid replacement for training. The port and compensator replace lessons on recoil control. The red dot negates the need for sight picture practice. And the trigger job negates attentive training and practice of its’ manipulation. Unfortunately, this is a widespread problem you see all over the place. People with little or no training spend a lot on a gun and show up to a class. In beginner-level classes, the dudes with the sexiest guns tend to be the worst performers. Generally, these people will also refuse to get more training simply because they think that one class was “all they needed” That is shameful, but it is also an unfortunate reality for both the ‘one gun’ and ‘multiple gun’ guys/gals.
When you get into higher-level classes, the best performers have certain modifications, but rarely do they go full bore. This is because most people seeking higher levels of training are serious and may legitimately NEED certain modifications to achieve a certain level of performance or credit their current capabilities. You can’t technique your way to success all the time, in shooting. However, investing in gear without a solid and practiced foundation is like buying and modifying a Ferrari before you even know how to drive. For most people, getting REALLY good at the basics of shooting will be enough of a challenge and more than enough for competent carry.
Theoretically, having only one gun can streamline the training process for you. Some of you may be concluding that merely because there is ANY adaptation time, you should stick to one gun. One technique doesn’t equate to automatic mastery. Time in training and practicing intentionally is where the difference lies. You can’t get out of needing training. Having one gun doesn’t mean you can train less. Physical skills like shooting atrophy fast without upkeep and constant usage. However, if you trade out firearms for carry, you will need to be much more deliberate and attentive to your training.
Procedural memory (ability to recall correct procedure under life-or-death situations) is not just something you can just buy at the store or get from attending a bunch of training classes. It takes lots of time to establish a procedural memory for just one weapon system. This is the biggest reason that people who use many different weapon systems (Like using a bolt action rifle for hunting and competition, a pump action shotgun for home defense, AR15 and different pistol for LARPing, etc.) will have issues with establishing ANY procedural memory with their carry gun. Your best bet is to just limit the number of firearms you use and to seriously limit the amount of “fun” you have on the range. If you spend more time with poor form while plinking and standing static, that is what your brain will consider the most important to remember in times of high stress. Make it a habit to do everything the right way only, even during “fun” trips to the range.
Durability should not be an issue for most people reading this. Even most of the $300 guns people buy today will not see enough ammo through them to justify a recoil spring replacement. For the Joes that hit the range once a month, I would say that platform durability isn’t as important. For those who absolutely do reach a 5-digit round count with one gun in a year, this can be a serious consideration. For the guy who uses several firearms, he gets to “spread the love” and therefore lessen the burden on his firearms.
For those high annual round count folks out there, the first consideration should be what caliber and brand you are buying. There are a lot of bogus reports about the endurance and long-term performance of certain brands. Most of the time, the best thing you can do is look up actual video reviews or independent testing. Just beware of certain B.S. claims like 100k rounds on an original Glock recoil spring….{COUGH} Chuck Taylor!!! Sites like www.pistol-training.com have real tests on the major brands. Though dated, the tests were honest and still give a stunningly clear idea of what the average firearm consumer can expect from their stock firearm “out of the box”.
I’m sure we have all shot a gun that was unwieldy or just felt like crap. As a private citizen, we have the luxury to choose what gun we carry and own. If you want to carry a certain gun because it gives you a special feeling, such as some people get when they carry a 1911 over a Glock 19, who cares? If that “special feeling” makes them practice more and take their training seriously, I say rock on. Some people just want the gun to do the job, and that is fine too. I find that it is much easier to find time for training when my carry gun is fun to handle and shoot. If a Beretta 92/M9 variant gets you to spend more time training to be a little more like John McClain, I will wholeheartedly support that. But, that special feeling needs to credit your already-existing desire to train and practice. I personally feel that training is so much easier when you thoroughly enjoy shooting the gun you're training with. Whether it is because of a fictional character, hero fantasy, or because it strokes your ego, all that matters is that you do the training. The only thing I will add is that time tends to cause boredom after a while, so there may be some advantage to having multiple guns. When one gets boring, you can satisfy that need for entertainment by changing it up. Typically the adaptation period will pass faster when you really enjoy the gun you're training with. Just my personal experience.
There are more little nitty-gritty details I could have gotten into, but I just wanted to quickly touch the wavetops. Your choice of firearm, or firearms, is going to depend on several variables such as your size, current capability, environment, and even your schedule. Having many guns may be a natural solution for some while others really only want to have one gun for all carry. No one is necessarily right or wrong in these choices. Rather, it’s what you do with that choice, that makes the difference. Spend all the money you like, or spend as little as possible. Have one gun or twenty you rotate through. But for Pete’s-sake, get training and PRACTICE OFTEN!