Effectiveness vs Efficiency with Firearms

PDN Managing Editor Rob Pincus gives an illustrated example of what he means when he says efficiency with defensive firearms is more important than effectiveness. Reloading firearms at slide lock is one of the things that there are many ways to do, and obviously if the gun ends up being reloaded at the end, whichever method you have chosen is effective. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it.

Effective Methods Get the Job Done But …

Rob demonstrates his point by reloading a handgun in the most laborious way possible, including pulling the magazine out with his teeth, showing that even this method is effective because at the end, the gun is loaded and ready to fire. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. You should instead look for the most efficient methods.

Efficient Methods Save Time and Energy

When dealing with firearms, and during firearms training and practice, always look for methods that are not just effective but are truly efficient. Rob stresses this to all his students. Something that is efficient is going to be robust. It will allow you to achieve your goal in the widest set of plausible circumstances and with the least amount of time, energy and effort as possible. And that’s what you need to look for in a reload technique.

Efficient Reload Technique

Rob recommends you insert the magazine, reach up, pull back on the slide, and release. That’s what you should do when reloading a gun at slide lock. Apply these concepts of efficiency versus mere effectiveness to all your work with firearms: to all of your self-defense training, all of your techniques, and all of your gear selection when it comes to personal defense, and you’ll be better prepared to face a threat.