We are serious at DTI about your personal safety and competency and we don't want you to waste your time and ours with unrealistic and impractical equipment. You will need to supply your own firearm(s), holster(s), spare magazine carrier(s) or speed-loader carrier(s), ammunition and safety equipment. If you do not have your own equipment, contact the course sponsor or DTI directly.
Competition-oriented modifications such as extended slides, "accuracy jobs", wide or target triggers, trigger shoes, long barrels, vents, compensators, oversized grips, grip weights, external magazine funnels, light triggers, ambidextrous controls, etc in most cases only serve to make your gun unreliable under heavy use, difficult to carry, and excessively dangerous to train with. Accordingly, we don't want to see these kinds of guns, nor modifications, at DTI training courses. Nor do we want to see competition holsters and other impractical, competition accessories. All pistols and accouterment will be carried concealed, so all equipment must be suitable to continuous, daily, concealed carry.
An exception is made for uniformed police and military students who want to train with their duty set-up.
In summary, you will need a quality, concealable handgun that is serviceable and within factory specifications, and you will need a quality, concealable holster, gunbelt, ammunition, and accessories. For Advanced Courses, you will also need a suitable back-up pistol.
You will also need all your required safety equipment, including
We also recommend sunscreen, non-prescription pain reliever, necessary prescription medications, Band-Aids, water/sports drinks, and snacks.
Understand that the place we will be shooting is relatively isolated, and your ability to purchase needed items is extremely limited. Therefore, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARRIVE.
We have listed below the specific handguns we recommend. Weapons chambered for 380 Auto are permitted at DTI ranges, and are recommended for some people. Pistols chambered for lesser calibers, such as 22 rimfire, the 25Auto, and the 32Auto, are not permitted. We do not consider them serious calibers, and pistols chambered for them are seldom sufficiently reliable to get through several days of heavy shooting.
For many people, it makes little sense to buy a new gun. Many perfectly serviceable examples of the guns recommended below are available used, either at dealers, from private individuals, or at gun shows. Many "used" guns have been fired only a few times and are every bit as serviceable as a new one. A stroll through a gun show may well yield you an excellent gun at a price far below what you would pay for a new one. Regardless of your choice, we strongly recommend you arrange for a qualified armorer to detail inspect and thoroughly check your weapon before you bring it to DTI. Be sure you test fire it to insure safety and serviceability.
Recommended defensive handguns for DTI Classes:
Colt/Browning System Autoloaders, 45ACP, 40S&W, 9mm:
What are mentioned above we consider best choices. There are other pistols available, not specifically enumerated, which may also suffice.
When you have a pistol with a manual decocking lever, either two-stage or single-stage, you may bring it to our Class, and we'll show you how to use it. However, for most serious shooters, self-decocking, autoloading pistols represent the best choice. Manual decocking levers are virtually obsolete, although they still do have a following, albeit ever-dwindling.
Colt/Browning, 1911-style pistols also have a fierce following, but their popularity with new shooters is low. The 1911 is really an expert's gun and, and noted above, a self-decocking autoloader is a much better choice for the vast majority of serious shooters.
You may notice that the Continuous Motion System (H&K P7M8) autoloader is not mentioned. These pistols were popular at one time, but are long-since out of production, and incorrect operation of the squeeze-cocker has led to many accidents. In fact, there has been so many accidents with this pistol, that we no longer recommend it for general use, although it may be a good choice for certain individuals.
Discussions of "accuracy" have been the source of much confusion when it comes to the topic of defensive shooting and defensive handguns. Reasonable and acceptable accuracy in a defensive handgun means that the weapon will shoot inside a fifteen centimeter (six-inch) circle (from a machine rest) at a range of fifty meters. This degree of accuracy is more than adequate for nearly any imaginable defensive shooting situation, yet can be attained without adversely affecting the reliability, durability, or carryability of most handguns. In fact, most factory handguns are readily capable of that kind of accuracy right out of the box.
On the other hand, an "ultimate accuracy job" on a factory handgun, that is, one where everything is sacrificed for the sake of the greatest possible accuracy (e.g.: three centimeters at fifty meters, from a machine rest) is best left to esoteric target handguns. In order to achieve that degree of accuracy, the gun itself must become bulky, temperamental, and extremely sensitive to rough handling, lack of meticulous maintenance, and dirty environments. That degree of accuracy is unnecessary in defensive shooting, and the sacrifices necessary to achieve it are obviously unacceptable.
S&W, Beretta, Springfield Armory, and now even Glock offer "variable grip geometry" on many of their pistols. This permits the user to make the grip bigger, or smaller, at his option. Changing from one size to another is easily done, at the user-level, and takes less than a minute. Most pistols with this feature are recommended.
Use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) magazines. Avoid after-market and surplus ones, when possible.
When you decide to modify your new handgun, you are particularly cautioned to avoid trendy, novelty, and gimmicky add-on's, like trigger shoes, after-market grip adapters, buffers, compensators, target grips, sight ribs, grip weights, etc. That kind of rubbish has no place on a serious pistol.
Recommended modifications (when necessary) for all carry handguns:
Recommended modifications for all revolvers:
Recommended modifications for all autoloaders:
Recommended modifications for trigger-cocking handguns (revolvers and autoloaders):
Recommended modifications for the Colt/Browning System 1911 Pistols:
See our recommended manufacturers section for a list of recommended armorers.
Modifications to Avoid: (An * after an entry in the "not recommended" columns below indicates that the item or modification is not only not recommended, but is considered unsafe and/or unrealistic and is therefore not allowed on DTI ranges)
Not recommended for any defensive handgun:
Not recommended for revolvers:
Not recommended for autoloaders:
Not recommended for manually-decocking autoloaders:
Not recommended for trigger-cocking handguns (revolvers and autoloaders):
Not recommended for Colt/Browning System autoloaders:
Sights, Stocks, and Finishes:
Sights that are large, sturdy, non-adjustable, and easy to see, but that do not hang up nor snag on clothing or holsters during the draw are the best choice. Sights must be sturdy and securely attached (welded, anchored in a crosscut dovetail slot, or affixed via a Millet dual-Crimp) to the gun.
Plastic fixed sights that come with the Glock pistol have proven themselves to be acceptable.
Self-luminous "night sights" are acceptable and recommended.
Don't equip your gun with gooey rubber stocks nor stocks with sharp checkering. The best stocks for an autoloader that is carried concealed are lightly checkered plastic composition with no palm swells nor finger grooves. The best revolver stocks are those which are narrow, slick, round-butted, and generously scalloped out to readily accept speed-loaders.
Recommended gun surface treatments:
We recommend Robar for surface treatment:
Holsters and ammunition carriers:
Practical, comfortable, and concealable holsters and ammunition carriers (spare magazine or speed-loader carriers) are required of all students. Cross-draw and shoulder holsters are acceptable, with certain provisions. Your holster must cover your pistol's trigger and trigger guard when the gun is holstered. Exposed triggers on holstered guns are not permitted. Holsters must hold the gun securely enough so that it will not fall out inadvertently during running, jumping, etc. If a holster has a thumb-break snap, it must be snapped every time the gun is holstered.
Plastic (Ky-Dek) holsters designed for concealed carry are acceptable and recommended.
A stout gunbelt is also indispensable. Dress belts are not satisfactory. Holster makers listed in our recommended manufacturers section will be happy to supply you with a gunbelt too.
Ammunition
The best ammunition is from major, domestic manufacturers. Foreign ammunition may be acceptable, but much of it is trash.
Do - When you have a hearing problem, invest in a set of electronic hearing protectors, so that you can hear verbal instructions clearly.
Do - Go to a local range or pistol match and get accustomed to being around other shooters. Five or six people together shooting in an enclosed area can be disconcerting when you are not used to it.
Do bring a good flashlight. You will need it for the low-light shooting exercise if low-light shooting is included in your training course. Cheap, dim flashlights will not suffice. High-intensity, tactical flashlights are expensive, but they are worth it. It must have an on/off touch button.
Do bring a second pistol, preferably the same type, model, and caliber as your primary gun. Your gun will receive heavy use at DTI, and it is common for handguns, both revolvers and autoloaders, to break, seize, or otherwise become inoperable during the training program. Sometimes we can fix it. Other times we can't, particularly when a critical part is broken or missing. If you brought a second gun, this will not represent a problem. Your simply press it into service and continue your training. If you did not bring a second gun, you may not be able to continue.
Do bring at least two magazines for your autoloader (at least two speed loaders for your revolver).
Do bring suitable eye protection. You will not be allowed on the range without it. All students will be required to wear safety glasses all the time they are on the range. We recommend that you bring two pair of safety glasses, one dark tinted for the daytime portion of the course, and one clear set for the low-light shooting. Prescription glasses are acceptable if they provide adequate coverage and protection. Reading glasses and "Granny glasses" are not acceptable.
Do bring a baseball cap. All student are required to wear baseball caps all the time they are on the range.
Do bring suitable hearing protection. Severe and permanent hearing damage can occur when hearing protection is not used on a firing range. Therefore, we require that adequate hearing protection be worn by all students all the time firing is taking place. Ear muffs and ear plugs are acceptable.
Do bring RAIN GEAR. Our range training proceeds regardless of the weather. As you can well imagine, sturdy, warm clothing and good rain gear are indispensable.
Do bring an expendable sports or suit coat. This is necessary for concealed gun training, but it will probably be damaged during the exercises, so get an old one from the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries. All testing is done from a concealed draw.
Do bring sunscreen. Sunscreen should be used daily on all exposed parts of the body, particularly face, arms, hands, and neck.
Do bring a bottle of non-prescription pain reliever, and a box of Band-Aids. Headaches are not uncommon, and hands tend to get beat up.
Don't bring contact lenses. We may have high winds and blowing dirt and sand at the range. Your contact lenses will quickly become unusable and will have to be removed. If your eyes require corrective lenses, bring regular eye glasses (see above), and leave your contacts at home.
Don't bring expensive, uncomfortable, impractical clothing nor shoes to the range. There will physical activity (running, moving suddenly over uneven ground) required of every student. Clothing and shoes take a beating! Wear practical and comfortable clothing and shoes. Do not show up in sweat pants, tight slacks, nor shorts. Your trousers must have belt loops that will accommodate a suitable gunbelt.
Don't bring anything but jacketed ammunition! Unjacketed, lead, pistol ammunition is dirty and will turn your gun into a gummy mess within several hundred rounds.
The following checklist contains information intended primarily for female students, although some of the points enumerated on this checklist apply to all students.
The question is often asked, "How do I use a toilet when I am wearing a pistol?"
The best technique we have is this:
Once inside the rest room, stand facing away from the toilet and remove your gun from the holster. Keep your finger in a strong, "register" position with the muzzle pointed in a relatively safe direction. Lay the pistol on the tank, or somewhere where they will not be visible from the outside, and will not fall into the pot.
Once your pants are down, place the gun between your feet, pointed away from you. It will be readily accessible, yet out of sight.
When finished, pick up your gun and accessories and set them back on the tank. Tuck in your shirt and buckle your belt. Then, pick the gun up. Keep your finger on "register" and the muzzle pointed in a relatively safe direction.
Replace the pistol in your holster. Replace spare magazines or speed loaders in appropriate carriers.
Do not hang your pistol from a coat-hook that passes through the trigger guard.
This practice can easily cause multiple, accidental discharges!