Ok so I have a problem… I have a few very good friends that just won’t listen when I try to lead them tword more information and a better selection of quality weapons. How do I educate them without sounding like an ass?
If they won’t learn the easy way, let them learn the hard way.
I am just worried that the “hard way” lesson will be learned when they need to rely on the weapons they have decided to put their lives in the hands of.
Are your friends MIL/LE or friends looking for prospective CCW weapons?
Here is the best way to deal with this situation.
If your so-called “friends” don’t respect you enough to listen to you, get new friends…
Simply point them to quality websites (like this one, and www.pistol-forum.com for example), teach 'em how to use the search function, and then let them come to their own conclusions…that way you’re helpful, but not the bad guy-and your ego isn’t on the line.
Best, Jon
I have friends like this. For years, I suggested that they spend a bit more to get the best guns, sights, holsters, ammo, etc., but they still bought shit. When they tried my gear, to no one’s surprise but theirs, it worked better. A couple of them are slowly coming around.
So if your friends can handle guns safely, let them buy what they want and take them to the range. Teach them what you can about shooting well and sound tactics. Outshoot them severely and often. They’ll figure out the rest soon enough.
If they can’t handle guns safely, find new friends.
Okie John
I have one friend like this. He wants to buy quality stuff, and sometimes does, but in the end, he usually goes with his “cheap” impulse first and foremost, and that pushes him into the wrong decision.
As was suggested, I don’t think you will be able to convince anybody ultimately. You just point them to good info, say “it’s your decision, it’s your money,” and let them make up their own mind. It’s all you can do.
You can’t. If they’re interested in your help the first time you offer it then good for them and you should help them out. If they’re not then leave them to go waste their money on whatever they want to.
The one exception I make to this is Serpa holsters. My best friend and main training buddy was hearing good things about them from mutual friends who were serving in the Middle East, and was about to buy one.
I gave him a BladeTech–best $60 I ever spent.
Okie John
Yeah, I’ve done the same thing. When my brother in law wanted an AR, I pointed him here and tried to engage him about the differences. When he was going to buy a crappy one anyway, I paid for a BCM lower and upper for him.
Can I be your brother-in-law?
Not unless they legalize polygamy…
It never hurts to ask. 
This is a tough situation, and I’ve been through it with friends and family. Not that I am an expert by any means, but I have identified sites like this one, and pinpointed the respected and knowledgeable members, and read and read and read and applied. Pursued the training recommended and applied… rinse and repeat.
Trying to get others to do the same is tough sometimes.
I have a friend who I went through this with just recently… he wanted to get into shooting and buy a gun and holster etc for concealed carry. Wow he was hard headed. Emailed him links, URL’s etc and he couldn’t be bothered reading them. He picked himself up an XD, after all, the gun store clerk said it is basically and upgraded Glock.
It got even worse when he got into the police academy… good grief now he is a small arms expert and a self defense and combatives expert. I’ve been training martial arts since I was 8… don’t know what the quality of firearms training is in most police academies, but the self defense, arrest and control techniques etc leave a lot to be desired. Anyways, I really hope a more seasoned officer with some savvy helps him out, he won’t listen to me, especially now that I’m just a “civie”.
They are not law enforcement or military just civi’s. I tried to point them to this site for more information but they went and bought a Ruger LCP for CC use before I could get them to see the light. :cray:
Been there done that.
When they ask advice, you give. When they ignore it, you laugh. They can only learn the hard way. Guns bring a LOT of ego to the table and people get very touchy. You can’t cram your views down their throat, even if it probably would do them some good.
Sounds exactly like my two best friends who are both Feds. I’ve pointed literally dozens of people I know to pistol-forum.com, which IMO is the single best message board regarding handgun info, period. Not one of them has ever taken a look at it. Oh well, ignorence is bliss.
Thats OK. Invite them to an IPSC match and burn down the course of fire while they still struggle to draw their Taurus from their blackhawk SERPA. Then see how smug they are.
Assuming they don’t shoot themselves first…:help: