I presented again at the 2026 Rangemaster Tactical Conference (TACCON) at the Dallas Pistol Club in Carrollton, Texas—just outside Dallas. With eight or nine simultaneous tracks running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, the event delivered exactly what it promises: practical, real-world defensive skills for concealed carry and personal safety. The atmosphere was professional yet approachable, with a mix of beginners, experienced shooters, and instructors from across the country. Live-fire ranges and classroom sessions ran side by side, letting attendees rotate through high-value topics without downtime. I focused my time on pistol-related sessions that directly apply to everyday carry (EDC) scenarios. Below is a detailed debrief of the three sessions I presented, highlighting the most common mistakes I saw among participants. These insights come straight from observing student performance, training standards and after-action discussions on the line.
Dynamic Pistol Shooting Session
The Dynamic Pistol Shooting class emphasized shooting while moving—drawing, engaging threats, and relocating under simulated pressure. I try to stress how static range skills rarely translate to real defensive encounters, where movement is often the difference between becoming a target and surviving. Students practiced lateral and linear movement while engaging targets from varying distances. The range setup was a bit tight, but we made it work. The ground conditions made it slightly more realistic with the potential for compromised footing leading to trip hazards. From a safety standpoint, anytime we are handling firearms there is the potential for loss of control. When we start moving that risk increases. The most important safety aspect is keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. While there is debate on the Firearm Safety Rules, maintaining muzzle discipline is never in question or only questionable to those who have little to no real world operating experience.
Three big mistakes repeatedly surfaced and slowed down even motivated shooters. First, many participants failed to move naturally. Instead of fluid, athletic strides that kept their upper body stable, they adopted stiff, robotic steps or exaggerated “tactical” shuffling. This creates unnecessary sway in their sight picture and reduced accuracy at speed. In one drill, a student literally froze mid-stride in an attempt to stabilize their sight picture. Not only is this not natural, its not realistic. I tried to point out that natural movement; similar to how you walk or run in daily life; preserves balance and allows faster follow up shots. Forcing an unnatural gait under stress only amplifies the problem because adrenaline and speed already disrupts fine motor skills.
The second common error was NOT committing to the first, best sight picture. Shooters would acquire a sight picture, hesitate pulling the trigger. Then chase a “perfect” alignment as the target shifted in their view while moving. This hesitation added tenths of a second that, in a real encounter, could be fatal. I watched multiple students fire follow-up shots only after consciously “confirming” the sights again, even when the initial presentation was already sufficient for center-mass hits. The class repeatedly demonstrated that the first sight picture is usually the best one; chasing perfection wastes time and disrupts rhythm. I tried to hammer home the mantra: “See what you need to see, then press the trigger.”
Third, and perhaps most universal, lack of trigger control. Many shooters slapped or jerked the trigger when movement was involved, pulling shots low and left (for right-handed shooters). The dynamic environment amplified pre-existing grip or trigger-finger issues that static drills might hide. A smooth, but swift trigger stroke is the key. Once the sights are confirmed, the trigger stroke needs to be immediate but smooth enough to avoid disrupting the sight picture. When the shooter can apply a deliberate, straight-back trigger stroke while keeping the grip firm the sight will move less.
Overall, this session reinforced that dynamic shooting isn’t about looking cool on the range; it’s about building repeatable skills that work when your heart rate is elevated and your feet are moving. I wanted students to leave with a clear list of personal drills to integrate into their practice: natural movement walks with a timer, sight-picture commitment on the draw, and trigger-isolation work while moving.
SHO (Strong Hand Only) for EDC Session
The Strong Hand Only (SHO) for Everyday Carry session addressed one-hand shooting and drawing techniques tailored to real-world self-defense, where your support hand might be occupied (carrying a baby, pushing a shopping cart, or fending off an attacker). Remember, many EDC encounters happen at close quarters (0-5 yards), often without warning, making two-handed grips a LUXURY rather than the default. Live-fire drills included defeat methodology with one-hand, draws from concealment, and improving shooting with only one hand.
Three big mistakes dominated student performance here. The first was failing to default to a one-hand draw in close-quarters self-defense scenarios. Too many shooters instinctively tried to bring the support hand into play even when it was briefed not to. Think about reaching across ones body for a two-handed grip while an imaginary threat was already inside arm’s reach. I like to live fire demo a lot on this subject and I keep things simple. Don’t deviate from your normal two-handed technique. Just shoot your two-handed technique with only one hand. For EDC, where retention and speed matter most, forcing a two-hand presentation in tight spaces often exposes the gun or delays the first shot.
The second mistake was changing their technique from their normal two-hand method once they switched to SHO. They would switch to a niche technique, specifically for one handed shooting. Only problem is they do not practice this niche technique. We discussed the pitfalls of all of them, addressing the most obvious; which was inconsistency with their two-handed technique. This inconsistency created wildly different recoil management and sight tracking. The session emphasized treating SHO as its own skill set—same grip pressure, same trigger press, same sight alignment. You have to realize recoil control will be compromised, but manageable with more practice. Lastly, consistency across techniques prevents the brain from having to relearn under stress.
The third and most damaging mistake was simply not practicing enough. Many attendees admitted their SHO work was limited to a few magazine dumps once a year. As a result, draws were clumsy, and accuracy suffered beyond 5 yards. No two gunfights are the same and nobody knows what type of gunfight you will draw, but its safe to say real defensive encounters are statistically one-handed affairs more often than not, yet range culture still favors two-handed shooting. My recommendation is to practice SHO at every range session. Even if its just one magazine, that is better than nothing.
This session was eye-opening for how often we assume both hands will be free. It should shift the training priority toward more one-handed work, especially from regular EDC holster and clothing.
Fanny Packs for EDC Session
The Fanny Packs for EDC session was a practical deep-dive into using fanny or belt packs (sling-style alternatives were covered, but not part of the curriculum) as a legitimate concealed-carry option. I do a deep dive into selection criteria, draw mechanics, and integration with everyday clothing and lifestyle. The range portion tested actual draw times from various pack designs against one of our most popular benchmarks.
Three big mistakes were evident across the group. First, many chose packs without prioritizing draw speed, ignoring the sub-2-second standard for defensive viability. Students arrived with oversized or poorly designed packs that required multiple steps—unzipping, digging, repositioning—before the gun cleared the holster. In timed drills, several exceeded 3-4 seconds consistently. I like to demonstrate the best packs allow a simple, one-motion pull or flap opening that presents the grip immediately. Draw speed must be the primary selection factor; aesthetics, brand or extras come second.
Second, participants struggled with smaller, compact pistols inside the packs. Many had chosen full-size guns that fit poorly, causing the muzzle to snag or the grip to rotate awkwardly during the draw. Compact or micro-compact pistols (like G43 or SIG P365 sizes) performed far better, allowing cleaner presentation and less printing. One student’s larger pistol actually slowed his draw by nearly a full second because the pack’s internal holster couldn’t accommodate the extra length without binding. The lesson was clear: match the gun to the carry method, not the other way around. But, as a reminder, the compact and micro-compact pistols require practice.
Third, overloading the pouches with too many items is popular. Keys, wallets, flashlights, and even medical gear crammed into the belt pack can turned a clean draw into a frustrating rummage. In one memorable demo, a student’s draw failed completely because loose items shifted and blocked the grip. I recommended minimalism; gun and spare magazine in the main compartment. Anything else belongs in a separate pocket or bag.
This class validated fanny packs as a serious EDC solution for those who can’t or won’t carry on the belt, but only when chosen and practiced with discipline. I now have a shortlist of pack features to look for and a commitment to timed draws from my own setup.
Overall Takeaways and Recommendations
Across these sessions and the broader conference, the recurring message was simplicity, repetition, and realism. TACCON 2026 reminded me that defensive skills degrade without deliberate practice, and that the “cool” range techniques often fail in the close, chaotic environments where most incidents occur. I packed a lot of material in the short time I had with the participants with the primary goal of being motivation, followed by demonstration. Get them excited about these subjects, then show them how to practice these techniques on their own.
My action items are straightforward: integrate dynamic shooting and SHO drills into as many practice session as possible, time my fanny-pack draws to be consistent sub-2.0 seconds, and constantly audit my EDC gear for readiness. We should all be in a perpetual state of learning. Be critical of your current skill level and willing to fail in order to succeed. TACCON continues to set a standard for no-nonsense training that actually translates to the streets.
