Putting things into Proper Perspective!

Dave Spaulding · 

I headed to my gun club recently to partake in some task-specific skill building in what I call "the combative application of the pistol." When I arrived, the range I intended to use was occupied by three men who were dressed in "bill board" clothing that alleged they were being sponsored by major gun companies. Their guns looked as if they came from a STAR WARS movie in holsters that barely kept them from falling on the ground. When I inquired as to getting some range space, I was told they were "practicing to USPSA standards and that it was unlikely I could keep up." I was told I was welcome to watch, however.

OK, I decided to do just that. What occurred next was nothing more than an exercise in ballistic masterbation. These guys ran from place to place so fast there was no way they could utilize solid technique...one even missed his magazine well, jettisoning his magazine into the air before trying again. There was no attempt to plant and shoot accurately as they slowed and sprayed the area. They should have left the barricade out as no attempt was made to actually use it. As a matter of fact, they stood next to it. At the end, their targets looked like #4 Buck had been used, but they were high fiveing each other talking exclusively about their times. They were right, I could not keep up with this stuff and I deciding to practice another day.

Don't get me wrong, I am a full supporter of shooting sports. I have shot PPC, USPSA and IDPA and find them to be a great activity and if done well, can actually be a fine training vehicle for personal security. However, if this is your goal, you should never be in a hurry to get shot and your ultimate aim (pun intended) should be to stop your adversary quickly. This means shot placement or on the USPSA Target an "A" zone hit. Combative Pistol craft is a balance of speed and accuracy and as I recall, so is USPSA but I did not see that here...it was all about speed.

These gentlemen claimed this was a practice session, but there was no attempt at a correct grip, smooth, efficient draw, a solid reload on the first try...you know, the kind of stuff that is essential to proper pistol shooting of any discipline. It was all about how fast they could go from start to finish with little regard for anything else. I do have to admit, their clothing looked great! It seems that "tacti-cool" has made its way to the shooting sports. What would it be "comp-u-cool"?

Having been a former scholastic and collegiate athlete, I am surely a fan of sport, but the sport should be done WELL. Anything worth doing is worth doing WELL, but what I saw here was not it, whether it was for sport or defense.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! / HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

A very Special Merry Christmas wish to all that server in our Military, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, and EMS communities!  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Book Review

I finished reading this book about a week ago, and will most likely start to read it again so that the information in it will hopefully be burned into my sub-conscience.  The name of the book is Left of Bang.  It was written by two retired Marine Officers, Captain Patrick Van Horne, and Major Jason A. Riley and has to do with How to Develop the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Mindset.  This program was developed so as to keep Marines in a proactive rather than a reactive mode in order to save their lives.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about keeping themselves and their family safe and out of danger.  I would also mention that if you are in any branch of the service or  you work in any form of law enforcement, first responder, or armed or unarmed security capacity, you need to read this book!  This should be a mandatory read for anyone that works in those fields.

This book will definitely open your eyes and make you much more aware of the things that you need to pay attention to in this ever changing and violent world that we live in.  

Food fo Thought....Dave Spaulding

Dave Spaulding

With the growing number of former military members now conducting training (and good training I might add) there is also a growing number of people who think battlefield-style tactics are appropriate on American streets. This is not always the case! I have been named in a past Use of Force lawsuit and I can tell you it is not a fun experience. Your force must be "reasonable based on the circumstances at hand" and your actions will be picked apart in he safety of a court conference room. In addition, if you think public perception will not play a roll you are kidding yourself. The jury is part of the public...

I was recently asked about the use of "anchoring shots" in a domestic gunfight. These are rounds generally fired to the head once a suspect is down to make sure a suspect cannot deploy a suicide vest. Keep in mind there is a real good chance there will be a video of your shooting these rounds into this person lying on he ground...will it look like the recent Chicago Police shooting that has the city on edge? If so, you better be damn sure he has a bomb strapped to his chest!!

Attorney Steven Harris knows a thing or two about the JUDICIOUS use of deadly force and while YOU NEED TO WIN THE FIGHT FIRST to be sued, it is wise to understand the dynamics of deadly force deployment.

Rich Grassi....Threat Assessment

Good information so I wanted to pass it along!

Editor's Notebook: Threat Assessment

Coordinated terror attacks struck Paris on 13 November. In the U.S., we saw gun sales to private citizens continue the record set since 2009. There was a huge Black Friday run on guns. As we approach a week since the outrage in San Bernardino – with the accompanying screed from the Left – we again see clogged gun shops.

I was on the road and made an early morning stop at an Academy Sporting Goods store on Saturday. While perusing ammunition stock and prices, I overheard a customer tell a gun counter clerk, "I want the cheapest, smallest 9mm you have."

The S&W SD9VE is a functional, accurate and low cost self defense pistol.

I looked at the customer. He didn't look silly. The clerk followed his instructions and showed him several guns. I walked over to the counter and, on the bottom shelf, there was a S&W SD9VE with a price tag of about $310 . . . a far better choice for shooting and defense and certainly low cost.

I wanted to ask if he'd seek a $25 vasectomy from a guy working in a garage somewhere – but I didn't.

At Steve's Trading Post later the same day, a young lady was examining a micro Glock (G42 or G43). She said she was going to carry it in a purse, presumably without a holster. The clerk properly told her that was NO-GO. She wanted to know why, where is the safety?

When she said she preferred a .380, the clerk tried to move her to the 9mm pistol as the ammunition was cheaper. "Why?"

Any time you carry a gun -- Micro Glocks shown here -- a holster is mandatory. A purse is not a holster, nor is a glove box, a console or a pocket. Buy a holster.

These were folks who were likely going to start carrying guns. They were getting recommendation from those who sell guns – but "the customer's always right." There has to be some way for people to get quality training in small doses at low cost – conveniently scheduled – but I'm not sure how.

A few things to pass along to friends considering the purchase of firearms for self-protection:

First, you are making a lifestyle choice. It requires changes in behavior. You can't leave these things laying around unattended: firearms need to be kept in your custody and not left behind in a restroom, not left in a car – prone to burglary in any parking lot, and not in a purse left out of your reach.

Second, you need to consider the environment in which you operate. I worked in a place where armed personnel were the norm; many places have restrictions on bearing arms. Wearing guns in the open can create some problems and, remember, "concealed means concealed.

I've worn the SD9VE concealed – in an inside-the-waistband holster. It's not for everyone, but it allows me to carry a service size pistol discreetly. Discretion goes along with security of the piece.

Third, know the legal ramifications of firearms ownership. Freedom isn't free. You need to check with people who know the liabilities.

Finally, consider safety. Knowing the Four Rules (we use Five) is critical – if you make adherence to those rules reflexive through focus and practice. Never carry a firearm without a holster – even in a purse. Semiauto pistols need to be in holsters that cover the trigger guard – and you need to learn to holster while observing Rule Three (Keep your finger out of the trigger guard and on the frame until the sights are on the target and you intend to shoot).

Avoid off-body carry (e.g., in a purse, briefcase, etc.) if at all possible.

When considering a firearm purchase, the smallest, lightest and cheapest is often not the best choice. It's time to get help. Firearms owners should be ready to mentor new gun owners without various brand biases and without making fun of their choices.

As our publishing year is moving to a close, we're faced with the same uncertainties, the same concerns as we've had for a number of years. The people aren't standing still and we need to be ready to lend a hand. It's more important than "what's the best gun, what's the best caliber," etc. It's retaining the heritage of freedom in the face of those who'd seize our freedoms.

People will continue to flock to gun shops. They're our allies in this fight. We need to facilitate that move – but help out or not, they tire of the government's inability to be everything to everyone. They know they need to step up.

Whether anyone likes it or not, Gun Culture 2.0 is under way. There's no stopping it now.

-- Rich Grassi 

Good tip

Gunfighter Moment – Pat McNamara 

Because I’ve heard it said that ‘Holstering’ a pistol is an ‘Administrative’ move, I would argue that there is true merit in holstering a pistol the same way we draw a pistol on two different fronts.

One is that in the tactical world, we must sometimes have to deescalate and go ‘Hands On’. We must do this without taking our eyes off of the threat.

Two, when practicing a draw stroke, the best draw stroke is nothing more than holstering in reverse. This was said to me by Rob Leatham some decades ago. So, when practicing a draw stroke, why not double the amount of meaningful repetitions by holstering the same way we drew?

…Only one is in reverse.

Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please remember and say a prayer for all our men and women both in the military and law enforcement.  Lord, keep them safe as they watch over and protect us so that the rest of us can

enjoy this holiday!

  Thank you for your Service!

Handgun Drills

I thought this was interesting in a couple different way.

Handgun Drills: The Things To Practice – Part 1

By: Grant Cunningham | November 17, 2015

An equipment bias causes you to try to tailor your training around your gear, trying to find situations or make up techniques just to be able to utilize that equipment.

Effective handgun shooting drills are task-oriented; they’re designed to provide practice opportunities for the tasks most likely required in an actual defensive shooting. What, then, are the things we need to practice?

This is a common question in the defensive shooting world. Many people have tried to answer it but, unfortunately, a dispassionate, fact-based answer is difficult to come by. This is because most people answer the question not from the kind of research done by leaders in the field like Claude Werner and Tom Givens, but from biases based on their own shooting activities or careers.

Some people come with an equipment bias: they do certain things because they like the equipment, then search for ways in which to use that equipment and do drills which validate their equipment selections. Certain types of gear will dictate that you do things a certain way, or that you use them instead of something more suitable. An equipment bias limits what you’ll do (or can do or can train) to things that fit what you have, rather than making what you have fit the task at hand.

A competition bias too often leads to taking shortcuts in technique (or equipment) selection just to get a better score.

Take, for instance, a flashlight mounted on a handgun. There are certainly uses for such devices, but they’re pretty specific and are never a substitute for other forms of illumination. Too many folks, however, will practice their “low light” drills with these exclusively, to the detriment of actually being able to use better-suited and more common illumination tools — things like handheld flashlights (or even room light switches!). This particular gear bias results in low-light drills being designed that don’t accurately reflect the conditions under which supplementary lighting might really be needed.

The “bump in the night” that results in your muzzle sweeping your teenage child coming home past his bedtime might be the unfortunate result of such an equipment bias.

Equipment isn’t the only bias people have, of course. Some come to the discussion with a source bias: because a drill or technique comes from an authoritative or charismatic figure, people often feel compelled to practice and promote it even though it may not fit the context under which it will be used. The implicit correctness which we perceive because of the source’s pedigree is a form of the logical fallacy “appeal to authority,” where the merits of the proposal aren’t discussed because of the unimpeachable nature of the source. Many of the military-inspired training routines that have nothing to do with private sector defensive shooting come from source bias.

There is also a scoring bias: we practice to improve ourselves by some objective measure, even if that measure has no real bearing on our ability to defend ourselves. This is heavily prevalent in the shooting world, owing to the number of competition shooters who have moved into the training realm over the years. (This is not to discount the value of competition as a test bed for new techniques and equipment, you understand, only to put their interest in objective scoring into perspective.)

In Part II, the author outlines the specific things needed during practice for a successful execution of a defensive gun use.

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This Article is an Excerpt From:

Handgun Training – Practice Drills for Defensive Shooting

I AGREE, BUT.....

I agree, but only after you have taken a training course from a  professional firearms instructor.  Preferably an instructor that is certified as either L.E. or Military.  The course should be a minimum skill level of intermediate  combat handgun.  I don't care how long you have been shooting,  the real world is a lot different than the  square range where you are shooting static paper targets.  This is serious stuff folks!  

train the way you will have fight!

DONALD TRUMP HAS NEWS FOR ALL CONCEALED CARRY HOLDERS…

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is serious about the right to bear arms.

Our country is at a time of potential threat from ISIS terrorists and with an influx of Syrian refugees, many are on high alert.

Trump issued a statement to Breitbartcalling for all concealed carry permit holders to actually carry.

He said:

“There are nearly 13 million concealed carry permit holders in the United States who are part of the 100 million gun owners who defend the Constitutional right to “keep and bear arms.”

This fundamental liberty is held closest by those who have gone through the process of vetting required to be entrusted with the ability to defend themselves, their families and their property with concealed weapons.

The concept of concealed carry is as much intended to deter criminal activity as it is to provide direct defense of those who have those permits.

Not all concealed carry permit holders “carry” all the time.

Thus, the deterrent value is that those who might contemplate criminal behavior will think twice when that doubt exists.

Carrying a weapon is not always feasible or appropriate.

However, given the increased tensions that are the result of continued, escalating terrorism around the world, more legitimately armed individuals on the streets is a positive outcome.

Each permit holder must make the decision to carry or not carry.

I will carry more often than I have in the past, and I am sure other concealed permit holders will do the same.

Do we have an obligation to carry? The answer is “yes,” but we must do it in such a way as to raise serious doubts in the minds of those who might be considering violence in America.

Deterring violence is far better than dealing with the aftermath of an act of terror.

Less blood, more security. That is what will make America great again.”

Do YOU agree with Trump?

America's Best

THANK YOU!

Changed My Life FOREVER!

Place: Parris lsland, SC

Date: Oct. - Dec, 1967

Platoon #: 1067

When a young wise ass from South Philly grew in to a man, (A MARINE!)  I will never regret that transformation!

Happy Birthday to all my Brothers and Sisters, SEMPER FI!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....240 YEARS

Master the Basic = Advanced Skills

FIRE AWAY!

       

Took advantage of the gorgeous weather yesterday and hit the range with a good friend and shooting buddy, Don Hudson.  Our plan, and when you go to the range you should have plan on what you want to work on, was to fine tune our basic skills.  After all ammunition is still somewhat expensive even though it has come down in price a little.  Don't remember where I heard it, but it makes sense "Don't just Plink, Think"!  So our objective was to practice the basics utilizing multiple repetitions on each.  We did this within certain time restrictions cold bore.  The reason for this is because if you are ever involved in a situation that you might have to use the gun you are not going to have the time to warm up first!

We started out with the very basic skill of shooting one shot from the two handed high ready pistol position,  Time was one second or less. Target a 6" x 12" steel plate @ 21 feet.  ONLY HITS COUNT!  That size target very well represents the size of the area  that you would need to hit consistently in order to accomplish the goal of getting that person who's  intent to hurt or kill you, change his or her mind about doing that.  Remember, the target area should be high center mass on the chest area.  Important, your only purpose of shooting is to STOP the threat!  Placing shots in that area gives you the best advantage of doing that in the quickest and must humane possible way.  Once the threat stops so does the shooting!  It is important to note that you generally shoot as many shots as necessary to accomplish that.  A single handgun round generally does not have the ability to immediately incapacitate a person.  Based on that you need to be prepared to fire what ever the number of shots are required to get that desired effect.  Stopping that person action, NOW!   That is very dependent on the threat.  Each and every threat is different.  Please note, in addition, aiming at the chest area is the largest area of the body that you may have available,but not always. Hitting this area consistently will assure good solid hits rather than misses and the risk of  hitting innocents.

Statistics have proven that the person who get the first hit on something substantial is generally the person that prevails in the conflict.  

Some of the other drills that we practiced were as follow;

7 yards, 6" x 12" plate

2 shots from the high ready pistol Position, 1.25 seconds or less.

1 shot from the holster, from a shooter be alert position, 2.0 seconds or less, preferably 1.5 seconds or less.

2 shots from the holster, from a shooter be alert position, 2.0 seconds or less,

T.R.A.F. drill, (tap, rack, assess, fire if necessary)  Or T.R.B. ( Tap, Rack , Bang) 2.5 seconds

Reloading from slide lock. 3.5 seconds.  Starting out from the two handed high ready pistol position.

10 yards, 10" steel plate  

Diamond drill, start out shooting 1 shot from each of the four points of a diamond.
Then shoot 2 shots from the same points.  No par time, just had to make the hits.

Strong hand and support hand only!  1 shot and then 2 shots

15 yards, shoot the 15 in 15 Drill,  12" x 18" steel plate

25 yards, 25 and in drill, 12" x 18" steel plate

Finished with the 5, 10, 15, & 20 drill, 12" x 18" steel plate

Trigger control, front sight focus and recoil management were the priorities!

All in all about 200 rounds

Words of Wisdom!

I had to re-post this because it is so relevant to the questions I get when I am working with people of all  skill levels.  I am definitely going to print this and incorporate it in with the packets that I give to all students that take my Safety and Basic Skill class.  Safety is the priority when dealing with firearms.  I spend between one and a half to two hours of a five hour class on Safety.  Thanks Tiger!

Skill Set: What Worries Me Most

People often ask me what worries me most about the firearms "situation." I know they are referring to our 2nd Amendment rights and the ability to purchase/own certain type weapons, limits on magazine capacity and these type issues.

"My main concern," I reply, "is that the vast majority of people who own firearms never learn how to use them safely and properly." Usually their response is a sort of blank look on their face, or as they say, "Mind blown." (For full effect you have to use your hands and fingers to simulate the brain exploding out of the skull.)

The skills necessary to operate a firearm are not something we're born with. There's very little that is "natural" about using firearms. In fact, a lot of our natural instincts are counterproductive if not downright detrimental to performing safely and efficiently with a firearm. Rule III, "Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target" - Morrison, The Modern Technique of the Pistol, page 7 - is a prime example of how our "natural" instincts are dangerous. Give a firearm to anyone who hasn't been taught basic safety. The very first thing they do is put their finger on the trigger. They haven't been taught otherwise, and this is where it feels "natural" for the finger to be when gripping the weapon. Add a little stress to the situation and even people who know better have that finger on the trigger when it shouldn't be.

Rule II: Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. This makes common sense, but you see people breaking it all the time. Our body tends to follow the head. When someone is holding a firearm and they look in one direction - like at you - watch out. An untrained person, and even those that know better, will cover you with the weapon.

Weapon manipulations are another skill that doesn't come natural. To unload a semi-auto pistol you need to remove the magazine, cycle the slide – three times is best – and finish by visually inspecting the camber to ensure it's clear. Of course during all this the muzzle must be pointing in a safe direction and finger off the trigger. It's not unusual for someone cycle the slide, see a round ejected, then remove the magazine without realizing there is still a round in the chamber.

Safety Rule I: All guns are always loaded. This is one that even trained shooters get wrong, all the time. I recently taught a short session for a group of law-enforcement instructors. These people know the safety rules, yet while getting ready for carbine training their muzzles were pointing every direction except a "safe" direction. Their carbines, and minds, were "unloaded."

The majority of guns owners, especially those that are newer to the sport, get too caught up in buying stuff instead of learning how to use it. The older and more experienced gunmen I know don't have that many different firearms, but you can be double sure they know how to use the ones they have in a safe and exceptional manner.

Keep in mind training is only part of the process. Afterwards it's on you to practice the skills you were introduced to in training until through repetition you actually learn them.

Should we be concerned and involved with the political and cultural issues concerning firearms ownership? Yes! Just keep in mind this is involvement on a macro level, the big picture. At the micro level we have to be just as concerned with the ability as an individual to handle firearms properly. This applies regardless of the application, but particularly when it comes to defensive use of firearms.

I know that I'm preaching to the choir here. So, I'm asking you to print this out on paper and personally hand it to your friends or family who own firearms. It doesn't matter whether they are hunters, plinkers or have a weapon for self-defense. Have them read it, and then help get them get started in the right direction. The more firearms owners who have training, and practice, the less we all have to worry.

1

Good article....Just substitute the car for the firearm

This article was sent to me by a good friend, Don Fewkes.  Don happens to be a race car driver trainer and serious shooter.  He thought that I would enjoy it, which I did.  I feel as he does that the two are closely related.  Hope you enjoy it!

Do It Right”
By Dennis Macchio

Being involved in the sport of motor racing for more than 35 years, gives one a perspective on the sport that just can’t be duplicated in a short period of time. Having been involved in so many activities within the sport, driver, track owner, manager and designer, team owner, instructor, driving coach and owner of a well known racing school, have provided me with a lifetime of experience and understanding of the sport.

During the last 3 ½ decades, I have seen so much change: driver safety has improved immensely. Driving gear, car design, track layouts and safety barriers have contributed greatly to reducing fatalities and injuries. Suspensions, tires, and gearbox technologies have made cars faster, easier to drive and as a result, more accessible to a larger portion of the population. A proliferation of entry-level car clubs, member driven race tracks and the immense growth of karting are helping to grow the number of “weekend warriors” at a rate not seen since the post WWII years.

But several things have remained as a constant within the sport. First, it continues to be an incredibly expensive activity to participate in. No one can afford to do it as much of it as they would like, and only a few can even partially satiate their appetite. Secondly, it remains an endeavor to which there is no defined, well established portal from which to enter. And third, almost everyone outside of the sport, due to their “interstate heroics” thinks they will be “naturals” on a race track.

It is the combination of these last three realities that makes us long time “racing people” shutter.

“Drive a wreck” race clubs, membership driven race tracks, and dare I say, some racing schools have, in an effort to meet their economic realities, lowered the performance driving education bar to such an extent, that tracks are now often filled with untrained and unsafe drivers. Even worse, they don’t know it. Our sport has evolved into “if you’ve got the money come play. Age, attitude, knowledge, skill, and etiquette are irrelevant.”
Drivers now “solo” on race tracks, often in cars that are beyond their skill levels, after no more than a ½ hour safety class, and some van drive arounds. One can hardly blame them; they are new, and don’t know any better. But the organizers do! Where has the respect for the sport gone?

Which brings me to the purpose of writing this long diatribe, “Do it right, or don’t do it at all.”

In addition to my racing school, I do about 40 days of coaching a year. These clients are, in theory, advanced drivers, who are lacking for a few speed secrets and some “tweaking” of technique. In about 1 out of 4 cases my speed secret advice is “go take a professional driving school.” I learned during my career, and in fact, most of us that have been around for a while know, that there is no skipping class when it comes to this sport. Bertil Roos, the founder of our school, and a European trained driver, once said “In America, it takes more schooling to get a license to cut hair, than it does to drive a racecar.”

Simply said, a proper level of training in this sport will make the track a safer place for not only the trained driver, but for all others sharing the track. And, you know what, you will be much, much better at it. Technique, vehicle dynamics, race craft, race strategy, psychology, line theory, and all of the other “good stuff” just cannot be learned properly “on the fly.” Improvements in technology, safety gear and track access are not going to offset poor training, a large ego and budget. We at the Bertil Roos Racing School would love to see a drop in the number of students that come to us and say “I wrecked my car, and figured I better come here and learn it the right way.”

So the message is simple, “Do it right, or don’t do it at all.”

Interesting article....Good Info.

MY GLOCK SHOOTS LEFT (?)

POSTED ON 10/28/2015 BY TIM LAU

This particular Glock has sights mechanically centered in the slide, but many Glocks do shoot slightly left. This is my target from a while back after shooting the FBI Bullseye Course, which is shot at 15 and 25 yards.

I’d like to start by apologizing for the slow rate of articles as of late. Many real life events are conspiring to keep some of our authors and me from the keyboard.

This latest topic was born from a recent email I received from a couple readers asking about whether or not Glocks shoot left, and if it is something about which he should be concerned. While I would not describe myself as a Glock guru, though it is currently my preferred sidearm for work and play, I have seen a few of them on the range over the years, and have spoken with some knowledgeable individuals. Here is my take on the issue, for whatever it is worth.

There are a couple prevailing theories as to why Glocks seem to shoot a little left. The first is that the guns are simply built that way, either due to some kind of design anomaly (feature) or tolerance stack. Another on is that the Glock’s grip angle, pivoting trigger shoe, the characteristics of the trigger mechanism and length of pull, tend to cause the right handed shooter to push shots left. There are additional factors, such as the front sight not being set in the slot very well. Honestly, the amount the pistol actually shoots left (when it does) has not inspired me to research or test much further to see what the actual cause may be. Perhaps locking a bunch of different Glocks one at a time into Ransom Rests might work, but since I don’t have easy access to one, this is somewhat moot.

All of the sights I’ve installed start out installed in the mechanical center of the slide. The 10-8 Performance front sight tabs are slightly oversized and are either an interference fit or require just a tiny bit of filing to get it into the slide. I like this as it ensures it doesn’t twist and will stay put. A few minutes with a hammer, punch, a flat piece of G10 stock and a caliper ensure the rear sight is centered.  A few of my pistols shoot just fine with the sight centered in the slide, but some of them do need some adjustment, typically by drifting the sight a little bit to the right. Any sight adjustment is usually quite minor and around .010″ or less. Most of the time, the typical shooter has a profound lack of trigger control that masks whatever left shooting tendencies the pistol may have.

Regardless of the reason why the Glocks tend to shoot left, the effect is fairly minimal and a minor sight adjustment typically takes care of it. Regardless of the pistol you shoot, be sure you sight it in at a reasonable distance (I prefer 20 or 25 yards) with your preferred defensive and training ammunition. Better to be surprised that your pistol doesn’t shoot point of aim on the flat range rather than when it actually counts.

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ABOUT TIM LAU

Tim Lau has over a decade of LE experience as an end user, armorer and instructor. He has worked for several well known firearms training organizations, and holds multiple firearms instructor certifications. He owns and operates 10-8 Consulting, LLC, which provides industry consulting services as well as marksmanship and specialized firearms training to law enforcement and military personnel.

View all posts by Tim Lau →

Great day out on the range today!  Beautiful weather, shooting with one of best friends and in general just having a really good time.  Shot a drill that I shoot pretty often when out at USANA, the 5, 10, 15, and 20 yard drill.  First shot this drill at a shooting school down in North Carolina.  The name of the school is Trigger Time.  Generally you would use a standard IDPA or FBI Q target that incorporates an 8" A zone hit area.  I like using a 6x12" steel plate target.  Those of you who know me know that I like shooting steel!   This drill is designed to enhance your ability to distinguish between time and distance as it relates to accuracy if you are involved in a confrontation.  Only hits count!  Shooting too fast and missing does nothing to solve the problem.  It just makes you more vulnerable for a longer period,  Not a good thing.  You need to end it as soon as possible and that can only be done with good solid hits place in that high center of the chest area, ( this size target represents that area).  

The real reason for this post is not about my shooting skills.  It more about what I prefer in the way of equipment, HINT!  Those of you who know and shoot with me know that I am a die heart when it comes to equipment.  So I ask you this?  Does anyone see something that is out of place!  besides the old guy on the range. lol

Well I guess a picture is worth a 1000 words!  As you can see the ladies had a great time and were all very proud of their results with the actual live fire training that they did.  It was a great class with a fabulous group of young ladies.  Thank you all for coming.  From an instructor's perspective, when you have the opportunity to work with a group of students like this group it is a very rewarding experience!

Hi folks, up early as usual and getting ready to do a Safety and Basic Skill Class for a group of young ladies later today.  This will be the first class that I am doing for an all female group.  As I mentioned in a previous post the ladies are really starting to take a major interest and active participation in shooting.  I feel very strongly that this is very good for the industry but more importantly that it is beneficial for their safety and that of their families safety.  Having knowledge is truly important but having a understanding of how to apply that knowledge is the key.   I feel very privileged of having been asked to do this class by two very good friends that are police officers one of which is the husband of one of the young ladies and the other who is the father and father-in-law of another.  More to come after the class!

Skill Set: Education

Skill Set: Education

Editor's Note: If you've not done this particular bit of preparation, it's past time to get it done. If you know people who should be reading this, clue them in. Right click on the "permalink" below and "copy link" to past into your email or on social media. This message needs to get out to your loved ones.

There is a storm coming. Make sure your family is prepared.

Now is the time to teach children and young adults how to respond to an attack, or what's commonly called an "active shooter." One of the most common responses when trouble occurs is a sense of surprise. Something you've never seen or imagined before happens. This stems from a lack of education; the mind is either overwhelmed or trying to relate what's occurring to past experiences or information.

The first thing to teach your "team" is to identify trouble. Explain to them that in almost all attacks there are warning signs prior to the event. For example, when they see something on social media that could indicate future trouble they need to show it to you, or inform someone in charge and thenstill tell you.

During the recent attack in Oregon several students said they heard noises – in this case gunfire – but didn't know what it was. I can understand this; if you've never heard actual gunfire, especially inside a building, you might have a difficult time knowing what it is.

Numerous videos show people just standing around clueless while a shooting is taking place only a few yards away. I've seen video of someone walking into a college classroom with a "fake" gun. The majority of people didn't even notice this and the few that do see the "gunman" just stare in silence. Teach your "team" that the sound of gunfire, screaming, furniture being knocked over or anything else of that nature is a sign that something out of the ordinary is occurring. These indicators cannot be ignored.

Moving during an attack is a good thing. Avoidance and escape are tactics we teach during every class and are at the top of our list of responses. Avoidance may mean moving to another location in an orderly manner or as we say "haulin' ass" in an effort to get away to a safer location. Escape may require smashing out a window and dropping out it, even if it's on the second floor. Movement to cover is good, so you'll have to teach them the difference between cover and concealment, and that once the threat knows where you are hiding, concealment won't offer any protection.

Teach your team to fight back. Complying with the attacker and lining up waiting to be shot is not acceptable. The current response model is to lock or barricade the door/entry and then students all gather in one area. Regardless of how well the threat is prepared if two, three or more people counter attack it's difficult for the threat to continue with their plan. Teach your team about improvised weapons and the advantages of communication and teamwork, and then practice these skills.

Personal protection is an individual responsibility. This also applies to your children. Now is the time to prepare young people with the skills to deal with an attacker. If you don't feel comfortable with this responsibility find someone who can help you. Being completely unprepared with no idea of how to respond to a violent attack, regardless of age, is unacceptable. Correct this now.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy

More on gun Safety....Ken Hackathorn

Gunfighter Moment – Ken Hackathorn 

Finger position is ‘King’

Everyone in the small arms training world pays homage to the concept of ‘gun safety’. Some of these gun safety rules are simple to follow, some are not. Visit any indoor shooting range or local gun club and within minutes of your arrival you will likely see someone violating a basic firearms safety rule. Everyone seems to place varying degrees of importance on gun safety. Some folks will tell you that there are ten rules of gun safety; others will quote five rules to follow. In the “Real World” (defined as where the targets are shooting back and there are no ‘firing lines’) there are only two rules that matter. Understand that the most critical gun safety rule is the mindset that ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED. Once you understand this, the only other safety rules you must get clear are muzzle awareness and finger position.

Now, I’m going to say something that will make some folks heads explode; sometimes in the “Real World” we point guns at other people. Often on purpose, and occasionally by accident. We try like hell to never point a firearm at a target we do not wish to engage, but guess what, shit happens. So, no matter how hard we try to avoid unintentional flags of people that we do not want to hurt, it is critical that one has a back up firearms safety system that prevents injury to friendly forces. Finger position or finger register is the key; tt has to be programmed into your firearms handling skills and never violated.

The best news is it is a very easy skill to master. Whenever you handle a firearm, never put your finger in the trigger guard unless you want to hear a loud noise. When on the range or practicing, program your brain that when your sights come off the target, your finger comes off the trigger and out of the trigger guard. It is really pretty simple. Once you start programming yourself to do this, it is pretty easy to adapt to.

I suggest and teach that you place your trigger finger somewhere on the firearm where you can exert pressure against the frame or side of the weapon so that in a startle response you will not end up on the trigger. On a pistol, I teach trying to place your index finger on or as near to the ejection port as possible. On a rifle/carbine put your finger on the stock above the trigger guard or receiver, so that with pressure nothing will go ‘bang’ when you exert positive pressure. On the AR-15 platform take care to NOT put your finger on the magazine catch. I often recommend a small patch of skate board tape placed on the part of the firearm that you want to index with your trigger finger. When your finger becomes raw form the skate board tape, you can remove it as you will now understand where your trigger finger belongs.

Some folks tell me that it is better to engage the safety instead of worrying about finger position. WRONG. What if your sidearm does not have a manual safety? Recently, one of the other Alias instructors detailed his method of always engaging the safety (of an AR or AR control style) firearm for all things when not shooting, including reloading when empty and clearing a malfunction. Mike and Pat are professionals that I have the highest level of respect for. However, I do not teach, nor recommend engaging the safety for every task. Not all small arms have the controls located as ideally as the AR-15 platform; many of the current popular sidearms don’t even have manual safeties and many that do can’t be engaged and still allow the small arm to cycle or load.

Remember, instructors don’t always agree on everything; doesn’t mean that Pat or Mike are wrong. We just don’t agree on this particular safety manipulation. I teach to utilize the safety when moving or when performing shoulder transitions, but when reloading an empty weapon or while clearing a malfunction, I’m not a fan of ‘safety on’. What I am really touchy about is finger out of the trigger guard and ‘in register position’. The way I instantly measure a new face with a firearm in their possession is whether they follow this rule.

If you have to work with or be around folks with firearms, remember, the finger position rule is ‘King’ in gun safety.

– Ken Hackathorn