HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH TO ALL!

Additional information....Larry Vickers Training Course

You have to go to the following web site to register for this course, AZTEC Training Services. 

1. Then click on Courses by Location,
2. Click on Elmer, NJ. 
3. Click on the pic at the top left hand corner. 
4. Click on add to cart.

All registration has to be done through the web site.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Skill Set: Motivation

Skill Set: Motivation

Attending training is fun. You're shooting, running drills, getting new tips and meeting people. It's easy to get motivated to attend a class. Once the class is over it takes time and practice in order to truly learn how to apply the skills you've been introduced to. Learning, performing the same skills over and over again, really isn't that fun. It takes a lot of motivation to dedicate and invest into the time required to learn even the fundamental skills. I'm not talking about becoming a monk and dedicating your life to a martial art. But everyone can devote make ten or fifteen minutes of every day to practice. What's your motivation? Life and death.

Motivation is easy to lose because there's no immediate gain. You don't win a prize or get a television show. Those aren't bad things, but our motivation is not fame or fortune. However, it is comforting to know that you have the skills to deal with an attack. Often times after attending a class people tend to lose interest quickly. It's easy to understand. Life gets in the way. Again, think about the reasons, the motivation for practice. Lives may depend on your ability to stop an attack as efficiently as possible.

Being motivated also means you carry every day, all the time, unless prohibited by law. Yes, sometimes it's a hassle. This may require investing in more than one holster; the clothes you have to wear may dictate how you carry. More than one pistol may be necessary. I would love to carry a full-size pistol everywhere I go, but sometimes it's not possible. Plus, having a spare pistol is always a good idea. You may decide to carry more than one, another good idea. And after all, doesn't everyone need another pistol?

The need to understand "the fight" – in order to deal with it and the aftermath – motivate you to study and research. There's almost an infinite source of material out there to study. Instead of spending time debating the merits of this or that caliber/weapon/technique/etc., use that time to examine the legal aspects of carrying and/or having to use your weapon. You research in order to understand common criminal behavior. Studying documented confrontations educates you on indicators that danger is about to occur, the warning signs that help you avoid, escape or prepare to fight.

Sometimes it's hard because you've spent money on training and good gear, invested time in practicing, and never even come close to having to use any of these skills. Stay motivated. All that time spent hasn't been wasted. At some point in everyone's life, they have to face danger. If you haven't needed those skills yet then the chances you might need them in the future have increased. For those who have "faced the elephant" then you know how important they are.

Just because we've elected a new president doesn't mean the gun controllers are gone. In fact, it may mean they start to push even harder, especially at a state and local level. Motivation applies to almost every aspect of our lives, at a micro and macro level. So stay motivated, politically prepared to defend your rights.

Life is busy, hard and there's a lot going on. Life is also precious, and worth protecting. If you've lost your way then plug back in. Personal protection is an individual responsibility; danger is just around the corner. It's just a question of when will you get to "that corner." There are still a lot of powerful and well-funded people out there who don't think you cannot be trusted to own and use firearms. Being motivated, staying the course, prepares you for that day.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html Website: www.shootrite.org

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USMC!

.50 Cal BMG

I took a little excursion yesterday with a very good friend of mine, Don Hudson.  We took a ride to a new indoor shooting range TSS, (Total Shooting Solutions) in Avondale, Pa.  Got to tell you I was totally impressed.  This has to be one of the finest and largest indoor shooting range on the east coast.  This range facility is unbelievable!  Without me have to elaborate on all of it's features you can go to their web site, www.targetshootingsolutions.com and take a look for yourself.  The staff were all helpful and professional.

The reason for the post is that I did not know until we got there that my buddy Don had a hidden agenda for why he really wanted to go there.  You see, they will rent you a .50 cal Barrett Rifle and let you go for a ride with it. That's exactly what he did.  He took three shot with it and did really well with it.  Those three shots will cost you a mere $100.00, but you get a tee shirt and a rush that only a shooter can appreciate.

Great Training Tool, SIRT PISTOL

I was probably one of the first to purchase one of these pistols when it was first introduced, I think back in 2004.  I became a distributor for NLT and sold quit a few of these units.  Back then there were a lot of instructors that did not seem to think that this training pistol had much merit as a training tool, but today it appears that a lot have changed their tune.  I use my SIRT Pistol everyday to do my dry fire work.  The article below is a very good analysis of this training unit.  If you are interested in purchasing one, I have included the contact information.  Thank you Mr. Monte Gould for sharing this article.

AS,
a professional law enforcement and military instructor, I have seen many training tools come and go over the years. It is important to vigilantly evaluate promising tools and new theories to stay relevant. Recently I met the owner of Next Level Training, Mr. Mike Hughes. He is a competitive shooter, firearms instructor, and Season 3 finalist on Top Shot. Mike founded Next Level Training and created the SIRT Pistol. He is larger-than-life, focused on human performance enhancement, and constantly seeking improvement. As a competitive shooter, instructor, and practitioner, I endeavor to remain aware of emerging technologies. The most convincing remedy to improvement is personal recognition of deficiencies. We must be able to selfidentify and analyze. Frequent, well-executed, and repetitive manipulation develops reflexive proficiency under stress. To support practice, we need to perform self-diagnosis, maintain interest, and have fun. Yes, I said “fun!” Sometimes people focus too much on the work aspect and lose the fun. This reduces motivation and creates labor from what should be mentally stimulating and enjoyable. I advise my students to dry practice at least three times a week for 10 to 15 minutes per session. When students complete a course of instruction and return home, they practice as recommended for a couple weeks. But slowly they lose motivation and begin to reduce or totally eliminate dry practice sessions. The NLT SIRT Pistol brings back the fun! NLT SIRT PISTOL The NLT Training Pistol is designed for “highvolume self-diagnostic firearms training.” The SIRT (Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger) Pistol is a replica gun that emits a laser when breaking the trigger (no need to rack the slide). The SIRT Training Pistol is an inert training tool incapable of firing real rounds. It is equipped standard with a second “takeup” laser that activates when the trigger is indexed, held and depressed, but not broken (taking the slack out). This second take-up laser is primarily for the instructor or assistant to diagnose shooter performance during dry practice sessions. The device physically resembles the Glock 17. It will fit in all holsters and equipment as needed and required for like designs. You can attach your light on a rail of the SIRT. The newest version resembles a Smith & Wesson Sigma. You can remove the stock sights and replace them with your preferred sight. NLT also produces a replacement bolt for use in your AR-15/M4 platform that projects a laser. It comes standard with one magazine weighted to simulate a fully loaded real magaNEXT LEVEL TRAINING zine. However, the SIRT Pistol emulates the By Monte Gould SIRT Laser Training Pistol AS 80 OCTOBER 2016 | www.SWATMAG.com functional features of real firearms for the most beneficial training effects. The lasers fully adjust for elevation and windage using a small Allen wrench. The device comes with a fully charged battery that lasts hundreds of hours and is ready to use out of the box. NLT provides detailed instructions for use, plus a CD and hard plastic case. Per the enclosed instructions, check zero when you receive the pistol. Adjust the lasers to the sights, not vice versa. The trigger is fully adjustable as well for take-up and break, and relatively easy to accomplish. My initial perception was that it is a training tool for beginners. This misconception was promptly disproved. I began using the device for personal skills development. Instead of dry fire sessions with real weapons, I used the NLT SIRT Pistol. I have used it in my office and then traveled with it to maintain skills on the road. I routinely travel across the U.S. and abroad, and am often unable to carry firearms. I have taken the NLT SIRT to South and Central America, Europe, Scandinavia, and all over the U.S. without any difficulty. (Read up on traveling with simulated-type weapons. Know and understand the specific regulations of the area you are traveling to before you embark on a journey carrying this device.) TESTING I introduced the NLT SIRT Pistol to training with basiclevel students. It has reduced training time frames, range session usage, and ammunition consumption while developing student confidence. The device also provides a safer, more relaxed, and less stressful indoctrination and orientation for new shooters. More advanced shooters can self-diagnose and self-correct without argument, denial, or subjective opinion. After all, personal recognition of flaws and failure is the strongest medicine for improvement. The instructor assists, notes errors, and then provides opportunities for students to self-analyze. As a test, we conducted non-profit instructor training courses with the NLT SIRT Pistol. Our first group was a cross-section of instructors based in Scandinavia. The evaluation group invited to support the instructors consisted of novice shooters. This was an eight-hour instructor course. The student group was restricted to four hours of training with NLT SIRT Pistols, after which live-fire qualification courses were conducted. Student scores were on average 42% higher. Nearly Above: Range staff trains with NLT SIRT. Left: SWAT officer trains with NLT SIRT Pistol. 81 the same result was achieved with two other focus groups of novice shooters. With experienced professionals (competitive, law enforcement, and military personnel), the rates of improvement were much lower, within the 3 to 6% range, which was still remarkable, not to mention reduced live-fire operations and overall cost reduction. I have now conducted 11 instructor classes with varying skill levels (amateurs and professionals) throughout the world. My results have been relatively uniform and consistent. NLT has an excellent online and YouTube support channel for customer service and training. The training videos are comprehensive and to the point. NLT customer support is above average, streamlined, and responsive to customers. My company, I.M.T.T., now has ten of the pistols in the field and uses them routinely. Anytime I have contacted or requested support, NLT has been prompt, responding to calls and e-mails for service without hesitation or delay. TRAINING WITH THE SIRT PISTOL Follow all basic rules regarding dry fire practice. Do not have a real pistol or ammunition in the vicinity. When dry firing off the range, clear the room of all ammunition even when only dry firing with the SIRT Training Pistol. If dry firing in conjunction with your live-fire gun, conduct safety checks of all firearms. When on the range, it is beneficial to train trigger mechanics with the SIRT Training Pistol between live-fire drills. In this environment, treat the SIRT Training Pistol as a real gun and follow the four basic rules at all times. When holstering the SIRT, be sure to slide lock your real firearm without a magazine when placing it down for temporary storage. Flip the top toggle switch backward to activate the red take-up indicator. When you only want the shot indicator (green laser), flip the switch forward. During most training, the take-up indicator is turned off. For beginners, the take-up laser is to identify trigger mechanics issues during slow fire. After ensuring a proper grip, stance, body posture, and other fundamental skill sets, observe the motion of the laser during the trigger pull. Ensure the student is first taking the slack out of the trigger and then having a clean follow-through, with the green laser showing the shot break. After a shot is broken, release the trigger sufficiently to shoot off the reset, where the red laser is still on, and then re-press the trigger to break a second or subsequent shot. If the lasers go completely off, you have completely disengaged the trigger from the sear. This indicates you’re not identifying the reset point. It further allows you to practice correct finger placement and the correct moment during the presentation and prepping the trigger correctly. Have the shooter align the target, prep and break the trigger. If the lasers are steady during this, they are engaging in proper trigger mechanics. If the shooter is, for example, right-handed, and the lasers sweep from right to left (a nine o’clock sweep), the shooter is not engaging in proper trigger mechanics. Observe the laser motion when breaking the trigger. Any comet-tail sweep is an indicator of poor trigger mechanics. Advanced shooters should, of course, train the same fundamentals as above. Many advanced shooters have fundamentals to train and strengthen, such as prepping the trigger prior to coming onto a target during a target transition. But advanced shooters need to train in higher volume with higher quality of movement. Such further training includes: shooting on the move, high-speed transitions (one target to another), high-speed wide transitions (over 90° between targets), and highvolume training. This is a supplemental tool, not a replacement. You still must do live fire and practice recoil management. ADVANTAGES OF THE SIRT PISTOL The SIRT Pistol is tremendously convenient for high-volume training. The lasers help identify mechanical trigger issues, ensuring proper trigger mechanics and sight alignment when breaking the trigger. You can set up training events anywhere at any time. The cost of training is zero, and range and ammo costs are completely eliminated. It allows you to focus on prepping the trigger, the break, re-set, and proper trigger control, all this while forcing the shooter to focus on the sights correctly and never having to fire a shot. I have been able to set up scenarios in cliReflective tape allows SIRT Pistol to be used in bright daylight. NEXT LEVEL TRAINING 82 OCTOBER 2016 | www.SWATMAG.com ent police stations and have the officers train while on duty intermittently, as well as set up in-station training with simulated ranges in the interior spaces prior to the officers qualifying the next day. Of course strict adherence to safety and protocols was implemented. DISADVANTAGES OF THE SIRT PISTOL SIRT is not a replacement for live-fire training, but a supplement. There is no recoil impulse simulation or slide operation during use. Shooters have a tendency to look at the laser impact and make corrections through this method instead of focusing on the sights. Users occasionally develop complacency relative to safe weapons handling. Assumptions of harmlessness begin to sneak into the mindset of the individual, and he may treat the weapon as a toy. This should be constantly monitored, highly discouraged, and eliminated. Treat and handle the device as a real weapon at all times. Obviously sometimes during force-on-force or other types of training, the device will be pointed at others. Treat it in the same manner as a marker-type projectile training weapon and strictly adhere to the highest safety protocols. The SIRT is not waterproof. If used in the rain, cover the upper opening in the slide with a small piece of tape. CONCLUSION The SIRT Pistol and rifle bolt are incredible training tools. You can have them in your home, office, or work place and set up scenarios safely without using real weapons to clear spaces. The possibilities are endless. I use this SIRT for training in vehicles in place of real weapons and for safety during demonstrations and practice at home. I routinely use it when demonstrating entry tactics and/or building search methodologies. It’s an excellent tool for students during the “crawl, walk, run” phases of training inside locations and during complex exercises for safety. My former agency purchased the devices and has integrated them into defensive tactics training. Some groups, individuals, and organizations use the SIRT Pistol and laser bolt for force-on-force scenario training. The SIRT Pistol allows instant feedback that is visible from the very first time they press the trigger, making their lack of trigger control obvious to them. You can place reflective tape at varying distances on targets to indicate hits. The laser strikes the reflective portion and reflects with high intensity. SIRT is a perfect training tool for anyone who owns or carries a weapon. Many police and military agencies are now purchasing these devices and integrating them into regular training for officers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department to name just two. When you cannot get to the range or adverse weather hits, the SIRT allows you to continue practicing. If you live in an urban area and are unable to visit the range regularly, it helps you maintain skills between sessions. I believe in this product and cannot recommend it more highly, based on testing, use, customer service, and ruggedness. Suggested retail price for the SIRT Pistol is $239.00. The AR bolt is $139.00. Monte Gould is a retired California peace officer (27½ years, 22 years SWAT). He served in the U.S. military, with both peacetime and combat deployments, from 1978 to 2009. He is the owner of I.M.T.T., which provides services to governmental organizations and entities. He can be reached at monteimtt@gmail.com. SOURCE NEXT LEVEL TRAINING LLC (360) 933-4640 www.nextleveltraining.com Above: Windage adjustment for laser is located on right side of pistol. Left: Red and green lasers activated together for take-up feature. Right: Weighted magazine simulates feel of actual magazine. www.SWATMAG.com | OCTOBER 2016 83

BFM DRILL

I was out at the range yesterday and I tried a shooting drill that Dave Spaulding posted on FB of Ken Hackathorn demoing the drill which he called the BFM drill.  This drill actually combines three of the most popular drills that shooters should practice.  The targets (IDPA type) are placed 7 yards apart from center to center and the shooting distance is 7 yards.  You load two magazines, one with 8 rounds and the other with at least 7 rounds.  Load the gun with the 8 round magazine.  You start from a holstered position.  On the beep, (timer sound), you draw and progress through the drill.  The first is the Bill Drill, shooting at the center target, 6 rounds placed into the center 8" A zone area. Second, the Fast Drill, shooting at the left side target, 2 rounds to the head box, to a slide lock, reload and 4 rounds to the 8" A zone area. Third, Mozambique Drill, shooting the right side target, 2 rounds to the A zone and 1 round to the head box. You should have shot 15 rounds.  Time limit is 20 seconds which is the lowest passing score, (D) grade and 11 seconds or less being the best, an (A) grade. Any misses add 1 second to your time!

I shot this drill an did it in 12.48 seconds, no misses.   Shot this drill with one of my Glock 19 stock pistols.  Guess that's somewhere between a B & B+.  I took a little more time so that I could get a good feel and rhythm for this drill.  I will take it for the first try!  I will get it down to 11 seconds or less!

This drill is designed to get the shooter thinking while placing well placed accurate shots on the targets.  I will definitely incorporate this drill in my more advanced classes.

Thanks, Dave & Ken!

PREP, PRESS, RESET!

Anyone who has ever taken any of my classes, from beginner to advanced skill level know how much I emphasis the importance of working that trigger smoothly and consistently! "PREP, PRESS, RESET". The attached article by Tiger Mckee is a great explanation of how it should be done!

Skill Set: Trigger Slack

A common problem with shooters, both new and experienced, is the "slack" or "take-up" on triggers. A lot of pistols, especially striker-fired handguns such as Glocks, XD's and M&P's have "slack" in the trigger. This slack is rearward movement of the trigger, a sort of free travel that must be removed or taken out before the actual trigger press begins. Confusing this slack with the trigger press is the cause for a lot of bad shots. The shooter presses the trigger. There's not a lot of resistance to it. When they actually get to the point that they start feeling resistance – where the real trigger press should start – they jerk the trigger, forcing the shot to fire. The shooter anticipates the recoil, tensing up their muscles and moving the sights off target. The result is an inaccurate shot.

The key to shooting accurately is pressing the trigger smoothly without anticipating when the shot is going to fire. A good trigger press fires the shot without moving the muzzle. Jeff Cooper called this a "surprise break." You press the trigger and let the pistol fire when it's ready, as opposed to you making the pistol fire. (The same thing applies to any firearm.) The time it takes to press the trigger, how smoothly it needs to be pressed, depends on the accuracy you need.

Trigger designs that have slack or take-up require you to press the trigger lightly to the rear, removing this free travel. Once the slack is out you begin pressing the trigger to fire the shot. Think of it as a two-stage trigger like you might find on a precision rifle.

At the start of a class we have shooters verbalize this process. During dry practice they come on target and place their finger on the trigger. They say out loud, "Slack out," or whatever words work best for them as an individual. At the same time they apply light pressure to the trigger until feeling the actual resistance start. (Verbalizing this slows the mind down, forcing the conscious mind to think about the process.) Then they release the slack out and take their finger off the trigger. This is done numerous times so they get the feel of taking the slack out and releasing it.

Once this is working well we move to the actual trigger press. This is a two-step process. They are on target, finger on the trigger. Step one: they say, "Slack out." The slack or take-up has been performed. Step two: they say out loud "Presssssssssss… ," hissing like a snake and steadily increase pressure on the trigger. At some point the trigger "breaks," moving all the way rearward. Remember this is done dry, so they get to the point that the sights are steady throughout and after the trigger press. (This is normally done in a team format so the "coach" can cycle the slide, allowing the shooter say out loud "Reset," releasing the trigger far enough forward to reset the internals.)

After plenty of dry practice to figure out how their trigger works we go hot, performing the same drill live, one shot at a time with students still verbalizing their actions. "Slack out," takes out the free travel. "Pressssssssss… ," fires the shot. They recover from the recoil; get the sights back on target, and say "Reset," to reset the trigger. This sequence produces good, accurate hits for beginners and experienced shooters improve their trigger manipulations.

"Learning" your trigger is a never-ending process. You're always trying to improve. Any time you pick up a different type firearm it's going to take some time to become familiar with that trigger. If you're helping out a friend or new shooter make sure they understand the principles involved. Knowing how to work the trigger, both before and after the shot, is the key to getting good hits. Practice this often.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama.

Springfield Day Sep't 24, 2016. Held at the Philadelphia Training Academy

This past Saturday the Philadelphia Training Academy
 held it's annual Springfield Day.  There were two guns given away and this one of them.  A Springfield 1911!  Congrats to the lucky winner!

Break It Down....Tiger Mckee

Skill Set: Break It Down

The techniques required to operate your firearm efficiently and safely are made up of a series of steps, individual actions combined to perform the necessary sequences. This is true for drawing the pistol, loading your AR or any other techniques you use. When there are problems it usually isn't with the entire process; there will be one step in the sequence that isn't working exactly right. You break the steps down, examining each one to determine where the problem is, and then isolate and practice that one step until it works in conjunction with the others to create a seamless sequence.

Let's look at reloading an empty pistol as an example. In the beginning everything is broken down into a series of steps. After repetition one step smoothly flows into the next. The biggest issue with shooters, especially in the beginning, is pressing the magazine release to get the old mag out. The other steps before and after releasing the mag are good, but the whole sequence - reloading the pistol - is slower than it should be because they are not efficiently releasing the mag. The solution to making the whole sequence efficient is spending time practicing this one step.

While there are exceptions, most pistols have the mag release on the left side. Normally a right hand shooter uses the right thumb to press the mag release. The button must be pressed in, towards the center of the pistol to release the magazine. Most people will have to shift their hand around the pistol – keeping the muzzle pointing in a safe direction - to hit the mag release. Think of this one step - releasing the magazine – as a set of smaller actions: Shift the pistol, release the mag and reacquire your grip.

Dry practice, as usual, is the best way to practice this act. You don't even need to use dummy ammo for this practice. Make sure you have a safe area to practice, with no live ammo present and a backstop capable of stopping a round if you do make a mistake. You put an empty mag in the pistol. Acquire your regular grip on the pistol. Shift the hand around the pistol and press the mag release. (Some pistols mag require you to strip the mag from the pistol.) Once the mag is out reacquire the proper grip on the pistol. Set it up again, and repeat. Do this a lot, until releasing the mag becomes a fluid action.

If you only work on the mag release as a part of reloading, working fast in order to get a shot on target, you'll be thinking about a lot of other things as opposed to releasing the mag. Isolating and concentrating on this one step improves the learning curve, instead of thinking about what needs to be done before and after the mag is released. Once you're working the mag release cleanly then you plug it into your other sequences such as unloading, reloading and clearing malfunctions.

This learning technique, isolating one step of a sequence to practice, works with any skill. The key is identifying where you're having problems. Once you discover the source of difficulty you break it down and concentrate on that one step, which may itself be a series of small steps. After practicing you plug it back into the complete sequence.

Learning requires discipline. You have to practice. During practice you critically examine your actions to find problems. You isolate the problem and practice until it's working. Then comes more practice, making sure your technique is flowing smoothly. Now it's time to find the next problem. The more "problems" you solve in advance the better your performance is when "that" time comes.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy

For the Ladies....Good information From Tiger Mckee

Skill Set: Ladies' Carry

Today's column is for the ladies, or for you guys who are going to help a lady get started with a handgun. The big news is that men and women are different. Yes, you know this, but apparently when it comes to helping a lady choose a pistol and how to carry it guys have a tendency to forget this. Women will have completely different requirements for a pistol and how they are going to carry the weapon. Here are some important things to consider.

According to Jeff Cooper, the three important features of a pistol are size and fit, good sights and a crisp trigger. First off, the pistol has to properly fit the hands so the shooter can acquire a proper grip. A pistol that "fits" means you can efficiently operate any features such as safeties. For example, smaller pistols have small thumb safeties which are more difficult to switch from "Safe" to "Fire" and back. A lot of women don't have the hand strength to work the thumb safety properly. With the various designs in handguns today I really don't see that a traditional thumb safety is needed, as long as the shooter has received the proper training and the accompanying practice.

A pistol that fits allows the shooter to get the proper position of the finger on the trigger. Ideally the finger is positioned with the trigger in the center of the first pad of the finger where it can press the trigger straight to the rear, as opposed to pushing or pulling it to one side, which will affect accuracy. Also, can you actually press the trigger? Most ladies have a hard time pressing the ten to twelve pound trigger on a standard revolver. In order to shoot accurately you have to press the trigger smoothly, and spend a lot of time doing it.

"Fit" also comes into play for manipulating the pistol. Again, think about hand size and strength. A pistol may fit the hand, but can the shooter operate the slide, manipulating it in order to load, unload or reload? Can they press the mag release without having to struggle or juggle the pistol in their hands? All of these actions are necessary to operate the pistol safely and efficiently.

You also need to think about "Fit" along carry lines. Will the pistol fit the way they need to carry? I've heard guys tell ladies, "You have to carry it in a holster on your belt, otherwise don't even bother carrying it." What? Again, women and men are different. Most ladies can't carry a handgun on the belt, either due to their size and shape or the way they have to dress. There are a lot of different options for carrying, and while a lot of people – guys – don't like carrying in a purse or bag it does have advantages. A lady can walk through the parking lot with their hand in their purse – and grip on the pistol – without attracting any attention. When your pistol is on the belt it's hard to do this without attracting attention.

Another factor to consider in the "Fit" department is recoil. Yes, carrying a big fast bullet is great, until it keeps you from shooting because it hurts the hand. Again, practice is mandatory. In my opinion a .380 pistol that "fits" someone - they'll actually shoot and practice with it – is much better than a lightweight .357 that they only shoot a few times and never touch again. We usually start beginners, both men and women, out with .22's and then have them move up to larger calibers.

"But," the guys complain, "Now I have to buy more pistols." Or, and this one really kills me, "My wife shot my XXX and now she wants one." What? You're complaining that your wife wants you to buy more pistols? Get that girl whatever she wants. If it's something she likes she'll probably shoot and carry it more.

Ladies, you need training. Guys - don't try to teach your wife or girlfriend how to shoot. Training is necessary to learn how to operate a firearm safely, the number one concern, and efficiently, which is mandatory for self-defense. I actually recommend new shooters to get training before buying a firearm. Most places will have pistols you can rent or use in the class, and the instruction will help you determine what type pistol is going to work best for you.

A great source of information is The Handgun Guide For Women by Tara Dixon Engel. This book has chapters on almost everything you need to get started. (Guys, I recommend you read it too.) It even has a chapter on "How To Visit A Gunshop," which is a difficult thing for most women.

Ladies, you need to be armed and ready to defend yourself and family. Guys, remember helping may not actively involve you. Everyone who is capable and ready should prepare. It's getting ugly out there, and I don't see it getting better any time soon.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, 

One Gun....Rich Grassi

One Gun

The first Glock 19s in the stable: the Gen 2 (right) was the first and it's very old. The second is the Gen 3, which saw lots of use in the waning years of my law enforcement career.

Are you the type that buys "one of these, one of those?" – A collector? There's not a thing wrong with it. Those who like guns often like lots of them and they enjoy the variation, learning different operating systems and simply enjoying range time or collecting.

There seem to be increasing numbers of practically minded folks who slavishly adhere to one type of handgun on the basis that they can only really learn one system – and there's something to be said for this as well.

The likelihood of a 'battlefield pickup' – snatching up a gun from someone who's down to use in an on-going emergency is currently (and thankfully) very slim. It's far more likely you'll need to dance with the one you brought along. Will you ever have all the skill you need? Is it possible to wish you hadless skill with the piece you have when the fight starts?

I don't believe so. I think you'll have more than enough to worry over. Having to learn your weapon system during the battle is just too much.

The story I always tell is my own experience. I yawned at the appearance of the early Glock pistols in the 1980s and shook my head as I watched them take over the US law enforcement scene in the 1990s. As I was teaching at seminars around the country in the middle and the latter half of the decade and into the 21st Century, it was Glock everywhere the eye could see. I was confronted with the fact that showing up with a "traditional double action" (trigger-cocking) pistol was just a source of confusion for folks who had the Wonder Plastic.

The current 'duty' gun is the Gen. 4 Glock 19, as refitted. Some parts were installed to bring the gun into line, others as a test.

I got a Glock 19 used in 2000 and worked with it some. Mike Rafferty was to attend a Glock armorer's recertification class. He'd looked my prize over, noted that it was an early U.S. G19 and took it along. The instructor did all the "updates" – and there were many. I got a Gen. 3 Glock 19 in the summer of 2001.

That gun accompanied me to an annual conference of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and I took every shooting class I could get into, including one from contributor Dave Spaulding. A set of XS Sights was installed and it went to the following IALEFI Annual and to Gunsite Academy on a media event. I consumed every bit of 3,000 rounds of ammo to get accustomed to that thing and it later became my "most trained with" firearm of all time. As a writer, I was pulled away from the gun to test others. I always seemed to go back to it.

Is it ideal? Well, I'm no 'caliber commando' – so the issue of the 9mm chambering is no issue for me. The gun has to function and hit to the sights. It has a consistent trigger shot-to-shot requiring no 'transition' from trigger-cocking to single action. It holds fifteen rounds in the magazine, can accept the 17-round magazine of its bigger brother – something I seldom take advantage of. That's in a form factor that the manufacturer calls "compact." The first auto I carried in police uniform – a Colt National Match – had a standard capacity of seven rounds.

The Glock 19 has a smaller sibling, the Glock 26, which accepts the magazines of the G19 and G17 – making it an ideal backup gun. I carried that way on the job, the G19 as the main holster gun and the Glock 26 in an ankle holster made by the late Lou Alessi as the backup. I supported them with two spare Glock 19 magazines. The older 2nd Gen Glock 19 waited in a safe in case my up-front gun was held as evidence in a shooting and to back it up at shooting classes.

Primary changes were sights, extractor and trigger -- but only because the factory action was substandard. The slide cover plate is simply vanity.

Since then, I've taken almost four years to get a Gen. 4 Glock 19 in shape to move to the front of the line. The trigger was the worst I'd found in the Glock line and it got replaced with the Glocktriggers.com duty trigger. The ejection was "so-so" and I installed the Apex Tactical Specialties Glock 'Failure Resistant Extractor.' That solved the issue. A Vickers slide stop, magazine release button and magazine floorplates were installed, as were Spaulding CAP sights from Ameriglo. I had to make a 'factory adjustment' to the rear sight as I have always shot decidedly left with this gun – something that never happened with the Gen 3 version or the Glock 26. This year, the Gen. 4 went on paper at the retirees' LEOSA range.

Your primary artillery doesn't have to be a Glock of any kind. I found the S&W M&P9C to be a perfectly fine carry gun – and nothing was done to the trigger, though it too has Ameriglo sights. I like and have carried 1911 pistols of various flavors. Which gun you choose isn't the point – my solution may not be good for you.

The gun I've fired most in training and practice is the Glock – the gun I have the most handling hours on is the double-action revolver, specifically the small, snub-nose five- or six-shot .38 revolvers from S&W, Colt and Ruger. I have one on now as a spare gun.

It's not the gun, it's the reps you have in. The dry practice, handling and competent disassembly for cleaning and maintenance and the live practice. That's what will carry the day because it's something you won't have to think about in the fight.

-- Rich Grassi 

Good article....by Rich Grassi

Editor's Notebook: Handling Post-Encounter Issues

Shooting at the range and training can be fun, but consider the aftermath of a lethal encounter -- that takes planning.

Much of the training, writing, internet videos explore gear and applications of force. It's necessary of course, but it seems that the least addressed aspect of deadly force is every bit as critical to success: what happens after the shots are fired and your ears are ringing?

This is not a simple, one-dimensional thing: how do you not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by an improper post-shooting procedure, how do you ensure that you're not destroyed by the offender's confederates, responding police, other armed persons nearby – or if you are bleeding out from gunshot wounds? After all that, we consider the legal reality.

Dave Spaulding is known for saying that you must an active participant in your own rescue. That's relevant in the fight – and all that precedes it – and it's relevant in the aftermath. It's all on you and you can't rely on others to prepare for the ugly eventualities on your behalf.

I'm aware of the bleating in big media about the horrors of the stupidly named "stand your ground" laws. Ask them, they'd likely tell you the Castle Doctrine upon which the "no need to prove inability to retreat" laws are based is just as bad. There are states' attorneys who have no love of self defense law and likely believe that you have no right to defend yourself from an attack – particularly if you're forced to use the ultimate force option to save yourself or others you have a duty to protect.

And it doesn't stop there. Anyone who believes you can only be tried once for a single event has real issues. I'm no lawyer and I know about 'double jeopardy,' but the armed citizen can face criminal and civil liability. The police officer can – and does – face criminal and civil liability at both state and federal levels. That's four potential trials before we examine the potential employment liability in internal agency investigations.

Any idea why someone wouldn't choose a career in law enforcement?

Some light reading and the ID card from the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network.

I attended Deadly Force Instructor in 1998, taught by friend and mentorMassad Ayoob. I annually took – and taught – instructor level training in uses of force by police. Let's say I became a little acquainted with the law.

I'm no lawyer though, nor is Mas. His second great book on the topic of understanding the rules of the road in terms of deadly force, Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense, is as important a work as you can find on the topic. There's another text on the topic, a complementary work – not a replacement, and that's attorney Andrew Branca's The Law of Self Defense.

The Foreword of the text is written by the aforementioned Ayoob and sets the context of the two books – and the two instructors, as Branca teaches a well-attended course based on his book.

He goes beyond Mas's book in the sense that he breaks down various legal elements on a state-by-state basis – yes, there are differences and you better know the rules where you live – and the rules of locations to which you travel.

The context of the legal battle is set in terms of competing narratives, the state advancing a theory of criminal behavior behind your use of deadly force and your defense creating the image of defendant as a crime victim in perilous straits. Branca sets the five links, essential components of a successful self-defense claim, as innocence, imminence, proportionality, avoidance and reasonableness.

This sounds remarkably like the 'circumstance that justifies homicide,' as put forth by Ayoob: "immediate, otherwise unavoidable danger of death or great bodily harm to the innocent."

Branca examines these in turn, then explores issues like 'defense of property.' Instead of quickly dismissing the concept, he explores it with a keen analysis – showing you "his work" and how he arrived at the conclusion most of us in the field share. He advances a legally sound defense strategy – minimizing your exposure to liability entanglements completely. His state specific information – which, as Ayoob points out is alone worth the price of the book – covers provocation/aggressor laws, 'regaining innocence' laws, justified deadly force, the duty to retreat in deadly force cases, legal presumption of reasonableness, justifiable use of force in defense of others, use of non-deadly force in defense of property – and use of deadly force in defense of property.

Taking the class to get your permit doesn't make you ready to roam about armed in public no more than simple citizenship allows a blanket pass to armed self defense on your own property. As a Natural Right, self defense requires some thought, soul-searching and consideration.

Understanding this, you need to study both texts. Add to that some active and ongoing protection, like membership in theArmed Citizens' Legal Defense Network.

Failure to do so can move you down the road to negative outcomes in the form of civil and criminal penalties.

Get both books, read them. Be an active participant in your own legal rescue.

-- Rich Grassi 

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!

ROTAC TRAING GROUP, Course selection

The following is the selection of courses that are being offered by the ROTAC TRAINING GROUP;

Price of the course does not include the ammunition that is required for each course or the range fee!  Range fee depends on where the course is being held.

Students are required to bring their own Eye and Ear Protection!  A decent baseball style cap is required for all live fire training!

Training certificates are given to all students that successfully complete the course!

A 50% deposit is required one week prior to the scheduled date of the class.  Cash only!

ROTAC # 1     Safety & Basic Skills Class
This is a class that is designed for first time gun owners as well as anyone that has never had any type of formal firearms training.  It is a 5 hour class that emphasizes the Safety and Responsibility that must be recognized and applied when handling and operating any type of firearms.  The focus of the course is bases around the handgun, revolver/semi-auto.

ROTAC # 2      Enhanced Basic Skills
This a 2 hour class that is designed as a follow up to ROTAC # 1 
Emphasis of this course is developing the students shooting skills.

ROTAC # 3      Intermediate Handgun Skills
This a 2 hour class designed to teach the student the correct procedures for working there particular gun.  This class will introduce the student to the proper technique for presenting the gun from the holster so that it can be done in the most efficient and effective manner.  The student will also get the intro on proper loading techniques and resolving problems that may occur when operating a (semi-auto)handgun.  This course is designed for individuals that have had some training and are able to handle their gun safely.

ROTAC #4       Advance Intermediate Skills
This a 3 hour class designed to take the student to the next level of their learning process.  The student will start to be pushed harder at working and running the gun.  It will never take the student out of his or her ability to place accurate shots on the target.  However, the student will be pushed out of their comfort zone a little in order to make them better shooters.   We will never accept speed over accuracy!

ROTAC # 5      Advanced Handgun Skills
This a 4 hour class that is designed to test your ability to put all the skills that you have learned together.  It is a fast moving and difficult program.  It is designed to test the student ability under stress.     

This class will provide you with the necessary training  the is required for the Florida Non-Resident CCW which is good in 29 states.  Complete packet is included as well as the certificate of training.  

This class will help you to develop the mindset and confidence that you should have if you carry a gun for self defense. 

ROTAC  #6      Introduction Shotgun
Three hour class.  Function and operation as well as ammunition selection is discussed in detail.  This class will provide you with skills that you need in order to operate a shotgun efficiently and effectively.  It provides the student with vital information and dispels the myths and incorrect information about the shotgun.

 I like my pistol, but I love my shotgun!

ROTAC #7      Semi-auto Carbine
 Three hour class starts off with function and features of this extremely popular weapon system.  It addresses the different type of platforms that this weapon system is available in.  Zeroing your sights, both iron and red dot systems.  Shooting this weapon for maximum effect.

As always we still do the qualification for Retired Law Enforcement Officers, HR-218/S-1132.  

For more information please call or e-mail me,
rotac2@gmail.com
Cell # 215-416-0750

Active Killers, by Tiger Mckee

Skill Set: Active Killers

The killings in Orlando … I spent a long time trying to think about what to write for today's column. A variety of different topics came to mind, and after starting them I felt that they were lacking. I thought about the lessons that could be discussed. How do you react in this type situation, where it's illegal to carry firearms, crowded and with limited exits? Did anyone try to stop the attacker, even though they were unarmed? Would an organized defense, with multiple people involved have stopped the killing? In the end, I decided to suggest readers watch this video: Active Shooter, a very realistic video, and it may not be appropriate for everyone.

Called "Surviving an Active Shooter," it is a short video produced by the LA County Sheriff's Department. Using realistic scenarios they go through your options in responding to an active murderer. The three options they present are escape, hide, and fight.

Avoidance and escape are always your best option when faced with danger. In order to do this you must have a plan, which means knowing where the exits are for where you spend lots of time. You also need to think about improvised exits, such as windows that can be smashed or broken and/or any other areas that may lead to safety. When entering a new environment, you locate and identify your exits, both conventional and improvised. With family members or friends it's important to have a plan in place beforehand, knowing who will do what and basic principles that will apply regardless of the situation.

Hiding is another option, except it may not be as easy as it sounds. The use of concealment is an art; hiding is a lot more difficult than it actually sounds. The video above mentions silencing cell phones. Movement must be stopped, so that you don't create noise and attract the eye of the threat. Even communicating is difficult. Keep in mind you will probably be experiencing auditory exclusion – your hearing will shut down – so what sounds like a whisper to you will be loud enough to attract unwanted attention.

Making the decision to fight back, the third option, is a difficult one. Can you actually stop the threat? Knowing how to shoot accurately is one thing. Accurately engaging a moving threat surrounded by dozens of bystanders is a completely different matter. What about when you don't have a firearm? There are always improvised weapons at hand, if you are ready and willing to use them.

When do you decide to fight? Some situations may demand an immediate response. Others may require you to wait for the opportunity. Are you going to escape, or are you willing to risk your life to save others? These questions, and many more, can be thought about and debated prior to an event, but the right answers can only be determined on the spot.

The world is full of evil. Everyone who is old enough to recognize this – in varying degrees and according to their age – must be prepared to deal with violence.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" 

GOOD NEWS!

THE ROTAC TRAINING GROUP will now be doing training at the PHILADELPHIA TRAINING ACADEMY, located at 831 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia Pa.  This is a full service gun shop and range.  They offer all types of training and I am very happy to be affiliated with them.  I will post the courses that I will be offering in the very near future.  Thanks to all of you that responded in such a positive way to my last post.  It meant a lot to me.

Remember, Preparation, Practice = PERFORMANCE!

Announcement

Effective today, 6/13/2016 I have suspended all and any type of training that was being conducted at the Double Action Shooting Range.  This includes all Basic Safety and Skill classes as well as the Pa Act 235 Program.  I will most likely have another range, very shortly, in order to continue with any type of training.  

The only regret I have is that I have trained hundreds of individuals at that location and have established a lot of great friendships with a lot of those folks.  I will not be far guarantee you.  I will let you know where I will be.  Please stop in and say hello!

A lot of training will continue to be done at the So. Jersey Facility, USANT, MTC, Elmer, NJ.

Motion vs. Action....Tiger Mckee

Motion vs. Action

On the range I often see people going through the motions required for a specific task, as opposed to performing the actions necessary to accomplish that task. But, you ask, isn't this the same thing? No. You go through the motions required to load the pistol, but that doesn't mean you've performed that action properly. Motion and action are not the same things.

A prime example, as mentioned above, is loading the pistol. It starts by inserting and seating the magazine. You perform this motion, but was it an effective action? Did you just insert the mag, or actually seat it, using aggressive action? Aggressive, exaggerated action with purpose seats and locks the mag in place.

Next, you cycle the slide. Again, aggressive, exaggerated action is required to ensure the slide is pulled all the way to the rear and then released so it snaps forward, feeding a round from the mag into the chamber. Short stroking the slide, not pulling it fully to the rear, is a common source of stoppages. In other words, operator induced malfunctions.

The final step in loading - an administrative manipulation - is checking the chamber to confirm there's one in the "pipe." This is another time when I see a lot of "motion" vs. "action." I watch people "checking" the chamber but not actually performing the action. They go through the motions, pulling the slide slightly to the rear and physically or visually checking for a round in the chamber. Yet, when they come up on target and press the trigger the pistol goes "click" instead of "BANG!" (This is accompanied with a flinch, the muzzle dipping down as they expect the shot to fire.) Yes, they went through the motions of "checking," but they didn't actually confirm whether or not there was a round chambered.

Their next response is to turn the pistol slightly sideways and look at it with a surprised expression on their face. "I loaded it," they are thinking, "so why didn't it fire?" Sometimes they even say this out loud. "Because," I reply, "you went through the motions, but you didn't actually check or notice that there wasn't a round in the chamber." This is motion without action.

You can perform all the right motions, but without the proper actions you won't get good results. Drawing the pistol can be an efficient action, or it can include a lot of wasted motion. When checking the chamber, the correct action tells you whether it's loaded or not. While scanning the environment you either go through the motions, simply turning your head from one side to the other, or you're in action, scanning like there is something important you need to see.

Motion is defined as "movement." Action is "the performance of a function." Good results are based on proper actions. This principle applies to all aspects of your life.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. 

Shotgun Myths

Editor’s Note: We may have taken a break from our series on defensive shotguns, but it’s far from being over. Today, I’m proud to be able to share the following contribution from Darryl Bolke; a true expert in the field of fighting shotguns. Darryl is a fantasticshooting instructor with a wealth of knowledge and experience that is matched by very few in our industry today. Whatever your background with shotguns has been, you can probably learn a thing or two from Darryl’s take on a few popular shotgun myths.
-CB

---

One of the defensive firearms that has been a source of a massive amount of myth and misconception is the 12 gauge shotgun. Having used the 12 gauge as my primary long gun for high-risk work as a police officer for almost two decades, I would like to try to shed some light on reality versus myth.

First, I am not just “a cop who used a shotgun”. Those folks are often some of the worse perpetrators of fiction. I used a shotgun many, many times. I used them when most of my co-workers would not. If I had an inkling of high risk, a Remington 870 went with me. This was usually tight interior building work, searches for felons with K9’s, and high-risk vehicle stops. I have used a shotgun with exceptional results in a couple of actual shootings along with the deployments. I also wrote the policy and the program to put true fighting shotguns in every police unit. I hold instructor and user certifications from many different training organizations and trained with some of the most prolific shotgun instructors in the country. They really are “my thing”, and I would put my experience level up against anyone on actual usage. With that out of the way, let’s delve into the first of several articles that are part of our series on the fighting shotgun.

Myth 1: “You don’t have to aim a shotgun”

The author’s personal Remington 870 has iron sights and an Aimpoint red dot sight… because aiming is important.

This is a big one, maybe the biggest. Just pull the trigger and a cone of death appears, right? TV and movies have only perpetuated this myth. Here is the truth. Most guns with good buckshot will have a shot pattern of about 1 inch per yard. Some specialty loads or barrel treatments will hold it tighter. That leaves a lot of room to miss in close quarters and a lot of room to lose most of the effectiveness at distance. Keep in mind that buckshot is pretty much a .33 caliber sphere that makes a single round hole. When those pellets are tightly compressed in indoor room distances, they create devastating wounds that will overwhelm the system by causing numerous wound channels very close together simultaneously. If they make a single “rat hole” in very close quarters, they are hard to recover from by letting a lot of air in and fluid out rapidly. Once we get past about 15 yards with normal loads and 25 yards in the specialty loads, we get single pellets making a single hole in a few places that are not very efficient at stopping people. We also start getting to the point where we are losing many of the pellets off the target, and they will all hit something. So the truth is, you need to aim the gun, and it is most effective at about 15 yards or closer with buckshot loads.

With slugs, we get a single projectile that is highly penetrative (they work well against vehicles and felons behind cover). The slug gives us distance extension, but because of their penetrative nature we very much have to be aware of backstop and ensure we hit our targets. Again, aiming is critical, and in the next article, I will address sighting systems for the shotgun that can help with aim. It is absolutely critical that anyone using a shotgun for defensive needs take the gun to the range with actual defense loads you will be using and pattern the shotgun. Know for sure what your shot spread is and how accurate you are capable of with both slugs and buckshot. Training with birdshot is fine, but you have to also do the work with buckshot and slugs if that is what will be in the gun you are depending on in a crisis.

Myth 2: “Anyone can use a shotgun”

Another huge myth is that shotguns are great for non-dedicated shooters — a horrific assertion that often goes with the “don’t need to aim” myth. The 12 gauge shotgun has heavy recoil, ammunition that’s difficult to manage, limited capacity, and is long and difficult to maneuver in close quarters without very specific handling skills that take training and dedication. Management of the shotgun requires very aggressive handling of the gun when using it to both operate the action and to handle the recoil. Pistol grip only shotguns are by far the worst of the bunch, and the only real practical use for them is breaching, and some specialized units have used them for covert carry. If those tasks are not part of your mission, don’t buy them. These are not the guns to give to the elderly, frail, inexperienced, or novice shooters. Yet, the 12 gauge shotgun and the equally difficult to master airweight snub revolver seem to be favorites to sell or give to the exact people who should not be using them.

“In my first shooting, the two carjackers I was up against both told investigators individually in interviews that they heard me rack my Remington 870 as I exited my car. The effect it had was exactly nothing.”

One of my personal favorites is “you just need to rack the shotgun and criminals will run”. This is utter nonsense. In my first shooting, the two carjackers I was up against both told investigators individually in interviews that they heard me rack my Remington 870 as I exited my car. The effect it had was exactly nothing. They did not surrender or change their actions at all, other than to prepare for a fight.

Truly dangerous predatory criminals are not like you and me. Having guns pointed at them is not new or unique and they do not scare easily. Are there crooks that will run if they hear a shotgun being racked? Sure, but those are the same folks that will run if a light goes on or they are spoken to harshly. So, the racking of a shotgun will simply let a criminal know you are arming yourself for a fight–period. You are now at the mercy of their fight or flight decision. If they flee, great. If they choose to fight, the question now shifts to how well you have prepared for that fight. If your preparation is depending on them running because of a noise, you are in deep trouble. If you have invested in proper selection of your defensive tools and solid professional training, you will be in much better shape.

Myth 3: “Just fire a round in the air” 

This is simple. Do not listen to Joe Biden. He is an idiot with zero understanding of criminal and civil law. You are responsible for everything that leaves the gun. Subjecting the community to falling projectiles fired from a gun without justification is a felony in many places and the “Biden Defense” will likely not work.

Myth 4: “Shotguns are too big to use inside”

The myth that the shotgun is too big to work indoors is one that does have a bit of truth. Unfortunately, the typical solution is wrong. This myth is what is often used to sell people on pistol-gripped shotguns with no shoulder stocks. Again, these make matters worse, not better. The truth is that shotguns are difficult to run in close quarters. It is why I was a rarity in my agency for using them a lot indoors. They can be run very efficiently indoors, but you have to train, practice, and have a deep understanding of how to move and function with a long gun in tight confines.

This comes down to dedication of learning. If you decide to try to clear your home (or someone else’s, for the LE/Military folks), you need to devote time and training to figure this out. For most home owners using a shotgun for home defense with minimal training, the best role is to use them in a bunker defense role of holing up in a bedroom or secure area while waiting for authorities.

The author during a class demonstrating a “short sticking” technique for running the shotgun in close quarters.

Myth 5: “Shotguns are the ultimate in reliability!”

The last thing I want to address is reliability. Many think these guns are utterly reliable. They are not. Pump guns can be easily short-stroked under stress. The semi-autos often depend on ammunition and proper maintenance to function well. Most of the shotguns we have for defensive use are sporting guns altered into a role to use for fighting. Sporting guns are not like military guns. They are not easy to clear if malfunctions occur, and when they have parts failure they usually require a trip to a gunsmith to fix. Make sure you invest in good equipment and do not cut corners.

“These guns are often the primary defense of your castle that protects your most precious things. Your family, pets, and your assets are at stake. Do not put these at risk by skimping on getting proper instruction.”

Do not hang tons of accessories off of these guns. They need a light, sling, and sights as a priority, and on-board ammunition capacity as a bonus and that is about it. Use a quality gun and proven accessories, and you will be good on the hardware side. On the software side, training is critical. Seek solid advice and at least one good professional training course at a minimum. These guns are often the primary defense of your castle that protects your most precious things. Your family, pets, and your assets are at stake. Do not put these at risk by skimping on getting proper instruction. Watching movies with lots of shotgun use is not instruction (although I highly recommend Way of the Gun if you want to get some ideas). Invest in training and practice ammunition instead of gadgets and myths. Do some homework and do not depend on the advice of people who often have no idea of what they are talking about.  They are usually the ones who elevate myths and TV fantasy to perceived reality status.

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