FIRE AWAY

Well as you can see, I have named this post FIRE AWAY. In the future that will be the title that I will use for any posts that have to deal with training and training issues.  That was the title that was given to atrticles that I had the opportunity to write, for a So. Jersey men's tabloid type magazine that was circulated in and around the New Jersey area.  I really enjoyed doing that but it was cut short because of some internal problems within the organization.  I did publish those artictles on this blog back than.  If you go back you can find them.

Enough said!  Let's get to the present.  As most of you who know me or have participated in any of the classses that I have been involved with.  I take the subject of firearms Safety & Responsiblity very Serious.  With an emphasis on Safety.  The reason for that is this. Once the gun goes bang everything from that point is history!   You will then be held accountable for what ever the results of that action were.  I am sure that most you who follow this blog are firearm enthusisis/shooters.  Based on that asssumption you are all pretty fimilar with the saying "if your in a gun fight and you get a Click when you were expecting to get a Bang, That will be the loudest noise you will ever hear".   Well I am here to tell you that if you get a bang when you were expecting to get a click, that will be an experience that you will not forget for a long time!  That is something that can haunt you and possibly destroy your life!

The Four Cardinale Rules of Firarms Safety!
1. All guns are always loaded!
2, Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to Destroy!
    That means always keep the muzzel of the gun pointed in a SAFE DIRECTION!
3. Never put your finger into the trigger gaurd or on the trigger until your sights are on the 
    target and you have made the deceision that it is safe to fire the gun!
4. Be aware of your target and what is beyound and around your target!

These rules are so important and need to be understood and burned into your subconscience so that anytime that you are handling a firearm of any type you are conscience of each one of the four rules.  I always tell anyone that I am talking to regarding firearms this, If you can't give 100% of your attention to what you are doing when handling any type of firearm then Don't handle it, PERIOD!

The reason that these rules are so important is bacicly this.  If you blow one than hopefully one of the other three will cover your ASS so that the only thing that you might be subjected to is a little embarressment!  You did not Damage, Seriously Injure or Kill anyone!  If you have not got the message yet, this is some SERIOUS STUFF! 

Talk to you soon!

SOMETHING WRONG HERE?

Training....?????

What do you consider to be good valuable training?  Ask yourself this simple question.  Does your training include the following;  Is it REALISTIC, will it work in the real world environment.   Is it RELEVANT, to and for the purpose that you are devoting your valuable time to doing it.  And,  Is it RECENT, are you doing it often enough so that your skill level is always at peak performance.  If you cannot answer yes to the three basic questions then you might just want to reconsider what you are doing with your training and change it.  

Before you even go to the range and begin your practice, ask yourself another question.  This one is not a simple one with a simple solution. Is your head in the game.  Please do not think that I consider Self Defense and the Use of Deadly Force to be a game.  It is not and in fact it is a very SERIOUS matter. 

What I am talking about is, MINDSET.  What is yours?  When I think about mindset two words immediately come to mind; Awareness and Willingness. Do you keep yourself in an aware state of mind.  Knowing where you are at and who is around you especially in unfamiliar environments.  This is especially important when you are carrying because you should not let anyone ever enter into  your reactionary zone.  This is called Situational Awareness.  Have you or have you not already come to terms with your conscience and moral responsibilities. Meaning, if the need arises are you going to be able to do what is necessary for you to prevail.   Remember if you don't handle the problem then the problem is going to handle you!  You see, if you have not come to the very serious conclusion that you are willing to do what ever is Reasonable and Necessary than maybe you should not be carrying a gun.  

The point of this post is to shed a little light on what you should be concerned and focused on if you have made the decision to be an legal armed citizen. Do not be fooled by the premise that because you have a gun that you are protected.  If I may use the cliche, " Just because you own a piano doesn't make you a piano player".  

If you have made the decision or you are about to make the decision to go armed than you have to make it a life style.  And you have to be committed to it 100%.  That means getting as much quality training and practicing what you are learning so, that if the need arises, you will be efficient and effective when you must engage.

A good rule to go by is this; always, especially when you are armed avoid all and any possible confrontations.  Use that magnificent God given tool between your ears to help you make the right decision .  If you use that you will be much better off.  

SHOOTING UP CLOSE FROM THE                                                                                         WEAPON RETENTION POSITION. 

Remember the 3 P's, PRACTICE, PREPARATION, = PERFORMANCE!

Killing a Man: A good read

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Killing a Man: A Ranger Reflects

July 17, 2014 by Special Guest ~ Leave A Comment

It’s not that you think it won’t happen, but maybe you just aren’t quite anticipating it when it does happen. I always thought I would know when the moment was coming… like the men who stormed Normandy. They knew they were going to kill someone that day. They knew as they were crossing the English Channel that they were going to fire their weapon, and chances were that they would find their mark at some point. They knew that, and were probably prepared for that to some extent.

When you button hook that corner, in what you assumed was a dry hole, and you see him standing there… you don’t have time to think about it, to contemplate philosophy, right or wrong, or is there a God? The left forearm engages, lifting the front end of the rifle while the right hand tightens around the pistol grip and the thumb moves to the selector switch. The eyes… the eyes move to center mass of the target. You don’t look in his eyes and see his soul like they portray in the movies. It is a reflex as old as mankind itself, you see a threat, and you eliminate the threat.

The guy is scared out of his mind though. You realize this in retrospect, but even though he had that shitty AK-47 in his hands, he never stood a chance. He was terrified of the situation he found himself in. From the moment he felt the over pressure from that little strip of hydrogel, 100 mile-per-hour tape, and triple strand detonation chord, he knew he was fucked. He maybe had time to let the adrenaline flood his body, but not much else.

Adrenaline affects both parties though. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time, the supply of oxygen and glucose to my muscles and brain increased, my blood vessels and air passages dilated, and the muscles of the iris contracted to allow my pupils to expand. Kill or be killed, right? Something like that. Human nature.

My pointer finger had already wrapped around the trigger. It didn’t ask permission from my brain, it was just there. Was I really about to take a life? I know one thing; I sure as fuck don’t have time to ponder that question. The holographic red circle was on his chest; just above the soviet style ammunition rack he was wearing. The intermediate phalange instinctively squeezed the trigger, the selector switch having already been forced to the twelve o’clock position.

One round, then the second impacted him, center mass… just as I had been trained. An exhale of breath, an aggressive step forward, and with out even a chance to think about the implications, a third round exited the fourteen inch barrel and impacted the maxillary bone, just barely missing the eye ball itself.

What the fuck? Is this the apex of the experience that can be summarized as taking a life? I just separated a soul from it’s human body, and now I am almost on top of the body, dumping more rounds into his chest… because that’s what I should do? Make sure the threat is eliminated… right? Fuck, now I have to think about the implications of my actions as I make the call that there is one enemy killed in action, building four.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Though shalt not kill” floods my conscious, will I be denied at the gates of Heaven? Will I have a seat in the great hall of Valhalla? He had a weapon, right? I immediately suppress these thoughts; I need to continue to clear. Keep moving. Don’t be a bitch. Millions have taken a life before you, you aren’t special, continue to clear. If you didn’t shoot him, he would have shot you. Or maybe he would have just stood there like a bitch, and you could have taken him down with out taking his life. Maybe. Rangers don’t live in the world of “maybe.” Do, or do not.

The noise in my ear says that the building is secure, my squad leader glances at me with a smirk. First kill. I know that is exactly what he is thinking. The body in the corner is lifeless. A pool of crimson surrounds him. That is my doing, like it or not. What the fuck did you expect? That you were never going to pull the trigger? You said you wanted this, now you have it. Fucking deal with it. He was a bad guy after all.

Well, the shoot house back on Hunter is never going to be the same… that much is for sure. At least it wasn’t one of your own guys. Death is a part of life; you didn’t do anything outside of what was natural. Man goes to war, man takes life as needed.

I think about that night from time to time. I don’t have nightmares about it, I just think about it. It’s something I would rather not think about if I were being completely honest. It is what it is though, right? Maybe I’m not as strong as my fellow Rangers. Maybe I’m the same as them, I don’t know. It is what it is. I guess I’ll just keep… on keeping on… I guess. If you were wondering, would I do it again? Yeah, I probably would. I haven’t been presented with the opportunity, but I would. I mean, I already did it once… so what’s the point in getting all hung up about it if I have to do it again? All sins are equal in the eyes of the Lord, right?

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SKILL SET....Tiger Mckee

Skill Set: Do You ... ?

Having a gun isn't enough to keep you safe. You have to have the skill set, presence of mind, practice and the other aspects of emergency preparation in place as well.

Do you know, understand and apply the Four Basic Safety Rules all the time?

Do you know the laws for where you are concerning carrying firearms and the use of lethal force?

Do you practice at least twice a week? (Dry practice counts.)

Do you practice drawing, moving, communicating, and using cover?

Do you have a basic response to a potential threat already in your mind and ready to implement?

Do you shoot at least once a month, and if so do you shoot while moving?

Do you know what to do afterwards, if it is necessary to use your weapon?

Do you have a lawyer ready, willing, and capable of representing you if you have to use your weapon?

Do you have a plan in case of an attack when you're not carrying a firearm?

Do you have the equipment close by and the basic skills necessary to deal with some type of major trauma, wound or injury?

Do you have a flashlight on you right now?

Do you know where the fire extinguisher is, and how to operate it?

Do your family members know what to do in case of an emergency?

Do you - where it is legal - have a firearm on you or within arms reach?

Do you know how to keep someone from taking your weapon away, disarming you?

Do you know if you are ready or not?

Personal protection is an individual responsibility. If you answered "no," to any of the questions above, or "maybe" - there's nothing worse than not knowing for sure - then you are not ready to take care of yourself and family. And, these are the easy questions.

Truly being responsible, prepared to deal with emergencies, is about answering questions, not how many training courses you've attended or the quantity of firearms you own. Your job is to anticipate all the questions and figure out their answers in advance, prior to the time lives depend on what you know and can do. And, if you're responsible for other people, like your family, then shame on you for not being ready. It's one thing if you're not prepared to take care of yourself. It's unforgivable to not be ready and able to take care of those who depend on you.

Being responsible means being ready for trouble all times, not just when you think it might happen. If you knew when it was going to happen you'd be somewhere safe, or fully prepared, which means there wouldn't be any danger. Trouble comes at unexpected times and in all forms, both man-made and natural. Understand and acknowledge this: You have to be ready all the time. That should change your priorities and how you live. It's a sad fact, but most people can operate the remote for their home entertainment system better than they can their pistol.

Answering "no" to any of the questions above means you don't get it, yet. So you reset your mind and make the necessary sacrifices and changes, or quit kidding yourself and invest in a rabbit's foot or other good luck charm.

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

Post by Dave Spaulding

Handgun Combatives

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Physiological Efficiency

Like many jocks of college age, I minored in Physical Education with an emphasis on coaching. In my case it was Track and Field as I attended college on a scholarship in the same sport.  To successfully complete this degree, I was required to attend a year- long course entitled “Sports Physiology” which was the study of human anatomy and that relates to movement specifically directed at athletics. It was a good thing I could run fast and jump far as I had (still don’t!) no real hand-eye coordination. I was the poor kid who grew up unable to catch a ball, hit same or shoot one through a hoop with any degree of success.  This course of instruction was a real eye opener for me as it explained many things about the body, what it was capable of and how you could improve its performance by adjusting technique to best make use of how it wants to move. 

Track and Field…especially the field events…are very technique-driven and great improvement can be attained through what was called “physiological efficiency” at the time.  I attribute the phrase to a very famous (both in and out of the track world as he was the founder of a little known company called Nike) track coach as he was the first person I ever heard use the phrase as it related to the long jump. Basically, the athlete eliminated any motion that was not required to attain speed and distance.  It was a real asset to me as I tried to excel in my sport. In a nutshell, I improved my jumping distance by several feet!!  Have you ever seen a runner who was so smooth when they ran that it looked effortless? This is a good example of physiological efficiency.

Upon entering the police academy, I realized my lack of hand/eye coordination would once again be a detriment in hand-to-hand combat and shooting. I could hit my target reasonably well, but all of the other necessary motor skills were a challenge.  I first used a semi auto in 1982 after my agency’s SWAT team was formed, and I quickly realized a rapid magazine exchange, better known as the speed load, would be a huge challenge for me. The gun was a 1911 and as you all know, single column auto loaders are the most challenging to load fast. Thinking back to my track and field days, I pulled out some of my old training books to review the sections that dealt with physiological efficiency and applied the lessons to pistol shooting.

I understood even back then, there were only so many ways to “run” a pistol and they  had all been invented regardless of any current or future claims of “the latest greatest” technique.  Nonetheless, by applying the physiological efficiency I learned while running track, I was able to put together a method that worked well for me. Why is this important? Admittedly, it’s because I’m not a gifted shooter and it is likely that neither are you! But in three decades of law enforcement, I’ve won a few matches and faced my share of armed suspects. In addition, I’ve trained thousands, of cops and citizens using physiological efficiency and it has worked well.  As an instructor, I feel this is my greatest asset…to learn from someone who struggles with shooting well and found methods to improve versus a gifted shooter who really does not understand why they are good.

At last count, I have had 112 cops contact me and tell me that what they learned saved their lives…12 have supplied video tapes of their incidents.  While this sounds like a lot, it really isn’t for an instructor in law enforcement who has been teaching for decades. Conversations with large agency instructors at conferences like ILEETA and IALEFI has made me realize this. Please don’t ask to see the videos as I was told NOT to share at the time I was contacted. If you are one of those officers and are reading this, PLEASE get back with me if that ban has been lifted.  If so, I would be more than happy to share so good guys and gals can learn from them. There is nothing better in this world (well, maybe with your clothes on!) than to hear the words “What you taught me saved my life! “

I included physiologically efficient methods into my book Handgun Combatives, the video of the same name from Paladin Press and the four videos I did for Panteao Productions. I feel they are the simplest and most efficient ways to shoot and manipulate the semi auto pistol in combative situations. While calling the book something like “Combative Handgun Shooting made Simple” or “Combative Handgun for Dummies” was enticing, my publisher felt it might send the wrong message and they were probably right.

I have been informed recently by people who were riding tricycles or wearing diapers when I first explored the concept that my use of the word “physiology’ is wrong and that I am referring to “biomechanics” or “kinesiology”. Huh, I did not know the year- long course I took should have been called “Sports Biomechanics” or “Sports Kinesiology”.  I have found that when someone feels compelled to “correct” another, rename something or generally be a pan in the ass it’s because they are trying to get people to believe they created or invented it. This is usually done to increase profit or raise profile…whatever.  Sorry folks, the study of human motion has been ongoing for centuries and no “new on the scene instructor” created this stuff. If you think they did then get with me as I have a bridge in the Everglades to sell you…and I will offer it at a super price!

Physiological efficiency is a theme I state repeatedly in my classes and I will continue to do so as it works.  When it comes to combative shooting or open hand fighting if it feels like you’re hardly moving, you‘re probably doing it right! My search for simpler and easier ways will probably last until the day I die. ..it’s that important!  

Posted by Dave Spaulding 

Intermediate Skills Class

Hi Folks, Just sitting hear and trying to take in all the crazy and chaotic things that are going on not only nationally and world  wide, but also in our local area.  I got a call from a good friend of mine who happens to be a SWAT Team operator in one of the largest PD's in the Phila. Area.  He asked me if I heard about the shooting which involved a member of his team and a piece of S... who was wanted on a murder charge.  From what my friend told me this piece of S.... shot the officer first.  Fortunately because of the officer's training and his mindset he was able to return fire and kill that SOB!  The officer that was shot is doing fine and going to be alright.  Thank GOD for that!  One for the good guys and another scum bag that is off the street!  The reason I have posted this information is because it is an introduction to what I would like to talk about, and that is my Intermediate Handgun Skills Class.  This class is being held at the Double Action Indoor Shooting range in Yeadon, Pa. tomorrow starting at 10;00 am.  It is a 5 hour class and will cover a variety of different topics that have to do with being a legal and responsible CCW  individual.  Each of the participants will run through a large amount of Dry Fire Drills and will then go on the range and utilize that practice in actual Live Fire Drills.  They will probably shoot close to 250 rounds of ammo.  Hopefully this will enhance their shooting skills and give them a better idea of where they are at and how to improve so that they will be more efficient, making them more effective if they would ever have to engage.  This class should only be another step at empowering their convidence, and should not be the last class in their training schedule.


The purpose of this class is not make a Blood Thirsty Tactical Ninja out of anyone, but to rather give them some Knowledge and Information regarding what they are going to have to be prepared to do if ever faced with a violent or possible Deadly Force Incident.  My first lesson is how to avoid any type of confrontation (ESPECIALLY WHEN ARMED) at all cost!   I did not addvertise this class because it was basicly at the student cut off of 10 right from it's annoucement.

Looking forward to a GREAT day tomorrow!

3 P's 

Practice, Preparation = Performance

Happy 4th