Beyond the modern high-tang, thumbs forward grip technique for controlling the handgun, the grip is further, and drastically, influenced by the structure of the arms. Many shooters never adopt an efficient arm structure. There is a tendency among many to lock their elbows out too aggressively, and many also don’t bend their wrists in a... Continue Reading →
Shooting Platform Part II: Stance is A Simple Concept
Shooting stance tends to be a favorite topic of over-analysis in beginner level firearms training. While it is an important concept, there is no reason to make it complicated. The way we stand is only part of the overall shooting platform, the mechanics of the body used to put force behind the gun. Ask yourself,... Continue Reading →
Shooting Platform Part I: The Importance of Body Mechanics
Throughout history, men have developed entire curriculums for training in the use of their era’s weaponry. Some of the existing manuals of medieval European and Japanese sword fighting illustrate the fact that body mechanics have always been an integral part of wielding weapons. Any form of fighting, and any form of fighting tool, dictates an... Continue Reading →
A Complete Guide to the Four-Round Speed Strip Revolver Reload
Ever since I wrote an article on the revolver speed strip reload for USA Carry several years ago I have received many questions about it. Therefore, I will attempt to offer a much more thorough overview of this technique here. I use the "four-round speed strip reload" method which utilizes only four rounds in a... Continue Reading →
Handgun Skills: The Two Most Challenging Fundamentals
Shooting is entirely about exercising fundamental skills and those who are “advanced” in skill simply have advanced command over those fundamentals. Traditionally, there are seven fundamental skills in shooting: StanceGripSight AlignmentSight PictureTrigger PressBreath ControlFollow Through As applied to the defensive use of the handgun some of these fundamentals weigh much more heavily on our performance... Continue Reading →
CCX2 Interview with Spencer Keepers
The CCX2 Podcast is a collaboration between USA Carry and Concealed Nation. I have written for USA Carry for several years now and I used to write for Concealed Nation, so I have a history with both. Last year I was invited on several episodes as a guest, but so far this year I have... Continue Reading →
Weapon Strikes with a Modern Polymer Pistol
One might wonder why they would need to strike someone with a handgun rather than just shoot with it. The fact remains that many fights start at contact distance, or end up at contact distance. If at contact distance before your gun comes out you should rely on combative skills to get yourself into a... Continue Reading →
The Revolver – Enduring Love but Waning Expertise
The amount of revolvers sold each year pales in comparison to the amount of auto loaders sold, and this has been the case for decades. However, the revolver still remains a mainstay in concealed carry, especially the small-frame light weight variants as they prove ideal for certain roles. The reality is, the love for the... Continue Reading →
The Four Draws Part IV: The Surreptitious Draw
There are real-world scenarios in which a concealed carrier might have to present the gun, or ready it in hand, in a stealthy. This is done with what is called the surreptitious draw. Being able to draw your gun without attracting attention from an adversary, or multiple adversaries, is an important skill to work on.... Continue Reading →
The Four Draws Part II: Single Hand Draw
Being able to deploy your handgun with only your dominant hand is a very important skill. If you use a default draw stroke that utilizes the support hand to clear the cover garment, as is typically the case for appendix position carriers, you need to also work on a draw stroke that relies on only... Continue Reading →
