I am a flashlight fanatic: perhaps not in collecting lights (though I have quite a few) but as a devotee to their usefulness in a defensive use and overall preparedness. For myself, the three most important tools a prepared individual can carry is a pistol, a blade (primarily as an emergency cutting tool) and certainly... Continue Reading →
Focusing on the Essential Arsenal
The past two years have witnessed a dearth of ammunition availability and sky-high prices on anything that actually is available. Likewise, guns themselves were hard to find for a long time, although that particular shortage has greatly subsided at the time of this writing. I suspect that the ammunition crisis will not subside for some... Continue Reading →
Make Lists to Guide your Training
Most people in the wide world of self-defense, preparedness, personal protection, or whatever we might call it, are enthusiasts in a particular aspect of the greater whole. As an example, I am a handgunner, and I am a specialist and enthusiast in the use of the defensive handgun. Therefore, shooting and training with the handgun... Continue Reading →
Break Contact Guns
When analyzing the role of the small, deep concealment gun I consider it a tool that is a last resort in forcing a “break in contact” with the criminal entity. I have heard Claude Werner use this term when he refers to the mission of the armed citizen, which is to “force a break in... Continue Reading →
Closing Thoughts on Shooting the Red Dot Pistol This Year
I did a lot of practice with a red dot equipped pistol this past year, and it was my first true emersion into pistol optics. Setting up the awesome Walther Q5 Match gun with a Holosun 507c optic (which I prefer over the industry standard Trijicon RMR) I put in the time and repetitions to... Continue Reading →
A Realistic Approach to Carrying Medical Gear
Thanks to the GWOT (Global War on Terror) the civilian sector is now awash with vetted hemorrhage control devices. Prepared citizens are more aware of the need for such gear, and the training on its use, than in times past, though still only a small fraction of the public carries or knows how to utilize... Continue Reading →
Observations on Holsters with No Belts
A lot of people seem to find success in carrying concealed while in casual sweatpants or beltless shorts by using a holster with some form of clip that snags the fabric. While I know a number of squared away people who make this work on occasion, I have never liked this solution myself. I find... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on Instructor Certifications
I put little stock in instructor certifications when it comes to firearms training. As in, zero. Thinking of all the people who I have trained with in the past, never once did I ask, care, or even wonder about, what certifications they have. Rather, I care very much how good they are at the craft,... Continue Reading →
AAR: Medic 1 with Lone Star Medics
This past weekend I took a two-day medical class with Lone Star Medics. Caleb Causey, founder of Lone Star Medics and a well-known individual within the firearms and self-defense training world, taught the class. I have wanted to train with Caleb for a while, though most of what he does is in Texas, his home... Continue Reading →
The Essence of Mastering the Red Dot Presentation
The primary obstacle that most handgunners face when transitioning from iron sights to a red dot is “finding the dot” on presentation. After spending a lot of time shooting a dot equipped pistol this past year I have obtained consistent and fast acquisition of the dot on presentation. There are a number of techniques that... Continue Reading →