Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
The Old and the Bold: Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife
A very interesting video series interviewing British WWII vets. In this episode the veteran being interviewed dishes the dirt on the famed Sykes Fairbairn combat knife. He calls it a “superfluous” piece of kit and said that most of the soldiers traded them to Americans for cigarettes.
You may also be interested to watch The Old and the Bold: Spotting a Sniper. “Snipers are a bloody nuisance.”
The Parts of SHTF Medicine You Might Be Forgetting
Something your preparations might be lacking.
Jones Brothers Low-Key
This is a very cool hidden weapon idea.
Extreme Close Quarters
Chris Fry posts an excellent article detailing the unique problems one has to be prepared for when fighting at extremely close range.
Pat McNamara on Why You Should Make a List of Hobbies and Recharge
“People without hobbies tend to be boring, and being boring isn’t a healthy way to lead our short lives.”
Concealed Carry–No Elegant Solution
A thorough look at many of the issues involved with concealed carry.
Shot Timer Survey Results
I’m shocked that 82% of the shooters surveyed did not ever use a shot timer in their training. That’s inexcusable. I use a shot timer in almost every single practice session. If you aren’t timing your drills, you have no idea if you are making improvements.
If you are serious about becoming better, you need to shell out $100 for a good timer. I have been using the same Competition Electronics Pocket Pro Timer for more than a decade now with no issues.
Cop Reprimanded For Holding Door For Woman
Yet another reason why being a cop in today’s society is a very poor career choice. Could you imagine that a police department would sustain a disciplinary action against an officer who held a door open for a woman? Your departments will absolutely throw you to the wolves if they stand to benefit politically from your discipline. I don’t know a single officer with more than 10 years’ experience who hasn’t been screwed in some way by his or her agency. Pay attention and make good decisions. Stay away from police work as a future career option.
Making space… before you need it!
Gas station tactics. Good advice from Dann.
One more tip from me. Now that many pumps have video screens that play advertisements while distributing gas, you should not be staring at the screen clueless about your surroundings. Those video screens are going to contribute to more robberies than anyone can even imagine. Ignore them.
Make Up Your Mind Monday: Slide Lock Reload Methods
The author looks at the relative advantages and disadvantages of racking the slide versus using the slide release lever. I have to admit that even though I currently teach students to rack the slide, using the lever is a viable option in many cases. When I carried a S&W 4506 (which has a very wide and easy-to-use slide release) I used the slide release exclusively and had no problems. I don’t use it on my Glock because it’s smaller and easier to slip off of (even the extended versions). If your instructor throws you arguments about not using the lever because of “degradation of fine motor skills in combat,” ask him how he expects you to pull the trigger or push the magazine release button (similar “fine motor skills.”)
Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman’s Guide to Available Antibacterials in Austere Settings
This week’s reading material. I’m trying to dig up even more information to share with you in my Systems Collapse Medical Classes.
This is a good book. I may quibble about some of his tactical medicine information (recommending the SWAT tourniquet) and some of his other drug information (Tramadol is not a more powerful painkiller than Percocet, I’ve had multiple prescriptions for both following various surgeries) but his antibiotic information is right on point.
Influence-based Leadership: Critical Importance of the Alpha
“This is the role of the Alpha, the centered individual, an immovable object against which unstoppable forces break themselves, the one who deconflicts competing interests to ensure stability is possible. The Alpha is always the leader – not always the boss – who remains resolutely focused on mission success alone, regardless competing forces within self, team or organization.
This is not the descriptor used when defining an Alpha in the modern, Politically Correct, world, where real, individual strength and power is intentionally mislabeled and much maligned. In a time where consensus is everything, despite that without a strong central figure real consensus is never attainable, the Alpha has been relegated to the realm of history, a relic, individuals who are not only no longer necessary, but something to be feared, marginalized and reduced to ineffectiveness.”
Fake Uber drivers are out there: Here’s how to avoid becoming their victim
Sensible precautions for using ride-sharing apps.
The Gift – A Lesson in Failure
“The greatest gift we can ever give these guys is their worst day.” That evening I learned, among other things, that failure is central to effective training, and the best way to capitalize on failure was through measured pressure and iterative, incremental progression.”
Why is police training so awful?
“An individual may own a measure of responsibility for their skill level, and certainly does so for their decision-making and actions on the job; however, the agency owns responsibility for their employment, job title, and duty post. If an individual with inadequate job-related skills is still on the job—it’s not at all their fault that they are still employed or on duty. And, in fact, even the inadequate skillset may not be at all their fault—especially if they were “damaged” during their entry level or in-service agency training through poor training structure and delivery methods. (More on this concept applied to remedial training here.)
The fact of the matter is that, while there are many highly skilled police officers and many equally skilled and dedicated police trainers, aggregate police training, especially with respect to use-of-force and clinical tactical skills is, in a word, bad.
This isn’t usually because there’s something necessarily wrong with what’s being taught. It’s because the training structure is broken. Fundamentally, training delivery in most law enforcement programs is misaligned with how the brain learns information—at a neurological level.
In other words, during most police training, students can’t learn this part of the job effectively. Unless a student arrives at the training possessing a pre-existing skillset in these areas, it is physiologically impossible for them to develop a high-level one—at least based on the official program of instruction.”
Escape and Evasion 101: Overview
“There’s money to be made ‘make believing’ that E&E is practical for most people. It’s not. Especially in the demographic mostly likely to seek out information on E&E (males, 18-45, who are fit and motivated). You’re not getting kidnapped, guys.”
The tips ISG provide in their second article in this series are essential. You’ll also like their article about child abduction as well.
Dealing with “That Guy” and Thoughts on Celebrity Instructors With Dave Spaulding
“We are seeing the Ill-Informed being led by the Stupid”
How to Survive (and Prevent) a Carjacking
Counter-Carjacking advice from Mike Seeklander.
Mixed Carry Ammo: Why It’s Dumb and A Bad Idea
“Candy Cane-ing” your defensive ammo is a really bad idea. Stop.
Firearms Training For The Next Generation Part One: The Ruse
Some tips for your kid’s first trip to the range. If you liked this one, check out part two of the series: The Rifle.
Watch Effective and Non-Effective Compliance
Do you have the ability to do something other than comply in the face of a lethal threat? Watch these two videos. Put yourself in the place of the victim. Devise an optimal plan to prevail.
Should You Choose an AR-15 Rifle or Pistol?
The question: “Should I get an AR-15 rifle or an AR-15 pistol?”
The answer: “Yes”
IF POLICE COME FOR YOUR GUNS
With the influx of new “red flag” laws, inevitably some of you will be maliciously reported by a vindictive ex, hateful business partner, or jealous stalker. What will you do when the cops show up at your door with a warrant to seize your guns? Read both Mas’ advice and the advice in the linked article.
I’ll give you one more tip. Having done search warrants looking for guns in houses, I can tell you that if you make it extremely difficult for the cops to find some of your guns, there’s a good chance the cops will miss them. Really messy, cluttered, and hard-to-access areas are quite simply difficult to search. Hiding guns there might be a good choice. Police don’t have an unlimited time to do the search. There are other calls pending. Their shifts will end. They really don’t search everywhere.
You can also hide a gun off site or bury it in your flower garden. Those guns won’t be found by cops executing these types of warrants. Considering that you are most likely to be reported for a “red flag” offense by someone close to you, make sure those people close to you don’t know the location of ALL your guns. Keep at least one hidden and unknown to your lover(s), spouse, parents, and children.
Read Massad’s followup commentary as well. If you really want to have a bad day, read Red Flag Laws Are Going To Be Used Against Those With PTSD.
Four Key Systematic Drills for Handgun Skill Developement
A logical collection of progressively more difficult shooting drills for improving your abilities.
Down Range Radio #616: Mental Preparations
Michael Bane creates one of the best firearms related podcasts in the business. This particular episode is especially useful. Heed Mr. Bane’s advice regarding mental preparations and dealing with fear.
11 Unbiased Gun Violence Statistics
I always like to read statistics regarding gun-related topics.
Concealed Carry Corner: Carrying at a Gym or Workout Facility
Options for carrying your weapon in a public gym. I use the fanny pack. I wear it on my person most of the time. If I’m doing something with explosive movements, I set the bag at my feet. Interestingly enough, one of the few times I’ve had to draw my gun off duty was at a gym where I was confronted by a group of three large college football players, two of whom I had previously arrested. They threatened to kill me right there in the gym.
Now I mostly work out at home or at my police department gym. On the rare occasions I go to a public gym, you can bet that I’m packing.
The Long Game: Maintaining Your Progress Over The Years
“Remember why you started, and that you’re doing it for you. For your health, sanity, safety, whatever. People will eventually stop caring, and stop ‘liking’ your progress pictures. They might even mock you for your slip-ups. Rapid improvement will eventually become imperceptible forward progress, or maybe just maintenance. That’s how it is. And that’s fine. The journey doesn’t end.
Do The Work.”
Man planning truck ramming attack at National Harbor near DC ‘inspired by ISIS’
The vehicle run-down terrorist attack was very popular a couple years ago. The threat of such an attack should not be dismissed based solely on some arbitrary ideas about frequency. The fact remains that there are a lot of terrorists who want to kill you. The easiest way for him to do that is by running you down with a car or truck.
It might be a useful exercise to review 10 Tips for Surviving a Terrorist Vehicle Attack and Strategies for Preventing Terrorist Vehicle Attacks.
“THE MINGLE”
My friends Shelley and Brian Hill from The Complete Combatant have organized a training event for professional women in the firearms industry. Their stated objectives are:
“We will be lending a hand in helping women in the firearms industry gain knowledge and meet MORE ladies in the biz. What a fantastic opportunity to be able to “pick the brains” of the ones that paved the path before us and meet ladies who offer NEW ideas. With the help of sponsors, The Complete Combatant will offer a place for women to meet “like minded” ladies and build relationships to support business, networking to expand contacts and to explore our own personal growth in business, tactics, self-defense, marksmanship, professions & MORE! These special ladies are all patriots that will influence, support, and fight for self defense rights!”
I truly believe that our best overall strategy to curtail future gun control legislation is to actively recruit women and minorities into the world of guns. We gun people need to broaden our appeal. You don’t have to be an old white guy or a hunter to understand the advantages of living an armed lifestyle.
If you are a woman in the firearms industry and would like to attend the event, click on the link above to register.
If you aren’t a female firearms professional you should consider buying a raffle ticket instead. Each ticket costs $25 and allows students to attend a free two or three day training course with some of the best instructors in the business. Nearly 30 top-tier defensive instructors have donated free spots in their courses for raffle winners. Those classes cost $350 and up. All the money raised will be donated to a charitable organization dedicated to helping female victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence. It’s a good cause and if you win a training class you’ll be happy you bought your raffle ticket.
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