Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Switchology 101: The Right Light for Your Firearm
A very informative long-form article about choosing both handheld and weapons mounted lights for defensive encounters. I don’t think there’s anything better on the market right now for a pistol light than the Surefire X300U with the DG switch. I back that one up with a Fenix PD35 handheld light.
Citizen Review Boards & Bias
Some innovative thinking on police citizen review boards. I could get behind these boards if the members passed the background check, polygraph, and training classes the author suggests.
Please remember, however, that all cops currently work under the authority of the ultimate citizen review board. It’s called a jury.
Are revolvers relevant for concealed carry?
As like many questions, the answer to this question depends on your mission and your skill level. If you are a true revolver fan, you’ll also like this article.
Nobody wants to take your guns?
Don’t be deluded that anti-gun activists will stop when they get your “assault weapons.” This long list of quotes shows how the leaders in the gun control movement really think.
When we fight these people, it’s important that we use “The words that work.” For an additional perspective on the issue, read Aaron Barruga’s article Respect This.
“In the long run, appreciation of our culture won’t be won by only engaging the anti-gun crowd on their terms. It isn’t enough to only make our culture known when we are called to defend it. We must also do it during lulls and periods of normalcy. As a young American, the pride I felt in using my hands to learn a skill was unrivaled. No sport or achievement in school mirrored the satisfaction of focusing my body and mind on a target, and then sending a bullet to score a direct hit.”
Safety Solutions Academy MagFIX Grip Baseplate and Extension for S&W Shield Pistol
Don’t like the sliding spacer on your eight -round Shield magazines? My friend Paul designed an excellent replacement baseplate with a locking sleeve and a relief cut to allow for easier mag stripping during a malfunction.
I have a couple and will be testing them in the next few weeks. So far, they look great!
Peak-End Rule: Why You Make Terrible Life Choices
Very interesting reading about a cognitive bias that you may not understand.
Counter-Ambush Tactics for Security Professionals
I found the information about “choke points” to be especially useful.
The Rum Diary: A Novel
What I’m reading…
Since I’m headed down to Puerto Rico next week for a little R&R, I figured this book would properly set the mood.
Best Ballistic Calculator Apps for Your Smartphone
Some cool apps for all of you long-range shooting nerds.
Appendicitis Off The Grid
Off grid diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis. The author’s book is an excellent text to have on hand if the lights go out.
Concealed Carry Performance: Short Barrel Speer 9mm 147gr Gold Dot gel test
This is why I prefer the 124 grain loads in the shorter barreled 9mm pistols.
Drill: The AGC Training Drill
I’m excited to try this drill during my next range training session.
10 Uber Scams You Need to Watch Out For
Uber has been a complete game changer for me when traveling in foreign countries. By not using a cab, I avoid the overcharging “gringo tax,” reduce my chance of robbery, and avoid fumbling around with cash trying to pay the driver in a sketchy neighborhood.
Uber isn’t however, devoid of its own scams. Read this article and learn about how unscrupulous Uber drivers operate their scams
How to Escape and Evade a Tracker
This information might be useful for some of you.
Disengaging While On Top in Self-defense
Cecil demonstrates a very slick way to disengage and create distance from a dominant position in a ground fight. For my cop friend who think that the move Cecil is advocating looks too much like a forbidden “choke,” move your arm up a bit higher. Driving the edge of your forearm against his nose or cheek will often cause enough pain that the move will work the same way.
Management of a Tension Pneumothorax
The proposed changes to the “respiration” part of the TCCC “MARCH” algorithm. Battlefield medicine is constantly evolving. If you want to be able to handle a gunshot wound patient, you must keep up on the basic guidelines. That course you took 10 years ago may not be enough. Opens to PDF.
Laminated Door Glass: 5 Vehicle Tactics Training Considerations
An in-depth analysis of shooting through vehicle window glass.
Handgun Grips: What Works, What Doesn’t
Explanation of most of the common handgun gripping errors.
Charter Arms Revolvers
Although I’m not a fan of Charter Arms revolvers, I found this article to be an interesting history lesson.
How Old Is ‘Too Old To Carry A Concealed Gun’?
If any of you have elderly family members who own guns, this is an important question to explore.
The White Powder You Should Bring on Every Deployment
Some very valuable equations for both medics and preppers alike.
5 Things You Need To Know About Emergency First Aid
If you haven’t taken a recent first aid class focused on treating battlefield injuries, this would be a good article for you to read.
Securing Elections
For any of you who still think your vote “counts.”
10 Right Things To Do For CCW
Ralph Mroz shares some hard-won wisdom for all you folks who carry concealed firearms. His list is on point, but please ignore the recommendation for the “Honey Badger” ammunition in the middle of the article. My guess is that Ralph didn’t actually write that sentence. I’m guessing that was an editorial addition made to please an advertiser.
On Avoidance
“Defensive shooting means you’re coming from behind in a fight someone else started. Most criminals will not attack someone unless they feel they already have the advantage of numbers, surprise or whatever. While willing to be part of a shooting — they’re not interested in being in a gunfight. By the time it turns into a fight, you may very well already be hurt and therefore less capable. Your gun may jam, which happens surprisingly often in shootings. You may miss; also very common. Your bullet may not perform as you expect. Your assailant may be on drugs and unable to realize how badly they’re hurt. There may be several suspects and one may be in ambush behind you before who you think is the primary attacker even approaches you. A thousand things can go wrong, and it only takes one to turn the cards against you.
Once you’re forced to act, all these realities have to be faced and overcome to survive. Jammed guns have to be cleared, multiple hits have to be delivered and maybe multiple attackers addressed. All of these are part of the critical skill set of defensive shooting, and when the flag well and truly goes up, there is absolutely no time for second-guessing or hesitation. At that moment it’s a physics problem, not a moral or legal one.
But if you could have walked away, you would have won at much lower cost.”
Top 6 Shooting Myths And Half-Truths
I learned a couple things when reading this article. My bet is that you will learn something as well.
Strong Reminder to Stay in the Fight Even When Hurt
Managing chaos without losing your shit is an extremely valuable skill to cultivate if you want to win a gunfight.
Some of the above links (from Amazon.com) are affiliate links. If you purchase these items, I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
