Here are a few links to articles and videos I found interesting this week. Some are intellectual. Some are informative. Some are just fun. If you have some free time, check them out this weekend.
How To Apply Forward Pressure In Combination With Indexing
Good article/video about a better way to use forward pressure in a fight. The author doesn’t mention it, but the method of indexing that he uses also reduces the attacker’s ability to shoot in for a takedown as well.
Extra Short Rounds of High-Intensity Exercise Improves Physical Fitness in Inactive Men
We’ve known for a long while that short bouts of ultra-high intensity exercise rapidly increase fitness levels. This study compared groups of untrained men who did a single bout of 4 minute high intensity (90% VO2 Max) exercise with another group who did three of the same intervals with rest in between. The first group had a 10% performance increase. The second group had a 13% performance increase.
Three times the work doesn’t lead to three times better performance. In this study tripling the work led to a 3% gain on results. It’s not worth it. “Hack” your exercise. Figure out what gives you maximal results for minimal effort. Your body will be much happier.
How to make a plastic pocket holster
Do you have a gun that you would like to carry in your pocket? Here’s how to make a cheap and effective pocket holster from a plastic milk jug. I’ve seen Claude’s holsters in person and they work well.
How to Shoot with a Reflex or Red Dot Sight
Lots of people have purchased their first AR-15-style rifles in the last few months, but don’t know much about how to use them. A red dot sight will improve shooting speed immensely on these weapons. It’s almost a “must have” accessory. This article explains how to mount, zero, and use them correctly.
For what it’s worth, I think the Aimpoint PRO model is the best combination of durability and price right now. Cost is $400 with mount included and it has a three-year (constant on) battery life. It’s hard to beat.
Throwing down your sidearm: A video game training scar?
I’m not a gamer, so this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing. If you play video games that require you to get rid of one weapon before accessing another, think of how that may affect your real-life performance. For more examples of training scars, please check out my article on the topic.
There’s no timer in a gunfight!
“In a life threatening situation, time is opportunity. In the gunfight variety of life threatening situation, those who make a deliberate effort to develop speed will be able to claim more of that opportunity for themselves. That’s why it’s absurd to see people online yakking about no timers in gunfights. Instead of the benign beep you get the report of incoming gunfire from the person who is trying to kill you.”
Summer Is Lyme Disease Season. The Price of the Drug to Treat It Just Exploded
If you are interested in wilderness/austere medicine (or even prepping for any type of collapse scenario), you should probably be following this story. There is a nationwide shortage of Doxycycline and prices have gone up dramatically. If you engage in remote outdoor activities, Doxycycline might be something to consider having on hand. It’s a first line treatment for tick-borne diseases, many biological weapons exposures, and is a commonly-used antimalarial.
Current antibiotic prescribing guidelines indicate using Doxycycline prophylactically in the event of finding an engorged tick attached to your body in areas where Lyme disease is common (one pill). It is also a first line treatment if you see the characteristic “bullseye rash” of Lyme disease. While Amoxicillin (and a couple of other antibiotics) can be substituted in the latter case, only Doxy has been recommended for prophylactic use. It might be wise to have some on hand in a period of shortage.
Please don’t consider this medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I do know how to read. Do your research before you consider taking any pharmaceutical. The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy is a good place to start.
Here is The Survival Doctor’s take on the situation as well.
Ammo Test: Speer Gold Dot .40 S&W 155 Grain Self-Defense Ammunition
Some ammunition test results from the Gold Dot in .40. The US Border Patrol uses this particular load. It’s a good choice.
I really think people worry too much about finding the “super bullet”. There isn’t one. The first criteria of any defensive load should be reliability and accuracy in your chosen weapon. Pick a premium hollowpoint from a well known manufacturer that feeds well and is accurate in your gun and you will have likely chosen well. In all the ballistic tests I’ve seen, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, and Federal HST have consistently been proven to be the best performers. If you have one of those loads, you are good to go. There are other good rounds as well, but the ones I listed are consistent top performers.
More joint mobility after a few minutes on the foam roller
If you want to feel, perform, and move better, you really need to do some foam rolling. You will reduce muscle aches and increase joint range of motion in just a few minutes a day. I start all my weight lifting sessions with a foam rolling/lacrosse ball warmup and I rarely get injured despite the heavy poundage I use.
My favorite is the Rumble Roller, but it may be too much if you are very thin or have never rolled before. This article will get you started on how to do it.
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