Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
TESTING .300 BLACKOUT BALLISTICS
Gel testing subsonic .300 Blackout rounds from a short barrel.
Speaking of ballistic gelatin, you may also like Ballistic Gel: Purpose, Protocol, & Best Ones.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story
The Revolver Guy details the complete history of the development of the S&W L-Frame revolver. If you are a revolver fan, you might also like the article highlighting the artistry of Dwayne Worley’s Grips.
Teach your children to shoot
Claude is correct. Teaching your children to be able to pass the OPOTA rifle qualification (even if only using a .22) would be an excellent goal.
Hilton Yam 1911 Duty Tune: Polishing & Prepping
A good video for those of you who want to start tinkering with your 1911 pistols.
How Far Can a Slingshot Shoot?
In my misspent youth, I killed a lot of rabbits, squirrels, and groundhogs with ball bearings shot out of a slingshot like this. I think the utility of slingshots as a survival tool are underestimated.
Pandemics, Protests, and Firearms Purchasing
More evidence of Gun Culture 2.0:
“The second intriguing finding from Lang and Lang’s work has to do with how broad the gun buying spree of 2020 was. They compare average monthly background checks per 1,000 population in “blue” vs. “red” states from 1999-2020 (see their Figure 2 reproduced below). As they write, “Background check rates in blue states were lower than red states between 1999 and the first half of 2019. Background check rates in blue states started to converge with red states in 2016 and the rate in blue states surpassed red states in the second half of 2019 and remained higher in the first half of 2020.”
I Was Wrong… This Belt Will Work as a Tourniquet
Belts are not good improvised tourniquets. But a belt that is actually designed as a tourniquet might be something different. I still think it isn’t the brightest idea, but the product appears to be well made. Please keep in mind that this one does not have the TCCC endorsement.
Preconceived Notions: “The Bugout”
This article may provide a much needed dose of reality for those of you with “bug out” plans.
Nearly Every USGS Topo Map Ever Made. For Free.
If you are planning on “bugging out” to a remote location on public land, it might be a good idea to download some topo maps of the area beforehand. This site has almost all of the USGS topo maps in a free downloadable format.
5 Drills in 5 Days
Some shooting drills to try at your next training session.
Soft Tissue Infections
The basics of treating cellulitis in austere conditions.
Don’t lose
Cecil drops some knowledge bombs here:
“So instead of trying to just get it over with, focus on staying safe first, and only then take the next step. Don’t lose, because as long as you have not lost, you have a chance of winning.”
Assassin: Book 3 of the High Ground Novels
What I’m reading…
Doug Casey is an interesting fellow and has a unique anarchocapitalist worldview informed through travel in more than 150 different countries. His fictional books series attempts to impart serious worldly wisdom under the guise of fiction. I enjoy all his stuff and think a lot of you will as well.
To get a better idea about how the author thinks, listen to his recent podcast interview with James Howard Kunstler.
Medical advances mask epidemic of violence by cutting murder rate
People like Tom Givens have long made the point that a major factor in the generally decreasing homicide rate isn’t that there is less crime, but instead it’s that our medical care has significantly improved.
I just found a study that actually quantifies exactly how big of a role modern medicine has in reducing our murder rate.
“Murder rates would be up to five times higher than they are but for medical developments over the past 40 years…Without this technology, there would be no less than 50,000 and as many as 115,000 homicides annually instead of an actual 15,000 to 20,000”
What’s of further interest to me is that the research is almost 20 years old. I wonder how much more medicine has improved since the study was published?
Will Steel Cased Ammo Damage My Weapon?
Steel cased ammo might be the only thing you can find right now. Will it hurt your gun? Probably not. With that said, I shoot steel case in my AK-47 rifles, but generally avoid in in my ARs and handguns.
Perfect Pocket Draw: Quick-Draw Essentials
Good tips for those of you who carry a gun in your pocket. I occasionally pocket carry a J-frame snub, a Ruger LCP, or a Glock 42. The two holsters I’ve found that work the best are the DeSantis Superfly and the Tuff Products Pocket Roo.
The What & the Why – Backup Gun or Not?
Arguments for carrying a second gun. You might want to even keep a third carry gun.
Get Your Girlfriend or Wife Interested in Shooting
Good advice for anyone trying to introduce their girlfriend to shooting.
Chair Qual: Barricade Skills With A Simple Folding Chair
I first did this drill in an NRA LE instructor class taught by the late Clive Shepherd back in 2001. Everything old is new again.
It’s a useful exercise and can also be done with range picnic tables. If you want to be exceptionally evil, put a student on either side of the picnic table. Make them use their near side hand to hold the picnic table off the ground while they shoot their rifle with the other hand. Then switch sides. Your students will hate you, but will learn things.
Once you can shoot…
Claude shares some excellent information on his Patreon page.
Grudge Match: LPVO vs. Magnifiers
“If we simply compare the number of wins for each category, you may get the impression we’re bigger fans of the RDS + magnifier than the LPVO. But that’s not the case; both are excellent tools when used properly. The LPVO allows for engagement at greater distances with greater precision, while the RDS is better for close range, funny angles, and NVG use. As manufacturing technology increases, gaps between these systems will continue to diminish — and that’s a good thing.”
You may also enjoy Everything Wrong with LPVOs
Masks and Respirators for Covid 19
Morgan Atwood provides you with all the information you need about masks. You should also read What If We Are Hit By Another Pandemic?
and How to Spot a Counterfeit N95 Mask.
November 2020 Newsletter
Tom’s always excellent monthly newsletter. My readers might especially like the snub revolver shooting drill.
From the Archives: 1928 pistol training for bank tellers
“They aim to welcome bandits with hot lead.”
More than 100 officers and managers of banks and their branches attended a demonstration school for the protection of banking institutions against hold-ups at the police pistol range in Elysian Park yesterday afternoon. Chief of Police Davis was in charge.
With a special teller’s cage which had been erected on the range, and dummies placed in front, two blindfolded to represent the bandits and the rest customers of the bank, it was demonstrated how two bank employees could cover the bandits and shoot if necessary without harming any of the patrons. Experts of the police department explained with practical illustrations the methods of protection to be used.
With the co-operation of the banks, employees will be given a course of instruction in the accurate use of pistols and methods of action to be pursued in time of hold-up. Training in handwriting and identification work to aid in apprehending check passers also are included in the course. Following the demonstration, the visitors were guests of Chief Davis at a barbecue at the range.”
My how times have changed. H/T to Michael deBethencourt for posting the link.
For some more history of this era, check out A Look Back: Lawmen and Special Agents of the Gangster Era.
Two Very Young Kids Attempt A Robbery
Have you considered the fact that your attacker may be a pre-teen?
Book Review: “Street Focused Handgun Training – Volume 3: Tactics” by Ralph Mroz
Ralph is one of the original deep thinkers in the firearms training field. His book is a useful addition to your library.
Crime-Proof Your Kids
A few ideas to improve your family’s safety.
Some of the above links (from Amazon.com and others) are affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.
If you would like to further support my work, head over to my Patreon page.
