Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Good Samaritan Checklist
Think deeply before you involve yourself in someone else’s activity. Things may not go according to plan. Read this cautionary tale for an example of how intervention can go badly.
Fast food drive-throughs can be dangerous. Here’s how to deal with them safely.
Excellent advice about safely navigating a fast food drive through.
Overview of changes to Ohio concealed carry law passed in SB 199
Ohio’s concealed carry law will be changing in March. Here are the new provisions.
Smoke Screening
“As you stand in endless lines this holiday season, here’s a comforting thought: all those security measures accomplish nothing, at enormous cost. That’s the conclusion of Charles C. Mann, who put the T.S.A. to the test with the help of one of America’s top security experts.“
9x19mm Pocket Rockets
Ken Hackathorn talks about some ammunition considerations when feeding a compact 9mm autopistol.
The Harrows of Spring
What I’m reading…
This is the fourth and final book in Kunstler’s “World Made by Hand” series. It’s a dystopian look at an apocalyptic future world where modern technology no longer exists after a global confrontation. Unlike many of these novels, Kunstler doesn’t focus on running gunfights with bands of dangerous outlaws. His novels talk about the numb reality and local politics of a daily existence in an austere future environment. All four of the books are excellent.
Why Training and Consistency Matters
How “conformity” in training and tactics makes a difference in your survival.
Hardware store zip guns
How to make a $5 zip gun from hardware store parts. This is just one more reason why gun control is unrealistic. My cop and correction officer friends should take a look at this article.
Before You Pay that Ransomware Demand…
Have you heard of “ransomware”? It’s software installed on your computer by a criminal or hacker (usually by getting you to click on a suspicious email attachment or link) that locks you out until you pay the “ransom.” Here’s a basic article about how to avoid being ht with ransomware and what to do if you mistakenly download a program that locks you out of your computer.
For some more info on cybersecurity, check out Personal Information Security Guide for Family and Friends.
Grenade Launchers and Bed Sheets: An Invisibility Kit for Urban Combat
An incredibly simple counter-sniper tactic to remember in case you might need it in the future.
Wound Packing
After learning how to apply a tourniquet, the next most important technique to stop serious bleeding is wound packing. Read the article and watch the video to learn how to do it. Those of you interested in medical skills may also like the article Detecting fractures for the Austere Medic.
Dialing In Sights on a Snubnose Revolver
Some tips for those of you who want to change the point of impact on your fixed sight snubs. The author also discusses ways of brightening the sight picture as well. He recommends using primer before painting front sights. Instead, I use white appliance touch up paint as a base layer and then paint me red/orange acrylic paint on top of that. Claude’s article on this topic is an invaluable resource as well.
You revolver junkies will also like How to Improve Your Snubbie Reload Time.
“Youth” Guns for Self Defense
Youth stocks are a useful addition to many home defense long guns. One of my home defense 870 shotguns currently sports a youth stock. I also have a youth stocked Remington 1100 in 20 gauge that is a delight to shoot.
Speaking of defensive shotguns, check out this piece from Lucky Gunner about reloading the shotgun properly.
Talking it out; part one
You’ll definitely want to read Paul Sharp’s multi-part series on verbal communication during conflict. Part Two is even better. Part Three talks about the physical preparations you should make if your verbalization fails.
Order of Operations: The Safest Unloading Procedure
I’ve seen quite a few negligent discharges during the unloading process. The order matters.
Handling Your Emotions
Really good techniques to get your thoughts under control when things go a little sideways.
Let’s Give our Children a Fighting Chance
If you have children, this article should be of interest to you.
Concealed Carrier Highlights the Defensive Display of a Firearm
Watch John’s analysis of this robbery attempt from the Dominican Republic. This is a topic that most instructors don’t spend enough time on. There are certainly times when drawing a gun, but not shooting it is an appropriate response. Think it through. In what type of incident would a a drawn gun de-escalate a threat?
A Felon on Firearms
An older article from Dave Spaulding that discusses an issue seldom analyzed in modern firearms training circles.
I talked to Dave extensively about some of the issues he brought up in this article before it went to press. We primarily talked about his discussion with the contract killer about police officers (and armed citizens) training to take a step or two sideways when drawing the gun.
The theory is that your movement will force your attacker to take additional time to adjust his aim before he fires. Hopefully, that gives you time to shoot him. It makes sense, and I have trained shooters in this concept myself.
BUT, as Dave points out here…it only works if your attacker is taking the time to truly aim his weapon at you! Most criminals don’t do that! They just stick the gun up and start spraying bullets. In that case, your movement is just as likely to get you hit as it is to make the attacker miss, When the criminal is just shooting lots of bullets in your direction, without aiming for you, random movement may be detrimental!
Many people will say that training shooters to take a sideways step gets them use to moving on the draw and may stimulate them to KEEP moving towards cover. That makes sense to me as well. Purposeful movement to get to safety is one thing, but I haven’t seen that taking a step on the draw really gets people to think about moving to cover…it just becomes a “tacti-cool” range dance.
How does that knowledge effect your personal gunfight strategy?
The Grinding Long March to 2017
Michael Bane makes a good case for the pistol caliber carbine. Gabe Suarez shares his thoughts on the topic HERE. A 9mm carbine might be my next purchase!
Random Thoughts on Killing Trucks
A critically important article from Marcus Wynne covering countermeasures against vehicular attacks. It is essential that law enforcement officers read this piece and understand the concepts.
In today’s world, if police agencies aren’t planning to stop vehicle attacks at any large gathering of people, they are acting negligently. It wouldn’t take much effort to place a couple snipers/observers in an overwatch position to take out the driver, have a couple officers driving city dump trucks or garbage trucks as blocking/ramming vehicles, and come up with a couple loudspeakers to provide instructions or warnings to the crowd.
Of course, as Marcus mentions, “normalcy bias” reigns supreme, even in most police departments. Those of you who aren’t cops should not assume that your local police departments will take such precautions. You are on your own. Make your own plans to evade or counter a vehicle attack at any large public gathering.
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