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Category Archives: Training
My left hand
You know what sucks? Gout. Gout sucks. I’ve been dealing with it for years and years in my legs. But a week ago, it hit me in my left hand. I woke up to a hand that was swollen and felt like it was crushed with a sledge hammer.
I can not articulate just how much it hurt. This was truly the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve had gunshots, stabs, and broken bones that did not hurt nearly this bad.
Here I am a week later, and with proper meds, the hand is no longer swollen. Well, it’s almost back to normal. But the movement in the index finger has not fully returned. I have some movement, but it’s still very restricted. Typing is is a 9 fingered affair right now. The pain is mostly gone too… Unless I move my finger or bump it or look at it wrong. The main joint in the hand that works that index finger, it’s still a bit swollen and painful… it feels like there is some serious damage in there.
Anyone giving me Gout Advice – I’ll bitchslap you next time I see you. Just sayin.
So why am I bringing this up?
Guns.
Manipulating guns one handed has taught me a lot. Even just “Strong Hand Only”. Sounds easy… It’s not. Not without some practice. Not without some serious practice. Handguns. AR-15’s. Lever Actions. Surprisingly, what I had the most problems with… my 870’s. I need more practice with this.
Say you catch a bullet in your hand. Or some other injury that renders your off hand useless… a burn or something. If you don’t know what to do before… hand… sorry… You are going to be stumbling. You need to know what to do before it happens.
So this weekend, your Training Assignment. All weekend long. One Hand Manipulations Handling. If you have to, tape all your fingers together to remind you. No cheating. For me, cheating felt like someone hit my hand with a baseball bat. Easy for me to remember not to cheat. For you guys – Honor Code.
Admin Loading.
Reloading.
Press Check.
Holstering.
With all your main line fighting guns.
Report back with what you learned.
Speed Holstering.
There has been some controversy in the Gun Community about Appendix Carry and a video that was posted by Gun Nuts.
The problem I have isn’t the position of the holster. You can Appendix Carry all you like. If the gun is in the holster, it’s fine. Drawing the gun from the holster, it’s fine. The problem comes from when you go to put the gun back in the holster. Too many people think it’s cool to reholster as fast as you unholster.
In what tactical situation do you ever need to put your gun away lightning fast? We see this usually just after whipping one’s head back and forth “scanning for threats”. This is where you need to take some time. Let’s think about this. You just had a kinetic situation. Your body is still in fight mode. Your blood is pumping like a Fire Engine and you are still amped up on Adrenaline. This is where you need to take a deep breath, let it out slowly… and then reholster… slowly. You need to take a second or two here. You may have caught a round and didn’t realize it.
A couple years ago now, we had an IDPA Shooter that failed to think. He was amped up on the stage, which is a hell of a lot less than the boost you’ll get from an actual shooting incident. He was using an XD, a very safe pistol. Until he reholstered with his finger on the trigger. No waiting to show clear or any procedurals were followed. He shot a string and then went to shove his gun in the holster. Finger was still on the trigger. The .40 cal projectile went down his leg and out with about as little damage as possible. He was lucky. What if he had been packing Appendix Carry? Ouch. Don’t even want to think about that. Other incidents like this have happened around the country. This wasn’t unique.
Never be in a hurry to reholster.
After shooting a target, come into a high compressed position with your finger off the trigger.
Scan the area for threats, and don’t take less than five seconds.
When the area is clear, take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Then slowly and carefully reholster your weapon safely.
Never be in a hurry to reholster.
Teaching Teachers
Yesterday we had the Defensive Pistol course for Teachers Only. This course was free to those Educators who wanted to learn 20 Teachers signed up. The weather turned and it was snowing pretty hard, so I didn’t expect a major turn out, but 15 did.
This class worried me. Rangermasters in Springville donated the range time, but could only donate 4 hours. Half of their range on a Saturday, is a generous donation to the cause. Over dinner at SHOT SHOW, I took some time with George Harris, former head of SIG’s Training Academy. I asked him about how he would approach this course. I have no problem seeking council from The Masters. George Harris is a great guy and one of the best Firearms Educators in the business, so who better? I had an idea in my head, and when Master Harris outlined how he would do this, I knew I was on the right track with my game plan. He said, you can’t do it… You can’t teach them everything. So you have to give them the mindset and then work on the basic fundamentals of handgun shooting. And that is just what I did.
The class was a good mix, but mostly women, and most of them had very little shooting experience. Some had never even touched a firearm before this day. Knowing this before hand, I was nervous about this. I’ve never had such a green class before. Educators are generally from a very different background than my normal students.
Thanks to the guys that backed me up as Assistant Instructors, we had eyes on everyone. They made this work. Every student when they were shooting, had someone watching and coaching. One on One for every shot. Special thanks for Scott Peacock, Trent W Snyder, Zachary Hill, Joe Chetwood, Wes Dahl, and Steven Ting.
The course went very well. The students learned a lot and the improvements we saw were amazing. This class was a huge success.
Crusader Training: Free for Teachers
Crusader Weaponry is heart broken over the tragic event in CT. Since the news broke, I’ve felt sick to my stomach over this, and have no been able to keep very much food down. Such a tragedy makes one evaluate a great many things. We wish there was something that we could do to help… but there is nothing that we could ever do that would bring back the lives of those slain by this insane inhuman monster.
The best we can do is to help minimize such events in the future.
Joe and I talked about this and made a commitment.
Any Teacher or School Administration with a CCW Permit can come to any of our Defensive Handgun courses free of charge. This is a $200 donation per head to the safety of our Children. If a School District so desires, Crusader will hold a special course for them, and if Travel is required, we only ask for enough to cover the cost of the travel.
We wish we could do more.
But we are committed to our believe that we need an Active Defense Measure in our Schools. We need our schools and other institutions to have people on staff at all times that are Trained and Armed and always vigilant. We can not Educate our Children if we can not Protect our Children.
Getting Caught Up.
When it comes to AR’s, don’t get caught up in the little things. It’s not about what you have on or in your AR. It’s about what you can do with it.
Imagine a simple tool belt, much like what any Handi-Man might have. A Hammer, Screw Drivers, a Saw, a Measuring Tape and a Pencil. It doesn’t matter what company these tools came from. You give them to a skilled man, he can build you whatever you need. A Shed, a Dog House… a set of cabinets. Fix a shelf. He will get the job done.
Give that same tool belt to one with no skills, and you will be lucky to get a Bird House out of him. He is not competent enough to take on the big projects. The quality of the tools, the perfection of the craftsmanship is lost on him. Even if he payed high dollars for the very best tools available.
What’s important about the Tools themselves… and we all get caught up in the tools… is that they work. You can argue Craftsman, Snap-On, or Stanley… The Contractor’s Client doesn’t care a bit about that. His concern is only the results.
When you seek to dress out your AR, make sure you are not just dressing it up. Putting on Bling for looks or to impress your friends is meaningless. Instead only worry about what you really need to get the job done. To know what you really need, you need to use some thought. Not just looking through a catalog or browsing the shelves at your LGS. Buy what’s going to help you use the tool. The AR-15 is just that, the simple tool. You can enhance it with some upgrades. Grips that allow your hand to fit better for better control… Stocks that fit you better… Optics that allow you to line up your target faster and more precisely.
Guys, don’t ask me what you need. Ask yourself. Go to the range, shoot and move, take a Tactical Carbine Course and see for yourself what it is that you need for you and your gun.
Gunfightercast vs MadOgre
Just a heads up. There is going to be a little competition at some point in the future, next year. An M4 Throw Down, between myself and Daniel “Shaw of Japan”.
The Smack has been Talked.
See, last year Daniel and I had a little competition going on with Pistols. I won.
The Young Jarhead wants to take on the Old Grunt on his terms now… Carbines. I’m Game.
But I think I want to make this something more. Let’s take bets… Donations… With the pot going to The Wounded Warrior Foundation.
The Challenge should be a tactical scenario perhaps? Such as a Kill House or Jungle Walk… Timed of course, but with accuracy deductions, like IDPA scoring. Shaw of Japan, since he lost last time, gets to go first here. He sets the pace on his run. A Judge will also award or deduct points based on his Tactical Performance…. IE, use of cover during a reload, slicing the pie, etc. After he does it, then I make the run. To be fair… Neither of us will see the course of fire ahead of time.
The Top Trainer
I’ve had the honor of training with some of the best instructors on the planet… and others who I call friends. I was looking at another website and one instructor was referred to as “The Best On The Planet.” I thought, whoa, really? And then I started thinking about just who the best Instructor really was. The Top Guy across the board. The One Guy…
Massad Ayoob, Clint Smith, Rob Pincus, Travis Haley, Paul Howe, Chris Costa, Tiger McKee, Todd Green, George Hill (Just Kidding), Louis Awerbuck, Pat Rogers, Dave Harrington… all these guys are awesome Instructors. But which one is The Best of the Best when it comes to Instruction of the Gun?
Tell me who your TOP PICK is, and Why.
Weaver, Chapman, Isosceles.
There is much talk on the Internets about choosing your Stance and that you should train that Stance. I think this is wrong. Obviously everyone will have their favorites and will argue them. But I think we need to learn them all.
I find Weaver is good for shorter range work, Iso for intermediate or fast action, and Chapman for longer range work. I don’t think I can use just one for all defensive scenarios. And I think training only one is doing a disservice to yourself or your students if you’re a Trainer.
During the MAG-40 Class last week, Massad Ayoob teaches his students these three basic Stances. I teach them as well. While I’ve never really thought about it much I looked at the people who were shooting best in these stances. For the most part, it was the big burly guys tended to shoot Weaver the best or said they preferred it. Most everyone else liked or shot better with the other classic stances. At the 15 yard line, everyone shoots 6 rounds from Each of the Stances, but gives the Female Shooters the option of not using the Weaver.
If we’re teaching a method that only big strong dudes who can overpower the stance, then it doesn’t work for everyone. I used to shoot Weaver all the time but found that I do better with the others. So why are we even still teaching Weaver? Isn’t this now Archaic to the point we should only think of it in terms of Black and White photos and the FBI Crouch and just shake our heads and comfort ourselves with our opinion that we are so vastly superior now days?
No, not really. Because like much in the Gun Community, everything has it’s place. And Weaver is still a very valid Stance to Learn and strive to Master.
If you are standing near a Stranger, in the Field Interview position, a couple feet away, Gun Side away from the Stranger… You are set up for a Weaver Stance in case you have to go to Guns on the Stranger. There’s one very good reason. And you’ll find that you take this stance quite readily. I’ve never talked to a Cop that I didn’t know that initially addressed me from a position ready to go Iso on me. Because form a Martial Arts standpoint, it would be completely wrong.
Let’s say you are in your car. Your Torso is not a Turret that will allow you to go Iso by traversing at your waste. If you can, I’d like to see that. Take the car out of it. Let’s say you are in a Wheel Chair and something happens to the Left or Right of you. Or just sitting in a Cafe. If you have to go to guns quickly, you may not be able to stand up, spread your feet and stick your arms out to full extension.
These are just a couple cases where you pretty much have no other option than to use the Weaver. Sure, you could then move into your other Stances, but the initial action response is from Weaver. And wouldn’t it be nice to End the hostilities right then and there?
So for you Dedicated Chapmans and Isos… You still need to Train with the Weaver Stances.
MAG-40 After Action Report
Let me first start off by saying that it was a tremendous honor to have been asked to help out as one of the Staff at this year’s SLC MAG-40 Class.
Last year I took the course as a Student. This year, I was one of the Instructors, along with Joe, my partner with Crusader Weaponry and the Gun Dudes. The experience was very different. In one hand, it was easy, as we didn’t try to take notes on everything said and worry about the final exams. On the other hand, there was some performance anxiety as all week we coached the students on the firing line, trying to help them improve their shooting. On the last day, we all shot the Qualifier to show the students how its done and that we can do just what we say. No Stress, right?
I came to the range with a knee that was larger in diameter than my thigh. It was rather painful. By Saturday, it was mostly under control, so I decided to shoot the course of fire to include the kneeling portion. To add to the pressure, Massad Ayoob was next to me on my left. I shot great, right up to the point where we kneel.
You’ve heard the term “blinded by pain”? It felt like I was tazered in my knees, with the current going up my spine and out my eyes. To say the least, I found this to by somewhat distracting. This opened my group and let a couple rounds escape. At the 15 yard line my group tightened back up, but the damage was done and I finished down two points. 298. Same as my score last year:
If it wasn’t for my knees, I know I’d have done a 300.
Joe gained some points from his score last year, as did all the Gun Dudes. Tom tied me, shooting a 298 as well. Not to be competitive or anything, Tom… but congratulations on shooting your best while I was at my worst. 😉 Just kidding, man. And well done at the GSSF Match on Sunday. I heard you did very well there! Good job! It needs to be said that all of the Gun Dudes are good Shooters and they did very well indeed.
The students then took the line and shot very well… Shooting 295’s to 298’s. I’m quite proud of them.
The best thing though this week was just spending time with our friends, the Gun Dudes, and the other Pod Casters. The dinner at Rodizio Grill. One of them, who I’ll be linking up shortly was Trevor Furlotte who came down from Canada for the course. He was the only guy to shoot a solid 300 btw.
Anyways, he and Jason from Tactical Solutions had never been to a Rodizio before, and Rodizio did not disappoint. Waiting for a table, Trevor was looking at the menu. “This sounds good”. He said a couple times, as he was trying to decide what he was going to have. “No, they’ll bring it to you… all of it.” We tried to explain. “You mean, like Appetizers?” He asked. “No… just wait. And buckle up.”
At the Table the Server started going over things and our brave Canadian said “Just shut up and bring on the Meat!”
And they did. It was a hurricane of meat… A Meaticane. Trevor’s eyes were the size of X-Rings. Jason, having never been there either was staggered as well. We feasted…. Gorged ourselves on grilled meats of all varieties. The Bacon Wrapped Turkey was a favorite as well as the Tenderloin. As the gluttony started to slow down, Chaz was set up as a Birthday Boy and the Gouchos with the swords of meat all came over and sang Rodizios version of Happy Birthday to the beats of a Bongo Drum. Chaz, had to get up and start dancing to the music… it was so funny that Gun Dude’s Carl started laughing so hard he had meat coming out his nose like a Meat Grinder.
It was a great evening. The next morning Joe said “What a great bunch of guys to get the Meat Sweats with.” A statement that was almost as funny as Chaz’s dance.
Some observations:
1. Massad Ayoob is still a scary good shot, a Gentleman and a Scholar… albeit a salty one.
2. There were some problems with some of the guns on the range. An XD was giving one shooter fits, but I think it was ammo related as he did have a Squib Load that required disassembly and a punch to get the projectile out of the bore. All three 1911’s had the full spectrum of problems. One was simple occasional failures to fully chamber, another was Gun Dude’s Carl, who’s filthy Springfield XD required complete take down and cleaning to get back into a working form. Now, I’m not a 1911 Hater, I’m just objective. The problem I believe is the trend to make a 1911 too goram tight. A little loser in the tolerances and they seem to be less finicky. For example, my old Springer GI. Runs great. Any number of Kimbers I’ve seen, much tighter, and they jam like jazz bands. Take that for what you will. Either way, I shoot my 1911’s for fun, my Glocks for more serious use.
None of the Glocks had any problems. Say what you will about the Glock’s look or Grip Angle, but the gun simply works.
3. We tested out some ammo from a new outfit called Freedom Munitions. We had some Ball and HP to try out. It all shot very well. The Hollowpoint .40 I tried… Shot a water bottle with it and then dug out the bullet. It expanded very well. Accuracy with this ammo, well, the best groups I got all week were with this ammo. It felt very consistent. I will be buying more. They have some very good pricing as well, so look into these guys.