Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
What’s the fastest way to reload a CCW revolver?
Caleb is bucking long term revolver dogma in this thought-provoking article. He is correct. If you doubt his thesis, fire up the shot timer and verify it for yourself.
Will Competition Shooting Get You Killed in the Streets?
“A shooting match is not a gunfight…but a gunfight is a shooting match!”
Need some more Massad Ayoob in your life? Read How to Discreetly Carry Larger Handguns.
34 ATF Rule Changes: What Happens If Gun Owners Stay Silent?
A good summary of the newly proposed ATF rule changes I’ve mentioned in the last couple knowledge dumps.
The Lost Intent
“What happened to the Color Code is a case study in how hard truths get diluted. A system designed to prepare people for moral, psychological, and physical conflict was reshaped into something comfortable and marketable.”
The M1 Carbine Revisited
You don’t see much writing about the venerable M1 carbine any more. I thank Lucky Gunner for attempting to resurrect this classic. I think the M1 carbine is a great “pool gun” for any family member who is small, short, or feeble and who can’t hold up an AR-15. Almost anyone 10 years old and up can become very proficient with the little .30 carbine.
Appreciating Just How Far Murder Has Fallen in the US
“Nationally, there were about 8,000 fewer murders last year than each year from 2020-2022 and about 10,000 fewer murders than there were in the early 1990s. That works out to a national murder rate that was less than half of its peak in the 1980s and 1990s.”
“…sometimes it’s worth appreciating how much better things are now than they were 50, 30 and even 5 years ago when considering where we are today.”
The cause(s) of this decline are a little bit harder to establish.
What is Ballistic Coefficient? (BC Explained for Shooters)
A quality discussion about a topic most shooters don’t understand. You may also like SHOOTING 101: Taking The Confusion Out Of Riflescopes.
Principles for the Armed Lifestyle
Years of hard-earned wisdom distilled into a few key principles.
A City Fails Its Police Officers on Use of Force
You police officers are playing a losing game. When you follow the rules and do everything you are supposed to do, the politicians simply change the rules to ensure you can never succeed. If you finished that one unscathed, try Knowing Statutory Law Is Not Always Enough.
Federal’s Flite Control vs. Hornady’s Versa-Tite
The Federal Flight Control round is my preferred choice for 12 gauge shotgun defensive ammunition. The Hornady version opens up a little quicker but it makes for much tighter patterns than all of the other buckshot loads on the market. If you can’t get the Federal, I would have no problems relying on the Hornady loads for personal protection. As always, pattern the loads in your own individual guns before you rely on them in a defensive capacity.
SUMMARY REPORT YEAR END TRAINING SURVEY
Survey data compiled by Chuck and Kristin Pressburg about a variety of factors that influence the state of modern day professional firearm training. Opens to PDF.
My First Safaris
“The moral, lesson or message from this story is that you should not let others diminish your adventures with their tales of expeditions in faraway places. Sometimes the real and truly meaningful ventures can be found in your own backyard. It’s not about the money spent or exotic locations. It’s about the tire tracks, footprints, and memories made.”
Drownproof: Eight Life Lessons to Keep Your Head Above Water
What I’m reading….
Emotional Components of Knife Defense, Part 1
A detailed look at why some folks fear being stabbed more than being shot. It’s a very common, but scientifically baseless fear.
A medical study of criminal assaults taking place between 1960 and 1999 found that firearms attacks have a 5.4% lethality rate. Knife attacks have a 1.1% lethality rate.
Part Two of the series contains useful info as well.
Cosplaying the Warrior Ethos
Matt Larsen is discussing military culture and training, but I couldn’t help but think it also applies to the police and CCW world as well.
“Running for miles is hard.
Deadlifting is hard.
Obstacle courses are hard.
None of those things require you to confront another human being trying to physically dominate you while everyone watches.
Combatives does.
That is why so many people who enthusiastically talk about “warrior ethos” spend their entire careers quietly avoiding actual fighting training. They want the appearance of warrior culture without the emotional risk that comes with genuine combat proficiency.”
Snubby Sub-Four by Mike Boyle
A shooting evaluation for those of you who carry snubby revolvers. Need some more shooting drills? Try Three Pistol Shooting Drills with One Box of Ammo.
Shooting the Shorties – Mastering PGO Firearms
I’m not a fan of pistol grip only “shotguns” for personal protection. If you choose to use one, here are some tips to shoot it better.
Atypical Armed Robber Shows Clerk She Means Business
Think about how you would handle this scenario if you were a customer in the store.
Five Rules To Help You Win A Gunfight!
Good advice here.
The 21-foot “Rule” is Back in the News!
If you have ever discussed the “21-foot rule” or the “Tueller Drill” without reading Tueller’s original 1983 article and the additional reference links in the article above, you are doing yourself and your students a disservice by playing the tactical equivalent of the “telephone game.”
Best Budget 9mm JHP Ammo for Summer Carry
An interesting look at the performance of some budget 9mm rounds.
I Checked My Safety. It Was Off.
“We think “safe” is a switch position.
It isn’t. It’s a process.”
De-escalate A Situation Before It Turns Violent: A Boys’ Night Out
I think it’s more useful to study successful de-escalations like this one than it is to analyze how someone can perform better once the incident kicks off.
Quote to Ponder:
“Most people think the will to survive is the strongest instinct in human beings, but it isn’t. The strongest instinct is to keep things familiar.”
– Virginia Satir
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