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Assessing Neighborhood Safety- Gang Graffiti

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   In my book Choose Adventure- Safe Travel in Dangerous Places I have a section of advice discussing how to assess whether an area is “safe” or not in a foreign country.  I wrote:   “Given the massive differences in culture, customs, and income, how can you tell if the neighborhood […]

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles
gangs, graffiti, Mexico, third world travel, travel View Post

Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 15, 2021

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   A Guide for Parents: Understanding Youth Mental Health and Preventing Unauthorized Access to Firearms This looks like an excellent resource for gun-owning parents.     Road Rage Statistics An in-depth analysis of the issues […]

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
Active Self Protection, AR Build Junkie, AR-15, Buckeye Firearms, ccw, Citizens Safety Academy, Defenders and Disciples, gelatin tests, gunsmithing, Integrated Skills Group, Jack Donovan, Legal, Marcus Wynne, Massad Ayoob, medical skills, Mountain Man Medical, optics, Paul Martin, police, police training, Practical Eschatology, radios, Rangemaster, revolvers, shooting drills, shotguns, The Revolver Guy, warning shots, Winning Mind Training View Post

Rangemaster Baseline Assessment Drill

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   I got this one from the Rangemaster Instructor Course I attended last year.  It is also described as the “drill of the month” in Rangemaster’s December 2020 Newsletter (opens to PDF).   Here are the specifics:   Rangemaster Baseline Skills Assessment Drill   Use a B-8 repair center, FBI-IP-1 bullseye, […]

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Shooting Drills
firearms training, Rangemaster, shooting drills View Post

Back From Brazil

A week ago I arrived home from an eight-day trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   As I’ve written extensively about Brazil in past articles, I’m not going to cover the normal tourist stuff.  Instead, I’m going to discuss travel during a worldwide pandemic and the different perspectives other populations have regarding Covid-19.   I love […]

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in What's New
Brazil, third world travel, travel View Post

Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 8, 2021

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   Weaver vs. Picatinny: What’s the Difference? The two most commonly available optics rails and their differences.     Sheriff identifies pastor killed in East Texas church shooting An interesting case that my church security […]

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
ACLDN, Active Self Protection, Brian Enos, ccw, chokes, church security, church shootings, crowd violence, firearms training, gunsmithing, Integrated Skills Group, knives, Marc MacYoung, Marcus Wynne, Massad Ayoob, Michael Janich, modern service weapons, multiple attackers, Pew Pew Tactical, pocket carry, pocket pistols, police, Practical Eschatology, psychology, Rangemaster, robbery, Ruger, Sam Harris, scams, Steve Tarani, Swift Silent Deadly, Tamara Keel, The Revolver Guy, vehicle tactics, William Petty View Post

Free Books- Part 219

Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website.  You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day.  These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free […]

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Uncategorized
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A Historical Look at Appendix Carry

  This is a guest post from my friend Darryl Bolke.  Darryl is currently writing a book about the history of formal firearms training throughout the 20th century.  I’m very excited to read his book when he gets it on the market.  Until then, follow Darryl’s writing at DB’s Shooting Adventures on Facebook.   -Greg […]

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
appendix carry, Dark Star Gear, Darryl Bolke, guest author, holsters, JM Custom Kydex, PHLster, Raven Concealment, Spencer Keepers View Post

Do Dogs Deter Criminals?

  Written by Greg Ellifritz   I investigated a recent break in and the victim told me “I’m going to get a big dog.  This will never happen again.”   I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the presence of a dog may or may not prevent a burglary.  The dog may also […]

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in News and Tactical Advice
crime prevention, dogs, statistics View Post

Best of What I Read- 2020

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Compared to the average American, I read a massive number of books.  I try to read between around 10 books a month.  I accomplish this because I don’t have TV in my house and I carry a book wherever I go.  Whenever I have a few spare moments, I spend […]

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Book Reviews
impact weapons, Jocko Willink, Marcus Wynne, politics, Reid Henrichs, Robert Young Pelton, Selco, survival, terrorism View Post

Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 1, 2021

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   5 Firearms instructor red flags “If your instructor commits one of the 5 Firearms Instructor Red Flags, I would be concerned, especially if it’s the medical one. If they break 2 of them, I […]

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
Active Self Protection, AK-47, AR Build Junkie, AR-15, Breach Bang Clear, Brian Hill\, Caleb Giddings, Claire Wolfe, Darryl Bolke, Doom and Bloom, exercise, firearms training, fitness, Force Science Institute, gelatin tests, injuries, Integrated Skills Group, John Mosby, Justin Dyal, knives, Larry Lindenman, Massad Ayoob, medical skills, medicine, Michael Janich, Mountain Man Medical, optics, Organic Prepper, Pew Pew Tactical, Practical Eschatology, Recoil Magazine, revolvers, robbery, scopes, shotguns, slings, SmashweRx, survival, The Complete Combatant, Tier Three Tactical, weapon mounted lights View Post

A House Fire, a Garden Hose, and a set of Handcuffs

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   The news headline was inflammatory: “Homeowner tasered by police as he fought fire spreading from house next door”.   I came across it as I was scanning my Facebook news feed.  The story described a man who was using a garden hose to prevent a neighbor’s house fire from spreading.  […]

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles
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Your Tactical Training Scenario…robbed with an airsoft gun

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Imagine a scenario when you and your spouse were walking down the street at night.  A man approaches, draws a pistol and announces a robbery.  You notice that the pistol has a red tip and you believe the gun isn’t real.  You think it is  an airsoft gun (spring or […]

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Tactical Training Scenarios
airsoft, robbery, stabbing. toy guns View Post

Teaching Tip- Gimme Three Steps

Written by: Greg Ellifritz “Simply put, the human brain can only consume about three ‘chunks’ of information in short term, or working, memory.  As more and more items are added to a list, the average person retains less and less.  Four items are a bit harder to remember than three.  Five items are even harder.  […]

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Teaching Tips
teaching, Teaching Tips, training View Post

Armed Citizen Response to the Terrorist Bomber

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Terrorists worldwide use bombs as their weapons of choice.  Occasionally, these bombs will be supplemented by sniper fire, grenades, or active shooters but it’s the bombs that get media attention.  Many of my readers have been to numerous shooting schools and have trained in martial arts for years.  How many […]

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles
Bombing, Bombs, concealed carry, terrorism View Post

Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 25, 2020

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   GUNMAN opens fire outside St. John the Divine church in Manhattan after Christmas choir performance As I’ve noted in previous writings, we are seeing more and more active killer attacks of late originating OUTSIDE […]

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
Active Self Protection, active shooter, Anette Evans, Cecil Burch, church shootings, Claude Werner, CP Journal, crowd violence, Ed Calderon, fitness, gelatin tests, holsters, Legal, Marcus Wynne, medical skills, Michael Bane, Mountain Man Medical, Precision Rifle Blog, psychology, riots, Tamara Keel, The Revolver Guy, third party protection View Post

My Best Writing- 2020

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Last week, I posted an article linking to my most popular posts in 2020.  In that article, I discussed how my “most popular” articles were not the same as my “best” articles.     I liked many of the most popular articles (ranked by page view), but I think other […]

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles
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Your Tactical Training Scenario: A Pistol Whipping and Gun Disarm

Written by Greg Ellifritz   You are out for a walk at night.  You have your CCW pistol concealed under your shirt.  You are set upon by two robbers, one of whom is armed with a pistol.  He uses that pistol to smash you in the head and then orders you to the ground.  What […]

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Tactical Training Scenarios
ccw, gun disarms, robber, Rory Miller View Post

Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 18, 2020

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   Concealed Carrier Assaulted By Man Who Pulls Knife, And Makes Many Mistakes During This Incident Take the time to watch this short surveillance video.  It’s pretty much the epitome of how not to handle […]

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
.410, Active Self Protection, American Handgunner, Ammoman School of Guns, backup gun, ballistics, booby traps, Brian Enos, Caleb Giddings, ccw, Chris Fry, church security, Concealed Nation, criminal firearms, crowd violence, Ed Head, flashlights, GAT Daily, gunsmithing, Hilton Yam, history, home invasion, Karl Rehn, knife fighting, knife fights, Lexipol, Paul Martin, police, Precision Rifle Blog, Ralph Mroz, Seth Godin, Steve Moses, Steve Tarani, survival, Survival Mom, Swift Silent Deadly, Tamara Keel, Tiger McKee, Tim Chandler, weapon retention View Post

Free Books- Part 218

Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website.  You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day.  These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free […]

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Uncategorized
View Post

Smart Choices

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   The most common questions I get from readers involve how to best protect families and children.  I’m a single dude who has never been married and has no kids.  I’m really not the one to ask those questions.  I’d rather refer those questions to people with more expertise in the […]

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
children, family safety, The Complete Combatant View Post
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  • Weekend Knowledge Dump- June 6, 2025
  • Free Books- Part 320
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