Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Bring A Gun To A Knife Fight?
Steve Tarani dispels some of the tired myths uneducated “gun people” spout about knife attacks.
Concealed Carry for Women
A full-text annual magazine for female concealed carriers published by the NRA. Thanks to Claude Werner for finding the link.
Felon Tries To Force Woman Into His Car
Continuing on the topic of women’s self protection, my female readers should watch this video and “war game” how you might handle it. There are very few hard and fast rules in the self protection context, but “not going to the second crime scene” is a very critical boundary to enforce if you want to survive an encounter like this one.
Suicide and Firearms: A Responsible Conversation for Gun Owners
A serious problem that many responsible gun owners fail to consider. You may have never had a suicidal thought in your life. Do you know that your spouse, kids, friends, and anyone else who may occasionally have access to your firearms feel the same way?
Revolver Showdown: 9mm vs .357 Magnum Accuracy, Velocity & Ballistics Test!
If you are going to carry a mid-size revolver for self protection, should it be in 9mm or .38 special caliber? This is a solid examination comparing velocity, shootability, and gelatin performance designed to answer that question.
As we are talking about revolver ammo, you might also like to read Comparing Factory .38 Spl. Wadcutter Loads.
My friend Mark Fricke has studied wadcutter ammunition more deeply than anyone on the planet. He thinks that the wadcutter rounds with a velocity of 700-750 feet per second create the ideal combination of adequate penetration without having difficult recoil in light weight guns.
Harvard Professor Reveals The Secret To Lasting Love & Happiness – Arthur Brooks
I seldom listen to podcasts twice. I immediately replayed this one as soon as I finished it. I think it contains the best advice I’ve ever heard about maintaining love and happiness in today’s world. Survival isn’t always about guns and fighting. Take a chance and listen to this one. I guarantee you will learn something that has the potential to make your life significantly better.
The guest’s book From Strength to Strength is also a must read for those of us who are aging high performers.
A Great New Competition Debuts!
Have you heard about this new rifle shooting competition? Michael Bane explains it here. Gila Hayes also conducted an excellent interview with Michael in this month’s ACLDN journal. Check it out.
Schools with multiple shootings are ‘unforgiving places’
An alternate way to look at the problem of school shootings. I don’t know this researcher, but I have been enjoying his Substack. I urge you to subscribe if you are interested in the topic of school violence.
Surveillance Tips: 3 Easy Techniques for Warding Off Suspicious Neighbors
These excuses work pretty well if you need to have a “reason” to be in an area for a long time. You should also be aware that criminals can use them in the same manner that cops and PIs do.
Inside the Mind of a Predator: Truths, Myths & How to Protect Your Family | Ross Hick | Ep. 143
A great introduction to how hardcore sexual predators think and operate.
Should You Not Run a Red Dot on Your EDC?
Mike Boyle discusses the important issue of “dot versus no dot” with regards to your defensive firearms. I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about the issue. Dot sighted handguns offer a distinct advantage in some contexts (longer ranges and smaller targets). They also have a relatively steep learning curve to get consistently good. They add bulk/weight to your carry piece.
I reserve the right to change my opinion in the future, but all my current carry guns have iron sights. Please consider, however, my reality and threat risk profile might not be the same as yours. I shoot very well with iron sights. I do not have any age-related vision problems that hamper my ability to acquire a sharp iron sight picture. I also have a relatively short life expectancy and am not likely to inhabit this plane of existence very far into the future.
Those combined factors have convinced me to stick with iron sights so long as I keep running them well. I lead a very mellow life and am not likely to ever engage in a longer range gunfight. I don’t compete in shooting competitions anymore. Devoting the time I would need to truly master the red dot does not seem to pass the cost/benefit analysis in my mind.
With all that said, if I was a new shooter or had any type of eye problem that makes seeing the iron sights difficult, I would jump to a red dot sighted handgun in a heartbeat.
Rangemaster May Newsletter
An excellent edition this month. Pay special attention to the article on range etiquette.
May Drill of the Month: 4 Second Standards — And Shooting Notes
Tom included this shooting drill in his monthly newsletter (linked above). In this article, Rich Grassi gives it a try and discusses his thoughts about it. He later ran it with a revolver and documented his performance. It looks like a great drill.
If you need a couple more shooting drills for your next range training session, please check out Pair of Queens and Cold Heat.
For more shooting drills, you can also join my Patreon community. I provide a weekly “range workout” of prescribed shooting drills every Saturday to my $5 and $10 tier supporters.
Self-Defense and the Law: Is It Worth it to Carry Concealed Illegally?
Massad Ayoob discusses why illegal carry isn’t usually the best plan of action. For more legal stuff, my Ohio friends might appreciate Understanding Ohio’s Weapons Laws – Part 2 – “Constitutional Carry I”
Thoughts From The Campfire With Crown Royal – Volume 2 – They Don’t Think Like You Do
I used to teach hard lateral movement on the draw. Now I don’t. What caused me to change my mind? One of the reasons is discussed in this video.
You are assuming the criminal is trying his best to hit you with his bullets. In most case he is not. He’s trying to spray the air with as many bullets as possible to keep you from killing him. Your hard lateral movement is just as likely to bring you in contact with a criminal’s bullet as it is to keep you safe from the same.
Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms
Dr. Yamane is doing some excellent scholarship in the arena of American Gun Culture.
The SIG P320 User Manual Debacle [2025]
Lots of folks like to be pedantic and argue with strangers on the internet. In this piece Dan tries to inject some common sense into the heated debate about the Sig 320 pistol.
Ayoob: Were We Wrong About the “Tactical Turtle”?
I shoot like a “tactical turtle.” Massad Ayoob doesn’t think that’s a problem. Most of the “shooters” who criticize the practice don’t shoot nearly as well as Mas does.
I’ll add one other advantage to the practice that Mas didn’t mention. Tucking your chin down activates the trapezius muscles in the upper back when shooting. Those muscles help make the muzzle flip much more controllable. I’m a 270 pound powerlifter who shoots a 9mm. I have to admit that I don’t need a whole lot of muscle to control muzzle rise in my Glock. An elderly 110-pound woman might need every bit of extra muscle activation she can muster.
POM Pepper Spray MK3
Did you know that POM makes a larger pepper spray container that may be better suited to home or vehicle defense than their amazingly handy little pocket spray units? I’ve played around with the newer version a bit and really like it. I liked it enough to send some to a lady friend who doesn’t own guns but still wants a home defense option in the event she’s attacked. It’s a good option if maximal concealment isn’t the goal.
FTW SELF-DEFENSE
What I’m reading…
The cost of action: Off-duty response decisions every cop must think through
Warren wrote an excellent article (including an interview with a questionably relevant retired cop) about off duty police action.
Police One also published his articles titled Debunking the buckshot myth: Why fewer buckshot pellets can actually make you safer and Debunking the Newhall myths: Why the truth still matters for every officer this week. All three articles are worthy of your attention.
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