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  • Weekend Knowledge Dump- May 9, 2025

Weekend Knowledge Dump- May 9, 2025

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

 

Which Doesn’t Belong and Why

Ammunition quality control is at a historic nadir.  Pay attention to the cartridges your are placing inside your self protection firearm.

 

 

Sinister Manipulations – SemiAuto Shotguns

Shotgun manipulations for you lefties.

 

 

Carrying Concealed: Are Old Fanny Packs The New Trend?

Fanny packs are becoming more and more commonplace.  here are some tips for using one as a way to tote your concealed firearm.  If you have the right bag, you might also be able to outfit it with some body armor if you want.

 

 

The Deadliest Distance

These are some good tips for winning the close range gunfight.  With that said, you can’t learn this stuff by reading.  You must take a class, learn the techniques, and then continue to practice on your own.  I’ll be in a class next weekend learning from the author of this piece as well as Dave Spaulding.  I hope to see some of you there!

For more information about shooting from retention, read Mas Ayoob’s take in Subtleties of Shooting From Retention.

 

 

Supreme Court’s “Ghost Gun” Ruling Accidentally Paves Way For Next-Gen 80% Firearms

The latest on “ghost guns.”

 

 

High and Tight: Tourniquet Application in the Direct Threat Care Phase

A quick tourniquet use review for those of you who are interested in battlefield medicine.

 

 

Start of Watch – Briefing

I’ve had mixed results using roll call sessions as an opportunity for micro training sessions.  At one time in my career, the patrol sergeants and I provided training in every single agency roll call for several years.  The cops hated it.  The sergeants hated it.  Both groups simply didn’t want to do any extra work.  When a new chief came in, the patrol officers and sergeants informed the chief that daily training was too difficult to perform.  The new chief got rid of daily roll call training simply because the sergeants were too lazy to come up with training lessons and the cops didn’t want to be forced to learn new things.

One of the many reasons I no longer teach police classes.  Roll call training will work if you have motivated officers and supervisors who care.  That’s a difficult hurdle to get over.

 

 

Guest Shot: Counter Ambush

A good perspective on counter-ambush techniques for my police readers.  And while we are talking about ambushes, please be aware of the physical ambushes that pre-teen and teenage gang members are using against cops in crowded urban environments.

 

 

The Dillinger Gang’s Assault Rifle

A history lesson for you gun nerds.

 

 

Reaction To The Verdict In Arizona v Elliott (My Most Recent Case)

Some ‘behind the scenes” information about how our legal system works and why you want to avoid it if at all possible.  For some solid post-shooting procedureal advice, please read Self-Defense and the Law: Know What to Say to the Police After a Good Shoot.

 

 

27 Possible Scams to Avoid in Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is my second home.  I spend a couple months living there every winter.  These scams are common and not isolated to Mexico.  If you travel anywhere in the world, you should know how these basic scams work.

 

 

On Urban Snipers And Their Reach In Modern Conflicts

1 O2m7KrkheT9NPQeAfItz0gInteresting piece on urban snipers and the psychological influence they can have on the battlefield in 4th Generation Warfare.  If you want more information on this topic, check out the book Fry the Brain by John West.

 

 

Freedom Fortress: Protect Your Freedom and Cash From the Collapse of the West

What I’m reading…

 

 

The Warrior’s Quest

“So what lesson do we take from the warrior’s quest and the custom’s loss? We can’t wander the countryside challenging other swordsmen to duels. But, we can learn the power of solitude in our training. Training partners are vital, but the real process of self-discovery through mastery happens alone. Learn to spend the bulk of your training time alone with your thoughts and your efforts. Do this and you’ll master not just your craft. You’ll also master yourself. And that goal is the ultimate aim of training.”

 

 

10 Round Shotgun Battery Course | Skills and Drills [2025]

When is the last time you’ve taken your shotgun to the range for a workout?

 

 

A Welcome to First-Time Gun Owners

An excellent resource for new gun owners.  If you are a fan of The Revolver Guy, you might also like to read their most recent historical article The Long and the Short of It: A Fort Worth Gunfight.

 

 

Understanding Ohio’s Weapons Laws – Part 3 – “Constitutional Carry II”

A legal discussion for my Ohio readers.

 

 

The Thing About Duty Holsters

Shane discusses choosing a police duty holster if you carry a weapon mounted light.

 
 
 
 
The Ultimate Revolver Speedloader Showdown: 16 Loading Devices Tested

A thorough examination of all the speed loaders currently available on the market.

 

 

Revolver Vs. Auto: Which Model Fits Your Concealed Carry Needs?

revolver-vs-auto-9
Mas Ayoob explains a few of the differences between revolvers and autopistols that you may not have considered.
 
 
 
 

Thoughts On The Effective Police Firearms Instructor Part 2

Part Two of John Hearne’s article series about being a quality police firearms instructor.

 

 

What Women Really Use: 2025 AG & AG National Conference Gear Report

An interesting look at the guns and gear 750 female students brought to shoot at the annual AG&AG conference.

 

 

Cut Burned And Shot?

Clint Smith puts the range rules in a proper perspective.

 

 

FIGHTING WANTS versus FIGHTING NEEDS

“Fighting first first, systems second!”

 

 

Surge in Training Class Sign-Ups Reported

I’m happy to report that my classes are selling well, but after talking to a lot of other trainers in the industry, I don’t think this article is correct.  Overall gun school class attendance is down this year as compared to years past across most of the country.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the above links are affiliate links.    I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.

 

 

 

 
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Posted on May 9, 2025 by Greg Ellifritz in Weekend Knowledge Dump
Active Self Protection, American Cop, API Prodigy, Bearing Arms, Clint Smith, close quarters shooting, counterambush, Dave Spaulding, Erick Gelhaus, firearms training, GreyBeard Actual, Gun Snobbery, Hock Hochheim, holsters, John Hearne, Legal, Lucky Gunner, Massad Ayoob, medical skills, police, police training, Primer Peak, Rich Nance, Safariland, scams, shooting drills, shotguns, sniper, The Revolver Guy, The Tactical Wire, tourniquets, travel, vehicle tactics

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