BEYOND THE BASICS

The guns themselves...  From your instructor,

Since we’ve been skimming the historical end of the spectrum I thought going into a minimum of depth about the actual handguns (and some rifles/shotguns) common to our purpose of self defense and carry might be both fun and appropriate. This will be a minimum of depth article of subject matter.

• I will cover Handguns: revolvers and semi automatics from Civil War to current day 
• I will cover Bolt Action and semi automatic rifles of the 20th century and present day eras 
• Lever action rifles are post civil war to present in their availability to the firearms market
• Shotguns both Pump Action and Semi-Automatic (with a nod to side by sides)

Before I get started I want to make some mention of both imports and kits as they are available and are made by many hobbyists. Kits, are mostly in the form of black powder weapons as far as handguns are concerned. I know of no major manufacturer offering center fire handguns to be built as kits. I’ll note here that if you order the “Parts House” catalogs from places like Brownells or Caspian you can order the parts to make your own 1911 style pistols. (I highlight these because even though you can do this; you operate in a huge grey area of legality as far as Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is concerned). Changes to laws went into effect during the Clinton  ‘GUN BAN ERA’ and after 9-11  at BATFE that have strict guidelines and procedures regarding “manufacturing of firearms” and what defines a manufacturer and the meticulous restrictions and requirements and records keeping that are mandated by the Federal Government.  Some parts can only be bought and sold through FFL holders and are transferred during sale just like a whole gun. That is why the majority of complete kits are black powder. They don’t fall under those particular guidelines as “modern firearms “. This presents a problem in that the “gun control” folks are always harping on about what is called the “Gun Show Loophole”. At Gun shows you can buy complete sets  of parts for AR/M-4 style rifles from many vendors and you can also find parts for  semi auto pistols in 1911 and Glock styles. Frames, slides, barrels, all internal parts and even bake on finishes. The hook here is that all rules apply. Frames for pistols have to have a BATFE purchase form filled out and the same with some of the AR parts. You buy these parts as “stripped” upper and lower receivers and “stripped” frames and slides, and buy everything else separately to go in on and around them. Here’s the deal for anyone looking to do this. If by some chance you were to assemble a firearm and you did not register it with the BATFE with a legitimate serial# for each individual part required and or one serial number for the entire firearm (stamped at your expense on various parts of that particular weapon)and you happen to get stopped by BATFE agents doing a range sweep or at the local gunsmith you took it to,  to have finished and tuned up; guess what happens?

Yep, they seize the gun and possibly arrest you and the gunsmith for violating Federal law by illegally manufacturing unregistered firearms, and illegally transferring unregistered firearms, and for not having a firearms manufacturer’s license, place of business, and books required. You’re certainly going to go to court over it and many months and possibly years will pass before you or if you ever get your project gun back. If not that, say you get stopped by the local Police and they run the numbers on your gun. OOOOPS!!!! There are no numbers on the gun. Wanna guess what’s next?

Then there is the whole “shade tree gunsmith” thing. Ever built a firearm before? Understand and know about head spacing or how to do it? Proper chamber dimensions? Spring tension, chamber pressure and peaks and drop offs to tune gas systems or unlock breeches safely? Trigger tuning safety? Bluing  firearms? Hot or cold blue?

Chamber leades? Save yourself a world of headaches (and money) and buy assembled weapons from major manufacturers and let the warranty take care of any problems.

 
IMPORTS:

Many major manufacturers import their guns in parts and assemble them here with some parts made here. Cimarron markets their line of Old West style guns but they are  in reality, Pietta, Pedersoli, Uberti, models from Italy. They are finished here as per the laws. Springfield Armory has always been an importer. Their famous 1911 A1 pistols were for years of Brazilian manufacture and some of their parts are still Brazilian made and assembled here in the S.A. factory (their XD line is Croatian). Springfield Armory has not been the U.S. Govt. Springfield Armoury for many many years. Some of the Manufacturers get by the (or add to) the confusion by adding U.S. or U.S.A. to their corporate name. Beretta USA, PARA USA, Springfield USA, etc etc. In the Clinton “Gun Ban” years firearms manufacturers were given time to set up factories here in the U.S. to assemble their firearms and some (I’m not sure exactly which ones or how many) American made parts were required  for manufacture here. Beretta, Springfield, Para, Taurus, Glock, SIG, Cimarron Arms, FNH all have plants here in the States now. This includes all types of firearms mentioned in this rant!

 
REVOLVERS:

COLT: single Action revolvers for cowboy type competition are being manufactured under the Colt name again (I know not where). I would look for Colt to reissue some “classics” as Smith & Wesson is having a lot of success with their re-issues of old revolvers. Look for Python, and Detective Special and Police Positive models.

I don’t know where as the original Colt factory is where U.S. Fire Arms manufactures/U.S.F.A. builds their line of Colt clones and Cowboy guns.

SMITH & WESSON is still based in Springfield Massachusetts. They build revolvers in both production and custom shops (Performance Ctr.). They manufacture revolvers in calibers from .22 to .500 S&W. S&W utilizes different frame sizes in their line. J Frames are the small frame revolvers and are most noted for the 5 shot .38 special revolvers and hammerless versions that are as popular as ever. They as are all S&W revolvers can be had in blue or stainless finish as can most of the production line of Smith & Wesson.

K,L Frame models are geared more toward the .357 magnum and .38 special +P guns like the models 19 and 686, 66, 60 etc.

The N Frame or large frame starts with the .357 magnum and goes to .44 Magnum and .45 ACP. A lot of the N Frames are now being re-issued in Smith’s “Classics” series. What’s old is new again and higher priced.

The X Frame is for the serious handgun hunter and no caliber in this frame size is a good choice for self defense or concealed carry. Calibers of 454 Casull,460 Ruger or S&W or 500 S&W are serious hunting /outdoor guns or “BEAR” guns. In my mind to use these cartridges for self defense borders on irresponsible as over penetration is a reality with them not an anomaly. They are extremely difficult to control for follow up shots.

S&W has a Performance Center line that has all kinds of feature laden models across the frame spectrum and caliber spectrum.

Old West/Cowboy style guns are available from a few sources besides those mentioned above. Cimarron Arms, and Uberti and Traditions have them from Civil War era black powder to center fire models.

STURM RUGER has both Single Action firearms in their Blackhawk and Vaquero, and New Army and Single Six lines, and standard and lightweight double action revolvers in their hot sellin LCR and SP series. Calibers run from .22 long rifle through 44 Magnum and 45 Long Colt and .460 Ruger, across the board, and they also have huge frame hunting and “BEAR” guns in their Redhawk series


TAURUS: “The JUDGE” and Raging Bull series of large revolvers are their main large caliber defense revolvers, but they have a very popular line of small 5 shot .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers that have been around for quite some time. I believe they have discontinued their Cowboy gun. The Judge series has taken the self defense world by storm and are an ever expanding series to include a 2 ½” barreled model and a “carbine” version. ROSSI is now owned and marketed by TAURUSUSA./TAURUS INTL.

CHARTER ARMS is back after a long nap and selling their small and medium framed revolver line that runs up to .44 S&W Special in caliber. They are marketing them in stylish (?) frame colors, of pink, gold red etc.

My apologies to anyone I missed in the lineup, but that pretty much covers the majors in revolvers. They are not cheap in manufacture or price. Taurus/Rossi are the low end price wise but not by too much. Certainly worth looking at though.

 
SEMI AUTOMATIC HANDGUNS:

 Where to begin:

COLT-SMITH & WESSON-KIMBER-PARA USA-SPRINGFIELD ARMORY USA-TAURUS USA-REMINGTON

Are all major US manufacturers who market production lines of their own models of the John Moses Browning model 1911-A1 .45 A.C.P. pistol in every possible configuration imaginable at every price level.

AND THAT DOESN’T COUNT THE SEMI CUSTOM OR CUSTOM HOUSES THAT PUNCH THEM OUT UNDER THEIR OWN NAME!! But these are the major houses here that offer standard production listings.

GLOCK-TAURUS-S&W-SPRINGFIELD ARMORY–RUGER; all offer striker fired polymer framed pistols in all sizes and all common semi auto calibers. GLOCK is the pioneer here and sets the standard.

SIG-BERETTA-RUGER  all still offer traditional double action semi automatic pistols of both steel/alloy and polymer frame construction; with hammers and de cock safeties.

There are so many makes and variations of semi autos, it’s hard to keep track much the same with the 1911’s out there. THERE’S A TON OF EM FOLKS! Knock your lights out pickin one.

 
PUMP ACTION SHOTGUNS

 Although there are several companies that market pump guns and self defense or tactical shotguns, there are two universally accepted  names and models:

The REMINGTON Model 870 is the industry standard for pump action shotguns. No doubt.

The MOSSBERG Model 500 runs an almost tie and very negligible second to the 870. They are both seen in Military units and Police cars and homes across the country and in the war zones.

  Yes; I know about Bennelli, and HK etc. but according to 2 of the largest firearms distributors (Davidson’s & Lew Horton Distributors) these two sell in the millions as opposed to thousands.

 
SIDE BY SIDE : They’re still out there
 

SEMI AUTOMATIC SHOTGUNS:

I HAVE VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE FIREARMS!

That said, I have fired several REMINGTON MODEL 1100 and BROWNING MODEL FIVE shotguns only in the hunting and skeet domains. I have no experience with these as defensive shotguns and have not seen any in Police hands.

I know that there are specialized models of “tactical” semi auto shotguns from Bennelli, HK, Beretta, and others that are highly thought of but I have no experience with them. They are also very expensive!!!!!! I’ll stick with a pump thank you.


RIFLES

SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLES:

Again; where to begin!!!!!!!

According to polls taken at the 2010 S.H.O.T SHOW (Shooting Hunting Outdoors Trade Show the Industry port of entry annually for firearms and industry) by The National Firearms Retailers Assoc.

In the United States the AR-15 is the top selling semi automatic rifle, with M-4 carbine models outselling the full sized rifles .

RUGER , has its Mini 14 series and it’s been around for many years but can’t match the panache of the AR’s out there. I’ve owned one. They’re great rifles. A scaled down Garand action.

REMINGTON:  8400 semi auto and the R series hunting rifles are regular production rifles and are very expensive.

Makers of AR/M-14 models are:

• SMITH & WESSON
• BUSHMASTER
• D.P.M.S.
• COLT
• SIG
• ROCK RIVER ARMS
• HK
• RUGER
• STAG ARMS
• DOUBLE STAR
• ETC.,ETC.,ETC.,ETC.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY USA has the market cornered in the M1A1/M14 market and their carbine version called the S.O.C.O.M. they also have the M1A GARAND model in their production lines.

Apologies again to the folks at HK, and FNH USA, or Bennelli and who so ever else, but the above makers and models out sell these particular companies semi automatic rifles across the board. I do suspect we’ll see a change there though as the FNH USA, S.C.A.R. has passed most of the US military testing phases and is in the final stage of testing for acceptance as I write this. I think we’re gonna see it accepted as the new military issued combat rifle very soon, and when I was last at Collector’s Firearms in Houston; their sales staff said sales of it were booming in civilian guise and that they are hard to keep in stock (I saw 3 of em so salesmen aside?).



BOLT ACTION RIFLES:    Mauser and Remington/Winchester style actions

 WOW!! 

REMINGTON, RUGER, MOSSBERG, MARLIN, WINCHESTER (Japanese), WEATHERBY, SAVAGE, SMITH & WESSON, BROWNING

 Budget models, field models, “Tacticool” models, varmint models, collector grade models are available from these established manufacturers and have been in these lines of American firms for years. They run the gamut price range wise, so again, knock yourself out picking one out.



LEVER ACTION RIFLES:

WINCHESTER, MOSSBERG,MARLIN. These I have experience with. Cowboy guns from Cimarron, Rossi, Puma, Uberti etc. are readily available.

Well that’s quite some laundry list of the Majors and a scratch of the surface of products. Feel free to submit questions about specific models or makers and I’ll get the info if I don’t know it. Cause I don’t know all of the products on the very large retail firearms market. That’s for sure.

Your Instructor... EDDIE  OUT

THE SECOND WHAT?

Here’s how it reads in the Constitution:

Amendment 2

“A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Nothing more nothing less.

I have for most of my firearms career heard all of the rhetoric about the “2nd Amendment” from both those who would seek to keep us from having guns for our own personal defense; to those who would have us believe that God himself wants us all to carry .50 Cals. Neither side has ever afforded in my humble opinion, the general public with a true “definition” of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of The United States. Let’s look at the word “Amendment” shall we? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as: (a mend ment): “1. A change for the better; improvement 2. a correction of errors, faults etc. 3. A revision or addition proposed or made in a bill, law, constitution, etc.”

The Constitution has a bunch of “amendments” or quite simply add -ons, corrections, improvements, etc.

Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we are guaranteed by The Constitution or the Federal, State or local Governments or by God Almighty Himself, the right to carry any kind of firearm in public or at home for our personal protection or self defense. WE , have had those types of laws which govern or licensures of those things written into our State laws and as yet there is NO SUCH THING as a Federal or National law or license for carrying of firearms for self defense.

That’s about as simple as I can make it folks because when you start waving around your “Second Amendment Rights” you are doing nothing more than waving a big grey area around!!

Yes there have been cases in all levels of Courts of Law about the Second Amendment, but not one has said it as simply as “The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that every law abiding non felon citizen of the United States of America can own and bear or carry a gun or guns It’s their right.”, and ya know what? You’re never going to see it defined that way, ever. The government doesn’t want you to have guns because citizens with guns can revolt and take power back the way the framers of the Constitution did way back when. (They did it with guns, they didn’t vote the British out they did it with force and kept it with force…..DEADLY FORCE) The old adage that “power comes at the end of the barrel of a gun.” (Tip of a spear, point of a sword, end of a bayonet etc etc. etc.) is and always has been the hidden truth to the Second Amendment.

The NRA has it all wrong. So does the Brady Campaign, The Handgun Violence Policy Center etc. etc.

Maybe the look should come from another angle. Now let me say I DO NOT PROPOSE OR BELIEVE THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS HOW I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE!!!! I AIN’T THE KING. When I am stuff will be way different.

Maybe if you look at it as if, all guns and gun owners should be registered and cataloged, Nationally, and all gun owners and their guns be issued a license that would allow for Nationwide carrying of their legally registered firearms whether concealed or in the open; and those licenses were flexible in that the legally registered and licensed citizen could add other firearms purchases to the registrations simply with due process according to the licensing (calling in and giving your license # and saying “hey I bought this rifle yesterday Serial #....... Thank you.”) The Government already has the legal purchase form at BATFE or if privately purchased you give the serial # to the licensing authority. Now if I’m not mistaken;

the Gun Control folks would be satisfied right? Every gun would be controlled and owners identified right? The NRA would be satisfied cause now all the “law abiding citizens” would have a National license and be legally covered without being “Infringed” Right? AND! per NRA, Brady et al; the person caught or found with a gun outside this law would be a CRIMINAL in possession of a firearm. Wouldn’t they?

SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? AHHHHH….. Fantasy Land.

ANY THOUGHTS?

YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

HISTORY AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

I was asked the following question:
 
QUESTION:
You have referred to several names in your “rants”. I would like to know if you wouldn’t mind, giving a small overview of the actual people named in firearms publications and your posts as you call them: i.e. Browning, Stoner, Colt, Smith & Wesson etc. Are these simply the names of manufacturers of guns? Thank you.

I truly apologize. I tend to assume when I shouldn’t. I have been graced with very sharp trainees as a whole and it is wrong for me to assume that their research and understanding of firearms is as mine. I truly apologize for that, and the fact that since I am a rank amateur as a writer I didn’t do proper historical or bibliographical references during my posts. So let me give a very basic overview of the actual names.
1.    Browning, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Remington, Beretta, are all the names of major manufacturers of firearms of all types mostly common to the USA. They are derived from the names of their original design and patent holders in homage shall we say. (The Europeans have many that although imported to the US are not as common or widely sold and distributed as the previous group i.e. Walther, Luger. Benelli, Sauer, Heym, Enfield etc.)
2.    BROWNING: John Moses Browning is the world’s most prolific gun designer. His designs include, most notably the 1911 .45 ACP pistol, the Browning P 35 Hi Power 9mm high capacity (13 rounds) semi auto pistol, the .50 Cal. Machine gun M2 “Ma Deuce”, the Model 1913 Browning .30 Cal. Machine gun, the Browning Automatic Rifle “BAR”, the Model 5 semi auto shotgun . The list goes on and on but Browning influenced every single name mentioned above and sold his firearms under all of those named except Beretta as far as I know. He literally held thousands of patents of firearms design and guns that are manufactured today by all the manufacturers listed and many others.
3.    STONER: Eugene Stoner is the designer and father of the M-16 rifle and all of its progeny and descendants to date. He was an aerospace and aeronautic engineer who pioneered using plastic and lightweight alloys from the aircraft industry and aerospace technology to design the original AR series of rifles (M-16) for the Armalite company thus the AR not (automatic rifle though that became the accepted designation. Originally sold as the AR 10 and later the AR 15 and carbine versions the US Military through Gen. Curtis Le May acquired the weapon design and gave it the designation M-16. The carbine version when fielded was simply named the Colt Commando as Colt had the Govt. contract to produce the M-16 originally and solely.
4.    I was familiar with different versions of the carbine issued as the XM 10, and XM110 and 115 with 15” and 10” barrels and collapsible butt stocks.
5.    GARAND: John Garand designed and built the M 1 Garand semi auto rifle in 30.06 caliber, issued to troops in WWII.
6.    KALASHNIKOV: Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK 47 rifle at the end of WWII, and it is in service to this day as the main competitor of Stoners M-16
7.    COLT: Col. Samuel Colt designed some of the world’s first commercially and militarily successful revolving cylinder handguns. The Patterson, Walker, Navy, Army, Peacemaker, models were all handguns that he held the patents to. (He did not design the first American “bored through” cylinder handgun after percussion designs. A man named Wheeler held the original patent on the first revolving cartridge design that both Colt and Smith and Wesson wound up producing )
8.    SMITH and WESSON: Horace Smith and Daniel Baird Wesson salesmen and entrepreneurs who owned patents but were not designers of firearms.
9.    WINCHESTER: Oliver Winchester was a shirt sales man who acquired the patent to the Henry Rifle and the Volcanic pistol design. He also was not a designer of guns but started the company that bears his name.
10.    REMINGTON: Eliphalet  Remington was the original American manufacturer of what is considered truly American firearms with rifling and percussion firing mechanisms and his manufacturing techniques were the basis of what is now historically called the “Industrial Revolution” and mass production.
11.    JOHN MOSES BROWNING : his designs of firearms were produced under patent by all of the major manufacturers and some are to this day. Remington and Winchester rifles and shotguns, Colt 1911-A1 pistols, Browning Hi Power pistols, are but a sample of his designs that made all these companies what they are today. It is why Browning is acknowledged as “The Father of Modern Firearms Design.” and rightfully so. His 1911 pistols and M-2 “fifty cal” machine guns proudly serve in the field with the U.S military proudly dispensing justice to terrorists in all corners of the globe one round at a time for 100 years. Bringin the hate to the bad guys and sendin it down range. American designed and known worldwide.

Hope this helps although there are many others, these are the basis of the Americans who have had their influence felt across the spectrum of firearms manufacturing and design.

Elections are coming up so pay attention. Gene Green, S.Jackson Lee, John Cornyn, Bill White are all names of people I will personally do everything to see defeated in the upcoming round of voting. Do the duty folks. I hate to get political but defeat all the non gun candidates and check the NRA and TSRA websites for info on who they are. I say these candidates because their agendas go far deeper than just Gun Control issues. These are the folks who would rather society destroy itself than lose their personal agendas to what is right for the people….all the people….not just their people.

EDDIE

MORE RIFLE STUFF

I stopped by a local “Armory” yesterday to pick up another Magpul 30 round magazine for my M-4 Carbine in anticipation of attending a Law Enforcement Instructors course (NRA) for patrol rifle.  I really like these magazines. They are solidly made and totally reliable. Being polymer, dropping them doesn’t bang them up like it does aluminum G.I. types and they are lighter in weight. I’ve had a long association with the M-16 and yes let me tell you, you can tell a difference in the weight of various magazines outside of capacity of course. I was perusing the other merchandise when two gentlemen asked what rifle I was getting the magazines for and not knowing these fellas I just said “mine.” with my usual half assed grin. They told me at that point that they were sales reps for a well known tacticool equipment manufacturer/supplier and gave me a business card and coupon (which they both signed) for a substantial discount on their product line in store or on line. Conversation went to “tacticool” stuff. They said their business was “through the roof” and their corporate  HQ had had to expand. Cool….good for them. They reaffirmed what I had researched; that though sales of “tacticool” rifles was down at least 1/3rd across the board, accessories were up well over 150% from the previous year for them. Great. Lotsa AR’s are in home safes across the land. They asked what sling I use. I told em the one that came with the rifle. Of course, they had to show me their latest, greatest,” you can tow a 737 Jumbo Jet” single point sling. At this point I just said a sling is just a carrying strap and excused myself as their jaws dropped.

I learned in a very harsh environment that a sling is just a way to carry your weapon. Look, I realize there are some techniques of rifle marksmanship training that teach and have been taught since WWI how to use the standard G.I. issue (leather) rifle sling to steady your aim by wrapping it around your support hand. Great, but otherwise you use the damn thing to sling it over your shoulder. Just like the rubbers we got in our kit. You used them to put over the muzzle to keep rain and twigs and crap out of the barrel not  to prevent getting an STD from the Saigon B girls, and trust me; they were far more effective in the former role and rarely in the latter.

I see training videos with tape being placed over the muzzles. Try it. I can tell you that I have and it doesn’t work. The tape won’t stay on for more than a couple of minutes of being carried through brushy terrain or crawling through thorny vegetation or “come along vines” as we used to call them.

If you expose your rifle to any significant amount of time in the elements of Texas you’re gonna find that your strap will rot or fall apart relatively quickly from abrasion, humidity, sun exposure, sweat or all of the above. Few if any riflemen give their sling any kind of maintenance, and I doubt if any have ever read the instructions for care and cleaning when they bought it or took it out of the box.

If you have an M-4 with the standard collapsible stock; you can single point the sling you get or as I say “short 2 point” it by putting the thing on the mount holes at the rear top & bottom of the stock. A lot of so called “experts” say you should take a hammer and punch and get rid of the front sling swivel underneath the front sight on AR/M-4 rifles. Don’t!!!!! On any firearm, I don’t give a damn if it’s pistol, rifle, or anti-aircraft gun; DON’T REMOVE PARTS THAT WERE ORIGINAL TO THE DESIGN OF THE GUN!  If it ain’t broke…..don’t fix it.

When you start putting accessories on an M-4 carbine or AR-15 after-market; they will get heavy quickly. Optics/red dot sights (w/batteries), vertical grips, quad rails, lights, mounts and lasers when combined will up the weight by 3 or 4 pounds. Add a 30 round mags and two or three more and you’ve got a substantial load. Great if you’re a SWAT officer or Infantryman otherwise you’re just being “TACTICOOL” and man; where you carrying all those extra batteries you’ll need?

Hey it’s great that you can have all these things so get them and hang em on the guns while you still can. I’ll say again that these rifles are not the best in the house defense weapons. A shotgun is much better , but the hairs on the back of my neck are starting to pop up again over the whole “Gun Control” thing. The vaunted efforts of the NRA have won exactly SQUAT! In the two big cases “D.C. v Heller” and  “The City of Chicago v Mac Donald”  Even though the Courts ruled in favor of the Second Amendment right of individuals to have firearms it also left a typhoon sized grey area in the form of “reasonable regulations”….those regulations are in the form of incredible red tape, exorbitant fees, and registration requirements. If Da Prez-O-Dent gets elected again and his tilting of the Supreme Court takes hold, AND he keeps idiots like Holder, and Napolitano,et al in place, man we’re gonna get “phuq’d” as gun owners and prices are gonna skyrocket again and panic buying will show up again making lots of items very hard to get. Keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs of the impending and I believe now, inevitable assault on the Second Amendment and private firearms ownership. A mass shooting by some “nut job” who twists off at a mall, school, or workplace, or some terrorist/homeland security, national security issue  will set them off screaming for more regulation by way of gun control on the law abiding citizen and certainly not on the dirt bag criminals who love gun control cause it makes their job that much easier. Beware! I think it’s coming.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR…   OUT

A Great Buy and My thoughts on AR15 / M4 for Home Defense

I’ve had three classes in June and folks are really picking up on their own self defense and how important it is and how fragile that right is becoming, especially with a self described hard core liberal who has never been a judge; fixin to be seated on The Supreme Court by Da Prez O Dent, & co.

To that end and as always as a consumer advocate for my friends and trainees, I’ve got some info for ya.
Philip, one of my June trainees has given me a heads up on some new Springfield XD’s at a great price. They are NOT XDM’s…….AJC Sports in Clute; have acquired an inventory of Springfield Armory XD’s from a shop that went out of business I understand.

Here’s what I have been told:

SA XD’s
New in the box
9mm and 40 S&W calibers ONLY. (IN THIS BATCH)
Black frame with stainless slide (silver).
Holster, mag holder and 2 magazines (XD Gear) in the case.
$399.00  (all factory warranties apply)

This is a fantastic deal on a very good firearm. Jump on it if you’re in the market. They won’t last long at that price and those guys are a big gun show vendor.

"PEARLS BEFORE WHINE”

People complain about practicing, instructors and trainees alike so here are some words to conjure on:

Down the hall in your home when you’re defending yourself and your loved ones it is not that;

“He’s so close I can’t miss!”…… it’s ……..He’s so close you can’t AFFORD to miss!!!!!!!

For many folks it’s not “TACTICAL”….IT’S….”TACTICOOL!”

FASTMAN SAY:
Buying a firearm because it’s cool or popular or cheap is just the “the debit card road to perfection”
You’re not gonna find perfection you’re gonna get A BILL!

AR and M-4 Tips.
A lot of these guns are out there and I’ve been watching people shoot them. I also have in my continuing quest to be a better instructor; acquired several video training series that include a couple geared directly at fighting with rifle and specifically the AR 15 and M-4 carbines that are prevalent today.

O.K. let me get this out of the way. I am going to preface this by saying that if you want to get an AR 15 or M-4 or other semi auto “tacticool” or “combat” style rifle, by all means do so. That is our right in this country and by all means exercises that right before the liberal democrats legislate it away as Clinton did.

Having said that let me say this as an Instructor. You better learn how to actually use it, and I don’t mean takin it out to the range or the deer lease and firing at whatever as fast as you can.

To shoot an AR15/M16/M-4 carbine effectively takes many factors. Basic marksmanship skill with rifles, understanding of bullet weight and rate of twist for the .223/5,56mm, the difference between 5.56 and .223 and which rifles will fire both or not (THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE AMMO AND THE RIFLES!!!!!!), the operating system, and lubrication and cleaning of these particular weapon systems.

The biggest mistake I see with owners of AR rifles being made is the open dust cover. This was designed with a purpose and it must be closed whenever possible to keep crud out of the weapon and the follow on jams. On a windy day at the range you will see someone as I have; shooting their M-4 carbine and not closing the dust cover between shot strings. One guy I watched came back from checking his target, and then getting a soda, all the while wind and dust blowing across his action open M-4 carbine. After two rounds he had failures to fire and failures of the M-4 to go into battery. After listening to him curse the thing I suggested that he field strip and clean the weapon cause I was pretty sure it had gotten dust in the action as I was downwind on a bench and had to rub grit out of my eyes every time the wind blew across the line. He was frustrated and said he was going home. Bye!

The dust cover is there for a reason, Stoner designed it that way, and it’s called a “DUST COVER!” Close it when you’re done. Cover the action from dust. AR 15/M-4 carbines are NOT self cleaning. That is a myth that chrome lining does not cure. You have to clean and lubricate an AR/M-4 for reliability and I mean ……LUBRICATE………it. A lot!

Everyone I see shooting AR/M-4’s eventually lets go with a barrage of bullets as fast as they can SLAP the trigger. Even the U.S. Military demanded a change in design of the M 16 to a 3 round burst instead of the original full auto mode of fire. This was to stop the average foot soldier from dropping into the “spray and pray” mode. They still do it in the Sandbox but have to pull the trigger after every burst of three but here at home there is always an attempt to replicate auto fire in a semi auto rifle. It’s impossible to either replicate or hit accurately when you slap a trigger instead of deliberately pulling it.

I also even see this on the training videos I’ve acquired from two highly respected Instructors and one joke of an Instructor. My two almost heroes/idols of firearms instruction can be seen not only SLAPPING BUT YANKIN the triggers of these weapons and you never see the targets( CAUSE THEY AREN’T HITTING ANYTHING BUT IT SURE LOOKS COOL BEFORE THEY HOLLER “CUT!”.

Ya know my basic mindset is that if you have these rifles great learn to use them but don’t get off track by trying to learn to fight with them. O my Gawwwwwwwwwd what did he just say? To quote comedian Chris Rock…..”I Said It! Yeah I Said It!”

If all you have at home is an AR 15 or M-4 carbine and you have decided upon it as your home defense weapon, so be it but it is not the ideal house gun because of over penetration. Maneuverability issues and tactics. That is what the 911 and ensuing Police response is for.

Look if you are in a rifle fight in your home or in the Continental U.S. of A. for that matter; you are in what is affectionately known as a “world of sh*t Private”. I hate to go against my idols but learning a one handed reloads with your weak hand of an M-4 is a useless skill in the confined spaces of your average home. If you are in such deep doo doo that you have to reload a rifle to fight with in your own house you have more problems than solutions to work out. One handed weak hand rifle reloads, on the ground reloads, charging handle manipulation and malfunction clearance of an AR/M-4 with weak hand are all things you do if you have a partner with an AR/M-4 laying down suppressing fire for you while you sort it all out. Standing in your hallway in your boxers is no place to have an exchange of rifle fire and I’ll bet you that you’re boxers don’t have 30 round magazine pouches built in. But hey, what do I know?

Just like your handguns; if you get an AR/M4 or just gotta have one great. Learn how to use it.
If you’re ranching or deer hunting on the border regions or “the valley” having an AR/M-4 makes some sense. It does not mean you are ready OR able to defend yourself or “fire fight” with seasoned and hardened cartel soldiers crossing the border ready to kill you for the drug trade they ply. It is a good choice though in that situation which allows you to get the Hell outta there and call in the Cavalry that’s their job.

Another major Instructing school was shown teaching the absolute nonsense of tucking an M-4 under your arm to operate its weapon mounted light when the M-4 either went dry or malfunctioned. If you’re fighting with an M-4 and it runs dry,  SCREW STICKING IT UNDER YOUR ARM! DROP IT! GO TO YOUR HANDGUN AND THEN GO AWAY ASAP!  A weapon mounted light on an empty or broken weapon is as useless as it gets.

All these so called techniques are geared to keep TV audiences interested but of little real life use to anyone other than Law Enforcement or Military professionals who really need some of these skills from time to time.

Just my thoughts!

Your Instructor, Eddie…. Out!

“SUMMERTIME & THE LIVIN IS EASY”

Unless of course you’re trying to carry a concealed handgun in Texas heat & humidity.
Yes it is upon us. Summer in Texas. We had a real winter of sorts but it did stay cool until the beginning of May which as we all know gave us an opportunity to carry a concealed handgun under garments that actually can conceal without difficulty. I enjoyed it and carried every handgun I own except for certain obvious exceptions (cowboy & Contender) that are not the type.

So how do we now deal with the excessive humidity and rising daily heat of our climate? I am a tee shirt and jeans guy. Always have been. I own vests for concealment but they get hot. I wear denim shirts but they also get hot soooooo I cut the sleeves off the old denim shirts and wear Hanes and Fruit of the Loom tank type under shirts under the cut offs. I also like Hawaiian shirts with these tanks and weigh down the corner tabs with fishing weights or bullets to avoid exposure from gusting winds. These things work very well for me. I also switch to one firearm that I find really carries well in the Houston summers.

The Glock 22, .40 S&W full-size pistol in a Blackhawk Serpa holster with the paddle instead of the belt loop and a dual magazine holder on my left side. This is a very comfortable carry in the heat and humidity and practical. The frame is polymer as are the holster and mag pouch so weight is minimal even with 45 rounds of ammo in three mags. The finish on the Glock (Melonite) is very rust resistant and the paddle keeps the slide well away from my skin without excessive exposure or printing through shirts. I don’t wear very light colors or white as the weapons being black/blue along with carry gear will show through. I learned my lesson with leather and steel guns two summers ago when I wound up having a firearm refinished after two days of carry in 100+ degree heat turned it into a rust speckled mess.  In case you don’t know, I’ll tell you that yes you can remove the rust but it will come right back and it makes the gun look bad if all you do is copper/bronze brush it off and oil it and carry it again. You have to look at your carry gun every day now that summer is here. You also have to look under the grip panels and inside the magazine wells every day without fail. Leather holsters and nylon fabric holsters and inside the waistband holsters will draw moisture/sweat. All of them. If you carry daily in the summer here in Texas you must modify your daily routine as follows:

1. Inspect your firearm daily when you put it on and when you take it off. Look for any type of discoloring or stains or spots on the finish
2. Wipe your weapon down daily with a clean cloth and then a lightly oiled cloth.
3. Check holsters for sweat or salt stains and water marks. Rub them if found with leather balm or wax after brushing any salt from the leather. If nylon fabric; wash according to instructions and thoroughly dry. I DO NOT!!! RECOMMEND BALLISTIC NYLON FABRIC HOLSTER FOR CONCEALED CARRY IN ANY FORM OR FROM ANY MANUFACTURER IN OUR CLIMATE.
4. Your leather gun belt will suck up sweat and moisture. Treat the leather and take the belt off every day and let it dry completely before you put it back on!!!!!!!
5. Check your ammo weekly for rust or green corrosion.(brass)

There are other options available for you. You can go to ankle holsters and adjust your pants style and learn how to use it properly. You can use fanny style packs, or man sacks, ladies here you have the clear advantage with gun purses. Belly bands, “thundewear”, etc. are options if you can stand to wear such articles. Small revolvers and miniature polymer framed semi auto pistols carried in shorts or pants pockets are also widely used and viable options. Simple is best. Lightweight baggy or loose clothing and comfortable under garments with the lightest most powerful weapon you have.

Your main focus will shift to maintaining the gun to prevent rust for the next few months. This you must do because all guns will rust regardless of finish or construction materials.

Keep packin' but stay cool,

Your Instructor... Eddie

Updates from Eddie...

Hi Y'all

Just a quick heads up on the low light "night shoot". It got so hot, so quickl that I decided to wait just a little bit till it cools off. It is still a GO though. I've had lunch with Officer Maffei and he's definitely in and WILL help set the course of fire and run it with me. I have been building barricades/simulators, and have just ordered a Dueling Tree which I guarantee you will have a literal blast with. I will incorporate it into the scenario...

The barricade building is tough as I have to do it outdoors and like I said man it is warm out there. I'll have them done by next week though.

Everyone receiving this will be in the first 2 control groups. So just hang in there I'll keep you posted. I will draw names for the 2 groups, check with everyone for availability on the date, and email a liability release for the range.

Please don't forget that Galveston's SWAT Team needs ammo for their own training/practice. I have an ammo can going here at the house and have about 400 rounds (combined) of .40 and .223. Please just a box of Monarch or "Whit box" or Blazer FMJ. Every little bit helps and it's for real Gaveston provides these guys no ammo and if we gave it to GPD proper they'd take it away for their cadet classes. That sucks! Every little bit helps and keeps us safer when we visit Galveston. Anyway I hope y'all are healthy, happy, licensed and a packin. I hope you're practicin.

One more very important point before I go. Bill Robertson of Big Texas Designs (my webmaker/master) lost his Mother two weeks ago and obviously the website has been on hold until the family takes care of all that's involved. I want to send my personal condolences to Bill Robertson and my greatest admiration as he spent almost the entire time of his Moms passage from this world at her side. Good son Bill! He will get all things up and running soon and I have sent him several very good posts and more questions from Officer Maffei so keep an eyeout.

Thanks everybody, stay safe, and Practice,

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Eddie

(Webmaster Note:  Sorry for the delay in recent posts.  Most of you know I've been struggling with my Mom being in the hospital and finally hospice care for over 3 months.  Betty Jo Robertson he made the transition from this earth on June 13th.  She is in a much better place now and I'm sure was greeted by my Father who preceded her.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this time.  Bill Robertson  PS:You can see my tribute to her on YouTube HERE )

Great Questions for Officer Tommy Maffei from Claude W.

Dear Officer Maffei:

First of all let me say that myself, and millions like me, appreciate the frontline defense that you and your SWAT TEAM bring to citizens like myself. Were it not for dedicated Soldiers like yourself, we would not be resting comfortably in our homes in times of dire need. Thank you for putting your life on the line, so that we, and our children, can live our lives with the peace of mind in knowing that the bravery of you, and yours, are on watch. I pray that you all, now and in the future, return safely home from your appointed rounds.
I cannot say in words, what it means to me, for you all to have our backs.

My heartfelt thanks,
Claude Wooley
New Waverly, TX

(Questions are included with Officer Maffei's answers below)

_____________________________________________

Claude,

I would first like to thank you for your kind words and encouragement, It’s always nice to know that their are people out there that support and respect the police still. In todays society it is not often that you are thanked for your services and instead you are looked at as a necessary evil that people love to complain on for whatever minor issue it might be. Kind words like this every once in a while is what keeps Officers motivated and proud to serve their Community.

I have tried to answer your questions as best as I can however remember that the “Law” in general is very grey and each city, county, state, police agency’s and DA’s Office do things different. These answers can change depending on the Jurisdictions. 

Question 1:
Do the same laws apply in defending one's home during times of natural disasters and for Civil Unrest? Or, do we abide the notion that these are a different set of circumstances that are separated by lawful constrictions?

Answer 1:
Do the same laws apply in defending one's home during times of natural disasters and for Civil Unrest? Or, do we abide the notion that these are a different set of circumstances that are separated by lawful constrictions?

During such critical times such as Natural Disasters or “Civil Unrest’s”  we as Officers for the most part operate with the same laws and department polices however at times the state laws give us a little more lead way. With this being said, the Law’s in regards to the defending their home as a civilian does not change during these such situations. The laws for the ways a civilian shall defend his home will not change during a natural disasters.

Question 2:
The "after dark law" is a grey area for me. When does one make the judgment call to use deadly force (if need be) for the safety of our family?

Answer 2:
The "after dark law" is a grey area for me. When does one make the judgment call to use deadly force (if need be) for the safety of our family?

I am unsure if you are referring to the use of deadly force to protect yourself, a third party such as your family, or your property, however I can say this.

The “After Dark Law” that you are referring to, only applies to the protection of property. The protection of a person or a third party does not have any restrictions in regards to time of day.

I have attached the penal code section, pertaining to the use of deadly force for protection of your property. Keep in mind also that such incident will also be referred to a Grand Jury who will ultimately decide if a person was justified to using deadly force to protect their property.

The Night Time exclusion is highlighted in red below and I also added a few “key notes” under the section just to show you how gray this Law really is.

This Law is Very Very Grey to everyone!!

SUBCHAPTER D. PROTECTION OF PROPERTY

Sec. 9.42.  DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY.  A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property: (Key Note: Make sure you know the definitions of land or tangible, movable property)
(1)  if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2)  when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A)  to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B)  to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and

(Key note: Make sure you know the definitions of each offense listed above in paragraphs A and B, along with the elements to the crime to each offense listed above)

(3)  he reasonably believes that:
(A)  the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or (Key note: Remember, what is reasonably to you and I might be unreasonably to the Grand Jury or Jury. It also states “cannot be recovered by any other means”. With this being said, “who is to say that the police could not have caught the person and recovered the item or you could not have had it replaced by insurance.”)
(B)  the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

** End Question 2 **

Question 3:
What is the best source of communication for civilians to use when power to our homes has gone down for days, maybe weeks at a time?

Answer 3:
After experiencing the before and aftermath of hurricane IKE I can say that communication was a very big problem for everyone including the police.

A few ways to insure that you have at least some way of communication in the case of an emergency are as follows.

Cell phones for the most part will work at times. If not they come back very quick. Make sure you have a fully charged battery and means of keeping it charged. Make the investment and buy a generator and have plenty of gas on hand. If you do not have the means of keeping the cell phone charged then turn it off and only turn it on to use it during an emergency.

Also, I found “on star” to be very helpful during IKE. At one point all the cell towers on the Island went down and I was unable to dial out. FEMA came in and provide our “Brass” with cell phones that would work to insure that they would communicate with City,State and FEMA officials however the ground troops were stuck not being able to contact their family’s for a few days. I happened to go to my Tahoe one evening and remembered that I had “on star” which is also equipped with being able to operate as a phone. I pressed the button to talk to the operator and explained to her my situation. “On star” provided me with 30 free minutes and I was able to use the “on star” phone function to contact my parents. The signal is great and had great sound quality considering the situation.

If your vehicle has this function, remember that you have it or spend a few dollars to have it activated during hurricane season if your vehicle is equipped with “On star”.

Question 4:
Finally, what is the procedure by which civilians can volunteer to help organize a community for defense during these critical times?

Answer 4:
 I would contact your local police department with this question due to each department has different polices and community programs for civilians to volunteer there time during such critical incidents.


Respectfully,

Tommy Maffei # 418
Galveston Police Department
Patrol Division/ SWAT

A Request for HELP!

To All my Friends and Trainees,
 
I have got two requests of you and please try to help out here.

FIRST REQUEST: is to ask again for questions I will submit to My friend Officer Tommy Maffei of Galveston P.D. SWAT Team. They can be of any variety about self or home defense and he'll be glad to answer them, and they will be posted on the website. I'd like to see some questions about Hurricane seasons and the "what can, should, shouldn't and who, where what if?......... during a hurricane. Ask him about defending your home and family during a hurricane/natural disaster. Ask him about sheltering in your home to keep the wolves at bay. Ask him ABOUT KEEPING THE WOLVES AT BAY. This guy is top notch and very intelligent and an instructor. As I said he and his guys are the tip of the spear in a hurricane and they don't run. He is goin a little batsh*t right now since he had an emergency appendectomy (he didn't call in sick when it first hit him, he rode his patrol shift then went to the hospital as I said these guys don't run) and will be off work/duty till the 15th. So he would love the questions. PLEASE ASK.

SEND THE QUESTIONS TO MY EMAIL ADDRESSED : DEAR OFFICER MAFFEI...... I WILL SEND THEM TO HIM AND THEY WILL BE ANSWERED AND POSTED WITH YOUR NAME... REMEMBER... THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS SO DON'T BE SHY.

SECOND REQUEST:

The Galveston P.D. SWAT team has to buy all of its own ammunition to train with. NONE IS SUPPLIED TO THEM!
They can and will be glad to accept donations of ammunition so please let's try this, and answer me ASAP on this. First don't send me money I don't want that at all. Go to Academy or Wal-Mart and pick up one or two boxes of either .40 S&W or .223 ammo. Blazer, Monarch,or Winchester "White" box these are the two most needed calibers.

If anyone would be interested in splitting a case of ammo in each caliber with me or ordering these guys a case of ammo let me know or go online to Midway USA or Graf Brothers or Cheaper Than Dirt or Sportsman's Guide, Cabela's etc. order the case and call or email me and I will make arrangements for you to meet up with Officer Maffei and deliver it to him and the SWAT team directly!  (I want him or officer Kevin Mach to get it so it doesn't get put in with the PD's ammo that does go to rookie cadets classes. They get ammo. as I said the SWAT Team HAS to provide their own training and ammunition so this is specifically for them) I'll make sure you get full recognition on the website so if you do this and deliver the ammo, take a camera so I can have a picture for the website. Also, we can all hook up and deliver any ammo to Tommy and get a group photo for recognition of the contribution you make. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze help with this every one or two boxes helps protect thousands of us every time we go to Galveston.

I don't ask for many things but these are two requests I would personally be indebted to you for helping with. Every bit helps.

Thank you all

Eddie Steeves  Your Instructor
 
PS: I will try to organize a benefit for the SWAT Team in the cooler weather of the Fall so keep an eye out. I will accept no payment for my services so please don't ask to send money or anything like that just attend the benefit when it happens and/or contribute some ammo.

A Memorial Day Thank You...

A wise person (at that particular moment) said to me "This makes up for all those other Memorial Days." It was Memorial Day exactly seven years ago and I was holding my granddaughter Cadence D. Steeves aka Cadee who had been born that very Memorial Day morning delivered by her uncle Sean who would from that day forth never have to prove his courage to his father.

You thank us all the time now and that is a good thing as we all thank those who stand a post now watching over us. I think of a 20  yr. old kid from Lafayette Louisiana who couldn't wait to get home and marry his "Guhl" and drive his Roadrunner again but got zapped in an ambush in a place called "the Parrots Beak' up near the Laotian border for nothing in particular. Coon Ass Kuner just wanted to go home and play his Hank Williams records and drink some cold Pearl beer. For Miller, David L. Spec. 4 who never got off the Bien Hoa Base cause a sniper caught him on the way to chow. Man he couldn't wait to get after the sh*t and he never got to it. I wonder if that sniper was aimin at him or me. For Reese the mortarman, for Fitts the door gunner who said "the angels are gonna get you out" for a list I cry cause I can't remember anymore. We want to thank, I want to thank YOU my friends, our friends who stayed here and gave us some thing, some place in the world to come back to. For being the Good Old US of A that that "Freedom Bird" took us back to. We were just a bunch of scared kids who held on to each other and a place called "The World"... HOME

I THINK IT'S TIME WE THANK YOU FOR BEING... HOME

I THANK YOU FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE...  HOME

FASTMAN 2010

MEMORIAL DAY RANTS FROM THE OLD INSTRUCTOR

May 28, 2010

I usually have the “red ass” for a few days leading up to Memorial Day. Nothing new, just a by-product of the past.

I want to say God and Karma bless those young kids standing on ‘the line’ both now and then. They are never forgotten. Their time is never past, and usually their sacrifice goes unnoticed outside the perpetuation of a “holiday”. Not by me. Thank you all.

In combat there are no atheists or Memorial Days.

Every day in combat is...  MEMORIAL DAY.

Awesome Questions from Good Friend, Claude

Great questions!

QUESTION 1. What should I concentrate on  most if I have a man  on the ground and I am holding him til the law gets there--and I'm not sure whether or not he may have a fellow heathen lurking in the shadows?

ANSWER 1. Maintain a safe distance first and foremost Claude, and make sure your family is safe and secure behind you at an even further distance.  I would make Deanna or Little man hold the Cell phone while you contain and control the bad guy. Do not attempt to approach or put  restraints on him/her, have Deanna or Little man give an accurate description of you your position and weapon, the position (prone arms straight out or seated facing away legs crossed, kneeling same thing hands behind head). Wolves travel in packs as I teach so as soon as you have done the original business (shooting and securing) you scan 180 slowly and have Deanna and Eli do so without leaving to look and endangering themselves hostage wise while 911 is called for Police and Medical. Seems like you've already considered a plan. Great!

QUESTION 2. When a person comes on your property during the day, do you still have the same rights (read: self defense options under P.C. ch9) as the "after dark" law (exceptions)?

ANSWER 2. No. (criminal mischief and arson, and burglary are in the night time legal exception.)

QUESTION 3. When a person bumps you from behind, should you get out of the car, or call the law first?

ANSWER 3. Law Enforcement first. Stay in the vehicle and describe to the operator the "bump" vehicle and plates and driver if you can. Request assistance and leave the line open. "Motorist needs assistance" calls may take a bit to get answered but they will come so stay put. Do not get out of the vehicle until the responding officer asks you too even if the other guy takes off. Look at your vehicle as a suit of armor and a 3000 lb. weapon if needed. Should the "bumper" get violently aggressive toward either you or the vehicle, having the line open will get "LE" to step up the response on the call. (Road rages are always taken seriously. Always)

“U.D.’S, A.D.’S, N.D.’S... NO B.S.

 Hi Gang, got something interesting for you.

They used to be called “unintentional discharges (U.D.), accidental discharges (A.D.) {and now they are called what they truly are …..} NEGLIGENT DISCHARGES! (N.D.)” Why negligent? Because two deliberate actions took place. The finger was on the trigger, and the firearm was not on target or commanded to fire when fired. Negligence on the part of the shooter.

I was at my personal practice session last Thursday night at Marksman Indoor Range. I had finished up when I noticed an Instructor (I assumed he was) setting up a group of shooters for a CHL Proficiency Test. I always feel I can learn something from other Instructors, and since I was done and packed up, I decided to stand back on the line and observe the Instructor.  Immediately noticeable was that the Instructor was nervous, and his trainees couldn’t hear his commands. He also could not observe all of his trainees at one time, and he was wearing shorts on the line ( good way to get hot brass burns or ricochet cuts.). On command to fire the second round of the one round portion at the three yard line a gentleman I was observing went to low ready and..BANG!!!.. He fired into the concrete and steel floor baffle at the 3yard line. It was obvious the instructor was shocked and I yelled “WOAH!! Negligent discharge” at the Instructor who asked me “What?” and I repeated “Negligent discharge.” Which he knew. He then proceeded to go over to the trainee and asked one of the dumbest questions I’ve ever heard any Instructor ask; “Did it (the gun)go off?”, and the trainee still had his finger on the trigger which prompted me to yell “FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER. HE’S GOT HIS FINGER ON THE TRIGGER STILL!”

What was even more astonishing was that this Instructor was letting the trainee continue to take his proficiency test even though SOP is to remove the shooter from the line (which I signaled the Instructor to do) and have them re-shoot the test.  When I saw the Instructor was going to allow the test to continue, I hauled my butt off the line and got out in the lobby behind the glass to finish observing the test. I was not going to deliberately stand on an unsafe line with an unsafe shooter and unsafe and irresponsible Instructor who continued on knowing he had an unsafe shooter on the line endangering not only the other trainees he had testing but the customers at the range practicing….The shooter who had the “ND” also, had a few stoppages with his P series Ruger pistol all due to his grip and lack of training/familiarization with the weapon. And folks?.... The Ruger P series of firearms don’t just “go off” on their own.

I contacted the Instructor and DPS CHL unit to report the incident and out of courtesy to the Instructor, and out of duty to CHL in Austin. They have both contacted me. DPS has forwarded it to the appropriate section and the Instructor asked for my phone # (which I supplied) so he could talk to me about the incident and his “philosophy “ about negligent discharges and why he allowed the shooter to continue. I haven’t heard from the Instructor again although I expect I will after this is posted.

I hate to criticize others in the Instructor profession  but if you have so many students on the line and in the waiting room that you can’t monitor either effectively you should reduce the size of your firing line so it can be safe. How can you claim to be “all about safety” when you allow an unsafe situation and an unsafe shooter to continue without remediation? Is it all about safety if the Instructor himself doesn’t enforce the basic safety rules without exceptions or is it about let me see…..10 students X ?$$ each = ???
 
SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY ALWAYS, SAFETY WITHOUT COMPROMISE.

Eddie … Taking Cover and Out for Now!
 

Healthy Shooting and Aging Bodies!

I thought we might get into a rant about inevitability. As we get older we get hurts where hurts wasn’t before and we know we got ‘em cause they don’t go away or only go away with pain relievers (OR Jack Daniels Old No.7). We have to squint more and it becomes habit, we get out of a chair more slowly and can’t hear everything as clearly as we think we do. That’s just aging, getting old, whatever it’s real and inevitable.

How does this relate to shooting you ask? First there is the continued exposure to airborne lead dust and gunpowder chemicals. After each exposure at a range session you should immediately upon returning home take a shower and flush out your nose and sinuses if possible. At the very least, wash your hands and face thoroughly and take a cotton swab and gently swab out your nose and ears.

I recommend and have started to realize that you and I should buy “green” ammo. Almost all calibers are available with ‘lead free frangible’ projectiles. I’ve started to accumulate Remington and Starfire and Win Clean (Winchester) rounds in all calibers a little at a time as they are more costly than cheap ball practice ammo but not quite as high priced as premium rounds and they come in 50 round boxes. I suggest you buy a box each time you buy practice rounds or go to the gun show, and start building up a reserve of it to use say every other practice session to cut down on your exposures. Now we really don’t shoot enough on our own to acquire hazardous levels of lead or sulfur or whatever but at any range especially indoors, there is a good deal of residual dust being stirred up by us and the other shooters  at the range with us.

If you have minor arthritis or tendinitis a wrap around Velcro/elastic wrist and elbow support is a good thing to have in your range bag. They help strengthen your grip and support on the weapon and help absorb recoil in your joints somewhat. I use both on my strong side wrist and elbow and they really help if I’m shooting lots of rounds.

These things also help us with slide manipulation as we get older and a little weaker. Everyone I train should use the following 3 step method to chamber a round on any semi automatic handgun:

1. With an unloaded weapon that has a hammer, cock the hammer back as you point the weapon down range and keep your finger outside the trigger guard and lay it along the side of the frame. FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!!  FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!  FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!  Turn the weapon on its side pointed downrange and insert the loaded magazine with the support hand!
2. Wrap the support hand over the top of the slide at the rear of the weapon so that your little finger is at the edge of the ejection port support thumb pointed back at your stomach/waistline and grasp it firmly while grasping the frame and grip firmly trigger finger pointed in the opposite direction of the support hand thumb. (If the grasp is correct your thumb on your support hand is pointed at you and your trigger finger strong hand side is pointed downrange.)
3. Grasping firmly and with one hard fast motion push the frame through to the front while simultaneously pushing the slide to the rear letting go as you feel your support hand hit against the frames resistance. (as the two pieces bang against each other)

It’s very fast, very simple and works with any semi auto pistol no matter how weak you think you are or how stiff your semi autos recoil spring is preventing you from easily chambering a round. You can practice this with an unloaded weapon with the magazine removed after verifying the weapon is unloaded TWICE!

Set your safety or decock the weapon after you have loaded! Make this a routine, even if you are on the line at the range until you have done it enough to be smooth and its second nature! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

The old “slingshot method” of charging a semi auto handgun, where you grab the end of the slide with two fingers of the support (or strong) hand and try to pull the slide to the rear is out! It causes hesitation due to weakness and uncertainty and it also causes malfunctions from “limp wristing “the loading.

If you have had Laser eye surgery only on one eye, check which eye is dominant.  DO NOT ASSUME THE MATTER OF DOMINANT EYE AFTER SURGERY. CHECK IT TWICE! BEFORE YOU SHOOT.

Understand that if you wear glasses for any reason, use them at the shooting range. If you wear eye protection over your glasses or contacts or corrected eye; make sure that the polycarbonate lenses aren’t so thick as to slightly distort your vision or depth perception.

My God! If you haven’t gotten a set of electronic ear muffs for hearing protection do so ASAP! They are great and I am soon going to upgrade to a set of low profile (sculpted) ones for rifle shooting comfort. They shut out the harmful db levels of the shots but allow normal conversation/commands to be heard clearly. Get a pair they are totally worth the price. As you get older if you don’t want electronic hearing protection, make sure you use ear plugs under your muffs. Put some antiseptic swabs or alcohol swabs in your range bag. I use alcohol to remove powder from my hands arms and face when I get home from the range before I shower off. Take your clothes off that you wore at the range and wash them at your earliest opportunity but above all take them off and don’t put them on again until they have been cleaned. You can’t always see powder residue but there is always powder residue.

My all time favorite powder/weapon cleaning solvent Hoppes #9 has been found to contain carcinogens. Yep for real. It’s only for occasional use now and only with rubber cleaning gloves not surgical types. Hoppes still has other bore cleaners with no health hazards in the cancer dept. and there are many other types just read the label. Throw away old patches. I’m terrible about re using patches to wipe stuff down with and that exposes me to hazards I’m changing my cleaning routines every time I do it as my shooting has increased.

When finished at the range make sure you wipe down your eye and hearing protection with the alcohol wipes on any pads that contact you and on the earpieces of the eye protection. If you use range supplied safety gear do it before and after shooting. You don’t know who last used that pair of muffs or their hygienic habits. Protect yourself.

I don’t think you need to wear surgical masks at the range but I see folks with them more frequently now. Your call.

Shooting a lot eventually takes a slight toll on your wrists and elbows first, and knees and back second.
If you have minor arthritis you will have pain if you shoot heavy loads in handguns and rifle alike. For normal range practice loads the equation is simple. The more shooting you do the more you’ll need the Tylenol or Motrin after you’re through with your shooting session.

I know lots of folks with shoulder surgery histories. They all are timid about shooting. I have found out that this is unnecessary worry. Shooting affects the shoulder joint very minimally at best. Hard shooting rifles and shotguns can and do bruise the muscle tissue surrounding the joint and do have some direct absorption of shock waves... Professional shotgun shooters use specially designed vests and jackets’ with built in recoil pads. Rifle shooters with heavy caliber rifle have all types of purpose built rifle rests to take all the recoil from your weapons instead of your shoulder taking it. So if you have had shoulder “rotator cuff” surgery don’t be afraid to shoot your handguns at all unless they are .44 Magnum full power loads and up. Your .40 S&W or .45 ACP don’t generate enough of a shock wave to get past your elbows most of the time. The .500 S&W or .460 RUGER or .454 Casull with full power loads? That’s a different ballgame. They are gonna hurt ya for sure.  Lighten up, clean up, step up, have fun.

Eddie………..OUT

A little bit of talk about flashlights...

Cabela’s, Midway USA, L.A. Police Gear, Cop Quest, Pro Defense, Academy, Carter’s Country, and Wal-Mart.

These are places to get good flashlights of a “tactical or defense” type. Streamlight has both nylon flashlight (polymer) and metal in the $30.00-$60.00 range. They also have weapons mounted lights with &without laser from $79.00- $179.00.  Academy sells Streamlight tactical lights at very reasonable prices and all of the places have them in stock. Sure Fire lights and Streamlight, and Maglite you can’t go wrong with. You’ll only spend the money once and you won’t regret it when you learn how to employ it at our upcoming low light shoot. Surefire G2 & G3 Nitrolon lights are a great choice, but you will need a light for the scenarios and as I always say” Flashlights and extra magazines, have em in depth, and if you buy CHEAP…..you’re gonna buy twice.” Cabela’s has lights from $39.00 of house brand that are made by one of the Major makers mentioned above. Check out their Shooting Catalog.

You don’t need Nite Sights for the scenario but you’ll love them when you get them and you should have them on your gun. I have them on every carry pistol except revolvers as they are older models that are hard to fit or custom job stuff. You can order them online but Pro Defense in Webster (call first) usually has them in stock and puts them on while you wait or shortly after you drop the weapon off. Novak’s will put theirs on your gun and overnight it back if you pay for it and their sights are outstanding (and OEM on Springfield, S&W and others.) I believe XS Sights has the same policy for their Big Dot Express sets of nite sites.

Do yourself a favor and don’t bring a plastic flashlight from Ace or Lowes or Wal Mart. Get a light that is gonna take hard use you’ll see why trust me and you’ll never go back to a light you have to shake or head whack to get it to work.

EDDIE… OUT

LOW LIGHT SHOOTING IS A……GO!

Hey everybody.

I went to Rives’ (pronounced ‘reevis’) Rifle Range in Hardin, Tx.  (about 5mi. out of Liberty). I had not been able to get out there until yesterday when Myself and T-Bone Davis went in the morning. I took my M-4 and my bolt action Remington 700 {223 Rem) to zero the scope I put on it and to check the optic I’d put on the M-4. T-Bone wanted to shoot his black powder guns, and I was fascinated with and by watching the whole process. I learned quite a bit for sure.

This is one of my favorite ranges to shoot at. It’s well groomed respectful range with a relaxed atmosphere. There are always folks on the range sitting behind the shooting stations  in patio chairs just talkin and then getting back on line and firing a few rounds check the range provided scope then back to his chair and shoot the breeze. Like one of those old Farm Road Café’s where everyone knows everyone else and they all just congregate there for the latest town news and gossip... No time limit just if Mr. Rives isn’t there right then leave your money in the box and go shoot. He’s probably out on his four wheeler somewhere on the place. He’ll be there eventually. Follow the safety rules and be courteous to your neighbors. The way it should be. If you get a want to drive outside Houston in the country about forty five minutes Northeast of Houston or about 37 mi. North ob Baytown on 146. Basically you can shoot from sun up to sun down. I like it early or just before sundown to stay out of the heat, but yesterday the weather was perfect for outdoor shooting.

After getting the scope on zero for my “clearance sale budget sniper platform” and the optic on my M-4 on target making no allowance for optic to bore offset. [I do this because you have to be able to use the iron sights on your rifle NO EXCEPTIONS HERE. If you have an optical sight with batteries or fiber optic tubes you will have failures. Everything with batteries dies……unexpectedly, and fiber optic tubes are notorious for breaking and fragility. I also think that they put sights in the original design for a reason.] The Bolt Action.223 Remington 70 SPSR was superbly accurate. It liked one of the 6 types and makers cartridges until 3 rounds of PMC Bronze 55 gr. FMJ-BT {full metal jacket boat tail bullet} dropped into a 2 inch group with two bulls. I put 3 rounds of Remington PSP Power soft point, into one grid square on the target just outside the diamond in a perfectly triangular  pyramid with about ¼” space between them. I think the rifle likes these rounds very much. So do I. . . The stock fits me. The rifle had zero noticeable recoil. It’s new so it was a little stiff as a new rifle should be. After six or seven 3 shot groups were fired the action didn’t get looser, it got smoother. The $39.00 Caldwell bi-pod for prone to 13” positions was great. I’ll get another in the next few days for the other rifle I’ve got cause it has the older version on it and I’ll use it in something else down the line.  The 1x4 power Bushnell 30mm scope with illuminated dot reticle German style crosshairs, was crystal clear and rode in Millet rings. Didn’t need the red dot but could see it clearly in bright sunlight when set on the 3 highest bright settings. Best factory rifle trigger I’ve fired. No creep, not too light, and broke like a glass rod as they say. I love it. “Only accurate guns are interesting.” I did some 50 yd shooting with the M-4 and electric optic and I surprised myself holding at the top of the target grid center above the 2 diamond bull’s-eye, I put twenty rounds of mixed ball right at the top of the diamonds clustered into a five inch vertical path about two grid squares apart rapid fire. The t bar in the sight frames the target well and no problems seeing the daytime red or the green at higher settings (it’s for night). I did some fire while moving with the M-4 on the pistol range and 100% A zone hits were in view on the Shoot n See. 

After a few hours, it was time to pack it in so I packed up and loaded my gear and went over to talk with Mr. Revis as always. I asked if I could bring some folks out for a low light and night shooting training session. I told him I’d provide targets and barricades etc. and clean up afterward and provide liability releases and that two Galveston SWAT team members would provide the course of fire and probably run it for me for small groups of trainees. I’m going to do it with 6 at one time. Handgun, handgun flashlight, shotgun, rifle, weapon light operation and drills. I will run it from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Since after listening, Mr. Rives says “you know you can shoot up till ten out here.” With a handshake and a “give me a call when you’re comin out.” Any time. So we are on. I’ll talk to Officer Maffei and get the course from him and invite his guys to come if they’d like. I will bring a wall mock up and other “STUFF” to demonstrate the effect of different ammo on walls in your home and other “STUFF” There will be a complete briefing on the course of fire and safety rules and run you one at a time though the course. I’ll give each trainee 20 minutes of shoot time (not strict). Then demonstrate material destruction and debrief and have fun.

Contact me if you want to be a part of this. I will do first come first served and whoever doesn’t make the first one is head of the line for #2. Everyone will go through it that signs up. Don’t pass this by. I’m not going to set a fee for this and you pay your own range fee (per gun). I will however request that you donate to the SWAT team guys if they help. Gas and food is appropriate but their team really needs the donations for training and equipment so please if you wanna donate to my Jack Daniels Relief Fund hey great but I’ll give my Instruction for free to you and you know that. Hey every little bit helps but I’m cool as long as the SWAT guys get taken care of.

Don’t miss out on this. Let me know ASAP.

Eddie……..OUT


Map to the range...

Rives Rifle RangeAddress:
2817 FM 834 W • Liberty, TX 77575 • 936.334.4808

View Larger Map

Practice vs. Your Butt on the Witness Stand:

From The Old is New Again Instructor

Hey Y’all,

At my most recent training session, we were introduced to the deeper end of the legal pool. In a case known as Pow Pow vs. The City of Margate (USC 42; 1983) WHICH CHANGED THE WAY Police trained nationwide, we learned about “Failure to Train” lawsuits.

If you get involved in a deadly force encounter, and survive it and the follow on Post Traumatic Stress from the encounter you have to get yourself ready for PHASE 2.

PHASE 2: 

THE 3 L’S... LAWSUITS - LAWYERS - LIABILITY

Before we go on I will repeat myself. Should you wonder or doubt or question the why of carrying a concealed handgun and defending your life with it or any weapon for that matter; let’s get real and ask…….HOW?

• HOW MUCH IS YOUR LIFE WORTH?
• HOW MUCH ARE THE LIVES OF YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES WORTH?

 You are on the witness stand or being deposed by the dirt bags family attorney. He has taken out a folder and opened it and starts telling you about your personal financial situation as it stands since he’s been retained by the Family of the Deceased. Your attorney is stalling on turning over records of that nature at the date of the incident but it’s a matter of time till the bottom feeder attorneys have to make all info available. Your homeowner’s insurance, life insurance, business insurance any insurance that has a liability clause or value clause that could be based on negligence or 3 degrees of tort will be brought up and attacked for settlement. You see they strictly want money and won’t want to fight in court, to the point that many of them settle their cases either right outside the courtroom on trial day H hour or by phone within days or hours of trial. ( After a thousand continuances)

 So there you sit and the questions are asked (and noted by the court reporter/stenographer) about your Concealed Handgun License and your understanding of the Use of Force in Chapter 9 of the Penal Code. You are pretty clear on that but every detail of what you say is noted. Then the lawyer asks how often you practice or train or sought the same from your instructor or from other instructors. You cough, stutter, stumble, hesitate (all duly noted) and answer. What do you think your chances are of losing all your liability insurance money and subsequently any future coverage if your lawyer and insurance companies decide to settle out of court because you said you never sought further training or instructional updating after your initial licensing? Yeah the shooting was justifiable and you were no billed by the Grand Jury but that’s what your initial licensing covered for you. The civil lawsuit is totally a different matter and is a game of manipulation. Is it easier to defend yourself legally if you maintained a standard of proficiency? Absolutely! Would you be accused of being “bloodthirsty” for training on a regular basis? Probably, but if you maintain that your training was to maintain your proficiency it would be a non matter. Will you be subject to liability more directly if you maintain that you never practiced or sought further training or information to maintain your proficiency? Undoubtedly. “OK Mr. Steeves. You took your CHL course and passed the tests and then didn’t think you needed any more training or information for two to five years yet you took a weapon you admit you don’t maintain proficiency with and used it; knowing that you deliberately would not wait to use it. Yet Mr. Steeves you felt you were so expert from your minimal training as to no longer require maintenance of what even your Instructor and all Firearms Instructors and Gun Magazines tout and constantly remind the public of that firearms use is a “perishable skill” is that correct sir?


Then I’m called in to depose for both attorney. After giving all my information and qualifications as your Instructor, the questions start. I’m asked about your CHL Class and then I’m asked about you specifically.
“Did Mr. Steeves seek out more clarification of any points of law in regards to the use of deadly force as it relates to you having licensed them in Texas for concealed carry? “No sir but…” Did Mr. Steeves ask you to further train him regularly to maintain his proficiency…excuse me sir; before you answer I see you have a website as does Tx. DPS for concealed handgun license holder to gain access to is that correct? “Yes.”  On your website sir, do you post times where you specifically note, suggest and invite your licensed students or any firearms user to join you or meet you for said firearms practicing? “Yes.” How many of your trainees show up regularly for those sessions. “Between 1 and 3 per session.”   And you have trained how many sir since 1997? “ Several hundred.” Has Mr. Steeves ever attended your practice sessions?” No.”

Has he registered on your website any questions or requests? “None I’m aware of but..” just the question sir thank you. “None I’m aware of?” Is Mr. Steeves aware of the fact that firearms skills of usage are perishable? And do you make your student trainees aware of that fact both in your instruction and on your website sir? “Yes I do,”

 Sooooooooo how do you think you’re going to look after all I am allowed to say is yes or no and I testify to the truth in the civil suit? Not too good huh?

 In Pow Pow v Margate the police officer killed an innocent third (a husband and father) person while shooting at a fleeing kidnapper in low light. “There’s a lawyer attached to every bullet”.  The police officer, his department, and City of Margate were all found liable in the death of the woman who filed the suit’s husband for failing to train the officer in low light shooting and she won millions and it changed the way we train police nationwide as well as it brought “Failure to Train” lawsuits to the whole spectrum of civil liability cases both law enforcement and civilian.

SOOOOOO… DON’T SHOW UP FOR THE FREE PRACTICE AND TRAINING SESSIONS I POST
AFTER ALL “WHAT IS YOUR LIFE WORTH?”

A new calendar of training sessions that will cover this summer 2010 will be posted by next week I hope you take advantage of it. I’ll be there either way.

Your Instructor...  Eddie

AND THEN…….. CONSUMER INFO

Before I forget……….

The points about Caliber I made in “What I taught and Learned” bring me to an important consumer tip...

I’d be beating a dead horse if I went again into the ammo crunch right now and once again it’s getting bad. Don’t know why, but that said here’s some tips to save money and for general knowledge. Some things I do take for granted ,,,,,my bad. Here goes:

1.    If you have a .357 Mag revolver you can safely fire .38 Special in it and carry it with .38 Spl. +P and +P+ rounds for defense. ( Although for many years the .357 Mag. 110gr. & 125gr. Jacketed hollow point (JHP) rounds have been the kings of the 1 shot stop in fights).
2.    If you have a .44 Mag. Revolver you may safely carry .44 Specials in it as above.
3.    If you have a Ruger revolver in .327 Federal Mag. You can load it with, .32, and .32 HR Mag. Ammo.
4.    If you own a Glock pistol in .40 S&W, you can order a barrel (factory or aftermarket “drop in/conversion”) in .357 SIG  and use the same magazines, no problem. Conversely if you own a Sig Sauer in .357 SIG (Tx. DPS issue caliber) you can order the drop in barrel in .40 S&W  I believe XDs do likewise. This gives you a two caliber one gun and magazines option. I personally have it on my Sig P226 in .357SIG. AND WILL NEXT DO IT FOR MY Glock 22 [to .357 SIG]. This is a great conversion and helps to save money expended on ammo not to mention the versatility of the two caliber one gun option. Barrels run from $99.to $150. Depending on who makes it.

Don’t burn up your wallet or hurt your wrists and ears firing hot Magnum or auto pistol loads when you can practice more effectively with “Specials” in revolvers or TMJ rounds in Semi-autos.  I like it when ya  get 2 fer 1stuff.

In shotguns save the high power buck shot for the house to defend with and practice with bird shot.

See you at the range,  Eddie... OUT

PART TWO: What I Taught and Learned

Hi again everyone,

I wanted to get just a little technical about my T.C.L.E.O.S.E. Firearms Instructors course and how I learned from what I taught.

I wrote about the really fun stuff first because I know that we don’t get to do those types of training at Indoor ranges and I thought you’d enjoy reading about it. I hope you did.

As part of our certification we had to not only develop and run a course of fire of 50 rounds; we also had to submit a T.C.L.E.O.S.E. approved lesson plan and teach a classroom/lecture session related to your course of fire. The subject title of my lesson plan was “REVOLVER BASICS” (I’m sending the cover pg. with this). I chose this subject for two reasons. First, on Monday at our firearms qualification we had to fire REVOLVERS! And the comments made by 99% of my fellow Instructors in attendance were “I haven’t fired a revolver in years., and I never fired revolvers …..” Knew right then what my classroom presentation would be. Secondly, I instruct novice or beginner defensive shooters in CHL Class 100% of the time and class make up, and in security 99% of the time. My training of Police is always remedial so the officer(s) can pass their requalification. Let me note here that I am not criticizing or “putting down” any trainee I have put through CHL class. As you know I teach way beyond the State mandated 50 round proficiency testing. With me you get reloading drills, movers etc…. You are generally better “shooters” in total than street cops because you practice more and get something new every time we train together if you take advantage of it when I go to my sessions at the range. Simply being either a hunter or owning the latest polymer “XYZ”  or most expensive 1911 does NOT mean anything. “Ownership does not equate to competency.” (Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch). Anyone can stand in front of a paper target, square up, and fire one hole groups. ANYONE. No one can do that on the move when the bullets are coming the other way and the target is moving (Ya know the part where I reach around you and run your target at you while you fire deal?????). Just a fact. I can’t do it. I can however hit a target with a killing shot on the move and when the target moves, and the guys I trained with all can too. You may have a gun but that don’t mean you know how to use it.

In researching and developing my lesson plan, I had one of those what I call “light dawns on Marble head” moments. I realized that in terms of cartridges/bullets read caliber, semi auto pistols move in reverse while revolvers move forward. Let me illustrate:

•    The .357 Smith & Wesson magnum is a .38 Special with added length/space to the cartridge. (Revolver.)
•    The .40 S&W (the most common Police caliber and close in civilian use) is a shortened 10mm.
•    The .357 SIG is a .40 S&W whose neck has been reduced to hold a .357/.38 diameter bullet.
•    The  .44 Remington Magnum is a .44 S&W Special with added length/space to the cartridge.
•    The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a shortened rimless .45 Long Colt.
•    The .45 G.A.P. (Glock Auto Pistol) is a shortened and widened slightly .45 ACP.

Do you see where this is going here.?

In my opening of my presentation I asked if anyone of my fellow Instructors  included revolver training in their training protocol and if not; WHY? ( MANY OFFICERS CARRY REVOLVERS AS BACK UP GUNS)
 
I also pointed out that the #1 selling firearm type in the US right now is REVOLVERS! The Taurus Judge, and Ruger LCR are at the top of the list, and small 5 shot .38s are huge sellers. (S.H.O.T.SHOW , and Natl. Firearms Retailers Assoc. polls). Taurus has added several 2” barrel models to the Judge line including (as I said before) a polymer framed version as well as new polymer framed revolvers to their revolver lineup. S&W has a polymer frame revolver coming and has spent millions in retooling to bring back what is now called their “Classic Series” of discontinued revolver models. I guess there’s a demand huh?

In my T.C.L.E.O.S.E. class only two of us came to qualification with our own revolvers  (although at 25 yd. start distance I opted to use the College supplied 4” S&W 586….my eyes!!!), I brought my trusty old S&W Model 19 .357 Mag. With 2 ½” barrel and Deputy Littlefield brought his S&W Model 27 .357 Mag. With 5” barrel.

I asked if anyone felt “LESS” armed with a revolver. If they did I pointed out that they might Google Jerry Miculek or check out the History Channel program Extreme Marksman and watch him not only place six rounds on target, reload six and place them on target in under 3 second but then do it BLINDFOLDED!!!!!  NO BULL! (Check him out “machine gunning” the S&W 1911 with two finger triggering it’s phenomenal.) He is not only a Team Smith & Wesson shooter but is also a 3 Gun champion and the world Champion revolver shooter as well as being in the Guinness Book. Guess What?
He’s also a POLICE OFFICER/DEPUTY IN LOUISIANA!?

All of what I am saying here equates to your need and responsibility to practice and do it smart. Let me know what YOU think.

Eddie OUT