Tactical Talk

In general, I keep my self-defence tools stock, at least I thought so until I went over my list of modifications. Most of my modifications are user transparent. My AR has the same basic control as any rack-grade rifle. Why? I don’t want to condition myself to reach for a control that might not be there if I grab a non-customized rifle. I added a larger trigger guard for a gloved finger, an ambidextrous charging handle to facilitate clearing jams and other problems, and a light for low-light operation. A group of Marine Veterans have formed a company called... My intention to remain largely stock may change. Recently, Kevin Dockery (author of 'Stalkers and Shooters') showed me a side hard charger that converts your stock AR to a left-hand side charger from Devil Dog Concepts. https://devildogconcepts.com/ I thought, “Is this a solution looking for a problem?" The side charger fits on your rail and is anchored with set screws After I looked...

Survey Says….

American Handgunner’s Tom McHale asked a few interesting questions as part of a reader’s survey in the March/April issue. Excellent questions. So why not take advantage of them? I'll paraphrase them. What’s your grip, Weaver or Isosceles? I had to think about that. On the square range, practicing my draw stroke or reloading, I use a lot of Isosceles. But not exclusively. Several months ago, I tore the rotator cuff in my non-dominant shoulder. I couldn’t use Isosceles. I remembered hearing that Jeff Cooper had elbow trouble, which pushed him into Weaver stances. It turns out Weaver worked well for me, and I spent the time tuning it up before my surgery. Jeff Cooper and his Classic Weaver Stance - I tend to bring my elbows in closer to my body As I thought about it, I realized that when I pie/clear corners, I transfer my handgun to the side leading around the corner. Here, if there is space, I used Chapman....

Flip Side

A common concern in any self-defense course for the armed civilian is when would lethal force be justified or more to the point, legally used? While no catch phrase or mnemonic can cover all situations, I have always been fond of: A Ability, O Opportunity, J Jeopardy. These hallmarks justify the use of lethal force in self-defense. Most serious instructors will elucidate something along these lines with some much-needed amplification. You can also look at these as a mirror image. These are also the conditions you need to prevent in order avoid serious injury and death as well as being forced to use deadly force in self-defense. Frankly, shooting someone in self-defense creates problems of unbelievable magnitude, but not as many or as bad as being killed yourself. So how do you deprive your assailant of Ability . He’s bigger than you, stronger, healthier, there are two of them, has a contact weapon or a gun. How do you counter that? ...

Ricochet

Of the three pistol ranges I have available to me, one is my favorite and I prefer to do all my shooting there. The area is well bermed, open and airy with early morning and late afternoon shade. What’s especially attractive about the range is the backstop is mostly mudstone and at least 40 feet tall. The green stuff on the backstop isn't the top; it's what's growing out the side of it. Mudstone is relatively soft. Soft compared to granite that is, but not as soft as mounded dirt. Bullets, from .22LR to .30 caliber rifle hit the stone, damage it and are in turn deformed, robbing the bounce back of substantial amounts of energy. This makes for relatively safe shooting, but even considering this we require eye (and ear) protection. Pistol bullet marks in soft mudstone. The marks are shallow but wide craters. Mushroomed .45 ACP. Most of the mass is still present. However, we recently brought out some st...

The Cardboard Whisperer

Stay....Stay.....Easy boy!...

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