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...

Commonality

Massad Ayoob explores "What Cops and Armed Citizens Have In Common" in the January 2025 issue of American Handgunner. I’d like to believe “America’s police and nation’s armed citizens have much in common…natural allies in the war on crime.” But I can’t fully accept it. In all the CCW courses I’ve taught, I stressed that your carry permit does not make you an ‘associate’ police officer or give you special powers. That’s the first big difference. While it is an attractive fantasy that during a spree shooting or armed robbery, the armed citizen would, by force of arms, stop the crime. Perhaps even apprehend the criminal for the police. I fall victim to this myself. I cannot tell you how often while watching the news I think, if only an armed citizen was present. But ask the next question. Who would I shoot? You might assume the criminal is trying to drag another ...

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? ...

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....

The Cardboard Whisperer

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

Pages

Home
The Editorial Knife
The Tactical Philosopher
List of Rules to Live By
Tactics
Veterans Day
Columbus Day
Thanksgiving Day
Independence Day
Memorial Day
About Me
9/11
American Flag

Past Entries

April 20251
February 20252
October 20241
September 20241
August 20241
July 20241
May 20241
April 20241
March 20241
February 20241

January 20241
December 20232
November 20231
October 20231
September 20231
August 20231
July 20231
May 20231
April 20232
February 20231
December 20222
November 20221
October 20221
September 20221
August 20223
June 20221
April 20222
March 20221
February 20221
January 20221
December 20211
November 20211
August 20212
July 20212
April 20211
February 20211
January 20212
December 20203
October 20201
September 20201
July 20202
June 20201
May 20202
April 20202
March 20202
February 20203
January 20202
December 20192
November 20192
October 20192
September 20192
August 20193
July 20192
June 20192
May 20191
March 20192
February 20192
January 20191
December 20182
November 20183
October 20181
September 20182
August 20181
July 20183
June 20182
May 20181
April 20182
March 20183
January 20181
December 20172
November 20173
October 20173
September 20173
August 20173
July 20172
June 20171
May 20173
April 20172
March 20173
February 20173
January 20171
December 20162
November 20162
October 20161
September 20161
August 20161
July 20161
June 20161
May 20162
April 20162
March 20163
February 20161
December 20153
November 20154
October 20153
September 20152
August 20153
July 20153
June 20154
May 20153
April 20152
March 20154
February 20152
January 20152
December 20142
November 20144
October 20144
September 20144
August 20143
July 20144
June 20141
May 20142
April 20144
March 20143
February 20144
January 20143
December 20134
November 20131
October 20135
September 20133
August 20131
July 20133
June 20135
May 20135
April 20132
March 20134
February 20135
January 20136
December 20126
November 20123
October 20125
September 20123
August 20123
July 20125
June 20122
May 20124
April 20123
March 20123
February 20122
January 20122
December 20113
November 20115
October 20113
September 20111
August 20111
July 20115
June 20115
May 20111