Like the 3×5 Card Drill I’ve written about previously, the Dot Torture Drill has been and continues to be one of my pistol training staples. This classic drill challenges even seasoned handgun shooters as letting one’s guard down means even easy shots will be missed. Negotiating Dot Torture successfully requires an absolute focus on every fundamental aspect of handgun shooting, and this is what makes it a great skill builder.

During my early days, I definitely leaned on this drill in order to build a modicum of handgun accuracy. Personally, I also really appreciate the fact that it makes the shooter shoot single-handed only with both hands on #5 and #8. While it may be daunting to shoot especially at #8, one is a better shooter for having done so. The Dot Torture target was designed to be printed on a standard 8 ½ by 11-inch sheet of printer paper. It features 10 different 2-inch circles that are numbered 1 through 10 accordingly. The point of the exercises is to shoot at each circle according to the instructions, which are conveniently printed underneath each circle on the sheet. The drill is intended to be shot at three yards with no time limit. The only requirement is to not miss. Ideally, at three yards, all shots are touching and one is shooting cloverleaf groups. Some shooters like to shoot it at other distances and some may even add time constraints to make it more interesting. This is purely optional and is not part of the drill, however.

Shooting this drill only requires 50 rounds, or one standard sized box of pistol cartridges. And just like the 3×5 Card Drill, Dot Torture is another simple and straightforward shooting exercise with low overhead that can be set up virtually anywhere, including indoor ranges. Ideally, the shooter starts from their holster. This would be an excellent way to work drawing repetitions, but drawing from the holster is not a requirement nor is it the main point of Dot Torture. Using a low compressed ready is not unreasonable when shooting Dot Torture at any public firing range that does not allow holster work.   While I love shooting Dot Torture, and I have probably shot thousands of rounds trying to clean it, I want to warn readers from falling into a trap and over-relying on it. I think that I’ve wasted a good amount of time and money trying to get a perfect score of 50 at 5 yards when I was consistently printing scores ranging from 47-49 on demand. In hindsight I think I could have better spent some of that time shooting other drills or dry-firing. Dot Torture is a great assessment and will keep anyone on their toes, but it is not an end-all be all to pistol skills.

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF version of the Dot Torture target.

And here for the TDA version.

At the aggregate level, the PHLster Enigma system merely allows wearers to conceal a handgun on their person without the traditional accouterments typically required to bear a concealed pistol holster—that is a belt and pants (or any other garment with loops sturdy enough to support a belt). However, the manner in which PHLster has implemented this concealment solution has rocked certain corners of the American gun world and has also been responsible for ushering in an entire group of people who may not have otherwise gotten involved with the concealed carry of handguns and taken pro active steps in their personal safety. Being fairly familiar with PHLster as a company, I have already written about their Floodlight WML appendix holster and I have also reviewed the Enigma elsewhere. However, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the Enigma since its early product launch to what it currently has become, and what I see bears chronicling.

An important distinction about the Enigma system compared to other alternative carry methods is that once again, its design and execution has opened concealed carry to the mass market in a way that very few holster companies are ever able to do. Not only does the Enigma system grant wearers independence from the typical couture of concealed carry, but its timing coincides with a great trend in the domestic handgun market—that of the modern semi automatic striker fired polymer single stack subcompact marketed exclusively to concealed carriers. Prominent examples of such guns include the SIG SAUER P365 series, the Glock models 42/43/43X/48, the Springfield Armory Hellcat series, or the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield series. The fact of the matter is that currently, the gun industry offers pistols in similar configurations across all price points and market segments. Snub nosed revolvers such as the Ruger LCR (Light Carry Revolver) or the contemporary Smith & Wesson J-frames are still relevant to an extent as PHLster actively supports either of these revolver lines via their “The City” holsters (which are also Enigma compatible).

Though new Enigma users, and perhaps especially those who are new to concealed carry all together may perceive the Enigma system as a little overwhelming and challenging, it bears mentioning that PHLster has been phenomenally pro-active in anticipating and addressing their new clientele’s concerns. The staff at PHLster has spent a tremendous amount of time publishing user guides, making graphics, recording videos, and being generally helpful with their customer experience and customer service. The manner in which they disseminate and update their materials and findings could rival the methodology utilized by elite scholars.

In conjunction to shaping their main business website to harbor more concealment related educational resources, PHLster staff also curates and maintains an active presence on a large Facebook group called the “PHLster Concealment Workshop” which I briefly touched on in my original Enigma Express review. Anyone is welcome to post questions or concerns in this group and receive feedback not only from the staff but an active community of fellow Enigma users. It is worth mentioning that PHLster staff invests a lot of time and energy in keeping things running smoothly and keeping the group relevant.  In addition to PHLster’s own efforts, there are several social media accounts with followings that also spend time making guides and videos and dispensing advice to better others’ experiences with the system. For example my friend and colleague here at GAT, the Suited Shootist, has plenty of material in optimizing concealment with formal or professional attire and the Enigma as it relates to men’s fashion. Another Instagram account of note is called Armed and Styled run by Tessah Gabrielle. Her account gravitates around women’s fashion and practical concealment implementing the Enigma system. In full disclosure, it should be noted that she is now currently part of PHLster’s staff in spite of the fact that her content, presentational, and informational efforts began independently of PHLster. Accomplished competitive shooter, Julie Golob has also partnered with PHLster and is an enthusiastic Enigma user and evangelizer, especially as it pertains to women new to the concealed carry space.

PHLster deserves credit for the work it does to further the body knowledge of firearms concealment as their information is pertinent to everyone, even those who are not their direct customers. PHLster especially deserves credit for not only implementing their own solutions off original the Runcible Works rigs but also bringing the Enigma to market in addition to attracting this new-to-carry customer base. By offering an alternative concealment solution, many of these new customers are arguably now empowered by being more pro-active about their personal safety while not having to sacrifice their comfort or sense of style.

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/this-machete-is-controlled-by-a-plant-yielding-robotic-arm

Just when you thought the cutting edge of home defense technology couldn’t possibly have any more surprises, David Bowen (the guy who rigged up a revolver controlled by a group of flies) goes and does this.

You may have seen a product recently that uses a circuit board and microcontroller to interpret the electrical signals live plants and mushrooms produce, and turn them into music. While interesting, at a sale price of $420, it’s not the sort of thing too many people are going to jump on. Clearly David saw this and decided he was going to improve on it. Well, we’re here to tell you that “improve” doesn’t even begin to describe what he did.

Using what appears to be a very similar input device, David’s new design takes the same electrical signals the plant uses to do whatever it is a plant needs to do, and sends them to another microcontroller. This time though, the input is not used to produce music, but to direct the movement of a robot arm. That arm, as it happens, is also holding a machete, and does not appear to ever stop moving. While it’s true that it might be dangerous to exist around a wildly unpredictable robot endlessly swinging a machete in your kitchen, entirely at the whim of a houseplant, it’s also true that anyone attempting to break into your home would feel the same way. We know we would, certainly.

We can only imagine the possibilities for such a product, and the future is even foggier when it comes to what the hell Mr. Bowen is going to come up with next, but we can say that watching plants machete fight is 100% something we would pay to see. So long as there’s alcohol and betting involved anyway.

_{Left image: A Remington 870 pump action police shotgun sits in an officer’s shotgun rack in his cruiser. Note the Aridus side-saddle, dot, and crimson colored Federal Flite-Control hulls. It looks like this officer has probably had one or more professional shotgun training courses under his belt.}

The majority of shotguns available today for self and home defense typically have some type of safety that prevents the trigger from moving back far enough to break a shot off. However, these safeties may not prevent a shotgun from discharging a chambered shotshell. If the shotgun is accidentally dropped or gets knocked around there is a chance that a chambered shell could be discharged because shotgun designs do not have drop safeties or firing pin blocks. While the chances of such accidental discharges are probably lower with more modern shotguns in good mechanical condition, the chance is never 0% either.

Shotguns are not “Drop Safe” the way handguns are.

The same reason shotguns are excellent defensive tools is also the same reason that makes them extremely dangerous if mishandled and not respected: their devastating payloads. Mitigating any accidental shotgun blast, no matter how small the chances is never a bad idea. This is why keeping a shotgun in cruiser-ready condition is a best-practice for those who rely on shotguns to defend themselves, others, or property.

“Cruiser-ready” specifically refers to a shotgun that is kept with an empty chamber but fully loaded magazine tube. In order to press a cruiser-ready shotgun into service, its action must be cycled manually. More specifically, cruiser-ready describes the actual way that police shotguns were stowed in police cars back in the day (and continue to be stowed now). Originally, this term was directly connected to pump-action shotguns, as these were and remain the most prevalent type of shotgun used for police duties. Over the years, many a misfortunate officer or deputy quickly learned what could happen to the roof or trunk of his car if he drove around with a loaded and chambered shotgun after running over potholes, rail road tracks or other nasty obstacles that go bump in the day or night. It did not take long to determine that keeping the shotgun with an empty chamber was the best way to drive around with it.

Any manually activated repeating shotgun pump-action or otherwise (at GAT, we are inclusive and have not forgotten about the Winchester Model 1887) is put into cruiser-ready by simply loading the magazine tube but not charging the action. If needed, the user must cycle the action, no matter what. There are two schools of thought regarding the storage of pump-action shotguns in the cruiser-ready condition. One camp of users prefers to leave their pump-action shotguns with the hammer “down” and the action unlocked (as if they had just fired a shot but not cycled the action). Their desire is to be able to grab the shotgun and immediately rack it. The other camp insists on keeping a shotgun cocked and locked with an empty chamber (Condition 3). They will hit the action-release lever to unlock the gun as they rack it every time. Many police officers are taught this method or personally prefer it, as an unlocked pump-action shotgun’s fore-end can move around while the shotgun is cradled in a cruiser rack and the vehicle is in motion. There is no right or wrong way, as long as you environment and equipment support it, and this boils down to personal context and specific circumstances.

Semi-auto shotguns are made cruiser-ready by loading their magazine tubes and then releasing a shell to rest on the shell carrier. To prepare for firing all one needs to do is to pull the charging handle back and let it fly. Regardless whether a semi-auto shotgun is driven by inertia or cycled by gas (or long recoil operated for that matter), there is only one way to store them in cruiser ready condition and one way to get them into action. Again, after loading the magazine tube, one must release a shell onto the carrier and make sure it stays there until its time to shoot. Most semi-automatic shotguns have cut-outs or slits on their shell carriers, so it is extremely easy to visually check for shells and make sure these shotguns are truly cruiser-ready.

Employing a cruiser-ready system for one’s shotguns also provides a generalized manual of arms for making any shotgun ready to fire. By following this practice, shotgun shooters can get into the habit of always cycling their shotgun’s actions before use and reduce any confusion or hesitation regardless of action type or model. Pick up the gun. Disengage the safety. Cycle the action. Ready. Shotguns make excellent defensive tools but handling them poorly can bring devastating consequences, so even if the probability for an accidental discharge (yes, accidental, a shotgun fired by inertia in a trunk or a vehicle rack was an accident) might be low, why not add an additional degree of safety to these awesome but also devastating tools?

Nassau County (on Long Island, just across from New York City) executive Bruce Blakeman didn’t hold back today when announcing that 200 new gun permit applications since the state’s strict new gun law making it nearly impossible to legally carry concealed. He called it arbitrary and capricious, referencing the standard test of a law under judicial review of the same name. In essence, the phrase suggests the law in question is baseless or despotic in nature, or a sudden turn of mind without apparent motive.

The gun law itself (championed by NY Governor Hochul) enacts, among other onerous restrictions, a ban on otherwise legally carrying citizens from bringing their gun into still poorly defined and nebulous “sensitive areas” like churches, and schools. The law only went into effect a month ago, on September 4, but in the mere 30 days since, 200 people have submitted applications for gun permits. The county has only had 1350 permit applications so far this year, which means September saw permit applications rise by over 33%.

Mr. Blakeman went on to promise that until litigation already in progress has rightfully determined this new gun law unconstitutional, which he believes it is, he and law enforcement will do their best to work within the legal framework given to them to serve the citizens of Nassau county. He goes on to explain that the law does nothing to make people safer, and simply makes law abiding citizens more likely to unintentionally break the law.

New York has really been knocking it out of the park with more ridiculous and random gun regulation, largely focused on ownership and carry this year. Seemingly spurred on by SCOTUS’ Bruen verdict, they have been windmilling for months, while (likely unsuccessfully) attempting to skirt it.

The Bruen decision, you’ll recall, stated that New York’s “May-issue” concealed carry permitting scheme was unconstitutional, by virture of the 2A giving Americans a right to carry arms in public for self defense, and the fact that there is no American tradition of gun regulation that justifies New York’s proper cause requirement. NY State has spent the time since the decision doing everything they can to get around, or simply ignore that verdict with onerous, malicious, or random gun regulations attempting to intimidate people away from concealed carry and gun ownership however they think they can, in the name of “safety”. So what are they doing this time?

The bill in question directs the NY State Police to “develop regulations pertaining to the bulk purchase of firearms or ammunition and flagging those bulk purchases for further review for the purpose of investigating potential criminal activity.” How, or what standard will be used to determine what “bulk” ammunition purchases are is entirely unknown. Equally ethereal is the answer to the seemingly unasked question of “Where will the manpower and budget to monitor these purchases and enforce these regulations come from?”.

But it’s fairly apparent that the issue at hand isn’t bulk firearms purchases, concealed carry, or anything else gun related. It’s more likely an attempt at showing the voter base that keeps these people in office that they are “doing something” in the face of what they perceive as a hostile, politicized supreme court. This is street busking for votes, at best. If this was about control through gun regulation, they’d have an actual plan for how to implement and enforce this bill, which it would not surprise us to learn the State Police were not consulted or informed of prior to its writing.