It seems that our fascination with the Old West will never die. That’s okay by me. It was an exciting time and a fun one to look back on if you’re a gun buff. Heritage Manufacturing knows that there are plenty of us out here who love the era, and they released the Coachwhip side-by-side shotgun just for us.
The Heritage Coachwhip
The Heritage Coachwhip is a side-by-side coach gun that exudes 19th-century style. It has a 3″ chamber, so it will fire both 2-3/4 and 3-inch shells. The barrels are 18.5 inches long and have a brass bead front sight and cylinder bore. The barrels are finished with black chrome, that mimics the deep rust blueing of old. The frame has a case-hardened finish. The buttstock and foreend are of rich Turkish walnut. The Coachwhip has fine checkering on the pistol grip and foreend.
The Heritage Coachwhip has a traditional break-open action. It has double-exposed hammers, which need to be cocked before firing. Correspondingly, there’s a set of double triggers so you can select which barrel you want to fire.
While not traditional for the era, the Coachwhip does have a modern tang safety. It looks well positioned for use though, and is fairly unobtrusive, and doesn’t ruin the otherwise classic lines of the gun. The Coachwhip is imported by Heritage from Turkey and has an MSRP of $984.99.
NASGW, or the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, conducts a yearly show that’s much like SHOT, which is a private members-only affair. It’s a bit more back-of-industry focused than SHOT and isn’t a huge media draw. However, every year, they do an award show known as the Caliber Awards, and we’ve brought you the winners of the 2024 NASGW Caliber Awards.
Who Won The NASGW Caliber Awards
Best New Accessory – Caldwell Pullpup
If it didn’t win the best new accessory, it should earn the best name. The Caldwell Pullpup is a clay pigeon thrower that’s vaguely gun-shaped and arguably a bullpup clay launcher. It’s sort of silly but also kind of cool. I’m sure it’s not trap and skeet-approved, but it looks like a ton of fun if you just want to shoot clay pigeons out of the sky.
Best New Ammunition – Hornady .22 ARC
NASGW must have been impressed with Hornady’s new high-powered ARC round. The ARC series is expanding yearly, and the 22 ARC promises to provide .22-250 firepower to an AR-15 platform. It’s a small caliber, long-range, high-performance round that offers sub-1 MOA accuracy through the right rifle.
Best New Handgun – S&W Bodyguard 2.0
I fully agree with NASGW on this pick. The Bodyguard 2.0 is an amazing pistol. It’s extremely small but packs ten rounds of .380 ACP. It doesn’t beat your hand up. It’s super easy to conceal and quite accurate. It signals the rebirth of the .380 ACP pocket pistol.
Best New Optic – Leupold – Mark 4HD
Leupold’s Mark 4HD series is designed to be the top tier of Leupold optics. These are premium-grade optics that provide rock-solid reliability, dependability, and absolute precision. The Mark 4 series comes in various sizes and magnification settings, from 1.5 to 5 to 8 to 32. To be fair, I don’t know much about long-range precision optics, so I’ll take NASGW’s word on this one.
Best New Rifle – Ruger American Rifle Gen 2
The Ruger American series has always offered solid little bolt action rifles produced in America and sold for a very fair price. The Generation 2 models implement cold hammer-forged barrels with spiral flutes and a threaded end, typically equipped with a brake. The stock features a recoil pad that collapses to reduce felt recoil and larger than average bolt knob. It’s coming in all your standard calibers, as well as new options like the aforementioned .22 ARC.
Best New Shotgun – Weatherby SORIX
This year hasn’t been shotgun-heavy. In fact, I can’t name a single new shotgun for 2024. A lot of new shotguns hit the market in 2023, but apparently, the Sorix hit this year. The Weatherby Sorix is a semi-auto, inertia-operated shotgun. It’s a sporting shotgun but features massive, easy-to-operate controls and a cerakote finish. I can’t speak for Wetherby shotguns, so we’ll have to trust NASGW on this one.
Best New Suppressor – Rugged Suppressors SurgeX
I like suppressors, but I’m not an expert in suppressors. However, I do know Rugged Suppressors lives up to its name. They are famed for taking their cans to trade shows, tossing them on an M240, and letting the crowd cook off rounds all day long. The Surge X is a belt-fed rated, .30 caliber suppressor that promises reduced gas blowback and maximum suppression.
Best New Overall Product – Ruger American Rifle Gen 2
I won’t repeat the above, but Ruger got best in show at NASGW. In fact, they also pulled best manufacturer. Ruger certainly showed out at the NASGW caliber awards.
The NASGW Awards
The NASGW awards have been going on for years, but this year was the first I’d paid attention. Admittedly, I’m always wary of awards shows, but when I view their choices, it’s easy to see that NASGW seemingly knows their stuff. However, it’s worth noting that the competitors are all NASGW members, and not every company is a NASGW member.
The survival world is filled with gimmicky nonsense. But on occasion, something truly worthwhile rises to the top. Meet the Spark, a pretty cool survival and fire-making tool. Designed by well-respected survival instructor Craig Caudill and crafted by Rivers Edge Cutlery, the Spark is a one-piece multi-tool that’s easy to carry and very effective in the field.
Inspiration
Caudill is the Director of Nature Reliance School in Kentucky. He spends countless days a year out in the field. As a result, he knows what works and what doesn’t based on hard-won experience. When designing tools, Caudill often looks to the past. He’ll identify designs that have worked well and he’ll then add his own tweaks.
Some may recognize the kiridashi DNA present in the Spark right off the bat. The kiridashi is a traditional single-bevel utility knife that originated in Japan. It’s commonly used in woodworking, leatherworking, and cutting paper. In fact, many schoolchildren reportedly use them to sharpen pencils.
A traditionally styled kiridashi. Author photo.
It’s a simple but effective design for a bladed tool.
Sharp Edge
Like the kiridashi, the Spark has a chisel-edged blade. It’s strong and durable, and holds a sharp edge quite well. It works great for cutting cordage as well as shaving wood to create tinder. The edge is about 1.75 inches across.
The Spark works well for shaving tinder from branches. Author photo.
Fire Making
In designing the Spark, Caudill took the traditional kiridashi and added features to give it further functionality.
For those who are adept at making fire with a bow drill, or those who wish to pursue that skill set, there’s a handy divot on the Spark’s handle. It’s pretty smooth and allows the spindle to spin freely.
The bow drill divot is smooth and ready for work. Author photo.
There are two curved sections of jimping on the Spark. These aren’t just for a secure grip, though they do serve that purpose quite well. If you’re using flint to get a fire going, those knurled surfaces are excellent for generating sparks when struck against the rocky surface.
Personally, I lean toward using a ferrocerium rod when I’m making fire in the field. Like any level-headed and responsible outdoorsperson, I carry a lighter with me. But I think throwing sparks from a ferro rod is a lot more fun. At the base of the Spark’s handle, two edges have been left sharp enough to scrape sparks from a ferro rod.
I recommend you keep the Spark sheathed any time that you’re not using the blade, just for safety. The last thing you want is to injure yourself while you’re trying to get your fire going.
What’s In the Box?
The Spark is a single piece of steel measuring 6.25 inches long and 1.25 inches across at its widest point. It weighs 6.0 ounces and comes with a formed Kydex sheath. There are several attachment points on the sheath. You can carry it on a lanyard as a neck knife or tie it to a pack strap or something similar so it is always close at hand.
The Spark looks great and functions very well. Photo courtesy Nature Reliance School.
Caudill has also created a special instructional video that details how to use all of the various features of the Spark. It’s available to anyone who purchases one.
The Spark is a handy tool that has multiple uses in the field. Unlike so many lesser-quality multi-tools, it performs all of its functions pretty darn well.
Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017. (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead)
As a gun owner, a 2nd Amendment absolutist, and an active voter, I’m not all that excited by Trump’s victory. I’ll concede that Trump seems to care less about guns than Harris, but I’m not excited for gun rights during a Trump presidency. Are they safer with Trump than Harris? Yeah, probably. But is a baby safer on the edge of a building or the edge of a counter? If you’re a 2nd Amendment advocate, then the thing you absolutely cannot do is rest.
Trump and Gun Rights
During 45th’s first term, we didn’t see much in the advancement of gun rights. He talked a big game in 2016, 2020, and 2024, but we only have four years we can judge him. In those four years, we know that he threatened to veto H.R. 8, a universal background check bill. Another was H.R. 112, which was a bill that expanded the time the FBI had to conduct background checks.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally in Novi, Michigan, U.S. October 26, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
The bills went nowhere. The President also showed support for red flag laws, famously stating, “Take the guns first, go through due process second.” He signaled that he might support universal background checks and stated he didn’t like suppressors. Most famously, he passed a ban on bump stocks via executive fiat and overturned the ATF’s long-standing opinion that bump stocks weren’t machine guns.
Trump’s biggest contribution to the 2nd Amendment was appointing Supreme Court Judges. That delivered the Bruen decision, overturning decades of gun control efforts. That’s great, but that’s an indirect action and not something he gets full credit for.
Trump did nothing to restore gun rights, which, to be fair, isn’t necessarily the job of the President. Congress has to write laws for him to sign, but he didn’t seem to champion the restoration of gun rights. There was no movement on the NFA, the Hughes Amendment, universal reciprocity, etc. The main benefit of having him in office is the fact the ATF will go back to hiding in their cave.
Not Just Trump
Let’s be fair. I’m not saying this is just a Trump problem. It’s a Republican problem. Republicans, in general, uphold the status quo when it comes to guns on the Federal level. All they intend to do is resist gun control but never undo it. If we are lucky, we get a Bush Jr. who lets things sunset.
Republicans pay lip service to the 2nd Amendment at most, especially Presidents. If Trump has the White House, The Senate, and the House of Reps, they could easily repeal and restore gun rights. We could kill the NFA, the GCA, and the Hughes Amendment. We could gain National Reciprocity, allow you to buy guns over state lines, etc.
Will they do that? Probably not. The problem the Republican party has with the 2nd Amendment is that Republicans know gun owners don’t have any other choice. Democrats are openly hostile to the right to keep and bear arms. Without much of a choice, Republicans think gun owners should be happy with the lip service they receive. I don’t think Trump has any strong feelings about guns, but he’s a populist, and we need to put it on his radar.
No More
We, as gun owners and 2nd Amendment advocates, can no longer sit back and relax during Republican presidencies. We have to make them eat their promises. We have to be annoying and have to be a gnat buzzing around in their ear. We need to be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
Did a supposed 2nd Amendment candidate win in your state? Great, come January 21st, they should have an inbox full of emails asking what they are going to do for the 2nd Amendment. When are we repealing the NFA? When does the Hearing Protection Act get in front of a committee? Why aren’t these things happening?
Republicans can’t get away with just paying lip service, and to be honest, they should want to do more. Eventually, Democrats are going to figure out that guns are a losing issue. There are lots of single-issue voters in the gun world, and when the Dems learn that there are no single-issue gun control Democrats, they’ll shut up about it, and Republicans will be in trouble.
Let’s get our rights back in the next two years, or at the very least, become a fly they can’t swat. Demand more from your elected representatives.
You can tell SHOT Show is right around the corner. Everyone is slowly starting to drop new guns, new gear, and new calibers. New calibers are a bit tricky. How do you upset the current crop of established calibers with guns, fans, and a market for them? It’s not easy, but every year someone tries it. Sadly, for every .300 Blackout, we have half a dozen .224 Valkyries. Hornady has released a new caliber, the .338 ARC, and will it become a .300 Blackout or a .22 TCM?
The .338 ARC is an AR-15 cartridge, which is an interesting take. When I hear .338, I picture this great big cartridge designed for long-range shooting. Many high-powered rifles use .338 caliber projectiles, and even the military has looked at a .338 replacement for the .50 BMG in infantry roles. When you translate .338 from freedom units to metric, we get an 8.6mm bullet. That’s a big round to put through an AR-15.
The cartridge has an overall length of 2.62 inches. It’ll work in ARs, as well as short action bolt guns. The primary purpose seems to be hunting, specifically hunting with a suppressor. While supersonic loads exist, the main selling point is heavy-duty subsonic loads. The engineers at Hornady tailored the design of the cartridge and projectile for subsonic performance. As you’d imagine, the cartridge doesn’t have a ton of case capacity.
The .338 ARC – But Why
It seems like Hornady wants some of those sweet, sweet-shooting suppressed monies. The cartridges use the same overall principle as the .300 Blackout but with a much larger bullet. In fact, it seems to mirror both the .300 Blackout and 8.6 Blackout, as long as that mirror is at a county fair.
The .300 Blackout is designed to be used in an AR with minimal changes, and the 8.6 Blackout does the same with an AR-10. The .338 ARC takes the AR-15 design from the .300 Blackout and the 8.6mm bullet from the 8.6 Blackout, and we get something entirely different, like a bizarro in-between of the two cartridges.
The .338 ARC promises to retain excellent ballistics and hard-hitting, deep-penetrating power. The subsonic line will use a SUB-X bullet that weighs a mighty 307 grains. The Hornady Black line will offer a 175-grain round with a hollow-point design. According to Hornady, their focus is on giving you the best terminal ballistics for a subsonic bullet.
We know that heavy 220-grain subsonic .300 Blackout is basically a .45 ACP with a spitzer tip. The .338 ARC throws a much heavier bullet at the same velocity. That makes the .338 ARC a hammer on both sides. I haven’t shot it yet, but Hornady’s promo video makes it look like it packs some stiff recoil.
Will the .338 ARC Work?
The .338 ARC does have some things going for it. It’s a more powerful .300 Blackout, but you don’t have to leave the AR-15 platform. You can swap uppers and go, mostly. You’ll need to swap to a new bolt and magazine. Speaking of magazines, ARC mags have never been cheap and require a distinct curve.
If you don’t want to run it in an AR, then a bolt gun is an option. Honestly, I would probably prefer the bolt gun route over an AR with this cartridge. Why deal with expensive mags, new BCGs, and gas systems when a bolt gun works? The cartridge seems to be aimed at hunting and suppressor use. Bolt guns excel at both of those tasks.
This is not a long-range cartridge. It’s a close range, 200 yards and in, with subsonic cartridges. For people who don’t hunt or shoot beyond 25 yards, it might seem that 200 yards is short range. For hunting, it’s not. For field accuracy, it’s not. It’s perfectly adequate.
Will It Succeed?
Isn’t that the question? I always want companies I enjoy to succeed, and I hope Hornady does. Am I the best customer for this round? Probably not. I’m not a heavy suppressor user, and to be honest, when it comes to hunting, I’m a fudd with a .30-06 Winchester Model 70.
Even so, suppressor nerds have another caliber to play with, and more is better than less. I’m no industry expert, but I hope the cartridge can succeed and find its niche. I also hope Hornady brings it to the range and lets us cook some off.
Since the inception of handheld firearms, we’ve been on a constant journey to make them more user-friendly, especially when it comes to aiming.
While there were a few stutter-steps in the early 1900s, thanks to a combination of influences (“Jelly” Bryce’s superhuman vision and hammer spurs that obstructed the rear sight in double action being two big contributing factors), the 20th Century saw arguably the biggest advancements in pistol-sight development.
Serious shooters began putting target sights on their sidearms, then improving the contrast with gold or brass beads, high-visibility paint or inserts, and even radioactive material! I mean, why not? The legendary Rolex Milsub and many other battlefield instruments had been using Radium to improve low-light legibility for years.
Trijicon stakes claim to the first tritium pistol sights in 1985, and a decade later, Crimson Trace comes on the scene. There had certainly been other attempts to attach lasers to pistols (Laser Products Corporation predates CT by almost 20 years). However, the laser grip made it dramatically easier to have a laser sight on a carryable sidearm.
Around roughly the same time (late 90s), Kelly McCann had been experimenting with miniaturized red dots mounted to pistol slides for, shall we say, “social use,” and one of his DVDs from the early 2000s.
Much like the minidisc player’s introduction right before the release of the first iPod, laser sights seem to have been almost entirely eclipsed by pistol-mounted optics in the current defensive pistol zeitgeist.
Why A Laser?
The question arises, though: what if you’re dealing with a pistol that isn’t/can’t be readily configured to accept a PMO?
In an ideal world, with limitless budgets, the simple answer would be to buy the optimal tool that’s best suited for the intended role.
Sadly, we live in a world of bills and budgets, and cash doesn’t flow freely from our faucets. Sometimes a user is better served optimizing what they already have.
Who’s A Candidate for Laser Surgery?
So, where do laser sights still make sense?
I’m of the opinion that if the pistol in question has crappy, fixed iron sights that cannot be easily upgraded (my preference being an all-black rear and a high-visibility front, ideally fiber optic), then this is a likely candidate for laser augmentation.
The Ruger LCP was one of the top-selling concealed carry handguns from its release at the 2008 SHOT Show until it was supplanted by the Sig P365 series a decade later (according to the GunGenius.com reports). Prior to that, the most ubiquitous pocket gun was arguably the Smith & Wesson J-Frame.
Neither of these pistols has great sights, nor are they easily upgraded.
So, let’s see what the benefits of a laser would actually be.
Pepsi Challenge:
For testing purposes, I’m using my Smith & Wesson M&P 340. It comes from the factory with a high-visibility XS front sight. So, presumably, the delta in performance should be less than that of the traditional ramp sight of the 642/442.
I shot 2 drills: Justin Dyal’s The 5-Yard Roundup and the Snubby Super Test from Hardwired Tactical Shooting.
My scores on the Super Test were only 3 points apart, including a complete miss when I ran it with the laser! (128/150 & 126/150 respectively)
The delta on the 5-Yard Round-Up was much more dramatic (54/100 vs. 75/100). I blew literally ALL the par times. Turns out that trying to shoot a 12# DA trigger, weak-handed, on the clock is quite the endeavor. Who knew?
My score improved by 28% when I shot with the laser vs. iron sights.
What Does It All Mean?
At 10 yards on the Super Test, it was much more challenging to keep the laser in the black of the B8 while managing that trigger, and that’s where I dropped a shot.
For both drills, inside 5 yards, the laser gave me effectively the same benefit as the MRDS does on my Glock 19. It required considerably less “RAM” for me to recognize the acceptable alignment and break the shot, even with the benefit of iron sights that are a dramatic improvement over what comes stock on most small revolvers & semiautos.
It felt much easier getting back on target, especially one-handed, with the laser compared to iron sights.
I think it’s important to note that these were the first live rounds I’ve fired from a laser-equipped pistol. While I do have a considerable amount of handgun training and shot a handful of matches, I don’t spend a lot of time with DA guns.
My performance and experience won’t be a 1:1 correlation for a novice shooter considering adding a laser to their newly acquired CCW for the first time. However, there are some potential performance gains to be had.
Just as with anything, there is no free lunch. Adding a laser won’t make you a better shooter, and there are absolutely some drawbacks to account for (battery life, having to re-zero each time the battery is changed, and the concern of zero-retention after an impact to the exposed sighting system). However, if the user is willing to assume those responsibilities, then it could be a less expensive way to make their EDC more effective.
As mentioned in Part 1, the first day of Greybeard Actual’s Pistol Skill Development kicked off with a lecture and discussion. One interesting tidbit I gleaned from that morning’s lecture is that musicians are apparently an over-represented demographic in the upper echelons of performance shooting. This is due to the fact that musicians are already accustomed to practicing as a virtue of the instruments they play.
We also discussed coaching cues and how different students respond to different things. It’s up to all of us to determine how we best learn and to lock into that for further skill-building.
Finally, the morning lecture also touched on the mental aspects of shooting, which struck a chord with me. Mental efficiency is as important as accuracy, especially in matches or any time performance is called for. That morning, I learned that the mental aspects of golf overlap with the shooting sports (I don’t play golf; nothing against it).
Pistol Skill Development doesn’t use NRA B-8 targets in its curriculum. This is because the coursework is built around drills and exercises that exclusively focus on trigger control, watching the sight(s), and transitioning between targets instead of slow-fire accuracy. Little didn’t denigrate B-8 shooting, and precision slow-fire pistol shooting has its place. However, it was beyond the scope of the class.
Instead, we students worked on various fundamental drills like Blake Drills and Bill Drills in addition to working off the different targeting zones of the Greybeard Actual paper targets. All of us students had plenty of chances to shoot several of the above-mentioned drills under Little’s supervision.
In my case, I’m happy to report that I even had a breakthrough moment in shooting transitions by the end of the first training day.
Training Day 2
The second day of Pistol Skill Development was set up differently from the first. Instead of shooting drills from the line, the majority of Day 2 was spent shooting (at various steel targets) and moving around barricades or barrels. Even though we shot fewer rounds, Day 2 was still a busy and fast-paced day.
In addition to movement drills, we students got the chance to run through a mini USPSA-style stage as it was relevant to the lesson plan. Finally, we also shot the venerable El Presidente drill, one of the oldest stand-and-deliver tests of practical shooting skills in the books. Like the Bill Drill, Blake Drill, or any other dynamic endeavor, crushing El Presidente requires the shooter to be fully plugged in and in lockstep with their mind.
A student in the middle of a shooting-and-moving exercise involving the blue drums and steel IPSC targets on Training Day 2.
Calvinball
One of the activities we incorporated on Day 2 was Calvinball. Calvinball isn’t a drill per se but a system that Little devised with his pistol training partners. In it, a mini-stage or faux shooting stage is made up on the spot and meant to keep shooters on their toes. Not only literally since the race against the clock is on, but figuratively as well because the pressure ends up putting a huge cognitive load on the shooter.
Calvinball “stages” can be viewed as resistance training and are meant to last several rounds to really wring out the shooter’s mental acuity by virtue of repetition.
Greybeard’s 3.45 Drill
The three three-inch circles in the official Greybeard Actual can be used to run the 3.45 drill.
On both days of Greybeard Actual’s Pistol Skill Development, Little gave us the chance to try his personal set of standards, the Greybeard Actual 3.45 Drill. Like with many other practical shooting tasks, cleaning the 3.45 Drill isn’t easy, and doing so requires utmost concentration and automaticity with one’s handgun.
This exercise is carried out at 5 yards and involves four different strings of fire, all with a 3.45-second par-time. Besides this fixed par time, all shots must land inside the three-inch circles, and any misses void a clean score.
Those shooting from concealment or Level 3 duty gear are given some clemency with a ¼ second handicap. Shooting the 3.45 requires the use of both hands, either hand, transitions, and efficient reloads.
In addition to the 3.45 Drill, Little kept score on students’ other runs, such as their stage points during the mini-USPSA mockup, Bill Drill times, Blake Drill times, etc. All scores were aggregated at the end of class and scored like a USPSA match for points.
So, while the class definitely fostered an open and welcoming environment, students had the chance to experience the undercurrent and pressures of competition with their scoring. Once again, Pistol Skill Development isn’t a competition class, but competition shooting has definitely influenced the curriculum.
Concisely speaking, good pistol shooting boils down to the most accurate hits on target in the least amount of time; this is independent of tactics.
Pistol Skill Development: My Guns
By this point, I’ve reviewed and written about several variants of the 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 family of striker-fired pistols. Since August, I’ve been shooting the full-size Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp. I like the M&P 2.0 series for many of the same reasons I like the Walther PDP series. They’re ergonomic, point well, and shoot well too.
I used Pistol Skill Development to put that Metal Carry Comp through its paces on Day 1. Until then, I hadn’t run any M&P 2.0 hard (as in quickly shooting several hundred rounds in a day, making the gun get hot and dirty). I exclusively shot Blazer 115-grain aluminum case ammo, and the pistol had no issues cycling approximately 653 rounds by the end of the first day.
I’ve kept an eye on YouTube and social media, and I’m aware that some M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp Models have had some reliability issues. But honestly, that wasn’t the case for me.
In the sweaty and humid Texas heat, I found that the Carry Comp’s slide serrations were somewhat slippery and hard to grab. I also didn’t notice to what extent the built-in comp acted on the pistol, but as an M&P 2.0, the slide and dot tracked just fine. Overall, the pistol was reliable and stayed out of my way to let me focus on my shooting. What more can one ask for?
Running the Steiner MPS Enclosed-Emitter Red Dot
I also had the chance to shoot the Steiner MPS enclosed-emitter red-dot sight during this class. So, I mounted it to the full-size Carry Comp using an aftermarket Apex Tactical ACRO/MPS S&W CORE pattern plate and the Apex Tactical Steiner MPS Super Clamp. The Steiner MPS Super Clamp is a beefed up aftermarket clamp that better grabs onto the edge of the ACRO/MPS optics mounting plate; it works as advertised.
The Walther PDP Steel Frame
I shot Walther PDP Steel Frame on Day 2 for two reasons.
A) with the second day of class focusing on movement that is relevant to me as a USPSA competitor, I opted to shoot the gun I actually shoot in matches: steel-framed Walther.
B) I’m concurrently testing and evaluating the ZR Tactical long-stroke RSA (recoil spring assembly) engineered specifically for this specific 5-inch steel-frame PDP. So, Day 2 was the perfect excuse to cycle more rounds with this RSA in place.
Between both days, I ended up shooting 90% of that case of Blazer Aluminum 9mm, which I think is an excellent training round. Neither the Walther PDP SF nor the S&W M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp had any problems cycling it.
The Takeaway
I’ve previously written about Little’s book, The Way Is In Training, which I read last year. So, actually attending one of his classes in person felt like the logical next step—a positive escalation from reading his book, if you will.
Admittedly, when I first got my registration/confirmation email for class, I was actually somewhat skeptical when there was a reminder to bring 1,000 rounds of ammo for the weekend. Due to the cost of everything, the norm these days seems to be under 800 rounds for most two-day courses.
By the end of the weekend, we students had put in so much work on both days, drilling and shooting, that every last cartridge I fired felt worthwhile. After all, this is what practice ammo is for: to do the work.
Little makes no qualms about the fact that he’s a perpetual student himself. It’s evident that he works very hard to reach his level of expertise in shooting. Throughout the training weekend, he kept referring to times he took someone else’s class as a student or topics learned from other instructors in spite of his already-established accolades or accomplishments.
Final Thoughts
Even with all the shooting and movement we did, Pistol Skill Development’s ulterior theme was to inspire students to practice on their own. I can’t stress enough that the true value of this class stems from Little’s unique experiences across the world of high-level competition, SWAT teams, and the US Army Special Forces.
It’s not just Little’s professional past but also his insights as an active participant in performance shooting that sets him apart. I mean, not only do I regularly run into this dude at local club matches and see him put in work like the rest of us, but you can find evidence online of his use of virtual reality training, major-level match attendance, and so on.
Ultimately, this class is suitable for the motivated student that’s looking to improve their comprehensive handgun shooting skills and are ready to put in some work.
If you follow Palmetto State Armory on Instagram, you might have already heard the news. Or maybe you can read and clicked on this article due to the headline. Either way, PSA has shelved the STG 44. They didn’t go as far as to say they’re killing it completely, but it’s shelved so they can focus on other designs. They are adapting the Rock into an MP7 clone, have the H&R Retro line, and what could possibly be the best blend of Mossberg and Remington in their new shotgun lineup.
Palmetto State Armory released the video on the 15th. They went over their high hopes for the gun, but realized there were more issues than anticipated. Throughout the troubleshooting process, they ran into more and more problems and realized it was too far for prime time. At the tail end of the video, they talked about their need to focus on projects they haven’t released, so they went out on a high note.
PSA announced the new STG 44 at SHOT Show 2023. They were taking up a project by a small company called Hill & Mac Gunworks. People were psyched. They wanted to fulfill the dream of an STG 44 with a proper 7.92x33mm variant and even offered different variants, like a potential 7.62×39 and 5.56 model. They seemed optimistic, and it was the talk of the show. While PSA took up the project, it predates 2023. In fact, it goes back to 2016.
The STG 44, Hill and Mac, and 2016
The STG 44 from Hill and Mac Gunworks in 2016. Do you remember what else happened in 2016? The timelines split when they killed Harambe. We just happen to be in the timeline where the Hill and Mac STG 44 never came to life. I’ve only ever preordered one thing in the gun world, and I was left disappointed.
There are two rules one should follow in this world.
Never purchase things from Youtubers. (I’m still salty about my Heat Vest from Forgotten Weapons.)
Never Preorder guns.
It’s a tale as old as time or as old as the modern gun industry, at the very least. A company comes to SHOT or a similar trade show, makes a slick YouTube video and website, and starts taking preorders. You’ll be getting your gun in the next year, we promise; just give us a boatload of money, and you’ll reserve yours.
Hill & Mac Gunworks did just that. They showed the STG 44 at SHOT 2016 with a promise to release the guns as late as 2017. Then 2017 turned into 2018, and in 2018, they posted an update that they hoped to ship by March 2019. In December of 2018, they moved from hope to you will definitely have your gun in December 2019.
Then crickets, and we know this because the flex groups would be full of STG 44s, and the sh!@ posting groups would have STGs covered in rails and spray painted. March came, and they posted they had quality control issues. In June, the last update stated they were waiting for parts to be tested.
The Challenges of Making a New STG 44
Admittedly, it seems quite challenging to reproduce an STG 44. From what I’ve read, there is no true technical data package for the STG 44. It seems to have been lost or destroyed during the war. They don’t have much to work off of, and even if they did, they’d have to ensure it couldn’t be converted to a machine gun, so changes would have to be made.
It’s worth noting the Germans never really mastered the weapon’s production either. The gun was found to be reliable but incapable of withstanding sustained automatic fire. The magazines were supposedly unreliable and troops were ordered to load them to only 25 rounds. In fact, in 1945, magazines were issued with a plug to prevent them from being loaded to 30 rounds.
The STG 44 was never a ‘good’ gun. It’s mid at best. It’s only notable for being the first mass-produced assault rifle. There is a good reason why no military adopted the STG 44 or attempted to replicate it afterward. Even someone with PSA’s resources is challenged by developing this rifle.
The Preorder Conundrum
It’s sad to see PSA shelving the project. I probably wasn’t going to buy one, but I like the idea of repro milsurp existing, especially when it comes to guns we don’t have an opportunity to own. It’s worth noting that PSA never took pre-orders; it was just Hill and Mac, and PSA was even going to honor the pre-order pricing from Hill and Mac.
It’s sad to see, but I don’t think we can be all that surprised.
One of the biggest drawbacks of social media is the proliferation of survival myths. These are often, though not always, spread via memes. At a glance, some of them sort of make sense, so people don’t hesitate to share them. It’s when you give them more than three seconds of thought that they start to fall apart. This is the first of several upcoming posts about various survival myths.
Survival Myth #1 – Tampons for Wound Care
This is a popular one, and it’s been floating around for quite a while. The recommendation is to stock your first aid kit with tampons to be used to “plug holes” like gunshot wounds. Countless medical professionals, from EMTs to Emergency Room physicians, have debunked this myth.
Despite what you may have heard or read, a tampon isn’t going to do anything particularly beneficial in treating traumatic injuries. It isn’t going to provide nearly enough pressure against a bleeding wound to keep that red stuff inside where it belongs. If you’re putting together a trauma kit, it makes far more sense to stock it with products that will actually help.
Survival Myth #2 – Wasp Spray for Self-Defense
I believe this one started making the rounds back when faxing jokes was still a thing. The common refrain is that wasp spray will blind an attacker, and you can easily carry it in places, such as schools, that might forbid defense products like pepper spray. There are a few things wrong with this premise.
Wasp spray doesn’t work on people the way it works on insects. While an argument could be made that any substance sprayed into a person’s eyes can be distracting and momentarily debilitating, pepper spray is far preferable. It instantly inflames the mucous membranes, causing them to swell and making it difficult to breathe. It also causes their eyes to tear profusely, affecting their sight.
Wasp spray does exactly none of that. Not to mention that cans of wasp spray are far larger than pepper spray and thus are more difficult to conceal.
Survival Myth #3 – Suck the Venom from a Snakebite
The traditional snakebite kit includes a razor blade and a suction cup or extraction tool of some sort. If a venomous snake bites someone, the instructions state to use the razor to cut open the bite, then use the suction cup to suck out the venom.
That might work if the venom were contained in some sort of bubble under the skin’s surface. However, the reality is that this would be like using a suction cup to remove fluid from a soaking wet sponge. All you’re going to accomplish is make the wound larger and increase the potential for infection.
While we’re at it, don’t apply a tourniquet to a bitten limb. That also causes far more harm than good. Keep the wound at heart level, if possible, and get to a hospital.
Survival Myth #4 – Crayons As Emergency Candles
This one started popping up several years ago.
Here’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that candles are made of wax and thus will burn. Wisdom is understanding that crayons make terrible candles.
Prepping is investing in flashlights, lanterns, oil lamps, SnapLights, and actual candles so that you don’t need to burn your kid’s Crayolas.
Survival Myth #5 – Moss on the North Side of Trees
This one has been around seemingly forever. The logic behind this is that moss prefers dark conditions, so in the Northern Hemisphere, it will favor the shade of the north side of trees. That’s not entirely inaccurate. However, given the right conditions, moss can and will completely encircle a tree.
A far better approach is to learn how to use a compass and keep one with you every time you hit the trail. If you’re visiting a park area, snap a photo of the trail map before you head out if you don’t have a paper map in your pocket.
The Next Generation Squad Weapon System has been settled, and it’s been settled surprisingly quickly. The SIG XM7 rifle is already in the hands of soldiers who are putting it through its paces. This includes the 101st Airborne Division, the 50th Cavalry Regiment, and the West Virginia Army Guard. How is the rifle doing? Well, it depends on who you ask.
The Official Reports on the SIG XM7
According to the Army, it’s doing great! Soldiers are impressed by the rifle’s design, its ability to punch through armor, and its accuracy. The Army’s own website, Stars and Stripes, and more are all talking about how much soldiers love the rifle. It seems to be extremely successful, and testing is going great.
Lots of folks saw the point of the XM7 to be a bit silly. It seemed like a step back from the M4 to another M14-type battle rifle. The purpose of the weapon is to punch through level 4 plates. Reportedly, China is equipping its military force with modern body armor. That’s a claim the Russians made, but as we’ve seen in the Ukraine, the Ratnik armor has barely reached any of the soldiers at the front.
The XM7 fires an ultra-modern round at 80,000 PSI, which is insane. It promises to punch through recoil, offer a higher maximum range, and be quite accurate. The cost of this system is weight, ammo capacity, and a reduced combat load. A writer from Forbes was invited to shoot the gun and seemed to remark on its stiff recoil, giving one of the few mainstream criticisms of the platform.
However, not all criticism makes the front page of Stars and Stripes.
The Underground
The military doesn’t like to publish the negative aspects of a test. Too much ego and too many careers are on the line. If Congress hears how much money the Army spent on a system that doesn’t work as well, then they might be standing in front of Congress in their dress uniforms answering questions.
A long time ago, Trijicon and the Marine Corps came together to create the MDO, or machine gun day optic. Imagine an ACOG that weighs three pounds. They wanted to slap these on every M240 across the fleet. My unit was the first to get hands-on with some at a range day. We shot with them and were interviewed about them. Most of us disliked them. The reticle was complicated. The magnification was a fixed 6X, and the eye relief was atrocious, and it weighed three pounds!
There were more problems, but oddly enough, the articles and news pieces put out by the Marine Corps didn’t mention that. They touted it as the best thing since sliced bread and made us all sound like we loved it. The MDO stayed in the gun bag for the rest of my enlistment. So, how do soldiers actually feel about the gun?
The Reddit Posts About the XM7
It’s tough to say. We have some posts on Reddit. One poster, who must be fairly high-ranked because he is 50 years old, had three days with the rifle. He complained about its CQB performance, the suppressors being more of an advanced flash hider, the recoil, the folding buttstock, the left-side charging handle, and how hard it was to clean. This particular soldier didn’t have the super fancy Vortex optic but a SIG Tango6 LPVO.
It’s worth noting that while he noted problems with the gun, he didn’t seem overly critical of the weapon. His post was very detailed and insightful and worth reading for a balanced view of the rifle in the field. Just search the R/army subreddit for XM7, and it’ll pop up.
Another soldier, who claims he was quoted by several publications, claims they all left out his ten minutes of criticisms of the platform. He claims the gun had several reliability issues, mostly issues revolving around failures to extract and eject. The cases were also breaking when fired. He also claims the rails were not properly aligned.
His opinion on the fancy optic wasn’t high either. The ocular focus and diopter adjust rings moved by themselves. The optic isn’t bright enough, and one did the ‘red screen of death’ and another stopped working entirely. That coincides with an Army sniper section posting about their optic getting the red screen of death as well.
Still In Testing
I don’t want to hasten a mob of hate for the XM7. The X stands for experimental, and the rifle is still in an experimental phase. This phase is where we find and correct issues, and there are bound to be issues. It remains to be seen if this is M14 part 2 electric boogaloo. I’m not sold on the concept as a main infantry arm for every soldier. It seems like a great designated marksmen’s rifle.
I’m also happy to be wrong about that, and I have only ever shot a .308 Spear and have never handled a 6.8 XM7, so my own knowledge is very limited. Time will tell what happens next and if the XM7 will become the m7 and live up to the Army’s claims about the rifle and its performance.
The UCO Arc Lighter & LED Flashlight (right) and SOL Dual Arc Plasma Lighter are versatile plasma lighters for survival!
Survive Outdoors Longer (SOL) offers innovative survival and medical kits, emergency shelters, fire kits, and signaling devices synonymous with adventure. And now, they make plasma lighters for survival!
Lighters for Survival
Dual Arc Plasma Lighter
Meet the Dual Arc Plasma Lighter: your durable, eco-friendly fire starter. It’s windproof, waterproof, and recharges via USB, making it a reliable companion for any adventure. With a weight of under 2 ounces and the ability to light over 100 fires per single charge, it’s an essential tool for survival. Charge it quickly in just 2 hours. Use it to easily ignite anything from campfires to grills with a simple button press. Plus, its compact design ensures it’s a breeze to carry wherever you go.
The SOL Dual Arc Plasma Lighter is your go-to gadget when you’re out in the wilderness and need to start a fire quickly. This lighter is ready for action sooner than expected after surpassing its advertised charging speed. In my field tests, I used it to ignite various natural tinders, such as poplar bark and shavings from poplar wood. I experimented with finely processed poplar bark and some thick strips, creating a dense mound of coarse shavings and delicate feather sticks from a poplar branch.
The Dual Arc Plasma Lighter ignited thicker wood shavings after a rainy day.
The lighter’s performance was impressive across all materials. The dual arc contact point quickly lit the fine feather sticks, shavings, and both types of bark. It even managed to ignite the more challenging blunt birch bark corners and the denser poplar bark strips. The SOL Dual Arc Plasma Lighter is a reliable and powerful tool for igniting fires with various materials.
MSRP: $22.99
The SOL Fire Lite Fuel Free Lighter easily ignited thin and thicker wood shavings within 1 second and direct contact.
UCO ARC LIGHTER & LED FLASHLIGHT
UCO Gear has been part of the outdoors, camping, and recreational gear for decades. From survival to cooking gear, UCO wears many masks.
The UCO Arc Lighter & LED Flashlight is a versatile tool that combines a powerful electric arc lighter with a bright LED flashlight. It’s designed to provide reliable ignition in windy or wet conditions, making it perfect for outdoor lovers, campers, and survivalists. The built-in rechargeable battery ensures long-term use, and the compact design makes it easy to carry and use whenever needed.
Upon initial inspection, this innovative device impresses as a sleek, rechargeable LED flashlight delivering intense brightness. A secure, spring-activated bezel twist reveals an integrated dual-arc plasma lighter.
Combining two devices in one, the Arc Lighter & Flashlight boasts a 100-lumen beam with high, low, and emergency strobe settings. The device is powered by a 340mAh internal lithium-ion battery, which you can recharge via mini-USB. The battery also energizes the dual-arc plasma lighter.
The UCO Arc Lighter & LED Flashlight is a versatile tool that combines a powerful electric arc lighter with a bright LED flashlight.
The Arc Lighter distinguishes itself from conventional lighters by using electricity for ignition, channeling an electric current across electrodes at its tip to produce a 1400-degree flameless heat, assuring reliable, wind-resistant lighting.
A single power button smoothly operates both the flashlight and plasma lighter. The flashlight mode allows scrolling through high, low, and strobe settings, while the lighter mode is triggered by holding down the button. The Arc’s design includes a spring-loaded lid for ease of use and a locking bail to prevent accidental opening in transit.
MSRP: $26.99
These plasma lighters for survival are worth looking at!
Hi-Point Firearms just added three new pistols to its lineup: the 995P, 4595P, and 1095P. The new pistols are essentially chopped versions of their popular carbines. Let’s take a look at the details of each one.
The 995P, 4595P, and 1095P
The new 995P, 4595P, and 1095P sit in between the traditional Hi-Point pistol line and their carbine line. They’re essentially shorter barrel carbines without a butt stock. This gives shooters more barrel for increased velocities, accuracy, and a longer sighting plane. The rear of the pistols are fitted with a rear Picatinny rail for adding a brace as well. If you remove the rear rail you can also add a standard AR receiver extension for mounting a brace.
All three pistols feature a HiViz fiber optic front sight, and ghost ring aperture rear. They use a manual thumb safety and mag release. The 995P, 4495P, and 1095P are also equipped with a quick disconnect sling capability. Additionally, they have Picatinny rails located at the 12 & 6 o’clock positions and can accommodate a variety of optics. Hi-Point says that numerous packages, including those with Crimson Trace optics, will be available as well.
The 995P
The 995P is the pistol version of Hi-Point’s popular Model 995 Carbine. It’s chambered in 9mm and uses the same 10-round magazine as the carbine and Hi Points pistols. It will also accept the extended Redball 20-round magazine. It has a 13.25-inch threaded barrel, is 20.5 inches in overall length, and weighs 6.5 pounds.
MSRP for the base pistol is $399.00. For a package with two Redball 20-round magazines, the MSRP bumps to $454.00. Lastly, you can get the pistol a Crimson Trace CT red dot sight for an MSRP of $499.00. Availability is listed as January of 2025, so we’ll probably be seeing these at the SHOT Show.
The 4595P
The 4595P is chambered in .45 ACP and is based on the 4595 carbine. It will use Hi Points 9-round, 45 carbine, and pistol mags, or the extended Redball 20-round magazine. It has a 14.25-inch threaded barrel and is 21.875 inches in overall length. Weight on the 4595P is still listed at 6.5 pounds.
It has an MSRP of $461.00 for the base gun, or $516.00 with two 20-round mags. The Crimson Trace option is available with the 4595P for $561.00. Availability on the 4595P is listed as January 2025 as well.
The 1095P
The last pistol mentioned is the 1095P. By nomenclature, this should be a 10mm, based on the Model 1095 carbine. Hi-Point’s media release mentions that it uses the same magazines as the Model 4595 Carbine, as well as the JHP45 pistol, though. I think this is a misprint, though, because it should use the 10-round 1095 10mm mags. They do mention that the Redball extended magazines are not available for the 1095P, which tracks if it does indeed use the 1095 magazines.
Barrel Length and overall length are listed the same as the 4595P at 14.25″ and 21.875″, respectively. Weight, again, is listed at 6.5 pounds.
No MSRP or release date was provided for the 1095P in the press release or on Hi-Point’s website. So, we’ll have to keep an eye out for the 10mm release.
For more information on the new 995P, 4595P, and 1095P or other Hi Point products, check out their website at Hi-PointFirearms.com.
Fire safety is—or should be—a big part of your overall preparedness plan. Earlier today, there was a bad fire at an apartment building just outside town. There were at least ten fire departments involved in getting it under control. Nearly 30 people are now homeless as a result of the fire. I’ve not seen any details about injuries as of yet.
It is all too easy for an accidental fire to quickly rage out of control. Therefore, it’s important to take precautions.
Fire Safety at Home
Smoke detectors are critical. There should be at least one on each floor of the home, including the basement. They should be tested at least twice a year. I’d be willing to bet most people know all that already. What many don’t think about, though, is whether they can actually hear those alarms.
Go into your bedroom, close the door, turn on the fan you often use at night, and then have someone test the alarm. Can you hear it? Is it loud enough to wake you up? If not, maybe look at replacing the alarm with one that’s louder.
Every home should have fire extinguishers. The minimum should be one on each level of the home, stationed near the exits so that you can create a safe pathway, should the need arise.
Extinguishers come in different ratings based on the type(s) of fire they’re intended to put out. Look for 2-A: 10-B:C rating for home use. If you need to use an extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS.
P = Pull the pin on the extinguisher.
A = Aim the nozzle.
S = Squeeze the handle.
S = Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire.
Fire Safety at Work
According to OSHA, there are about 16,500 workplace fires each year.
Identify the locations of all fire extinguishers. They should be visually inspected monthly and have a maintenance check annually. Each extinguisher should be tagged and marked with those inspection dates. If the ones you see at work are out of date, speak to Human Resources about getting that handled. While you’re at it, ask them how often the fire sprinkler systems have been tested.
Emergency exits should be clearly marked and kept clear at all times.
In my experience, that’s a frequent struggle in many warehouse environments. People will drop a pallet of merchandise in front of a fire exit, planning to leave it there just for a moment while they attend to something else. But they never seem to make it back to move it again.
Don’t leave heat devices, such as space heaters, unattended. Watch for overloaded outlets and unsafe extension cords.
For both home and workplace fire safety, don’t overlook the importance of evacuation drills. They help develop muscle memory, so there’s less thinking and more doing under stress. Stress to people that closed doors should be felt before being opened. If they’re hot, leave them closed. Jam a towel or jacket under the bottom of the door to limit smoke getting inside. Get near a window so people can see and hear you if you’re unable to get out.
If you’re going to set aside supplies for the long haul, you need to know the enemies of food storage. Not only that, but you’ll have to account for each of them in your planning. Failing to do so could mean losing at least some of your carefully curated stash. This goes for food you buy at the store as well as food you preserve at home.
Oxygen
This is one of the primary enemies of food storage. Oxygen allows for the growth of bacteria and insects. Oxidation is also a risk. This is when oxygen causes the deterioration of food quality. This deterioration can include changing the flavor of the food as well as losing some nutritional value.
One way to combat this food storage enemy is to use oxygen absorbers. These are small packets, often containing a mixture of iron granules and sodium chloride. They are added to airtight packaging and absorb the oxygen, keeping it from affecting the food.
Moisture
Moisture allows bacteria to grow, making it an enemy of food storage. It can also lead to mold and mildew problems. In some cases, this can even lead to botulism, which is a whole lot of no fun. Moisture can also negatively impact food packaging.
To prevent all of this, store food in as dry of a location as possible. For example, a damp basement isn’t ideal. If you must store food in an area prone to high humidity, adding a dehumidifier to the mix will help. Airtight containers also happen to be waterproof.
Sunlight
Sunlight is a spoiling mechanism. It can cause a number of different chemical reactions in stored food, including oxidation of Vitamin C. Always use a packaging material that is opaque and store food away from windows.
Temperature
Temperature is an enemy of food storage in a couple of ways. Rapid fluctuations in temperature can cause moisture to condense from the air inside the packages. As we’ve already discussed, moisture is not a good thing when it comes to long-term food storage. Many foods, such as canned goods, don’t benefit from freezing, so you need to prevent that from happening. At the same time, high temperatures can speed deterioration. Shoot for a steady temperature below 60F but not below freezing.
Pests
Mice, rats, and bugs are the bane of any prepper. Any of them can quickly destroy large quantities of food, making a mess and costing you a ton of money in replacement costs. Keep your food storage area as clean as possible, as this will help prevent temptation for critters. Strong, durable containers are also recommended.
Setting out traps as a precaution isn’t a bad idea. Personally, I avoid sticky traps and just use the traditional mousetraps. They’re effective and largely humane. The previously mentioned oxygen absorbers will go a long way toward reducing the risk of bug infestations.
Complacency
“Store it and forget it” is a poor approach to food storage. One of the slogans, for lack of a better term, of preppers is “store what you eat, eat what you store.” The idea is that you should have a regular rotation of your supplies, where you’re continually consuming the oldest items and replacing them with new.
Even items that you buy specifically for long-term storage, such as freeze-dried meals and such, should be inspected regularly for deteriorated packaging and other damage.
Keep all of these enemies of food storage in mind as you assemble and maintain your emergency pantry.
I had the privilege of spending some time training with Matthew Little, aka Greybeard Actual, in his two-day Pistol Skill Development course held at RDI in Pleasanton, Texas, just south of San Antonio.
Author’s Note: This is the same venue where I took my previous training class with Green Ops and their 1-Day Kalashnikov course. It appears RDI is becoming one of the most happening ranges in the area). The Ranch in Dilley, TX, would be the other venue in the San Antonio area.
GreyBeard Actual Pistol Skill Development 2-Day Course Overview
Little’s Pistol Skill Development course is an intensive two-day handgun course built around the spectrum of practical shooting skills and movement. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to train with different instructors. Thus far, Pistol Skill Development has been one of the most unique 2-day handgun classes I’ve ever taken due to Little’s philosophy, experience, and outlook on shooting.
While students will get plenty of action (and wisdom) on both days, Day 1 has a higher round count than Day 2. Day 1 involves more shooting exercises and drills, while Day 2 is focused predominantly on shooting-and-moving with a handgun. The class also navigates a few mini-USPSA-style stages.
A student moving around barrels to take a shot at an IPSC steel plate with his pistol during Greybeard Actual’s Pistol Skill Development
This course best suits people looking to improve their comprehensive handgun shooting skills. I wouldn’t categorize it as an ‘advanced course’ in the traditional sense. However, the prospective student should already be comfortable with drawing their handgun confidently from their holster.
Pistol Skill Development is a course centered around shooting skills but not tactics. So, students are welcome to shoot from competition belts, modern tactical battle belts, or even concealment—as long as the holster is safe and dependable. I noticed all three types of holster systems on the firing line during our class weekend. I personally shot from concealment as that’s how I tend to carry.
It’s also true that Pistol Skill Development is heavily influenced by modern action pistol shooting sports, especially regarding much of the movement and many of the drills shot in class. However, Pistol Skills Development is not a competition-specific course.
Greybeard’s Philosophy And Approach To Pistol Skill Development
Little’s professional background as a martial artist, competitive shooter, Special Forces soldier [20th SFG (A)], and Chicago SWAT cop is somewhat unique in the training space. Suffice it to say that he possesses a trove of experience in shooting both on his own as a high-level competitor and professionally at either of his martial jobs in Special Forces or the SWAT team.
Because Little participated in all three domains of shooting (competition, military, SWAT) concurrently, his knowledge is cross-pollinated. This allows him to offer unique insights in his classes and material.
This makes Little one of the few people who are objectively qualified to comment, dissect, agree, or disagree on topics ranging from cutting-edge performance pistol techniques to “cliched” institutionally established gun-training kata and tropes.
For example, on Day 2, a student asked about the standard drawing-and-pressing-out technique. Little then answered, “Don’t worry about that [drawing and pressing out]. That’s a commonly taught technique to large groups of people who aren’t going to train on their own anyway; that technique helps them get by and is good enough.”
After hearing that, I pondered how many other things of that nature taught at the institutional level by typical pistol instructors are also commonly accepted, taken for granted, or even passed down to more serious pupils. The insight here is that getting by on institutional knowledge alone isn’t enough for the motivated and self-directed student.
Proper and efficient movement is crucial.
Skill Building Drills
Another reason to describe Pistol Skill Development as an atypical handgun training class is the curriculum’s approach when conducting actual training or shooting drills throughout the weekend. Greybeard’s Pistol Skill Development course was the first time I ever participated in a shooting class that made use of skill-building drills where students had several chances to take many reps and movements.
This level of involvement made the course feel more like a pre-tournament training camp for a physical sport than the typical weekend pistol class. Even though I can’t yet row 2000 meters in seven minutes on a Concept 2 rower, I’m not exactly out of shape either. There was enough drilling and movement, and this activity managed to make me sweaty and increase my heart rate.
Prospective students will notice this, especially on the second day when class focuses on moving-and-shooting—something that’s underserved in general-purpose pure-shooting skills courses. I’ve noticed that the majority of formal pistol training doesn’t involve much in the way of movement.
I’ll even admit that I hadn’t considered that being able to shoot-and-move efficiently is actually a core skill, no different than solid trigger control or grip. As a civilian who’s only concerned about improving themselves in practical shooting, I see the value in refining movement. It’s necessary in order to level up in any of the action pistol classifications.
Graybeard’s Lectures
Matthew Little pontificating on the finer points of the classic El Presidente shooting drill.
Even though we shot plenty of rounds during Pistol Skill Development, this course also reminded me of the time I trained with Riley Bowman last year. Specifically, because of the time that was made for lectures and classroom discussions.
Likewise, Greybeard spent time on both days during his course discussing his curriculum and tying it into the coursework. The most significant lecture topic we heard was his own approach to training and actual practice in pursuit of specific shooting milestones. This was a topic that he touched on throughout the entire weekend.
I don’t have a sports background, so I had never heard anyone break down training for shooting skills in this manner so systematically. One of the first things that was said at the start of the course on the morning of Day 1 was that one of Greybeard’s goals is to get his students to learn how to coach themselves and grow as shooters that way.
The lecture portions of this two-day course are as important as the shooting modules, and it’s worth bringing a notebook. Discussion flowed freely, and students were free to ask questions as they pertained to the coursework. Be ready to soak up course material and insights like a sponge!
