SHOOTING WITH YOUR SUPPORT HAND Posted by Robyn Sandoval

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June 2, 2018

There are times, both in competition and self-defense, that you may need to shoot with your support hand. In competition, the course of fire may call for it or in a self-defense situation, you may not have use of your strong hand. Practicing shooting with your support hand is an important skill to develop.

If you’re choosing to shoot with your support hand in a competition, your gun should have an ambidextrous safety. You want to transition your gun to your support hand and have your sights on target before you release the safety. When transitioning your gun from your strong hand to your support hand, slightly turn the gun in your strong hand so that you create an open platform for your support hand to get a firm, high grip on the gun.

Face the target squarely and extend the gun in your support hand towards the target, with your gun-arm elbow locked to full arm extension. Place your support-side foot ahead of your other foot by 8 to 15 inches. From that position, flex your knees and shift at least 60 percent of your body weight to your leading foot. This creates a solid, weight-forward power position that minimizes the effects of recoil, and still allows you to have full mobility with your firearm.

When you bring your gun to align your sights, cant the gun slightly inward to stabilize your arm and have a better sight picture. Clinch your nonshooting hand in an upwards fist against your upper chest.

Place your finger with the pad of the finger on the trigger. Since your support hand will not have the same amount of strength as your strong hand, your fine motor skills will also be a little weaker. Focus on a smooth trigger press that does not slap the trigger when your sights are on target.

Recoil management may be awkward on your support side. Concentrate on your pinkies and squeeze very hard. Most people have a tendency to under grip, so white-knuckle it. Malfunctions are common when you first begin shooting support handed. If your grip is not firm enough and your wrist is not held firm/straight enough to keep the frame of the firearm from traveling rearward while the bolt or slide of the pistol cycles, the gun will fail to complete the operating cycle. Be sure to follow through and get your sights back on target for your next shot.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/shooting-weak-hand/

The Bulletproof Mind

By

Keith Finch

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June 2, 2018

From Team Hollis

Notes: From The Bulletproof Mind.

The fear of failure, is greater than fear itself…

I recently had the pleasure of attending a “sheepdog” seminar here in Michigan. The instructor and designer of the course was Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman. He is a well known author and on the US Marine commandant’s required reading list with books like “on killing” and “on combat”.

The greatest take away, is that EVERYONE who carries a gun, knife, or seeks to protect themselves, or others, should take this class, more than once. The take away that you should get from this short rundown of the presentation, is the management of fear.

Fear of training, fear of methodology, carrying a round in the chamber, fear of what you may or may not do in the key moments where your skill set is required.

All the NRA personal protection courses contain the physiological responses the mind and body have to a life and death encounter. All of my pre-mobilization training and LE courses have included “expectations” and statements on what to expect from being in proximity to death or violence. Specifically, the kind caused by other humans.

Embrace fear. Welcome it, train with it, realize it will be present with you, even if your gun is not. Embrace it, don’t discount it or allow it to prevent you from doing what must be done in the moments where your own life, or the lives of others may be in the balance. Expect the aftermath, the excitement, the dread, and the joy, at still being alive, at having done your best.

The three steps to success, as laid out by Lt. Col Grossman:

What is your motivation, purpose, the WHY you want to survive or aid others.
Motivation, turned into action: The skills you have, are still needed here and now.
Make sure the body is ready: Fitness, hydration, sleep, training!

We rise to the level of our training. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the acknowledgement of it, and carrying on anyway.

Manage your fear. Train with your tools as often as possible. Carry your gun wherever and whenever you can. Play the “what if” game with yourself mentally. And be ready for not just the moments that count, but the minutes, hours, and years after.

Onward!

Chris Hollis

Stay Flexible

By

Keith Finch

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June 1, 2018

From Team Hollis

During my last match, I was able to clearly define an idea, or revelation, that I have had as I travel from match to match.

Mental flexibility is the key.

Specifically this, I used to hate some of the club or match rules. Coming from a military background, nationally ranked as both a shooter and instructor, I used to have harsh reactions to some of the rules that IDPA or other matches used to have. How they defined cover, not allowing magazines with rounds to hit the ground when reloads could otherwise be conducted, and so on. And then I learned that I was the problem…

As many newer shooters, or shooters who are newer to shooting sports and competition, the rules can be very different from sport to sport. IDPA, Steel challenge, Three Gun, USPSA, and even a NRA bullseye match Vs CMP stye matches, have quite different rules on what you can or cannot do.

There was a year where I stuck to three guns and Steel challenge and avoided IDPA because I didn’t agree (I told myself “tactically”) with some of the rules. This I will say, the people have always been 1st class, warm, welcoming of all skill levels, great to watch, and safe.

My old mentality used to be “I train like I fight”… which I have learned is not the way to roll… This is a shooting “SPORT” and fun competition, not pre mobilization training for deployment. First thing is to ditch the military Beretta M9 and go a little lighter and faster. I was no longer lugging a brick around… The other, and more important realization was that I had to be able to mentally morph from one set of rules to the other. I discovered that it was NOT easy for me to run a USPSA match one week, and then a IDPA match the next.

The skill that I was lacking, as a gunfighter and competitor, was the mental edge to “play the game I was playing”. Limiting capacity, pistol modifications, round counting, definitions of cover, all create the opportunity for you to THINK as fast as you can, about what you need to do, and then do it. Is the match scored on double taps? A zone only? Can you reload while moving to cover? Do you have to retain the magazine? All provide the mental “exercise” that will serve you better in a real self defense scenario then most others available to the general public.

Since this change in my thinking, I rarely ever reach for my reload in the wrong place. When I started three gun, and carrying a chest rig for AR and pistol mags, I still put a single carrier on my magazine side, just in case I made the mistake of reaching for the wrong one… oops.

So the “train like I fight” went to the back of the gun safe (not throwing it out all the way). I now have the right tool for the job. My holsters change based on the “game” I am playing. My magazines change from chest rigs, to belt side and even my back for faster AR changes. The pistol used for silhouette matches is not the one I carry every day, and the one I have for home defense still attends USPSA matches on occasion…. And I am mentally flexible now, having developed that mental muscle, to THINK about what I am doing, what I need to do, what options/rules I have to play with, and react intentionally… and score as well as I can. I no longer have any issues with the match rules, club rules or policies, I look at them as a challenge and another opportunity.

Onward!

Chris Hollis

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOOTING SKILLS

By

A Girl and a Gun

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June 1, 2018

By Becky Dolgener, Facilitator, Temple, TX

A Girl & A Gun facilitators offer “mini-clinics” that cover the 5 Fundamentals of Accurate Shooting at most Girls’ Night Out (GNO) events. In the interest of safety, ladies who attend a GNO receive a whole lot of new information in a very short period of time. Once your facilitator sees that you are consistently safe with your gun handling, it’s her job to be available to answer questions and offer pointers to keep you safe. Your facilitator is a fantastic resource, but making the commitment to develop skills requires that you take three simple steps:

Step 1: Learn safe gun handling and fundamentals at GNO.

If you come into GNO not knowing which is the “business” end of a gun, your first goal may be to learn how to operate your firearm and reliably hit the target – somewhere – with each shot. That’s a great first goal, and barring physical challenges, it’s easy enough to meet that goal your first GNO. Whether or not you improve your shooting skills from that point is up to you.

Step 2: Get professional training to learn how to practice.

Training is education by a knowledgeable professional. Practice is what you do to reinforce whatever training you have (or haven’t) had. If all you ever do is go to the range for GNO and maybe a T Time once or twice a month, you will continually reinforce and cement into your subconscious every little mistake you normally make when shooting. If you seek out training from your facilitator or another credible instructor, your practice at AG & AG events then becomes a chance to reinforce good shooting habits and skills that will help you know what goals to set in the future.

Step 3: Measure, assess, and adjust.

Setting SMART, measurable shooting goals can be difficult when you don’t know what good shooting looks like. Anytime is a good time to find out. Go to local IDPA or USPSA matches as a spectator (but don’t be a spectator forever; every great shooter has a “first match” in her past!). Do some reading to find out what reputable trainers require of their students. Better yet, take classes from those same trainers and ASK them how you should practice and what steps you should take next. Every instructor you ask will likely have a different idea for you, and when it comes to improving your shooting, the more ideas, the better.

As you begin your journey and start learning, there’s no better way to measure progress than keeping a journal. Members of A Girl & A Gun have access to the unique and industry-leading Shooting Journal and related Facebook group. The journal provides step-by-step guidance for women new to firearms, as well as those who’ve been learning for a while.

No matter what, don’t judge your skills too harshly. As long-time trainer and author Kathy Jackson says, “Shooting skill is measured in years, not months.” It takes an investment of your time and energy to improve your shooting skills through training and regular practice. So, get to A Girl & A Gun event and find out what you need to work on next. And remember: it’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just that you can’t do it… yet.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/3-simple-steps-improve-shooting-skills/

Why I compete

By

MASF

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May 31, 2018

By: Ryan Blankenship, US Army Veteran – MASF Member

A short twenty years ago I was preparing to exit the Army after my second enlistment. I was leaving with active qualifications for the M9 Pistol and M16 rifle. I felt confident that my weapons training would serve me well in civilian life. I rested on my laurels confident in my abilities. Shortly thereafter I eventually obtained my concealed carry permit. 1918491_1171588061473_6244665_n Fast forward to last year. I was finally in a position in my personal and professional life that afforded me the opportunity to take some updated training. I focused on defensive pistol courses. It was amazing at how vastly different the tactics have changed from the cold war era. I quickly realized that not only did I need to expand my knowledge through training, but also find a way to practice the techniques and fundamentals on a regular basis.

Over the previous couple of years I had enjoyed shows such as Shooting USA. Some of their episodes had featured the competitive shooting sports like IDPA, USPSA, Bianci Cup and 3 gun to name a few. All of these disciplines looked fun on the surface. However, I knew from previous sports adventures that the featured top competitors make things look easier than they are. I admittedly was intimidated and reluctant to start exploring the sport at first. After the training, I had a renewed interest in competing in the shooting sports. They looked like a perfect avenue to practice the fundamentals. I began looking around and found that locally, the disciplines with the most offerings in the area were IDPA and USPSA. I decided to focus on them.

After some research, I decided the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) was the place for me to start. This branch of the shooting sports has its roots in the defensive employment of handguns. The rules focus on the use of cover when engaging targets, reloading from behind cover, and a tactical mindset. While they do have the “race” divisions, they focus on everyday carry (EDC) options for equipment from holsters to flashlights. IDPA allows for a new shooter to show up at a local match with a normal concealed carry setup and be able to compete with minimal additional investment.

DSCN5402 This was perfect for me. I did not have a large budget to purchase new equipment. I arrived at my first match with a double magazine pouch, stock pistol with holster and 3 magazines plus ammunition. There was a small learning curve when it came to what they considered proper use of cover and target engagement. This was easily picked up upon thanks to the more than helpful range and safety officers. Once the first match was under my belt and the initial jitters had subsided, I found this discipline to be a great opportunity. The focus on cover, target priorities and other fundamental aspects of defensive firearms uses were seen. A few local competitions later I was able to better focus on techniques learned in training. I worked on tactics like slicing the pie, engaging targets as they were seen and scoring more accurate hits.

In an IDPA match, the shooters are given a scenario based course of fire (COF). Targets, starting and ending positions are specified. Watching my fellow competitors, it was clear that with a few exceptions, most competitors will shoot the match in nearly the same fashion. However, there is a little room for an individual approach to the scenario or situation.

IDPA does have a relatively large rule book. This is a turn off for some competitors. Since I was focused on the defensive aspect, I looked at this as a positive. Real life is full of laws (rules) that we must be ever vigilant in adhering to. Laws are subject to change through legislation and from one jurisdiction to the next. We must be ever cognoscente of our surroundings and what we are permitted to do when acting defensively. In the end, if I am able to follow the extensive rule book and eliminate the “procedural errors” then I feel I it can help me translate that into being able to follow the laws that govern our defensive handgun uses.

I then mixed in a few United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) competitions. These matches are less rule intensive and more free form. There are similar rules governing equipment, but the courses of fire and scenarios are less strict in their engagement. Target engagement can be whenever the shooter feels most confident they will score an accurate shot. More than 3 magazines can be carried allowing for more reloads and ammo. As opposed to IDPA where most competitors will shoot a COF almost identically, USPSA will have a wide variety in how a particular stage will be engaged. I like to look at this discipline as a better reflection of how a real world scenario is more dynamic. I have seen in myself that I will go into a COF with a given plan and at some point I will need to adapt that plan on the fly. Maybe I was planning a reload when moving to the next shooting position but a makeup shot throws off the round count. I might then decide to sideslip and engage a long range target that was planned for a closer shot.

With either discipline, both allow the shooter to practice various aspects of defensive shooting that can’t be done on a traditional range. Many shooters like myself have limited access to outdoor ranges that allow movement. We are relegated to lane based ranges, sometimes indoors only. Shooters get to experience engaging targets within a 180 degree arc, shooting on the move, and engaging a target from under a car while laying on their side. A vast array of positions that one just can’t experience in a box in a lane at the range. Additionally you add in the adrenaline fueled by the competition and heavier breathing from movement and we can get close to real life physical conditions experienced in defensive engagements. The only way I have been able to experience what it must truly be like to be in a defensive situation is to go to a shoot house event and have live targets shooting back, with simmunitions of course. But that options are few and far between.

After a few months of focusing on defensive tactics during the local matches, I tried my hand at sanctioned matches. It is true that we have to lose some of the true tactics, like slicing the pie, in order to be effectively competitive. We have to find the best shooting position in the pre-stage walkthrough and hit those positions effectively to be fast. That means techniques like slicing the pie are removed from the mindset. It’s about getting to the corner, maintain cover and engage the “known” threat.

Both disciplines have elements that penalize inaccurate hits. It is a balancing act of being fast but accurate. I feel that this is a good way for us to constantly grow as a shooter, test our limits and do it in a safe manner. In a real world scenario, we have to be fast but not so fast that we can’t make those effective hits that will ultimately stop or eliminate the threats. Taking the time to focus on pushing our individual boundary between being accurate and fast during competitions allows us to test our limits. Knowing these limits will allow us to better employ or skills during an actual event in an effective manner.

This past year was a huge learning curve for me. I found that while I thought I knew a fair amount about the use of firearms, I had a vast amount I still needed to learn from a tactical perspective. I also learned that while traditional range time was good to focus on various fundamentals and accuracy, there is always room for improvement a 360 degree world. Competitive shooting helps us to fill that void between the range and the real world. It may only be at a maximum of 180 degrees, but the skills we reinforce there will help us to be better prepared for a situation we all hope we will never have to experience.

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The real world is not a range bay. Even during competition, we have to keep it in our minds that threats can come from any direction. In addition, we have to be ever mindful that we are governed by laws (rules). We have to live within those laws and act accordingly when the need arises. It is for this reason that I compete in the disciplines that I do. They allow me to practice the fundamentals, constantly push my limits, and employ my skills under a given set of rules in a safe manner. Like the vast majority of us, I hope I never have to use the skills that I have acquired and continuously hone. But I hope that if that day comes, I will be able to react effectively and within the laws of the jurisdiction I am in. To that end, I will continue to hone my skills through competition and ongoing training. But in the end we have to acknowledge that the competitions are fun and a great chance to meet a great pool of fellow like-minded individuals.

BIO – Ryan Blankenship: I am a veteran of the U.S. Army and Desert Storm. Serving as both a Combat Engineer (12B) and a Satellite Network Technician (29Y-Q7). In my civilian life I have advanced my non-shooting profession as a Network Engineer. Most recently I have started competing in IDPA and USPSA competitions at an amateur level. But first and foremost I am a proud father of 2 young men. One of which has continued the family tradition of service and is currently enlisted in the Marine Corp.

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/02/14/why-i-compete/

GUN VALUATION: DECIDING TO REPAIR, REFINISH, OR RESTORE AN OLD FIREARM

By

A Girl and a Gun

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May 31, 2018

by Jim Majoros, President, Viktor’s Legacy Custom Gunsmithing LLC

So, you have this old gun and you’re wondering, “Is it worth anything?” Should it be refinished, restored, cleaned, or left as is? The decision may seem daunting, but with good information you will be able to make the choice that’s right for you. The first step is to determine the value of the gun. Age alone does not determine value: condition, rarity, provenance and desirability to collectors all impact value. Thorough research will help you know what you are dealing with, and will help guide your decision. There are many reference books that rate the value of antique and modern firearms. Blue Book of Gun Values, published by the NRA, is my favorite resource.

If the value of the gun is impacted by the condition, your next decision will be whether or not it needs improvement. This could range from a simple cleaning to repair, refinishing, or restoration. It is crucial to understand how each process would impact the value of your gun. If the gun has low intrinsic value, or if it has been mass-produced by modern manufacturing methods, your goal is likely going to be guided by your plans for the gun, it’s sentimental value, or how you want it to look. A good cleaning can do wonders for the look of a gun in this category. If you want to make it look new, or create a custom look, refinishing may be your best choice. During refinishing, the gun is disassembled and cleaned; the metal is polished and prepped. It’s vital that the metal preparation is done correctly to preserve the original nomenclature, serial number, proof marks, maintain sharp edges, and retain sharp screw and pin holes. The metal parts can be restored to their original factory finish via whatever process was being used at the time that it was manufactured. The wood would be stripped of its old finish; any cracks or nicks repaired or filled. The stock can be finished with a thin layer of polyurethane, or it can be coated and decorated with Cerakote, paints, and even hydrographic designs. Gold leaf, engraving, or checkering can be used to further customize your gun. Once reassembled, you should have a great looking gun that reflects your taste and will be protected against the ravages of time.

Restoration of a gun can be tricky because of the potential impact on value. The results of a poor decision can be very costly. I’ve seen some heartbreaking results in my line of work. A few weeks ago a customer came to my shop carrying a gun rolled up area rug. As I unrolled the rug I spotted a crescent shaped butt plate on the stock, and my heart started beating faster. When I saw the rest of the gun my jaw went slack. It was a pre-1964 Winchester Model 94- in my eyes, a masterpiece. But I promptly noticed that the gun had been poorly refinished. The metal had been badly prepped and polished, the edges were rounded, screw holes dished, lettering nearly buffed off and the metal had been blued incorrectly. I nearly cried when I saw the 3-digit serial number that indicated the gun was made during the first 1-3 months of production by Winchester in 1894. The gun should have been worth a fortune, but because of bad decisions and sloppy work, it wasn’t.

With a heavy heart I checked the “Blue Book”. To an untrained eye, the gun may have looked ok, but it earned a “Poor” rating due to the shoddy refinishing. I had to tell my customer that the gun’s current value was about $1250.00. Not bad for a gun that cost about $7.00 in 1894, right? Wrong. Had it been in “Very Good” condition, with 90% original finish, and had a letter of authentication from the Winchester Museum in Cody Wyoming, it would have been worth at least $14,000.00. Also, because of this gun’s rare caliber, the value increases further to $17,500.00! All I could do was advise the customer that a quality restoration could minimize the impact of the shoddy work done before, and bring up the value.

I told the customer I would disassemble the gun completely, strip the incorrect blueing and carefully re-polish the metal, straightening the edges, flattening the screw and pin holes, and re-marking the nomenclature on the barrel and tang with the correct text used by the factory. Then, I would begin the tedious process of re-bluing the metal, using Winchester’s original process. The lever and hammer would be refinished using a process called color case hardening; the screws, pins and extractor would be nitre blued and the fore end tip and butt plate would be charcoal blued. The stock and fore end wood would be refinished, again, using the original Winchester methods. This is a costly process, at least $2000.00; however, it could increase the gun’s value to about $12,000.00. A worthwhile return on investment.

There are times when even cleaning a gun can destroy its value. A few years ago, a customer brought me a pair of antique flintlock pistols that her great-grandfather had obtained in France during WW1. I did some research and found pictures of the same type of pistols dating back to the time of Napoleon’s reign. On her pistols, I found gold engravings in French on the barrels which translated to “Guard of the King’s Court”. Research revealed that just over 900 of these pistols were made for Napoleon’s Royal Guard. After careful disassembly we found proof marks under the barrels which confirmed that these pistols were authentic! Reassembly was painstaking and exact. We carefully put the screws into the holes they came out of. We left the green patina from the brass fittings; the rust flakes under the barrels; as well remnants of lubricant just the way we found it. We documented the entire process with photographs, which we provided to the customer. The value of this pair of pistols was well north of $10,000.00. Had we even cleaned them, we would have removed some of their history and their value would have plummeted to under $1,000.00. This illustrates that sometimes less is more!

Obviously, great care should be taken when deciding what, if anything, should be done to your old gun. It is equally important to carefully choose who should help you achieve your goal. There are training programs for gunsmiths and armorers across the country; however, there is no governing body which dictates uniform standards for curriculum and requirements for certification. Also, there is no program that grants licenses or monitors performance. That makes it difficult to know who to trust. I recommend finding a gunsmith who has completed a lengthy apprenticeship under someone who could be considered a “Master” gunsmith, a title of respect earned from years and years of experience. This person would specialize in restorations and is willing to consult respected publications and museums when necessary. Ask for references, look at examples of past restoration work, and get a second opinion if needed. Ask them to tell you when it’s best to leave well enough alone, and why. If you take it to someone who is calling themselves a “licensed and certified gunsmith,” be wary, as once again, there is no licensing or certification requirements to be a gunsmith. My shop is willing to help anyone do research and arrive at a correct decision regarding any refinishing or restoration of your firearm. I’m hoping this information will help you to decide what to do, and who to trust with the job!

Good luck, and shoot straight!
Viktor’s Legacy Custom Gunsmithing LLC

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/gun-valuation/

Do You Even Sights?

By

Keith Finch

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May 29, 2018

You probably know they are there.

But do you know what they are for? Yes?

But then there is actually actively properly using them.

Sage Dynamics has another excellent video for your Tuesday viewing pleasure on how to make those bumps on top of your gun work for you.

NRA CERTIFICATION IS A STRONG FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO LAY DOWN TRACKS

By

A Girl and a Gun

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May 29, 2018

By Heather Eckert

Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer reveals brilliant lyrics filled with vision and inciting thoughts:

you could have a steam train if you’d just lay down your tracks.

As the steam engines of the past prefaced the foundation of the high-speed trains of today, having a strong foundation is the backbone within everything we do.

As a full-time firearms instructor, I never lose sight of the fundamentals set into motion during the beginning of my career. The influential track of my high-speed train started with a two-day NRA Pistol Instructor course offered by an NRA Training Counselor. I arrived to training armed with a burning desire to turn a passion into a career. Like other national organizations, the NRA instructor program is a widely recognized certification. The NRA was founded in 1871, with the ambition to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” The NRA saw a dire need where little formal education was available. Over a hundred years later, the NRA is still providing an industry-accepted foundational approach.

If you want to become an instructor, the NRA Instructor Certification is a great place to start. By becoming certified by the NRA, you demonstrate your knowledge of basic firearm safety and shooting skills. For me it is analogous to a driver’s license, which demonstrates that a driver can safely operate a vehicle, but may not yet have the skills to navigate rush-hour traffic or a severe storm. The NRA certification permits you to teach specific curriculum published by the NRA, but it does not provide training to teach other firearm training courses (such as intermediate or advanced classes, hunter safety, law enforcement, security, or USCCA courses), nor does the class prepare you to develop your own curriculum or training courses of your own. However, it gives you a solid foundation on which to build.

My NRA Certification was a respected resume credential that opened doors to new employment and allowed me to advance well beyond basic Pistol Instructor. I continued training to improve my own shooting skills, and also took additional courses to learn other ways to instruct, master the latest relevant tactics, and expand my network of talented instructors for mentorship. Now I hold multiple Law Enforcement Certifications in Firearms, Force on Force and Defensive Tactics, most recently obtaining my Master Instructor Certification from IALEFI, in shotgun, handgun, and patrol rifle.

I am truly grateful to be working with the law enforcement community and civilians alike, always keeping in mind of how I started and continuing the NRA’s vision through a tried-and-true scientific approach of quality education and exceptional marksmanship. The question is, where will you lay down your tracks?

Heather Eckert is the owner and Lead Instructor of E4Defense, LLC. Heather is a nationally recognized firearms and reality based training Instructor. She holds multiple state and nationally recognized certifications and licensing, and is the Frisco, TX A Girl & A Gun Facilitator.

If you would like to learn more about earning your NRA instructor certification, click here: Become an NRA Instructor.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/nra-certification-strong-foundation-lay-tracks/

The Missing Link

By

MASF

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May 28, 2018

By: Kerry “Pocket Doc” Davis, Owner Dark Angel Medical LLC., – MASF Member

Originally Published in MASF Quarterly Online Magazine Fall 2015 issue

The shooting community is a very selective group. Whether it’s training courses, firearms, optics, ammo, accessories or other gear, we feel strongly about what we like, and conversely, what we don’t like.

However, we all have one thing in common. We all want the best of the aforementioned to achieve success in a dire situation. There are a large number of us who spend quite a bit of money and time on all of the latest and greatest and put quite a few rounds downrange into paper every year in order to become more proficient with our chosen system.

While images_Pocket Doc Kerry Davis Dark Angel Medical we train for the worst-case scenario in shootings, we should also place that same emphasis, if not more, on medical training and train for those types’ worst-case scenarios. Proficiency with an individual med kit can be just as life-saving as can proficiency with a firearm. Unfortunately, there has not been a great deal of emphasis on this vital component of training. It seems as though it has been the “missing link” in the shooting community. A quick internet search to look at the number of emergency medical courses available for shooters versus the number of shooting courses will tell the tale. But, playing “Devil’s Advocate”, “Is a medical course for shooters really necessary?” That question can be countered by several other questions.

What if that bullet happens to punch flesh and not paper? What if you were on the scene of a mass casualty incident? What if your partner got stung by a bee during routine surveillance? What if your child put their arm through a plate glass window while chasing a ball? What if you came upon the scene of a serious motor vehicle accident? What if you didn’t drink enough water on a hot training day practicing entries over and over?

Kerry-Davis-Dark-Angel-Medical-lecturing2

That’s a lot of what-if’s, but those what-if’s are no different in gravity than the what-if’s we train for on the range; the unexpected, the worst.

Basic emergency medical training should be a skill set which every shooter obtains prior to a basic firearms fundamentals class. It should cover the full spectrum of basic, lifesaving skills, not just gunshot wounds as not every casualty is the result of a bullet. Its importance cannot be emphasized enough. Like shooting, it’s a perishable skill.

Emergency medicine is as constantly evolving as firearms and tactics and we would serve ourselves and our community well by keeping our minds open. Newer, better and more efficient techniques designed to save lives are continually being developed. It is our responsibility to learn as much as possible and improve our skills both with our firearms and our first aid kits and practice with every given chance.

Once a life-threat maxresdefault ening encounter has passed, we are then faced with the task of attempting to fix with tourniquets, hemostatics and gauze what has been punctured by bullets or broken and torn by the ragged steel and shattered glass of a wrecked automobile. Proficiency through practice will increase our ability to emergently render first aid to ourselves or others in that type situation without freezing.

Ultimately, the long and short of honing our skills is quite simply, survival. Medical training, like firearms training, can improve our short-term survivability while we wait for law enforcement or EMS to arrive on scene. Proper training and, more importantly, proper mindset are keys to that survival. It makes us more self-sufficient and an asset to society rather than a liability.

Hopefully, we will never have to draw our firearm in self-defense, just as we may never have to employ our individual med kit to staunch the flow of blood. But, proper training in either modality is the key to a successful outcome

We must train for the worst that can happen before, during and, especially, after the gunfire.

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/02/12/the-missing-link/

We Remember

By

Keith Finch

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May 28, 2018

arlington — Every Memorial Day the Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) plant a flag in front of each grave marker in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. The flags represent our thanks for their service to our nation, the sacrifices they made and the blood they shed, regardless of their own backgrounds or faiths. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose A. Torres, Jr.)

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

On the last Monday of May we gather together in respect of the Honored Dead. The insurmountable debt the nation owes its fallen war fighters, most keenly felt by their surviving family and friends, was willingly and in a way gladly given by the fallen.

The hallowed ground of the Nation’s Veteran Cemeteries are filled with men and women who stood up and in many voices and with many words said one thing. “Here I am. Send Me.”

Chosen or Volunteer, they went forward to battle on behalf of a nation, of a people, who often take for granted the truly unique freedom we enjoy and are poor stewards of it at home.

They deserve better.

We must do better.

We can do better. Each and everyday.

So enjoy the beginning of summer. Spend time with your family. Relax and have fun.

Raise a glass. Give a moment of silence. Attend a service.

Remember Them…

The Honored Dead.

Sunday Sermon: Killed with Your Own Gun

By

Keith Finch

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May 27, 2018

The mindset of fighting is not honed overnight, nor through a single concealed carry class. The mindset is developed through continuous trial, error, and repetition. Until you can envision no other outcome but problem solving and it is second nature.

I’m not talking about the grandiose hero fantasy, article on that coming, but the realistic on the move problem solving necessary to survive.

Have you developed the will to fight. The will to act. The mindset to implement observation, action, observation, action, into an efficient and if necessary lethal response.

When speaking with someone you can gauge their actual preparedness by their responses. An unprepared person has an overly detailed response, it’s what they think you want to hear combined with a little action fantasy.

Prepared people give simple responses, fewest steps, minimized risks, maximum chances of success.

These people will, if they die, die with empty guns.

This is not a fanciful or bravos notion, but a mentality of problem solving.

LPVO: Sage Dynamics looks at the NX8

By

Keith Finch

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May 26, 2018

Low Power Variable Optics are the new optical hotness.

It’s an evolution that is taking place thanks to a jump in technology. Durability, size, weight, and power range have all jumped by at least a factor of two.

Nightforce has currently hit to the fences with their entries this year and Sage Dynamics has a good overview here of the NX8.

Despots-in-Waiting

By

Dr LateBloomer

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May 25, 2018

This week Lock and Load Radio posted a screen capture on their Facebook page. It was reportedly from Reddit. What you see here is a screen capture of the screen capture. You can find the original screen capture on Lock and Load Radio’s Facebook page, and the actual page on Reddit.

Granted it’s Reddit – which some folks would consider a cesspit of the Internet – but people there tend to say out loud what other people actually think but are afraid to say.

Read the whole thing carefully. Then do it again. The posters used the terms “Rednecks” and “yokels” to describe the millions upon millions of diverse American gun owners of many ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, ages, religious faiths (and no faith), sexual orientation, gender identification, profession, and even political party. After dehumanizing all of these American citizens with scornful pejoratives, the posters proceeded to wish violent death upon these law-abiding and Constitution-upholding citizens – at the hands of the “government”. The last poster even went so far as to admit that “dead rednecks” would not even make him lose his appetite.

WOW.

I’ll ask you to now re-read all of that again, but this time insert the name of any other group of people. Try “Jews” for instance, or “Blacks”. Did that open your eyes to how morally bankrupt these particular anti-gunners are? They are willing to condone mass-murder in order to achieve their political aims. If that doesn’t alarm and appall you – it should.

I will venture to speculate that it isn’t “just” these particular Reddit users who feel this way, either. As I said above, the users of that site tend to say out loud what other people are thinking but are afraid to say. Because I am not a hate-monger, I will not paint EVERY anti-gunner with the same brush as these “deplorable” excuses for human beings. But if even a small percentage of anti-gunners really feel this way, and are not just well-meaning but misguided, then the country is in deep deep trouble.

All of this reveals the slimy desire for control that percolates throughout the Gun Grabber Movement. “Do as I say – or else!” is their mantra. Government is not “OF the People, BY the People and FOR the People”, but a cudgel with which to bludgeon their political enemies into submission. The Constitution is merely an inconvenient wad of paper to them – a relic with which to wipe their asses on their way to Control Utopia. The past year of a new president has revealed these unhinged control freaks for what they really are — despots and genocidists-in-waiting.

The real irony is that these people are EXACTLY why the Second Amendment was written.

Molon Labe, Baby.

I was anti-gun until the day my family and I were almost killed by one, this is My Story

By

MASF

-

May 25, 2018

By: Roger Acuavera – MASF Member

1195004674377144942usa_maryland.svg.med I grew up in Oxon Hill, MD, a small town just outside Washington, DC. Growing up I had very little exposure to firearms. My dad owned a few, but he limited my exposure to them by just allowing me to gaze at them as he opened his locker. My big brother was a police officer and he actually took me shooting when I was 15 years old. I shot his Beretta 92, Smith & Wesson Shotgun, and Tanfoglio 9mm. For the first time I felt like I was growing up and I wasn’t going to be a kid much longer. I had a great time, but it didn’t spark a love affair with guns.

In March 1989, the big story of the day was the proposed ban on the importation of semi-auto assault rifles. By executive order, George Bush Sr. stopped the importation of about 43 specifically named rifles based mostly on their appearance. The outcry had all stemmed from a 1987 school yard shooting in Stockton, CA that left 5 children dead. I remember my parents and I were watching the news when the Stockton incident happened. Of course being 17 years old it really didn’t bother me much at the time, but I would later find that it would weigh heavily on my opinions on gun ownership.

That same year, Washington, DC chalked up 434 murders in the city- up from 369 just the year before. Keep in mind that gun ownership was, for the most part, banned in 1976 and DC is only about 9 square miles. At the time there was a 30 minute TV show on channel 5 that came on at 11pm each week day. It was dedicated to murders in and around the metropolitan area. It was called “City Under Siege”, and the reality was that it actually was. I used to joke that if there were no murders one night you could almost expect a few the following night. It’s like criminals were watching too and felt that they needed to make up for the lack of bodies the previous day. Many people called DC the “Wild, Wild West”. I remember witnessing a number of shootings and murders at clubs I hung out at: Triples, East Side, Chapter 3, and the RSVP. Exciting times these were. I saw some real crazy stuff back then and lost some very good friends.

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I guess I reacted to it all just like everyone else in a liberal area. I was convinced that “no one should be able to own a gun”. My anti-gun position was only strengthened one summer evening. My best friend and I were washing our cars at Sam’s Car Wash in Oxon Hill, MD. Loud car stereos were all the rage back then, which made us prime targets for the criminal. I can still hear the screech of tires and the two cars speeding into the parking lot where we were. Four armed men jumped out and demanded our car keys. I submitted and laid face down on the ground. To this day I could probably draw every nook, crack, and cranny of the concrete that lay just an inch from my face. I can still feel the pressure of the barrel being pressed against the back of my head. Thoughts raced through my mind at a thousand miles per minute. “How is being shot going to feel? Am I going to die today? Is it going to be quick? Is it going to hurt? What about my mom? She can’t bury another son. Not like this”. I probably imagined a thousand different outcomes in that very brief moment. Luckily for us all they did was take our cars. The police found the stripped cars the next day. The experience only reinforced my opinion that guns should be banned.

That fall I returned to Prince Georges Community College. I was always pretty quiet and shy growing up and I wanted to break out of that. I always admired people who could get up and speak in front of a full room so I forced myself to take Debate 101. Since I was far from being a natural speaker I figured I could learn to be a good speaker. Interestingly, the topic I would focus on that semester was gun control. I was horrible at arguing my points, but I did walk away with the framework I would later reflect on and change my life forever.

In 1991 I got married and we were living at City Line Towers in Suitland, MD. It was on the DC/MD line where Southern Ave and Suitland Rd meet. I was walking out of our apartment building with my wife and holding my 9 month old son in his car carrier. I don’t remember where we were going that day, but the events of that afternoon would forever alter my life. It was 3:00 pm on a bright sunny afternoon. I could see 30-40 people enjoying the day at the pool just 75 feet away. Suddenly I was surprised by an object being pressed hard into the right side of my back. Fr 24103_380946630348_5167660_n om behind me I could hear a voice demanding I give him my car keys. Shocked, I immediately placed my son on the ground and walked 20 more feet to my car. I just wanted him away from my wife and son. Once we were at the car I handed him my keys. He stepped into the car, started it, and drove off. It was over. I could breathe again. My heart could resume beating.

It’s difficult to explain the degree of how helpless, desperate, and powerless I felt. The first time I was robbed I only had to think about myself being in harm’s way. This second time, my family was involved, and that changed everything. The police arrived about an hour later. Not sure why it took so long. I guess there were more important things to tend to that day. They were there for about 30 minutes asking questions and that was it. Nothing ever came of it.

That night I made the decision to take my family’s safety into my own hands. I had remembered that there was a gun store on Beech Rd in Marlow Heights, MD called Free State Arms. I didn’t know much about guns aside from my brother taking me to
the range once or twice when I was younger. One thing I did know though was that you get what you pay for. The following day I visited Free State Arms. A man names Jay Brookings was the owner of the shop that was tucked away in a rundown industrial park. I purchased a Sig Sauer P228 pistol that day for $550.

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From that day forward I carried it with me, illegally, for approximately 5 or 6 years. The state of Maryland doesn’t trust its citizens enough to allow us to conceal carry a firearm legally. They still believe written laws and police are sufficient enough to protect us from harm. I can tell you from experience that they’re quite wrong. You cannot legislate the wickedness out of the hearts of men. So, that’s how it all started for me. I’m actually glad it all happened just the way it did. I learned some important lessons that I will pass on to my children.

You are responsible for your personal well-being as well as your family’s. Our Constitution is precious and should be guarded with your life. Don’t take our Freedoms and Liberties for granted. They are easy to lose, and far more difficult to reclaim.

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/02/15/i-was-anti-gun-until-the-day-my-family-and-i-were-almost-killed-by-one-this-is-my-story-2/

We Like Shooting 247 – It came in sideways

By

We Like Shooting

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May 24, 2018

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 247 – tonight we’ll talk about Polymer 80, Bushnell AR optic, Apex Triggers, Ben Stoeger and more!

WLS 247 – It came in sideways