After Action Review (AAR) MASF hosts Steve “Yeti” Fisher, Sentinel Concepts for Women’s Shotgun Home Defense Class at MASF HQ Range

May 7, 2018

By: Beverly Jedlinski aka Mrs. Jedi, Marketing, Social Media and Scheduling Director of Modern Samurai Project – MASF Member

Mrs. Jedi - Bev Jedlinski — Mrs. Jedi – Bev Jedlinski

Photos by: Bill Thomas of Triple Bravo

Class Overview:

At class time, I had held a shotgun exactly once, when Scott Jedlinski (Jedi) took me out to Baraka’s range a few weeks ago at the MASF compound to test out a few of our firearms, and I shot a few rounds with it. That was it. So the concept of walking into a class with the renowned Steve Fisher, whose name I had heard for years as being one of the preeminent firearms trainers in the country, came with a few uncertainties about being prepared.

Within minutes though, Steve’s larger than life and affable personality put everyone at ease, and his straightforward and practical training style set just the right tone for a class filled with novice ladies there to learn a new skill.

This inaugural Mothers / Wives Shotgun Home Defense Class was a private, by invitation only event that was the brainchild of Baraka James and his wife Kyung James. Kyung’s desire to learn to handle a shotgun on her own provided the impetus, and once Baraka mentioned the thought to his friend Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts, the class concept quickly fell into place to include close friends.

The introductory course’s primary objective was to familiarize students with their shotguns, ensuring a solid degree of comfort with operating one upon completion. Steve also wanted to remove “the great fallacies” and “big scary monster myths” about shotguns, which he quickly did. It was an intense day of theoretical study beginning in a home classroom setting, followed by practical application on the range.

To get the day started right, we enjoyed a relaxed, informal coffee gathering, and ended it with a delightful barbecue as Steve commandeered the grill and served up incredible steaks, and Kyung provided a delicious buffet. But the real work took place from 10 am to 4 pm as we moved into a classroom setting for individual introductions, and then Steve delved into the theory portion of the class. Most of the women were there for self-defense training, and I think I was the only one there more for the sport of it. As soon as we finished the lecture, everyone grabbed their gear and headed out to the range where the action began.

In Attendance:

11 female students, most having never worked with a shotgun prior to the class, took part in this unique opportunity for in-depth education in a smaller, more personal setting. Bill Thomas of Triple Bravo was on hand to capture an extensive photographic perspective of the day.

Event Logistics:

The one-day entry-level course was held at Baraka and Kyung James’ home and adjacent MASF outdoor range in Lovettsville. Eleven students and five helpful husbands worked together to carry equipment, guns and supplies; prep the range; staple targets; set up the canopy; clear the range and pack up. The heat and humidity were on, but everyone stayed focused, hydrated and attentive.

Class Breakdown:

The class covered a fairly comprehensive list of topics in just one day, including:

· Safety plan

· Medical brief

· Proper choice and placement of gear

· Different options and accessories

· Effective shooting stance

· Proper weapon grip

· Recoil control

· Sight alignment

· Sight picture using iron sights and electronic optics

· Use of body supported shooting positions

· Trigger control

· Speed reloads

· Tactical reloads

· Malfunctions of the shotgun

· Preferred shooting positions

Equipment:

Fairly simple equipment needs were required:

· Functional and practical shotgun chambered in 12 or 20 gauge

· Clothing suited for outdoor range use

· Hearing protection (electronic preferred)

· Wraparound style eye protection

· Baseball style hats recommended

· A minimum of 200 rounds birdshot #71/2-8, 10 rounds buckshot

Key Learnings:

· If we have ever heard that we just need to point and shoot a shotgun, forget it – that’s patently false. This was emphasized during a practical exercise toward the end with shotguns placed at our waist; just pointing and shooting resulted in wide misses, so we must aim for our target.

· We need to understand what the pattern of the shotgun is and it is also dependent on the type of ammo being used.

· Make sure our shotgun is loaded, properly stored and ready to go in case of need.

· Take away those “big scary monster myths” like recoil. Honestly, the recoil was far less than I expected and I think everyone found it less intimidating than previously thought. When I did not quite have my stance right, I felt it more; when my stance was on point, I had a great handle on it.

· While most shotgun confrontations end with two rounds fired, our shotguns should always be fully loaded and ready to go.

· Shotgun safeties differ widely and often have unergonomic positioning (while others have safeties only via the mechanics of the gun), so learn ours and get comfortable with them.

· The white light is for positive identification; we must see it first and identify it before engaging or acting on the potential threat. Bad guys like the dark and the bright white light will help buy us time and put them off guard.

· Do not challenge yourself with a shotgun sling which can be cumbersome in an emergency of home situation where timing is of the essence.

· It’s our gun and our responsibility.

· “Don’t do stupid stuff with your gun and stupid stuff won’t happen.” Roger that.

· “Guns are just tools – they are not empowering.”

· Once on the range, know where our med kit is – and always have a med kit.

· Muzzles up, pointed in a safe direction always.

· Targeting the face can often produce more immediate incapacitation (hitting the brain box, spinal column or blinding target) vs. shooting the heart. There is also a three-dimensionality factor that comes into play in that your threat is always moving.

· “Do not take the gunfight” to the space we want to protect (be it kids, spouse, other family members). While our immediate reaction might be to move toward our loved ones, do not go to that space unless the problem is there; the best thing we can do is move the threat in the opposite direction away from that area.· “No one is coming to save you.” We hear this all the time, but Steve drove home the truth. In the event of a home invasion, it may be up to us to save our lives and those of our loved ones. If there’s a widespread catastrophic event, the emergency systems and medical facilities might be overwhelmed (or even incapacitated should there be a terrorist incident).

Event Successes:

I went into this class with very realistic expectations. Was I perfect? Of course not, that would be weird. However, I was pretty darned pleased with my performance and my aim was quite good for a first-time effort. I also want to give a shout out to Leanna and Jimmy at F3 Tactical, Inc. for hooking me up with effective new EarPro; I have very sensitive hearing and it really made a big difference in me being able to concentrate and relax on the course.

Overall, the inaugural event was a great success for several key reasons:

· Launched a new class format for MASF

· Well planned and organized

· Everyone followed instructions provided in advance and arrived prepared

· Locally based event with little travel needed for participants

· Steve’s good-humored and reassuring training style put everyone at ease

· Fantastic sense of teamwork

· All the ladies left with a greater sense of knowledge, comfort and confidence

· New friendships were formed and existing ones were strengthened

Closing:In summary, it was a fantastic day for all! I feel very confident about what I took away from the course, and know that all the participants gained a great deal in one very thorough day. For me, I really took advantage of the opportunity to learn in an intimate setting and did my best to absorb everything that Steve told us and showed us. Now, I have to make sure I get regular practice to put that knowledge to work, smooth out the process, and become more of a natural at shotgun handling and shooting. Huge thanks to Baraka and Kyung for hosting us, to Steve for being the best and most fun instructor on the planet, and to my fellow participants for making it a great and memorable time for all!

-Bev
Bev and Steve Fisher - Women's Shotgun Class - 6-25-2016

Bev’s contact information below:

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/06/28/after-action-review-aar-of-mothers-wives-shotgun-home-defense-class-with-instructor-steve-yeti-fisher-of-sentinel-concepts-masf-modern-american-shooting-firearms-rang/

PISTOL GRIPS TO AVOID

A Girl and a Gun

May 7, 2018

When a shooter has a poor grip on her pistol, she may experience a malfunction or difficulty achieving target accuracy. The grips shown are not dangerous per se, but they are techniques to avoid. They are often seen in movies and typically reflect the lack of real firearms training.

Grips to avoid include:

Tea Cup
Low Grip
Non Trigger Finger Grip
Wrist Brace

A proper grip helps better manage recoil and muzzle rise, and helps a shooter with accuracy, speed, and retention. The hands should be as high on the gun as possible. The pistol should fit in the hand to be straight like an extension of the shooter’s arm. The support hand’s fingers should wrapped around the front of the strong hand, so that all four fingers overlay the three lower fingers of the strong hand. While the strong hand squeezes the pistol with front-to-rear pressure, the support hand clamps pressure from the sides. This gives 360-degree pressure on the pistol providing a stable grip.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/pistol-grips-avoid/

AG & AG ROADMAP NAVIGATES TRAINING JOURNEY

A Girl and a Gun

May 6, 2018

Congratulations! You have decided to become your own first responder, what now? The simple answer is that you need to go get trained up. The reality is not so simple; knowing where and how to get good training can be overwhelming, time consuming, and become very costly. The good news is it doesn’t have to be if you have a well-balanced training roadmap.

Just like a road map gives you driving directions from point A to point B, advises you on rest stops and roadblocks, and gives you an estimated time to our destination, a training roadmap can be your tools to navigate your journey of training. It guides you from an introduction to firearms, to gained confidence, being an informed consumer, and then long-term participation in the industry.

Your roadmap is guided by your willingness to:

Create a habit. Make a new normal, it takes repetition for several days to form a habit.
Master skills. Tune up your auto pilot, create muscle memory.
Make room in your budget. Allocate funds for formal training and quality gear.
Carve out time. Easily incorporate training every week, if not every day.

The majority of people cannot train with live-fire every day, even every week. Unless shooting is your full-time job, factors like finances, range availability, and time are all roadblocks. The circumstances are different for everyone, but you can take steps with a training roadmap to ensure that you maintain your skill sets, enjoy recreational shooting sports successfully, and be better prepared should the unthinkable happen where you need to defend your life or the life of a loved one.

Here are some of the practices and tools that you can use as part of the AG & AG roadmap to help you get you where you want to go:

Mindset
Physical ability
Live fire
Dry fire
Classes
Clinics
Matches
Supervised practice and coaching
Practice sessions
Recreational shooting
Virtual learning
Videos
Articles/Blogs

You can find ideas and resources for each of these through AG & AG. Some examples include:

A Girl & A Gun supports you throughout your journey. Whether you want to learn the basics of marksmanship or are looking for advanced skills, you will find support each step of the way.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/ag-ag-roadmap-navigates-training-journey/

NRAAM 2018, SATURDAY

Keith Finch

May 5, 2018

From the floor here in Dallas there’s a flurry of activity as vendors and member discuss the newest additions and classic renditions in their line up.

We’ve been live a few times on our Facebook page but most of the off screen conversations have shown us a very steady as she goes theme to this NRAAM.

One stand out is the campaign of Adam Kraut. Adam is looking to make the board and swing the organization back to a direction associated with full restoration of the constitutionally protected rights of the people.

More offline conversations show steady product development into custom fields by several previously mainstay entities and others polishing their items getting them ready for release.

IWI is closing in on dates for the Tavor 7, TS12, and X95 SBR

Zenith is launching several initiatives, one of the coolest by far is their own internal custom shop. Yes they do triggers.

The NRAAM has a feel this year about providing buyers what they are looking for, furthering the communication towards making that a faster process. I’m looking forward to how all that begins to shake out.

SHOOTING STEEL: SAFETY GUIDELINES

A Girl and a Gun

May 4, 2018

Shooting steel is fun! You hear the “ping!” when you hit the target, and can often save you time and money from shοoting paper targets. However, shοoting steel can be dangerous if you use the wrong caliber or shοot at the wrong distance.

Follow these six guidelines to stay safe:

1. Grade: Steel targets should have a Brinell hardness number (BHN) of at least AR500 or AR550.

2. Quality/Age: Do not use a steel target with any cratering, pitting, cracking, or an uneven surface because it can cause dangerous ricochets.

3. Distance: Shοoters should maintain a 15-yard minimum distance from steel with handguns, and a 100-yard minimum with rifles. Always check manufacturer’s guidelines.

4. Design: Quality steel targets are designed for predictable splatter. There are never any exposed bolts, clamps, or brackets on the shooting surface, and the target leans forward slightly to dissipate some of the bullet’s energy.

5. Caliber: Check manufacturer’s guidelines for approved uses. Some targets may be rated for rimfire or standard pistol calibers only. Others may be rated for specific rifle calibers.

6. Ammo: Never shοot green-tiρ or bi-metal bullets at steel.

When it comes to your safety, don’t settle for the advice of your local welder or do-it-yourselfer, who thinks he can fabricate a steel target for you. Shooting on poorly designed targets made of inferior steel can cause severe bodily harm.

Remember, at the range we are all Range Safety Officers. If you see something iffy or unsafe, speak up!

Steel targets are so much fun fun — and one of the greatest tools for firearms training and competition — if they are manufactured correctly. For more info, check out our AG & AG target sponsors: Red Stitch Targets, Gunfighter Targets, and Action Targets.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/shooting-steel/

Training classes are NOT, I repeat NOT making you a better shooter….GASP, what did he say?

MASF

May 4, 2018

By: Tim Herron of Team Sig Sauer, – MASF Member

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In my somewhat short time in the journey of pistol craft and the art of handgun shooting I’ve quickly noticed a pattern among a lot of folks who seem to be quick to ask questions or seek input or advice, or simply a yearning to share information on social media. As a whole, this is a great thing among the firearms community in general, right? I would agree that it is…to a point.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of bad advice and information that leans more toward horribly regurgitated third hand chatter, spoken by a huge and vast majority of members within the community that we all share, that is so narrow minded that most of what’s shared is really nothing more than terrible.

The close minded views of basically a lemming effect of people that have great potential, but refuse to open their eyes and think for themselves.

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I see and read from folks daily that love to hand out advice as if it were candy, yet don’t follow a lot of the same advice they so willingly give. We’ve come to refer to a lot of these people as “armchair experts”.

Unfortunately, the majority of these “experts” have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about and refuse to learn anything that could actually make them a better shooter or gun handler…let alone, teacher.

So I have decided to write a list of some of the most real advice I could give someone in hopes that something could be shared that really can make a difference:

1. Dryfire. It’s real. And it works. It also costs NOTHING but an investment of your time and the benefits are endless.

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2. Training classes are NOT, I repeat NOT making you a better shooter….GASP, what did he say? That’s right, taking a weekend class with your favorite instructor does not make you a better shooter. I don’t care if you take 10 classes a year. Taking a class does nothing more than give you ideas, theories and mental stimulus or “tools” for the proverbial “toolbox”. Improvement happens with purposeful and regimented practice wherein the tools you gain from those classes can be utilized toward a goal that is worked for. That’s how you make the training classes pay off.

3. Gear is not the answer. Ever. You can improve every aspect of your performance with the stuff you already have. It’s a guaranteed fact. Please stop with the constant “equipment race”.

4. Focus your practice on purposeful things. Things that really apply. Literal tons of repetitions both in dryfire and live fire and immense amount of PURPOSEFUL rounds down range. Learn how to practice and why. Context wins. I understand playing weekend warrior Army squadron is fun and I seriously don’t condemn it. However, (unless you’re putting your daily work or life is gearing up to kick doors or serve warrants) you’re deluding yourself if you think for a split second that has any context to your day to day reality. Again, think contextually. That’s the true stuff that will save your life.

5. Finally, stop with the delusions of self grandeur. Want to start truly improving? Quit BS’ing each other on the Internet and get your rear end to work. You don’t learn this stuff by osmosis. And you certainly don’t get better at any of this by repeating the baseless BS you read or heard some supposed “hardcore operator or competitor” say out of context to someone else 3rd person.

Self improvement takes hard work, dedication, discipline and open mindedness to always be learning and searching for more. ALWAYS. You can’t fool yourself or anyone else that you’re a student of the art if you’re only allowing yourself to stick to one thought, idea or mentality. That limits any and all growth.

I certainly hope some of this “advice” will help a few.

Until next time, train hard! – Tim Herron

Please follow Tim on Facebook here -> https://www.facebook.com/TimHerronShooting/?fref=ts

Tim is a married father of three from Independence, Mo. He started shooting pistols in 2010, quickly becoming involved in USPSA. He classified as C Class in Single Stack division with a 1911 that same year and within one year, moved to B Class. His skill set improved as he became more familiar with “how to shoot the game.” Tim achieved Master in Single Stack in October 2013, and Grand Master in August 2014. Along with shooting USPSA matches, Tim also shoots NRA Action Pistol events.

Tim is currently classified in four USPSA divisions:

Grandmaster-Singlestack
Master-Limited
Master-Production
Master-Limited 10

Here are some recent match results for Tim:

2015 Missouri State Single Stack Champion
2015 Illinois State Single Stack Champion
2015 Double Tap Single Stack Champion

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/07/17/training-classes-are-not-i-repeat-not-making-you-a-better-shooter-gasp-what-did-he-say/

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Dr LateBloomer

May 3, 2018

I had a ‘first experience’ while assisting with teaching an NRA Basic Pistol Class this past weekend. It taught me a lot about knowing what I don’t know. For that reason alone, I’m glad I agreed to do it.

For those who’ve never heard the odd phrase “I didn’t know what I didn’t know”, this refers to a novice or other non-expert in a field being unaware of their own knowledge gaps. Consider for example a new driver setting off on a first solo drive in the large family SUV, being unaware that a large vehicle on a windy day can be difficult to control during strong gusts. The young driver might be fine and never encounter a problem, thus giving him a false sense of security… OR a big weather front coming through might give him a few hair-raising seconds on the Interstate. They can’t teach you “everything” during a basic driver’s education course. Additional knowledge still has to come through experience and further study. The firearms learning curve isn’t much different.

I passed my NRA Instructor certification over a year ago, but have not tried to hold a class on my own, mostly because I still felt inadequately prepared. I felt my own knowledge gaps keenly. It turns out that I was correct in this self-assessment.

For this class I was more of an assistant-to-the-assistant, rather than “Instructor”, because I still had a bum post-op hand. There were a few more students than normal who had signed up for the class, and the husband/wife teaching team asked me to be another set of eyes and ears for them. I was happy to oblige. They brought all of their own AV equipment, handouts, demo guns, dummy rounds, targets, staple guns, real guns, real ammo, sandbags, extra eye and ear protection, folding tables, experience, patience and fortitude. I brought… myself.

Needing all of that gear alone showed me that I was not prepared to host my own classes yet. In addition to that, I discovered that I am more inexperienced with single action revolvers than I thought – particularly the idiosyncrasies of the borrowed one on the table – with which I was helping students to demonstrate their knowledge of loading dummy rounds.

Hopefully though, my inexperience provided a good example for the students. When I ran into a snag, I demonstrated that I was not afraid to raise my own hand as an “instructor” and ask the other instructors for help with the mechanics that we were having a problem with.

I’m not one to try to bluff my way through a situation. We physicians consult with other physicians all the time, so that mindset served me well. Recognizing ones own limitations is a critically important skill. In the cases of medicine and firearms, it can be a lifesaving skill as well.

Another area in which I found myself lacking was the ability to watch a student and then analyze inaccurate shots. Was it due to grip? Trigger slap? Anticipation? The student’s bifocals? A trigger pull that was too long/hard for the student’s hand strength? And was it the gun, ammo, or student technique that caused three stovepipe jams in a row? That analysis takes experience – experience which I do not yet have, but which hopefully can be gained with time.

In addition to my shortcomings I did also find out that I have strengths. This was a mixed class, but there were more women than men. The female students in particular seemed to respond well to my “style” of coaching and encouragement. That’s good to know. Sometimes I can be abrupt and curt, other times overly effusive. Whatever balance I struck that day seemed to be the right one.

I’m happy that it was a good experience for the students, because it certainly was an educational one for me. I hope I am asked to assist with future classes, because I know there is still more for me to learn about what I didn’t know that I don’t know. I suspect that this quest for knowledge and experience will be a lifelong pursuit.

Editor’s Note: 9 years into my own time as an instructor, and with thousands of students through my classes, I know more now than I ever have about shooting and am more proficient now than at any other time. I also know that the amount of knowledge I possess vs. the amount that exists continues to be a larger and larger disparity. For everything I learn I also learn of four things I don’t know yet, seriously a 1:4 ration of known vs. unknown. There is always someone who knows something you do not, period. Learn it, then learn the next item and the next.

Never fear being thought a novice, a novice learns. Fear being thought a fool, a fool learns nothing.

National Rifle Association Annual Meeting 2018: The Road to Dallas

Keith Finch

May 3, 2018

In case there was any doubt, doubt no longer.

GAT Daily will be boots (some cowboy) on the ground in Dallas Texas for the NRAAM ’18.

We will check in with the vendors and see a new sense of the industry and politics now a few months removed from SHOT and the product releases there.

What’s moving where?

Who is moving it there?

Who has new ideas?

And most importantly, who will next part me from my money for a product that I just cannot pass up.

Team GAT

FOLLOW THROUGH WHEN SHOOTING PISTOL

A Girl and a Gun

May 3, 2018

Follow-through occurs when you keep contact with the trigger between shots and only let the trigger release to the “reset position.” Do not allow the trigger to come forward after a shot any more than is needed to reset the trigger and get your sights back on target. As Lynn Givens of Rangemaster says, “The cycle of firing a shot does NOT end at “Bang!”; it ends when you are back on target, trigger is reset, the sights are realigned, and you are ready to fire again.”

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/follow-through/

We Like Shooting 241 – Recipe for White Cake

We Like Shooting

May 2, 2018

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 241 – tonight we’ll talk about WLS Colorado meetup, SBA3 pistol brace, Faxon, Desert Tech SRS A1, Liberty Doll and more!

WLS 241 – Recipe for White Cake

Grandma Gun: The Smith & Wesson .380 Shield EZ

Annette Evans

May 2, 2018

S&W .380 Shield EZ — The Smith & Wesson .380 Shield EZ - The Perfect Grandma Gun?

The Smith & Wesson .380 Shield EZ – Can a grandma with no experience learn how to use it?

There’s a target market for handguns I hadn’t considered thoughtfully until recently. Much of my shooting career has been focused on what I and people like me – young, fit, enthusiastic – can do with guns. With the advantages of average or better strength, the desire to master a new skill, and the time to spend practicing, gun choice was mostly a matter of preference.

But when Tamara Keel introduced me to the concept of a “grandma gun,” I immediately thought of Mom. She’s not “into guns” at all. Age has taken its toll and even her firmest handshake is a delicate squeeze. Shooting isn’t likely to be a hobby for her, so what would be appropriate if she decided she wanted to be able to defend herself with a gun?

What Are Qualifications of a Grandma Gun?

The “grandma gun” needs to be something that is easy to operate both in terms of simplicity and necessary strength and dexterity. It needs to be safe for people who might not have the time to completely engrain safety practices to the point where they are instinctive and natural. It needs to be shootable for someone who may be recoil-sensitive or won’t put in a lot of time to learn how manage recoil to be able to make follow-up shots. And it needs to shoot a caliber effective for self-defense.

Those criteria make common options like the classic J-Frame revolver or a simple .22lr pistol non-ideal for many cases. There’s no slide to rack on a revolver, but the heavy double-action trigger and snappy recoil can make it a difficult choice. A .22lr pistol may be easy to operate and shoot, but a larger caliber would be preferred if possible for the shooter. So what to do?

When Smith & Wesson announced the .380 Shield EZ, my grandma gun-hunting ears perked and I requested one for review. There are several modern .380 loadings that are capable for self-defense, particularly out of longer barrels like that on the Shield EZ. Its size seemed to be an excellent compromise between being small enough for petite hands and big enough to soak up recoil. But would the grip and thumb safeties work as I hoped? Would Mom be able to run the slide?

Yes, the .380 Shield EZ Series is Easy to Use

See, Mom’s never shot a gun before. In test of instructor and gun, I was going to take just a few hours on the range to see if she could get to the point where she would be safe and feel comfortable enough with the Shield EZ for it to be a viable option for self-defense.

Spoiler alert: it worked out great.

After just an hour in the classroom, racking the S&W .380 Shield EZ was easy for this grandma.

As in any introductory lesson, we started with safety. Mom picked up on the four rules quickly. When we moved on to actually handling the gun, it was immediately obvious that it felt good in her hands – not too big, not too small. The Shield EZ isn’t a brick that’s hard to wrap small hands around, and yet it’s large enough that there’s somewhere for both hands to go while still being able to easily reach the controls.

Many of the thumb safeties I’ve worked with new shooters on are difficult to operate because of size or how hard they are to move. We didn’t have any of those problems with the Shield EZ. In fact, Mom preferred using her shooting hand thumb to flick it on and off. She also found it a reasonable size to ride her thumb on top of the safety while shooting.

The grip safety was nearly a non-issue. It was easy to depress, requiring about the same amount of effort as needed to simply shoot the gun, and didn’t feel out of place. We did have some learning curve on what pressure was needed, but I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly Mom had it working reliably (read: almost immediately once we got to live fire).

Racking the slide? Good technique helped, but it was still easier and more pleasant than the full-size and micro carry guns I had her try. She didn’t need any coaching on slide racking by the end of the day. On our way off the range, Mom told me that an hour of dry fire over a few days would get her completely comfortable with the process.

Most importantly, from a shooting perspective, she thought it was fun and I thought her accuracy was quite good: almost all hits in the A-zone of a USPSA target at three yards. It was clearly enjoyable to shoot, for both of us.

Mom’s not ready to go get her own gun yet, but I think I’m going to keep the Shield EZ around for her and others like her.

*Post updated on November 14, 2023 for current product listing on S&W

4 FACTORS OF A CONCEALED CARRY GUN

A Girl and a Gun

May 2, 2018

When selecting a firearm for concealed carry that you will depend your life upon, there are four very important factors to consider.

Reliability. Your gun must work each and every time you reach for it. This means your gun must be of good craftsmanship (you get what you pay for) and remember KISS – Keep It Simple Sister. Don’t go crazy with custom upgrades, except night sights.

Effective Stopping Power. Your intent is to STOP someone who is actively trying to kill, cripple, or rape you. There is debate within the industry of the minimum caliber that you should carry as a primary gun, whether .380 or 9 mm, which is a separate conversation. Regardless, you must consider the various barriers, such as seasonal clothing that needs to be penetrated and distances/accuracy.

Wearability. You must be able to carry your gun open or concealed on your person throughout your daily routine. Select a gun that is the correct size and weight related to the size of your body frame and/or ability to carry extra weight. If you intend to purse carry as your primary option, adding a big ol’ gun to your already heavy bag is not really an appealing idea. This is a lifestyle choice and if your gun does not fit your wardrobe or body frame you are less likely to have it with you everyday. If you don’t have it with you when you need it, how can it help you?

User Friendliness. The gun you choose to potentially save your life someday must make sense to you. It must be designed to use quickly and efficiently AND complement your muscle memory. In other words, if you choose a gun with no external safeties your training should really emphasize trigger finger discipline when drawing from the holster. If you choose a gun with an external safety, then your training should include drawing from the holster and sweeping the safety. Safeties and other controls must be designed so you can operate them efficiently without having to change your strong-hand grip.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/4-factors-concealed-carry-gun/

BREAKING: Savage Arms and Stevens Will Need New Homes as VISTA OUTDOORS Eyes Dropping Firearms Brands

Keith Finch

May 2, 2018

Since the Parkland shooting we’ve seen several large outdoor oriented companies shift their businesses away from the firearms market.

Vista Outdoor is the latest.

From CNN Money

“Vista Outdoor is exploring strategic alternatives, which include potentially divesting the remaining Sports Protection brands, Savage/Stevens firearms, and Jimmy Styks [paddle boards,]” said the company, in a statement provided to CNNMoney. “We will begin the process immediately, but will take the time necessary to make prudent decisions.”

Savage recently got into the AR-15 and AR-10 line ups and while already well know for its high value bolt rifles and .22’s losing its connection to the massive Vista umbrella network could greatly diminish their ability and options to produce.

Stevens and their value shotgun line are in largely the same boat.

Vista is not just considering dropping firearms from their line up and they aren’t divesting themselves from the industry with an extensive line of optics, ammunition, and accessories still in their brand portfolio but cutting Savage and Stevens after so much pressure was exerted on companies to do so cannot help but look like capitulation or outright agreement.

Famously Dick’s dicked the dog by stopping AR sales and symbolically destroying their remaining inventory like a petulant child breaking their own toys. This was allegedly to keep these rifles out of the hands of killers.

With NRAAM this weekend and their stock taking a 15% hit after the news released we will see how Vista weathers this choice. Is it politics? Or legitimately ‘just business’. With the bare shelves I’m still seeing at local gun stores the MSR-15’s have plenty of easy homes so… we will see.

Zippo USB Rechargeable Hand Warmer

Dr LateBloomer

May 1, 2018

It’s no great secret that women in my demographic do not like to be cold. But many great hunting opportunities happen during the colder parts of the year. Thus, if we want to get more women afield and be sure they come back for more, it behooves us to make sure that our new recruits are warm and comfortable while they’re out there.

Chemical disposable hand warmers take awhile to heat up, and then contribute to the waste stream when their heat is exhausted. Their only advantage is that they are low cost and lightweight.

Reusable chemical hand warmers last only an hour or two, and then need to be boiled in order to recharge. They are effective (while they last) and reusable, but cumbersome.

There are also reusable hand warmers that burn lighter fluid fuel. People who are used to carrying lighters around may not be bothered by the flammable aspect, but I personally am not a fan of carrying anything in my clothing containing a flammable fuel. I’m just odd like that.

All of the above options “work”, but they aren’t really an ideal solution for my own needs. Enter the USB rechargeable handwarmer by Zippo.

I first saw this answer to my frigid finger prayers at SHOT Show 2018, and was determined to have one to try for myself. Zippo kindly obliged me, and I have not been disappointed.

This handy warmer provides long-lasting, portable and rechargeable warmth for hands or even down a sports bra to keep your core warm. The heat has five adjustable settings and reaches a max of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

This electronic wonder generates six hours of adjustable-intensity heat, on a USB charge that takes 1-2 hours. As an added “in case of emergency” bonus, the hand warmer may also be used as a power bank to recharge a cell phone. In a situation where you may be stranded in the outdoors and need a phone signal to reach help, or for searchers to find you via GPS phone location, this feature could be a lifesaver.

I took this clever gadget to an outdoor basic pistol class I was assisting with, and it kept not only my trigger finger, but all my fingers nice and toasty. It was also popular with some of the other participants who needed a quick warm-up.

I have even used the Zippo USB hand warmer in my office. Yes, things get drafty at my desk. I keep an office sweater in my bottom desk drawer even in the summer. I have been known to warm my hands around a hot mug of tea, or over the exhaust vent of my laptop – even in July. So this little electronic wonder has been a welcome addition to my thermal arsenal.

If you are looking for a gift idea for a lady hunter, or a lady who might turn into a hunter if she were warm enough, or even your favorite shivering female office worker, be sure to check out the Zippo USB hand warmer. You don’t have to wait until fall either, because as many women office workers know, summer is “women’s winter” – and it’s coming.

Catastrophic failure… loading .300 Blackout ammo into a .223 REM/5.56x45mm gun

MASF

May 1, 2018

By: Carlos Santillan – MASF Member

– Background:

I was at a friend’s home to try out his .30 cal suppressor on my SBR. I have the same make and model suppressor waiting on the approval of my Form 4 (about 2-months to go). My friend had just obtained a relatively new 10.5″ upper that came with an Aimpoint T2 for a decent price. When I found out that his whole family was going to be home and he was firing up the BBQ grill, I offered to bring my (registered) select fire AR and .22LR sub-caliber device for them to shoot. After I let the whole family, plus one of the sons’ friends, run 325-rounds of .22 LR ammo, we recovered back to the patio where I got to test out his .30-cal can on my 10.5″ 5.56 SBR.

– Situation:
After I was done, my friends’ youngest wanted to do some shooting with him. So I stood back while his son shot a suppressed M&P-15-22 at some water bottles filled with colored water. Once the youngest got tired (or frustrated?), my buddy decided to give his new upper a try while suppressed. As I was removing his (still hot) .30-cal suppressor from my SBR, his oldest son, a very hard-headed, 18-year old, recent HS graduate, know-it-all with an attitude, came out of the house and “declared” that he wanted to shoot the new gun (MISTAKE #2) (I will mention MISTAKE #1 later). He put on a set of ear muffs, picked up the rifle, grabbed a loaded magazine off the table and abruptly asked his Dad if he had the right “bullets” (MISTAKE #3). My friend quickly looked at them and nodded yes (MISTAKE #4). I observed the rounds loaded in the mag had red ballistic tips and was wondering why he was shooting those instead of FMJs (MISTAKE #5 – mea culpa).

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My buddy and his son went to the established firing point and his son loaded the rifle without waiting for any command (MISTAKE #6). He took aim at the target and BOOM!! A huge ball of smoke engulfed the rifle and I observed pieces flying away from the gun. When I took a closer look at what hit the patio floor, I recognized parts and pieces of the gun and its magazine. I informed my friend that the gun had just blown up. He gave me that “I don’t believe you” look and they dropped the magazine (a windowed PMag) and tried to unlock the frozen action.

As I was watching them struggle with the rifle, I glanced down and noticed that one of the items that hit the ground was a piece of brass that looked kinda odd. I reached down and picked it up and realized what MISTAKE #1 was – the magazine his son picked up was loaded with .300 Blackout ammo!! I had not realized that my friend had brought out his .300 Blackout AR and placed it on the same table as the 5.56 ARs. In his son’s rush to do things his way now, and his Dad’s decision to let him get away with it just to avoid a confrontation, nobody had the opportunity to do establish and follow the proper procedures thus resulting in a catastrophic failure of a new upper receiver and some (fortunately) minor injury.

– LESSONS LEARNED:
MISTAKE #1 – Segregate and clearly mark your different calibers before you get on the firing line. This is especially important between “related” calibers like the .300 Blackout and the .223 REM/5.56x45mm. As in this case, the .300 Blackout will chamber in a 5.56 – once. The same should go with the corresponding rifles. Consider dedicating your AR mags to a particular caliber and marking them accordingly. Mark all the magazines you plan on using for anything but a 5.56 AR. I personally like to use either red or yellow electric tape so that I can easily tell at a glance that the magazine is not meant for my 5.56 AR; I use a marker on both sides to write the actual caliber. The same goes with other calibers (.308/7.62 vs 6.5 Creedmoor). Wal Mart sells those plastic “.30 Cal” ammo cans for about $5.00. Dedicate one for each specific caliber and also make sure you mark them accordingly.

MISTAKE #2 – Just because you have given up on disciplining your “adult” child, it doesn’t mean you should not keep them in line, especially on the firing line. Don’t be afraid to tell anyone to hold off and step back until you can properly organize yourself and the range. The firing line is not the place to be a “nice guy”. I would rather share the line with a safe asshole, than someone unsafe.

MISTAKE #3 – If I were running the line I would have had the kid put down the rifle and magazine and have him step back until I was good and ready to deal with him. I have run into this very situation when running a range with to two dozen shooters, or more, vying for their turn to use a particular barricade or shoot at a particular target. I’ve actually stopped the whole line and explained to everyone that we are all going to take a timeout and had them all unload and ground their guns while we did. I took the opportunity to cite unsafe practices and attitudes. There is no reason to be rushing anything at the firing line.

MISTAKE #4 – When it comes to verifying the correct caliber being loaded into the correct firearm, take the time to really check. Even if you segregate and mark the magazines and ammunition as suggested above. Someone could easily make a mistake and mix up your organization.

MISTAKE #5 – I should have questioned if he meant to shoot what is obviously ballistic tips (which he uses to deal with raccoons, foxes and coyotes that go after his chickens) versus FMJs that he uses for training. This might have given him pause to more closely inspect them in detail and could have prevented the mishap.

MISTAKE #6 – Unless I give a shooter to load and engage at their leisure, I have been known to stop someone, have them unload and make clear, and have them wait until I am clear on what their intentions are. When I was letting the family shoot F/A, I maintained positive control of each and every magazine that was inserted into that gun. It didn’t matter that they could never have loaded any other caliber since the only source was a can of Federal .22 LR that I supplied. Even with the younger son, I took physical control of the magazine and inspected it before I let him load it into my gun.

– ADDITIONAL LESSON: I have never had the urge to purchase a rifle that was chambered for the .300 Blackout. Once in a while, I’ll come across one that is selling for a song and the “Good Idea Fairy” will make an appearance. But then I realize that I really have no need for one and would rather not another caliber to my collection. After this experience, the chances of me doing so is even less.

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I hope this helps someone down the line. Stay safe!!

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in the Philippines under Martial Law, Carlos Santillan first immigrated to the West Coast of Canada where he purchased his very first firearm, a Charter Arms AR-7 .22LR pistol. Carlos eventually moved to Baltimore where he applied for and became a Resident Alien. Three days after receiving his Green Card, Carlos enlisted into the US Army as an Infantryman with the Airborne School option. He first served as an Indirect-Fire Infantryman in an Armor Battalion; spending the last 26-months of his 4-year enlistment as an Arctic Paratrooper.

Upon receiving his Honorable Discharge, Carlos transferred to the MD-ARNG where he eventually completed the State Officer Candidate School (OCS) program and was commissioned as an Aviation Officer. After rotary wing flight training, he was assigned as the Aeroscout Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in an Attack Helicopter Battalion, along with the additional duty as the Battalion Marksmanship Officer.

After 8-years of service in the Army National Guard, Carlos transferred into the Inactive National Guard and subsequently the Inactive Ready Reserve. Eventually joining the US Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs Officer, served for 4-years in various positions, eventually leaving the military after almost 30-years of combined service in 2013.

In addition to his military service, Carlos spent 9-years as a Volunteer Deputy and more than 15-years volunteering as an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor at his gun club. He also founded and, up until his decline in health, ran that club’s Tactical Shooters Group – a group of more than 60 shooters who prefer to conduct tactically-oriented drills. Carlos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems Management and an MBA in Information Security.

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SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/07/27/catastrophic-failure-loading-300-blackout-ammo-into-a-223-rem5-56x45mm-gun/

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