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SAFE STORAGE OPTIONS FOR NEW (AND NOT SO NEW) GUN OWNERS

One of the first questions I asked myself when I bought my first firearm, seven years ago was, “How am I going to store this thing safely when I’m not using it?”

My children were not small anymore at that time, but I was still concerned about unauthorized access – whether during a burglary or simply a teenage slumber party.

My choices were somewhat limited at the time. The cheap push button safe that I purchased served the purpose when I needed it, but it is probably not what I would choose were I starting over again today. Why? Because there are so many better options now than there were even seven years ago.

My recent trip to SHOT Show afforded the opportunity to investigate the wide array of safe storage and quick access options that are available for today’s first time gun owners.  I limited my search to smaller options, thinking that if you already had or could buy a large floor model safe, then you probably weren’t a first-timer.

While I was looking, I imagined myself as perhaps a young single mother in a rented apartment, who had limited options for space or renovations, and I narrowed the search accordingly. If you don’t live in a home with small children, you don’t have quite as many safety worries, and you’ve got more options, so I adopted the perspective of this more difficult demographic.

Presented here is just a small selection of what I found. The categories break down roughly as hiding places, lock boxes, and true small safes. There is also a separate category for newer long gun security.

Bear in mind as you read this, that I am no security expert. I am only offering advice based on personal experience, having been down this road myself, as I would to any of my girlfriends. If you are the nervous, litigious sort, you should probably consult a professional security company, and a lawyer, depending on your state and local firearm laws.

Hiding Places

First, there are the “Hiding in plain sight” options. While not as physically secure as a steel safe, these offer easy accessibility and concealment/camouflage in your home environment. These would need to be used with extreme care in households with small children, as they either have no actual locks, or are easily unlocked with a magnet or RFID device. If your kids can figure out where you hide the Christmas gifts, they probably also know where you hide the guns, AND where you hide the key/magnet/RFID device. Use these options with extreme care please – your kids are smarter, stronger, more agile, and more observant than you think.

Several companies offer options like this. The ones I saw at SHOT were a Clock, a shelf and a mirror by Tactical Walls/ and a false air vent by QuickSafes.

For actual secure storage and not just concealment, you need to step up to the steel lock boxes and “pistol vaults”. The steel lock box options are vast, and available from many different companies. The smallest of them fit a small pistol and extra magazine, and come with a cable to secure the box to a car seat frame, a bed frame, a metal desk or filing cabinet drawer with holes in it, or even a sink drain pipe in a hotel room. While this is the cheapest option, drawbacks include limited storage space, thin cables that could be cut, and keys that could be lost or not readily available when you need them. These type boxes are meant to deter inquisitive little fingers and the idly curious. They won’t stop a determined thief, and won’t be the quickest access when you need your gun NOW.

Lock Boxes

A step up in the lockbox category (and for more money) are the touch combination type pistol vaults. Big advantage here is there are no keys to lose, so there is less fumbling in an emergency. They do come with back-up keys though, in case you forget the combo or the battery dies. These models are still small enough to fit under a car seat or in a drawer, and secure with a sturdier cable, so your handgun is locked up, but still quickly available if you have to put it away to go into the school or courthouse.

A further step up in this category is the fingerprint recognition type pistol vault. This is the kind I currently have in my car. I don’t even have to remember a combo when my brain is spinning – I push a button and swipe a finger. The model I have stores many different iterations of several fingers, in case one hand is incapacitated or the finger swipe is at an odd angle.

I have even flown with this model as my “hard sided pistol case” in my suitcase. The cable can be secured around the inside ribs of the suitcase, and since my fingerprint is the “key”, TSA can’t demand the keys to open it away from my physical presence.

Small Safes

True small safes are the better bet for home use, as they hold more of your guns/valuables, and tend to be more durable/secure. Portability is what you don’t want in this category – you want to make it as difficult as possible for a burglar or other unauthorized person to gain access. You want screw holes and ways to bolt or screw the safe down – either to the closet floor, or the inside of a kitchen cupboard or heavy piece of furniture. This especially important if you live in an apartment, and can’t put permanent holes in anything. If you have a dining room hutch or entertainment center that belongs to you, you can try screwing a small safe to a (non-removable) shelf, or an inside divider. It would take a fairly determined thief to take the time to either pry the safe loose, or drag out the entire piece of furniture. Nothing is a sure bet though when it comes to criminals  (or small children for that matter) so use your best judgement here.

I had the thought while I was looking at some of these larger models that they might even fit an entire purse inside. While I am not a purse carrier as a rule, many women are, and as a pediatrician I worry about kids and purse-gun access. I was thinking that one of these larger models with fingerprint access, installed in an upper cupboard, could be a great place to just stick the whole purse when you get home. This would reduce handling the pistol so much to get it in and out of the purse, and would also keep the kids out of your lipstick, checkbook, and medication. What do you think?

Companies I visited  at SHOT offering all of the above were:

Long-Gun Security

A newer category in the market is designed to appeal to those who prefer a long gun for home defense. A tactical shotgun or AR will obviously not fit into a quick access pistol vault, so the market has been developing alternatives. What I saw at SHOT were various iterations of a wall-mounted locking bracket. In an apartment, you could probably mount it inside a free-standing wardrobe or something, so as not to mar walls that don’t belong to you. The two of these that I looked at were from  SHOTLOCK and BoomDock

Alternatively, SecureIt has a bed frame mounted long gun safe, called the Fast Box which is a viable option, and SnapSafe has a cable-secured under-bed long gun safe as well. Neither of these last two options would require you to put holes in your apartment in order to securely mount them, but would still offer rapid access to your long gun in an emergency.

Many of the safe storage options listed here are available from your local gun shop or sporting goods store. An even wider selection can be had through online sources such as Amazon. Sadly, the days of your grandfather’s glass front walnut gun cabinet are pretty much over. With the wide array of options on the market today, there really is no excuse to not have secure firearms storage available to meet your needs. There are many options to meet many requirements and price points. If you are a woman looking to get into self-defense and the shooting sports, worries about safe storage should not be the thing that stops you. Happy Shopping and Happy Shooting!

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/safe-storage-options-for-new-and-not-so-new-gun-owners/

Dealing with opposing views on firearms with a significant other

By: Eric Cotter, Field Editor – MASF Member

Originally Published in MASF Quarterly Online Magazine Fall 2015 issue

For most the idea of being with someone that has such a different view on firearms in general is absurd or even 100% off limits for some. With most topics there will always be disagreements on various subjects from religion to money, guns to coffee, and pizza to bacon. Sticking with your guns on a topic is what makes us individuals and free thinking beings, but what if it someone you love dearly and their opposing views on such a die-hard subject as the right to bear arms? With everything in life there will be compromise, but where do we draw the line? This goes back to being an individual and you personally deciding on where the line in the sand is with your beliefs.406114_513777421977846_85222890_n

Before I go much further I guess I should start by stating that have been through this very situation. I lived with this for many years and let me tell you, it’s not easy at all. Arguments would range from why I needed to actually train with a firearm to why a box of steel cased 9mm had to be $11/box and why I needed more than one box at a time. Basically, everything was a potential argument waiting to happen so choosing your fights become a rather crucial detail.

I was married at the age of 21 and wasn’t the avid 2A guy I am today, so it wasn’t like I mentioned above for my entire marriage. As we got older and our views on certain things changed it became apparent that my spouse and I didn’t really agree on some rather important issues. I didn’t need a rifle, the police have them and that’s good enough…..right? There is nothing that I can’t handle with my Remington 870 and my Glock 19, so why on earth would I need more? Why would I need to actually carry a gun after I took the CCW course? Why do you need more than 100 rounds of ammunition? You aren’t a soldier Eric, you don’t need this or that. I can go on but I think that I’ve laid the foundation of what I was dealing with and maybe some of you are dealing with at this moment. How do you deal with these issues and keep your relationship in tact? It takes compromise and a LOT of patience. My advice is based off my own trial and error in wanting to continue in being with my wife, so this will really only apply to those that want to still be in a relationship such as mine.

Having gone thrDulles Case Centerough all of that, here’s MY advice on how to continue in a relationship with someone that might not fully agree with your stance on guns. Since money seems to be where most relationship issues originate that’s a great place to start. These situations will obviously vary from couple to couple. And so it begins…

If you are wanting to purchase anything firearms related always remember that the other person doesn’t see the value in an item the way that you do. Your $15 box of ammo is their shoes on sale, so in their mind your ammo is a waste because it could be gone in seconds unlike their shoes which they say will be worn for years….but then stay in the box and eventually get thrown away. Using the “It’s such a good deal I couldn’t afford not to buy it” ploy doesn’t work in any case with guns, trust me.
Great Lakes AmmoDo your best to explain exactly why you are buying what you are buying and the purpose to you that it has. Even though it sucks, explaining your purchases gives you credibility and also helps with communication…which I hear is important. Everything you buy should have a legitimate purpose in their eyes, so this isn’t really a hard one to follow once you get the hang of it. That goes both ways too. Your significant other’s purchases, for whatever they are getting, should serve a purpose and remind them of that kindly when they start to give you crap because you are buying targets to train with…..giant 3D zombie ones that bleed.

10407713_915010098521241_1987853910528096326_nThe mother of all argument starters is the purchase of a new gun for whatever reason it may be needed for. Personally, I like all of my guns to have a purpose. I don’t want a safe full of trophies to brag to my buddies about even though I can’t use 5 of them properly. “You shouldn’t fear the man that has trained with 10,000 guns once, you fear the man that has trained with one gun 10,000 times bro” -Gandhi. Be proficient with what you have before you try and add another weapon to your arsenal just for kicks and giggles, seems legit. Find your balance between “want” and “need” and work within those parameters. To some this may sound like being a doormat to someone, but if you want to keep a strong relationship you may have to give up the idea of buying your dream Barrett M107 .50 to blow squirrels off of your baby blue birdfeeders for a month or forever. Be sure and talk about why you need certain things without making it seem like you are talking down to them.

12036382_1014600201895563_7145529357387795608_nMe talking guns to my wife was like her trying to explain the differences between Boho Chic fashion and Grunge design. Smile and nod, smile and nod. Keeping that in mind, you showing interest in their purchases for something they have passion for may just help you out in the long run with your purchases of a new boomstick when that time comes. Who’s ready for some politics of the whole situation?

In my situation this was the make or break point. Politics is a one of the main issues that that makes up the four corners of your relationship’s foundation. In my mind the four main issues are as follows in the fancy list I have supplied below:

• Religious belief

• Financial goals and views

• Political stance

• Appearance

Sorry, I don’t know anyone that wants to start a new race of super viking ninja warriors with an ugly person….that’s a fact. Anyways, politics are a touchy subject with those that are staunch supporters of the 2nd Amendment since it’s kind of our rights and stuff like that. This is where that line in the sand I mentioned before really comes in to play. The time that it hit the hardest in my life was when James Yeager made the famous YouTube video stating that he would take the first shot if it came down to him vs whomever came to take his guns. I mean, we all feel that strongly about our RIGHT to bear arms, right? This started a rather heated argument because I said that I would be willing to die defending my right to bear arms if it came down to the government wanting to seize weapons from citizens. That lead to me being called an idiot and then a small war broke out. After that something major like that happens you tend to do some more soul searching into whether you believe what you do believe or whether or not it was a relationship ender. My belief was that I have the right to own an “assault rifle” and my significant other’s view was that the cops have them and I don’t need one since I have a tactical Remington 870 megashottyblaster.

At this point compromise isn’t as easy to swallow as only buying 100 rounds of ammo instead of the 500 you really wanted. This is something our forefathers and military have died giving and protecting or freedom, right and duty to defend ourselves. Rather a huge deal in my eyes, especially when you realize that our rights are written on paper with the blood of men and women in our military. Now that the severity of this subject is clear, what do you do in this case10704032_846542812034637_7480100529087323127_n? Do your best not to lash out and call out to your sweetheart that they are literally dumber than a box of rocks that don’t like to eat pizza by the truckload. If you do do that, their defenses will go up and most times may never come down since they will immediately feel like you are belittling them for their views on a subject. Try and reverse the situation and use that to figure out a way to explain to them the rights that we have as free Americans. Trying
to force someone to fall in love with you doesn’t work. Trust me, if it did Brad Pitt wouldn’t be with my Angelina right now. I still love you Angie, come back to me.

This whole situation will vary from couple to couple, so will the results. I pray that over time you can continue in your relationship and slowly guide your other half to seeing the light when it comes to your right to bear arms. The other issues I mentioned above are mostly money driven issues since the value that they see in your purchases are little to zilch. It’s not about what the actual value of something is, it’s about what others believe the value of said object is. Since the issue of politics is an explosive one it will either explode in your face and leave your relationship in tatters or the fuse will slowly burn down to the time when it will explode. Hopefully, you can defuse it before it blows your world apart and leave you in the fetal position crying in a shower in a cheap hotel yelling “Why God, why me?”.

I hop1978653_866964136659171_9121161819853302825_ne that my ramblings have helped someone out there and given them some insight into a tough situation. What happened to my marriage you ask? Well, not long after all of that went down we decided to separate for other reasons. Live and learn and I hope none of you have to go through a separation because of these issues. Live and learn, that’s the only way to not suck at life.

 

Stay safe, Eric Cotter
Just a regular dude trying to leave his mark on the world.
Instagram: @THE_KODDER

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/03/06/dealing-with-opposing-views-on-firearms-with-a-significant-other/

A LOOK AT THE NEW NORM

Our friend Sandi at OffHand Gear has done it again. She’s created a thoughtful, unique, quality shooting product. The new NORM (No Ordinary Range Mat) is not like the range mats you have seen around. Her long-range precision shooting mat has a fan-fold style closing (no more edges curling up on you), is long, wide and completely padded (who wants to feel all those branches and rocks), a bi-pod stop which also doubles as a carry handle or use the ambidextrous sling for easy carrying. NORM is light and features a velcro style loop fabric surface on the top 2 panels (30″). Why, the loop fabric? One, it is softer than traditional canvas type materials making it more comfortable. Coming soon is also a line of accessories that will have the hook side sewn onto them that make you able to attach them to the mat, keeping your accessories in place. The OffHand Gear range mat is one that changes how you look at a range mat, it makes sense, works and is built in America ready to handle the abuse of constant range time.

We met up with Sandi to ask her about her inspiration for this innovative new product:

What’s the story behind your new shooting mat?

Sandi: In Feb of 2016 I was invited to go out to the range with a group of pro long range shooters. I hadn’t shot long range before but was defiantly interested in it. Once everything was set up the line was amazing! A dozen or so beautiful rifles set up all in a row, all different calibers and styles. Each with it’s own mat and set up ready to go down the line and try them. I noticed right away that many of the mats were curling up on the end, some people were part way off of and thought “wow, these guys have the newest, best equipment but those mats, what’s up with that?” Long story short, I fell in love with long range shooting, got myself a newbie rifle and started to acquire gear. Didn’t need a lot but a mat of course was gong to rank up there with a case for my rifle. I just couldn’t find a mat that had the features I was looking for. Why wasn’t someone making a “different” mat? Why is everyone making the same basic mat? So as I have done before, I hit the drawing board. I made a list of what I did or didn’t want and started building my own, and now I think I have a great addition to the OffHand Gear brand of products.

What makes NORM different from other mats?

Sandi: At first NORM may not look very different, but I believe it has a quite a bit more features then anything else out there. For starters, It’s a nice size 75” long and 44” wide at widest point (32” at smallest). NORM has padding that might not look like much but it is a dense, light weight pad and gives your knees cushion as you set down and keeps those pesky rocks and branches from being so pokey, the padding runs the full length of the mat and the wings, if your elbows are going to be there, that’s an important spot to have some padding in my opinion. One of the more unique features in NORM is the loop side of “hook & loop” fabric, it covers the top 30” of the mat. This fabric serves 2 purposes. One, to be a softer fabric for elbows to rest on and also to hold accessories like a spent brass bag, data book or rear bag in place. Yes, these accessories will also be available as part of the series. Another very unique feature to NORM is the handle. While it serves as a means to carry its first purpose in the design is as a bi-pod stop. You put your bi-pod legs in there and while you are pushing forward your rifle stays put instead of sliding in the rocks, sand or grass. For carrying, there is also an adjustable sling style strap that is ambidextrous, you can move the sling to fit in either corner and carry it left or right shoulder, Oh, the curl, I can’t leave out one of the biggest peeves I have with shooting mats, that curl at the end that happens from rolling the mat up. NORM folds up in a fan-fold manner, this of course means there is no curl, but also makes it really easy to store right next to your rifle case. Myself, the bi-pod stop handle works perfect around the handle of my hard case and it’s more like carrying one item instead of two. I honestly feel I designed one of the best USA made, long range mats on the market and once you try OffHand Gear you won’t want anything else!

To order yours or find out more, check out the NORM in our AG & AG store.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/a-look-at-the-new-norm/

TWANGnBANG Takes on AR500’s UHMWPE

We’ve talked a few times about AR500’s new Polyethylene SAPI Plates.

I’ve been using them and the AR500 Valkyrie carrier for several months with a great review.

That the plates work is without question the, NIJ shot quite a pile of them in order to verify that they do.

But if you were curious on how the plates actually work? This video does an excellent job explaining.

Check out the plates and the carriers and start an armor set up. Well worth the investment.

DOCUMENTING YOUR TRAINING AND PRACTICE

If you have to use your gun in self-defense, you will find yourself in a lengthy legal process. How will you demonstrate that you acted appropriately? How will you prove that your decision was based on knowledge, rather than panic or over-reaction? Could you articulately convince a judge or jury of your peers that your actions were justifiable?

Your legal defense may balance on your awareness of how long it takes you to draw your pistol, do a reload, or clear a malfunction. You may have to explain how quickly someone moving toward you could close distance to physically attack you, or your ability to get an effective hit on an attacker at different distances, or even your understanding of the law and Use of Force. This is not knowledge obtained haphazardly; this is information that you have learned through firearms training classes, sessions, and drills.

When you take a professional firearms course at KR Training, Karl Rehn distributes Course Completion Certificates after each class. He explains that the primary function of the certificate is to prove that you attended the course on a specific date and document that you passed if the course had a graduation test. The certificates could be needed for state carry permit applications or other requirements, and many shooters use class certificates and ratings to track their skill level and improvement. This documentation could also be used as part of your legal defense when you have been charged in criminal court or sued in civil court. It could help court officials understand your mindset leading to your decision to shoot in self-defense and ultimately prove that your actions were reasonable and justifiable.

If you take notes during a class, take them on a digital device or take a photo of the notes, so that both documents are time-stamped. Save them in a dedicated training folder in “the cloud” that you can access even if your phone or computer is seized as evidence. The most court-proof way to document your training is to make a hard copy of all your class notes, a copy of the class certificate, and a jump drive of any photos, digital handouts, videos, or other content related to the course, and put it all in a sealed envelope that you mail it to yourself via certified mail and keep it sealed. That creates a postmarked, date-stamped item that proves what you knew and what your skill level was prior to the incident.

You may already be documenting your training and practice in a legally useful way without realizing it: social media posts (photos, videos, and posts), as well as registration and attendance at events run by AG & AG or other groups, including shooting matches. Magazine subscriptions, online forums, and blogs you follow also influence your training. If you read something that makes an impression on you, include it in your Shooting Journal along with notes from your practice sessions, match experiences, and professional training courses.

One last thing to call attention to is how you can hurt your defense by something you might be doing unknowingly and unintentionally. If you ever have to use lethal force to save your life or protect a life of another, your character will be called into question. Your persona on social media will paint a portrait of your character. The memes that are somewhat inappropriate, controversial, or what you think is funny, will be used to describe your mindset. Signs in your home that say “we don’t call 911” or bumper stickers on your car that say “keep honking, I’m reloading” will sabotage your defense as you are trying to prove your analytical mindset and your understanding of the law and Use of Force.

Your Shooting Journal

If you have not downloaded your AG & AG Shooting Journal, start today to track your knowledge and skills. The information and worksheets will help to keep you organized. The drills give you simple ways to improve your shooting skills and document your improvement. Karl Rehn advises to use your phone to document the drills: photos of the targets, with the times and scores saved either by taking a photo of handwritten notes, sending yourself an email, or using a note taking app.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/document-your-training-and-practice/

New shooters? “You gotta pay your dues”

From Team Hollis

Are you a new shooter?

Are you attempting to pave a little footpath in this sport?

Are you a little discouraged? Have you been working really hard and have had little in the was of results?

Look no further.. I’ve spent the past year busting my backside. Shooting, dry runs, technique drills, prep work, research, you name it. I have little to show results wise, and boy does that sting. Not towards others in a bad way, but because I expect more from myself. I set my standards high, often too high for my own good.

I started shooting competitively a little over 2 years ago. I watch other shooters compete and have great runs, with fast times and accurate shots. Then I try, and it’s usually a hot mess.  My husband who has been around firearms his entire life, can pick up a 9mm and grab a zero within a breath or two.

Revelation time.

It takes A LOT of time to be good. It takes a lot of hard work and even more patience to shoot well. Yes it’s going to be hard, but nothing worth having ever came easy.

Competitive shooting is one where gender doesn’t matter. Male & female standard.. All the same. As it should be. Just because you’re a female, doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t shoot well. Same goes for a new male shooter.  Figure out what works for you, and stick with it. Don’t be afraid to fail again and again. Over and over, until you finally get it. Most would agree, males dominate this sport.. Respectfully, so what. Go out, pick up your 9mm and start shooting.

Be open to criticism. Be open to help, and ask for it when you know you need it. Be a student of this sport. Go to seminars, classes and conferences. Invest in it if you truly want to be good.

Don’t be afraid to speak up at competitions. Tell them you’re a newer shooter. As long as you are a safe shooter and you follow the rules,  I guarantee they will help and offer for guidance.

Those winning now, those shooting fast accurate runs, have been working on their craft for a very long time. Hundreds, and even probably thousands of repetitions and hours of practice.

Pay your dues & put the time in if you want to be good. And if you stick with it long enough, eventually success will find you.

——-

Candace / TeamHollis

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEARNER

5 Fundamentals Of Pistol Marksmanship Partnered with 5 Key Points of Effective Learning

If you’ve ever tried to teach someone how to shoot a handgun, or tried to learn from a friend or family member, it may not have gone as smoothly as you expected.Over the last 11 years Julianna Crowder has taught thousands of people to shoot handguns, and along the way taken note of core principles that help aspiring shooters to be more effective learners. Mapped onto the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship, here are Julianna’s 5 key points for effective adult learning.

5 FUNDAMENTALS

  1. Be ready to learn. Just as a pistol shooter is told to “find your feet,” the effective learner has to cultivate a mental stance of openness and decide that the time is right to acquire a new skill. The teacher should utilize this attitude of readiness by adopting a flexible approach and looking for teachable moments as they present themselves.
  2. Know the whys and hows. For the student, it is empowering to understand why learning certain information is necessary for accuracy and safety, and how mastering this knowledge puts them in control of the outcome. Awareness of these factors is important to be able to “find your grip” and productively confront fear or anxiety.
  3. Explore different learning styles. People generally favor either a visual, auditory or tactile approach to learning, and it is in the best interest of both student and teacher to identify the style that works best. The best way to do this is to start out emphasizing all three until it becomes clear which one works best. Think of this as analogous to how the pistol shooter focuses on a target by matching sight picture and sight alignment.
  4. Use a familiar framework. Just as proper trigger control requires incorporating kinetic feedback from the gun into muscle memory, the student progresses by internalizing the learning process. I like to use students’ life experiences to develop frameworks for learning. An athletic person may have an easier time understanding examples from other kinds of physical activity, while someone grappling with fear may need a psychological perspective on how to block out negative impulses from the brain.
  5. Good pistol shooting requires effective follow-through, and so does learning. It is critical that learners maintain a high level of enthusiasm and willingness to grow. A teacher can encourage that by being positive and encouraging, helping the student to deal with frustration while respecting their intelligence and maturity level.

Understanding these fundamentals of learning is important if you want to coach a friend or family member who is learning to shoot, but the that familiarity with these key points can be just as helpful to whoever is on the learning end. Both the teacher and the learner can work together most effectively if they are working on the same principles and striving toward the same goals.

If you are looking for an instructor, take a moment and read our recommendations on how to find the right instructor for you and check out our list of caring qualified instructors across the country.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/how-to-be-an-effective-learner/

Concealable Armor for the Civilian World

Concealing a handgun is a pretty standard affair these days. If you are reading GAT Daily I’m going to assume to either conceal carry, want to, or are aware of the CCW phenomenon. A concealed gun is great, but what about concealable armor? We live in a  world with an industry that has immense coverage and can provide almost anything you desire. The civilian side of the armor market has explosively grown and just keeps growing. Today we are going to look at three different options for concealable armor for the civilian.

Why armor?

Certainly, not everyone needs some form of concealable body armor. The idea that the average person doesn’t need armor at all is silly. There are lots of jobs and situations where some form of concealable armor can be a lifesaver. I worked a repo gig in a state that bars repo workers from carrying guns. What exactly could I do? It was a dangerous job and I eventually got out of it since I couldn’t legally defend myself. I was lucky enough to have a job to leave too. If I couldn’t I’d at least want some form of protection.

Not Exactly Concealable

Other dangerous, but somewhat mundane jobs include running a convenience store, driving an ambulance, or even just dropping off and delivering a large some cash. These are dangerous tasks and being unprepared isn’t an excuse.

Concealing It

Concealing body armor is a challenge. It’s obviously much larger than a handgun, and you can’t just tuck it in your waistband. Concealable armor means compromise. Concealing armor panels can be challenging, but these options do give users an excellent combination of protection and concealability.

The Concealable Armor Shirt

So the first is a combination of two products. One from Tru-Spec and one from Premier Body Armor. The Tru-Spec Men’s concealed armor shirt is a skin-tight shirt that features moisture wicking technology called Tru-Dri. It fits like a standard sports undershirt but offers a 10”x12” pocket on the front and back of the shirt to accommodate a soft armor panel.

The shirt is quite comfortable, and the pockets are heavily reinforced to support the panel and keep it in place. The collar is also reinforced and prevents the shirt from sagging with the weight of the panel.

Concealing the shirt is extremely easy. Put it on, and put a shirt over it. I found button downs to work the best to break up the outline of the panel. Under some t-shirts, the top line of the panel shows slightly. A button down eliminates this issue and makes the shirt invisible.

The EDC Bag

As EDC bags become more and more common we are seeing small, and compact panels coming out designed to fit them. I keep an Angel Armor Ally One 9″x12″ panel on hand for use in my favorite sling bags, laptop bags, and backpacks. It fits perfectly in a wide variety of bags, including my Vertx Commuter, my T3 Bolt Bag, and BFG Jedburgh backpack.

When properly used it can be rotated around the body for facing a threat head-on, or placed behind the back for a safe retreat. These panels can be real lifesavers in terrorist attacks involving explosives and shrapnel.

This is a simple and comfortable way to carry concealable armor when you need it and leave it behind when necessary.

Phalanx Defense Concealed Carrier.

Our above two options are soft armor and are designed to resist pistol and shotgun rounds. This is the hard armor choice for fighting against rifle rounds. The PD Concealed Carrier disguises itself as a briefcase and can hold two armor plates. Soft armor fits, but hard armor is the way to go with this carrier.

It’s quick and easy to open and don in an emergency and looks like a simple nylon bag when it’s disguised. This isn’t a fighting carrier, but a surviving carrier. It’s the only option I can see to carry around a set of hard armor without being noticed.

The carrier and plates are available from AR500.com and are surprisingly affordable. It’s hard to beat hard armor in briefcase form.

Is it For You?

Concealable Armor isn’t for everyone, and it’s not always needed. However, for undercover officers, repo men, and other low profile but dangerous jobs, there are options out there. Stay safe and stay prepared.

Sunday Sermon: Win

This is not a contest of champions…

This is not sporting combat…

This is not a duel for honor…

It is not a bar brawl, a scuffle, a UFC match, Olympic wrestling, or settling your differences at the treeline…

This is a fight for your life and it has but one rule… Win.

Lethal threats are in a league of their own. They’re a force unto themselves and that is why the rules get so simple. You must survive. Their survival is optional. You need to come to these conscious conclusions now, it cannot wait until the hour is upon you and the measure of your life and will is to be tested.

Choose now to win and understand that when violence of that unique nature is threatened unto you and yours that you will meet it swiftly, overwhelmingly, and skillfully with your own.

Now is the moment to seek your advantages. Horde them like the precious treasure they are. Cover and concealment, terrain advantage, noise discipline, light discipline, site defense plan, site escape plan, overwhelming force and firepower… let all of these available tools form your response to anyone who would try and take that most precious and nonnegotiable gift from you, your life and those whom you cherish.

After Action Review (AAR) of Sentinel Concepts Practical Shotgun Class

By: Baraka Ulrich James, Founder/Chairman MASF Modern American Shooting & Firearms 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization

Originally Published in MASF Quarterly Online Magazine Fall 2015 issue

Class Overview:
Though I have been shooting for well over 20 years and I have taken many firearms training classes from some of the countries top instructors, this was my first shotgun class. The reason I decided to take this class specifically is that like many Americans my primary firearm of choice for home defense is a 12 gauge shotgun. One of the main things that I’ve learned and try to pass onto others is that you need to train with all of the firearms you own. Having a gun that is untested, unfired, that you’ve never trained with and have nor have any idea of the capabilities of that weapons system makes it a liability that can end up doing you more harm than good and at a time where you may need Resized Shotty
it the most. Truly I had no idea what I was in for but to quote our instructor Steve “Yeti” Fisher “the shotgun is a very powerful and violent weapon, it beats you up so you must know how to handle it”. Steve taught us just how to do that. Our class consisted of 15 students total who brought various types of shotguns, anything from pump shotguns, semi-auto shotguns, side by sides to high end big money brands. Steve told us all ahead of time “bring what you have in your house and train with that”.

Equipment:
At the beginning of class shortly after the student introductions, Steve had all of his students show him what shotguns they brought to train with. He inspected all 15 students shotguns and made various assessments of everyone shotguns. Many people had a lot of things that Steve said were not “ideal” such as heat shields, pistol-grip stocks with built in side saddles, slings, rail mounts that were either in the way of the sites or on the forends. Steve explained that for home defense the two most important things you need on your shotgun is a white light and an additional source of ammo outside of what is in and on the shotgun.

Personal Equipment notes: 10561050_692177607532643_1176270414_n
I brought two of the three shotguns I own (pictured right) On the left, My 12 gauge Mossberg 500 with Magpul FDE Furniture (both forend and stock), on the forend is the Gripstop , TacStar SideSaddle Shotshell 6 shell Ammo Carrier loaded with Remington double ought 12 gauge Buckshot. On the right, My 12 gauge USSG SXS (side by side) Double Barrel 20″ Shotgun aka the Coach Gun.

 

Regarding my Mossberg 500. When I had the forend replaced from the stock Mossberg one to the Magpul FDE one, the castle-nut was not tighten completely and twice during training the forend came off completely. Steve fixed it once (pictured below) with his Series 3 Multitasker Tool

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But later it broke again due to the threads of the tube being messed up. As a result as Steve tried to fix it he Guillotine'ed his thumb and ended up cutting a chuck out of it (pictured below) and had to once again had to call upon histrusty Series 3 Multitasker Tool  to perform some in field minor surgery. 
But later it broke again due to the threads of the tube being messed up. As a result as Steve tried to fix it he Guillotine’ed his thumb and ended up cutting a chuck out of it (pictured below) and had to once again had to call upon histrusty Series 3 Multitasker Tool  to perform some in field minor surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Breakdown:
The first thing Steve explained, demonstrated and taught us was about patterning your shotgun ammo. Steve shot various shotgun loads, various brand shotguns, at various distances and showed us all how different brands / manufactures loads patterned. Depending on the brand of the load, the brand of the shotgun and the distance you were shooting made all the difference when it came to what kind of spread impacted the target. For instance at 10 and 15 yards “Federal flight control 12 gauge buckshot” left a rat hole that we were all amazed to see revealing a huge fallacy that most believe. That fallacy Steve revealed is that you can miss with a shotgun, it is not just aim from the hip and whatever is in front of it is hit as one would believe from watching movies, you must aim a shotgun just like any other firearm or you may miss you intended target! Another huge revelation that many were surprised to learn is that buckshot penetrate much deeper than slugs. Want another? Buckshot and slugs can both be out to 100 yards and beyond from a smooth bore / non-rifled shotgun. Last one… racking  the slide on a shotgun does not serve to “scare” any potential intruders, what it actually does is reveal two things to said intruder(s) 1) where you are and 2) that you have a shotgun, giving them more information that they could potentially use against you.

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Lessons that I learned:

1: The Push / Pull method helps not only to mitigate recoil but also increases your accuracy and consistency when shooting

2: How to unload a shotgun properly without just racking the gun repeatedly as your shells fly out and you damage them from repeatedly doing so.

3: You can load and reload a shotgun very fast with the methods and practice that Steve showed us in class

4: A sling on a shotgun can be very cumbersome and in a home defense scenario is definitely not recommended and can actually hinder you

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5: When using a shotgun one of the basic rules of firearm safety becomes even more vital of: knowing your target and what is beyond it

6: The reason having a mounted white light on your shotgun for home defense is so vital is for positive identification of the intended target.

7: Red dots sites instead of the traditional beard site such as the Aimpoint T1 or a Trijicon RMR are excellent on shotguns.

8: Steve left off with a very good piece of wisdom “do not try to memorize and regurgitate what he or any other instructor teaches you, it is what you learned from their teachings, what you took away that counts”

9: If you want to know and learn more then seek out the proper instruction from a reputable instructor! Do not “fall in Love’ with one instructor and just train from them elusively. Always be open to learn, ask questions and practice / apply what you learn.

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I leave off with this:
I believe that all hard-work in life deserves praise and acknowledgement. Steve Fisher is a MASTER of his craft! He knew when to be hard on us and when to make us burst out laughing with his awesome sense of humor. With 15 students he still found time to give each and everyone of us his own personal attention. A testament to that is that one of our
MASF Modern American Shooting & Firearms members Allen Sams brought his 17 year old daughter with him to train with us. She had never taken a single firearms class in her life and
ran a 20 gauge Remington 870. She never complained once!

Lexy Sams 1st Gun class at 17 years old. 16 hours of Shotgun training.
Lexy Sams 1st Gun class at 17 years old. 16 hours of Shotgun training.

She followed Steve’s instruction perfectly, was accurate,
determined and made not only her father extremely proud
but Steve and all of us as well. We were proud to see one
of the next generation of Americans getting passed down
a skill and proud American tradition. Lexy Sams, thank you
for doing so well, we are so proud of you, may God continue
to bless you young lady!

Steve never rejected or chastised anyone regardless of the
question and as a result not one question went unanswered.
Steve was not only generous with his time but took time after
class to answer and address questions that people had one
on one. I am proud to now say that I am a student of Steve
“Yeti” Fisher and I am completely looking forward to more
classes with him. I cannot say enough good things about this monster of a man at 6′ 5″ who people have kindly nicknamed “The Yeti” it was truly an honor and an experience I will never forget! Thank you Steve!

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Yes all 15 of our classmates did extremely well and we have come closer as a community. Thank you all for a great class! I look forward to training with you all again in the near future! Please stay safe and remain vigilant! Godspeed – Baraka Ulrich James

SOURCE ARTICLE: http://masf.co/2016/02/11/after-action-review-aar-of-sentinel-concepts-practical-shotgun/

SHOOTING WITH YOUR SUPPORT HAND Posted by Robyn Sandoval

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

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:

  1. What is your motivation, purpose, the WHY you want to survive or aid others.
  2. Motivation, turned into action: The skills you have, are still needed here and now.
  3. 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

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 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: 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_nFast 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.

DSCN5402This 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/