For those looking to add a first, a subsequent, or perhaps a supplemental handgun for defensive and practical use, listen up please… or rather read.
You need a Glock 19.
Now that I’ve made Glock haters lock and load their keyboard systems and allowed Glock fans to raise a standard of triumph…
These work too
That’s a Sig Sauer P226 and the newer P320.
I could keep posting more by picture but this brief article would get very heavy digitally speaking. Let me write it out
Glock: G17, G19
Sig Sauer: P226, P229, P320, SP2022
Smith & Wesson: M&P9
Heckler & Koch: P30, USP9, VP9
FN: FNX9, FNS9
Walther: PPQ
CZ: 75B, 75D
Ruger: American (perhaps, very new)
Springfield Armory: XD, XDG (Mod2), XDM
Beretta: 92, 92FS, 92G, M9A3, PX4
The above is a starting list for your consideration. You need a Glock 19 or rather a firearm, likely on that list, which operates like a Glock 19.
They are reliable.
They are simple.
They are consistent
They are built for the modern realities of a Defensive Gun Use (DGU).
As a buyer looking for a defensive sidearm those are your requirements. These are most important if you are considering your first defensive handgun or buying a supplemental one. So pick a Glock 19 (off the list above or like firearms)
Reliability
put simply, is the fact these guns work in unfair conditions. A DGU situation by its very nature is an unfair condition. Someone or ones have the ability to cause you and yours great harm, they are close enough to deliver that harm, and they are in the act of committing that harm. This situation likely happened very suddenly and with little warning. It is not the moment to be relying on a bargain safety device.
You need that firearm to deliver force, right now, regardless of your situation moments prior. The gun can’t care if it’s raining or cold and wet, if you were knocked down or fell in the mud. It shouldn’t care if you’re down to one hand because of injury or dragging a loved one to safety. It must respond to your need, right now, for defensive force.
Your “Glock 19” (selected from the list above) has an established track record or are establishing track records of working under unfair conditions.
Keep it Simple. The Glock 19 is a practically ergonomic and easily maintained firearm. It has three external controls a slide stop/release, a magazine release, and the trigger. Only three functions to remember and practice. It disassembles into five major components without any tools, the slide, barrel, recoil spring, frame, and magazine. All of them can be cleaned and maintained with a cotton rag and the included cleaner tool in the box.
The Glock 19 is a machine and requires maintenance and competence. Neither task is difficult because the Glock 19 is simple. From the list above you will see a solid parallel to my description of the Glock 19 with the rest of the firearms. Simple use and ease of maintenance are standard among them.
The last item I’ll turn your reader eyes toward is the caliber. 9mm lends itself perfectly to the simple criteria by being easy on shooters with recoil, being an effective round, and being low cost to supply and stock.
Consistency
It is a factor I feel gets too little attention. The size, fit, and function of the Glock 19 and its peers lends substantial advantages to its shooters. Ergonomically designed around strong two handed shooting positions and equipped with highly functional factory triggers and sights (often easily further refined aftermarket) make these firearms among the best for new shooters both male and female. Size and weight reduce recoil severity significantly and allow rapid, accurate, and consistent shooting. Steer clear of pint sized pocket pistols, they work against you in this regard.
DGU Realities
Honest question, how many rounds do you need in a fight?
The answers I get to this question run the gamut from the blank stare of “I never considered that.” to “One? I hope.” But eventually, after contemplation, settles on the accurate answer of ‘as many as it takes’.
That’s great, it’s realistic and we’re starting to break that dangerous myth of the ‘one shot stop’. I say starting to because often the next sentence of the conversation is “Well if I can’t do it in five/six rounds I’m really in trouble.” Yes, yes you are really in trouble if the fight lasts beyond those first shots so why are we looking at less than ideal firearms for when we’re “really in trouble”.
The answer is murky one. Some odd preconceived notion that a larger, easier to shoot, and higher capacity firearm not being the best tool because… they usually have nothing when they say it aloud. Many of these people aren’t even using the firearm for a daily carry but plan it for home defense handgun which adds further logical dissonance to picking something outside the Glock 19 peer group. A Ruger Vaquero is an incredible gun in its own right but doesn’t have the mechanical characteristics to serve this defensive role efficiently.
The Glock 19 holds fifteen rounds stock from the factory. That’s the lowest capacity of anything on the above list. That gives its user ten more shots when they reach the “really in trouble” line before needing to reload, another quick and simple process on a Glock 19. “Trouble” is the exact moment you need reliable, simple, and consistent… and you need it right now.
You need a Glock 19
P.S. My personal “Glock 19” is a Sig Sauer P226, alternatively a Glock 19 Gen 4. Pick your Glock 19 wisely.
Reporting the news, when it comes to stories involving firearms, can be extremely complicated. There are many commonly used words and phrases that one would assume are accurate, but are often not at all. The sources of these descriptions, definitions, and sayings can range from politicians, to the military, to governments, NGO’s, activists, and other news outlets, but not all of these sources are created equally when it comes to terms being properly stated, or even relevant to the story. With the advent of the 24 hour news cycle, priority is often given to speed over accuracy. This can often lead to incorrect information being disseminated, which usually leads to misconceptions being exaggerated and duplicated by other news outlets and social media.
This paper will attempt to address many of the misconceptions and misuses of the terminology often used to describe various aspects of firearms and firearm related law in order to add clarity and accuracy to news writing and reporting.
Definitions
Definitions are extremely important to being factual, as are the sources of those definitions. When in doubt, it is best to refer to either government or military sources, scientific studies and journals. Other sources may include firearm history books, or firearm industry publications. Wikipedia, though it is not preferred in academia, is usually accurate and can be used if expediency is necessary, which usually is the case when it comes to news reporting, but be sure to check the citations.
Assault Rifles
The first definitions that are the most important to understand is the difference between ‘assault rifles’ and ‘assault weapons’. Assault rifles, as defined by the ATF as well as the UN Small Arms survey of 2013 are, “light, self loading rifles that are chambered for intermediate calibre cartridges, such as 5.56×45 mm or 7.62×39 mm. Designed to engage targets at ranges rarely exceeding 400 metres (around 1,300 feet), they are primarily selective-fire weapons, enabling the user to switch between single-shot, fully, automatic, and (in some models) burst-fire modes of operation” (United Nations, 2013).
These fully automatic firearms are highly regulated by the federal government and banned by a number of state governments. The 1986 FOPA bill (Firearms owners protection act, 1986) restricted the number of fully automatic firearms (FA firearms) so that no new ones could be produced and sold to civilians after May 19th, 1986. This limited the number of FA firearms to around 250,000, increasing their value due to supply and demand so that the firearms that can be legally transferred between private citizens ranges from $5,000 to over $100,000. In order to legally transfer an FA firearm, a buyer must fill out an ATF Form 4, pay a $200 tax, and register the firearm in the state where it is legal to own. People can often confuse the ‘AR’ in AR-15 to mean ‘Assault Rifle’-15, this is not the case. The ‘AR’ stands for Armalite Rifle, the company who first produced the firearm (Armalite, 2015).
It’s important to understand the rarity and expensive nature of FA firearms when talking about their usage in crime. According to Dr. Gary Kleck, a criminologist and authority on gun crime in the US, there have been less than 10 crimes committed with legally owned machine guns since 1934 when they were first regulated by the National Firearms Act, and slightly more crimes committed with illegally owned or modified FA firearms (Kleck, 1997, p. 108). This makes the likelihood of a firearm being used in a crime being FA extremely unlikely, so before reporting, one should verify with the police that the firearm was actually fully automatic instead of a semi-auto firearm.
Assault Weapon
‘Assault Weapon’ is a much more confusing term that has its origins in political activism which then lead to some federal and state laws regarding the banning of certain functional and cosmetic features of semi-auto rifles, pistols, and shotguns. While there is no set, official definition, it varies based on the few states that do have assault weapons laws. Josh Sugarmann, executive director and founder of the Violence Policy Center is credited with coining the term in his paper Assault Weapons and Accessories in America (Sugarman, 1988). The descriptions in this paper and others were used to draft the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and modified versions of that were eventually used to pass state legislation in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and certain municipality bans in the District of Columbia, Illinois and Indiana. The definition of ‘assault weapon’ varies according to each state and municipality, so what may be defined as an assault weapon in one may not be an assault weapon in another.
The qualifying factor is whether the law allows for one or two features which can include, “Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following: Folding or telescoping stock, pistol grip, bayonet mount, flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one, grenade launcher mount. Semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following: Magazine that attaches outside the pistol grip, threaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressor, barrel shroud safety feature that prevents burns to the operator, unloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or more, a semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm. Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following: Folding or telescoping stock, pistol grip, detachable magazine” (Violent crime control and law enforcement act of 1994, p. 203). During the period between 1994 and 2004, any firearm that had two or more of these features was considered an assault weapon, Federally. In the 7 states and 4 municipalities/counties with their specific legislation, a firearm may qualify as an assault weapon.
Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic (SA), or self loading firearms come in multiple designs across multiple platforms such as pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Generally, an SA firearm will fire once per pull of the trigger and the mechanism of the firearm will use the energy from the round being fired to expel the used casing and load the next round. While many revolvers fire one round per pull of the trigger, they are not considered semi-automatic because the energy from the round being fired does not cycle the next round into battery, the mechanical force of pulling the trigger does. SA firearms, usually rifles, can be used in addition with specially made ‘bump-fire stocks’ to simulate full auto fire, but these accessories still require the user to pull the trigger each time and the use of these bump-fire stocks makes the firearm difficult to aim and control.
Fully Automatic or Machine Gun
The ATF defines a machine gun as, “Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger” (ATF, 2015). Machine guns can range from machine pistols, to assault rifles, to crew served heavy machine guns.
Clip
A clip is, “a separate cartridge container to hold cartridges or shells in proper sequence for feeding into a specific firearm. It is a magazine charger, and unlike a magazine does not contain a feeding spring. Sometimes improperly called a Magazine” (SAAMI, 2012). In other words, a clip is a storage device which holds ammunition for the purpose of feeding that ammunition into a magazine. Clips are generally used in older military firearms, such as those from World War I through Vietnam. Reporters will sometimes mistake pistol magazines for clips, or will combine terms such as ‘ammunition clip magazine’, which would be incorrect.
Magazine
A magazine is, “A receptacle for a firearm that holds a plurality of cartridges or shells under spring pressure preparatory for feeding into the chamber. Magazines take many forms, such as box, drum, rotary, tubular, etc. and may be fixed or removable” (SAAMI, 2012). Magazines are the primary ammunition feeding device for most modern firearms and can range from as few as 3 to as many as 100 rounds. If a firearm is capable of accepting a removable magazine of a smaller size, they are generally capable of accepting a magazine of larger capacity. There are also firearms that have fixed magazines, which are usually not removable and have a set number of rounds that can be loaded.
Bulletproof Vests and Body Armor
There are a number of items that are and are not considered bulletproof, and the degree to which they are varies based on the materials used in their fabrication. One such item that is usually confused with being bulletproof is the tactical or load bearing vest. Tactical vests are garments usually made out of a nylon derivative that is designed to be used for carrying items such as magazines, pistols, and other equipment. While the vest may look military in style, it offers no ballistic protection whatsoever.
Body armor can be classified into either soft or hard categories, though some designs may combine both for optimal performance. Soft body armor is generally made with multiple layers of kevlar, a tightly woven synthetic fabric whose physical properties allow it to absorb the energy from some bullets. Type IIA is rated for calibers up to and between 9mm and 40 S&W, Type II is rated for up to and between 9mm and .357 magnum, Type IIIA is rated for up to and between .357 SIG and 44 magnum. It is important to note that soft body armor is primarily designed to stop most pistol rounds. Though some pistol rounds can exceed the design specifications of a given rating, just about any rifle round will penetrate through soft body armor. Hard body armor, usually made from hardened steel, but sometimes with ceramics, begins with Type IIIA, which is rated for up to 7.62×51 (.308) ball ammo. Type III is rated up to 30.06 armor piercing (National Institute of Justice, 2008).
Understanding the different body armor ratings can help clarify news stories where there is confusion on whether a vest type is bullet proof, to what degree, and whether the ammunition used is specifically ‘armor piercing’ or not. For example, some news stories have listed smaller rifle ammunition as ‘armor piercing’ because it is able to defeat soft body armor. This is misleading because just about all rifle ammunition, regardless of design, will penetrate soft body armor. There are a few laws to keep in mind when writing stories that do involve body armor. 18 USC 931 states that it is illegal for a felon to own body armor (18 U.S. Code § 931, 2002) and Title 42, Section 3796ll-3 states that the presence of body armor during a commission of a crime is a felony (Swank, 2016, p. 393).
Gun Show Loophole
Gun show loophole is one of the more popular hot button phrases to use when reporting on private sales and universal background checks. Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1986, named for James Brady, the White House press secretary who was crippled during the Reagan assassination attempt, established a national background check system and a series of regulations around it (Brady handgun violence prevention act, 1993). The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is managed and maintained by the FBI. The FBI uses their computer database to cross check against all disqualifying factors listed on the ATF form 4473 for any purchase from a Federally licensed Firearms Dealer (FFL) at a gun store, pawn shop, or gun show.
While gun shows are primarily made up of FFL’s, who must perform background checks by law, there are concerns that private citizens attend these shows as well to sell or trade firearms. Federally, according to the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Brady Bill, as long as a resident of a state is not in the business of buying and selling guns, the buyer is a resident of the same state, the seller does not have reasonable suspicion that the buyer is a criminal, and the state does not prohibit direct private sales, it is legal for a citizen to sell a firearm to another citizen at any location that does not prohibit firearms. So if a resident from different state attempts to conduct a private sale, if the buyer reasonably appears to be a criminal, or if a state prohibits private sales unless conducted through an FFL, that is breaking the law.
Buying Guns on the Internet
A related subject to the gun show loophole is the confusion over what is and isn’t legal regarding purchasing firearms online. There are two markets to consider when talking about purchasing firearms online, through FFL’s or through private sales. Purchasing a gun from an FFL’s website online is subject to all federal inter and intra state laws. When a customer orders a firearm from an FFL that is out of state, online, the FFL is required by law to ship the firearm directly to a FFL that is local to the customer. The customer then goes to the FFL where their firearm was shipped, performs a background check, then accept the firearm. If a customer buys a firearm online from an FFL that is within the same state, the customer can either have the firearm shipped (if it’s far away) to a closer FFL or the customer can go to the selling FFL and go through the background check process.
If a buyer wants to facilitate the purchase of a firearm listed on an online website or forum from a private seller in another state, the seller must ship the firearm to an FFL local to the buyer where the background check is required. If the buyer or seller cross state lines to facilitate the sale in person, both have broken the law and committed a felony. If two residents of the same state wish to facilitate the purchase or sale of a firearm one of them has listed on a website or forum and the other conditions of legally transferring a firearm are met, they may conduct a person to person sale.
Mass Shootings
The definition and mischaracterized definitions of ‘mass shooting’ has been of great contention over the last 4 years. When well known, major media outlets quote statistics, they can appear to be doing so with authority, but their sources are not always the most reliable. At the center of this controversy is a website called Mass Shooting Tracker (MST), which claims to pool all incidents of shootings where 4 or more people are injured or killed. There is a problem with this methodology as there has already been an established, scientific definition of mass shooting for nearly 30 years which reads, “four or more killed by gunfire, not including the perpetrator” (Fox, 2015). The creator of MST was interviewed by Mother Jones and was quoted as saying, “Three years ago I decided, all by myself, to change the United States’ definition of mass shooting.” (Follmann, 2015). There was a scientific report issued to Congress on mass shootings between 1999 and 2013, and while the data shows that there has been a slight increase in the number of mass shootings over the last five years, the average over the last 15 years has remained fairly consistent at 21 incidents per year (Krouse & Richardson, 2015).
Conclusion
Hopefully this paper has added some clarity to a number of complicated concepts and phrases regarding proper usage of firearm and firearm related terminology. For further clarity, the sources used can be referred to for more complete descriptions, historical references, and legal classifications.
Resources:
18 U.S. Code § 931 – Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or possession of body
Craig from Swanson Media Grouptakes a look at the latest version of 0241 Tactical’s Basha/Tarp. The Tarp used in this review is their Medium version (120″ x 90″)
When you need something done right sometimes you just have to do it yourself. Two former military warriors pioneered and developed 0241 Tactical. They decided to create a special line of USA made products their mission is to provide affordable products that do what they say they will do. I have had the opportunity to use several of the 0241 products in the field and can attest to the slogan that 0241 Tactical attached to the 0241 Tactical name “Concealment from Sight, Protect from the Elements”. 0241 Tactical continues in the traditions of the military in their attention to details, product appearance, as well as superior quality. 0241 Tactical has product lines in the latest camouflage patterns that include all MultiCam variants, All-Terrain Tiger Stripe, A-TACS patterns, ERDL, CADPAT, MARPAT, and the Kryptek patterns. They serve a wide customer base including Special Operations units, conventional units of all branches, hunters, and airsoft enthusiasts. This is a company that means what it says and says what it means. When your life is dependent on the tools and equipment you have, 0241 Tactical has your six.
I want to share with you the most recent product I have had the pleasure of using and testing which is the Basha Shelter/Tarpaulin (tarp) by 0241 Tactical (0241). The one I am using is the medium tarp (120×90) which actual dimensions of the one I received is 119” x 89” approximately 9.92’ x 7.42’. This tarp weighs in at 2lbs 3.75oz. I know what you are thinking; “Wow that is heavy!” Yep, it sure is if you are comparing it to lets say a Hennessy that weighs 1lb 9oz. But these two tarps have two different service descriptions. The Hennessy is a rain fly and basically that is all it does while protecting you from rain, wind and sun. The 0241 Tarp is heavy but that means it is heavy duty and has many purposes and uses. This Basha/Tarp is made to work not just shelter.
0241 Tactical has three sizes they advertise with multiple patterns and colors. The other two sizes of tarps are 90”x60” and 180”x90”. The tarps have one inch “D” rings around the edges for tying out as a rain/concealment shelter or for staking down over gear. Depending on the size you get either 8, 12 or 16 tie down points. These tarps are made with a USA produced continuous piece of material. 0241Tactical uses two separate pieces of material, double stitched together, and the seam is sealed with a waterproof seam seal. The top of mine is MARPAT woodland and the underneath is a dark earth. The “D” rings are attached with heavy-duty webbing (dark earth). The web site shows the small, medium and large providing cover for one, three or five people as a simple lean to configuration. The tarp did not come in a bag so I am using a 9L dry bag, which gives me plenty of room for the tarp, a hammock, stakes, hammock straps and some cordage. This little shelter kit has come in handy many times.
I have used my tarp both in the field and at work, not only as a rain shelter blocking the rain but also creating shade from the hot Florida sun. The 0241 dropped the temperature from the direct sunlight on an extremely hot summer day by creating a shade which was 18 degrees cooler. That was definitely a lifesaver on that particular day. Another unique use I made of this tarp was when I went exploring with some friends on my pontoon boat. If you know anything about a Bimini top it offers only limited shelter. I have been caught in storms many times out on the water and in Florida it Forest Gump rains, down, up and side ways. We threw the 0241 tarp up in addition to the Bimini and not only did it protect us from the rain, after the shower passed, it gave a relaxing shade to sit in after hiking. We decided to leave it up while we changed locations and this was a testament to the rugged design of the tarp. While under way, I thought we may experience a tear or a “D” ring failure but that never happened. We brought the pontoon up to its full speed and the tarp held well with no malfunctions. I feel confident that in a heavy storm with wind, this tarp will perform well. I have had it in several rain storms and a couple of thunderstorms and it has consistently kept me dry. While sitting under this tarp I could see some very small pin sized holes which never leaked water but appear to let humidity out preventing condensation. This is yet another plus for this well designed tarp.
Getting back to the weight of this tarp. Due to the double layers, you are getting a tarp that is heavier than other hiking/camping rain tarps. But, thinking of this as a tool in addition to a rain tarp, it is well worth the few extra ounces. This basha has multiple ways of configuring shelter, cover or concealment. It could also be used as a litter. The company does not advertise this as a use but folded over would be four layers and able to carry what ever you need to haul out in an emergency. Hunters could also use this to haul out their game if needed. As stated many times the rugged construction with the multiple “D” rings make this a very useful addition to your kit.
If I was to modify or add to in any way I would add one more “D” ring to the middle of the tarp. This would improve setup when using a ridgeline and give a pull out when configuring in a lean to set up. I would also like to see the addition in the Basha line of tarps that has more ”D” rings, webbing and webbing handles as to truly be used as a litter or patient mover.
I have really enjoyed using and testing this 0241 Tactical Basha/Tarpaulin. I will continue using it in my adventures in the great outdoors and as previously mentioned, I am not shocked by the quality and usefulness of the 0241 Tactical products. They truly enhance the concealment from sight and protection from the elements. In some cases this could be the difference between life and death. Thank you 0241 Tactical for providing US made products and for supporting our troops.
GearDisclosure.com statement of compliance: This product was provided at no cost for the purpose of review. Ruger has not paid We Like Shooting or provided any financial compensation for this review. The product will be returned to the manufacturer.
So, a day out on the range with the brand new Ruger Precision Rifle; ours was chambered in .308win. The day started off with a 100 yd sight in and then we went to the 300 yd range for a little bit of accuracy testing and to check if getting MOA accuracy was possible. First, a little about the gun.
The design of the rifle is well thought out. From the ability to use a lot of AR parts on the rifle, like the hand guard, grip, stock, and safety switch, to the built-in 20 MOA rail and the multi magazine capable mag well. We used PMags and M1A magazines when we tried it out; both ran just fine. The stock is a very well designed, though a little complicated if you’re used to a standard Monte Carlo or A2 stock. The trigger was a good trigger for a stock rifle and was much like a Savage Accu trigger, no complaints there. The stock with a little looking and thinking is easy to figure out though; looks harder to set up than it actually is. I’ve said before and will again, this rifle is over engineered in the best ways.
Now, as far as accuracy goes, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything great, but I wasn’t expecting anything horrible either. I figured it would shoot with the same accuracy and consistency as one would expect a decently priced rifle to. It was right where I thought it would’ve been. There was nothing spectacular about the shooting of the rifle, but there was nothing wrong with it either. It consistently shot MOA groups provided you used an ammunition that the rifle was compatible with. The trick was finding which grain and style was shot best from the rifle, but when that was found it shot MOA all day long. With a cartridge the rifle didn’t like it was more like a 2-2.5 MOA, but that’s to be expected with any rifle, really.
As far as things that I would change there are a couple. I really wish something touted as a precision rifle would come with a longer barrel. The .308 only comes with a 20″ barrel and I found that to be pretty stupid. Even though I would swear I saw advertisements back before the product was launched that said the .308 would have a 24″ barrel, who knows; either I’m crazy or they changed some shit. Either way it should have at least a 24″ barrel if they want to tout it as a precision rifle. Hell the 6.5 and the .243 have a 24″ and 26″ barrels respectively. The other thing I would change is putting a better barrel on it. The barrel is a 4140 CMV hammer forged and if I’m going to do precision shooting I want a SS option or 4150 CMV barrel. Also, give me either button pulled or cut rifling if we’re going for precision.
A few months ago while surfing the web, I stumbled across a Facebook page representing a company called Notch Gear Hats. Almost immediately, I was captured by the unique design. These hats were no ordinary team themed baseball caps, these were the first specifically made caps to address a common annoyance in the shooting sports world; the battle of the hat versus the eye protection! Those of you, who have ever worn both on the range know exactly what I’m talking about, for others, let me explain.
Coming from a law enforcement background, it was common to be required the standard “eyes” and “ears” to be worn on the range, but also caps. In our department, like most, the patrol guys had their traditional “campaign” hats but also low profile caps similar to the ones issued to me and my team on SWAT. Either way, everyone had to endure the squared eye protection either pushing the cap up unnaturally high or the hat pushing the eye protection down and causing vision problems. The main problem was always the brim of the cap. As a grown man, not wearing gold chains and having a rap album, I like to wear my caps appropriately with a good amount of curve in the brim to protect my eyes from any blinding light or flying debris. Even the slightest proper curve in a cap’s brim normally will engage with the top of the shooter’s eye protection and start to cause problems. The only ways to traditionally wear both items is to either wear the cap very high up and look like Gomer Pyle or to flatten the brim and look like today’s modern pseudo-male, Justin Bieber wannabe, who apparently never watched a John Wayne movie a day in his life and leans too much to his effeminate side.
What I saw on the Notch Gear website was a way around this little fashion battle through the use of the company’s “notch” system. These adjustable and flex fit caps made by Notch Gear feature a notch cut out on each side of the cap’s brim wear it would normally engage the top of common eye protection, thus allowing the curved brim to come down around the eyepro without obstruction. I immediately reached out to Notch Gear and inquired about field testing these hats on an upcoming trip to SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas. Within a week, I had a pair of the new operator FlexFit hats ready to go!
When the hats arrived, I contacted fellow writer and friend, Craig Reinolds about trying one of them out for himself. A few weeks later, Craig and I arrived in Las Vegas for the firearms industry’s largest event of the year. To kick the week’s events off; Industry Day at the Range was a full day of shooting stations from nearly every firearms manufacturer in attendance. What I discovered while wearing the Notch Gear hat for the entire day in combination with my Oakley Tombstone shooting glasses is just how comfortable the hat was over the course of events. The hat seemed to lock my eyepro into place so I didn’t have to worry about any adjustment at all. What I didn’t expect was the comfort while wearing hearing protection. Traditional hats have a metal button on the top of the crown, but instead, the Notch Gear caps are flat, buttonless with a small patch of Velcro on top for either IR ID patches or to work in conjunction with Velcro altered hearing protection bands. On top of working well, the hats simply look good. Throughout the day on the range and through the week on the show floor, people would stop Craig and I to ask about the hats. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from all of our firearms industry contemporaries assured us that Notch Gear was definitely on the right track!
Aside from making a great hat, the company is making a difference in the world as well. While researching the company, I came across this statement from Notch Gear discussing the background of its founder, why the company was started and what they contribute outside of the sport cap business.
“Our founder, Paul Cunningham, is a veteran of the US Marines who had always been frustrated with traditional hats because he loved to wear them and sunglasses but was never able to wear them together the way he wanted to; he was always forced to choose one or the other. Notch was born out of his search for an answer to this problem. A Yuma based company, Notch was also founded on the principle that it is better to give than it is to receive. So for every hat you purchase, you provide 5 meals to children in need through our partner, Children’s Hunger Fund. They’ve been rated as one of the most cost effective charities around by Forbes.com.”
Now the Swanson Media Group has spent a considerable amount of time wearing caps from Notch Gear, I can speak for us all in saying these hats are highly recommended for not just shooters but anyone who has to spend time wearing hearing and eye protection. The caps are comfortable and form to the wearers head quickly. Retailing between $24.99-$27.99, this is a best buy for the quality product offered. To find a Notch Gear hat that’s right for you, check them out at http://www.notchgear.com/.
The well-known pick-up vehicles have become some sort of the brand of Islamic State. These vehciles are often dubbed as “Jihad Pick-up”. In fact, militants are transforming these vehicles into some kind of combat vehicles. There are thousands of videos on the internet to witness this trend.
This footage is coming from Syria and you are able to see a pickup with a mounted rocket launcher. Despite it looks serious, believe me, it’s not. This particular vehicle is unusable. Take a look how it looks live.
We shift gears in this episode to some good ole off-road badasseryness! Ernesto Rodriguez, brand manager for Multicam brings their Baja 1000 Ironman Team to the show. Jeff Benrud, Army Special Operations veteran and 3 time Baja Ironman competitor along with Jeff’s trainer and coach, none other than the The Legend himself and hall-of-famer of motocross and off-road racing, seven time AMA national championship winner and 2 time Baja 1000 winner, Ricky Johnson! Jeff, Ricky and Ernesto tells us about last years Baja 1000 race’s trials and tribulations and what they need to do this year to improve from last. Jeff and Ricky also tell us about their company “American Off Road” where they train special forces how to drive off-road. The Jackwagon Train, Facts to Fight the Myths and yes, TRIVIA are all back this week! Buckle up and enjoy the ride Leadheads…
Ricky Johnson sits in for a portrait ahead of Frozen Rush at Sunday River in Newry, ME on January 06, 2015 // Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool // VIN: SI201501080017 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further informations. //
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 130 – this week is part one of a 4 part series discussing self defense shooting, our guest is Rob Pincus, let me introduce my crew!
We have
A Do it yourself YouTuber who knows two wrongs don’t make a right, just take his parents as an example. – Savage1r
Retired Navy, advocate for women’s shooting, blogger at heelsandhandguns.com. who really wants a great gift for Mothers Day, but her kids can’t afford to move out yet. – Lil Chantilly
Former Marine and owner of River’s Edge Tactical. Who believes strong people don’t put others down. They lift them up and slam them on the ground for maximum damage. – Jeremy Pozderac
A precision rifle builder that wishes he had a dollar for every girl that found him unattractive, that way they would eventually find him attractive. – Nick Lynch
3 gun shooter and famous media personality who wants to die peacefully in her sleep, like her grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car Kelli Sampsel.
Next up, the self proclaimed Machine Gun Moses who keeps asking why is there so much blood in his alcohol system? – Aaron Krieger.
My name is Shawn and I hate people who use big words just to make themselves look perspicacious
Speak with and introduce guests:
former army reserve, law enforcement, private security, instructor in firearms, personal defense and tactics. The executive Director or Personal Defense Network, Owner of I.C.E. Training Company and co-founder of Avidity Arms, please welcome Rob Pincus
Can you imagine any words scarier than “police are investigating the shooting” and knowing it is about you? You are in your house, you hear a noise, you get up to investigate and soonafter someone is dead and bleeding in your house. What’s the first thing you do? Do you have to get a lawyer or do the cops give you one? There are thousands of questions competing with the stress you have going on right now.
That is why you need Second Call Defense. You call the police, then you call SCD. They will jump into action and make sure you have an attorney, bail, guidance, direction and more.
For less than your car insurance, home owners insurance or camera insurance they will cover you not only for criminal charges, but any civil charges that may come up. They are there to help you pick up the pieces and not rot in a jail cell. these situations are not always as simple as it would seem. Why risk it?
A counter-discussion (see episode 129 when I said no more conceal carry purses.) In defense of such products, or at least a devil’s advocate point of view, I offer this news story from this week in Louisville, KY.
Coupon code WLS10 for 10% off any day, every day (not combinable with WLS30, only one coupon code at a time) for WLS listeners. Don’t share with people who don’t listen, they don’t deserve it! Or, better yet, just tell your friends they should listen!
where we talk about stuff that we have, want and need!
THIS WEEK (130) WE ARE ONLY DISCUSSING SELF DEFENSE ITEMS. FIRST LETS TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CARRY OR WOULD CARRY AND WHY
Spend over $175 and get free shipping with code FREESHIP
OR buy a range pack and get $5 off your first order. Use code WLS5OFFRP
Facebook and Instagram decides to shut down all p2p gun sales on their social media site. Remember, it’s perfectly legal to sell other items, though.
Guest:
After a firestorm of criticism at the attorney general of Virginia, McAuliffe reversed the decision, restoring most of the CCW reciprocity states as long as the pro-gun side conceded that people with domestic violence restraining orders would be barred from carrying a gun. This isn’t a problem, because it’s already FEDERAL LAW that anyone who has a protection order against them can’t own a gun in the first place. The Deets.
The case against century arms, among others, proves clinton’s claims that manufacturers and shops cannot be sued is false.
DEZ promo and SDI promo
Wrap up
How can you help the show? We have two great ways! First we have our patreon program. If you think the show has value and have a couple of bucks to spare join over 200 other listeners in an exclusive group! By joining our patreon program you get rewards based on the level you support us at. From stickers to patches to great gear and swag! Please become a patreon. Just visit http://welikeshooting.com/pledge to learn more.
Next, we introduced a groundbreaking new rewards program. If you can’t afford a couple of bucks a month, you can help us by becoming a rooftopper. You sign up, get a unique link to share with your friends, share the link and every time someone clicks on it, you earn points. The more points you earn the more rewards and badges you earn. Go to http://wlsshow.com/register to get started.
congrats to Chrisgill
You can do one or both, either way your contributions are greatly appreciated!
Thank Guest!
Find us on all the social media and our website.
Just a reminder to join a gun related advocacy group and we always give out the Suicide prevention line, that number is 1 (800) 273-8255
HI DAN!
We’re here live every week on Wednesday nights and on demand every Thursday. Go to welikeshooting.com/show to subscribe!
If you’d like to watch live, our show broadcasts live every Wednesday night at 7:30PM (MT), watch it and chat with us at http://gunchannels.com/WeLikeShooting
Please support our advertisers, DEZ Tactical Arms, Manticore Arms, Second Call Defense and the Sonoran Desert Institute.
Also check out our syndication partners ModernArms.net, GunsSaveLives.net, AR-15 Gun Owners of America and Guns America.
The T-55, a Soviet-made main battle tank is something you won’t see on your ordinary way to work, especially when a tank driver is a Finnish model who was crowned Miss Suomi 2010.
Vivi Pumpanen represented her country at the Miss Universe pageant in 2010. See what happens when she takes control of an armored monster.
The Russian industry is competing with the rest of the world more than ever. A new Russian military vehicle for all-terrain with the amphibious feature is ready for civilian market.
This monster is constructed at St. Petersburg by the genius constructor Aleksey Garagashyan. The SHERP ATV has been built for military conditions, it has self-inflating tires, can clear obstacles 2.5 feet high, and as the most exciting feature, it can plow through ice and float on water.
It’s not designed for any serious speeding (28 mph on land and 3.7 mph in water) but it will take you from the point A to point B for sure, no matter if you will use roads or just go straight from A to B. And of course, it’s abilities will eliminate waiting in traffic if needed.
Technical specifications
Engine: 1.5-liter diesel Max. speed: 45 km/h (28 mph) on land, 6 km/h (3,7 mph) in water Weight: 1300 kg (2860 pounds) with carrying capacity of 1000 kg (2200 pounds) Fuel tank: 60 liters (optional two cans inside the vehicle and inside the wheels, giving an extra 200 liters) Consumption: 3 liters/hour Price: $65,000
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 132 – this week is part 3 of a 4 part series discussing self defense this week hand to hand defense, our guest is Matt Powell. Matt is the creator of Pramek, an international organization studying science and combatives. Released two dozen instructional videos, over 100 on Youtube, written 6 books on the science of martial art learning and training, general lover of pit bulls and guns.
Every once in a while, you come across a firearm of some sort — be it a rifle, shotgun or handgun — that really grabs your attention; the one that keeps your mind reeling all day; the one already taking up space in your collection but hasn’t even been released yet.
This time, it’s the PD10, a handgun designed by one of the foremost industry experts on personal defense, Rob Pincus and his colleagues at Avidity Firearms. Pincus was on-hand with a prototype Avidity Firearms PD10 and its performance did not disappoint. Like a good song, shooting the PD10 is one of those experiences that plays on in your mind over and over again.
True to the ancient Indo-European triquetra fittingly placed on the backstrap to symbolize the unity of integrity, consistency and efficiency, the PD10 far exceeded expectations for fit form and function. Its exceptional trigger offered the smoothest, most consistent pull of the day while the striker-fire action also performed flawlessly.
The ancient Indo-European “triquetra” is stamped on the PD10’s backstrap to symbolize the unity of integrity, consistency and efficiency.
Although the PD10 is essentially a full-sized handgun, its slim frame and grip make for incredibly comfortable shooting, even for those with smaller hands. In a personal defense world where safeties can help or hinder, the PD10 features non-inhibiting inertial and trigger block safeties, a loaded chamber indicator and aggressive rear serrations for positive slide operation. I.C.E. Claw Emergency Manipulation Sights and Baseplates promote rapid sight alignment and target acquisition to improve upon your critical balance of speed and precision, while a simple takedown and a minimal amount of field-stripped parts promotes efficient cleaning and maintenance.
At 20 ounces empty weight, with a 4.1-inch barrel and 10+1 9mm capacity the Avidity Firearms PD10 stands ready to challenge any existing range carry and personal defense handgun on the market today for top honors. Looking back at fit, form and function, as well as the triquetra placed at the nearest point of contact between the PD10 and the operator, no other handgun that we tried during SHOT Show range day satisfied those critical attributes as well as the PD10. At a reported MSRP of $499, it’s going to deliver a lot of bang for the buck.
Now the bad news…
If the Avidity PD10 sounds amazing, it is — but you’re not getting your hands on one until summer 2016. For those fortunate enough to spend a little trigger time with the PD10 prototype during SHOT Show’s range day it’s going to be a long, hard wait.
The GOP with the hope of bi-partisian support due to this being a major election year have put forth a series of bills that look to remove the existing restrictions required to conceal carry.
One of their things we support about this bill is it will not remove the ability for people to obtrain a CPL should they so choose. For those of us who travel on a regular basis this is an important fact. Michigan’s CPL is recognized by the most states possible with only the most anti-gun states not accepting reciprocity.
The bill aims to place into law the Second Amendment rights of Michigan residents to bear arms without asking the government’s permission to do so,” Rep. Barrett said. “The current concealed weapons permit amounts to nothing more than a state tax on a freedom guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.”
Tom Lambert of Michigan Open Carry has said :
“I think they are very well done. They are clean and they are focused. Rather than trying to do everything at once, they focus in on a specific issue and address it in the way it should be addressed. For example: rather than just deleting 750.227 (2), they change it to apply only to those prohibited from possessing a firearm. That is how this statute should work. Law-abiding citizens are not the problem, it’s the criminals.”
The bill would make concealed carry legal everywhere outside the current concealed pistol free zones. This includes in your vehicle, on your bike, snowmobile or other motorized vehicle. You can read about the specifics via the links below.
David Dellinger of Michigan Gun Owners (MGO) had this to say
“Michigan Gun Owners endorses passage of HB 5301-5304. This package of legislation reflects the guarantees that are found in Article 1, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, something that Michigan Gun Owners holds as one of its core beliefs.”
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owwners (MCRGO) has not taken an official stance as of yet. Though the most recent post on Facebook would indicate some concerns regarding the legislation. This is from their Facebook page:
Several Michigan House Republicans have introduced the latest round of constitutional carry legislation. What makes this package different than others is the stronger likelihood of having the legislation considered especially in an election year with Democratic candidates making a partisan issue out of gun control. What hasn’t changed is Snyder’s reluctance to support broad change in Michigan gun laws. MCRGO’s board will consider a position on the package this month. We are aware of the concerns from some carry advocates about the lack of mandated training in the bills conflicting with broad support for permitless carry. Should training be required to carry concealed? It is not required currently for open carry except in some PFZs.
This may be simply a test of their membership as Brady Schickinger did make the following statement to me:
“This is an exciting development that could see some traction in the House and resistance from the administration.”
As a gun rights page we take the rights of gun owners very seriously and as such support bills that make it easier for law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to own and carry firearms.
As you know 248Shooter and GATDaily take firearms training very seriously. In our opinion the existing CPL regulations do not actually do anything to prepare a citizen to carry a weapon. The very nature of the required course is focused on self-defense in the home and not related to training or education relevant to carrying a gun.
Education should be a personal requirement of every person that carries a weapon. Since the mandated education is currently insufficient we see no issue with the removal of the requirement. It is my hope however that each and every gun owner not only practices and train, but actively acquire and re-acquire a useful skill set related to their personal needs.
Self-regulation and self-responsibility are the corner stones to a free market and society. While I applaud this legislation and it’s attempt to reduce the barrier to gun ownership we as a people need to accept this responsibility and show the anti-gun crowd that their fears and claims are unfounded. We can only do that by carrying responsibly.
Take a moment and thank the representatives who sponsored this series of bills:
In addition call your representative and ask why they didn’t help sponsor this bill. Make sure to encourage them to do so moving forward.
As this continues to evolve rest assured we will keep you updated on the legal stance as well as the stance of the various groups working to ensure the success of this bill.
Tactical pens have grown in popularity and are now being made by just about everyone in the accessories markets. They range from massive monstrosities that rival a kubaton all the way down to a disposable version that looks almost useless. That is why it so refreshing to finally find one that is stylish and covert enough for office use, yet feature packed.
The Break Out pen is well named and well built. Aptly named because the features of this pen are designed around removing you or breaking you out of harms way. This exit device comes equipped with a carbide tip, glass breaker, on the end of the pen cap.
At the other end of the pen is a stylus for touch screen devices. I have tested this with an iPad and iPhone, and it is as good as any other ordinary stylus on the market.
Unscrew the stylus and you find a hidden feature. Inside is a handcuff key that will work on all standard handcuffs. A nice added touch is the handcuff key and stylus are both threaded so either can be set up to be hidden under the cap of the pen.
The Pen accepts Parker refills, which come in a wide array of colors and styles and are incredibly inexpensive. When embedded in the 6061 aluminum machined pen body it makes an efficient stabbing device.
The shape of the pen is visually attractive but ergonomically designed for both of its jobs. As a pen, it is well balanced and comfortable to write with. The thick ends with a skinny middle section allow for a very firm grip when using the pen as a defensive device. Even without the knurling often found on these devices the shape does an excellent job of creating a proper grip surface.
I love this tactical pen as a pen first and foremost. Since SHOT Show, it has been part of my EDC. It has signed contracts, taken meeting notes on both paper and tablets, as well as performed all the duties my disposable pens have done. At a $60 price point, it is the most expensive pen that has ever left my office. However, it is not so expensive that I am scared to lose it like the Monte Blanc my wife gave me years ago.
Gratuitous picture of cool stuff with a TUFF Tactical Pen
When entering a single mom support zone with some friends at SHOT Show, I was stripped of all my personal protection devices. The 6’ 5” bouncer looked at my pen and asked me about it to which I replied, “do I look like MacGyver to you?” Needless to say, I was allowed to enter with it.
I hope you never need to use a pen to defend your life or escape a dangerous situation. If however you do this is the pen you want to have on you. Lightweight, discreet, efficient and well made this item has earned a place in my EDC.
The TUFF Products Break Out Pen is available online via the TUFF Products website. http://www.tuffproducts.com/ with an MSRP of $59.99. If you use the On Target discount code ONTARGET, you can save 20% on this item or any other item that they sell for a limited time.
![receiver[1]](https://welikeshooting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/receiver1-150x150.jpg)
