Handguns and long guns

Good post on the subject at Hell in a handbasket.

Shocking

The Chicago Police Department’s in-service firearm training is no small scandal.
The department used to mandate officer’s firearm qualification quarterly. Today
the officers fire a paltry 30 rounds only once a year.

Read more at CRIME, GUNS, AND VIDEO TAPE

More good sense on self defense

Hell in a Handbasket has it.

I left a comment over at James's place and want to expand a little. I wrote "If i could add one point it is this: the "style" as you put it should also reflect an honest assessment of what sort of risks one faces. No point developing the skills if they are with a weapon inappropriate to the most likely SHTF scenario."

What i should have added is this: The biggest risk a civilian faces is not that they will be outgunned. It is that they will be ungunned. It is great to have a tuned AR-15 and being able to nail 20 out of 20 steel plates at a hundred yards in 22 seconds. But that will do you no good when you step out of your car in a dark drive-way at 11.00 pm on a night when some junkie has decided he needs your ride and your wallet.

Just found this

Why Everyone Needs a Gun

It relates two examples of armed self defense against two crazed, mentally unbalanced criminals. But this part was the clincher:

In each case, an irrational attacker who came face to face with a gun suddenly developed a fine-tuned sense of reality, culminating in lives being saved.

Training to survive

James Rummel has a post up that should be read by everyone interested in personal defense.

Avoid the Bucket

James’s example is not an isolated case. Most of the changes in police procedure and equipment are fueled by calamity. It takes a Newhall Incident, an FBI-Miami shootout, or a North Hollywood robbery before the powers that be will accept change.

There is a big downside to this. In the aftermath of a tragedy, no one wants to blame the victim. The public after-action reports and resulting policy debates will, therefore, focus more on technology and less on tactics. The training recommendations can focus on the wrong elements because it addresses "safe" subjects and not the factors that really determine life and death.

Ross Seyfried—hunter, guide, gun writer, and former IPSC champion—has a phrase for one facet of the problem:" buying skill." Instead of practicing their long-range shooting, hunters buy "flat shooting" magnums. High capacity magazines can be a similar trap. Seyfried again: "you can’t miss fast enough" to make up for poor accuracy. In a worst case scenario, hi-caps just delay the moment of truth.

James also provides some recommendations that need to be taken heart and put into practice by anyone who is serious about civilian CQC.

My one quibble is ISPC/IDPA/CAS. They can be great training—if they are approached as practice. If you try to win (or even just emulate the winners) they teach dangerous lessons. (I grit my teeth every time I watch a shotgun stage at a CAS match. What sane individual would operate a pump like that if their life was on the line?)

Many years ago I read an article that made a good point about the value of IPSC, personal defense, and mind-set. Three competitors were eating in a restaurant after the match. Two of them were serious IPSC shooters and had finished high in the standings. Thee third was a cop who had finished well back in the pack. The subject of concealed carry came up. One of the shooters was unarmed. His tricked out race gun was locked in the trunk of his car outside. So was the competition gun of the other IPSC demi-god. After showing his stuff with a custom .45, he stowed it away and carried a J-frame .38 Spl. The cop was carrying the same service auto he carried every day—the same pistol he shot the match with.

Even though he had the worst score at the match, the cop was the only one of the three who was really benefiting from the practice and competition.

James offers up a lot of good advice on his site. I really like his emphasis on dry-firing practice and shooting prone or from a chair. Only the lucky get to use the standing Weaver when the SHTF.

Now, since this is a blog, I’ll throw in my two cents.

Where possible, add moving targets. They don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Balloons bobbing in the breeze are a neat wrinkle when paper targets get boring.

Practice dealing with unexpected malfunctions. Even when shooting multiple targets, it is easy to fall into a rut. Bang, bang [shift] bang, bang, [shift] bang, bang. Reload.

Put some snap caps into the mix and it changes the experience. Bang, bang, [shift] bang, click, [shi….,damn, clear] bang, [shift] bang, bang.

This is so wrong

Mark Wahlberg is no Bob the Nailer

Just an opinion

This may be the most pointlessly ugly gun on the market.

Lever gun versus AR

Michael Bane takes the cowboy gun. Smart choice.

SHOT Show 2006

Dozens of great pictures over at Gun Blast

Of course

i agree.

Reasons I Like a J Frame in My Pocket

Found thanks to the Carnival of Cordite

"Disconcerting Alacrity"

We recently ran across a statement attributed to an old Western sheriff which fills us with delight. He stated that he wished his deputies to respond to the threat of lethal violence with 'disconcerting alacrity'. What a great phrase! For years I have taught mind set and defensive tactics to thousands of students when almost everything I sought to impart could have been included in exhortation to disconcerting alacrity.

Jeff Cooper, Gargantuan Gunsite Gossip 2, p. 544

Weathering a disaster

Paco Kelly--SURVIVAL: A STATE OF MIND

Scott Chaffin--Be Prepared

Two good post-Katrina reflections


LESSONS FROM NEW ORLEANS

A Good Morning to Eat Crow

I posted some of my own thoughts on my other blog.

I whole-heartedly agree with Michael Bane's preference for a "cowboy" levergun instead of something paramilitary.

This is how it should be done

Even though she disses my beloved 38 special and is leaning against revolvers, i still admire the methodical way she is testing handguns before buying.

"COUNTER TERRORISM FOR EVERYMAN"

This is well worth reading

COUNTER TERRORISM FOR EVERYMAN

Some gun-people scoff at civilian counter terrorist training, thinking such tactics are "wishful thinking". I would point out three things to them: One - The only difference between the September 11th planes was that passengers on Flight 93 chose to act. I suspect that had the acted sooner, they may have saved the plane. Two – Unless you act, your life is in the hands of the errorists and we know their plans are for you, you will most definitely be killed. Three – Rescue by the authorities is a pie-in-the-sky feel good notion that will be of little help when your throat gets slashed. Bottom line - You have nothing to lose.

This is interesting

S&W has two new models out in .41 mag. The Airlite model is pricey, but i can't think of a better lightweight revolver (if you handload).

I wonder if Smith's interest in the .41 might prod some ammo company into creating a moderate velocity loading for the lightweight revolvers?

Of course i think this is a great article

Smith and Wesson’s Best Pistol

If ever there were a revolver of excellent, almost perfect ergonomics, it is the Smith and Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum. This revolver is well balanced and offers more power per ounce than practically any other handgun.

Canival of Cordite

Edition #13 is now up at Resistance is Futile.

41 Special

here's a nice write-up on the .41 Special wildcat.

Most Needed Revolver Wildcat?

There is a niche for this round. It would be perfect in the Taurus Tracker. Plus it would be a great practice round for the big .41 mag revolvers.

Since i am on a .41 caliber jag, Ruger and Smith should offer a 4-inch barrel version of the .41. The GP100 would be a nice platform for a 5-shot model and Smith already offers their Mountain Gun in .44 Mag and .45 Colt.

More on the .41 mag

The Wrong Compromise

The .41 Magnum - Sundays Child


Heavy Bullets in the .41 Magnum

Ouch


It's going to be a lot tougher getting doe licenses in PA this year. The Game Commission dropped the allocation in most wildlife management areas. The place i hunt went from 75,000 to 53,000.

Although, to be honest, i could have skipped the doe permit the last three years and it would have made no difference. The only takeable does i've seen have all been early on the first day and i've passed on the shots. I just can't bring myself to take a doe that early in the season and cut everyone's chances at a buck on the best day to find horns.