Guns

Looking forward to Combative Pistol II

/ hsoi

I finally got the equipment list for the upcoming snub revolver classes with Claude Werner, and that triggered in me a lot of excitement about some upcoming training.

My curiosity arose about just what’s involved in the Rangemaster Combative Pistol 2 class. Granted I can read a description on a website, but that’s not the same as actually what it’s all about. Haven’t found anything, but I did find this AAR on Combative Pistol 1. Nothing indicates when that AAR was written, but upon reading it what struck me was how a fair amount of the material covered in CP1 was covered when Givens was here for the Combined Skills course. That’s good as it gives me the impression that CP2 is going to be a logical growth from and building upon what we did that weekend.

Much practice ahead.

.223 reloads, next chapter?

/ hsoi / 1 Comment

So my .223 reloads weren’t working out, and I had decided to put it on the shelf. A combination of frustration at the whole thing, feeling like I wasted a lot of time and money, not sure where to go next, and I need to focus on 9mm reloading right now.

I spoke with experienced reloaders and there’s a zillion things that could be causing the accuracy problems.

Frankly, I just don’t have the money or gumption to keep trying to chase this down. But I’m not willing to admit defeat. I’m just not sure where to go next, but I am willing to put it on the backburner and let things simmer a bit.

I’ve picked up some Federal P223S, which is the 55 grain Barnes TSX load. Federal says that’s good for deer. My take? I’ve got an itch to go hog hunting. As soon as the weather stops sucking so bad, I’m going to try to go hog hunting and I’ll take the AR and the P223S and see how it does. If it doesn’t perform, well… then I can stop trying to reload it for this purpose because if the bullet and load won’t work well…. what’s the point? I’m sure it will work tho.

I’m thinking a couple things:

1. Cor-Bon makes a load with the 62 grain TSX. Order a couple boxes of that. See how it performs in and of itself. As well, look at how they load it and see if I can learn anything from it. For instance, whatever their overall length is, try replicating that.

2. Before I load any more expensive TSX bullets, buy cheap FMJ bullets and do some work with .223 loads to see if I can even just make a decent .223 plinking load. I’d also load these on the Hornady Lock-n-Load progressive press… wonder what sort of difference that would make versus. the single stage press.

I don’t know. Just lots of speculation and thinking, and I’m sure I’ll do more before I load .223 again. Need to focus on 9mm right now.

Gun Sparring

/ hsoi / 6 Comments

Insert cartoonish picture here of a 1911 and a Glock engaging in fisticuffs. My graphics skills are weak so you’ll just have to envision it. 🙂

Caleb made a posting on the age old issue about action shooting sports (IDPA in this case) and how while they might not be realistic they’re still useful. Says Caleb:

So to answer the question, no, IDPA is not realistic.  But shooting an IDPA match is a great way to practice certain skills that you may need to save your life someday.  I don’t know about you, but the ability to draw and put accurate hits on target in under 1 second might be pretty useful in a self-defense situation.

The way I see it? I liken participation in action shooting sports to martial arts sparring.

If you want to get good at something, you’ve got to do that something.

Standing still in a lane at the gun range punching holes in paper at a slow and steady pace, well, that will get you good at that. I liken that to doing martial arts forms. Sure it teaches you a lot of mechanics and trains your body for the act, but there’s nothing dynamic about it.

Action shooting games like IPSC and IDPA would be akin to sparring. Yes there are rules. Yes there’s a lot that’s arbitrary. Yes there’s a lot that isn’t like “the street”. Yes you can get a false sense of security. Yes you can develop habits that wouldn’t be good for “the street”. Nevertheless, the boxer still gets in the ring and boxes. The Gracies still roll around on the mat. The MMA guy’s still get in the ring or the cage. I dare say these guys have a better chance of being able to handle themselves “on the street” than your average guy. They’re still developing the necessary skills within the limits of what they can safely do.

In martial arts there tend to be two lines of thought. One is to learn all sorts of wicked deadly techniques. These techniques involve bone and joint breaking, dirty fighting like eye gouging, and the like. While there’s really no question these techniques can be ugly if successfully applied, that’s the catch: can you successfully apply them? How do you know if you can or not if you can’t fully practice those techniques? Sure, you can practice these techniques in a more controlled fashion, but you can never go all out. The other approach is to limit yourself to a subset of techniques that may not be “t3h d3adly” but can be practiced full-on. This is the approach Kanō Jigorō took when he developed Judo, and the Gracie’s took in developing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They took techniques that can be practiced in a full-on, all-out sparring situation. Yes there still has to be some sort of rules, there are obviously limitations, but here they can actually have resisting opponents and a lot of dynamic practice. Both approaches have their place, their strengths, and their weaknesses.

So if we apply that to firearms training, being able to shoot action competitions gives you some ability to “go all out”. You have to run, you have to gun, you may have to consider things like cover and concealment. You will be put into awkward situations. You will be given problems you must dynamically solve. We can’t go full out, we have to have some sort of control and restrictions, but it’s about as close as you can get to being able to go full-on. The only further step you could take would be Force-on-Force training with things such as Airsoft, paintballs, or Simunitions.

Of course, competition isn’t the only way to get this sort of activity. More advanced level training courses that provide similar sorts of shooting setups, timers, pressure, and decision making. Or it could just be a group of folks that get together to work on these sorts of skills. So it doesn’t have to be strict competition, just as long as the material is there.

In the end there’s no way to truly replicate a gunfight other than being in one, but I suspect most people don’t want to train that way. All we can do is get as close as safely and realistically possible. It’s going to involve rules, it’s going to involve restrictions, but it’s also going to involve the fundamental skills and activities. Boxing may not be a bar brawl, but a skilled boxer that gets in the ring and spars every day has better chances of winning if caught in a bar brawl. Action shooting may not be a gunfight, but it is akin to sparring: a controlled way to develop the fundamental skills associated with the activity. I mean, if I did get caught in a bar brawl, I’d be happy to have George St. Pierre on my side. If I got caught in a gunfight, I’d sure be happy to have Rob Leatham on my side.

Lifetime CHL?

/ hsoi / 3 Comments

Indiana has an option where you can buy a concealed handgun license that’s good for life. Apparently Oklahoma is considering one as well.

I’m torn on the idea, but the more I think about it the more I like it.

The main thing about any license is that it’s administrative crud to have to deal with; it’s mostly fees and paperwork. Of course, to renew you have to take a class, which over time adds up to a lot of money plus a lot of time spent. How truly necessary is it?

The main advantage to renewals for the license holder is you get to learn about what laws changed since the last time you were in class. This can be a good thing. But we don’t always force people to have to take classes to learn about what laws changed in other aspects of our lives. Is it needed here? To renew your drivers license it’s just forms and fees. Couldn’t we have a lifetime drivers license there too? I could see many people happy about never having to visit the DMV again. 🙂  We’re supposed to be responsible adults, we’re supposed to seek out this information on our own. Ignorance of the law is no excuse and all that. Heck, being in this modern era why couldn’t TX DPS (or whatever entity that oversees the licenses) send an email to all CHL holders when a new law booklet is published?

There are perhaps some subtle issues on the pro and con sides of this issue that I haven’t yet considered. But upon a cursory examination, I could see this being a good thing.

More CHL Tips

/ hsoi / 4 Comments

Bob S. writes a good article for CHL newbies. He passes along some tips he acquired from his own experience.

  1. Buy the firearm you are going to carry before you get your license.
  2. Buy a cheap holster or two.
  3. Carry around the house and yard for a while before venturing out in public.
  4. Practice drawing from your choice of concealment.

You MUST go to his site and read his explanations, especially on point 2. The rest of this won’t make sense if you don’t first read what he wrote. I’d like to expand upon what he wrote and add a few more things.

1. Please do that. Before you get your CHL you should have proficiency with a handgun. In fact, it’d be ideal to take the test with the gun you’re going to carry. However, this is a bit of a mixed situation. Before you get your CHL you’re not carrying a gun anywhere. After you get your CHL you’re going to be carrying a gun all the time (right?). There are issues, such as carrying ergonomics, that are difficult to fully appreciate until you actually carry. Plus, you may have some incorrect notions before you carry. For instance, you may think you need the smallest gun possible, but I know lots of people that carry full-sized 5″ barrel handguns every day with no concealment problems. Or you might start out with a large gun and realize that for your daily carry situations that a large gun just isn’t going to work out. So while yes it’d be ideal to obtain your carry firearm before getting the CHL, it may not work out. One thing to always keep in mind is if the gun you have doesn’t work out, you can always sell it and buy something else. Or keep it and buy something else. The thing to realize is this is your life that you’re working to protect: don’t compromise. If what you have doesn’t work, if after carrying you realize things aren’t quite right, don’t let ego get in the way: change your carry setup.

The above goes in hand with point 2, because you do need to figure out how holsters work and what the right method of carry will be. And if it doesn’t work out, change up. I’ll say that right now I’m going through another refinement of how I carry. Minor tweaks in my holster setting (rising it up one notch) and my clothing. It just takes time to figure these things out and you just have to do it every day. Don’t be afraid to throw something away that isn’t working and seek a better solution. Once you believe you have a solution, don’t skimp on equipment. Again, this is your life on the line, value it accordingly and don’t compromise. Have good equipment that won’t fail you.

On point 3 well… if your experience was anything like mine it took many months for DPS to process the CHL application and return the license. During that time you can and should wear the holstered gun around the house. When you go out, wear the empty holster. Get used to the feeling of it all. Also get used to the feeling that “everyone can see I have a gun, everyone knows I’m carrying”. Actually no, the world around you will be oblivious. In fact something of a de facto tradition is the day you get your CHL to do a “Wally Walk“. The end result of the Wally Walk generally is a let down because… nothing happened, which is precisely the point. The other advantage, like Bob S. says, is by wearing around the house you can start to figure out issues like going to the bathroom, if your wardrobe works, and that you need to squat down and not bend over to pick things up off the floor.

On point 4, the best thing I can say here is to get proper training. But Bob S. and I have had these discussions before. 🙂

One thing that’s great about a CHL is it opens up a wide door of training opportunities. Most firearms schools will teach their intro/basic/beginner courses to anyone, because that’s how it goes. However if you want to get into their higher level courses you must demonstrate good character. A CHL is often the ticket to these higher level classes because it shows you’ve been through a background check and have other factors on your side to say that, compared to most of the public, you are a proven good egg. Take advantage of this fact. Seek and obtain all the training you can, not just in marksmanship but in tactics and mindset. Use of the gun is a last resort, so anything and everything you can do to improve your odds of never having to use it, all the better.

Some additional random things:

  • Don’t skimp on equipment.
  • Buy a good belt. If you’re going to carry via a hip-based method, buy a good proper gun belt. It will better support the weight and stressed placed upon your waist.
  • Don’t be afraid to change things up. Carrying is a lifestyle change, so if you have to change your waredrobe, colors and clothing patterns, how you do things in a day, places you go (or now won’t go)… you cannot be afraid to do that. All a matter of what you find more important.
  • Button-fly jeans don’t work out very well, guys.
  • Speaking of the bathroom, if you just have to pee it’s OK to use the stalls if that provides you with more coverage. On the same token, you can come up with good technique that works that urinals.
  • Of course, when you have to sit down in a public stall, that has other issues and I’ve yet to discover a single workable solution. You have to discover what works for you…. which could also include never being in a position to have to sit down in a stall.
  • You will have lots of fantasies about heroics. It’s natural. Work to channel that energy into productive and realistic ends by seeking out training, especially mental and tactical training. Remember, the only reason you should draw your gun is if you or a loved one’s life is in grave danger.
  • Make it a part of your daily life. Yes, it’s going to be weird and uncomfortable at first. Just keep wearing it all day every day. Make strapping on the gun as mundane as putting on your pants. Eventually it will be weirder to not have the gun on your hip.
  • Once the gun is in the holster, leave it there. Don’t mess with it, don’t draw it, don’t fiddle with it. Just leave it alone.

All I’ve got for now.

To market to market

/ hsoi

As soon as the local Cabela’s opened I was there, to take advantage of this weekend’s 10% off sale for NRA members.

Yes, so many things I wanted to buy, especially a new firearm. But I promised Wife I wouldn’t and I kept that promise.

In fact, I promised I’d only buy needed things. Things that I need to buy anyways but might as well buy now when I can get it a bit cheaper.

Bought lots more bullets for reloading. Bought a couple dry boxes. A couple more XD magazines. And just various and sundry things that I’d pick up normally. Thinking ahead towards future classes.

In terms of the store supply. Shelves were pretty full and in decent stock. I did notice 9mm bullets for reloading were fairly cleaned out, save for the Berry’s (which was fine with me). Most ammo supplies were pretty good. I was able to pick up a couple boxes of Federal P223S as well, which makes me happy. I’m going to settle on using that factory load and see where it gets me (and get back to figuring out my .223 handload at a later date).

Meantime, I need to get myself to the reloading bench, then to the range.

Earned a new certification

/ hsoi

A couple weeks ago I took a course to become certified as an instructor of the NRA Personal Protection In The Home course.

I passed the test, so I’m certified. Paperwork just has to be processed by HQ.

It’d be nice to obtain certification for their Personal Protection Outside the Home course, but it’s rather a cumbersome course to obtain certification in (number of hours required). It’s mostly a logistical matter, and hopefully they can be worked out.

What to do, what to do

/ hsoi / 4 Comments

This coming weekend (Feb. 5-7, 2010) Cabela’s is having a special promotion for NRA Members: 10% off all purchases. If you don’t have a Cabela’s nearby, I believe you can use the same promotion via their website. (Correction: seems the only thing you get online is free shipping, not the 10% discount. Bummer). All you have to do is obtain the coupon in your latest issue of your official NRA magazine (whichever you get) and you’re good to go. Being an (Endowment) Life Member of the NRA, I figure this is a good weekend to finally get some things I’ve been needing… and perhaps wanting.

Updated: this should be a link that takes you to the Cabelas.com website about the weekend.

On the need side, I’m out of some reloading components, most notably .38 Special bullets. So might as well pick them up this weekend with the 10% discount.

If you’re a regular reader, you also know I’ve been throwing around the idea of getting a new folder knife. Last time I checked, Cabela’s didn’t have anything that tickled my interest, but no harm in looking again as I know my criteria has changed since I last looked in their knife case.

I’ve had a minor itch to get a Hi-Point Carbine, just because it’d be fun.

I’ve also been wanting to get a 1911-style handgun, but given I’m really leaning towards an STI and Cabela’s doesn’t sell them that’s unlikely to happen this weekend.

Ah who knows. Just dreaming right now… and thankful that I can dream.

To Guide Rod or Not

/ hsoi / 6 Comments

The Springfield XD-9 Tactical (5″) has a “hollow” guide rod. It weighs about 0.80 oz or about 22.8 grams (I took it and weighed it on my powder scale).

PistolGear.com sells a solid stainless steel replacement guide rod. It’s listed as weighing 40.25 grams, or about 1.4 oz.

There’s a Canyon Creek Tungsten guide rod. It’s listed as weighing 3.2 oz or 90.7 grams.

Wow. That’s a lot of weight.

So… supposedly it will help with muzzle flip. But I also figure it may throw off the balance of the gun. Plus swinging the gun for target transitions, probably harder to move quickly and stop quickly. I know how it goes… there’s always a trade-off somewhere.

I wonder if it’s worth it. I don’t really have all the money in the world to play with and experiment this out. So, I figure I could think out loud here.

Being able to reduce muzzle flip and get back on target quickly is certainly welcome. But the world isn’t always about shooting at the same target. Is a solid steel rod enough extra weight to make an improvement yet not have too much degradation in other areas? I know you can’t have it all…. hrm.

Updated: Upon further reflection, I think if I went this route I’d go solid steel. The tungsten seems too heavy, and I’d be concerned about brittleness and breakage.  Now, will I get the solid steel? That still remains to be seen.

Alamo Tactical – Questionable Retailer?

/ hsoi / 10 Comments

I wanted to order a couple RINGS Blueguns magazines for my Springfield XD. Why? So I can safely practice reloads with a magazine that has the heft/weight of a real loaded magazine. Trouble is, finding a retailer that has them in stock.

Google said that Alamo Tactical had them. Now of course, maybe they don’t have them in stock, but they are listed as something one can purchase through their website. And hey, they’re just down in San Antonio. Sounds good to me. I put in my order for 2 magazines.

That was 3 weeks ago.

Immediately after placing my order I received the automated email confirmation of the order.

That’s all I’ve received.

I have emailed them a week ago asking for order status. Nothing.

I have telephoned them on numerous occasions. There’s never a response. No one picks up the phone. I couldn’t figure out a way to leave a message or even if their phone system supported that.

I called American Express and while the order was authorized it has not gone through.

The only way to cancel my order? Send Alamo Tactical an email. A few minutes ago I sent them an email. But given their lack of responsiveness so far, I’m wondering if the order will cancel.

I did a little bit more Googling. Seems the company isn’t very well regarded. Here. Here. Here. I’m not sure what the deal is, and I’d like to give the benefit of the doubt. But if these stories are true, damn…. yeah maybe you’re busy, but being an asshole isn’t a great way to build your reputation and give people a desire to do business with you. And even if you are busy, the amount of time I’ve waited seems like too long to have to wait. If you’re that swamped, maybe you need to hire some help. This is not a way to succeed in business.

I don’t write this to badmouth. I write this to convey my experience, which was a poor one. I don’t know what gives with the company, but I sure hope they can get their act together.

Updated 2 Feb 2010:

I just received an email regarding the cancellation of my order:

It has been cancelled.

Sorry for the lack of service on this order. We have been forced to move
into our new location over the last few weeks or so before it was ready for
us to move into. The data and phone service has not yet been moved over
here so we are answering emails from a single laptop with a wireless aircard
that has taken a while to get setup correctly so that our emails are
actually going somewhere- and even that is still hit and miss. I sincerely
apologize for your experience.

Chris

Well, it was nice to receive a reply. It was nice to receive an explanation. It was nice that he was nice (given a lot of other things I’ve read have demonstrated the owner was very caustic and rude).

But that said, if the above is the case, why is that not communicated to customers? Why isn’t that put on your website? Why isn’t that included in the order confirmation email? Why isn’t there an automated response whenever an email is sent to the contact email address? There’s little reason to not relay such important information to customers.