Guns

The 3M Test

/ hsoi / 4 Comments

A few years ago I tried to sort out “The Farnam Drill“. It was actually a pretty fun bit of research.

A few days ago, Lynn Givens of Rangemaster posted on Facebook about a “Farnam Dance”. After a little back and forth, we now have…

The 3M Test

The 3M Test isn’t a new test, per se. But rather it’s a test Tom Givens has run in his classes, and it appears has been refined over time. I had the good fortune to be exposed to the drill a number of years ago, and it’s one of my favorites because it’s a tough and comprehensive, but simple drill.

Because of it’s relation to The Farnam Drill, I have included it in that article. Click through to give it a read.

Try it out next time you’re at the range. Do it pass/fail.

Austin Blogshoot/Meetup – this weekend!

/ hsoi

If you’re in the greater Austin area and are curious to meet up with some Austin-area bloggers for a little range time followed by good eating, Lawrence Person and Dwight Brown are hosting an event!

Dwight Brown of Whipped Cream Difficulties and I are putting on a gunny/VRWC blog shooting meetup/Tweetup at the Eagle Peak Gun Range in Leander on Saturday, October 10, at 5 PM, to be followed by a group dinner at the Oasis at 7 PM. Bring ear and eye protection as well as any weapon you’d like to shoot (no full metal jacket ammo, as per range rules). You can come to the shoot and skip dinner, or vice versa.

If you’re interested in attending, drop me a line (lawrenceperson at gmail dot com) so I know how many people to expect at the range and for dinner).

Alas, I (Hsoi) won’t be able to attend this event due to a prior commitment.

But if you’re free this Saturday, it should be a good time to be had! Drop Lawrence a line to RSVP.

Progressives with guns: yoga, ammo and LGBT rights

/ hsoi

Kristin Beck is a transgender woman running as an underdog for US Congress, Kurt Mausert is a Hare Krishna devotee and attorney and Chris Cheng is a professional marksman and former Google employee. Although they make up a clear minority in the states, progressive firearms owners are willing to consider new approaches to gun control

It’s a 5 minute video posted on The Guardian’s website (I can’t embed it, you have to click through to watch it).

Kristin and Kurt’s words have some serious implications. Kristin says:

Groups of people like myself, transgender people, we’re being killed at 1 per week in America. There’s a huge amount of violence against LGBT people, and so I’d say you do need to protect yourself. And if it takes you carrying a weapon, because weapons are being used against you, then that’s what you have to do.

Note as well that Kristin is running for U.S. Congress — as a Democrat.

Kurt is a criminal defense attorney, so he’s seen a side of the world that most people do not get to see. His profession puts him in contact with the ugly realities of the world, and his own life was directly affected when his brother was killed at the hands of an attacker. Yet, he’s a Hare Krishna, as there is no contradiction (it’s about “unnecessary violence”). Kurt points out:

You know, surprisingly enough I find more acceptance among my conservative friends. They can be tolerant of my Democratic socialist views, and my veganism. My liberal friends: you own a gun, and you are a pariah; they just don’t get it.

I live in Austin, Texas. People seem to understand that Austin is a “liberal” city – a blue dot in a red state, if you will.

But do you know how many gun stores exist in the Austin city limits? The gun ranges? The gun clubs (including Austin Sure Shots and A Girl and A Gun, both women’s shooting leagues)? Heck, The Silencer Shop (largest retailer of silencers/suppressors in the nation) is here in Austin. And then there’s my favorite from about 5 years ago, when I walked out of one of the local shooting ranges and what do I see in the parking lot but a Volvo with a rainbow bumper sticker.

Plus, having been a firearms instructor in this area for about 7 years, we see all kinds come through our classes. In fact, the “stereotype” of a gun owner (white, male, middle-aged, uneducated, Republican, etc.) is quite the minority, and becomes more the minority every year.

What’s the take-home?

Gun owners are not who you think they are.

For those in the “traditional” gun owning community, be like Kurt’s friends: be more accepting. Welcome folks into the fold, because you have something in common so build upon those shared interests and forge stronger relationships.

For others, realize that oppressed groups usually remain oppressed if they are unable to rise up and rise above. You profess a belief in a right to choose, to live your life as you see fit, that it’s your body, so please extend those beliefs here to something as fundamental as one’s own life. The Pink Pistols understand this. Hopefully you can too.

Givensy Goodness

/ hsoi

This morning I was able to listen to Ballistic Radio episode 129 (Sep. 13, 2015), with guest Tom Givens of Rangemaster. Any chance I can hear (and learn) from Tom, I always take because there’s always something to learn. This episode was no different, and I encourage you to listen to it.

The episode hit home on a personal level, but that’s not what I want to talk about.

Tom mentioned the phrase “unintended hits”. I’m not sure if Tom was referring to my phrase “unacceptable hits“, but I came up with that phrase shortly after taking Tom’s Combative Pistol 2 class about 5 years ago.

After that class I wrote a lot of things, and I revisited them this morning. So, take a few minutes and walk down memory lane. Learn from my learnings.

In re-reading them this morning, most things remain true and unchanged. In fact, having 5 more years of experience since I wrote those things, I’d say those things were reinforced more now than ever.

A few comments.

First, I forgot about the way to get more “unexpected” reload practice:

Do you have magazines that hold a lot of ammo? Instead of loading your mags all the way full, load them somewhere less than full and to random amounts. You do that, you’ll get a lot more practice on your reloads.

Second, I’d make a larger point about “averages vs. typical“. Tom makes a constant point about “typical” (not “average”) and while it seems like a nit-picky point, it’s a crucial differentiation, and I should have expanded further on the notion of “typical”. Averages are useful, but remember that “mean” is only one type of “average” (there’s also median and mode, range matters too); averages tell a part of the story. Thus it’s really more important to look at what is “typical”. Check out the podcast.

The articles are short, but informative. Read them. Again.

KR Training September 2015 Newsletter – and specials!

/ hsoi

KR Training’s September 2015 newsletter is online.

There’s no excuse to not come out and train with us. Weather this month and next is shaping up to be excellent — not too hot, not too cold.

As well, KR Training is running some specials. Some cool classes (Chuck Rives, Dynamic First Aid, Shooting with X-Ray Vision), and some deals too (like tuition discounts and combo pricing).

Click through to read the newsletter to get all the details.

NAA Guardian – second shots

/ hsoi

Last month I picked up an NAA Guardian .32 ACP, took it to the range, and had less than perfect results.

Here’s an update.

I got in touch with North American Arms. They couldn’t tell me much. The gun was manufactured in June 1998. According to their website, this model was introduced in 1997, so this – along with the “AA-prefix” serial number, and this is early production. They did say I could send it in to them to have them give it a look over, and I’m strongly considering doing that (read on).

Based on the performance from the first range trip, we figured the plethora of malfunctions was due to weak springs. Based on what I see, I bet these are original springs – all 17 years old, and well worn. On the NAA website you can order various parts, so I ordered a new set of recoil springs, as well as 4 new magazines. Interesting thing on the magazines is they now have an option for a grip extender, but for an early model like mine you have to replace the magazine release (apparently the downward pressure on the extender is too much for the original mag release button). My plan was to start with springs, then see how it goes.

The recoil spring is simple to replace. The new magazine release button is easy to replace as well, once you figure out the locking mechanism (just look at the new one, fiddle with it a couple times, and you’ll figure it out). I put two of the new magazines in storage, and put one extender on one new magazine, thus I could try one new mag with the extender and one new mag with a flat baseplate.

Got the gun cleaned up and oiled up again, and yesterday I got to shoot it again.

Plan

The plan was to run another 200 rounds through the gun, again of various ammo types/brands. NAA said “Any ammo should function just fine in our Guardians.”, and based on my prior experience I figured from here out just get what’s cheapest. That turned out to be a bunch of Fiocchi 73 grain FMJ from MidwayUSA. But I also ran a box of American Eagle 71 grain, 25 of those Hornady Custom XTP, and… 25 Buffalo Bore (Buffalo Barnes, actually).

Since one goal is to find self-defense ammo that will perform well in this caliber, all things I could find pointed to the Hornady XTP bullet being the best. There was a load from Fiocchi with the XTP that performed well in tests, but that doesn’t seem to be available any more. The only loads I could find in .32 ACP with the Hornady XTP were Horandy’s own, and then a Buffalo Bore. Now, Buffalo Bore is notorious for being hot loads, so I double checked with NAA Customer support: “Yes that includes Buffalo Bore.”. OK then. 🙂

I ordered 50 rounds of the Buffalo Bore, with the intention of shooting 25 to see how they did. Because the way I see it, they list this load as getting 943 fps out of a 2″ Seecamp and 1080 out of a Beretta Mod 70 with a 3″ barrel. Most .32 ACP loads, like say Hornady’s XTP load, all list performance out of a 4″ barrel (as is standard) and 1000 fps at that. So for sure, the Buffalo Bore is a hotter load. But what surprised me was that the BB wasn’t an XTP as I had found online, but I guess they (recently?) changed the load to now use a Barnes TAC-XP bullet! I am a HUGE fan of Barnes Bullets and I know they perform well, better than traditional bullets. So with their bullet performance, a little bit more velocity out of such a small barrel, I’m hopeful this could pan out to be the right load.

And the process? First just run through some ammo to see if things run or malfunction. But then, let’s do some tests, like Gila Hayes’ 5×5 drill, the TX CHL test, 3 Seconds or Less.

Results

She ran quite well.

For sure, the problem was springs. Out of 200 rounds I had 3 malfunctions, and 2 I’m going to chalk up to me. For sure I had 1 failure to feed malfunction that was exactly like the others. The other 2 were me shooting weak-hand and I am not 100% sure what I did but it was me because things felt odd. The gun is so small and feels so strange to begin with. Then you add in the grip extender and that feels even stranger because usually extenders let you get your pinky on the gun, but this lets you get your ring finger on the gun, and the extender lip is so long and how it comes out between your fingers just feels funny because it’s a new sensation. So when I put the gun in my weak hand and started shooting, it felt so awkward that I think I probably limp-wristed it and the gun failed. Once I got used to the sensation, weak-hand ran no problems.

The tests I chose I chose because I knew they would be easy enough to run without drawing (I forgot the pocket holster at home). All tests ran no problem. Accuracy went quite well too. For sure tho, you will want to compensate. I found a lot of shots going right, and the explanation is simple: 1 lb gun, 10 lb trigger pull, awkward gun fit (too small for larger hands) and so I’m certainly pulling the gun to the right — I could see it as I focused on the front sight that I was certainly pulling the gun right.  But once you know it, you can work with it.

Shot the 5×5 multiple times just fine (with time to spare). Ran the TX CHL on an IPSC target (and only counting the top-half of the A-Zone box), with no problems and time to spare. 3 Seconds or Less ran from quasi holster (I would hold the gun in my hand in position), and most of the drill ran fine – weak hand was a mess, as noted above.

The ammo? Again, the European ammo (the Fiocchi, just like the Herters) has noticeably more felt recoil (snappier). But what surprised me was the Buffalo Bore didn’t kick as much as I expected it too — the Fiocchi hurt more. But apart from felt recoil, all ammo seemed to run just fine. I will say tho… the Buffalo Bore has awesome muzzle flash:

For sure, this sort of gun demonstrates that small guns are “advanced” guns, certainly not beginner choices in any way. And if you are going to carry such a gun, you better practice with it as it has a whole set of issues unique to itself. You could probably switch from a M&P9 full-size to a Glock 17 without missing a beat, but going from one of those to this Guardian? It’s different enough you’ll want some specific practice.

Sentiments

At this point, I feel good about this gun. It needs some love and care, because I reckon it didn’t have much over the past 17 years. I am pretty sure I’ll send it to NAA to have them give it some love. I’d love to have every spring in the gun replaced, and have them address anything they can see.

One thing that I noticed while I was cleaning it was the screwed in the grips had backed out. I had put some blue Loctite on them, but apparently that wasn’t enough. The grips aren’t just cosmetic – they do help in holding mechanisms together. And the right-side screw feels maybe stripped? Not sure, as I didn’t have time to pull everything apart to see. So I want to have them address what they can here. My “here’s what to look at” letter that will go in the return box will be lengthy. 🙂

Once that all goes through? I would want to keep practicing with it. It’s certainly not a gun I’d always carry, but it handles and performs much better than I would have expected. It’s certainly the skill of the shooter too, but the gun itself works pretty well.

As for ammo, I would love to collect a wider sampling of ammo. Run all sorts over a chronograph to see what “real” velocities are. And then for any potential self-defense candidates, run them through some ballistics gel. But there’s time, money, etc.  But maybe I’ll see about hitting up MouseGunAddict. 🙂

Am I willing to carry this gun? Yes, but not yet. I think she still needs some love from a gunsmith. And I’d like to get a little more data on ammo.

But so far, it’s alright.

Open Carry – Don’t be “That Guy”

/ hsoi / 1 Comment

I was on the phone with a LEO friend of mine.

The topic? the forthcoming “open carry” of handguns in Texas.

The main concern we have is the extreme display of derp that’s going to happen on January 1, 2016 when the open carry law goes into effect.

Here’s the thing.

You HAVE to KNOW that EVERY news outlet across Texas (and beyond) are just salivating for January 1. Why? Because they are itching to be the first to break a story of someone open carrying and royally fucking up.

They want to parade it out and show how dangerous open carry is. How crazy gun owners are. To prove “they were right” all along.

And then yes, all the anti-gun groups are going to pounce. Given it’ll be a Presidential election year, they’ll try to make gun control a big political talking point, and if they work their money and media machine right, we could be in for one hell of a time. Don’t underestimate them.

All because someone couldn’t keep it in their pants…

As much as I hate to say it, given the way so many people are talking on Internet boards and comment threads, I’m expecting the derp to hit fairly soon after the law goes into effect. I just hope I’m proven wrong.

Here’s the thing people.

If you really want to open carry, you need to set and live to a high example. You are going to be scrutinized HEAVILY — both by the anti’s and even “our side”. The anti’s want more fuel for their fire. And folks on our side do not want you to ruin everything for the rest of us.

You need to use a good retention holster (like a Safariland ALS). You need a good and proper gun belt. Dress nice. Look professional. Act professional. Carry yourself like you have your shit together.

Even better? Actually HAVE your shit together. Get some proper training on gun retention. Learn about awareness and alertness, and put it into practice. Live up to a high standard, because EVERYONE is going to expect it of you, so expect even better of yourself.

When you got your handgun license you hopefully understood that you were taking on a big responsibility. The fact the gun now can be out from under your shirt doesn’t diminish that responsibility; in fact, it increases it. You chose to carry a gun because you realized your life and safety was precious and important; that doesn’t change on January 1. You understand Farnam’s Law: “Don’t go to stupid places; don’t associate with stupid people; don’t do stupid things. We will add to that, be in bed by 10 o’clock.”  From that you know you shouldn’t do stupid things – that doesn’t change January 1.

Make your decisions upon sound reasoning. “Because I can” is not often the best reason to do something. Remember why you actually carry a gun, and carry yourself in that manner.

I’m not going to tell you to not open carry. But I am going to ask you to not be “That Guy”.

Cognitive dissonance, illustrated

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

This is priceless.

In the Sep/Oct 2015 issue of TSRA Sportsman, Alice Tripp, Legislative Director and Lobbyist at the Texas State Rifle Association, recounts an encounter with a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

My first encounter with Moms Demand Action was in Dallas during the check-in and set-up for the 2014 Democratic Convention. I was getting my booth assignment when a member of Moms came up and asked convention staff why there were no armed guards present. The staffer answered that during the convention, as the delegates arrived, there would be more visible security. The concerned lady pointed to her Moms Demand t-shirt and said “When you wear this t-shirt, you need armed security.”

Roll that around in your head. Consider this group, what their goals are, then the mentality surrounding their demand. The cognitive dissonance should make your head explode.

Alice continues:

No, I didn’t laugh, but I had to smile as she stomped off. The staffer knew me and said, “I wonder if she would have felt more secure if I’d told her not to worry, most of us are armed.”

Austin women, and self-defense

/ hsoi

Local TV station KEYE did a good report in response to a couple sexual assaults that happened on the south side of town.

In the report, they interviewed Tina Maldonado, part of A Girl and A Gun woman’s shooting league, and graduate of numerous KR Training courses (disclosure: I’m an instructor at KR Training)

“We’re all responsible for our own self-defense,” said Maldonado. AGAG Club helps teach women safe and accurate shooting but also support, self-reliance and friendship. You can find a local chapter or learn more at www.agirlandagun.org.

Maldonado says they may be ready to use a gun, but are taught to stay alert and avoid danger first. “You’re your best protection,” said Maldonado.

Another good snippet from the article:

Moy Yat Kung Fu Academy teaches free self-defense. It is different than martial arts. It is a class based on intelligent movement and intelligent choices. “Once you have to attack, once you feel you have to attack, there are no good options. You have to attack with as much aggression as you can in order to survive,” said Vyvial.

Indeed. People view the word “aggression” as a bad thing, but when you’re in a fight for your life (and sexual assault is just that), you want as much aggression as possible.

APD also shares these tips on protecting yourself:

  • Carry items that you can use if you need to call attention to your situation (examples: whistles and personal alarms)
  • Consider taking a self-defense class.
  • If someone tries to assault you, scream loudly or blow a whistle.
  • If you are walking or jogging, stay out of secluded or isolated areas. Arrange to do the activity with at least one other friend, rather than alone. It is best to do these kinds of activities during daylight hours.
  • Do not cover both of your ears with music headphones.
  • Avoid getting isolated with people you do not know or do not trust.
  • Be aware of where you are and what is around you.
  • Keep your cell phone charged and with you.
  • Stay away from deserted areas.
  • Try to appear strong, confident, aware and secure in your surroundings.

A good list of personal protection tips, for women and men. But I’d change a few things about it.

Don’t consider taking a self-defense class. Take one. “Considering” isn’t going to do you any good; you have to actually take classes and get knowledge, training, and skill.

Don’t try to appear strong, confident, aware, and secure, be strong, confident, aware, and secure. If you lack these, work on improving yourself and acquiring strength, confidence, awareness, and security. If you’re not sure where to start, drop me a line, or check out groups like A Girl and A Gun. This is your life; it’s not a time to “feel-good” and lie to yourself, it’s a time to take action and “be good”.

 

It’s not over

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

It is not over until it is over. You cannot be disappointed if you don’t plan to stop until the fight is over. You never know how far you can go until you push beyond self imposed limits.

An excellent bit of advice. You should read the whole article (don’t worry, it’s short). (h/t Greg Ellifritz)

It doesn’t matter what it is that you’re dealing with – keep fighting until it’s over.

When will it be over? You’ll know. If you’re not certain it’s over, then keep fighting.

Ignorance, incompetence, mechanical breakdowns, bad weather and enemy action can not be avoided, but you can control your reactions. Confidence in your self and training can keep you calm when others panic. Sometimes the winner is decided by nothing more than who stays on the field.

When you’re dead, you’ll be dead; until then, keep fighting.