Continuing the discussion on “pick your gear, and move on“.

Accessories don’t have to match your purse, and any color is fine as long as it’s black (even after Labor Day). 🙂  I’m talking about other essential gear such as holsters, magazine pouches, belts, maybe flashlights.

This is an area where the discussion widens a bit because some of it comes down to you and your circumstances. For example, while men can wear a holster inside the waistband of their pants at the 3 o’clock position, a lot of women cannot because of waists and hips going out and how that would point the butt/grip of the gun into her side and thus be both uncomfortable and difficult to draw.

A lot of this ends up being a matter of experimentation. Where you’re just going to have to buy a lot of things, try a lot of things, discard a lot of things, until you find what works for you.

But there are some areas where we can offer some advice.

A good holster matters. You need to carry your gun in a holster, that provides protection to the gun, especially in terms of covering the trigger guard so things cannot get in there and work the trigger when it shouldn’t be worked! A good holster also has a mouth that remains open; collapsing holsters create all manner of hazard and difficulties for reholstering, which is something you will have to do so why make it complicated and risky for yourself when you don’t have to?

You will rarely (probably never) find a good holster at stores in town. Hooray for the Internet tho, and you can find good holster makers all over. For example,  Comp-Tac, Blade Tech, Raven Concealment, Custom Carry Concepts, Dale Fricke. The list is far from inclusive.

If you can, you should carry some means of reloading your gun, like an extra magazine. You then need a way to carry it. Anything with flaps that cover it? Pass (unless you’re in law enforcement, which has different requirements). Most of the good holster makers also make good magazine pouches.

If you carry on your waist, you need a good belt. Thick, wide, a fair amount of rigidity, to help carry and distrubute the weight of the gun, the magazine(s), and whatever else you carry on your belt. A good belt goes a long ways.

I like to carry a flashlight, because it’s useful. Not a tac-light on the rail on my gun, but just a plain-old flashlight. You could carry it in your pocket, or some of the holster makers also make pouches to allow the light to be carried on your belt.

Admittedly this is one area of gear when there’s a bit more room for discussion, but it really comes down to just finding the necessary gear that fits your needs. But once you find it? Move on.

Continuing the discussion on “pick your gear, and move on“.

Reading this post by DocGKR, he quotes “a very experienced senior SOF NCO” who “wrote the following superb analysis discussing pistol calibers”:

Not getting into the weapons transition issues from frame design to frame design (it’s the reason I love to hate the Glock), the fact of the matter is that the recoil on the G23 crosses the magic line of running the shit out of your pistol. Allow me to explain… Most of the guys mentioned that they can handle the reduced size of the 19 and the recoil increase over the G17 is acceptable. Most of us have also determined that this does NOT cross over to the .40 cartridge. Guys with a firm handle on recoil manipulation can use the G22 and G35 with acceptable results. However when you go down to G26’s and G23’s, the juice is not worth the squeeze. The recoil is now noticeably effecting times and it’s measurable. If you can’t effectively control recoil and are wasting time allowing your pistol to settle between shots then this is all a wash and means nothing to you, but if you can apply the fundamentals effectively you will quickly see that you can’t run a sub compact 9 or a compact .40 worth a shit. So a decision to accept a larger pistol in order to have an acceptable recoil impulse based upon caliber must be made. The smallest 9mm Glock recoil that I will accept is the G19 and I will not go below the G22 when bumping up to .40.

For reference, ordered by caliber, then from largest size frame to smallest.

• G17 – 9mm, Standard size frame
• G19 – 9mm, Compact frame
• G26 – 9mm, Subcompact frame
• G35 – .40 S&W, Competition frame
• G22 – .40 S&W, Standard size frame
• G23 – .40 S&W, Compact frame
• G27 – .40 S&W, Subcompact frame (not referenced in the above quote, and likely because if the G23 is unacceptable, the G27 is right out).

So what does this all mean?

Equipment matters (but only so much).

You need to be able to run the gun and run it well. While the old-school and Internet commando mantra demands you use only calibers that begin at least with a “4”, the reality is that using such calibers is difficult because, as above NCO stated, you can’t run it worth a shit. More correctly tho, when you have more recoil, it’s harder to run the gun. More recoil happens because of caliber (e.g. .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .357 Sig, .357 Magnum), but it also happens when there’s less gun (less mass, less area to grip) to help mitigate that recoil. That could be because of simple weight (e.g. an “airweight” revolver vs. an all-steel revolver), or because of size which naturally reduces available mass and grip area (e.g. G17 vs G26, G35 vs. G23).

So you have to ensure you have a gun that runs — for you. This is where things like “gun fit” matter. Here’s a good guide on the topic (and more).

But then amongst all those guns that run, there are other things that contribute to you being able to run the gun well. And I’ll put it pretty simply:

Pick the largest gun that fits you and your circumstances, in the biggest caliber you can acceptably run.

Let me break this down.

Larger guns aid in recoil management, both because they will have more mass, and also with more size comes more surface area to enable a better grip on the gun. They can also offer things like a longer sight radius, lighter recoil springs (makes it easier to rack the slide). Bottom line: you can shoot a larger gun better and more easily than smaller guns. This doesn’t mean to buy a monster gun that you cannot handle, it still has to be what properly fits you and fits your circumstances. But within those that fit, strive for the largest you can because you’ll shoot it better.

You want the largest caliber you can acceptably run. I’ve seen folks that cannot handle 9mm recoil but do OK with .380 Auto. While .380 Auto is marginal in performance, it’s better than nothing and if that’s what you can shoot best, then that’s a settled matter. I’ve also encountered some that can’t shoot more than a .22 LR; while that’s also not ideal, it’s still better than nothing so there you go. And note, while you might be a big strong guy with forearms like Popeye and can run .40 decently well, chances are still good you will run 9mm better due to simple physics.

So yes, for the majority of folks, getting a Glock 17 or Glock 19, or a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 (service model size) is good enough. They are proven reliable platforms, that provide acceptable performance. If those guns do not fit you, you may have to do some more shopping, but the end result is the same:

Pick your gun, and move on.

Continuing the discussion on “pick your gear, and move on“.

I was having a discussion with a fellow KR Training assistant instructor about the differences between different brands of ammo, I came across this posting from DocGKR (a well-respected authority on such matters, real name is Dr. Gary Roberts). There’s more stuff from DocGKR here, and if you just search the Internet for anything DocGKR writes on ammo, you can rest assured you’re getting the best information on ammunition selection.

See, there’s all sorts of gimmicky ammo that comes out from time to time, claiming to be mostest more betterer than ammos that came before – it’s t3h d3adl3y! It all looks good on the slo-mo video against those evil watermelons. But name me one law enforcement agency willing to bet their lives on it… and oddly there are no takers. Not to say law enforcement agencies are any sort of gold standard, but these are people who put their lives on the line every day and whose job description necessitates the need to sometimes use a gun to stop bad people from doing bad things. Thus, these are people who need proven tools and will not accept anything less; they are a fair reference point for “what works” and is worth entrusting your life to.

It’s pretty simple: there are well-known, well-established brands of ammo that perform well and do the job as needed to be done. Yes, from time to time this list gets revised because technology! (e.g. Hydra-Shoks are old tech, HST is a superior replacement) But on the whole, there’s established stuff so just pick one from the list, make sure it runs in your gun (e.g. run 200 rounds through your gun and ensure you get 200 successful shots; yes that’s expensive, but isn’t your life worth it?), and then put this issue to bed because there’s really no need for debate, discussion or deep research into the matter.

Yes, there are some differences. For example, the discussion I was having was regarding the differences between Federal Tactical Bonded and Federal HST (which isn’t bonded). It was a minutia discussion, and there can be some relevance to such a discussion. But on the whole for most private citizens, DocGKR lists:

Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal HST 124 gr +P JHP (P9HST3)

So according to DocGKR, either are fine. Pick one, move on.

Incidentally, shortly after I penned this article, Duncan Larsen over at LooseRounds.com reposted an article from the FBI Training Division regarding ammunition selection, mostly as it pertains to caliber. I’ve seen this article in other forms before, but Duncan’s posting of it was timely. For the tl;dr crowd, here’s the conclusion:

While some law enforcement agencies have transitioned to larger calibers from the 9mm Luger in recent years, they do so at the expense of reduced magazine capacity, more felt recoil, and given adequate projectile selection, no discernible increase in terminal performance.

Other law enforcement organizations seem to be making the move back to 9mm Luger taking advantage of the new technologies which are being applied to 9mm Luger projectiles. These organizations are providing their armed personnel the best chance of surviving a deadly force encounter since they can expect faster and more accurate shot strings, higher magazine capacities (similar sized weapons) and all of the terminal performance which can be expected from any law enforcement caliber projectile.

Given the above realities and the fact that numerous ammunition manufacturers now make 9mm Luger service ammunition with outstanding premium line law enforcement projectiles, the move to 9mm Luger can now be viewed as a decided advantage for our armed law enforcement personnel.”

For those curious, I carry Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124 grain +P in all my 9mm semi-autos. In my snub-nose revolver I carry Speer Gold Dot .38 Special 135 grain +P. Why? They’re proven to perform reliably and be optimal for the platform, so ’nuff said.

Pick your ammo, and move on.

We love our gear and our “toys”. Case in point: the mania surrounding the iPhone 6 release and the people camping out for weeks to get the first one.

Why not? It’s fun, it’s tangible, you can experience it, you can share it, you can show it, you can talk (debate/argue) about it. There’s a lot of human satisfaction that comes from gear.

And so like with gear in any realm, so much discussion in the firearms world revolves around equipment.

I always liked Insights Training Center‘s “inverted pyramid” of priorities:

1. Mindset
2. Tactics
3. Skill
4. Equipment

You need equipment, it is foundational. But it is also the least important. Find the equipment that works for you, then move on. Don’t be afraid to occasionally reassess your gear because technology improves and something better may come along, or maybe later on you discover gear that works better. For example, I was fine with my Springfield XD for a number of years, but the main reason I switched to the S&W M&P was discovering minor differences in the construction of the frame worked better for the physiology of my hands . But on the whole, get it settled and move on.

 

Sometimes, it’s “just another day” at KR Training. But this past Saturday was an exception to the rule.

It was a Basic Pistol 2 (Defensive Pistol Essentials) and Defensive Pistol Skills 1. Many students stayed for both classes, which is typical, but what was atypical was…

Weather

…the weather.

The first major cold front came through, and it seems summer is officially over. We dropped around 30º in a day, from being in the mid-90’s going to the mid-60’s. It was wonderful! However, with that drop in temperature also brought a lot of rain. I don’t know how much rain fell at the A-Zone Range, but at my home in Austin we got about 2.5″. It certainly felt that way at the range, with much rain coming on Friday and making for soggy, muddy range conditions. Then despite the weather reports, the rain kept going throughout most of Saturday. Sometimes a light drizzle, sometimes a break, and sometimes it went so hard for so long we just had to go or stay inside.

The weather made things challenging, and I want to give credit to all the students for their positive attitudes and willingness to keep working regardless of the conditions. You don’t get to choose the conditions when the flag flies for you, so it’s good to get used to less than ideal circumstances.

One thing this changed up was exactly what we did in class. We just couldn’t run the same drills. But major props to Karl Rehn for his ability to improv — it’s probably because he’s also a jazz musician. 😉  Seriously, if I can brag on my boss-man for a moment, this is something I’ve long admired in Karl: his ability to adapt. It could be because the weather isn’t cooperating, it could be because he sees the class as a whole is struggling and needs more focus on some element, or maybe he sees everyone is exceeding expectation so he can push further. But he’s always able to call an audible and do what’s right and best for the class, even if it’s not specifically what’s on the lesson plan, it’s still within scope for addressing what the students need within the scope of the class goals. It’s a rare trait, and I’m not sure students can appreciate it because they only see a small slice. But I’ve been around Karl in a teaching capacity for 7 years now and have seen a lot of how he operates. He’s got talent.

Back to students….

One take home? Preparedness. Not just things like carrying your gun or loading all your magazines before coming to class and such. But simple things like if it’s going to be sunny, wear sunscreen. If there’s a chance of rain, wear boots and a raincoat. Windy or chilly? a jacket or windbreaker would be wise. Don’t just think about your gun and ammo for class.

Speaking of equipment.

Equipment Matters

Another way the classes were atypical were the guns we saw. Some years ago you’d see wide variety in classes, but the past couple years it seems that everyone’s pretty much settled on Glock and M&P, with some XDm and the occasional other thing (Sig, H&K). But then suddenly this class was loaded with all sorts of different guns. Not a bad thing, just interesting.

Still, I think a lot of people were able to see how much equipment matters.

Gun fit? Very important. We had a few people with small hands and short fingers, and it was challenging to find a gun that fit them. But now that you know about gun fit (here’s a guide if you need a reminder and reference), now it’s time to go back to the store and just go through everything in the case until you find something that fits you. Yes, that might mean less than ideal calibers like .380 Auto or even .22 LR. But those are better than nothing, provided it means you can find a gun you can shoot, shoot well, and are happy to shoot (meaning you’ll practice). Also, don’t neglect potential for custom gunsmithing to help as well. You may need to get a grip reduction to reduce the mass in your hand, or a different trigger that doesn’t change the weight or safety of the trigger but does change the position so your finger can properly operate the trigger.

Accessories matter too. Lots of people with plain old belts, and they got to experience how they just don’t work well. They cannot support the weight, they twist, they sag, they give, the are too thin and narrow and holsters flex and move. Good belts are important.  I’ve used belts from TheBeltMan, and these days I wear a Wilderness Tactical Original Instructor Belt. The Wilderness belt is NOT fashionable at all, but no one ever sees my belts and I like the “infinite adjustability” because of all my weight fluctuations. There are many good makers of gun belts; use them.

Same goes for holsters and magazine pouches. You will NOT find anything good or useful in the stores in town. Hooray for the Internet tho, because there are people like Comp-Tac, Blade Tech, Raven Concealment, Custom Carry Concepts, Dale Fricke, and many others making quality holsters. A key factor is you want a holster whose mouth stays open so you can reholster without problem. Kydex is good for this.

But while equipment is good, once you have it settled, that’s enough. It’s time to move up the ladder to more important things.

Dry Fire

One side-effect of the weather was we got to do a lot more dry fire work in class than we normally do. I know it’s not as exciting, but I hope the students were able to see the value. I mean, they learned how to draw from a holster and draw from concealment all inside and dry — didn’t have to fire anything, ammo was not necessary.

Many of the skills learned cannot be practiced at local ranges. But about the only thing you can’t work on dry is recoil management. That’s one skill out of the many involved in pistol shooting, so focus on what you can. It’s easy, it costs you nothing but a few minutes of time every other day.

Check out Ben Stoeger’s books and other material on dry fire.

I’ve also got a bunch of stuff right here on my website about dry fire.

Extraneous Movement

We saw numerous people making extraneous movement.

This is simply movement that doesn’t need to be made, and probably shouldn’t. The most common thing was on drawing the gun, squatting down.

I totally understand. I did this for a long time myself.

The thing is, it’s unnecessary movement and can work counter to what you’re trying to do. The biggest problem? When you move your body like that, you now affect where your eye-target line is. So not only are you trying to bring the gun up to the eye-target line, you are also making a moving target because the eye-target line is moving! All this movement makes it harder for you to quickly acquire a sight picture.

The only way to overcome it is to be aware of it, and work on it in dry fire.

Video yourself. Or watch yourself in a mirror. It will tell the truth.

So much of what we do is about economy of motion. For example, how instead of serializing the movements of pressing the gun out and pressing the trigger in we do them simultaneously? We don’t have to move faster, but the simultaneous motion allows us to achieve the end result much sooner. Economy of motion.

Good Day

Despite the rain, it was a good day. The temperature remained cool and it was wonderful to have a day on the range where we weren’t soaked in sweat afterwards. Still soaked, but I’ll take the much-needed rain.

We had full classes, and each class was majority female. We had students aging from college to retirees. People of various backgrounds too. Again, I like to point out the wide diversity of students in classes because it shows that you cannot pigeonhole nor stereotype gun owners and people that take responsiblity for themselves.

And while I bragged on my boss-man, I also want to brag on my fellow assistants, Tom and Tracy. It’s great when you can have a well-oiled machine.

Thank you all for coming out and giving us the privilege of teaching you. I hope you had a good day, learned something, and we hope to see you out on the range again soon. 🙂