Picking Defensive Shotguns

2009-12-07 / hsoi / 2 Comments

RevolverRob weighs in with his take on defensive shotguns. Good read.

I’d like to add to the pump vs. semi-auto debate.

Pumps are simpler machines, run almost any ammo you can feed the gun, cheaper to purchase, can handle some abuse and neglect better. But they will also recoil harder and are a more complex manual of arms to operate. Semi-autos have a simple “point and click” interface, and you should be taking the time anyway to find the best ammo for the gun (that works, that patterns, etc.) so the ammo finickiness shouldn’t be too big an issue.

Think about the operator of the firearm. If it’s me, I could care less. Pump is fine. I’m a big guy, the recoil won’t bother me, operating the action is just fine and dandy. Now let’s take a small statured woman or even a child; something with less recoil could be beneficial to them (consider low-recoil rounds as well, which are more than adequate for home-defense shotgunning). Is the operator someone who practices? If so, pump might be OK as there’d be less risk of short-stroking. If not, the simpler interface of “point and click” from a semi-auto may serve them better.

There’s no blanket answer here. Merely adding more things to the mix for one to consider.

Speaking of all of this, KR Training will be having another Defensive Long Gun course on January 23, 2010. I took it last year with my AR. I wonder if I might want to take it again but with a shotgun. Hrm.

Top 20 Street Fighting Mistakes

2009-12-012009-11-30 / hsoi

Good video about 20 common street fighting mistakes.

Learn from this from both sides. First, make sure that you don’t make these mistakes yourself. Second, look for them in your opponent and know how to captialize upon them.

The site it comes from, fighttips.com, has more instructional material. It also has a lot of fight videos. While I don’t find entertainment in watching street fights, you can learn from watching them (mostly about what really goes on and what not to do).

Cane Trials – Update

2009-11-30 / hsoi / 3 Comments

James over at hellinahandbasket just posted his investigations into cane durability. This was something spurred by one of my postings, and it’s great that he sought to check this stuff out. Thanx, James!

It should be noted that James was looking at general durability for whacking someone with a cane. For many people, this is probably all they would do with a cane, using it to strike people in an untrained manner. Don’t get me wrong, there’s certainly nothing wrong with this. My personal goals are slightly different, being able to use a cane for locking, throwing, trapping, and other such things in addition to striking (my background in Kuk Sool and Kali give me many options). Nevertheless, if a cane can’t take a good whack against a tree, it’s doubtful it would be useful in any other way.

If you are going for a cane to just strike someone about the head and shoulders with, I would recommend a lighter cane. Yes more mass (at the same velocity) would yield more force upon impact, but more mass also means more momentum to have to bring to a stop, which you may well need to do to strike again especially if your first one missed. But exactly how heavy the cane should be depends 100% upon you, the way you’ll use the cane, and your strength and ability. Make sure you check this out and don’t settle on a cane until you find one that you can properly wield to suit your goals.

The lucite cane surprised me. But if it works, it works. I would want to feel it for heft and grip before I bought and/or settled on it, but the durability was nice to see. I wonder how easily you can trim the cane for a walking fit, or if it can be ordered to size.

On the other hand, the lack of durability in the rattan cane surprised me. I’ve used rattan staffs in Kuk Sool and we’ve struck each other at full force, no harm. I use rattan sticks in my kali practice, and we strike full force, no harm. I’ve struck the trees in my yard with these sticks, no harm. So I can only assume that it’s not rattan, but perhaps the construction of that particular cane.

In the end, James is right: some cane is better than no cane. Even those purely medical canes are better than nothing (tho they are certainly bottom of the list). But do you need to go out and spend big bucks on some specialty martial arts cane? Probably not. There is advantage there as they are certainly purpose-built (especially when looking at a training cane to ensure the “mouth” of the crook is wide enough to minimize chances of injury to a training partner), but they certainly aren’t a hard-fast requirement. I would also encourage anyone that opts to use a cane for self-defense to get some sort of training with it and to practice with it.

Thanx again, James!

Buck shot with buckshot

2009-11-28 / hsoi

New Jovian Thunderbolt ruminates on the buck shot with buckshot. Implications not just for hunters, but for those that opt for shotguns for self and/or home defense.

The article is not long but the final word is simple: 00 buckshot, not birdshot.

Raging Against Self Defense – A Psychiatrist Examines the Anti-Gun Mentality

2009-11-24 / hsoi

From JPFO, an article by Sarah Thompson, M.D. examining the anti-gun mentality.

This is not some “anti-gunners are morans [sic]” piece. This is a serious, rational examination by a psychiatrist into how people come to hold anti-gun mentalities. From the use of defense mechanisms, like projection and denial, to how rage factors into the equation. Ms. Thompson also provides techniques for improved communication between those for and against guns.

Well-written piece worthy of being read by those on both sides of the issue.

Making Your Home Less Inviting

2009-11-17 / hsoi / 1 Comment

James Rummel discusses home invasions. More importantly, he discusses things you can do to help minimize chances of them happening and if they do happen how to minimize the pain from them.