Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Basic Weapon Mounted Flashlight Use
The author’s description of “umbrella” or “baseboard” lighting is how I utilize my light if I am searching with a long gun. Unlike the author, I still prefer to search with a handheld light when clearing with a handgun (even one equipped with a WML).
Make Ready with Matt Little: Pistol Skill Fundamentals | Make Ready TV
Do you prefer to learn by watching video content? If so, you might enjoy this free video pistol class taught by Matt Little. I’m scheduled as a guest on Matt’s podcast next month and I’m looking forward to the interview.
2025 End of Year Postal Match Course of Fire: Practical Pistol
Give this drill a try at your next shooting practice session. Need another challenge? Try The Best Defensive Handgun Drill.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story
The Revolver Guy details the complete history of the development of the S&W L-Frame revolver.
An Introduction to Terminal Ballistics; How Bullets Wound and Kill
An incredibly thorough review of the principles of wound ballistics.
A Murder (Clearance Rate) Mystery
All you hear in the media is bad news. I’m going to combat that trend. Last week, I shared an article about how our murder rates in the USA are declining sharply. It seems that our murder clearance rates are dramatically increasing as well. For some more crime stats, read Murder Victims Are Skewing Older.
Model 1878 — Colt’s 1st Double-Action
For you gun history nerds.
Hilton Yam 1911 Duty Tune: Polishing & Prepping
A good video for those of you who want to start tinkering with your 1911 pistols.
The Legend Of Charley Askins by Skeeter Skelton
If you are teaching in the modern gun world and don’t know about Skeeter Skelton and Charles Askins, you need to get yourself up to speed.
Everything Is Television
Do me a favor. Read this article. Then contemplate how this information will influence you going forward.
In similar vein, you may also like The dawn of the post-literate society.
‘The average person now spends seven hours a day staring at a screen. For Gen Z the figure is nine hours. A recent article in The Times found that on average modern students are destined to spend 25 years of their waking lives scrolling on screens.
If the reading revolution represented the greatest transfer of knowledge to ordinary men and women in history, the screen revolution represents the greatest theft of knowledge from ordinary people in history.”
DesertTech MDRx – Dubious Gun, Horrific Customer Service
Ouch! I won’t be doing any business with this company.
Soft Tissue Infections
The basics of treating cellulitis in austere conditions. You should also know which antibiotics treat which infections. Here is a simple guide to print out and store with your medical supplies. Appropriate Antibiotics for Resistant Organisms. If you are looking for a more comprehensive reference on this topic, purchase the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial therapy.
The Open-Bolt MACs
These are really gun guns to shoot. My officers once took (an illegally converted to full auto) Mac-11 .380 off a guy who robbed a shoe store. Its cyclic rate was ridiculously fast. I kept the gun as a range toy to teach the officers about open bolt guns and full auto weapons. Breaking it out for familiarization fire was always a crowd pleaser.
Are your kids spending hours with random adults online?
Do you know about Roblox? It’s best to educate yourself if you have kids who play online games.
S&W 432 Ultimate Carry Ti Review: No Thanks! – RevolverGuy.Com
Justin describes all the problems he’s had with the 432 UC revolver. I have one and mine runs great. I’m a huge Smith and Wesson revolver fan. With that said, I am almost at the point where I can’t recommend any of their new revolvers. Almost all of the S&W revolvers I’ve purchased in the last five years have needed to be immediately returned to the factory after firing less than 50 rounds. Some of mine have been back a few times without remedy. It’s sad how badly their quality control has suffered in recent years.
I hate to say it, but if you are in the market for a new snub revolver, the Ruger LCR is a much better choice.
What I’m reading…
If you liked Justin’s article about the S&W snubbies above, you will really like his new book. He gave me a pre-release author’s copy when I saw him at the recent RevolverFest training congference in South Carolina. I’m really enjoying it so far.
Don’t be freaked out at the price. This is a MASSIVE book. It’s three times the length of the average fictional novel. It’s well worth the money. Ig you want some more info about the book, check out Competent & Dangerous Available Now!
Lack of Back Up – A Disturbing Trend
Please don’t let anyone convince you that you don’t need backup iron sights on an optic-equipped weapon.
And on a similar topic, please don’t allow some “experts” to tell you that you don’t need to “tap” the magazine during a malfunction clearing procedure. Read You’re Right, Tapping Is Dumb for additional considerations.
Perfect Pocket Draw: Quick-Draw Essentials
Good tips for those of you who carry a gun in your pocket. I occasionally pocket carry a J-frame snub, a Ruger LCP, or a Glock 42. The two holsters I’ve found that work the best are the DeSantis Superfly and the Bulman Undercover holster.
“The report of my death was an exaggeration.” John E. Bianchi
Some holster making history. I highly recommend the author’s book Holstory for those of you interested in the history and evolution of leather handgun holsters.
Shooting 101: 9 Things to Look for When Choosing the Right Firearm Instructor
Very few gun owners seek formal firearms training. I hop my audience is the exception to that rule. If you haven’t been to a shooting class, here are some things to look for before you sign up.
Chair Qual: Barricade Skills With A Simple Folding Chair
I first did this drill in an NRA LE instructor class taught by the late Clive Shepherd back in 2001. Everything old is new again.
It’s a useful exercise and can also be done with range picnic tables. If you want to be exceptionally evil, put a student on either side of the picnic table. Make them use their near side hand to hold the picnic table off the ground while they shoot their rifle with the other hand. Then switch sides. Your students will hate you, but will learn things.
Understanding Ohio’s Weapon Laws, Part 12 – Courthouses
Lon educates us about who can legally carry in Ohio’s court houses.
Grudge Match: LPVO vs. Magnifiers
“If we simply compare the number of wins for each category, you may get the impression we’re bigger fans of the RDS + magnifier than the LPVO. But that’s not the case; both are excellent tools when used properly. The LPVO allows for engagement at greater distances with greater precision, while the RDS is better for close range, funny angles, and NVG use. As manufacturing technology increases, gaps between these systems will continue to diminish — and that’s a good thing.”
You may also enjoy Everything Wrong with LPVOs
Set It & Forget It
It’s not cool if you have to adjust your optic brightness in the middle of a gunfight.
Active Shooter Training Tips
This is a slightly older article, but the author’s points are still incredibly valid.
When the Law Failed, Citizens Turned to Colts for Frontier Justice
“Get your guns, boys! They’re robbing the bank!”
