Firearms Training and Instructor Selection

Firearms Training and Instructor Selection

 

I will preface this short article with this—many of the readers will think I’m not talking about them, but I am.

Does owning a firearm or shooting it occasionally give someone the right to teach others? Sure we all have the responsibility to ensure the safe handling off all firearms is taught and adhered to while in the presence of said firearm. My question is directed at the individual who has no formal training as a shooter nor any background instructing yet they seem to be an overabundance of these self-taught instructors on the local ranges—Pew Professional Shirts and all. I personally see them attempting to teach grip and stance form whatever crap they picked up off YOU TUBE, struggle through explanations of trigger press andcontrol, and have no understanding of the basic mechanics of a firearm. I have no problem with them owning a firearm or choosing to be a shit shot in a stressful situation but WHY drag someone into your delusional self-indulged bullshit? The person being trained put their trust into a lie. Succinctly, owning a gun does not necessarily give you any special skills to shoot a gun—nor does it qualify a person to instruct. 

This article will anger some and others will cheer some may cry, which will be a little weird. The intent is to educate—to step outside yourself and look at the facts. Anyone can pick up a firearm—apply the basic safety rules—and fire the weapon in a general direction toward a target. Guess what—the bullet does not always go where you want it to go no matter how hard you try. It takes years of practice and educated patient instructors to correct and fine tune your skills. You CANNOT measure success with a specific distance and a static position. Most will fire their rounds without a course of fire and slap the trigger--shooting faster than you should—pausing occasionally  to look over the top of your firearm in a futile attempt to get a quick glimpse of your handiwork and looking for a grouping that will never be there. You will walk away and wonder what you did wrong but will have no clue—blowing it off and recounting the fun had to make the day better—shrugging off any real responsibility of training for potential defensive scenarios. Awesome, if that is what you want--receive instruction from a friend or relative who was a cook in the Army- then please stop reading. If you want to arm yourself with knowledge—see what I did there—then please continue reading. 

Before you seek out instruction or a class remember a conceal weapons class does not always give you an extensive course in firearms training. Most States require a basic knowledge of the firearm, safety, and the laws outlining the use of deadly force. With that said—look for a class or institution that offers defensive shooting as part of its courses. In addition, don’t be afraid to start with a fundamentals course no matter how long you have been shooting. The basics will always strengthen your accuracy and eventually speed. Skills in defensive shooting should include from the holster-IWB or OWB-, magazine reloads, clearing jams, and some movement. This is not something that is exclusive to all programs and may be split up between different courses. 

Choosing your instructors

Depending on where you live this may be a difficult search. Be meticulous with your research and ask questions. After all it is your money and you want the best bang for your buck—did it again.

Military background: Use caution when researching instructors with a military background. Not all the armed forces have equal shooting skills nor have the combative experiences to successfully train civilians. A relatively small percentage of military actually fight or are specialized enough to carefully discern targets with any accuracy-it can be confusing and without prior knowledge of certain elite forces- what qualifies them as competent instructors? A reliable resource is the FBI’s requirements for their Hostage Rescue Teams https://www.fbijobs.gov/special-agents/specialties/hostage-rescue-team. These particular career fields are highly trained and are selective shooters so as to not create excessive collateral damage. Usually these individuals can transfer learned skills to defensive shooting for civilian use. Exceptions would be any military police force or military with extra training on the civilian side. The goal is not to be trained as a soldier but to defend yourself and loved ones. SO beware of the tacti-cool schools that attempt to train you in offensive tactics. It does have its place but be very sure that is what you want for your defensive shooting. 

Law Enforcement Background: Police are on the front lines of our society every day. This makes them uniquely qualified to explain criminal mindsets and laws for your particular state. Cops are also a good source of information on carry and how to pick out suspicious people looking for victims. There is somewhat of a difference between different types of policedepartments across the nation and this is where the research pays off—Law Enforcement in larger cities or towns will have a more robust experience and insight dealing with shoot/no shoot situations and can recant several experiences from real-life events. Additionally, police have to maintain qualifications verysimilar to their specialized military brethren when it comes to careful target selection in a defensive pistol encounter. Cops are not special operations but the appeal comes from their diversity amongst the ranks—police prove time and time again that it does not matter what your size and/or strength is during the fight but your heart to win and preserve your life. 

Competition Shooter Background: These people are as diverse as one can get with IPSC, USPSA, Bullseye shooter, and a host of other competitions. The one thing shared between all the competitive shooters is their almost zealot commitment to methodical repetition training until they get it right. This may not sound responsive like their military or law enforcement cousins but rest assured that hours of training fundamentals will strengthen your ability to adapt in a chaotic situation. 

Instructors that have a diverse combination of the backgrounds above shows an above average commitment to take themselves out of their comfort zone. This in my opinion makes a very sound and experienced instructor. 

You may be reading this and think that you haven’t had the opportunity to do any of this but still consider yourself a good instructor—that may be true as long as you are consistently pushing your shooting  and instructing abilities to the limit.  In the end most people don’t know what they want from a course nor do they know how to discern one group of instructors from another. Therefore you must do your research and make the smart choice for your money and more importantly your life.

The Golden Rule

The recent shooting in Orlando has been yet another catalyst to anti-gun advocates to voice their opinion on the situation. Our own president even stated, "We need to reinstate the assault weapons ban...to make it harder for them to kill us" --Um, OK Mr. President--make it harder for "Them" to get "assault weapons"--so it's HARDER for "them" to kill us. Does the President really think that a mass triage is the answer? It's almost as if he is saying--well if guns are harder to get then maybe only a few of us will get it and not all of us--that sounds good right?

Let's tear this down:
 It fits an agenda for disarmament. I get it--tin foil hat conspiracy but it has happened time and time again in history, even our own government. Anybody ever hear of the massacre at wounded knee--well that was gun confiscation initially and then a blood bath.

Strengthens negative ideals. When people base everything on emotion and feelings instead of the facts and the law. I am a firearms instructor--and yes even liberals are scared and want to learn how to shoot--but instead of learning the basics of the law they dissect the situation as if they could never be in it and have condemned anyone who could possibly pull the trigger without this fantasy checklist first.
What if its just a kid?
Shouldn't we talk it out first?
What if their life was just REALLY bad and they needed the money for drugs so they can escape the crushing reality they currently dwell?
My response: Why are you here learning to shoot? Their response: I'm scared

The reality is it happens in seconds. It happens so fast that you cannot even think about this person's past let alone build an interrogative sentence to ask them out for a cappuccino and a good shoulder cry. Succinctly, this person is gambling his/her life and has pulled you into the game. You did not asked to be pulled into the madness--yet here you are--the law gives us that right to preserve our lives, loved ones and to some extent strangers. WITHIN REASON--this is not vigilantism--it's a moment in time that will come and pass in the blink of an eye.

When I lived in Texas--the law is very clear that deadly force can be used to protect property even if the stupid bastard is running--or waddling (I have big appliances)--down the street with your crap. A former neighbor who was liberal but loved to talk to me about my service overseas told me he would just come and get me to shoot the guy. Uh what?! Sorry brother that's murder AND I would never take a life over a TV or toaster. Especially if they are running down the road. I attempted many times to educate him that I have to assume my life or someone else life is in danger of being extinguished--then this person has forced me to act. Not to keep pumping round after round after they left the house like some kind of John Woo film--but to defend until they are dead or have left my property. Either way, preconceived notions without knowing the parameters of the law.


THE ORLANDO SHOOTING 
The man who shot up this club and it's patrons was a vile piece of shit. Now for the part everyone is going to hate--he probably could have achieved the same body count with a hunting rifle. As the patrons clustered together he was able to shoot and more than likely have some ballistic effect on two or three people with one shot. It wasn't because it was a scary "Assault Rifle" "Weapon of War"--it was physics, trajectory and inertia. The cartridge he most likely used is called an intermediate round it is in between a rifle cartridge and pistol cartridge. the bullet begins to tumble after impact--I'm assuming 55 grain FMJ--at a distance but close in it can some times maintain its path until its slowed by other objects. 
With the limitations on his firearm to actually inflict an unfathomable body count--it is reasonable to assume that the shooter fired into the groups and humans reacted as they normally do when they are passive--they clustered giving him an unforeseen bonus to kill more. Whether he recognized this or not is doubtful and he probably just pulled the trigger. Amidst the screams and noise of the firearm he probably didn't intend or recognize this. This is merely speculative and an assumption from my experience in combat.

Now before you label me a heartless 2A asshole--know that I have spent 24 years of my life fighting for this country and have been in scores of battles and firefights. SO I have some expertise in fighting with firearms. Regardless, I believe people have a right to their opinion and have a live and let live attitude towards certain lifestyles. I really don't care if you're gay or like chickens or whatever--don't cross the line with kids or we will have a problem. Regardless, let's look at the number of patrons that were out having a good time--300+ from what I understand. Why didn't anyone do something? When the dirt-bags hit that Train in France--3 guys rushed him and kicked his ass--When jerk-face shot up Tennessee he was met by Marines who fought him--During
9-11 passengers stood up and fought back. Not all of this turned out great for the people who fought back but with their lives it either prevented others form being killed or stalled the shitbag enough for more people to revoke his birth certificate. The people at the club did nothing but gave up--this is not a slam or a slander. It actually weighs very heavy on my heart. As someone who has served the people of this country--I think of those scared Americans and it crushes me. One of my NCOs and friends once told me that we should always live up to the golden rule. I pondered that for a brief second and then asked him what it was. He looked off in the distance as if ready to give the greatest advice on the planet, "Never go out like a punk ass bitch". It was funny but he wasn't joking. Life some times puts us in weird situations where we may have to fight for our lives and the people we care about. Our society has attempted to shift its collective thinking that this thinking is all bullshit. That if we discuss things with these assholes or at the very least wait for someone else--like law enforcement--everything will be peachy keen, roses and fucking daisys. What's bullshit is that we are at war and nobody will say it. WE ARE AT WAR! It's on our soil and it's killing our people. WE must fight back. WE must protect ourselves and WE are the people. The government is not our friend they are our employees not our aristocrats. Taking away all the guns will not change a thing it will make it worse for us. WE need to stop fighting each other with this party crap and fight the radicals that have said they will kill us all. Time for everyone to stand up and fight.

Remember the Golden Rule.

FN FAL

Sitting around with a number of gun aficionados, the question was submitted, “What rifle besides our beloved M16 rivals the AK in distribution and commie notoriety?” The answers varied but one stands out as true, the FN FAL the right arm of the free world. Originally designed by Fabrique National as the Fusil Automatique Léger ("Light Automatic Rifle") or FAL. It was the hammer for good guys everywhere to fight the red menace of communism. 

Design and Influence   

 

Designed in the mid-1940s post WW II it was strongly influenced by the German StG 44 and the Russian STV-40. In fact, it has a similar gas operated feature with a short-stroke piston. The very first design was developed in the 7.92 x 33 Kurtz. The same intermediate cartridge used successfully by the German Sturmgewehr 44-the Grandfather of modern military assault weapons. However, with limits on post war ammunition supplies FN grabbed the attention of the British Commonwealth looking for a new battle rifle chambered in .280. Obviously FN was on this like a fat kid on a cupcake, but politics and the formation of NATO saw things a tad bit different. Post WW II saw the United States in a very powerful position to dictate policy and an “in the weeds” influence over standard battle rifles. At the time the US was the only power on the planet that kept the Soviets in check after the war. War-torn Europe was in no condition to face the Soviet war machine and so the US pushed hard for the .30 Cal Lite round to be the standard NATO round, which we know and love today as the 7.62 x 51 NATO. It is also noteworthy to mention that the FN FAL was strongly influenced with John Browning’s designs. Dieudonné  Saive (pictured below) the creator of the FN FAL completed work on John Browning’s high power 1935 and was more than likely inspired by Browning’s genius to create the FAL.

 

The right arm of freedom fades away hard

 

The FAL was distributed or made by over 90 countries. Wherever AK barked its distinctive rapport, an FAL was more than likely to answer. It served in a number of conflicts and still serves in some capacity with many third world nations.  The bottom line is that it did the job and truly helped stop the spread of geo-political instability in a number of disputed regions from the late 50’s to the 80’s and sometimes to our present. Fortunately or unfortunately speed is a soldier’s friend and weight is his enemy. And weight my friend is something the FAL has in abundance. With the weight between 9.5-13 lbs it is a heavy little lady to lug through any environment and to carry the massive 7.62 x 51 was an added burden.  Countries eventually looked for a more sound option, namely the 5.56 NATO. Lighter and more compact, the round offered more versatility in the field.  However, the FAL did have a very unique clash with itself during the short skirmish between the UK and Argentina over those (Mother)-Falkland Islands. One of the few times the same rifle was pitted against opposing forces the British prevailed and simply out-soldiered the Argentinians. Although the rifle served well in many countries its weight and cumbersome length contributed to the retirement of the rifle and the adoption of bullpups and lighter carbines.

 

Where Can I Get One?

I know what you are thinking, “Thanks for the history lesson. Where can I buy one?” The answer, everywhere. You may not find it in your local gun shop, but the internet is full of good deals. However, this is where you will have to do a little research and determine the type of FAL you may want. Determine if you are looking for an “inch” or “metric” FN FAL, then go to the FAL Files http://www.falfiles.com/forums/ and ask away. This forum has a ton of expertise from builds to where you can purchase an FAL for a decent price. Once you purchased one or in the process of a build take a look at http://www.dsarms.com . DSA Inc offers a number of parts and accessories for your FAL build or to put a little lip stick on the girl before the big range day. Gunbroker  http://www.gunbroker.com usually has some very good deals but this is where the research will  come in handy from the FAL files. With prices ranging from 500 to 2,000+ it behooves one to get the facts straight.

 

Wrap it up folks!

I personally own an Israeli FAL and have never regretted ownership of this great piece of history. Sarah (my FAL) is not a tack driver but she is a ton of fun to shoot and after emptying a 20 round mag of 7.62-I can see why it was such an effective rifle against the AK. It is a great addition to any collection and its rugged design will allow this rifle to be passed down to the next generation. Have fun be safe and stay on target.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

 

A day of remembrance, a day to reflect and for some a day to mourn. Never a day to cast judgment. As a service members, the loss of our brothers and sisters who gave their lives in the line of duty (and sometimes beyond that) is close to our hearts. We know their families, we have to go on without their presence in our day to day lives and we have to look the children in their eyes searching for some words that may comfort or provide understanding. We see the people of this country bowing their heads using words like “remember” and “never forget” but do they really mean it? Some politicians pretending to understand service to the country but never truly connecting with the loss of a true combat brother and the meaning of that sacrifice  

For me, it’s perfectly acceptable. Have your BBQs, go on your trips, plan your long weekends.  The ones we lost would have done the same, they would have loaded up their families on a long trip or had a couple colds ones for race day. It’s part of being an American. To enjoy that freedom that so many did die for and secure. The price of freedom is paved with broken families, blood and horrible stories that the survivors sometimes feel bittersweet when they see people frolicking about what they will do on their extended weekend. It angers us, what was the point of my friend getting blown up? So you can talk about what a pain it is to have to drive 3 hours to your stupid get away! What about the families that won’t have that, instead that family visits a grave. I get it man, the anger towards such a nonchalant attitude. BUT we choose to serve and we have CHOSEN to put our lives on the line to give our people the chance to live their lives as they see fit.

But if you are out Monday and have never served, look around you. Breathe in the air, hug your family, and be glad to be alive. And if you are so inclined think about the faceless soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen throughout our history who have died to make this such a great day for you to be alive.

I will always remember them and never forget their sacrifice. I will not make their loss meaningless and will live my life to the fullest extent possible. My children will learn of what it means and become better people for knowing that they have set the bar for the price we are willing to pay to have our freedom.

 

Fun Rifles with a Rich History [FAL, Garand, Mosin]

SO many rifles come to mind when looking for a historical connection with your shooting recreational activities. Most of the fun is shooting the rifle trying to imagine what those soldiers had to go through. Anyone who has ever served understands that the rifle becomes a part of you. Waking up in the morning you reach for it, the annoying way it swings and hits your leg or the constant weighted feeling of slinging it EVERYWHERE. We bitch about it but also miss it in a way once we are back in the States. No way I'm advocating to sling your rifle around all day by no means, but modern firearms are little plastic toys compared to some of these older rifles. Hence, when shooting something with a little history on it--thoughts reflect--what was the grumbling behind this heavy piece of wood and steel. However, in a crunch it was their best friend. These are my top 3 old war rifles to shoot whenever you get a chance:

Israeli FN FAL. Replacing the polymer with wood. It supports a forward assist and cut grooves into the bolt to allow operation in a sandy environment. Depending on the model anywhere from 500-2000 dollars. Do your research.

 

 

FN FAL
The right arm of the free world. Designed by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and named the Fusil Automatique Léger ("Light Automatic Rifle") or FAL. It packs a heavy punch keeping the spirit alive for post WW II heavy battle rifles. Original FALs-heavily influenced by the StG 44-were designed to shoot the British .280 BUT heavy American persuasion and trying to get everyone on the same sheet of music for ammo distribution pushed the FAL into eating up NATO 7.62x51 (.308). The rifle is heavy weighing between 10-13 lbs. depending on what variant you have. It also has the unique history to be one of the few battle rifles that fought against itself. During the brief war between the British and the Argentinians over those (Mother)-Falkland Islands. How does it shoot?

I personally own an Israeli version, semi-auto of course. It is heavy, hard to run with and takes a ton of patience to learn how to shoot, but the 308 slamming into a target at the end of the range is worth the hassle. However, it makes that the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) tossed  their FALs for the lighter AK or UZI in close fights. But the AK cannot touch the firepower of the FAL in a distance game. Unfortunately that is the common failure of any rifle, not being able to adapt it to any environment. Eventually, the Israelis redesigned their battle rifle and produced the Galil. I digress, if you are looking for a fun rifle to shoot and maybe a pig hunt look into the FAL.

 

                           Fun at the range in with the M1 Garand. Even a beat up Garand can go for 600-700 dollars. CMP still offers Garands at a great price

M1 Garand
We take Semi-auto for granted these days from our 10-22s to the AR-15 its become the norm for military style rifles. But imagine a battlefield with only hard hitting bolt action rifles, pistol caliber sub machineguns, and crew served machine guns. As you military tactically minded folks can surmise one would have to change the way you fight. In an infantry fight the goal is to overwhelm your enemy with mass fire. This allows the next platoon or squad to move in and lay down covering fire and so on. The Germans based all of their tactics around the MG-34/42 so they could protect the crew served weapons. The Americans replaced all of their 1903 Springfields with 8 round hard hitting 30-06 Garand rifles. This firepower in the hands of the average infantry soldier was unprecedented at the time and it wasn't until right about the end of the war that countries scrambled to make a similar rifle that could compete. The Germans and the Russians did cut down the cartridge to an intermediate round 7.92 x 33 and 7.62 x 39 respectfully. The difference being they could not get them in the hands of every soldier (thank God) nor mass produce these rifles in the quantities of that the US could. Basically why you see Garands everywhere and not StG 44s.

This is one of the best rifles to shoot. For a mass produced semi-auto ahead of its time the balance accuracy are incredible. The heft of the rifle helps follow up shots, which would have been a damn fine thing to have ties in with other Garand suppressing a German MG. Once the rounds have been shot the clip bounds out of the top of the rifle with the stamped steel clip making a Klang sound. Something the GIs took advantage of in the war by throwing an empty on the ground after firing a few shots. Thinking that they were empty and reloading, Japanese and sometimes German soldiers would rush their positions only to be cut down by the massive 30.06. Of course your typical range does not offer the same perilous opportunities but can be recreated for fun. I like to have 5 targets at varies ranges and depths. I will fire 2 shots and throw and empty. with the remaining 6 rounds attempted to put accurate fire on the targets. It's fun but extremely difficult especially for time.

 

 

Mosin M91/30. Prices have risen recently but still under 300 bucks for decent rifle.

 

 

M91/30 Mosin Nagant
Wait just a minute! You just wrote about two great battle rifles and now you're throwing up the Russian Pinko crap. Well, yeah...as far as war rifles go the Mosin is one of the most reliable massed produced rifles of the war. It is heavy but no more than any other rifle of that time. It's usually not as accurate due to pitting in the rifling but it was made for a Russian peasant so get over it. Although its not a tack driver it will accommodate a fairly good grouping as long as the shooter is consistent. This is yet another war surplus rifle that is still fairly cheap and can be bought two or three at a time. More so than the two rifles above.

The ammo is still cheap the rifle is cheap but the fun is non stop. When you have a rifle that packs the punch that a 7.62x54 does and can shoot it all day with ammo left over...Well you got yourself a gem my friend. With so many of these rifles produced the internet is flooded with after market parts and accessories for the Mosin. This is an excellent firearm to own for you prepper minded folks. Used as a defense or hunting rifle it serves a multi-player in your arsenal. After all the pinkos needed something hard hitting, effective, and durable and this is what they came up with.



Some websites to check out: These sites can direct you into purchasing the Garand and accessories for your Mosin.
http://thecmp.org/
http://brassstacker.com/

Home defense considerations

Recently I was having a conversation about handguns and home defense, it was interesting and the perspective was volleyed back and forth like a ping-pong ball.  After the conversation, it hit me that no matter what you do or how much you think you have prepared, it may not be enough. The odds that you will safely get to your family, get to your safe zone, engage the bad guys and call 911 are mind bending-ly NOT in your favor. I could write that with proper training and a skilled set of the newest DVDs detailing room to room clearing of your domicile will help you vanquish the intruders (cape flying whipping in the wind). The truth, it’s a scary thought that if a person or persons enter your home specifically to do you harm then it will be a fight for everyone’s life. I realize that the norm is a criminal in search of your junk to sell for 100 % profit is what most people will experience or encounter. This individual does not want to die nor is your stuff worth going to jail for, therefore this guy opts out and runs away if he realizes he has disturbed your slumber. But every so often, there is a real crazy out in the world who just wants to be in your house. He knows the risks and may even be excited by the danger involved, but this bogeyman (lack of a better term) is not seeking material objects. He wants to do unspeakable things to your family and this person is out for blood. These bogeymen are the reason we have firearms, they are the ones that make us wonder if we can react quickly enough, they are the things we hope never happen. This maniac will be long gone before the police arrive you have no choice but to be the first responder.

Now I pretend to be no expert on clearing your home as each domicile has a unique layout and each family’s size and location varies as well. I’m using practical knowledge and as much common sense as I can muster. Indeed most of you will disagree, but I would challenge you: EVEN if you have had to chase an intruder from your home or God forbid engaged someone in your home, then the next time will be different. I promise you.

As I stated above the odds are not in your favor, but there is always hope and a chance.

First, study the layout of your home. If you have two floors or a basement with a sliding door then you may have a difficult time clearing your home in this instance. Hence, if this happens at night (more than likely) then draw up a plan to collect your children and get behind a door in a defensible location. If your bedroom is at the end of the hallway and your child’s room is at the top of the stairs, then figure out whose covering and who’s grabbing the kid. Get back to your safe area and call 911 post or pre movement but call them, preferable post movement. If you have no children then DO NOT MOVE. Lock the bedroom and call the police. Have your firearm ready and keep 911 on the phone (do this IF you have children). Let law enforcement know you are armed. When the police do arrive, they will announce themselves.

So let’s speculate a moment. You realize to your horror that someone is in your home. You have a plan to get to the rooms and fall back to your safe location. You go into the last bedroom to retrieve your youngest child and they are not in their bed. I’ll let that sink in for a moment. You are armed, you may have someone in your home AND one of your kids is not there. Search the room, search the bathroom, search the house…the key word here is you will have to SEARCH for this child. Let’s say your wife takes the other children into the bedroom and locks the door. Do you have another firearm in the house that she will be using? If you have one gun and you have it, then what if something happens to you? Let’s move on from that…you are looking through your home. DO you have a light? Is it attached to your firearm? With your adrenalin through the roof and senses spiked, can you identify a threat from say, a fast scared moving child? And let’s just say for happy ending (maybe) that you find your kid and start making your way back to the bedroom. Did your wife tell the cops that you were downstairs (or outside the bedroom) looking for your child? They may show up ready for a fight see you in the dark with a firearm and kill you. This happened to a former Marine who lived in a bad neighborhood. Cops hit the wrong home who he mistook as aggressors, engaged and was killed by police. But I digress…let’s say you get to your bedroom door. In all the excitement you reach for the door not thinking and it’s locked (well yeah, your wife locked it) in a split second muscle reflex you turn and jiggle the door knob. Oops! You may be on the receiving end of a volley of bullets from a scared mother or significant other.

 

How’s your plan doing? Now, let’s say that everyone is safe but for whatever reason you are out and about in the house. In your undies you encounter the intruder. He stops but doesn’t move, just stares at you. It’s dark and you don’t have a light (get a damn light). DO you shoot him? What distance is he to you? Are you between him and an exit? AND more importantly, does he have a weapon? Split second choices will have to be made. Are you ready for that?

Choices have been made, as in the movie “Boondock Saints”, THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT!!!! Indeed violence will be met with violence. Any vet in a fight knows that fundamentals go out the window pretty quick. It comes down to muscle memory. You should know where all the sweet spots are located in your home. YOU should know which way to move so as to not trip on a stick of furniture. YOU need to know where to hold your firearm, which way to shoot, and the shots that may go through and hit someone you love. YOU take responsibility for YOUR defense. It does not stop at buying a handgun, shotgun, AR, or mini-gun. You have to train like there is no tomorrow because if you don’t get this right, there may not be.

The bottom line is that this is not easy nor is it a roller coaster of vigilante fun. If you have decided to defend your home with a firearm there must be a list of things to consider. Cross-talk with others and learn if they have a plan. When you make a plan apply the K.I.S.S concept, Keep It Simple Stupid

Additionally I would be remiss to emphasize safety. Always store your firearms safely with kids in your home. Be careful clear your firearms when training and be safe.

 

Bottom line: An extremely violent trespasser is not something your average American can possibly fathom. Train hard, train smart, and prepare yourself and your family for a worse-case scenario or become a statistic. Harsh words for a harsh reality.

 

In my next blog I'll take a closer look at handguns for home defense.

5 so-called home defense experts.

5 so-called home defense experts

We have all met this guy in light conversation in the office or gun club. He is the resident expert on home defense. He includes statistics and talks in a raised eyebrow you should agree tone. His firearm of choice is the only viable option and will argue like a politician to secure his point, they are the “So-Called Home Defense Experts”

Now keep in mind that this is my perspective and humble opinion. Please let me know if you have a similar experience.

AR-15 Guy:

 This guy wants you to believe that every home defense situation is a quick trip back in time to Vietnam. He does not go into detail about tactics or specific ammunition, just that the black rifle fires an enormous amount of rounds and is great for running off large gangs of thugs.

Reality—The AR-15 used properly is an excellent home defense firearm. Depending on the basic layout of your home--that will determine the ammo and training you will need to ensure success and save the lives of your loved ones.

 Comrade AK-47:

He believes that when you have to absolutely kill every mother-F*&#@ in the room the AK is the weapon of choice. This person will swear up and down that the very sight of the AK will cause a fecal explosion in the pants of the nefarious infiltrator and he will run from your home in fear.

Reality—Once again no mention of training or ballistics with the AK. With the scores of variants in the US, it stands to reason that this firearm is in the average household. However, understanding the firearm is understanding the difficult nature of it as a home defense firearm. The AK fires a round that is roughly equivalent to a 30 caliber brush gun. Again, study the dimensions of your house and the material that lines your walls to ensure there will be little to no penetration.

 Shotgun Noise:

“The very sound of a shotgun will make them stop. That noise-you know-the sound of a shotgun racking a round in the chamber will send chills right up the spine. You see I’ve never had to use ol’ Betty here, because her bark is worse than her bite.” We all know this guy when looking for the best home defense firearm. He is orally passing down the same old story he heard from someone in a bait shop or gun club. This person cannot be reasoned with, nor can they give specifics to the follow-up question; what if they don’t run?

Reality-The shotgun is a superb home defense firearm. It does have some disadvantages such as weight and bulk. Not everyone in your household will be able to shoot or handle a 12 gauge shotgun. Who said it had to be a 12 gauge, more and more people are using the 20 gauge as a viable shotgun option for home defense. It’s light enough and still packs a punch. As for the noise, it may or may not work. Are you willing to bet your life on it? Train, train and more training. No your rounds and your shotgun and various distances within your home. A normal shotgun pattern will stay tight until after a certain distance, so unless you live in a mansion, just aiming in the general direction will not suffice.

Dirty Harry The Revolver Guy:

 

Usually an old timer who once fired a pistol in the air to scare away some “damn” teenagers in his yard. This man will go on and on about how the revolver holds just enough rounds to do the job until the cops show up. I once heard a man at a local gun club exclaim, “If I can’t get him with 6 then I deserve to die” WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY MAN?

Reality-The revolver is one of the oldest home defense firearms in the world. It rarely jams and can pack a mean punch to anyone looking to inflict harm. Not to mention, it does strike an intimidating pose with its iconic standing with Americans. All that aside, how quickly can you reload the revolver? Will you bring extra ammo with you while clearing room to room in your underwear? How do you clear a jam? The revolver is a great defense firearm but needs very special attention to fire and accurately acquire your intended target, especially at night.

 

…Of The Highest Caliber:

 

“I only need one shot to put ‘em down. That’s why I carry a *insert highest caliber possible*. Sure I don’t have a lot of bullets, but don’t need ‘em”. We ALL know this person. They scrutinize and peal back the reasons why you shouldn’t own a smaller caliber firearm. They put no stock into any ballistics except their chosen bullet. It would be easier to get two opposing politicians to agree on pro-life/pro-choice than change his mind.

Reality- Plain and simple situation dependence. I cannot say for certain that one shot is what you will need or not need in a given situation. However, police, military, and many shooting courses will teach follow up shots. The reason is simple, in a home defense situation you will be afraid or at least the adrenaline will be coursing through your body. This makes it very difficult to calmly place a single accurate shot. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a single well placed shot will do the job. If you are truly in fear for your life and your loved ones, then you must fire until the threat has been dealt with. That means out of your home or no longer moving.

 

The reoccurring theme to debunk most of these would-be experts is training. There are many companies that dedicate time and effort that properly train you to defend your home and your family. When it comes to firearm selection, use what you have, but be well trained with that firearm. If the only firearm you can afford is a Highpoint 9mm, then become the unequivocal guru on that firearm. Know the limitations and advantages in your household. As always be aware of your domestic floor plan. Train at night and during the day. If truly serious, then it should be no different than drilling your family for a potential fire.