Holosun PID: An excellent weapon light!

The Holosun PID weapon light is a compact, high-performance lighting solution designed for use on firearms. It has a very bright output and the throw of that light (candela) is also excellent. Its performance is as good as lights costing two or three times as much.

One of the standout features of the Holosun PID weapon light is its durability. It is constructed from high-quality materials and is built to withstand the rigors of use on a firearm. It is also waterproof and resistant to impacts, making it suitable for use in a variety of environments.

In addition to its durability, the Holosun PID weapon light also offers excellent performance. The white light is extremely bright and has a beam distance of up to 200 meters, making it ideal for illuminating targets at longer distances. 

The Holosun PID weapon light is also equipped with a number of convenient features to make it easy to use in the field. It has a simple push-button activation system, and the brightness of the white light can be easily adjusted to suit the user's needs. It is also compatible with a wide range of mounting options, making it easy to attach to a variety of firearms.

Overall, the Holosun PID weapon light is a reliable and high-performance lighting solution for firearms. It is durable, bright, and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their accuracy and visibility in low-light situations.

My full review video.

Sig P320 Lawsuit

A very big lawsuit got filed against Sig on 11/30/22. This one has 33 plaintiffs and alleges a lot of issues and damages. While one would expect any lawsuit filing to include as much as possible in order to state an initial case, there are some allegations in this one that, IMO, are particularly damning. 

The reason I find those allegations damning is that 4 incidents outlined were caught on video. Without this it is quite easy to make a counter claim that the owner or user of the Sig P320 was handling the gun negligently or otherwise caused the gun to discharge. If there are 4 incidents of the gun discharging without user interaction on video, that crushes any real doubt that Sig can cast on the case.

Of the 4 incidents caught on video the lawsuit mentions, I've seen two of them. The Philly SEPTA discharge video was pulled from any place I can readily find it, but when it first occurred I saw that video. There is another discharge video, and this one is currently online.

To be clear, I am a Sig P320 Armorer, and from my level of understanding, the gun should not be able to go off on its own. I have my own issues with the design, those are:

1. If the trigger/chassis assembly gets too much oil/lubricant in it, it tends to bind up and then the trigger won't reset.
2. The ejector is built into the chassis, so if you bend/break it, you've broken the actual firearm and not a part that can be readily replaced.

Back to the accidental discharges, I don't know how they're occurring. But at this rate I believe that they definitely are happening, and this isn't just poor gun handling. You couldn't pay me to carry a P320 AIWB. No way, no how would I do that. If you're issued one or forced to carry one, keep it in a big ass duty holster away from your body and don't subject it to any bumps or other bad handling if you can help it. I realize that if you're carrying a gun professionally, sometimes the nature of the job precludes being delicate with everything during various pursuits or struggles, but do what you can to minimize bumping that thing.

Black Friday Tactical Shopping!

These are items that I've either owned or used and found to work very well. They are all suitable for gifting. Some are inexpensive and some are not. For most of these items I've gone out of my way to give you options at different price points. For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you've probably seen many of these in the past, but there's a reason they keep reappearing. For any link to F3tac.com, use code GRAYDOG to get 10% off!

In no particular order:

Lanterns:

Streamlight Siege (I have one of these on every floor of my house!)

Streamlight Super Siege

Jump Box:

Gooloo GP4000 (I have jumped multiple cars with this on a single charge.)

Power Bank:

Anker Power Bank (My constant companion for years.)

Flashlights:

Fenix PD36TAC (When you say "tactical environment" this is the one that comes along.)

Streamlight Macrostream USB (Best small task light I have found)

Thrunite TN12 Pro (The lowest cost flashlight I would use for serious work.)

Knives:

Spyderco Resilience (Made overseas so lower cost, but same Spyderco quality and warranty.)

Spyderco Para (Hard use but not too big, perfect for most!)

Weapon Lights:

Streamlight TLR-7 Flex (Small, perfect user interface, and will still do tactical chores.)

Surefire X300-U (Venerable, but still the undisputed champion of tactical pistol lights.)

Fenix GL19R (Splits the difference, low cost, high output, small form factor. I'm a fan!)

Backpack:

Vertx Gamut 2.0 (Not overt, well made.)

Footwear:

Merrell Chameleon Stretch Hiking Shoes (What I wear when not at work and not formal.)

Multitools:

Leatherman Skeletool (Lightweight but still functional.)

Leatherman MUT (If you have an AR-15 this is your jam.)

Knife Sharpeners:

Worksharp Knife & Tool Sharpener (I'm going to be sharpening the Thanksgiving cutlery with one.)

Apex Edge Pro 4 System (Puts the best edge on knives, this is the one for extra fine blades.)

AR Upper:

SOLGW M4 Upper (If you want an upper that will be accurate and durable, this is your jam!)

Other Accessories:

Neomag Sentry Sling Strap (Easier sling retention for when you're not carrying the gun.)

Pistol Magazine Loader (UPLULA) (I use one and recommend one.)

Med Gear:

CAT TQ

Hyfin Chest Seal

X Shears (EMTs swear by these, cheaper and better than the raptor shears)

Eye Protection: 

Peltor Securefit

Oakley Tombstone (I wear these on the range every time.)

Misc Items:

GunVault MiniVault

Water Filtration (These are on crazy deal right now.)

Success Builds on Success

With law enforcement, the good shooters continue to get and stay good. The bad ones continue to stay bad or get worse. As with most things in life, there are exceptions, but it is rare that I see them.

What I mean by this, is that somebody that passed the academy firearms program with a 90% or better score will likely be somebody that goes shooting on their own, goes shooting with friends, takes classes, and any opportunity their agency affords them to shoot more, they will take. This is somebody that will show up to their annual/semi-annual qualification and pass everything easily on the first attempt. It is also somebody that the firearms instructors won't have to spend much time with, if any.

The opposite is definitely the opposite. The person that struggled to pass, who barely scraped by with a 70%, will likely do no practice on their own. If offered optional time to go shooting at the range, they'll have other obligations that will cause them to beg off. If they are given mandatory additional practice sessions due to their poor performance, they may call in sick on those days. If they do show up, they'll do their level best to joke around and not put in much effort. When it comes to their qualification dates, they'll typically avoid going until the last possible date, and they certainly won't put any prior preparation into trying to do better for the date they pick. Once they arrive, they'll typically bomb right out of the gate and then have to come back the next day for remedial and additional attempts. They may continue this cycle for days until they manage to scrape by with a passing score, which will certainly cause the range staff to say many hallelujahs until the next time they have to deal with that individual. Individuals like this, while being awful shooters, will invariably soak up 99% of all of the instructors' time. The instructors don't get much opportunity to help good shooters become better. They definitely get lots of opportunity to drag awful shooters across the 70% line.

I have no great fix for any of this, but I have noted some observations. Momentum is a thing, both positive and negative. It can last for a short time or an entire career. Shooting being one subset of this, but certainly a critical one in the law enforcement world. If I could, I would get every new candidate on a positive trajectory that showed them a lot of success up front, that would then in turn give them some positive dopamine hit and get them wanting to do more and better every time.

Unfortunately most law enforcement firearms training programs aren't set up to be fun, and therefore they often create a negative feedback loop. Once you convince somebody that shooting guns isn't fun, getting them out of that mindset is damn close to impossible. When somebody is set well and truly on this path, they just continue to eke out sub-par or mediocre performances on the range. And if it takes every single bit of somebody's mental effort just to pass with a 70%, I don't typically have a lot of confidence in their ability to shoot in the real world where they'll also have to contend with communicating, using cover, maneuvering, possibly having to use lighting, and even applying first aid to themselves or others, all while having to manage a complicated and rapidly evolving situation. 

I have some thoughts on how to make initial firearms training more rewarding to new recruits, but I am going to have to get it going quite gently. I also have to pick verbiage that will be politically palatable to the higher ups, because I can't spin it as "fun." Call it what you will, but I have to make it so that the recruits won't hate the work, and that may be difficult. I write this as I'm conceiving the drill card/outline for the next session. 

I should also confess that my current pass rate is quite good. Most sessions I lose no recruits due to firearms score failure. But the pass rate isn't the only metric I care about. I suspect it is the only pass rate that the higher ups care about. I want the highest scores possible, but I also want satisfaction in the students, so that hopefully they'll continue to practice, train, and improve.

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Don't forget to check out my youtube channel!

Items that I like and recommend.

Sig P320: All the problems?

 I recently published two videos about the Sig P320 and the woes that platform is experiencing. The comments were all over the place, as one might imagine you would get from YouTube comments. Some accusation of me being a hater or such was definitely present, as well as the SiGsArEtHeBeStWhAtArEyOuTaLkInGaBoUt club. Look, from a purely outside perspective, I'll just say that the upside to the P320 platform is that it is quite easy to shoot.

I suspect, like many, that a lot of the claims of uncommanded discharges of the Sig P320 are actually user faults. If you give enough people a gun and ammo, sooner or later somebody is going to have a negligent discharge. And some of those people experiencing that issue will then blame the gun. But given the total number of issues here... well... I can't help but think there may be some fire associated with all the smoke.

Milwaukee PD is apparently emergency switching to Glock now, based on their issues. I know a federal agency that did the same several years ago because of the fits they were having with Sigs. 

Do I think the Sig is a bad gun? Nope. Do I trust it? Also nope.

The videos I did, in case you were wondering:

Short form video

Longer in-depth video

But I want all the upgrades!!!!!

I see a lot of posts on various groups asking about upgrades to Glocks. The problem, as always, is that people see some really cool looking stuff, and they want to have the same. Of course, if you are never going to shoot it or carry it for self defense, then you can certainly do all sorts of cosmetic upgrades, as well as anything else your heart desires.

The problem comes when you actually want to use the gun. Even if it is just for casual shooting or plinking, at some point upgrades can interfere with reliability. I've seen guns choke due to poor choices when it comes to recoil spring assemblies, firing pin springs, and trigger setups. If you don't mind and you like projects, then maybe none of this is a concern for you.

For a gun that I'm going to carry for real social purposes, I tend to limit my upgrades to the following:

1. Sights/Optics
2. Grip/Grip enhancements
3. Striker Control Device
4. Slide Stop/Slide Release
5. Minus Connector

Of course, if you are competing with it, then you'll probably want to consider, at a minimum:

1. Trigger Spring Change
2. Striker Spring Change
3. Trigger Bar/Shoe/Setup
4. Magazine Well
5. Aftermarket barrel/compensator

And if you want to spend some real cash:

• Slide cuts/lightening setup

Any cosmetic stuff that could be used in court should be strenuously avoided. Punisher backplates, etc., should definitely not be on a work or social gun.

No matter what, consider that any change made away from the original design will alter parameters of the gun's function. Maybe for good, maybe for neutral, and maybe for bad. Any change should be tested thoroughly before depending on it. Maybe you don't agree with my list regarding what I categorize as carry vs. competition. That's totally cool and at some point I may change my mind on some of it, but I tend to be somewhat conservative.

Canik Pistols: Too good to be true?

 I see a lot of people buying various Canik pistols and for many reasons. Some for fun, some for defensive purposes, and some for competition. The one example I tried was actually pretty accurate and it had a pretty decent trigger. I believe that one was marketed more toward the competition or faux competition crowd.

The issue I had with it: 3rd round out of the magazine nosedived and the gun choked up. Tap rack didn't fix it, I had to pull the magazine and screw with it before reseating it and running it. I only fired one magazine from it, but that one magazine convinced me that I wasn't interested in owning my own example of it.

The local range/fitness joint/gunshop carries several iterations of this pistol. If you go handle them they will doubtless feel pretty nifty. They also have all sorts of slide lightening cuts and gucci looking features, especially for their price point. 

I would, at least at this point, warn you away from them. Not that they may evolve into something decent with some time, but the ones I'm seeing and hearing about now are so-so in the reliability department. And they will doubtless suffer from issues when it comes to getting parts, which every gun will eventually need, at least if you do any serious shooting.

The Low and Left Conundrum

 Every class I teach, I inevitably have this conversation prior to our range session:

Student: "Hey Sarge, got a question for you."

Me: "Go ahead."

Student: "When I shoot I keep hitting low and left, do you know how to fix that?"

This is usually with somebody who has spent some amount of time shooting with another instructor, and they haven't addressed this issue. The thing is, with just a few simple fixes, this is usually easily remedied. I wish that their instructors would talk about it right out of the gate, because it is something that instructors should be talking about up front due to how it affects people.

Got Made

 I was pumping gas and the guy on the other side of the pump asked: "What are you carrying?"

Me: "What do you mean?"

Him: "Your gun, I saw that you're carrying one."

Me: "Glock 45."

Him: "My man! I got a Glock 22 in 40 cal!"

Me: "Is that a gen 5? They didn't release the gen 5s in 40 until more recently."

Him: "Yeah it is. I take it you're in law enforcement? You got that look."

Me: "Yeah, but even before I got into it people thought I was a cop."

Him: Laughing, "I can see that. Do you know anything about Desert Eagles? I want to buy one in .357!"

Me: "They're fun, but you're probably not going to carry that around, they weigh 5 lbs empty."

Him: "Maybe I will anyway, I'll probably walk funny!"

Me: "No doubt. Take it easy sir!"

I was wearing my official "sort of not at work but headed there or back" uniform which is to say khaki pants and an unbuttoned shirt hanging over my gun. It is not quite open carry, but it is not really concealed either. It probably keeps some Karens from seeing the gun but anybody with even half a clue will know that I've got a gun on. Oh well.

Find Your Excrement

There are about a million reasons to use a Bluetooth tracker. The simple and easy is stuff like finding your keys, your luggage, or anything that you need to keep track of. Obviously you should go out of your way to not misplace things, and my simple solution for that is to always have a place where things go when they aren't with you or on your person. But that said, sometimes excrement happens. And I fear that as we age, that excrement creeps in where you least expect it. Modern tracking technology helps a lot when it comes to keeping that at bay.

There are several different technologies out there that you may be interested in. I'll briefly discuss 3 of them: AirTag, SmartTag, and Tile. Let's talk about AirTag first.

AirTag is an iPhone/Apple only product. If you're an Android person, that lets you out right at the onset. AirTag only comes in one form factor, which means that you'll really need something to hold it if you want to use that technology. Fortunately there are several options from Apple as well as aftermarket vendors, to include keyrings and wallets. They have a replaceable battery which supposedly lasts for about a year. They are also water resistant, but I wouldn't take one scuba diving or put it in the laundry if you can help it.

AirTag's real advantage is that its find network is functionally infinite as long as anybody with an iPhone is near it. That means that probably any population center, airport, etc., will allow you to track your AirTag. The AirTag doesn't include GPS, it simply uses proximity to other Apple devices, so you can conceivably end up playing a game of hotter/colder to find your AirTag. Additionally, you can't reverse locate your phone with the AirTag, so if you lose your phone often, it would probably be better to go with the Tile or another similar technology that includes that functionality.

SmartTag is Samsung's answer to the AirTag. Similar functionality in most respects, but Samsung has two versions. If you opt for the SmartTag Plus it uses Ultra Wideband, which gives much more range, but is only usable with newer generation Samsung devices. The one feature that SmartTag has is the ability to use that SmartTag to turn on devices in your house by way of IoT style device control.

Tile doesn't have quite the ability to use any phone around it to give greater network access, only Tile app enabled phones. But what it lacks there it gains in the ability to use either Android or iPhone devices, as well as the ability to find your phone through it, which neither the AirTag or SmartTag will do. This may be the generalist in this category, but still quite useful for most people. Tile also comes in multiple form factors, from the original, to slim, to stickers which adhere to things and have a 3 year integrated battery.

No matter which one meets your needs the best, I find these to be quite useful. If for nothing else than for travel, because losing luggage is still sometimes a thing. I'd definitely throw one into a checked gun case at a minimum. And there's always the ability to add one into your wallet, keys, day planner, or any other thing that you cart around with you that is important.

AirTag wallet

AirTag

SmartTag

Tile Slim

Tile slim (square white thin)

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate I get a small commission from qualified purchases.

Reloading Spreadsheet

 For those of you who reload, or are intending to reload, this spreadsheet may be of use. Fill out your costs and you can figure out how much it is going to cost you per round, as well as how many rounds you'd need to make in order to break even with factory ammo.

The Spreadsheet

Let me know if this helps, and if you have any feedback to make it easier/more useful!

Streamlight Microstream USB

The video.

 I have been using the Streamlight Microstream USB for years now. I want to talk about it, but I need to give you some context about why I'm talking about it now.

There are a few major market forces I see currently. One is the popularity of the PHLSter Enigma. That seems to have struck a chord and demonstrated how many people want to carry a gun when they're wearing suits, dress clothes, or athletic wear. Being able to conceal a gun and carry it effectively without a monster tactical belt is a real game changer, and obviously that capability has resonated.

I also see Rhett Neumayer running a 22 caliber snub and it being received quite well. It puts a different spin on the old heads screaming about 45 acp and 1911s. Carrying a big full size duty gun is great if and when you can, but it isn't realistic for most people, most of the time. Firearms instructors, cops, and military get the ability to carry guns at work and nobody cares. Those individuals who come from those endeavors will likely advocate for full size weaponry and supporting equipment. But even if you CAN cart around a full bat belt of goodies, it doesn't always mean that you want to.

This is not about the PHLSter Enigma, 22 caliber snub nosed guns, or Rhett Neumayer. It is about finding a compromise that works quite well with an exceptionally small and lightweight package:

The Streamlight Microstream USB.

If size and weight aren't prime concerns, I'd probably steer you towards a Fenix PD36 TAC. But that TAC weighs 5.8 ounces, whereas the Streamlight Microstream USB weighs 1.2 ounces. The Streamlight is so light that you can easily forget that it is clipped to your pocket or waistband. You will never forget that Fenix is in your pocket.

The Streamlight Microstream is for normal people. It is for people that don't work as cops or military, or maybe even for them when not at work. It is a light that fits into any pocket or purse. It is also small and innocuous enough to avoid any negative attention, no matter what venue you are in. 

The Streamlight is still fairly bright for the amount of size it occupies. On low it puts out 50 lumens with a runtime of 3.5 hours, and on high it puts out 250 lumens with a runtime of 1.5 hours. My testing bears out those runtimes, if not the lumens, but Streamlight marketing doesn't tend to embellish numbers. If you will recall, it wasn't too long ago that we were being told that 60 lumens was blinding. While that claim may have been exaggerated, the Streamlight puts out enough usable light to work for tasks as small as looking for your keys, to looking further. While it won't cover football fields in light, I don't think it was ever designed with that in mind.

It will easily illuminate halls and rooms, as well as drawers and under car seats. Even if you aren't going out at night, you are one power outage away from a low light, or even a no light situation. 

In a pinch you can probably press it into a tactical backup, although it wouldn't be my first choice for that application. But in an imperfect world, we have to dance with the partner we brought, and this might be the one. It isn't so small that it gets completely swallowed by my hand, and therefore it is usable.

There are two negatives to this light. The first one is how long it takes to charge, and from zero to full it will take you approximately 4 hours to get a full charge onboard. The second is that this light is splash resistant, not fully waterproof. IPX 4 rating means that I wouldn't dump it into a sink, bathtub, swimming pool, or other body of water. It might survive it, but it wasn't designed to do so. This design has been out for years now, and almost unchanged from the original spec. You can get it in black or FDE, which may be the one update I'm aware of. 

Anyway, for those of you wearing yoga pants, dress pants, or basketball shorts when you go out and about, I think I've found the perfect flashlight for you. This is the flashlight that you carry when you don't want to carry a flashlight.

The Critic

 “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

My video on The Good Samaritan Drill, what many others are calling the "Eli Dicken" drill, got a lot of views and feedback. I would expect no less given the confluence of it running on the heels of a serious event that got national attention, as well as the gracious linking to that video by two well known authors.

Much of that feedback was positive, but I did get a lot that fell into the following categories:

1. You did it wrong, somebody should be shooting at you while people are running around screaming.
2. You did it wrong, you should've been doing some level of PT or other exertion before/during.
3. You did it wrong, you should've done it with (insert whatever gun).

Interestingly enough, for the people telling me that I did it wrong, none of them provided any video or other specifics about what THEY were doing. Of course, anything that garners attention will get all sorts, both positive, negative, and neutral. I suppose neutral is the worst of all if you're trying to get some information out there.

But to speak to the specifics, I'm not going to do any drill where people are shooting at me with real guns, certainly not on purpose. And if we want to involve stacking tasks like other people moving, incoming fire, etc., then that is a good candidate for sims training or similar. And I participate in that on occasion, but you won't see me post it on any social media that I have. Some things are for me and the people I'm training, not for broader consumption.

If you want to PT and mix shooting in, I think that is a solid idea if properly structured. Watch some of JJ Racaza's videos for that. Nobody wants to see middle aged fat me doing PT, and that isn't the focus of my social media. There are several very solid experts on that, and I'm not going to try to emulate them.

For anybody telling me I should've used a little crappy pistol to shoot this drill, I got news for you. I don't carry a little crappy pistol. I carry one of the following 3 guns almost exclusively: Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 45. And all 3 of 'em have optics on them. Any one of those is more than capable of the accuracy I produced in the video. Maybe instead of criticizing my pistol choices, they should re-think their own. I'm not saying that you have to carry a full size gun everywhere, but if you do and you have to use it, life will be a little easier than trying to score hits on a moving target at distance with a snubby.

I'm not saying I'm the fastest or the most accurate, because I am certainly neither of those. But what I am saying is that I'm going to go out and DO things. And while any feedback is useful in some way, shape, or form, what I really hope is that people reading this and/or watching my video will go out and practice some more. There are a very small percentage of people who do some amazing things with firearms, but those men and women are the minority. For the rest of us, some more work wouldn't hurt.

Police Shotguns: a lament

Shotguns fall further and further from favor with police agencies these days. It seems like more and more agencies are phasing them out entirely, relegating them to special use needs, or just not doing any real training or updating of their guns and policies.

I could throw bricks up in my glass house and blame the police administrators, but at the end of the day they're usually confronted with choices that are always a compromise. Right now the current batch of police candidates are typically not gun people, and many aren't military veterans. That means that a lot of police recruits will have no real firearms experience prior to arriving at the academy. 

Making things worse on the training front is that budgets aren't unlimited, so when you tell the administrator that the recruit needs training on multiple weapon systems, the usual retort is "why?" In the era of "defund the police" and inflation crushing fixed budgets, administrators are looking for more and more places and ways to cut costs.

Lastly for the agencies that do keep shotguns around, the incentive to outfit those shotguns with modern advances such as stocks of the correct length, good side saddles, lights, and optics just isn't there. If you tell the Captain that all of your shotguns need another $300 worth of items each, you'll likely get told about the outlay of similar expense for the patrol rifles. And if the patrol rifle has all of those goodies, why would you bother with the shotgun?

So when an administrator starts looking at time, money, ability to train/retain, and makes decisions, a lot of times the shotgun is the loser in that decision tree. A lot of agencies want to simplify as much as they can, where they can. 

It is a sad thing for sure, though. There are some times and places where the shotgun is king in the police world. The number one thing that comes to mind is high risk vehicle stops/takedowns. Shotguns have amazing penetration power when it comes to vehicle use, and shotgun rounds tend to go much straighter though things like windshield glass, as compared to pistol or rifle rounds. 

Even setting aside vehicle stops, shotguns have an 80-85% "one shot stop" percentage, at least the last time I checked. This is better than any pistol or rifle that is currently fielded by modern law enforcement agencies. When it comes to long gun employment, the shotgun definitely has some disadvantages, but stopping power is not one of them.

During my police career I've watched the shotgun go from something required at the Academy to an afterthought. Many of the agencies in this area don't issue or authorize shotguns for patrol any more. I wonder if one day there won't be any call for police shotgun training in this area due to them being completely gone from general use. If that does happen, it'll be a sad day.

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Items that I like and recommend, a curated store.

The Items I Like And Recommend

 Most of these will be Amazon Affiliate Links. Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I receive a small commission from qualified purchases.

Med Gear:

Finger Cut Kit

Vetbond/Dermabond

Basic First Aid Kit

Bleed Stop Kit

Dark Angel Medical DARK Kit

North American Rescue CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet

Tac Med Solutions SOFT-TW Tourniquet

Knives and Multi-tools:

Benchmade Bailout

Civivi Cogent Button Lock Knife

Gerber Gear Dime Multitool

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Knife (cheap and still usable)

KA-BAR TDI Investigator

Victorinox Fibrox Chef's Knife

Sharpening Items:

Worksharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

Edge Pro Apex 4 Knife Sharpener Kit

Beavercraft Strop

Support Items (many different items):

Mechanix 0.5 Specialty Gloves 

Anker Portable Charger

Gooloo Car Jump Starter

Tactical Pen that doesn't look like a tactical pen

Fenix PD36TAC Flashlight (bright, durable, awesome!)

Streamlight Microstream USB (for when you want a smaller pocket friendly light)

Hand Grip Exercisers

3M Half Face Respirator

Multi-gas/Multi-vapor cartridges for 3M Half Face Respirator

Ranger Bands

POM OC Spray

Arrest My Vest Odor Defeating Spray (nobody likes stinky cop)

Hazard 4 EVAC Plan B Sling Bag

Security of the "other than physical" sort

 So current events seem to have a whole new batch of people out there worrying about information/operation/electronic security. Here's a good start from the EFF.

So, if you're curious or serious or somewhere in between, welcome to the fold. I'll give you some easy methods to secure your information and communication, and I'll give you some more difficult ones, and you can figure out what you're willing to do.

Firstly, if you want to completely remove the ability of people to snoop in on your communications and behaviors, you're going to have to do something that you don't want to do. You already know it, but I'm going to tell you anyway. You'll need to take your smartphone, turn it off, and dump it in a drawer away from wherever you are. If you have any voice operated devices or apps, those need to go. Alexa or any similar device is just an eavesdropping device that you've brought into your house. Any other device such as a TV with that sort of functionality built in, same issue. Make 'em go away. On top of that, you're going to have to switch to cash transactions. Any time you're in public, wear a hoodie and your covid mask. If you drive any toll roads and use a fast pass or similar, you'll want to avoid that. Any conversations that you want to be actually private need to be held in an open space with no electronic items on your person or the person you are talking to.

Now those steps that I just outlined are pretty hard in the modern world, but not impossible. That said, if you don't want to do all of that, there are steps you can take that are easier.

Pull out that smartphone. Turn off all the tracking. All of it. Delete any app that you aren't using. Any app that you're using that can be accessed through a browser, delete that app and only use the browser. While you're at it, use a browser like Duck Duck Go, it'll be better than the default browser on your smartphone. If you want to do anything even remotely close to private messaging on this phone, use Burner and Signal apps. Use Burner to generate a disposable number and then use that number for Signal. No other messaging app on that phone is to be even remotely trusted. Do any browsing through a VPN like Mullvad. You need a VPN that doesn't log your activity and are based in another country. Mullvad checks that box.

If you want another layer of separation, get a true burner phone, one you paid cash for, or use a gift card to purchase it that you paid cash for. Use that burner for any messaging that you want to be private. 

Also, any time you don't need to use your phone, don't. Turn that bitch off and throw it in a Faraday bag, like this one.

Anything you purchase needs to be in person, and use cash. Wear your hoodie and mask when you're in public, but especially when buying things. Anytime you are even remotely near civilization, you're being recorded on video, and quite possibly, audio. So whenever you're out and about, wear your facial recognition obscuring stuff, ala hoodie and mask. Nobody is going to look at you funny by doing those things now. Three years ago you might've created a stir, but no longer. And I suspect that your ability to wear your "hazmat gear" will probably continue for years before anybody really notices or cares.

Your number one enemy is you when it comes to infosec/opssec/comssec. Remember that you have the right to remain silent, fucking do it. The more people that know a secret, the less likely that said secret will remain secret. If you honestly are worried about a piece of info, then keep that info tight and keep your mouth shut.

124gr vs 147gr: a weighty question

 The age old question, which of these bullet weights to pick for 9mm defensive ammunition? Proponents of both abound and they all have valid arguments. Heavier bullets tend to penetrate better due to the retained velocity they carry due to mass. Lighter bullets, especially when loaded to +p pressures, give you more slide energy and velocity to cycle your semi-auto, which, in theory, can lead to greater reliability, especially if you've gotten a less than amazing grip on the gun. Heavier bullets are subsonic, and therefore tend to be quieter, especially when suppressed. Each of those bullet weights has its very strong proponents.

That said, when it comes to terminal ballistics, most of the time there isn't any real difference, especially when it comes to Federal HST rounds. When I say "real difference," I'm talking about expansion differences between 0.60" and 0.66". The only place that makes a difference is in a lab where you have somebody taking precise measurements. And when it comes to penetration, if you look at Lucky Gunner's ballistics tests, the lowest penetration they recorded was 15.2" for 147gr HST, and the highest penetration they recorded was 19.2" for the 147gr +p HST. The 124gr stuff came in near the middle, with the regular pressure and +p pressure rounds penetrating at 18.3". These numbers truly fall into the "semantics" category, because these rounds perform quite well.

Lucky Gunner ballistic test results compiled.

So with that out of the way, it is obvious to me that terminal ballistics isn't the decider in this issue. There are only two other factors that I really care about.

Firstly would be if you're running a suppressor/silencer/gun muffler. If that is the case, you'll want a subsonic bullet to capitalize on the sound reduction. While the 124gr loadings are nominally subsonic depending on altitude, the 147gr loadings are definitely subsonic. And if I want less sound, I want less powder pushing the bullet, as more powder means more gas which means more sound. That means I'm probably going to stay away from a higher pressure loading, so standard pressure 147gr wins this argument hands down.

The other factor would be accuracy. Now every gun is different, but I've noted a very interesting trend with generation 5 Glocks. If you're not running one of those, this won't apply to you, but it has held true in my Glock 19, my Glock 17, and my Glock 45, all 3 of them being Gen 5 guns. The 124gr bullets tend to give half the group size as the 147s in all three guns. In my Glock 45 the difference was notable even at 15 and 25 yards, but where I saw it play out the worst was at 100 yards. The 124gr load gave me a 6" and 9" group at 100. (This was sandbagged/rested, but not machine rest.) 147s gave me a 15-18" group. Now neither of these groups is horrid, but I know which one I would pick, and in case you're curious, I'm converting over to 124s in all of my Gen 5 guns. The only gun in my house that's going to keep the 147s is the one with the can on it.

So what about you? Which should you pick? Well in this market, whichever is available is probably a big deciding factor. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. So whatever is decent fodder out there, pick it up. But secondly, since we know that HSTs work, do we really care? For most of us, it doesn't really matter. And if you are picky, do an accuracy test, see if one works better for you than the other. Whichever you shoot most accurately would definitely be my pick, were I you. 

And if you're having difficulty with your accuracy, perhaps this video will help.

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On a completely different topic, here are some items that I recommend. Note that as an Amazon Affiliate I get a small commission on qualified purchases, which I use to help offset the costs of blogging and video production. 

Atomic Bear Tactical Pen

Civivi Cogent Folding Knife

Casio G Shock GA-2100 1A1 Watch

Zak Tools Handcuff Key

Knives, Guns, and Support Items

 I have several actual articles on deck, but all of them require some additional work and research. In the meantime, I have been doing several videos that will debut over the next several weeks. I know there are actually 5 of you that read, but mostly people really engage with video. If anything, I've had to try and limit my video length, because I can get really long winded. Hell, the one video I did on taking off the Steiner and putting on the Holosun has in excess of 1500 views. In case you missed it:

For whatever reason, this one hit the "sweet spot." Some of the videos that I think are more important really didn't, but that is the way the algorithms work, I guess. 

In case you're wondering, videos that are going to debut over the next 2 weeks:

• B8 Accuracy: Ball and Dummy
• Blowers Rifle/Pistol Transition Drill
• Fenix GL19R Pistol Light Unboxing
• Fixing a Struggling Shooter

I am planning on doing a video on:

• Lumens/Candela, and why more is almost always better
• Gen 5 Glock Accuracy: 124 vs 147gr bullets

And as always, I welcome any input or suggestions on other topics. Dan did suggest proper lubrication of guns, and I'm probably going to do a few on that one. But if there's something you'd like to see, let me know! I do have plans to do collaborations with a few individuals, and if they're reading, trust me, I haven't forgotten you!

Stop Saying That!

 

As an instructor it really behooves me to pick my instructional words and cues thoughtfully. Words are powerful and have consequences, both for the good and bad when it comes to teaching students. I've seen instructors pick some less than stellar verbiage in their time with students, and I strive not to follow them down that path.

In general, shorter is better. Most people can remember three things, maybe four things at once. If you have to tell somebody twenty steps, it is likely that they won't remember them, at least not without exceptional and ongoing effort.

No, I try to keep my instructional cues as positive and short as I can. I try not to tell people "don't do this," rather I try to tell them to "DO THIS." If you say "don't slap the trigger," what they'll likely fixate on is "slap the trigger." It would be 100% better to say, "take up all the slack, and then smoothly press through." While that is longer, it is giving them something to DO, not something to avoid. 

There are a whole list of phrases I'm compiling that I'm going to do videos on. It's going to be my "Stop saying that!" series. It probably won't premier for a while, as I have a lot of other content I want to do first, but it is on the list.

I think the comments on blogger are rough, so if you want to interact with me, your best bets are via my email: juan.laluz@graydogllc.com, or via my youtube or instagram. I'd love to hear things that instructors told you that worked really well. I'd also be curious if anything they shared with you was less than awesome.

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Feeling the pinch? Here are some money saving items that may be of interest:

Cheapest Knife Ever: Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops

Slightly better: Ganzo Knife

If you got $70, this is one of the best knives I've ever tried: Civivi Cogent

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Winter Air

 If you checked your tire pressure and adjusted accordingly during the winter months, it is highly likely that your tire pressure is a bit high right now. As you are doubtless aware, air pressure is affected by temperature. Colder air is more dense, warmer air is not. And if it was 35 degrees when you adjusted your tire pressure, unless you have a slow leak, that pressure has increased.

Given the fact that gas prices are pretty awful right now, it makes sense to check and adjust those tire pressures regularly. Properly inflated tires give better mileage, longer tire wear, and a better ride. It also affects how much traction you have by giving you an optimal contact patch between the tire and the road surface. While many of you may not drive at such speeds or angles that you're using 99% of your traction, having more traction available is not a bad thing.

As you might imagine, I use a very nice dial gauge to check and adjust my tire pressure. It is a Longacre Liquid Filled Tire Gauge. It isn't cheap, but it is very accurate. If I need to add air, I use a pancake tank air compressor. I hate having to go to a gas station to try to use their compressor. Half the time it is either not working or the line to use it is long.

If you don't want high end stuff but you still want to be able to take care of your own tires, here are two less expensive recommendations:

Jaco Elite Pro Tire Pressure Gauge ($22 but cheaper with the 5% coupon)

Astro AI Car Compressor Tire Inflator (does car, bike, balloons, etc.) $32

Things are getting economically sporty right now, so in my opinion it makes sense to be able to handle small adjustments and repairs by yourself. I'm not saying that you have to create your own automotive shop, and even coming close to that goal may be cost prohibitive for most. But the very basics can be taken care of by anybody with no need for a garage or even a driveway.

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Limeflation

 Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you are aware that inflation has risen across the past 12 months. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics claims that consumer prices are up 8.5% as of March, 2022. They further claim that this is the largest 12 month increase since December 1981. When we drill down further, they also mention that food prices rose 8.8%, food at home rose 10%, and energy up 32%, with the special mention of gasoline pricing rising 48%.

Really, if you look at all of these numbers, the 8.5% quote is artificially low, as it doesn't take into consideration the things that affect us the most, i.e. food, energy, and housing. Honorable mentions go to new car pricing (12.5%) and used car pricing (35.3%).

Now, all these numbers aside, let's just assume that for the typical US consumer, the real inflation rate is greater than that 8.5%. Everybody's situation is quite different, obviously, based on things like your spending habits, needs, area you live in, etc. If you own your house outright and don't need to buy a vehicle this year, your rate of inflation will be one thing. If you're renting and you need to buy a car, either new or used, your rate will be quite different.

Now, since we all know these esoteric numbers by heart, I'm proposing a very simple inflationary index for myself. For those of you who know me or have watched my videos or read anything that I write, you know that I love margaritas. And since I've perfected the recipe for margaritas, there are a few things that directly affect me. Firstly, the price of limes at the grocery store, and secondly the type of tequila that I put into my margaritas. I'll be combining the average of those to give you "Jay's Limeflationary Index," or "Limeflation" for short.

In March of 2020 limes were going for $0.33. Last time I hit the grocery store they were $0.72. Amortized over 2 years, the real rate of that inflation is 27%. And my favorite tequila, Husongs Platinum, was going for $55 for 750ml in March of 2020. Now it retails for $69. That equals a markup of 10.1%. Average those two inflation numbers and you can see that for May of 2022 the Limeflation Index is 18.55%.

Is this a worthwhile number? Should anybody care? Is this tone deaf of me to use these particular markers? Who knows, who cares? Either way, everything is more expensive than it was two years ago. I have my theories on why the cost of everything has skyrocketed, and my two big theories revolve around monetary supply and the artificial cap on energy production and transportation that has caused us to more heavily rely on distasteful countries in order to get our energy fix. Energy is baked into every cost, as there is nothing you own or use that didn't get somewhere via energy, or get built because of energy. But I digress.

What would you use for your own personal inflation index? What markers make the most sense to you? Or for that matter, what markers entertain you more? That's probably the only thing I care about now, because we're all getting an ass kicking from inflation. Might as well have fun with it.

____________________

Feeling the pinch? Here are some money saving items that may be of interest:

Cheapest Knife Ever: Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops

Slightly better: Ganzo Knife

If you got $70, this is one of the best knives I've ever tried: Civivi Cogent

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Cocktail Videos

 So if you are into cocktails, I've done two videos that may be of interest to you. Firstly, the one on how to craft a PERFECT MARGARITA:

And the second one on the French 75:

Look, I know you could drink all sorts of things, but there are a few things you should know. Firstly, cocktails are classy, and a nice way to impress guests. Secondly, these are really tasty. I'm not into weird cocktails for their historic value. My main reason for drinking a good cocktail is that it tastes exceptional and the second reason is that nice relaxation you get from the alcohol content.

These have both been tested by friends and relatives, all have given it their stamp of approval/thumbs up. Every time I go out to a restaurant I wish that their cocktails were anywhere near as good as mine. Seriously, try these out and let me know what you think!

Some items that you may wish to get to enhance your cocktail experience:

Lime Squeezer

Citrus Juicer

Double Walled Cocktail Shaker

Lime Flavored Cocktail Salt (for rimming margarita glasses)

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

The Trouble With AR-15 Triggers

Rarely a week goes by that one of my students, friends, or acquaintances from social media doesn't ask about some newfangledy AR trigger. "Hey, what do you think about the "Master Speed Blaster Ammo Spender" trigger? And it is typically one that I may or may not heard of. Right now the AR trigger market is full of contenders. If I go to Brownell's website right now and search for "AR-15 trigger," I am beset with 233 entries all vying for my attention. Now many of those entries are just parts or related items, but fully 50% of them are full on triggers of varying types and features.

Now I do understand wanting to swap out a stock trigger on your AR. The stock trigger on most ARs is definitely nothing to write home about, much less brag about to your colleagues. Most are pretty creepy, somewhat gritty feeling, and break somewhere between 6-9 lbs. None of these features will help you in the speed and accuracy department, much less the "I want to shoot rounds downrange as fast as humanly possible, pls send help?" department.

Side note, if you want a binary trigger, a forced reset trigger, or any sort of trigger, you should definitely have that trigger. Hell, the whole NFA got me down and I don't agree with any of it, so don't mistake what I'm writing as a "you shouldn't have this thing" post. My idea of gun control is if you want a belt fed machinegun and a tank to drive it around with, you should be able to have those things. But I digress....

The main reason I don't have much of an opinion on any of these new triggers is simply that I don't want to bother with them. I've played with a handful of aftermarket triggers, and with two exceptions, they were just too quirky. Some required all sorts of adjustments, which could walk, and would walk at the worst possible times. Some had so many moving parts that it scared me. Some were either way too light or way too short for me. (Not for you, just for me.)

Honestly, I've basically settled on Geissele (and also ALG, which is obviously Geissele under a different outfit) and LaRue triggers. Between those two, I've got at least 100,000 rounds downrange with absolutely no issues. They don't wear out, they don't lose adjustments, they just keep working. Occasional swap of the hammer spring seems to be about the only thing they need, and they rarely need that. Also, between those two brands, they offer a wide variety of trigger profiles, pull weights, and stages. There's likely something for most everybody in their offerings.

Did I mention that every single one of their triggers I have tried has been bulletproof and just keeps working?

So, if you're contacting me for trigger advice about the new hotness in the AR world, I'm likely not going to be of much help. For that I sincerely apologize, because I'd love to help you if I could. If you want to be boring like me and have a trigger that just keeps working, well, in that case, I have two recommendations...

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Hey, check out my youtube channel, there's a lot more there. I realized a while back that most people don't read (well, except for you guys, and I thank you for that), and so I started spending most of my social media firepower over there.

Police Firearms Training

 One of the hardest aspects of police firearms training is the lack of time. Even for agencies that hit the range more than required minimums, it often means that a police officer will only get 8-16 hours/year on the range. There are obvious exceptions such as officers on specialized units or those that train and practice on their own time. That last group is pretty rare though.

When you have a trainee on the line, that time is critical. If that trainee is having any issues it is important that they are corrected immediately. I've seen some instructors simply let things slide or assume that the trainee will just "figure it out." The problem is that often that trainee is just building bad form and imprinting it more heavily by virtue of repetition. As has been said before, practice makes permanent, not perfect.

If I could offer any piece of advice to my fellow police firearms instructors, it would be to be proactive in terms of form correction. Even if it doesn't all stick, try and get your trainee to improve. Each repetition under instruction is worth so much, as that may be the only practice and help they get before a critical incident that would require those skills in the future.

Another piece of advice, if as an instructor you have a trainee with issues that you're having difficulty sorting out, don't let your ego get in the way, ask another instructor to help. Even the best instructors don't see everything, and sometimes a team approach yields better results. Often the way that one instructor states things doesn't get understood, and the simple approach of another voice with slightly different verbiage does the trick.

I don't say these things from any position of superiority, I too am still learning. If I ever come to you and tell you that I have all the answers, you'll know it is an imposter.

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Check out my youtube channel for more regular content. I've been slacking on writing, but I have taken up a new life when it comes to running my mouth and showing things in front of a camera. I'm sure my mother wouldn't be shocked at that.

Take care and stay safe guys!

Information, Eyes, Sights, and You

It has been said before, and by people smarter than me, that your eyes give you information. When it comes to shooting a firearm quickly and accurately, that information is critical in that it tells you when the gun is on target and there is reason to fire the gun. That reason may be that you're shooting a bullseye, getting ready to ethically harvest game, or attempting to save your life. Without the proper information, you won't do well at any of those tasks. 

If you do much reading of opinion by high level shooters, you'll note that many don't care if you shut one eye or not when you shoot. Such notables as Gabe White and Tim Herron have both stated that closing one eye is not problematic if it allows the shooter to get hits. I personally have seen some very high level shooters use such techniques as squinting or shutting one eye to accomplish some or all of their shooting.

Note that the eye closing or not is a very personal thing and depends on a lot of factors. The old adage, "see what you need to see to get your hits," which I attribute to Brian Enos, encapsulates a lot. One of the things inherent in that statement is YOU. He doesn't say "see like I see in order to get your hits." Everybody's brain and eyes work a little differently, and so what works for him, Tim, Gabe, or me, may or may not work for you. 

What I've come to realize is that the best thing to accomplish is finding the right amount of information in order to work most efficiently. For a lot of newer shooters, both eyes open gives them too much information, and they can't process it all in a timely fashion. They can certainly learn how to shoot with both eyes open, but unless they're going to practice more than once or twice a year, the odds of them changing that substantively are low. Any time you are trying to modify such visual cues for your shooting, you are really re-training your brain to work with a different amount of information, and that can take time and repetition to accomplish.

A related topic is sighting systems. Iron sights, especially on handguns, are low information/low communication devices. What I mean by that is that slight movement by the shooter is often not perceived through that sighting system. Shooters using that sort of system have to work harder to glean more subtle cues from that sighting system. Red dots, most especially on handguns, are high information/high communication devices. They show you quite clearly your smallest movements, from your respiration to your pulse to your grip doing weird things during your trigger press. With rifles a red dot may fall back to somewhere in the middle, whereas a magnified optic is most definitely a high information/high communication device. Making standing hits on longer range targets often benefits from dialing that magnification down, because magnification magnifies EVERYTHING, both the good and the bad.

The challenge with any of those sighting systems is getting the right amount of information from it to make your hits, without getting either too much or too little information. What I call "right sizing" the information in order to get your hits. With irons it often requires concerted effort to work on follow through and shot calling. With a red dot it often requires concerted effort to shoot through the wobble of the dot. With a magnified rifle optic it requires picking the right amount of magnification and finding the best stability you can given your current position.

And lastly, back to the eyes. I've been asked repeatedly by students about it, and related topics. Just yesterday one of them said that they had been told they need to have both eyes open when they shoot because "tactical." (I'm paraphrasing, they were much more cogent and articulate than that.) I asked them if they could get good hits in a reasonable amount of time with both eyes open, or if that was a struggle for them, and they indicated that at this point in their shooting journey, they weren't getting good hits in the required amount of time. So I told them that if they were going to end up in a gunfight, only hits count, so maybe from that perspective, for them, closing one eye and landing bullets where they needed to go would be the most tactical of all.

I realized at some point that while I tend to shoot both eyes open a lot, when I'm shooting much smaller or distant targets, I still tend to close one eye. That applies to both iron sights and red dots, and you would think that it wouldn't matter. I suppose it probably doesn't, but what I'm doing by closing that eye is removing unneeded information from my process. That said, maybe you don't need to, but if you find yourself needing to adjust what you're doing with your eyes to get hits, don't concern yourself with it, just do it.

Don't talk faster than you can think

"Don't talk faster than you can think."

I got that from a fellow instructor when he was teaching. He is one of the smart ones that gets his concepts across well. When he said it, it caused me to pause and think. It was with respect to giving instructions to others, but I thought that there was probably more in that statement. I was thinking of situations where things rapidly evolve and you don't have a lot of time to make decisions in the cold.

For situations like that it helps a lot to have a plan. It doesn't have to be a 200 step plan with branches, and if anything doing that may be counter productive. A simple plan is always better, and it doesn't even have to be fully fleshed out. Veteran field training officers will teach their new officers to pre-game in their head potential problems that could happen while they are driving to a call. This helps them to reduce reaction and decision time when things go sideways.

Likewise for the private citizen, having a game plan for certain situations is very helpful. One of the tricks a criminal will use to get close to a potential victim is to ask a question to get someone to approach or to hesitate. The usuals that I have heard:

1. Directions
2. Time
3. Asking for money/cigarette/light

The first two are quite clear indicators of issues, because everybody on the planet now has a smartphone, thanks to the second most popular US president in history. So everybody knows what time it is and how to get where they are going. If somebody asks you for either of the first two, there is an issue. If a stranger asks you for the time or directions, you already know what time it is, and it is time to go someplace else. Have a pre-planned response to those questions in your mind, say it, and keep walking with a purpose. Don't slow down, don't stop. Keep moving. If they won't leave you alone after that, you're already in the pre-positioning phase of a fight. It may or may not escalate into more depending on how you manage the position, but make no mistake, you're in some level of conflict already. There are some excellent responses to these questions. If somebody asks you what time it is, just say "12:15." Tim Chandler recommends this one, and it is solid. Who cares what time it is? Give them an answer and keep walking. My favorites are nonsensical: "Sorry I don't speak English," or "Ducks are really aliens." Something that absolutely makes no sense at all may cause a disruption in your interviewer/attacker's thought process and give you that much more time to exit the scene.

For that last one I like the always useful, "I'm sorry, I can't help you." It isn't confrontational, it doesn't involve name calling or shedding doubt on anyone's parentage. Much like the former set of questions, if this one doesn't satisfy that individual and they try to chase after you or re-position, well, you're in a fight. Don't pretend that you aren't, manage it properly. Perhaps the positioning portion of it is enough to convince that person that you aren't worth it. 

Things that make life easier

 So in three weeks I'll be on the range mostly full time teaching the new class. There are things I have recommended to them to make their lives easier, and it is amazing to me how many don't bother doing anything I recommend.

Maybe you guys are smarter. Maybe you guys already have all of these things. I don't know. But here's a partial list of things I recommend.

Firstly, for those who have weapon lights on their pistols, Thyrm makes an adhesive clear lens protector that keeps carbon and other fouling from adhering to the lens. I've been using one on two different weapon lights for years now, and I'm still on the original ones. I suspect that they could quite readily wear out, but if the ones I'm using are any indication, you can use one of them for years before replacing them. Good news for you, they come in sheets, so one sheet of them for $14 could last you for the rest of your career.

Thyrm Clens

For those of you with sweaty hands, this stuff will dry you up. I didn't believe how good it worked, but it is solid. Try it if you're a competition shooter, or if you do any sport that would benefit from having a sweat free grip.

Tourna Grip Rx Instant Grip Enhancer

Electronic ear protection is important. It protects your hearing but also allows you to hear things going on around you, such as range commands. You could spend hundreds of dollars, but $50 is easier on the wallet.

Howard Leight Electronic Ear Protection

Grip strength isn't everything, but it is important. You could buy some really high end grip exercisers, but here is a set for $22 that has a 100, 150, and 200 lb exerciser.

Xzyppci Hand Gripper Set

Loading magazines is infinitely less fun than unloading them at speed, but for every cartridge you shoot, you also have to load it. It gets worse when it is really cold outside or you've loaded your 50th magazine in a row. The Maglula helps out a lot.

Maglula 9mm to 45acp

Occasionally you have to write things down. Buy some pens that don't suck.

Sharpie Ballpoint Pens

Lastly, flashlights are much more important than you think. If you can stomach a full size flashlight clipped to your pocket or your gear, this is my current favorite:

Fenix PD36 TAC

And if that is too big, this one is excellent and small:

Streamlight 66134 Stylus Pro

None of these items will make you lose weight, look younger, or more beautiful. All of them will help you out in other ways, and that I can state with authority. If I ever get off my ass and make a video about go bags, some of these things will feature prominently.

Please note that my Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these items through these links it will get me a small percentage of the cost of the item, but at no cost to you. This helps me offset my expenses for running a business, such as hosting fees and buying items to review. Thank you for reading this review!

Shooting on the Bullseye

One of my colleagues tried out the Advanced Super Test after I posted my run of it. He said that it was difficult. (I'm paraphrasing, he used stronger language.) And so it occurred to me that for a shooter that has spent a lot of time shooting very big targets, a bullseye can certainly be daunting, and it can be even more so when you start adding time pressure.

To that end I'm doing a series of videos on the B8, and how to gently ease into shooting them. I am hopeful that they'll be of some use to any of my former or current students, as well as many of my colleagues.

The issue that I've seen with police firearms training is that it often focuses on qualification style and size targets. And on those targets a hit anywhere in the scoring area is graded as the same. The issue, of course, is that it doesn't really encourage actual shot placement, it just rewards shooters with a "good enough" mentality. When actual defensive shooting is a possibility, "good enough" is not always. A determined attacker won't be impressed by hits that aren't anatomically significant. That means high upper thoracic cavity or brain box. Other hits may cause issues long after the altercation is over, but they won't be enough to change the course of what is happening.

The same is true of some types of competition shooting. When you're shooting at a USPSA or IDPA target, hits that don't get into the central scoring zone start causing you real issues with your overall score and placement. Add in a few rounds that completely miss the target and you have a recipe for not coming in near the top in any match you shoot.

And so, at least in my mind, that is the relevancy of a B8 target. It isn't exactly sexy but it can build skill and definitely show you where you are in terms of your personal shooting voyage. It is also a consistent measure of your skill at any point in time, so if you're worried that you've gotten rusty, shooting a B8 in the same time and at the same distance you did it before will give you a very objective measure.

If you want to order some B8 targets, here they are on Amazon.

Please note that my Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these items through these links it will get me a small percentage of the cost of the item, but at no cost to you. This helps me offset my expenses for running a business, such as hosting fees and buying items to review.

Quickjack Car Lift

I bought one late last year, but didn't have a chance to get it assembled until today. It comes with detailed instructions, and there are videos online telling you how to assemble the system. I didn't find it to be too difficult, but I will tell you that you should read the entire instruction manual and then watch the video. That will put you in the best position to get everything together with a minimum of oopsies.

I got everything screwed together and the reservoir filled with no issues. Once I started the bleed process, however, I ran into a leak.

Where one of the long hoses screwed into one of the quick disconnectors, there was a leak at the threads. I had put sealant on it before assembling it before, but it didn't help. I tightened that fitting further, but the leak didn't go away. I ended up de-pressurizing the whole system, and then taking that fitting off of the hose. I cleaned the ends, re-sealed them, and screwed them back together, thinking that would fix the problem.

I fired up the system again and once again, that one junction leaks. So I depressurized the system again, took it all apart, and stored it. I've entered a trouble ticket with Quickjack, and that seems to be where we've left it for now. Given the fact that I entered that trouble ticket at something close of business hours wise, I doubt I will hear anything until next week. 

That also left me with the need to change my oil and rotate my tires the old fashioned way, which I did. So I was half successful with what I tried to do today.

I'll post another update when I hear anything back and let you know the path to resolution. I am hopeful that everything will come together quickly and with no more leaks. I guess we'll see!

Recent Items I Have Mentioned

 If you've watched any of my product reviews, here are most of the recent items. Please be aware that I am an Amazon Affiliate and for qualifying links I earn a small commission.

Sitiven ST102 elegant but inexpensive folding knife.

Ganzo Firebird cheap, durable, built like a tank folding knife.

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops the cheapest knife that still works. It will take an edge, but I consider it disposable.

Apex Edge Pro Sharpening System there are many ways to get a good edge on a knife, but this is the one I use the most.

Beavercraft Strop puts that finishing touch on a knife's edge, or brings back an edge as long as you haven't beaten it up too badly.

Please note that my Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these items through these links it will get me a small percentage of the cost of the item, but at no cost to you. This helps me offset my expenses for running a business, such as hosting fees and buying items to review. Thank you for reading this review!

Lots of new video....

Apologies for not posting any blog content. I have been doing a bunch of video though. I think I'll probably need some companion pieces here in the future, so I haven't given up on the written word. (It is my original and main muse!)

In the meanwhile: my YouTube Channel.

You want a cheap knife? I got you...

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops

Guys, this knife is $12. Buy two or three. If it dulls out or rusts out, break out one of the other ones. This is perfect for traveling or going places where you may have a knife confiscated from you. Did I mention, $12? It is far from my ideal knife, but my ideal throwaway knife is cheap, and this checks that box, nice and hard.

Please note that my Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these items through these links it will get me a small percentage of the cost of the item, but at no cost to you. This helps me offset my expenses for running a business, such as hosting fees and buying items to review. Thank you for reading this review!

Vehicle Preparedness

Given what has happened on 95n in Virginia, as well as the current weather, here are some thoughts. Before we even get into the go bag that you should have with you, let's talk about your car.

Your vehicle should be in good repair. You should never let the gas tank go below half if you can help it. Your tire pressures should've been checked within the past month, and more often if temperatures have fluctuated severely. Ambient air temperature is the number one reason why tire pressures change. Also, checking your tire pressures regularly will alert you to slow leaks before they become disasterous. Your fluids should all be reasonably fresh and checked prior to a real trip. Your washer fluid reservoir should be full with the appropriate type of fluid for the outdoor weather. Additionally, if your brakes are even slightly suspect, get them serviced. Fresh pads and fluid won't crush you financially, but failing brakes may crush you for real.

Things you should have in your vehicle no matter what, and no matter the season:

• Cell phone and multiple ways to charge it.
• Spare tire or tire inflation kit in good working order.
• Water, at least a liter per occupant, and perhaps more depending on the weather.
• Snacks that are temperature stable and aren't too salty.
• Jump box/external battery charger. You can jump your car with it or power mobile devices.
• First aid kit, to include basics as well as trauma level stuff. (And training on how to use it.)
• Fire extinguisher.

You may also want to include a toolkit if you have the ability to use it.

In your personal/go bag, consider the following extras:

• Poncho
• Hat
• Gloves (work or cold weather or nitrile or all 3)
• Baby wipes/handi wipes
• Duct tape
• Paracord
• Torch/matches/fire starting materials
• Notepad and pens
• Spare batteries for anything that requires them

If the weather is cold, consider adding to your car:

• Snow brush/window scraper
• Extra coat
• Pack of handwarmers
• Snow pants

Things you should always have on your person:

• Sensible footwear for the environment
• Knife
• Flashlight
• Lawful self defense items

Sometimes bad things happen, and we are powerless to keep that from happening, but we can prepare for it and mitigate the consequences. Given what you're seeing on the news now, what do you keep in your car and on your person?

Travel Video

 Basically a video re-hash of my travel blog entry, with some additional goodies. There is also a shopping list in the description that you may wish to consult:

Travel Recommendations

Point Shooting

 Every time I see anybody say or write anything about point shooting it always turns into some crazy argument. I dug up several articles on it and they all try to say the same thing, but they all fail, near as I can tell. I'm about to say something radical and annoying and you can let me hear it in the comments, but here it is. Are you ready?

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS POINT SHOOTING.

There. I said it. Based on experiments I did with several of my colleagues, point shooting doesn't really exist. I should throw in one caveat. Taran Butler probably does it with his hip shooting. Aside from him, nobody is really doing it. What does exist is using the sighting systems of the gun to various degrees in order to get hits. Let me explain.

For those of you who have played with point shooting, did you do it with your eyes closed? If you didn't, then you were using your eyes and the relationship of the gun to the target to try and steer the gun. You may or may not have even been aware of the sights or dot or whatever, but I guarantee you that if your eyes were open, you were steering the gun by use of visual inputs. You may have been doing it in exceptionally coarse fashion, but, as I said before, you were still doing sighted shooting.

That experiment I mentioned before? I and several other shooters, including two national champions, shot some with our eyes completely closed. The results sucked. Hits were what I would call coincidental. Everybody was "in the neighborhood," but nobody was going to land hits that were even remotely close to what I would consider either competition or combat effective. In other words, true point shooting was a pretty solid failure for that round.

I have heard several people say that you won't use your sights under the stress of an actual encounter. What I think they mean to say is that THEY won't use their sights under stress. They have pre-decided, and therefore that matter is settled with them. I don't bother arguing or discussing the point with people like that. Much like me saying that I'm never going to go see Chief Keef perform live. Sure, I could, but I'm not going to. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate on The Chief. Love Sosa is really catchy, you should listen to it. But seriously, if somebody has firmly decided something, that is, as they say, is that. Now if you've already decided that you won't use your sights, then you'll certainly fail. The most powerful suggestion there is would be the one coming from your own mind. And let me tell you, I've seen a lot of shooters decide to not use their sights. In every case I've seen thus far, they've all failed to hit their targets. And I'm not talking about trying to get X ring hits, I'm talking about "trying to hit a cardboard backer" type of inaccuracy.

A completely different tale, as told by Annie Oakley's husband. Back in the day Annie told him that she didn't use her sights. He did the usual husband thing of going, "ummm hmmm," and said nothing else. Then when Annie wasn't looking, he moved the rear sight on one of her guns. The next practice session, Annie was missing all over the place and she was pissed. Hubbie told her what he did, they put the sights back correctly, and everything was fixed. She was operating at such a high level that her conscious mind wasn't moving as fast, and therefore wasn't comprehending what she was doing to get hits.

There are many lessons here. Firstly, anybody telling you that they're point shooting? Make them do it blindfolded. It is a true circus stunt. Secondly, you need to see what you need to see in order to get your hits. What that means at 1 yard and what that means at 25 yards are radically different things. If you have confusion on this, some practice is in order. If you want more help, we can get you there. Lastly, some pros do things at such a high level that they are sometimes not aware of what they are doing. I have found that in some instances it makes them unable to fully articulate their technique and how they got there. That isn't to say that all pros are in this boat. The exceptions that I've found would be people like Tim Herron and Gabe White. Those guys both shoot at a very high level, but they've also both picked apart what they do in terms of technique such that they can tell you exactly what they're doing. Also, they can tell you how you can do some of the same things. If an instructor can't get you some meaningful and measurable percentage of their ability, then taking a class with them is a waste of time and money. Don't get me wrong, some instructors are really entertaining, and if that's what you want, you should enjoy the entertrainment. But I do caution you to consider carefully how you spend your time and money. If greater skill and knowledge is what you want, pick your instructors appropriately.

Some links for further research:

https://www.police1.com/patrol-issues/articles/point-shooting-versus-sighted-fire-why-the-debate-M0Zup4VbfQmOWhjm/

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/are-pistol-sights-actually-useful-for-self-defense/

https://dryfiretrainingcards.com/blog/front-sight-focus-or-point-shooting-which-is-better/