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!