From time to time, I have a number of things worth discussing here too short for an entire post. I’ve combined the following “reviews” to help shed light on useful items and ideas I’ve discovered.
5.11 Tactical’s Inure Runners in ranger green. They’re also available in black, kangaroo, and a black/white combination.
Footwear
5.11 Tactical shouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone in this space. As mentioned before, I have been around long enough to wear canvas 5.11 trousers made by the outdoor clothing company Royal Robbins. In addition to their overt, uniform styles, 5.11 makes a wide variety of clothing that isn’t intended to scream “government employee.”
One of the areas they long ago ventured into is footwear. A few months back, I got a pair of workout shoes from them, specifically their PT-R Inure Runner, which is designed for the workout space.
The Inure Runner has a reinforced mesh upper that is exceptionally breathable. My feet are on the Fred Flintstone side of wide, and their wide footbed fits them fine, even with prescription orthopedic inserts.
I’ve worn these in a variety of settings over the past few months—outdoors and in, on and off the range. They are a viable, multipurpose design.
Natural fiber-based clothing from WSI Sports. Wool-blend socks and bamboo-based undershorts.
Base Layers
When we think of performance base layers, we usually think of synthetics. I have worn many of them. While they breathe, wicking away sweat, they can have a plastic feel and retain a smell. In environments where there is concern about the use of fire as a weapon, many of those items are contraindicated due to melting.
At SHOT this year, WSI Sportswear, a domestic apparel manufacturer specializing in cold–weather clothing, approached us. They gave me a pair of boxer-length undershorts and Arctic Heatr socks.
Their “Hyprtech” briefs are made from a bamboo fabric. This isn’t the first piece of bamboo-based clothing I’ve had; I really like it as a base layer.
Living on the Wasatch Front, winter can get wintery–chilly even. Multiple trips to outdoor ranges for work, practice, and matches gave me a chance to use their socks. Made from a mix of wool/poly, nylon, and elastic, they performed as advertised in the range listed 0 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I wore them with insulated and uninsulated boots.
Reading is fundamental! Or it sure should be. One of these is a must-read for criminal justice practitioners (yes, cops too) and those interested in the field. The other is for those teaching others.
Reading
Two book suggestions for you (after you’ve read the most recent AmericanCop articles) –
First, Stop and Frisk: Legal Perspectives, Strategic Thinking, and Tactical Procedures. The book focuses on Terry Stops and the legally separate Terry Frisk. As the first does not. Automatically justify the second. The authors are Doug Mitchell and Gregory Connor. Mitchell is a former reserve deputy and career prosecutor in Washington State. Connor is a recognized subject matter expert in several law enforcement-centric topics, as well as being a Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois’ Police Training Institute. The book is written in such a way that it will make sense to the public, the criminal bar, and working police officers.
The second is Building Shooters: Applying Neuroscience Research to Tactical Training System Design and Training Delivery by Dustin Salomon. This one appeals to the nerd science part of my brain. In addition to what should be taught, it addresses how to present the material and—as importantly—why to present it that way.
Two of the options from STKY Target – the IPSC OG anatomical skin and a 1″ grid replacement A Zone.
STKY Targets
I came across these target add-ons on various social media platforms. They do away with the need to repeatedly change out full-size cardboard or paper targets and minimize the need for target tape. STKY has several options for a variety of targets, such as USPSA, IDPA, and others. Some are plain—like an A Zone replacement—and there is a gridded version that would aid in gathering additional information for the shooter. There are some anatomically correct versions as well.
I like the combination of their IPSC OG Skin with a ShootSteel cardboard humanoid silhouette.
Even when working from a low-ready position, the frame-mounted safety stays ON until you decide to shoot and the muzzle touches the threat/target.
Safety Manipulations
A final subject—manipulating the safety on your firearms. It seems that since the 9mm/.40SW/.45ACP debate has finally ended, “we” have had to find other topics to argue about. Frustratingly, when to take safety off seems to be a recurring issue these days.
If you are a competitive shooter and you have decided when the safety comes off during matches, rock on. I am not going to debate your choice. If you ask when I take it off and why, I’ll offer my explanation.
So, why bring this up? During a recent training event, I encountered a shooter who was relatively new to the Staccato pistol they were using. While carrying Appendix Inside-The-Waistband, they were not using the thumb safety. Additionally, a range has calendared me to teach a 1911/2011-centric class later this year. After reading the class announcement, a gentleman reached out specifically about the safety manipulation part of the curriculum. He is of the “take the safety as soon as you start your draw” school of thought.
While the first shooter started using the safety after a brief discussion, I’m pretty sure I did not change the correspondent’s mind. Regardless of which firearm you choose to use, learn how it is designed to function, learn the controls, and employ them appropriately. For a more detailed discussion on using the thumb safety, look here – Thumb Safety.
