Why? Why did they choose their gun? Why do they continue training?
Why anyone makes the decisions they make is an interesting topic. What are the Whys behind the firearm someone chooses, taking their first class, venturing across the country to train once, and then doing it again? One of the advantages of teaching at Gunsite is having access to a student base that comes from all over. I recently helped teach an Intermediate Pistol class, Gunsite #350. There were four women in the class, and they [...]
After Action Report: Nightmare On Sesame Street
Back in 2012 I received an email from a friend that said he had been asked to see if I would like to attend a three-day carbine class and would it be OK to forward my contact information to the instructor. My friend admitted up front that he had not [...]
Mantis x10
A few years ago, the engineers at Mantis launched a training tech revolution with their MantisX sensor. When paired with a companion smartphone application, the rail-mount device could show you exactly what’s happening when you break a shot. Motion sensors track the most minute movements of the gun, allowing you [...]
Off Duty Capability
Fueled by media hype, mass murders have led more of our guys and gals in blue to carry something more substantial than a vestigial micro-caliber while off-duty. They’re aware it was reported it took over 50 shots from multiple officers to take down the mad dog killer at the Dayton [...]
The “High Sabrina” Actually Works?
The “Sabrina” ready position — mocked by some — has proven useful when running with a service pistol. You saw it here first: Mas as a Charlie’s Angel. In 2003 a core group of experienced master trainers including six-time shootout survivor and founder Ed Nowicki, formed the International [...]
Off Duty Carry: Are You Inviting Disaster?
When they first pinned a badge on me in 1972, carrying a gun off duty was pretty much part of the law enforcement culture. Some departments mandated it, such as NYPD and the Providence, RI PD. Most others, including mine, strongly encouraged it. Time passes. Things change. I keep hearing [...]
One More Safety Net: “The Gadget”
There are few more humiliating things which can happen to a police officer than to shoot himself while holstering his duty pistol. For decades, duty holsters and quality concealment holsters have been cut to cover the triggerguard. This was because in the old days, many cops drew their revolvers with the finger already on the exposed trigger. If something hung up, the gun and the hand and finger kept going and there would be a “bang.” What goes up must come down and what comes from the holster must generally be returned to it. If something interdicts the trigger on the way in, the trigger stops but the gun keeps going, and we have another “bang.”
You Don’t Need That — On Simplicity
A defensive gun has to work, all the time, and you have to be able to hit with it. This simply means the pistol must be capable of reasonable accuracy, and you must be able to deliver that accuracy through your interaction with the gun’s sights and trigger. Sights, trigger [...]
Fingers & Triggers
The jurors said the reason they convicted NYPD Officer Peter Liang of manslaughter (see Ayoob Files in the upcoming Jan/Feb 2018 issue) was that his finger was on the trigger of his GLOCK 19 when he unintentionally discharged it. Testimony had made it clear to them fingers were only supposed to be on triggers when one intended to fire. While the judge reduced the manslaughter conviction to negligent homicide, the same factors were still in play. I don’t think the NYPD Academy or the Firearms and Tactics Unit deserved any heat on the firearms training, though. Here’s why.
Safe Practice Almost Anywhere?
SIRT-anily! Live fire training costs time and money, and it’s the curse of being a police firearms instructor. The bean-counters looking over your shoulder have to consider things like the travel time to and from the range for each officer “on the clock.” Recent “ammo droughts” have cut live-fire time [...]
Gone In A Blink
The online edition of American Handgunner (www.americanhandgunner.com) had a reader question in response to an earlier column on tips for fast and accurate shooting. I posted an answer online but felt the topic important enough to address in a column. “The latest Better Shooting column talks about the importance on [...]