You’re Right, Tapping Is Dumb
Smash it instead. Last year, I heard Kelly McCann on a podcast. He said that something that has stuck with me – "We are prisoners of our experiences, but, at least, we have them." This magazine is just slightly out of place (we staged it). When drawn and fired, the shooter will get a second shot click. Apparently, it was a slow news week in the shooting world. While there are plenty [...]
SEMI-AUTO ON STEROIDS SRM Arms 1216 Shotgun
Most fighting shotguns are descendants of hunting shotguns modified for use in a defensive/offensive role. Many, such as the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590 series, have served with distinction. But due to their genealogy, they share the common complaint of minimal ammunition capacity. Even “tactical” shotguns are somewhat limited. For [...]
AMERICAN GENIUS Nighthawk Custom Hi-Power
When it comes to firearms designers, one stands out above all others—John Moses Browning. Born in Ogden, Utah in 1855, he made his first firearm at the tender age of 13 and received his first patent at age 24. During his life he designed or made improvements to lever-action rifles—including [...]
RISING FROM THE ASHES Cutaway Instructional Firearm
After my house was destroyed by a fire on 10 April 2005, Kevin McClung of Mad Dog Knives helped me clean up my firearms so I could read the serial numbers and report them as lost to the BATF. Firemen had unceremoniously dumped them all into a pile in my [...]
$300 SHOOTOUT Buying Bargain Blasters
Poking around the Internet a new shooter stands a high probability of coming away with one of two impressions. First that he or she is best off with a 1911, but only certain makes and models will do, and those only after sending it off for sundry modifications and reliability [...]
Chair Qual: Barricade Skills With A Simple Folding Chair
In many carbine classes shooters are shown several ways to adapt their long gun to cover to make a mid-range hit. This is often exposure to a technique, but without a great way to measure or track performance and subsequently carbineros do not sustain those capabilities to a high degree.
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 [...]