ThunderStick Summit’s Q&A Session
The last weekend of September saw the fourth ThunderStick Summit out at the Staccato Vegas facility in Pahrump, NV. Thunderstick is a yearly three-day event focusing on the defensive use of shotguns. Four years ago, several instructors who teach the shotgun began a conversation about hosting an event focused on defensive and duty use of shotguns. The first Summit was held at the Dallas Pistol Club in the fall of 2022. Attendees in a [...]
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.
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 [...]
Practice Actually Works
“You see, this has got to be learned; there isn’t any getting around it.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi Don’t you just hate those old-timers who go around muttering, “Things ain’t like they used to be.” I always did, and still do, even when I’m the one doing it. [...]
Triggers: Two Or One?
As a firearms instructor I’m intrigued by the handguns students choose. Under the premise the selection is based on the student’s personal skills, which is sometimes questionable, I think some select a gun because it’s cool or the chicks dig it factor. Yet another, and probably the poorest reason for [...]
Sniper Rifle Accuracy
Just How Much Is Enough? Over the past few decades, law enforcement has been subjected to a barrage of input on sniping, counter sniping or precision rifle — pick your term. Much of this is due to the massive interest in the military applications of snipers. Unfortunately, a police application [...]