Archive for March, 2011

Paddle holsters and CCW

This is an area that can cause much debate in the CCW world because if you are concealing a firearm in a paddle holster you are almost always going to have to wear a vest or a long coat, not all environments can tolerate a jacket, and most jackets are either not going to be long enough or they will make you sweat, just in for concealing a firearm in this manor.  I really like the Blackhawk Serpa holsters, but they do extend a little further out on the body that something like a Don Hume Jit holster which is flat up against a belt.

Firearm retention in a holster is important for LEO and people carrying open carry, but not so much for CCW.  Yes you may get in a scuffle and have a firearm fly out of a  holster, but the Blackhawk holsters make get a little difficult to release if you are not in a good position, there are always methods and tactics that people should train with and trying a  holster out in an adverse position is something  you should try doing.  Try pulling the firearm laying on  your side, or in the seated position and you’ll know what I mean.   If you are sitting down, you’ll realize how odd it will feel and how high you’ll have to left your shoulder to clear it.

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Don’t expect a do it all gadget on your firearms

I saw a recent night fighting test where they basically showed how night sights become useless as soon as a flashlight gets turned on and the glowing dots won’t help you in low light conditions depending on your flashlight gun techniques.   The whole flashlight thing on handguns is a debate in itself because there are so many things to consider.   There are flashlight retention devices like the Section 8 Tactical ultimate retention device that have helped improve grip and freeing up your hand to open doors or do magazine changes, but it is true that it’s not as steady as a flashlight mounted on the firearm.

Night sights are nice, but who would get into a shoot out in their home without turning on a light or using a flashlight?   One thing to consider are Crimson Trace Laser grips for home defense because not only can you tell depth of a target in low light you can also get better cover and still know where your gun is pointed.   There are some really good defensive training DVD’s coming out an Massad Ayoob will be going over using laser grips in home situations.   I highly recommend using lasers on home firearms as well as flashlights, I think those are far more practical and advantageous than using night sights.

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Ruger Mini 30…what’s the point of having one of these?

That’s a far out dated question is  my opinion.   Sure you can get an SKS or an AK for less money and higher capacities, but for the most part, the AK and SKS are not very friendly to mounting rifle optics and given it’s tradition scope ring mounts, you can mount a nice Leupold rifle scope on the gun and get more out of it than you would from a surplus Com-block rifle.   Can I also say that the gun is lighter and has a better trigger?   There are certain products that we sell that are sold to many of our customers in California and New Jersey and can’t use gun magazines that usually are standard issue.

I got an incredible deal on a used Ruger Mini 30 for just about $200 from a disgruntled owner that tried to make the gun into something that it wasn’t.   Promag magazines makes a reliable 10rd magazine that worked for me.  I have no interest in trying to make this gun take 30rd magazines.   There are now domestically manufactured brass hunting rounds for the 7.62×39 and I wouldn’t hesitate to tell someone to consider one of these Ruger puppies for yard work.  I also wouldn’t hesitate to consider reloading for your Mini 30 because you should  be able to get your gun to pretty close to MOA with the right ammo.

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Fast holsters for self defense

Not everyone is going to win the IDPA National competition this  year, nor should we expect it, but there are several thousand people that are above average and stand out.    Not everyone that carries a firearm is training 2 times a week and ready for whatever fate is going to pop out of the bushes.   I don’t teach gun slinging when I’m teaching a class, but I expect people to be safe when using a firearm, and allow them to figure out how fast they need to be.   In all of the hostile confrontations I witnessed, there was never a need for a fast draw, you either slowly pulled the gun when the BG wasn’t looking or you ran for cover and moved.   Gun slinging can mean that both individuals shoot each other.

I do believe that one thing that gets over looked when people decide to choose a holster is at what angle and location can they draw a firearm fastest.   Gun depth in a holster is a big deal because once you start concealing a firearm under a shirt, if you can’t get your hands on it easily you’re not going to get it out quick enough.   My fastest and favorite is the Don Hume holsters called the Jit holster.   These ride a little high, aren’t locked in, and my hands and many of my students agree, that it is easy to grab.   IWB can be tricky because everyone thinks its just about hiding the gun, they forget that it’s also about how to get it out.

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Galco holsters, I thought I had the wrong holster

I’ve been on a holster binge lately and I’ve been  picking up whatever I can for the revolving CCW guns that I carry.   I have been trying to modernize my rotation with a few Springfield XD variants an a Glock 19 and a Glock 26.   I went back to leather holsters after shying away from them for a few years.  I had a bad experience with an Alessi Talon holster that was holding so much sweat that it ruined a Tauras T-85 38 special.   I skipped a monthly cleaning and found out the holster actually had a gew in it and the barrel was pitted.

I think the best CCW is really the IWB but I know not all body types handle it very well, last night I got an order in the mail and decided to try out the Galco holsters that were IWB.    The Galco Tuck-N-Go holster looked like a good thing for me to test out, but I actually thought I had the wrong holster after having so much trouble getting the gun into it.   The slide was actually racking when I put the holster in so I had to stop, after doing some research online, I’m over reacting a little bit and going to see if I can break it in a little more.  I’m not too happy with the fact I can’t really re holster the gun properly because it seems to cave in on itself.   I’ll give it test in a few days.

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Why should you consider a locking holster?

I’m sure that many of you that have taken CCW classes probable know that the faster you get your gun out the more likely you are to get the first hits in.   In some people’s minds putting safeties on firearms and putting guns in locking holsters will slow you down.   That is somewhat true for some firearms and some holsters, but the better the design on the firearm the less likely that is and for some gun  holsters, there is absolutely zero slow down.    I’m not a big fan of thumb break holsters because I’ve had bad experiences with them not snapping properly and I could never tell if they were tight or now.

One thing I have found that in any type of physical turmoil, guns and gear will fly off of you.   I’ve seen it one too many time at Carbine training classes where secondary weapons and magazines go flying.   The Blackhawk Serpa holsters are my favorite because the holster locking system actually can help a novice shooter get use to keeping their finger straight and off the trigger when drawing the firearm because that is where your trigger finger is when the gun is released from the holster.

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Is it time to upgrade your Eotech gun sight?

I finally got on the M4 Carbine bandwagon about 6 years ago after many years of shooting without being much of a black gun enthusiasts.   I jumped on the piston driven carbine wagon and I’m glad I did.   I’ve been getting lots of good feed back from my friends and LWRCI about the Carbines that I own, but I have also shot many DI guns from Daniel Defense that are 100% reliable under extreme conditions, well extreme AR15 conditions.   If you want fast you gotta go with an AR15 platform, there are other nice 556 guns, but the AR15 is really pretty darn close to perfection when it comes to versatility and comfort.   Reliability is something that Magpul Pmags and modern technology has done with drastic leaps.

The Eotech gun sights I used years ago are still working today, but I’ve gotten a little tired of trying to turn them off and on when I have a magnifier in the way.    The side mounted buttons on the newer Eotech make that a non-issue.   I am also having problems with the new magnifier not because of it’s weight or durability, but that it is not compatible with some rear flip up sights.   I have to mount my magnifier a few notches forward of where I want to  place it because it does not clear the rear sight if I move it back.   Time to do some tweaking on the fastest AR15 guns I own.

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No time for training? Order some DVDs

There is going to be a huge flood of firearm training DVD’s coming out this Spring, we just got word that Fernando Coelho has just launched Panteao Productions and will coming with an incredible list of firearm instructor training DVD’s.   Everything from IDPA shooting, Carbine training, handgun shooting skills, 1911 armorer, AR15 armorer and the list goes on and on.   Make Ready with Dave Harrington, Bob Vogel, Dean Caputo.   I have been invited to sit on or train with many firearm instructors, but haven’t been able to fit it into my schedule.   As a business owner, trying to get away and take a 3 day course is virtually impossible.

I’m sure I sound familiar because finding good training is hard, trying to find the time and the money is even harder.   We all can search the internet and find out who the best referred to teachers are, but now there are Top Tier trainers making DVD’s for under $40.   You can’t beat that! Can we also inform you if you didn’t already know that Bob Vogel has won the IDPA National Competition yet again?  I’m sure that Make  Ready DVD with Bob Vogel will be one of the top sellers.  Bill Jeans shotgun operator course is another area that will be filled because shotgun training is taught probable 1/10 of the time as handgun and carbine.

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How to hang an M4 on you like a Christmas Tree

In continuing a previous discussion on choosing holsters for secondary weapons, having quick detach gear is important, but it can’t be too easy to remove.   Blackhawk gear is pretty darn good and I have never see a holster failure.   I did see a Fobus holster break at one point and I’ve seen a few leather holsters that should have been tossed away because they were becoming too soft and re-holstering firearms was causing a lot of fumbling.  There is nothing wrong with taking a Carbine class and testing  your gear out, even if you don’t think  you have the best, find out how it works on the range and you’ll be more confident.

 

I’m a big believer in teaching people to use their hands to know where all of their gear is on a vest or on a firearm without looking.   I admit that I have done this myself, and it is one of the first things I teach students whenever they put on a tactical vest, tactical pants or any other tactical apparel.   Make sure you remember where you put it and be consistent in where it is.   It’s real easy to forget where you put those spare batteries, your spare ammunition or your hearing protection if you are constantly moving things around.   I have 2 M4 Tac Pac gun parts holders that carry several spare parts for my AR15 as well as a few AA batteries and CR123 batteries.   It’s been awhile since I lost anything in my tactical vests.

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Security and snagging while carrying a Carbine

Finding the right type of gun for you is a very important thing, your boss many tell you want caliber they want to stick to, but there are still so many options in which type of firearm you feel comfortable shooting.   Finding the ammunition that works in your firearm won’t be much of a problem from the majority of Glock and Sig Sauer pistols that so many Government agencies use, but when it comes to choosing holsters and gear.   That is something that you are going to have to figure out on your own.   I have seen many of my customers call up a few weeks after receiving their pants only to be informed that they need another pair because they ripped.    They didn’t rip because of product defects, they ripped because tactical pants have so many pockets that they easily snag and get torn.

Last month I sat in a Carbine course where the first day of shooting showed a lot of novice accessorizing and watching guys constantly move slings around trying to find that spot where they could take it off and on without catching on their secondary pistol was interesting.   Blackhawk holsters ruled the range that day, but I did see paddle holsters, leg holsters and belt through.   I am always a fan of quick detach gear because bad things can  happen in combat and releasing your holster, vest or Carbine could mean saving your life.

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