All posts tagged The Art of the tactical carbine

Don’t think magazine capacity is the only thing that wins the race

It’s really also a contest about speed.   There seems to be an addiction to 30rd magazines with AR15 owners but all you have to do is roll the clock back 20yrs and most of the gun magazines for M14s, FALs and G3s were 20rds.   Why were they 20rd magazines…because the guns were far too clumsy and bulky with 30rd.   There is still some truth to that with 30rd 5.56 magazines.   The AK47 is a firearm that is very clumsy do to it’s contour when being fired from the ground and would also be better balanced with 20rd magazines.

If you are in the business of having to suppress targets, than higher capacity magazines are for you, but for moving with speed and agility, try the 20rd magpul pmags for sale.   There are several new Magpul accessories that are giving better balance back to the AR15, especially the M4 design which was really getting out of control with protruding fore grips ect.   The magpul angled fore grip is something that brings you closer to the tradition gun hold but gives you the ability to grip your firearm better.

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Keeping a good marking pen handy

I was recently watching the Make Ready with Paul Howe DVD about Tac Rifle Operator, and it’s a good one.  I definitely put this one up with the must get collection with Magpuls Art of the tactical carbine.   I won’t get too into the DVD because I’d rather you buy them, but one point that came up is something I kind of slack off on.   The topic about marking or putting a strike on a gun magazine when it fails was something that should be monitored.   Most people know to rotate gun magazines, but when do you give up on it and toss it?

I was one of those that had a hard time tossing magazines and usually spent the money to replace followers and magazine springs, but some magazines really aren’t worth keeping around.  When the mag wells get bent or they are absurdly worn, don’t get too caught up in keeping it with your primaries.   When gun magazines even something as tough as Magpul pmags are used, they are a step closer to wearing out or breaking, sometimes they don’t completely crap out on you, they just start to have intermittent malfunctions.   One of those that can occur is a worn magazine follower.   Three strikes and your out is a good philosophy, and keeping a good marking pen around to document this is a very good idea.

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Some feedback after finishing the Dean Caputo AR15 armorers course

It has been several decades now that I have been shooting firearms and we’re working on the second decade of military style semi-auto experience.   Some of the guns I have  owned in the last 10yrs are breaking down from time to time, but I’m still learning about the firearms. When something breaks,  its somewhat fun to learn about how a firearm was designed and how much trial and error went  into a firearms design before it was done right.   All of those little springs and detents probable came about after trying other things, but they are all very important parts of keeping  a firearm running.

Recently I had a stock come apart on my and the spring and detent fell out, I couldn’t find the stock wrench that I had so I had to pick up another one from Tapco.   It is now staying in my range bag,  I’ve had magazine failures and ammo failures, but getting the AR15 Armorers course gun dvds is a good gift or good thing to watch with your gun buddies.   There are good ideas on keeping gun parts and small compact gun tools around to keep your gun up and running or get it up and running when you’re at a range.   Something like a $1 spring can shut your gun down for the day if you weren’t prepared.

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Some feed back on gun dvds

Once I get everything setup in the new showroom, we’re getting a big ass TV for running some of the videos from the Make Ready DVD series.   The production on the DVDs has been pretty good so far, but I must admit I’ve only watched about 10hrs of video.   I’ve been itching for a really long time to get my hands on some of the modern Carbine Fighting techniques because I think this is the most practical training a Citizen can get.   Much like the old Militia mentality which has sadly been become a negative term and no longer a term for a Patriot, this should be common amongst young adults to know how to defend their Countries.

There are some pretty shabby people making gun videos and I don’t know the background on all of them, but you gotta check references when information when you are training.   There was a big stink a few years  ago about firearm instructors not checking the backgrounds of some of their students, but that’s another issue.   With so many people getting real world training and experience in Iraq and Afghanistan coming home and producing gun dvds that can help our society produce defenders of Liberty is pretty cool if you ask me.   I have several SWAT buddies that go through training and they liked the access to Paul Howe’s new Tac Pistol and Tac Rifle Operator videos.

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Now this is going to get interesting

I have walked many a gun show floor and walked by the booths that had all of the assemble and disassemble books.   Those are useful, but at many times very hard to read.   Little arrows and pictures can still make it hard to comprehend.   Along comes the VHS and DVD world and AGI has done a good job on this.   I’m also a very big fan of Clint Smith and his DVD collection although pretty expensive really turns out to be worth the money spent.   For the most part they are well produced, but a few spotty parts should have been re-shot.

Panteao Productions has there shit together.  I just saw a glimpse of the next in line, Travis Haley, who recently left Magpul, and started Haley Strategic Partners, is working with Panteao Productions to release “Adaptive Carbine” his first production since leaving Magpul.  Travis is kinda the rockstar of the gun DVDs.  The production on the Magpul Dynamics DVD series are outstanding.  I’ve only been able to watch the Make Ready Series a few times, but I haven’t been let down.  If I pick all of the best firearm instructors I know,  I’m betting there all on the schedule with Panteao Productions.

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Firearm training and DVD instructional video just broader

I have a great many gun dvd’s in my collection and they are mostly of value, but I did have a few that I lent to a friend for comical reasons, but unfortunately they got lost and there’s no way in hell I’ll spend the money for another batch of them.    Now that DVD editing has gotten better and easier to do, more firearms trainers are taking to the camera eye.   There are several people that I would love to train with, but like many people I can’t take 3 days off from my day job.  I subscribed to the Outdoor Channel over a year ago, but sadly most of the shows I watch are producing so few shows that I’ve already seen the same ones 4 or 5 times and I’m itching for something a little more complicated.

We just got word that Travis Haley just got done shooting “Adaptive Carbine” training course and will be out in a few months.    Considering the names that I am seeing on the Make Ready gun dvds,  I’m sure that Fernando Coelho knows the people to get in front of the camera and how to sell a DVD.   I think all of these DVD’s are a great thing because the production is so well done and gun owners will have easy access to important tactics and safe gun handling skills.   I think there are too many people out there that own AR15 rifles that don’t know the proper ways to maintain or handle them.

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The Art of the Dynamic Handgun

I’ve been really impressed with how well these Magpul DVD’s have been made.  I have been acquiring various firearm instruction DVD’s and most of them were well made, but I’m not picking up as much information as I would like to be getting for $40-$50.   The Magpul DVD’s are mostly 3-4 DVDs long and for that much information, it’s beyond worth the $40 or so that you will spend.   The Art of the Tactical Carbine Volumes I and II give you more than just the basics, they give you team communications and real fighting training.

I’m still hoping for the day when somebody like Pat Rogers does a DVD series.  I’ve been hoping to take a Carbine course from him but haven’t gotten the time to get out.   Shooting a good firearm instruction DVD means good training, and good production.  I’ve seen some pretty crappy production work, but the Magpul DVD series is very well done.   I’ve seen some really bad production where there were points you couldn’t hear the instructor talk or you got the same basic run down on how to load and unload the gun that you feel like you’re just learning basic NRA firearms instruction.

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The cost of firearm instruction

I have several DVDs in my collection that are from various firearms instructors, Gabe Suarez, Clint Smith and Rob Pincus to name a few.   I would have to say that some of their DVDs have good points and some are kinda weak in others.   I think Clint Smith’s DVD’s are introductory and very good for breaking someone in to shooting, but most of the DVDs that I have watched from his collection are not as advanced as the stuff coming from Magpul.   I have never been to Thunder Ranch so I’m not going to downplay or say that place isn’t a good place to go, I’ve never been there, but have heard good things although I know there are various levels of training going on.

The Magpul Art of the Tactical Carbine volumes I and volume II are outstanding firearms instruction for those looking to up their skills.   It wasn’t the same old shooting positions and malfunction clearings that you tend to see from others.  There are some really advanced gun handling skills as well as very well done communication skills.   It always takes me 2 or 3 runs at watching the DVD to soak it in, but I have been very impressed with the Magpul DVD series.   Soon I’ll get a chance to watch the Shotgun one and give you my thoughts.

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Magpul DVD review

I am almost all the way through the entire Magpul DVD collection.    After several years of being on the firing range as a student and an instructor, I have often been asked if I know about any good DVDs for training.   I started out watching The Art of the tactical Carbine Volume I over a year ago and finished off Volume II about 6 months ago.   I thought the volume of info and the length of the DVDs to be very well worth the amount of money I spent, I was really impressed with how much time there was.    I would recommend these DVDs to beginners even though I do not think they are novice level training.  There are some basics in this, but the application of advanced basics is in there.

The Magpul Aerial Platform DVD was in my opinion more for the History Channel than it was for the gun owner, but I would get this one last over the other three Volumes.     The Art of the dynamic handgun is by far the best bang for the buck.   Clint Smith has some very well produced DVDS but they were expensive and I thought they could have been more informative.   I give them to family members that are new to firearms, but the Magpul dvds were in my opinion a step up.   I haven’t been to Thunder Ranch, but I intend to do so some day due to it’s great reputation, but I think The folks at Magpul owe me some more defensive training DVDs.

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