Self Defense- Pistol Primer (Part 3)

Firing Hand Transitions:

     A situation may arise in which the shooter must change firing hands (for best utilization of support side cover, or in an instance in which the firing hand has been wounded).  The proper method to transition firing hands is to bring the new firing hand from underneath the pistol (see figures 17a and 17b).

 Figure 17a, Right Hand to Left Hand Transition

Figure 17b, Left Hand to Right Hand Transition

     Note:  For range purposes, firing hand transitions should be completed only after the pistol has been decocked. 

Trigger Reset and Follow Through:

     As we have noted, to maximize accuracy a smooth press of the trigger straight to the rear is essential.  Along with the proper high grip and ever increasing sight picture focus as ranges increase, shooters must have trigger finger control as well as trigger finger discipline (remember Cooper's Rule #3). 

     Trigger reset is simply maintaining contact with the trigger face (best accuracy is achieved by using the pad of the trigger finger or no farther than the last distal joint of the trigger finger, dependent upon hand size), after the shot is fired.  The trigger finger then maintains contact with the trigger face until the shooter feels the pistol’s disconnector reset (there is also an audible “click,” if one listens close enough).  The trigger can then be immediately pressed straight to the rear again, if another shot is desired.  By learning proper trigger reset, the firer can eliminate much unnecessary movement of the pistol which results from completely releasing the trigger between each shot (often referred to as “trigger slap”). 

     Follow through refers to the practice of always taking an extra sight picture on the target.  For example, if the shooter fires one shot, they should see two sight pictures; the initial sight picture and another as soon as the pistol recovers from recoil.  If the shooter fires two shot, then they should see three sight pictures, etc.   Follow through reinforces accuracy fundamentals and provides for quick, accurate follow up shots. 

     Note.  Every shot must be intended and gun fights are not scripted affairs.  Some threats may be stopped with one well placed round, while others may keep filling the shooter’s sight picture for many rounds before ceasing to be a deadly threat.

Politics- Letters to the Herald-Leader

Here's my most recent (as it appears on Kentucky.com's site for 3 JAN 11) Letter to the Editor.  If there's any interest, I might post my letters to kentucky's, "Paper of Record" (tongue firmly in cheek) from over the years.  The grammatical errors were of the editor's making, by the way.  I'll post my original in a couple of days, so you may witness for yourself the state of the schools of journalism.

'Don't ask' repeal wrong

Those of us who have actually worn the uniform applaud the Democratic Senate and eight alleged Republicans who voted to end that bigot Bill Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

We are also hopeful the military genius Barack Hussein Obama will further end the Department of Defense's discrimination against other deviants such as polygamists, practitioners of bestiality and pedophiles.

As with the Democrats' previously corrosive, sexuality-driven policy changes (such as co-ed basic training and ship assignments), our national security was the last thing on the minds of the socialists who seek to destroy our nation's most conservative pillar. Our armed forces are nothing more than an entity to be derided by such louts.

Though Ben Chandler will not mention this in any of his taxpayer-funded constituent correspondences to you, he, too, voted to force open homosexuality upon our military. It'll take far more than 600 votes to save his seat next time.

Ret. Sgt. 1st Class Shane Morris

Berea

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/01/04/1586535/letters-01042011.html#more#ixzz1BGmGeO4i

Film- Black Swam

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Misc.- The 1911 and Wolf Ammo

Just a note about some observations made during a break in the weather, on running steel cased ammo through 1911s. 

This summer, the Ol' Lady and I are planning to travel just south of Land Between the Lakes to take James Yeager's Fighting Pistol course.  I shot with James (Tactical Response) in the Summer of '04 prior to both of our soirees to Mesopotamia.  Yeager was in a couple of scrapes over the pond (see one caught on tape, below) and I look forward to seeing him again and gaining from his experiences since I saw him last.  It will also make for an excellent opportunity for the wife to get her feet thoroughly wet with the Glock 17.  I plan on taking the Norinco 1911A1 and yesterday provided an opportunity to put a box of Wolf steel cased ammo through the pistol to check functioning prior to buying a large quantity necessary for one of Tactical Response's pistol courses.

Depending upon who you ask, Wolf ammo is either the answer to the skyrocketing price of ammo in the couple of years since the abysmal '08 Election, or tiny grenades waiting to destroy your blaster.  My son and I put 50 rounds each through the aforementioned Norinco and a Colt 1991 (essentially, two loose fitting, mil-spec type 1911s).  We experienced zero malfunctions and accuracy from both guns was as usual (ie. the guns are capable of better accuracy than these two shooters provided).  It did shoot dirtier than other brands of ammo and no obvious signs of wear or chipping were observed with either pistol's extractors (the most often warned about downside to steel cased ammo in 1911s).

Given the fact I can purchase a can of 450 rounds of Wolf .45 ACP cheaper than an equal amount of brass ammo from my favorite ammo source (Georgia Arms), and the fired casings at a shooting class are "lost," I do believe I will make a trip over to Versailles to pick up Wolf ammo for the class. Besides, Uncle Sugar had no problem running steel cased (and corrosive) ammo through Government Model .45s during WWII. 

Our Glocks will be running Wolf for the pistol course (there are no issues at all with Glocks and AKs concerning steel cased ammo).  I believe it will make for an interesting experiment to see how well the ChiCom 1911 runs a large quantity of cheap steel fodder in comparison to Mr. Glock's fantastic plastic.

Edinborough Risk Ambush

Tactical Response

.45 ACP Spam Can

Self Defense- Pistol Primer (Part 2)

The Four Step Draw Stroke:

     The Four Step Draw Stroke should provide a smooth, consistent presentation of the pistol to the threat and easily integrate with the previously illustrated “up close” fighting platforms.  All pistol qualification courses should be shot utilizing some type of cover garment (i.e. open ACU blouse to simulate a suit jacket).  For the sake of clarity, the majority of the following pictures were exposed from open carry.

     Step One brings the support side hand flat against the chest (figure 7a), as the “C” shaped firing hand sweeps the cover garment straight back clearing the concealed pistol (figure 7b), then the firing hand is jammed into a firm firing grip as any pistol retaining devices are released on the holster.  The end result should be a firing grip with the web of the firing hand high on the pistol’s back strap before the pistol ever leaves the holster (figure 7c).

Figure 7a Step One

Figure 7b, “C” Shaped Strong Hand Fingers to Sweep Cover Garment

Figure 7c, Firm Firing Grip

     Step Two simply brings the firing hand elbow straight up, clearing the pistol from the holster (see figure 8).

Figure 8, Step Two

     Step Three consists of lowering the firing hand elbow straight down, thus pivoting the pistol toward the target, then the support side hand comes underneath, not in front of the pistol to form a Retention Stance (see figure 9). 

Figure 9, Step Three

     Note.  The trigger finger may be placed inside the trigger guard once the Retention Stance has been reached, and the decision to fire has been made.  If the shooter does not decide to fire from the Retention Stance, the trigger finger will not enter the trigger guard until the pistol is traveling to the target in Step 4.

In Step Four, the pistol travels straight to the target and intersects the shooter’s line of sight just before full extension (see figure 10). 

Figure 10, Step Four

The Two Handed Grip:

     As distance from the target increases, the importance of not disturbing the pistol’s sight picture prior to the bullet’s exiting the barrel also increases.  At all times, a smooth press of the trigger straight to the rear is desired.  To minimize tension on the trigger finger (and thus reduce accuracy robbing side-to-side movement of the pistol), the proper application of grip pressure for each hand in the two handed stances must be understood.

     If we were to assign a measurement of grip pressure responsibility for each hand (100% being the maximum for each), then the proper two handed grip would place about 40% on the firing hand and 60% on the support hand.  By placing the majority of the grip pressure on the support hand, we free up tension on the trigger finger and make it easier for a smooth press, straight back. 

     An excellent demonstration can be made to a shooter by using the shooter’s own firing hand as a surrogate for the pistol’s grip.  The instructor grips the shooter’s firing hand in a regular handshake using roughly 40% gripping pressure (see figure 11).

Figure 11, 40% Firing Hand Pressure

Then the instructor completes the two hand grip with about 60% pressure from the support hand (see figure 12). 

Figure 12, 60% Support Hand Pressure

    

     It is also important to stress a high hand grip for both the firing hand and support hand on the pistol (see figure 13). 

Figure 13, High Hand Grip

And avoid the control and accuracy robbing, “Cup and Saucer” type grip (see figure 14).

Figure 14, “Cup and Saucer” Grip

     Another key facet of a proper grip is thumb positioning.  The thumbs may be locked down with the firing hand thumbprint pushed down against the support hand thumbnail (see figure 15).

Figure 15, Thumbs Locked Down Grip

Or with the support hand thumb pointing forward and firing hand thumb resting atop the support hand thumb (see figure 16).

Figure 16, Thumbs Forward Grip

     Note.  Given the position of the M11 slide lock lever, it is possible for the firing hand thumb, in the Thumbs Forward Grip to depress the slide lock lever upon the firing of the last round in the magazine, thus causing the slide not to lock open on an empty magazine.  If the shooter elects to use the Thumbs Forward Grip, care must be given to keep the firing hand thumb well clear of the slide lock lever.  The Thumbs Locked Down Grip lessens the chance the M11 will fail to go to slide lock upon firing the last round in the magazine.

Self Defense- Pistol Primer (Part 1)

GUN FIGHTING FUNDAMENTALS

     A sound knowledge of gun fighting fundamentals should be taught at the Apprentice Special Agent Course, reinforced by quarterly qualification ranges, kept current during periodic office training meetings, and most importantly perfected through individual agent dry fire practice.

Fighting Platforms:

 

     Shooters should not be pigeonholed into a rigid, one-size-fits-all fighting platform.  Just as all fights do not take place at the same range, all body-types are not the same, thus we need to emphasize a time tested truth found throughout the martial arts:  If we find ourselves in a fight (i.e. fistfight, gunfight, etc.), we need to utilize a stable fighting platform which allows us to be flexible, and takes into account the natural human inclination to crouch slightly when faced with a threat and focus on our opponent…as with a good boxing stance (see figure 1).

 

Figure 1, Boxing Stance

     It is also important to understand just what we need to see in order to get good hits.  At distances from contact to a conservative three meters, our sight focus need not be razor sharp to achieve good hits.  As was defined early in the twentieth-century, at such close distances we can “index” our body toward the threat to get good hits.    

In order to use this fact to our advantage and guard against disarms at close distances; some forms of indexed firing platforms need to be in the shooter’s tool bag (see figures 2 and 3).

                          

Figure 2, Close Contact Stance

*Emphasis must be placed on keeping muzzle pointed at the opponent’s lower abdomen (lower “5” zone) to remain clear of shooter’s support elbow.

                          

Figure 3, Retention Stance

By squaring the hips to the target (the “index”), we are able to direct our fire by using the upper body as a sort of “turret” to hit our close opponent(s).     

    

     Note.  The proper Close Contact Stance places the support hand palm against the back of the head, thus positioning the support shoulder and arm to best absorb strikes from an opponent within arm’s reach.  In the Retention Stance, the heel of the firing hand and bottom edge of the magazine are against the upper chest, with the pistol canted slightly away from the body (this is also how the firing hand is positioned for the Close Contact Stance).

     Once we move roughly past our opponent’s arm reach to a distance of up to five meters, we now want to bring the pistol into our direct line of sight.  An efficient means of doing so is the Point Shoulder Stance (see figure 4).

                          

Figure 4, Point Shoulder Stance

     At these distances, we now bring the pistol into our line of sight with the target in order to get good hits.  The desired sight picture at these distances has been described as the silhouette of the back of the pistol’s slide superimposed on the target. 

     You do not have the luxury of time at these short distances to achieve the “classic” bullseye sight picture with perfectly centered, razor sharp-focused front sight nestled perfectly inside the rear sight.  We’ll look for such a “classic” sight picture at distances which afford us the time to do so.

    

     Note.  In the Point Shoulder Stance, bringing the support side hand to the chest in a clinched fist will aid in balance and stability.  The shoulder should serve as an index point for the jaw (thus bringing the back of the handgun into the line of sight to the target), and firing side foot should lead.  In previous (and latest proposed) iterations of 195-1, Point Shoulder was erroneously described with the attributes of the Weaver Stance.

     As distances increase past roughly five meters, we now begin to rely more on traditional stances and sight pictures.  However, at distances beyond five meters and up to 15 meters, the shooter should look “through” the rear sight, only verifying the front sight is superimposed on the target.  At distances from 15 meters and beyond, the shooter will then utilize the “classic” sight picture as described previously. 

     Both the Isosceles and Weaver stances are nothing more than variations on a good boxing stance.  The Isosceles (both arms generally straight, feet generally square to the target), is often more comfortable for average sized individuals, while the Weaver (firing arm generally straight, while support elbow is flexed with feet as in a boxing stance), is often preferred by those with large upper bodies.  Keep in mind, two-handed shooting stance selection is a subjective matter, and each shooter should be allowed to experiment and find the most comfortable solution to fit their needs and achieve good hits…which for some may be some sort of combination of the two (see figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5, Isosceles Stance

Figure 6, Weaver Stance

     Note.  Just as boxers or other martial artists no longer stand erect before their opponents; neither should the shooter maintain an unnatural head erect shooting platform which runs contrary to the body’s natural inclination to slightly “crouch” when startled.  I dare say none of us would pose as an old Queensberry Rules boxer when faced with an opponent, so why should we do so in a gunfight?

Self Defense- Pistol Primer (Introduction)

Editor's Note:  A basic background on handgun use.  Redacted as necessary.

SA Gary S. MORRIS

____ MP Det (CID)

LSA Anaconda, Iraq

18 Aug 06

    

     The following Pistol Training Doctrine proposal and accompanying revised qualification course were drawn up  in response to a forwarded correspondence from MSG___________, __ MP BN (CID), Camp Victory, Baghdad, IZ dated 2 Aug 06.  The topic of the correspondence was the proposed changes to the Army CID Daytime Practical Pistol Qualification Course. 

    

     Nothing’s new under the sun, which is especially true of the firearms training world.  Our current pistol qualification course is far from antiquated, and is readily adaptable to progressive training philosophies which were based upon actual combatant involved shootings and realistic force-on-force training, not bullseye-match-influenced paper punching for a perfect 300 point score.    

     With a bit of tweaking, the current quarterly qualification course could serve to reinforce core gun fighting skill sets for our agents without the associated confusion which would result from the wholesale scrapping of the current course of fire.  

SAFETY

COLONEL COOPER'S FOUR RULES

1.  All guns are always loaded.

2.  Never cover anything you're not willing to destroy.

3.  Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.

4.  Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

     Prior to every firearms training block or range, a discussion of the Four Safety Rules should take place.  These rules have been ingrained into the training regimens of all competent law enforcement agencies, and ours should be no exception.  These rules are clear, concise and easily memorized.  They should not be added to or detracted from in any way.  Follow them religiously (with special emphasis upon Rule #3), and the potential for negligent discharges will drop exponentially.

    

     Note.  The M11 (Sig P228)  Pistol has an excellent trigger finger register when firing right handed along the frame, where the back side of the takedown lever can be felt (just above the serial number).  When firing left handed, the takedown lever itself makes an easy-to-find place to keep your trigger finger registered. 

Politics- Truth is the Casualty

Rush Responds

Misc.- Centennial Year of the 1911

I do believe I will dedicate this section of my blog to a year with the 1911.  March 2011 will mark one hundred years of the 1911s service to our nation (and yes, it's still on duty).  I've carried them in uniform myself and saw them still in holsters while serving in Iraq from '05-'06.

I'll report monthly on my observations concerning all things 1911.  I might even take requests.

Let's start this centennial year off with an excellent article from the latest issue of the NRA's American Rifleman (and if you aren't a member, you should be):

The U.S. 1911 and the Medal of Honor

Join the NRA

Film- True Grit

If you're like me, you watched the remake of True Grit leaned back in your theater seat, awaiting the moment in which Rooster Cogburn would lecture us about the plight of the "native" Americans.  When the sermon failed to materialize, I was positive it would be revealed in the closing scenes the beauty of a repressed lesbian "marriage" involving Mattie.  To my amazement, no such tripe worked its way into this outstanding film.

I might even venture to say there could be hope for Hollywood given the purity of True Grit as well as the thoroughly manly film Taken from a couple of years ago.  Could a centennial biopic of President Reagan starring Ted Nugent be far behind?  I'm not holding my breath.

Young America's Foundation

All Things Nuge

Outdoors- Don't Leave Home Without Them

I seem to remember something, somewhere about a tale of a fateful trip.  A three hour tour.

Like me, I'm sure many of you scoff at the negligence of those we see being plucked from the side of some Western mountain or adrift on a boat in coastal waters.  "Should have been prepared," we say.  Indeed, but are we prepared for our own unexpected contingencies? 

Much good information exists about what a survival kit should consist of, and I encourage you to Google the subject.  For my purposes, I believe strongly in following the military's K.I.S.S. principle whenever possible.  That being said, I would encourage all of you to have with you (be it hiking, boating, or in the Jeep) the three things necessary for you to survive, for say 72 hours:  Water, Shelter, and Food.

I would recommend purchasing a small day pack capable of carrying some sort of Camelbak-type water bladder.  Inside the pack, toss in an Israeli bandage, an emergency "space" blanket, and a couple of "energy" bars.  Two small BIC lighters, an emergency candle, a couple of chemlights, and an emergency whistle (all coupled to a "cool" head) round out the package and should keep you in good stead till the cavalry arrives.

Of course, it goes without saying you always have with you a sidearm, spare ammo, and a quality blade.

Wal-Mart Day Pack

Israeli Bandage

Education- Rote Learning

Having taught U.S. History for the past fifteen years, I have come to the conclusion rote learning is the key to any sort of education "reform."  It's all well and good to sit about the coffee shop, smoking cig...Oh I forgot.  We no longer live in a free country.

As I was saying, in order to be able to gas on and on about the significance of let's say, the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, it would be helpful to know whom Messrs Monroe and Roosevelt were.  I am of the opinion (not "feeling," as we think thoughts and feel stomach aches) the elementary and secondary years are best spent learning the who, what, when, and where...so as to be able to speak substantively to the why and how at college, or around the supper table.

Need proof?  Without fail, I've been able to repeat the following experiment on the first day with every single U.S. History class I've ever taught:

     Teacher:  "Who can tell me who Jefferson Davis was?"
     Class:  (fill in the sound of crickets, with one or two exceptions)
     Teacher: "Hum...Let's see...How about Harriet Tubman?"
     Class:  (in unison) "Ooh! Ooh! Mr. Morris! Pick me! Pick me!"

Lucid proof of the political indoctrination those students had previously suffered.

Patriotic Texts

Self-Defense- "What kind of gun should I carry?"

First, I congratulate those who have posed this question to me.  An individual who is rational enough to understand the "authorities" are under no obligation to protect us or our families (nor should they), is a true contributing member of our society and I have a great deal of respect for them.

So, how do I answer such a question?  The short answer depends upon the individual's prior experience with firearms.  For the novice, I strongly recommend the revolver (an equally sound choice for the "expert," as well).  For those possessing a background with handguns, I recommend Glocks.

I futher offer free instruction (even ammo), but...they must read and discuss with me my dogeared copies of Mas Ayoob's In the Gravest Extreme and Jeff Cooper's Principles of Personal Defense, before the shooting begins.

In the Gravest Extreme/ Principles of Personal Defense

Politics- Blood Libel

The bodies have not been buried, yet the Left's opportunism in regard to the assassination attempt of Congressman Giffords demonstrates the depths to which statists will go to further their broader agenda.  But is this new?

Let's take the example of one Lee Harvey Oswald.  Immediately after JFK's murder, none other than Japanese-American persecutor Chief Justice Earl Warren, said that Kennedy had been martyred, “as a result of the hatred and bitterness that has been injected into the life of our nation by bigots.”  Sound familiar?  Of course we all learned later of Oswald's Leftist activities, but how many cheap points were Democrats able to score through baseless speculation gone unchallenged?

The good news is the media genie is now out of the bottle.  Until the late 90s, Americans were spoon fed a steady diet of liberal tripe over the airwaves.  Today, the Drudge Report; National Review Online; Fox News; and a host of other sources (Yours Truly?) have loosed the Left's stranglehold on the minds of the body politic.

Commentary Magazine

Free Samples

In laying out some sort of parameters for these writings, I have initially settled upon six broad areas, those being:  Politics, Self-Defense, Education, the Outdoors, Movies, and Miscellaneous Tips.  

The following six posts should give you some idea of what I have to offer.

Mission Statement

"You ought to start a blog." 

I've always been one of those guys who closed the newspaper with disgust and put pen to paper after reading Leftist non-sense.  I suppose this medium constitutes the modern day equivalent of the daily Letter-to-the-Editor.  Look for commentaries on the passing scene as well as tips I've picked up along the way concerning a variety of topics.

I hope you enjoy.