Rifleman

NOTICE: the copy on news stands has two rifles on the cover. The free (much cooler) copies at OnT, Franklin Gun and Tactical Response have a soldier in the Arctic holding rifle on the cover. Otherwise they are the same magazine.

Leave this sight right now. Go to TR's site. Extract credit card from wallet and just register. It is best not to ponder the decision of when to go. Just commit and go. It will not be your last class. This response sounds harsh now, but when you return you will KNOW there are few things more important.

The Serpa latch can also get debris lodged in it and totally seize up rendering you un-able to draw your gun. Talk about retention. CTAC rules them all. I am also a fan of using only one holster. I use an IWB all the time. I have used one in a three gun match, while taking Fighting Pistol, even at Fighting Rifle. I do not ever see myself using a belt holster or tactical drop leg, so I never train with one.

Force on Force should be the bottom, or rather the foundation. Just get training on how to properly deploy a handgun (Fighting Pistol) and then take FoF as soon as you possibly can. This training is more likely to save your life today than any of the other stuff.

My thoughts on Tactical Response's "The Fight" posted on another forum: I cannot tell you guys a lot about the specific scenarios I was in this weekend. If I did, I would rob you of the ability to learn from them when you take the class. This experience is what it is all about. Fighting Pistol is still the gateway to enlightenment, but the only purpose it really serves is to teach you how to handle your gun during FoF. The Fight is not about shooting skill at all. Skill is developed on the range with practice; this is the stuff that is impossible to learn without human interaction. You may think you know what you would do if the SHTF. You do not. People always say “If that happened to me I would do this…” They are full of crap. People often think about fighting, but they never dream of what they would do after they shoot someone. I can now tell you from experience, it is relatively easy to slay some random attacker (really, I did it over and over). That is no big deal, and you can learn to do that on the square range. What you do BEFORE AND AFTER a conflict can save or destroy your life. Does this sound like a lot of responsibility to carry a gun? It is, but people who do not carry a gun are no less responsible, they just don’t have a clue. The stuff that happened to me in this class does not happen only to people who carry guns. Does everybody go to ATMs, movies, restaurants? Yes. Bad things happen to all kinds of people, evil does not discriminate. Be one of the people that at least have some idea what to do.

SafeHouse, Nashville. They have everything and anything to secure a gun or important valuables.

Blue Force Gear, Vicker's sling. Everything you need, and nothing you dont.

Shane you need to give photo credit to Chris Rohling.

What's up Rob? Keep us posted on this range. I assume you are going to have a 2000m lane right?

The Great Hunter has arrived....

I also agree that the XD is worth trusting. I shot 2000 rounds through one with no cleaning and no malfunctions. It was accurate and handles better than many double stack guns. Just keep it clean and maintained like you should any gun.

I would just buy three Glock 19s. That way you will have one standard pistol. Same holsters, same mags. It holds 15 rounds and has a 4 inch barrel, so it meets the criteria of a full size service pistol. It is also small enough to conceal every day in an IWB holster. The Glock is the more reliable pistol as well. I found out the hard (expensive) way.

Fighting Pistol.

Excellent thoughts. I would add that new permit holders put way too much faith in the gun they are carrying. We need to practice the art of de-escalation. Alternate weapons and tactics need to be considered, OC, flashlights, hand to hand, edged weapons etc. The all mighty .45/.40/9mm is not the answer to every problem.

A training forum would be beneficial. It will fill up quickly with up-coming classes, and serve as a rally point for training groups to form. Sometimes training goes beyod the realm of self defense.