Cruel Hand Luke

And Charlie Beckwith (the guy who founded Delta - the unit not the airline-) was hit with a 12.7mm round (the Russian .50 cal) in vietnam and survived....so what?   Exactly WHERE did  the NY bullet sponge get hit? And was the head wound a penetrating wound or a superficial glancing shot?   Sorry, but I'm gonna side with Davison who worked counter terror in Northern Ireland vs the IRA (and the SAS and SBS shot a lot of Irishmen) vs an anecdotal story of some guy somewhere sometime who was shot somewhere with 9mm who did not die. Especially when that is EXACTLY what the SEAL contingent that "testified" at the FBI wound ballistics workshop in 87 said . They gave a "classified " briefing which pretty much said 9mm killed people dead when you hit them somewhere important.   Peripheral hits don't do any good with any caliber. And I'm going to guess that the NY guy took a lot of hits in NON VITAL places.  But holes in hearts , spines and brains are just that....HOLES in hearts spines and brains no matter what puts them there. And holes in hearts , spines and brains tends to make people lay down and die right now.  Placement is far and away more important than bullet diameter given an adequate amount of penetration to hit vital structures. Next most important is punching multiple holes and disassembling those internal organs. Physics is physics and scientifically measurable data is just that...scientifically measurable.... and the difference in energy is MINUSCULE between .45 and 9 and the difference in size of hole is minuscule.    As to anecdotal stories.....In the book "A Wayward Angel the Full Story of the Hells Angels" one of them was shot multiple times with .45, survived and actually got a tattoo that said ".45s aint sh!t ,17 holes , 4 creases"..... so ANYTHING can fail spectacularly if the shooter can't place the holes into important structures......

As Bill Davison (Former British Royal Marine and CT Instructor with lots of time in Northern Ireleand) "I have never seen someone not die because they got shot with a 9 mil; they all died immediately and I'm really pleased with the cartridge," ......   Article can be found here....http://www.tacproshootingcenter.com/GunWeek.html

REMINDER!!!    This is just about 3 weeks away! 

Obviously it goes without saying to take all the usual safety precautions....   Having said that your dry fire drills can be just about anything you want them to be. If simply improving your shooting skills is what you are looking for then there are a couple of books by Ben Stoeger that have simple drills (draw and 4 to body, reload, 2 to head or turn and draw and shoot  2 to head on 3 different targets, etc). A simple , more "street realistic" drill might be draw and fire 2 to body move to cover and fire 2 to head, scan and proactive reload. Or if you don't have much room to move do it standing in a doorway and simply draw, side step to use the doorway as cover, fire 3 or 4 and do a proactive reload. Your only limits are your imagination!

GTG and Prag, sorry guys....I'll make sure I get input from you on the date for the next one....

I'm not your typical student, but I do still attend classes taught by other instructors regularly so I might have some insight that will help.    Get prepared for class a few days in advance. No one wants to be looking for their mag pouches the morning of the class. Get all your stuff together so that is one less thing to worry with. Pack all your gear and make a checklist. And use the checklist. You don't want to be "the guy who gets to class with no spare mags because they are on the bedside table where he left them" guy.    WEAR A BELT. That should go without saying but I've actually had a person show up to a pistol class where we were they knew we'd be drawing from a holster show up with no belt......and wondered why their paddle holster kept coming out of their pants with the gun when they drew it....    Take a spare gun and more ammo than you think you'll need. This is especially so if you are running an "oddball" caliber that no one else in class is likely to have. If you are running 357sig, 45gap, 9mm Makarov, 9x21, 9x23 or 5.7x28 no one else is gonna have ammo for your gun so bring extra.    Take a notepad and TAKE NOTES. Many times there will be so much info you simply will not remember it all later and most classes do not hand out workbooks or an outline or "take notes for you". So a pen and notepad is a wise investment.    Make sure you have weather appropriate clothing. Being "environmentally miserable " is not a good learning environment. And don't wear flip flops...again, should go without saying but you'd be surprised.    If the class is going to be physical ( a lot of getting up and down or running) and that is not something you are used to then it is a good idea to do something to get in batter shape before the week of class. At a minimum doing some stretching and walking a mile or two each day several months in advance will help. The less strain it is to do the drills the better experience it will be. But there are very few classes you will ever attend that you need to be in pro athlete condition. If you have questions about a class and whether you are in good enough shape to participate you should always ask the instructor in advance.    Bring plenty of H2O...and DRINK IT. Staying hydrated is important. But most people do not drink enough to stay optimally hydrated. In fact, most people walk around in a state of near dehydration in everyday life. You do not want to be "the guy who passed out from dehydration" in class. If you wait until you are thirsty then you are not drinking enough.    Reading.....if you have 20 years I can recommend some books......Just kidding. If the instructor has written a book it is a good idea to be familiar with it. If nothing else I would recommend Principles of Personal Defense by Jeff Cooper. It is a short book on mindset that everyone should read.    Not knowing anything about your present skill level or what specific class you are looking to take, some general advice would be do dry fire regularly in the weeks leading up to class. Work on drawstroke, mag changes, malfunction clearance.....all the stuff you should be working on regularly in dry fire...   And most importantly keep an open mind. Not everyone teaches everything the exact same way. There is nothing wrong with that but a good instructor should be able to tell you EXACTLY WHY they teach something a particular way if it is substantially different than what others do. If they say "just because" then that should be a huge red flag.    How to pick an instructor? Reputation goes a long way. Read reviews of the instructor and ideally talk to people who have been to their classes. Keep in mind also that not all personalities mesh. I have talked to people that were put off by a particular instructor who I happen to think is excellent ...if a bit gruff. Those people and that particular instructor were just not a good mix of personalities. But on a personal level I am more concerned with the knowledge an instructor can help me discover than whether the instructor will pacify my "inner child" or make me "feel better  about myself."     Someone can be a "nice guy" and not be a knowledgeable instructor and someone can be a "been there done that" guy and be a bad communicator and poor teacher. There is more to teaching than being able to do something and more to running an adult learning environment than showing up and letting the students bask in your past glory (unless that is specifically why people come to your class) .... so do your homework in advance and look for an instructor that is good at teaching what YOU are looking to learn. A navy SEAL may be a bitchin' cool guy but odds are he does not do much concealed carry pistol work. And a guy who spends 99% of his time teaching NRA basic classes is not going to be the first guy on the list to teach combatives and close quarters shooting.

RGF-3: ADVANCED RIFLE GUNFIGHTING March 7-8, 2015 Dayton, Tennessee Price $350 Instructor: Randy Harris   Advanced Rifle Gunfighting is the most advanced level rifle training available outside of Special Operations schools. This class will consist of all new material and take your rifle fighting skills, both as a firearm and as an alternative force tool, far beyond what you would think possible. Not for beginners. Students must own the basic combat rifle skill-set and be in reasonable physical condition for this class. If in doubt, attend the introductory class scheduled immediately before. This class will leave you gasping for air with a red-hot smoking rifle barrel.   DURATION: 2 Days   TIME: 8:30AM to 4:30PM   AMMUNITION: RIFLE: Approx. 500 rounds (Minimum) PISTOL: Approx. 100 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather. Lunch, snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day. Baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape).     REQUIREMENTS: A military pattern rifle, (3) magazines and any ancillary rifle gear. Pistol, holster, pistol magazines, eye and ear protection. Note: Chest Rig/Tactical Vests are not allowed with CCW Holsters. If you wish to use a Chest Rig or a Tactical Vest, use a vest mounted holster or a thigh holster.   NOTES: Located in Dayton, Tennessee, just off of Highway 27. We are 3.2 miles north of Dayton... just a short ride from Chattanooga or Cleveland.   To Register...http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/150307-advanced-rifle-gunfighting-dayton-tn.aspx#.VGNnavnF8as   Range information, directions, local hotels, and contact information will be Emailed after purchase, contact the office if you haven't received information for your class.

CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHTING February 7-8, 2015 Chattanooga, Tennessee Price: $350 Instructor: Randy Harris   This is our flagship course and goes as far as you can safely go on a square range with live-fire pistols. The dynamic curriculum surpasses the traditional handgun methods commonly taught in most institutions and focuses of the use of the pistol in aggressive close range applications likely in individual civilian street encounters. The class begins with a tune-up of the fundamentals, then we progress quickly to new skills such as Proactive and Reactive Manipulations, Shooting While Moving Off The X, Reality-Based Multiple Hostiles Engagement, 360 degree CQB Movement, Danger-Close Fighting, Bilateral Shooting, 360 degree After Action Assessment Methods, and Integrating the Flashlight and Other Tools into the Firing Platform. This is the life-saving material that is often ignored in many other programs. In two days, you will receive more information than most armed professionals ever get!   We must point out that THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR THE NOVICE SHOOTER. If you have not received basic instruction, or have a question about your skill level, please call us first.   DURATION: 2 days   TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM Central   AMMUNITION: Approximately 500 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather. Lunch, snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day. Baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape).   REQUIREMENTS: Modern defensive pistol and a holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt. Three (3) magazines and magazine pouch, a belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, and range safety gear (eye protection, and ear protection).   NOTES: Range is private range located where TN, GA and AL all come together on the map 35 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Range is on CENTRAL time.     To register .....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/150207-close-range-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx#.VGNmOPnF8as

KALASHNIKOV RIFLE GUNFIGHTING January 24-25, 2015 Chattanooga, Tennessee Price: $350 INSTRUCTOR: Randy Harris     The AK-47/74 series of rifle is one of the most prolific and useful weapons on earth. Close to 100 million have been made in various parts of the world and anyone's chances of encountering these weapons is high. This special course will take a close look at the Kalashnikov Rifle System and teach you to fight with it in both the standard "urban rifle" engagement as well as in the Close Range Gunfighting matrix. This material will have you appreciating the AK platform like no other rifle. It is too simple to be "tactical".   DURATION 2 days. 9:00AM to 5:00PM Central   AMMUNITION 500 Rounds rifle. 50 Rounds pistol.   EQUIPMENT Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS AK-47 type rifle, (3) magazines and any ancillary rifle gear. Pistol, Holster, Pistol Magazines. Eye and Ear Protection. NOTE: Chest Rig/Tactical Vests are not allowed with CCW Holsters. If you wish to use a Chest Rig or a Tactical Vest, use a vest mounted holster or a thigh holster.   NOTES: Range is private range located where TN, GA and AL all come together on the map 35 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Range is on CENTRAL time.       For more info and to register....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/150124-kalashnikov-rifle-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx#.VGNkKvnF8as   Range information, directions, local hotels, and contact information will be Emailed after purchase, contact the office if you haven't received information for your class.

TWO WEEKS TO GO!!!! 

Seems that there might be some issues with consistency.....

There was a major match in South Africa back in the summer , one in Lithuania recently and one in Italy coming up. 

THREE weeks to go on these! Grab your pistol and your shotgun and come on out and join us!

Then YES I do....

As to the LPO I'm all for that too. Red Dot pistols are a reality. And so are lasers. Like it or not,  it is not 1950 or 1970 or even 1997 anymore.  You see them in gun magazines every month and I see them in classes more and more. They may not quite be "mainstream" yet, but they are heading in that direction. SW now makes the MP CORE as a regular production item. So IDPA can either keep its head in the sand and remain an iron sight only game or they can step into the 21st century and allow lasers and red dots. Especially since there are REAL gun carriers out there carrying those guns for REAL. I know several police officers who carry them as their duty gun and even more civilians who carry them as their EDC CCW gun.    People have always argued it would be an unfair advantage if they shot those in ESP or SSP against iron sighted guns. Fine. Give it its own division and that argument goes away. Heck, we have separate divisions for revolvers and autos...and that (going from revolver to auto) is a bigger advantage than a laser or a red dot adds to an auto against another auto. So I'm all for the LPO division.    With the added divisions we will have   SSP (full size double action service guns or smaller guns if you wish)    ESP (full size single action (or double action if you choose) 9mm and .40 cal guns )   CDP (anything in .45 auto but primarily full size single actions)   CCP (compact carry guns both SA and DA )   LPO (any autos with laser or optics )   SSR ( revolvers)   SSR LPO (revolvers with optics or lasers)   BUG (small low capacity guns that really do not compete well with mid size or full size guns )   ESR will be gone, and frankly I'm not sure that is a good idea but I don't have a dog in that race since I don't shoot ESR. BUt they said they'd try to merge it with SSR.      With the new divisions and assuming they merge ESR and SSR that pretty much covers all the bases...... 

As to CCP I'm all for it if it is essentially SSP and ESP for short guns. They mentioned single actions were legal so that means a Para Ord P12 or a Glock 19 would be OK. I have no problem with that. Like I said, it might be good to see more compact pistols at IDPA matches since most folks are going to shoot the biggest easiest to shoot gun they can to be competitive. As such you see all the G34s in SSP and full size 9mm 1911s in ESP. I doubt 2% of the people shooting SSP with a 34 or ESP with a full size 1911 REALLY carry that in everyday life. What do most carry? A G19 or MP compact or XD compact or something similar. This would create a division for folks who want to be competitive with their real carry gun and not have to shoot it against a G34 or a 5" 9mm 1911. Now, having said that, I actually DO carry a full size pistol concealed on my person( G17 or a G34) in everyday life. But most people do not.    And I'd even be OK with allowing some minor mods. A little stippling on the grip of your otherwise box stock G19 should not force you shoot against $3000 STI 9mm 1911s. As it stands now, stipple your glock and you get sentenced to Enhanced Service Pistol to shoot against 40 oz single action 1911s in 9mm........ But that is a different subject.....   How IDPA can screw this all up is to make G19 and SW MP compacts legal in same category as people would be shooting their back up guns like the Khar PM9 or their SW Shield or SW J frame. The only way to make a shield competitive with a G19 is to make the round count low enough to negate the capacity advantage of the G19. And that would just make this a ridiculous exercise in "fairness" not anything even remotely realistic. NO ONE downloads their G19 to 5 rounds.......Keep the BUG category and limit the round counts to make J frames and Shields and G26s "more equal" but don't allow G19s in ...that would just be ridiculous.    So keep the BUG as a separate thing and use CCP as a means of getting people to shoot the guns they are REALLY carrying (IF they actually carry guns in real life but that is a pet peeve for another time....) 

The reasoning is because it is tactical suicide to leave cover and advance with your gun not topped off. Think of a parking lot scenario . You are behind cover engaging the BG. Your gun runs empty. Are you going to advance while loading? Advance toward the guys SHOOTING AT YOU with no way to shoot back until the reload is finished? Probably not. You want to get it reloaded before ever leaving cover....that makes good sense. Leaving cover with an empty gun is not smart.     But what if you are behind cover at the back end of the car and run empty and decide to reload as you move to the front of the car (but still behind cover)? You are STILL behind cover...right? So what your feet are doing should be irrelevant.  So you should be able to move your feet and reload IF you are not Banzai charging them with an empty pistol. Those are 2 different things. Moving is not always "advancing" but "advancing" is always "moving"......   Problem is that they are making rules for a GAME that is populated by "Range Lawyers" and they have to make rules that are clear and easy to enforce. In order to keep people from doing the IPSC reload on the move (running from position to position reloading) they instituted the "flat foot " reload because that was the only way they could word the RULES OF A GAME  to make it clear across the board for all clubs and Safety Officers. 

I don't really think a plane ticket to Puerto Rico and a week stay there once every 4 YEARS is in the realm of the elite.... a family vacation to Disney World is probably more expensive.....   The World Championship is only held once every 4 years. And EVERYONE else in the world is going to have to travel to another country unless they live in the host country. I realize most IDPA shooters are in the US, but not ALL of them. IPSC has held World Championship matches in South Africa, and Ecuador yet american shooters still showed up at those.... And a plane ticket to Puerto Rico is a heck of a lot less than one to South Africa....

Got that email last night and am not terribly happy about it.....   I busted my butt last year travelling around shooting enough sanctioned matches to get into the World Championship in Puerto Rico. I was looking forward to taking the wife there on vacation and shooting the match while we were there. That makes for a cool vacation to a tropical locale.....now I get to go back to Tulsa.... Wow. Now instead of going to the beach and to some cool historical places maybe we can go to the tumbleweed museum or the stock yard....... :shrug:

OK, but if G19 and SW MP Compact are OK (per the announcement) then it truly is not a "BUG" friendly classification. Sure you can shoot your Khar PM9 if you want....but someone with a "mid size" pistol is going to have a huge advantage if stages are same as the rest of the match. An 18 round stage is 3 full mags from a Khar PM9....... And shooting 5 round only stages with a G19 is just frankly just ludicrous.   If it is a seperate category to be run at matches on the same course of fire with SSP Division capacity then OK, fine,  that makes sense. People are going to shoot the biggest gun they can to be competitive and as such, the G19, one of the most carried CCW guns is conspicuously absent at IDPA matches in the holsters of higher level shooters.    I shot 10 sanctioned matches this year and do not remember seeing 10 TOTAL G19 sized guns in my squads all year combined. So if this is adding a division so that people can compete against each other with one of the most often carried CCW firearms and not full size service guns and long slide competition guns in the same division then I'm all for it. ....but if this is just a bastardization of the BUG matches but allowing bigger guns than are currently allowed in BUG then that is a waste of time and effort and ANOTHER big miss by IDPA HQ.   Add the CCP and KEEP the BUG stuff too, don't get rid of the BUG by adding a category that they CAN shoot their BUG in but will never be competitive in. Heck, for that matter you can shoot a BUG in SSP now.....but no one does so they need to keep BUG as a seperate thing, not merge it with CCP.

Where did you see/hear that?

These two classes are coming up in just about 4 weeks! If you wanted to get started on the right foot thses two are for you. If you need a refresher on defensive pistol skills and shotgun skills then this is for you. Last chance at it in the TN/GA/AL area in 2014, so come on out and join us. You'll be glad you did.

The 15 round tend to be more reliable anyway....   With modern ammo (Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense) the M1 is more effective now than ever before. It may not be uber-modern and sexy , or look cool on the cover of Recoil magazine, but the M1 carbine is still a reliable and accurate gun in the zero to 100 yard range. Would I suggest you buy one over a new AR ? No simply because the AR is a more modular design and it can be accessorized and customized easier. But if you already have an M1 or can get one for a good price, they are solid performers....and always have been if you actually hit what you are shooting at....

I will probably be doing one in the not too distant future. I'll post it here as soon as I have a date on it.