Weekend Reading from Active Response Training and Defensive Pistolcraft

Greg Ellifritz has another Weekend Knowledge Dump and Jon Low published another Defensive Pistolcraft newsletter earlier this week. Let's take a quick look at each:

    Greg's Weekend Knowledge Dump, as usual, has a variety of articles on firearms, self-defense, and prepping skills. One of the articles to which he linked is on the maintenance of the Mini-14; and, I have to admit, I had to chuckle at his comment on the subject (emphasis added): "I’ve written about the Mini-14 before.  I’m not a fan.  With that said, some of you like them.  This would be a good piece to read if you actually have and shoot a Mini.  My best maintenance tip would be to buy an AR-15." I'm a long time fan of the Mini-14: it was the first rifle I ever bought and I probably shot it more than any rifle I've owned since then other than a Marlin .22 rifle I owned (and which was the second rifle I bought). I consider them to be low maintenance--they are (or at least my example was) very reliable. But they aren't as durable as a milspec AR--i.e., they aren't the best rifles for mag dumps. 

    Anyway, some other articles and videos to which Greg links that caught my attention:

• Dave Spaulding has a two part article that goes over gear he has used and liked--everything from his pick for handguns (Glock 19 and Ruger double-action revolvers), holsters and sights, to pocket knives and flashlights.
• An article from Training Network entitled "Is Anyone Willing or Even Capable of Serving Anymore?" which goes over the lack of interest in military and law enforcement jobs, as well as the poor physical shape and lack of emotional maturity that foreclose the job to most of those that would potentially be interested in such a position. Greg has some thoughts on the topic, so be sure to check those out. While Greg focuses on the lack of support from superiors, and we often hear about poor pay (although that really depends where you are working and what stage of your career), I wonder much the simply the lack of respect for the position plays a role. 
• An article on techniques for changing the magazine for AK rifles. Mini-14 and Mini-30 users might also want to take a look since magazine changes are so similar between the AK and Mini-14. [Update: And as pointed out in the comments, the M1A is also similar].
• A page with links to free, printable targets. 
• A link to a video (one of a series) on ground-fighting positions.
• Another video on performing vertical mattress sutures for the medically minded among you.
• An an article on how to safely unload a double-action revolver. You might think this is the easiest thing in the world--and it is--but it is also easy to not open the cylinder far enough for all cartridges to clear the frame or the grip, and then close the cylinder with a cartridge remaining. The author--the Revolver Guy--recommends counting the cartridges, visually checking each chamber, and physically (or tactilely) check each chamber. I learned to count the rounds and then hold the weapon against a lighter background with the cylinder still open to visually check if there is an obstruction in a chamber. 

And there is more. So be sure to check it out. 

    Jon's Defensive Pistolcraft post also is chock full of links, excerpts of important points, and commentary. A sampling:

• Jon includes some tips he received in an email from Mike Ox including "Change your targeting a little bit . . . to the side of the neck, throat, or slapping the ear, and you have a MUCH better chance of stopping a threat and still being able to use your hand to manipulate weapons, phone, or keys afterwards" and "[t]he list of things that you can’t do in the UFC and MMA are a GREAT starting point for the skills and techniques you should practice to quickly stop real life violence." Reminds me of something I read about the best place to learn about post-SHTF hunting or fishing was to read through the game regulations for the stuff you are prohibited from doing.
• Jon summarizes a debate with a colleague that arose from a news story of a woman shot to death by an abusive husband. I recommend reading the whole thing because he picks apart several myths held by many members of the public, but the part I want to emphasize because we hear it over and over again is the question of why not shoot to wound someone instead of shooting to kill:

      My colleague then started saying that even when police shoot someone, they should shoot to disable, not shoot to kill.   

 

     I explained to my colleague that no police academy, no civilian gun school, no military unit teaches that.  Because it is wrong on many levels.   

 

     Shooting in combat, is a low probability event.  Shooting at an arm or leg to wound is a zero probability event.  Every miss is destroying property, injuring innocent bystanders, maybe killing them.   

 

     The good guys are not shooting to kill.  Rather, they are shooting to immediately stop the attack.  Whether the bad guy dies or not, is incidental to stopping the attack.   

 

     Even if the good guy hits the bad guy, that is not enough.  In order to immediately stop the attack, the good guy must place multiple bullets into vital organs of the bad guy.  Because pistol ammunition is ballistically deficient compared to rifle or shotgun ammunition.  One cannot expect a one shot stop.  That is simple not normal.  It usually takes multiple hits to vital organs to stop the attack.  

• Even though I know Jon dislikes manual thumb safeties and doesn't think them necessary on striker fired pistols, I appreciate that he has the intellectual honesty to consider contrary positions and present them to his readers, including linking to a Truth About Guns article praising the thumb safety, as well as quoting some comments by Stephen P. Wenger on using thumb safeties. Like Wenger, I think people using handguns with short-stroke triggers for concealed carry should have thumb safeties on those firearms, even if it something like the Striker Control Device for the Glock, because of the risk of clothing or something becoming entangled inside the trigger guard and discharging the pistol. 
• One of the common quotes from Sun Tzu is: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” In the self-defense world, that means avoiding being the victim of a crime without having to resort to violence. In that regard, Jon links to an article from Travis Pike on "Five Nongun Home Defense Strategies" which include making use of motion sensing lights, prickly or spiky plants in strategic locations, security cameras, evaluating and (if necessary) upgrading entry points like doors and windows (including locks and using window film, but also check that the screws used for door plates and hinges project far enough into the frame), and watching what you post on social media about trips, things you own, your kids, etc., that might attract criminals. Jon also mentions using door bars on outside entrances. I would add that you should consider an alarm system. Similar to many cell phone plans, many security companies will provide the equipment and installation free of charge (well, without an upfront charge) when you sign up for a multi-year monitoring plan.
• More and more states have laws requiring safe storage of firearms. Jon reminds readers of that and the necessity of making sure firearms are locked up. Of course, a locked up firearm is also a useless firearm from a self-defense perspective. So, while your firearms should be locked up when you are gone, you may have to make compromises when you are home. When you are awake, you can resort to home carry. At night time, however, when you might be woken from your sleep by a crash of breaking glass, a door being kicked in, or an alarm going off, you might want to be able to quickly access a firearm. And that means taking into consideration whether you want to use some sort of quick access safe--which aren't perfect--or other compromises. 
• Jon relates a story of an officer involved in a gun fight who thought his pistol had broken when, in fact, he was short-stroking the trigger so it wasn't resetting. He also includes some training recommendations.
• Jon includes a photograph of kittens standing on bare ground to test your observation skills. It is also an excellent example of why black is lousy for camouflage. 

Anyway, a lot more, so be sure to read the whole thing.