Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Saturday, August 16, 2008
To Hell with the TSA!
I could list a number of articles from the web about how lame the TSA is and how poorly they've done with tests and such. First it was limiting anything that could be use as a melee weapon. Then we had to put everything into stupid plastic bags.

Now, they've told us what kinds of bags we can and can't use. I am so sick of them. Does anyone really feel safer in an airport or on a plane because of the TSA?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Great advice for taking out a beginning shooter
This was a response on a forum I frequent and I thought it was excellent advice. I wish I knew better the first time I took some friends out to shoot. I look back on pictures from the day and realize that not everyone was always wearing eye protection!
For beginners, I always try to have a classroom session to introduce new shooters to the 4 basic safety rules, and to show them how to align the sights with the target, stance, grip, and trigger press, and the basics of how the handgun functions mechanically (easier than trying to show someone how to load magazines or operate a safety lever or open the cylinder while other people are shooting and making noise around you). The classroom session can be in your home or at a range's classroom (some ranges will let you use the room for free if you are a regular customer and tell the manager that you are introducing a newbie to shooting) if it is not already reserved for a class. Call before you go.
Be sure that the ear plugs or muffs fit properly and actually block the sound before entering the firing line. Lots of beginners don't know how much sound is supposed to be blocked, so they may initially accept incomplete fitting, then get annoyed or scared by the muzzle blast. I tell beginners that the plug or muff should block 90% of the sound, and then snap my fingers next to their ears, before and after fitting the ear protection, so they can experience the difference before going to the firing line. Glasses can cause poor seal of ear muffs, unless the glasses are worn over the muffs.
Naturally, eye protection is a requirement.
The neckline of the shirt/blouse should be fairly high and closely fitted, to prevent hot brass from getting inside. As you may guess, this can be a bigger problem for women, since they are more likely to wear loose or low-necklines than men.
I find that .22 LR is the way to start most people, although people who are seriously hypersensitive can benefit from starting with an air pistol (I have a Daisy Powerline 717 that is inexpensive, has a decent trigger pull and sights, and is far more accurate than even the average experienced shooter), since it has essentially no recoil or noise. It's drawback is that it is a single shot handgun and must be pumped once for each shot.
As for the type of .22, I differ from most people who prefer to start with a revolver. I find that a nice full-size .22 semi-auto is quite suitable for beginners as long as you show them how it works, start them out with only 1 round in the mag, and watch them carefully while they shoot (which you should do anyway, with any beginner). After they have tried a couple of cycles of "one round in the mag", I let them load 2 or 3. If they do fine with that, 5 or 10 is ok. Watch for slide lock to determine empty gun.
It is not "cheating" for a beginner to use a rest at first.
I emphasize that if anything (ANYTHING) does not go according to instructions, the student should keep holding the handgun with finger off trigger, pointing it downrange, and ask for help. I will be right there watching them, so it isn't hard to get my attention. Naturally, I am also watching constantly, so I may see any problem immediately and they may not even have to ask for help. I am always at their shoulder and prepared to block or grab the handgun if they inadvertently turn around.
Other calibers:
.25--not a good choice for beginners, since it is usually only available in tiny handguns that are too small, too fiddly, and have more recoil than the student is expecting.
.32 ACP--again, often available in small handguns with more recoil than expected (i.e. Seecamp .32 or Beretta Tomcat). If you have a nice medium size handgun in this caliber, it can be quite pleasant (Walther PP or Beretta 70S).
.32 Long or .32 H&R Magnum--pretty easy-going caliber in the usual medium size revolver, or target semi-auto.
.380 ACP--Can generate an unpleasant level of recoil for beginners, especially when fired in blowback semi-autos (which is to say, most guns available in this caliber). Fired in a locked-breech gun, the recoil is very mild (Colt .380 Govt. or Mustang, and very old versions of the Llama .380 Government)
.38 Special--Easy- going caliber with the right loads in full-size revolvers (i.e., S&W Model 10 with 4 or 6 inch barrel). Target wadcutters are loaded lighter than the duty rounds, so start with target wadcutters. Duty or self-defense rounds are loaded hotter, and +P loads are quite hot. Short barrels make everything worse (noise, muzzle backblast, recoil).
9mm Luger/Parabellum- -Standard loads have noticeable noise and recoil. +P loads can be fairly sharp.
.40 S&W, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP--all of these can be intimidating to beginners. .40 S&W normal load is practically a +P, the .357 Magnum is very high intensity, and the .45 has long been over-rated in terms of recoil. Choose wisely. Under no circumstances should a beginner shoot a snub .357!
However, some students are quite recoil and noise tolerant, so they may easily adapt to anything you throw at them. Might as well have one or two larger calibers with you, just in case your student is adventurous and wants to try the "big bores" like .357 Mag or .45. Or the student may want you to shoot it just to demonstrate what larger calibers do. No sense making them bored!
.44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, .500 Magnum, etc.--Just don't! These are only for shooters with some experience.
If you wish to start with a .22 or .38 revolver, I'd suggest shooting in the single-action mode for beginners. The trigger pull is lighter and smoother, and the student is more likely to be able to hit the target. Double action can be frustrating and discouraging. Self-defense revolver training should almost always be double-action, but that can come later.
I commend you on your efforts to teach new shooters and I hope you and your student have fun!
Randall N. Herrst
The Center For The Study Of Crime
"Join now! Learn how to become a more effective activist!"
www.StudyCrime. org
310 213-4709
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Only Black or White?
I subscribe to a couple of forums. One of them is the Warriors for the 2nd Amendment. There are a number of interesting posts there and everyone seems well behaved for a forum. I recently read a post from the 4th.
This fellow presents an interesting argument...
I'm not saying that using a firearm to defend yourself is not an option. Just the opposite. I believe that everyone should have that option as a means of self-defense when all other options are exhausted. I understand that those options can quickly run out within seconds depending on the situation, but to think that we walk around everyday with only to possible actions is only inviting serious reprocussions. You're practically flipping a coin with almost any request.
This fellow presents an interesting argument...
Remember.... Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another:The problem I see is that he has limited his argument to a binary paradigm. I'm sure he would agree (reason) that there are many more responses than just "reason and force". (Please feel free to add your own as well...) What about... ?
reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a
choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your
bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one
of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's
it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact
through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social
interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is
the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use
reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your
threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon
that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger,
a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger,
and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys
with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical
strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a
defender.
- walking away
- humor
- non-compliance
- friendship (I know it sounds silly, but it is an option)
I'm not saying that using a firearm to defend yourself is not an option. Just the opposite. I believe that everyone should have that option as a means of self-defense when all other options are exhausted. I understand that those options can quickly run out within seconds depending on the situation, but to think that we walk around everyday with only to possible actions is only inviting serious reprocussions. You're practically flipping a coin with almost any request.
Monday, May 14, 2007
As terrorism plots evolve, FBI relies on Agent John Q. Public
So, how does the public change from being reluctant to take part in our collective security while balancing the process of observing from digressing into McCarthy-ism?By Josh Meyer, Times Staff Writer
May 12, 2007
WASHINGTON — The FBI has hailed the breakup of an alleged plot to kill soldiers at Ft. Dix, N.J., as a major success story. But federal authorities acknowledge that the case has underscored a troubling vulnerability in the domestic war on terrorism.
They say the FBI, despite unprecedented expansion over the last 5 1/2 years, cannot counter the growing threat posed by homegrown extremists without the help of two often unreliable allies. One is an American public that they lament is prone to averting its attention from suspicious behavior and often reluctant to get involved. The other is a small but growing army of informants, some of whom might be in it for the wrong reasons — such as money, political ax-grinding or legal problems of their own.
Such dependence on amateurs is "not something that we would like. It's something that we absolutely need," said Special Agent J.P. Weis, who heads the FBI's Philadelphia field office and the South Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force, which conducted the Ft. Dix investigation.
Weis and other FBI and Justice Department officials acknowledged they probably never would have known about the six men and their alleged plans had it not been for a Circuit City employee who reported a suspicious video.
And, they said, an FBI informant was instrumental in gathering evidence to file criminal charges by infiltrating the men's circle for 16 months as they allegedly bought and trained with automatic weapons, made reconnaissance runs and discussed plans.
Weis and others said the bureau had to rely on the public and on informants in domestic counter-terrorism investigations because of the changing nature of the global jihad and the threat it posed within the United States. (continues)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Things I gotta think about
The Virginia Tech shootings have had me thinking about a lot...
- psychological screening before handgun purchases
- what psychological tendencies do mass murderers have?
- safety vs. liberty
- the constitution
- what are violent crime rates
- handgun ownership in other countries
- historical tracking of violent crimes
- violent crime prevented by self-defense
- most effective means of self-defense
- violent crime in cities with gun bans
- state of Americans today
- class 3 vs. semi-auto rifles w/ hi-cap vs. long arms vs. handgun crimes
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Airsoft, Part 3
I had my second day of gaming outside today. My goals were to have fun, call all hits as soon as possible, and keep learning. Things went pretty well. First I wasn't sure if I'd make it because I was sick earlier this week. Then the weather looked sketchy so I wasn't sure we'd be out today at all.
I'm still able to look at the experience as basically an outsider. In part that's due to the fact that I'm a foreigner here in Japan, so I'll always be an outsider to some degree. In addition, I'm a newb so there's lots I'm trying to pick up on the fly. Finally, it's something so out of the ordinary yet oddly familiar that it's easy to reflect upon my experiences.
I'd be almost afraid to loan these guys a real gun at the range. Airsoft give one great practice at draws, obtaining a good sight picture, stance, and tactics... but whoa... this squad has almost no muzzle discipline. Just today, I saw a guy pull the trigger on his handgun then look down the muzzle repeatedly when no BB's had shot out. All without wearing his facemask dangling around his neck. Guys also wave their muzzles around with loaded weapons in the safe zone. During one of the pre-game huddles, a guy went to load his handgun, and racked the slide while casually covering half of us with the muzzle before holstering his weapon. They have an odd habit of resting the muzzles of their rifles on top of their feet while standing around.
I'm not really worried since these guys will almost never get a chance to handle a real firearm. But I'm being very conscious about not letting a lax attitude around the airsoft field effect how I handle my real steel firearms or my airsoft replicas.
I'm still able to look at the experience as basically an outsider. In part that's due to the fact that I'm a foreigner here in Japan, so I'll always be an outsider to some degree. In addition, I'm a newb so there's lots I'm trying to pick up on the fly. Finally, it's something so out of the ordinary yet oddly familiar that it's easy to reflect upon my experiences.
I'd be almost afraid to loan these guys a real gun at the range. Airsoft give one great practice at draws, obtaining a good sight picture, stance, and tactics... but whoa... this squad has almost no muzzle discipline. Just today, I saw a guy pull the trigger on his handgun then look down the muzzle repeatedly when no BB's had shot out. All without wearing his facemask dangling around his neck. Guys also wave their muzzles around with loaded weapons in the safe zone. During one of the pre-game huddles, a guy went to load his handgun, and racked the slide while casually covering half of us with the muzzle before holstering his weapon. They have an odd habit of resting the muzzles of their rifles on top of their feet while standing around.
I'm not really worried since these guys will almost never get a chance to handle a real firearm. But I'm being very conscious about not letting a lax attitude around the airsoft field effect how I handle my real steel firearms or my airsoft replicas.