2008.09.30
2008-06-23
Congratulations to Highfalutin Hunter
2008 SASS End of Trail,
Little Buckeroo
WORLD CHAMPION!
Winner of the 2008 End of Trail, Shootout at High Noon
You can watch a video of him winning the High Noon Shootout below. Drawing and shooting 5 separate targets in 2.52 seconds.
More pictures, videos, and a complete stage by stage review of the 2008 End of Trail, SASS World Championship coming soon.
2008-06-05
CARRY YOUR GUN!
Over the last few weeks there have been so many shootings in Charlotte that I have lost count. In the last month, a good friend of mine, Sallie Rohrbach, was murdered while conducting an audit on a local insurance agency. Just this week four people have been shot within a seven mile radius of my office. Burglaries, home invasions, and robberies are all on the rise, and it seems as if it is only getting worse. Carjackings are a common occurrence around these parts, and the number of violent crimes is up as well.
Now I am not naive enough to think that a firearm would have prevented every single one of these events, but that is not the point I am trying to make here. It boggles my mind when I learn just how many people set aside the time to take the concealed carry class, pay for the permit, and then never use it. It just doesn't make any sense to me. Why go to the trouble of sitting in class for 8hrs+, and paying over $100 to get your concealed carry permit, if you are not going to carry your gun? Its kind of like wiping before you poop. To me, it just doesn't make sense.
Tragically, I learned at a very early age that as good as the police are, they can't be everywhere to protect you when the bad guys come to do you harm. You have to be able to protect yourself and those you love. I like to stack the odds in my favor, and if I don't have my weapon with me, "I" put myself at a disadvantage. That is why I carry my weapon everywhere I go. To work, to the store, even to church. One would like to think that a place of worship is the one place you can go and feel safe, sadly that is not the case anymore.
So whether its going to work, going to the movies, or just a quick trip to the gas station for a slushy, CARRY YOUR WEAPON! We do not always know when the bad guys will come looking for us, but we can be sure that we are ready when they do.
Stay safe friends
Tim
2008-05-12
Fitness in Competition
Part 2
Temperatures in North Carolina are starting to warm up, and it didn't take long for me to realize it. The 3-gun match this past weekend was hot and humid, and I could feel myself getting a little winded even after a 45-60 second stage, and I am in pretty decent shape. I was reminded once again how important physical fitness in competition really is.
With the temps being in the lower 80's and the humidity around 75%, its shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that we were all loosing water as fast as we could put it back in. I was never hungry, but I had a thirst I could not quench, even after drinking nearly 60oz of water and Gookinade in 2 hrs. This was in addition to the pre-hydrating I did the day before the match.
Once we got to the long field-style stage to was brutally obvious who was in shape and who wasn't. This was a 120-180 second stage, and at the end some of the shooters were shaking pretty bad that they couldn't even carry their guns the 100 yards back to the start line. This was the last stage of the day, and there is no way you could tell me that they were shooting at their peak performance on this stage.
Lets make it clear that I am not trying to make them look bad, or make myself look good. I am just making a point. A point that can be seen at just about every 3-gun match around. When your huffing and puffing, your heart rate is at 120bpm, and your hands are shaking, there is no way your going to be shooting at the top of your game.
So even if it is getting on a treadmill for 5 minutes, running up and down the stairs a few times, or walking around the block, anything you do WILL help you prepare to be the last man standing.
Who knows, the next time you shoot your weapon, it may not be at a stationary cardboard target that doesn't shoot back.
Something to think about
Tim
2008-05-09
Fitness in Competition
Recent Russell Phagen at Cavalry Arms posed the question "do you think physical fitness has any bearing on how you shoot in competition". The overwhelming, almost unanimous, response that was it certainly did, but few admitted to actually putting effort in to their fitness when it comes to competing.
When I go to a match, I want to win. I practice my dry-firing, reloading, draw and every skill that I will use for that particular match. I buy the best equipment I can afford so I will be properly equipped for the match. I handload my ammo so I know it will be accurate. Though why is it I forget about the condition of the shooter?
I'm not sure why we (yes, myself included), don't put more time in to it. I know for me, at the end of a long day of shooting, whether it be for fun, at a class, or at a match, I get tired. My groups start to grow, my mental sharpness declines, and I get winded by the end of the stages, and rightfully so. Our bodies are nothing more than an amazing machine, able to do just about whatever we put out minds to, but at the end of the day it is still just a machine. It needs to be taken care of just like any other machine would. In the same way your vehicle won't run without gas, neither will your body. You have to constantly refuel your body to keep it in the best condition possible. That means putting hydration back in to your body, and food in your stomach. Do you really think that breakfast burrito and coffee you had at 8am is really going to hold you over all day? So don't be afraid to down a couple bottles of water or Gatorade, and eat some carbs. Your body will thank you, even if the other shooters don't ;)
Tim
2008-04-28
This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking some of my best friends, Ashley and Adam, shooting for their very first time. We started out going over the 4 rules of gun safety, and got them familiar on how each one of the firearms was operated, and went over some range rules. I think they were more excited to learn how to shoot than I was about teaching them.
They both grasp the fundamentals of their grips, sight alignment, trigger reset, and recoil management, and started shooting better groups as the day progressed. Once I thought their progress had leveled out, I kindly reminded them that the cardboard target they were shooting at was trying to kill one of their children. Instantaneously they started shooting faster, and tightened up their groups even more. After Ashley put 5-6 fast rounds on target I asked her about the recoil and her reply was "what recoil?". She "got it".
After a great day shooting everything from 22lr to 6.5 Grendel, the general concensus was that this was only the first of many range trips for them.
I could not have asked for a better day with better friends. Ashley and Adam are two great friends, and great parents as well. Hopefully soon I can make it back out to the range with both of them and do some more shooting.
2008-04-18
Wolf Gold 6.5 Grendel Ammo test
Updated April 18 2008
Ammo: Since I have to accumulate a decent supply of brass before I can start handloading, my first shots with the rifle have been with factory ammo. I started with the new 120gr MPT-HP (Multi Purpose Tactical) from the Wolf Gold line. Having shot well over 10K rounds of the steel cased Wolf ammo, I knew it wasn't the most accurate ammo on the market. So my expectations for the Gold Line ammo wasn't too high either, though I was optomistic it would be better than the steel cased ammo.
The Wolf Gold, 6.5 Grendel ammo comes in 2 variatioins. A 123gr SP @ 2600fps, and a 120gr MPT @ 2615fps, I was shooting the later during this test. It should also be noted that the Wolf 6.5 Grendel ammo uses a large rifle primer in Prvi Partisan brass, and the Alexander Arms and Blackhills ammo uses small rifle primers in Lapua brass. I'm not sure what the reasoning behind this but, hopefully the emails I sent to Wolf will answer my questions.
When I started shooting there was no wind and the sun was at my back, just about perfect for a test. I forgot my sandbags, so I only used a bipod for a rest. Since I am still breaking in the barrel I didn't get to shoot as many rounds as I would have liked to, but I still managed to get off close to 40rds during this session. Enough to make a preliminary assumption about the gun and the ammo.
As I sighted in the rifle, I was very surprised at the accuracy of the ammo. Easily shooting 5rd 1 MOA groups on demand, I knew the Gold Line was much better than the steel cased Wolf we all plink with. Once I sighted in the rifle at 100 yards, I put up a new target and started shooting for groups. The best group I managed was 5rds in a quarter, or slightly under 1 MOA. I handed the rifle over to my dad, and his groups were even tighter than mine, closer to .75MOA. I am sure once the barrel is broken in, and I have some sand bags, the groups will shrink even more.
I think it is pretty easy to see that I am pleased with this ammo, especially considering the price, and ease of availability. With heavy match-grade 223 ammo going for close to $1 a rd, being able to shoot sub-MOA groups with ammo retailing for under 50 cents a rd, the Wolf Gold ammo is a viable choice for the 6.5 Grendel shooter. I think Wolf has made the 6.5 Grendel a prime choice for a long range shooter that wants to use the AR-15 Platform.
Stay tuned for the next update on the 6.5 Grendel SPR buildup.
~Tim
2008-04-16
Better ballistics, comparable recoil, and ammo availability. Those are the 3 main reasons I decided to go with a 6.5 Grendel for my current AR-15 based SPR build. Built off of the AR-15 platform, a simple bolt and barrel swap, along with a new magazine, is all you need to start slinging those long slender 6.5mm bullets at targets out to 1000+ yards.
The upper is a Sabre Defence Competition Special with a 20" SS fluted barrel, free-floated handguard, and a competition gill brake. I topped it with a Nightforce 5.5-22x50 NXS, and put it on a Double Star lower fitted with a Magpul PRS stock, and a Chip McCormick single stage flat trigger.
I will be using ammo from Wolf, Alexander Arms, and my own personal handloads, to test accuracy, reliability, and performance of this rifle. I will also be using the rifle in several practical shooting matches in the coming months, with the grande finale being the LMS Trooper Challenge in October of this yr.
Be sure to check back soon as this page will be updated constantly.
~ Tim
2008-04-09
~Tim
2008-04-08
Every so often I encounter people, both in the shooting and non shooting world, that get that "look" on their face when I make a comment about training. As I tell them of my passion with firearms, and the various shooting sports I participate in, it is always followed by their response of "Why do you need to know how to do that? You are not a cop or in the military are you?". They are partially correct, I am not a cop, nor am I in the military, but I am a citizen warrior, a sheepdog if you will. I believe that you are responsible for your own safety and security. Sure, the police are there to enforce the laws, but a certain burden falls on you to be able to take care of yourself and your loved one.
I am saddened by the recent number of active shooter incidents across America in the recent yrs. From Columbine, to Virgina Tech, to the Amish school, and most recently the mall in Omaha NE. In the majority of active shooter scenarios, the shooting is over before the cops arrive on scene. How are you going to protect yourself or you family if the shooter engages you before help arrives? Will you turn and run, and hope the shooter is a bad shot and misses you, or will you make use of your training and hopefully stop the shooter before he take another innocent life? The choice is yours to make. I will promise you this though, if it ever "hits the fan", you will never wish you had less training.
Obviously there is more to being able to take care of yourself and your family than just shooting though. You can be taught how to kill in one day, likewise, you can also be taught to save a life in the same time. Chances are, you are much more likely to save a life with medical skills than you are to take a life. Back to the original story, you have just lived through a robbery and now a bystander is on the floor bleeding from a gunshot wound. Can you get in there and help save that life, or are you going to stand there while someone bleeds out because you have no clue how to treat that wound?
Many of us play with guns for fun on a regular basis. USPSA, IDPA, 3-Gun, SASS, Skeet, Trap, Highpower, etc. Did you ever stop to think that most of these ranges are out in the country and not exactly close to a hospital. Recently I was shooting with a friend in Colorado, and he made a comment to the order of, "you know if you get shot, we are 30 minutes from medical help right?" So what would you do if an accident happens while at a practice session?
How many of you know how to treat an arterial bleed? What about how to handle a Tension pneumothorax? Can you preform CPR? Do you see where I am going with this folks? It is probably more important to know how to save a life, than it is to know how to take one. A simple Red Cross first responder class is a great way to learn some basic, yet lifesaving, medical skills. You can even go one step farther and take a defensive medicine class from someone like LMS Defense. The Defensive Medicine course will teach you to effectively manage life threatening injuries resulting from a traumatic event until professional emergency medical services arrive. Topics of instruction include bleeding control, airway management, shock and brain injuries and other medical issues likely to arise in the aftermath of a life threatening attack or other critical incident. Do you dedicate as much time to training for the treating of wounds as you do to the inflicting of them? The life you save will probably be your own or that of a family member. LMS Defense
No matter what path you decide to take in life, be ready. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment Heb 9:27
2008-04-04
Part 3: Ergonomics & Confidence
Your gun should fit you, and your hands. When you retrieve your weapon it should feel natural, and you shouldn't have to fiddle or shuffle your hands to get the proper grip. Some people like the slim grips of the 1911 model pistols, while others may prefer the larger grips of double stack associated with pistols such as Glocks, M&P's, and XD series, while others still like the feel of revolvers, but its so much more than grip size. You have to look at how the magazine is released, how the slide is dropped/released, how the safety is operated, and how the trigger feels to you.
When it comes ergonomics its usually a love it or hate it type thing. You will either like the grip angle, or you won't. You will either like where the mag release and safety are, or you wont. There are no perfect pistols out there. You should try out several models and designs to find out what is the best for you. A great way to try out multiple pistols at a time is to go to a range that rents guns. This gives you the opportunity to try the pistols out back to back and make a decision on what feels the best to you. Its all personal preference, and what feels best to you.
Once you have settled on a particular model of weapon you have only 1 thing left to do. SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! Thats where your confidence will come from. Confidence to know that you wont have to fumble with the safety, or the magazine release, in a life or death situation. Confidence to know that you can hit what you are aiming at, under any circumstance.
Full article here.
2008-04-03
PART 2:
*Ease of use. What characteristics does a pistol have that would make you want to carry it everyday or not? Sure the S&W 500 mag might be the most powerful revolver in the world, but it is huge, it kicks like a mule, and is around $3 per round. Likewise a 22lr Derringer is small, lightweight, easy to carry, but it only carries 2 rounds. A gun at home in the safe doesnt do you any good. What I am trying to say is that there has to be a happy medium somewhere in the middle. For some people thats a super small revolver or single stack pistol, and for others thats a full size pistol.
I am fortunate enough that my employer not only allows me to carry at work, but actually encourages it. Lucky me right? So in my case, being able to totally conceal my weapon from everyone at my job, is not really a high priority for me. Yet others may not be as fortunate as I am, and being able to conceal their pistol is high on the priority list.
Full article here.
Stay tuned for the next installment of "How to choose a carry pistol."
~Tim
2008-04-02
A question that I field a lot is how to pick a pistol for concealed carry, and with so many great options out there, its hard to pick just one. So instead me pointing towards a particular brand, lets look at the requirements I feel a carry pistol should have.
* Reliability: In my opinion this is the #1 factor is choosing a carry pistol. You need a gun that will go bang EVERYTIME you pull the trigger. A gun is just a hunk of metal if it doesn't shoot, when you need it to. It should fire when it is hot, and when it is cold. It should fire when its clean, and more importantly, when it is filthy. It should fire with any factory FMJ, or JHP ammo. Did I mention reliability?
It should be noted that certain guns are usually more reliable than others right out of the box. One particular brand I prefer is the Glock series of handguns. In my 16 yrs of shooting glocks, I have found that they have been more reliable than any other brand of pistols I have used. They are boringly reliable in fact. I know that when I pull the trigger with my Glock, be it at a match or in a fight for my life, my Glock WILL function correctly. Other reliable pistols include, but are not limited to: Smith & Wesson M&P series, Springfield XD series. We all know I prefer Glocks, but thats just personal preference. Whatever it is you decide to go with, it has to be reliable.
2008-04-01
