Skill Set: “First” Aid

There are several things that have always been required of a responsible individual. You’re the person that acquires food and shelter, provides security from outside threats, and safety – for example being prepared for a traumatic medical emergency. As a group, the Wire’s reader focus heavy on firearms use for defense – and other “fun” applications. Just as important, or possibly more so, is the ability to deal with medical emergencies.

As humans became more civilized, living in larger groups for obvious advantages, individuals began to shift their responsibilities to “specialists” – if make money to buy food, you don’t have to gather or hunt. Armed professionals provide security, both domestically and internationally. Safety – when you need emergency medical assistance, you call and help will arrive. Only now, as things become more “civilized” – an increase in violence and the latest “protests” - we’re discovering assistance may take a while. During a medical emergency – if you don’t do something right now someone dies - time is a precious commodity.

The riots have completely blocked the streets. The system is overwhelmed with calls; emergency personnel may arrive in a timely fashion. Heavy gunfire is preventing any response. In other words, “It’s up to you.” The knowledge, skills and gear necessary to deal with a trauma emergency are not that complicated. The fundamentals are (1) stop the bleeding, (2) keep them breathing and (3) prevent them from going into shock.

Continue to the article

Tip: You Are Responsible for Your Own Safety

by Sheriff Jim Wilson - Friday, July 10, 2020

So far, 2020 has turned out to be quite a surprise for all of us. Unfortunately, it has been quite a large surprise for a lot of folks. I’m talking about the people who previously thought those of us who practice for personal defense were preparing for unrealistic scenarios. 

Continue to the article

The .22 LR: History & Performance

by Dave Campbell - Saturday, July 11, 2020

The .22 LR: History & Performance

NEVER DO THIS....Revolver Edition

Hey Everyone! Have had a lot of requests for some tips and tricks with the ole' revolver. Here's a few to get you started!!

Jerry Miculek - Pro Shooter

'gun jugging'

What is "gun jugging"?

"Jugging" is a term typically used to describe crooks watching an unsuspecting person go to an ATM and take out cash, then following that person to another location and robbing them.

Recently, some police in different cities say they are seeing that same type of crime, but instead of ATMs, crooks look over shooting range parking lots. And instead of cash, they steal guns.

Have you heard of this?

Law-abiding gun owners are familiar with the sentiment: criminals will find illegal ways to get their hands on guns. 

We all need to be reminded to be vigilant!

Jeff Cooper's Color Codes of Awareness

Vehicle Carry Solutions

Smart options for safely and discreetly transporting and storing your weapon in your vehicle are plentiful, if you know where to look.         by Steve Statham

Console Vault

Titan Pistol Vault

Hornady RAPiD Vehicle Safe

TruckVault

A few more:

READ

The ONLY APPROVED AR-10 For California!!!!!!


I wonder if Vincent can make this holster???!!!!!

The BACON HOLSTER  - How many do you want?


Any Gun Shops offering TRADE-INS - or another to purchase firearms/ammo!!

How to Make Your Home a Hard Target

by Sheriff Jim Wilson - Sunday, March 22, 2020

Very interesting and important article.

Please Read

PERSONAL SAFETY IN THE FACE OF THE CORONAVIRUS

Dry Fire

Since we are taking precautions - DRY PRACTICE (FIRE) may be an Option to Help Us Keep Sharp.

We would all like to be at the range and enjoy throwing lead downrange. But sometimes we do not have that option; thus – Dry Practice (Fire).

Thus, hope to offer some advice from the book and manual authored by Michael Seeklander.

This will be an interpretation of his work and knowledge as I understand them.

Dry practice/fire can be used as a supplement to improve your skills and development as a shooter. Many of the professional shooter use and have used dry fire in the routine of shooting. According to Seeklander the practicing drawing and reloading with dry firing saves on ammunition and range time. It also helps that the sound of live fire is not present, thus there should be no anticipation with the trigger pull and moving the gun before the bullet leaves the gun.

Safety for Dry Practice/Fire

1. Be sure that all live ammunition is not located in the same room when participating in dry fire drills.
2. Always triple-check that any firearm used in dry fire has been cleared properly, this must include any magazines used in the drills.
3. If you use dummy rounds in your drills, be sure that they have been drilled and colored orange or red to ensure that they not live ammunition.
4. Suggest if possible that you have special magazines for use that contain dummy rounds and are marked accordingly for dry fire only.
5. Be sure to follow the rules of firearm safety:

1. All guns are treated as loaded.
2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
3. Never let your muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
4. Be sure of your target, backstop, and beyond.

Should I wear the same clothes, holster, etc. that  I normally wear when I go out or to the range? YES. This is very important since you are training your muscle memory.

Equipment needed for totally successful dry fire practice and drills according to Seeklander.

1. Dummy Rounds
2. 1/3 scale targets - this is good because it simulates aiming area that we see at a full-size target at the correct distance. If possible they should be human-shaped.
3. Shot Timer (PACT or other brands) - be sure that you can set the PAR time. PAR time is the ability to enter a specific time and have the timer deliver a start beep and an end beep. This allows you to train and begin to lower the time incrementally.
4. Cover - this is used to practice shooting properly with a protective cover/area.

Tigger Control

With dry fire, you only will hear one click, unless you recycle the slide. That takes time and effort and develops a bad habit. In order to practice continue shots, you should just continue to press the trigger to the rear with enough pressure that the gun would be going off if the striker or hammer cocked. Doing this you will be able to monitor the sights for alignment and movement.

Dry Practice Drills for Homebound Shooters

by Sheriff Jim Wilson - Friday, March 20, 2020

Will be updating this over time.

Please leave your comments, suggestions, dry fire drills in the comment section.

First Look: Bond Arms Rough Series Double-Barrel Handguns

First Look: Bond Arms Rough Series Double-Barrel Handguns
by SI Staff - Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Bond Arms has trimmed down its finishing process to create a more affordable option for their more budget-conscious customers, while still retaining the outstanding fit and finish they are known for. The result of this is the Rough Series and includes the Roughneck, Rowdy, and the newest addition, the Grizzly double-barrel guns.

Every Rough Series gun is cleaned up and de-burred to reduce the sharp edges off the metal. After the initial treatment, guns are bead blasted to give them a rough finish, and the parting lines in the metal frame and trigger guard add to their appeal. The swirls of the tool marks on the barrels and tiny marks left from the casting add a unique individual touch to each handgun. Built in a fraction of the time compared to the rest of the Bond Arms line, the reduced build cost of the Rough Series guns translates into huge savings for the consumer, yet still use the same grade of stainless steel as all other production models.

The Bond Rough Series handguns include premium features found in the rest of their double-barrelled guns, such as stainless-steel barrels and frames, a cross-bolt safety, retracting firing pins, a spring-loaded cam-lock lever and a rebounding hammer. 

At 5 inches long, the Rough N Rowdy is the largest pistol in the line, chambered for the powerful .45 Long Colt, and 2½-inch .410 bore shotshells. A blade front sight and fixed rear sight mount directly on its 3-inch barrels.

Bond Arms Rough N Rowdy

Rough N Rowdy Features:
.45 Colt/.410 (2½-in. shells only), single action
Stainless steel double-barrel and frame
Black rubber grips
Fixed sights
Patented rebounding hammer
Cross-bolt safety
Removable trigger guard
Interchangeable barrel
Barrel length: 3 inches
Overall length: 5 inches

MSRP for the Rough N Rowdy is $299.

The Grizzly features several upgrades from a very similar Rowdy pistol, such as vibrant rosewood grips engraved with grizzly bear artwork. Bond Arms' name plate and a checkered panel add texture and character, and the pistol includes a matching leather holster embossed with a grizzly bear. Its 3-inch barrels are chambered in .45 Long Colt and 2½-inch .410 bore shotshells.

Bond Arms Grizzly

Grizzly Features:
.45LC / .410 bore
Stainless steel double-barrel and frame
Compatible with all standard Bond Arms barrels
Patented rebounding hammer
Retracting firing pins
Cross-bolt safety
Spring-loaded, cammed locking lever
Barrel length: 3 inches
Overall length: 5 inches
Includes leather holster

MSRP for the Bond Arms Grizzly is $377. 

The Roughneck is a new type of Bond Arms' gun. Built with a 2.5-inch barrel and chambered for 9 mm, .357/.38 or .45 ACP, it features a blade front sight and fixed rear sight. The compact handgun also uses a textured rubber grip.

Bond Arms Roughneck

Roughneck Features:
9 mm, single action
Stainless steel double-barrel and frame
Black rubber grips
Fixed sights
Patented rebounding hammer
Cross-bolt safety
Removable trigger guard
Interchangeable barrel
22 ounces
Barrel length: 2.5 inches
Overall length: 4.5 inches

MSRP for the Roughneck is $269.

More information on the Rough series of pistols and the rest of the Bond Arms lineup is available at https://www.bondarms.com/.

5X5 Drill - Bill Wilson

FACTORY TRICKS FOR RELOADERS

FACTORY TRICKS FOR RELOADERS
by: GLEN ZEDIKER

One of the main-most good things that can be said about factory ammo is that it has a shelf life that, given decent storage conditions, will likely exceed that of handloads. Or not. “Not” depends on what steps or processes were applied to the handload.

Sealants

The main culprit in decreasing stored life of a loaded round results from corrosion. Some call it “sticktion,” and I’ve had it happen a few times. What it is, is the case neck and bullet corrode — stick — together. That will elevate pressure. I had a rash of blown primers from the batch I used.

There are a few ideas on how to reduce or eliminate stiction, and the first starts with eliminating the catalyst for the corrosion. Don’t touch the bullets with your bare fingers! Don’t touch the cases either. I know a few commercial loaders who produce precision ammunition and they’re all about surgical-style gloves.

I have run some tests using bullet sealant (applied as a liquid then UV-cured) and such a product will, indeed, virtually eliminate any worries over corrosion. Most factory, and virtually all mil-spec, ammo uses some formulation of sealant (bullets and primers). The reason I tried it, though, was because of the promise of greater accuracy. Glued bullets tend to produce from a little to a lot smaller velocity spreads. My jury is still out on the value of this additional step, and when there’s a verdict I’ll let you all know how it played out.

Here’s a simple and easy sealant that works well. One bottle will last about 1000 rounds. Check it out at Midsouth HERE.

There are a few different bullet and primer sealers available. For the most part, these are fairly easy to apply and none are what I’d call expensive.

Giving loaded rounds a good cleaning, and then storing them at the least in air-resistant boxes, keeps the shine on and the corrosion away for a good long while.

Handling precautions during round assembly and then good storage afterward extends the shelf life of reloads.

Some run their loaded rounds in a routine-type case cleaner, like a vibratory tumbler. That’s all good, but I suggest not using anything but “pure” media to ensure that no residues are left behind.

I use denatured alcohol and a bath towel: place the rounds on half the towel, pour on the alcohol, fold over the towel and roll the rounds around. Let them dry and box them up.

Handling precautions during round assembly and then good storage afterward extends the shelf life of reloads.

Defensive Drill

Shooting paper targets is fun, but sometimes we need to do some defensive style drills. Here is one that uses only one target called the BFM.

Target needs to have two areas: Center Mass and Head

Total Magazines: 2 - 8 round mags

Total shots fired: 15

Distance: 7 yards

Shoot the following sequence:

6 rounds to center mass
2 round to head (slide lock - reload)
4 rounds to center mass
1 round head
2 rounds to center mass.

Times:

under 10 sec - Expert
10:01 - 12 sec - Master
12:01 - 15 sec - Sharpshooter
15:01 - 20 sec - Marksman
20:01+ - Keep practicing

Suggested by:
Mark Redl - Colt
Ken Hackathorn - 1911