The Unknown, Unknowable Event

If you practice the art of gunfighting long enough you’ve heard arguments for and against speed a thousand times. The truth of the matter is they are both right and wrong. It’s more about context and the situation. Shooting fast has its place no doubt, but it is hard to quantify how fast is fast enough. The harsh reality is nobody knows. We are training for an unknown and unknowable event. Actually, that’s not entirely true. The only known will be the need to positively identify the target to ensure deadly force justification. Everything else is up in the air.

Fast is a By Product of the Situation

I’ve told the story several times about how I never had to worry about going “fast” when I was downrange. It was always a by product of the situation and good training. Things happen in real life quickly, thinking fast gives you an advantage. The best decisions were made when the operator was able to pick up on those cues well in advance, position themselves to be tactically advantageous then utilize the surgical violence to resolve our country’s problems. By that point speed was less of an issue at the micro level.

Being Purposeful

Granted, assaulting complex structures doesn’t apply too much to the armed citizen. Conducting too many runs to count a key take away was speed applied without conscious thought generally ended poorly. As the armed citizen another big difference is being reactionary as opposed to pro-actionary. We will be playing catch up most of the time. The ability to draw and deliver accurate and effective fire is the ever elusive goal. How many rounds will it take to stop the fight is the great unknown. How fast must you deliver the first shot is another great unknown. There is no known basis to support these uber fast draw times. The time it takes to recognize the stimulus to draw and fire is greater than the time it takes to draw and fire. There are a lot of variables in play that need to be considered.

Be Smooth

On top of that, we are going to be in a dynamic setting. Maybe the situation deescalate, accelerating decision making speed. Or maybe the situation was a surprise ambush with no warning. The latter is more common and about the only real justification for the super fast drawstroke. There was a complete unawareness of the looming threat. As a result there is an urgency to giddy-up. I find it far more valuable to have a smooth drawstroke that takes into consideration various scenarios. Such as drawing with the use of movement, from a seated or supine position, recovering to a kneeling position from our back and from behind cover. These to me represent a far more valuable perspective. Of course, I’d like each of these draw strokes to be fast, but precise or smooth is the key.

Critical Decision Making

As armed citizens we are responsible for the final resting place of every round we fire on top of deadly force justification. As we find ourselves in these different positions it strains our accuracy. Focusing our efforts in these conditions makes a lot more sense than any super fast drawstroke. The other consideration is the difference between a planned and unplanned event. When we conduct live fire training it is a planned event. Meaning, we are briefed at what distance under what conditions and the course of fire in advanced. This is a huge advantage. It literally removes the critical decision making from the equation. Critical decision making or thinking fast is one of the most overlooked skills in the gunfighting world. It is not something talked about because it is not sexy. The decision to go to guns versus to escape is a hard one for anyone to make, but if all we do is go to guns it makes it far more likely that will be the default setting. Completely removing the critical decision making and potentially putting ourselves in legal jeopardy. Also, if we are not trained to assess each round fired to determine if the attack stopped we again put ourselves in legal jeopardy. If the cue to stop firing completing a Bill drill or emptied the magazine it may be difficult to defend actions in court.

Draw to the Ready

Staying in control at all times is the ultimate goal. It starts by taking in as much available information to make good and timely decisions, what I reference as thinking fast. It’s great to have the super fast drawstroke with the lightening fast split times, but not at the sacrifice of thinking fast. We also see very little emphasis on drawing to a ready position. Granted many defensive gun uses are self explanatory as far as our response. But, what about a smooth draw to a ready position with voice commands. How often is the subject covered of quickly drawing to the ready and issuing commands. There is a tendency to override programming by always drawing and firing.

We are a byproduct of our training. We will never rise to the occasion, we will default to our level of training. Which is why it is so important to consider a more realistic approach towards training where critical decision making is the emphasis, followed by marksmanship and then speed. Discussing the various stimulus to deadly force threats on a more regular basis gives the end user not only the information, but it primes their radar. It puts them in the driver’s seat. Hitting what we are aiming out is the responsibility we bear when we exercise our constitutional rights. The consequences for missing could be property damage at best, personal injury or death at worst. Then moving with control to perform the above is what dictates the speed.

There’s more to gunfighting than shooting fast, thinking fast should be the priority.

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The Newest Era of Handguns

We really haven’t seen anything revolutionary in the last 20 years of handgun manufacturing. The new slim line gun offerings might be the closest. With the explosion of these micro-compact blasters over the last 5 years I’d say they are popular and we see them in many of our carry classes. In fact, I run a slim line for just about every handgun course we offer these days because of their capability and shootability. The last bit there is one a lot of people will voice concerns, how well they can shoot these smaller guns. They offer a few challenges regarding the available gripping surface and overall reduction in mass. You can overcome the gripping surface issue by adopting new grip techniques, but there’s not much you can do about the reduction in mass…until now.

Modern Use of Comps

Ports and compensators are not new. They’ve been around for decades, but mainly in the competitive arena. I loved my comped gun I ran back in the day. For serious duty guns you don’t see them for a couple of reasons, enlarged footprint and reliability. Most compensators were “add-on’s” that extended the overall length of the slide, thus making holster options limited. There were a few integrated into the slide, but they proved less effective. The real problem was many of these were screwed on or similar attachment concept requiring routine maintenance. The newer ported slide design is addressing both these issues and doing it well.

Ported Slides Design

A new design, such as what is seen on the Sig P365 xMacro Comp, combines the ported slide with a shortened barrel to create what is called an expansion chamber. Where the gas from the round is allowed to accumulate in the chamber before vented through two integrated ports in front of the sights. The beauty to this design is you get the best of both worlds. There is no additional length to the overall footprint and no add on’s or maintenance required. I’ve been running these ported slides on all my micro-compact pistols and the results speak for themselves. There really is no down side.

The Bad of Shooting Ported Slides

The two biggest concerns with ported slides are loss of muzzle velocity and close contact shots. I’ve found while there was a reduction in muzzle velocity it varied. At the high end I was getting 50fps difference to only about 15fps on the low end. That’s not the right question to be asking. The real question is what effect will this velocity loss have on terminal performance. While there is a corollary to lower terminal velocity and poor penetration and expansion, what is the threshold. As far as the danger for contact or near contact shots. It is possible while entangled with an opponent the ports could be facing you so the real question is how much injury could the gases produce and what would be the minimum safe distance from your eyes. Again, not sure on this one and probably not really worth the effort.

Ported Slide Benefits

Often overlooked are the real benefits. Ported slides allow a new shooter to immediately reap the benefits in their shooting technique. Some claims are as much as 30% reduction in perceived recoil. When I shoot strong hand only I can see a significant difference in how fast my sights return to the target. I find this point to be important, just because you have a ported slide doesn’t mean you have to shoot fast. It means your sights generally travel less and are quicker to pick up. Or, you have the ability to shooter faster. You still need to make good judgements even between shots being fired.

I’m a big fan of the ported slides for carry, there is little if any downside.

The post Ported Slides for Concealed Carry appeared first on Trident Concepts.

A Dangerous Gambit

Contact shots are based around the fact the violent criminal actor’s hands are not doing anything or they are not aware of your intentions. If the VCA’s hands are not occupied with a task and they are aware of the gun in close proximity you can bet there will be a lot of effort directed towards controlling the gun. At this point, the viability of contact shots is low, opening up near contact shots. There are many viable means to controlling and if possible disarming an opponent armed with a gun. It is a dangerous gambit, but at this point danger is a foregone conclusion. But, what does it really look like. In a word, chaos.

Disrupting the Muzzle’s Alignment

The first step is in realizing the majority of violent encounters don’t go as planned. In a typical grappling encounter, the same side hands/arms are engaged with their opponent’s. This means my hand(s) is trying to control my opponents hand(s) on the same side as I face them. If one of the hands of either party is holding a weapon, the tendency is to go “two on one”. Recognizing the danger presented with the weapon leads to both hands attempting to grab or control the weapon or the opponent’s one hand holding the weapon. Remember, these altercations are happening at very close range. The likelihood of achieving a normal 2-handed range stance is low. Putting aside strength, gender and leverage, two hands are generally stronger than one. The risk of losing control of the weapon and being disarmed is very high, even if there is no trained disarm skill. The real advantage is not in the disarm, the real advantage comes in the form of disrupting the muzzle’s alignment.

Kinesthetic Muzzle Awareness

With two hands on the gun it is easier to move the muzzle away from the body, or pin the muzzle and move the body away. Either case ends the same, the body being out of the path of the bullet. That is great if you were the subject of an armed robbery, but what if the bad guy is able to get their hands on your gun. It seems unlikely they will drop their weapon to go 2on1, but even one hand is enough to disrupt muzzle alignment. The key is understanding when the muzzle is on and off target from a kinesthetic point of view. If it is on target, there is the viability of delivering at a minimum a single near contact shot.

Just Tango On

How does one develop the kinesthetic muzzle awareness when entangled with an opponent. It starts by acknowledging how dangerous this would be in real life. Then, just doing it. There are a couple of tenets to remember. What are they controlling; the gun or your body, ie. hand or wrist. The closer to the end of the lever, in this case the gun, the more control or force the opponent can exert. You need to regain some of that force by brining it back to as close to your centerline as possible. Realize your wrist and shoulder joints have a tremendous amount of articulation available. They can rotate in combination to create some very favorable angles. The next tenet is rotate inwards. Rotating outwards not only moves the muzzle off target, it makes it much harder to come back and easier to disarm. The last tenet is to change levels. In this case, you will have to move the body since the hand is somewhat isolated. Move the body to move the muzzle. A little goes a long way.

Get Behind the Gun

Obviously, this is a super complicated and dangerous concept. It however is more common than you might think. Gun grabs and gun takeaways are something to be aware of if for no other reason than to avoid making mistakes that lead to disarms. Far be it from me to tell someone not to do something to save their own lives. This might be your last best option in a defensive gun use. When you are danger close, it might be all you have once the gun is drawn. Think about the muzzle’s direction, is it on or off target. If off target, how do you get it back. Where is the control, gun or hand. Try to get it back to the centerline by moving it inwards. Change levels and use your whole body, not just your hand/arm to get behind the gun.

Is this an over simplification, perhaps. But, I will tell you these are principles. And like any principle, they are the foundation.

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Close Call

Why the big change? Because, only a few days earlier my son and I sat in that very same movie theater. After enough accurate information was released I put myself back in those seats to brainstorm how I would’ve handled a similar situation. I’ve had many conversations about my thoughts with close friends. The big take aways were; low light, moderate distance and high percentage shots. I try not to let a single event reset my own system, but I’m all for allowing it to influence my thought process and in this case my loadout. It just so happened around that time, I had finished a 6-month experiment working to solve a problem for my old community. This problem centered around low light and running with pistols. In the end, mini-red dot sights or MRDS were the clear winner. I hadn’t put much thought into them for everyday carry scenario. This problem was very unique. Flash forward to the theater shooting and all of a sudden I’m interested.

Technology & Equipment

Low light is always challenging. You come to depend on technology and equipment. The use of night sights have been around for decades, but they somehow were not enough to solve my teammate’s problem, hence my involvement. Using a MRDS gave them anytime view ability, especially under night vision. In a darkened theater the MRDS would be hugely valuable, but under low light conditions it only tells me where I’m aiming. Sure, I could take aim at the muzzle flashes, but positive target identification is paramount. I’ve long opposed the necessity for weapon mounted lights for everyday carry. The added weight and size are barriers to entry for many. Over a decade and weapon mounted lights have come a long way as far as size and output. Now, I can have a smaller, more powerful light better suited for concealed carry. The problem wasn’t necessarily the WML, the problem was finding a good holster, comfortable for all day, every day type wear. Even today, there are very few. Of those around, even fewer that do a good job.

Surgical Style Shooting

Depending on where you sit in a movie theater you could have a close shot, or an extended shot under low light conditions. I have long commented the greatest MRDS advantage is accuracy at distance. Distances in movie theaters can vary, but a 10, 20 or 30 yards plus impossible shots becomes possible. High percentage shots were similar to a hostage type shot. Where there was minimum target availability along with maximum risk. With people running through a smoke filled theater it would be chaotic to say the least. Should you have a clear shot, you still have to be aware of your backstop and surroundings. While not technically a hostage the field of fire would more than likely be small if not tiny. The level of precision again is something a MRDS does exceptionally well. But, when you merry up the use of a powerful white light and target focus, it makes for an impressive package. Those that work in low light enough know the narrowing of your perceivable field of view. In this case, narrowing on the target and still being able to aim precisely are a winning combination.

The Tradeoffs Are Big

Up until the beginning of the pandemic I carried a compact as my daily carry pistol. At the time, it was not equipped with a MRDS or a WML. The primary reason was simple, many of my government clients were running iron sights on their duty pistols so it didn’t make sense for me. I would add the WML during training and remove it for concealment work after hours. Flash forward and currently the proliferation of MRDS at the government level is quickly growing. A client’s new program had me revisiting the subject, but in reverse. Now, I don’t want to be the only one without a MRDS. Due to the nature of the program it also required a WML. I was back to solving the problem of size and weight. As I mentioned so many advancements have made this easier today. Even so, there is still a massive difference in size and weight that cannot be ignored. The tradeoff is the very small percentage of scenarios where this combination would dominate versus the most likely scenario where they probably wouldn’t make a large enough difference.

Forward Thinking

With hostilities increasing on the home front I thought about this mass shooting and our new program. I don’t feel “under-gunned” running my micros, but I’m limited with WML’s and available holsters that accommodate both. This problem was the reason I revisit my compact pistols. I’m still carrying the micros, that’s not changing, but I had to be honest about my movie theater debrief. Was I ready for another similar type of event? Don’t mistake my commentary for only being able to solve this type of scenario with technology. It will always be the indian and not the arrow. But, it did spark my loadout reevaluation. My loadout also depends on the perceived threat. For instances, during the pandemic we saw some crazy behavior. Did it make sense to go with a heavier loadout, absolutely. Does it make sense to default to this condition, absolutely not.

The point is we all need to periodically review our loadout and preparation. Have you put critical thinking into these topics and if so what has changed as a result.

The post 10+ Year Review Of a Mass Shooting appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Course Description:

The Tactical Carry (202) is an intermediate 2-day class on the fundamentals of everyday carry. In this intermediate carry class, students learn the essential skills for concealing and drawing a pistol under a variety of environmental and logistical considerations. Contact range shooting will focus on quickly defeating the cover garment for fast shots on target while extended range shooting will focus on accuracy under pressure. Subjects include various concealed carry methods, drawstroke techniques, hand position, defeat methodology, supporting equipment and defensive mindset. A major objective is the ability to defeat any cover garment then deliver quick and effective shots to stop an deadly force threat. Supporting objectives include movement, choosing cover garments, verbal commands, ammunition management and strong hand only.

Gear & Equipment:

• Defensive pistol, 9mm recommended
• 1,000 rounds of practice ammunition
• 25 rounds of defense ammunition
• 5 x pistol magazines minimum (8 for single stacks)
• 5 x inert training rounds
• Training uniform required:
  • Polo or T-shirt
  • Button-down shirt
  • Jacket or coat
  • Sweater or hoodie
• Concealed carry gear
  • Sturdy belt
  • Inside the Waistband (IWB) holster
  • Outside the Waistband (OWB) holster
  • Single and or double magazine pouch
• Handheld flashlight with pocket clip
• Clear/tinted ballistic wrap around eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Cleaning kit and lubrication
• Notebook and pencil
• Water and snacks
• Open mind

Course Prerequisites:

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

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Point Blank Range

The big question is what distance will you zero? There are a lot of factors to consider on this topic. Similar to the maximum point blank range for the rifle I want to know the maximum vertical spread without any shooter applied adjustments. In other words, if I were to make no adjustments or holds at what distance will the trajectory deliver the round out of the target zone. For the rifle, we use an 8 inch target zone, but for the pistol I want a 4 inch target zone and here’s why. The target zone size for our headshots is 4 inches and if I make no adjustments with certain zeros at certain distances I will miss. The magic number is 2 inches, I have 2 inches of vertical spread to play with when it comes to choosing a zero distance. If the point of aim remains constant, that means 2 inches high and 2 inches low for the point of impact. When the trajectory of a certain zero exceeds the point blank range within 0-25 yards it is inferior to those that do not. The most popular zeroes are 25 and 10 yards, with 15 yards gaining in popularity. The shift in point of impact at 5 yards and closer with these zeros is negligible with the main issue being the actual height of the optic. It is when we push out to further we can see issues.

Know Thyself

Next is how good of a shot are you when it comes to shooting your pistol. If you cannot shoot a tight group at your desired zero distance it doesn’t matter how good the zero distance is according to the internet. Which is why I will sometimes suggest the 10 yard zero, most shooters can repeatedly deliver 2″ groups at the 10 yard line. Thus allowing us to more quickly get to the meat of the curriculum. If the shooter can repeatedly deliver 4″ groups at the 25 yard line then I recommend they exploit as much of the red dot’s capability as possible. Regardless of which zero you choose, you must shoot at all ranges to see the difference in POA/POI. Typically, when I finish my zeroing procedures I will shoot 3 rounds at 20, 15, 10, and 5 yards to see the maximum vertical spread. If I have time, I will do the same at 35 and 50 yards.

Duty or Training Ammunition

Once you’ve settled on a zero distance, the next step is to actually zero the optic to the pistol. It is a good idea to bring the optic’s owner manual as a reference, along with any optic specific tools to the range. Ensure the optic is properly mounted and tightened to manufacture specifications. After you complete your zeroing process confirm the optic is still secure and apply witness marks to the mounting screws. Ideally, you will want to zero with the defensive or duty ammunition you will carry. My average zeroing session will require 20-25 rounds or 6-8 volleys to complete the process. It may seem like a waste, but I find it better to zero with my defensive ammunition then perform a range familiarization with my training ammunition. Typically, defensive ammunition is heavier, hotter and more precise. As a result, it will shoot to a different point of impact than the lighter and slower training ammunition. If we are trying to be as detailed as possible, this matters. Should you use a supported position to help eliminate shooter error? It depends. If you can get into a comfortable position while maintaining the straightest line of sight through the optic to the target then yes. If no, freestyle will have to work. If I don’t get the same head position when supported I see the dot differently and that can mess with my zeroing. And speaking of seeing the dot, make sure you are focused on the target. To help stay target focused lower the dot’s intensity when zeroing or rezeroing. Remember to return to your preferred intensity when finished and engage any button lockout features.

Windage First

Regardless of the zero distance I start with a spotter group at the 5 yard line. I know at the 5 yard line my impacts should be about 1.5 inches low for a 25 yard zero. If this is the first time mounting and zeroing said optic it can save you a lot of heartache and ammunition. You can use other methods such as a laser boresight, but I can’t get them to work in my micro compact pistols so I stick to this procedure for all my pistols. What I’m really looking for is windage. I want my windage to be dialed in super tight. I find when I start at the 5 yard line, any windage adjustments I have to make at the 25 yard line are minor. A quick note on groups, how many rounds should you fire? Again that depends on you and your accuracy capacity. If you are consistent, then 3 rounds is good. If you are still working on your consistency then 5 rounds gives you more of a buffer should you have some flyers. Now, here is where I make an argument for which zero distance is “better”. The corrective value of the optic. If I’m using an optic with a corrective value of 1MOA at 100 yards then at 25 yards, one click will adjust the impact ¼ inch. I can be very precise and quick. Same optic with a 10 yard zero will have a 1/10 corrective value. I don’t see the same level of precision with this distance for some reason. With other zeros there is a bit of a guessing game. Sometimes, you get to a point where it is good enough because the corrective value doesn’t cleanly fit.

The Devil Is In The Details

Once I get to the zero distance, the real work begins. Review the 5 Marksmanship Fundamental Principles and be as consistent as possible. Consistency is the key, the more consistent you are the more accuracy you can achieve. Here is one advantage for the 15 yard zero in my opinion. It is just far enough I can see the first and second groups before I have to go down range to tape. It can expedite the process, especially in large groups such as a class. Even then, I still prefer the 25 yard line. My process is pretty simple, I shoot and call as many shots as possible. Calling your shots is super important since it allows you to manage any flyers. If I call a shot and know one went high or wide, when I observe the target I’m looking for an impact in that general location. Then observe and measure the results. I measure from the center of the group and write down the distance to center. I suggest working with elevations first, windage should be close. I also suggest making corrections for only one direction at a time. I know this can be time consuming, but if we are dealing with major corrections, something larger than the point blank range it is a good idea to get one done at a time. Once I write down the distance in inches, I then convert to the number of clicks needed to adjust the point of impact. Again, this is where the 25 yard zero with a 1MOA optic really shines. Double check your work, then tape the target. Before you input the corrections, make sure you know the correct turret and direction for the desired input. This is why it is nice to write the corrections down, you don’t have to remember them. Plus, if you notice a massive shift in the wrong direction you can refer to your notes and help diagnose what happened. Perform the desired number of volleys until you are satisfied with the results.

Basic Maintenance

I like to confirm my zero about 2 or 3 times a year or if I change anything. If I replace the battery and have to remove the housing, then definitely. As far as how often to replace the battery. Read the owners manual regarding low battery alerts. I routinely replace the batteries in my primary carry and home defense pistols once a year. All other optics when necessary. If I have to use different type of defensive ammunition for whatever reason I re-zero or confirm the shift in POI. If you live in an area with extreme weather shifts you might want to rezero as the seasons change. I clean my optic’s window at least once a month, sometimes more depending on what’s happening. You would be amazed how much dirt, dust and other debris can build up on your lens. If it is an open optic it is a good idea to blow any loose debris out of the housing. The last thing I do is check the witness marks on the mounting screws. If I notice a shift of any amount I stop what I’m doing. Retighten the mounting screws to factory settings. Then at my first opportunity reconfirm the zero or if necessary rezero.

Zeroing is cathartic to me, I enjoy the process no matter the platform. It allows me to be very detailed oriented and while some may question the need, that alone is a major difference.

The post Zeroing a Pistol Mounted Optic appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Former Navy SEAL and Buds instructor – Jeff Gonzales – joins the show and recounts the psychological pressure that he both endured and incurred upon other applicants.

This is a banger of an episode you don’t want to miss!
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Defining a Bag Gun

There are three main characteristics that define a bag gun. The first is size, then capacity and finally accuracy. You can certainly have something that fits in a “bag”. If the bag is huge and a little too obvious then it kind of defeats the purpose of being discreet. Generally, I’m looking for a capacity greater than my primary carry pistol. If I’m going to go to my bag gun things have gone very wrong, but having a greater magazine capacity may help bring balance to the equation. Accuracy is where things get a little complicated. I want something inherently more accurate so I can not only deliver more precise rounds on target, but extend the range to target or maximize distance to my advantage.

The Legalities

The difference between a short barrel rifled (SBR) and an AR Pistol really boil down to paperwork. Both have advantages and disadvantages. If you are running the folding stock, it is implied you have a legally purchased SBR. Once you have your tax stamp from the government you are pretty much good to go. However, you are limited in where you can travel within the US along with additional complications should you want to leave your home state or residence. The AR Pistol does not require the governments permission to purchase or own, which is nice. However, with rulings being interpreted and reinterpreted you may find yourself in a pickle should they be deem “illegal”. Of course, you can always register it with the government as an SBR, but I’m admittingly against this option. I already filled out enough forms to purchase so I do not feel a ruling change should require me to fill out more paperwork or subject myself to more administrative hassles or potential registries.

Barrel Length is Key

Size does matter, and in this case, I want something small and compact that will still meet the other two criterion. I don’t know if there is a perfect size or how to exactly define that, but I feel barrel length is a great place to start. I’m looking for a barrel length between 5-8 inches, but probably no more than 10 inches. To get these platforms that small you go down the folding stock/buffer tube of the direct impingement flavor. Or you run with a gas pistol system that places the reciprocating parts inline with the bore, usually on top of the barrel. Caliber can fluctuate, but it is dependent on barrel length for terminal performance. If you go too short, you might have something that can’t really deliver optimal terminal performance. The most common calibers are going to be 5.56mm, 9mm and 300BLK, with the later being the least effected by barrel length at typical defensive gun use distances.

Magazine Capacity

Being able to feed the AR Pistol with larger capacity magazines is a great advantage. However, you will have to balance this with the size of the bag. While you might be able to use a 40, 60 or even a 100-round magazine, can you still conceal the platform in the bag. I’ve found a sweet spot with the 20-round magazine; which is more than my primary carry. That doesn’t stop me from having a larger spare magazine stowed in my bag, so all is not lost. Capacity is one of those subjects that can get a little tricky. Some are adamant they want larger capacity magazines at the cost of a larger bag. I understand their logic, but the whole point is to have something discreet. The larger magazines typically are more prone to snagging during deployment so if I want to get the blaster out quickly, the smaller magazine creates less snag hazards. On a safety note, always carry your bag gun in condition three or “cruiser ready”. This means the chamber is empty with a loaded magazine. While most if not all bag gun platforms have an external safety, this is a hard and fast rule for me when carrying. You would be surprised how easy it is to swipe the safety off carrying it around. I understand this further slows down the deployment, but safety while carrying is essential.

Extended the Distance and Accuracy

Accuracy is a real defining characteristic for me as it allows me to extend my range. Could I shoot my primary carry gun at 25, 35 or even 50 yards…of course. My level of precision will diminish as the range increases, or I should say the diminishing precision is less impacting with something that is inherently more accurate. Even a 5-inch barrel on an AR Pistol can produce tight shot groups of sub-4 inches at 50 yards and beyond. One would have to justify the use of deadly force legally and morally at these extended ranges for defensive use, but the capability is there. Being more accurate means, I can do a batter job defending myself or protecting others. If I can stop the threat quicker because I was able to deliver fewer, but more accurate rounds that is a huge win. One counter argument is how good of a pistol shot are you with your primary carry gun. In other words, would fast hits from your pistol in non-vital regions be better than slower accurate hits to the vitals with your AR Pistol. Slower in the fact it takes more time to deploy from a bag than draw from a holster, even concealed.

In the end, you can put anything you want in a bag and say it is a bag gun. These three criteria are what really makes a bag gun work and work well.

The post Bag Guns and the AR Pistol appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Course Description:

The AR Pistol Techniques (ART) is a 1-day basic course designed to introduce the AR pistol as defensive firearm. In this course, students will become familiar with the characteristics, features, and controls of the most popular AR type pistol. They will learn the pros & cons to ownership, shooting and setup. Close range shooting will focus on how to shoot the AR pistol faster with improved recoil management. Standoff range shooting will focus on how to shoot the AR pistol accurately with improved trigger control. Students are exposed to a battery of drills designed to improve their shooting technique with both speed and accuracy standards. Subjects include overall capability, sling selection, recoil control, sling method and bag deployment. A major objective is the consistent ability to deliver rapid hits at close range then transition to accurate hits at standoff range. Additional subjects include accessory selection, pistol shooting method, bag/case selection, shooting positions, barricade use.

Basic Gear:

• AR Pistol chambered in 9mm, 5.56mm or 300BLK w/red dot sight
• 500 rounds of factory ammunition
• 3x magazines minimum
• Adjustable sling
• Range attire: long pants, comfortable shirt, athletic shoes, and ball cap
• Basic loadout: rigid belt, on the waistband (OWB) holster and magazine pouches
• Wrap around ballistic eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Gloves and knee pads (optional)
• Water, snacks, sunscreen, and appropriate inclement weather clothing
• Firearms cleaning kit and quality lubrication
• Notebook and pencil

Course Prerequisites:

Rifle 1 or similar

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

Want to see other classes coming up this year? Check out the Class Schedule.

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Know the Course Material

Every school is a little different, but they will all usually have some type of course description. Some students will use this solely as their criterion for decision. Others will have “shopped around” through internet searches or word of mouth. I encourage you to know what you need, not what you want. For instance, if you need a better understanding on the drawstroke. Find an instructor who is known for doing an excellent job on the subject. You may find yourself in a situation where you don’t know what you need, you don’t know what you don’t know and that is perfectly acceptable. Have a broader goal in mind, to expand your knowledge base for example.

Review the Gear List

Read through the course description, all of the available material. If there is something you don’t understand, then do a little research. If there are terminal objectives or goals of the class, do they meet your needs. A good course will be well thought out and have an agenda or curriculum. The curriculum will guide the student towards the terminal objective through enabling objectives. All the information is important, but probably the most important is the required gear list and in this case the importance of your concealment carrying system. A lot of times, students will think of this as a suggestion. It is not, it is a list of required gear to ensure you have the best chance of doing well in the class. Don’t convince yourself you do or don’t need something. Read the list, even print the list out and check each item to make sure you are good to go. Think of this as an IQ test, can you follow simple instructions. Then at class, it is nice to be prepared and of course to not be “that guy.”

Do a Map Study and Plan Your Route

Logistics are a big thing to me. The old saying, “amateurs argue tactics and professionals argue logistics” is incredibly accurate. Start by knowing where you are going and how you will get there. Give yourself a little fudge factor on day one just to cover your basis. Don’t just know where you are going, but know the surrounding area. For instance, are there eateries near by or are you going to be packing a lunch or snacks. Something else to consider is how long is the commute. After a long day of training I suggest you consider the drive home. Be extra alert when going home since the fatigue of the day can affect your situational awareness as you drive home.

Get Your Eyes On Everything

The final preparation for your class will be to review your gear, like literally lay it all out and get your eyes on them. It is one thing to go over the required gear list and say to yourself I have that in my range bag. Only to realize you took it out to clean, replace or repair and failed to return it to your range bag. Some items are less important, a flashlight is not essential to a day light course. But a magazine pouch can make or break your experience in the class. Go over each item and ask yourself is this ‘thing” good to go. Has it been cleaned, or maintenance recently. Are there fresh batteries in use or am I running on empty. The devil is in the details so really go through the list.

Have a Plan and a Backup Plan

Think about the essential items. Your handgun for instance. Even though I have done a good job of picking a reliable model along with routine maintenance, things do break. Having a backup on standby has come to the rescue on more than one occasion. Spare magazines are another example. If you have the minimum as prescribed in the gear list that is great, but what if one of them goes down or you leave it in the hotel. There’s a myriad of reasons, so planning is key. Contingencies can go beyond your gear to your plan. Any physical activity will take its toll on your energy level. If you are planning to get lunch nearby, but all the local places are packed and you have to make a decision between being late or skipping lunch you might consider packing a lunch or some snacks.

Holsters, Be Prepared

When it comes to our Concealed Carry classes there are three main failures from the gear list. The first is not having an “on the waistband” or OWB holster. You may try to justify you don’t need it because you have an IWB holster. That would be a mistake. The purpose behind the OWB holster is to start from a known and safe condition. Before we dive into the deep end of drawing and holstering from concealed, we have to ensure you have well developed and safe drawstroke from the lowest risk condition possible. That would be open carry, on the waistband.

Bring All The Required Clothing

The second mistake would be in failing to have all of the required clothing. In this class, you will be forced to work from a variety of cover garments. Not your favorite or go to, but a wide array to ensure you are prepared. It never fails, there is always that one person who thinks they know better. Trust me, you don’t. Bring all the clothing listed. Even if you don’t have something on the gear list for whatever reason you can probably borrow it from a family member or friend. Most of the items are pretty normal, but if you don’t have a rain jacket and you don’t want to buy one, they ask around to get a loaner.

Have an Open Mind

Last mistake we see often is when students fail to have an open mind. It doesn’t matter what you think or know, be open to new ideas. If you say to yourself while reading the gear list I don’t need this or that you would be demonstrating someone who has a closed mind. Don’t be that guy. Instead it should pique your curiosity. You should be wondering what are we going to be doing with that and why. Curiosity is your super power as a student. It is the single greatest characteristic that leads to expanded knowledge base. Back it up by understanding the why you are doing something a certain way or why you don’t do things a certain way.

If you take the time to review the course material paying attention to the required gear list, you have the best chance of succeeding in class. Or at least you won’t be held up because you don’t have this or forgot to bring that. Knowing the logistics will help you ensure you are not late or miss any course material. Some instructors will not allow you to participate if you miss the main emergency and medical plan brief so don’t be surprised if you have to sit down initially why the rest of the class trains. Double check and even triple check your gear. Have a system so you make sure you have all the gear you need and it is centrally located so when you load out early in the morning probably in the dark you don’t leave that one bag on the work bench. These are not just suggestions, they are observations over decades of training to help ensure you as the student have the best chance of success in our training classes.

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