Firearms

Welcome to the Gun Vault. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I enjoy shooting firearms, reloading ammunition, teaching others to shoot, and generally anything to do with the gun culture. Don’t worry, I won’t push any NRA rhetoric on you or try to convert you to my views here- you’ll either find this page helpful or you’ll hate it.

Most of the firearms related links are on the phone booth page. This page will mainly contain a primer on handgun self defense, which I am slowly writing. I am certified as a police handgun and shotgun instructor and as a field armorer for Smith and Wesson and Remington firearms with close to 500 hours of advanced tactical firearms training.

Presented below is what I have of the self-defense text so far… keep in mind that this is a work-in-progress, and probably won’t be completed for some time.

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This text is intended for those people who have decided to use a handgun for self-defense. Some of the techniques presented within are equally valid for sporting handgun use or other applications; however, the main thrust of these articles is towards self-defense.

So much of what’s presented as primer text for handgun self-defense these days is heavily laced with the politics of the author. It’s difficult to pick up a handgun magazine without running across rhetoric on every page. Much of what’s left is geared towards the rugged, macho male who enjoys recanting tales of his prowess, however heavily edited they may be. This text will leave aside both politics, on either side; and macho posturing. It will attempt to treat handgun self-defense as what it is; a martial art. Just as jiu-jitsu or aikido or any other unarmed combat style requires dedication and constant practice; so does the art of the handgun, or Juuhoukata. More of that will be covered in the next section, but one should approach this art as they would any other martial art- with a mind geared towards learning, towards throwing out cherished notions in preference of what actually works, and with the intention of long, hard work towards a goal; the goal of survival and discipline. Yes, it is possible for anyone to take a handgun, point it at an assailant, and squeeze the trigger; however, they are playing a risky game, with their life as the stakes. By taking the time to learn how to properly use a firearm, they increase their odds dramatically… and significantly reduce the odds that they or someone they know will lose their life to a tragic, preventable accident. You may have no experience whatsoever with handguns, or you may have shot them for most of your life; this text doesn’t care. It is based on solid, proven principles. By following them, you will at least equal the skill of the average police officer; at most, gain the skills necessary to perform well at the competition level.

There are many “gimmick” methods of shooting out there; they may work, or they may not- finding out they do not when you’re confronted with an armed assailant is a very bad feeling indeed. I can’t guarantee that the techniques presented here will be a “magic bullet” in any situation- no one can honestly make that claim- but by practicing them until they are second nature, you’ll stand a much better chance than the average citizen who plunks a Saturday-night special into their purse and hopes it’ll fire the day it’s needed.

You may be tempted to skip the preliminary sections and go straight to the meat of the text. Don’t. If you are indeed serious about the martial art of handgun self-defense, you will read them all, and take what they have to offer to heart.

Important Note:

This text is presented for education purposes only. I take no responsibility for what you do with it. A gun is a tool, but a particularly dangerous tool; one that must be handled with care and respect. I am not a lawyer, and cannot advise you on the firearms laws of your particular state. You must find out what the legal requirements for your state are.

You have been warned.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Philosophical Implications
• Legal Implications
• Safety
• History

Chapter 2: Terminology

• Ammunition
• Revolvers
• Semi-automatics
• The Action of Firing
• Ballistics
  • Interior
  • Exterior
  • Terminal

Chapter 3: Selecting a Firearm

• Revolver vs. Semi-auto
• Caliber and Recoil
• Manufacturer
• Design
• Price
• Ammunition

Chapter 4: Basics

• Grip
• Stance
  • Weaver
  • Isocoles
• Sight Alignment/Dominant Eye
• Sight Picture/Wobble
• Trigger Control
• Breath Control
• Follow-through

Chapter 5: Beginning Exercises

• Drawing
• Malfunctions
• Dry Fire/Ball and Dummy
• Reloading/revolver
• Reloading/semi-auto
  • In-Battery
  • Out-of-Battery
  • Combat
• Mad Minute
• Target Selection
• Precision Pairs
• Controlled Pairs
• Multiple Targets
• Other Stances
• Georgia Double-Action Course
• Single-Action Qualification Course

Chapter 6: Defensive Shooting Exercises

• Shoot/Don’t Shoot
• Cover and Concealment
• Using Cover
• Combat Shooting
• “Third-Eye” Shooting

Chapter 7: Advanced Shooting Exercises

• Weak Hand
• Single Hand
• Wounded Draw
• Wounded Reload
• Night Shooting
  • Flashlight Techniques
  • Night Sights
  • Lasers
• Tactical Movement
• Automobiles
• Situational Awareness

Chapter 8: Street Carry

• Concealed Carry vs. Open Carry
• Concealed Carry Permits
• Holsters
• Clothing

Chapter 9: Weapon Care

• Cleaning
• Storage

Appendix A: References

Appendix B: Other Sources

Appendix C: About the Author