Uplifting and sobering (flying)

  Because this is one of those acts you can't possibly hope to beat.

  Watch Jeb Corliss fly for the video.  If not for the video, for the music.  For the thoughts of how this could apply to our future.  To wonder if the military could be using this for insertions now.  


   The song is "Sail" by AWOLNATION.

  

Seems somewhat obvious

  We all know or assume there was plenty of trained, competent help alongside those freedom fighters spraying rifles from the hip in Libya but this pic jumped out at me.  His stance almost looks (dare I say it?) sort of Costa-ish.  Notice the tucked elbow.

01/25/12 Link Roundup

  Giving this a shot, lemme know what you think of it.  rationalgun@gmail.com if you don't want to leave a comment.

• USMC shooting team is supposedly going with Detonics "1911s".  I've talked about Detonics before on here.

• Anti gun group wants to boycott Starbucks on February 14th, gun owners plan to flock to Starbucks on that day.  Help Starbucks ignore the hoplophiles and give them some good business on February 14th and every day.  

• Concealed carrying citizen does righteous shoot of robber at Waffle House.  Note the Sheriff's extremely pro CCW comments near the end of the article.  

• OIS (Officer Involved Shooting) in Monterey Park, CA discussed by friend "DocGKR."  Notice that 10 rounds did not instantaneously do the job.  Good analysis by DocGKR (as usual).  The "if you can't get it done in 6, 7, or 8 crowd" (certain revolver and 1911 guys, not all)  continue to stick their fingers in their ears and ignore the real world.

• Noted antigun zealot George Soros predicts doom and gloom for the world.  He worries about individual rights.....  Imagine if someone of his wealth started donating to the Libertarians.  Individual rights would be far safer.  

• SEALs (purportedly DEVGRU/Team6) rescue hostages in Somalia

On gun "gamers" and "training to fight with a gun" (Planck lengths & the SR-71)

  Both have their place but there's quite a few people in the gun community who sneer at those of us that dare to shoot for skill, for competition, and only at paper targets.  Same guys who only point shoot and can't go to a range unless there's "dynamic movement" involved.....  Never mind that episode of TAC TV when the former Delta Force trainer Larry Vickers learned from competitive shooter Rob Leatham.....

  Anyway, "Belisarius" over at SouthNarc's forum "Total Protection Interactive" wrote up this devastingly hilarious fictional interview with one such trainer who sneers at "gun gamers."  Slightly modified to avoid the "R" rating.  Thanks for graciously allowing me to reproduce this, Belisarius.

  

Interviewer: "So you teach tactical shooting...what does that mean?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "It f-ng means GUNFIGHT SURVIVAL, motherf-r.  Tactics, yo, tactics.  Not stupid, gay gun games."

Interviewer: "I see.  Gun games.  You mean those things where competitors come out and shoot a variety of stages that they don't get to design, at various ranges and target exposure types, against the clock to see who is the best shooter?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "Yeah, I guess.  I think that's what happens, but I don't attend those gay things because I need to keep deadly sharp."

Interviewer: "I would have thought that really good shooting ability was important in a gunfight.  Can you shoot as well as those competitors?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "In faggot contests?  No, not unless I wanted to.  I could do what they do, but I am a gunfighter, not a faggot.  In gunfights, I will outshoot all of them."

Interviewer: "Please explain.   This sounds counter-intuitive..."

Tactical Death Ninja: "I train for GUNFIGHTS, not GAMES.  GAMES will get you killed."

Interviewer: "What do you mean?  Do you mean leaving cover to go after targets, reloading on the move instead of behind cover, or something else related to cover that IPSC guys sometimes do?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "No, I don't! No one uses cover in real gunfights!  Real gunfights take place at bad-breath distances."

Interviewer: "So you actually agree with IPSC competition stages that emphasize going after targets aggressively?  I thought when you said 'tactics', you meant that people should train to move to and use cover because of the incoming rounds problem..."

Tactical Death Ninja: "No, I don't agree with the gayness of the games in any way, shape, or form.  I don't use cover because I will get ambushed in the real world.  Also, the distances in IPSC are totally unrealistic."

Interviewer: "Well, you need to make challenging shooting problems available in order to find out what works under higher performance stresses.  If all the shooting was non-technical, you wouldn't find out who the best shooters were, or about what differentiated them from other competitors and allowed them to win."

Tactical Death Ninja: "I don't care about that.  I care about winning gunfights, not games and gay trophies."

Interviewer: "Er, ok. What happens in a typical gunfight?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "A motherf-r jumps out of a garbage can or dark alley with a piece.  Range is measured in inches or feet, not yards.  I move off the X and point-shoot that motherf-r.  Anywhere I hit him, he's shut down and unable to hit me. How do I do it?  OODA, CQB fight matrix, instinctive skills, action beats reaction, natural coordination, threat focus." 

Interviewer: "I have no idea what that last bit was about. So you draw against a drawn gun?  Why doesn't he just shoot you immediately?  Doesn't he have 'natural coordination', too?  Isn't that what makes it 'natural?'"

Tactical Death Ninja: "He can't hit me! I'm exploding off the f-n' X.  Also, only good guys have natural point-shooting skills.  That's because bad guys aren't primates and never played baseball."

Interviewer: "That was a strange thing to say.  Anyway...so he is missing you, but you are hitting him---at this range, when he already has a drawn gun?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "That's right.  I hit, he misses.  He dies.  I win.  Close ranges = I hit him, he misses me.  Proximity, reactionary gap, OODA, generalized primate shooting instinct."

Interviewer: "What if he gets off the X, as you put it, too?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "He can't!"

Interviewer: "Why not?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "Because he has to stand there out in the open and wait for me to move and shoot. He can't use cover, because then he might be a small target and I train for big ones because they are more instinctive.   He's too stunned to do anything else.  Why? Because of OODA, tactics continuum, proprioceptive skillsets, WWII, and the reactionary fuselage SR71 warhead."

Interviewer: "WTF??!!!  LOL!!!  Anyway, I'm not even sure I understand your basic point. It sounds like you are defining 'gunfighting' in terms of a fictional mugging, where a guy stands in the open and brandishes a gun so that you can shoot him from concealment while you move.   If this GOTX technique was successful, wouldn't bad guys just adapt to it or use it themselves?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "They can't adapt.  Only I can adapt.  This shit is proprietary and requires very special training that only I can provide, but it is also instinctive and anyone can learn it in 5 minutes.  That sounds like a contradiction until you realize just what kind of f-n' badass instructor I am.  The bad guys don't get it and as a result they must remain still in every way, and suffer a -4 to initiative and other modifications to both armor class and hit points."

Interviewer: "I think I see the pattern here.  How did you come to these conclusions?  What is your evidence?  Do you have any raw data that can be subjected to statistical inference techniques?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "I run classes and these are my results.  My results kick ass.  Some say that they know some shit because they were Special Forces in Iraq or because they won gunfights.  FoF is the real gunfight!  Other gunfights are lesser gunfights because they aren't real if I decide that I don't like the results or don't like competition gayness."

Interviewer: "This apparently doesn't matter to you, but how many of your students have been in real-world gunfights and how did they perform?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "It doesn't matter...who gives a f---?  My students dominate Force-on-Force simulations, which is basically the same as gunfighting, anyway, only harder because I need them to be for my marketing as I have no gunfighting experience."

Interviewer: "I think everyone does accept that FoF is a very useful tool, although then again a lot of competition shooters have extensive experience with it, too.  Did you know the biggest users of Sims in the world are---oh, forget it.  Never mind.  Let's move on.  Who do your students dominate?"

Tactical Death Ninja: "We...well, we dominate ourselves.  My students dominate my other students when my students are trained to dominate in FoF."

Interviewer: "But that basically is a meaningless statement.  It is like saying that you are the best weightlifter because you can make yourself sore." 

Tactical Death Ninja: "That's right. It's all in the Mindset.  We also outshoot IPSC Grand Masters and kill them dead in FoF (Force on Force) and on the square range." 

Interviewer: "Really?? Which Grand Masters? I know a lot of those guys."

Tactical Death Ninja: "That's classified and the info could get folks killed."

Interviewer: "Yes, somehow I knew that you would say that.  Well, why not run your stuff in IPSC and prove its value there, publicly? You could shoot the close stages with your stuff. Then you would not have to resort to self-reported results..."

Tactical Death Ninja: "No, imbecile. Those games are so fake, unlike my training courses (which are real).  The distances are way beyond real gunfights, which take place at distances measured in Planck lengths, not feet or light-years."

What to do when attacked by a piece of bamboo

  XiaCorp has got this whole protecting one's self from bamboo sticks down.  

  Keen students of self defense will note that they are following in the footsteps of another great school.....

Scientific bore cleaning test

  Unbelievably enough, someone actually did this in a controlled environment.  He soaked the bullets in the solvents for given amounts of time and then weighed the bullets afterwards (already knowing the weight, 155 grain .308 Lapua Scenars), thereby establishing which solvent dissolved the most copper.

  The winner?  KG-12.

  Now, please remember only to clean when accuracy drops off.  If you shoot enough, you will know this.  If you shoot a few boxes of ammo a year, don't worry about it.

Lever gun nightmares

I only wish it was a nightmare......

One can only dream of a stainless Browning BLR in .460 S&W.......

Gunblast.com....

  I've never respected a gun review site that has literally never written a negative review but while perusing their SHOT Show 2012 coverage, I came across this:

"SlideFire Solutions has expanded their line of excellent buttstocks for the AK-47 and AK-74 rifles."




 HUH?  Excellent how?  It doesn't teach anyone anything except for how to turn money into noise while bump firing into the dirt and trash pile.

  GunBlast, we'll positively review anything you send us.  

Let's start beating the Glock carbine rumor drums again

  This has been an ongoing rumor since they supposedly put in a 100 yard range at the Glock factory in Smyrna, Georgia.

 

OK, this Chris Costa worship is getting just plain weird now

  No, not a joke.  Good for him on capitalizing on it.  From his FaceBook page.

          Stay tuned for more info in a few days but here is just a teaser with Oakley and ARC'teryx LEAF.

Overheard at work

Not happy.....feeling stabby.

Many congratulations to the Hero of Canton

  After being threatened with death after trying to inform an officer that he was (legally) carrying a concealed pistol,  William Bartlett has been cleared of the charges against him.

  Yes, this is a Firefly reference.

 

Hugo Chavez is starting to worry me

  I'm concerned.  He's changed the term limits law to allow himself to run for office again.  He's telling people what they can and cannot eat.  Chavez started a "gun control" plan for his country ("voluntary" disarmament).  Ol' Hugo is big on censoring the press, of course.  He brags about his army being his personal enforcement arm.  He tries to cast himself as a "common man."  He never goes anywhere without a show of force.

  In other words, Hugo Chavez is starting to act like the Mayor Bloomberg of New York City.  Truly terrifying, I know.  The leader of a country acting like Baron Von Bloomberg?  Examples below.  We can only hope someone stages an intervention to let Hugo know that he's getting all.....Bloomberg-ish.


  Bloomberg changes the term limits, allowing himself to run again

  Chavez changes term limits in constitution


  Bloomberg says government should mandate healthy foods

  Hugo Chavez calls for changes to his country's eating habits


  Bloomberg launches self funded crusade against guns

  Venezuela launches gun control effort


  Mayor Bloomberg: "I have my own army."  
  really, just an insane boasting session that shows how megalomaniacal this petty dictator is!

  Venezuelan General assures public that Chavez is still in charge of the military


  However, Hugo hasn't quite sunk to the depths of open hypocrisy that Baron Von Bloomberg has.  For instance, he doesn't leave his fiefdom every weekend to golf in protection of his personal armed guards in a gun free country.  Said armed guards are NYPD officers.  You see, the good Baron knows that while unwashed common scum ordinary citizens do not need guns for protection, our rulers do have the right to take their own gun toting personal security detail into another country.  Remember your Animal Farm, gentle readers:  All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.  Important people of royal blood need armed guards for protection from you deservedly unarmed sorts.


  The good Baron, in an attempt to blend in with the unwashed masses with shit between their toes his common subjects has taken to riding the subway with only a few armed police guards as a buffer between His Person and the peasants.

  In what is surely a more certain indication of insanity than Hugo's assertion that GW is the devil, Baron Von Bloomberg backed restoring a two term limit to the office of Mayor of New York City.  You see, the city needed the leadership only His Grace could provide and that's why he had the term limitations changed to three terms instead of two.  Now that his Sacred Work is done and no more persons who carry the heavy weight of Divine Leadership are in line for the throne, it's best to change the term limitations back.  You can't make this shit up.

  We can only hope Hugo's friends and family stage an intervention to keep him from getting all Bloombeg-ish.  I am considering pooling funds together to buy him the game Modern Warfare 3 in order to allow him to unwind and have a little Hugo time.

A problem with Tango Down ARC AR15 magazines solved

  Had problems with these feeding rounds.  Upon examination, I saw the below problem after loading over 10 rounds.  Heck, that one's kinda hard to miss!  The problem was not as bad with brass 5.56x45mm ammo but it was there.  As always with me, Wolf ammunition is the proverbial canary in the coal mine; warning me of problems before more expensive ammo would.  I'm not saying if it doesn't run Wolf, it's crap! but it has worked as a fine barometer for me.

  Friend Rob of Tactical Yellow Visor had already ran into this problem.  Unlike him, I am poor in industry contacts and as we all know...."poor people have poor ways" so out came the file to fix what I have.

  I hope to acquire some MK2 Tango Down ARC mags in the near future.

  Problem self evident:

After a little work with a file, the magazine runs 100%

Armchair quarterbacking by TruthAboutGuns blog (Sarah McKinley)

  The TruthAboutGuns (TTAG) has decided to armchair quarterback the eighteen year old mother of a three month old child Sarah McKinley who defended her home, herself, and her child by killing a knife armed intruder.

  Her crime according to the valiant blogger?  The picture taken.  Never mind that she's without a doubt sleep deprived.  Never mind that she's not even twenty years old yet.  Never mind that she just lost her husband to cancer on Christmas Day.  Heck, her dogs had just been murdered (probably by the thug she killed)!  No, the blogger doesn't like the picture she took.

  This is chickenshit Monday morning quarterbacking of an extreme.  Ever been really sleep deprived, TTAG?  Ever lost a spouse on top of being sleep deprived, TTAG?  Ever cleaned blood off of a couch with a screaming baby, no income, no sleep, a dead spouse, and having undergone hours of questioing by reporters and law enforcement?  Ever been in that situation where you had to end another human's life?

  I do see that you have been in the situation where a blogger takes a cheap shot to generate traffic.

  Myself, I have already donated to the fund set up for the new mother and widow here.  The bank is requesting that funds be sent in via snail mail, FYI.

  If the link does not work for you, use the below verified information (I called the bank).  Please spread the word.

Sarah D. McKinley Donation Account

                                            C/O Chickasha Bank & Trust

P.O. BOX 1307

Chickasha, OK 73023

(405) 222-0550

North Korea

Good luck in Iowa today, Mr. Paul!

A little Kipling in the morning and a Saxon you shouldn't mess with

This bit from the Norman and the Saxon by Rudyard Kipling made me think of my father. Yeah, I know, he's an Anglo Saxon being English in our ancestry but close enough.

"The Saxon is not like us Normans, His manners are not so polite.
But he never means anything serious till he talks about justice and right.
When he stands like an ox in the furrow with his sullen set eyes on your own,
And grumbles, "This isn't fair dealings," my son, leave the Saxon alone.

F2S carbine class Northern Virginia Feb 25th-26th

Remember this guy?

He's instructing a carbine class within easy driving distance of Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland.


F2S Consulting Practical Carbine Class Feb 25-26 High View, WV
F2S Consulting Carbine Class Announcement
February 25th and 26th

F2S Consulting will be holding a Practical Carbine Class at Echo Valley Training Center about 20 minutes from Winchester VA, in High View, WV on Feb 25-26, 2012.

Practical Carbine takes the shooter outside of the normal CQB range and expands the skillset of the shooter through consistent rapid application of fundamental marksmanship.

The Class will cover:
Combative setup of weapons and Support Gear
Zeroing
Manipulations/Corrective Action (Stoppage Reduction)
Initial Skill Assessment
Post-Shot Sequence
Fundamental Positions
Mid-Range Precision Shooting
Ballistics/Trajectory
Effects of weather
Optics
Use of Slings
Position Refinement
Combative Positions
Multiple shot engagements
Multiple Targets
Bilateral Shooting
Transition to Sidearm (as applicable)
One-Handed Employment
One-Handed Corrective Action
Alternate Positions
Alteration of trajectory
Shooting on the Move
Rapid Movement
Use of Cover
Use of Support
Low-Light engagements

Class fee is $350 and includes range fees.

Rifle Class Gear list:

-Serviceable rifle or carbine. May be any caliber from 5.45x39 to 7.62x63.

-Sling. Must permit the long-gun to safely hang without requiring physical contact from the user.

-(5) Serviceable Magazines. If using (20) round mags, bring (8).

-(1,500) rounds of factory loaded rifle ammunition.

-Magazine pouches that permit rapid access for timely reloads
-Eye Protection/Shooting Glasses

-Hearing Protection (Electronic Ear Pro is preferred but not mandatory)

-Brimmed Hat

-Weapons cleaning kit

-Firearm Lubrication

Recommended Items:

-Belt pouches/pockets (or whatever combination of those) that permit the user to bring (4) magazines to the firing line (not counting the magazine in the weapon). Magazines can be placed in pockets as well.

-Shooting Mat

-Hydration source (does not need to go with the user to the firing line)

-Snacks

-Rain/cold weather over-garments

-Sunscreen

-Lip Balm

-Insect Repellant

-Notebook and pen

-1stAid Kit for individual use for minor injuries.

-Gloves that permit safe operation of both weapon platforms

-Knee pads. Elbow pads are not frequently needed, but are acceptable

-Comfortable, robust clothing appropriate to seasonal conditions.

-Durable shoes/boots

-Extra socks (wool recommended)

-Electronic hearing protection

-Wrap around eye protection, with clear and tinted lenses

-Spare weapon parts or back-up weapons of the same platform

-Secondary weapon (side-arm) if the shooter's application of the long-gun is in conjunction with one. No ammunition is necessary for course completion, though firing will be permitted during specific portions of the class for those so armed

For additional information or to sign up, contact Jack at jack@f2sconsulting.com.

 

"All I have is my son, it's my way of paying back the U.S. for helping Cambodia"

 I personally know this Marine.  He served in my old unit with my my brother.

 This guy lost his eye in Iraq, went back on active duty, and......taught himself how to shoot again using his weak hand and non-dominant  (only) eye.  He graduated Marine Scout Sniper School and went on to serve as a deployed Scout Sniper before returning to Marine Scout Sniper School as an instructor.

 Who isn't humbled by this story?  In another day and age, this would be movie material.  Instead, we have Matt Damon in "Green Zone," a movie a Marine Scout Sniper combat vet buddy of mine (and one of those eeeevul baby killing military contractors) described as "at first I thought it was comedy and was laughing my ass off" but what would a combat veteran who's spent 5 years in Iraq know over Matt Damon and his script writers?  As we all know thanks to Hollywood, an American who serves in war zones is an honorable man until the moment he leaves the military to work for a private company.  Then he is transformed into an an evil baby killer.  Common knowledge.

 From the Marine's father who emigrated to the US from Cambodia in the 60's.  Source article.

 "All I have is my son, it's my way of paying back the U.S. for helping Cambodia in the '60s"