Edition 25
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Newsletter
Edition 24
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Edition 23
I hope you had a Memorial Day worthy of the name, and were able to spend it enjoying the freedoms remaining to us, always remembering those who sacrificed to make the day possible.
Apparently, certain urban areas had memorable Memorial Days, with informal or ad hoc gangs attacking citizens and generally engaging in mayhem. Using holidays and other anniversaries as excuses or opportunities to engage in violent criminal group behavior seems to be the trend. Google ‘Memorial Day 2011 Riots’. Myrtle Beach is mentioned.
Perhaps we should keep this in mind as we make travel plans for the Independence Day weekend.
By the way, if anyone calls that holiday ‘the Fourth of July’ in your presence, please remind them of this: The 4th of July is a date on a calendar; the name of the holiday is ‘Independence Day’.
The 4th of July has become all about cooking out and a trip to the beach. On the other hand, Independence Day is supposed to be the day we commemorate a demand and subsequent war for freedom.
I think we (myself included!) need to spend less time eating hotdogs and planning vacations and more recovering our freedom.
July CWP Class Filling Up QuicklyWe had to turn people away from our JUNE CWP class. The next CWP class (8 – 9 JULY) is already about half full. You should probably get your deposit in right away if you want to attend this class.
Three ways to reserve a seat: 1. Send in a personal check / MO for $25 to: Paladin Training, Inc. POB 12752 Florence, SC 29504
2. Drop your deposit off at Fludd’s Gun and Pawn, 2049 West Evans Street in Florence
3. Use the PayPal button – You don’t need a PayPal account to use this feature.
Contact me at 843-618-1381 if you have questions.
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What About Other States?If you have questions about the laws of self-defense or regulations regarding carry in other states, here are the websites I’m aware of that deal with those issues:
If you know of any others, please let me know and I’ll include them in a future newsletter.
I’ll probably add this section to the other ‘regular features’ found at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Battery CautionAs we come to depend more and more on tactical or other emergency equipment that is battery powered, our need for technical knowledge regarding these devices and their power sources becomes critical. It’s one thing to forego reading the directions that come with an alarm clock or electric toothbrush, another thing altogether when we’re talking about life saving emergency equipment like high intensity flashlights and red dot sights. I think now we’re dealing with stuff where a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous.
For instance…
“It’s just an AED, how complicated can it be?” Probably not a good idea to wing it on this one.
Okay, more relevant…
I’ve always heard it’s a bad idea to mix new and old batteries, but never understood (or cared, frankly) why. Good friend and fellow GunSite grad Mike Baker sends this explanation, in language even I can understand:
In the case of a flashlight or other multi-cell device, when one cell completely discharges ahead of the rest, the load current is still flowing through all of the cells. Under load, the voltage of the weak cell drops lower and lower, eventually reaching zero. At this point, the still flowing load current from the “good” cells forces the voltage of the now fully depleted cell to go into reversal and the weak cell is now being “charged” in reverse.
Interestingly, the chemistry of most cells will permit a “weak” cell to actually store a *small* amount of this reversed charge.
Polarity reversal of weak cells is why it is important to never mix used (lower remaining capacity) cells in with new. If the cells in question are of the rechargeable type, subjecting them to a reversed current flow will seriously damage their ability to ever accept a proper charge. The higher the discharge rate of the battery device is, thebetter matched the cells should be, both in type of cell and state of charge. Never put mismatched batteries (cells) in a device.
Now, not only do I have a better understanding of the why behind the what, but he gave me another reason to care: If I mix batteries the device won’t work properly (knew that), AND I’ll ruin those expensive rechargeable batteries that are part of my long term plan. Got it. Thanks, Mike!
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3rd QTR 2011 Training Calendar in the WorksHeads up: We anticipate doing a Basic Defensive Handgun class in JULY and a Basic Defensive Carbine in AUGUST. We’ll get confirmation out ASAP.
‘But… it’s going to be HOT!’
No kidding. Now, quit your sniveling, go buy a CamelBak, and come get trained up! It just might be hot when you need those skills.
A change…
Future BDH classes will include firing the SC CWP Course of Fire on Day 2. This will accomplish two things:
1. Students who have yet to take a CWP class will be able to exempt the range portion when they do return to take the class.
2. Students who have already taken a CWP class will hopefully have any training scars inflicted by the conduct of the original CWP COF and its emphasis on safety removed forever.
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Hope to see you in a class soon. I’m concerned time is running out.
Until then,
Utrinque Paratus!
Steve
DVC/ I H S
Edition 22
A couple of items in the news prompt this short newsletter. The first deals with Fourth Amendment issues. I hope you’ll appreciate the seriousness of the situation outlined in the commentary by Judge Napolitano I’ve linked below.
The second deals with crime prevention. I’ll follow up on this one in the next newsletter.
We still have space available in the Basic Defensive Carbine class being conducted this weekend.
Times, location and equipment requirements for the BDC are covered to the left.
The CWP class on 3 – 4 JUN is almost full. If you intend to take a CWP class with us before the summer heat, contact me ASAP to reserve a slot.
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
As always, comments, etc. are welcome.
Headline: Hell Freezes Over
Steve finds himself in agreement with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg!
Have you heard that the Indiana Supreme Court recently ruled that Indianans don’t have the right to resist an unlawful government entry into their home?
Or, that the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) recently ruled 8 to 1 (Ginsberg dissenting) that police my break into and enter a private residence if they detect the odor of marijuana coming from it?
For a much needed history and civics reminder, check out Judge Andrew Napolitano’s commentary here: http://tinyurl.com/4xvspth
What’s this got to do with defensive firearm training? In my opinion, everything. For good or bad, change is coming. Get ready for it.
‘Bump and rob’
Not a new tactic at all, but in the news recently, criminals will sometimes initiate a carjacking or robbery, or worse, by bumping into a car as if by accident. You know the drill – somebody bumps into you, you pull over, get out of your car to check the damage and exchange insurance information and / or call the police if necessary.
What if the bump wasn’t an accident? What if it was just a ruse to get you out of your car? Check out the story here: www.tinyurl.com/bumpnrob
The link is to a news site and I don’t know how long it will remain valid. If it’s gone before you have a chance to check it, google “Drivers in West Palm shot in bump and rob attacks”.
Edition 21
We have space available in the Basic Defensive Carbine class being conducted the weekend of 21 – 22 MAY. While the class is built around the AR platform, AK’s, SKS’, Mini-14’s, M-1 Carbines have all been used by participants in the past with great succcess. We’ve even had a few take the class with Ruger 10-22’s!
Times, location and equipment requirements for the BDC are covered to the left.
An important feature of this class is the amount of low light training you’ll get. Being able to hit the Threat in low light is critical and a skill we don’t spend nearly enough time developing or maintaining.
Below I’ll talk about an event first mentioned a couple of months back – Libby and I came home late one evening to find the back door of our home wide open. Carbine, low-light and and tactical movement skills all became important when I elected to clear the house rather than call 9-1-1. Glad I had them!
Hope you enjoy the newsletter. As always, comments, etc. are welcome.
When My Home Was Invaded
A few issues back I mentioned that Libby and I had come home late one evening (after dark) to find the back door of the house open. Jump to the end: Nobody found; nothing missing; human error.
In this issue I’ll write about our movement techniques, light management and weapon choice. Next issue I’ll devote a lot of time to using a weapon mounted tactical light and laser.
First, house clearing is dangerous and should not be attempted if there are reasonable options. While there are things you can do to make the process safER, there is no such thing as a safe way to clear a house of Bad People. I made the decision to enter the house because…
(a) I have some training and experience in it and…
(b) there were no indicators that the house had been broken into. The door frame and lock appeared to be intact; there were no signs of anyone inside.
Had I arrived to find the door jamb in splinters and seen or heard anything that indicated someone was inside, I would have called 9-1-1 and waited outside (a course of action that has its own problems).
Mindset Issue
‘(b)’ above is dangerous territory. There is a thin line between seeing no evidence someone is inside and assuming there is no one inside. You must keep an open mind about what you may find inside. Assumptions should be conservative.
Back to the house…
Libby was armed with her PDW and, in addition to my own, I took an AR-15 from the truck with me. Why? First, an AR in 5.56mm is a more effective fight stopper than any handgun. Second, bullets from it are less likely to leave a house (or a person) and endanger a neighbor. Third, this one is equipped with a light / laser combo mounted above the bore.
We entered the house at the open back door. Because our house is a basic two-story box with lots of windows, I made the assumption that anyone inside had seen us drive up.
I chose to enter by the open back door. Why not the front? The front opens into a foyer with a large room on each side and the stairway to the second floor almost directly ahead. That layout would require me to simultaneously clear three separate and widely divergent areas as soon as I came through the front door. On the other hand, coming through the back door I would enter a small laundry room attached to only two rooms; a small bathroom to the right and an open kitchen to the left. To me, it represented a more easily secured beachhead.
How we moved
I told Libby to keep an eye on the kitchen from outside. I pushed the back door open with my left hand while holding the AR at the ready with my right, entered the laundry room and immediately side-stepped so that Libby could have a clear shot into the kitchen if someone appeared from that direction. I quickly moved to the bathroom and pushed the door open hard with my left hand and lit up the room with the weapon light. I pushed the door hard so it would swing all the way to the wall. If it stopped early or softly, that would tell me something or someone was behind it. I moved quickly because my back was to the unsecured kitchen. Seeing no one inside the bathroom, I turned the bathroom light ON and shut the door, closing it off behind me. Now I could turn back toward the kitchen and the rest of the house, secure in the knowledge that the only room behind me was clear of intruders. Libby then came in and got behind me and remained in the laundry room until I cleared the kitchen.
Before moving out I made the conscious decision to lock the door behind us. If I were fine tuning a plan, I’d probably leave a key in the inner cylinder so anyone wanting to escape could. At the time, I was focused more on keeping someone outside from coming in behind us.
That’s the process we used to clear the entire house. I would clear the room ahead while she waited, securing what had already been cleared. Soon as I cleared the next space, she would move up and secure it.
Conceptually, we were using a movement technique known to infantrymen as ‘Bounding Overwatch’ with ‘successive bounds’. In fact, the tight confines of the house would have effectively prevented Libby from being able to deliver fire past me onto a Threat while I maneuvered, so part of her job description became protecting us from Threats to the rear. Knowing she effectively had my back was comforting and allowed me to concentrate on what was to my front.
Light management
I would leave a room dark until I swept it with the weapon light because I wanted to be the one in charge of light and dark. First, I don’t need light to move around in my own house. This is my house and I know it better than any intruder. Second, the longer I can keep him in the dark, the more effective my weapon light will be against him when it finds him. Last, I don’t want to reach into the dark unknown for a light switch when there might be a Threat inside.
As I swept the room with the light, nothing physically entered the room until I had cleared a safe zone. Not my hand, not the muzzle of the AR, nothing until a buffer was established. Literally, LIGHT went in first. The technique is called ‘pieing’ or ‘slicing the pie’ and it can be done very slowly and deliberately or fast and dynamic. Or somewhere in between. The situation will determine which is best.
Once a room was cleared, I would turn on the room lights only if I could shut that room off behind me. If I couldn’t shut it off I left it dark. Reason: I didn’t want to be backlit as I approached the next dark room.
If a room was complicated (blind spots / closets / etc.) and I could shut it off, I performed a hasty clear, turned on the room lights and then shut it off to revisit later.
Once I had performed a hasty clear on the whole house, I returned and did a deliberate clear on any spaces requiring it.
The method for clearing closets and other rooms where I could reach a light switch from the outside was a little different. Once the main room had been cleared I turned the lights in that room back off, turned on the lights in the closet and quickly opened the door. Same as before, I didn’t want to be backlit.
Lessons Learned or Reinforced
1. Conduct an immediate AAR –
There were chores to do, it was late and we were tired. Still, we should have done one. No excuse.
There were chores to do, it was late and we were tired. Still, we should have done one. No excuse.
2. Have a plan and rehearse it –
I had practiced clearing my house from the bedroom DOWN plenty of times (in fact, every time I’ve ever come downstairs at night to investigate a noise or check on a barking dog), but I had never practiced making an entry INTO our home and clearing it UP. Sure, the techniques are the same, but there is value in being able to say, especially when under stress, ‘I’ve done this before’.
I had practiced clearing my house from the bedroom DOWN plenty of times (in fact, every time I’ve ever come downstairs at night to investigate a noise or check on a barking dog), but I had never practiced making an entry INTO our home and clearing it UP. Sure, the techniques are the same, but there is value in being able to say, especially when under stress, ‘I’ve done this before’.
Believing that the techniques are the same is theory. Knowing they are is experience.
3. More involvement in #2 for my team-mate –
As I headed to the bathroom off the laundry room, I wondered if Libby remembered to stay out of the doorway and was using the door frame for cover. That is NOT the time to be thinking about training issues. Also, I have to confess it never occurred to me to give Libby directions about what to do. She did what she did on her own and I can take no credit for it.
As I headed to the bathroom off the laundry room, I wondered if Libby remembered to stay out of the doorway and was using the door frame for cover. That is NOT the time to be thinking about training issues. Also, I have to confess it never occurred to me to give Libby directions about what to do. She did what she did on her own and I can take no credit for it.
Would she have been safer outside? I don’t know. I didn’t think so. I acted on the assumption any Bad People inside the house had help waiting outside. I didn’t want to leave her alone. Obviously, I felt she was safer with me.
4. Upper body and grip strength are important when controlling a long gun with one hand and performing real world tasks with the other.
5. A weapon mounted light is valuable.
6. A weapon mounted laser is invaluable.
I’ll write much more on tactical light issues and the value of a weapon mounted laser in the next newsletter.
Let me know if you have questions, Contact Me.
Edition 20
We have a couple of slots available in the 1 – 2 April Concealable Weapon Permit (CWP) class and several openings in the Basic Defensive Handgun (BDH) class scheduled for 16 – 17 April.
Times, location and equipment requirements for the BDH are covered to the left.
BDH is our entry level handgun fighting course and the logical next step for a CWP holder. You don’t need a CWP to take the class. You don’t even have to own a handgun; we’ll loan you one of ours at no extra cost. Depending on which way you’re leaning, we can set you up with either a medium or small frame S&W .38 Special revolver or a Springfield XD in 9mm, plus holster and mag / speedloader carrier. All you’ll need to do is provide the ammunition.
An important feature of this class is the amount of low light training you’ll get. Being able to hit the Threat in low light is critical and a skill we don’t spend nearly enough time developing or maintaining. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as turning on a flashlight and lining up the sights.
Note: It can get COOL when the sun goes down so dress appropriately. Layers are a good thing.
Lessons Learned: Springfield XD extractors
One of our school XD-9’s recently went down with a broken extractor. It’ll cost $68 parts and labor to fix.
For a number of reasons I consider important, I like to stock up on spare parts. Apparently Springfield Armory won’t sell spare extractors and, even if they did, from what I read replacing one on an XD is a chore.
A factory extractor for a Glock costs about $20 and takes just a few minutes (so I’m told) to replace. An extractor for a 1911 can cost in the $25 – 35 range and takes about 10 minutes to properly tension and install.
I love the XD’s. They’re reliable and accurate and easy to learn on. Up until now, I considered them a good value. Perhaps not if I have to pay almost 15% of a gun’s cost to replace a small (albeit critical) part, have to take the gun to a specialist for repair, and do without it while the part is ordered and installed.
What if spare parts aren’t available? What if UPS isn’t running? The number of scenarios that might cause either of those conditions to exist also carry with them the implication that I’m really, really going to need my defensive guns up and running.
I’m beginning to rethink the wisdom of relying on an XD as a durable, self sustainable platform.
If there’s a plus, it’s that operator error led to the broken extractor. Had a faulty case not been forcefully driven into the chamber, I’m guessing the extractor would still be intact and functional.
New Class Spotlight: Introduction to Handguns
Tuesday, 29 MAR
6pm – 10pm
6pm – 10pm
You do not have to own a handgun to attend this class. We’ll have plenty of examples on hand to handle.
This class is perfect if you’re new to handguns, considering the purchase of one, or just want to learn more about the one you have. Here’s what we’ll cover:
1. How to safely handle, store and shoot your handgun
2. What the parts are called and what they do
3. How to clean and maintain it
4. Fundamentals of marksmanship
5. All about ammunition – what to get, how it works, how to store it, etc.
1. How to safely handle, store and shoot your handgun
2. What the parts are called and what they do
3. How to clean and maintain it
4. Fundamentals of marksmanship
5. All about ammunition – what to get, how it works, how to store it, etc.
You’ll get quality hands-on experience and start developing proper muscle memory, not only in the area of marksmanship, but handling the firearm in general. Regarding marksmanship, dry work is extremely important in developing shooting skills. The difference between good shots and great shots is the amount of time spent in disciplined dry practice.
We will discuss, demonstrate, and give you the opportunity to work on marksmanship fundamentals through ‘dry practice’ (no live ammunition is allowed in the classroom).
Course Outline
Four General Firearm Safety Rules
Gun handling etiquette
Ammunition
Ammunition related malfunctions
Types of handguns
Revolver nomenclature & operation
Semi-auto pistol nomenclature & operation
Fundamentals of marksmanship
5 count drawstroke
Loading & reloading
Dry practice
Overview of cleaning, lubrication & maintenance
Four General Firearm Safety Rules
Gun handling etiquette
Ammunition
Ammunition related malfunctions
Types of handguns
Revolver nomenclature & operation
Semi-auto pistol nomenclature & operation
Fundamentals of marksmanship
5 count drawstroke
Loading & reloading
Dry practice
Overview of cleaning, lubrication & maintenance
This is a non-firing class. Bring your handgun, holster, spare mag, etc., but no ammunition is allowed in the classroom.
Location: Florence
Cost: $50
Attendees will receive a $25 discount off the regular $80 tuition for our CWP class.
Cost: $50
Attendees will receive a $25 discount off the regular $80 tuition for our CWP class.
For a more thorough course description or to enroll in a class, contact Steve.
Edition 19
This issue contains the training calendar for the 1st QTR of 2011! We have plenty of room in this month’s Concealable Weapn Permit (CWP) and Basic Defensive Handgun (BDH) classes. Times, location and equipment requirements are covered to the left.
BDH is our entry level handgun fighting course and the logical next step for a CWP holder. You don’t need a CWP to take the class. You don’t even have to own a handgun; we’ll loan you one of ours at no extra cost. Depending on which way you’re leaning, we can set you up with either a medium or small frame S&W .38 Special revolver or a Springfield XD in 9mm, plus holster and mag / speedloader carrier. All you’ll need to do is provide the ammunition.
An important feature of this class (all our fall and winter classes) is the amount of low light training you’ll get. Being able to hit the Threat in low light is critical and a skill we don’t spend nearly enough time developing or maintaining. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as turning on a flashlight and lining up the sights. Do your best to take advantage of the short winter days by attending one of our defensive gunfighting classes this quarter.
Note: It gets COLD when the sun goes down so dress appropriately. Layers are a good thing as it’s often warm during the day and uncomfortably cold and damp after sundown.
Lessons Learned: Handgun Combatives Class
As part of last December’s HanCom class, we ran some anti-carjacking scenarios using role players armed with AirSoft guns. The results were eye-opening for the participants, to say the least.
Initially the setup involved one occupant in a car stopped (trapped) in traffic being approached by a person of unknown intent. Later we added a passenger in the car, first one who was unable to assist you, then a passenger who could help you fight back. The passenger brought a new set of variables to the problem. In short, the presence of a passenger can either help you or tremendously complicate things for you. Depends on the passenger.
Here’s a rule (I call it the Hombre Imperative from the 1967 Paul Newman movie by that name): Avoid hanging out with incompetent people.
Bottom line in anti-carjacking: If you’re not paying attention and mentally ready to instantly, aggressively counter-attack your attacker, you’re at his mercy. If he wants you dead, you’re dead.
Maybe this first edition of 2011 is the appropriate place to review the Fundamentals of Situational Awareness:
Always…
Always…
- Know who is around you and what they’re doing.
- To the extent possible, be able to see and manuever.
- Have a plan for every reasonable contingency.
And last, but certainly not least- - Honor your instincts!
How much time do you spend in a car every day? Do you sometimes drive through areas you wouldn’t want to walk through?
The next HanCom class is tentatively scheduled for APR 2011. Remember too that BDH or equivalent is a pre-requisite for this class.
Next Issue
Lib and I came home late in the evening from a class a few weekends ago to find the back door to the house open. I’ll talk about what we did, good and bad, as we cleared the house. Some interesting Lessons were (re?)Learned.
Hope to see you in a class soon!
Edition 18
We have a couple of slots available in this weekend’s Basic Defensive Handgun class. Times, location and equipment requirements are covered to the left.
This is our entry level handgun fighting course and the logical next step for a CWP holder. But, you don’t need a CWP to take the class. You don’t even have to own a handgun, we’ll loan you one of ours at no extra cost. Depending on which way you’re leaning, we can set you up with either a S&W .38 Special revolver or a Springfield XD in 9mm, plus holster and mag / speedloader carrier. All you’ll need to do is provide the ammunition.
An important feature of this class (all our fall and winter classes) is the amount of low light training you’ll get. Being able to hit your target in low light is a critical skill and something we don’t get enough practice in. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as turning on a flashlight and lining up the sights. At last weekend’s Tactical Carbine class we trained in the dark from 5:30 pm to 8 pm and we should be able to do the same for the BDH class.
Note: It gets COLD when the sun goes down so dress appropriately. Layers are a good thing as it’s often warm during the day and uncomfortably cold and damp after sundown.
Personal Items For Sale
A.R.M.S. Swan Ex-38 picatinny rail and built in #40 rear sight for AR-15
This provides a platform to mount a scope or other gear on the upper receiver of an AR15 and includes a flip up rear sight.
Used in like new condition. Picture here:
SWAN #S38 Extended
SWAN #S38 Extended
Suggested retail: $175
Sale price: $125
LaRue Tactical LT-661 (Short) Quick Detach optic mount
This provides a quick detachable base for the Aimpoint T1/H1 micro red dot sights.
New in the bag. Picture here:
LaRue LT661
New in the bag. Picture here:
LaRue LT661
Suggested retail: $98
Sale price: $75
Sale price: $75
LaRue Tactical LT-660HK( Med) Quick Detach optic mount
Used, in excellent condition. Same link as #2 above
Suggested retail: $98
Sale price: $50
Sale price: $50
Preparedness – Recommended Reading
1. Patriots – James Wesley Rawles (novel) www.survivalblog.com
The country after an economic collapse. Amazon reviews here: Patriots
2. How to Survive the End of the World as we Know It – James Wesely Rawles (how to)
Amazon reviews: TEOTWAWKI
3. One Second After – William Forstchen (novel)
The country after a nuclear generated EMP.
Amazon reviews: 1 Second
4. When All Hell Breaks Loose – Cody Lundin (how to)
Amazon reviews: WAHBL
That’s a start.
Patriots and One Second After are great for a group discussion. And you WILL need a group to survive if either of these worst case scenarios come to pass! Get a book, read it, sit down and discuss it chapter by chapter and decide what’s relevant and what’s not, what’s accurate and what’s not, etc. They’re written by humans so not infallible.
A suggestion for recruiting team members: Let the book speak for itself. Rather than going for the hard sell and committing yourself (“Read this book! The country is going to hell and I want to ride it out with you!”) I recommend you simply hand it to them with something like, “This is a thought provoking book and I’d like to get your take on it.”
If they come back to you with “Hey, the country is going to hell and I want to ride it out with you!”, then the book has done its job and now you’ve got a potential team member. All without committing yourself unnecessarily. Again, let the book do the heavy lifting for you.
Check out Hosea 4:6
$5 Chance to Win a Colt AR15!
There are still a few tickets no tickets left left in the FOP’s (Fraternal Order of Police) Pee Dee Chapter drawing being held 16 DEC. The gun is a new Colt 5.56 16″ barreled carbine with collapsible stock and flat-top upper.
Proceeds go to support FOP officers in the Pee Dee during times of need. It’s a worthy cause.
If you want to purchase tickets at $5 each, contact Pat Lee at pleehkg36@aol.com or via FaceBook.
Someone is going to get a great return on a small investment!
Attention student of the AR15
If you’re interested in participating in an ‘AR15 Build Class’, please let me know. We’ve talked about this before, but are now seriously considering conducting a hands on class where students bring their parts kits and leave with a completed AR15.
Contact Me at and let me know if you’re interested and able to commit financially (somewhere between $800 & $1000) to the purchase of the parts kits.
Edition 17
We have open slots in all remaining 2010 classes except the 12 & 13 November Tactical Carbine class. Do your best to take advantage of this last quarter schedule. We have no idea what’s on the horizon with regard to ammunition or range availability, plus we anticipate having to increase fees next year. Also, fall and winter classes always contain a low-light training block and this is essential to a well-rounded defensive firearm skill-set. Odds are, if you ever need a firearm, it’ll be at night or somewhere it’s dark.
Speaking of ammunition, ammo prices are at their lowest in years. I just know one day we’re going to look back at this season and say, ‘Why didn’t I buy more when I had the chance?’
Note that the December CWP class has been moved from the third weekend to 3 & 4 December.
We’re listing several guns for sale by Paladin alum in this newsletter. If you’re interested in something posted below please contact the seller directly. In most cases I have no direct knowledge about the particular firearm and can’t help you if you call me. On the other hand, if you have general questions about the type or model, etc., I’ll be glad to help.
In this edition we’re going to branch out a little bit and talk about another aspect of crime prevention – emergency preparedness. A large topic, we’re going to just touch on one aspect here. I hope you find it informative and thought provoking. Let me know if you want more.
Hope to see you soon. In the meantime, Stay sharp, and ‘ready for anything’!
Preparedness – Fuel!
First, storing fuel at home can be dangerous, but you have to have it if you expect to run an emergency generator or bug out vehicle. A good article on the subject can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/Backwoodsfuel
Backwoodshome online magazine is a great site and I recommend you bookmark it and check it often.
Some first hand gained information to supplement the linked article:
- Fuel cans – The best 5 gallon cans I’ve seen are at this site: Gerrycans. They’re not cheap, but they’re sturdy, well-designed, and don’t leak! I keep four of them filled year round and I can not smell the gasoline in them. Get some before the government realizes they’re a good thing and stops the importation of them. Seriously. And, don’t forget the nozzle and spare gaskets.
- Treatment – the author mentions StaBil fuel stabilizer. This will enable you to store gasoline for up to a year (I’ve gone longer)without it breaking down. Otherwise, figure on it starting to go bad in 30 days. StaBil is available at Schofield’s Ace Hardware in Florence. See Paladin alum Don Worrell if you need guidance on which one to buy, or you can go here: StaBil. Note that Marine grade StaBil is recommended for gasoline treated with ethanol. I strongly recommend pure gasoline over ethanol treated gas for your long term storage. I recently read that gasoline providers can now go up to 15% ethanol. For a listing of providers, state by state, of non-tainted gasoline go to this site: Pure Gas
Locally, see Paladin alum Barry Townsend at Old Delmae Grocery on South Cashua in Florence. His premium grade is pure gasoline.
(Maybe worth mentioning from a commsec point of view that I always get permission from someone before tying them to Paladin in this newsletter. I will respect your desire for privacy!)
Edition 16
We have open slots in the 2 Day Basic Defensive Carbine class being held this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday 16 & 17 OCT. Let me know ASAP if you’re interested in attending. Equipment requirements are to the left.
Don’t have an AR? We will have at least one, possibly two, 16″ Patrol Carbines for T&E. All you’re required to do is furnish the ammunition. No Wolf or other steel case ammo, only brass cartridges in these guns.
You can find out more about the Barnes Precision carbine(s) being T&E’d here: www.usamade-ar15parts.com
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the AR platform while putting wear and tear on someone else’s gun. Let me know if you’d like to take advantage of this offer. First come, first served.
Remember that successful completion of this class, or its equivalent, is required to attend the 2 Day Tactical Carbine class being conducted in NOV.
We’re also conducting a Carbine Cleaning & Maintance class this Tuesday, 12 OCT at Fludd’s Gun and Pawn from 6pm to 9pm. Cost is $25 and you get some Free Stuff in addition to the training for your tuition fee.
Fludd’s is located at 2049 West Evans in Florence. They can be reached at 843-669-7363.
Hope to see you soon. In the meantime,
Stay sharp, and ‘ready for anything’!
Please read this!
If you’re reading these words, you’re probably one of the few who are Paying Attention. That’s just one of the personal traits that distinquish us from others. We notice things most don’t. While the herd is self absorbed and in Condition White, we’re using all our senses to detect things out of the ordinary. With that in mind, here’s something different for our newsletter – an article on drowning. The short version: Real drowning doesn’t look like TV drowning. Why am I surprised at this?! Check it out here: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/
Words of Wisdom:
“One way of looking at this (gliding a jet airliner into the Hudson River) might be that, for 42 years, I’ve been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15, 2009 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.”
-Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger