Categories
Skills

Dry Fire Practice Works

Dry fire snap caps

Dry fire snap capsDry fire practice works.

Dry firing is a form of firearms practice, where all ammunition is removed from the gun and the shooter pulls the trigger and otherwise manipulates the firearm.  The obvious advantage is no ammunition is used, so it is cheaper than going to the range.  Plus dry firing can be done in your home, rather than at a range.

But can you improve how you shoot a firearm without shooting live ammunition through it?  Absolutely.  Let me show you how.

Safety First

Dry firing means practice with a firearm that has no ammunition.  This should be obvious, but it is a key component to both safety and the general concept of ‘dry’ firing.  So, empty your gun.  Check it twice.  Take all of the ammunition out of the room.  Check your gun again.  Stick your finger in the chamber, shine a light in there, make sure no magazines are in the gun.

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Categories
Handguns

Gen 4 Glock Photo

Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com

SayUncle has a picture of what is purported to be the Gen 4 Glock pistol due out in January 2010.  The picture clearly shows the interchangeable back straps and new texture on the grip.  The magazine release appears larger than the current generation.

The model designation on the slide is slightly changed, adding a “Gen 4” next to the model number.

The photo, if real, also shows the other outward appearances of the pistol to be largely unchanged.  The rear slide serrations are typical of the standard Glock pistols, not those of the RTF2 models.  The finger ridges on the front of the grip are still there (some hate ’em, others love them).

Thanks to SayUncle for breaking this news.  Go over to SayUncle for a large photo, and to read his take on the photo.

Previous:  Pistol-training.com is reporting that they received private confirmation of the new Glock models from another industry professional at the National Association of Police Equipment Distributers (NAPED).

So, despite Glock’s statements, someone at the NAPED conference is saying new adjustable grip Glock’s will be rolling out within a year.  It makes me wonder if someone let something “slip” at the convention, and Glock is still putting the new models through testing.

If Glock is developing an adjustable grip pistol, and someone did release the information too soon, this puts Glock in a tough position.  They could continue to deny the rumor, and hope no one else leaks additional information.

On the other hand, if they were to announce the new pistol now, they would likely be doing so well in advance of the completion of testing and development of the guns.  So, announcing and then failing to deliver could create a major PR debacle.

Pistol-training.com’s source puts the roll-out time around the 2010 SHOT Show, which would seem to make sense.

Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.com

Categories
Skills

Ruger Tactical Tips by Dave Spaulding

Ruger teamed up with firearm trainer Dave Spaulding to produce a series of videos called Ruger Tactical Tips.  These training videos are completely free and available on the Ruger website.  The Ruger Tactical Tips videos are several minutes in length, and will be published during the coming weeks and months.  The first video on mental preparation is already available on the Ruger site.

Dave Spaulding is a retired law enforcement officer with more than 28 years of experience in patrol, investigations, SWAT, undercover operations and training.  Spaulding takes a no-nonsense approach to firearms training, which I appreciate a great deal.

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Categories
Hunting

Remington RF-05 Hunting Boots

Remington RF05 Hunting Boots Review

Remington RF05 Hunting Boots Review

Need a pair of hunting boots?  Take a look at this review of the Remington RF-05 hunting boots.  These Remington boots are an all-purpose 8″ leather hunting boot. The RF-05 has a Max-Dri waterproof liner, making these boots a good choice in all weather conditions.

Radians, who manufactures these boots under license, sent me a pair of  these boots for review.  When I first pulled this pair of boots out of the box, I was immediately impressed by the look and style of them. The leather has a rich brown color, and a pleasant feel.

The boots were comfortable to put on, and sized correctly.  I wear a 10 1/2, and these fit exactly right.  With a thicker winter sock, I would suggest looking at a 1/2 size larger boot.

Remington boots

The laces seem a little thinner than other boot laces, but they seemed strong enough for regular use in the field.  The upper part of the boots had speed lace loops, allowing for easy lacing up and removing of the boots.

Wearing the boots in the field, I found them to be comfortable with very little break in needed.  The soles gave very good support.

Additionally, the ankle support was excellent.  I have the awful tendency to ‘roll’ my ankles.  These Remington RF-05 boots fully supported my ankles, and I had no problems while wearing these in the woods.

review of hunting boots with waterproof liner

The waterproof liner worked as advertised.  I found a few puddles to stand in, and the water never got to my feet.  If you have ever been in the field with wet feet, you know how miserable that can quickly become.  I rarely wear any boots into the woods that are not waterproof for that reason.

Overall, I really liked these boots.  They look good and are comfortable to wear.  As a general purpose hunting or field boot, I think they are worth a look. They would certainly go well with the Field & Stream HydroProof gear that Aaron reviewed here. The suggested retail price of the Remington RF-05 is $129.99.

review of the Remington RF05 hunting boots

(Ed. note: This review was written in 2009. Since then, these boots have been discontinued. I’d also like to think that my writing has improved since then.

For what it is worth, I still own these boots. They continue to look and wear great.)

Categories
Self-Defense Issues

Some Thoughts on Choosing a Defensive Handgun

Smith & Wesson SD40 Streamlight laser weapon light

Smith & Wesson SD40 Streamlight laser weapon light

When it comes to choosing the right defensive handgun, there are many “right” answers and a few wrong ones. The best defensive handgun for you will likely be different than my choices. But the criteria in picking a handgun for self defense is fairly universal.

Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when buying a handgun for personal protection.

Caliber selection is important, but not that important…

When picking the right handgun, many people obsess about what caliber to choose. Generally speaking, handguns are poor choices for stopping a violent attacker. Handguns launch a fairly small projectile at relatively low velocities, and bullet wounds to areas other than the central nervous system (CNS) generally take time to work.

So, two things are important when considering which caliber. First, bigger is better…to a point. A high-quality .45 hollowpoint is more likely to be effective than a .25 ACP anything. The .45 delivers more energy and momentum, and it makes a significantly larger wound channel.

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