This video from the so-called “antifa” movement, i.e. communist thugs, has been making the gun blog rounds. Folks are finding it easy to mock them for the obvious safety violations and poor marksmanship. The derision is well deserved.At the same time, …

I heard the communists were planning a day of rioting on May 1, so I decided to add some balance to the universe with a trip to the indoor shooting range. When I arrived at the facility, the parking lot was more full than I’ve seen it recently. Fortuna…

More good news you can use. A recent study is claiming that two pints of beer are more effective than Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) for pain relief. Frankly, I’m not sure how much of a revelation it is to find that alcohol reduces pain — I’ve been known to “relax” my sore muscles with a beer or two.

I haven’t been as dedicated to dry fire practice recently as I would like. Gone are the days when I was getting in 30-60 minutes daily, rather it’s closer to 10 – 20 minutes once or twice a week. But even at that rate, there is benefit.

One lesson I remind myself of constantly in dry fire is grip pressure. It’s easy to get sloppy with the grip on the firearm when the gun isn’t actually firing. I had to break a weaker grip habit a few years ago after many months of poor habits in dry fire practice. If my hands don’t show signs of the grip texturing after practice, I know I was sloppy with the grip.

Dry fire practice is a bit different with the striker fired SIG P320 than it was with the double/single action P226. Rather than every trigger pull being a full DA pull, the P320 practice is a lighter “dummy” pull. Despite the dead trigger, it’s more realistic.

Practicing reloads is a changed experience as well. The P226 slide would go forward from slide lock when the magazine was slammed into place. In addition to that being less reliable than slingshotting the slide, I got “trained” to not do it. That caused issues when the slide didn’t go forward on its own. I never spent significant time just practicing slide lock reloads until switching to the new gun.

To work on the reloads, I fill a magazine or two with inert dummy rounds and place them on the belt. The gun has an empty magazine and the slide locked back. Starting with the gun positioned like I just fired the last round, I drop the magazine, retrieve the “loaded” magazine from the belt and complete the reload — remembering to rack the slide. Then the loaded mag goes back on the belt, an empty mag is inserted into the gun. Racking out the dummy round locks the slide back, and the process is repeated. Again, and again.

Under the 2017 IDPA rules, reloads with retention, as well as reloads on the move come into play more frequently. I combine reloads with retention, or tactical reloads, with movement drills. My concentration when moving is on my feet and only pulling the trigger at the most stable part of the step. In my basement dry fire area, the floor is covered with various rugs. This provides enough surface variation to balance keeping the feet on the ground as much as possible, while lifting them enough to prevent tripping.

During each practice session, it’s important to always use a timer for the start beep when practicing drawing the gun. I also work on table starts, with both a “loaded” and unloaded gun. There are multiple targets, and even a barricade set up in the basement, so just about every draw of the gun is combined with “shooting” multiple targets and some movement.

Twenty minutes is about the maximum time for effective dry fire practice, for me at least. That time encompasses dozens of gun draw and magazine changes. Interestingly, looking through my notes, hardly a session goes by that I don’t recognize some improved technique or point for awareness. Now I only need to get to it more frequently.

Maybe if they still sold toy guns, there wouldn’t be a market for skinny jeans.
[ This content originated at Musings Over a Pint ]

I ran across this product on a Facebook posting recently. I thought it was a leftover April Fool’s Day joke, but it appears to be a real thing.I’ve never understood the fascination some people have with unconcealing their concealed carry status. T…

I really want a home range, but I will hold out for a different solution.
[ This content originated at Musings Over a Pint ]

Some people really like their Budweiser.When fire broke out inside a home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, police say Michael Casteel rushed inside his apartment, in defiance of first responders’ orders, to save what he held most dear – two cans of Bud Ic…

After missing all of last week, I was anxious to get in some trigger time this week. I had hoped this would happen at the outdoor range, but a prediction of several days of rain make that unlikely. Staring out of my office window at the heavy rain Monday made it hard to get motivated to even drive to the indoor range.

But, I did get motivated. I had a specific practice plan in mind for this session and started out shooting 50 round Julie Glob drill with the P320, this time at 10 yards. Shooting from low ready, I focused on quick target sighting and fast follow up shots when required. I jerked one of the head shots pretty seriously, and was a bit high on one body shot but was otherwise pleased.

After that I switched to the S&W Shield for some general practice. After several magazines with the smaller weapon, I went back to the SIG. The rest of my time was spent doing slower fire at 10 and 15 yards. I am feeling ever more comfortable with the new gun. For me, it points significantly differently than the P226, which I’ve put some 75,000 rounds through over the past 7 years. The good news is I’m starting to get used to the P320 and getting tighter groups, and pulling fewer shots.

That makes 1,025 rounds through the new P320. I gave myself a goal of 1,000 rounds before I tried out the gun in competition, or considered carrying it. Given upcoming fun family plans (and a less fun work calendar) over the next month or so, there is little opportunity for any pistol matches, so the round count will continue to grow through practice time.

I still hold out hope for a trip to the outdoor range later this week. If it doesn’t happen, perhaps I’ll plan another indoor trip. While my schedule allows, I’ll take every opportunity I can to shoot. One never knows when the next “dry spell” will hit. After all, shooting IS a perishable skill, and for some of us it perishes more quickly.