For the long absence from my blog. It's been a rough couple of weeks. I found out in early March that my grandfather had passed away. The funeral was on the 16th in Atlanta. I worked until the 14th in TX, before flying to the funeral. I was scheduled to be home in Indiana for the weekend of the 21st and 22nd. I ended up driving from GA to IN after the funeral with my parents.
I was in Evansville until the 24th, when I flew back to TX to resume work. 1500 hrs on the 25th and I was told that I was laid off as of the 27th at 1700 hrs. 1705, I was on the road heading back to IN again.
I've been trying to find a job, and spending lots of my time doing housework and home improvement stuff at the girlfriend's place. She's an accountant, and is obviously very very busy. I promise more stuff in the near future (and I may be going back to work on the ambulance, so maybe some EMS stories?)
--Jim
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
North Texas Tactical Training Combat Handgun 1
Sorry for keeping everyone waiting on this review.
On 2/28 I took the Combat Handgun class with Hany Mahmoud and the guys at North Texas tactical. The class was held on the grounds of the Texas Tactical training area, just a few miles north of Weatherford TX.
The class started with some classroom stuff, before we all moved out to the range. We talked about being aware of your surroundings, and how the vast majority of people exist totally in condition white. We also talked about the fact that the proper mindset is condition yellow, which will blend in and out of orange as the day passes. Hany also emphasized that there are times when condition white is necessary for everyone's mental health. As an example, Hany mentions that he goes into condition white when he's relaxing at home, a pistol within easy reach. The key to doing the condition white safely is to have layered defenses (all the doors and windows locked, the alarm set, the dog ready to pounce, etc.) We also covered OODA loops and actions that could possibly disrupt your opponents OODA loop.
During the classroom section of the day, we covered range safety with a quick review of the four rules of firearm safety. Hany had an additional rule for us throughout the course of the day. From the time we stepped onto the range and went hot, until the time we were finished for the day pistols were to be either holsterd, or indexed on the targets. After all of this, we moved out to the range and started loading magazines and preparing for the range part of the day.
Range exercises started with some non-firing drills. We reviewed stance, grip, sites, trigger control, etc. From there we moved into live fire drills. I honestly don't remember all of the drills we did, but they were excellent, and were varied. We covered the draw in 4 easy steps, and then we removed the numbers from each of the steps and did it as a fluid motion. Then we added a lateral step to the mix, so that it became natural to take a step to the left or the right (disrupt the opponents OODA loop) while drawing the pistol. We did reloads, and then we added reloads with a lateral step.
One thing that particulary stood out to me was the use of multiple different target setups. Every couple of drills, the targets would get changed out. I don't mean that new targets were put up, I mean that a whole different style of target was put up. Hany pointed out that he uses multiple targets because there are only two things he CAN'T tell us about an encounter with a bad guy: When the encounter will occur, and what the bad guy will look like.
Overall an excellent class, and I'm hoping to take at least one more class with the guys at North Texas Tactical before I leave TX! Maybe next time I'll remember the camera and get some photos!
On 2/28 I took the Combat Handgun class with Hany Mahmoud and the guys at North Texas tactical. The class was held on the grounds of the Texas Tactical training area, just a few miles north of Weatherford TX.
The class started with some classroom stuff, before we all moved out to the range. We talked about being aware of your surroundings, and how the vast majority of people exist totally in condition white. We also talked about the fact that the proper mindset is condition yellow, which will blend in and out of orange as the day passes. Hany also emphasized that there are times when condition white is necessary for everyone's mental health. As an example, Hany mentions that he goes into condition white when he's relaxing at home, a pistol within easy reach. The key to doing the condition white safely is to have layered defenses (all the doors and windows locked, the alarm set, the dog ready to pounce, etc.) We also covered OODA loops and actions that could possibly disrupt your opponents OODA loop.
During the classroom section of the day, we covered range safety with a quick review of the four rules of firearm safety. Hany had an additional rule for us throughout the course of the day. From the time we stepped onto the range and went hot, until the time we were finished for the day pistols were to be either holsterd, or indexed on the targets. After all of this, we moved out to the range and started loading magazines and preparing for the range part of the day.
Range exercises started with some non-firing drills. We reviewed stance, grip, sites, trigger control, etc. From there we moved into live fire drills. I honestly don't remember all of the drills we did, but they were excellent, and were varied. We covered the draw in 4 easy steps, and then we removed the numbers from each of the steps and did it as a fluid motion. Then we added a lateral step to the mix, so that it became natural to take a step to the left or the right (disrupt the opponents OODA loop) while drawing the pistol. We did reloads, and then we added reloads with a lateral step.
One thing that particulary stood out to me was the use of multiple different target setups. Every couple of drills, the targets would get changed out. I don't mean that new targets were put up, I mean that a whole different style of target was put up. Hany pointed out that he uses multiple targets because there are only two things he CAN'T tell us about an encounter with a bad guy: When the encounter will occur, and what the bad guy will look like.
Overall an excellent class, and I'm hoping to take at least one more class with the guys at North Texas Tactical before I leave TX! Maybe next time I'll remember the camera and get some photos!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
North Texas Tactical Combat Handgun 1
So, all finished with class, and safe and sound back at my residence in TX. I'll give a detailed account of what we covered in the next few days, but for now, a general list of comments.
-What the hell happened to the 80 degree day we had yesterday.
-Pay Up. And as a reward, he's a legal liability waiver...
-Awareness Color Chart
-OODA loop (no, not the loop de loop)
-Carry a gun regularly = 90% of your waking hours :)
-Things may not always be as they appear. People standing around with hands in their pockets, be careful, they may just have a plan to kill you (which could very well include having a J-frame snubby in that pocket)
-Pistol will either be indexed down range, or holstered.
-Front site. Press. Front Site. Press.
-Draw.
-Failure to stop drills DNE 2 to the COM and 1 to the head. Address the body, and then address the head.
-Wait, you want me to do what now? Sit down and shoot the target with my ass on the ground? OK.
-Now laying flat on my back!?!?!? OK, we can try that too.
-You shouldn't see shoeleather when you're looking through the sites.
-1,2,3,4,5,6 drill.
-Move and Shoot!
-SCAN!
-FINGER!
-Walrus story (which I'll tell you is kind of cool, but you have to attend a class to find out what it is!)
All in all, a very very worthwhile day, and if you can possibly make it up to see these guys, well worth the time and effort!
-What the hell happened to the 80 degree day we had yesterday.
-Pay Up. And as a reward, he's a legal liability waiver...
-Awareness Color Chart
-OODA loop (no, not the loop de loop)
-Carry a gun regularly = 90% of your waking hours :)
-Things may not always be as they appear. People standing around with hands in their pockets, be careful, they may just have a plan to kill you (which could very well include having a J-frame snubby in that pocket)
-Pistol will either be indexed down range, or holstered.
-Front site. Press. Front Site. Press.
-Draw.
-Failure to stop drills DNE 2 to the COM and 1 to the head. Address the body, and then address the head.
-Wait, you want me to do what now? Sit down and shoot the target with my ass on the ground? OK.
-Now laying flat on my back!?!?!? OK, we can try that too.
-You shouldn't see shoeleather when you're looking through the sites.
-1,2,3,4,5,6 drill.
-Move and Shoot!
-SCAN!
-FINGER!
-Walrus story (which I'll tell you is kind of cool, but you have to attend a class to find out what it is!)
All in all, a very very worthwhile day, and if you can possibly make it up to see these guys, well worth the time and effort!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Weekend Plans...
So I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was considering going up to take a class with these guys. I am in fact planning on attending the session that they are having on Saturday morning, but prior to that, I'm planning on attending the TSRA dinner. My plan for the weekend at this point looks like this:
I'm ducking out of work a little bit early tomorrow afternoon, and driving up to Mesquite TX tomorrow afternoon. A short trip to the hotel I'm staying at will take care of a quick shower, and a set of clean clothes. I'll attend the dinner (hopefully get some pictures, but I'm not sure.)
I'll go back to the hotel and crash for the night, before getting up (probably around 5:30ish) to drive across Dallas to meet up in Weatherford TX. A full day in the classroom and on the range (been told to bring 400 rounds, I think I have 500 packed...) and then driving back to Franklin.
I'm planning on attending the class and using an XD45 Service in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, with Blackhawk mag carriers. I had a leather snap holster ordered, and it was supposed to arrive this week, but it doesn't look like it will arrive in time. Plastic it is. I'm also taking my Glock 19 as a backup in case I run into problems with the XD while we are shooting.
Anyone want to meet up in the Dallas area, shoot me an email, I know it is short notice.
--Jim
I'm ducking out of work a little bit early tomorrow afternoon, and driving up to Mesquite TX tomorrow afternoon. A short trip to the hotel I'm staying at will take care of a quick shower, and a set of clean clothes. I'll attend the dinner (hopefully get some pictures, but I'm not sure.)
I'll go back to the hotel and crash for the night, before getting up (probably around 5:30ish) to drive across Dallas to meet up in Weatherford TX. A full day in the classroom and on the range (been told to bring 400 rounds, I think I have 500 packed...) and then driving back to Franklin.
I'm planning on attending the class and using an XD45 Service in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, with Blackhawk mag carriers. I had a leather snap holster ordered, and it was supposed to arrive this week, but it doesn't look like it will arrive in time. Plastic it is. I'm also taking my Glock 19 as a backup in case I run into problems with the XD while we are shooting.
Anyone want to meet up in the Dallas area, shoot me an email, I know it is short notice.
--Jim
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sorry...
For the lack of posting...
I managed to get a weekend at home (I get one per month per contract) and spent the weekend in Indiana. I'm planning a couple of posts as a result, and I have a comparison post to put up as soon as I get it put together.
In the mean time, I'm also planning on hitting the TSRA dinner on Friday night, and going to North Texas Tactical Combat Handgun 1 on Saturday!
Let me know if you're going to be at either!
I managed to get a weekend at home (I get one per month per contract) and spent the weekend in Indiana. I'm planning a couple of posts as a result, and I have a comparison post to put up as soon as I get it put together.
In the mean time, I'm also planning on hitting the TSRA dinner on Friday night, and going to North Texas Tactical Combat Handgun 1 on Saturday!
Let me know if you're going to be at either!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Daily Carry Gear
So Breda was nice enough to throw up a post about the stuff she carries each and every day. I also remember seeing a meme that floated around the blogsphere a couple of months back about what gets carried every day, so I figured I'd participate.
First of all, this is a picture of the stuff I carry each and every day when I'm at work (this stuff is carried all day, every day on the jobsite.) Unfortunately, work prohibits the carrying of firearms on the jobsite.
Starting from the bottom left:
Cell Phone (Palm Treo - Verizon Wireless)
Texas Key Ring (has the keys to my apartment, and office at work)
Cell Phone Case
Camera Case
Truck Keys
Digital Camera (Nikon CoolPix)
Small Notebook
Pen
Surefire E1b
Leatherman Multitool
Emerson CQC-7B w/ Wave
Wallet
When I'm not at work, I have the following stuff:
From the bottom Left:
Cell Phone
Wallet
Cell Phone Case
Texas Keys
Truck Keys
Leatherman Multitool
Small Notebook
Pen
Springfield XD45 Service (in a Brommeland Max-Con V)
Backup Mag
Emerson CQC-7B
Surefire E1b
--Jim
First of all, this is a picture of the stuff I carry each and every day when I'm at work (this stuff is carried all day, every day on the jobsite.) Unfortunately, work prohibits the carrying of firearms on the jobsite.
Starting from the bottom left:
Cell Phone (Palm Treo - Verizon Wireless)
Texas Key Ring (has the keys to my apartment, and office at work)
Cell Phone Case
Camera Case
Truck Keys
Digital Camera (Nikon CoolPix)
Small Notebook
Pen
Surefire E1b
Leatherman Multitool
Emerson CQC-7B w/ Wave
Wallet
When I'm not at work, I have the following stuff:
From the bottom Left:
Cell Phone
Wallet
Cell Phone Case
Texas Keys
Truck Keys
Leatherman Multitool
Small Notebook
Pen
Springfield XD45 Service (in a Brommeland Max-Con V)
Backup Mag
Emerson CQC-7B
Surefire E1b
--Jim
Sunday, February 08, 2009
San Antonio Blog Meet Aftermath!
While I was at the blogmeet yesterday, I made reference to this cartoon, although apparently no one else who was there had ever seen it. I'm posting it so that they can enjoy it.
Now that everyone has read that and had a good chuckle, I should come clean and say that I have at least one of each (Glock and 1911) and like them both, probably equally.
Like I mentioned on Friday, I drove down to the blogmeet the night before, and met up with SpeakerTweaker for dinner at Biff Buzby's Burgers, which actually had a car show going on, even though it was the middle of February (gotta love Texas). The GPS unit I had indicated that there was a Dunkin Donuts in the area, so I planned on going there for breakfast.
I got up early Saturday AM, and headed for DD's, only to find out that it was no longer a DD, but was instead a local place. Ended up going directly to the range, and got there at about 8:30, even though the range didn't open until 9AM. Tweaker showed up between 5 and 10 minutes later, and Murphy was just a little bit after him. Before the range opened just after 9AM, there were at least 15 cars waiting to use the range.
We decided to hit the pistol range first, and settled up with the range. We had two lanes, and a total of 10 pistols (after 10% showed up.) Many stories were shared, much shootie goodness was enjoyed by all, and the range was packed. There was a CHL class going on, at least one police officer practice on the range, and numerous parent with children around. In addition, there were some people being introduced to shooting for the first time.
The total pistol collection that was evident on site:
After we finished on the pistol range, we moved over to the rifle range where we were shooting at 50 yards. Between the four of us, there were five rifles and a 9mm carbine.
At one point we were approached by a guy asking what the fascination with AR-15's is, since they "are made just for killing people." I jumped in with the argument that I know bunches of people who hunt with them, but what I really should have said was that us owning our AR-15's protects his right to own his deer rifle. Wasn't quick enough on the thought processes though. I was however quick enough to point out that there are more accessories for the AR-15 family of rifles than there are for any other gun platform out there.
It was a mighty good time, unfortunately it had to end far far too soon. 10% ducked out when his wife sent him a text message from the car saying "it's time to go." It was after 1PM before I realized how late it was getting, and that I had a long drive ahead of me, so I bid a fond farewell to Murphy and Tweaker, although they decided to pack it in about the same time.
After leaving the range, I headed back to the College Station / Franklin area, by way of Double Shot Liquor and Guns, located in Schulenburg TX. The shop seemed to have an awesome selection of liquor on sale, and a back room with several dozen firearms, and they have a drive through. How cool is that! Amongst the other stuff they had in the back room, Double Shot had a GSG-5 and at least one AR-15, which is always nice to see. The staff was very pleasant, and gave me a free coolie for beverage cans. Definitely a place to check out, although their selection for firearms was certainly not the greatest.
I also stopped off at Champion Firearms in College Station, and picked me up a new Surefire X300 for my pistols! All in all, a wonderful day, and the only way to make it better would have been to have more people join us. Unfortunately, it turns out that Sabra could've made it, but realized she wouldn't know how to meet up with anyone. Next time we'll have to make some signs up for the tables we are shooting at.
Muphy shares his thoughts up here.
10% has his views and report over here.
Last, but definitely not least, SpeakerTweaker writes out his experiences.
Thanks guys, for an awesome day!
Pictures will be put up as soon as I get them from Tweaker (I managed to forget I had my camera...boo hiss.)
Now that everyone has read that and had a good chuckle, I should come clean and say that I have at least one of each (Glock and 1911) and like them both, probably equally.
Like I mentioned on Friday, I drove down to the blogmeet the night before, and met up with SpeakerTweaker for dinner at Biff Buzby's Burgers, which actually had a car show going on, even though it was the middle of February (gotta love Texas). The GPS unit I had indicated that there was a Dunkin Donuts in the area, so I planned on going there for breakfast.
I got up early Saturday AM, and headed for DD's, only to find out that it was no longer a DD, but was instead a local place. Ended up going directly to the range, and got there at about 8:30, even though the range didn't open until 9AM. Tweaker showed up between 5 and 10 minutes later, and Murphy was just a little bit after him. Before the range opened just after 9AM, there were at least 15 cars waiting to use the range.
We decided to hit the pistol range first, and settled up with the range. We had two lanes, and a total of 10 pistols (after 10% showed up.) Many stories were shared, much shootie goodness was enjoyed by all, and the range was packed. There was a CHL class going on, at least one police officer practice on the range, and numerous parent with children around. In addition, there were some people being introduced to shooting for the first time.
The total pistol collection that was evident on site:
- Kimber TLE II/RL
- XD45 Service
- Glock 19
- Ruger 22/45 Mk. 3
- Ruger Single Six
- CZ-52
- CZ-85
- Glock 22
- NAA Mini in .22mag
- Colt Lightweight Commander
After we finished on the pistol range, we moved over to the rifle range where we were shooting at 50 yards. Between the four of us, there were five rifles and a 9mm carbine.
- Sig 556
- AR-15 (M4gery)
- Bushmaster Gas Piston Carbine (AR-15)
- Mosin-Nagant
- Henry .22LR
- Kel-Tec Sub 2000
At one point we were approached by a guy asking what the fascination with AR-15's is, since they "are made just for killing people." I jumped in with the argument that I know bunches of people who hunt with them, but what I really should have said was that us owning our AR-15's protects his right to own his deer rifle. Wasn't quick enough on the thought processes though. I was however quick enough to point out that there are more accessories for the AR-15 family of rifles than there are for any other gun platform out there.
It was a mighty good time, unfortunately it had to end far far too soon. 10% ducked out when his wife sent him a text message from the car saying "it's time to go." It was after 1PM before I realized how late it was getting, and that I had a long drive ahead of me, so I bid a fond farewell to Murphy and Tweaker, although they decided to pack it in about the same time.
After leaving the range, I headed back to the College Station / Franklin area, by way of Double Shot Liquor and Guns, located in Schulenburg TX. The shop seemed to have an awesome selection of liquor on sale, and a back room with several dozen firearms, and they have a drive through. How cool is that! Amongst the other stuff they had in the back room, Double Shot had a GSG-5 and at least one AR-15, which is always nice to see. The staff was very pleasant, and gave me a free coolie for beverage cans. Definitely a place to check out, although their selection for firearms was certainly not the greatest.
I also stopped off at Champion Firearms in College Station, and picked me up a new Surefire X300 for my pistols! All in all, a wonderful day, and the only way to make it better would have been to have more people join us. Unfortunately, it turns out that Sabra could've made it, but realized she wouldn't know how to meet up with anyone. Next time we'll have to make some signs up for the tables we are shooting at.
Muphy shares his thoughts up here.
10% has his views and report over here.
Last, but definitely not least, SpeakerTweaker writes out his experiences.
Thanks guys, for an awesome day!
Pictures will be put up as soon as I get them from Tweaker (I managed to forget I had my camera...boo hiss.)
Friday, February 06, 2009
San Antonio Blogmeet Update
Tomorrow is the day.
Go see Tweaker and let him know that you're coming...
that is... if you are in fact planning on showing up.
I'm driving down tonight.
Go see Tweaker and let him know that you're coming...
that is... if you are in fact planning on showing up.
I'm driving down tonight.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Teaching People to Shoot Update
Update to my post over here, and on the main page of the blog.
By way of Captain and a Crew of One we find that Mulligan over at Do Over is keeping up with this list of people willing to introduce new people to the shooting sports. I left my contact info asking to be added to the roster.
UPDATE: I've been added.
--Jim
By way of Captain and a Crew of One we find that Mulligan over at Do Over is keeping up with this list of people willing to introduce new people to the shooting sports. I left my contact info asking to be added to the roster.
UPDATE: I've been added.
--Jim
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