Being ever mindful of providing useful and feature specific reviews I try as much as possible to avoid the “Unboxing” because it has very little to do with the actual product. That is until now…I was home from work when the box showed up and was giddy as a school girl when I started to tear into it…After opening it and dramatically tossing the first layer of packing material over my shoulder I froze. What lay before me was something I had never before seen on any pouch, let alone a fanny pack.

My shock was so apparent my wife walked over and asked if I was ok…with slow and deliberate hands I reached into the box and much like Indiana Jones, lifted out this rare treasure. I looked at my wife and said “Honey, look at the size of these zippers!” She rolled her eyes, sighed and as she walked back into the kitchen, muttered “wierdo…”

These zippers are nothing short of amazing! According to Mike Gnoffo, Marketing Director of BDS, size 10 zippers are standard on all of their products! My gosh, talk about over kill! The fanny pack was begging to be repeatedly opened and closed and I was more than happy to oblige! The zippers are effortless! Many packs, pouches and things of the like have zippers that are proportional to the item they are on and we as consumers have always believed that’s the way its supposed to be. They are small, feel thick and jam all too frequently than we would prefer but, BDS Tactical has broken that status quo with their #10 zippers, fresh designs and attention to detail.

I have been using the pack for quite a while now and its become an important piece of my kit and fills a void in my bag inventory. We all know there are times when a go-bag is a bad option and a backpack wont work either, but we still want to have some essential gear quick at hand and don’t feel like stuffing our pockets. That is where the fanny pack comes in. I know, visions of some early ‘80’s guy roller skating in the park with his pink spandex shorts, upturned collar and neon fanny pack are running through your head, but wait…this is a man’s bag…no neon of spandex here! Its rugged construction and tuff looks means that it will fit right in on the flight line at an FOB in Afghanistan and all the way to a construction site in Detroit. This bag takes the great concept of a fanny pack and elevates it to the next level, imparting a sense of “Tuff Guy” along the way.

The internal organization was well thought out and there are plenty of stretch loops to hold gear in place. On the outward side internal divider, they are vertically orientated and on the body side they are flipped 90deg. to the horizontal. Nice!

The inside is subdivided into three distinct pockets and the main zippers go down far enough to more than adequately open the pack but with out dropping the contents on the floor.

The zipper pocket on the outside is sizeable for keys and a wallet and has a hook-loop strip for patches. On the body side of the carrier the pack is sewn to is a zipper pocket that runs the full length of the carrier. Where the belt is attached at both ends are two rows of PALs webbing that make a great home for some Grimlocs or small pouches. The best feature though, is the fact that all BDS products come with a Lifetime Warranty!

If you don’t have one of these in gear locker you are really missing out!

All of their products are American Made in BDS’s 25,000sq.ft. sew shop by experienced American Workers and being being veteran owned and staffed mostly by Marines gives them an advantage that others don’t have…the ability to quickly adapt to new ideas and strategies allowing them overcome challenges, something that the Corps is famous for!

BDS Tactical, good work and Semper Fi!

Click here to go to the packs product page…

I know the biggest challenge faced by me and others as gun owners is being able to secure you weapon from unauthorized persons while still maintaining ready access in case of an emergency.

For the longest time the only option was a case with a padlock on it. Imagine trying to fumble in the dark and under stress looking for the right key or putting in a combination! You cant keep the key or com. with the box, that defeats the purpose of the whole setup…If you cant get the box open, your fancy sidearm is now reduced to the effectiveness of a brick!

This is where Gun Vault comes in. Relying on a four finger keypad and key backup, you firearm is safely removed from children and irate spouses but still gotten to quite easily when the need arrives. The vault is mountable to walls or shelves with the included hardware. There is an optional cable lock that is available for travel use. Coming in at about 8lbs.  its not to heavy to take on vacation for reliable storage and  being constructed of heavy gauge steel with a mar resistant coating, bumps, dings and scratches are not something you need to worry about.

As a parent, I’m well aware that kids and guns don’t mix. My biggest concern is keeping my sidearm away from them to prevent any accidents. I would never be able to live with myself it they ever got hurt. To solve that, there are a lot of products on the market designed to keep guns away from children but the locking mechanisms and mechanics are exposed. If your kids are like mine, you know its only a matter of time till they work it open!

With that in mind I showed my son half the pattern for the vault, tossed one of his cars in and shut the door. He was excited to help dad test the box and 45min later he was ready to give up on trying to crack the code…”Dad” he says, “I think I need a screwdriver…” So I obliged him…30mins later he’s done! After much prying, shaking and other general abuse the box refused to yield to him.

Not to be out done, my wife took up where he left off convinced that this was a job for an adult…What she lacked in determination in attacking the code she tried to make up for with in brute force. All that was accomplished was a few scuff marks on the edge of the door and the bending of a Craftsman screwdriver!!

Now, all this security is great but with the adrenalin flowing and the heart racing, will you be able to enter the com/pattern when you need to? That was my second concern. Not only do you want to keep the gun safe, you want to be able to access it in an emergency. I was provided just such a test and let me tell you, there is no doubt in my mind, you will be able to get to your gun if you need it…just remember to practice the pattern…just like other weapon skills its all about muscle memory…

The product I tested was the GV1000. It has enough room for my gun, two mags and a flashlight. There are various styles of the vaults available, bigger, smaller and even ones that read your fingerprint!

This is a great safe and I believe that every gun owner should have one of these in their home. The price is right, just as is the level of security. I sleep better at night knowing that I’m protecting my family from those that would do them harm and from them hurting themselves.

There are almost as many reasons to own a “Black Rifle” as there are accessories to put on one. The weight reduction from wood to plastic, the addition of specialized optics / sighting systems and increased magazine capacity. Besides, they look cool!

TAPCO has a long history of making quality parts for some of the most popular guns around. Their products have made good guns better and brought old ones up to speed with modern times, all the while making those parts right here in the good ‘ole U.S.A! Way to go TAPCO!

I had seen a series of SKS stock being offered by TAPCO and shot them an email. A few days later a box arrived and the fun began! Now there is an amount of hesitation that comes when you begin to tear down a firearm beyond what is need for cleaning… If anyone tells you otherwise, they are a liar!

So, I get my tools, cleaning supplies (Sentry Solutions) and set to reading the directions. Now, I’ve trolled the SKS boards and have read about other persons experiences with stock change outs. They have varied from “perfect fit” all the way to “I had to take a Dremel to the stock and the receiver”. That last one is the one that got me…If it doesn’t fit, maybe you should just leave it as is…In all of that I read a lot of good things about the TAPCO upgrades and a few not so good things…so keeping an open mind I went to work.

When I originally purchased my SKS I lucked out. Instead of getting a “Franken Gun” made from assorted parts, this one had matching serials all the way through and I was a little hesitant to do anything to it. After reading the instructions a few times just to be sure what I was doing, woosh! off with the old stock and on with the new!

The process was so simple I was amazed! Strip it down, pop it out and drop it in! That’s it! In fact it was so easy my son actually was able to help and it was done before my daughter woke up from her nap. The polymer parts are of top quality and the finish is nothing short of phenomenal. The fit was tight, slop free and when I was done you would have thought the rifle came out of the factory like this! TAPCO makes a top quality product that you can trust your life with.

The collapsible shoulder stock really allows for a custom fit and the weight reduction was like night and day. Considering I have a tri-rail with optics and a light on it the lighter stock is more than welcome. Included in the package from TAPCO was a little surprise that I will reveal in Part II of the build.

As of now, the gun is rebuilt and is waiting for a trip to the range!

In Part II I will discuss the surprise part, mag function and the murky waters of 922r compliance along with a complete range report. Don’t Miss it!

You can get more information on the TAPCO SKS line of products here…

Few industries have been impacted by LED technology and one-up-man-ship quite like the flashlight industry. It started out with who could put the most LEDs in one unit…then it went to run times…and now its all about Lumens.

That’s where the Coast Portland HP21 shines! Weighing in at a useable 1,317 lumens with a 2hr runtime on high, the HP21 can be considered a Maglite Killer. If you are questing for a heavy duty patrol light or a good flash to keep in your car or boat, look no further.

The “Light Cannon” runs on four D cells and produces an astonishing beam. Utilizing Coast’s Pure Beam Technology, a simple push or pull on the rubber covered bezel and you go from a wide flood beam to a tight bull’s eye that on high allows the HP21 to reach out to 825 feet!! Driven by seven Cree XP-G’s it is the most powerful light I have seen yet!

All the features of the light are easily activated. One click for high-click off and on for strobe-click off and on for low…No fancy button patterns here. Its all straight forward click ’n. This is not an EDC light…At 15.5” long and just under 3lbs. it is a job specific light. Foot patrol, SAR, home security, camping and hunting…this light is excellent for those tasks. Finding a Lego spaceman under the couch? That’s overkill!!

Now a first for me and to show you the quality and pride Coast puts into this light, the HP21 came in a molded foam and nylon zipper case that accommodates not only the light but the belt ring and shoulder strap. That’s right, this is the only flashlight I have ever seen that comes with an adjustable shoulder strap!!

Now for the testing…

The “Light Cannon” arrived in a nondescript brown box via a bigger brown box with wheels and knowing what it was I tore trough that cardboard like a kid on Christmas day! My nose was greeted by the aroma of new electronics and my eyes feasted on the custom carrying case. My hands were a little unsteady with anticipation as I inserted the included Duracells and prepared to light it for the first time!

And…Click! Woah!!! The dog ran out of the room, my kids cheered with delight and my wife sat there, shaking her head with eyes closed…The strobe elicited cries of “Dance Party!!” from my children and I was more than happy to oblige…unfortunately it had to be cut short because my wife and I were getting sick to our stomachs…strobe works!

After seeing high and strobe the low feature was kind’s like “oh…ok, that’s low…Now lets go outside and see what we can light up!” In an attempt to avoid a visit by the local police I enlisted my neighbor John to see how well it worked in the neighborhood. It lit up the entire street all the way to the end, plus with two grown men ooh-ing and ahh-ing on his front porch, it was clear to the everyone that we were not peering into homes or some marauding alien force!

Make no doubt about it, this is a manly light! The body is substantial enough to get a good grip without if feeling like its to big in the hand and the weight lets you know it’s a serious tool. When I picked this light up and turned it on I got 3 inches taller, my voice dropped and octave and I sprouted more hair on my chest! That’s how manly the HP21 is!!

This is a product that I recommend for LEO, SAR, MIL and anyone looking for the brightest flashlight on the block.

Click here for more information and how to order the HP21…

Tyr Tactical doesn’t solely rely on its in-house designers to come up with new products. As the Assaulters Sustainment Pack shows, they also listen to the end users of their products. This is were the ASP came from. It seems that operators were looking for a pack that could be used for Everyday Carry and used with currently deployed modular armor systems.

The versatility of this pack is further enhanced by the removable back padding and shoulder straps! You read that right, the padded back panel  is MOLLE compatible and simply weaves on and off! While were here, lets talk about this comfort panel… One thing I have found with back packs is that no matter how they are constructed I always sweat my back off! Not so with the Assaulters Pack. With its generous air channels, strategically placed pads and air mesh construction you will stay dry and comfortable in any condition! Also. with the padding off and the straps removed you can attach it directly to your armor giving you the ultimate in usability.

The inside of the ASP has a main compartment (360ci), a unique hook loop/ MOLLE hybrid zipper pouch that sits near the top and a mesh pocket making it hydration compatible. Add to that three ports for antennas or drinking tubes and webbing over 90% of its surface and this pack can be adapted for anything from combat to a day at the park!

The outside also sports a beaver tail! I found this to be invaluable when I took the kids to the Fishing Expo. There was room (680ci) for their jackets, my A212 and snacks! The external pouch expands out and is secured by the six adjustable buckle straps that line the edges of the beaver tail and base. You can fill it up an make sure its tight to keep your stuff in place! Plus, the pouch being partially constructed of mesh is an excellent place to put wet gear to let it dry out!

The pack is a pleasure to hump around. I have hung up my Tyr E&E bag for the time being and been using the ASP exclusively for the past few weeks. What the ASP lacks in pen loops and interior pockets compared to the E&E,  it makes up for in high mobility. Not only did it hold all my gear, my kid’s stuff and all the swag from the Fishing Expo but it was easier to navigate through the crowds. I cant tell you how many times I’ve had my shoulder bag kitted out and tried to work through a packed mall and have practically knocked people over! Sometimes it’s a good thing to carry a camouflage wrecking ball but at others, not so good…This is where the ASP shines, coming in at 21.2oz thanks to the revolutionary PV500 material and a nice spacious interior, it was the perfect tool for the mission at hand.

Seeing that the E&E bag had spoiled me on its organization I opted to add an admin pouch to the outside, under the top of the beaver tail. Tyr has a some great options for this and I think this one would work the best. Adding the pouch was easy and was keeping to the spirit of adaptability inherent to the ASP. One admin pouch, two chemlights shoved into the webbing on either side, my Sidewinder Compact on the left shoulder strap and I’m good to go!

Click here to learn more about the Assaulters Sustainment Pack and order…

Just an update to something I have going on. One of my posts was selected as a runner up in 5.11’s Tactical Adventure Giveaway! I know, how cool is that right? Well I’m currently in second place and I’m asking for your help!! Please follow the link below to my entry on the 5.11 contest page and click either Tweet for Facebook Share to vote for me!

Thanks for your help!

http://news.511tactical.com/2012/01/of-fire-and-song-by-gear-and-gadgets-for-every-day-carry/

Scott

We know how the game works…The Military and Law Enforcement get to play with all the new high speed stuff and we get to watch…Until now! Enter the Scout line of thermal imagers from FLIR!!

Weighing in at 12oz. and under seven inches long this little device totally changes the game of imaging! From the intuitive three button controls to quality case it is everything you would expect from an industry leader like FLIR. Finally there is a thermal imager on the market made and priced for the masses!

Now be warned, I’m not going to get all spec. heavy and show you an endless line of pictures of me in various, alluring positions…We have all seen those on tv when they show high speed car chases or the military working overseas…What I will tell you is how I used it and show you some revealing photos of what to expect.

The one thing that I found disconcerting was getting used to understanding that I was seeing heat. I’m no stranger to NV and using that is closer to natural sight than the thermal. Use one and you’ll understand what I mean. Fine detail is lost and everything is black and white. Its really neat!

Here is the first image. The Scout sees all heat, not just body heat or a specific degree. If objects differ from each other in temp you will see that represented by the difference in brightness of the pixels on the viewing screen. The black object on the table that seems to cast a shadow is actually a cold can of soda! The seat of the chair to the right is brighter than the others and there are light spots on the table. I had been sitting there writing and took a picture of where I was! How cool is that!!

The next image is my kitchen sink. You can see the heat coming from the dishwasher on the lower right. Note how it saturates the area. There are objects on the counter that you cant see because they are the same temp as the dishwasher. The window is black as well as the faucet nozzle and some water rolling down between the two bottles on the backsplash.

Now let me tell you this. You cannot look out windows! If you do all you see is yourself looking back at you and if its dark outside and you don’t know that’s going to happen, boy are you gonna be surprised!!  We had a lot of fun using the imager for playing hide ‘n seek and looking for wildlife in our neighborhood.

Was it easy to use? I’m glad you asked! Yes, it’s a dream to operate. There is a power button, zoom button and brightness control. You can use it without thinking…My four year old was able to operate it with no problem. The kids loved looking at their handprints on the walls and following foot tracks on the floor.

I took the unit into my yard to have a look around and was able to clearly see my neighbor’s incessantly barking dogs two yards over as they moved through shrubs and ground cover. The sensitivity is nothing short of amazing and the screen is clear and bright.

If I was a LEO, I wouldn’t go out on patrol without this device. You can see through brush foliage, fog and rain… find footpaths as well as look at cars to tell if they have been run recently. Fire Fighters can use it for rescues and looking for hotspots in buildings. Contractors can use it to survey homes for insulation, look to see if those new windows are keeping the heat in, Not to mention hunters can use it for tracking wounded game and pre dawn scouting. SAR operators have a need for such devices and they can often make the difference between life and death.

With a price point around $2k it’s a “Spouse Justifiable” expense for work but may be a stretch for non LEO or SAR. The only bad thing about the unit was that I had to send it back!! I absolutely loved it and would have kept it if there had been room in the budget.

Follow the link below to go to imagers info page…

http://www.flir.com/cvs/americas/en/personalvision/view/?id=44756

Today I bring you Rob Pincus. You may know of Rob from “The Best Defense”, S.W.A.T. TV or his training company I.C.E. I contacted Mr. Pincus a while ago and told him what I had planned for this week and asked if he would like to do an interview for the blog about who he is, what he does and for a little advice! This is one of our better interviews and I think you will agree! Thanks Mr. Pincus!

Without further a-do, here it is!!

Q.) When did your interest in firearms and training begin?

A.)  I often joke that I had access to firearms and no adult supervision as a child. The fact is that my dad was a police officer, but he wasn’t “in to” shooting. There were guns in the house and I took to shooting as a hobby very early on and I guess I demonstrated enough awareness of safety and responsibility that I was allowed a fair bit of freedom, shooting in the backyard or at a sand pit that was about half a mile’s walk through the woods from my house. In talking to family members and friends, it is pretty clear that I was interested in defensive shooting concepts and training at an oddly young age, certainly before high school.

Q.) What was the inspiration behind I.C.E.?

A.) “I.C.E., LLC”, which stands for “Integrity, Consistency, Efficiency” existed for a few years while I was running the Valhalla Training Center in Colorado. It was the company that I operated under when I did private security, some consulting and it also owned I.C.E. Publishing Company. When the decision was made to shut down VTC, I needed to spin up a new “training company” very quickly, so it was natural to use “I.C.E. Training Company”. Integrity, Consistency and Efficiency are the three things that I always strive for in any endeavor and the tenets of all of our training programs. So, while it wasn’t really something I planned to do from the outset, it now makes perfect sense that those tenets are the brand that I continue to build.

Q.) So what is I.C.E. all about?

A.) Again, I.C.E. is about a set of principles that drive our approach to whatever problem we are trying to solve. Whether it is the best way to teach people how to reload a semi-automatic pistol or the best way to get a new book published and to our customers, I am always looking for efficiency (achieving a goal with as little time & effort as possible), I recognize that Consistency (doing things the same way as often as possible) is a great contributor to Efficiency and I need to operate with a high level of Personal Integrity (I always know WHY I am doing something a certain way, can stand behind my decisions and can explain my rationale to others).

Q.) Where can my readers find more information about I.C.E. and class availability?

A.) In theory, everything is covered at www.icetraining.us, but as fast as things move on many of our projects, I have been using Facebook more and more often over the past couple of years to make announcements and interact with students (and potential students!). It takes a lot longer, relatively speaking, to update the website than it does to post a topic for discussion or announce a new class listing at the I.C.E. Training group page. Ultimately though, the website is where people go to see the complete schedule of classes and to register.

Q.) In educating civilians and professional operators, is there any one story that sticks out in your mind where someone used your training with successful results?

A.) This is always a tough question. I have no doubt that our training has saved lives… but it is hard for me to accept any personal credit when I get an email from someone who went through one of our courses that says something like “your training saved my life last night”. We design our training to be intuitive, we want the techniques we teach and the tactics we recommend to work well with the things the human body does naturally during a fight and make sense given the physics of the tools and the likely circumstances of the fight. It is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy that we will see those techniques and tactics show up if a student actually gets into a lethal encounter. The fact is that much of what we teach is based on what we see people do during actual incidents… regardless of their prior training (or lack thereof). We just try to help people do things that they are very likely to do at a higher level and as part of a plan.

Q.) What seems to be your most popular Civilian class over the past few years?

A.) There is no doubt that our flagship program, Combat Focus Shooting, is our most popular class. Whether it is the personal defense side of our business (now well over 50%) or the armed professionals, we always start with CFS. CFS is a counter ambush program that sets a foundation for everything else that we teach. It instills solid defensive shooting skills and intuitive, consistent and efficient gun handling skills.

Q.) A lot of trainers advocate dry fire as a way for persons to sharpen their draw and other actions. Are there any specific drills you could share with us that you recommend?

A.) I am not a fan of high amounts of dry fire. I think a lot of bad habits are formed and reinforced when people get high rep counts that are wildly out of context of the skills they actually should be working on. There are some things you can train dry at a very high level of integrity. Presenting you gun from the holster to the ready position, for example. But, trying to practice defensive shooting, which is overwhelmingly likely to require efficient recoil management during a rapid multiple shot string, without recoil is pretty pointless. Similarly, you might get really good at the mechanical parts of a slide-lock reload working with dummy rounds, but if you aren’t training to tie those mechanics to the feeling of slide-lock, you won’t be able to use them intuitively when your brain recognizes that feeling.

If you do need or want to dry fire practice, I think that laser training aids (SIRT, LaserLyte products, etc), dummy rounds and a good solid methodology for reps and safety (such as the approach recommended by Claude Werner) are all vital to getting the most out of it.

Q.) Outside of caliber, what do you think is a good choice of ammo style for concealed carry?

A.) Bonded Hollow Point.

Q.) Aside from personal preference, does one style of holster for CCW seem better than another? (OTW vs. ITW )

A.) I think inside the waistband offers most people a much wider range of concealment options when it comes to both the gun they carry and the way they dress. Outside of the times that I have been in uniform, I have only very rarely carried outside the waistband.

Q.) What will someone learn in an I.C.E. class?

A.) They’ll learn what they need to practice. Regardless of prior skill, equipment or natural ability, I think we do a really good job of explaining what the fundamental techniques of defensive shooting should be, why they are important to train, what the best way to develop them are and then pushing our students to find their own failure points so that they are both aware of and capable of overcoming their limitations.

Q.) The Open Carry movement has gotten quite a bit of press over the past few years. Do you think there is a need or place for Open Carry in todays’ society?

A.) Hunting and recreational/competition shooting environments aside, I think that the only reason people should carry guns is to defend themselves or others, if they need to. Carrying a gun should not be a political statement, nor should it be something you do (EVER) to incite a confrontation. I think there has been a lot of foolishness on the part of Open Carry Advocates around the country. There have been documented “gun grabs” against civilians in public places carrying defensive guns, California changed it laws about carrying (unloaded) guns in public in direct response to several episodes of video-taped shenanigans by people baiting cops into confrontations and a lot of people have really been turned off from picturing law abiding gun owners are responsible people who are not looking for a fight. I hope that the “I open carry because I can and I want to let everyone know” era is coming to an end.

Q.) In training, you come across someone that straps a sidearm to their hip and suddenly their John Wayne and their ego fills the range…How do you handle that make them “see the light”?

A.) Ignore them until the drills start. As long as someone isn’t presenting a safety issue, I generally ignore resumes, bravado, cool t-shirts AND even excuses prior to the shooting. Once the shooting starts, objective observations of skill are easy to make, then, if the ego driven excuses start, it is very easy to shut them down. Students figure out pretty quick that I don’t care what team they are on or what they “usually” can do… performance in context is what matters.

Q.) How did you get involved with “The Best Defense”?

A.) I appeared as the feature instructor on TV first in 2005 with Tom Gresham on the, groundbreaking at the time, Personal Defense TV show. I did several episodes of the first season of PDTV and enjoyed it a great deal. Around that same time, I also appeared a guest instructor on Michael Bane’s Shooting Gallery. While we had known each other for many years, Michael and I had not worked together until he invited me to be a guest on his very successful show. A couple of year’s later, after having made a second appearance on SG, Michael eventually went to work for Outdoor Channel and expanded the number of firearms related shows that he was working on. In 2008, when Outdoor Channel decided to produce their own personal defense show, they tapped Michael, who tapped myself and Mike Janich based on what he knew of our approaches to the problems and our history of working on video (TV, online and DVDs). It was great to be invited to be part of the project, especially because it was so new. Our approach (showing scenarios go both poorly and well) and the integrity that Janich and I were allowed to maintain in regard to our content contributions were unique.

Q.) What things did you learn and take with you from working on“The Best Defense”?

A.) Of course, I learned a lot from working closely with Mike Janich over those three years. Janich and I had worked together on a couple of DVDs in the past and he has been an industry friend for quite some time, but I had never really gotten deeply into the Martial Blade Concepts curriculum until TBD. There are things that I teach, and a lot of things related to knife work that I have a much better understanding of, based on the exposure to Janich’s ideas. On the less interesting side, I really learned a lot about TV Production and what really works best for me in that environment. After having been a guest on dozens of local news shows, several TV programs and having produced (at the time we started TBD) over 30 training DVDs, I knew that I was much more comfortable just having a camera pointed at me with a vague topic in mind than I was being asked to provide a detailed script and trying to do a rehearsal ahead of time. Working on TBD, with a tight production schedule and almost complete autonomy in regard to the content of my segments made it both necessary and easy to prove that I could produce high quality content without a lot of pre-planning. After the first couple of seasons of TBD (and our spin-off TBD:Survival), I was much more confident about my ability to work quickly without a lot of wasted time “preparing”. Janich was also really good at just flowing, so we rarely even discussed much of what we were going to say when it came to our scenario ‘acting’ or our debriefs…we just went for it and played off each other.

Q.) I always enjoyed your segments! They provided a good deal of training and information. How challenging was it to get the most training possible presented in such a small window of time?

A.)  Actually, this wasn’t as hard as it might have seemed. I like to boil things down to their fundamentals and only really give time to what is most important or most probable. Most students don’t have the time, budget or interest in developing 10 different techniques to solve the same problem… and I wouldn’t recommend that they bother even if they do. So, I actually prefer a 4-5 minute segment most of the time, as it keeps us from having to make things more complicated than they need to be by offering a lot of options or extraneous information.

Q.) One of my favorites was the spot you did on using a lever action rifle for defense from outside a vehicle! I have often heard it said that the best gun for self-defense is the one you have in your hand. Do you find that statement to be true?

A.)  Theoretically, yes… it HAS to be true. But, what most people miss is that 3 months, 3 years or even 3 hours BEFORE you need to have a gun in your hand, you get to choose which one is most likely to be there. In other words, if you are sitting on your couch right now with a gun that isn’t the BEST one you can possibly think of to defend yourself or your family in the most probable circumstances you could face: CHANGE IT. Don’t sit there with some cliche’d bravado and assure yourself that “any gun will do, if you can do”… stack the odds in your favor and get a simple gun that you can shoot well in the context of personal defense.

Q.) So what are some projects that you have in the works?

A.)  Of course, teaching classes on the range takes op more time than anything, but more and more of my time and focus is going to Personal Defense Network. Over the past two years, this online collection of articles and video clips has become a significant way for me to share information and help other instructors to do the same. This year, we’re bringing PDN and the live classes together with a Cross Country Spring Training Tour sponsored by PDN. As Managing Editor of PDN, I not only develop content, but also recruit contributors and work with them to bring the highest quality information I can to anyone interested. PDN is a sister project to the Personal Firearms Defense Video Series, which has now produced over 50 DVDs since 2005 and distributed over 3 Million Copies! Because we don’t do much retail (the overwhelming majority of the DVDs are distributed through branding partners such as the NRA and Guns & Ammo Magazine), the scope of that project is often overlooked. We will be taping 15 new DVDs in 2012, of which I’ll be the feature instructor in a little over half. In 2011, I started working with Gander Mountain to develop some programs to be taught through their new Gander Mountain Academy facilities around the country and I am expecting that project to expand in 2012. In addition to all that, I am going to be one of the guest experts on the new “Stop The Threat” TV show on Pursuit network and I’m also working on bringing a new original production of my own to the small screen soon.

Q.) Knowing that when situations go bad people tend fall back to their lowest trained state, knowing that which is a better target for practice…silhouette and shoot for center mass or round targets and shooting for accuracy?

A.) I don’t know that I would’ve characterized the options that way… we should always be shooting for “accuracy”, even on a silhouette. I say that “accuracy” is a Yes or No question… identify a target and fire your round. Did you hit it? If so, you were accurate. I don’t care if you hit the edge or hit it in the center. Accuracy is Yes or No. That said, I think people should train on targets that represent the most probably sized target areas at plausible distances. A lot can get lost in the semantics of this discussion, however… though these concepts are important, most people just want to be given examples: In CFS Training, we generally use squares, ovals, circles or rectangles that are between 6 and 8 inches wide and 8 and 12 inches tall.. usually set within silhouette’s to represent the High Center Chest and 2.5-4″ circles or triangles used to represent the center of the head. Those targets are most often 10-12′ away from the shooter, though we do push out further as time and plausibility allow.

Q.) So, what’s in Rob’s Go Bag?

A.) My Ipad, Blackberry, Macbook Pro, an AT&T MiFi hotspot, Canon 7D, Flip video recorder, a couple big thumb drives, a portable hard drive or two, lots of chargers and USB cables and my platinum perk cards for Holiday Inn and Delta Airlines. Not what you meant?? Since 2007, I spend at least 300 days a year traveling. In fact, I spent most of 2010 and some of 2011 actually homeless because it was cheaper and easier to just stay in hotels on the road. While I am moving around, I run 3 companies, handle all my own social media, manage a world-wide team of CFS Instructors and work with 3 or 4 different partners on major projects at any given time… so, all that stuff I listed is what I KNOW I’ll need on a daily basis… most of the time I am good-to-go without water purification tablets or strike-anywhere matches. Given the different laws and restrictions I encounter when I travel from state to state and country to country, it is impossible to have one set of gear on my body, or even with me all the time. Of more Tactical Interest: On the range, I always have a small bag with a pressure dressing, tourniquet and hemostatic agent nearby. When I am traveling, I’ll have a D.A.M.N. medical kit with me, with both trauma equipment and a customized “daily use” section. At home (or in storage with a relative, depending), I have a small duffle with medical equipment, base layers, rain jacket, magazines for ARs, Glocks and Beretta 92s, some boxed ammo in .38, 9mm & 5.56, a couple knives, flashlights, basic tools and some other ‘survival’ stuff. At the end of the day, my brain is my Go Bag. I invited a friend to meet me for dinner at a casino a couple of years ago and he expressed great concern about the fact that he couldn’t carry a gun there. I assured him that if society collapsed during dinner we would be able to get what we needed.

Follow this link to read more about Rob and I.C.E.!

I had the privilege to talk to Larry Vickers about one concern that really came to my mind…Night Fighting… If you carry a weapon its important to realize that people fight the way they train and a situation can occur at any time – day or night – and no assailant or burglar is going to wait for you to turn on the lights to get a good sight picture! That’s why having a working knowledge of the challenges posed by night fighting and how to overcome them is so important.

Mr. Vickers is known the world over as a top tier trainer in the use of firearms and when Larry Vickers speaks, the Tactical World listens! Below you will find his advice and thoughts on low light firearms use. No article or interview is a replacement for good, solid training and you can find a link to Larry’s training schedule at the end of the interview.

Q.) What are some of the considerations necessary for night fighting with a handgun?

A.) Keeping things simple in low light is key- have a flashlight to Identify potential threats, and have the ability ( nite sites, laser, etc.) to aim and fire with acceptable accuracy without using the light – these are the meat and potatoes of shooting at night with carbine or pistol.

Q.) Which do you feel is better and why, a weapon mounted light or handheld tactical light?

A.) My theory is a weapon mounted light make sense at all times on a carbine and some of the time on a pistol; educate yourself on how you expect to use the white light with the hand gun ( duty carry, CCW, SWAT, etc.) and make an educated decision; there are pros and cons no matter what

Q.) Is a laser really necessary?

A.) Lasers on pistols provide much the same low light sighting ability as a red dot sight on a carbine- they are a real plus but should be used in combination with other options ( with nite sites for instance) – also some pistols don’t have a good laser option available ( Glock’s for example) so they may not work on your handgun.

Q.) For CCW/CPL holders, what are some of the things can they do to give themselves the tactical advantage at night on the streets?

A.) CCW users should have a white light available and practice shooting in low light- have a good point shooting technique in case you can’t see your sites and practice; remember keep it simple.

Q.) What about at home?

A.) Have a plan on how to clear your house systematically as well as how to safe guard your home or evacuate you and your loved ones in a worst case scenario – a dry run on how to clear your home will pay big dividends as no one knows your home as well as you so use that knowledge to your advantage.

Q.) What is your opinion on Tritium sights?

A.) I am a big fan of tritium sites and feel all serious handguns should have at least a tritium front site; lasers are a great addition if your pistol allows the use of one that is well designed- some handguns are not easily adaptable to a quality laser so it is not an option.

Q.) Are there any exercises or drills people can practice that will sharpen their night fighting skills?

A.) Practice proper manipulation of your white light and point shooting- chances are you will have to use one or both in a low light encounter.

Try to stay as switched on as possible when out and about at night – avoid poorly lit areas and keep social alcohol consumption at a reasonable level- drinking too much will eliminate and night fighting advantage you may have in an armed encounter.

Q.) Larry, could you tell us about your pistol class?

A.) My classes focus on mastering the fundamentals of using a handgun or carbine in the real world- it is all designed to give shooters skills and drills that can keep them alive; no fluff, no meaningless exercises, no high round count drills that fall in the category of ballistic masturbation – straight forward real world material that has been proven to get the job done. My classes have been very successful and I have made a very good living teaching so I must be doing something right! There are certainly other instructors who teach differently than I and I have no gripe with that- my advice to a potential student would be to do your research and make an informed decision on which instructor seems like a good fit for you- and remember to compare resumes; that is usually a good indicator of where the instructor is coming from.

More information on night sights from vickerstactical.com can be found here…

Larry’s 2012 training schedule can be found here…

From the very beginning I have tried to make this blog different from all the rest out there. My product reviews are done from the standpoint of the Average Joe and my interviews are done in the spirit of teaching others. I have had the honor of testing many great products and in doing so have seen a need. A good holster doesn’t make you a good CCW holder, training and practice does…Only by admitting and addressing our weaknesses do we grow stronger… I have talked to some pretty high speed armed professionals and will be brining you their insights this week as well as featuring a new offering from Armed Response Training!!

To that end…Welcome to Training Week 2012!

I had a chance to talk with Eric Konohia about CCW and some things to consider if you carry a weapon for self defense. He provides a lot of insight into what it means to Carry and the importance of getting professional training. Thanks Eric!

Q.) Drawing on your experience as a trained Close Protection Professional, what advice could you give CPL holders on protecting their family when carrying in public?

A.) Scott, from a personal perspective I utilize the same measurements that I employ when I am with a client. The first rule I use that has absolutely nothing to do with weapons is, I do not take my family places where I know bad things happen. That being said, I never have a false sense of security just because I am carrying. That is a mistake with many CCW holders. The legal and civil responsibilities associated with carrying a weapon should constantly be on your mind.

The biggest suggestion I have for anyone when it comes to protecting your family in public is to take a course that caters to personal protection for the civilian and possibly an executive protection course that teaches specifically to protecting person(s) while armed. Carrying a weapon with a false sense of security coupled with lack of training will bring more harm that safety to a person’s family. Carrying a weapon has more of a responsibility to me than a right.

Q.) When entering what the CPL holder might feel is a hostile situation, where should they place themselves to provide the best achievable position in case of a confrontation? I would think between your family and the threat, but is there a better approach?

A.) If I am put in the scenario that you have given, I am going to always place myself in front of my family to shield them. There is a method that we teach in executive protection, whereby as you are drawing with your dominant hand you are using your off hand to sweep the protectee or family member behind you. The key to this is that you should drill the movement sans the weapon with each family member so that if it ever happens they would have already been through the drill with you. My partner Mark Fair www.themtms.com will be offering a defensive weapons course that speaks directly to employing a handgun in a protective situation.

Q.) What are some behaviors they should adopt to better prepare them if a situation goes bad?

A.) Understanding behavior and learning what Gavin deBecker states as the moment of commitment and the moment of recognition. The time the adversary has committed to a violent act and the time you recognize it is the difference between life and death and shoot no shoot. The other thing you may need to come to grips with is that it may be safer to give up your wallet than getting you are your family injured. But the situation will dictate my response. But I can not say that in every situation I am going to draw my weapon with my family present.

Q.) Are there any drills they can practice at the range? At home?

A.) Again, the best advice I can give is taking a course that elevates your heart rate that will closely simulate the adrenaline affect one will experience in a dynamic situation. Shooting paper is great until the paper starts shooting back. Then the, “I never practiced it this way before” pops up and gross and fine motor skills start deteriorating.

If there is one drill I would recommend to everyone it would be to DRY FIRE everyday. Dry firing is important in the absence of being able to go to the range on a regular basis. Dry means empty!

Q.) How do you feel about retention holsters like the SERPA for example?

A.) If you are a person that just puts a holster on and going about your business, I do not recommend the SERPA. There is specific muscle memory that has to be implemented when drawing from a SERPA. I have heard of accident discharges with the SERPA and in fact there are some courses that do not allow SERPA holsters in the course. I have seen experienced guys pulling on their gun while looking for the retention button. You have to practice with the SERPA often. I use a SERPA for my CCW but use the Safariland 6004 for my thigh rig.

Q.) How can one person engage multiple threats in a successful manner?

A.) A stationary target under fire by multiple weapons is more than likely going to get hit even if the adversary is not an expert shooter. Learning to shoot and move and/or shooting from cover or concealment is a training module that no one should try to learn on their own. There are multitudes of videos out there that instruct but you do not get any feedback if you are using bad habits. Personally, I feel that these videos like the Make Ready videos by Panteao are perfect for people who have experience in weapons already.