The MagLife: Recent Episodes
Daniel Shaw
There’s something nostalgic about an underfolder. For me, it evokes Red Dawn and my impressionable Cold War-era youth. But there’s not an underfolder in the 1984 Red Dawn (or the 2012 version either, though I haven’t bothered with watching that one). As close as either film comes is a triangle folding stock.
Still, I have to resist the temptation to scream, “Wolverines!” The gun range where I shoot is hardly restrictive, though they maintain an unflinching dedication to professional decorum, and waving rifles over your head and shouting 40-year-old movie dialogue tends to draw unwanted attention. I did fire off a few from the hip, though, scarring the hell out of, but not hitting my target.
I’ve been a dedicated AK fan for at least two decades, and this is a first for me—actually, two firsts: my first under folder and my first Palmetto State Armory AK-47.
The under folder on the PSA AK-47 swings easily. It will easily clear a 30-round mag, too. [Photo: David Higginbotham]Palmetto State’s AK lineThere’s a good reason why the PSA AK-47 line looks so much like a classic AK-47. Importing these has become much harder in the last few decades. Let’s take a step back.
AKs used to roll in, like surplus guns. After a crackdown on these guns (they tend to be associated with atrocities and war, and this has a way of drawing the wrong kind of attention from legislators), the guns were still imported. They were, however, neutered before they hit these shores. You may have heard the term “sporterized.” This meant they had modifications (or were manufactured to new specifications) that removed some of the more “terrifying” pistol grips and muzzle device-type things.
These guns typically had single-stack mags, the triggers were farther back (where the grip is on most AKs), the pistol grip and any fancy rails were missing, and the muzzle ended in a simple crown with no threads.
On this side of the pond, companies would reconstruct the guns, typically restoring them to their original design. In doing so, they had to replace some parts with parts made in the US. This is how they complied with what most of us know as “922(r).” In short, the rebuilt, more American guns were legal.
Was rebuilding and replacing parts less expensive than building from scratch? Yes, for a while. We’re talking about evolving laws that have been moving the goalposts for decades here.
In the last decade, though, it has gotten harder to get solid AKs through customs. The restrictions on importation and a shifting political landscape have changed the cost structure. PSA must have done the math, as their AKs are made here in the USA.
There’s nothing about reloading an AK-47 that’s especially fast. This is a skill that requires muscle memory. In time, even the narrow stamped slots like this one won’t seem like that much of an impediment. [Photo: David Higginbotham]The PSA GF3This is a third-generation build. It has a hammer-forged barrel, bolt, and carrier, and (an upgrade from second-generation guns) the trunnion is milled, too. PSA has performed what they call “torture testing” of over 10,000 rounds with these guns.
The barrel is made of 4150 steel and is nitride-coated. The 1:9.5 twist is in keeping with AK-47s. The receiver and under-folder arm are stamped steel.
The wooden furniture here is listed as redwood. I don’t believe that means it is redwood, but that it is finished to look like redwood. It has a very clean look and none of the forced relic dents that some force onto the wood in an attempt to make new guns look old.
As the length of pull on these is not adjustable and they are very compact, having the standard AK sight set up (with the rear sight placed midway down the gun) is advantageous.
The muzzle end has a very traditional slant cut that works as a rudimentary compensator. The front sight is tall, too, and pays homage to tradition. [Photo: David Higginbotham]Shooting the PSA AK-47 Under-Folding RifleIf you haven’t shot a skeletal stock, it may take a minute to get accustomed to the lack of cheek weld. There’s no place to stabilize your face. As such, the gun lends itself to short-range work especially well.
It is a 7.62x39mm, so there’s not a tremendous kick. I’ve heard people complain about getting beaten up by AK stocks, but I haven’t had that experience. Either way, this leaves your face free and clear, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Even with the irons and the lack of a cheek rest, I can still make offhand shots on target at 100 yards. I often put clays on the berm and walk in the sights so I can see shot placement (without a scope). The PSA shoots accurately enough that I can crack clays consistently from that distance.
The design is technically a rifle. The barrel length qualifies it as such, yet the under-folding stock, even when deployed, makes the gun feel much smaller. It is a very compact package. [Photo: David Higginbotham]The recoil I mentioned above is predictably mild but noticeably more pronounced if you fold the stock. Aiming while using the sights is much harder like this (though I feel like that should be pretty obvious). You’re reduced to point shooting or shooting from the hip, and results will vary.I shot the under folder with a wide variety of mixed ammo. Tula and Wolf both ran well. I shot for accuracy with some Hornady American Gunner but didn’t see results that were vastly superior to the others. They’re moderately more expensive but far more consistent, and the brass is reloadable.
What would I instantly change?I’ve yet to own an AK (or an AR, now that I think about it) that I didn’t almost immediately begin messing with. And the PSA has one hiccup that I’d like to fix. I’m a trigger snob, even with AKs.
The trigger on this requires some patience. There’s a gradual stack that pushes through, often unexpectedly. If you yank the trigger back hard, you may not notice the discrepancy. If you shoot for accuracy, you’ll need to practice and use a delicate touch to find that breaking point with any consistency.
I have yet to break it down and clean it. When I do, I’ll check the surfaces and make sure there’s nothing wrong. The pull itself feels light for an AK and measures just over five pounds.
The safety works like a champ. The mag release springs are solid. The sights are functional and offer room for adjustment. Everything else has exceeded my expectations. With a bit of work on the trigger, this will be a rock-solid AK.
As I typically do when test-driving AK-47s, I ran this with Magpul mags, US Palms, and stamped steel mags. I’ve not found a mag that doesn’t work well in it. [Photo: David Higginbotham]And the price?Now that the imports have slowed to a crawl, and the fear of pending legislation has folks scared (and therefore holding onto guns that would have otherwise made it onto the secondary market), AK prices are up. PSA’s operating model, though, allows them to keep these priced well below what I’d expect.
This model sells for under $800. If you’re looking for your first AK, this is an exceptional option, as PSA makes many models and configurations, all based on the same fundamentals. There may be easier guns to start with, but if your final vision has an under-folding stock, this is it.
At this price, you can add the extras. For me, the first add-on will be five Bulgarian 30-round Steel-Lined Polymer Mags in brown, which should perfectly complement the redwood look. Otherwise, I’d leave it alone and invest in ammo—lots and lots of ammo.
Ever wonder what it’s like to be one the fittest people in the entire world? Maybe, but have you ever considered what it takes to reach that level, and then transition that status into new endeavors? Well, our own Jeremy Stone visited world-class CrossFitter and Tactical Games National Champion, Jacob Heppner, to find out.
Tactical Games and CrossFit Champion Jacob Heppner provides great insights into fitness and competitiveness. (jheppner66 Instagram page)Jeremy got a taste of working out with Jacob, which you can hear about by listening to the podcast. He then sat down, after recovering, and talked in depth about CrossFit, the Tactical Games, and general competitiveness. It’s a great interview with a unique guy. We’ll hit the highlights here, but you’ll need to listen to get the details. That’s just how this works, you know.
College Football Backup to Top CrossFit CompetitorJacob played college football at an unnamed NAIA school, though he says he wasn’t very good. We’ll take that on faith. He says he was the team math whiz charged with keeping the other guys eligible. The math talent scored him an internship in systems analysis at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where an Army major invited him to try CrossFit. Looking for a way to stay fit after football, Jacob agreed, even though he didn’t know anything about CrossFit.
Jacob showed up and, not being familiar with many of the exercise skills, didn’t think he performed well. But the CrossFit people saw something and encouraged him to come back for more training and to compete. So, Jacob looked into the CrossFit Games, realized it was a sport, and thought it might give a competitive guy something to do after football.
Jacob Heppner is a serious dude. (jheppner66 Instagram page)We’ll let you listen to Jacob’s CrossFit journey in his own words, but let’s just say he did very well. In only a few short years, he went from enthusiastic new guy to being declared the sixth fittest man on the planet at the 2019 World CrossFit Games. Looking at Jacob’s Instagram page, we’d love to see how the top five do it because, dang. Jacob is a serious dude when it comes to working out, as Jeremy learned firsthand.
Jeremy says he was a little worried about working out with Jacob, but he found that Jacob is a good coach, “able to challenge somebody without really shoving their face the dirt. Because anybody can get absolutely destroyed, but you’re not gonna learn anything.” Jacob agreed, saying, “That’s kinda like the motto of CrossFit. Everything is kind of scalable.” Different people have different paces, “but at the end of the day, did we get the stimulus we wanted?”
To that end, Jacob started Grit Performance, an online capacity-based, non-skill program. It features exercises that everyone can do at their level. “We’re gonna sweat,” Jacob says. “We’re gonna hate ourselves for 20 minutes and by the end of it, we’re gonna be like, ‘Man, that was terrible, but it was really fun.'”
By 2020, CrossFit had become a full-time job, with sponsors, including Nike, to satisfy. The passion was ebbing, and Jacob started looking for something else. He didn’t know it yet, but he had already laid the groundwork for that change.
Jacob’s dog, whose name, I believe, is Winston. Included here because dogs are awesome. (jheppner66 Instagram page.)Transitioning to the Tactical GamesJacob began combining workouts and shooting in 2018. It wasn’t a big deal. Just something new to try. But his Instagram posts drew suggestions to check out the Tactical Games. He looked at it, but CrossFit was still his thing and he filed it away. But looking for something else two years later, Jacob decided to try one event at the April 2021 Tactical Games. He began training, describing himself as “the most dangerous novice on the planet,” at the time.
Jacob says the shooting is the same throughout the Tactical Games divisions. The differences come in the fitness challenges. Being a world-class CrossFit guy, Jacob entered the Elite Division. He did well, placing fourth behind three top Tactical Games guys. But he didn’t just breeze through the competition. His CrossFit chops meant he excelled at the fitness parts, but his weapons skills were not where they needed to be.
Jacob showed up with his rifle scope not zeroed and the scope mounted backward. But the Tactical Games guys squared him away and encouraged him to compete. He said that attitude helped him “fall in love with the sport.” Like CrossFit, Tactical Games competitors want everyone’s best shot. They want to win, but they want it to be against the best everyone can bring, and they want everyone to have fun. Jeremy says that matches his experience in Precision Rifle Shooting.
The Tactical GamesJacob explains the different Tactical Games divisions and the rationale for the Tactical Division, which is very interesting and makes a ton of sense. You should listen to that. Jacob and Jeremy then discuss proper Tactical Games weapons, gear, and setups. Jacob stresses that new participants don’t need “Gucci gear,” which is a trap many fall into.
Jacob Heppner teaching Tactical Games at T-Rex Arms. (jheppner66 Instagram page)“Show up with what you have,” he says. The point is to get good with your everyday stuff, then you’ll learn what you need, and what you don’t, as you progress. Basic stuff includes a pistol with at least 10-to-12 rounds capacity, holster system, an LPVO-equipped rifle, a good sling, and a basic plate carrier. Jacob and Jeremy go into more details, but that’s the basic stuff. Jacob does say to make your gear, including your rifle, as slick as possible, because weight during the fitness phases is a big deal.
Showing up and competing is how you learn. One big thing will be talking to experienced people, seeing what they use, and learning why they like certain things as opposed to others. Jeremy points out that waiting until you think you have the perfect setup, or your skills are good enough, is a great excuse to never do anything at all.
Jack of All Trades, Master of NoneJacob talks about how CrossFit and Tactical games are similar in that the athletes are not hyper-focused on one event. Rather, they must be good at many things. He likens them to the Olympic decathlete. The decathlete might not be gold or silver medal material in any single event, but they are good enough across a range of events that the complete product is very good indeed. They may not be finely tuned athletes (or maybe they are), but they are certainly very well-rounded athletes. And Tactical Games events translate to the real world.
Jeremy asked Jacob how he addressed building his shooting skills for the Tactical Games. Jacob replied that he approached it the same as he did with CrossFit, which requires a wide skill set. He found experts who taught various shooting skills, whether it be long-range rifles, defensive pistols, or other specialties. He took the courses and learned the fundamentals.
He now practices those fundamentals and adds to them by increasing speed, adding stress, or whatever, just as any serious firearm student does. Jeremy notes that advanced shooting is really just fundamental shooting done faster. Jacob says he breaks down complex movements into their “atomic elements.” He practices those, progressing until he can put them all together.
A good coach cares about their athletes’ success. Jacob obviously cares. (jheppner66 Instagram page)A Very Interesting DiscussionIn all, Jeremy’s 45-minute or so talk with Jacob was very interesting. I’ll admit to purposely staying away from CrossFit, though I’ve often thought the Tactical Games look cool. But the stuff they talk about can be applied to any skill you might want to develop. Jacob obviously understands not only how to develop himself, but how to coach others. I coached high school football for 18 years. I recognized some solid principles in how Jacob approaches his craft. Give the podcast a listen. I bet you’ll come away with something positive, even if you don’t aim to be the next Tacticool Iron Man.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/Jacob_Heppner_Podcast_Audio_Only.mp3
This episode of the podcast airs from an “undisclosed location” in the Pacific Northwest, probably meaning Washington State and likely near some Sasquatch village.
It’s podcast time again, and this month Gun Mag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone sits down with 2-time National Three-Gun Champion Jack Copeland. The podcasts are always fun and informative, and this one is no different. Jeremy and Jack talk about much more than Three-Gun in their hour together. Here’s a brief rundown of their conversation to prime you for the podcast itself. But make certain you give it a listen. These are just the high points.
Jack Copeland is a 2-time Three-Gun National Champion. (jack_3gun Instagram)Olympic Gold Medals and National ChampionshipsJack shot his first competitive match at age 14, which, not-so-coincidentally, was the same age he started training with 5-time Olympic Gold Medalist shooter John McNally. Jack has always loved guns and shooting. He had just bought a Glock 17 at a gun show and stopped by McNally’s booth to look at the latter’s upgraded Glock trigger. It came out that McNally offered training and Jack’s Dad made it happen. So, they shot 1,000 rounds every weekend for a year. Awesome parenting, right there, Mr. Copeland.
Jack has competed in many categories, and even joined the US Modified Team at the 2018 Shotgun World Championships in Paris. That’s Paris, France, not Paris, Texas, in case you’re wondering, though the Lone Star version is a nice little town. Jack performed very well, placing 80th in a field of 700, despite getting a “zero” on one stage thanks to an ill-timed squib load. Jack also shot with the Russians and Ukrainians in Paris, and he has some interesting comments on that.
Jack’s favorite category, though, is Three-Gun. He says it’s more exciting. “I want to run through a course of fire and have my rifle slung behind me, and my pistol, and carrying my shotgun.” Jeremy, as a newer competitor, acknowledged Jack’s preference, but also notes how he likes the simplicity and structured setup of Steel Challenge matches.
A Welcoming CommunityJack allows that shooting Three-Gun can be scary at first, but he emphasizes how nice the entire community is, especially compared to what he calls “purist” competition circuits. Not that those circles are complete snobs, but the vibe is different. Jack relates how another competitor once loaned him an $8,000 pistol to shoot a stage when his Glock wouldn’t cycle his reloaded ammo.
(jack_3gun Instagram)Jeremy agreed that competitive shooters are very welcoming, citing his first Precision Rifle match, where he says most everyone was excited by his interest in their sport. Similar to Jack’s experience, another shooter offered to let Jeremy use his rifle. Great stuff.
Jeremy also talks about the obstacles to entering the sport, saying they are almost always self-inflicted. But that same PRS shooter told him that “There’s always a reason not to start. You can always come up with something that’s gonna stop you. But if you come out here and shoot, people will lend a hand.”
Now that he’s established, Jack says he’s very selective about the matches he shoots. He particularly likes Jerry Miculek’s Three-Gun match. He mentions several reasons why, but a big one is that “It’s a great group of people.”
Jack says he wishes professional shooting paid better (don’t we all). Jeremy notes that most shooters pay for their own gear and equipment, though some stuff is discounted. “They’re not just handing out rifles to guys who want to shoot,” he says. “Ask me how I know.”
The Importance of Quality TrainingThis part of the podcast kicks off when Jeremy says the time and expense of training also keeps people from entering competitive shooting. “But starting and moving somewhere is better than doing nothing.” Jack agrees, saying he believes in training, even if it’s just a small local course. Do what you can and build from there.
(jack_3gun Instagram)Jack talks about how he’s worked for several companies, but he always teaches fundamental shooting skills. If you find a course teaching good fundamentals, it’s worth your while. Higher level course, Jeremy notes, are mostly fundamentals, but “fundamentals fast.” Jack agrees, but he adds a caveat. High level courses do teach fundamentals, but those instructors have shot so much that they have “learned the little tips and tricks that speed you up and…the secrets and…the ways to do it. That’s what you pay for.”
Jack also says that he doesn’t try to teach tactical courses. He leaves that to guys who have done it for real. He takes those classes himself. J & J then have a good discussion about equipment and how people often buy things they don’t need, mainly because they don’t know any better.
Jack calls this trend the “poor man’s tax,” which can be avoided by investing in quality training early on. Jeremy shares how he was advised not to buy anything before taking a class. The class would show him what he needed and how certain things worked, or didn’t work, for other students. Jeremy attributes much of people wasting their money on the fact that the average AR-15 owner only shoots about 100 rounds per year. They just don’t shoot enough to learn any better.
They also discuss the difficulties of being a left-handed shooter, which Jeremy is. He has left-handed firearms but he purposely trains with right-handed weapons so he can, theoretically, pick up any gun and be at least somewhat proficient. Probably a good idea.
Automatic Weapons and the NFAJack talks about how machine guns are “a horrible drug. Very addicting.” He quickly moved from an M-4 to an MP5 to an MCX to a belt-fed. Now he wants a belt-fed .50 cal Ma Deuce. Sounds like fun to me! But thanks to current gun laws, private individuals pretty much have to be affiliated with a corporation to gain access to such firearms.
Automatic weapons are “very addicting.” (jack_3gun Instagram)This leads to a discussion of how ill-conceived the NFA is, especially regarding suppressors and short-barreled rifles. Hollywood is rightly blamed for framing suppressors as whisper quiet assassins’ tools. Plus, is anyone really trying to conceal a 10-inch AR?
Jack points out that the ATF’s new pistol brace rule is tough on competitors. He relies on short 9mm AR pistols for his living. Is he supposed to Form 1 all of them as SBRs and hope it doesn’t take too long?
Odds and EndsJeremy rightly notes that their discussion was all over the place, but that’s what made it interesting. It was a free flow conversation instead of a structured interview. Here are some highlights of what else was discussed:
- The ridiculously long magazines and red anodized parts seen at competitions, and how none of that tops good fundamentals.
- How the difficulty of competing in tactical ops competitions improves real world skills.
- How the Tactical Games is like Cross Fit.
- How Jeremy’s priorities change when he’s shooting on camera. Pretty shocking, really. (Not really, but understandable).
- The difficulties of filming through night vision gear.
- How “the lingo,” as Jack calls it, affects training and sometimes makes shooting sports exclusionary, as does limited range access.
- The joys of events like Kalash Bash.
- Pro-gun vs. anti-gun perspectives, plus how certain Presidents and Covid drove guns sales. And how certain bad actors tried to profit from such things by price gouging. A certain retailer is called out by name.
How cool is a SAW in a helicopter? Looks like a great way to hunt hogs. (jack_3gun Instagram)A Fun DiscussionI always enjoy these podcasts because of the free-flow form. This one engaged me from beginning to end. Just two friends talking about shooting guns. Shooting at a high level, mind you, but still just shooting guns. I liked that it was kind of all over the place. That’s when little nuggets come through, where they might not in a structured interview. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/joackcopelandpodcastaudio.mp3
https://www.instagram.com/jack_3gun/
GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with an interesting new podcast after a short hiatus. This month, Jeremy takes on long range precision shooting with Adrian from Sidewinder Concepts. Adrian is a former US Army sniper who wrapped up his service in June of 2022.
This month, Jeremy talks with Adrian, a former US Army sniper who now runs Sidewinder Concepts. (instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts)Sidewinder Concepts is based near Houston, Texas and the fledgling company is already making waves, even though it’s been mostly word-of-mouth so far. Jeremy heard about Adrian and Sidewinder through Milspec Mojo, who appeared on the podcast last December. Mojo was a recently qualified police sniper, and guess who trained him? That’s right. So, Jeremy decided he needed to talk to Adrian himself.
Immediate Positive ResultsJeremy spent a day training with Adrian and, though he admits he’s “not a sniper” after that day, he did see good results. Adrian promised Jeremy that he would hit a 1,000-yard target in the first box of ammo. He was as good as his word, as Jeremy rang the steel on the 12th round. “I hit that steel at 1,000 yards, so I felt pretty good the rest of the day,” he noted. “I was like, okay, dial it back to 500…easy.”
Adrian says instilling that early confidence is part of the program. “That’s kind of the whole point about why I have guys do that. It’s to build that confidence and show that the equipment works…and essentially get those nerves out, like right out the gate. So, it’s like, ‘I hit the furthest target…then everything else should, in theory, be easy.’”
(instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts)Jeremy notes that, even at 1,000 yards, the 6.5 Creedmoor bullet he was shooting was still 200 or so yards from the transonic range. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, transonic refers to the point where a bullet decelerates back through the sound barrier. This deceleration can cause destabilization beginning at about Mach 1.2. But, then again, the bullet might continue on to its target. There are many variables, but the transonic phenomenon is a real thing that can disrupt longer shots.
Adrian notes that, within the bullet’s supersonic range, that is before it decelerates, the main adjustment is for wind, once you have the drop numbers figured. In Jeremy’s case, the wind calls involved some guesswork based on the flags near the target, though Adrian expands on that and says he took “more of an educated guess, or a SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess), based on the flag, surrounding vegetation, and the mirage to send the first round. After that, all they had to do was identify the miss, make the correction with the reticle, and re-engage.
Technology HelpsJeremy says he was worried about giving Adrian bad data, since accurate adjustments depend on it. But Sidewinder also uses a trigger cam that allows its instructors to see exactly what the shooter is doing, all but ensuring accurate feedback.
Adrian says the camera is especially useful when training new shooters who may not know what feedback to give. He says the camera also serves as an “integrity check” for students and for the instructors as they demonstrate teaching points. Finally, the camera tells the instructor whether the students understand their reticles and are using them properly.
(instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts)Perceptions and RealityJeremy says that he “was pretty intimidated by the whole process, and most of that came from my own perception.” He was nervous because he thought he needed a $4,000 to $5,000 dollar rig to shoot long distance successfully. But he only had about $1,500 in his rifle, scope, and everything else. Even at $1,500, it’s technically a “budget rig,” even though that’s big money to many folks.
But Jeremy learned that his “budget rig” worked just fine and he didn’t have to break his bank account to go shoot. “No,” Adrian agreed. “There are solid factory options out there. More expensive platforms will increase consistency, but ‘quality budget’ products can get you to those distances fairly easily with the right know-how.”
Students often ask Adrian how to build out a precision rifle. His response is always “What do you want to use it for?” He notes that “shooting long range” isn’t an adequate answer because it lacks context. There must be a deeper purpose, whether it be hunting, target shooting, or precision rifle competition shooting. “I want to help you to meet your needs,” he says.
Many folks don’t focus on those needs when setting up a rifle, though he thinks people are getting better about it. But so much information is available, with so many varying opinions, that sifting through it all can be difficult. For that, Adrian recommends attending a long range shooting class. “You’ll learn really quick from either watching other students use their equipment or what the instructor is using. Good classes will talk about that stuff.”
Jeremy shares that his first class with former Gun Mag Warehouse Marketing Director Daniel Shaw was like that. Asking what he should buy for the class, Shaw told him not to buy anything extra and to run magazines out of his pockets if need be. He would se what other people run and save himself some money. This is an important lesson, Jeremy says, because many people won’t take a class at all because they think they don’t have the right gear.
(instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts)Not Just GearMany folks won’t take classes because they think they aren’t good enough. It is true that certain classes require a certain skill level, but those classes also state the prerequisites. Jeremy has learned that the purpose of basic skills classes is to teach those skills the right way. Going in cold means you don’t have to unlearn anything.
Most of Jeremy’s fears about taking classes have been unfounded. Everyone has always been friendly and helpful. “That, to me,” he says, “is the actual gun community. The internet side of things is not the same as what people are like in real life.” Adrian chimes in that one of his best classes to date was an all-female group because they were “pumping each other up,” unlike what most male students do.
Being a “Why Guy”Jeremy says he thinks he’s a pain to instructors because he always wants to know why he’s doing something. “If I can understand why I’m doing it,” he says, “then it will stick better.” Adrian agreed, saying that there’s “nothing wrong with being a ‘why guy.’ I had a lot of difficulties in the military from being a ‘why guy.’”
Adrian goes on to encourage students to ask why and to challenge theory in a positive manner. Ask the questions and let the instructor explain it. He says to just understand that how those questions are posed is “super important.” In other words, don’t be an arrogant jerk. As my Dad always told me, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” Adrian encourages students to train with different instructors and reach their own conclusions about what works best for them.
(instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts)Odds and the EndAdrian and Jeremy talk about some other interesting stuff that you’ll have to listen to the podcast to get. One of them is the reason for the thickness of the front sight post. If you haven’t heard, it has to do with range finding with the M16 rifle, which Adrian explains. Good stuff. They also discuss the growth of women’s participation in the shooting sports, and precision rifle competition in particular. Finally, Jeremy asks Adrian about the reason snipers need government security clearance. You may know that, and you may not. Either way, it’s a fun discussion.
Check out the audio podcast. It’s an interesting back and forth. Adrian seems like a good dude and his course sounds like lots of fun. Most of Sidewinder’s training is done in the Houston area, but Adrian and crew will travel to train you. They are currently doing that for folks in Texas, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington State.
You can find Sidewinder Concepts at sidewinderconcepts.com and @Sidewinder_Concepts on Instagram.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/Sidewinder_Podcast-Audio.mp3
GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with another entertaining and information-packed Mag Life Podcast. This month, Jeremy sits down with YouTube gun guy and real-life cop, Milspec Mojo. Mojo is widely known as one of the top firearms guys on the internet, especially when it comes to fundamentals. Those fundamentals translate into lightning operations skills, meaning that he’s a good resource to watch if you want to improve your shooting and gun handling.
Milspec Mojo is one of the top gun guys on YouTube. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)Instagram and Garand ThumbMojo started off on Instagram, where he is still very active, but his YouTube channel took off when he started working with YouTube icon, Garand Thumb. As he got further into the training aspect of firearms, Mojo found that he has a knack for teaching. He loves training other people and has developed a style in which he and his friends actually train one another, even if he is the impetus behind it all.
Jeremy agrees, talking about how much fun he had at his earlier session with Mojo and his team. Mojo says it’s important to train with likeminded people who want to get better. Surround yourself with folks like that and you’ll get better. That leads to the experience of everyone training everyone. Jeremy agrees that most people want that kind of situation.
Jeremy observes that not all cops train regularly. Mojo says that it is a problem in the law enforcement community, but he qualifies that by saying he’s not married and doesn’t have kids. If that happens down the road, his priorities may shift.
Mojo also says that, while shooting is an important skill for law enforcement officers, other skills are also very important and maybe even more so. He talks about social skills like talking to people and making your point without sounding like a jerk. De-escalation and talking your way out of a gun fight. Defensive tactics and being physically fit are also big. All those together are probably more important for a cop than pulling a trigger, but he also says that pulling the trigger is a skill that cannot be allowed to lapse.
Mojo has to pay for most of his extra training himself, as do most other cops. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)Much of the less-than-ideal training can be attributed to budgetary factors made worse by the ill-conceived “defund the police” movement. Agencies simply don’t possess the ammo budget to have cops train properly. If they want extra training, they have to pay for it themselves. Jeremy notes that many departments require cops to provide their own patrol rifle if they want to roll with one. Mojo says he is very fortunate that his agency provides them with some great weapons.
Back to TrainingJeremy returns to his range session and says he enjoyed it because he felt like he learned something and got better. He asks Mojo what he thinks is the best way to know what you’re not good at. He then answers his own question by saying it’s shooting with other people. Mojo agrees and says that shooting on camera helps too.
Those things force you to home in on individual skills to learn where you’re lacking. Mojo says you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, meaning you have to accept that you need improvement and be able to accept and learn from constructive criticism. You have to lose your ego to get better. He has hundreds of video hours that he watches, trying to see what he can do better.
Mojo Doesn’t Shoot Competitively…YetJeremy asks Mojo about shooting competitively, to which Mojo replies that he hasn’t done it seriously. He did shoot a couple of matches, in which he did very well using a stock rifle and a Beretta M9A1 against guys with custom rigs.
Mojo says that he probably should compete, despite some law enforcement criticisms that competition is “gaming” and doesn’t translate to the real world. Mojo says he used to buy into that but has changed his mind. He says he constantly games scenarios at work, whether it’s pre-staging a vehicle or a weapon if he thinks something is about to go down.
Mojo says he’s been working with the MP5 a lot. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)Jeremy notes that certain skills from competition, like a fast draw, absolutely translate well, though some competition habits, like always pointing the muzzle downrange, can hinder real-life performance. Mojo says that, so far, he hasn’t been interested in competing because he has more fun training with his friends. “As long as you’re having fun, “he says, “that’s all that matters. If you have fun, you’re gonna learn.”
Airsoft TrainingJeremy compares competition shooting to Airsoft. Some things translate and some things don’t. He then says that Airsoft is “fun on a grand scale.” Mojo concurs. He and his friends play Airsoft, not only because it’s fun, but it also contributes to physical fitness and team building. They learn tactical team communication from Airsoft. The Airsoft environment provides the context within which skills can be practiced and applied.
It’s also a great way to test gear, whether it be optics, lights, or any other gear you might run. Mojo says that he and his boys run their actual cop gear when they do the Airsoft thing, including armor. He learned that he doesn’t like magazines on his chest rig’s front because it hinders him when he goes prone. He does note that Airsoft stuff ain’t cheap. It’s come a long way from its beginnings.
Mojo and his team use Airsoft because it’s fun and it teaches them skills like tactical communication. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)Becoming a SniperMojo recently qualified as a police sniper. He uses a built-out Remington 700 with a chassis setup. He talks about what he learned in the sniper course in a good discussion of the training and its continuing benefits.
He puts a lot of effort into being able to run whatever gun he has at a high level, including his bolt gun. He doesn’t want to be the guy who has been to all the schools or been in combat but can’t actually run a gun. You can have training and experience, but you still have to put in the work to benefit from it. A good discussion of shooting fundamentals follows, including fast bolt gun operations. Mojo surprisingly says that the bolt gun might be his favorite weapon.
Mojo with his tricked-out Remington 700 sniper rifle. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)He also says that, even if you have a long-range weapon like his sniper rifle, don’t scoff at practicing at closer distances. Mastering the fundamentals at 100 yards or 7 yards with a pistol allows you to build on that as ranges increase.
Genesis of a NameMojo says his nickname comes from two places. First, the “Milspec” part comes from wanting to run standard equipment as well as, or better than, other people who run custom weapons and accessories. Hence the good performance with the Beretta and the basic rifle. He has nothing against upgrades, and has a couple himself, but he wants to be able to run whatever he has at a high level without depending on them.
He picked up the nickname “Mojo” in the Marine Corps and he relates that story. Turns out the combination works, even if it took a few name changes to get the handle right. This is a very informative and entertaining podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing. You’ll probably learn something.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/mojo_audio.mp3
In this month's podcast, Jeremy sits down with USPSA Grandmaster Hunter Constantine to discuss his meteoric rise in the sport and what it takes to develop and maintain good shooting skills.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/adminpodcast_audio.mp3
This month, Jeremy had Administrative Results on the podcast to talk about kit, history, and how to be a better man.
First off, this is an interesting conversation. Jeremy notes that he reached out to Admin because he not only likes the content, but the channel’s vibe. He thinks that’s missing from a lot of content creators. And he’s not wrong. Admin’s channel is unique, even though it deals with guns and shooting like so many others. There’s a philosophical underpinning that many channels lack. And the production value is first class.
Admin running a Finnish RK 92 service rifle (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) And we’re calling him Admin because he’s superhero-like in that he has a secret identity. Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows.
A Call to Service Admin’s background is in law enforcement, though it might have gone in another direction. He says that he “was always someone that felt called to a service capacity…I knew I had to do it, either military or law enforcement.”
He tried the military first but found more doors being shut on him than were opened. Looking at law enforcement, he found he could make better money while still answering the call. Plus, there was no runaround like the military was giving him.
Admin also features cool historical rifles like this German STG 44 “Sturmgewehr.” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Admin was a cop for two years until his department made a COVID vaccine mandatory for continued employment. He liked his job but passed on getting jabbed. By that time, however, his YouTube Channel had 30 or 40 thousand subscribers, so he rolled the dice and went full-time.
That was a good decision since he’s now at 263k with a bullet. His quality product has attracted industry influencers and he’s going strong. He now serves through information and philosophical culture content.
A Simple Success Strategy Basically, Admin advises diligence in your work and avoiding “time sucks” that “aren’t good for your brain.” Stuff that distracts like social media. He loves video games, but disciplines himself to put them aside when it’s time to work.
Admin puts in a lot of work, like reconstructing Larry Vickers’ famous CAR-15. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) He also stresses positive habits—easy but crucial stuff like regular exercise and drinking water. “You have to take care of yourself,” he says. He’s big on saunas too, thanks to a trip to Finland. Admin also says you have to take risks. Calculated risks, certainly, but sitting at home in front of a video game all day and night is not the way. If you want to be something, you gotta risk something.
Finally, hard work. Shooting guns on YouTube for a living sounds awesome. It is awesome. But there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that makes those cool videos possible, whether it’s planning, editing, skills development, or whatever.
Admin shooting the now famous “Dicken Drill” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Jeremy notes that good habits build momentum, but so do bad habits. If you don’t exercise one day, it’s easier to not do it another day. Admin agrees, saying that a bad day at the gym is still a day at the gym. A substandard video is still a learning experience to help him get better.
Admin and Jeremy both agree that details are important, and Admin says he’s learned a lot about kit and training from the Airsoft community. That pointed him to forums, where he learned even more. It’s all a deep rabbit hole and he admits to still learning. No one knows everything, but you can always learn.
Interestingly, Admin lists former SAS operator Christian Craighead as a big influence. You may remember that Craighead singlehandedly stormed a terrorist-held hotel in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. He killed two tangos and led the hostages to safety.
Admin always gives us cool guns, like this Rhodesian FAL lookalike. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Future Goals Admin says he would like to branch out and start his own company, so he doesn’t have to rely on fickle YouTube policies. He envisions that endeavor as a shooting range, complete with instructors, along with a realistic Airsoft competition complex. The goal is to promote shooting skills and “amplify” firearms culture, much as he does now, just more hands-on.
Jeremy notes that politics is downstream from culture, and that influencers like Admin are doing good work there. Channels like his can counter the media narrative and may lead to positive political results moving forward. Jeremy says a Jerry Miculek video literally changed his life and he thinks guys like Admin are working to make firearms culture American culture. You know, like it used to be before people started listening to alarmists driven by the hysterical mass media.
Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) The Power of Mass Communication Jeremy and Admin have an interesting discussion about the power of mass media and how that power is flowing to regular people via the internet. They note how guys like Joe Rogan have a larger audience than much of the corporate media and how that threatens the establishment.
It’s very astute, with Jeremy quoting the author Gustave Le Bon, who wrote that whoever controls the crowd, controls society. “Whoever gives them their illusions is their master. Whoever tries to show them that they believe in illusions will always be their enemy.” An appropriate quote for our times.
Creators like Admin, and podcasts like this one, are helping dispel illusions. That’s why certain bad actors and their corporate cronies do their best to silence them. We need to be tuned in and not let that happen. One way to do that is to listen to the podcast for yourself to catch all the stuff I necessarily left out. And go check out Administrative Results on YouTube. You’ll be glad you did.
https://youtu.be/8YyjLR7JQxw
Website: https://administrativusresults.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdministrativeResults
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/administrativeresults/?hl=en
Good instructors, training techniques, mentality, first aid training in firearms classes, and more with Brandon Bridge and Daniel Shaw.
Otherwise known as Nine Banger and Possum Puncher, these guys from Average Joes Firearms Training Group join Daniel in today's podcast.
What are the benefits of precision rifle shooting? How do you get started and how do you grow in it? Listen in for these answers and more.
Silencer Shop revolutionized the suppressor purchasing process. How did they do that? Find out the answer to that question, and more!
Today's host is Jeremy Stone. You may recognize him as the guy who does many of the product showcase videos you see on the GunMag Warehouse social accounts. Jeremy is interested in doing some podcasting, so today he's hosting The Mag Life Podcast, with Daniel Shaw as his guest. Listen in as Jeremy and Daniel discuss the Marine Corps, the current political climate, and how to strengthen the Second Amendment community.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/196_Jeremy_Stone_Interviewing_Daniel_Shaw.mp3
Host: Jeremy Stone
Guest: Daniel Shaw
Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell
0:50 Jeremy starts out by asking Daniel some questions about his military service. The first question is "Why did you go into the Marines, specifically?"
Daniel says that he grew up in a religious household and he was allowed to read military books with Christian leanings. He mentions long spells without television when he'd pick up some books. In those military books, he kept seeing Marines pop up who people seemed to really respect. He looked into it more and discovered it's known to be difficult recruit training and the challenge drew him in.
Daniel Shaw - Iraq, 2003.
Jeremy comments that it probably sucked at the time to have the TV taken away, though it was probably pretty good for him. Daniel says, "Oh yeah, nothing wrong with it. Especially now. It's probably the best thing we could do right now is turn off the news and go outside."
3:25 Next question: "What did you learn in the military that you could not learn in the civilian world?"
Daniel asks, "How long is this podcast!"
Then he says, "The biggest thing is... how to learn."
He reflects on his time in school as a youngster and how he did all the things he was supposed to do and he hated it. Then he got to recruit training and he had to check all the boxes and do what he was told and it was really pretty simple, as long as you give 100 percent and you're not completely dumb. Then he started getting into different fields where he was required to teach and people were really listening to him and paying attention to what he was saying, taking notes like he did when he was a younger Marine. He found out that he really needed to make sure he was getting things right.
So he dove into some research and he didn't even know how to research, so he learned how to research and evaluate information sources. Later on, during his time in the Marine Corps, he started and finished college and then started using what he'd learned. Understanding what the objective is that he needed to learn in order to increase his capabilities allowed him to increase the capabilities of others around him — to make his Marines better warfighters and himself a better leader.
So, he read, researched, and tested a lot — whatever he needed to do to increase his capabilities in any given thing. So now when he runs into something, he studies the details of whatever it is to try to get an edge in any way that he can just through gaining knowledge and understanding.
Jeremy comments on how important it is to put in the effort if you want to get good at something. As an example, in high school, he didn't like math and didn't think he was good at it. But when he got to college and took an accounting class, his mindset switched. All of a sudden, it was valuable to him. He could see the value behind accounting, he could see the numbers behind it. The difference between the two scenarios is that in high school, he didn't understand the reasons behind the study. So, the information he learned in high school didn't seem as valuable as what he learned in college.
07:13 Was the training the best part of Daniel's service — training other guys to get ready, or something else?
Daniel says the best part of his time in the Marine Corps was the exposure to so many different people from different walks of life, from different areas,
Just in time for the big Red Oktober event happening tomorrow at Pro Gun Club in Boulder City, NV, Brian Nelson joins Daniel to talk about the annual Kalash celebration and how Scoring Technologies helps in training and competitions.
Brian was the original founder and match director of Red Oktober, put on by Rifle Dynamics He works at Scoring Technologies as a marksmanship subject matter expert for a military program with the goal of making qualifications run more efficiently through the use of electronic scoring. Listen in as Brian explains how this innovative technology is changing the world of training for instructors and students alike.
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: Brian Nelson
Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell
1:34 Daniel starts out by reminiscing on his time in the Marine Corps, and how some of the guys participated in competitive shooting to augment their training.
2:15 What has the Marine Corps learned from competition shooting? How are they now implementing that into making better warfighters?
Brian explains that if you want to predict lethality, you need to know the exact amount of time it takes for a marine to get a hit. For the first time in over a decade, they've made a major change to the annual rifle qualification range shoot, which used to be a version of service rifle competition with bigger targets. They've changed it now to a different course of fire to get an easier look at the scores. With the technology, it's possible to eliminate human data-entry errors, without expending the extensive effort and time it previously took to get the data
He adds that they're also supporting the schools of infantry, on the west and east coast in the new infantry Marine Corps. They previously ran a seven-week course, but now they're doing pilot programs that are 14 weeks. They measure marksmanship with the IMA (Infantry Marksmanship Assessment), which is scored the same as a competitive match — points shot divided by the time it takes to shoot it.
With the new electronic scoring method, the amount of time saved in recording scores to the point that they can be interpreted cannot be overstated. Additionally, it's much harder for people to cheat on their scores.
12:26 Daniel asks, how can a leader in the Marine Corps use this tech to inspire his guys to train more and to find where their deficiencies are?
He comments on how there are always competitions among the ranks and Brain says people love incentives.
"When you have a bag of Skittles for the guy who has the highest hit factor on one part of the IMA, like, 'Hey, this is the bag of Skittles that the best shooter gets.'" It's amazing to see what people will do for that."
14:26 Daniel notes that Brian is well suited to be a match director, noting that Red Oktober is Brian's baby.
Brian says this years' Red Oktober is going to have some fun marksmanship challenges, which is something that he personally enjoys with a variety of platforms. Also, it's a place for all of the AK fans within the gun industry to connect with each other. He says that pretty much anyone who has anything to do with AKs will be there demoing, and the stages and ambiance are just going to be fun. Brian says he plays through the Call of Duty campaign mode as he designs the courses and stages for the match.
16:23 What is this year's Red Oktober going to be like?
Brian says that the stages are all designed uniquely and differently with new challenges. Some of it is stuff that you won't see anywhere else. You may have to shoot with a stage gun (one that's provided), and Brian considers safety, fairness, and the cool factor in all of this. Also, there will be more than just AKs. They've got a couple of Dragunovs to use on the stage to make a couple of hundred-yard shots. Battlefield Vegas is partnering with them this year and they're bringing a T-62 tank, which won't be stage equipment, though it'll be driving around and there will be a prese...
Daniel and Jimmy discuss the story behind Average Joes Firearms Training Group, encouraging beginners to train, gun culture, and more.
On this week’s episode of The Mag Life Podcast, Daniel is joined by the immensely knowledgeable, Steve Tarani. With decades in the defense, law enforcement, and intelligence communities, Steve is a highly-respected firearm, defensive tactics, bladed weapons, and personal protection instructor. As of late, Tarani has specialized in awareness-based training, having incorporated this into his training classes as well as his books.
Together, Daniel and Steve discuss the vital importance of soft skills versus hard skills, situational awareness training, and overcoming fear in a fight.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/193-Steve_Tarani.mp3
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: Steve Tarani
Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh
00:37 What is your profession?
Daniel starts off the conversation by asking what Steve’s occupation entails. In a general sense, Steve Tarani would describe himself as a teacher of practical hard and soft skills. Hard skills is defined by talents or abilities that can be measured, often associated with on-the-job training such as programming, bookkeeping, foreign language skills, shooting, and the like. Soft skills by contrast relate more towards universal traits such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and adaptability. Over the decades of his teaching experience, Steve has leaned more toward soft skills as he finds these to be more applicable in day-to-day situations. Although he’s made a career in training others, Steve constantly strives to keep his knowledge and skills up to date.
In Steve’s line of work, keeping up with the most current information in tactics and methodologies is essential.
“So, I keep one foot in the training world and one foot in the ops world… I really don’t want to be one of those guys ‘Hey twenty years ago when I did this…’ ya know? Times change, people change, tactics change, gear changes. For your information to remain relevant to you, you to have to be in it, I think, day-to-day.”
04:26 Reacting to threats and close protection security
The conversation shifts to the topic of close protection security and reacting to unexpected threats. Obviously, bodyguard work differs greatly from normal self-defense tactics. The vast majority of concealed carry shooters would react to a threat by immediately going for their gun and drawing. Steve reveals that in the world of close protection, he was taught that immediately going for the gun is a setup for failure. The time it takes to go for the firearm is ample time for the attacker to shoot at the VIP that you’ve been charged to protect.
Instead, Steve was taught to prioritize observing threats in their entirety and to move the client away from danger. He uses the tragic incident of the Titanic as an analogy, saying if one could observe and see icebergs coming from a distance, it would make far more sense to simply avoid a head-on collision with them. In his eyes, the firearm is akin to a “lifeboat” on the Titanic, the last resort option and not a primary one. Processing and reacting to threats fall into three main categories: being proactive, active, and reactive.
Taking notes from the book Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life by Jason Riley, Steve explains that the proactive and active phases are how we utilize our soft skills before a dangerous incident occurs or the “bang.” How we react after to the initial encounter with a threat is the reactive phase which forces out the hard skills. For example, soft skills such as using verbal de-escalation or analyzing a situation can avoid a conflict but should it occur anyways, the fighting abilities that come from hard skills come into play.
08:52 Soft skills vs hard skills in your everyday life
Daniel asks Steve to explain the use of soft skills versus hard skills in the context of the average armed citizen. Steve believes that everything requires context and that people should a...
Daniel and Top Shot Dustin Ellerman, a popular 2nd Amendment content creator, discuss social media censorship, training, and more.
Daniel and guest Mickey Schuch of Carry Trainer discuss firearms training trends, fighting the ego, predecessors, and why we train.
Daniel and Paul of Grey Man Tactical discuss the company's genesis & latest product offerings. Check out these vehicle seat back MOLLE panels!
Daniel and Steven discuss the virtues of being a warrior, fighting your inner cowardice, becoming a writer, and embracing adversity.
This week’s guest on the Mag Life Podcast is a near superhuman! Erin Blevins is a professional nutritionist, former Crossfit competitor, chef, and fitness expert. Her clients have included ultra-marathoners, MLB players from the Atlanta Braves, Navy SEALs, weight lifters, and even Superman himself, Henry Cavill.
She joins our host Daniel Shaw as they discuss the importance of nutrition, healthy dietary habits, body image, and seeking self-improvement.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/188-Erin_Blevins_Eating_with_Intent.mp3
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: Erin Blevins
Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh
4:00 Body image and Refusing to Improve
Both Daniel and Erin have taken notice of the “body positivity” movement and by extension, the unwillingness of many Americans to want to do anything to improve their lifestyles or health. In many cases, individuals get defensive the second they are told they’re unhealthy. Daniel notes that much of our current societal conditions encourage this kind of behavior.
“I mean, nutrition in itself is a touchy, taboo subject. You say you’re vegan and you get attacked by the other side. You say you’re a carnivore and you get attacked by the vegans. It’s almost like a terrorist mindset, you know? And you say something like ‘Hey I’m worried about you, I think that you’re too heavy.’ Or … ‘I think you should start walking 30 minutes a day.’ And all of a sudden it’s like you’re throwing warfare at someone.”
Erin Blevins has dedicated her life to providing the best possible dietary advice for anyone looking to improve their health, physical performance, or body image.
Erin believes that at its core, there is nothing wrong with people feeling positive about themselves. However, there comes a point where too much false affirmation can be unhealthy as it simply encourages self-destructive habits (the body positivity movement is instrumental in this). She emphasizes that people can feel good about themselves even as they are in the process of changing their physical being. She admits that despite being a professional fitness and nutrition coach, she is always seeking to improve her abilities and her image.
Erin speaks from personal experience as a nutritionist that specific foods and supplements can fundamentally change one’s life for the better. She has witnessed emotional instability and sleeping disorders become alieved from a proper diet.
12:49 Nutrition and Human Performance
Daniel observes that much of the education regarding nutrition in the school systems vary greatly from state to state. As such, he asks Erin about her personal experiences in today’s dietary trends, such as the vegan diet.
Erin reveals that she had been through several kinds of diets, including going vegan for 10years. While in the first few years, Erin felt incredible about her body, she later started losing energy and felt lethargic. Later, her doctor revealed that her hormones were unbalanced, triglycerides were all over the place, and that she was pre-menopausal. Immediately she knew she had to make changes to her lifestyle. She began to consume animal products and her body leveled out over time.
Her main takeaway from these dietary practices was that they taught her to be more cognizant of what she puts into her body, regardless if it was a paleo, vegan, or carnivore diet. Something as simple as reading the ingredients and calorie count on a food label automatically makes a person more aware of what they’re eating. On the whole, Erin does not believe for the most part that people simply inherit bad eating habits.
“I don’t believe that obesity is genetic. I think it’s environmental… Your environment will change your outcome, right? So if I’m hanging out with friends that go and drink and eat pizza every night and eat burgers, they don’t train, they don’t do anything physical... I will eventually be a version of that... I’m human,
In this episode of The Mag Life Podcast, Daniel visits with Ed Calderon, a former Mexican police agent with extensive experience and understanding of border control issues, drug cartels, and the complexities that exist between the US and Mexico.
Born in Tijuana, Mexico in the 80s, Ed decided to go into police work when he was 21. For over a decade he worked in counter-narcotics, investigation of organized crime, executive protection, and public safety along the northern border of Mexico. Later, he came to the US and is now recognized as one of the world's most preeminent researchers and personal security trainers, offering security consulting, seminars, and private training in anti-abduction, escape and evasion, unarmed combat, unconventional edged-weapon work, and region-specific executive protection. Together, Daniel and Ed discuss complex issues about the escalation of the Mexican Drug War, foreign gun-running, US intervention, issues of governance and firearms ownership in Mexico (and the parallels in the US), human trafficking, and more. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/187_Ed_Calderon_Things_Most_People_Don_t_Know.mp3
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: Ed Calderon
Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh
Ed Calderon is recognized as one of the world's preeminent researchers and trainers in the field of personal security.02:22 Imparting Valuable Skills to Others
Daniel inquiries about the life-saving skills Ed learned on the job while he was active in Latin America and Mexico. Ed’s extensive background in counter-narcotics work has covered escape and evasion—namely, how to:
escape from handcuffs, manufacture tools for survival, be armed in non-permissive environments, look for early warning signs of an ambush in an urban setting, and understand the social norms in Mexico.
He has brought his in-depth, hands-on experience in the undercover narcotics world to other law enforcement agencies in the United States (FBI, Secret Service, among others) so that they may be better equipped for threats across the border.
06:05 What scares you?
Daniel asks Ed what genuinely scares him. Ed replies that his one fear is to not live without a purpose. Having faced a great many near-death experiences, Ed has become numb to the idea of physical danger. Rather, it is the concept of having gone through what he did and not being able to bring meaning to his experiences.
“You know, people think ‘Hey aren’t you afraid of the cartels coming after you and shit like that?’ If I was I wouldn’t have gone into this line of work when I was 21. So that specific thing doesn’t really… make me lose sleep. What does make me lose sleep is having gone through that whole experience and not making it worth it. Or not giving it some sort of purpose.”
Ed Calderon, counter custody expert.
07:22 What should scare the American public?
Daniel flips the question: “Based on everything you know… what should WE be scared about?”
Ed feels that American public scrutiny immensely neglects the sheer amount of Chinese government influence with Mexican drug cartels, and how their activities are increasingly becoming a threat to national security. He cites that the Chinese have a direct hand in fentanyl supply to cartels, a strong influence in major American industries. He further adds that this is occurring with full knowledge of the Communist Party in China.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación or CJNG) actually managed to grow in size and in influence during the COVID epidemic when all other organizations and institutions halted, due to being able to receive fentanyl shipments. They were able to do so because they had supreme control of the ports that faced the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the Sinaloa Cartel has been smuggling fentanyl from the US, processing this into their product, then smuggling it to be sold into the US. In essence,
JJ Racaza, one of the greatest competitive shooters in the world, talks with Daniel about marksmanship fundamentals, self-control, and more.
This week’s Mag Life Podcast brings on a man who needs no introduction (but we’ll give one anyway). Kyle Lamb is a former decorated US Army Delta Force operator, Sig Sauer Academy firearms instructor, writer, and the founder of Viking Tactics. He was made famous by his incredible firearms accessories, training classes, and his military service in Somalia during the events of that inspired the adaptation Black Hawk Down.
On this episode of the Mag Life Podcast, two warriors formally meet and for a heavy discussion about their war and peacetime experiences. Daniel is joined by Tu Lam, a Vietnamese-American former US Army Special Forces Green Beret, martial artist, trainer, entrepreneur, and TV show host. Known for his tactical gear and training company, Ronin Tactics, he is also known for his on-screen appearance on Forged in Fire: Knife or Death, as well as being featured as a playable character in Call of Duty: Warzone. Tu has carved out a public image of himself as a disciplined modern-day warrior and teacher.
Daniel explores Tu’s unforgiving upbringing as a Vietnam War refugee, his decorated career as a US Army Special Operations soldier, his passion for the martial arts, and his Bushido mindset to find peace during adversity.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/184-Tu_Lam_Finding_Peace_as_a_Warrior.mp3
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest (usual Co-Host!): Tu Lam
Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh
02:41 Escaping Death
Daniel asks Tu about his upbringing and what lead him to where he is today. Tu reveals a tragic and violent past, being born literally in the midst of the Vietnam War. Upon the US leaving South Vietnam and Saigon falling, the North Vietnamese forces rounded up the majority of Tu’s family and had them executed. His mother took her children and fled with thousands of others to escape oppression. What awaited the Lam family was more cruelty and suffering as they, along with hundreds of other refugees, were cramped into tiny boats, sailing in the South China Sea.
Upon reaching the coast of Malaysia, they were denied entry into the country. The Malaysian troops cut their motor and left the entire boat of refugees out to die. For 30 days straight, the refugees drifted out with no access to clean water or food. Just as Tu’s mother had given up all hope and contemplated feeding poison to her children to spare them of further misery, a Russian naval supply vessel spotted their boat. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, the Soviet troops showed mercy and saved the refugees by providing food and medical aid. This was nothing short of a miracle made by fortuitous timing. If the war was still ongoing, the Soviets would have been compelled to follow wartime protocol and would have taken the refugees back to Vietnam.
The horrors the Lam family faced, unfortunately, did not end there. The refugees were relocated into a camp in an Indonesian jungle, with no actual facilities or resources. Dead bodies would be regularly found in the jungles near the camp as people attempted to forage and find food. The strength of Tu’s mother was all that held them together.
“[My mother] is my strength… [During that time] there was a slim to no chance that we would have lived. And she goes, ‘I would have rather died than to have lived in fear’”
After a year and a half, Tu’s uncle was finally able to pay for his family to immigrate to the US.
12:55 Living in a Post-War America
One of Tu's earliest memories of living in the states was entering a grocery store in North Carolina with his mother. From living through horrific starvation to suddenly being able to pick any food item of his choice was a culture shock. But post-Vietnam War America was not without its faults. Tu’s entire childhood was riddled with instances of racist encounters and harassment from his white counterparts. The context Tu gives is that the entirety of the Vietnam War was not at all popular in the US, which in turn spawned many racist anti-Asian sentiments.
At eight years of age, Tu experienced bullying from a racist white classmate. One day the situation escalated to where both Tu and his bully were sent to the principal’s office to be reprimanded. The bully’s mother was called in and was informed about the incident. When she turned to speak to Tu, instead of offering any hint of an apology,
Out of the loop: "Beyond OODA" isn't just the name of Varg Freeborn's new book, it's the distilled essence of how you should be live life.
Today's guest is the Pew Pew Jew himself, Yehuda Remer — a successful firearms education author, podcaster, and Second Amendment advocate.
This episide features a one-of-a-kind super-human: Chadd Wright: former decorated Navy SEAL and leader of the 3 of 7 project.
What new products is Streamlight rolling out in 2021? Listen in and learn about the company's competitive innovation and design principles.
Listen in as Daniel and Ian Boehm discuss the optics division at Primary Arms, new optics coming out for 2021, and what the future holds.
Daniel and Jason Henkel dive into ShotStop’s 2021product offerings, the future of the company, and the future of ballistic protection tech.
Daniel interviews the Executive Vice President of Magpul, Duane Liptak to discuss Magpul’s latest product line ups for 2021, the Magpul brand, and building a positive culture for future gun owners.
Daniel meets with Jack Lapham, Sig Electro Optics product line manager, to discuss the Romeo 7s, Juliet 3 Micro, and optics trends.
Daniel interviews Jon & Sarah Hauptman, founders of PHLster Holsters to discuss the company, the Floodlight, and recently launched Enigma.
Podcast 174 is about Force on Force training. Who should take it? Why? What's the benefit of teamwork? How do you handle the aftermath of a gunfight? Listen and learn!
Podcast 173 is about living a life of gratitude: 50 things I should have known and how the Tango Yankee chips help spread kindness and gratitude while reducing the amount of assholes in the world.
Today we're talking with Corinne Mosher about firearms training in general, the complications surrounding Use of Force, the value of Force on Force training, and honoring her late husband Mike Mosher.
What's the best handgun for home defense? What's the best concealed carry gun? In this episode, we discuss important things to consider when you're searching for the right handgun for you.
The term "tactical training" is tossed around quite a bit, but what does it really mean? And isn't any training used defensively by definition "tactical"?
We have a fact- and practicality based rifle bias.. The best firearm for most fights, and likewise the best gun for home defense, is usually a rifle.
The August 14th ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Duncan v Becerra (the California Magazine Ban) is turning out to be a salutary lesson to retailers, California gun owners, and even the staff at GunMag Warehouse. There is far more to it than what many people might seem. In Episode 168 of The Mag Life Podcast we discuss the vagaries of that ruling, why and how it happened, what we can expect to happen next, and why California Gun Laws should be the concern of every gun owner in every state.
We also address some of the absurdities.
That said, there is a reason for the much-reviled delay that gun owners are suffering through — and it's a good reason.
You may have heard (or even said) something like this: It's unconstitutional? Well then, that law doesn't apply. I can buy magazines!
Wrong.
Counterintuitive as it might seem, it's a Good Thing that we have to wait — because if this was an issue we were against, then they would have to wait. It's about checks and balances, and that is very much in everyone's favor.
There are a couple of things you should remember when you listen to this episode:
We know what a standard magazine is. We use terms like "high capacity", "large capacity", and even "assault weapon" here because that is the language of the court. We are striving for clarity. Many of the points brought up and discussed came directly from social media comments or questions submitted to GMW HQ by email. If you have questions that weren't addressed, hit us up in the comments below. We'll try to get 'em answered in a future episode.
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/168-California_Gun_Laws_Questions_Answered_The_Benefit_of_Procedural_Control_and_Delay.mp3
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: John Dillon
Intro/Transcription: David Reeder California Gun Laws California's Magazine Ban and the Benefits of Procedural Control Timeline 00:10 Introducing John Dillon
02:00 Challenging California's assault weapon ban.
03:30 An example of current efforts: Miller v. Becerra.
05:00 Explaining how gun control legislation is so often spawned in California.
05:50 Large capacity magazines. Constitutionality, injunctions, summary judgments, and appeals. The original Benitez ruling on common use and strict scrutiny, and why it matters.
09:40 The gratifying support for Californians displayed by customers in other states.
10:30 California's response to the original injunction: the stay granted against buying, manufacturing, etc. (but not owning", "until final resolution on appeal").
When it comes to litigation, courts, and laws, you must adhere to procedures, including (perhaps especially) with regard to a "final resolution" or what is called a "final entry of judgment". That is why the ruling did not immediately make the purchase of LCMs legal. The State of California still has options.
12:00 The ruling has been handed down. Now you can buy magazines again, right? No.
22:00 Why it maybe 90 days or so until the stay is lifted and purchasing magazines becomes lawful.
Procedurally, the August 14th 9th Circuit ruling is not a 'final resolution". California can still file a motion for reconsideration, can seek to have all 11 Ninth Circuit judges review it instead of just 3, or even file a Writ of Certiori, which requests the Supreme Court to consider the case.
25:00 Reminder of why such delays are beneficial. Checks and balances work both ways, which is good for all of us. In fact, this sort of procedural control saved California residents from potential criminal action when the magazine ban first went into place.
31:00 If magazines were successfully purchased during the initial confusion, are they illegal? What are the owners' options? Keep it? Return it?
37:50 Civil action vs. "going kinetic": the excellent example set for all of us by the Founding Fathers.
40:00 Why it's important to support gun owners ...
The so-called "California high capacity magazine" prohibition (aka the LCM or Large Capacity Magazine ban) may be on its way out. But it's not gone yet.
You've been involved in a defensive shooting — ideally a shooting and not a gunfight. What comes after? What should you do post-engagement? Here's a hint: it's not just flipping your head around dramatically in a theatric scan-and-assess. In today's episode, we discuss what to do after. Though important, situational awareness is necessarily different in every situation. However, to develop the proper mindset Daniel presents his system that if used in the course of training will help you prioritize your post-defensive shooting actions. Mindset, mission, purpose, and mental-emotional preparation can help save your life and protect your loved ones. We'll talk about that.
Listen to the podcast, or feel free to jump to a specific topic in episode 166... Defensive Shooting: what comes next?
02:00 listen to the environment 02:34 what to ask yourself 04:24 access threats 05:37 training awareness 08:40 fighting with no cues 09:45 looking at things not for things 11:23 training in a shoot-house scenario 16:52 mindset focus 18:00 context and discussion: a short story by DS 24:00 comfort in discomfort
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/166-The_Defensive_Shooting_What_Do_You_Do_AFTER_.mp3
Scan and Assess Should you scan after a defensive shooting? 2:00 VF says,
"I try not to be dogmatic about (this is what you do [after] every time you pull the trigger), you do this exact procedure.
It's more about trying to find out what the environment is telling me and what the highest priority need is going to be.
The first one is going to be safety, then after that, we look at; do we need to fight more?”
2:34 DS suggests the questions you should be thinking to determine your next priority,
"This threat… does it need more bullets? Is it over? Can I stop shooting to evacuate my child? Is there anything else here that can hurt me?
There’s this idea that you can’t leave the scene and where it came from I don’t know.
It's situational…"
4:24 VF says, "If it’s important enough to shoot, it's important enough to make sure its shot. From there, the tasks are prioritized by the environment…
[Ask yourself] ...what are the highest threats to my safety and what are the avenues to deal with it?
If someone wants to train scans, I’m ok with it, I just encourage people not to do it every single time they shoot." Mindset: Prioritization Daniel's mindset priorities:
Does he or she need more bullets? Is there anything else here that can hurt me? Am I in the most survivable location? What's my next problem to solve?
Training, mindset...is way more important than where you look around -VF
5:37 VF says,
"You go to an indoor shooting range, and you got these black ballistic walls that are eighteen inches on each side of your head… you’re essentially training yourself to look at nothing, because you know there’s nothing there, and I don’t support that type of training. I don’t think it's conducive to creating the type of awareness that allows you to prioritize the tasks when you look at the environment."
8:40 DS says,
“I see it all the time where someone doesn’t know what to do, they’re standing in a vulnerable spot, they’re not in a great location, they just had to shot somebody and they’re looking for the next thing to do, and they can’t figure it out because they’re not receiving any cues.
…Third piece of my thought process is; am I standing in the most survivable location? “
Vulnerable civilians are seen panicking to find safety after a shooting took place at this airport in Florida.
9:45 VF says,
"You need to stop looking for things and start looking at things."
Here, a teacher in Arlington, Texas is getting trained to carry a gun in their classrooms, so that if a gunman ever comes to their school they'll be ready to protect their students. The teachers are never told who will be walking through the d...
There are the 4 rules of gun safety, then there's "Advanced Safety". What's that? It's maintaining the 4 rules under stress — especially that of a gunfight.
A shooting during a Austin protest, a negligent discharge in Louisville by an NFAC member, vehicles hitting protesters...you prepared to survive a protest?
In today’s podcast, we discuss all the essentials Varg and I have with us when we're at the range. Our minimum equipment preferences allow us to be safe, prepared, and proactive. Although the contents and brands may vary, we're going to highlight some of our favorite equipment and brands. Hopefully, this will help you prepare for your next training session or range day. And as always, feel free to share your preferred kit in the comments below — and definitely sound off if you think we've missed something!
https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/163-Range_Bag_Essentials.mp3
Podcast Host: Daniel Shaw
Co-Host: Varg Freeborn
Producer and Transcriptionist: Leah Ramsden
The following timestamps showcase some, but not all, of the essential topics we cover in Range Bag Essentials: Gunfighter Cast episode 163. Range Bag Essentials
1:40 Bag preference 3:00 5.11 Range Ready -Daniel’s everyday bag 3:51 Trauma kit 9:25 magazine brands 11:45 Vortex impact 1000 range finder 12:00 two sets of eyes and ears (eye protection and hearing protection) 12:30 Outdoor range preparation 14:20 high dexterity and thick gloves 16:00 fix-it-sticks 17:30 cleaning kit, lube & rag 18:26 flashlight 18:47 duct tape 20:30 shot timers 23:37 sharpie 24:45 ear protection 26:40 notebook 28:57 water and protein snacks 29:00 Targets 29:49 backup gun 32:50 D-Lead wipes 35:00 staplers
3:05 For his everyday range bag, DS suggests,
“I use the 511 Range Ready 43L. It’s got great compartments. I don’t use every compartment in it [due to] the way they’re designed, but I’ve always found it to be a very good range-bag. It’s taken a beating throughout the years and it’s held together and hasn’t fallen apart, so I’ve been really impressed with it for a very long time
Ok so you have your favorite bag, maybe you have a more than one... next step:
Your Range Bag: how to beef it up If you’re going to the range and you don’t have a trauma kit and at least two tourniquets, I’m not so sure that you’re prepared to be on the range -VF 3:52 DS Says, “For a trauma kit, [I have] one on my gear, one on my body, one on my belt and one in my bag that comes out and stays near us wherever were doing training at that time. I usually have one on me, maybe two [at all times]. If I’m in my car I have a trauma kit, If I’m at home we have three kits placed in three different locations throughout the house… So, we do like our trauma kits in the Shaw family.”
In an emergency situation, seconds matter. You want to be prepared to help yourself and those around you with a fully equipped trauma kit. Here is an example of Varg's Emergency Bleed Compact kit equipped with a CAT7 TQ that fits into the bicycle frame bag perfectly.
6:14 DS Consensus says, “The most likely people to save lives in a mass casualty event are the on-scene responders, the people who’re right there, fumbling through the medical kits and [using the lessons] they’ve done [through] a basic stop the bleeding course… Keep your skills up and practice it, [because this is what will save lives].” Magazines 9:20 DS Says, “If I’m training with myself, I am not very picky about what magazines I use… if I’m shooting a Glock for example, I’m using Glock factory mags, BUT, if I’m going to the range, I have no problem with running some KCI, some ETS, even some SGM tactical, pro mag, some magazines we know are not the highest in quality…there are some magazines that just work better than others. Encountering a problem with your gun that you didn’t create, that you didn’t know was coming, is definitely a training opportunity.” Range Finder: Vortex Impact 1000 I was using for a long time – a vortex impact, under $300 bucks, great little range finder, accurate up to 1000 yards, I had good success with that. -DS Snivel Gear Prepare for the Weather
Functional fitness is an oft-used term, but what does it me an? And how does it apply to the self-defense minded person? That's the topic of Episode 162.
Home defense advantages: realistically, what are they? Pragmatically, what can you do to create them? Is there a "home field advantage"? Listen and learn.
Off body carry usually refers to the carry of a concealed firearm in an "off-your-person" location like a purse or a backpack. The method has pros and cons, which we'll discuss in this episode.
Episode GC-124: talking with Erik Utrecht from Michigan Defensive Firearms Institute about the aspects of a good firearms training class.No matter what role you may fill in a firearms training class, this episode is valuable to students and instructors alike.
We have lots of new, green gun owners taking responsibility for their own personal and family protection turning to forums and social media to gain knowledge and information. Often in the firearms industry, we see a certain kind of person who feels empowered and has a serious ego attachment to certain ideas and using the correct terminology. In this podcast, we dissect the self-proclaimed experts and terminology police, and talk about what our real priorities should be. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/159-Prioritizing_Knowledge_Over_Ego.mp3 Podcast Host: Daniel Shaw Co-Host: Varg Freeborn Transcriptionist and Producer: Leah Ramsden
Ego in the Firearms Community A Closer Look 1:35 DS explains, On one hand we say we need to get more new gun owners fighting for our Second Amendment…Then when they come along we get really mean to them when they call a magazine a clip. Where does this originate from? VF replies, "People craft this ability to only talk about things that they’ve learned the standard set of information about. You’ll notice that you won’t hear these people talk outside a few topics. The reason they do that is because they don’t know everything and they don’t want to be called out in the ways they call other people out. They create this world where they live in just a few topics and they’re willing to spend this unhealthy amount of time talking about these things when they could be learning about these other topics that they avoid. They could actually become proficient in the other topics, but they’d rather spend time calling other people out like they’re the terminology police of the gun community." Don't be a know-it-all by using terminology to cut others down. Instead, work on continuously improving your range of skills and transfer that knowledge. Prioritize the Right Information 5:30 I’ve had people come up to me at the end of class and say “Hey that new guy who’s never really shot a gun before and he came to your handgun class, he called this thing a clip – all day, and you didn’t say anything to him,” DS responds, "Well why would I? I’ve got a brand-new shooter; he just got a gun, he’s showing up, he’s getting a concealed carry permit, he wants to learn how to defend his family, I’ve got 2 days that are 8-9 hours each with hi to teach him how to fight, how to defend himself, how to think – I’ve got so much information I’m trying to get across to this guy. I’m trying to change his mindset… I have 0 time to stop and tell him what something is called. When I know he’s talking about a magazine, you know he’s talking about a magazine. Who cares? I’m just glad you’re here. Let’s get some important information out there and not take time talking about the stupid stuff." 7:40 "As a coach or instructor, you understand that a person has a limited amount of information that they can absorb at a time, and a good instructor prioritizes that information individually, based on the rate their moving at in their progression, their development, how they’re absorbing information. You learn these things over a couple of hours... If I start throwing terminology into this, about things that aren’t going to affect his performance right now, whether he calls it a magazine, a clip, or a black banana, I don’t give a shit what he calls it, but if he’s putting it into the gun properly, right now that’s what I need to focus on." "Find ways of actually prioritizing self growth and as you get that, help bring others up." - Daniel Shaw Daniel Shaw on the range during a Handgun Fundamentals course. Broaden Your Knowledge Base DS says "I hate when someone on the internet posts – oh well MY instructor teaches this. First of all, you lost me in that conversation because you said “my instructor.” That means you have one bank of knowledge you’re gaining from and one person is not going to have it all figured out. They’re going to have their own priorities,
Understanding personal or individual mission is crucial to effective self-defense: self-control is a vital part of that. What is your mission, and why?
Rifles were stolen from SPD vehicles by protesters during the Seattle riots recently; happily, a nearby close protection security officer snatched 'em back.
In this episode, I talk with seasoned Law Enforcement Officer Joe Weyer about interacting with an officer as a Concealed Carry License holder.
Varg and Daniel discuss how we hold ourselves back from doing the things we should be doing for ourselves, others, family or even careers by creating our own hurdles that make no sense to anyone but us.
If you want to see the live video version and join in on chats to ask questions and be involved in the live conversation, follow Daniel on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/danielshaw0369
If you want to support the show, you can use your free Twitch prime subscription that comes with your Amazon prime, to subscribe on Twitch. There is also a donation button on the Twitch channel and the best way to support the show is always to share it with your friends.
Stay safe.
Daniel Shaw and Varg Freeborn talk about how we can improve ourselves and our positions while some of us have a little more time on our hands than usual.
If you want to see the live video version and join in on chats to ask questions and be involved in the live conversation, follow Daniel on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/danielshaw0369
If you want to support the show, you can use your free Twitch prime subscription that comes with your Amazon prime, to subscribe on Twitch. There is also a donation button on the Twitch channel and the best way to support the show is always to share it with your friends.
Stay safe.
Byron Rogers and I talk about what Byron always loves to talk about – become a better person for all things in life through warriorship.
Dave “Boon” Benton and I talk about concealment. Most of you will recognize boon because he looks just like the actor who played him in “13 Hours – The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.” Boon is a guy who has had his life and other lives depend on him being able to conceal his firearm, intentions and skills and knowledge. Give it a listen.
If you want to see the live video version and join in on chats to ask questions and be involved in the live conversation, follow Daniel on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/danielshaw0369
If you want to support the show, you can use your free Twitch prime subscription that comes with your Amazon prime, to subscribe on Twitch. There is also a donation button on the Twitch channel and the best way to support the show is always to share it with your friends.
Stay safe.
Varg Freeborn is one of the most experienced men I have ever met in terms of observing violence and criminal behavior first-hand as well as being an active participant in violent encounters. His views, concepts, and ideas are straight to the point and well-articulated.
• See live video discussions, join in chats, or ask questions during future conversations by following Daniel on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/danielshaw0369
• More information, background, and learning opportunities: https://vargfreeborn.com/.
• Support the show! Use the free Twitch Prime subscription that comes with Amazon prime to subscribe on Twitch. Hit that donation button if you’d like, but remember: the best way to support the show is always to share it with your friends.
Stay safe!
[I teach mostly] things that have to do with fighting up close and personal with a firearm or loan and that is more likely geared towards civilians or lone patrol officers, that type of situation. So I try to stay very clearly in my lane, of experience there.
I have a lot going on, but it all has to do with coaching and making people stronger, better, safer, healthier, and harder to kill. Harder to kill: qualifications to instruct I try to stay pretty humble, so I’m not gonna get grandiose with this, but the thing that I think would make me qualified is that I talk from experience. When I talk and I teach from experience. I’m passionate about it because these are often things that either kept me alive or mistakes that I’ve made that nearly cost me my life ̶ or mistakes that I made that did cost me large pieces of my life that I can’t get back. So that makes it very important information to me.
So when I’ve passed that information on to other people, that information is coming from a very intense place. It’s not just something that was dreamed up in a dojo or on a range somewhere. It’s information that is driven by a personal experience that had a great cost. Violence, on the giving and receiving end…and going to prison. When I was 18, I was involved in a pretty serious fight… and I was cornered by three very intoxicated and high individuals that were in a very dangerous condition. I fought my way out of that and I ended up stabbing one of them a couple of dozen times. That led to me being charged, which also led to me, being locked up for five years in prison. So at 19, I began a prison stay that lasted for five years. So 19 to 24 I spent in the brutal world of the penitentiary.
That was a very enlightening experience…a very strong development in my life in terms of who I am…that shaped a lot of my views on violence, my views on fighting, and my views on criminal mindset…I was simultaneously one of them, and also an observer. A person who disliked the people I was around, which made me very tuned into what type of people they were, how they operated, watching every manipulative behavior, predatory behaviors, all of those things were necessary for survival. But also, I was driven by just my sheer dislike of these people. That made me have to understand how they operate. Violence, true self-defense, and fitness. You have to get a higher fitness level, but you can’t break yourself down and exercise so hard that you can’t move the next day. You have to be physically capable of fighting to protect yourself, your wife, and kids.
I was in prison during the “good old days”, when we still had free weights and we still had a weight pile and it was still a man’s prison. The fitness journey that started for me there was driven by the need for size and the need for strength, but also the need for speed and agility and readiness.
There was no going and doing a leg day until you can’t walk the next day, because that next day might be a day that you need those legs in a way that will save your life, right? So you learned real quick…and this was down to a science already because there was a generation of guys that have been doing this already,
In GC-151 I talk with Dean Sylvester about his company Primary Weapons Systems. I have been running PWS rifles hard for many years and thought you needed to hear more about why I do. PWS is not bashful and has an amazing and rare company culture of end users that shoot, compete and train with the products they make.
Gunfighter Cast is one of the top gun podcast on the web, we do our best to bring the quality thought provoking content that you want to hear.
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-150 Daniel talks about carbine Identifying and clearing stoppages and reloads.
Gunfighter Cast is one of the top gun podcast on the web, we do our best to bring the quality thought provoking content that you want to hear.
If you shoot enough you're going to run into problems. In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-149 I talk about how to identify carbine stoppages and discuss a couple of speed reload methods.
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-148 Daniel talks about handgun stoppages and reloads, Identification and clearances.
Gunfighter Cast is one of the top gun podcast on the web, we do our best to bring the quality thought provoking content that you want to hear.
If you want to catch a live recording follow me at www.facebook/danielshaw0369
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-147, Andy and I talked about the post engagement scan, what it is and what we should be looking for and thinking about.
Gunfighter Cast is one of the top gun podcast on the web, we do our best to bring the quality thought provoking content that you want to hear.
If you want to catch a live recording follow me at www.facebook/danielshaw0369
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-146. Andy and I spoke about visualization during training, training mindset and controlling emotions.
Gunfighter Cast is one of the top gun podcast on the web, we do our best to bring the quality thought provoking content that you want to hear.
If you want to catch a live recording follow me at www.facebook/danielshaw0369
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-145, I talk about the safety rules I have been using for a few years after finding flaws in traditional rules.
In GC-143 Joe Weyer and I spoke to Eric Stanbro from VanEss K9 and Lead Trainer for the Police K9 Association about free resources for dog training, selecting a family/protection dog and training and best practices for your dog.
In GC-143 Joe Weyer and I spoke to Eric Stanbro from VanEss K9 and Lead Trainer for the Police K9 Association about evaluating potentially threatening dogs and dealing with dog attacks.
Explicit!
In GC-142 I spoke with Jason Swarr of Straight 8 Photography and Skillset Magazine about living the life of an "Alpha" as well as life after the military and his mission in journalism for the firearms industry through Skillset Magazine that reaches outside of the normal scope of firearms related publications.
In GC-141, Gunsite COO Ken Campbell and I discuss influential trainers that have been at the academy and how to become a Gunsite Academy instructor.
GC-140, I spoke with Ken Campbell about the history and philosophy of Gunsite as well as what courses they offer armed citizens
In this LIVE episode of Gunfighter Cast, I spoke about my experience with the VP9SK, the cause of the problems and how the process continues. I also covered the Springfield Armory, Rock River,Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and SB-1657, debacle in Illinois.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-138, Rob Leatham and I talk about the new Springfield Armory XDE and get way sidetracked talking about training.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-137, Rob Leatham and I talk about how to detect and take and track your deficiencies and how to overcome them.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-136, Rob Leatham and I talk about the trigger press and prep or the jerk and reset. Stand by for more from Rob in the next few days.
In GC-135 Rob Leatham and I talk about aiming techniques and what it actually means to aim. Rob and I have had some interesting discussions recently about some of the myths and concepts that are propelled more through institutional inertia than through actual effectiveness.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-134, I spoke with habitual student, Cory Hupp. Cory has taken over 36 classes in the past two years, so we talked about taking training classes, what to bring and what to expect.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-133, Joe and I talk about planning for and constructing a safe room that could provide your family protection from a variety of threats.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-132, Joe Weyer of Alliance Defense Training and I talk about developing a home defense plan and offer ways to harden your home based on historical criminal attacks and burglaries.
Do you know what a good home defense plan looks like? Meyer recommends window and door preparation as well as an intentional layout of landscape and lighting. We also cover alarm systems and surveillance cameras.
But beyond preparing the structure of your home against invasion, what do you do when an intruder is in your home? Have you trained with your firearm? Does everyone in your family know the drill for such an event? Do you know your state laws and how to coordinate with dispatch and the police who come to your assistance?
Listen up and learn how to make your home defense plan.
This podcast was originally published in January of 2017.
Host: Daniel Shaw
Guest: Joe Weyer
Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell Home Defense | Harden Your Home and Develop a Plan Timeline 1:08 Home Defense: When you hear that bump in the night and you realize that someone's broken into your home — do you know what to do?
2:35 Where do you start?
• You need to have a plan.
·Consider the layout of your home. People who live in two-story homes will need a different plan than those who live in ranch-style homes.
·Make sure your doors and locks are 'hardened', the windows are kept shut, and that you have a good alarm system. Even so, it's not difficult for invaders to breach any door.
·If you're going to arm yourself, make sure you have training and are able to make decisions in defense of your family. Get yourself up to speed on the Use of Force laws in your state and be able to positively identify, for sure, whether or not the intruder is truly a bad guy. Make sure the firearm is stored properly and is easily accessible.
PC: Rick T. Wilking/Getty Images
4:47 How do you 'harden' a window?
·Make sure that the locks are in good repair and are engaged. Often, windows may be shut but not locked due to forgetfulness or even swelling that resulted from humidity.
·Put film on the windows, it can help resist when someone tries to break the glass. If installed properly, the film functions to keep the glass together instead of shattering. The film offers other benefits in the case of natural disasters as well by the same function.
6:36 Maintain the landscaping and lighting around your house. Bad guys like dark, shadowy areas where they can lurk undetected.
Image Source: Safewise.
·Keep a clean perimeter around your house so the neighbors can have a clear view from the street.
·Thorny bushes by the windows aren't really effective at discouraging invaders. They can easily be cut away and most people trim them a bit away from the house anyway, providing a space for the intruder to take cover.
7:37 How do you set up a good lighting system?
·Look at other houses and take note — you can tell the ones that are well-lit.
·Landscaping lights set around the house are effective, and they don't have to cost a lot of money. Some are solar powered, and LED lights are more cost effective than mercury lights.
·Mount the lights high so they illuminate the perimeter of your house, and can't be easily knocked out.
8:54 How do you 'harden' doors? Make it so difficult that they give up or realize that they've made so much noise that they abandon the effort.
·Replace wooden doors with steel doors.
·Switch the door from inward-opening to outward-opening. Doing so alleviates the ability for an intruder to just kick the door in, even if it's set in a wood frame. With set up, they have to bring tools — it's a deterrent. It's also going to be noisier.
·If it isn't an option to switch your door from a push door to a pull door, the two screws in the strike plate are the only barrier between the intruder and you. With standard doors, the screws are small and all the bad guy has to ...
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-131, Joe and I discuss firearms safety in the home for the defensive owner, but the concepts also apply to any type of owner of firearms.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-129, I spoke with Brandon Light from Thunderbird Firearms Academy about how to purchase an NFA item. I get a lot of questions about how one can obtain a suppressor or short barreled rifle, so we did our best to answer those here.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-128 Andy and I finish up the 3 part series on his book Warnings Unheeded and the events that took place on June 20th 1994 at Fairchild Air Force Base. In this third and final part, Andy and I talked about the psychological effects of violence and ways to deal and overcome.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-127, Andy explains the events that took place on June 20th 1994 at Fairchild Air Force Base. Andy made an amazing shot to take the murderer down, but the most profound actions were taken by every day men and women who risked everything to save lives and were successful in doing so. There is a lot to be learned here from the inspiration to get training and taking action to recognizing opportunities to take action and save lives.
In Gunfighter Cast episode number GC-126, I spoke with Andy Brown about the events and unheeded warnings that led to the mass murder incident at the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital that Andy ultimately ended. We focus heavily on the mental health aspects of how the incident could have been prevented and the take aways therein.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-125 I answered questions that I have been getting from listeners of the show and addressed a few on the spot as I recorded this live on Facebook. I talked about AIWB, armor, holsters, purchasing and helping someone purchase their first defensive handgun and more.
In episode GC-123 I spoke with Shawn Herrin about his SHOT Show experience and his podcast "We Like Shooting." If you don't already listen to We Like Shooting, go check it out.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-122, I talk about how the firearms industry is shifting despite many influences that are counter productive. This was also my first live recording of Gunfighter Cast and I plan to do those much more. Maybe next time I will have to correct microphone selected too.
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In GC-121 I got to speak with Cy and Lauren Hudson, the owners and designers of the Hudson H9. The H9 is easily the most talked about handgun so far for SHOT Show 2017 and it is the item that I am most excited about across all genres. Make sure you are following me on Facebook so you can see my first thoughts after shooting the H9.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-120, Paul Carlson of Safety Solutions Academy And I discuss how we can incorporate decision making into training as well as what we are doing and how you can follow us next week at SHOT Show.
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-119, Steve Fisher from Sentinel Concepts and I discuss everything one needs to know to enter the 1911 world. Contrary to what some people took from my video "4 Reasons I Don't Trust The 1911 with my Life" I don't hate 1911s. In fact, I am dedicating many hours, training sessions and classes to the 1911 platform to insure that my choice to not carry one is the correct one. I am interested to see what I find this year.
In Episode GC-118, Matt Lanfair from Primary and Secondary joins me to talk about the awesome stuff we liked in 2016. As usual, there was some additional discussion covering things you may care about. Thanks for being with me in 2017 and I can't wait to show you what I have planned for the year.
Discussed Items
Ukoala Bag
Law Tactical
PWS EBT MOD 2
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-117, I spoke with Massad Ayoob about safety. I have shot or helped or both on many occasions with Mas running classes. We do things differently in some ways and I don't see that as anything negative for either of us, because we have the exact same focus - student safety. Hear it from a man who has been teaching people to use deadly force longer than I have been alive.
This episode of Gunfighter Cast was made possible by Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code "Gunfighter" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase Bravo Concealment.
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If you liked this, you might like...
Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down: that's the guest for episode 116 of Gunfighter Cast.
⚠️ Warning: Explicit
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-116, I spoke with Chris Henderson (@Chris3DoorsDown) from 3 Doors Down about the video he recently released of a training event he attended over a year ago. The release was not intended to call anyone out or put anyone down, it was to simply spread information in order to help students make more informed decisions in the quest for safe and effective training.
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If you liked this, you might like...
In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-115, I interview Tatiana Whitlock who is a top-level firearms trainer in every sense of the phrase but also excels in reaching the fastest growing demographic in firearms training —Women. Tatiana breaks out of the typical schools of thought and practice and finds ways to truly reach ladies and get them excited about training.
Listen in as Tatiana and I discuss women's-only training classes, how the attitude toward women is changing in the firearm industry, caliber choices for training, and how instructors can meet the needs of their students.
Host: Daniel Shaw
Co-Host: Tatiana Whitlock
Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell
1:14 Who is Tatiana Whitlock and what does she do?
A highly regarded individual in the firearms world, Tatiana Whitlock is involved in product design and development consultation in the industry — especially in the women's market. As most of you already know, women are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the firearms industry. She spent a year as the Director of Training at Ann Arbor Arms Academy in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recently, she took over a range that's closer to home: Howell's Gun Shop in Maine. There, she's putting together a training program and academy. She also offers women's and open-enrollment classes at ranges across the country. And as if that's not enough, she also just joined GAT marketing as COO.
Still active as an NRA Spokesperson and part of the NRA Women's Network, Tatiana recently traveled to Texas to film a series of videos for NRA TV, which can be found on Apple TV.
3:25 How does women's-only instruction fit in the firearms training world?
As an example, Daniel mentions the founder of Fit to Fight, Ryan Hoover. He says Ryan's training assistant is his right-hand woman who will "kick your head off." She's strong, technical, and a hard trainer. Sometimes people ask, "What do you think about women in training and women's programs?" They say, "I don't teach women how to fight using 'woman style' or how to use a gun 'woman style'. We teach humans how to fight other humans. There's not a certain gun made for women. You don't have a car that's made for women. You are completely capable, 100%, of all these things."
Daniel says that though he's not a big fan of women's-only classes, he likes how they give women an opportunity to get their foot in the door to get comfortable. But beyond that, he wants to quickly get them into open-enrollment classes because they're not unique snowflakes or delicate flowers. He says they can throw down better than the rest of anybody else and he doesn't want to coddle anybody.
5:20 What does Tatianna think about womens-only classes?
Womens-only programs are like pink guns. Anybody who's been training for any amount of time tends to outgrow the color, fast, but it's a necessary evil because it's a big-selling color. With the growing women's market, catering specifically to women is a facet of the industry that can't be denied. So, those classes bring people in.
Tatiana asserts that there is a place for womens-only programs because they're a safe place for an entry-level person to get started. Those individuals may have a lot of hesitation. They're nervous, have a lot of anxiety, and they have big emotions surrounding interfacing with a firearm. The reason that a womens-only experience is a safe place to get started because even though the gun is super unfamiliar, a womens-only environment is familiar and not threatening.
In fact, Tatiana's first firearms class was womens-only. She signed up for an NRA Women On Target clinic. To attend the class, she didn't have to have a gun, ear or eye protection, or ammo — they provided everything. The class helped her quickly realize that a gun is a gender-neutral object and that the range isn't a good-ole-boys club, it's just a big chunk of trees and berms and grass and stuff. She learned that the range isn't scary or weird.
Instructor Zero Jeco Biccelli: What you don't know. In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-114, I conduct the longest interview Instructor Zero's history. We talked about the 2nd Amendment through the eyes of an Italian and contrastingly, the defense challenges inside the EU. Zero also answered questions that many people have asked, like why he wears the Aussie flag and a lot more. Instructor Zero and the Second Amendment "...basically, what I try to explain is that if you have a lot of shooters and you put all the sheep inside a pen, and you're going to remove the sheepdogs, you need to ensure that the wolf never gets inside. Otherwise, for the wolf it will be very easy to kill all the sheep. And this is what's exactly what's happening now in Europe..." IZ Support Gunfighter Cast If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audio books, start a trial at Audible.com today.
Want to know more? Check out another interview with Zero on Funker Tactical.
Aaron Cowan from Sage Dynamics and I discuss active shooter response concepts for the LE and the armed citizen as well as the two working together safely and effectively.
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In GC-112, I talk about why people typically shoot with less than desirable accuracy, how to train a proper trigger press and my thoughts on trends in defensive training that accept poor shooting.
Give it a try and let me know what you think.
The trainer I mentioned in Idaho is Houston Shaw and can be found at Shaw Shooting.
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Please leave a super awesome 5 star review on iTunes so other people can find Gunfighter Cast.
In GC-111 I talk to William Petty from 88 Tactical about his VCQB program, use and selection of cover and problem solving under stress.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode GC-110 I spoke with Writer for Recoil Magazine Matt Stagliano who owns and operates Firelance Media about firearms instructors and video content creators doing stupid and dangerous things. The conversation was spurred by someone sending me a message asking if a certain unsafe behavior by an instructor was normal and accepted.
This episode, I talk to Jaeson Rosa former team medic and US Navy diver turned executive protection medical guru. We talked about the MARCH Algorithm, TCCC, clotting and keeping blood in bodies and as well as other life saving actions.
Semi Explicit, Steve said a couple of bad works. The title doesn't do this episode justice. Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts and I discuss some negatives we are seeing, what it means to be a good firearms instructor and how the industry is beginning to police its own in a positive and productive way.
In GC-106, Daniel and Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts discuss RDS on handguns. Should you put a red dot on your pistol? Which kind? What mount? Listen up!
This episode Daniel talks about what he carries every day and goes over some ideas for components of a good hemorrhage control kit.
In Gunfighter Cast Episode 104 Daniel interviews Combat Veteran, Author, Public Speaker and Executive Protection Specialist Byron Rodgers about motivation, habits, finding purpose and how those skill sets factor into living a safer life.
Learn more about and from Byron and pick up his new book at Byronrodgersmotivation.com
To listen to the books we spoke about, get two free audio books with a trial at Audible.com
Update! As I stated in this episode, I had based my assessment of the situation on information released by public officials and news reports. I am now beginning to learn more detail on the events that took place that dreadful day at Townville Elementary from first hand accounts. I will be following this episode up with detailed and factual information as soon as it is compiled. There are many inaccuracies in the released reports and many news sources have told a story that is simply not accurate. I have now found numerous actionable lessons learned from this tragedy and my mission is to present them to as wide an audience as possible.
This was the most difficult episode of Gunfighter Cast I have ever recorded and I wasn't able to say even half of things that I am feeling right now on this tragedy. I hope it does not sound like the babblings of an idiot.
If you get nothing else from this episode, please understand this sweet boy that humanity lost today.
Family Statement
“Our son, Jacob Hall, who was shot at Townville Elementary School on Wednesday, died today surrounded by family at Greenville Health System Children’s Hospital. Jacob came into our lives six years and four months ago and changed it completely. He showed us how to love, laugh and smile even on days we did not want to. God gave him to us and he was taken away from us by a senseless act. We know that Jacob has already forgiven this child for what he did to him and his family because that's the kind of child he was. Jacob was sent to this earth for this short a period of time to show us that there is such a thing as pure love. Jacob is in heaven with God now and everyone who loves him. Words cannot express how much we will miss him.
We want to express our thanks and appreciation to the community for the outpouring of love and support. We also want to thank the doctors and nurses at GHS Children’s Hospital, who did everything in their power to try to save Jacob, and to Ms. Hollingsworth, who put her life on the line to try to protect and save Jacob. We also want to thank Preacher Blizzard and the staff of Oakdale Baptist Church, the Townville Rescue Squad, Townville Fire Department, Fire Chief Billy McAdams and all of the first responders. This is an extremely difficult time for our family, and we ask for privacy as we continue to grieve the loss of our beloved son. Funeral arrangements will be shared on Monday.” – Renae and Rodger Hall
Jacob's Mother just announced a "Super Funeral" for Jacob her "Super son". I am in awe of this family.
This episode of Gunfighter Cast was made possible by Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code "Gunfighter" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase. Daniel talks with John Correia from Active Self Protection about the ASP principles and concepts that can help people live safer lives.
Topics include
Attitude and mindset in training and during a fight. Skills and how one should take a realistic look at his or her abilities. Developing a plan for, training, safety, awareness and action
Check out John and what he does with Active Self Protection
If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audio books, start a trial at Audible.com today.
In this episode: tools and skills, EDC, what's in a good medical kit, and find training with Dark Angel Medical founder Kerry "Pocket Doc" Davis.
In this episode, Daniel and John finally get around to completing episode 100 as part of a re-launch of the Gunfighter Cast podcast. We catch up with the hosts and find out what is coming up in the future.
Recently John had an opportunity to go spend a few hours at the range with Scott Ballard to review the H&K VP9 9mm striker-fired pistol. They covered all the details of the gun from the slide to the magazines. They also fired some test shots to get an idea of how it felt, what the sights were like, and what they thought about the ambidextrous magazine release.
This review was recorded out in the field, so you'll be able to hear gun sounds (ahhhh, the sound of freedom!), wind blowing, and all the fun stuff that make for less-than-ideal recording conditions.
If you're seriously looking at buying one, you'll definitely want to listen to this VP9 review.
In addition to this review of the VP9, Daniel did a video review with Funker Tactical that you can check out.
Host: John McGregor
Co-Host: Scott Ballard
Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell
1:54 John and Scott are at the Sig Sauer Academy with Scott Ballard to look at the VP9 by Heckler and Koch. This is going to be of John's first impressions, but Scott's had a little more experience with it.
2:28 Disclosure, John works for Sig Sauer so any time he is evaluating a firearm from another manufacturer, feel free to take it with a grain of salt. He wants to get some kind of initial impression. He's been shooting it for a few minutes now and thinks he has some valid opinions on it (or will have shortly), but Scott's had a lot of experience with it.
3:00 Scott says they were evaluating it for some protective security details, and they actually did choose the VP9. It met the needs. That being said, it was a European detail and H&K has a much better following over there. Interpol and Europol use H&K P30s. That P30 heritage gives the VP9 a boost in that arena because though it's not the same thing, it is a derivative of the H&K P30. In fact, it's actually very close.
The bottom end feels exactly like a P30. The grips, the different grip panels on the side, the backstrap, and mag release are all P30. It even uses P30 magazines. So, transitioning over from the P30 to a striker-fired gun, they did their homework.
The P30 was traditional double action. They had four different versions. Scott says the one they worked with was the DA/SA with the decocking lever button on the back, left of the hammer.
When it comes to the slide and stuff like that, quite a bit of the VP9 is exactly the same as the P30. Scott thinks H&K wasn't necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel, they were just trying to get a good striker-fired gun. But remember, they're no strangers to striker-fired polymer. They made polymer guns long before Glock ever did. A Close Look at the VP9 Slide 5:27 Aesthetically, the VP9 is a nice looking gun. For John, coming from a background of Sigs, it's definitely different from what he's used to.
Sights 6:19 According to the H&K website, they worked on the VP9 design for four years. They describe it as having an HK Light Pull trigger. The model John and Scott are using for this review is the civilian version. The sights are different than the version seen in Daniel's video review. He had the VP9 with LE sights. The sights on the civilian version are not tritium, they're day-glow. The rear sight's also more of a straight ramp so it wouldn't be that great for hooking that rear sight on any gear, whereas the LE rear sight has a little bit more of a ridge.
7:23 Scott mentions other sight options. He says that Heinie, Trijicon, Meprolight, and 10-8 Performance all have good sights. For Scott, the glow in the dark part of the sights are like glow in the dark toys. On his guns, he pops them out real quick, no different than if you buy a Glock. The sights have got to go.
So if Scott was going to carry the VP9, he'd switch the sights out. The nice thing is that they're dove-tailed in and it's a quick change. Cocking Striations 8:11 Looking at the slide, it's got cocking striations on the front and back.
The purpose of Gunfighter Cast is to discuss firearms equipment and training as it relates to self-defense from a military, law enforcement and responsible citizen perspective. Daniel Shaw, retired marine infantryman, current Director of Training for Thunderbird Tactical, 406 N Seneca, Wichita KS (316)613-2336. John McGregor, retired from full time law enforcement in 2014. Currently […]
The purpose of Gunfighter Cast is to discuss firearms equipment and training as it relates to self defense from a military, law enforcement and responsible citizen perspective. Founder, Host and Producer: Daniel Shaw, retired marine infantryman, current Director of Training for Thunderbird Tactical, 406 N Seneca, Wichita KS (316)613-2336. daniel@gunfightercast.com Host and Producter: John McGregor, […]
The purpose of the Gunfighter Cast podcast is to discuss firearms equipment and training as it relates to self defense from a military, law enforcement and responsible citizen perspective. Daniel Shaw, retired marine infantryman, current Director of Training for Thunderbird Tactical, 406 N Seneca, Wichita KS (316)613-2336 John McGregor, retired from full time law enforcement in […]
This episode Daniel talks with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman about what motivates evil humans, threats, veterans, and more. You can sign up for the Wichita Sheep Dog Seminar for Churches or find one in your area HERE Join other Gunfighter Cast fans who are supporting us with reoccurring or one time donations HERE Take a […]
This episode, Daniel talks with Erik “Trek” Utrecht about his upcoming 2000 mile bicycle ride to raise awareness as well as donations for the Brian Terry Foundation. I will no longer be placing the buckle on Ebay. I’m now giving away two Gunfighter Cast Aegis Enhanced buckles by Ares Gear, one to the person who […]
Explicit! Daniel speaks with two of the stars from the animated reality show Half Cocked by Primary Weapons Systems. Dean and Carrie then stepped out of character to talk about PWS reliability, company culture, and 2nd amendment responsibility. While you’re at the PWS YouTube Channel watching the Modern Musket Video, check out Half Cocked to […]
John McGregor and Daniel Shaw return with this thought provoking and profound episode…just kidding, there is not much to it, but we have a heck of a lot coming so subscribe now and check back next week for the next episode. Take a few minutes and check out the products from FirstSpear and if you […]
Getting all Christmasy and taking a chapter from Kenn Blanchard’s podcasting book by singing carols in this episode of Gunfighter Cast. Just kidding, we talk about all things suppressors and attempt to dispel some myths and general misinformation surrounding these stocking stuffers. Support Gunfighter Cast by downloading Vitals of Defense HERE. Get the episodes you […]
This episode of Gunfighter Cast, John finishes up his interview with Scott Ballard from Sig Sauer Academy talking all things 1911. Sig Sauer Academy Paratus Academy Paratus Academy Facebook Warrior Summit Sponsors Ares Gear Dark Angel Medical G-Code Holsters Souls Harbor
This episode of Gunfighter Cast, John sits down with Scott Ballard from Sig Sauer Academy to have a very long talk about the ins and outs of the 1911. Sig Sauer Academy Paratus Academy Handgun Vitals I and II in Utah August 10th and 11th. Register here Paratus Academy Facebook Warrior Summit Sponsors Ares Gear […]
In this episode of Gunfighter Cast, John and Daniel talk about the choice between training properly or training for competition. There is mention of NASCAR, Kilts, Highlander, Justin Bieber, and of course Sig handguns. G-Code RTI Video Sign up for this weekend’s (June 29-30) Paratus Academy/Safety Solutions Academy course in Ohio. Sponsors Ares Gear Dark […]
Daniel Shaw and John McGregor discuss their personal choices of zeroing ranges for the AR platform and the gained benefits from choosing the right range for you. Vitals of Defense 2 Day Safety Solutions Academy and Paratus Academy handgun course Travis Haley Adaptive Carbine Sponsors Ares Gear Dark Angel Medical G-Code Holsters
In this episode, Daniel talks with Paul Carlson from the Safety Solutions Academy about preparation through training. Paratus Academy Two Day Handgun Course June 29th and 30th Warrior Summit
In this episode of Gunfighter Cast, John and Daniel discuss what has been going on with them and why Daniel has not been available to podcast.
In this episode, John talks with Scott Ballard of the Sig Sauer Academy. Scott has an extensive background in Executive Protection (EP), and talks about EP training and how it relates to self defense training. www.aresgear.com http://darkangelmedical.com/Training.html www.modernserviceweapons.com One Handed Pistol Operator: http://sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ShowCourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=237 Protective Shooting: http://sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ShowCourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=239 Principles of Personal Survival: http://sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ShowCourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=229
This episode, Daniel sits down and talks current 2nd Amendment attacks and how we should respond, as well as news from SHOT show with Ron Larimer of the Balloon Goes Up Blog and Paul Carlson from the Safety Solutions Academy. You can find links to the foundations that defend our God given right to protect […]
This Episode of Gunfighter Cast, John McGregor and Daniel Shaw wrap up the past year by thanking our Sponsors Ares Gear and Dark Angel Medical as well as the many guests that have joined us on the show in 2012. We plan and hope for an even bigger and better year for Gunfighter Cast and […]
In this episode, John talks with Kerry Davis of Dark Angel Medical. Kerry discusses how and why he got involved in tactical medical training, as well as his training and products offered through his company, Dark Angel Medical. www.darkangelmedical.com Dark Angel Medical can be found on Twitter @Dark_Angel_Med Kerry’s email address is kerry@darkangelmedical.com www.aresgear.com www.blanchardmediagroup.ning.com
Daniel goes solo and talks about The Professional Code of Defensive Shooting Instructors. A Code for Professional Defensive Shooting Instructors http://www.aresgear.com http://www.darkangelmedical.com
This episode of Gunfighter Cast, John and Daniel discuss the double/single action pistol and how they feel it is still a great handgun option. www.aresgear.com www.darkangelmedical.com http://blanchardmediagroup.ning.com/group/gunfighter-cast www.nolatac.com Shirts http://www.gunfightercast.com/wordpress/gc-shirts/
Daniel and Brannon talk Brannon’s resume, Preparedness, Haley Strategic Partners, and NOLATAC. www.aresgear.com http://www.haleystrategic.com http://www.nolatac.com http://www.shelfreliance.com
In episode GC-076, John and Daniel discuss purchasing plans in light of the election results and how those results impact gun-loving consumers.
Daniel Shaw and Jon Hodoway discuss all manner of things ranging from Gundudes, to firearms instructors, and optics. Jon also invites Daniel to Nighthawk Custom Training Center to hold his first carbine course. Be sure to vote for Gunfighter Cast for best in education for the 2012 People’s Choice Podcast Awards http://www.podcastawards.com Ares Gear www.aresgear.com […]
John and Daniel talk Chipmunks, hover boards, gravity guns, and Zombies. Brought to you by Aresgear.com
This week, we discuss the before, during, and after effects of using deadly force. Daniel wasn’t a mic hog at the beginning, we just lost John’s audio for the first couple of minutes. On Killing http://www.amazon.com/On-Killing-Psychological-Learning-Society/dp/0316040932
John and Daniel discuss one handed pistol manipulations. www.aresgear.com http://blanchardmediagroup.ning.com/group/gunfighter-cast http://clawrearsight.com
In Gunfighter Cast episode 071, John and Daniel discuss the pros and cons of various firearms, lights, and ammunition in home defense scenarios.
In this second episode of the Home Defense Series, John and Daniel discuss options for body armor on a budget and talk a little about armor itself. www.aresgear.com GC-031 Gear http://www.galls.com/ https://www.uspalm.com/products/armor.html
John and Daniel discuss ensconcing in the home and give a few ideas for your plan. http://www.aresgear.com
Daniel Shaw and Rob Pincus discuss the MP7A1 article in issue 4 of Recoil Magazine. The thread on TFL http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5213228#post5213228 Dump Recoil Magazine Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/DumpRecoilMagazine
Daniel and John discuss precision pistol sooting and its application. Article we discussed Armed Citizen in TX Stops Shooting Spree and Saves Cop by Making 150+ Yard Shot With a Pistol BMG Freedoms Network http://blanchardmediagroup.ning.com Ares Gear http://www.aresgear.com
In GC-066 Daniel covers the story behind the AK-47, general characteristics, some faults, and the variants from the original 47 to the 100 series.
Rob Pincus joins us to talk about Fit Shot and other Rob Pincus things. http://www.aresgear.com/ Home http://www.facebook.com/PersonalDefenseNetwork http://www.facebook.com/groups/icetraining/ http://www.facebook.com/FitShot
In this episode, John and Daniel discuss daily carry options and ideas. Get the Gunfighter Cast App for your Apple Device at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gunfighter-cast-mobile/id528965809?ls=1&mt=8
John and I talk about our experiences with the impact Sports Howard Leight Electronic Hearing protection. I didn’t know what the show was going to be about until about 30 seconds before I hit record. Once recording, I let John know. I think it showed. http://www.howardleight.com/ear-muffs/impact-sport–2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earmuffs
John and Daniel answer listener email questions. Links to discussed sites http://www.mil-dot.com/ http://www.opticsplanet.com/
This episode Daniel talks body language with Mike George from Homeland Security Solutions Inc. http://www.homelandsecurityinc.com/
The Gary Sinise Foundation http://www.garysinisefoundation.org/ http://www.stitcher.com/ Through Stitcher, on your mobil device, search for CATO Institute and scroll to the stand your ground discussion.
John and Daniel discuss warning shots, answer listener email, and present a scenario to talk about in the next show. Join us in the scenario discussion at http://gunrightsradio.com/forums2/index.php/board,69.0.html
John and Daniel cover the OODA Loop principle. Link to LA Police Gear backpack http://www.lapolicegear.com/diplomat-3-day-backpack1.html
In this overdue TacTrack, John talks about his most valued lessons from his mentor George Harris.
This week, John and Daniel remind you to have fun and give you a few tips on how to do that.
This week we begin our new weekly feature we call a Tac Track. John talks about training for the double tap engagement technique. Link to Stitcher Radio http://stitcher.com/listen.php?fid=18821 Link to Support Gunfighter Cast http://www.gunfightercast.com/wordpress/support-gunfighter-cast/
This episode John and I separately recorded our answers to a few questions that had been emailed to us by listeners.
This is the second show released this week (call it IDPA week), so if you missed episode GC-051 go back and get it. You Gundudes listeners will be familiar with the guest on this episode. You can get more from Steve on the Gundudes podcast. If your not listening to them, you’re missing the funniest […]
Scott and Sara Peacock join me via Skype to talk about getting your significant other out at an IDPA match, carry options for women, and of course skinny jeans came up.
John and Daniel discuss range safety. No skinny jeans were harmed in the production of this podcast. Link to Daniel’s thank you note. http://www.gunfightercast.us/2012/01/26/a-thank-you-and-a-cause/ Link to Daniel’s “how to not shoot yourself post”. http://www.gunfightercast.us/2011/11/28/how-to-not-shoot-yourself-by-daniel-shaw/ Link to Tex Grebner shooting himself video. If you liked this, you might like… Range safety: listen to more discussion.
Inlight of the recent shooting that led to the death of an ATF agent in New York, John and I discuss ideas to help prevent a similar senerio from happening to you. its a tough topic to takle, so I hope we did it justice.
In the first episode with GC’s new co-host John McGregor, we discussed back up guns, skinny jeans, and how buying your wife a Bersa .380 could lead to divorce.
I sat down with Carl and Stan to talk about the MAG-40 Class. I had more fun than is healthy that week. Thank you Gundudes and thank you all who helped get me there and back home.
George Hill and I talked about this in an earlier episode of GC. He made a quick post on this on his blog that inspired me to give it some attention on this show. In light of another attack on US service service members in the continental United States, I think its time to take […]
Eric and I discuss Project Gunrunner/Walker (The Fast and the Furious) Resources for this topic http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/ http://www.downrange.tv/podcast.htm Eric’s Podcast Daily Talk on Pistols, Rifles, & Accessories
George and I talked about his new book Uprising USA and where its going along with some other zombie/gun rhetoric. http://www.amazon.com/Uprising-USA-George-Hill/dp/1618080156/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312622017&sr=1-1
This show I had a talk with Stan from the GunDudes show. We talked about what we have going on with guns and the upcoming GunDudes MAG-40 class.
I recorded this a while back. I covered what I did in guns, slipstream weapon lube, and hits some listener email. Link to Crusader Weaponry/Slipstream http://www.crusaderweaponry.com/shop.php?id=1 Link to Adventure Medical Kits http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/ Link to SIRT Pistol http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=126840&CAT=251 Nike Sensor can be found at best buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Apple&%23174%3B+-+Nike%2B+iPod&%23174%3B+Wireless+Sensor/9401408.p?id=1218099253370&skuId=9401408&cmp=RMX&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=9401408 Nike Plus site http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/language_tunnel/
Aubrey and Daniel discuss what a new responsible owner of firearms needs to know. Safety Rules http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp
Aubrey and Daniel discuss the SIRT training pistol and give an intro to the next show that will be released in the next day or so. If you decide to purchase a SIRT pistol, please let the seller know you heard about it here. http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=126840&TERM=sirt
All clear for now in Okinawa, thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. My friend neighbor Kalem who lives in the apartment above me is stranded at Narita airport in Tokyo and was there for all of the massive earthquakes. I was able to get him on the line via Skype to talk about […]
Look for new micro cast periodically throughout the day and the next day or so as my family and I await an imminent Tsunami and prepare for the high possibility of more earthquakes. I have gotten numerous emails and face book messages from listeners and friends checking on us and want you all to […]
In this episode I talked about getting into molding kydex. I forgot to mention how I sit on a C4 satchel charge crate to press the foam in order to mold the kydex to the shape of a knife. I also failed to mention that the bottle I was talking about for my wife […]
This is the first half of a two part interview with Rob Pincus, I hope you enjoy. You can find Rob and his work at http://www.icetraining.us/
Here is the link to the Warhammer that George mentioned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws5LbAQiYso
George and I hit it off from the get go, I hope you enjoy the back and fourth between us. Here is a link to the amazing folks at the Rohrbaugh forum that took care of me in a big way. Again, thank you so much, your gift was right on time. http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/
The Training and Trainers series is started off with an interview with Massad Ayoob and Gail Peppin representing the Massad Ayoob Group. About http://proarmspodcast.com/
In this show I answered some listener email and announced the winner of the Sure Fire weapon light give away. There are details at the end of the show on how you can win a free Maxpedition Versipack Manta.
In this episode I talked about gear and ways to set up your rig. Particularly chest rigs and components. I also announced a raffle for a Sure Fire millennium series weapon light. All you have to do is send GC $10.00 to enter. I have four ladies T-Shirts to give away as well. Details in […]
I covered Hotel, Home and family security and answered questions on painting gear and choosing a first handgun.
In this commercial free episode, I talked about surveillance detection/reaction, Air travel, ground travel and general recognition/reporting of suspicious activity.
Episode one of the Anti-Terrorism series. In this show I gave an overview of the series and touched on a few basic themes.