Whether you use the words kidnapped, abducted, or taken makes no difference. You’re in the hands of “bad guys,” you must get away fast, or your life could end anytime. Knowing how to escape your captors could very well be the difference between life and death.

Escape Your Captors!

Although this may sound like a movie plot, it could very well happen to you in real life and when you least expect it. Being forcibly taken away from the security of your world and being held as a hostage is something that most people don’t even consider throughout their everyday lives, but they most certainly should.

Prepping for such a scenario includes gathering various items to aid you if or when you get taken. These include hidden handcuff keys, thin blades, razors, signaling tools, and tracking devices. Explore all the info below and create your own “escape kit” that will leave your captors scratching their heads when they discover you are long gone!

Mini Handcuff Key

If a kidnapper uses handcuffs to secure you, it’s a bad thing, but that’s only if you don’t have a universal handcuff key hidden on your body. In the United States, most law enforcement agencies use a standard key for unlocking handcuffs. This makes it easy to quickly unlock captured individuals without worrying if the receiving agency has the correct key. 

This fact can work to your advantage if you always carry a handcuff key. This small item, which should open ninety-nine percent of the handcuffs in the US, can be hidden in your belt buckle, in a pouch inside your cap, or even hidden in your pocket watch pocket (Yes, that’s what that small square pocket in jeans was initially used for) so it will be accessible if taken.

For obvious reasons, avoid placing it in your wallet or anywhere you’ll be searched for valuables. This key can then be used to disengage the cuffs and allow free movement of your arms, which in turn can facilitate your escape.

Razor Cutter or Blade

Yes, many people will say a knife is ideal for cutting ropes or thickly wound duct tape from your body, and they would be correct. However, even the smallest pocketknife has some bulk, and if searched, it would surely be taken away, so it’s time to use a razor. Individual razor blades or box cutter-style blades are both extremely flat and easy to hide on the body. 

They could be in a front pants pocket and completely overlooked even if searched. Additionally, they can be stuck (with double-sided tape) to the inner side of your belt, under the cushions in your footwear, or slide down one of your socks. What makes these blades exceptional is their cutting power. They will slice through cordage and tape in seconds without any loud noise or excessive effort. Hide several on your person in case your primary is discovered. This will aid greatly in the escape from your captors.

Lock Pick Kit

Padlocks, deadbolts, or essential stock door locks can stand in your way to freedom. Carrying a lock pick kit can help you overcome the barriers and help you escape. These days, lock picks can be found in very compact packages that can be easily carried on your body. Some lock-picking kits fit inside a footprint no larger than an average credit card, with the tools being magnetic, easily removable, and replaceable onto their metal base. 

Like most other skills, lockpicking must be practiced well before an incident occurs. Numerous books, videos, and other sources can help you learn the basic skills needed to open locks of all types you may encounter if forcibly taken by others. Also, be wary of the quality of the kits you choose. Not all are created equal, and a poor-quality set that fails after one or two uses won’t be any good to you when your life is on the line. 

Signaling Devices

Personal GPS devices can be used to send a signal to friends, family, and the authorities if you are abducted. The smaller, the better, of course, because your captors are less likely to find them. Some units come in the form of watches or pendants, which can be carried “in the open” and may go unnoticed. 

Others are small enough to be clipped to a person’s clothing or bags (although the bag would most likely be separated from the person). Depending on the model, GPS devices offer many valuable functions, including live tracking, a movement alarm, and an emergency button, which can be pressed at the first sign of trouble. Be sure to research when shopping for a GPD device to purchase one that suits your personal and family needs. 

Cordage

Zip ties are a go-to form of restraint that kidnappers could use to control and immobilize you after your abduction. They are easily bought at hardware stores and come in extra-long and super-strong varieties when “zipped.” Yes, there are ways to use physics to break zip ties rather than brute strength (which can be impossible for most people). However, specific body positioning is needed, as is being discreet around your captors, two conditions that aren’t the easiest to experience in most kidnappings. 

Carrying a length of cordage, especially incredibly strong and thin Kevlar, can be your answer to sawing through your ties. The coiled cordage can easily be stored at the bottom of your pants pocket and retrieved when needed. Using a back-and-forth motion, the cordage will cut through the plastic ties using heat and friction and allow you to free your hands and feet.

Training is training, right? Some things can be done alone, and some require at least one training partner. Sometimes, getting a group of like-minded individuals is what we need to keep us energized and going. So, I am going to evaluate the differences between group and solo training and the benefits of each.

Training with a Group vs On Your Own

I mean, sure, we can go to the range alone, lift a certain number of weights alone, and spend a weekend in the woods alone brushing up on bushcraft skills. Sometimes, solo training is best. It gives us “me time” and allows us to clear our heads or ponder things that we need to do.

Life can be frustrating, and there are times when going into the garage to do some bag work can be the release we need to drop negative energy and get on with our day. I used to run five days a week, and I ran alone—it was great. That runner’s high at the end was amazing, and I didn’t have to be concerned about anyone but myself.

As far as combatives go, there are some things that can be practiced alone. However, ultimately, having at least one good training partner is optimal. In today’s article, we will discuss some drills and concepts that can be done solo or in a group training environment.

Keep in mind that, in the end, solo training is better than not training at all. Let’s dive in.

Solo Training

In the martial arts world, there are “Katas” and “Forms,” and interesting enough, I have even seen “gun kata” videos on YouTube. Kata are basically just a set of drills that one can practice alone. They build form, strength, speed, agility, and technique.

The “pros” of practicing kata are that it can be beautiful, is good exercise, and creates a lot of focus. The “cons” are that it can be filled with outdated or useless moves that cannot be transitioned into today’s reality-based fighting concepts or mindset.

However, think of “katas” as solo drills. They do not have to be 105 movements long or have you flipping around like Master Yoda or Jackie Chan. I’m not saying that either option isn’t cool. Drills can literally be 3-5 move combinations, sidestep, parry/block, takedowns, and counter strikes.

Some options for solo training tools are hanging or free-standing punching bags, BOB dummies, wave masters, a Wing-Chun dummy, or even a tree or stack of used tires. With any of these options, you can practice punches and kicks, and knife and stick work. (When doing knife training, it is best to use training knives so you don’t cut your bag.)

If you want to practice using unconventional weapons like swinging a hammer or golf club, have at it. You can practice deploying a blade and targeted attacks on pretty much any of these training targets.

If you want to practice grappling or ground and pound, you can easily get some mats and a wide variety of grappling dummies online. I like to stalk Facebook Market Place and try to find deals on these things. However, they can be pricey even when you find a deal.

Con: No Live Feedback

The downside to solo training is there is no live feedback. No one is resisting you or trying to hit you. In my opinion, when it comes to self-defense, you need a live partner to spar with, do takedowns, and disarms. Someone who is going to push, press, and test your defense if you don’t block or move.

Group Training

Group training is my favorite. To me, there is nothing better than successfully stopping someone from punching or kicking you in the face. Well, maybe there is. But you get my point.

I mainly teach seminars and workshops now, and I enjoy seeing a group of people go one-on-one or train with multiple attackers. It is fun to watch how they transition from move to move and tactic to tactic when pressed.

Training with a partner means that you, at minimum, have someone to do mitt work with. Likewise, they can hold a punching bag or kicking shield and punch you and yell at you to hit harder.

When we do group training, we work everything from boxing drills to bag work, kicking, stick and knife work, groundwork, sparring, and take-down defense. We also run self-defense drill lines where the defender must counter unrehearsed repeated attacks from attackers of every shape, gender, and size.

There is always a crazy amount of energy. Everyone is giving each other a positive push to grow and increase their skill levels. This is something that you can’t do alone. Your training partners can knock you down, tell you to get back up, and show you where you can improve.

My recommendation is to find a couple of good people to train with and enjoy a meal or drink with after a training session. Nothing beats a good training brotherhood, even if you are only in it to blow off a little steam.

So, which is Better? Group Training or Solo Training?

In my opinion, you need to do both. Solo training can help you build the strength, skills, and speed needed to be a good group training partner. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is a beginner at everything until they get good at it. But no one enjoys stopping to help correct someone every two minutes.

If you and your training partner are both beginners, hire a private instructor. Have them work with both of you until you get to the point where you can be self-sufficient and work on your own. Even after you get good, there is always something new to learn, especially in a group setting.

There are many benefits to solo training and even more to group training. Some people may feel like they don’t need a training partner outside of YouTube videos. If that suits you, then it suits you. Me? I get bored easily and need to feed off group energy. It keeps me motivated. Iron sharpens Iron.

Even the most experienced, skilled, and tested fighter can benefit from working with others. Humans are meant to be a part of a tribe. Find your tribe and build it. Watch how quickly your skills can grow when you learn how to play well with others.

Learning to control your force is also a great benefit in group training. Don’t be “that guy” who tries to hurt and submit everyone in the class. Otherwise, you will find yourself heading back to solo training.

Until next time, train hard and stay safe out there.

My grandfather was a scratch golfer and the first man I knew to build his own clubs. It was a strange hobby for a man who already owned enough clubs to outfit the PGA, but one that I generally ignored. That is until one fateful summer afternoon when the cursing I heard emanating from his shop finally piqued my interest.  

Searching for the Perfect Hunting Rifle

I stepped inside to find my grandfather standing at his work bench, sweat pouring down his face as he berated the new Kevlar fairway wood that wouldn’t quite go together.  

“Another three wood?”

“That’s right.”

“Why build another one when you already have so many?

As a Harvard trained engineer, my grandfather gave notoriously longwinded explanations, which in retrospect was probably the reason I’d never asked him about his obsession with building clubs he already owned. But this time his answer was short and to the point.

“Well, when you are playing a game of inches, factory clubs will only get you so close.”

I’d like to say that I understood what he meant, but his answer hit my preadolescent mind like a Zen koan. A 1980’s version of “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” Still, I sensed there was some germinal truth to his words. A seed plated deep in the recesses of my mind. One that would gratefully germinate many, many years later with the purchase of a secondhand rifle.  

To Build or Buy

To build or buy?  It is an age old quandary.  One born of missed deer, heavy rifles, and the innate sense that THE perfect rifle is just waiting to be found. My wife calls it an addiction. I call it a hunter’s manifest destiny.  

There are three approaches to solving this problem. The first is what I call the Tier 1, and it is the journey I took when I bought a 1980 Remington 700 BDL .30-06 off Gun Broker. As far as secondhand guns go, she was a looker. Inlaid walnut stock. Richly patinated bluing and a trigger that broke like Tiffany China. Beautiful.

Unfortunately, looks are only skin deep, and besides threatening to dislocate my shoulder every time I shot it, that rifle was incapable of holding a zero. These days I would have chunked the damn thing, but for some reason I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it out.  

Luckily, a friend of mine knew a gunsmith in Wyoming who could build a rifle around the action.  

The Gunsmith Build

Ten years ago, this was how you built a custom rifle, and not seeing any other way, I made the plunge. After a few phone calls talking about the purpose of the rifle, different calibers and components, we settled on a .280 AI, and all that was left was to send the action and the parts we’d agreed on out to his shop.

Now there are pros and cons of having a gunsmith “build” you a rifle. On the one hand, you are working with an artist, and he is going to make sure you get exactly what you want in a rifle. 

Caliber, check. Barrel, check. Trigger weight, stock, color, length of pull—everything fit and trued down to the last millimeter. The goal is absolute precision, and my guy in Wyoming delivered in spades. But it wasn’t cheap, and after parts, shipping and labor, I was the proud owner of a $4,500 rifle.

And I still had to buy a scope!

Factory-Custom Builds

If you balk at paying that much for a rifle, you aren’t alone. Hell, even I cringe when I look at the number I just typed. Lucky for you, companies like Seekins Precision have stepped in and filled the void and created what I call the Tier 2 level.  

Now to be clear, this ranking is based on affordability, not quality. Seekins is a company that stands on their motto: “Quality comes standard.”  Don’t believe me, check out the components the use in their Havak PH2. 

Their rifles come in just about every caliber you can think of, and their custom shop allows you to build a rifle that fits your hunting style. However, the lower price point comes with less control than what you would get working one on one with a gunsmith.  

Still, saving money on the rifle allows you to spend more on the scope!

High-End Factory Builds

Finally, we come to the high-end off-the-shelf models. These are companies like Tikka, Howa, Weatherby and Bergara.  All of which offer sub-MOA rifles that will be a giant step above what you will find at your local sporting goods store.  

I’ve always preferred a lighter, shorter rifle, which is why I was drawn to Bergara’s Wilderness series. The Ridge in particular captured my attention, and its accuracy, action and fit it punches way above its weight class.

But that’s not to say Bergara won’t take more of your money.  

Now THAT’s a rifle!

In the end, rifles are like tattoos; you get what you pay for. That said, you don’t have to blow the bank to get what you want. If you are looking to take your hunting to the next level and invest in a high-end rifle, my suggestion is to take your time. Check your options and find the rifle that fits you and your hunting style–the perfect hunting rifle for you. Then when you have made your decision, get what you want, because it’s always best to Buy Once, Cry Once. 

There’s no real, definitive guide for being a Best Man. However, there is plenty of opportunity to learn how to write and deliver the perfect Best Man speech once you’ve been chosen.

The Best Man is a real sweet spot in a friendship between two men. He is the time-honored position of a friend who can both plan a rager of a bachelor party and be trusted to speak in front of your family—without the bride filing for divorce the next day. 

A lot is riding on the Best Man. He’s not just there for moral support. The role is to be the chief enforcer of the wedding. He’s there to ensure the groom shows up on time, keep the wedding on track, rein in the other groomsmen, sign the marriage license, and most importantly, give a banger speech at the reception. 

Frankly, no one cares what the maid of honor has to say, and everyone already knows what the parents think of their children. If you don’t know how to be a Best Man, the biggest thing you need to master is this speech. Everyone will be looking at you to deliver a knockout before the champagne starts flowing, and there’s a good chance your speech will be the last thing they remember before the DJ starts the Electric Slide.

Here’s everything you need to know about delivering a one-two verbal punch that will make even the bride think she might have married the wrong man.

The Perfect Best Man Speech

1. Stay Sober.

Everyone gets a little nervous before speaking in front of a crowd. It’s a well-known fact that humans are generally more afraid of public speaking than facing their own death. There’s nothing wrong with having a drink to calm your nerves so you can focus on the speech instead of the crowd, but be classy about it. Don’t shotgun a beer, and avoid any drink that sounds like it was named in an Orlando tourist bar. 

What we’re trying to say is do not deliver this speech while drunk. You may not think you sound drunk, but everyone else will. Nothing ruins your best friend’s special moment like slurred words, involuntary spitting, or “accidentally” saying something inappropriate. If you mess up this speech because you’re drunk, you will forever be remembered as your buddy’s alcoholic friend. Like everyone else, you can start the party after the Best Man speech, which brings us to the next tip.

2. Keep It Short and Sweet.

Not to steal any thunder away from your moment, but the party starts when you’re done talking. The beer is cold and only getting warmer. The food is warm and only getting colder. Some people showed up to the wedding just for this reception. Family, friends, well-wishers, and all of the bride or groom’s exes invited as a flex are all waiting on you to wrap it up.

As Shakespeare is believed to have said, brevity is the soul of wit. You aren’t Shakespeare, but you could get close. Think of it: the Gettysburg Address is arguably the greatest speech ever written and delivered, but it took only two minutes to give and was just 272 words long. Rambling like Donald Trump at a MAGA rally might be easier, but you aren’t running for president, and this party’s not about you. 

Luckily, that’s where the “sweet” part comes in. If you can insert yourself into a critical memory of how the bride and groom started their relationship, this is where to humblebrag about that moment. Maybe you know when they first met, first started dating, or when he decided to pop the question, tell that story from your point of view. If nothing else, you can tell the crowd how it felt when he asked you to be Best Man and how excited you were to be part of the special day. 

3. Memorize It.

Did you ever see JFK stand to give a speech while fumbling with his notes? Did Ronald Reagan flip through some pages before telling Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall? No, because notecards are for the weak. This is another reason to keep it short: No one will be excited to see a Best Man stand up with a stack of notebook paper to deliver a speech.

Someone giving a speech that day will inevitably use notes, which will be terrible. “How to Be a Best Man 101,” tells us that standing up and delivering your thoughts from memory –  with a smile and only a drink in your hand – before raising your glass to the bride and groom is peak elegance. The contrast between you and the person with notes will only make you look better. Remember: this is why you have the title of Best Man. 

4. Be Real.

Sometimes, in our alpha, double-alpha, and sigma male-oriented world, we might forget that there’s a place for being honest and heartfelt, even if it makes you tear up a little bit. There’s no shame in sharing a personal story and getting emotional about it. It’s a celebration of your friend finding his true love. So steal his thunder and make your speech the most memorable moment of the reception by sharing a personal reflection about your friendship.  Besides, the bridesmaids are watching, so be sincere. It’s a panty-dropper. 

5. Practice.

You can (and should) practice the speech many times before the moment. You were likely given months of advance notice that you were the Best Man. Even if you didn’t know how to be the Best Man, there was plenty of time to learn and prepare accordingly. The speech should be the first thing you finish; once finished, it should be something you practice every day until you can both recite it from memory and nail down your body language. 

No one will expect you to give a Winston Churchill-level speech at your best friend’s wedding, so imagine how surprised they will be when you do. The most skilled public speakers, from Barack Obama to Adm. William McRaven to Tony Robbins, have at least one thing in common: they practiced their most important speeches to the point that they look effortless. 

6. Look people in the eyes.

Have you ever tried to talk to someone who will absolutely not make eye contact with you? It’s kind of uncomfortable at first, but eventually, it just gets very unnerving. Your audience will feel that way, too, if you avoid making eye contact. To give a great Best Man speech, it’s imperative you make eye contact.

You memorized the speech, so there’s no need to look at notes. Make eye contact with the audience while delivering an oral bombshell that makes Abraham Lincoln look like an amateur. When you’re talking about the groom, look at him. Of course the same goes for talking about the bride, look at her. When talking about finding true love, look at the prettiest single woman in the room and talk only to her: the next wedding could be yours. 

While these suggestions were designed to help a struggling man rise to the level of Best Man at a wedding, most of this advice can be used while giving remarks almost anywhere. Need to say a toast at a birthday? Use these steps. Are you forced to give a speech to receive an award at work? Most of these apply there, too. It’s a surefire way to be the most memorable moment of any event, but especially a wedding – even when you’re not the one actually getting married.

Now that you understand how to nail the perfect Best Man speech, you need to start planning: The Ultimate Bachelor Party

While the vast majority of people likely watch the Summer Olympics for gymnastics, swimming, track & field and other mainstream events, shooting events allow shooters from around the world to test their skills against the very best in the world. Seldom, however, do they receive much media attention compared to the likes of typical Olympic sensations Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky.

Yusuf Dicek & Kim Yiju – Olympic Sensations

This year that trend has changed somewhat. While the U.S. shooters have largely struggled so far at the Paris competition, two shooters from other countries have become overnight internet sensations. And the reason why is because of their compelling, out-of-the-ordinary stories.

Yusuf Dicek

Likely unknown to many from his home country of Turkey, Yusuf Dicek has become nearly a household name around the world thanks to his winning a silver medal in the air pistol team even in Paris. Dicek’s shooting prowess isn’t so much what has drawn the attention, rather it has been his equipment used while competing and the interesting backstory on how he took up the sport.

First, the equipment. While most of the shooters in the air pistol competition are decked out in fancy regalia, wearing large hearing protection devices, specialized shooting glasses and visors or blinders over one eye to help with focus and to reduce the glare of the lights, Dicek shoots in a t-shirt and his regular, everyday glasses. Even better, the 51-year-old Turk stands in somewhat of a strange casual position, aiming his pistol with his right hand with his left hand in his pants pocket.

Watching him stand on the line looking like a grandpa at the local range is uninspiring until you see him make precise shot after precise shot. And that precision helped catapult him to a silver medal.

Say What Again …

https://t.co/0BYOzWF7gb pic.twitter.com/o5314lSr7m

— JagermaN (@JagermaNz) July 31, 2024

His backstory is equally compelling, however. The true story is that he began shooting competitively in 2001, after he started working as a non-commissioned officer for the Gendarmerie General Command. He’s a five-time Olympian who previously competed in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.

The not-so-true story that quickly made its way around the world wide web was more compelling. According to that account, Dicek was a mechanic who just started shooting a few years ago after a particularly difficult divorce. And according to the internet spin, while on the podium accepting his medal, he said to his ex-wife, “Sharon, if you’re watching this, I want my dog back.”

While the fake story is more exciting than the real account, Dicek nevertheless is now undoubtedly the most famous Turkish pistol shooter to ever compete in the Olympic Games.

Kim Yeji

South Korean air pistol shooter Kim Yeji came about her internet fame in much the opposite way as Dicek did. She shot somewhat poorly and didn’t collect a medal. But in her shooting setup, she looked like something out of a science fiction movie, drawing a lot of interest from viewers around the world. In fact, one of the best descriptions I’ve read of Yeji’s appearance was that she looked “like something between an expert diamond dealer and a crack sniper for some renegade sci-fi army.”

A little woman with a big pistol, Yeji wears a specialized metal glasses frame. Suspended in front of her right eye is a lens that looks like the ones you look through at the optometrist to determine your prescription. A small card with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic rings is suspended in front of her left eye. 

The cool factor resulted in her getting nearly as much notoriety as Dicek did—a fact that was a huge surprise to her, especially given her subpar performance.

Yeji Goes Viral

same pose. same aura. insane pic.twitter.com/2zX3iiorxT

— Michaela (@Michisugussy95) July 30, 2024

“I made a big mistake this time and created a big event,” she told reporters. “I feel very apologetic toward the many people I must have disappointed, and I feel very sorry toward the people who must have had high expectations.”

She added: “I am very grateful for the love and interest people have shown me. For the next four years, I will train harder and repay you all with better results at the L.A. Olympics.”

Not a big social media user, Yeji said all of the worldwide attention surprised her.

“I don’t usually use a lot of social media, so reading all the DMs, one by one, and all of them are in different languages because the messages came from many different countries,” she said. “It hurt my head, and before the competition I told myself to exercise some self-control. Now, I’m wondering if I should respond to the messages.”

In the end, Yeji said it didn’t “feel real to become famous.”

“I don’t understand why people loved me to that point, but I just feel grateful for everyone’s love and encouragement,” she said.

Who has heard of the legendary Thunder Ranch? No, I’m not talking about saddling a horse and going for a ride. It’s a “shooting ranch.” This is the place where people go to learn how to be more proficient with a firearm. A place where you learn to become a modern “Jedi” with a firearm—if you have an open mind.

What is Thunder Ranch?

Thunder Ranch is the type of professional training facility where you leave your pride and ego at home. Don’t bring it/them with you. If you do, then you will be humbled very quickly, as these instructors are some of the best that I’ve ever seen.

They are known to have conducted training for members of the US Military and LE units at the tip of our nation’s spear. Not to mention training with Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, and other “cool guys” at the very sharpest tip of America’s spear. That’s a pretty impressive resume.

Thunder Ranch is located in Lakeview, Oregon, up in the mountains. It is surrounded by forest and mountain peaks, a truly breathtaking sight. Two long-time students recently purchased the company. Nothing has changed, though, except for an increased opportunity for courses.

Clint Smith is a legend in the firearms community and is the founder of Thunder Ranch. If you’ve never seen a guy in his 70s out on the range barking commands and training future generations of American Sheepdogs, it’s an amazing sight.

This man has forgotten more about firearms knowledge and tactics than most of us will ever know. He then imparted that knowledge to his wife and his staff, and it shows.

A Fully Qualified Staff

Clint is still teaching, although he didn’t teach the range portion of this three-day class. But he did teach the classroom portion and the walk-through of the Terminator 3 Shoot House. His staff taught the range portion of the class.

We had his right hand, Jack Daniel, as well as Brandon White and Colton Miller as instructors. Watching these guys shoot was just absolutely incredible, a true reality check. Now granted, this is what they do every day, so naturally, they are going to be exemplary shots.

Thunder Ranch has a staff of mixed backgrounds, from the US Military to active and retired Law Enforcement to lifelong shooters and students of Thunder Ranch. Jack, Brandon (both LE backgrounds), and Colton ran this Defensive Handgun 1 Red Dot course and were very patient.

They took the time to work one-on-one with any of the students who needed the help. The class was small, only 12 of us, so it was a great learning experience. It is fair to mention, though, that Thunder Ranch limits classes to 14 students per class.

Before proceeding to further instructions, the staff made sure we were all good with the previous block of instruction. This was followed by the command, “Top Off and Drink Water!”

The targets from our block of instruction don’t lie. I made the mistake of thinking that my new 25-yard zero wasn’t quite right when we were shooting up close and personal (7 yards). Sure, I thought I knew my holdover, but I was pretty humbled once Jack took my pistol and shot roughly one hole with three rounds. There’s that word again.

We also conducted offset drills to show the different offsets of the red dot and iron sights.

A New Era of Defensive Shooting

It’s no secret that America’s Police Officers, in general, are not the best shots with a pistol. And some are even worse with a long gun. I’m not poking the Thin Blue Line in the eye here. I spent a career wearing a badge and have nothing but respect. However, I’ve seen plenty of my fellow LEOs who were barely able to make minimum qualifications.

That being said, I’ve always been a pretty good shot because I invested the time, money, and sweat. But there is always room for improvement, hence my “open-mind” approach to attending these schools.

The Thunder Ranch Defensive Handgun 1 Red Dot class was very enlightening. I learned that the old LE and NRA ways of shooting were not the best way to shoot defensive handguns anymore. As Dylan once said, “The times they are a-changin’.”

My results were proof enough. I started out with good hits but not good or tight enough groups. I tried it the Thunder Ranch way and was awestruck with the results. As an experienced shooter with roughly 27 years of carrying a pistol, both on and off duty, I learned that I was not shooting up to my full capabilities.

I opened my mind, allowed the information to flow in, applied it, and learned that there actually was a better way of shooting a handgun.

Class Prep & Gear Selection

Before attending one of these classes, it’s always best to check the local weather conditions. Even if there’s thunder and lightning, training will still happen, so dress for the weather. Bring lots of sunblock and bug spray, as the mosquitoes can be relentless depending on the time of year.

Thankfully, there is a 5.11 store near me. So, I went there for some pants and T-shirts made for the range and a hat for the class.

Gear is very important—don’t cheap out. Literally, every person in the class had a battle belt of some kind. I chose a 5.11 Maverick Battle Belt as it was available in-store for immediate purchase and fit my needs. It worked like a charm, and I’m very happy with it.

As far as holsters go, my go-to company for most holsters is G-Code. Their XSR Level 2 Duty Holster is absolutely perfect for an exposed carry holster. It’s got some good retention, but not as serious as a level 3 LE duty holster.

Anyone who might be curious about different retention levels should know that if you practice on a regular basis, you will defeat them subconsciously when you draw. It will become muscle memory after a while.

When I carried my issued duty gun in a Safariland Level 3 duty holster, I could clear leather fast enough to make John Wesley Hardin proud. If you practice hard, you will develop that skill over time. The G-Code XSR Level 2 Duty Holster is perfect for that task.

Handgun Selection

Deciding on a pistol to bring for this class was an easy choice. I’ve had a custom, tricked-out Glock 19 (Gen4) that has been a safe queen. Since I don’t believe in safe queens, it came out to get the royal treatment at Thunder Ranch.

Glock is S-L-O-W to get with customer suggestions and implement change. It is one of my favorite hand heaters, no doubt, but in its factory form, it is left wanting.

Dialing in the Pistol’s Performance

The best place so far that I’ve found to perfect what Glock won’t is Continuous Precision, located in Milford, MI. This company has it going on!

The absolute best Glock trigger I’ve ever used is the company’s “Enhanced Duty Trigger,” bar none. It’s approximately 5-5.5 lbs. but feels so smooth. You can easily take it to the wall and let off without cranking off a round—perfect in my opinion. On the other hand, you can pull it all the way back and feel how crisp this trigger really is.

In addition to the trigger, it was further accurized by swapping in a Wilson Combat match-grade drop-in stainless-steel barrel. Continuous Precision had Great Lakes Custom Works stipple an aggressive pattern into the grips. I want to be able to hold that beast in the worst of circumstances, whether “sweaty, muddy, or bloody.”

Continuous Precision cut up the slide so it would be easier to grip it no matter the circumstances. Likewise, it can be racked off of any surface, including a bad guy’s face and clothing. People have asked if carrying it next to the skin is uncomfortable, but it’s not too bad. You get used to it.

Continuous Precision was kind enough to send this Glock out for some personal touches. This included engraving the rose and shield from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in D.C. on both sides of the frame. The company also painted the slide in a distressed Thin Blue Line custom paint job.

It’s special to me as I know a few of the brave officers whose names are engraved on that wall. It was a tribute to them, as well as all of the other good cops out there. Not to mention a reminder of my time spent chasing bad guys and taillights.

Mounting a Red Dot Optic

It’s a red dot class, right? So, we need an optic. My pick was the Holosun HS507C-X2 w/the ACSS Vulcan reticle. I’ve long been a fan of Holosun and their optics. I know, “Made in China” is not very desirable, but it’s all about quality control.

I’ve got this same optic on a Krebs AK Pistol that is missing two of its solar panels from a total beatdown test of that AK. A metal file, a rasp, some paint, and that Krebs AK is still a mean machine. That same Holosun HS507C-X2 is still on it to this day, missing solar panels and all.

If you want the ACSS Vulcan reticle on this Holosun, it’s only available at the Primary Arms website.

A light was mandatory, so the Streamlight TRL-1 HL weapons-mounted light was chosen for the job. Its 1000 lumens were perfect in the low/no-light shoot house without bleaching what was in front of me. The beam on this Streamlight did the job nicely.

Day 1—Class Is in Session

Day 1 started with classroom instruction and what I like to call “Mindset Therapy.” If you are squeamish, can’t take ball-busting, curse words, or feel the need for a cry room, then sitting in a class with Clint Smith is not for you.

The man is a walking HR violation, but he’s realistically honest, and that’s what’s important. He makes me feel right at home, like I was back in my old Airborne unit, and the old timers are teaching a lesson. It’s always taught with colorful language and a banter of surprisingly creative metaphors.

Hey, that’s how I learned the best rifle training in the world as a U.S. Paratrooper. Clint reminded me of those old grisly NCOs that we all truly respected and even feared. Not a finer instructor on the planet, though.

He covered a wide range of subjects in class, from “Don’t shoot fast, shoot good!” to “Communicate, Move, Shoot” and a host of others, while pounding home safety, all with a realistic approach to training.

After the classroom instruction, we broke for chow and then met up on the firing line. Jack, Brandon, and Colton were all there to work with us and teach us some basics. They covered the presentation of the pistol with proper grip, sight alignment, trigger pull, and recovery.

It was truly amazing watching Jack tell me to aim at the target, put my finger on the trigger, and then let him pull my finger back to send the round downrange. All without losing my sight picture or letting it move. To my surprise, the rounds were pretty much all touching in a tight cluster.

We did lots of drills and lots of reloading.

Day 2—More Rounds, More Better

Day 2 was more of day 1 on the range with shooting and movement instruction. Communication, movement, and proper shooting techniques were all drilled into us. We set and confirmed zeroes on our red dots and did more shooting. I brought 1,000 rounds with me and shot all but a box or two at Thunder Ranch.

I will say that the Fiocchi Range Dynamics 9mm 100gr Frangible ammo was amazing to shoot. It is surprisingly very clean-burning ammo. I ran a bore snake through my pistol every night and was amazed at how clean it still was. As long as I did my part, those Fiocchi Freedom Seeds were all in nice, tight groups.

During lunch, Jack put on an impromptu tourniquet class for us, which we all found very useful and were thankful for. Then, it was on to more training.

We wrapped up Day 2 with Clint taking us through the Terminator 3 Shoot House, giving pointers on the next day’s live fire inside.

Day 3—To the Shoot House!

Day 3 was more shooting out on the range, followed by more drills. We also shot steel from 50 yards and then 100 yards from the prone firing position. Nobody was getting up until they hit steel. It’s a rewarding feeling and a sure confidence booster!

Then, it was on to the shoot house. Each person went one-on-one with Colton as a coach through the Terminator 3, engaging the bad guy(s). It was a rush, for sure!

After the shoot house, we ran some more drills and then had the daily wrap-up of dry fire exercises. This was followed by another safety brief.

Before dismissal for the day, Heidi Smith congratulated and handed everyone their certificates. After class, Jack, Brandon, and Colton all volunteered to stay and work with anyone who felt they needed additional instruction.

The Takeaways

My takeaway from this class is that it’s nothing short of amazing. You aren’t treated like some random student when you attend Thunder Ranch. You are treated like family.

Seriously, some of us ate our lunches in Clint and Heidi’s kitchen. That’s how relaxed the environment is in the downtime there. Everyone is polite and very professional. Well, unless you screw up. Then you may get a “Clintism” in your direction while everyone else laughs at you, not with you—a very important distinction.

We learned the comparisons and contrasts between exposed and closed emitters on various optics (one window vs. two windows). The closed emitter is viewed as best, especially for duty in inclement climates. I can see why, given that it’s easier to keep the glass clean and none of the electronics are exposed.

However, in contrast, I can see the value in a single window exposed emitter optic such as the Holosun HS507C-X2. I’ve literally sent that thing to hell and back, and it’s still working like the grunt it is. It’s also slightly smaller.

The instructors ran a mix of optics (open and closed emitters) depending on the firearm they happened to be carrying at that time. Logic says that a proper pistol optic should have its battery accessible without having to separate the optic from the slide, regardless of the manufacturer.

Realistic Training at Thunder Ranch

Volumes could be written about the various Thunder Ranch courses that are available. It’s an impressive place that has some of the best firearm instruction one can get. Likewise, it’s for serious shooters who are serious about becoming better in the field of marksmanship.

Thunder Ranch teaches realistic logic-based training with a professional approach. After all, you invest the tuition, ammo and gear, travel, hotel, and food, so you want great instruction, right?

After attending a Thunder Ranch class, you will be amazed at what you learn and find applicable in your own daily life and training. I took my son there and am looking forward to seeing my daughter learn from the Jedi Marksmen at Thunder Ranch as well.

Time and money well spent for a priceless education.

For more information, please visit ThunderRanchInc.com.

B&T recently announced the next generation of its 3D-printed Rotex and SRBS models launching within the Print-X family of suppressors. Easily identifiable, the suppressors come bead-blasted with a gray finish and unique tube texturing.

B&T Print-X Suppressors

A low-flash endcap delivers an industry-leading flash suppression, according to B&T. Patent-pending Star Baffles, now 3D printed, provide less backpressure and greater sound suppression.

“The improvements made to our 3D printed SRBS and Rotex suppressors within the Print-X family are examples of how our customers and end-users continue to reap the benefits of our R&D team continually pushing what is possible in both material and design,” said Chris Mudgett, Vice President of Marketing for B&T USA. “As a suppressor manufacturer with nearly 700 different suppressors, it’s safe to say our engineering team refuses to leave well enough alone and our products are in a perpetual state of advancement to ensure our customers receive the most cutting-edge technology possible, providing them with a substantial advantage in the field.” 

Print-X Family Details

The Rotex and SRBS suppressors builds utilize laser bed fusion techniques. They come in both 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO caliber, constructed of either 100% titanium or 718 Inconel. Both models come fully weldless, reducing weight and failure points.

Print-X suppressors ship with B&T’s Rotex-SF HUB assembly. It delivers compatibility with all B&T Rotex flash hiders, along with all of SureFire’s SOCOM flash hiders, Warcomps and muzzle brakes. The Rotex-SF HUB is machined from titanium bar stock. NATO-Spec A2 and direct-mount HUB assembles are available as accessory items.

For more info, visit bt-usa.com.

Unfortunately, there are numerous people out there who want to take what’s yours. Some of the slimiest of those are pickpockets. These guys or girls make a living out of snatching valuables directly off your body without you noticing. Well, that stops now! Using the tips below, you can thwart these professional thieves and ensure they leave your presence empty-handed.

Avoid Pickpockets by Being Aware at All Times

It should go without saying that a person needs to always be aware of their surroundings. Not only for pickpockets but for any potential trouble. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and people often make themselves an easy target.

Pickpockets scout out their targets, looking for anyone confused, lost, overwhelmed, carrying multiple things awkwardly, or exposing their valuables for all to see. Easy prey catches the predator’s eye, and it’s game on.

To counter this, a person needs to practice situational awareness. This means scanning their area as they walk, walking confidently with their head high, and keeping all valuables secure and hidden on their person (more on this later).

The less you look like a victim, the greater the chance the pickpocket will move on to an easier target.

Location, Location, Location

A pickpocket can only snag items or cash that are easily accessible. However, regrettably, a lot of people don’t take precautions to “fortify” their valuables. As a result, when given an opportunity like this, a pickpocket will take your stuff.

An unzipped purse, a partially exposed wallet, or electronics in flimsy cases or tucked in an exterior backpack compartment are easy pickings. It’s your job to make snatching your items difficult for a professional.

For example, store your wallet in your front pocket. Likewise, never leave items where you can’t see or feel them. Finally, never have your purse open and easily accessible.

Additionally, if carrying large amounts of cash, store them in multiple places on your body. This way, if you do fall victim, the thief won’t get everything you have.

Wear the Right Gear

Bags and packs are like candy to a pickpocket. Often, people put their wallets or other valuables zipped up inside their bags/packs and think they are safe. They are not.

First, the bag is usually out of the carrier’s line of sight—backpacks are slung over two shoulders, and other bags are over one shoulder. It doesn’t take much for a professional pickpocket to “bump” the victim, unzip the pocket, and steal what’s inside.

They are so good at their “job” that some people may not even feel or notice that anything was stolen until much later when the pickpocket is far from the scene.

If you can’t do without your backpack, then opt for a pickpocket-proof version. These offer zippers that face the wearer’s back with no access to sticky fingers.

If you don’t go this route, then be sure to rotate the pack to the front of your body and “hug” it when in crowds. This way, you are always in control of your bag/pack and its contents.

Avoid Crowds and Pinch Points

When at all possible, don’t let yourself get sucked into a crowded area. Stay on the perimeter of the event, crowded street, or tight club or bar. Likewise, allow some space between yourself and others.

Compact crowds are a pickpocket’s hunting ground. They can target you, bump you (you probably wouldn’t notice with everyone else bumping you, too), and be long gone in an instant.

Pinch points are areas such as walkways, stairways, or anywhere foot traffic slows in a confined area. These pinch points allow a pickpocket to snatch and grab quickly and then flee as the traffic starts to flow again. Not to mention, many pickpockets know how to move through a stalled crowd and disappear.

Gear To Thwart Pickpockets

As mentioned, backpacks with inaccessible zippers are one way to thwart a pickpocket. But there are other means to further protect your valuables.

Money belts worn under clothing are nearly undetectable and almost impossible to pick. They should be used for large bills, important credit cards, and personal papers that you cannot afford to lose. Smaller bills and cards used for small purchases can still reside within your wallet. But you still want to keep your wallet in your front pocket, not your back.

Other protective measures include pouches that hang under your clothing and around your neck. Likewise, there are caps and hats with secret compartments to store bills or credit cards.

A good resource for clandestine apparel is Wazoo Gear.

Common Sense Is the Key

There is a fine line between being cautious and paranoid. However, by taking preventive measures—like carrying pick-resistant gear and wearing clothing that doesn’t invite a thief—you’ll be just fine.

Add situational awareness to all of this, and you will not appear like a helpless victim. As a result, would-be pickpockets will look elsewhere for a more unprepared target.

CHATEAUROUX, France (Aug. 2, 2024) –Sagen Maddalena, of Groveland, California, earns silver in Women’s 50m Smallbore Rifle Aug. 2 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Chateauroux Shooting Rage in France. Maddalena earned the first U.S. Olympic Shooting medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sagen Maddalena Earns First US Shooting Medal at Paris Olympics

“This is really special,” said Maddalena, a sergeant in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. “There are no words to describe the opportunity coming to fulfillment.”

Maddalena, the 2023 ISSF World Championship bronze medalist, had an outstanding roller-coaster of a final. She started off the three position final strong in kneeling and prone where she consistently led the pack.

Going into the final position of standing, Maddalena was in first place overall. In her first series of five shots, she fired off an 8.1 and an 8.6, dropping her down from first place to fifth. After the second five shot series in standing, the bottom two athletes were eliminated.

When asked how she shakes off bad shots, Maddalena mentioned that she accepts making a mistake, knows to not dwell on the mistake, and trusts her process and herself to get back on track.

Maddalena Battles for Silver

Athletes moved into single shot eliminations where Maddalena shot an incredible 10.8, moving her back up to first place. Maddalena fluctuated between the top three spots during the single shots and found herself in a shoot off with Qiongyue Zhang, of China, for third place. Maddalena shot a 9.9, beating Zhang’s 9.7, leaving China with the bronze.

Madalena secured her silver medal after Chiara Leone, of Switzerland took her final shot and had an overall score 464.4, just higher of Maddalena’s 463.

Maddalena, a University of Alaska Fairbanks alumni, placed fifth in Women’s 50m Smallbore at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she made her Olympic debut. The crowds in Tokyo were minimal dude to the COVID-19 pandemic, a clear contrast to the crowd in the finals hall today.

“It was really hyped up in a good way,” Maddalena said. “To shoot a good shot and hear the stands erupt was awesome. It pushed me a little bit.”

View official results here. The U.S. Olympic shooting team is looking to add more medals to their count.  View the full schedule of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games here. Follow @USAShooting on Instagram, Facebook, and X to stay up to date as the team competes in Paris 2024.

Story by Brittany Nelson, USAS Public Relations & Communications Manager

Executive Protection Specialists, aka bodyguards (a term they typically hate, by the way), are responsible for protecting the lives, reputations, brands and often the families of their principals — plain and simple. They are professionals who have undergone extensive training and vetting. They pride themselves on their professionalism and discretion. They’re highly skilled and experienced in conducting ongoing threat assessments, identifying safety and security hazards, handling the entourage (sometimes referred to as strap-hanger management), and delicately advising their principals not to do stupid stuff. 

What is an Executive Protection Specialist?

Consider this dilemma. It’s around 10:00 p.m. in Brussels, and the principal and his family are in their suite. I’m going over the next day’s schedule when there’s a knock on the door. It’s my principal, the easily recognizable Mr. Dignitary. 

“Hey,” he says. “Let’s go out.”

I accept the last-minute request because, well, that’s how this works. The schedule is the principal’s, not mine.

“All right, sir. I’ll get a driver and one more agent, and we can go. Where to?” 

“No, just you and me. I want to go down to Rue d’Aerschot,” he says with a sly smile.

“Uh, that’s the red-light district, sir.” I tried to sound grim and foreboding. Besides being concerned about the high crime rate there, part of my job is to protect his reputation, remember?

 “Yeah, I know,” he says, more than just a little irritated. And I don’t want my wife or the staff to know, so have your guys make up something to tell them. I don’t care what. Just make it believable.”

Bodyguard vs. “Buddyguard”

This is where the difference between being a bodyguard and a “Buddyguard” comes in. I can be close to you, I can be your confidant, I’ll safeguard everything important to you, and I’ll be friendly but not familiar, but I can’t be your friend. I’m a professional, which means I live by rules, and Mr. Dignitary is asking me to violate two of them. First, I’ll be your best friend until you become your own worst enemy. Second, I’ll die for you, but I won’t lie for you. My reputation is on the line, too, and I try to avoid any situation that puts both me and the principal at risk of injury or embarrassment. 

A principal will take advantage of Buddyguards. Suddenly, they become just another member of the entourage and wind up doing things way outside their areas of responsibility. Soon, they’re walking the principal’s dog, picking up the girlfriend and lying to the wife about it, and, in extreme cases, facilitating drug dealer access. And when the personal relationship goes sour, as they sometimes do, lawsuits are filed, and the Bodyguard runs out and threatens to air all the former client’s dirty laundry. The former client then claims victim status, blaming the Buddyguard for everything bad that’s ever happened. Ever been in a bad breakup? Yeah, it’s like that. Ultimately, it’s better for the clients that security personnel do not cross that professional line.

Oh, Those Pesky Paparazzi

         Mr. Pop Star is with his entourage. No one from the so-called security detail took the time to walk the route beforehand to see what was ahead and pick a different route or at least clear a path; the whole group wades right into a mass of fans and paparazzi. Fans are excited. They’re crowding Pop Star. Photographers are taking pictures up close and personal. Things are stressful. One photographer is determined to be particularly irksome, so Buddyguard thumps the photographer a few times at Pop Star’s behest. Chaos ensues as the Buddyguards muscle Pop Star through the crowd. Pop Star gets bad press, the photographer gets sympathetic press, and Buddyguard gets 15 minutes of fame and a criminal charge along the way. It was a productive night for all involved. The problems that can arise from the lack of professionalism in this example are obvious.

Hiring a Bodyguard

So, you just got that recording deal, and you’re headed out on your Rockstar tour. Or maybe you’re a newly promoted CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Maybe you’re a Hollywood actor who just finished your first big movie, and now everyone knows you. You need security. Here’s what to look for in an executive protection specialist:

• Highly trained in protective intelligence and risk assessments. 
• Utilizes Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques to constantly assess threats.
• Trained in mitigating safety and security risks to avoid dangerous situations.
• Calm demeanor and proficient in defusing tense situations.
• Will work diligently to save you from embarrassment or compromising situations.
• Has the ability to use force but also the discipline to escalate only to the level necessary and only when needed.

The downside is that these folks are focused on their mission. They won’t get distracted by partying with you, arranging hookers for you, arranging drug dealer transportation, or taking your spouse shopping so you can partake in extracurricular activities. They won’t lose objectivity by becoming just another part of the entourage. These things just get everyone in trouble, sooner or later.

But you don’t want the killjoy bodyguard who just wants to protect you? Okay, here’s what you want when hiring your Buddyguard:

• They’re big and scary-looking. Why worry about formal training?
• They’re confident they can get you out of any situation. Who needs all that pesky advance stuff?
• They believe in personally bonding with you, and the best way to do that is to party with you!
• Your happiness and comfort are important. After all, someone has to make sure your pill supply gets backstage.
• They’ll go out of their way to insert themselves into your private life as much as possible. Who will protect you better than your best buddy? At least until they’re not your pal anymore, but why worry about that? 
• They don’t run from a fight, and they don’t back down. They aren’t afraid to walk you right into that crowd, smack down anyone who pisses you off and take on the lawsuits that follow.

Executive Protection Specialist

         Returning to the original dilemma, Mr. Diplomat was politely explained what the ramifications of his ill-advised escapade would be if he were recognized or caught in a very awkward situation. After some thought, he decided that maybe an evening in with the family was a better choice. 

Helping the boss make good choices and avoiding a whole bunch of drama? Priceless.

The Kimber Rapide Ice is a striking blend of precision craftsmanship and high-performance functionality. It was designed for those who seek excellence in their firearms. With its distinctive aesthetics and advanced engineering, this pistol promises not only to meet but exceed the expectations of enthusiasts and professionals alike.

The Kimber Rapide Ice

In this review, we’ll delve into the specifics of the Rapide Ice, exploring its design, features, and performance. We will also see if it lives up to the high standards of Kimber’s renowned reputation. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a collector looking for a standout piece, the Kimber Rapide Ice offers an intriguing combination of style and substance worth considering.

Available in .45 ACP or 9mm, Kimber’s Rapide Ice is the newest addition to the Rapide line of 1911s. The pistol carries on a legacy of performance, dependability, and classic good looks. While easy on the eyes, the Rapide Ice isn’t your average safe queen—it was built to withstand rigorous use.

To stave off wear and tear, the slide and frame are crafted from high-quality stainless steel with a Diamond-Like Carbon coating, adding to its durability and overall appeal. The 5-inch stainless steel, match-grade barrel is designed for precision, ensuring consistent accuracy and long-lasting performance.

While able to accept an optic, we chose to run the Rapide with its suppressor-height white dot sights. We made this decision because we planned to install a suppressor on range day.

The G-10 grips offer a secure grip on the gun in any environment. This was much appreciated as the temperatures started to rise, and our palms became sweaty in the summer sun. The skeletonized KimPro II trigger added a flash of icy blue to the overall aesthetic. It is light and crisp, adding to the gun’s overall accuracy, with a trigger pull of between four and five pounds.

Weighing approximately 38 ounces, the Kimber Rapide Ice proved to be well-balanced during the firing process. Likewise, it was easy to handle, and the controls were manipulated without a second thought.

Shooting the Rapide Ice

Range day was a hot one, with temperatures hitting the mid-80s before lunchtime and no breeze to speak of. There’s no denying that 9mm is a top caliber of choice for concealed carry and perhaps the most popular option in general, regardless of application.

With that being said, we decided to pay homage to John Moses Browning’s 1911, originally designed in the early 1900s. So, we opted for the .45 ACP chambering in our shiny new Rapide. The ammunition used for our testing included Remington’s UMC 230gr FMJ, Fiocchi’s Defense Dynamics 200gr JHP, and Armscor’s 230gr FMJ.

Testing was completed at 25 yards, with velocity readings courtesy of our Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph. Between each of the three brands tested, we saw a spread in velocity of around 65fps.

When it came to group size, Armscor’s offering took the lead with an average group size of 1.80 inches. Remington and Fiocchi were not too far behind at 2.50 inches and 2.25 inches, respectively. Now, keep in mind those shots were taken at a distance of 25 yards.

If we’re talking defensive distances, I’d happily carry any of the three options in my mags.

The Silencer Central Banish 45 Suppressor

The addition of the Banish 45 Suppressor from Silencer Central made this handgun even more pleasurable to shoot. This suppressor is designed for handguns and pistol-caliber carbines, ranging from rimfire cartridges up to .45 ACP.

Its durable titanium construction also means you can expect a significant decrease in weight. The short 6.7-inch configuration of the can weighs in at 9.6 ounces, while the longer 8.6-inch configuration runs slightly heavier at 11 ounces. Additionally, you can choose between eight or twelve baffles for optimal performance.

When it comes time to clean your equipment, don’t stress. This suppressor is user-serviceable for simple disassembly and maintenance. Once you are ready to reassemble, the keyed and indexed baffles make aligning everything quick and easy.

Making it an even more worthwhile investment, interchangeable pistons are readily available for purchase. They enable it to fit a wide selection of pistols and carbines. All this and more make the Banish 45 a versatile must-have in your collection—not only saving you money but your hearing as well.

Parting Shots

Once our testing was completed, we were impressed with this gun’s blend of refined aesthetics and superior performance. It stands out in the world of 1911s. From its robust construction and high-end features to its classy design and accurate performance, it was quite an enjoyable afternoon sending lead downrange.

The addition of the Banish 45 only served to enhance its versatility and shooting comfort. In this configuration, the pistol is an invaluable companion for any range day. If you love all things 1911, are a .45 ACP junkie, or a collector of anything from Kimber, the Rapide Ice is a worthwhile addition to your collection.

For more information, please visit KimberAmerica.com.

Kimber Rapide Ice Specs

Federal Ammunition just announced its latest steel load designed exclusively for waterfowl hunting. New Federal Ultra Steel comes in 12- and 20-gauge, delivering a payload of zinc-plated steel shot on target.

Federal Ultra Steel

“Waterfowlers live for those moments when the birds do it right. And in those moments, they want a shell that does the rest,” said Federal Shotshell Product Manager Josh Vickers. “Our new Federal Premium Ultra Steel will exceed expectations. It blends the rear-opening FLITECONTROL FLEX wad with a payload of our best zinc-plated steel, producing extremely tight patterns for even deadlier performance.”

Federal Ultra Steel loads come in various standard payloads. The double-stack loads feature two different size of shot. Smaller pellets create full patterns and larger shot that delivers increased lethality. They also utilize reliable primers and clean-burning propellant, according to Federal. Both the 12- and 20-gauge loads ship in 25-round boxes.

“Our spherical, zinc-plated steel shot creates denser core patterns; the results in the core 15-inch circle are quite impressive,” continued Vickers. The new double stack payloads make it great for multispecies hunts, such as using BB & 2 blends on field hunts when either honkers or mallards could be coming in at any time.”

Federal Ultra Steel Loads

12-Gauge

• BB, 1,450 FPS – 1 1/4 ounces, $42.99
• BB & 2, 1,450 FPS, 1 1/4 ounces, $42.99
• 2, 1,450 FPS, 1 1/4 ounces, $42.99
• 2 & 4, 1,450 FPS, 1 1/4 ounces, $42.99
• 3 & 5, 1,450 FPS, 1 1/4 ounces, $42.99

20-Gauge

• 2, 1,400 FPS, 1 ounce, $38.99
• 2 & 4, 1,400 FPS, 1 ounce, $38.99
• 3 & 5, 1,400 FPS, 1 ounce, $38.99

For more info, visit federalpremium.com.

Franklin Armory recently announced the release of three new AR-style pistols fitted with binary triggers and pistol braces. The new Franklin Armory Binary ARs each feature the company’s patented Binary Firing System. They also include a linear compensating and flash-suppressing Triumvir muzzle device. All three pistols come with high-end furniture combinations, built American-made parts and materials.

Franklin Armory Binary ARs

C12 Pistol

The C12 features a 12.5-inch barrel, mid-length gas system, forged receiver set, B5 grip, and the new SBA5 pistol brace from SB Tactical. The C12 Pistol’s combination of a mid-length gas system, Binary®trigger, and Triumvir muzzle device makes it a smooth-shooting, entry-level AR pistol for optimal close quarter applications. MSRP for the C12 Pistol is $1,289.99.

Salus Pistol

The Salus features a 12-inch barrel, carbine-length gas system, premium billet receiver set. It includes Franklin Armory’s FSR handguard, Ergo grip, Triumvir muzzle device, and SBA3 pistol brace. The Salus Pistol is a premium option for anyone seeking an in-vehicle or home-defense tool with the Binary trigger’s pull-and-release firing capabilities. MSRP for the Salus Pistol is $1,699.99.

PDW-C7

The PDW-C7 features a 7.5-inch barrel, pistol-length gas system, forged receiver set, Franklin Armory’s FST handguard with Magpul M-LOK hand stop, Magpul K2 grip, Triumvir muzzle device, and SBPDW pistol brace. The PDW-C7 is a superior compact personal defense weapon that provides a genuine Binary pull-and-release firing option for ultimate flexibility in defensive situations. MSRP for the PDW-C7 is $1,559.99.

For more info, visit franklinarmory.com.

Editor’s Take

It’s been a crazy year+ in gun laws, seeing the overturn of the bump stock ban and the general smack down of the ATF Pistol Brace Rule. In both cases, administrations and regulatory bodies attempted to circumvent Constitutional law through re-imagining what words actually meant. Not today, gun grabbers. Now bump stocks, pistol braces and even binary systems continue flowing to market. Get ’em while you; you never know when prohibition lurks once more.

Throughout the years, many iconic professional wrestlers like Maurice Tillet have caught the eye of every wrestling fan. However, only one French Angel has caught the attention of the filmmakers of Shrek. 

Professional wrestling has been a source of entertainment since the 1800s. Before that, there was proof of wrestling as a source of fun and sport dating back to 15,000 years ago when cave drawings were found in France depicting the sport of wrestling. Throughout school years, the Olympic games, or even mainstream TV audiences, wrestling has heavily influenced our culture.

Maurice Tillet: A Legend Is Born

Maurice Tillet, of Russian and French descent, was born in October 1903. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a railroad engineer. His face was reportedly delicate as a child, and his nickname was “Angel.” However, later, in 1917, his features changed drastically when he was diagnosed with Acromegaly. 

This condition causes bone thickening and swelling. It usually stems from a benign tumor on the gland behind the base of the skull. Though Maurice would go on to live for several more decades, his facial and body structure would change completely, giving him a unique and unforgettable look.

Between his physical abnormalities and his father’s passing when he was young, Maurice had his share of hardships. However, he would overcome those challenges in a way that was larger than life. Maurice would impact the world of wrestling like no other from his era. 

Life Before the Squared Circle

At first, Maurice wanted to be a lawyer and earned a law degree from the University of Toulouse. However, due to his facial features and intense voice, he thought it best to pursue another career path. He enlisted in the French Navy but soon left and began to look for something else. In addition to being part of the French Navy, Maurice tried out a few different careers, including acting in French films, and was a successful Rugby player. 

Maurice began wrestling in 1937 when he met Karl Pojello in Singapore. Pojello convinced Maurice to try out wrestling, and the two men moved to Paris to train. Maurice ended up wrestling in England and France until World War II began. Due to the war, they had to move to the United States. There, they may have been on their way to Boston, Massachusetts.  

As far as his personal life, there is not much to say other than that he was dedicated to wrestling and enjoyed playing chess. Though there have been rumors that he was married, there has never been any substantiating evidence that he was. Instead, he focused all of his efforts on his wrestling career. 

Maurice Tillet The French Angel

Once in the United States, when Maurice began to wrestle in Boston, he quickly became a prominent competitor and landed a promoter quickly. He was often booked and promoted as the main event. The nickname “The French Angel” stuck. Remember, as a boy, he was called “the angel.” Maurice was constantly booked for events and remained undefeated for nineteen months. He was the AWA World Heavyweight Champion from 1940 to 1942. In every match he had, he did well and defeated his opponent. 

Of course, one of the big attractions to Maurice was his appearance. That alone drew in the crowds, as everyone wanted to see this unique man. His large physique was perfect for a wrestler, and he was also a very talented wrestler and a great competitor. 

Maurice was so renowned that imitators began to come out of the woodwork. However, no one could light a match to Maurice and his skills.

Even though he was often called “The World’s Ugliest Wrestler,” and his looks may have been part of the draw to him, there is no denying his capabilities were unmatched. 

A Wrestling Innovator

His wrestling career did not last very long, but it is one of the most acclaimed wrestling careers ever. Between his looks and his skills, Maurice Tillet is unforgettable. In 1944, his wrestling streak ended, and unfortunately, his condition began to catch up with him and affect his well-being. He continued to try to wrestle until 1953. His last known wrestling match was in Singapore, where it all started. At the time, Maurice was working for the National Wrestling Alliance. He agreed to lose to another wrestler named Bert Assirati. Maurice lost to Assirati. 

To this day, wrestling fans know the name Maurice Tillet. You can even check out a match he had in 1940 on YouTube. This particular match was Maurice Tillet versus Luigi Bacigalupi. During another wrestling match filmed in 1940,  Tillet and his opponent, the California “Grappler,” used several techniques in modern wrestling today. It is for these reasons he’s considered wrestlers, a wrestler.

Reportedly, there were only three matches ever filmed. Another one you can find online is Maurice wrestling at the Hammond Indiana Civic Center in 1940. He was wrestling against Len Macaluso, a football player and wrestler.  Maurice was commemorated for his legacy while he was still alive when, in 1950, a sculptor in Chicago made several plaster busts of him to honor his career. 

Heartache and Heartbreak

A few months before his death, a friend and wrestler asked Maurice if he could make molds of his head. Maurice agreed to the project, which involved death masks. One was donated to the York Barbell Museum and USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame. The other two masks that were made were given to Maurice’s close friends. One was donated to the Warren Anatomical Museum, and the other was given to the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. 

Maurice did not live much past the time his wrestling career ended. In 1954, he died of a heart attack. He had just heard that his friend and former trainer Karl Pojello had died. It is said that this devastated Maurice so much he died because of the news. Understandably, such news would be heartbreaking to Maurice since Karl had not only started Maruice’s career in wrestling but also allowed him to live with him and his wife. He was only 51 at the time of his death. The two men were buried together with a gravestone that reads,” Friends Whom Even Death Couldn’t Part.”

Maurice Lives On

The man and legend of Maurice Tillet lived on through a few fights filmed, sculptors, and the movie Shrek. Dreamworks has never confirmed that Maurice inspired the lovable, silly character of Shrek, but they have also never denied it. Looking at a photo of Maurice and a screen frame of Shrek, you are bound to see the similarities, especially the side profile of his face.  

The Legendary Maurice Tillet is a name that lives on to this day. Whether you are an avid wrestling fan or only know a few names here and there, Maurice Tillet, at the very least, knows his face. His skills and wrestling success were unstoppable and undoubtedly memorable. 

The gun-related Internet forums—called “the gunternet” by some—can have some nuggets therein. But when you prospect for knowledge, you will have to pan through a lot of crap to find the gold. A case in point, appropriate to a Combat Handguns issue focusing on precision accuracy at distance, is this often-seen statement: “I don’t practice beyond seven yards because if you shoot a Bad Guy farther away than that, you’ll go to prison!” This begs the question, is long-distance defense defensible in court?

Legal Considerations of Long-Distance Defense

When I read such things, I feel sad for the commenter’s lack of knowledge. I also wonder if he just needs an excuse for his inability to hit anything farther away.

It is true that most DGUs (Defensive Gun Usages) take place at much closer distances. However, the fact is that against a violent criminal armed with a remote-controlled weapon, deadly force may be totally justified at what most would consider “long range.”                           

Let’s look at some examples. It happens often enough that I can think of four examples in just one state.

Skyscraper Distance

For Case One,consider the rampage of Charles Whitman at the Texas Tower in Austin in 1966. Firing from the pinnacle of a University of Texas clocktower that stands over 300 feet high, the mad dog killer opened fire with multiple weapons. His primary weapon was a scoped bolt-action Remington 6mm rifle. Whitman killed 17 victims and wounded 31 more.

The .38 Special revolver bullets and 12 gauge buckshot fired by police were impotent at that distance. But what stopped the killing was armed citizens with deer rifles (and one NRA High Power Rifle competitor shooting a National Match M14 .308 rifle). They pinned the gunman down until private citizen Eugene Crum led police up the inside of the tower to the roof.

Crum fired the first shot of the gunfight that followed. This allowed Austin cops Houston McCoy and Ramiro Martinez to shoot the mass murderer dead. The latter officer was later appointed to the Texas Rangers.

In his autobiography “They Call Me Ranger Ray,” Martinez publicly admitted that it was the armed citizens returning fire from long range who pinned the mad dog killer down and stopped the slaughter.

150 Yards

Case Two occurred a decade later near Rankin, Texas.

Here’s how the Officer Down Memorial Page describes the incident:

“Patrolman Sammy Long was shot and killed after making a traffic stop on a driver for a traffic violation on US 67 near Rankin, Texas. The suspect, who was AWOL from the US Navy, opened fire with a .32 caliber handgun as Patrolman Long approached the vehicle, knocking him to the ground. The suspect then took Patrolman Long’s service weapon and shot him in the back six times as he lay on the ground.

“A citizen, who was an avid deer hunter returning from a hunting trip, was stopped in a rest stop 150 yards from the traffic stop and witnessed the shooting. The man immediately retrieved his hunting rifle and shot the suspect at a range of 150 yards, killing him.

“Patrolman Long had served with the Texas Highway Patrol for 18 years and was stationed at McCamey. He was survived by his wife and son.”

The citizen who killed the cop-killer from 150 yards was never publicly identified by name for fear of retribution from the dead criminal’s relatives and cohorts. He became known simply as The Hunter.  Far from being punished in civil or criminal court, as I recall, the other state patrolmen chipped in to buy him a fancy Colt .45 auto pistol.

50-60 Yards

Case Three,2012, in the town of Early, Texas:

A gunman murdered two people in a trailer park and then opened fire on a responding police sergeant with a .30-30 deer rifle. Resident Vic Stacy, in his mid-sixties, came to the lawman’s defense.

From a distance variously reported as no closer than fifty yards and more than sixty yards by some accounts, Stacy’s accurate fire with his Colt Python .357 Magnum wounded the gunman and dropped him out of cover where the sergeant could finish the job with his patrol rifle.

Never charged nor sued, Stacy was recognized as a hero. In fact, the Governor of Texas presented the armed citizen with a rifle. Likewise, the police praised him as a Good Samaritan.

45 Feet

Case Four,2019, in the town of White Settlement, Texas:

A gunman bent on mass murder opened fire in a packed church, killing his first two victims with his opening shots. His deadly spree was cut short when church security chief Jack Wilson neutralized him with an intentional brain shot. He fired double action with his .357 SIG P229 pistol from a distance determined to be about fifteen yards.

Wilson’s swift, accurate response was recognized by virtually everyone as having saved countless lives. The justice system did not take criminal action against Wilson, nor was he sued by the family of the deceased. In fact, Governor Abbott presented him with a Medal of Courage. Likewise, the Sons of Liberty Gun Works in San Antonio presented Wilson with a fine rifle.

About that fifteen-yard distance:

Handgun competitors don’t consider that to be “long-range,” but it’s certainly farther than the distance involved in the average armed citizen DGU. For perspective, that has been the maximum distance for police handgun qualification for years for cops in Massachusetts and Florida. It’s also the farthest distance this writer knows of for jurisdictions that demand a live-fire qualification for “civilian” carry permits.

Unfortunately, American criminals don’t have to abide by any treaty limiting the distance from which they attack with deadly weapons. If anyone thinks a gunman was too far away to be a danger to you, the nuclear-grade soundbite is this:

If you could shoot the gunman, then, ipso facto, he could have shot you from the same distance!

Not Just Texas

In 2022, in an Indiana mall, a would-be mass murderer opened fire and had his death toll cut short by a young man named Elisjsha Dicken. Dicken returned fire from 40 or more yards and killed the killer in Case Six.

50 Yard Defensive Shot in Florida

Allow me to cite Case Seven,Florida v. Wilburn Brooker:

This Miami area man and his secretary were terrorized in their office by a robber armed with a stolen Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special revolver. When the robber fled, Brooker told his secretary to call the police and describe him and the gunman. Then, he grabbed a Savage pump shotgun from the back room of the office and gave chase.

The pursuit ended when the thug turned and aimed at him over his shoulder, and Brooker killed him instantly with a blast of #1 Magnum buckshot. It, of course, entered behind the lateral midline. The men were some fifty feet apart.

The prosecutor there at the time was Janet Reno, no friend of armed citizens, and she indicted Brooker for Manslaughter. Brooker hired Jeff Weiner, who later became president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Jeff, in turn, hired me as an expert witness.

When I was deposed by the prosecutor, it became clear that they were going to posit the idea that a man fifty feet away with a “snub-nose” .38 couldn’t be a danger. I stated under oath that a man a hundred yards away could kill you with one.

The prosecutor’s furious note-taking told me he would challenge that at trial. So, I went to the range with a notary public and performed a test that included six hits with six shots on a Colt silhouette target. This was completed at a measured one hundred yards with a two-inch barrel Detective Special and two out of five with a Charter Undercover.

The prosecutor agreed to a withhold of adjudication, and a year later, the case went away.

Closing Arguments

Bottom line: if the criminal aggressor is 25 yards from you and unarmed or armed only with a stick or something (unless he was endangering innocents closer to him than you), it wouldn’t yet be time to shoot. However, if he has a gun or even a longbow, he’s fair game.

Don’t neglect your long-range skill with the handgun(s) you carry. You could be the one who has to intervene in the next case like the ones cited above.

This deer season I won’t be hunting with the 6.5 Creedmoor. There, I’ve said it. I realize it’s a magic cartridge with the power of the Death Star, shoots flat like a laser and is accurate like a Tomahawk missile. I get it. It’s a great cartridge, really. But I’m not using it, at least not this year. Madness? Blasphemy? Maybe not. 

So, what gives? Why not hunt with it? Because many familiar, non-magnum cartridges are just as good, perhaps even better in some ways than the vaunted 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting. Better how, you ask? Better bullet selection and on-target energy. 

6.5 Creedmoor Vs .308 Win.

Take bullet selection. The 6.5mm caliber has been around for over a century and rightfully so, the combination of bore diameter and bullet dimensions work exceptionally well. That’s why it’s been around for so long. However, a lot of the .264 caliber’s recent bullet development has been around the Creedmoor, first as a target cartridge then as fuel for hunting rifles. Its performance envelope is best with bullets between 120 and 140 grains, give or take a few grains shy of 150. 

While adequate for most north American big game, the popular .30 caliber is readily available in factory loads for cartridges like the ubiquitous .308 Win. with bullets ranging from 125 – 180 grains and even lighter or heavier in some instances. There has been some fantastic development in bullet technology in the last decade or so, and many of our favorite cartridges have benefitted from this, not just the 6.5 Creedmoor. 

The Trusty Ol’ .308

As an example, take the .308 Winchester, the darling of the target, tactical and hunting community for decades. Recently the .308 has taken a back seat to the 6.5 Creedmoor in terms of popularity and exposure, but it’s far from a one-way trip to the scrap heap. Using a Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting load as an example, their 165-grain Ballistic Tip has a B.C. of .475. That isn’t bad unless shooting extreme long range. Combined with the fact that Nosler’s factory ammunition with this bullet has it leaving the barrel 150 fps faster than the “Six-5” with a 140-grain bullet, and it shoots flatter than the 6.5 Creedmoor out to 800 yards. The heavier, faster bullet also translates to 413 ft-lbs. more energy at 300 yards. No, energy isn’t everything, but it’s a metric to show that the .308 potentially has some advantages over the 6.5 at realistic hunting distances.

.270 Win. Still Delivers

Another favorite of deer and elk hunters, the .270 Winchester has also benefited from low-drag bullet development. While not as “slippery” as the 6.5mm with bullets in the 140ish weight range, the new .270 bullets are not bricks and leave the barrel faster, much faster than the factory 6.5 Creedmoor loads. Again, at realistic hunting ranges it has an edge in energy and trajectory. Using the Hornady 145-grain ELDx for example, its published velocity is 2,950 fps vs the 2,700 fps of the 6.5 Creedmoor. That’s a notable difference that translates to a flatter trajectory out to 1,000 yards and more energy out to almost 800 yards. Yes, it is comparing a long-action to a short-action rifle, and that debate has been kicked around more than a hacky sack at Grateful Dead concert. The point of this is to compare common non-magnum hunting cartridges.

Wind comparisons get interesting, but mostly theoretical at distances inside of 600 yards. The 6.5 Creedmoor is deflected less by the wind than the .308 but more than the .270. We’re talking about measurements of inches in the low single digits using a 10 mph cross wind at 90 degrees. Most reticles cover up almost this much at that range, making the difference moot.

Recoil Reality: 6.5 Creedmoor Vs .308

“But the 6.5 shoots really soft…” you say. Yes, it does. It is probably one of the sweetest shooting centerfire cartridges to hit the scene in a long time. But so what? It’s not like the .308 or .270 or many other common hunting cartridges are known to have clavicle-crushing recoil. For new shooters or those who might be exceptionally recoil averse then the 6.5 is not only a good choice but the best choice. However, for shooters that aren’t particularly recoil sensitive then the soft-shooting issue isn’t much of a factor.

But the proof is in the ballistic pudding, so to speak. To see if the numbers were theoretical or factual, I put the 308 Win. and 6.5 CM to the test, measuring velocity, shooting at extended hunting distances, and looking at some effects of each when shooting into some ballistic gel at 200 yards. The results were interesting but not surprising.

Actual bullet velocity compared to the ammo maker’s published data varied depending on the cartridge. Sierra lists the 308 Win. 168-grain HPBT MatchKing leaving at 2,650 fps. The Garmin clocked the average velocity at 2,660 fps. The 6.5 Creedmoor load, the 143 ELD-X has a published velocity of 2,700 fps; it left the barrel at 2,694. The Remington .308 Win. 165-grain Tipped Core-Lokt saw the most velocity loss of the three. The published data calls for 2,700, but the average velocity as measured by the Garmin was 2,615 fps. 

Ballistic Peformance

Shooting at a block of ballistic gel was uneventful unless you happened to be the block of gel on the receiving end. The range was 200 yards. Both bullets caused a significant temporary wound channel and easily passed through the 16-inch length of the block and penetrated the wood behind it. One could spend days shooting different bullets into these blocks looking for differences, not to mention it’s a lot of fun, but I didn’t have the time or the money for the ammo and the gel blocks.

The final part of the race was to do some shooting in field conditions to see if there were any notable difference in difficulty hitting a 12-inch steel target at 600 yards. The field conditions included some slope, variable wind, and different positions such as off a bipod and a tripod. The test setups included a 6.5 Creedmoor Ruger American, a custom Savage 10 in .308 Win. with a Proof Research Carbon fiber barrel and Choate Tactical Stock with a Burris Eliminator 6, and a CZ 600 Alpha in .308 Win. with a Leupold VX 5HD 3-15X42mm.

Final Shots

Overall, there was no discernable difference at that range. Maybe further out the more parabolic trajectory of the .308 Win. with heavier bullets would be less forgiving of point of aim errors and velocity variations, but at 600 yards and closer, which is the vast majority of most hunting situations, any difference in trajectory seems moot.

If possible, everyone should do some shooting with both cartridges to see which is right for them. The 6.5 Creedmoor is an awesome cartridge and when purely looking at long range performance, shootability, accuracy, it’s a better cartridge than the .308 Win. But if you’re planning to keep shoots inside of 600 yards, the .308 Win. doesn’t really give up anything in performance, and when you factor in the huge selection in bullet types and weights, the .308 Win. is still just as good if not a better overall cartridge than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

To the layperson, martial arts are constantly referred to as simply “Karate” because many people don’t understand the great number of diverse martial arts disciplines in the world. In fact, there are dozens upon dozens of martial arts that one can choose from to learn a variety of skills and character traits like patience, discipline, and control. But how does one choose the martial art that’s best for them?

A great place to start is by matching a person’s personality traits to a martial art that mirrors their characteristics. Though not an exact science, the information below can point you in the right direction to begin your martial arts journey. 

Martial Arts Matter

The Philosopher 

Some individuals enjoy philosophy, history, and culture, and as such, may opt to choose styles of martial arts like Aikido, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and even Jeet Kune Do (yes, Bruce Lee’s art). These martial arts offer a deep history and philosophy behind forms, techniques, the state of mind of the practitioner, and a practitioner’s mindset when delivering techniques to an aggressor. 

For this person, a martial art is more than punching and kicking. Many times, the students of these martial arts will adopt the art’s culture, garb, and traditions as the influence of the art permeates into all aspects of their lives. 

THE COMPETITOR 

If you enjoy competition, like to try your best at everything you do and enjoy earning medals, trophies, and plaques for your achievements, then martial arts that emphasize the sport aspect may be perfect for you. One just has to look towards the Olympics to see the big boys of martial arts competitions. 

Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Boxing, Greco-Roman, Freestyle wrestling, and fencing (yes, fencing is a martial art) are put on the biggest stage in front of the world to “fight it out” for a medal. On a smaller scale, Karate and Tae Kwon offer local tournaments for practitioners, and within the dojo, sparring for points is a regular part of these schools’ regular and ongoing curriculum. 

THE PERFORMER

Similar to the Competitor, people who like to study routines, practice regularly, and perform in front of others either for prizes or just personal satisfaction should look to martial arts that predominantly include forms of training. Forms are a set series of movements that illustrate the practitioner’s fluidity of motion with and without weapons in hand. 

These forms can be intense, with lightning-quick transitions, top-level physical prowess, and a kiai (a sharp shout when performing an attack move) that can send chills down a spectator’s spine. Martial arts that feature such forms include Karate, tae kwon do, and numerous styles of kung fu. 

THE LONE WOLF

One could argue that just about any martial art can be learned alone, especially if the practitioner is highly disciplined and has access to a plethora of videos, books, and equipment. However, some martial arts are definitely better than others when it comes to solo learning. Karate is one of the best to learn by oneself due to its many techniques that do not require another individual to be involved. 

Boxing is another solitary training martial art (although once the skills are obtained, it’s time to go into the ring) that can be practiced alone using the heavy and speed bag. Though quite diverse in their backgrounds, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi can also be great options for those who like to train alone. However, after repetitive skills and movements are comfortable and natural for the practitioner, interaction with others is necessary to test their effectiveness. Any martial arts that require another person, even in the early stages of learning, should be avoided for the Lone Wolf. These include arts such as Aikido, Krav Maga, and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. 

THE DEFENDER

If you like to mind your business and avoid conflict but want to defend yourself if trouble arises, then a defense-centric martial art may be for you. These disciplines primarily (there are some minor exceptions, at times, though) avoid aggressive and offense-based techniques for defense-applicable ones. 

This category is difficult to explain when most martial arts are considered suitable for “self-defense.” The difference with these arts is that they primarily focus on training with techniques that require the attacker to make the first move, whether a punch, kick, grab, or weapon attack. Martial arts from Japan, such as Aikido, Aiki-Jitsu, Ju-Jitsu (not to be confused with Brazilian Ju-Jitsu), and Judo, all follow a defense-first mentality and curriculum. Bear in mind, even though several martial arts are defense-based, once attacked, the practitioner can let loose a barrage of damage against their foe(s).

THE HANDS-ON PERSON 

If you always have to fiddle with something or constantly need something in your hand throughout your day, then perhaps a weapons-based martial art is your thing. Martial art disciplines run the gamut from weaponless use to so many that you couldn’t even begin to learn them all. 

Many Kung Fu styles incorporate highly diverse and rarely known weapons into their forms and combat training. Japanese art practice with many weapons initially used by both Samurai and Ninjas. From extra-long naginata to katanas, they throw stars, tanto knives, and more obscure items like the ninja kusarigama and kusari-fundo chain. Of course, Karate features the nunchaku and staff regularly, while fencing utilizes three swords, foil, epee, and saber styles. 

Fads And Trends

For those who find it difficult to make a decision or tend to get bored easily, you may want to try the “hot” martial art that is popping up fast throughout your city or town. Many times, movies, actors, or real-life events kickstart a certain style into the limelight and cause many people to seek it out because it’s fresh and popular. 

Because these “flavor-of-the-month” martial arts are ever-changing, styles cannot be named here. However, I can drop a few examples from the past. Naturally, when Bruce Lee made his amazing movies, especially when using nunchakus, everyone wanted to learn his style and emulate him. In the late eighties and early nineties, Steven Seagal introduced the mysterious art of Aikido in action-packed movies, causing an incredible number of Aikido dojos to open across the country. Soon after that, a specific style versus a specific style was prominently shown to the masses through the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), in which many traditional styles were featured during their early years and have since morphed into what is now called MMA. 

Freedom to Choose

The biggest takeaway from having all these options based on your particular traits is that you are not married to any of them, regardless of your mindset or personality. Feel free to watch classes, take a free trial lesson or two, and do your research. You never know; you may find something so far out of your box that it turns out to be both intriguing and ultimately rewarding for you over the long term. Change is natural, so dive in and begin your martial arts journey today!

Firing the G29 one-handed at seven yards range, I shredded the middle of an empty 16-ounce tin can with ease. Part of that was due to Glock improving its trigger pull. Another part was that my eyes get along well with Glock’s white outline rear sight and white dot front sight. But there is more to the Glock G26 Gen 5 subcompact. Lots more.

The Glock G29 Gen 5 Subcompact

The G29 is called a subcompact, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a bulky beast of a pistol. This despite measuring about 4.5 inches high and 7 inches long and only weighing 2 pounds, 1.7 ounces, with a full load of eleven rounds of Federal Premium 200 grain Syntech ammo. I can actually slip this cannon into my front pants pocket.

The G29 has the same 1.3-inch maximum grip frame thickness as a 9mm G19. However, it is a full 0.13 inch thicker in the slide. On the double-stack magazine models, I’ve noticed that Glock scales its slides to the caliber. For example, .380ACP and 9mm slides are 1.00 inch thick, and .40 S&W slides are 1.08 inches thick.

At 1.13 inches thick, the .45ACP and 10mm slides appear massively overbuilt when examined alongside a standard M1911 slide. Glock’s square slide has a lot of excess metal. But in this case, I think it’s an asset for two reasons: recoil management and strength.

By my third shot, one-handed, I was beginning to feel a tingle in my wrist that hadn’t manifested itself when I was shooting with a two-hand hold. The Federal Syntech wasn’t even a maximum load for the 10mm, which can approach the muzzle energy of .41 Magnum.

The 10mm isn’t for everyone, but it’s not nearly as hard to handle as you might fear.

Running Big Bore 10mm

A long time ago, I bought a snubnosed S&W 640 in .357 Magnum for self-defense. Shooting it was actually painful. Its vigorous recoil led me to conclude that unless my next target was a bird, accurately placing a quick follow-up shot was highly unlikely.

Switching to a snubnose in mild-mannered .38 Special really dialed back the recoil. It got me to where I felt I needed to be in terms of speed and accuracy. I offer this preface to illustrate that often, the best self-defense handgun is not the heaviest hitter.

The FBI had high hopes for the 10mm, but it turned out to be a little too powerful for them. Unfortunately, for this excellent cartridge, I feel the general public feels the same way. You really don’t know until you try it.

A 10mm typically has bullet weights between 170 and 200 grains, all of which have noticeably more recoil than 9mm. 9mm typically uses bullets ranging from 115 to 124 grains, with 147 grains being the most common outlier on the heavy side.

For comparison purposes, the muzzle energy of the most common 9mm loads, when fired from pistols, falls between 300 and 400 foot-pounds. However, 10mm loads range from 550 to 750 foot-pounds. The standard .357 Magnum load propelling a 158-grain bullet at 1,240 feet-per-second produces 539 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.

If you are comfortable shooting a .357 Magnum in a 4-inch medium-frame revolver, I expect you’ll think 10mm recoil in an autoloader is easier to deal with.

Feeding the G29 Gen 5

The general bulk of the Glock G29 is not to its advantage for concealed carry. But its firepower is tough to top in such a small package. 10mm doesn’t have the range of loading as 9mm. However, there’s still plenty of factory ammo available for you to find something within your tolerance for recoil.

The heaviest load I tested was Federal Premium’s Syntech 200 grain, truncated cone, hard lead, blue polyester-clad bullet. This bullet is intended for use against dangerous predators and is designed for deep penetration with a flat point to increase energy transfer from the bullet to the target.

The plastic jacket adds lubricity, which should give you more velocity for the same chamber pressure and reduced barrel wear.

Federal Premium Syntech Round

I intended to pull the Federal Syntech bullet and see how hard it is with my SEACO lead hardness tester. It turned out that I didn’t need to pull a bullet at all because I discovered one, and only one, in the dirt backstop. There was virtually no deformation beyond a scratch on the edge of the flat tip.

The SEACO tester showed it had a Brinnel hardness of 9. This is equivalent to the wheel weight alloy most bullet casters use for hard projectiles.

My recovered Syntech bullet’s tough plastic jacket wasn’t cut during its brisk journey through the G29’s 3.78-inch barrel. The sides showed distinctive narrow lines from Glock’s new polygonal rifling used in the Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB).

This isn’t conventional polygonal rifling, which looks like a shallow sine wave at the crown. Instead, the GMB has flat-backed grooves, that aren’t curved to match the barrel’s exterior wall, which are well-defined from the lands.

The lands appear to dip in the center and rise on each end to form narrow, sharp edges where they meet the grooves. What advantages it offers over traditional polygonal rifling, I can’t say with certainty.

Shooting the G29 Gen 5 Pistol

The G29 demonstrated good accuracy, firing a shot group from the bench at 25 yards. Federal Premium’s Syntech 200 grain averaged 2.39 inches and 571 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.

If you carry a .44, .41, or .357 Magnum revolver when working and hunting where bears and mountain lions are prevalent, consider that the G29 is considerably lighter and smaller. Likewise, it offers you 11 ready shots instead of six, is much faster to reload, and can pack a heavy punch in its own right.

Fiocchi Range Dynamics 180 grain FMJ truncated cone bullet, one of the more economically priced loads in this caliber, averaged 3.68 inches and 553 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Hornady American Gunner 155 grain XTP JHP loads averaged 3.95 inches with 573 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.

At an average velocity of 1,291 feet per second, the Hornady load is equivalent to a full-power 158-grain .357 Magnum load but is easier to shoot quickly. It would be a great choice for concealed carry.

Like other Gen 5 Glocks, the G29 has ambidextrous slide hold open release levers and a reversible magazine release button. In addition, it features slide serrations at the front and rear, no finger grooves on the front strap of the grip, and offers shooters their choice of three easy-to-switch-out backstraps.

With a pistol whose grip generally allows a man with average-sized hands only a two-finger hold, the ability to customize the grip shape is much appreciated. Another notable Gen 5 feature is the recessed crown on the new GMB barrel. It helps protect this accuracy-critical part of the rifling from damage.

One thing this model currently doesn’t have is an MOS option for easy mounting of a red dot sight.

Final Thoughts

One last consideration when thinking about a 10mm pistol for concealed carry is that a gun is useless for self-defense if you don’t have it with you when you need it.

A full-size, 5-inch barrel, Colt Delta Elite 1911 weighs 11.5 ounces more than the G29 and has a magazine capacity of only eight rounds. I cannot slip a full-size 1911 into my front pants pocket.

For more information, please visit US.Glock.com.

Specifications: Glock 29 Gen 5 Subcompact 10mm

Performance

Performance was tested with a series of five-shot groups fired at 25 yards from a bench rest with a Competition Electronics Pro-Chrono Digital Chronograph set 15 feet from the muzzle.  Bullet weight is in grains, velocity in feet-per-second and the group size in inches.