Carry smart if you’re going to carry

If you read the headlines you may have seen the press this week on Kentucky State Representative Leslie Combs. Combs was responsible for a negligent discharge of her Ruger LCP pistol while in the Kentucky State Captiol Annex. She was unloading the pistol and did not follow the proper safety procedure – which is the typical procedure for any semi-auto handgun: 

1. Remove the magazine
2. Rack the slide
3. Verify that the chamber is clear 

Instead of following those simple and repeatable safety protocols she chose to pull the trigger without clearing the chamber and the result was a negligent discharge. It didn’t take long for the #bullymoms to call for Combs’ resignation– it’s a bit surprising considering the fact that Combs is a Democrat, but this is a reminder of the endless determination that the Civilian Disarmament complex has to accomplish its goals. This is NOT a partisan issue. This incident is only one example of the risks of negligent handling of firearms.

It should be a sobering reminder to everyone who carries in today’s America: whether you like it or not you are an ambassador of the 2A every time you carry a gun. If you act in a negligent manner with a firearm you are helping the Antis build their narrative. After the past 12 months of mainstream media (journolist) propaganda there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that reporters will gleefully seize every opportunity they can to attack the 2A. Everyone who carries a firearm can do a few simple things to prevent negligent discharges and all the bad consequences that come with them:

• Always follow the proper safe handling and unloading protocols. This should be obvious but it’s so absolutely vital that it must be repeated. Follow Coopers Laws of firearm safety to the absolute letter
• Check for safety recalls on your firearms. Even the popular Ruger LCP had a problem where some models could discharge if dropped not too long ago
• Use high quality holsters and never carry without a proper holster that covers the trigger guard
• Inspect your carry holsters for wear and replace them as needed
• If you plan to drop the hammer or striker on a pistol when it’s unloaded, double-check the chamber before you press the trigger

These are simple steps we all need to take – for safety and for Liberty. 

Modern Firearms collection for $2500

 Lately there has been some discussion across the interwebs on how to build up a pragmatic modern firearms collection. Utility and reliability across a broad range of applications and scenarios ranging from EDC (every-day carry) to WROL (without rule of law) are the criteria for the kR-15 edition of this list. At the top of the list is a pistol:

1. Glock compact frame pistol : Gen 4 19 or 23  (retails for about $600)

Two popular options from Glock are the 19 and 23. Which one depends on your preferred pistol caliber 9mm or .40 s&w. It’s important to make a choice on caliber and stick with it- this will help you optimize any accessories you end up with and especially your ammo. More on this in the next installment.

Glock has done a magnificent job of crafting concealable pistols that can be handled with nearly the same level of accuracy and reliability as full size models. They are a tried and true performer trusted in the line of duty by countless law enforcement and military organizations around the world. Here are a few more reasons I recommend this choice of pistol:

• Standard capacity mags: 13 or 15 round standard capacity plus these models support mags from their full size counterparts (15 rounds for .40, 17 rounds for 9mm). This is important because having enough ammo to defend yourself and your loved ones could make the difference between winning or losing a life threatening situation. Remember that under stress your performance declines- 
• Generation 4 Glocks come with 3 mags from the factory. When it comes to critical contingency accessories like extra mags remember that 2 is 1 and 1 is none, so having 3 total means you have a reliable backup for the one in your pistol. Best practice is to use the factory mags as your carry mags and to purchase some designated practice mags for the range and practice (cheaper $10 knockoff mags are great for dropping on concrete while practicing).
• The widespread popularity of Glock means that parts and accessories are abundant in the US. Being able to locate extra mags, holsters, spare parts and even ammo are important considerations if you want to be prepared for a wide range of situations. Most of the time this also means that you can find parts and accessories for a lower price. Ask anyone who owns an HK P30 how easy to is to find mags if you don’t believe me.
• Reliability is another factor that to a point even nullifies the need for spare parts. Glock pistols don’t require much lubrication and have an excellent reputation for running and running after every conceivable torture test- even the rediculous ones. MattV2099 even baked his Glock into a cake, ran a brush through the bore and had the gun firing. 
• Ease of use. Another factor behind is endorsement of the Glock platform is the ergonomics and simplicity of the platform. It’s a comfortable gun to shoot and has simple controls. There are two schools of thought on this: many people think a mechanical safety must be present (which Glocks do not feature) and the other mindset is that proper holsters and handling are sufficient. The second mindset is the one I prescribe to – everyone in my home knows and follows the rules for safe handling of firearms and a mechanical safety is one more thing to forget or fumble with in a defensive situation where seconds count.  

It’s a Simple Concept

Armed Defender Academy offers some pragmatic content on a very consistent basis. I think this video states a message that a large number of law-abiding citizens agree with.

 

That's a solid, no nonsense daily carry too. Even the light doesn't bother me… You see law-abiding citizens in a free nation should have the right to kit up however they see fit. Take just a moment today and tell someone you trust what the 2A means to you.

What is a reasonable EDC?

There is an incredible range of what situationally aware, 2A-practicing Americans consider reasonable daily carry, or EDC (every day carry). Some people carry only a flashlight. Others carry a flashlight, primary pistol, back-up gun (BUG), extra ammo, knife, multitool, pepper spray, oxygen bottle, taser and inflatable life preserver. How is an average law-abiding American citizen to decide what is right for them?

The answer is actually pretty simple- it is largely driven by your personal situation and level of training. What do you typically do and where do you go during daylight hours? What about evening hours? What types of threats are you most likely to encounter? If you don't know already, get familiar with the crime statistics in your area. This way you can have some confidence in what you can expect. These are all ways to determine a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

Don't carry items you are unlikely to need. I recently purchased a tactical flashlight. It serves a very specific purpose: to provide a light source if I'm asleep and wake to the sound of a possible intruder. Other than this scenario I can't think of a time in the past 5 years where I needed a flashlight during daylight hours. Guess what is not a part of my EDC? Yes! The flashlight stays near my bed because I don't need it elsewhere.

Extra ammo is a common area of debate for EDC. The facts tell us that:

• private citizens reload during a gunfight 1/2 of one percent of the time
• the median number of shots fired by a private citizen in self defense is 2
• although multiple conspirators were present 36% of the time there were no cases where drivers or lookouts acted as reinforcements after defensive shots were fired

Although it is not incredibly common (the stats above underscore that) I plan and train to defend my self and my loved ones from a home invasion. for me this equates to home carry with a goal of neutralizing 3 threats while I am under traumatic stress levels (remember that your skills decline by 40% when you're under traumatic stress).

Using simple math that works out to a need for about 12 rounds to accomplish 2 A-zone hits on 3 separate attackers. Although the odds are against needing all 12 rounds, this is what the hypothetical situation calls for, assuming that I am perfect and that everything goes exactly the way I anticipated. That standard capacity 15-round mag doesn't seem very excessive now, does it?

Think over your situation and don't gear yourself up like a mall ninja, Gecko45. Sometimes I carry a pocket knife with me, other times I do not. You should apply similar levels of scrutiny to very part of your EDC.

 

Maintenance for your EDC

Earlier this week we covered maintenance for Glock pistols. What if your daily carry is not a Glock? My EDC is a Walther PPS. Can I expect the same maintenance guidelines? A quick look at the Walther forums comes up with a reasonable data point- the recoil spring is working a lot harder in the short PPS action.

I called Walther America several months back to get their recommendation on frequency of changing the recoil spring assembly in a PPS. The CS rep I spoke with told me that Walther recommends changing every 2500-3500 rds…

When first got my PPS I ran it hard- probably put 2000 rounds through it over the first 18 months. Nowadays I put a few rounds through it each week – typically 10 and never more than 25. According to that measure it's time for a spring change any day now and then another one in probably 5 yrs as I keep firing those few practice rounds each week.

Current EDC Drill

My goal for those practice rounds is to raise the gun and score 2 A-Zone hits in about 1 second. If I'm at the range where it's allowed to draw, I include a draw from concealed carry. Otherwise I just bring the pistol up into low ready. I typically do at least 3 reps like this and never stop before completing two in a row. Once this becomes easy it will be time to add complexity. Maybe smaller target zones or multiple targets- increasing speed and precision measures while maintaining accuracy standards.

 

Maintenance on your pistol

A firearm is a machine and like any other machine it requires maintenance to keep it in good working order. Hopefully you change the oil in your vehicle and periodically replace key parts that wear out after a certain amount of use- tires and brakes are good examples.

You have good cleaning habits for your pistol, you clean the bore after every outing, what else do you need to worry about? The answer depends on two things:

1. what is the intended purpose for this firearm?
2. how much do you use the firearm?

If you're wondering about a range toy or a safe queen you probably don't have to think much more about this. In the unlikely event there is a failure it won't be a big deal- the most likely thing to fail is the recoil spring, sometimes referred to as the mainspring. If it weakens the pistol may not fully return to battery after the weapon cycles. To remedy this you can simply tap the slide into battery with the back of your hand and go about your business.

If the intended purpose for the pistol is self defense then you need to consider additional maintenance such as replacing the recoil spring. Glock Gen4 models are a popular option for standard capacity pistols, which I recommend for home defense. Glock recommends changing the mainspring every 2500-5000 rounds.

Can a typical Glock run for 6000 rounds without a spring change? Sure they do. Plenty of Glock owners will tell you that they have never changed springs and have fired 10,000 rounds without a malfunction. 3000-5000 rounds is a top flight maintenance standard – what you can expect for police or military duty weapons. I recommend you follow this sort of schedule for your home defense and/or carry gun. You should also be advised that running a Glock with a weakened mainspring can lead to damage to other parts of the pistol.

At a pace of firing about 100 rounds per week and assume 5000 rounds is a safe interval that puts you at about one spring change per year. If you fire about 50 rounds per week that's a spring change every 2 years, and so on. Check with your firearm's manufacturer on maintenance recommendations- and follow them for your EDC.