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HOLSTER
SAFETY
PITFALLS AND AVOIDING THEM
firearm
fundamentals
for the whole family
taurus pt1911
volume 5 april 2008
an interview with
louis awerbuck
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Founder - USCCA
WHY TRY TO FIT YOUR HAND TO A PISTOL
WHEN YOU CAN FIT A PISTOL TO YOUR HAND?
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CONTENTS
APRIL 2008
COLUMNS 52
ARMED
08
SENIOR
THE
CITIZEN
ORDINARY GUY Entering And Exiting
Ahhhh, Freedom
BY MARK WALTERS
14
PROFILE
Ben Shepherd
BY TIM SCHMIDT
BY TODD BURGREEN
21
GUNSMITHING HORROR STORIES:
Don’t Let This Happen To You
BY PHIL ELMORE
26
LOUIS AWERBUCK
The Exception To The Rule
BY MICHAEL TAN
34 FIREARM FUNDAMENTALS
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Arizona Gun Club Gets The Job Done
BY RICK MEDINA
36
HOLSTER SAFETY
Pitfalls and Avoiding Them
BY KATHY JACKSON
40
SHOT SHOW 2008
A Sneak Peek At What’s New And What’s Cool
BY DUANE DAIKER
51
LICENSE
TO FEAR
32
The Future Of
Concealed Carry
BY L. NEIL SMITH
Words Of Wisdom
From A 20-Year
Police Officer
BY R.K. CAMPBELL
DEPARTMENTS
TACTICS
& TRAINING
32Taurus PT1911
Taurus’ Take On John Browning’s Icon
Your Vehicle Safely
BY BRUCE N. EIMER,
Ph.D.
44
FORCE
ON FORCE
NOTEBOOK
Revisiting The
21-Foot Rule
BY JACK RUMBAUGH
46
REALITY
CHECK
06
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
12
TRUE STORIES
32
SECOND
AMENDMENT
54
HOT BRASS
Point Shooting Versus
Aimed Fire?
BY GABE SUAREZ
48
IT’S JUST
THE LAW
Militia Law “Warriors Of
The Working Day”
BY K.L. JAMISON
36
CONCEALED CARRY
MAGAZINE
tIM’S THOUGHTS
Volume 5 - April 2008
Publisher & Editor
Timothy J. Schmidt
Managing Editor
Kathy Jackson
Art Director
Betty Shonts
Circulation Manager
Laura Otto
Copy Editor
John Higgs
Column Editors
Duane A. Daiker
Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D
George Harris
Kathy Jackson
Jack Rumbaugh
L. Neil Smith - JPFO Liberty Crew
Gabriel Suarez
Mark A. Walters
Contributing Writers
Steve Farmer
Steve Henigson
Gary Hoff
Vance R. Lackore
Dan Starks
Michael Tan
Advertising Sales
Bob Cole
360-665-0542
E-mail: [email protected]
Signed articles in Concealed Carry Magazine
reflect the views of the author, and are not necessarily
the views of the editors at Delta Media, LLC. The claims
and opinions in the paid advertisements published
in this magazine are not necessarily the claims and
opinions of Delta Media, LLC. Delta Media, LLC takes
no responsibility for these views, claims or opinions.
Concealed Carry Magazine and the U.S. Concealed
Carry Association are registered trademarks of Delta
Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 20042007 by Delta Media, LLC. Reproduction, copying,
or distribution of Concealed Carry Magazine is
prohibited without written permission.
Published for U.S. Concealed Carry by:
4466 County Road P - Suite 204
Jackson, WI 53037
(877) 677-1919 • Customer Service
(262) 677-8877 • U.S. Concealed Carry
Concealed Carry Magazine - April 2008. Issue; April 12,
2008 (USPS: 022-302, ISSN: 1550-7866) is published
8 times per year for $39.00 per year by Delta Media,
LLC, 4466 County Road P - STE 204, Jackson, WI
53037-9272. Periodicals postage paid at Jackson,
WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to: Concealed Carry Magazine, 4466
County Road P - STE 204, Jackson, WI 53037-9272.
I
NEW EDITOR AND NEW ART DIRECTOR
am pleased and excited to announce that Concealed Carry Magazine has
a new editor and a new art director. Kathy Jackson is our new Managing
Editor and Betty Shonts is our new Art Director.
Kathy has been writing features and columns for Concealed Carry Magazine
for over three years. She and her boys were even featured on one of our
magazine covers. Kathy has also been publishing numerous articles on gun
safety, kids, mindset and many other fascinating self-defense subjects on her
website at www.corneredcat.com. Kathy brings excellent organization skills
as well as fresh, new content ideas to CCM.
Betty has been expertly designing the pages of SWAT Magazine for many
years. When I contacted the publisher of SWAT Magazine regarding her skills,
he told me, “Betty is the best in the business.” Betty will now be handling the
Art Director responsibilities for both SWAT Magazine andConcealed Carry
Magazine. One more interesting thing about Betty is that she was the model
on the very first cover of Concealed Carry Magazine ! Kind of ironic, don’t you
think?
I am excited to be working with these two extremely capable women.
Take care and God Bless,
APRIL 2008 COVER
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Wardell — Chris Wardell Photography
MODEL: Claude Werner of Atlanta, Georgia is the chief instructor at the elite
Rogers Shooting School in Ellijay, Georgia. He is also an NRA certified instructor
in six disciplines and has taught at numerous firearms training conferences.
CCM and the IDPA Journal have published articles he has authored.
Claude has been using firearms for recreation and self-defense since he was
11 years old. Having had a concealed carry permit since 1983, concealed carry
is an issue he takes very seriously. Accordingly, he is a member of the NRA as
well as the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, an organization dedicated
to safeguarding the legal rights of armed citizens.
As seen in the photo, he is an active International Defensive Pistol Association
(IDPA) competitor, holding a Master classification in four divisions. He shoots
several matches monthly at local clubs. This prepared him to be the revolver
champion at numerous State and Regional IDPA Championships and to
place 2nd at the IDPA National Championship in the Stock Service Revolver
Division.
Claude regularly practices at his local gun club, Cherokee Gun Club in
Gainesville, GA. His most commonly used weapon, seen on the cover, is the
Glock 17 (9mm) with Warren Tactical sights. It is carried in a Safariland holster.
When not carrying the Glock, he carries a Smith & Wesson Model 642 in a
Safariland pocket holster.
His self-defense ammunition is Federal Premium HST 9mm and Speer Gold
Dot +P .38 Special. For practice, he normally uses Canned Heat ammunition
from Georgia Arms.
Claude knows that training and practice are key components of successful
self-defense. He urges everyone to train, practice, and be aware of their
surroundings.
USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n APRIL 2008
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REED
CROSSBHOLSTERS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
I started carrying concealed and
found your magazine a month later. I
spent 30 years in the military so I was
familiar with guns and gun safety. What
I have learned in your magazine has
been phenomenal. I learned to be more
aware of my surroundings at all times
and not to let down my guard as long
as I am carrying. I learned to carry all of
the time unless it is not legal to carry in
a location. I learned the importance of
practice to develop automatic muscle
memory. I learned how to conceal. I
learned the importance of tactical lighting. I did not learn any of this in the military, I guess because we did not carry
concealed and our enemy was a different animal.
Thank you for a great information
source.
Steven Parscale
Paola, Kansas
Dear Editor,
As I watched the country I love disintegrate around me, I struggled with
feelings of anger, duty and devotion.
I was in despair about what “I” could
do. It was if nobody else was seeing
what was in front of their eyes. Then I
found USCCA and recognized that I
was not alone. For the first time I had
a place to communicate with people
like me. I always felt a little different,
as if most people were not on the same
wavelength as me. I realized for the first
time, I was a sheepdog…and they were
sheep. Suddenly tumblers fell into place
and a door opened. The Forum is a great
resource. It offers a way to catch up with
others who are ahead of me on the path.
Thanks, Tim, for your devotion to the
USCCA project.
Kevin Coughlin
Candia, New Hampshire
Dear Editor,
I am a disabled senior citizen that
truly enjoys hand guns. I am starting my
seventh year as having my concealed
carry permit. I got the permit so I could
legally take a gun into the manufacturing company on security call ins in the
middle of the night. The local law officers seemed to appreciate the fact that I
had a gun and knew how to use it.
After a medical disability I still love to
carry and to also go out and shoot my
guns. I read almost cover to cover four
or five gun magazines every month.
Having my gun when I leave the house
gives me a sense of being in control of
what is and might go on around me.
Due to volume received, not all
letters can be answered. Letters may
be edited for space and clarity.
Send your letters to:
Concealed Carry Magazine
Attn: Editor
4466 Hwy P - Suite 204
Jackson, WI 53037
Or use our contact form: www.usconcealedcarry.com
I really enjoy reading Tim’s articles
that he emails to me from USCCA. I
like the idea of always being legal as
to where and how I can carry my guns.
Thank you, Tim, for all the good information you have supplied on your web
site.
Sherrill Thompson
Smithfield, NC 27577
Dear Editor,
I just joined USCCA less than a month
ago and feel that I have already gleaned
enough information via the web and
the one magazine that I recieved to
pay for the subscription price. As a new
concealed carry person, I have had lots
of questions. Your organization has
given me a wealth of information that
I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.
Thank You!!!!
Gary Hazen
Eaton, Co. 80615
Item No.
Product Description
Size
Qty.
Price Ea.
Sub-Total
THE ORDINARY GUY
AHHHH, FREEDOM
Friend Vincent
Savage
proceeding at
his own risk!
[ B Y M ark W alters ]
Take a close look at the
photographs accompanying
this edition of The Ordinary
Guy. They’re fun! T
hey represent good friends and family enjoying the great outdoors and
a fun day shooting outside in the
open woods. They represent freedom.
They represent everything all of us here at
the USCCA stand for. Our ability to enjoy
our chosen activity of sport shooting, target practice and pure fun are just a few of
our core values in addition to our right of
self-defense. These pictures are a reminder of what freedom means and just exactly
what is at stake this November.
By the time this issue goes to print, we
will have a much clearer picture of the
presidential candidates from each party
and will more than likely know where we
stand as voters. I don’t want to spend too
much time in this edition talking about
the upcoming elections (there will be
plenty of time for that), but rather I’d like
to remind everyone that as important as
our self-defense is, our guns are FUN too!
Sometimes we lose sight of that.
For starters, some of you are probably
wondering if there is a story behind the
photograph of the gentleman with the
receding hairline standing next to that really cool sign. Yup, there sure is and I’ll be
more than happy to tell you about it! Several years ago, my father-in-law rented a
cabin in the north Georgia mountains for
a week-long family vacation of quiet solitude, buried deep in the hills alongside a
beautiful trout stream. While unloading
the trunk, my mother-in-law pointed out
that imposing sign, located just below the
property of our rented abode. Now, being who I am, I had brought virtually my
entire gun collection with me in anticipation of finding somewhere to toss some
lead deep in those hills. Little did I realize
just how short of a distance I would have
to travel!
Before I could even unload our suitcases, the innate desire deep in my genetic
makeup forced me to meet the individual
responsible for placing that sign on the
gravel road. Abandoning the emptying of
my trunk and having no idea what might
lie ahead of me, I drove down that road to
find the heavily armed Vietnam veteran.
No more than 100 feet down the hill sat
two beautiful cabins nestled along the
stream. I picked one, parked my car and
headed towards the door. As I approached
the porch, I noticed the “I don’t call 911”
sticker with the drawing of a S&W revolver
placed neatly next to the door handle and
knew I had found the right cabin! I will
admit that I moved slightly to my right for
cover before knocking on the door when
a man approached cautiously from inside. I identified myself as someone who
was renting the cabin up the hill from him
and as a gun enthusiast couldn’t help but
introduce myself as a result of the posted
sign. To break any tension on his part, I
immediately asked if he was aware of any
place I could shoot each day while I was
on vacation for the week. He introduced
himself and the conversation immediately
turned to guns.
As usually happens with two like-minded individuals, we developed a very quick
rapport and became swift acquaintances.
Needless to say, the quiet solitude of the
mountain vacation was interrupted each
afternoon and early evening with the
sounds of gunfire echoing throughout
those hollows. As time has passed and
luck would have it, I now live nearby and
spend some time each year shooting up in
My nephew Mason Dorin enjoying my
Henry Golden Boy 22LR.
the hills with Bob on that quiet mountain
road. On a recent trip up to my neck of the
woods, my friend, Vincent “Larry” Savage
was introduced to that hillside. Of course,
he couldn’t leave without a picture of himself next to that now infamous sign. That,
my friends is fun stuff!
You’ll also note the pictures of my young
nephew with a Henry Golden Boy .22LR in
his hands for the first time. He is now addicted to shooting and his father has purchased for him his own rifle. This type of
activity is vital to the continuation of the
shooting sports. There is nothing like a
fall afternoon in the woods plinking cans
with that .22 or shooting posted targets. I
can assure you that my young nephew will
eventually take his own children or some
of his friends outside to enjoy the activity
a lot of us take for granted. He has also
been made aware of the importance of his
responsibility for his own defense as he
grows older.
My own children are getting closer every year to being able to enjoy some of the
shooting activities that their father enjoys.
Although they are not yet old enough to
take them shooting, they have been taught
the fundamentals of gun safety and I have
stripped them of their inevitable curiosity
of guns. They have seen videos of daddy
shooting into that hill, they have heard
the report of a gunshot, and seen their
father clean his guns. They do not bat an
eye-lid when they see daddy strap on his
handgun. They know that daddy’s “shooting guns” are for protection from the “bad
mans” as well as for sport and fun. They
are also keenly aware that they are never
to touch a gun wherever they may, be unless in the presence of their parents. They
are learning the Eddie Eagle rules of gun
safety. It is such a shame that due to their
own unfounded ignorance and fear, more
parents don’t enjoy this activity with their
children.
Upon finding some of these pictures,
I felt it necessary to remind not only the
readers of CCM, but also myself, to get out
more often and enjoy the freedoms we
hold so dear but take so much for granted
in this country. As November approaches,
it is incumbent upon each and every one
of us to remember these freedoms lest we
lose them forever.
As you are all probably aware by now,
the DC gun ban case (DC vs Heller) is
being heard by the US Supreme Court in
March. To view the brief filed by Buckeye
Firearms Association, please visit the following site. n
www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5410
BY: WWW.JPFO.ORG
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) has created a new
program to counteract the unceasingly lies and dangerous propaganda of the
victim disarmament (aka “gun control”) lobby—lies and propaganda mostly
aimed at a captive audience of children in the public school system, and
spread like a disease by the mass media—while providing hours of wholesome
family fun.
The program, called “Goody Guns,” consists of a special cookie cutter in the
shape of a semi-automatic pistol or a revolver. With the supervision and help of
the adults in their lives, boys and girls can turn their own kitchens into “Arsenals
of Liberty” by making gun-shaped cookies to keep and share, while learning
firearms safety lessons the public schools would never teach them, and which the
mass media don’t want to see taught.
To purchase your Goody Gun Cutter:
JPFO, Inc. - PO Box 270143 - Hartford, WI 53027
Order line: (800) 869-1884
Each Goody Gun comes with 2 JPFO “Gran’pa Jack” booklets, educational
comics aimed at everyone aged eight or older. These booklets destroy every major
argument for “gun control” while educating kids so they will know how to support
firearms ownership. You’ll also get 2 mini toothpick flags to decorate your Goody
Gun creations, plus two recipes to start you off.
Goody Gun Cutter - $9.95 each (postage paid)
www.goodyguns.com
www.jpfo.org
APRIL 2008 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM
or $16.95 for two (postage paid)
Goody Guns © Copyright 2007
SIG SAUER® ACADEMY
TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE
[ BY GEORGE HARRIS ]
Training takes on a
variety of meanings for
the majority of us.
I
s it practicing what we know or is it
learning something new and repeating the action hoping to become better at it? Are we having fun or do we do it
in order to be elevated to the next level
of accomplishment? Is there a set goal
to be achieved? Lot’s of questions with
an endless number of answers.
I have known many people who got
so wrapped up in how to train and what
to train for, that they became indecisive and didn’t do anything but wring
their hands and worry about what they
should have done. Then, as a follow up
to the indecision, they go to the range
and launch a bunch of bullets just to
be able to tell themselves that they did
something. These folks generate a lot of
once-fired brass with little more than
that to show for it.
In the next few paragraphs we will put
some definitions to training, education,
and practice that will help with setting
goals, having fun, and enjoying self improvement all at the same time, just by
having a plan.
In simple terms, training is generally
physical in nature and most often in-
volves behavioral change in motor skill
development. Education is academic
in nature and involves change through
intellectual stimulation. Practice is repetition of a previously learned action or
idea in order to elevate performance
to a higher level. Practice is further enhanced with the understanding of the
specific benefit to us of what we are doing and the concept of how it works to
make our performance improvement.
By understanding the benefit of practicing a particular drill and how it changes
our shooting performance, the time
and ammunition we are spending on
performance improvement suddenly
takes on new meaning.
Unfortunately, way too many of us
practice specific drills because we read
somewhere that they will make us better at the goals we pursue or someone
that we consider knowledgeable suggested that we practice a certain drill
to improve our performance. Unless we
achieve some expected outcome fairly
quickly, the drill is tossed aside, unperfected, in favor of another more glamorous drill and the condition perpetuates
itself with lots of expended ammunition
and little improvement to show for it.
In determining what type of training
would benefit us the most and what
we should practice, questions have to
be asked about what we have decided
to improve on. These questions should
compare the relevance and reality of
the training techniques with the desired
outcome. A practical example would be
practicing drawing from a competition
holster to decrease our draw time when
in reality we always carry concealed
in an inside the pants, behind the hip,
holster. There is no relevance because
we don’t carry in a competition holster
every day. It is not realistic to believe
that drawing from an open holster, positioned differently on our person than
the everyday carry holster, would realize
much speed benefit at all; the mechanics of the two draws are significantly different.
Let’s take the same situation and develop an effective practice regimen that
will afford us success in a minimum
amount of time.
First, to determine relevance, we
need to answer why we are carrying inside the pants and behind the hip (as
there are better locations for drawing
with speed than this selection). Let’s
say that we are dressed daily in a suit
with the coat frequently un-buttoned.
Therefore, rather than an appendix or
point of the hip carry, behind the hip
would give us the best likelihood of
concealment. Relevance and realism is
About the Author:
George Harris has spent over 30
years in the field of Adult Education
with more than 17 years at the SIG
SAUER® Academy.
He has focused
his efforts in the
arenas of small
arms, small arms
training and combat skill development. George has
evolved from an
10
Infantry Soldier, Small Arms Repair
Technician, and Drill Instructor to
become the Coach and Firing Member
of the Internationally recognized
United States Army Reserve Combat
Marksmanship Team. As a competitive shooter, George has the coveted
distinction of being Distinguished
with both the Service Pistol and the
Service Rifle.
As Director of the SIG SAUER®
Academy, George is committed to the
safe and successful use of firearms
by armed professionals and responsible citizens alike through using the
SIG Principle of Training: Simple Is
Good!
Sponsored By:
sigsauer.com 603-679-2003
clear now, as this mode of dress is how
we live everyday life. The behind the hip
carry location gives us the best blend
of concealment, access and retention
that we could expect. The fact that this
carry method “makes sense” removes
any doubt as to why this carry location
has been selected. The brain tends to
embrace ideas that “make sense” which
then introduces an element into the
practice that in turn validates the practice and achieves positive results.
The other half of the equation is the
“how” portion of the practice. Speed is
economy of motion. If we want to decrease the time it takes to draw from the
holster to the target we must examine
every movement from the initiation of
the draw to the delivery of the shot for
unnecessary movement. This is done
by starting and finishing the draw to the
target in slow motion so as to be able to
detect errant movement that is not essential to the task. Gradually increase
the speed until each flaw is found and
fixed, thereby eliminating excess movement. Continue until the draw stroke
is fluid and effortless. Your body is now
conditioned to follow, at speed, the path
of the range of motion created with slow
deliberate movement. Even when forced
under the condition of a surprise attack,
the movement will be smooth and efficient. This is but one example of training for the future in establishing why we
need to practice a technique, and how
to practice it for maximum benefit.
As we strive to improve, we are benefited by having a plan of action that
is relevant, realistic, and makes sense.
This makes the new skill to be learned
more easily accepted and successful in
its performance. This increases the likelihood of sustainment through repetition because it is enjoyable. The bottom
line is to set a goal that is relevant and
realistic. Secure the equipment, and formulate a plan necessary to achieve that
goal, and then practice the plan until
it is committed to subconscious action
when needed. Each technique that we
learn and understand because it works,
and it “makes sense” puts another trick
in our bag of success and survival.
Hedge your bets and train for the future. n
I have known
many people who
got so wrapped
up in how to train
and what to train
for, that they became
indecisive
and didn’t do
anything but wring
their hands and worry
about what they
should have done.
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11
TRUE STORIES
Don’t Bring a Knife
to a Gun Fight
A shoplifting suspect stabbed a security guard at a busy intersection in
Kansas City. The guard responded by
fatally shooting his attacker.
Police Sgt. Mike Glass said the guard
was working at the Price Chopper at
6327 Brookside Plaza when he saw a
man trying to steal something about
8:40 p.m. on February 29, 2008.
The guard chased the suspect about
two blocks, to 63rd Street and Wornall
Road. The suspect stabbed the guard in
the upper body, and the guard then shot
the suspect.
The suspect was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The guard also was taken to a hospital. The guard’s injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Kansas City Star
Feb. 29, 2008
Another One Bites the Dust
An Arkansas man died after he and
an unidentified accomplice broke into
a residence off State Highway 22 near
Dardanelle on February 20, 2008.
Mike Jensen, 44, was shot and killed
by a shotgun-wielding occupant of a
home after he and another man alleg-
12
CARRY A GUN...
IT WILL SAVE YO
edly entered the residence by kicking in pital after police arrived. A second susthe front door, Yell County Sheriff Bill pect was taken into custody, but two
Gilkey confirmed.
suspects got away, French said.
Four people were inside the home at
The victim was not injured.
the time of the break-in, Gilkey said.
French did not say whether the susArmed with an SKS rifle which inves- pects were attempting to burglarize a
tigators later learned was not loaded, marijuana dispensary that is located in
Jensen entered the home and traveled that building.
down a hallway. He was at the point of
Torrance, CA Daily Breeze
entering a bedroom when he was shot,
Feb. 22, 2008
Gilkey said.
The other intruder fled the scene in
Muggers need to get
a vehicle authorities later recovered,
real jobs in this town!
Gilkey said, adding investigators were
An intended victim shot at a wouldworking to process the vehicle in hopes be robber at a northern Charlotte,
of learning the second man’s identity. Alabama, restaurant on February
Gilkey said authorities do not expect 20, 2008. The robber was left with
any charges will
be filed against
the homeowner in Ingram, carrying a .40-caliber handgun,
connection with ran to the house and found Fleming
the matter.
He said the in- attacking the other woman...
truders’
motive
was uncertain.
life-threatening injuries, police said.
“We’re just assuming that they came After the 9:20 p.m. shooting at Floyd’s
in there to rob the family,” he said.
Homestyle Cooking restaurant on
Russellville, Arkansas Courier Graham Street, the suspect was taken
Feb. 22, 2008 to Carolinas Medical Center. Some of
his bloodied clothes were strewn in the
Intended Burglary Victim parking lot of the restaurant. Nearby,
two guns lay on a sidewalk.
Fights Back
An intended burglary victim shot at
Police haven’t released an account
four men breaking into of what happened during the shoota business during the ing, but Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
early-morning hours of Spokesman Officer Hassan Peterson
February 22, 2008, in said the restaurant was closed when the
the Los Angeles Harbor first officers arrived.
Gateway area.
Police interviewed the man working
Los Angeles Police at the restaurant and homicide investispokesman
Richard gators planned to interview him again
French said the suspects late Wednesday.
apparently entered the
It was the second time in less than
building around 5:30 three months that someone working at
a.m. Someone in the a business in Charlotte shot a potential
building, who was de- robber.
scribed as a victim, fired
In December, a man shot a teenager
an unknown amount of who was trying to rob his west Charlotte
rounds at the suspects, convenience store.
French said.
On that day, two teens walked into the
One of the suspects Bradford Food Mart demanding money
was shot in the hip and and at least one of them was armed.
taken to a nearby hosSo was the store’s owner.
OUR LIFE.
The owner and one of the suspects
fired their weapons, and one of the
suspects was hit in the stomach. The
owner wasn’t hurt and the injured teen
survived.
Charlotte Observer
Feb. 21, 2008
Armed Samaritan
Prevents Rape
Two Brighton, Tennessee, women
were attacked in their own home by
a 44-year-old registered sex offender
in the early hours of the morning on
February 19, 2008. A neighbor, summoned by one of the women, shot and
killed the attacker.
According to District Attorney
General Mike Dunavant, David
Fleming broke into the home of two
women at about 3 a.m.
Fleming bound the women, but one
escaped and ran to a nearby home.
Dunavant said Fleming, who lived in
Munford, intended to rape the women.
The woman who escaped went to
the nearby home of Keith Ingram for
help, Dunavant said.
Ingram, carrying a .40-caliber
handgun, ran to the house and found
Fleming attacking the other woman,
officials said.
When Fleming tried to attack
Ingram, Dunavant said Ingram shot
Fleming once.
Tipton County Sheriff’s deputies and
Brighton Police officers found Fleming
dead on the front porch of the home.
Fleming had been convicted of attempted rape in Tipton County. He’s
listed on the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation’s sex-offender registry.
Dunavant said Ingram has no criminal record and has a permit to carry
the handgun.
The women who were attacked were
treated at Baptist Memorial HospitalTipton.
Commercial Appeal
Feb. 19, 2008
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13
CCM PROFILE
BenShepherd
I grew up in a family
of five children (three
brothers and one sister)
with strong family ties
that exist to this day. W
hen I was a child, personal
responsibility and accountability were not optional, they
were required. I am forever in debt to
my parents for giving me this start; it
has helped me run my life with a very
strong set of values.
As young as I can remember, which
is at about four years old, I was around
guns. It started with being able to finally
go to deer camp with my dad, and being
allowed to help in the reloading room.
Now that I have young nieces and nephews, I know that doing these things with
me at that age was very detrimental
to my dad’s personal time. To my dad
though, these things were more important; things such as spending time with
his boy, teaching me how to respect and
enjoy God’s wonderful world.
My dad has a set of guidelines for
14
guns that goes like this: When I turned
eight, it was time to start down a path
that I’ve never left: It was time to shoot a
gun all by myself! My dad sat me down
with a single-shot .22, reviewed all the
safety rules with me, and then handed
me a single bullet. What a feeling! I was
hooked. At age 12, I was given the .22
Ben’s “always” gun is a Ruger SP101 in
.357 magnum.
his father gave him (which I still have).
At age 16, I was given a shotgun, and at
age 18 a rifle. I had to wait until I was 21
years old to buy my first handgun.
I spent my early 20’s doing what most
this has been exceptionally rewarding.
What a feeling to be able to take someone from not knowing what a cartridge
is, or how a pistol works, to shooting
their first group. I know that when they
leave class they have the knowledge,
skill, and proper mindset, to handle
and care for a gun safely and correctly. I
get to do something I enjoy immensely,
and at the same time, someone is learning to enjoy one of their rights as an
American.
I am currently married to a wonderful
wife who is very supportive of me and
has her CCW as well. Interview
Being controversial - Ben handloads
the ammunition for his carry gun.
people that age would do, trying out all
kinds of things: different jobs, different
classes in school, different hobbies and
different approaches to the demands of
life. But through it all, I never lost my
love of shooting. At the end of this little
experimental period, I came out knowing what I wanted to do. I wanted to
make sure that future generations got
to live in the America I had come to
love! The more I studied and learned,
the more I realized that our great nation
was heading downhill—and I wanted to
do something about it!
By this time I was 25 years old. I had
a good career going, and had purchased
my home. I joined the NRA, GOA,
CCRKBA, and SAF. I was reading anything and everything I could find that
was written about the founding of the
United States, especially anything dealing with exactly WHAT and WHY our
laws are what they are. I started to pay
attention to politics, and social and political climates. I started writing letters
to my congressman. I made sure that
I studied the candidates and voted in
EVERY election.
To me, fewer things are more upset-
ting than listening to someone complain
about what this or that elected official
did, when they didn’t care enough to get
informed and vote in the first place.
Then, one day I read a book titled Dial
911 and Die. This really shook me up. I
knew it was my job to pay my bills, get
to work on time, and obey the law. Like
many however, I always figured that the
police department’s job was to protect
me. Wrong. This was just one of many
reasons that I decided to get my CCW
permit.
Luckily, my state had recently passed
“shall-issue” concealed carry legislation. I took the required course, jumped
through the legal hoops, and received
my permit. I quickly realized several
things concerning concealed carry.
Here are a few of the ones I consider important: Anger has no place while carrying. A good belt and holster are mandatory. Training and maintaining skills
are essential.
In the last couple of years, I’ve really tried to increase my involvement in
Second Amendment issues. I am currently certified as an NRA instructor in
Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun. I also have
a Range Officer certification as well. I
am a Hunter’s Education instructor and
teach 40-50 students per month. All of
Was there a specific incident that
caused you to carry a gun?
No. In general I’ve just always figured
that it’s my responsibility to take care of
myself. We all need to remember that
911 is an after-the-fact response. If I expect that law enforcement will be present at the exact moment I need them,
then I might as well expect that one
Powerball ticket will let me retire.
Have you ever had to use your firearm
in a defensive situation?
Sort of. I used to work a part-time job
on the swing shift. This was one of those
high stress, low wage just-starting-outin-life jobs. So after my shift would end
around midnight, I would usually take
a long walk home to unwind. On one
particular night, while on one of these
walks, I noticed I was being followed. I
picked up my pace, so did he. I crossed
the street, so did he. I slowed down, so
did he. All the while, he looked like he
was trying WAY too hard to be up to
nothing in particular.
At this point I’m asking myself,
“What’s he thinking? I’m half as much
again his size.”
After having a rough day at work, this
was not how I wanted to end my day.
I began to think that he must have an
edge that I hadn’t picked up on yet. I
made three right turns in a row, circling the block, and then crossed the
street in the middle of the block. He
followed, keeping the same distance
the whole time. I decided it would end
here and now. We had been playing cat
and mouse for a half hour or more and
15
enough was enough. I spun a 180 and
stopped dead in my tracks, while making direct eye contact. We were about
half a block apart. This stopped him
cold for a second. Then he took a cautious step forward. My hand slipped
into my pocket around the butt of my
Ruger SP101. I moved slowly and deliberately, in plain view. I also made it
plain by my body language that I was
not moving until he was out of sight. He
could tell I had my hand on something.
He stood there for about a minute then
just turned around and went the other
way. Neither of us had uttered word one.
I never did figure out if it was someone
thinking they were funny, or if I was in
serious danger. But regardless, the best
results were had that day!
What training methods do you employ?
Do you have any recommendations?
I do a lot of daily dry-fire practice.
Dry fire done with the proper mindset is
worth 90% of a live fire session as far as
basic fundamentals are concerned. I do
try to get live fire at least weekly. I also
use IDPA drills and stationary bull’s-eye
work. As far as a be-all-end-all of training, I don’t believe there is one. Not
everyone has the time or means to attend all of the big name schools. But
that shouldn’t stop anyone from getting
a good foundation in the discipline by
working with a local instructor like, for
example, a local police academy instructor. Of course, we should work towards
being able to train at least once at a top
flight school.
How long have you carried a concealed
weapon?
A little over five years as far as the government is concerned.
What weapons do you carry?
My “always” gun is a Ruger SP101 in
.357 magnum. Other than that, sometimes I carry my Speed Six in .357, or if
I’m on a hike or in an outdoor-type environment one of my 41 magnums may do
the honors. I own and shoot semi-autos,
but for me, my comfort zone means carrying a wheel gun.
What type of ammo do you carry?
I carry handloads: A .357 magnum 158
16
grain Speer Gold Dot HP’sSpeer in front
of enough powder to do 1350fps out of
my SP101. I know some people have
cited possible legal issues. In my case, I
choose stone cold reliable over a possible legal issue. Be advised however that
I have a great deal of experience with
reloading, especially this caliber, and
the decision to carry handloads was not
made lightly. [ED: Okay, but the general
consensus among professional firearms
instructors and legal eagles is that premium quality defensive factory ammunition is the best way to go.]
What concealment holsters do you use?
Luckily, I have a top-notch holster
maker in my backyard, so to speak. His
name is Eric Larsen, and he’s known as:
Holsters by Eric (hbeleatherworks.com).
I like this arrangement, as everything
is built to order, not one-size-fits-all.
Nothing wrong with off the shelf rigs,
but if you can get custom, well you end
up spoiled. If not one of his rigs, then I
use Lou Alessi’s rigs. I prefer the comfort and tradition of leather over Kydex.
What do you do for a living?
I have a classic blue collar job. I work
at the parts counter of a local auto
dealership. Nothing fancy, but it pays
the bills and keeps me in powder and
primers.
Do you have any advice for our
readers?
You’ve heard it all in this, and other
magazines, but I’ll reinforce the two
points that I think are biggies:
1. Practice consistently; weekly if possible, if not, at least monthly.
2. DO NOT skimp on your carry rig!!
This is a pet peeve of mine. Do not put
an $800 gun in a rig that costs 30 bucks
and then whine because is doesn’t work
right. The old adage of getting what you
pay for applies IN SPADES in this instance. n
[ Each issue of CCM contains an article
that profiles an everyday individual who
carries a concealed weapon. This article
is an inspiration to our readers by helping them to realize that they are not
alone in their lifestyle decision to always
be armed. ]
TACTICS AND TRAINING
Valuable Wisdom from a
20-year Peace Officer
[ BY R.K. CAMPBELL ]
Debate can be lively but sometimes acrimonious.
I
have seen a shift from faith in experience toward questioning of values
we have held for years. Some feel the
”big bore” crowd is full of self interest.
Misconceptions concerning handgun
calibers may cause a person to make the
wrong choice, and end up dead. I have
no problem finding the bad guys gone
or incarcerated, but do not wish to hear
of the good guys and girls among the
enumeration of the dead. My approach
may not be scientific, but I think of it
as empirical observation. After two decades as a peace officer, I realize that
when a cop says has seen something,
he means he arrived just as the fight
ended and he ”saw” the aftermath; the
flesh warm and the victim still screaming. We state that the assailant who took
five 9mms was still mobile. The fellow
18
with one .45 in his chest remained mobile and decided to die just before we
arrived. These are observations on the
state of weaponcraft.
I have applied my education, and
observational powers to many areas.
I have written extensively on liability
and training issues and dealing with the
mentally ill. I am working to pass legislation to limit access by sex offenders to
certain public areas. In general, I like to
make the miserable lives of criminals
more difficult. Some research is unpleasant. Police journals are not eager
to publish articles on wound ballistics
because the debate is one of uncertainty. Information must be verifiable, and
any experiment must be repeatable.
This is not the case with books and articles on handgun caliber effectiveness.
We have a desire to learn. I suspect
there is a yearning to hear that our pet
caliber—a .32 or a .45—is just great. I
have studied gun battles for the better
part of thirty years and listened to anyone who has been in combat. I have
looked over both ends of the gun barrel
to defend the public and myself. There
have been difficulties and permanent
injuries and scars gained along the way.
As for what I have learned, take this
with what you have learned elsewhere
and apply it to your situation. Most importantly, the slacker will not get anywhere. There are more in uniform than
among civilian shooters. The officer
at risk often regards qualification as a
chore. If you work in an occupation that
requires certification in haz/mat or other boring subjects you feel you know
its. But we can make generalizations.
We want penetration to vital organs, and a bullet that is not deflected
by bone. Our bone structure supports
our body and protects the vital organs.
to stop with the .22 (and larger cartridges as well). But the advantage of the big
bore is present in literature and confirmed events for over one hundred and
fifty years.
photos by Ken Lunde. lundestudios.com
well, then you understand. Officers do
not regard qualification as a learning
experience, but a chore. The cop who
practices on his own time and on his
own dime is rare.
Civilians enjoy shooting more, and
often become proficient. The civilian
usually has a broad choice of handguns
while the cop goes with the company
gun. What I know about bullet performance is learned from real world experience. Some has been gained from
shooting game animals. I shoot animals only to eat or to feed others. A
deer approaches the size of an adult
human male. Either is about as hard to
put down although man is much more
susceptible to shock. I do not hunt deer
or boar with a 9mm. We stalk and kill
cleanly. If we need a weapon to defend
ourselves against an attacking animal
the weapons would be more powerful
than we use for defense against people.
Those who sneak up on humans and
rob them get by with .32s and the like.
When attempting to stop a motivated
attacker we need more power. There
are several types of attackers. There is
the fellow who falls into a swoon at the
sight of an armed victim, and runs. He
may lose his composure when he realizes the victim is armed and he will run
away if possible. The second is the most
common type: he is dangerous but will
fight only when cornered or when there
is a profit in it. The man who takes punishment and keeps coming, his only
mission that of murder and mayhem,
is a rare breed—but he exists. Among
peace officers, the ratio is the same;
with the average fellow keeping the
peace. I once accepted the resignation
of a young man who had his first run in
with a burglar. The civilian will have no
choice when the bad guys choose him
or her as the victim.
We need a handgun that is reliable
above all else, and in a suitable caliber to face such warped men. Modern
handguns are more reliable than ever.
But in some cases, Technical has taken precedent over Tactical. Questions
centering upon handgun caliber performance are the most common. Testing is difficult. Flesh is not translucent
like gelatin, and even harvesting an animal doesn’t tell us much if the bullet ex-
I suspect there
is a yearning to
hear that our pet
caliber—a .32 or a
.45—is just great.
Bone can deflect projectiles. High velocity bullets may fragment. Bone does
funny things to bullets. I have seen a
hollowpoint bullet that flattened out on
a skull; the victim lived. Other hollowpoints did not expand at all, but hardball rounds sometimes deform.
The old saying that something is better than nothing is true. But we have
some good choices and we would not
be very bright if we did not take advantage of them. I would not feel uncomfortable with .45 caliber hardball, but
I deploy hollowpoint loads to take advantage of their properties.
Bullet placement is very important.
We do not need to obliterate the heart
or annihilate the liver to stop a felon.
We only need to hit and damage these
organs. Let’s relate the big bore to the
small bore. We have all heard stories
of a .22 caliber bullet slipping into the
chest cavity and severing an aorta, immediately stopping an attack. I am certain it has happened, but I am equally
certain there have been many failures
I recently studied a feature on aerial
shooting. I did so mainly for enjoyment
but I was struck by the recommendation of using a big bore for exhibition
shooting. The author was successful in
shooting moving silver dollar size targets with the .44 and .45 caliber double action revolver. He found hitting
with the .38 was much more difficult.
While super human ability may play a
part, hard work is required. Hard work
is something defensive shooters should
get acquainted with. The 1.6 inch frontal diameter of the .45 gave a much better chance of hitting a small target. The
same is true when vital organs are the
target. When we are firing at a moving
target far removed from the one dimensional stationary target on the range,
I want every advantage. The big bore
gives us a better chance of damaging
tissue as the bullet travels through the
body. Bullet placement is vital as there
are parts of the body that, if damaged,
will cause an immediate shutdown.
These areas include the brain case and
19
the spine. These targets are difficult to
hit quickly and are not high on my list
of aiming points. The center mass hold
works. When you are fighting, your
hands shake and your vision is blurred,
so a fine bead on the cerebral cortex is
not possible. Concentrate on marksmanship and rapid [gun]handling. If
there is any shortcoming universal
among students it is a lack of familiarity
with the handgun.
There is an argument that those who
are not able to practice regularly should
deploy the 9mm. Handgun skills are
perishable, and the small bore is easier to shoot well. If you cannot practice
monthly with the semi-automatic pistol you need to be using a revolver. A
full size .45 is controllable by men and
women of average height and build.
Caliber is as important as hand fit and
feel. There is a certain amount of prejudice toward one weapon or the other that is easily dispelled at the range. I
have enjoyed range sessions with men
and women of varying ability. You do not
have to be well heeled to be well armed.
Being well armed is a product of proficiency not the price of the handgun.
During a recent class I found that shooters of modest means did not have to be
modest concerning their ability. Most of
my students had chosen their firearm
based upon their likes and perceptions.
I discovered that Highpoint pistols will
outshoot the Smith and Wesson SIGMA
every time. The inexpensive FEG 9 x 18
has a better feeling grip than the Walther
PPK. A couple of students had Glocks,
but the Ruger 9mm shooter present had
practiced with his handgun.
While we all have our preferences,
the person behind the pistol is the real
weapon.
Shooters swear by a certain caliber
of load and sometimes I am dubious of
their recommendation. Those who have
real experience in the field recommend
powerful cartridges that have worked
for themselves and others. The .357
Magnum revolver has a tremendous
reputation. I have seen the effect over
my own sights. An acquaintance hunts
with a four inch barrel .357 Magnum. He
swears by the Federal 180 grain JHP. This
is a heavier load than many would recommend for self defense but this gen-
20
tleman often carries his Smith and Wesson concealed on his ”town” trips loaded with the 180 grain JHP. He has complete confidence in his choice. Do you
have the same in yours?
I own many handguns. I would not
have gotten this far in the game if I did
not enjoy firing different types. The realist in me knows to carry the proven Colt
1911 when the situation warrants. Old,
worn, and reliable I am familiar with the
zero with the chosen load and I know
exactly how the piece handles in all situations. Some feel that if the .45 is good
then the .44 Magnum is better. I have
respect for this caliber. I have seen two
.44 Magnum wounds just after the fact,
and each was immediately effective. In
one case the bullet entered the kneecap
and traveled through the muscle of the
leg exiting the ball of the foot. This was
an unintentional self inflicted wound.
In another incident a homeowner fired
at a person he was arguing with. The 240
grain bullet pulped the victim’s liver but
exited and struck the homeowner’s wife
in the shoulder, crippling her for life.
The .44 Magnum doesn’t strike me for
personal defense, and the factory loaded .44 Special is less effective than the
.45 ACP.
The size and shape of the handgun
mean much. A 9mm may be small and
light while the .45 needs weight for good
control. I often deploy a light weight
frame Springfield .45 but I am under no
illusions that I will fire it as accurately as
a steel frame pistol. I feel that many of
the super light weight handguns available today are too light; while I enjoy big
bores, I do not enjoy guns that hurt.
The final word is: choose a handgun
that fits your hand size, and then practice often. Choose a load that is completely reliable (good quality control),
demonstrates a full powder burn, and
offers a good balance between expansion and penetration. The caliber is
your choice, but the big bore is proven.
Old wisdom really is the best. n
[ RK Campbell is a writer with twenty years police experience. He holds a degree in criminal justice and has studied
firearms and their use for nearly forty
years. He is the author of three books and
over six hundred articles, columns, and
reviews. ]
Formerly spotless finish is now marred with
small scratches, which are worse on the
opposite side of the gun (not shown).
[ BY PHIL ELMORE ]
Gunsmithing
Horror Stories:
Don’t Let This Happen To You
It all started innocently enough.
M
y friend Mike, a novice to firearms ownership and proud
holder of a new CCW permit, bought himself a beautiful stainless steel Colt Gold Cup Trophy Model
(1911). Not satisfied with the gun out of
the box, he took it to a local gun store.
To my knowledge, the store has a good
reputation for gunsmithing work. I’ve
even had some work done on my own
1911 at the same store without difficulty. Based on Mike’s horror story, however, it would seem I got lucky.
Mike took his .45 to get a beavertail,
ambidextrous frame safety, mag well,
and extended slide release installed. All
of these parts needed to be fitted and
polished to match the high-polished
stainless finish of the Gold Cup. He left
the gun with a salesperson who assured
him the gun would be well cared for.
APRIL 2008 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE
Three weeks later, he called to see if the
gun was finished. It wasn’t even started,
but one day later, all the work had been
done, Mike was informed. He went
back to the store to pick it up. Mike’s
pictures show what awaited him. The
gun was covered in scratches. None of
the parts were properly fitted, and the
safety was tight.
When Mike called back to find out
what had gone wrong, the litany of excuses he received were like none he’d
ever heard: It was impossible to do the
work on a stainless gun like that without scratching it, he was informed. It
was necessary to grind down the hammer to clear the beaver tail correctly, he
was told, and the beavertail – a Series 70
– was mated to the Series 80 gun in attempt to do Mike a favor. The gun was
also “made incorrectly” at the factory,
Mike was informed, which means the
holes in the frame didn’t line up correctly. According to Mike, an examination of the pistol revealed a far different
problem. Apart from the finish issues,
too much material was ground off the
frame of the gun, which in turn caused
the beavertail to fit incorrectly.
When Mike complained, he was told
his gun would be repaired at no charge.
When he next picked it up, the finish had
been corrected. Now, however, a host
of function problems reared their ugly
heads. The slide catch had never been
properly fitted to the gun, meaning the
slide would not rack with a magazine in
place. Magazines would no longer fall
free of the gun when the magazine released was pressed. Worse, cartridges
were being nicked when rounds were
chambered.
21
“I examined the gun,” Mike told me,
“and the mechanism inside the gun was
taking chips out of the flat part of the
bullets while advancing. Also, someone
had placed the spring inside the gun on
the full length guide rod backward, effectively chewing up my guide rod. On top
of that, the beavertail was installed incorrectly. The hammer is hitting the beavertail, preventing the slide from moving
properly.”
As you can imagine, my friend called
the gun store again and complained.
Then he took it to another gunsmith for
a second opinion. That smith explained
that material would have to be welded inside the beavertail, and then milled down
correctly. The mag well would have to be
fitted, the safety would have to be corrected, and a few other items would have
to be adjusted and refitted. The total cost
– figuring in an eight month wait time
– could be as high as $500. Placing yet
another call to the shop that did the work
incorrectly, my friend Mike was informed
that the smith who worked on his gun
had been doing work “for forty years.”
“I have to tell you,” Mike said, “that
doesn’t make me feel better, especially
given the shoddy work that was just
done.” As the conversation went downhill from there, the smith was so incensed
that he agreed to cover the bill for having
the gun fixed at the second shop. Then
he banned my friend Mike from his store,
telling him never to set foot on the premises again.
What can we learn from this horror story? How can we prevent a costly,
time-consuming problem such as this
one from occurring? It’s a common
enough occurrence to have work done
on a pistol, particularly a 1911-pattern
.45. In what ways can you safeguard your
property and your wallet when you need
to have something done? The following
are some general guidelines for having
gunsmith work performed. While these
tips aren’t all-encompassing, they should
help the next time you have to take your
firearm to the shop:
Choose a shop with a good reputation.
This won’t always help you, as the shop in
question had a veteran smith and a good
reputation to go with it, but it’s usually a
good indicator. Whenever possible, take
your gun only to those shops that have
22
provided similar services to people you
know. Where your friends happy with the
work done? Would they recommend the
shop to others?
Choose chain stores with caution.
Many large chain sporting good stores
that sell firearms also offer gunsmithing
services. This is a hit or miss proposition. Just as the folks in the orange vests
behind the counter might have firearms
knowledge or might not, beyond the basics, the smiths employed at such shops
might or might not know what they are
doing. Locally, I don’t dare take my gun
to be serviced by one of the large chains.
However, you might have one near you
whose smith has a reputation for doing
good work. It’s a choice you’ll have to
make on a case by case basis. How many
pieces of mythology and folklore have
you heard being imparted from behind
gun counters in gun stores across the
country? Some folks employed in the
capacity of gunsmiths or even gun salesmen just don’t know what they’re talking
about.
Get it in writing. Before you have work
done, make sure you get a receipt or
other documentation detailing precisely
what it is you expect to have done, as well
as what this is supposed to cost you. The
work to be performed must be clearly
defined so both parties know what to
expect. If I’ve learned anything when
dealing with matters of commerce, it is
always, always get everything in writing.
Word of mouth is useless when it comes
time to settle legal matters. Words on paper will always carry the day.
Take photographs before and after
the work is done. My friend Mike is a talented amateur photographer, so it didn’t
surprise me when he took pictures of his
gun both before and after the work was
performed. I don’t know if I would have
thought to do that before hearing his horror story. When you have a gun worked
on, take the time to snap a few pictures of
its condition before it goes into the shop.
Make sure these are time-stamped in
some way. (For example, you could photograph the gun on top of that day’s paper.) That way you’ll be able to compare
the condition of the gun before and after,
in case something goes wrong.
Be polite and respectful. If you have
work done on a gun and there is some
The hammer on this 1911 is
actually fitted improperly
and shows a large gap on
one side.
Scratches are a result of
crude fitting of the safety to
this gun’s frame.
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24
sional opinion before you go back to
the store that performed the work. That
way, you’ll be better informed when
discussing the problem and its possible
solutions.
Do your homework. Depending on
how you intend to use your gun, a lot
of the accessories a gunsmith might
try to sell you simply aren’t necessary.
Research these topics before the fact.
Publications like this one, as well as
countless online discussion sites and
reference books, will give you a better
idea of what is necessary and what is
simply optional where your gun is concerned.
By taking a few simple precautions
and informing yourself before the fact,
you can minimize the potential risks
while getting gunsmithing work performed. In most cases, the work will be
performed to your satisfaction and your
firearm will be better off for it. Don’t
forget this as you move forward. Horror
stories are just that—exceptions to the
rule. Don’t let them happen to you. n
[ Phil Elmore is the publisher of The
Martialist, “The Magazine for Those Who
Fight Unfairly.” He is also the author
of the Paladin Press books Flashlight
Fighting and Street Sword. He can be
reached through his website: www.
philelmore.com. ]
Live: 7.375"
Live: 7.375"
problem, give the shop the benefit of
the doubt when you deal with them.
Politely and calmly explain what has
happened. In most cases, a good smith
will be very motivated to correct the
problem and make you a satisfied customer. Don’t start off angry or you’ll just
put him on the defensive.
Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. People and their skills vary. When
you shop to have work done, don’t be
afraid to go to multiple stores to get estimates and discuss the work with the
smiths involved. You may not always
have multiple options locally, but if you
do, this is a wise move. After the fact,
if there is some problem, get a profes-
!
W
NE
357 Mag 140gr. FTX (8" barrel)
MUZZLE
50 yds
100 yds
150 yds
Velocity (fps)
1440
1274
1143
1049
Energy (ft-lbs.)
644
504
406
342
Trajectory (inches)
-0.9
2.2
0.0
-8.9
MUZZLE
50 yds
100 yds
150 yds
Velocity (fps)
1850
1632
1438
1272
Energy (ft-lbs.)
1064
828
642
503
Trajectory (inches)
-0.9
1.2
0.0
-5.4
MUZZLE
50 yds
100 yds
150 yds
1410
1240
1111
1022
Energy (ft-lbs.)
993
768
617
522
Trajectory (inches)
-0.9
2.4
0.0
-9.4
44 Mag 225gr. FTX (7.5" barrel)
Velocity (fps)
MUZZLE
50 yds
100 yds
150 yds
Velocity (fps)
1870
1637
1429
1255
Energy (ft-lbs.)
1747
1338
1020
787
Trajectory (inches)
-0.9
1.2
0.0
-5.5
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Louis Awe
When I first met Louis Awerbuck I wondered if I had made a big mistake.
W
e were in a deserted parking
lot in front of a public building. I was early, unlocking the
door for the class. Louis and Leigh Lambert were there even earlier. I strode
over with my brother to introduce myself to them. As we shook hands and I
greeted him, his lips parted and moved.
I’m not sure any words came out as a
residue of cigarette smoke wafted out. I
was rattled. At that point I wondered if
this class was going to be a big mistake.
His initial body language I read in those
first moments was unmistakable: cool,
reserved, uneasy, and suspicious. Yet it
was to be that my concerns were entirely unfounded. Over the course of our
time with Louis (pronounced /LOO ee/)
Awerbuck, we found him to be patient,
personable, and quite talkative. His initial response, in retrospect, was the response of a careful individual when approached by two unknown adult males.
Looking back on it, I realize now that I
had just met someone in Condition Yellow (or perhaps orange!).
26
I had the pleasure and privilege of
taking a three-day tutorial-format class
with Louis. I embarked with certain expectations, all of which were far exceeded. Today, students of armed selfdefense are living during a changing
of the guard. I believe that the recently deceased Col. Jeff Cooper ushered in
a new world for armed civilian self-defense through his teachings and writings, the fruits of which we are reaping
today. He is now gone. Many of his original, early staff members are still alive
and teaching, but they are older men,
many in their late fifties. They are in
their prime years in many ways, for they
have had three decades to watch, digest, and hone their craft. Men like Clint
Smith and Louis Awerbuck (and there
are others) are established—established
in their reputation as teachers, established in their outlook, and by their age,
established in greater wisdom and humility. These men are able to process
and evaluate new developments without being carried away with the chaff of
tool and technique fads. They are able
to teach and help novices and returning
students alike.
And so, while they remain with us,
and while they continue to choose to
teach, a golden opportunity exists, for
it has not yet become clear who will be
their successors. The school of fighting
and firearms awaits the next generation
of master teachers.
Louis Awerbuck turns sixty next year,
though you’d never know it by looking
at him. Quick, agile, and aggressive, his
strength does not seem to reflect his
years, nor does it seem diminished. After standing in as the bad guy for the
CQT material or the disarm material in
class, you feel sorry for the bad guy that
might someday pit himself against Louis, but then you catch yourself thinking,
“Wait, this guy is almost sixty years old!”
As Louis sees it, he has just been blessed
with an amazing metabolism.
Louis’ classes have lots of lecture content, whether on the range on in the
classroom. If you’re a thinking student,
PHOTO COMPOSITION BY MICHAEL TAN
erbuck:
The
Exception
to the
Rule
[ BY MICHAEL TAN ]
interested in understanding, the pace
is just right. If you are into dumping a
thousand rounds downrange per day,
forget it. It’s just not that sort of class.
Louis has a reputation as being one of
the top diagnosticians—troubleshooting and fixing shooting problems for
students. From what I observed, that
reputation is well-deserved, and watching him identify and attempt to fix the
problems of students greatly helped
me in my own shooting, even when I
was not the immediate subject of his
attention.
The shooting in his class is not “target shooting”. Louis focuses on moving,
shooting, and hitting 3-D humanoid
targets. The goal is to get good hits on
demand, at all angles, at all distances.
Techniques and tools have to be simple
and they have to work.
Because of his associations with Col.
Cooper and Gunsite (Louis was Chief
Rangemaster at the original Gunsite),
you might be surprised at how he almost scorns single-stack guns (e.g.
stock 1911s) when a double-stack gun
can be had. Though his primary gun
is a double-stack 1911, he’s comfortable with plastic as well, highly esteeming the Springfield XD. He’s not militant
about stance preference (e.g. Weaver vs.
Isosceles). It seems that whenever his
gun comes out of the holster, he’s usually moving, and often he’s holding the
gun with one hand. He’s more interested in fighting than assuming a frozen
stance.
Regarding backup guns, if you spend
time in Louis’ class, you’ll likely be convinced of the necessity of carrying a
second gun. Over and over, throughout
the class, whether reloading or practicing malfunction clearances, Louis will
remind you that having a second gun
would have enabled you to continue
shooting. He’s not mean about it, but
he takes every opportunity to make the
point. By the end of the class, you’re seriously contemplating putting a second holster on your already overflowing
belt. What would your mother think?
Everyone is unique, but Louis is unusual. If you have the choice between
buying another gun or taking a class
with Louis, take the class, and bring a
notebook. Unless you’re arrogant or unteachable, you won’t regret it.
Louis and Leigh maintain a grueling
travel schedule, driving tens of thousands of miles every year to teach students in almost every state. I was grateful for the opportunity to sit down
with him one evening for the following
interview:
Q: You’ve been teaching civilian firearms training for over thirty years.
From your perspective, give us a thumbnail history of what has come and gone
during that time. What have been fads?
What have been advances that you
have seen?
LA: Simplicity is gone. Fanciness has
replaced the brain. Technology is trying to replace the brain; it doesn’t work.
The 1911 has come back into fashion after 105 years. Too many lies, too many
false resumes, which weren’t there thir-
27