The Brasstard » tactics and techniques

First Aid: Gunshot Wounds

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:50:45 +0000

Most who visit this site are well aware that calling upon the aid of others in a desperate situation can take anywhere from minutes, to hours or days for that aid to arrive. I assume this is perhaps the primary cause of your arrival at this website; you are aware of one simple fact… you alone, are the first line of defense when it comes to the safety of yourself and your family. Just as many of us have trained hard in the defensive arts, we must also be prepared to assess and provide first aid for any unfortunate injuries that may result from an armed confrontation.

The following post will cover the basics of combat trauma first aid; specifically focusing on firearm and bullet shrapnel injuries. Since I am not an EMT or a military medic, I have enlisted the consult of a colleague of mine for medical guidance and editing to ensure accuracy; he is a retired US Air Force Medical Technician who served in the Gulf War (’90-’91) and has treated numerous civilian and military combat casualties throughout his career. He knows his stuff, and now you will too…

Before we get started, we have to be clear about one piece of reality that has been painfully distorted by Hollywood tough guys over the years; if you get shot, you will most likely need immediate medical attention if you are going to survive. Even hits in non-vital areas can result in death by bleeding, infection and/or shock. So the purpose here is not to learn how to play do-it-yourself doctor, but more-so to survive long enough to get to a real doctor.

DISCLAIMER: Perform the following tasks to save a life, and do so at your own risk. As always, Brasstard.com will not assume any liability for your actions.

IMPORTANT: If possible, make sure the scene is secure before treating any casualties. You will be of no assistance to the fallen if you become one of them. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If possible, call emergency services immediately (before providing first aid) and follow their instructions.

Step One: Injury Assessment

You must determine the location(s) of all entry and exit wounds. Your victim might have sustained multiple hits, and it is crucial to determine which of those will have the most immediate effect on their survival. You will need to have a decent knowledge of human anatomy to be fast and effective in this stressful situation. So study up… know where the vital organs are located and where the major blood vessels are found.

If you have more than one casualty, you must perform Triage in order to decide which to treat first. In its simple form, Triage refers to the sorting of patients into the following three categories…

Those likely to survive regardless of medical care administered
Those likely to expire regardless of medical care administered
Those likely to survive if given immediate medical care

Priority is generally given in the following order, 3 then 2 then 1. Those with major injuries, who are likely to survive with immediate intervention come first. Those with major injuries, who are unlikely to survive come second. And those with only minor, or non-life threatening injuries come last. The US Army and American emergency rooms in general have even more subsections for triage. However, the main three should suffice for providing life-saving first aid in the field.

Step Two: External Bleeding Assessment

You must immediately determine the type and the severity of the bleeding;

Arterial Bleeding: Bright red and spurting bursts of blood that coincide with the heart beat
Venous Bleeding: Dark red, oxygen-depleted blood that flows more evenly
Capillary Bleeding: Dark red and slowly oozing blood or bruising that often clots on its own

Step Three: Control External Bleeding

After you have determined the type and severity of the bleeding, you must take steps to control it.

Isolate body substances by wearing protective gear such as latex gloves, safety glasses and face masks if possible
Apply direct pressure to the site of the bleeding. If direct pressure to the area fails to stop the bleeding, you may have to reach into the wound and pinch the severed vessel with your fingertips, or preferably a hemostat.
If the injury is on an extremity, elevate it to decrease the blood pressure in the injured area. You may also apply pressure to the femoral artery (groin) or the brachial artery (inner bicep) to slow blood loss in the legs or arms respectively.
If the injury includes bone damage, immobilize the extremity by making a field expedient splint to prevent further vascular damage from sharp splintered bone
If available, apply a clotting aid such as Quik-Clot gauze, then wrap with field dressing and continue to apply direct pressure
As a last resort, and only after all other methods have failed, apply a tourniquet to an amputated limb

Pearson Scott Foresman - Undated

IMPORTANT: The general guideline according to the US DOT EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum is that tourniquets should not be used on anything other than an amputated limb, and only as a last resort. They are designed cut off all circulation to the affected area, and when left in place for extended periods of time will result in severe necrosis of everything beyond the tourniquet. Permanent damage to a limb can occur in as little as 45 minutes. This is why they are not recommended unless all other attempts to control bleeding have failed.

A tourniquet should be at least two inches wide, and be placed about two inches above the injury. It should never be placed directly over a joint, or on any body part other than a limb. Once applied, it should not be removed until the patient reaches a hospital. If a tourniquet is removed in the field, it can cause blood poisoning and lead to septic shock as infected blood is released back into the core of the body. Always document the time the tourniquet was applied, be sure it is applied securely, communicate its location to responders, and make sure it is easily visible at all times.

Step Four: Address Breathing Problems

The disruptive power of small arms can cause serious respiratory damage. One of the most common is the “sucking chest wound”. This occurs when a projectile pierces the chest and results in a partial or complete collapse of one or both lungs. As the patient attempts to breathe, the collapsed lung sucks air in through the wound into the thoracic cavity.

This can be temporarily alleviated by applying a sterile occlusive dressing over the wound and securing it on 3 of the 4 edges and corners with medical tape. This creates a sort of makeshift valve that allows air to exit the cavity without letting more air in. Once the dressing is in place, cover the patient with blankets to alleviate shock and arrange immediate transport to a trauma surgery facility.

Providing first aid for a gunshot wound to the head, neck or face is particularly challenging. This is partly due to the high chances that the injury has obstructed or destroyed the airway. You will not only have to control the external bleeding, you will also have to establish an airway.

You may have to perform an emergency tracheostomy in the field to create an airway. Despite your favorite actor making it look so simple on TV, this is a fast-paced, precision task that can be tricky under extreme stress. The neck is highly vascular, so cutting in the wrong place can lead to profuse bleeding. Also, the cutting is done in layers and should not be too deep as to avoid a complete perforation of the trachea. Furthermore, without a proper trach tube and sterile suction device, makeshift breathing tubes can quickly become clogged by mucus, blood or other fluids. For these reasons, I am not going to cover it in detail here. There are however, some good medical videos on the Internet that show the procedure in detail for the inquiring mind in you.

Step Five: Identify and Assess Internal Bleeding

The most common cause of internal bleeding is blunt force trauma. In the world of firearms, this can happen if you take some fire while wearing Kevlar. The projectile may not penetrate your skin, but you still bear the full force of hundreds or even thousands of ft/lbs of energy striking your body in an instant. Taking a 1-oz lead 12-ga slug at 10 yards while wearing soft body armor is akin to taking a full-swing hit in the chest by a sledge hammer. Needless to say, the results can be devastating if not assessed and treated properly.

For obvious reasons, internal bleeding can be much harder to assess and treat than external bleeding.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, swelling, tenderness or discoloration of the injured area
Bleeding from mouth, rectum, vagina, or other orifice
Vomiting bright red blood or dark reddish-brown blood
Dark, tarry or bloody stool
Tender, rigid or bloated abdomen

Further Signs that Indicate Possible Shock (Hypoperfusion)

Anxiety, restlessness or other psychological disturbances
Weakness, faintness or dizziness
Excessive or prolonged thirst
Pail, cold and clammy skin
Dropping blood pressure, high heart rate and/or weak pulse
Dilated or slowly-responsive pupils
Nausea and/or vomiting

Treating internal bleeding in the field is near impossible without the right equipment. Even with the right equipment, you are merely buying some extra time to get the patient to a proper medical facility. If the person is in shock, you need to establish and maintain an airway. You may also need to apply positive-pressure ventilation and even high-flow oxygen to enrich what little blood is still flowing properly. The patient will likely need surgery to relieve the pooling of blood in the internal cavities and repair damaged vessels and organs.

Step Six: Treat the Shock (Hypoperfusion)

Your best bet to alleviate internal bleeding symptoms in the field is to treat the shock (hypoperfusion) and keep the patient breathing on their own. Keep the patient from going into shock by doing the following…

Isolate body substances by wearing protective gear such as latex gloves, safety glasses and face masks if possible
Control any external bleeding
Splint any bone injuries (see image below)
Cover the patient to prevent heat loss
Do what you can to keep the patient calm and comfortable while in transit

The bottom line is if you suspect that internal bleeding is present, get to the hospital asap!

Conclusion:

The best thing you can do if you or a loved one is injured by gunfire is to try and keep your cool and avoid panic. If you panic, you will lose your ability to make split second decisions that are crucial for survival. You or your patient will also become more susceptible to lapsing into shock. Keep a clear head and remember your training.

Other References

“Prehospital Emergency Care”, Mistovich, Hafen, Karren, Werman, 2000 Prentice-Hall
http://www.tracheostomy.com/resources/surgery/emergency.htm
http://dirttime.com/?p=1035
http://www.enotes.com/nursing-encyclopedia/tracheotomy
http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/powerpoint/First_Aid_Presentations/triage-2.shtml

SHTF: Fantasy vs Reality

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:17:22 +0000

Image By Andrew Mason

As we approach yet another apocalyptic “prophecy” in 2012, some folks are already starting to prepare. As weapons and munitions caches in basements across the country begin bulging at the seams, I can’t help but question the validity of this paranoia, and more so, of the methods devised to survive it. In this article, we will take a closer look at several possible SHTF (**** Hits the Fan) scenarios and see exactly what role, if any, firearms will play as they unfold…

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video

SHTF Situation 1: Mother Nature’s Wrath

When nature unleashes her vengeance upon the living, there is little we can do to stop her. Those who are lucky enough to survive a major natural disaster will only find themselves hurled into a world of anarchy and chaos. As days turn to weeks and supplies grow scarce, the usual pleasantries of civilized society decay into an unrecognizable heap of raw human nature. Rioting and looting begins, and martial law is declared.

During this time, you would be well served to have some sort of firearm to defend yourself and your loved ones from attacks. However, that pile of battle rifles and pallets of ammo that were in your basement are now buried under what’s left of your house, which is also soaked in flood waters from the main that ruptured. All you have is your CCW pistol and a few boxes of defensive ammo that you left in your truck. Good! It may have saved your life.

You see, during a state of martial law, the last thing you want to do is be seen running around the neighborhood with your M1A, fixed bayo, BDU’s and a couple of South African mil-surp battle packs loaded up in your chest rig. Aside from making your neighbors nervous, you may as well be painting a giant target on your chest for when the National Guard shows up. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, you would be best served carrying a concealable handgun with a modest amount of ammo to avoid attracting negative attention and to keep your hands free for working or sifting through the rubble that remains of your life.

Fantasy: The world is ending, lets go play Rambo in the streets.

Reality: Food, water, medical aid and shelter will be your primary concerns here. Remember, the situation is likely temporary. So defend yourself if needed, but don’t do anything stupid thinking that ordered society will not catch up to you.

__________________________________________________________________________

Image By X-ray Delta One

SHTF Situation 2: Acts of War

You just turned on the news to hear that a foreign invasion force of 500,000 infantry troops, 1,800 naval vessels, 30,000 light-to-heavy armored vehicles and 10,000 combat aircraft are headed straight for the shores and borders of your country. After enduring years of costly foreign inquisitions and domestic economic hardship, your government has buckled under it’s own weight, and collapsed entirely. Without an effective national defense infrastructure, hope is all but lost.

You have three choices at this point. You can either flee the country as a refugee, surrender and rely on the mercy of the invaders, or you can stay and give them a fight. If you choose the latter, you will need people, skilled guerrilla tactics, and creative weapons to make a dent in this massive force. It will also require a lot of time and patience, as foreign occupations can take years or even decades before the occupants feel the strain of your resistance. You must be mentally determined to stay in the fight for the long haul.

In better times, you may have thought you were well off with the piles of small arms you managed to collect over the years, but those measly civilian plinkers will be no match for heavy infantry in armored vehicles, let-alone naval and air attacks. You need real weapons if you are going to stop a hostile takeover by a modern, mechanized military force. Make friends with the guy who works in commercial demolition, or better yet, the retired Army Sapper-gone-chemist that lives next door, and take your fight underground.

Fantasy: I am a one-man war machine. I’ll hunker down with my cache of weapons and “hold the dock”.

Reality: Martyr’s don’t win wars. Determination, strategy and tactful execution wins wars. If you lack the firepower and numbers needed to give them good, open gun fight, you will need to get creative in order to stay alive long enough to win. Fight smart, and let the other guy die for his country. .

_______________________________________________________________________

Image by Don Hankins

SHTF Situation 3: Terror Attack

You just caught word that a rogue nation launched a highly advanced cyber-attack targeting global financial networks. Credit card and banking transactions world-wide have come to a screeching halt. It has been discovered that vast portions of user account data has been permanently destroyed. As word spreads of the attack and people realize that they cannot access funds or use plastic to purchase anything, social order rapidly descends into chaos.

This scenario could play out much the same as a natural disaster on the local level; as lack of supplies and purchasing power spreads, people grow desperate and resort to looting and rioting to take what they need. The difference however, is that your guns and ammo will not be buried under rubble or high water. Since the bug bomb knocked out electronic transactions, neighbors have resorted to bartering for the things they need. In this case, your guns and ammo could be worth a lot in trade. After all, you might have upwards of a dozen or more guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo in your stockpile… more than enough to spare a few guns and a few hundred rounds in a trade for food/water/medicine. This would likely be safer and more effective than trying to take what you need by force… not to mention the fact that you get to keep your basic sense of human decency.

Fantasy: I have a bunch of guns… I’ll just form a small militia and take what I need.

Reality: If you decide to join the “take it by force” crowd, you risk everything. Don’t let the fact that you are well armed go to your head. You may have 20K rounds of ammo in your possession, but it only takes one round to ruin your day. If you resort to robbery or looting during desperate times, you are fair game for a smarter, more tactful individual with a better sense of subtlety.

______________________________________________________________________

Image Courtesy of Kat M Research

SHTF Situation 4: Last Man Standing

A new virus has evolved that has managed to decimate nearly the entire human population. Just a fraction of 1% of humans were found to be immune to the virus, and infection carried a 100% mortality rate. In just a few months, the virus has wiped out all of your loved ones, all of your neighbors, and virtually everyone in your town. You find yourself alone in a ghostly and desolate world.

The most dangerous thing in this situation is going to be you; your own fear, your lack of will to survive, your inability to cope with the massive loss you have suffered. If you can manage to keep from taking your own life, your next concern will be to avoid becoming dinner for a pack of hungry, feral dog’s or other animals that are bound to be taking to the streets in search of food. The Humane Society estimates that there are over 77 million owned dogs in the United States alone (2009). Feral dogs are far more dangerous than most wild animals because they have no fear of humans. They also tend to form packs, and in large numbers, they will tear you apart like a chew toy. You would be well served to have a gun or two, and possibly a spear or other long, edged weapon at your disposal. I would prefer to pack light, such as a .22 LR carbine or bolt gun, .22 revolver for backup, and something in the realm of a katana if all else fails. That way I can maintain mobility, bring a couple of thousand rounds of ammo with me, and still have room in my pack for other survival necessities.

With everyone around you dead, you ought to have plenty of material objects at your disposal. So, finding tools, supplies and shelter should not be a problem. However, you must use great caution to avoid injury. 911 will be a thing of the past, and a simple cut from a piece of rusted metal could result in a fatal infection without medical attention. You will likely be spending your days scavenging through the remains of society for food and water, and attempting to make contact with any remaining survivors. The most vital element to your own survival will be your attitude, not your choice of firearms. You must know that it is your responsibility to survive, to seek out other survivors, and to reestablish our species. You must remember that it is not the first time humanity has faced extinction. Stay positive, keep hope alive, and don’t get eaten.

Fantasy: Survival looks like fun… at least it does when I watch “Survivor“.

Reality: Survival is not fun. That is why humans have spent thousands of years and mountains of capital attempting to remove ourselves from the hostilities of nature. A very small fraction of contemporary humans even have what it takes to survive in the world alone. It has been bred out of most of us for centuries now. You and I will very likely be crying ourselves to sleep every single night if living in the situation described above. Staying positive and maintaining the will to push on will be the key to your survival.

______________________________________________________________________

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video

SHTF Situation 5: Supernatural, Cataclysmal or Extraterrestrial Phenomena

This situation is only limited to the boundaries of your imagination. I’m not going to attempt to devise a scenario here since it would be excessively fictional, and painfully speculative… not to mention that we have little historical context to base our assumptions on. Supernatural, cataclysmal or extraterrestrial phenomena would likely be far too powerful to control with the use of firearms, or any modern weapon for that matter. Think of Noah and the great storm, or the Permian extinction, or the Mt. Everest-sized asteroid that terminated the reign of the dinosaurs. It is very unlikely that some sort of Hollywood-style heroics could intervene and “save the world” from such gargantuan disasters.

If you are faced with this scenario, you would be well served to try and ease your mind, be with your family, and come to terms with the fact that whatever is going to happen will happen whether you like it or not. There is no sense in wasting what is likely to be your last moments on Earth trying to kick down a rolling iron fortress with your bare foot. The human desire to cling to hope when all hope is lost is both our greatest strength, and our greatest weakness. Remain hopeful, but always be pragmatic about your situation.

Fantasy: We can survive anything if we keep hope alive, and give it our best.

Reality: At some undetermined point in the future, the clock will stop ticking for the human species. When the powers that be decide that our time has come to depart from existence, there will be nothing that will stop us from fulfilling that destiny. When the inevitable departure time finally arrives, we must be gracious guests and make room in the world for the next phase of evolution. Forget about your guns, peace of mind and a clean conscience will be the best medicine during this colossal event.

___________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion

As you ponder the destiny of mankind, try to remember that ours is not the first generation to believe the end was near. To some degree, virtually every generation has smelled the scent of the apocalypse in the air. It is perhaps due to the fact that our species has created and endured unimaginable atrocities throughout our short evolutionary existence.

The people of post-Roman Europe believed the world was ending as their continent crumbled and collapsed into the vast abyss of the Dark Ages.
The people of 13th century China felt that the world was ending when the Mongols had brutishly seized control of their entire country.
The 8th century English thought the world was ending when they were being bludgeoned to death by viking invaders.
The world actually did end for thousands of Native American tribes between the 16th and 19th centuries.
The 14th century Europeans tasted the bitter wrath of God as the Black Death swept through the countryside, taking over 1/3 of the population with it.
The city of Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt more times in it’s 6,000-year history than any other place on Earth.
The massive Toba eruption over 700 centuries ago may have reduced our population to less than a few thousand when it plunged the Earth into the darkness of a decade-long volcanic winter.
How about the 20th century, with WWI, WWII, and The Cold War? How many of those people thought the world was ending?

…

The instances of vast cataclysms in human history are too numerous to count, and humanity seems to experience an apocalypse, of sorts, quite often. I would encourage you not to get too worked-up over the high probability of another occurrence. Be prepared for things to come, but don’t get overly obsessed with your preparations. After all, we have no idea what form the next cataclysm will assume. If history tells us anything, it is that our cataclysm will likely be the exact thing we are not prepared for. Furthermore, worrying and obsessing over the apocalypse will only serve to hasten it’s arrival… a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Mayan calendar, ending in 2012, depicts little more than a recurring astronomical event, such as the passing of a new year, but on a galactic scale. From an astronomer’s point of view, it is no different than your annual calendar ending on Dec 31st each year. It has happened before, it will happen again, and it will only result in a cataclysm if we create one in our irrational, collective minds.

As for firearms, they seem to be best suited for life in an ordered society, retaining at least some basic remnant of structure. The reason being that contemporary ammunition is a finite resource that will run out quickly if not replenished. It is also very heavy, making it virtually impossible for you to bring your entire stockpile with you if you have to venture off on foot.

You may appreciate having guns and ammunition around if you enjoy shooting and like the comfort and security of being armed. Firearms can be very valuable tools in certain situations, and the right to keep and bear arms is a cornerstone of freedom and liberty. Just remember that you must deploy the right tool for a given task if you wish to maximize your effectiveness, and the most universal tool is not generally found in the gun safe… it is located behind your eyes and between your ears.

Best Regards,

The Brasstard

About Violence…

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:32:05 +0000

Image Courtesy of Haloocyn

I, myself am not what most people would consider to be a “violent person”. I have never committed a violent crime. I have never resorted to using any of my weapons in order to intimidate or control another person. I haven’t even been involved in so much as a fist fight since high school (not counting consensual training). Nonetheless, I am always mentally prepared to use justifiable violence, if needed, to protect what is mine. Sadly, not everyone shares the same sentiment, and many believe that even justified acts of violence in self-defense are morally wrong. A recent interaction with a very anti-gun individual got me thinking about the excessive fear of violence, the social stigma surrounding the word “violence”, and how it affects our society. Are you mentally prepared to resort to violence in order to defend yourself and your family?

I have been struggling to understand the fear of engaging in violent acts as a means of survival. Believe it or not, some victims would rather turn around and grab their ankles for a would-be attacker than to engage them with the violent reciprocity that they deserve. Even when faced with imminent death, some victims outright refuse to fight back. Some even believe that the worlds most twisted and vicious villains can be dealt with using little more than reason, logic and diplomacy. Little do they understand how their submission to such predators is doing a major disservice to the rest of society… as it will only serve to encourage the perp to continue engaging in their violent behavior.

I believe that folks who abandon the possibility of necessary violence are deceiving themselves over the nature of mother nature. We live in a violent world, in which violent individuals exist. Some have been pushed to violence through desperation, others by their own perverse addiction to the rush it gives them. Most of these individuals do not understand the language of reason, and generally tend to react only to force. These are the lowly predators who prey on the weak and the submissive. The animal kingdom, of which we are a part of, is no place for pacifism. It is only logical that a decent person in a free society ought to possess the resolve to use violence, with discretion, if it is needed to stop these individuals.

I have come to conclude that those who advocate against the use of any violence in any circumstance are merely exhibiting a front for the underlying fear and weakness that exists beneath. They attempt to display themselves as being humble and peaceful, but they are not. Internally, many of them possess far more suppressed, violent tendencies than you would ever imagine. These folks have a lifetime of built up aggression that has resulted from their inability to stand up for themselves. And instead of facing their crippling fear of violence, they suppress it by scoffing at the use of force as being barbaric. In reality, many of these folks would love to bash someones scull to bits with a blunt object, but lack the intestinal fortitude to actually do it.

Furthermore, many of these “world peace” preachers are zealous ideologists, not practical realists. And if history teaches us anything about ideologists (particularly those in power), it is that they will gladly crush anyone and anything that stands in the way of them fulfilling their Utopian fantasies. All you have to do to prove this fact is to openly disagree with their ideologies, and you will see the rapid emergence of the hidden monster beneath the “peaceful” facade.

You see, there is a subtle difference between being humble, and being a coward. The humble do not display their violent capabilities without serious provocation. They make honest efforts to avoid and deescalate a bad situation, though they also refuse to be a social doormat. Whereas the cowards will either act like bullies in attempt to crutch their broken ego, or they are utterly petrified by any and all violence… even when violence is an imminent necessity for their own survival. The latter of these cats wish to de-claw themselves, along with everyone else around them, so they can avoid facing their crippling fear of violent confrontation.

Now, I am not asking anyone to engage in vigilante violence in order to prove their bravery to society. I would merely like to encourage you to take an inventory of your own fears. We all have them. Every sane person has a natural fear of violence. After all, it is in our best interest to avoid it in most cases. The difference however, between the brave and the cowardly is that the brave will face their fear, where the cowards merely suppress and disguise it.

Thanks for visiting.

The Brasstard

Holster Buyers Guide For CC’ers

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:43:14 +0000

Image Courtesy of kcdsTM

With the amazing growth in the issuance of concealed carry permits throughout the United States, many new CC’ers are confronted with the daunting task of choosing a proper holster. Unfortunately, the industry has yet to develop a single holster that will suit all of your needs. Therefore, you can realistically expect to acquire at least two or three holsters for each handgun you carry. This post is intended to be a guide to help you chose the holsters that are right for you and your lifestyle.

Concealed carry methods are dictated heavily by your attire, your physical dimensions, and your daily activities. Keep these factors in mind as you shop around for your holsters. Now lets take a look at some of the common carry methods in a bit more detail…

1) Outside-The-Waistband (OWB)

Image Courtesy of Desantis

In my opinion, carrying OWB is the most secure and comfortable way to carry, plus your draw will likely be much faster than other concealment methods. Above, we have an offering from Desantis called the Thumb Break Mini Slide. This is a high quality holster with great retention (active and passive) to keep your gun secure.

Image Courtesy of Galco

The product above is the Galco Concealable Belt Holster. It is a bit more compact than the Desantis and lacks a retention strap, but comfort is top notch. It is lightweight and compact while still maintaining a solid feel. Quality “pancake” holsters like these will keep your gun high and snug for maximum comfort, concealment, and accessibility.

Image Courtesy of Galco

For all of you revolver buff’s out there, you will find some great options for keeping your wheel gun secure. Above we have the Galco Wheelgunner that keeps even the heaviest steel-frame revolver high and snug on your hip. When choosing an OWB concealment holster, high and snug are your two best friends. If the muzzle rides too low, it could poke out the bottom of your concealment garment, exposing you to the prying public. If the holster does not hold the gun snug on your hip, it will flop around as you move, and can even direct the muzzle into your thigh. Needless to say, these factors are not desirable byproducts of an OWB holster. Do some research and take a hard look at the design before selecting your own.

2) Inside-The-Waistband (IWB)

Image Courtesy of Galco

A good IWB holster can offer a very diverse range of uses, from heavy winter wear to lighter summer dress. There are many options to chose from at varying price points. These range from the tuckable, leather Galco Tuck-N-Go above, to the simple, affordable and effective Uncle Mike’s IWB below.

Image Courtesy of Uncle Mike's

When choosing your IWB holster make sure it allows your gun to ride far enough down in your pants that the gun’s grip does not print excessively through your shirt. However, you don’t want it to ride too low so that you lose the ability to quickly and firmly grasp the weapon. Again, some research and design inspection is necessary to decide what will work best for you. Remember that the IWB holster (or any belt holster for that matter) is only as good as the belt you use to secure it. Choose a belt that is sturdy, durable and is as wide as the holster will allow.

3) Pocket Holsters

Image Courtesy of Desantis

Sometimes, weather calls for little more than a tank top over shorts and flip-flops, leaving no room for concealment of anything but the spare tire around your waist. In these situations, you may decide to not only get a pocket holster, but to also get a pocket pistol to go with it. There is nothing fun about having a 25 oz chunk of metal in your pocket. The Desantis Nemesis above will help you stow that J-frame revolver or mouse gun in a front pocket with minimal printing. It also has a nice outer grip surface that will stick to the inside of your pocket while the inner surface allows the gun to slide out with ease.

Image Courtesy of Galco

If you want something in a more traditional material, the Galco Pocket Protector above is a great option. It has a rigid metal plate in the flap to minimize unwanted flexion, and an internal adjustable metal retention insert around the top rim. Again, there are many options from many companies out there. Take some time to figure out what will work best for you.

4) Shoulder Holsters

Image Courtesy of Galco

If you wear a suit or sport jacket for most of the day, you may want to consider a good shoulder holster. My personal favorite is the Galco Miami Classic above. It is made of high quality leather, is adjustable for a great fit, and comes pre-molded for a number of popular guns. The Miami Classic comfortably holds a full-sized duty pistol along with two standard capacity spare mags. It can also be accessorized with different attachments. This is my number one pick for jobs that require a lot of sitting… such as writing articles about gun stuff.

Image Courtesy of Galco

If you cannot afford the Miami Classic, worry not… Galco also offers the affordable Classic Lite. To reduce manufacturing cost, the Classic Lite is made of a softer suede, and is not molded like the Miami Classic. It includes a single spare magazine holder and a thumb break retention strap similar to the Miami Classic. Sure, the Classic Lite won’t make you look as cool as Don Johnson when he skids across the Miami coastline in the heisted power boat of a dead drug lord. Nonetheless, we are talking about CCW here. And if you are doing it correctly, no one should see the holster anyway.

5) Alternative Carry Options

Aside from the standard holsters we covered above, there is a vast number of other options out there if you need to improvise. These range from CCW-specific purses, jackets, fanny packs, undergarments, ankle rigs, chest rigs, backpacks, and brief cases, all with built-in gun compartments. There are literally thousands of creative ways people have invented to carry concealed firearms, so please forgive me if I forget to mention your favorite trick here.

When choosing an alternative carry method, keep one thing in mind… a gun is only useful if it is in your immediate possession when you need it. Therefore, I strongly recommend you consider carrying your gun on your body rather than packing it in some 3rd party accessory. In other words, you might be better served having a little .32 ACP in your waistband that is secure and ready to go, than a big’ol 10mm Auto in a backpack or purse.

In the end, how and where you carry is a personal choice that only you can make. Take your time with it, and don’t hesitate to try several different options. Have fun and stay safe.

The Brasstard

In Review: “Tactical” Lumen Master Flashlight by Techlite

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:16:15 +0000

In the world of “tactical” flashlights, it’s hard to beat the simple, robust and reliable design of Surefire lights. However, the quality you get from a Surefire comes with a steep price tag that many of us find hard to justify. In this review, we will take a look at the value-priced Techlite Lumen Master LED that I recently purchased at Costco. I will compare it side-by-side with one of my favorite Surefire lights, the E2D Executive Defender.

At first glance, the Techlite has many similarities in appearance compared to the E2D. However, they are two very different devices. First of all the Surefire above is not using an LED, but instead relies on an incandescent bulb to generate it’s 60 lumen output. Surefire also offers an LED version of the E2D for about $40 extra. The Techlite uses a CREE LED to produce the claimed 160 lumen beam. The difference in perceived luminosity however, is not as extreme as you would think. The Surefire produces a very bright and focused spot beam with very little flood lighting effects. Though it is not an adjustable beam, the incandescent light is crisp, white and defined, making it an excellent blinding device in the dark. The Techlite on the other hand, produces more of a blue colored light that is partitioned with a spot beam and a flood beam. It is also adjustable so you can fine-tune your spot light diameter. Having more flood lighting makes Techlite very useful for utility purposes such as camping or performing repairs. Both lights are plenty bright to cause temporary blindness in an assailant’s vision on a dark night.

The next major difference is their size. The Techlite is significantly larger in all dimensions. However, it is not nearly as robust as the Surefire. The Surefire body, lens, and bezel are thicker than the Techlite. This gives the Surefire more of a feeling of durability without any added bulk. This is something to consider if you plan on carrying the light on a daily basis.

If we look at the activation switches of the two light’s, we see even more differences. The Surefire uses a simple but reliable switch with momentary on/off, and constant on/off capabilities. The Techlite has several additional options built into the switch. One click gives you a low intensity beam that draws less power for extended battery life. Two clicks give you a high intensity beam for full power lighting. And, three clicks give you a strobe effect that can be used to disorient an attacker, or function as a distress beacon in an emergency. It also has momentary on/off like the Surefire. However, I’d like to note that the momentary on/off function on the Techlite is not instantaneous. There is about a 1-second delay, which can be a problem when seconds count. I believe that this multifunction switch can be counterproductive in a “tactical” situation where simplicity seems to work best.

The next major difference is what powers these lights. The Surefire runs on a pair of lithium 123A batteries, and the Techlite uses three AAA’s. The 123A batteries are more expensive, they drain faster with the incandescent bulb (75 min burn time), and the E2D light lacks “constant drain” technology. This means that the light will become less bright as the batteries are used up.

The Techlite Lumen Master LED has “constant drain” technology, meaning that the light output is regulated until the batteries reach a critical low point of drainage at which it just stops working. The Lumen Master battery life is not bad, but not great. You may get an hour or more of continuous use at best. Nonetheless, AAA batteries are cheap, and readily available virtually everywhere. Also, it should be noted that the activation switch does drain the batteries even when the light is off. So, if you leave it sitting for a long time with batteries inside, it will be dead when you get to it. The Surfire does not suffer from this issue.

Another feature the Techlite offers is the low battery indicator. When the batteries reach 20% capacity, a small red LED turns on in the translucent activation switch to let you know it’s time for a swap. Unfortunately, there is one critical problem with the Techlite low battery indicator. When the battery power reaches the critical 20% level and the low battery indicator turns on, the “constant drain” regulator makes it so that the flashlight will not turn on anymore. This happens without warning, leaving you (in an unpredictable instant) without a working light. I believe that the low battery indicator should turn on before the battery fails. This is a major weakness in any “tactical” situation. What is the point of having a low battery indicator if it does not warn you ahead of time?

The final diagnosis…

As I mentioned before, it is hard to beat a Surefire when it comes to durability, reliability, and simplicity… three things that I believe are essential in a “tactical” situation. However, it can be hard to justify spending $100-$150 on a flashlight unless it also doubles as a light saber. The Techlite Lumen Master costs about 1/20 the price of the E2D LED version, but you get what you pay for. My first Lumen Master failed after less than two months of very light use around the house, and the switch tends to be finicky and unreliable; hardly desirable in a defensive “tactical” light. The E2D on the other hand, has been working flawlessly for several years now despite being thoroughly abused.

Both lights are water resistant. Both come with a body attachment; the E2D has an integrated clip, and the Techlight comes with a lanyard. Both are made of high grade aluminum, and both have strike bezel’s on their cap and tail ends.

As much as I like the Techlite and the value it offers, I am not a big fan of the activation switch, or much less the lack of reliability. And, the bulk of the Lumen Master is a bit taxing on my limited pocket space. The Techlite is more complex, less robust, experiences instantaneous battery failures, and suffers a delay in the momentary on/off switch. Regardless of this, I do plan on buying another two pack from Costco because they are a decent value for a utility light. I will put one in my vehicles, my motorcycle, and my tool box… and plan on keeping the battery insert out during storage.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the Techlite as a viable alternative to a high-end “tactical” light such as the E2D. It just does not contain the right balance of functional elements that I prefer in a life or death situation. Despite the fact that the Techlite is not a perfect “tactical” lighting solution, it is still pretty useful for such a low price.

Did Secretary Gates Hit The Target?

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:53:37 +0000

Image Courtesy of The Bush White House Archive

As many of you have heard by now, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has commented on the somewhat bleak security situation on domestic military bases across the United States. First, I should tell you that I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Gates. I would go as far as saying that he was a breath of fresh air after enduring the grim years of Donald Rumsfeld. However, I believe that he missed the mark in a major way when it comes to the real security problem on American military bases…

How would a soldier from another country respond if you told them that US military personnel are disarmed on military bases across the US? Well, shortly after the attack on Ft. Hood, a group of Israeli soldiers allegedly lost their lunch when they discovered this fact.

Here’s the thing, Israeli’s have a bit more experience in dealing with domestic terrorism than Americans do. Therefore, they understand the usefulness of actually having their soldiers be armed. They also understand the worthlessness of mythical places called “gun-free zones” such as our college campuses, public buildings, churches, and other prime targets for terror. Israeli soldiers are always armed… always.

Image Courtesy of www.israelity.com

Beyond arming their military personnel, civilians are also permitted to carry concealed firearms quite freely throughout the country. As a result of these measures, virtually every domestic terrorist in the recent history of the nation has been stopped in mere seconds after they launched their assault.

Now, I’m not writing this article to boast Israel as some sort of utopia for freedom. I have plenty of quarrels with the Israeli government that I won’t waste your time discussing right now. However, I’ll be the first to admit that Israel knows how to defend herself, and that perhaps we might learn a little something from her experience.

This leads me back to Secretary Gates, who totally failed to address one simple fact; the Ft. Hood slaughter could have ended before it even began if our soldiers had their M4’s slung across their backs like they should have. Instead, Mr. Gates placed the blame on military medical/psychiatric personnel for failing to predict Hasan’s actions. Needless to say, hindsight is always 20/20. Foresight on the other hand, is a rare gift that most mortals do not possess. So, unless the military starts to issue an M-something crystal ball, perhaps we ought to consider other more realistic measures.

Along with misplacement of blame, Mr. Gates appears to be implying that they should have reprimanded Hasan before he ever even committed a crime. This coincidentally, is the same mentality behind “gun control”, “watch lists”, and other preemptive attacks that are carried out against millions of law-abiding American’s every year.

This brings us to the widespread paralysis suffered by the people of the United States as a result of a failed Federal property policy… “no guns” (and no common sense for that matter). From post offices to military bases, law-abiding American citizens must disarm themselves when setting foot on these purgatories of civil rights. At Ft. Hood, our service people were left helpless until local police Sgt. Kimberly Munley arrived and shot Hasan. Thats right… a local street cop had to come and rescue trained, but helpless soldiers on a military base. Sounds pretty ridiculous doesn’t it?

Whats even more ridiculous is that some of our nation’s leaders actually believe that a little piece of paper at the front door saying “no guns allowed” could actually stop a suicidal/homicidal maniac from from carrying out terrible acts. Considering that highly-motivated terrorists still manage to slip though the TSA checkpoints despite the strict security measures, it’s hard to imagine that a poorly enforced law and a piece of paper would somehow manage to stop them.

Sadly, Americans will continue to suffer such home-grown terror attacks as long as we continue down the same path. Regardless of the trillions of tax dollars we funnel through the DHS/DOD, regardless of how much our nation begins to resemble a giant prison, regardless of how big they print that “no guns” sign, violent attacks will still occur. As long as victims are unable to stand their ground against armed attackers, they will continue to be victims.

You see, we cannot predict which people will deal with life’s stresses, and which will snap. Even if we could accurately distinguish potential attackers, we cannot predict when or where a solo attack will take place. Remember, soloists rarely tell others of their plans. And more importantly, we can’t just go around grounding/harassing/arresting people solely on speculative and preemptive judgments and suspicions. After all, as political agendas continue to change, you and your way of life could be the next target on the list.

On the other hand, we can allow our citizens to stand their ground against those who would otherwise do us in. We can allow individual citizens to take responsibility for their own security. And, most of all, we can allow the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights to do the job it was designed to do… the job of protecting The People.

Pistol Sighting 201: Point Shooting

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:15:04 +0000

Welcome to part two of the multi-part series on sighting techniques here at Brasstard.com. In this section, we’ll be discussing a method called point shooting. Point shooting differs from standard aimed shooting in the sense that it is target-focused rather than sight-focused. In other words, point shooting requires you to focus your eyes on your target rather than on your front sight. The purpose of this method is to maximize your close-quarters aiming speed, while maintaining good combat accuracy. Along with these benefits, you are also expanding your field of view by keeping both eyes open at all times. The purpose of this section is to give shooters a solid visual and written guide to help better understand this somewhat confusing sight picture. Before starting, please make sure you fully understand the concept of aimed shooting..

Point shooting is a lot like aimed shooting in the sense that you are still using your sights to place accurate shots on your target. Some people describe it as as merely pointing the gun in a similar way you would point your index finger at something. However, in the modern world of vast legal repercussions and immense civil liabilities, I prefer to rely on my sights to guarantee clean hits on my intended target.

Lets start off the exercise by making sure our gun is unloaded, and all live ammo is removed from the immediate area. Next, lets choose a target that is backed by a safe zone such as the side of a bookshelf, an external wall, or an earthen berm. Decide which hand is your strong hand (usually the same one you write with), and which eye is your strong eye (preferably the same side as your strong hand). Now, lets follow these steps to achieve proper sight picture for point shooting…

Bring the pistol up to your line of sight
Using your strong hand to hold the gun and your strong eye to aim, close your weak eye and sight up the pistol on the target like you did in aimed shooting
Using your strong eye only, move your focus to the target (making your gun appear slightly blurry)
While focusing on the target, open both eyes and notice the appearance of your gun (just like the picture above, you should see 2 transparent/blurry images of your gun since your visual intersection is beyond it and is focused on your target)
One of these images will be centered on the target (this is your strong eye view, and this is the one we want to learn to pay attention to)
The other image of your gun is angled off to the side (this is your weak eye view, and with some practice it should ideally be ignored by your brain)
At this point, your target should be clear and in focus, your strong eye should be aligned with the sights and the sights should be on target
Now, cover and uncover the view of your weak eye with your weak hand (repeat this many times until you learn to isolate the view of your strong eye and ignore the view of your weak eye)
After you get used to only “seeing” the image from your strong eye, try drawing from your holster several times and acquiring your sight picture with both eyes open at all times
Remember, always focus on the target when point shooting, keep both eyes open at all times, isolate the image in your strong eye, and use that image to get your sights on the target.

I know this can seem a bit awkward at first, but it does become very natural with a bit of practice. This method of point shooting can make you much more successful in multi-target, CQB scenarios where speed, accuracy, and field of view are crucial. You can also make yourself a high-tech point shooting aid for the range with a pair of shooting glasses and some masking tape (below).

Just cover your weak eye as shown above. This will help you keep both eyes open while learning to ignore the image from your weak eye. As usual, dry practice is a good way to get used to any new sighting technique. So, don’t hesitate to run through this one a few times before you incorporate it into a live fire drill. Aside from that, have fun out there and stay safe.

Pistol Sighting 101: Aimed Shooting

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:35:14 +0000

This is the first installment in a multi-part sighting techniques tutorial. This section is intended to help give some visual aid to new shooters, or to those who are teaching someone else to shoot. The goal here is to give viewers a better understanding of a correct sight picture, and to point out some potential pitfalls to avoid…

The image above describes a correct sight picture for standard, aimed shooting (we’ll cover point shooting in upcoming chapters of this series). Close your “weak” eye and use your dominant eye to focus on the front sight. This will leave the rear sight and the target slightly blurry. As you press the trigger to the rear, make sure the sights stay aligned for the entire duration of the pull. As the trigger breaks and the cartridge fires, maintain your focus on the front sight so you can quickly realign for your next shot.

If you do not align the sights properly, the following results will occur…

Front sight is too high… correct high impact points by lowering the front sight so it is on the same plane as the rear sight.

Front sight is too low… correct low impact points by raising the front sight so it is on the same plane as the rear sight.

Front sight is too far to the left… correct this by centering your front sight in the middle of the rear sight notch.

Front sight is too far to the right… correct this by centering your front sight in the middle of the rear sight notch.

DRY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

The best way to learn proper sighting technique is with some dry practice. First, make sure your gun is unloaded, and remove all live ammo from the immediate area. Find yourself a safe place to aim, such as a thick external wall made of bricks and/or concrete, the side of a bookshelf full of books, or into a thick earthen berm. Next, choose a target in the safe area to take aim at (note: your neighbors cat is not a feasible target). Now begin practicing with some slow, smooth trigger pulls while maintaining a proper sight picture. Make sure you are not flinching or otherwise moving the gun before, during or after the trigger breaks.

Dry practice as often as you have time to. I usually do it for about 15-20 minutes per session, 2 or 3 times per week. Dry practice is a crucial exercise for developing your accuracy… perhaps even more so than actual shooting. Without the concussive recoil of live fire practice, you will be able to see and correct your mistakes much easier. Once you get used to maintaining your sight picture throughout the trigger cycling process, you will be making bullseye hits like a pro. So keep up the good work, happy shooting and stay safe.

Too Stoned for War?

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:23:57 +0000

This video just blew my mind. Its sad when our hard fightin’ Marines have more respect for their enemy than they do for their indigenous allies. Beyond that, I think I’ll let the film speak for itself…