Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website.  You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day.  These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free Kindle reader for your computer or phone HERE.  

Here are a few free books that I think my readers might enjoy. Check these out.

One caution….

These books were free at the time I posted them. Prices change rapidly. Please check the price before you hit the “buy” button! 

If you cannot see any of the links below, there is likely a setting in either your internet browser or ad blocking software that prohibits “live links.”  If you see a blank page below, check those settings.  I promise you that there are book links actually listed directly below.

Happy Reading!

While you are contemplating book purchases, don’t forget my travel safety book.

For an even larger selection of great books (not free), check out my Recommended Reading page.

Some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase an item using one of those links, I get a small percentage of the payment.  It does not cost you any additional money.

Knowledge to make your life better.  If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

Performative EDC [2026]

A topic worthy of discussion.  There are more than eight billion people on the planet.  I wonder how many of those people even have what we gun folks call an “EDC”?  How do all those people possibly survive every day without paracord bracelets, hidden handcuff keys, and cigarette lighters even when they don’t smoke?

If you can’t get over the idea of being without your EDC gear, maybe you can use the idea of carrying a Minimalist EDC as a baby step.

Thoughts On The Effective Police Firearms Instructor – Part 1

If you only have your state’s one-week firearms instructor cert, you are unlikely to be an effective police firearms instructor.  If that fact hurts your feelings, read Hearne’s article here and fix yourself.

After you read the article, you might also want to check out another article John shared on his company’s Facebook page.  It’s well worth your time to read and understand if you are hiring and training police officers.

TFB Armorer’s Bench: Complete AR15 Disassembly – Bolt Carrier Group

Millions of people have purchased AR-15 rifles for the first time in the last few years.  You new AR owners should learn to take your bolt carrier group apart for cleaning and routine maintenance.

Loaded Magazines vs. Downloaded: What You Need To Know

Massad Ayoob gives us some info about a topic that isn’t often discussed.  I have four points to add.

1) You should have fired your gun enough to know if it is 100% reliable when completely loaded.  If it isn’t 100% reliable when fully loaded, but is reliable when downloaded by one cartridge, download the gun.

2) As Mas mentioned, some full mags are very hard to insert if the chamber is already loaded.  If that’s the case, download your mag.  Why do you think the military traditionally loaded 28 rounds in a 30 round M-16 magazine?  Before P-Mags, fully loaded AR mags were difficult to easily insert into guns with loaded chambers.

3) It might make sense to download a shotgun magazine tube by one shell to facilitate an easier “select slug” drill if your shotgun isn’t equipped with a magazine cut off.

4) If you do regularly carry a less than fully loaded magazine in your pistol, make sure responding cops know that fact if you get into a shooting with that particular gun.  I once investigated a police shooting where two different officers each had downloaded magazines.  We assumed their mags were full and wasted hours scouring the scene for spent bullets and brass that never existed.

Guns That Disappointed Me

I have a lot of experience with some of the guns he mentions and generally agree with his assessment.  My department ordered six T&E USP handguns from HK with the intention of replacing our duty pistols with the new HK weapons.  Three of the six had hammers that actually dragged against the slide, causing 20+ pound DA trigger pulls.  When I called HK to request new guns, they refused to send them and told me there was nothing wrong with their pistols.

I’m glad to hear that someone else hates the Benelli M4 collapsible stock as much as I do.  Those SIG rifles suck.  My former department has an original full-auto Thompson.  I had unlimited access to it when I was the training officer and fired thousands of rounds through it.  I liked it for the history, but it wasn’t nearly as cool as I wanted it to be.

Does Temperature Affect Bullet Point of Impact?

Temperature affects velocity.  Velocity affects point of impact.

Terminal Ballistics 1: How Pistols “Stop” Bad Guys

Do yourself a favor and read this.  Then watch the associated video.

Warning Shots Left Him EMPTY When It Mattered

There are exceptionally few situations where warning shots are a good idea.  In most scenarios, an outcome like this is more likely than you driving away any potential attackers by shooting into the ground near their feet.

The King of Defensive 00 Buckshot: Federal’s 8 Pellet FLITECONTROL

The eight-pellet Federal 00 buckshot load is a superior defensive round out of a 12 gauge shotgun.  It may not function reliably in some semi-autos.  If your gun doesn’t feed it well, try the Hornady Critical Defense or Tap Semi-auto rounds.  The Hornady wads are similar to the Federal wads (both designed by the same person).  The Hornady will open up faster than the Flite Control outside of 15 yards, but it’s clearly superior to any other defensive shotgun loads.

If you can’t find or afford one of those two rounds, pick a good 00 buckshot load from any other manufacturer.  Just realize your pattern will be significantly larger and your maximal effective range will be about 15 yards.  Beyond that range, most standard 00 loads will begin opening up so rapidly that not all of the pellets will hit the target.

For more information, read Just Say No To Number 4 Buckshot (For Home Defense).

Is 38 Special Underpowered?

A detailed analysis of this often maligned cartridge.  You will also want to read Caleb’s follow up 38 Special vs 357 Magnum as well.

Zeroing Your Shotgun’s Dot

I’m seeing red dots becoming more popular in my shotgun classes.  Here is Erick’s list of best practices for zeroing your shotgun optic.

Fretting About Pistol Red-Dot Zeroes Is Silly

A couple more red dot articles for you this week.  First, from the link above:

“It’s crazy to think about the fact that we’re discussing differences in points of impact between 1 and 1 ½ inches. These are tiny measurements in considering everything else pertaining to handgun shooting. In fact, think about how even proficient shooters would likely struggle to consistently shoot a “100” on a standard NRA B-8 target with a typical red-dot equipped pistol. And the 10-ring on a B-8 is 3.36 inches in diameter!”

You’ll also want to read Does Red Dot Window Size Matter?

You Can Improve Your Shooting Almost Anywhere…Even At An Indoor Range

An article explaining how can you make progress if you have to train on an indoor range with lots of restrictions.

War HOGG Skill Builder #23: Pistol Light Switch Manipulation

Speaking of training, when is the last time you worked on shooting with the weapon mounted light on your pistol (if you have one)?

What Makes A Good Handgun Holster?

I see lots of crappy holsters being worn.  If you don’t know the difference between a good holster and a bad holster, please read this article.  Here’s a hint: If the holster came in a package deal with the gun, it is probably nearly worthless.

Alarms, Blood Trails, and Broken Doors

Lessons learned after the author attended an FBI active shooter trends conference.  I stopped going to these conferences.  Cops refuse to learn the lessons or be proactive and integrate the information they receive in a manner that is effective.  Why are we still talking to cops about fire alarms during active killer events.  We learned about fire alarm tactics in school shootings that occurred more than 25 years ago.  

I wrote an article about best practices on this topic back in 2015.  I wrote a followup article about the same topic in 2018.  Why don’t people understand this?  It’s all just more Beating my Head Against the Wall.

Self-Defense and the Law: Cases Where Magazine Capacity Limits Cost Lives

Documented incidents where magazine (or cylinder) capacity mattered.

Gun Owner 101: Choosing a Carry Gun

Excellent advice for choosing a CCW gun.  You may also like the author’s article Narcan and Choices.

People are strange

One of the biggest issues I see with crime victims is that they assumed their assailant would think and act rationally.

What If the Gun Community Isn’t Really This Divided?

“Reasonable people usually don’t generate hundreds of comments.

Outrage does.

So the loudest people become the most visible people, and the most visible people start looking like the majority.

They usually aren’t.”

Quote to Ponder (to support the thesis in the link above)

Some of the above links are affiliate links.   I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.

Knowledge to make your life better.  If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

Social Aggression vs. Asocial Violence: Why Knowing the Difference Can Save Your Life

Critical information for any of you interested in the topic of violence.

Concealment vs. Cover: Teaching Kids the Safety Skill That Could Save Their Life

Critical concepts you should be sharing with your children.

Does a Light Trigger Increase Accuracy: Research and Analysis

Yes, a lighter trigger does improve accuracy, but not as much as one may think.  I have stock triggers on all my semi-automatic defensive handguns.

No matter what trigger you have installed, it’s  very important to avoid placing your finger on the trigger unless your sights are on the target and you’ve made the decision to shoot.  Read Can You Really Prevent Unintentional Discharges?

And one additional point.  Your trigger will feel lighter if your grip strength is better.  Read Grip Strength and Shooting Performance and the study upon which that article is based.

The Mortality Numbers Agency Heads Actually Need

A deeper dive into police officer mortality statistics as compared to folks who have never worn the badge.

FEMA Search Markings – What They Mean

Useful knowledge to have in the wake of any natural disaster.

High Ready or Not, Here I Come!

There are way too many egos involved in the shooting industry.  Each claims that their methodology is the one true way.  It’s all bullshit.  Let’s stop being dogmatic. 

We want to point our weapons in the safest direction we can in every different location.  Sometimes that is up.  Sometimes it is down.  Lighten up a bit.

This article takes a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the high ready position with a rifle.

Lowest Recoil Ever! .32 S&W VS .22 LR – Ballistic Gel Test

A lot of you bought the .32 magnum version of the Lipsey’s S&W snub revolver that allows you to shoot almost all .32 cartridges in the same revolver.  Have you ever wondered how the lowly .32 S&W cartridge with a velocity of less than 600 feet per second performs in gelatin?

Survey: More Women and Minorities Own Guns Than Ever, 40 Million AR-15s Now in American Hands

“In sum, firearms ownership has continued to grow, and firearms owners are more diverse than ever,” Georgetown Professor William English, who conducted the survey, wrote.”

How to Travel Safely

Excellent travel safety tips from Tatiana Whitlock.

Down the Rabbit Hole

A very valuable analysis about the history of police firearms training priorities.

Silent Shortages: How To Read Empty Sections In Stores As Early Warning Signs

Are you paying attention to these signs when you are doing your grocery shopping?

The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang

What I’m reading…

The Nonfiction Book Market is Collapsing

And while we are on the topic of books, check out this article.  As an avid reader and a dude who makes quite a bit of money from my writing, I find this information both horrifying and fascinating at the same time.

“The collapse of nonfiction is less a “male reading crisis” than a massive breakdown in the social fabric of trusting education, expertise, or any authority other than follower count and force of personality.”

Do You Know Your DOPE? Here’s a Custom Card

Make yourself a custom DOPE card for your precision rifle.  You may also be interested in AR-15 Rifle Barrel Length – Does It Even Matter? Maybe NOT.

Talking ‘Bout My Generation: Four Subguns, Four Ways of Thinking

An amusing look at each generation’s preferred subgun.

Drive-Thru Followup:

Last month, the active killer at the Idaho In and Out restaurant targeted victims who were trapped in the drive through lane.  Some of those casualties might still be unharmed if those folks had read this simple article published by John Farnam more than 10 years ago.

Empty Arguments over Empty Chambers

And speaking about the Idaho active killer attack, one armed citizen attempted to intervene, but he was carrying a pistol with an empty chamber.  He took a round into his primary gun arm before he was able to draw his gun.  When he eventually got the gun out, he was unable to chamber a round due to his injury.  How would you like to be that guy right now, knowing you could have stopped the killing, but you didn’t do so because you were unwilling to get enough training to feel comfortable with your loaded carry pistol?

If you don’t feel it’s safe enough to carry a chambered striker fired pistol, you need more training.  If you are unwilling to seek training to become competent, you should be carrying a revolver.

But none of the chamber-empty carry folks will ever carry a six-shooter, even though it’s a far more capable weapon than a chamber-empty semi-auto.  A revolver doesn’t look cool enough.  What does that tell us about a person like that? 

They are unwilling to take a couple of days worth of training to be comfortable carrying a semi-auto with a loaded chamber.  They are unwilling to carry a revolver with a heavier trigger that is less likely to be accidentally pulled.  Those folks just want to feel like a badass carrying a gun. They don’t have either the mindset or ability to use the gun to save lives.   The gun for them is some kind of a magical talisman that prevents evil acts from occurring in their proximity.   They are more concerned with appearing capable than actually being capable.  I find those folks to be worse than worthless in an emergency.  Contemptible, actually.

If you are carrying chamber empty, fix your shit before you get yourself or a loved one killed.

What Prevents Mass Shootings?

Some active killer attack statistics.

Bodyguard 2.0 vs. LCP Max vs. Glock 42 | RULE ONE GUNS

An excellent review of three of the most popular small guns I currently see many of my female students carrying.  And if you are considering these carry pieces, you should probably also learn about Concealed Carry Without a Belt.

Grip, Trigger, Sights: Diagnosing the Strong Hand

Strong hand only shooting isn’t just for emergencies.

Pointing and Bore Axis

An interesting look at how bore axis affects “pointability” in revolvers.

ToxCard: Should you really be injecting that? – Peptide Toxicity

Some peptide basics for medical professionals.

Gunhandling: The Oft Neglected Part of the Combat Triad

“Now that we’ve defined Gunhandling and looked at some failures, how to we fix ourselves or those around us?”

Have .22 LR Handguns Finally Become Viable Options for Self-Defense?

Yet another article about using the .22 for self protection.

Quote to Ponder

Some of the above links are affiliate links.   I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.

I just read the article linked below.  It discusses some heat casualties at a high school following a bomb threat evacuation. Please take two minutes to read the article before you move on to my commentary.
 

21 students hospitalized, 3 critical, after standing in heat during bomb threat evacuation

For those of you who are too time pressed to read the article, I can summarize it by saying that at about 10:00 am a couple days ago, staff members of a junior high school in Tennessee received a note alleging that a bomb had been placed in the school.  As is typical for most schools in this country, they chose to evacuate the school for the students’ safety and to allow first responders to “clear” the school of any potential explosive devices.

It’s summer time and it’s hot in Tennessee.  The students were evacuated to a outdoor football stadium that had no significant shade.  The students were sitting outside on the stadium bleachers for between 50 and 55 minutes.  Twenty-one of the students had to be hospitalized for heat exhaustion/heat stroke.  Three of those students are in critical condition.

I know Tennessee has a fairly warm climate, but it isn’t the Sahara desert.  Am I out of line to expect that students should be able to sit outside for less than an hour at 10:00 am without becoming serious heat casualties?

I played football in high school.  At the end of the summer, we had “two a day” full contact practices out in the hot sun while wearing heavy pads.  Two practices a day with a short lunch break.  We were playing football out in the hot summer sun for 5-6 hours a day while wearing incredibly hot shoulder pads and helmets.  I can’t remember ever seeing a heat casualty on my football team.

How have we gone from expecting kids to play outside all day in the summer to having to hospitalize students for spending an hour sitting down outside without air conditioning?

I don’t know the answer, but it’s becoming a huge issue.  People no longer spend time outside during the heat of the summer.  When they are forced to be outside in the sun, they drop like flies.

I’ve been noticing heat casualties becoming far more common in the classes I’ve taught in the last few years.  Until around 2020, I could count on one hand the number of total heat casualties my students had in the first 20 years I taught.  Now it’s not uncommon to have at least one heat casualty in every summer outdoor class I teach.  I think this problem is caused by a combination of factors:

Lack of Acclimation- Most people simple don’t spend time outside any more.  They are not acclimated to the heat when they move from air conditioned house to air conditioned car, to air conditioned office without ever exposing themselves to heat and humidity.

Poor physical conditioning- People aren’t used to hard work.  A high percentage of Americans are obese and do zero exercise.  The heat hits those folks even harder.

More drugs- Take a look at this list on the CDC’s website.  It lists all the drugs (both prescription and OTC) that cause body temperatures to increase.  Take a look at the list:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Beta blockers
• Antihistamines and decongestants
• Amphetamines
• Diuretics

What percentage of the population is taking one or more of these drugs as compared to 30 years ago?

Why should you care about this?  A lot of my readers are instructors.  Even more take outdoor shooting classes in the summer.  No matter if you are the teacher or the student, you don’t want to be a heat casualty.

All my instructor friends carry tourniquets and trauma equipment on their person or placed near the firing line.  That’s awesome.  Unfortunately, your tourniquet won’t help a student with heat stroke.  Do you know to handle any heat emergencies your students may experience?  You should.

As an instructor, you are vulnerable to heat injuries as well.  What are you doing to prevent falling out in front of your shooting classes?  I’m doing my students a disservice if I have to cancel a class in the middle of the day because I’m in the hospital soaking in an ice bath.

You instructors should be aware of the drugs I listed above.  If you can safely avoid taking them when you are going to spend time outside in the summer, you should probably do so.

You should also acclimate yourself to the heat.  Since my knee injury, I don’t do much running anymore.  My cardio consists of ruck walks or long hikes.  I intentionally choose to do this part of my workout every day between 3pm and 6pm when temperatures are the hottest.  If I can hike for two to three hours outside in the hottest part of the Texas summer, hanging out on the outdoor shooting range becomes far less challenging.  Are you acclimating yourself to the heat in a similar manner?  You should be.

The second issue that this incident highlights is evacuating during bomb threats.  School administrators often have a blanket “evacuation” policy for all bomb threats.  That’s poor practice.  I strongly believe that most bomb threats directed at schools or businesses should NOT prompt an evacuation.  I explain the logic behind this opinion in my article titled Bomb Threats.

To summarize that article, almost all bomb threats are hoaxes.  It’s fairly difficult to place a large bomb in a school without someone noticing it.  It’s far easier to place the bomb in a car in the parking lot evacuation site or in a trash can at the high school football field that the administrators deem “safe.”

If I was a bomber and I knew that it was school policy to evacuate on all bomb threats, I would place the bomb at the known evacuation site and call in the threat.  With that strategy, I am bringing my victims to the bomb rather than potentially getting caught taking the bomb inside to the victims.  Which strategy is likely to cause more casualties?

In my view (and the views of the dozens of bomb experts I’ve trained with), mandatory evacuation leads to more potential harm than not evacuating.  Given the information they made public about this incident, I do not think that evacuation was the best response in the case I linked to above.  

Those kids probably shouldn’t have been outside in the heat in the first place.

I don’t often get to write an article combining strategies of mitigating danger from both heat injuries and bombs at the same time, but it seems to be necessary information to share.  

You instructors should be acclimating yourselves to the heat and should be prepared to provide immediate medical care to any of your students with heat injuries.  You cops and school administrators need to update your bomb threat policies to adequately reflect current best practices.

Terrorists and school shooters aren’t the only threats we should be preparing for.  Please share this info with anyone who might consider it valuable.

Knowledge to make your life better.  If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

Zeroing Your Shotgun’s Dot

Erick is well known for teaching and writing about red dot optics on handguns.  Here are his thoughts about red dots on shotguns.  For even more red dot goodness, take a look at Jeff Gonzales’ article Maybe It Isn’t You: Understanding the Challenge of a Red Dot Sight.

Yes, You Can Shoot With One Hand

Tatiana’s tips for one-handed shooting.

Rimfire Ammo: Evaluating Terminal Performance

Interesting ballistic testing of rimfire ammunition.  For more mouse gun performance information, watch .22 LR VS .32 ACP in Short Barrels! Is it All About Shot Placement?

Sinister Studies 2026 – Serious Scrutiny into Southpaw Shooting

I think most right-handed shooters and instructors would benefit tremendously from an in-depth study of how to operate their weapons with the non-dominant hand.  I look forward to the rest of this series.

Choosing a Safe Holster

A three-minute video that should be mandatory for anyone who carries a firearm.  You may also find Finding the Optimal Carry Position for Concealment as well.  Finally, you ladies should understand how best to Conceal Carry in a Dress.

Five Shooting & Self Defense Myths | Swift/Silent/Deadly

Justin drops some knowledge in this piece.

The M1 Garand: History & Disassembly

For my readers who are Garand owners.

Credit Where Credit Is Due.

The Rules of Surviving a Black Market Economy

This is an important concept to understand.  I’ve been to actual black markets in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Paraguay, and Argentina.  They are coming to the USA eventually.

Dr. Dangerzone – In Search of Truth in the Most Daring Places

What I’m reading…

Beginner’s Guide to Pistol Ammo

High quality information here.

SHTF Armorer: Magazine Maintenance – Part 1

Lots of people think about gun maintenance, but fewer people understand that magazines need some preventative maintenance as well.  Read Part 2 as well.

While you are thinking about maintenance, you should also keep your carry gun in good condition as well.

Safe Firearms Storage when Traveling with Children

I regularly see articles about carrying guns while carrying babies.  I also see lots of content about safe firearms storage at home around kids.  This is the first article I’ve seen about firearms safety around kids when the gun owner is traveling.

The Expert Witness and Trial Strategy

Massad Ayoob gives good advice for those of you who want to be expert witnesses. If you want some more content from Mas, check out his thoughts on 1911 pistols.

Carrying a Spare Magazine is a Pain in the… – American Handgunner

“A spare magazine you can actually reach, grab, and stuff into the pistol, preferably without looking to find and orient it, is useful. One that rolls around in a pocket, flips upside down or sideways, or, from personal experience, just falls out in a chair, is somewhat less than ideal.”

Sharpshooting North & South: The Genesis Of Sniping

Very cool article about the weapons and standards used by Civil War era snipers.  One requirement was 10 consecutive shots into a five inch circle at 200 yards from standing position.  That’s pretty good shooting even with today’s firearms.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Lessons Learned About Long-Distance Shooting at FTW Ranch

Lessons learned from a long range shooting class.

S&W 3RD GEN DAO’S | Autos For Revolver Guys

My first duty gun was a 3rd generation Smith.  I have a nostalgic fondness for those guns.

Handgun vs. Bear Spray: What the Data Actually Say

Why not both?

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!

“I don’t disagree that power stroking is a very positive method, but my big question is, if one will not have the fine motor skills to utilize the slide release under stress, how can one be expected to be able to press the trigger to make an accurate shot while under stress?”

Follow the Money Emoji: What Venmo Is Quietly Telling You About Your Subject

“Everyone knows to check Facebook. Everyone knows to check Instagram. Almost nobody thinks to check Venmo, and that is exactly why it’s one of the most underrated items in an investigator’s toolbox.”

Quote to Ponder:

Some of the above links are affiliate links. I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.

Here are my upcoming open enrollment classes for the next couple months.   Here we go…

September 12, 2026- Home Defense Shotgun at Blackwing Shooting Center in Delaware, Ohio.  Registration details here.

The class will be held outside and is BIRDSHOT ONLY.

September 13, 2026- Snubby Revolver for Concealed Carry at Blackwing Shooting Center in Delaware, Ohio.  Registration details here. Class sold out

On September 20, I will do a one day Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting Class at A-Zone Range (KR Training) near Giddings, Texas.  Registration details here.

October 4, 2026- Knife Skills for Concealed Carriers at Blackwing Shooting Center in Delaware, Ohio.  Registration details here.

Finally, I have two classes in October in Culpeper, Virginia.  My $10/month Patreon supporters get a 20% discount on the registration for these classes.

October 17, 2026- Concealed Carry Revolver in Culpeper, Virginia.  Registration details here

October 18, 2026- Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting (One Day) in Culpeper, Virginia.  Registration details here.

Both Virginia classes have enough students to happen.

I hope to see some of you at one or more of these classes!

My complete training schedule is available here if you want to see the other classes I have available in 2026.

I’ve grown increasingly less enamored with social media. 

In years past, I would often share pictures and accounts of my travels and the classes I teach on Facebook.  I’m spending less and less time on that platform these days.  I’ve never had an Instagram account. I rarely use LinkedIn.  I stopped posting my articles on Twitter last year because I don’t want to spend time on a platform that basically exists to allow strangers to argue with each other.

I really enjoyed the early days of social media, but now it doesn’t seem to be worth the effort to spend much time there.  Besides that, given my cancer diagnosis, I’m not interested in acquiring new romantic relationships or new business opportunities.  Curating the “perfect” life on social media seems far less important as I’m no longer interested in looking for dates or showing off how great my business is doing.

Folks have been asking me about my life, so I decided to do give you all one big update here rather than drizzle out daily Facebook photos, reels, and posts.  Here’s what’s been going on in the first half of 2026.

I mentioned the cancer, so let’s lead with that.  No immediate worries currently.  Median survival (from metastatic diagnosis to death) for my type of prostate cancer is 30 months, even with the most aggressive treatments possible.  I am not doing those treatments and I’m currently on month 29 since my cancer has spread.  I feel good.  I’m not going to die (at least from cancer) in the next few months.  My most recent blood tests and scans show that the experimental treatment protocol I underwent last fall seemed to have helped me.  

I got the results of my most recent blood tests last week.  The cancer is still there, but it doesn’t seem to be growing very quickly right now.  I think I bought myself some time with the unconventional  treatment protocol I underwent.  My numbers are slightly higher than they were on my last test in March, but they are about 50X lower than where they were last year at this time.

The numbers are moving in a bad direction, but they are getting there extremely slowly.

I’m in good spirits about the cancer stuff, it’s just challenging to make plans when my future is so uncertain.  Everything about this disease is a roller coaster ride. It seems like life exists in six month intervals, perpetually waiting for blood test and scan results to better guess how long I’m going to be around.

As of now, I’m fine.  I know that won’t be the case forever.  Until things get appreciably worse, I’m going to keep teaching and traveling.  

I’ve been a busy guy.  In the time frame between January and the end of June, I’ve taught 15 days of classes to 257 students.  I’ve explored eight different states and seven foreign countries.  I’ve taken 18 commercial flights and spent 63 nights out of town in hotels or AirBnB rentals.  I read 49 books.  I wrote 60 articles for my website and 21 extra articles for my Patreon subscribers.  I consulted with one defense attorney as an expert witness in a self defense case where the defendant was charged with murder.

North American travels January-June

I’ve been spending the winters in Mexico for the past five years.  That’s where I started the year.  Playa del Carmen is my second home and I really enjoy the lifestyle down there.

Mexican life goals

Friends in Playa del Carmen

Playa sunset

I got back home in mid-January and recorded podcasts with both Rich Nance and the guys from Green Ops.

At the end of January, I went to Miami for five days to help a friend recover from her surgery.  While there, we visited the site of the 1986 Miami FBI shootout.  When I started my police career, this incident was less than a decade old and it informed almost every aspect of my police academy training. 

Now lots of “Gun Culture 2.0” folks have no idea about the event’s historical significance.  I’m gathering info for a future article about the incident’s relevance to current firearms training doctrine.  We can’t forget the blood shed by our tactical forebears.

The Miami gunfight site

Take a look at the photo above.  The Miami gunfight took place across the street from this sign.  The suspects’ vehicle came to rest near that small mulch bed at the edge of the photo to the left of where the car is parked in the driveway.  The two agents who engaged from the longest distance fired their weapons from right about where I am standing.

In this photo I’m carrying a Glock 19 and a spare magazine filled with bonded hollow points.  I wonder if the outcome of the 1986 gunfight would have been different if all the agents had access to the same firearm/ammunition that this old retired cop carries with him on a daily basis.

After I got home from Miami, I immediately left to spend a couple weeks with long time friends who live part of the year on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic.  I’ve visited them on the island almost every year since 2013.  They own a beautiful house right on the beach.  It’s a great place to relax and write.

My daily writing nook on the roof of my friend’s Dominican house. Not a bad place to spend some quiet time.

An amazing Dominican moon rise over the ocean

I had to make sure my writing nook was stocked with enough beer for my visit.

When I returned from the DR, I taught my first classes for the year.  Two sold-out classes (shotgun and close range gunfighting) hosted by Aqil Qadir in Tennessee.

Tennessee class with my friend Phil. I hope I’m still training in my mid-80s.

The next week, I co-taught a “Near and Far” class in Bastrop, Texas with Jeff Gonzales.  It was a very unique class, but both Jeff and I were disappointed in the turn out.  We didn’t get nearly the number of students that we expected.  As neither Jeff nor I wanted to cancel the class, we went ahead an taught for the small number of students who signed up.  Due to lack of interest, we probably won’t teach this class again.

For the last year I’ve been driving to most of my classes instead of flying.  I’m building extra days into the itinerary so I can do some exploring in the areas near where I’m teaching.  Despite the lack of students in the Near and Far class, I got to explore nearby Bastrop, Texas.  The town is only a little over an hour drive away from my house, but I hadn’t visited before.

I got in a day early and spent some time at the 602 Brewery and a bookshop owned by an author I really enjoy.  Ryan Holiday (the stoicism guy) owns The Painted Porch.  It’s a bookstore stocked only with books he likes.  It was a cool experience and I only took five new books home with me.

Ryan Holiday’s book store

Jeff doing a long range shooting drill demonstration

Jeff doing a long range shooting drill demonstration

Later in March, I flew to Ohio and taught two full classes (Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting and Tactical First Aid at Blackwing Shooting Center.  I flew right back home so I could teach a couple of knife fighting classes at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference in Dallas.  I ended up teaching 55 students across the two classes.  I was also able to attend several classes from other instructors.

The only picture of me teaching at Tac Con

Tac Con

Tac Con

Tac Con

Tac Con

Tac Con

I ended March by seeing Journey in concert in Austin.  That was one of my favorite bands when I was in high school.  All of the band members are in their 70s now, so I wanted to see them before they stopped touring.  They put on a great show.

April started out with an appearance on The Way is in Training Podcast with Matt Little.

On the weekend of April 11th, I drove to Louisiana to teach a Close Quarters shooting instructor development class for 15 people.  I got in a day early to hang out with my host Eric Hite.  Eric took me on an excellent food tour of New Orleans and then we visited the site where the river breached the flood wall during Hurricane Katrina.

Eric and I chowing down at the place that first served the po’ boy sandwich.

Shrimp po’ boy

Who needs anything beyond beer and poor boys?

Another historic NO restaurant

More excellent fried seafood

Where the floodwaters breached the levee

Louisiana class

Louisiana class

Louisiana class

On the way home from Louisiana, I stopped off and saw the birthplace of Texas Independence and the San Jacinto national monument.

The following weekend I taught a close quarters gunfighting class and a cane fighting class at Karl Rehn’s Texas A-Zone range.

Cane thrusts against steel targets

Working choke defenses using the cane

After I got home from Karl’s place, some of the cool kids in the gun world came to Austin and I got to hang out with them.

The day started out by picking up the ineffable Tiffany Johnson for lunch. I got to introduce her to the Texas staple food of “Frito Pie” at a quirky downtown diner before we took a rainy driving tour of “Dirty 6th,” the bat bridge, Rainey street, and South Congress.

Because we are both nerdy introverts, neither of us took a single photo during our excursions. That’s probably for the best. I don’t want Dr. Tiffany’s stellar reputation besmirched by associating with a degenerate like me.

Then it was dinner followed by a comedy show at Rogan’s Comedy Mothership with Chuck and Kristin Pressburg. Because Chuck and I are nerdy introverts, neither of us took a single photo.

Fortunately Kristin was smart enough to take our picture outside the Mothership to make things properly Facebook official.

It was a fun day. Thanks to Tiff, Chuck, Kristin, and Misha for the awesome company

With Chuck and Kristin outside of Rogan’s comedy club in the rain

That takes us to the first of May, when I took a two week trip to Central and Eastern Europe.  I visited Germany, Poland, Austria, Czechia, and Hungary.  When I get caught up on everything, I’ll write a few separate posts about my adventures there.

The spots I visited in Europe

When I got home from Europe, I flew up to teach in Ohio and Indiana for two weeks.  I started by running a 50-person series of scenarios designed to test the armed school staff I teach in Indiana.  We had four scenarios integrating armed school staff, police, fire, EMS, and emergency management.  Everyone seemed happy with their performance.  The following day Bryan McKean and I taught our “bag gun” class to 14 students at Blackwing near Columbus.

I had to teach the following weekend in Southern Ohio.  Instead of flying home, I stayed around Columbus for the week and visited some old friends.  I also got to do some hiking at the places I used to love to walk when I lived there.

Hiking Prairie Oaks Metro Park near Columbus

My class in Southern Ohio was a Close Quarters Gunfighting instructor class at The Tactical Defense Institute (TDI).  TDI is where I started my commercial teaching back in 1999.  I hadn’t taught there since 2018.  It was nice to be back and have a full class with great weather.

Teaching at TDI

With TDI staff

When students get out of line

After I got back from Ohio, I had a couple weeks at home.  Fortunately three sets of old friends were visiting Austin during that time frame so I got to spend some time with them having fun and eating some awesome food.

Another trip to the comedy mothership

Dirty 6th Dive Bars

Winning bar Jenga

Repelling an alien invasion at the Domain

Dinner at Suerte (one of my favorite restaurants) with 3 friends from high school

While having fun with friends, I also finished up a six-month post-graduate certificate in interdisciplinary psychedelic studies from the Ohio State University. 

I finished out the month of June by taking Dustin Solomon’s Class “Building Shooters- Brain-Based Tactical Training Design.”  I really enjoyed the class and will be sharing my class notes with my higher-level Patreon supporters in a couple weeks.

That’s the summary of the first half of 2026 for me.  I just got back from a trip to Peru.  I’ll soon be starting another two-week training road trip through the Midwest and southern United States.  At the end of next month, I’ll be going down to Mexico again for another short adventure.

I’ll write up my Peru trip soon and will give you an article summarizing the remainder of 2026 in a few months.  Until then, I hope to see you in some of my upcoming classes.

Knowledge to make your life better.  If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

Choosing Defensive Shotgun Ammunition

Justin provides an informative wake up call for those of you who think birdshot is the best home defense load.  The article doesn’t mention it, but the recommended Federal FliteControl low recoil buckshot does not function well in some semi-automatic shotguns.  If you want a really tight pattern but can’t find or use the FliteControl rounds, I’d recommend the Hornady TAP/Black loads.  They have a tighter pattern than any other shell except the FliteControl, but enough velocity to cycle even the most finicky semi-auto shotguns.

No, The NFA Isn’t Dead – GUNS Magazine

A quick look at the details behind your ability to purchase NFA items following the recent court decision.

September Rangemaster Newsletter

Lots of quality information in this month’s issue.

Determining What is a Reliable EDC Concealed Carry Handgun?

How many rounds should you fire through your defensive handgun to consider it reliable?

.38 Special VS .32 H&R Magnum

Is carrying a revolver that holds one or two extra rounds a useful feature or a “stopping power” mistake?

Are You Being Served?

“I’ve said it before; what we need the most right now is the firearms equivalent of a personal trainer, someone you’d check in with on a monthly or even quarterly basis. They’d ask you questions like,

“What problems are you running into carrying your gun with you everyday?”
“When’s the last time you trained? What did you work on?”
“How can I help you achieve success?”

And you’d work with those students to achieve your goal of living the armed lifestyle, much like a weight loss coach teaches you how to eat and how to work out.

However, in order to make this work, we need to make living a lifestyle our goal, and not a sub-second draw, and I’m not sure that trainers WANT to make the focus of what they teach. In their eyes, it’s up to the student to quit smoking, their job is confined only to what happens in the gym.”

To Intervene — Or Not?

Is intervention worth the potential consequences?

Federal Punch 22LR: Gel Test [Video Review]

I’m currently carrying Punch rounds in my .22 carry revolvers.

Norco ’80: The True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery in American History

What I’m reading…

Doing a bit of research for  new article series I’m going to be starting here on my site.  I don’t know how it happened, but it seems like I’m now one of the official “old guys” in the tactical training space.  I’ve spent almost 40 years studying combative firearms use and martial arts.  Over the course of my lengthy career, I’ve seen how the events encountered in historical police gunfights have completely changed training doctrine and equipment use for both police and armed citizens alike.

It’s important to understand how these events have changed the arc of combative firearms training.  Unfortunately, lots of instructors in this space have no real interest in the history of our art and knowing why certain weapon systems and training doctrines exist.

I’m planning on doing a brief article that includes a summary of the incident, how the event altered training/tactics, and a list of links for more exploration of each individual event.  The article series will be like a “Cliff’s Notes for Firearms Instructors” providing an easy to read history of each event and why it is important.  I plan on doing debriefs of some of Jelly Bryce’s gunfights, the Texas Tower sniper, Newhall, the Onion Field, some of Jim Cirillo’s “stake out squad” gunfights, Norco, the LA Bank Robbery, The FBI Miami gunfight, and Columbine.

For those of you who have never heard of Norco, this article will get you up to speed.  The Norco Bank Robbery

Improvised Weapons: Forever Armed

I teach Mike Janich’s “cycling hammerfist” in some of my edged weapons and impact weapons classes.  In this article, Michael Janich describes this very simple and effective impact weapon technique.

Warning that mammoth nationwide blackout could last 18 MONTHS as power grid’s appalling weak spots exposed

If you are reading this site, you probably have an adequate firearms/ammunition emergency stockpile.  I bet most of you have more stored food and water than the average person as well.  How are your emergency power preparations coming?  After reading this piece, I’d probably spend some time and money to make sure you are capable of surviving a long term power outage.

Whole house generators are great (and I have one), but they are loud, consume a lot of fuel, and make you an easy target to identify when your house is the only one on the block with power after everyone else hasn’t had electricity in a week.

I think a better strategy is to have a smaller generator you run intermittently to charge up a large electrical power bank portable battery that you can then use to run a few appliances and power computers, modems, and a couple of lights.  I have a power bank that recharges with solar panels, but the charging is really slow.  It works much better being charged from a small generator.

If those options are too expensive, you might be able to power some critical needs by running your car engine with a power inverter in place of the generator.

More Random Thoughts from CCW Qualification

“My class had about two dozen students, and most all of them had their three guns to qualify with [our state requires you to list the serial number of the gun(s) you will carry on your permit, and prohibits you from carrying a gun that’s not listed. The state generally limits you to three guns total on the permit, and you’re required to qualify with each of them]. We had somewhere in the vicinity of 60-70 guns being fired, and I’m pretty sure I had the only revolver in the crowd. There may have been another, but I didn’t see one, and didn’t hear anyone else identify as a revolver shooter when the instructor asked.”

An interesting take on what some instructors have called “The Revolver Renaissance.”  I teach revolver classes and they are full.  There are also at least two national revolver centric shooting conferences every year.  We would have never been able to fill those classes 15 years ago.  Those facts have led some instructors to opine that revolvers are “coming back.”

They aren’t.  If you are reading this and enjoy taking training classes, you are 1% of the gun owning population.  The average gun owner is not like you and me.  We’ve taken all the training classes and are bored with the standard “performance pistol” classes out there.  We keep excited by learning new things about different weapons systems (like revolvers).  The average gun owner doesn’t see shooting and training as a hobby like we do.  The average defense oriented shooter has approximately zero interest in revolvers.

For the few of you who do care about revolvers, you might enjoy Self-Defense with a Revolver: Fundamentals and Tips

“Six Inches of Steel”: Bowie Knife Instruction by Louis Juan Ohnimus

Some historical knife fighting instruction.  You may also like Very Perilous: A sword wounds compendium by the surgeon Ravaton.

Before You Need That Phone Call: Understanding Self-Defense Legal Plans and Insurance

I get lots of questions about self defense insurance.  That’s not my area of expertise.  If the question interest you, I’d suggest checking out this article.

When Good Cops Hesitate, Bad People Win

A realistic look at police de-escalation issues.  If you liked this article, you may also like Standards Matter, But Standards Are Not the Point

The “Three S” Test

Wisdom from Dave Spaulding.

300 Blackout Ballistics by Barrel Length: What the Data Told Us

For you .300 Blackout shooters.

Practicing Unhappiness

Are you practicing unhappiness?  How is that working out for you?

“To be sure, some people have always “practiced unhappiness.”

Your Boomercon relative who settles down to yell at Fox News every night is practicing unhappiness. And so is his gray-haired-hippie counterpart with Trump Derangement Syndrome who is obsessing over CNN or whatever.

But social media makes it easy and almost guarantees that at least someone else will know that you’re screaming at the TV.

Maybe it makes guys feel “seen.”

I encounter this in my feed all the time when someone new follows me or likes a post or makes a comment. I check their profile—hoping maybe they’re cool—and scroll through a catalog of daily shit-posting going back months or years.

If most of what you have to share with the world has to do with what makes you angry, what does that say about who you are?”

Quote to Ponder:

“Public policy generated by a handful of crazies is never sensible and isn’t the norm in American life. We don’t limit food distribution because of bulimics, we don’t limit car distribution because of terrible drivers, and we don’t limit bridges because a few people jump off them.”

– Marty Klein

Some of the above links are affiliate links.  I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.

Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website.  You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day.  These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free Kindle reader for your computer or phone HERE.  

Here are a few free books that I think my readers might enjoy. Check these out.

One caution….

These books were free at the time I posted them. Prices change rapidly. Please check the price before you hit the “buy” button! 

If you cannot see any of the links below, there is likely a setting in either your internet browser or ad blocking software that prohibits “live links.”  If you see a blank page below, check those settings.  I promise you that there are book links actually listed directly below.

Happy Reading!

While you are contemplating book purchases, don’t forget my travel safety book.

For an even larger selection of great books (not free), check out my Recommended Reading page.

Some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase an item using one of those links, I get a small percentage of the payment.  It does not cost you any additional money.

I started the Weekend Knowledge Dump series in March of 2012.  This is installment number 750.  That’s right.  Seven hundred fifty straight weeks without missing a single installment in more than 14 years.  I’ve published this Knowledge Dump every week from the United States as well as from more than 40 other countries.  I haven’t missed a single week no matter where I’ve been or how busy I’ve become.  On several occasions, I published the Dump from various hospital beds.

It’s been quite a ride.  Back when people actually read blogs like this, at least 20,000 of you would consume the knowledge dump on a weekly basis.  It’s how many of you first learned about me and my training.  Now it seems almost pointless to keep it up.  Fewer than 3,000 people read it each week and page views have been steadily dropping by 10-20% a year since 2017.  My website operates at a significant net loss.  No sane person would spend 40+ hours a week researching and compiling articles in this format for the $200 a month I get in advertising income.

But no one said I was sane.  I’ll keep doing the dump as long as I have the time and ability to write it.  The odds are very tiny that I will make it to the 1000 episode mark, so we’ll celebrate this one instead.  For the small number of you readers who tune in to this list every week, I thank you.

Greg

Knowledge to make your life better.  If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

.22 Magnum Spanks .380 ACP! Winchester FMJ Flat Point Ballistic Gel Test

Let’s start this edition out with some .22 magnum love.  I regularly carry a S&W 351C in a pocket holster.  I really like the cartridge because it generally punches above its weight.  For more .22 magnum info, check out:

.22 Magnum Rivals 9mm? CCI Uppercut VS CCI Blazer Brass JHP – Ballistic Gel Test

.22 Magnum Revolver for Self-Defense? – Firearms News

Note that two of these links involve ballistic gel testing.  None involve shooting at pork roasts or heads of lettuce.  Meat tests aren’t valid.

Practical Preparation and Survival After a Nuclear or Radiological Incident

Useful information.  You can get the Potassium Iodide capsules mentioned in the article on Amazon.com.

Wallet – The Hideout

My friend Mark Luell is selling some wallets that contain an integrated sheath for the Ka-Bar Last Ditch knife that I designed.  I purposely made this knife small enough to fit inside a wallet as a hideout option.  I currently carry mine in a pocket of the wallet I keep in my front pocket.  Mark’s modification makes access even easier.  It’s a great design for you folks who want to conceal a tiny knife in non-permissive environments.

Common Problems & Solutions with AR-15 Barrels

A lot of technical information about AR-15 rifle barrels.

The Great Vertical Grip Debate of 2026

People argue about the most insane things on the internet.  This is one example.  How about trying a vertical foregrip and seeing if it makes you shoot better?  If it does, keep it.  If it doesn’t, take it off.  It really isn’t that difficult.

The FBI Reports That Murder Officially Fell At The Fastest Pace Ever Recorded in 2025

I think some of this involves statistical manipulation by the governments who report the data, but I’m still calling it a win.

Situational Awareness: Stop Trying to Notice Everything

You simply can’t notice EVERYTHING around you.  Instead, focus your attention on aberrations and deviations from baseline “normal.”  For more info on situational awareness, read Claude’s series.  Start with Practicing Awareness – Part III.

Idaho Murders Stopped By Man With A Gun; Comped Guns For Protection; Gun Sales Decline

Go to about 22:45 for a nice discussion of my close quarters gunfighting instructor class from a student in June. Thanks Deron!

Ground-Fighting Realities and How Not to Get Stomped into a Stain

An aspect of ground fighting that isn’t often taught in most MMA-based grappling programs is what to do when the defender is grounded and the attacker is still standing.  This happens a lot in real fights.  You should spend some time doing the work in this type of scenario.  In this article. Mike Janich gives you some tips to get started.

Three Ways Not to Get Students Killed or Injured During Training

Some basic safety rules for law enforcement force on force training.

Revolvers Never Fail Part 2 | Revolvers Still Fail ⋆ Primer Peak

As a revolver fan, I hate to admit it, but lots of revolvers leave the factory with very significant problems.

Breaking Down the Steps to the Fastest Draw: Access and Presentation

Massad Ayoob’s tips for a faster draw.

DOJ Says Lawful Gun Owners Can Carry In Post Offices » Concealed Carry Inc

The latest on post office carry.

Training on a Budget: Low Round Count Drills to Keep Your Skills Current

Shooting drills to try on your next range session.  If you are looking for more drills, try Drill of the Month: Kelly’s 3×3 Reload Challenge

Shooting Tips: Fighting with an AK

Valuable advice for you AK shooters.

Suppressors

Tips for accuracy testing your firearms that are equipped with cans.

‘I want to speak with your supervisor’: Addressing a growing trend in police encounters

My police readers should have a policy covering this ubiquitous request.

Bronze Age Mindset

 

What I’m reading…

I learned of this book when listening to a podcast titled Bronze Age Reset: De- and Re-Mythologizing the Manosphere.  Those of you who have an open mind and an interest in the history of masculinity and true warrior tradition might find value listening to it.

Testing every revolver speedloader I could find….. so far

A good review of revolver speedloader options.

Your Qualification Score Doesn’t Predict Gunfight Performance

Just remember that every cop killed in a gunfight was deemed “qualified” by his agency.  Also on the topic, you might like A Fresh Look at Pistol Qualifications.

1986 VS 2026: Guns And Ammo Pricing

Really interesting comparisons.

Tourniquets Suck for EDC: Carry This Instead | Swift/Silent/Deadly

Justin has a good point.

Ayoob: Is Open-Carry Irresponsible (or the Right Move)? – The Armory Life

Massad Ayoob’s thoughts about open carry.  Thanks to Mas for mentioning my article on the topic.  If you want to see the database I’ve amassed covering incidents where open carriers were disarmed by criminals, read Friends Don’t Let Friends Open Carry.

For an extra take on the subject, check out 3 Reasons WHY PRINTING MATTERS.

Moving or Traveling With Your NFA Collection

For those of you who have NFA items in your collection.

Quote to Ponder:

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

— Shunryu Suzuki

Some of the above links are affiliate links.    I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.