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

Halloween Safety for Gun Owners

Tomorrow is Halloween for my American readers.  Here are some precautions you may want to consider.  On the same site, you might also find 2 Concealed Carry Seat Belt Hacks to be valuable.

Blue-on-Blue Crossfire, Part II: Plunging Fire

Part two of a series about how to avoid crossfire issues on vehicle takedowns.

PSA: An Aggressive Phone Scam to Watch Out For

Self defense is more than just being prepared for physical violence.  Before I retired, I took several reports where residents lost between $60,000 and $200,000 on phone scams like these.

James Bond Night School Reading List

While you are reading Justin’s site, take a look at this older article he wrote. 

I’ve spent most of my life learning how to be a “competent man.”

“A competent man is good at everything – – a Jason Bourne, MacGyver, Jack Reacher, or James Bond. He can seduce a woman, talk his way into anywhere, pick a lock, and operate any firearm at a high level. The competent man is in shape, can drive fast, speak foreign languages, and survive in the woods.”

This reading list will put you on the same path.

Failing the Interview

“We want the criminal to make a NO GO decision on us while we are still in his Area of Interest and before we reach his Area of Influence. The NO GO decision is the absence of a GO decision. The default for criminals is NO GO because criminals know there are plenty of two-legged cheeseburgers walking around and the next one will be along in just a minute or two.”

Watch the Concealed Carry Revolution Unfold in 52 Seconds

Dr. Yamane created a very cool graphic that shows how the legal landscape for concealed carry has changed over the years.

RevolverFest 2026 After Action Report

A very detailed AAR of RevolverFest.  I hope to see some of you there next year!

Language Lessons: Minute of Angle (MOA)

Unsure what people mean when they talk about MOA?  School is in session.

A Glaring Evidence Gap

Fair warning.  Most of you will have zero interest in this material.  If you are looking for a light weekend read about your favorite gun and ammo, this isn’t it.  Only click on this link if you are prepared to dig deep (170 pages deep) into the current prevailing conflicts regarding how best to teach the skill of gunfighting.  You will need an incredible passion for the topic or an extreme level of general geekery to make it through the material.  Good luck to all of you who have the courage to dig in.

Averted School Shooting Tracker

In 2018, I wrote an article describing why we are screwing up our analyses of school shootings.  We look at the shootings that have occurred and try to figure out how we failed.  I said it was more useful to study the successfully averted school shootings instead.  Finally we have a database to do that.

Should You Leave Your Suppressor Mounted on Your Rifle?

For those of you new to the suppressor world.  You might also like Sealed vs. Serviceable Rimfire Suppressors.

The 5 Worst Defensive Ammo Options On the Market

An accurate article that is likely to offend a bunch of the internet gun experts.  Don’t use the rounds listed for defensive purposes.  Pick a Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot that is reliable and hits to your sights at common defensive ranges.  Then stop worrying about bullets and improve your skill level.

Good advice here.  I often had people in my police career who got themselves in trouble because of the way they thought things “should” happen.  For my take on the subject, read A Failure to Acknowledge Reality.

Is Carrying Pepper Spray Really Effortless? 

How some of the experts in the self protection field carry their pepper spray.

The AK Series Of Rifles: From The User To The Maintainer

For those of you who shoot AKs.

Carry at the Office

Some informative tests looking at draw speed from various “office concealment” CCW options.  If you are interested in the topic, you should also watch this short video where Bob Vogel shows us how fast pocket carry can be.

When Is Shooting Into a House a Crime?

The longer I’m in this game, the more I think we firearms instructors are doing a disservice to our students by focusing on really fast shot to shot split times.  Outside of some competitions, I seldom see cases where shooting five rounds a second produces any better results than shooting two rounds a second.  Accuracy really matters, speed between shots is great, so long as you can keep all of your shots on the target every single time.  

This defendant shot a guy on the doorstep of his (the defendant’s) house.  He was not convicted of felonious assault.  The downside is that two of his rounds struck the house across the street.  He was found guilty of “shooting into a habitation” and was sentenced to six to nine years in prison.  I’m betting he spends a lot of those six plus years thinking he shouldn’t have shot so carelessly.

Ayoob: How To Shoot Micro Pistols Better

Massad Ayoob gives us some tips to shoot small guns better.

Should You Switch to a 20-Gauge for Duck Hunting? We Field Tested the 12 vs 20 Gauge for Lethality

The same thing is true for both defense and hunting.  When you drop to a 20 gauge, you don’t lose lethality.  You use maximum effective range.

This Is How To Deal With Psychopaths And Toxic People: 5 Proven Secrets

Some important science concerning the management of the psychopaths in your life.  The best book I’ve ever read on the topic is Without Conscience by Dr. Robert Hare.  I read that book 25 years ago and still use the concepts it explains on a regular basis.

NOVEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

This edition of the Rangemaster monthly newsletter has some very useful articles about evaluating your personal handgun training practice sessions and includes a couple of useful shooting drills.  Opens to PDF.

The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society

What I’m reading…

The Stoeger Bandit Target

I’m fascinated by all aspects of firearms history.  In this article, Karl gives us a look at one of the earliest police silhouette training targets and how those targets changed over time.  While we are discussing training targets, you should also read Why The Old B-27 Just Plain Sucks as a Training Target.

KSG Armory Saratoga Revolver IWB Holster

Good Kydex IWB and appendix carry holsters are often difficult to find for modern K and L-frame revolvers.  I like JM Custom Kydex for excellent defensive revolver holsters.  Besides them, try out the Saratoga listed above.

I’ve also been carrying my L-frame snub in a newer holster from Problem Solving Tool.  They make some great gear as well, but you’ll probably have to add an aftermarket wedge if you are carrying appendix with a short barreled revolver.

Everyone Will Not Just.

Paul Martin’s first blog post since April.

So You Found a Gun in a Public Restroom – – Now What?

Have you thought about what you might do if you found a gun in a public bathroom?

Quote to Ponder:

I had an unusual experience on my afternoon walk today.

Let me set the stage…

I live in a very upscale outer suburb of Austin, Texas.  There are tons of city and neighborhood parks nearby.  The area is extremely safe with a responsive police force and a really low crime rate.  Violent crime in our city parks is exceptionally rare.

I take advantage of the area’s abundant and safe outdoor recreation options by taking long walks or weighted rucks in the nearby parks on most afternoons when I’m not on the road teaching.

My knee was aching a bit after a hard leg workout yesterday, so I chose an easy walk today at a park a few miles from my house.  The park featured a very flat three-mile concrete trail that meandered through some wooded areas, small fishing ponds, baseball diamonds, and a disk golf course.  The paved and level trail wouldn’t further aggravate my angry knee.

Despite the fact that it was a Saturday afternoon with perfect weather (sunny, low 80s, no humidity), very few people were walking on the trail.

I had a podcast playing in my earbuds and was enjoying my stroll when I noticed a man walking towards me on the trail.  I initially spotted him from a few hundred meters away as he was walking in my direction.

At first glance, he appeared completely normal.  He was a Hispanic male in his mid-20s, wearing a tank top and basketball shorts.  He was walking at a moderate pace, with his gaze trained down at the trail in front of him.  His hands were empty and he did not appear to be carrying any weapons.  He was wearing white earbuds and seemed to be enjoying an afternoon walk just like I was.

As is my habit on trails like this, I greeted him with brief eye contact, a smile, and a friendly “hi” as he was getting close enough to pass me.

He brought his eyes up to meet mine and grinned with a facial expression that exuded pure evil.

I fed the description of the dude into Canva AI and asked it to create a photo. It was shockingly close, but the guy on the trail had a smile that was 10X more menacing than this.

I was a cop for 25 years.  I arrested murderers, rapists, psychopaths, armed robbers, and child molesters.  I encountered my share of evil in my former career.  Few of the seriously bad men I arrested in my police career had a countenance that was even remotely close to that of the young man I encountered on the trail this afternoon.

His smile was so shockingly hateful that I actually caught myself recoiling slightly away from him.  That wasn’t the reaction I wanted to portray, so I stopped, narrowed my gaze, and gave him stronger eye contact without the normal friendly smile.

I instantly had the thought “Here it comes.  He’s going to attack you right now.”

This wasn’t some pseudo-alpha tough guy status game.  This guy was showing a facial expression I’d only seen a few times in the hundreds of violent criminals I arrested over the course of my career.

The last time I saw that look it was from a carjacker I had arrested.  That guy carjacked a mentally disabled man, took him hostage, and made him drive around pulling money out of ATMs until the victim’s accounts were drained.  He then marched the guy at gunpoint to a wooded area and pushed him over a 50 foot tall waterfall.  The push and subsequent fall paralyzed the victim from the waist down and nearly killed him.

After the arrest, I was present while our detectives interrogated the suspect.  When the detectives asked why he had tried to kill his cooperating victim, the carjacker smiled the exact same evil smile I saw on the trail today as he said “Sometimes I just do stupid shit.”

A psychopath recalling his attempted murder of a harmless disabled man with absolute glee.

That memory was passing through my brain, as I processed my options after seeing the man on the trail.  I can’t describe the guy in any other manner than by saying his very essence exuded pure evil.  He smiled his predatory, malevolent smile.  I stopped.  He stopped. 

We were about six feet away from each other.  We engaged in a very brief stare-down.  Neither of us uttered a word.  

While maintaining his menacing grin, the man slowly averted his gaze back towards the ground and walked away.

I held my stationary position until the man was about 100 yards from me and then continued my walk.

What a strange encounter!

It was an anti-climactic ending similar to many of the stories chronicled in There I Was…When Nothing Happened: True Tales of Real Self Defense From Professionals in the Field, a book to which I contributed a narrative of a much more violent situation that turned out to have an equally tame conclusion.

So what can we learn from situations like this?  After pondering what happened, I have a couple thoughts.

1) You can encounter unpredictable people and criminals even in “safe” areas.  How many of you would be truly prepared for criminal violence when taking a daytime walk in a park located in a city with a very low crime rate?

I really don’t think that we are ever truly “safe” when out in public today.  Take a look at what happened last month in a park in another of Austin’s “safe” suburbs.  A man was seated on a park bench taking photos of birds when another man randomly snuck up behind him, grabbed him around the neck, and began attempting to saw the victim’s head off with a knife.  It was a random and completely unprovoked attack.

No matter how “safe” the area is, you should be prepared to encounter violent criminals and crazy people.

2) Not every problem is a weapons problem.  Most of my readers are very much into weapons and gear.  I am too.  I was armed during my walk, but my weapons weren’t what deterred any potential attack.

This was the gear I was carrying:

– Smith and Wesson 442UC .38 special revolver equipped with a clipdraw.  I was carrying the gun in a Vertx fanny pack.  I also had a Tuff products quick strip with four extra rounds of ammunition.

– POM pepper spray clipped to left front pocket of my workout shorts

– Spyderco Delica knife clipped inside my waistband

The loadout for my walk in the park

Although the total encounter only lasted about three seconds, I consciously thought about my options with regards to weapons access.  I chose not to draw a weapon for two reasons:

The primary reason was quite simply I didn’t think I needed a weapon to prevail, even if he did attack me.  He was lean and muscular, but I outweighed him by at least 100 pounds.  He wasn’t carrying any weapons and I felt confident that I could win in a physical confrontation.

Beyond that, I had a feeling that the man was seriously mentally ill.  I think he enjoyed intimidating people.  I considered pulling my pepper spray, but I thought he would see that act as a tacit admission of being scared or intimidated.  The worst violent predators are often encouraged when they sense a victim is fearful.  Seeing fear or fearful actions is a “go” signal that makes them initiate or press the attack.

Based on lots of past confrontations in my police career, I thought the best way to dissuade this particular crazy person from attacking was to show zero indications that I was scared of his menacing facial expression.  It’s hard to know for certain, but I think if I would have tried to back away or appeared scared enough to draw a weapon or make a call to police, he would have become more aggressive.

Take a look again at the AI generated photo above.  That’s roughly what the guy looked like.  Could you honestly handle someone like that in a physical encounter?  If not, do you carry the appropriate tools to repel him or prevail in the event he attacked you?

I know lots of my readers are gun people and don’t carry intermediate force options like pepper spray or impact weapons.  Maybe you should change that habit.  It’s nice having “something between harsh language and a gun” as my friend Chuck Haggard has said.

If you were in an encounter like this and didn’t have the confidence to win a physical fight against a guy his size, what are your options if the only tool you are carrying is a pistol?  Would you have drawn your gun?  How are you going to justify that when the police arrive?  Do you think telling the cops “he looked at me in a mean and intimidating way” would be reasonable enough to escalate the situation to a lethal force response?

It’s nice having options.  I can’t think of many cops in the USA who would arrest you for palming a can of pepper spray in response to his menacing gaze.  I can’t say the cops would react the same way if you put your hand on the butt of your pistol or drew a gun.

3) What else could it be?  This appeared to be a single psychopath evaluating a single victim (me) for a possible attack.  Where I see lots of folks screw up in similar situations is by assuming what they see is the only thing going on.  Could this be a set-up for something else?  Somewhere around 50% of violent attacks initiated by strangers involve multiple attackers.

As you evaluate this guy’s actions, you must also realize that he may be acting as a “stopper.”  He may be the distraction to ensure you don’t notice his friends coming up behind you to hit you in the back of the head or put a knife to your throat.

Any time you notice one person holding your attention for an inordinately long time, you should expect that it is a setup and start scanning for accomplices.

I was able to watch this guy’s approach for a couple hundred meters.  We were in an open area of the park with no vegetation along either side of the trail for about 30 meters.  There was no place for another attacker to hide in this case.

If the man had been stationary waiting for my approach, if the encounter happened near a blind curve in the trail, or had the encounter occurred on a section of the trail that went through a wooded area, I would have immediately expected additional attackers. 

Do you know how to move in such a way that you can check behind you without turning your back on the primary attacker?

How would the presence of more than one potential attacker alter your response in this situation?  Is drawing a weapon a more reasonable response?

4). Training priorities matter.  Many of you will spend lots of time trying to get your draw time under a second.  Most of you will endlessly practice reloading your gun faster, even though you know reloads seldom happen in armed citizen shootings.  Some of you will spend hours on the martial arts mats every week training for a physical confrontation.  All those are good things, but those skills won’t help you in every encounter.

How much time have you spent increasing your situational awareness?  Can you recognize microexpressions?  Have you studied body language?  Do you have the verbal agility to convince a criminal that you aren’t a good victim?  Have you worked on instantly changing your own facial expression from fear to anger?

Knowing how to fight and shoot is important.  With that said, you will use the skills I mentioned in the last paragraph in almost every confrontation while you will shoot and fight in far fewer.  It’s worth spending time honing your “soft skills” as well.

4). Life is a training opportunity.  Nothing bad actually happened here.  I’m going to be watching for this guy in the future when I’m walking in the park.

This is the perfect opportunity to mentally debrief your performance and think about how you might change your actions if you experience something similar in the future.

Don’t waste these incidents that turn out for the best.  There are still good lessons to learn from each one.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links.  I make a small amount of money if you purchase anything using those links.

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

Lessons From the Silver Rail Elementary Active Killer Event – Part 1

Lon provides us with an exceptional tactical breakdown of the recent Oregon school shooting.  Read Part Two as well.

You Ohio residents will also want to read Yes, You Still Need a Tax Stamp (or a state license) in Ohio for NFA Items

Long Guns & Handheld Lights

A quality examination of the topic of long guns and handheld lights.  I had forgotten about the old trick of creating an improvised pressure switch by manipulating adjusting the constant on switch with lateral pressure.  I played around with that a lot back in the day with variable rates of success.

Continuing with a similar theme, you may also like Handheld vs Weapon Mounted Lights: Which One is Better?

15 Years of Ammo Sales: The Most Popular Calibers and How They’ve Changed

An interesting look at how ammunition demands have changed over the last 15 years.  You should also read the same author’s older article Shooting Handguns with Both Eyes Open: Do You Really Have To?

RevolverGuy 101: Dos and Don’ts

Solid revolver advice here.  Here’s one more piece for you revolver fans I’m sick of hearing about GIGN.

Beginner Jiu-jitsu – Stop Framing

A controversial concept that you grapplers should understand.

Dear Ruger

In last week’s dump, I shared news that Ruger was discontinuing several of its popular handgun models.  Read bendigo Strange’s thoughts on this announcement.  And if you are a Ruger fan, you may also like A Service Six for Self Defense.

Long-Range Shooting with the Defensive Handgun

This article makes a good case for ensuring that as an armed citizen, you are capable of prevailing even when ranges exceed normal “handgun” distances.  I agree 100%.  Not convinced?  Read this article from Ed Head and try “The Bane Drill.”

How to Read the Streets: A Survival Skill That’s More Important Than Ever

Solid situational awareness advice here.

LIT BY A SECOND SUN

Sebastian Junger has an interesting take about our so-called “second lives” lived online through social media.

Active Killer Survival Manual – A Tactical Reload

What I’m reading…

Surviving in the Wild: 19 Common Edible Plants

For anyone who wants a basic intro to edible plants, here’s a good one. Great pictures and adequate descriptions. Most of these plants grow throughout the United States and also have medicinal uses as well.  If you want more info more specific to Texas and other states in the southern USA, this site is an amazing resource as well.

You might also find this article handy.  It contains medical treatment for plant poisonings if you screw up your identification.

Shot in Camp, Miles From Help: What a Hunting Tragedy Teaches About Backcountry Medicine

Are you prepared for this type of a medical event in your hunting camp?

BLUE-ON-BLUE CROSSFIRE, PART I: THE DEADLY DOUGHNUT

Reducing police crossfire situations.

The Story of The Remington 870

The history of America’s most popular shotgun as well as advice on which models to avoid.  Speaking of shotguns, you might also like this piece on the shotgun user’s utility curve.

Is a .22 Actually Useless for Defense? The Data Says Otherwise

Thoughts on using the .22 for self protection.  You may also like this article on the topic.

You can do everything right

A reality check from Annette.

Video – Defensive 1911: Managing 1911 Safeties

Justin has good advice for you 1911 shooters who are reading this.  You might also like his thoughts on shotgun accessories.

The Support Hand Knife

I think this is an optimal plan for close quarters fighting.  Firearm carried accessible to strong hand and fixed blade knife carried centerline for weak side access provides a lot of options.

Foundation of the Concept

A lot of firearms history regarding Col. Cooper and the Scout Rifle in this piece.

How to Conceal Carry While Running | PHLster Enigma

Quote to Ponder:

“Many criminals have an uncanny knack for reading people and situations. This is their stock in trade…reading victims. Despite many of them displaying bravado and boasting how they will never be taken alive, very few hold on to this notion when someone of ability opposes them.”

– Scott Reitz

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.

You’ve just shot the criminal who broke into your house and threatened you with a weapon. The threat has been neutralized and police have been called.  You’ve read my articles in the past, so you know it’s not a good idea to have a gun in your hand when the cops arrive.  When you hear the sirens, you secure your firearm in a safe place and meet police at the door with empty hands.

The cops initially handcuff you and ask you a couple questions:

“What happened?”

“Where is the guy you shot?”

“Were there other attackers?  If so, where did they go?”

“Where did you put the gun?”

Police ask these initial questions so that they can quickly figure out what happened, capture any fleeing criminals and get medical help to the injured.  But make no mistake, the cops who are asking the questions are also looking to collect enough evidence to make an arrest.  That’s what cops do…arrest people when they have probable cause that a crime has been committed.  Have you considered how you are going to handle the post-shooting questions that police will ask?  It’s a very important issue to sort out if you don’t want to end up in the “people arrested” category.

There is a lot of debate on the proper course of action after a shooting.  Most people who shoot someone in self defense are good folks who want the officer to understand why they had to shoot. They talk and talk and talk, answering every question the officer asks and providing immediate written or videotaped statements.  That may not be the safest course of action.

The crux of the issue is that our brains don’t work very well when we are under extreme amounts of stress.  When the adrenaline is coursing through your system, it’s extremely difficult to calm down enough to allow for rational thought and clear recall.  No matter how cool and collected you may feel, you’ll likely make a mistake when answering police questions immediately after a shooting. Research has shown that the clearest memories of a stressful incident aren’t fully recalled until after two to three complete sleep cycles!  That’s several days’ time.  It’s for this reason that cops involved in shootings are generally not questioned until several days after the event.

You might think “Sure, I might screw something up.  Who wouldn’t after such a harrowing ordeal?  Won’t the prosecutor, judge, and jury understand that?”  Maybe.  Maybe not.  It’s best not to take the chance.

Here’s how this may play out if you have an unethical prosecutor or one who is more concerned with garnering political favor than truly seeking “justice”…

Let’s say that you answer all the questions the cops ask you.  One of the questions is “How many shots did you fire?”  You answer “I think I shot four times.”

Evidence at the scene establishes clearly that you actually shot eight rounds, but you didn’t remember firing them all.

When you are on the stand, the line of questioning from the prosecutor will sound like this:

“Is it true that you told officers at the scene that you only fired four rounds?”

“Yes, but…”

He cuts you off

“I submit the autopsy report into evidence your honor.  The deceased has eight bullet wounds and all the recovered bullets match the rifling of the defendant’s handgun.”  Clearly the defendant shot more than the four rounds he claimed.”

Looking at you, “So we’ve shown you lied about the number of rounds you fired.  What else are you lying about?  The whole story about this man breaking into your house is a lie as well.  We believe you killed an innocent man in cold blood and then lied to police to establish your innocence.”

You can see how it can go downhill very quickly.  A statement about an innocent memory lapse can have very serious downstream consequences.

Don’t be quick to say “That will never happen to me.  I train to count my shots every time I fire my gun.”  I predict your bullet counting skills will seriously diminish when someone is trying to kill you.

I assisted in the investigation of a police-involved shooting in my department a few years before I retired.  Three officers fired their guns at a burglar who was trying to run them over with his car.  One of the officers fired one shot (and remembered it) before being struck by the car.  Another officer told me he shot two or three rounds.  When I took his gun for evidence, the magazine was down a total of six rounds.  The third officer initially stated that he didn’t shoot.  About an hour into the investigation, that officer came up to me and said, “Greg, I was thinking about everything again and I think I may have actually shot my gun.”  I examined his gun and its magazine was missing four cartridges.  And he initially didn’t even remember shooting!

Your memory is probably going to be screwed up for a couple days.  You don’t want to make any statements that can be used against you until you’ve consulted with your attorney and have a full (or as full as possible) recall of the incident in question.

It is for this reason that many lawyers and experts in the field advise their clients “Don’t talk to the police.  Don’t answer any questions, anytime.”  There are lots of popular video tutorials about how cops will use statements against the people who make them.

In general, this is better advice than the “answer every question” strategy, but it isn’t without risk.

Massad Ayoob once brought up a hypothetical scenario in a class I attended…..

Imagine you are being robbed at gunpoint on a city street in broad daylight in the summertime.  You draw your gun and shoot your attacker.  The attacker drops his gun and it shatters on the sidewalk.  It turns out that the gun you legitimately thought was real was actually just a water pistol.

The police arrive a few minutes later.  You tell them that you don’t want to answer any questions as you watch the water dry up and the tiny pieces of plastic get blown away by the wind.  By the time the evidence techs arrive, they find no evidence that your “attacker” was armed.  Can you see how this is problematic?  If you had answered a couple questions and pointed out the pieces of the broken gun to the responding officers, you likely wouldn’t be charged.  But you exercised your rights and now are being prosecuted for murder.

The police questioning process is a balancing act.  You don’t want to provide statements that may later turn out to be incorrect.  You also don’t want to provide evidence against yourself.  But your case would be strengthened if you could point out evidence that is in your favor and if you could provide a description of your attacker so that officers can arrest him.  You are on the tightrope.

Most people err in providing TOO MUCH information to the police.  That’s why there are so many experts instructing armed citizens to “say nothing” to responding police officers.  Saying nothing is BETTER than saying too much but it may not be the BEST course of action.

I think Massad Ayoob provides the best legal advice I’ve seen on the topic.  In his work as a police officer, prosecutor, and expert witness, he has seen it all and knows what works.  He published his original suggestions in a 2008 issue of the now-defunct Armed Citizens Legal Network Journal.  I had to dig them up on the Wayback Machine to share them with you.

Massad Ayoob’s Five-Point Checklist

1.     Tell responding officers “I’m the victim; he is the perpetrator.”

2.     Tell responding officers, “I will sign a complaint.”

3.     Point out pertinent evidence.

4.     Point out any witnesses who saw what happened.

5.     If there is any hint that you are a suspect, say “Officer, you will have my full cooperation after I have counsel here.

Saying something like “Officer, this man attacked me and I had to shoot him.  I would like to file charges against him.” is probably a good start.  Follow Ayoob’s checklist by pointing out evidence, witnesses and suspects.  In particular, be sure to document any injury you have (however minor).  That evidence will be extremely useful in proving your position if you get charged.

After you do that, SHUT UP!  The officer will continue asking questions.  That’s his job.  You don’t have to answer.  Not incriminating yourself is your job.

Note that there is a difference between saying:”I don’t want to answer your questions.” and “I would like to speak to an attorney before any questioning.”

If you say the first statement, the cop can keep asking you questions.  You just don’t have to answer them.  If you use the second phrase, the police officer must stop questioning you until you have spoken to your legal counsel.  If he does question you after you’ve invoked your right to counsel, the answers to his questions will not be admissible in court.

Don’t be insulting about requesting an attorney, even if the officer is treating you like a criminal.  It simply won’t help your situation.  Saying something like “Officer, I recognize that this is a very serious incident.  I’d like to speak to my lawyer before I answer any more of your questions.” will likely stop the questioning immediately while not making the officer biased against you.

Recognize that if you invoke your rights or piss off the cops at the scene, you might get arrested.  That’s not what we want, but it’s not the end of the world either.  Don’t let threats of arrest get you to make statements outside of Massad’s guidelines above.  Oftentimes, the cop is bluffing.  Even if he isn’t, spending one night in jail before being bonded out the next morning is far better than saying something incriminating that gets you a life sentence for murder.

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

ATF Changes Course on NFA Items: What Gun Owners Need to Know

The big news this week is the updated rules for NFA weapons.  Here are a few articles summarizing the changes.

Update to NFA Transfer Guidance

ATF Issues New NFA Guidance: Time To Burn Your Braces?

ATF Ends NFA Approval for Suppressors: What You Need to Know

The ATF Stopped Enforcing Some NFA Rules, But Only A Few

Ruger to Discontinue Several Major Models

The second biggest news story of the week.

Former Wash. deputy awarded $30M in suit over firearms training incident that caused him to lose his leg

A cautionary tale for my instructor friends.  Sub-par training, especially when combined with poor equipment choices can lead to incredibly costly negative outcomes.

Killer Baboons 

I read every book Peter Hathaway Capstick wrote when I was growing up.  This is one of his stories.  I was once chased by a bunch of baboons while hiking in Kenya.  I wish I would have been carrying a Mac -10 at the time.

Kelly McCann: A Modern Close-Combat Legend

If you don’t know who Kelly McCann is, you should probably remedy that.

Top 6 Things Every Concealed Carry Holder Should Know

Advice for all of you concealed carriers.

Competition Shooting vs. Combat Training

An issue I was just discussing with a friend.

Wadcutters for the Defensive Revolver

Good analysis of the use wadcutters as defensive rounds in the .38 special.  I had lots of questions about this kind of ammo for self protection when I taught at Revolver Fest last weekend.   I have no qualms about loading my carry guns with wadcutters.

Secrets of a Professional Bodyguard: How to Stay Safe in a Crowd

A bodyguard’s thoughts on crowd safety.

Hydra-Shok Deep: How Often Do They Expand in .380?

I get a lot of questions about the “best” .380 round for self defense.  None of them are great.  Here are some resources to help you decide which round to carry.

Federal HST vs Hydra-Shok Deep: How Often Do They Expand in .380?

380 Ammo Testing: 85 gr VHP Federal Train and Protect

Federal 380 ACP Punch vs Train & Protect

Compilation of ballistic tests from rangehot

The Kids Are Alright

“There were 45 percent fewer young adults murdered in 2025 than in 2020 according to the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Report compared to a 21 percent drop for all other age groups. There were more than 20 percent fewer young adults aged 18 to 34 murdered in 2025 than in 2019 while all other ages were roughly even (down 1 percent) compared to their pre-COVID total.”

Hard work, Dedication, & Study Needed

Some folks need this reminder.

“All opinions are not created equal, and yours isn’t even close to being on the same level of the names constantly on your tongue when you talk down about those who are always working to reach perfection. With a Chris Kyle shirt on your back and a Punisher back plate on your Glock, you have the moral ineptitude to assume your experience qualifies you to churn out a diatribe about how gun fighting really goes and that (insert instructor here) doesn’t know shit.

It’s you who doesn’t know shit, and you will go from ignorant, to stupid at the drop of a hat to drive that point home. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy; a manifest destiny of Dunning-Kruger excellence, you are everything that is wrong with the shooting community and anyone who doesn’t make an attempt to at least show you that is wrong also.”

I Watched 88 Hours of a Murder Trial. Here’s What I Learned.

Jacob’s astute observations after watching a murder trial.  Be sure to also read his first followup article.

TCC school shooting in France and new international database

This international database might be useful for those of you who study school shootings.

Appendix Carry for Big Guys – Male Abdominal Fat Distribution

Very useful information for larger guys who want to carry in the appendix position.

What Should I Practice?

Dave’s thoughts on practice.

ChatGPT launches new anti-gun AI policies one day after Everytown recommends new anti-gun AI policies

For you Chat GPT users.

WHY I DON’T TEACH TACTICAL RELOADS

I generally agree.  In two decades of firearms training, I’ve come to the conclusion that handling two objects with the same hand under stress is generally a failure waiting to happen.  I’ve heard the reload the author advocates called the “TFE Tac Reload.”  “TFE” stands for “Too Fucking Easy.”  Why wouldn’t we want to make things easy for our trainees?  

If you don’t want to ditch the spare rounds from the partially depleted magazine, take the used mag out, pocket it, put the new mag in.  That simplifies matters immeasurably.

The Mad Dog

Something to consider for those of you who think speed is more important than accuracy.  You might also like the same author’s The Art of Letting Things Go.

Training for Personal Defense With and Without Glasses

Some issues for those of you with aging eyes.

Freezing the River of Concealed Carry Law

A 50-state table of concealed carry competency and course requirements.

Preparedness: A Realistic Bug Out Bag

Excellent survival advice from Justin.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Tick-Borne Illness in the United States

Although it’s not their prime season, I found the first tick this year crawling on me last week.  This article contains everything you might want to know about tick-borne diseases.

A Triangular Bandage

While we are on the topic of medical stuff, this is a very useful piece of gear to add to all your first aid and trauma kits.  This one is my favorite.  The author’s medical textbook is also on sale this week.

And one more medical piece for those of you excited about jamming needles into people’s chests.  Opens to power point presentation.

Quote to Ponder

“What we should stop doing in the wake of any attack from anyone is listening to the “talking” points of academics, politicians, or psychologists who have no real world experience in most anything let alone contending with dangerous armed men bent of committing evil. And instead listen to dangerous, armed men who are committed to preserving society.”

– Matthew Allen

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.

Run It Like A Violin – Shotgun Reloads

Until a couple years ago, I was at best ambivalent towards the violin load.  I knew some people used it successfully, but I did not teach it in my classes.  I took a shotgun instructor class as a student against medical advice.  I had a horrific pinched nerve in my upper back that weakened my left arm and was nine days post cancer surgery.  I was a bit of a physical wreck, but still decided to take the class.

When I got to the line, I found my normal off-hand loading technique didn’t work with my jacked up body.  I had to improvise and violin-load to complete the class.  It was my first time seriously working the technique and I ended up placing third (out of 20) in the class shoot-off.  Now I teach violin loading as an option.

While you are on the American Cop website, you should also read Surer, Not Faster.

Concealed Carry Considerations for the Law Enforcement Officer tasked with Close In Protection

Shane discusses some topics that don’t get enough attention in the police world.

Terminal Ballistics Part III: Tactical Anatomy & Defensive Marksmanship

I’ve been sharing Justin’s series on firearms stopping power in the last couple knowledge dumps.  Here is his latest contribution.  Read and watch all of content in this series if you are looking for the equivalant of a graduate degree on terminal ballistics.  If “stopping power” doesn’t interest you, check out one of Justin’s older articles titled 5 Steps to (Actually) Make America Great.

The Biggest Lie We Tell About Homelessness

Some of the realities of life as a homeless person.  Encountering violent, mentally ill “street people” is often a large concern expressed by my students.  The more you know about this population, the less likely you will be targeted by them.

ISSUE 27

The latest issue of the Armed Lifestyle Magazine.  There are some excellent articles in this edition.

MilSurp: The SKS Carbine—What You Need To Know

Useful information for anyone who owns or works on SKS rifles.   And here’s an article for those of you who want to learn to maintain an AK.

Before You Carry a Gun, Make These Decisions

“We don’t spend our time looking for an excuse to lose.  We spend our time finding a way to win.  And that’s the difference between the live professional and the dead amateur.”

My friends John and Vicki Farnam are legends in the firearms training community and have been teaching longer than I’ve been alive.  They share their observations about teaching and defensive readiness on this excellent podcast.

The Blank Paper Drill (and Progression)

Here’s a shooting drill I bet most of you have never done.  You might also like the author’s thoughts on constructing a dry fire program.

Collision One: Collisions of the Mind: Collisions of the Mind

What I’m reading…

SCOTUS Is About to Answer the AR-15 Question

Implications and potential consequences of the upcoming supreme court hearings.

The S&W Model 12: An Airweight Classic

I carried a nickel plated model 12 on my ankle as a police duty backup gun for most of my career.  It’s a great revolver.  As my late friend and snubby guru Ed Lovette once told me, the 2″ K-frames “conceal like a J-frame but shoot like a real gun.”  That’s the best description I’ve found.

Handgunization

It’s interesting to note how gun ownership patterns have evolved in my lifetime.  For more interesting statistics, read What’s Driving the Homicide Decline?

How many school shootings in September 2026?

The latest school shooting statistics for the new school year.

KCKPD officer stabs man who tried to take officer’s during struggle Tuesday afternoon in business parking lot

While it is unusual to see cops defending against gun grabs with edged weapons, it isn’t unheard of. Here is one example. I have seen about 15 more of these incidents in the last 20 years.

The Truth About Brass vs. Steel Ammo

With the current ammo costs and availability affected by increased prices of components and fuel disruptions, I think ammo prices are going to head upward again soon.  You may have to use steel case ammo if it’s the only thing you can find.  This article explains the differences and what warning signs to look for.

The .30 Carbine Cartridge and Why It Refuses To Fade Away

The M-1 carbine is one of my favorite guns to shoot.

Height Over Bore: Why Close-Range Rifle Shots Hit Low

I’m not known for my rifle classes, but I’ve taught rifle skills for a long time.  I started my agency’s rifle program back in 1999.  At the time, we were the only patrol officers in our county who carried rifles.  Our rifle officers trained four times a year and shot about 400 rounds each session. 

The concept I found the most difficult to teach was close range hold overs.  Officers intellectually understood the issue, but would forget to hold high as soon as they left the range.  In the one rifle shooting we had when I was the training officer, the officer shot at a threat about four yards away.  He hit low.

Home Defense with Tom Givens

Tom Givens provides a primer on home invasions.

Pedal to the Metal: 5 Tactical Driving Tips for the Everyday Civilian

Driving skills are something we all need and use daily, but few of us have formal training in the subject matter.  Here are some tips from a pro driving instructor.

.300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO: An Examination for Home Defense

Although I acknowledge that there are some situations where a .300 Blackout makes sense, I remain firmly on team 5.56 for this debate.

Carrying With An Empty Chamber Almost Cost Him Everything

If you don’t feel comfortable carrying a gun with a round in the chamber, you don’t have enough training.  Take a class (beyond a basic CCW course) from a professional shooting school.  In one or two days of training, you should be skilled enough to carry the gun as it was designed to be carried.  If you are too busy or too lazy to go to gun school for a weekend, at least be honest with yourself.  Carry a revolver with a long, heavy first trigger pull so that you will feel “safe.”  I’d much rather you carry a revolver with fewer rounds on board than handicap yourself even worse in a gunfight by carrying chamber empty.

Gunfighting Science: Shooting Through Glass

The basics of shooting in to and out of vehicles.

Are YOU easy prey for pickpockets?

Seven of the most common pickpocketing tactics.

How a Suppressor Affects Point of Impact When Hunting (and How to Verify Your Zero Before Season)

As suppressors become easier to obtain, we will see more of them used in the hunting fields.  If you are new to shooting with a can, you should test your rifle to see how the suppressor changes your point of impact.

Quote to Ponder:

“It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our death bed. It is the things we do not. I assure you I’ve done a lot of really stupid things, and none of them bother me. All the mistakes, and all the dopey things, and all the times I was embarrassed — they don’t matter. What matters is that I can kind of look back and say: Pretty much any time I got the chance to do something cool I tried to grab for it — and that’s where my solace comes from.”

– Randy Pausch

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.

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

Teaching Your Brain to Look Through the Dot

Jeff Gonzalez has some tips for better shooting with a pistol mounted optic.

The Biomechanical Reality of Incapacitation

In the last few knowledge dumps, I’ve highlighted some very well informed articles about firearm stopping power and the mechanics by which bullets actually incapacitate people.  Here is yet another solid piece of scholarship on the topic.

Theory of a Grey Man

If you’ve been reading my site for a long while, you might remember that I often posted links to the Straight Forward in a Crooked World blog.  Matthew was my all time favorite writer in the tactical world, but he stopped writing at his blog back in 2018.  I’m happy to report that he is back writing again on Substack.  I subscribed as soon as I saw he was writing again.  You should too.

PRECISION POLICE PISTOL SHOOTING

For those of you who thing “combat accurate” is good enough.

Rangemaster October Newsletter

This month’s edition has a fun training drill and some excellent holster information.

Components of Precision Shooting – Guns 101

A few precision rifle shooting tips.  If you read this and decide you need a rear squeeze bag, this one is available on Amazon for 50% off if you use coupon code YS62IMT.

The Intellectual Yet Idiot

It really is all about deadlifting…

NPE Carry: S&W Bodyguard 2.0 versus S&W 432 UC Ti

“A comparison of a best-in-class pocket .380 and a J-frame revolver. What exactly are revolvers bringing to the table in 2026? Intended mostly to be listened to, with some tangentially-related B-roll.”

You all know I’m a revolver fan, but I have to admit that Justin is correct with his analysis.

Flock’s Gunshot Alerts Could Sweep Up Lawful Gun Owners

Just in case you weren’t already suspicious enough about the Flock cameras.

Massive errors in FBI’s Active Shooting Reports from 2014-2025 regarding cases where civilians stop attacks

“Instead of 3.9%, the correct number is at least 36.6%. Excluding gun-free zones, it averaged over 52.9%. In 2025, it was 58.3%.”

The Racist History of Gun Control

Some facts you may not have known.

Back to the basics with Paul Howe

Common sense advice from Paul Howe.  “Getting muzzle past meat” and “Not shooting from the back of the bus” are important concepts that aren’t getting adequately taught to our police officers.

Why is this happening?  Read Certification Is Not Mastery: Why Instructor Development Is Broken for one of the problematic factors involved.

One Man In: The Explosive Firsthand Account of the Lone Special-Ops Commando Who Fought Off a Major Terrorist Attack in Kenya

What I’m reading…

If you aren’t into books and still want to hear the story, I highly recommend this podcast interview.

5 + 1 Drill

A great shooting drill for you revolver shooters.  To turn this drill into a range session, run it two or three times as follows:

– Reloading with loose shells from the pocket

– Reloading with speed strips

– Reloading with speed loaders

– Strong hand only with the reload method of your choice

– Weak hand only with the reload method of your choice

Want a more challenging drill for your semi auto pistol?  Try 99% of Shooters Can’t Pass This Test. Could You?

Gun Nation: What Really Matters in Terms of Self-Defense…By the Numbers

Some interesting statistics and their implications for the armed citizen.

Color Wheel: Shooting Lens Tints & Why They Matter

Which lens colors are best for your shooting needs?  My shooting glasses (and the sunglasses I wore on patrol) are Oakley Prism Trail.  They are literally “rose colored glasses” that instantly improve my mood.  Besides sharpening everything, they make the sky and trees look amazing.  When I put on those glasses, I’m instantly transported to a happier place.

46 Awesome 400m Sprint Workouts (Full Training PDF)

This workout looks absolutely torturous.  With that said, if I had to get in peak cardiovascular fitness in a short period of time, I’d do something like this.

The Pros and Cons of IDPA [2026] ⋆ Primer Peak

For those of you interested in getting started with the shooting sports.  IDPA is a great first step if you want to start competing.

History of the Second Amendment: Complete Timeline From 1328 to Today

Settle in for a solid history lesson.

Technique: The Revival of the Outdated Speed Rock on Social Media

I might be dating myself by revealing the fact that I was actually trained to do the “speed rock” by Chuck Taylor himself, the originator of the technique.  It works great against cardboard targets.  It fails spectacularly against an opponent who is skilled or merely exceptionally violent.  Read Mark’s top-notch analysis on the topic.  Just say no to the speed rock.

Ayoob: Should You Always Get Off the X?

Massad Ayoob understands that there are few absolutes in the tactical world.  Real world best practices are often far more nuanced.

Tasers Are Generally Safe. The Data Are Generally Bad.

Taser info for my police readers.

7.62×39 Barrel Length vs. Velocity: What the Data Shows

How much velocity do you lose with a short barreled AK?

Wheelgun Wisdom: Running Double-Action Revolvers

Some wheel gun tips for those of you unfamiliar with revolver operation.  For even more quality information on the topic, read The “Lost” Art of Revolver Reloading.

After-Action Report for Utah Valley University

The official analysis of last year’s assassination of Charlie Kirk.  Opens to PDF.  Continuing on the topic with government crime reports, last year’s Uniformed Crime Report Data was also released this week.

9mm or 5.7x28mm? Hornady Critical Defense – Ballistic Gel Test

Why Ammo Prices Are Rising in Fall 2026 — And Why Stocking Up Now Makes Sense

If you’ve been reading my work for a while, you’ll recognize that I have often mentioned the cyclic nature of ammunition shortages over the past couple decades.  It looks like we may have another coming up.  You should already have a hefty stockpile of ammo.  How much?  I personally didn’t stop stockpiling until I had a lifetime supply of practice ammo.  

In recent years, I’ve been shooting about 5000 rounds a year to keep my skill sets sharp with all of the different weapons I carry and teach with.  If I’m being honest, I could probably maintain adequate skill levels if I fired a minimum of about 2000 live rounds a year.  If my cancer just miraculously disappeared, I’d probably still only have a maximum of about 20 years left on the planet.

A “lifetime supply” of ammo sounds like a lot.  But when you run the numbers, having 40K rounds stored up for practice (and remember, a lot of them can be .22s) doesn’t seem to me to be an unreasonable quantity.  Ammo lasts almost forever if stored properly.  Ammunition costs will only go up in the future.  Anything you can stash away at today’s prices will be an investment that pays better dividends than your 401K account.

For more information about this topic, read If Copper Really Goes to $10 a Pound, Ammo Will Feel It

Officer Survival Leader

We lost legendary officer-survival trainer Evan Marshal this week.  In the pre-internet days, Evan’s writings inspired a lot of young cops like myself and taught us how to do our job safely.  As a broke college student, I spent way too much money on Evan’s three books on handgun stopping power.  The ideas in those books led me to study 1800 shootings myself and to write my own paper on the effectiveness of various handgun rounds.

Quote to Ponder:

“Do not love half lovers. Do not entertain half friends. Do not live a half life…and do not die a half death.”

– Kahlil Gibran

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

I should be perfectly content with my Beretta 1301, two Benelli M-1, three Remington 870, and Mossberg 590S shotguns.  After shooting the new Benelli, I want to add it to the stable as well.

The Benelli Experience was a unique two day event at the Range Ready studio and range complex in Louisiana.  The “experience” part made it a bit different compared to most shotgun classes.  The course tuition also paid for each student to take home a new shotgun, complete with Blue Force Gear sling and a dump pouch for loading.  Unlimited Fiocchi ammunition was also included in the course price.

The class was two days.  I started with an introduction to the new shotgun and its features, followed by instruction on a complete field strip and lubrication process.  With 20 students on the line shooting the new guns, I taught my basic shotgun class.  After students gained proficiency with the guns, we ran them through three different multistage shooting contests with the guns.

The students and I were recorded by a professional film crew for future content on Range Ready’s free streaming TV channel.

The lead instructor at Range Ready is Chris Cerino.  I’ve known Chris a long time.  We were both cops in Ohio.  We both taught at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.  We were both fired from that organization by the same inept (some might say corrupt) managers looking to maintain their own political power and provide substandard training to the officers in Ohio.  They didn’t want anyone competent teaching for them, because it highlighted other long-time staff members’ inadequacies.

Chris called me a few months ago about the class.  While he is extremely knowledgeable about shotgun shooting and the Benelli system, he hadn’t taught a basic shotgun class in a while.  He knew I teach quite a few defensive shotgun classes every year.  I am also a three-time graduate of Benelli’s armorer school and carried the Benelli shotgun on duty for my cop job from 1997 until I retired in 2020.  From 1999 to 2013, I was responsible for training the officers on the Benelli shotguns and maintaining the department’s shotgun armory.

I was a good fit for the class and agreed to teach.

Chris and I at the front of the class

Chris and I, along with a couple additional range instructors spent a whole day on the range with the new guns before the students arrived.  We ran the shotguns hard and filmed content for the streaming video channel.

I really started to like the shotgun after shooting it the first day.  I only had one possible concern.  Some of the folks shooting the guns had a couple of strange feeding malfunctions.  We didn’t figure out the cause until later.  We were shooting on a range with no shade.  The temperature and humidity were both in the high 90s.  The shotgun shells we were using were sitting out in the hot sun.  The heat caused the ammo to expand, which caused our feeding issues.  Once we figured that out and moved the ammo to the shade, all of our feeding issues disappeared.

Between 20 students, Chris and I, and three assistant instructors, we fired over 9000 rounds in three days.  I don’t know if there is anyone on the planet right now who has seen more rounds than that fired out of the new guns.  While I don’t often do gun/gear reviews on this site, I realized I was in a very unique position to provide an evaluation of the gun based on firing and seeing others fire thousands of rounds through it.  

The empty shotgun hulls after the training class.

Here’s what I noted:

The Good

– The gun is very reliable.  On the first day we fired 3000+ rounds of Fiocchi 1 1/8 oz birdshot.   After all of those rounds through the gun, we saw just ONE malfunction across all those rounds in 23 different guns.  That’s amazing performance for shooting cheap birdshot out of brand new semi-auto shotguns without any break in period.

Running Chris Cerino through some drills.  the students had already practiced the techniques dry with dummy rounds before we hit the range.

Overall, I was really impressed by the new Benelli shotgun as well as the training facilities at Range Ready.  I highly recommend both!