We talked about some of the terrorist attacks in Israel and what you can do if those come to our shores.

Check out show notes at ModerSelfProtection.com for anything you might have missed.

P.S.  I'm riding to raise money to fight Alzheimer's and would love if you could throw a couple bucks at it.  Click here to help me and the Alzheimer's Association out.

Get some ammo here.

Stay Safe, 

Ben

A definition of gear is obvious, it's the stuff you have. The definition of skill is how you can use that gear. Your tactics are the overall mindset and how to employ your skills towards a goal. It's just bigger thinking...

See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com Tactics over Skills

Then in 2008, I was called a terrorist for the first time by then-President Obama. The term domestic terrorist had just started and I was on the list. Being a white male, military-aged, former military, contractor, Christian, and gun owner I was on the top of the list. Everyone thought I was crazy for saying the United States Government could do such a thing. The truth is they have been doing it for a long time. Welcome to the party!

Through the years it has only gotten worse. I know I'm on every watch list the government has which makes me both sad and proud. Yes, I will associate with the deplorable's, that is almost half the country. Yes, I cling to my religion and my guns. Yes, I'm proud to be an American. Yes, I think our government f's things up a lot. At least I'm not on the no-fly list... yet.

All of these lists that you don't know you are on, how you got there, or how to get off are a threat to every free person in the world. And I don't know how to fix it.

It is not time to fight the great boogaloo (which is now a terrorist word as indicated by a leaked FBI memo). I'm trying to get more involved at my local political level because I know local politicians grow up to be state and federal politicians.

This blog is about self-defense. So you might ask how all that plays into your self-defense. Well, the "Justice System" hasn't been not been impartial for a long time, it has gotten worse. If the "they" of the world think you are on the wrong side it appears unlikely you will get a fair trial.

Do you remember the Austin protester during a BLM protest that was carrying an AK openly and gave a weird interview with his rifle right before the shooting? Then an Army Sergeant driving for Uber, carrying a concealed handgun with a license smoked him after ending up in the crowd by mistake. The Army Sergeant got convicted of Murder early this year over three years after the shooting.

I've known since I was a teenager that the deck was stacked against me if I have to use deadly force. It was what I was taught in Law Enforcement and it didn't take much research at the time to see that if the U.S. Government wanted you, they were going to convict you.

So, you are out there, just trying to protect yourself. Take extra care in what you do. Be more mindful to stay out of places that might put you and your family in danger. Be more careful about where you insert yourself into other people's problems. And be more careful about who you argue with. All of this could end you up in prison for the rest of your life... and is more likely to happen now than it was five years ago.

In conclusion, welcome to this shitty party that somehow we all ended up in.

Stay Safe,

Ben

First published on ModernSelfDefense.com

Courage, like most things, is a muscle that you have to exercise in life.  If you don't practice courage, it will atrophy and die.  

How often do you practice courage?  Moral and or physical?  Do you do new things that you are going to look foolish at?  Do you accept challenges when others ask you to do something that should be possible?  Do you do things that are hard that others say are hard, shouldn't be done, or is impossible?  Do you do different hard things on purpose because they are hard and scary?

Take a challenge. Do something hard.  Say something when you know something should be said.  Practice your courage.  If what people are saying in the firearms/2nd Amendment culture is true, we are going to need courage both moral and physical soon.  Now would be a good time to practice.  

Stay Safe, 

Ben Branam

ModernSelfProtection.com 

No.  Is the simple easy answer and should be the end of it.

Three things to consider when making this decision: 

The Tactical Situation; will this act put you further in danger? 
Morally; is it the right thing to do? 
Legally; will this make your actions more or less defendable in court? 

See the entire discussion on https://modernselfprotection.com

What training scars and bad habits do you have that will "get you killed in the street?" 

I know you have at least one, we all do.

Check out the full notes at ModernSelfProtection.com/habits-good-bad-and-training-scars

My church got a bunch of volunteers to volunteer to be actors in the scenarios. Our head of church safety organized and ran the training. It was a lot of fun, and I got to mix it up with the bad guys more than once. Didn't even die this time. Not bad…. but…

Most of the scenarios were normal church shooter events; one domestic violence, one attack on the pastor, one run of the mill mass killer, but the last one was an attempted hostage scenario.

I say attempted because the safety team ended it before it could begin. A couple was arguing during church service and the guy was instructed to get up, pull a gun, and do a Hollywood gun to the head back against the wall thing to see how we would work together throughout the situation.

Turns out most of us on the team are default aggressive...

See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com/BePrepared

Yesterday on the way home from work I saw a crime in progress or what looked like one.

I was driving down a busy street that has a large homeless problem and high crime. It's a shortcut to miss some traffic through downtown San Antonio. It is a shortcut I use a lot.

As I stopped at the light I saw one guy running full speed from around the back of a business and someone hot on his heels.

The second guy gave away that a crime was probably in progress. He was holding something inside his pants right above his right front pocket. His pants were too big and it looked like if he let go, he would lose whatever heavy thing he was holding there. The way he was holding it, I couldn't tell if it was a lead pipe, gun, or big knife.

Should I have gotten involved?

Check out more at ModernSelfProtection.com

Get some ammo at:
My LuckyGunner Affiliate 

Get More Contact at:
Shooters Club Members 

See all the bullet points at ModernSelfProtection.com/2022/01/30/caught-in-the-aftermath-of-a-mass-shooter/

Common knowledge around varying your schedule and where it came from.

Why you might be safer by not following the "common sense" here.

Book mentioned on the podcast: 

"Left of Bang" by Patrick Van Horne and Jason Riley

To read more about this podcast got to ModernSelfProtection.com/Changing-Schedules

Stay Safe, 

Ben Branam

Do the simple shit first.  Then worry about becoming John Wick.

Start with what you know you should do and the advertisements you see everywhere that you ignore.

• Lock your doors and windows at home all the time
• Lock your doors, take your keys, and hide your belongings in your car, all the time, every time.
• Go places in groups and with a friend
• Look up from your damned phone 
• Move with a purpose 
• "Don't do stupid things, with stupid people, in stupid places" -John Farnam
• "At stupid times" - Bob Mayne 

Stay Safe, 

Ben 

See the rest of the tips at ModernSelfProtection.com/Self-Defense-mechanisms

Life had changed in America, for the better. Somehow we were all Americans again and all the little things, I call them "1st world problems", were no longer a problem. People appreciated each other and wanted to help.

Check out the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

Not a surprise with what is going on in Texas and Covid, but their letter to people showed their true colors and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Broken Gun

I've been having more and more issues with my carry gun and think I figured it out. But how do you spot problems with your gun and what to do about it.

Heat Injuries

It's been hotter than crap lately and I was not doing well at the competition yesterday until another shooter noticed and gave me an extra bottle of water. I go and go until I fall out. Don't be like me, notice this stuff coming so someone else doesn't have to save you. 

Stay Safe, 

Ben 

ModernSelfProteciton.com 

Carrying every day is an art. It's one you have to work on all the time. And sometimes you can't always carry an optimal way.

When I worked for an armored car company I carried in an optimal way. And I carried two 1911's. One on my right thigh in a tactical rig before tactical rigs were popular. The other was in a pancake holster on my left side high just behind my hip.

Then there was a third gun no one knew about in my left back pocket. Everything was optimized for what I did for a living and did every day. My left side 1911 actually set further back behind my hip than you would think was optimal. But it fit perfectly there under my body armor because it sat just behind the piece that wrapped around my side. This way the gun didn't get caught by my body armor and pinch my skin or get caught on the draw.

It took me almost three years working on my setup to come up with my perfect carry methods. Then my company changed the policy and thigh rigs were no longer permitted. Then it changed again to say 1911's were no longer permitted.

Things always change, and you should be open to new things if they continue to let you carry a gun daily.

Last week I went to the square range and worked on my self-defense shooting with my friend from Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, John.

We shot his new Colt Python (if you want to hear about that you will have to become a Shooter's Club Member) and I worked with my self-defense gun.

Read the rest at Modern Self Protection.

While no plan survives the first contact, the best part of your plan is the objective. In the Marine Corps, we called it the Commander's Intent. You are going to do this so that this other thing can happen.

When you are the one making the plan, the first thing you need to know is what is the other thing that you want to happen.

I break my planning down to simple things, in this order:

• My Family's Survival, Wife and Child come first and foremost
• My Survival comes next
• My family not getting physically hurt
• Me not getting physically hurt
• I protect those other people that are in my charge
• I protect friends and family
• I protect kids
• I protect other adults
• I don't injure the bad guy if I don't have to
• I protect my stuff
• I seek justice

To see the rest of the notes, check out ModernselfProtection.com/haveaplan

See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

Two things to work on, improve, and practice situational awareness are to notice normal so you can see the abnormal, and ask why people are there at that point in time. What are they doing?

If you work on these two easy things you can move towards mastering your situational awareness and your self-defense.

Noticing normal lets you see when something else is missing or coming. Everywhere you go, there is a normal or baseline. Anything outside that rhythm should stand out to you if you are paying attention.

The one law enforcement always talks about is when it is 100 degrees out and someone walks in wearing a trench coat buttoned up. In the military, it was always looking at what the people are doing around you. If people are leaving quickly or don't show up like normal they probably know something that you don't in a foreign land.

A couple of Marines wrote an entire book about it called "Left of Bang". If you want to know more about noticing normal and then noticing when something is out of place, it is a great book.

The second is to ask "why is this person here?" At first, you will suck at it, but as you do it a bunch you will be able to figure out the stories behind people at the local stop and rob you are at to get gas and a drink. If you do it for a while, you will find that one person that is there to victimize someone. Hopefully, you will figure it out before they victimize you.

Bad guys come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. You have to figure out why that person is looking at you, why they are there, and what they are going to do. If you know this before that person acts, the encounter slows way down and you can buy the most valuable thing in a violent encounter, time.

When you answer that why question you get in front of the reaction curve and you can make that person react to you instead of you having to react to them.

Listen to the podcast to get more examples and motivation on how to be better at your situational awareness (SA).

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

That has been the closing of the Modern Self Protection Podcast for about eight years now. Everything you learn about self-defense should start with your mindset. Your mindset is the one skill that will enhance all the others.

You can break down your mindset into three easy thoughts.

1. It can happen to you
2. Sometimes violence is the answer / Use enough violence
3. Never give up, never give up NEVER GIVE UP!

To see the rest of the notes go to ModernSelfDefense.com

Stay Safe, 

Ben

What I've learned about the Sig P365 serious of guns:

The Good:

They are a great sized gun
Love the family of sizes
12 rounds in the XL makes a full grip even for my giant hands
Reloads go easy with the correct flare on the bottom the pistol
15 round mags that work with both grip sizes
Accuracy is amazing for such a little gun
Reliability on a clean gun has been 100% out of all the ones that have been through classes and the ones I've shot
The trigger is good
Aftermarket support is everywhere
The Cons:

When training with them they get really hot, right where you put your thumbs on a thumbs forward grip
The trigger is a long way from the frame and the shot breaks a long way from the frame (something it took my realizing before I could shoot the pistol well)
I would have liked a little longer barrel in the XL, 3.9-4" I think is the best there is, the Sig XL has a 3.7" which is just a hair short on the sight radius
It recoils up a little more than I would like it to. But that is mostly because of it's small size and weight
The Sig Romeo 0 Dot

The Good:

It sits as a dot sight should. Far enough down where they put a notch in the back that replaces the rear sight and you can still use the front sight. It puts the gun on the same plain when you draw it and helps with the learning curve and switching guns.
They seem to be holding up with everything I've seen. I haven't seen a broken one yet on the range or in a class
The Bad:

Seeing a reflection of the dot where it isn't sucks! I don't know if every dot does this, but I don't like it at all
The auto-brightness setting can screw you when shooting from a dark place to a bright place. A manual up/down would be great. I'd rather have a huge starburst from being too bright in low light than not being able to see it at all in the bright light.
It looks like it will break. I haven't seen one break yet, but it looks weak.
If you want one of these set ups, you should get one. It's a great gun and Dot. I'm always looking for perfect and still haven't found it. But I think this set up will be my next carry gun. Or I'm also looking at a Sig M17 with a Romeo 1 Pro on it. Hopefully I can shoot one of those too.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Thanks for Listening, don't forget to check out Shooter's Club and Lucky Gunner for ammo.

Stay Safe,

Ben

See the rest of the notes at ModernSelfProtection.com

Do you ever get shiny new gun syndrome?

I do. But is it good for you? When should you want a new gun. When should you get a new gun? Does it matter?

Yes, it matters. The more you stick with one gun, the more you will know that one gun and the better you will be with it. Keep trading guns and you will never know everything you can about the gun or be as good as you could be with it.

But is there a time to change that old gun for something else?

Yes, no, and maybe... I think when your old gun is no longer fitting how you fight, carry, or use the gun, then it is time for something new. If you have just worn out a gun, maybe you should just buy another of the same make and model and keep going.

Listen to the podcast and find out about the gun I'm thinking of getting a why? And why I don't like switching guns?

Stay Safe,

Ben

Should you have a manual safety on your concealed carry handgun?

The answer, like most things in our world is "it depends".

See the rest of the show notes at ModernSelfProtection.com

If you watch the news things are bleak at best. No matter what happens out there we are done is what the news says. I've decided to not watch the news. Because what do they know?

I've reached out to a bunch of my friends and they have reached out to me. You are not alone about some of the things you are thinking when you watch the news.

Have we passed the point of no return? I don't know... but it doesn't look good.

I've been asked what to do by a couple of people. The answer is simple but not easy.

First, you have to have your life, your relationships, your health, and your wealth shored up and ready to go.

Check out the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

Without hope, we won't do anything. You have to have hope for a better future. Admittedly, the future is tenuous at best. But it always has been.

For at least 100 years people have been worried about the United States collapsing. As long as we, the American People, don't turn on each other, America will live forever.

My worry is that we are turning on each other. And people are talking as if the next civil war is inedible. They are probably right, but I'd like to push that another 150 to 200 years before it happens.

We have to hope for the best, have a plan for that, and prepare for the worst and have a plan for that.

The best is what we have had in the last couple of years to a decade. Life has been good for Americans and the world. It has been nice.

But an old saying made famous by G. Michael Hopf in his book "Those Who Remain" says

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times."

It's a pretty wicked cycle. Somehow in our modern world, we have made some men strong and others weak. Now it seems like the weak men are leading the country creating hard times. Some men during the last couple of decades have been tested and made hard by battles.

Many of us fought the war on terror and like most of the last "wars" America fought we seem to be losing. I sight the "war on poverty," "the war on drugs" and the almost war on immigration. But the problem goes back to the Korean "War" that never was and has never ended.

Now some people think using the same "war" tactic in America to make policy the way they want it will work. Sure, why not?

Wars are bloody horrible things. We think it's something romantic and heroic. We, the American Colonies thought that when the Revolutionary war began. Then, we the American People thought that during the first couple battles of the Civil War. Now I see that again in people throughout our community.

I remember being a hero crying into a bear with other heroes and in those bad nights where sleep alludes me

Get the rest at Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst at ModernSelfProtection.com

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The top 4 self-defense techniques aren't some awesome kick, punch, or hold. The first three come in the form of your preparedness to defend yourself. The last one matches who your, what you are willing to practice, and what you can do for your self-defense.

We are all different with different lives. We will all face different attackers if we ever have to defend ourselves. Going back to the 80's movie "WarGames" quote by the computer at the end is "the only way to win is not to play."

This quote goes for self-defense as much as it does for global nuclear war. There is no way to truly win a self-defense situation. You will come away with something you don't want. You will lose something. If you fight and disable your attacker easily there will be a law enforcement inquiry and you will lose half a day's time just trying to answer questions (at the least). There may be a formal investigation and you might have to go to trial to justify your actions.

If you let the attacker win, you could lose everything up to and including your life. There is no "winning" a self-defense situation. You will lose something if you are truly defending yourself.

Here are the top 4 Self Defense Techniques:

1. Mind Set
2. Situational Awareness
3. Be a Hard Target
4. Fighting Skills

See all the notes at Modern Self Protection Top 4 Self Defense Techniques

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Christmas is here! Thank God 2020 is almost over...

Are you traveling for Christmas? Do you want to stay safe while you are doing so?

Crime is up across the country. People are pissed about the entire Covid lockdown thing and starting to take it out on each other. Law Enforcement is busy with riots and Covid calls. They are getting overwhelmed by changing policies daily on what they are suppose to do or not do. This makes them less motivated to do proactive police work. Proactive police work is one of the things that keeps the crime rate down.

If you are going to a big city I can guarantee crime is up this year over last year. And dirtbags have families they want to give things to just like you.

This podcast is all about tips to keep you safe while you travel. Included are:

• Hotel Safety
• Airport Safety
• Awareness
• Shopping Safety
• Vehicle Safety

Listen to the podcast to get some great tips on keeping you and your family safe during the holiday season.

To see full show notes go to ModernSelfProtection.com

Thanks for listening and staying with me.

Stay Safe, 

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:
I got a message from a listener asking about changing his carry gear for the season.
This question comes up every year and I don't think about it until about this time of year because it doesn't get cold in San Antonio until about now.
Last week we had our first real cold front and I had to change the way I dress.
Here are the things I think about when I'm changing my clothes for the season:
• Jacket Carry
• Smaller vs Bigger Gun
• Changing Holsters
• Changing Ammo
• Gloves
• Draw Change
• Where you wear your gun
• Everyone Looks like a Bag Guy

See the rest of the notes at ModernSelfProtection.com/314

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I went to the range on Black Friday with a friend just to shoot the bull and some steel. We went to Lonestar Handgun here in San Antonio where they have lots of steel out on the pistol line that we can just shoot at while talking.

I was worried that on Black Friday it would be a mess. Too many people in too small a place. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But there is always one…

Unfortunately, I think it was a member of the range staff and I could see his mistake coming even if he didn't. As range staff, instructors, and "firearms experts" we should be setting the example of how we want people to act on the range and how new shooters should act with a firearm.

For some reason he kept going back behind the counter and then walking to the line with a handgun pointed down, slide locked back, and filled magazine in his other hand. The first time he almost waited until he got into the booth before inserting the magazine and letting the slide go home to chamber a round. If I did that they would call it a safety violation and I'd expect to be at least talked to.

After the third or fourth time, he kept loading the magazine sooner and sooner while walking around the counter towards the firing line, he lifted the gun up in his workspace pointing the gun down the line of shooters, including me and my friend.

I tried to say something nice, but the sound of gunfire overwhelmed the words. And the fact that he was now looking back at the other range staff saying something.

A loud "hey, watch where you point that thing" came out before I could think of something more kind to say. He pointed the gun down range and that was the end of that. I'm always afraid I'll get blowback when I say something, but I guess I'm big enough looking that no one really wants to mess with me.

If you have been around guns at all in your life, try to be the example of how guns should be handled any time you have one. There is always someone watching.

Range Safety
Just a recap of some of the safety stuff to follow. We could all use a refresher from time to time.

Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
Always point the gun in the safest direction possible.
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
Know your target and what lies beyond.
Some of you will notice that I have been changing number 2. The original from Jeff Cooper, the father of modern pistol fighting, was "never point the gun at anything you don't intend to destroy." I don't like never's, but like always when I'm trying to teach my brain to do something. No, I'm not implying that I'm smarter than Cooper, just that on the shoulders of giants we can see further. I've studied his work for almost 20 years.

Those four safety rules apply everywhere, always. They don't change at the range, because you are an "expert" or an "advanced shooter" or any other BS reason I've heard. They always apply to everyone… always.

I use those safety rules at the range with friends, at high-speed low-drag spec ops schools I've been to, and in combat. They work.

Everything else is range etiquette. Some ranges will call them "range rules" or "safety rules" but they are just a way to respect other shooters.

Some of the simple basics should be:

• Only unbag or unholster your firearm when you are on the firing line and there is no one downrange.
• Never touch your firearm when there is someone downrange. You wait until everyone is back.
• Load firearms on the firing line only.
• Leave actions open when the gun is sitting on the table so everyone knows the condition of the firearm.
• Don't rush in or out.
• Make sure the muzzle of the firearm is always pointed down range even when bagging and unbagging the firearm.
• Stay in your lane. Unless someone is doing something incredibly stupid, leave them alone.
• Don't move guns from bay to bay unbagged.
• The only proper way to move a gun off the firing line is in a bag, box, or holster.
• If it is loaded it should be in your hand to shoot, or in a holster that protects the trigger from being accessed until removed. Long guns should have the safety on when not firing and should not be bagged with a round in the chamber.
I'm sure I forgot a couple, but if you stick to the safety rules and the above etiquete, people will appreciate going to the range with you a lot more.

Check out ModernSelfProtection.com/313 for more info

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Today:
This is my story of how I survived Covid-19. It was my mind set that kept me out of the hospital and allowed me to recover.
I used "affirmations" that included cursing at myself every hour on the hour for about four days. The four days that I probably should have gone the hospital. But even in my depressed mental state I knew that going to the hospital upped my chances of not surviving and having more problems with Covid.
I refused to let this kill me or send me to the hospital. And now I'm back to work and back to life. I'm about 95% right now and still recovering. I'm hoping another week and I'll be back to working out.

Announcements
• Upcoming Courses
o Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
o Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
o Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
o Free Video on the front page
o Discounts to courses and holsters
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o Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.
Stay Safe,
Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

After working at the gun shows on the weekend for the last 3 months I've found stupid again.

Most of the things I've forgotten about, on purpose I think. 

This show we talk about some of the stupid that is out there and the things that just won't die. 

Our Stupid List:

• Racist Government form 4473
• Lack of Courage to sign the form to get a gun
• Handgun stopping power
• Which gun is made for women
• Everyone needs the same gun I have
• I can pass a background but don't want to
• Shoot him in the knee
• Little lightweight revolvers for little ladies
• Reasonable gun control stops bad guys from getting guns
• I saw that gun at the store down the street for less
• Recoil
• Shooting in complete darkness
• I want a do-everything gun
• Found the advanced formula for the gun that does everything better

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the "great boogaloo" sort of…

We continued our conversation from two weeks ago.  We restarted our conversation with Kitting Up and fighting.  Frank starts with talking about decision making and one of my favorite tactics, patience. 

Do you really need to fight?  There may be a time when you can't avoid it, but should you fight right now?  Do you have to fight right now?

If you think you are going to fight, how ready are you for the fight?  What's your physical shape look like?  When is the last time you wore your kit around?  How long and how far can you move, stand, and fight under a combat load?

We also talk about what to stock up on right now.  Ammo and firearms are still at a premium and if you don't have a lot now is a hard time to get either.  What is in abundance right now that you can stock up on? Toilet paper?  Maybe… What is around your area that is cheap and in abundance.  Maybe that is what you should be looking for to put in your storage.

We try to answer the hardest question for you, at what point can you not avoid the fight?  Where is your line in the sand?  Figure it out now.

I'll be taking Frank's course in January.  Here is a link to the class.  If you want to just be on the range training with me, this is a good class to take.  If you want to get training from me check out my courses here.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the "great boogaloo" sort of…

We laugh about the term and the thought of an all out Civial War in the US. The country is just too big and diverse for another actual Civil War that has two sides squaring off and going at it.  If the fighting kicks off, it is going to be local.  You will be fighting amongst your families, friends, and neighbors.

Frank Sharp Jr and I talk about how bad that could be for the country and how a lot of people just don't understand what it is going to be like.  It isn't going to be go fight for a couple hours and then Netflix and chill for the rest of the night.  It is going to be bloody and horrible in the places that have fighting.

If the fighting kicks off, we could lose all sanitation, trash disposal, running water, and electricity in our country.  Most of the people talking about fighting don't have a plan for this.  These are the things that the movies don't show you.

Frank Sharp Jr and I come to the conclusion that most of the knowledge that people have about medicine, law enforcement, and fighting come from TV and movies.  And most of those shows are completely wrong. 

For those of you with training, you laugh at the fighting just like I do.  So don't get your knowledge from the movies when it comes to how war is going to be.  After being in combat I can tell you that Saving Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down are the only movies that even come close.  And only parts of those movies are correct.

Next week Frank and I will continue the discussion about kitting up and going to fight and why it isn't a good idea, and more importantly we hope that it doesn't happen. 

I'll be taking Frank's course in January.  Here is a link to the class.  If you want to just be on the range training with me, this is a good class to take.  If you want to get training from me check out my courses here.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

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Where were you when the planes hit on 9-11?  What did you feel that day?  How did those feelings change in the following weeks?

I want you to remember that feeling of unity in the following couple weeks.  How the country stood up together against one thing.  Nothing else mattered.  All the petty BS went away… even when the media tried to bring it back, we rejected it.

Everyone became patriotic overnight.  American flags were everywhere, and everyone smiled at them.

Remember that feeling today.  Remember how great it was when everyone stood together.

Try to spread that feeling and go talk to people.  If we all look for that one thing in common we can find that one thing that links us. 

No matter who you are and who that other person is, we all have more in common than not.  If we find that one thing we have in common with someone else, we can build bonds, make friends, and make the world a better place.

This also works for your self-defense.  Your friends are more likely to help you and stand with when bad times come.  You'll get involved and help friends, but strangers, or "those" people you might not.

Make friends, make yourself and your family safer, and make the world a better place.

What do you have to lose?  Go try it.

Stay Safe,

Ben

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Today:

Kyle Rittenhouse is a divisive figure in the world.  And will continue to be.

But what can we learn from the shooting?  Tactically, how did he do?  Legally, is there anything we could do better?

We need to analyze these incidents as learning tools so that you don't end up in the same spot.

You may think Kyle did a good job during the shooting, but he is still in jail right now.  And probably will be there for a long time.  The trial could take years and they probably aren't going to let him out on bail because of the politics around the shooting.

It looks like they will try him as an adult for murder.  He will be sweating his life and freedom for years.  He may end up like Jorge Zimmerman and will forever be on the run from people that want to kill him because of the incident.  And one of those people may succeed and get him in the end.

How can we avoid this?  Was it a good idea for him to kit up and go out?

More importantly, learn from him when you think about kitting up and going out.  I'm not saying you should, or should not go.  I'm saying that you should know all the risks involved and understand what could happen. 

We also go through both shootings and the tactics there.  How could have Kyle avoided both shootings all together?  Is there something he could have done better once the shooting started?

All questions to answer and know before you decide to go or not go.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting; Murderer, Victim, or Defender? 

Kit up and go fight? 

Look at it tactically and legally 

Tactics 

• Avoidance 
• Stupid places at stupid times with stupid people doing stupid things. 
• Awareness on point once the fighting started
• De-Escalation
• Escape

Timeline of  each choice 

• Decided to kit up and show up 
• Borrowed a rifle 
• Training he had 
• Equipment (beans, bullets, badges, bad guys, batteries) 
• Before the shootings 
• • Emotionally involved 
  • Yelling at someone that is yelling at you 
  • Pissing contest 
  • Arguing with stupid: don't argue with a stupid person, they will bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience. 
• Shooting incident 1 
• • separated from the group 
  • Running 
  • Things were thrown at him 
  • Shots fired can't see everything 
  • Phone call 
  • Running away 
• Shooting 2 
• • Running again with gear on 
  • Falling 
  • People on top of him 
  • • Field goal kicker 
    • Skateboard guy 
    • Shooter 
  • stopping power of 556 round 
  • Moving away 
  • Police interaction  
• Aftermath
• • The rifle is where? 
  • Go home 
  • Calls local police and turns himself in 
  • Talk with a lawyer?

Legally 

• Borrowing/loaning a rifle for self-defense 
• Possession and supplying a rifle to a minor 
• Being in a large group of armed men to protect property 
• Stand your ground 
• Murder vs homicide
• Murder 1, 2, and 3 and manslaughter  
• Shooting 1 
• • Not enough video to tell for sure 
  • Item threw at him 
  • The mob itself; ability, opportunity, jeopardy 
  • Innocent people don't run
  • Multiple incidents
• shooting 2
• • Self-defense unless he says something stupid 
  • Mob running after him this time yelling get his ass and other things 
  • Falls down disparity of force 
  • Kick to the head while on the ground 
  • Skateboard to the head 
  • Gun pointed from someone yelling get him 
• Disengaged for next event 
• Police interaction 
• • Need help
  • Maybe don't let them tell you no 
  • Rifle still visible 

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Thirty-Round AR Mags should be loaded at 28 rounds.

More and you risk your rifle malfunctioning.

But how can you tell if there are 28 rounds in there?  Are there more or less?

Here is an easy way to tell if you have loaded your 30-round AR Mags correctly.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Check out http://modernselfprotection.com for more great tips.

Click to Subscribe

Today:

A question from a listener on how he can protect his family when out and about and at home when he has two little girls.

Having multiple people you are in charge of protecting creates more problems than one or none.  How can you protect them?

We go into depth on what you can and should do before and during an attack to make sure you have the best chance of winning.  Winning, in this case, means saving your family.

How do you do that when you are out and about and how can you protect your family when you are at home and they can't protect themselves because they are too young or leave that to you?

My wife leaves most of that to me and doesn't want to learn more than the basics.  She is getting better and we talk about it on and off.

Talk to your family (age-appropriate) about bad people and what you do or are going to do to keep yourself and them safe.

Come up with some plans on how you will react and how you want them to react if something happens.  Worth through the plan if at all possible with them. 

Keep learning how you can protect your loved ones better.  But remember the best one to protect them from violence is not to have them there.  Work on your Avoidance, Awareness, and Escape and Evasion as much as you work on your fighting.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Listener Question –

"I'm not sure if you've talked about this before, I'd have to go back through my stitcher archives of your show, but I'm a family man with an 8 year old daughter and a 2 year old daughter that are usually out and about with me when I go out and I'm always worried about how to handle a self defense/active shooter/robbery type situation while the girls are with me. Keeping them safe is my only priority here, and so I've gone through the scenarios in my head but I just dont know what the best way to keep them on stuck to me after 'bang'. I know you're a father too so you've undoubtedly come up with plans to mitigate danger while ushering youngsters away. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that and ways to get through it, both out in public and in a home invasion scenario. By the way, thanks for the book recommendations a while back, I went on audible and got The Gift of Fear, and Left of Bang, both great books and a great deal of takeaways from both, thanks again man."

 The Books:

• The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
  • Must read to understand violence and fear
  • Don't read anything else he wrote… not worth it
  • Yes he is anti-gun even though is company employs lots of armed security guards and that is how he has made his fortune.
  • This book is worth the read and the research he did was amazing.
• Left of Bang
  • Notice normal and react before the actual attack
  • Figure it out and do it!

Protecting those you are in charge of

• Age matters
• Number of charges matters
• Their abilities matter
• Your abilities and weapons matter

Options:

• Avoidance
• Awareness
• Escape and Evade
• Code Words
• Age Appropriate Discussions

Fighting while out:

• Last Option
• Three real possibilities: You are attacked, you are around another person that is attacked, you are in a mass killing
• Tactical Patience if possible
• Put yourself between the bad guy and your charges
• Close the distance and destroy your enemy
• Speed, Shock Force, Violence of Action
• If only one person to defend you can move that person with one hand and fire with the other

While at Home:

• Before an Attack
  • Home layout dependent
  • How much work do you want to do or is possible to your house
  • Hardpoint a room or place
  • Have multiple plans
  • Think about gathering the family and hard pointing if possible
  • Have a code word to get to the hardpoint location and lockdown procedure
  • Weapons plan
• During an Attack
  • Either get everyone to the hardpoint and set an ambush or
  • Go locate, close with, and destroy the enemy in your home
    • Hardpoint is by far the best option if possible
    • Problems with "hunting" in your home
      • Getting ambushed
      • Someone getting behind you
      • Losing and pissing off your attackers
      • A raging gun battle in your home where your family is
      • Probability of hurting someone that shouldn't be hurt is very high
      • A small mistake in tactics could cost you everything, your life, your families' lives, and maybe something worse than death.
      • You could get unlucky and lose everything
      • Everyone misses the long angles

Use of Words on Purpose, Definitions:

• Destroy – Totally overtake someone or someplace with complete control normally through speed, shock force, and violence of action until the person or place is completely incapacitated
• Enemy – Anyone that is currently attacking your family or loved ones with the intention of hurting them, or the intent to hurt them if they don't comply
• Dirt Bag – Generally a person called a recidivist; something makes a living by committing crimes. May also be called a professional criminal
• Bad Guy – Someone that is currently trying to unlawfully kill or inflict great bodily harm on another person, or will if he or she's demands are not met and has the immediate ability and opportunity to kill or inflict great bodily harm.

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Mobs have been moving around as protests for months now.  The violence seems more and more eminent.  The chances of you getting stuck in one of these "protests" seems more and more likely.

What can you do if you find yourself in the middle of a protest with the protesters blocking traffic and starting to turn violent toward you?

This is an impossible dilemma.  It's like the Kobayashi Maru in Star Trek.  The situation is designed for you to have a no one option and see how you do.  This one could be the options of getting killed or spending the rest of your life in prison.  The more I look at what is going on the more I think it has been designed that way be people that are manipulating the crowds or the agitators in the crowds. 

You have to take responsibility for yourself and the only true way to win these situations is not to play.   Even if you do everything right and defend yourself you still will have law enfocement and the media to deal with for a long time.

Keep up with your avoidance and awareness and stay away from locations of protests that could turn into riots.  Don't get into a fight is the only way to ensure you will win.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Shout out to Karyn Brownlee running for Texas House District 115.  Check out her web site KarynBrownlee.com

Legal:

• Not a lawyer
• Get Legal Protection:
  • Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network
  • S. Law Shield
  • USCCA
• Review: Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy
• Crowds vs Individuals
• Reality:
  • People using vehicles against crowds are being arrested
  • Check out the McCloskey case in St. Louis
  • It's going to be painful and expensive if you use your vehicle to defend yourself
  • Just because you think it should be right doesn't mean it is legal
  • You are guilty until proven innocent
  • Fail Trial is a myth; the jury pool is tainted
  • 12 Licensed drivers that were not smart enough to get out of jury duty are going to decide your fate
  • There is no jury of your pears when it comes to self defense

Avoidance

• Don't be there
• Blend in and be patient
• Be Vigilant
• Agree with the crowd
• Avoid the fight at all costs except the your live or the lives of your loved ones
• Lock the doors and windows, don't open them

Tactics

• Use the vehicle to escape first and foremost
• Don't run over people but curbs, pushing cars, or going through bushes and open areas if at all possible
• Know your vehicle and what it is capable of
• Always leave yourself an out
• Bumping People
• Rubbing People
• Running over the crowd
• Crushing people
• Vehicle damage
• Individual Threats
  • Might have to go to the gun then your vehicle to escape
  • No Warning shots
  • No threatening with the gun, use it or hide it
• Vehicle Disabled and Threats
  • Everyone out the same door and side away from the crowd or where the crowd is smallest
  • Move, don't stay there, get away from the vehicle and the crowd
  • Don't let anyone stop you once violence has started
  • The crowd is deadly force
• Once you start to use violence:
  • Shock force, violence of action, and speed are your friends
  • Use as much violence as possible to scare off the rest of the crowd
  • You can't take the entire crowd no matter what you do, you have to bluff
• Call the police as soon as it is safe, not in the middle of the fight.

No win scenario is the tactics being used

"The only winning move is not to play." – Joshua, the computer from the movie Wargames

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Face masks are becoming part of our world. Good, bad, or indifferent it seems they are here to stay.

Should you wear one or not for your health? I have no idea. That isn't my area of expertise. I've read a lot about it, just like I hope you have over the last five months.

But should you wear one for your physical security? I do.
I'm always trying to blend into my surroundings. If you are in the local Walmart and you are the only person not wearing a mask, you stand out... a lot.

Lately violence is on the rise. People are frustrated, scared, and pissed off. That's one step from violence. Look at some of the videos out there where people have an argument that turns into a fight. You probably don't need that in your life.

I actively try to avoid stupid people that do stupid things like getting in a fight over a face mask. I just don't want to play.
If you are not wearing a mask for political reasons or health reasons, I suggest that you keep a good eye on the people around you. If you have to, leave.

If you can't wear a mask for health reasons and someone challenges you about it, tell them once why you aren't wearing a mask. If they don't hear you, don't believe you, or are just indignant, you need to leave immediately because the situation has the potential to get violent.

Be the "Grey Man" and blend into your surroundings. Fly under the radar and only surface when you are ready.

Stay Safe,
Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Last weekend I sold guns at the Big Town Gun Show just outside Dallas Texas.  I worked for my old boss at Sparks Firearms.  I worked at Sparks Firearms for about four years selling guns at gun shows and in the shop.  The shop has since closed and only sells guns at a gun shop and by appointment only.

It had a blast being around all the gun people for the weekend and making money selling guns.  I think it maybe one of the things I do best and I really enjoy it. 

In this podcast I'll share my experience of how the gun industry and gun market are looking right now.  As well as some of the research I've been doing lately about what is going on. 

I had some interesting observations on a social level too, like: Covid is annoying, and racism really does still exist, and what's scarring new gun buyers into buying. 

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

What I saw by working at a gun show last weekend:

• Lots of new gun buyers
• Lots of people
• Racism lives in small pieces even in the firearms industry
• Covid is annoying
• There are people that don't believe they can get sick from Covid
• Small amounts of guns in stock
• Prices are up 30-50% from last year on most guns
• Everything selling at or above MSRP
• Deals are on high end guns right now
• Ammo was there, for an inflated cost
• Accessories were slightly above MSRP
• You can get things, but you are going to pay for it… top dollar and some time to find it

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

I got a question from a listener named Scott about how to get the best out of a recent class he took.  Scott was concerned that most of the instructor's time was spent with newer students and that he didn't all he could of out of the class.  He wanted to know how to do it better.

This podcast is a bunch of tips for beginner to expert students on how you can get more out of your class budget.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Question from Scott 

Went to a pretty good training class over the weekend.  I noticed that the instructors focus most of their attention on the students that needed the most work. How do "better" shooters get the help they want in a class?

We always want to get the most 

• expensive 
• time-consuming 
• ammo 
• travel 

What you can do 

• be ready 
• • Sleep and travel 
  • read course description 
  • make a checklist of what to bring and bring extra everything 
  • know the area, map study and driving lost at a class in houston 
• open mind parachute 
• prepare to listen and not talk 
• objective to do something during the class 
• go out to dinner with other class members 

Specific advice 

• New Shooter / First Class 
• • go at your pace 
  • learn as much as you can 
  • dont worry that you arent learning everything 
  • be safe, go slow, enjoy being in the range with other shooters 
• middle of the class 
• • Try and push yourself for speed once you got the techniques 
  • most important part go slow and learn the techniques then work on speed
  • set an object of learning as many different techniques as you can, ones you don't know already 
  • meet people to hang out with and become friends with 
  • enjoy yourself, be safe 
• Advanced students 
• • be ready mentally for what course you are taking 
  • ask specific questions about the technique you are being taught
  • learn the techniques being taught even if you can shoot faster another way 
  • go slow and get the techniques perfect, especially when you see the instructor watching you specifically 
  • get in as many reps as possible at everything 
  • volunteer for everything 
  • no stories, and no helping unless specifically asked 
  • no reprimanding the instructor in front of his students for just about anything, be a pro do it one on one on the side 
  • get coaching from the instructor 

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Are you as prepared as you think you are?  Have you been tested?  Have you tested yourself?  Are you improving everything in your life?

We all like to think we are prepared for anything.  And if you have your mindset right, you can get through anything.  You are prepared.  But can you do it better?

The answer to everything in life is always yes.  You can do it better.

I use after actions on everything to do it better next time.  I have a simple formula that can help you.

Check out the podcast and see how you can do everything in life better.

This came up for me when I had to bug-out unexpectedly two weeks ago.  I thought I was prepared, but there are things I can improve.

I bet you are the same way.  Here is how you can be better.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Every time you do something do an after action review:

• What went well
• What needs practice
• What needs to be changed

Formal After Action:

• Go through step-by-step
• Do it as soon as you can
• Take input from everyone involved
• Write it down
• Change your plan
• Test again

Informal

• Write down notes to organize your thoughts
• Don't forget what went well
• Set yourself up for success next time

Takeaway:

• Do an after action review
• Set yourself up for success next time

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

How much do you practice your self-defense skills?  All of them?  Your handgun, rifle, knife, hand-to-hand, physical fitness, and avoidance all need practice, training, and work.

Where do you start?  How can you be good enough?  How much time should you make to practice your skills?  How much training should you get?

From my experience in 11-gun fights, you will never be as good as you want to be.  You will always wish you worked on something more.  You will never wish you worked on your skills less.

In this podcast, I created five categories of handgun self-defense skill sets.  Which one do you fall into?  Are you working to get to the next category?

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!

• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

• My Experience in 11 Gun Fights
• Set a standard for what you want to accomplish
  • How good do you want to be at: Shooting, knife fighting, hand-to-hand, physical fitness, and avoidance?
  • Not easy. I wish I could work on my self-defense as a full-time job
• Handgun Self-Defense Shooting
  • Novice:
    • No formal training
    • Can load and fire a gun
    • Can hit a target out to 5 or 7 yards with their self-defense firearm
    • Knows the law from TV and talking to friends
    • Goes to the range once a year or less
    • Handles the gun away from the range once a year or less
  • New Learner
    • Taken at least one formal course, could be military or law enforcement
    • Can draw and fire a gun from self-defense carry in the same manner consistently
    • Can clear a malfunction, but it's very slow and has to think about it
    • Can reload the gun without having to think about it and can do it consistently
    • Can hit a man-sized target out to 10 yards
    • Has some formal learning about the law, either a CHL class or military/law enforcement class, or self-defense firearms course
    • Goes to the range a couple times a year
    • Understands dry fire practice and does it a couple times a year
  • Fighter
    • Taken more than one formal class and tries to take one every other year or more
    • Can hit a target out to 25 yards
    • Draw and hit a target from self-defense carry in under 2.0 seconds at 5-7 yards
    • Can reload the gun under time pressure consistently around 3 seconds
    • Can clear malfunctions without a lot of thought
    • Can hit a man-sized target out past 25 yards and is learning his/her limits in distance
    • Can do headshots out to five yards consistently
    • Learning that fighting with a handgun is more than just shooting and is learning tactics
    • Continues to read and learn about the law. Knows that it is always changing.  Understands how the courts also make self-defense law
    • Tries to go to the range more than a couple of times a year
    • Dry Fires once or twice a month
  • Advanced Fighter
    • Going to multiple courses a year and has been doing it for years
    • Probably shoots competition
    • Goes to the range to practice with a plan
    • Try's to learn tactics for fighting as much as shooting
    • Can draw and hit in 1.5 seconds at 5-7 yards
    • Reloads are below 2.5 seconds
    • Clears malfunctions without thinking and can have discussions about types and why he/she clears it in that manner
    • Can hit targets out to around 50 yards and know his/her distances
    • Can make headshots every time at 7 yards
    • Is practicing movement and shooting
    • Seeks training and knowledge in the law
    • Dry Fires more than 2 times per month
    • Tries to go to the range once a month and take 2 classes a year, ends up with a class and 10 range session a year
  • Competitor
    • Drive to do everything better
    • 25 draw looking for 1.00 or better
    • Reloads in under 2.0 looking for 1.5 or less
    • Can shoot and move in multiple ways
    • Is measuring split times and trying to be faster
    • Shoots competitions
    • Uses techniques in shooting from multiple people/instructors and disciplines
    • Does training range sessions
    • Dry fires almost daily
    • Knows the law and can teach a lot of it… still studying and reading
    • Reads books about shooting and the law
    • Understands the difference between shooting a competition and self-defense, works on both and has gear for both
    • Takes classes from people that have different techniques and thoughts on self-defense
  • Break down of other categories
    • Knife Fighting
      • More than one formal class
      • Weekly practice
      • Weekly training
    • Hand-to-Hand
      • Formal classes
      • Weekly practice
      • Weekly training, always learning more techniques
    • Physical Fitness
      • Looking fit
      • Can run away from a fight
      • Have more than normal strength for your size by doing weights
      • Can move on foot with equipment for a couple of miles without getting tired or winded
    • Avoidance
      • Actively looking to stay away
      • Practicing de-escalation and understanding that "calm down" doesn't always work
      • Always looking for trouble to learn who and where to avoid
      • Plays the "what if" game and asks the questions, "why is that person here?"

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Jarrad Markel from Student of the Gun is my guest.  Jarrad is a great guy and has been working on Student of the Gun for almost 10 years, carrying a gun since he was legally able, was a professional MMA fighter for about 5 years, and started taking self-defense firearms courses when he was 16!

Jarrad has a unique place in the world since his father is Paul Markel.  Paul has been a trainer and in the firearms industry for almost 30 years.  Jarrad got to grow up learning and handing out with a lot of big names in the firearms and training community. 

Even with those advantages, it turns out he has a bucket of holsters like the rest of use.  But when it comes to holster selection, he has been using the same one for almost 10 years. 

Jarrad has his own business.  A consulting group where he helps other people get through the social media landscape and other things.  And we talk about how much both of us like social media right now.

I asked the obvious questions about what gun and holster he carries, how he is doing with the riots across the country, and why a professional fighter carries a gun.

Listen to the podcast to learn more.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!

• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Mater Mind Media and Consulting Group

• Mindset Transfer form Self Defense to Business
• Better to have the right mindset over skills… with the right mindset you can get the skills

Teaching New Students

Social Media Manipulation

Extra gear we all still have

What holster and gun does Jarrad carry and why

Current Rioting

• We've been here before in human history
• Noting is new under the sun

Why a professional MMA Fighter still carries a gun

Best tip from Jarrad about Self Defense: Mindset is the most important thing

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Mater Mind Media and Consulting Group
• Beam Hit
• Mantis X 10 Elite
• Student of the Gun
• Crossbreed Holsters
• Online Great Books
• Barbell Logic
• James Yeager
• 7 Training Tips that can Save Your Life

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Back to basics: Mindset. 

Mindset is the most important skill you can learn.  You need to learn to be positive and that you can and will survive… and even win if it comes down to it.

In a violent encounter, you need to have your mind in the right place to win.  In fact, it starts before you get into any encounter.  What is your mindset?  Are you in it to win it?  Are you there to survive?  Or do you mind avoiding the fight altogether?

If possible, have the mindset to avoid the fight.  It is the only fight you can't lose.  Once in a physical altercation, anything could happen.  Even people with no skill or training get lucky sometimes and when.  You don't want to depend on luck for your self-defense. 

If you can't avoid the fight, you have to have the mindset that you are going to win and get back to your family.

Winners go home, survivors go to the hospital, losers go to the morgue.  Which do you want to be?

And you have to win all three aspects of the fight:  The violent encounter itself, the phycological battle of what you did or didn't do, and the criminal "justice" system.  None of these are easy, but you need to be ready by getting your mindset right first.

You are going to win the violent encounter because you know what your mission is and why you are fighting.  You are going to win the phycological battle because you have already thought about what you will and will not do or allow done to you and your family.  You know your lines in the sand.  And you are studying the legalities and politics of the use of force in your area so you can stay within the law.

Get your mind right and you can win any battle.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it's where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!

• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

"I'm a Survivor" is BS.  Don't just survive… win.

"Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6." 

Yes, but why does it have to be either-or… how about we win the fight legally and avoid being tried by 12 and carried by 6.  Just a thought.

Change your mindset in your life from either or, to both, or find another way.

Basic Mindset Talk:

1. It can happen to you
2. Use enough force
3. Never Give Up. Never Give Up.  Never Give Up!

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out