The Tactical Life

Off Topic Guns & Shooting Sports
3115

I will add - though I think you covered this in your clarification, but I think it’s necessary to further clarify for anyone reading this and considering buying a gun, especially a handgun - guns are not difficult to figure out or point at someone, but they are very easy to make a mistake with. I had years of professional training (aka a stint in Marine Corps infantry/FAST platoon), and I saw people who had received a LOT of training in a VERY controlled environment make a lot of stupid fucking mistakes. I also saw a fellow corrections officer trainee, in the CO academy in VA, turn to ask a question and flag the entire line with a Glock 23 .40 (I hate compacts, by the way) and graduate with flying colors a week later. I ALSO saw civilian police at our range in Chesapeake hit the ground with one of their shots on the 7 yard line. Point being, nobody trains you when you buy a gun, and even if you ARE trained, you can still fuck up. So DO YOUR HOMEWORK regarding safety. Again, I know you weren’t saying to not do research TJS, I just mean, we have people who drank fish tank cleaner to cure themselves of coronavirus, so we may have to spell things out for people sometimes.

P.S., just a musing on safety - I know that ‘treat every weapon as if it were loaded’ is the first safety rule, and the others (never point/finger straight/weapon on safe) are actually already covered by rule one, but my favorite safety rule, and the one that applies most in and around our homes, is Know Your Target and What Lies Beyond It. You can follow the 4 safety rules to a T, and intend to shoot a guy, with full metal jacket ammo you bought, while he’s standing in front of a child. Safety rule #5 is the only one that covers that.

3116

I agree, and you won’t find a bigger advocate for training than me.

It is simply a luxury people are choosing to do without, or so it seems.

3117

You think this is bad? In Australia they’ve barred people from getting gun licenses… Full stop!

I’m all for freedom of choice so long as the person aquiring said firearm is mentally sound. Background checks, having a doctor sign off that you’re fit and proper… Mandating a gun safe and having routine police inspections of said safe should be more than enough.

Banning people from acquiring a gun license, banning the purchase of firearms and ammunition seems like overkill

There might be an exception for farmers though (and security personnel)

3118

While I’m musing on this subject, I’ll also add that I’m glad not many people know I’m into guns. It’s not something I’ve ever commented on publicly, at least not extensively. I’ve never posted any public pictures of firearms or anything like that. It’s just not what I wanted to put on my social media.

Even so, some people DO know that I own guns, and one of my ex-girlfriends has already insinuated that her security plan is for her and her new boyfriend to come find me. They live about a 10 minute walk away. It could have been a flippant comment and I treated it like a friendly joke, but the fact of the matter is that they are most likely helpless.

In short, there’s little value in telling others that you are armed unless you have a good reason to let them know.

To shift gears a little bit, CHECK ON YOUR PEOPLE, EVEN THE PEOPLE YOU HAVEN’T CHECKED UP ON IN A WHILE

Maine has been hit particularly hard by the shutdown because of our large service and tourism-based economic sectors. A ton of people I know have had their incomes wiped out and the check’s aren’t coming in from any government source just yet.

One of my older friends (a gal in her late 50’s) was out of cash, food, gas and any way to obtain any of it for a few days. Me and two of my ex-GF’s plus my BJJ instructor slapped together some food and I ran it out to her. Things like potatoes, milk, rice, peanut butter, bread, meat, eggs, flour, sugar and other basic foodstuffs are in need. Right now. In the USA.

I had to bug the shit out of her to find this information. CHECK IN ON YOUR PEOPLE.

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3119

This is amazing man… I commend you for you’re kindness. Many are only out for themselves, esp in times of crisis such as this. It’s rather refreshing to see people still looking out for one another.

3120

This is not amazing, nor should it require internet high-fives, likes or acknowledgement of any kind.

This should be baseline behavior in my opinion. There’s nothing amazing about supplying a friend with a few day’s worth of food when they need it, you can do it and it only takes a couple hours to make it happen. I’m posting about it here because this is where I dump thoughts, but not on my public social media. We need to do this kind of thing in dignified silence and ask nothing in return.

I could definitely do more, but I’m still holding on to some of my cards. Who know’s what’s coming?

Overall most of my friends and family seem to be coping well. I’ve not checked in on all of them, but I am trying to check in on the people who are most vulnerable, both from the virus and the economic fallout. There’s a lot to be concerned about in my community right now.

1 Like
3121

There are still the kids and adults sneaking out to go see friends/party. You’ve got people hoarding supplies, trying to resell them… People fighting over wine/toilet paper and more.

I adknowledge a good deed when I see one, just as I’ll showcase disapproval when I see selfish, short sighted behaviour.

Yes, it should be… But unfortunately we have a lot of selfish, arrogant people amongst us.

Many currently appear too caught up with themselves and their immediate family (their own health/wellbeing) to even think about checking in on others, let alone supplying people in need.

These events tend to simultaneously bring out both the worst and best aspects of humanity. In times of crisis, we are best off banding together as a community, helping those in need.

Edit: this was slightly uncalled for…

There’s nothing inherently wrong with me liking you’re post

3122

I hear you buddy. There can be lot of bad behavior in the world, just as there can be a lot of bad behavior in most of us.

It doesn’t have to be that way though, and I believe we’re going to see a lot of priorities shift across the entire spectrum of civilization.

You’re a young man living through history. I suppose I still am too. We will all have opportunities to make a difference.

I appreciate your compliment, and stay aware. Stay Tactical!

3123

Hello gents. Been a while. Life, and one family death, has happened so I’ve not even looked here for a while…I pray all of ya all are well.
Anyways,

Ammo is, I hear, running low in many US areas.
Now I recall one huge reason I bought a reloading press and a buttload of supplies for it last year.
Am grateful to have IMO enough loaded ammo on hand.
Saw a survey on another forum yesterday asking how many rounds you consider “enough” per caliber to have on hand. The choices were 250, 500, and 1000 I think. Majority response was 1,000. I concur.

What do u guys think on that one?

3124

Agree, totally, and my profession is primarily weapons training, but, and there is so many buts for this. I totally agree that military and law enforcement need twice the amount of firearms training than they receive now. I could go into horror stories where the USG has sent me somewhere to help train, arrive on location and have 60 to 75 students. They is no way in hell you can teach that many people advanced techniques. In the civilian market, states that require you to have a “safety” course are usually only between 8 and 16 hours and they also charge you for it.

IMHO, I agree with the “safety course” for first time people obtaining a license, but, within one year of issue, they would have least have 40 hours of instruction, which, opens up another can of problems. What if you cannot afford the instruction? No easy answers.

This statement will probably get me stoned to death: all senior high school students have to go through a mandated handgun training course before they graduate, so, when they turn 21 or 31 and want to buy a handgun, they would not be totally stupid.

3126

I agree, unless you are in uniform, never let anyone know you are armed.

This crisis has pointed this out rather brutally for a lot of people.

Damn, straight and I hope people here follow up on your advice.

3127

Good to hear from you and my sincere condolences on your loss. Best of health to you and your family.

5, 000 rounds of ball for the major calibers, 1 thousand rounds of “critical defense loads”. Seems excessive, I know, but, based on the number of rounds it takes to run a CQB class, 5 thousand doesn’t seem a lot. Ammo is expensive for most of us, but, if you split it up over a 6 month period, you can reach 5 thousand without killing your budget.

Wise man, but, I will be honest with you. I have the basics, hand press, scales, powder, bullets, primers, etc., but, I swear, I must have a mental defect, I just don’t have the patience to do it.

Some more information:

3128

Thought for the day::

loyalty

A follow up from yesterday. If anyone out there is thinking about buying their first firearm, there is some really good information here. The only problem is wading through the numerous advertisements .

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/GunPrimer_Athlon_Outdoors_free_download_low_res.pdf

3129

Thought for the day:

"When the day arrives, you won’t have time or the opportunity to get ready. You either are or you aren’t"

According to published research ( JAMA Surgery , October 2017), the average response time in the US from the time of a 911 call to arrival of EMS on scene was seven minutes. This increased to more than 14 minutes in rural settings. A person can bleed out from a severed femoral artery in less than five minutes. You do the math.

In an active shooter or terrorist incident, emergency personnel won’t reach victims until the threat has been neutralized. During the Paris attacks in November 2015, it was over 160 minutes from the time the terrorists fired the first shots in the Bataclan theater until the first responders were able to reach those inside the venue.

The simple fact is that you’re your own first responder. A trauma kit containing at least a tourniquet and hemostatic agent needs to be part of your everyday carry.

Training:

loaded carries with water containers, pushups, band work, traditional archery and slingshot practice.

Question of the day:

Are you building practical medical knowledge during this crisis? I am trying to teach myself how to sew on a machine, who knows, may need to make masks or even clothes. A seamstress, I am definitely not.

Tourniquet Buyer's Guide | RECOIL

3130

Thought for the day:

warrior

The doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery clerks, truck drivers, on line teachers, parents taking care of family, (everyone) all standing between the enemy and what they hold sacred .

Adversity is a great teacher…

The key is to stop and take stock of all of the lessons learned. …

This global situation has taught us many lessons, for some of you the truth isn’t pretty. …

You’ve got the time, start noting down what you’ve learnt, what needs to be worked on and then a plan on how you’re going to start fixing them. …

Stay strong. .

Don’t fall victim to selfish and self centered behavior. Community and unity is key. .

Training: heavy rain yesterday, so, worked the heavy bag and band and kata work.

Question of the day:

You’ve got the time, start noting down what you’ve learnt, what needs to be worked on and then a plan on how you’re going to start fixing them. …*

What changes are you going to make , when this over, to your life? I am not taking about relationships or spiritual needs. I am asking what steps are you taking to provide practical survival?

Stock a months supply of food?
learn more outdoor skills?
learn to use a firearms?
Try to stabilize and become financially sound as possible?
Teach you kids how to fish and hunt?
Start training for a second occupation?

These are just random examples. I am currently reviewing and thinking about my own list. Share your list with others here, we all need improvement and the best examples are the ones you provide.

3131

I’ve always grown some fruit and vegetables as a luxury hobby but now I’ve decided I’m dividing up my garden into a working half and an aesthetic side. The intention is to grow enough fruit and veg for my family for the year. Who knows how this thing will pan out.

3132

Grow chard. Stuff grows like a weed, and when you cut it above the base to harvest, it grows back quickly. It’ll also grow and be harvestable into early winter.

The Summer Of Chard is legend in my family from when we had homegtown chard EVERY SINGLE NIGHT one long summer growing up haha.

2 Likes
3133

Haha the year of chard. I rotate my crops and my brassicas stocks the moment are cauliflower and cabbage. Chard is definitely on the cards. I love your dedication man

3134

How much? Like a 2 sq. ft. patch, 3,etc? I ask because tomatoes can just yield like crazy sometimes and end up with too many. Even including gifts to neighbors.

Edit: Jarring and canning is one of those old skills that has faded, but that seems like it would be real handy if we enter a time of serious difficulty and scarcity. Hand in hand with gardening.

3135

It was probly 5-10sf, and it continuously produced enough chard to serve to a family of 4 every freaking night from may till November. The key is how quickly it grows back after each time you harvest

We used to can our peaches and apricots during their harvest and have them thtought the winter. My favorite fruit tree was our orange tree though. It was old AF (from the early 1900s), a big producer, and I have yet to eat another orange with the same flavor.