Motivational Monday:
Thought for the day (4) : Agree or disagree?
Makes sense, I think. Skill is the result of good reps. Good reps are the result of relaxation. Relaxation is the result of taking anxiety out of practice. I still think you need stressful practice, but I think it’s built on a foundation of 1000’s of low stress “perfect” reps. If all of your training time is in a perceived high stress “testing” environment or feeling anxious about looking cool your reps will suck and so your skills will suck. Of course, I may be talking out my ass.
Thought for the day: Some animals just need to die. This story really bothers me and brings back images of the elderly: beaten, raped, and murdered. The animals that commit crimes against the elderly, who rape, torture and murder children, need to die a slow death. I don’t care what anyone says, evil exits and the only way to fight it, is to kill it.
If you have parents, especially elderly parents, its time for you to “man up” and do a full perimeter security assessment, a full situational awareness brief, and especially discuss incidents like the one posted.
“You can’t even have a home or property without someone coming in and destroying it or setting it on fire or killing you,” neighbor Joyce Humphreys said.
_Tuesday Tactics:* I have vision but can I see?
From my experience, I have found the ability for Troops/LEO’s/ Civilians/ to actually see your environment is a dying art. I say that because, a good measure of my time (when conducting training) is asking how in the hell did you miss that man standing in the corner? Or how did you miss checking that corner? Or how did you not see that trip wire across the doorway? We can carry every electronic gadget ever made on our weapons and if we miss SEEING the target, what the hell is the use?
Another view:
One of the biggest problems that I encounter with both experienced and non-experienced students in CQB is that they move into rooms with their eyes buried into optics or slightly above. To my observations this is one of the most consistent errors I see even in the professional circles, and I believe that its source is due to inexperienced instructors receiving implicit knowledge from movies or from a dude who heard from a dude – reticle + target = success. Not always.
´ll state the obvious: The average distance for CQB engagement is below 10 meters and commonly ends up at the 3 meters away from a threat. With that being said, things happen quick & up close which commonly results in two major factors that have a huge effect on the human performance in CQB and that should be considered: Lack of time and visual field of view, since we need that critical data and target discrimination.
Viewing the world through a toilet paper roll will result not only in missing vital visual information’s such as that extra door behind a closet, or an innocent looking Tango holding a folding knife – but it normally results in accidents such as the wingman shooting the shoulder or elbows of the pointman since he could not get that visual data under acute stress response in pistols its even more fragile and reckless.
From experience with military / police, commonly the wingman or the guy in the back will experience a target fixation and will flag the shit out of his partner head or body from the depth (aka from behind) to sight fixation effect. In addition to that, tripping over obstacles that are quite low and won’t be visible if you will be a reality when you reduce your field of view into a toilet paper.
Thought for the day (3):
@Batman730,
The Tikka T3X Artic. Have you seen one of these yet? They are going to be or already in the process of being issued to your Canadian Rangers. BTW, I had to research the history of your Rangers. Damn, I really like the looks of that job: isolated, no people, no nothing and a decent rifle.
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Love tbe look of that rifle, never seen one though. The government finally decided to upgrade the Lee Enfield’s they had been issuing.
Looks like a decent gig. Can’t really earn a living at it (I think they get paid for like 12 training days a year, get the rifle and some other kit and get paid for specific tasking, which I expect are few and far between).
If I were young and single I think I would definitely go after a Northern post with the outfit I’m in. Tough with a family though and definitely not much rock and roll policing wise. Amazing experience though.
Idaho, Advice is a dicey propositionat best, but I’m asking anyway. I have been busting my ass for about a year now trying to get into our dog section. That means I’ve likely got at least 5-7 more years to go, best case. I’m good with that.
I also have an interest in doing gangs and guns on the Fed side of the house. Many believe that Fed policing is our future as an agency and our days humping PC’s to frontline calls are numbered.
I love being out of the office, in the truck with a dog hunting guys down and dealing with a minimal amount of paper. I also love working sources, kicking doors and taking drugs and guns from people who shouldon’t have them. I’m fortunate to have some aptitude for both, But a day is coming when I will need to choose. It’s unlikely that I have the years left to do both. Either way I want to take a kick at tactical somewhere along the way.
In the end, It’s on me but I’d appreciate your thoughts as someone who has been there, done that a little more than I have. Quitting this nonsense and becoming firefighter isn’t on the table at this time. Feel free to abstain, but your input would be welcome. Cheers.
I want one but they aren’t cheap.
That’s how I was trained back in Basic/AIT (technically OSUT).
I remember getting yelled at because I would be pointing my weapon where I was looking but it was obvious I wasn’t looking through or above the sights. I kept thinking how there is a wall, 10-15 feet on front of me. I can see almost the entire wall in one glance. Looking through or above my sights I could see a small part of the wall. It just didn’t feel right. It was like the difference between moving your (narrow) field of vision to the bad guy vs moving your weapon to the bad guy who you have already seen with a wider field of vision. But what the hell did I know.
Later, at my duty station, there were guys returning from Iraq who had learned from SF they supported on missions. It was a different approach.
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Yep. I think they go for around 2800 up here. Little rich for my blood. Beautiful though. Definitelyon my covert list. I’m thinking a Savage or Ruger Scout might need to fill that niche for me for the time being…
I’d like to get my filthy mitts on one as well. It has a few features I think I would prefer over the “scout rifle concept,” don’t know for sure as I’ve never shot an official scout rifle. According to the article it’s replacing the .303 Enfield, which was my hunting rifle for years.
I have a lot of experience working narcotics, so, I will advise you the best I can. If you mean “working sources” , I am assuming you mean working investigations/ undercover with confidential informants. Don’t go down this route unless you are willing to commit 24/7. CI’s are not good people or they would not be CI’s. Most are junkies, busted drug dealers working off charges, arms traffickers, revenge seekers, whatever. Its takes a lot of mental energy just to keep them in line, because, they are always looking for an angle. They will screw you over at the first sign of weakness and they will do they best to “run” the investigation the way they want to.
During my time, I had exactly two “professional informants”, those rare creatures who work only for money and I am talking big money, half a million and up. The chances of you working the street and getting in with one of these is like being hit by a meteor.
( I am not talking about Afghanistan. Here you just pay off the local warlord who will in turn give up his rival).
Serious narcotics work, is absolute hell on your family life, since, you are on call 24/7, in case one of those CI’s stumble on something worthwhile. If one of your sources calls you at 0200, then you have to go and you may not come home for a week. I once was on the range shooting, got a call, which lead to multiple search warrants in three states. I was gone 6 days, sleeping in vehicles and hotel lobbies. That is not the kind of life your family signed up for. Single , ok. Married? takes a special partner to put up with that lifestyle.
First, I am not a “dog person” especially K-9, which takes a special personality because , that dog is a “second marriage” and will be with you constantly. But that’s due to my quirky personality of being a severe loner. However, I been on many entries with dogs and their help is invaluable.
If you can get assigned to K-9, with basic tactical training, then I think that is the best of both worlds. You get to train the dog, train with the entry tream, be available for both drug and felony calls, hostage calls, etc., but, be spared a lot of the repetitive training that causes all the little nagging injuries I have today. Besides, you would surprised how many times I have heard, “hey, lets send the dog in first”.)).
My advise, for longevity in your career and keeping your sanity and home life together, go SWAT dog.
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You knew more than your trainers, that’s for sure. I certainly don’t want this to sound like I am some kind of super cyborg or Jedi master, but, I done this enough that from “room distance” or as you said 15 to 10 feet, I usually don’t even use the sights in the strictest manner, as weird as it sounds, I just “look the bullet” in. I am aware of the sights, but, not really looking at them, because, in reality there really isn’t time. See bad guy, bad guy armed, shoot bad guy.
Hostage situation in room, bad guy with child in his arms, holding a detonator in hand, etc. yeah, better take a precision shot. But, you have to see everything and if you cannot do that,( or at least I cannot) then you cannot be looking through those sights. IMHO.
Ever looked at the Springfield Scout Rifle? too expensive for me, but, I would like to have one, but, I really like the looks of that Tikka. I need to find a rich woman who might take me in.))
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@idaho the Tikka is beautiful and even though a little expensive I say these are good investments so splurge a little 
Until you posted I’ve never heard of it so I looked it up and was surprised it was by Beretta!! The weight is better then I thought but it looks like it has a decent kick to it… at least a good recoil pad which isn’t always the case. I couldn’t find many shooting videos of it. I would like to see more.
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Thank you for stopping in, always good to have your view. Here is a good break down of the rifle. The recoil pad is really interesting because it can be adjusted with different inserts. I really like this rifle but I haven’t shot one, so it is just dreaming eye candy now. I think one of the reasons I like it so much, is it has a very traditional look, it “looks” like a rifle should look, if that makes any sense. Modern weapons from LWRC to Colt, from Daniel Defense to Springfield, all look the same across the room. Be nice to have a “traditional” rifle:)))
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@idaho absolutely, I’m all about this kinda thing and I love to learn!
I didn’t know the pad could be adjusted too I just thought it was the grip. That’s pretty sweet! I am with you on the traditional look and that’s what caught my eye in the picture. I appreciate the link and information
I’ve never owned or fired a Springfield Scout. I owned a James River Armory M-14 clone and it was a beautiful rifle, very accurate and a little heavy, made of a forged receiver and barrel and all USGI parts. I’m sure it’s one that I will regret selling one day, but I didn’t have the money to shoot it really often. When you’ve got 20 round mags to bang steel with, you want to shoot 20 round mags. I don’t mean to shit on Springfield, but their receivers are cast and their parts are all machined, and welded, whereas the original USGI op-rod was forged. Original USGI parts are getting very expensive and hard to find.
I would check out their paratrooper, it has a 19.25" barrel, which is an odd number, but that is long enough to fit a bayonet (just because).
I’d probably still be happy with my old Lee-Enfield, but the cheap foreign surplus ammo has dried up, and my eyes are getting older, and will soon need optics full time.
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Totally agree. Black rifles pretty much all look the same. Fun to shoot, but no real art to them in terms of looks or feel. They’re all function, no form, just a tool.
The idea of a beautiful rifle that you could use to harvest a deer, shoot at the range or in a pinch hold down the fort has an undeniable appeal. I like the idea of lever guns for the same reason. And, because westerns.
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