SIRT Pistol for Training

Caleb has a post up on the SIRT pistol, a dedicated dry-fire handgun that shoots a laser out the barrel whenever the gun is "fired."

While this seems like a good way to train, I'd be afraid that it would make me look for the laser and not call my shots - see the sights, take the shot, and move on knowing that I'd hit the target.

I dry-fire with a trigger kit from Southwest Shooting Authority. The kit replaces the trigger for your Glock, and automatically resets. Print out some 1/3 scale targets (available here), post them on your basement/garage wall, and dry-fire away.

Reloading Shotgun for 3-Gun Competition

Here's a good video from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit on speedloading your shotty for 3-gun. Looks like a good gig if you can get it.



Here's another good video with a breakdown of the shooter's technique.



Permalinked for future reference.

Only Bacon Could Improve This

Proficient firearm handling, high quality video, and Johnny Cash for a soundtrack. Only the addition of bacon could make it better. H/T ENDO

Northern Virginia IDPA and USPSA Matches

Here is an updated list of Northern Virginia area IDPA and USPSA matches:

First Wednesday of the Month
Silver Eagle Group, 703-723-5173
44620 Guilford Dr
Ashburn, VA
Juan La Luz; Home: 703-850-6688; Work: 703-723-5173; Fax: 703-723-4979

First Sunday of the Month (March through November)
Fredericksburg Practical Shooters
Behind soccer fields
http://www.fredericksburgps.com/

Second Wednesday of the Month
Blue Ridge Arsenal
14725-K Flint Lee Road
Chantilly, VA
703-818-0230; blueridgearsenal@aol.com
Malcolm Blundell; malcom.blundell@verizon.net

The Range
IDPA @ 6PM OR 7PM> SIGN-UP IN ADVANCE THE SUNDAY BEFORE BY PHONE
62 Potomac Creek Drive
Fredericksburg, Va. 22405> Phone (540) 720-5922
http://www.indoorrange.com/events.html

Second Saturday of the Month, 9:00 am
Black Creek IDPA, $20
4292 Range Rd
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
http://bcidpa.wordpress.com/

Third Saturday of the Month, 8:30 am
Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club IDPA
1570 Old Lynchburg Road
Charlottesville, VA
David White; Home: 434-985-8299
Meg Rogers; Home: 540-672-1033; Work: 540-785-7860
http://www.rrpc.org/idpa.php

Third Sunday of the Month, March through November
St. Charles Sportsmans Club
Andrew White, Severna Park, MD 21146
Home: (410) 544-0408, Work: (301) 877-8884, Fax: (301) 877-0914, andrew_f_white@yahoo.com

Third Sunday of the Month, March through November
North Mountain Practical Shooters
Located at the Shenandoah range at Lebanon Church (near Winchester)
Alan Meek; area8ad@gmail.com

Fourth Wednesday of the Month
The Range
IDPA @ 6PM OR 7PM> SIGN-UP IN ADVANCE THE SUNDAY BEFORE BY PHONE
62 Potomac Creek Drive
Fredericksburg, Va. 22405> Phone (540) 720-5922
http://www.indoorrange.com/events.html

Fourth Sunday of the Month, 9:00 am
Cavalier Rifle and Pistol Club
Montpelier, VA (see map on website)
Andy Sweeney; Mobile: 308-909-6581
Thornton White, Jr.; Mobile: 804-305-7778
http://cavrpc.org/index.htm

Last Saturday of the Month, 9:00 am
Black Creek 3-Gun, $15
4292 Range Rd
Mechanicsville, VA
804-781-0267
http://dominionshootingrange.com/bc3g/

I am adding this to the side of the blog in a permalink.

If anyone has any to add to this or corrections on contact information, email me.

Lead Dispenser

A stakeout in New Jersey turned into a two-way live fire reenactment of the bank robbery scene from Heat. One of the now-deceased badguys used a Mossberg pump shotgun to wound several officers, a couple severely. The Jersey City police chief has some *insightful* commentary:

"We need help to stop these weapons from hitting the street," said Police Chief
Thomas Comey. "This weapon is manufactured for nothing other than to hunt man."

Come on, now. This is the darling of gun controllers everywhere. After all, if you have a pump shotgun, the sine qua non of self-defense firearms according to self-identified gun haters who don't know anything about guns and don't care to learn, you don't need that evil handgun.

This was an argument advanced by the District of Columbia in the Heller case, and one rightly rejected because you can do one critical thing with a handgun that you can't with a shotgun - hold a home invader at gunpoint with one hand and dial 911 with the other.

David Codrea has some related commentary here. Along with a photo of a Mossberg pump shotgun equipped with an ACOG scope meant for engagements beyond 200 meters. Not a setup I use or endorse, but it looks really cool.

The bottom line is that with the right training, any firearm can be an effective tool. Even one with a manually operated action. A lead dispenser is a lead dispenser is a lead dispenser. Allow me to illustrate.

Here's video of Xe's shotgun course and some dude slinging a pump like nobody's business:



Army Marksmanship Unit shooters demonstrating speed reloads:



Practice makes perfect, as the titular competition shooter demonstrates. If you compete in cowboy action shooting, you take a stage name. I present the aptly-named "Lead Dispenser."

Reloads



Shooting a Stage



Playing Music With Steel