To mount or not to mount that light or laser.

Another topic of heated debate. To add a firearm mounted light and also to an extent laser aim assist devices. But before we get started I will give you some of the pros and cons and then just like everyone else out there, *TRIGGER WARNING* I will be giving my opinion.

Lets start with the laser, they come in a variety of colors and sizes. price and quality to match any budget. Three most common colors are red, green and blue. red does well in low light and indoors but is at a disadvantage in bright sunlight. Green lasers are easier seen during bright sunlight but are more expensive than red. Blue, I must admit is fairly new to the market and I have yet to test the limits of the blue laser.

The pistol mounted laser, has honestly become a phenomenon. The idea that one would not "need" to concentrate on making sure they are on target during a confrontation, would be a huge advantage. The assistance in target acquisition has been proven to a degree of certainty. But only at a certain a distance. If one decides on a specific zero of 25 feet anything before or after that distance will be off. Depending on the actual distance, one could truly miss their target. Where the slogan is, "aim small, miss small." This just won't do. On a psychological level, does the shooter become more dependent on the laser for aiming at their target? Training to include shooting at distances other than the zeroed distance or utilizing the sights that are on the gun are a must.

Personally, I do not utilize a laser on any of my firearms. In my opinion, the use of a laser is a moot point. I have decent eye sight and train with my EDC quite often. There are good reasons for people to use them. I am not one. If the decision is right for you please be advised, effectiveness in using a laser does take additional training. Knowing the limitations of the laser and how to overcome them will be beneficial. The laser is not the end all, be all. To this point I have yet to find an enhancement in target acquisition that did not need active training to use them effectively.

This next section refers to PISTOL MOUNTED FLASHLIGHTS. Discussion of rifles and shotguns will be done at a later date.

Flashlights, another great tool in your EDC bag. Whether you carry it on your person or as a firearm mounted system. The flashlight is a must have tool. Dark driveways, power outages or even as a defensive tool. It can both be used for physical confrontation and for sensory deprivation. The argument hotly debated is to mount or not mount. This debate, in my eyes, has equal pros and cons to both sides.

A mounted light system aids the user in keeping both hands on their firearm. Retention of your defense system is paramount. During training courses many trainers will talk about how a correct grip will significantly change your accuracy and retention of your firearm during a confrontation. To that, using a firearm mounted light assists greatly in pursuit of this goal. But this can come with it's own set of downfalls. In the Proverbial rules of gun safety #2 states do not point your firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy. With a firearm mounted system this poses a conflict to rule #2. If you are lucky enough to have a quick detach system it may be of no issue. Most pistol systems are not this way.

Now using a non mounted or hand held light offers much more flexibility in identification and keeping the light away from the core of your person it can deceive the perpetrator as to your actual location. That being said some trainers teach to keep the light away from your body to create that diversion of your body being elsewhere. But running a hand held flashlight does create it's own set of complications. one being correct grip and retention of a firearm. Firing one handed is known to be inherently less accurate than using both hands. We can say the same for firearm retention with one hand. Though removing the possibility of breaking a cardinal rule of basic firearm safety is crucial. Even if you are the best trained shooter in the world those firearm basics still apply, period.

I do not run a mounted light on my pistol. In my line of work I use my flashlight quite a bit and I am not sure using a pistol mounted light would go over well. I have decided that a mounted light creates too much bulk to carry comfortably. It is in my best interest not to carry 2 lights.

On a side note for hand held lights, I suggest a good quality light with at least 2 functions, on/off and strobe. Strobe is a great for sensory deprivation. The lights I run have switches at the rear of the tube rather than on the length of the tube. That way if I decide to mount them to my shotgun or rifle, operating them is as easy as pushing forward with the thumb rather than to break grip to actuate a switch. 200 lumen is about the lowest I would go as far as output.

examples of the flashlights I use:

Eastern Bloc gem, Radom 'Wanad" P83

Radom video here!
I must apologize for the video, for some reason this one was a bear to get through. Anyway, the Radom P83 is an inexpensive fun to shoot piece of history. The idea that the Polish wanted to do their own thing under communist rule was quite the snub to the U.S.S.R.

Designed by Ryszard Chełmicki and Marian Gryszkiewicz of the state research institute Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy. The P-83 succeeded the P64 as the sidearm for the Polish Army and police.

 In the 70s, Radom began to develop a replacement pistol design that would be cheaper to manufacture than the P64. Their fruits bore the Wanad P83 pistol. Chambered for the standard U.S.S.R.cartridge,  9x18mm (Makarov) it was adopted in 1984 as the 9mm pistolet wz.1983, or  P-83.

are you tactical or tacticool?

the American soldier uses certain equipment to aid him in his quest for victory on the field of battle. Trained extensively in it uses to the point that it becomes apart of them. They are trained to think in a certain manner as to show dominance over their adversary. But to those of us not faced with a known enemy in different uniform on a field dedicated to battle, do we truly understand how to be tactical?

As a civilian, in our daily lives we have no practical purpose for the ballistic helmet. Nor, do we see the use for 60 plus pound kit to aid in getting home at night to the ones we love. Though is being tactical just the appearance? Or is there a deeper meaning to the word?

In the world of the soldier, the equipment and kit they carry is as much apart of their being tactical as the training they receive. As a civilian we too can be tactical, but in a much different frame and scope.

Does the clothing truly make the man? In our day to day we put on pants, shorts, or skirt. A tee shirt, polo, blouse or dress shirt. All in the name of decency and respect not only for ourselves but for others around us. These items themselves can aid a civilian in being tactical. In most States we have the ability to be concealed carriers of potential life saving tools. Lets call it as it is, depending on the tools we decide to carry our clothes must fit around said tools. This is of course a topic of great debate.

There is a quote out there that states, "fight as you train, train as you fight." With that in mind, if you head to the range consistantly in BDU style diggs, but you wear a suit and tie in daily life, are you truly reaping the benefits of your training? Training with a OWB holster more than the IWB holster you use on a daily basis does pose a risk when it comes to your draw step.

Knowledge is key. I think we can all agree to that, yes? Training in using our tools, just as in any prefession, is paramount to getting the job done efficiently and effectively. You may find that during continued training that certain portions of the wardrobe and gear may change. That is according to what you decide to carry and the social engagements we find ourselves in. Now we find ourselves having to change wardrobe and tactics in how to best carry and use the tools according to that specific engagement. We must be flexible, and countless hours of different styles of training must be learned to keep ourselves at the top of our game.

learning some type of martial art may be of use. Some feel that specific styles should be learned. But what if it was more about the discipline and understanding the body language of your advesary? The argument is vast and rightly so. Yet we must keep in mind, opinions are like armpits, everyone has a couple and they all stink. The health benefits of the martial education and Lord willing if you have a good instructor, it will be less about destruction and more about awarness and execution.

lets drop any macho attitudes and learn a few life saving tactics. Humility and evasion. If we find ourselves caught in  an vocal altercation is it not wise to bow out and save ourselves having to employ a potentially fatal tool? for what? pride or a material item? the tool we carry for all practical purposes should be a last resort to a situation. Now granted, we may not get to employ verbal kung fu and it may be that we must first reach for said tool. But these tactics come with training body and mind. Watching SHTF in front of you? look for that escape route. you may not be seeing all participants in play. Using a tactical approach keeps you alive.

So, to answer our question. Can a civilian be tactical? We better be. We just don't need the helmet and military uniform to do it.

Taurus PT58 too big for CCW? That depends.

 

Taurus PT58 video here!

 We are back from SHOT Show!!

I love the Beretta 92 style of handguns. I don't know why, just enamored with them. To have a smaller framed 92 type in my eyes is cool. Again, running a hammer and manual safety for concealed is not my cup of tea. I believe simple is better and faster when needed. 

cited from the Taurus website:

The History of Forjas Taurus in the Firearms Industry

Based in Porto Alegre, Brasil, Forjas Taurus (translation: Taurus Forge) is a diversified, international company and one of the largest small arms manufacturers in the world. The company produced its first revolver in 1941. In 1970, Bangor Punta, which owned Smith & Wesson, purchased a controlling interest in Forjas Taurus. During the next seven years, a great deal of technology and methodology was passed between the two companies.
In 1974 Beretta had won a contract to produce small arms for the Brazilian Army. The contract required Beretta to build a Brazilian factory and use Brazilian labor. When the contract ran out in 1980, Beretta sold the plant to Forjas Taurus. By that time, Forjas Taurus had new Brazilian controlling owners that had purchased Forjas Taurus from Bangor Punta in 1977. Forjas Taurus now owned everything that once belonged to Beretta, including drawings, tooling, machinery, and employed a very experienced work force. Forjas Taurus was in the pistol business, and immediately sought to improve on the Beretta design, resulting in the popular and acclaimed Taurus PT-92 and PT-99 9mm pistols.
The next milestone for Forjas Taurus came in 1982. Forjas Taurus formed Taurus Holdings, Inc., in Miami, Florida. Taurus Holdings, in turn formed Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. The Taurus brand was unknown in the United States at that time. This situation was to change dramatically in the next few years.
In 1984, Taurus Holdings made an announcement that had a tremendous impact on the entire industry. Taurus Holdings became the first company to offer its customers an unqualified LIFETIME REPAIR POLICY. This changed the course of the company in the U.S. market. Only recently has this policy been matched. It has never been exceeded. This innovative policy made everyone sit up and take notice of Taurus brand firearms.

Shot Show 2017

We at Left Hand Right Gun will be Attending the 2017 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV January 17th-20th. So with that, we are putting our blog and videos on hold until after the show is complete! We are planning to have some great content and hopefully some inteviews with the manufacturers themselves. so wish us luck on the show!

KelTec P3AT lefty pocket carry

KelTec P3AT video here
Keltec in a lot of ways has influenced the firearms industry, just ask Ruger or SCCY. I have always been intrigued by their firearms. An RFB has been on my list for some time because I do like the idea of a bullpup. One of the few manufacturers out there that has one in .308, a favored caliber of mine. And ambidextrous to boot.

On an interesting note, George kellgren C.E.O. of KelTec also designed and worked for Husqvarna   firearms plus designed the Swedish Intratec Tec-9 and the Grendel .380acp pocket pistol.
From the KelTec site:
COMPANY PROFILE
Kel-Tec CNC Industries. Inc. was founded 1991 in Cocoa, Florida. Initially a CNC machine shop making firearms components for Grendel Inc., we began manufacturing firearms in 1995 with the P-11™, the first 9mm polymer pistol for concealed carry. Specializing in innovative rifle designs and handguns for concealed carry by law enforcement personnel and qualified citizens, Kel-Tec is now one of the top five handgun makers in the USA, and one of the largest in the world.

Attitude, are you dishing it out?

A New Years resolution?

As human beings we each have certain qualities that make us who we are. And in most cases we can adapt old ones, even acquire new qualities. But there is one quality that each concealed carrier should learn to advance. Our attitude plays a major part in the outcomes of any situation.

So lets bring this into a self defense situation. Without a doubt our first course of action we get from Mr. Miyagi, " Remember, best block, no be there." Basically don't be where you know you should not. Secondly, if the situation comes to you, attempt to flip the situation in your favor. Our best defense tool is our common sense and our communication skills.We all need to take that proverbial step back and assess whether or not the argument is really worth what may be a possible crappy outcome.

Our ability to shirk possible confrontations is key when trying to de-escalate issues with other folks in public. Your ability to disengage from that scenario will help, especially if there are CCTV or others taking video during a heated conversation. We have all seen them on the web where a situation arose from a ridiculous subject and exploded into a full on conflict. That little video no matter where they started filming, will not be your friend in a courtroom if there is not indisputable fact that you tried every avenue to de-escalate and walk away. Pride in this instance is not your friend. What a stranger says about you or a loved one should mean nothing to you. They do not know you and have no bearing on your happiness. Be the better person and live your life as such.

Road Rage is another area a lot of us find ourselves in. It happened, let it go. You will likely never see them again and if there was no damage or injury that has occurred, technically speaking all is well. Things will happen out of our control on a daily basis. From that co-worker that does not do his job to the company standard or a guy that cuts you off on the highway. Why would you let yet another complete stranger dictate your happiness?

Do you find yourself the loser in competitive sports? This as well is an area we as humans do not like to be in. Again, in this life we will not be the favored winners at everything. It is a part of life. So move on, right? it hurts and there are times when we are made the butt of jokes from friends and colleagues due to our inability to be great at something. I know this sounds childish but it happens. Use it as an educational lesson. Do not get swallowed in the back and forth if you think things may get heated.

This all boils down to what we as humans are going to allow in our lives that affect us negatively. No, I am not going to ask you to start doing meditating and sitting cross-legged on the floor every time something horrible happens to you, although if that is your thing by all means, hit it up. I am not asking you to become the sniveling crybaby looking for Momma every time someone hurts your feelings. I am simply asking you to honestly look at the situation and decide logically if losing or taking a life over that last big screen T.V. during Black Friday is really worth it.