It would great to buy a high quality bag without the milspec identifiers on it. The interview has a bunch of other wonderful information about the company, too! Well worth the read.

None of Kifaru’s offerings are particularly work-oriented, have you thought about making something in that direction? What do Kifaru employees carry to work?

We use a ton of different bags. We adapt lots of our tactical bags for EDC, and we like some tactical crossover products like TAD-gear. We’re considering adding an urban line, but we’re taking our time researching. Who is the market? Will they pay for our quality? Colors? Fabric weights? Any work-oriented products we’d consider launching would have a Kifaru twist: lots of mountaineering and tactical features in an urban disguise.

With some practice, it’s pretty darned easy to unholster a firearm from concealment. Speed, accuracy, and movement can make it harder. Pressure to incorporate those variables arguably inoculates shooters from stress, if done correctly.

Provided we diligently scan our surroundings, I imagine it’s likely the average armed citizen can avoid most confrontations. Should it be necessary, a threat can be addressed sufficiently from a distance.

However, it has been reported most encounters do not happen from a distance, or even anticipated. Instead, it has been inferred folks are more likely to be ambushed, within “bad-breath distance.”

Dave Spaulding argues police shootings take place inside 10 ft. Spaulding sufficiently addresses the issue of extreme close quarters shooting and explains how drawing a firearm from a holster is difficult when an opposing individual is “striking, slapping, or applying a bear hug.”

The firearm is not always, or can be, the immediate solution. Even in a lethal encounter. I understood how important this realization, only recently am I able to articulate what I was looking for: a functional, fundamental set of skills that I can practice independently or within a small group that’s adaptable a situation. I want my defense to play out like a jazz solo.

In my experience, martial arts have a tendency to teach you one skill to counteract a specific skill, at a precise moment. Struggling with this reality, I never bothered to pursue formal instruction through traditional means.

Last weekend, I participated in seminar reviewing Crazy Monkey Boxing Fundamentals and Ground Aversion Tactics (Survival Jiu-jitsu) taught by Cecil Burch.

From what I gather, Crazy Monkey is a variation of mixed martial arts with more emphasis on mastering certain boxing fundamentals, as opposed to learning several specialized techniques. This approach, I believe, addresses my concern regarding adaptability.

The CM fighting platform, as Burch discussed, has the following elements:
- Athletic base
- Hip square
- Rear heel up
- Torso dropped into pelvis
- Elbows to ribcage
- Hands attached to orbital ridge
- Shoulders shrugged up/neck sunk

Other elements Burch discussed:
- The jab and cross is the backbone of offense
- Footwork: opposite foot of the intended direction drives movement
- The need for constant change of arms and elbows protecting the head

Easy to follow and understand, Burch discussed how these elements could be applied through shadow boxing drills at home.

One notable observation is how easy these fundamentals can be applied to shooting. Take another look at the fighting platform element list.

Burch’s discussion on Ground Aversion Tactics covered the “hierarchy of intent:”
- Survive
- Defend
- Escape
- Reverse
- Stabilize
- Maintain
- Finish

From the moment one is ambushed, the primary intent is surviving the initial encounter, or otherwise switching mental gears to get into the fight. Defend is action to preserve physical well-being. After a defense is successful, an escape is attempted to reverse the force. If a reverse is successful, our next intent is to maintain the stability long enough to finish the encounter in our favor. As I understand it, a stage must be satisfied before moving on. If one fails to escape, we cannot proceed on reverse maneuvers. Likewise, in the event we lose stability and find fists connecting to our head; the priority becomes defense.

With little background in physical confrontation or martial arts, Burch’s two-day seminar provided me excellent guidance and confidence moving forward. Burch, as an instructor, provided succinct details on the techniques presented, and a watchful eye with relevant feedback.

From this seminar, I argue sparring was my most valuable experience.

Over the next several months, I will be applying what I learned to prepare for Extreme Close Quarter Concepts, a class from ShivWorks.

You’re damn right I have incentive to practice.

Installation of the aluminum trigger requires moderate skill; please be sure to review Randy Lee’s installation video, as well as the photos below to assist with a DIY install.  The most difficult step with this install is properly drifting the trigger pivot pin.  A pin block and appropriately sized and type of pin punches will make it VERY easy.  A vise is another option.

Following installation, I did perceive a notable improvement over the spongy OEM trigger.  The Center Mounted Pivoting Safety bar and the flat trigger face were also perceived improvements.

Priced at $74.85, I have difficulty recommending it to those without extensive trigger time behind their OEM M&P.  For those who are aware of APEX Tactical’s reputation for innovating practical parts and are able to perceive M&P shortcomings with OCD-like consistency, then it may be worthwhile to purchase the aluminum version of the AEK.

I might be more receptive to a polymer version of the AEK based on cost alone.  Release date TBD.  Otherwise, the AEK is good to go.

After a recommendation from a TPR reader and Gun Blogger Rendezvous attendee, I picked up the 8-round Tuff Quickstrip to replace my 6-round speed strips.  Instead of 4 rounds on a 6-round Quickstrip with my former set-up, I now have 6 rounds per speed strip with enough material to man grip my reload whichever way I need to.

I pick even numbers not because I have OCD like behavior; it makes sense to not worry about a single 5th round when the same range of motion is used to load two in the moves prior.  I can also shoot two, and load two, if I ever get the opportunity.

If you watched my one hand revolver reload video, you may have noticed I produced a Quickstrip from my back left pocket and my front right pocket.  Not only does it provides additional rounds (17), but flexibility on how I access my reloads and how I reload.

Don’t shoot me in the knee; I know this/that meme is old (Internet time).

If you’re a new gun owner, or have few firearms, cleaning firearms post range-time isn’t an issue. For some, it’s an enjoyable experience.

Then there are others, like myself, who would rather put it off per our “quarterly” maintenance with few exceptions.

The sun was out, and so was I. Went to the range and did more revolver work based on Southnarc’s PDF on the snubbie.  Watching the video, my biggest challenge will be maintaining movement and scanning my surroundings for possible threats.

I can already hear the folks crying, “MOOOON CLIPPPPS!”

No shooting today — too sissy to hang out in the rain.  Just imagine my regret when the sun came out.  That’s ok;  I still have bacon.

Lady Pirate post inspired creation. Just add bacon.

Caramel:
- Brown 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbs salted butter

Brown the sugar water until you smelled a hint of smoke. Take it off too soon, it’s too sweet.  Too late, it’s gross.  Add cream and butter.  Hollow out apple up with a small spoon, then place in the freezer (I like my apples cool and crispy).

If you don’t know how to cook bacon, GTFO.

Just kidding.

Just pan fry bacon in its own grease. Flip each individually after brown on each side. Rest to cool on paper towels. Cut after it cooled.

Apple beer cup optional.

http://thepackingrat.net/for-sale/

Day started off as a wonderful day with crisp afternoon air and sunny skies. As soon as we made it to Flag Falls, sleet fell, followed by snow. We intended to descend from Table Mountain for a peak below Flag Falls; however, decided against it for concerns of finding a safe way down in wet conditions.  On our way back up, the sun came back.

The falls we observed last year have nothing on the falls this time.  It helps to seek waterfalls following a rain storm.

The .22LRs were Remington subsonic rounds. Sounds like a sewing machine.

One arbor is provided for the caliber of your choice.  Extra arbors are $5.00 each.  Clint Walker, the gentleman behind the Moon Clip Tool, makes a quality product and ships out fast.  I may have to pick one up myself!

On rainy days, or most days for that matter, I dry fire at home, with emphasis on reloads and malfunction clearing on my semi-automatics.  However, I find myself carrying the Ruger LCR .357 magnum instead.  As such, I’ve dedicated more trigger time behind the revolver. For example, in this video from CS Tactical I am practicing speed strip reloads. More practice, I require.

My focus this afternoon were one-handed (dominant/non-dominant) revolver reloads.  Using a guide from ShivWorks/Southnarc on revolver reloads found at NorthEastShooters.com, I hashed out this process and learned quite a bit.

1) Keep the cylinder chambers as clean as possible.  Carbon debris sticky casings, making extraction much more difficult.  I am contemplating on purchasing the Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells.

2) The cylinder locking lug on the Ruger  LCR .357 magnum is stiff compared to its .38 special model — or most revolvers for that matter.  One handed operation of the cylinder release is difficult, but not impossible.  Instead of using my index finger to poke out the cylinder, I use my hip to knock it out.

3) It would behoove me to find cover when reloading.  If I don’t have a pant waist available when crouching, I can tuck the revolver in my shoe instead.

4) I’ve been practicing this for quite awhile, but loading four cartridges on the six-shot QuickStrips have been working well for me as discussed by Michael de Bethencourt at SnubTraining.com (Check out drafts from his book, too).  The rationale is more dexterity and  spending less time to reload the 5th shot, when you already have four set and placed.

Approximately 975 miles between Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Hociota was short a few days hike from Lake Mead.

Photograph taken from NASA’s image catalog, Visible Earth.

Picked this up from my brother.

Ioana Hociota, described as an experienced hiker, died just short of reaching her goal of hiking the length of the Grand Canyon from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Her hiking partner’s description of the events following her mis-step is rather chilling.

She would have been the youngest person to have hiked the entire length of the Grand Canyon – about a thousand miles off trail. Ioana Hociota, 24, was close to her goal when she stepped on the wrong rock and died in a hiking accident.