ALL SAFETY RULES APPLY! These drills should be performed at the RANGE or an appropriate area, do it dry, with an UNLOADED FIREARM!

Always abide by the four rules of gun safety:

1.      All guns are loaded. (Treated as such)

2.      Do not point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.

3.      Finger off the trigger, out of the trigger guard until sights are on target.

4.      Be sure of your target and foreground/background

Let’s talk about Presentation from the holster and doing it as a Dry Practice exercise with 1 EYE OPEN.  What the heck is this? This is the BASIC presentation, to get your handgun from the holster to “sights” on target, AND YOU CLOSE THE NON-DOMINATE EYE to get the 100% focus on the front sight!  OK, this technique IS required to guarantee that “LONG” shot or a close precision hit like a hostage takers eye socket, or just shoot a nice tight group.

You must learn that situations dictate the amount of precision sighting required for a hit, is measured in distance and target size.  More about this subject in the 2 EYE OPEN blog and the advanced Dry Practice Programs that will teach you the difference between shooting 3 feet OR 15 yards, as an example,  3’  -   2 eyes,   15yds   -   1 eye open. You need to learn the 1-EYE OPEN method first, then move on to more advanced techniques.

Everyone at ATAC Training courses trains with semi-auto pistols, but the firearms are carried in variety of locations. It does not matter what type or brand of handgun you run, but you are ABSOLUTLLY NUTS if you don’t Dry Practice with it from the location you carry it!  THIS IS THE DRILL THAT MUST BE REPEATED OVER AND OVER UNTIL THE PRESENTATION BECOMES A REFLEX ACTION!  THIS MIGHT SEEM BORING, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT HIGHER SKILL LEVELS.

Understanding know and unknown distances prior to starting:

Start with establishing a known distance.  As you begin, or if you think you have judging distances mastered, that doesn’t mean you DON’T NEED to practice the basics.   Judging unknown distances is a stand-alone exercise.  On the other hand, we will give you two methods.  There are all types of controversy out there on one or both eyes open when shooting.  Lets keep it simple; if you were going to push a thread through a needle you would shut one eye.  Yes, we shoot with both eyes open and the conditions and distances will dictate using a dominant eye only or both eyes open.  Lets move forward and give you a simple solution.  From 7 yards and in you can get away with hitting “close enough” to your intended point of impact.  But, it will only be close to rather than the exact intended point of impact.  (As you read further down, between steps 3 - 4 you need to learn to shift your focus.) For those of you that think you only need to shoot with both eyes open, here is a question for you.  If you were held by the neck as a hostage and the hostage taker only exposed one eye every few seconds. Would you tell the cop, SWAT, or XXXX to, “use both eyes, it is faster, just shoot it is not a precision shot”. I doubt it, your exposed to all types of errors which could be fatal.  The point is, at any distance you need to guarantee the hit, not hope for the hit.  Yes, you may think this is advanced; no it is the basic fundamentals. This is not an range drill trying to hit a big steel plate; you are trying to ht a quarter over and over.  Then be able to pick up the pace.  As you excel in your skills, you need to ALWAYS give yourself a refresher course on distancing while shifting your focus from the target to the top of the front sight post.  After time you will develop a natural point of aim, which will ONLY last as long as your continuing education does.  So lets dry practice at 7 yards with one eye for now.  You can go to the next stage of both eyes open after you have performed at least 1,000- 2,000 dry presentations.  In our advanced programs we explain in great detail with video of what happens as you back up and forget to close that eye.  It a tactical environment, you may have to keep both eyes open to have a wider field of view.  But before you go off and start point shooting, get the basics down.  It is a safe number to say if you have 10,000 rounds through your pistol and 2 - 3 times as much dry practice, then you can move on to more advanced tactics with both eyes open.  In the end, regardless of how much you have trained just remember, if it is a precision shot, use your dominant eye only!  You may only get that one shot.

Check our the programs on www.AtacTv.com

ATAC TV, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, JIM FULLER, JEFF HALL, GLENN JUSTICE, VENOM TACTICAL, RIFLE DYNAMICS, FORCE OPTIONS, ATAC TV FIREARMS, DRY PRACTICE, HANDGUNS

ATAC TV™ Firearms Channel Viewer Q & A: What is the Most Reliable Handgun?

Tom Clarke™ and Lenny Bolton with ATAC TV™ Firearms Channel discuss the reliability of most modern handgun platforms.

ATAC TV™ Firearm Reply and Answer:

Tom Clarke™ and Lenny Bolton with ATAC TV™ Firearms Channel discuss the reliability of most modern handgun platforms.  ATAC TV Staff considers reliability the most important aspect of any firearm under any type of conditions.  Most handguns are very accurate and most are reliable in range type environments.  Reliability comes from the continued functioning of the handgun under the most extreme conditions to be worth having and owning, especially in a tactical situation.

The list of modern handguns is huge, but to name a few such as GLOCK, H&K, Springfield, Sigarms, S&W, Wilson, Kimber, etc, that are mostly reliable, well-built and rugged firearm platforms that will perform if handled in the proper manner.  This includes complete maintenance and care as recommended by the manufacturer.  Field and detailed cleaning of the weapon are a “must” with inspection of the wear parts to maintain the reliability functions.  Many handguns require additional maintenance over other brands to continue to function reliably.  This is something you need to determine when purchasing and/or deciding which firearms are right for you and your intended purpose.

If you plan to replace parts of your handgun with the latest modification products, the reliability factor of your stock pistol will drop like a rock.  Not all aftermarket parts are bad, but some products seem to be the “Answer to a non-existent problem.  Products of this nature are garbage, a waste of money and have no place on a reliable firearm. This firearm, if used tactically, is a tool.  Anything that distracts from that basic function should be avoided.  Your handgun should go “bang” each and every time you press the trigger.  If not, either you have added parts to distract from the intended purpose or you own a handgun that would not be functional enough to bet your life on.  You must choose what the intended use of this handgun is for in which environment and working situation to be encountered.  This is how you should select the correct handgun for your needs based on what you are going to use it for.

Watch the video linked below of Tom Clarke and Lenny Bolton as they discuss reliability with handguns and add more detail to help you make the choice for what best suits your need.

Watch Video Here: What is the Most Reliable Handgun?

Ask Firearms Questions and Get the Answers on ATAC TV™ Firearms Channel

ATAC TV™, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, GLENN JUSTICE, JIM FULLER, RIFLE DYNAMICS, VENOM TACTICAL, JEFF HALL, FORCE OPTIONS, ROGER FLORES

11/11/11

Today we honor our nation’s veterans, and ask you to pledge
allegiance once again to those who pledge all.

It’s because of the dedication of the men and women who wear a uniform
and carry a firearm to make our liberties possible that we created
NRA Life of Duty—to give our frontline warriors a voice, to tell their stories,
to give them a home in the National Rifle Association. So I invite NRA
members to view a remarkable video. It’s the poignant profile of a
one-of-a-kind patriot, and a sample of the stirring reporting you’ll find on the
NRA Life of Duty network. The life story of an American hero, Navy SEAL
Adam Brown, is a tribute to a husband, a father, a person of unyielding
courage and faith, and above all, a man who exemplified the American spirit.

Watch A Tribute to Navy SEAL Adam Brown. And give thanks to the
soldier, sailor, airman and Marine, as well as the sheriff’s deputy, the police
officer, the Border Patrol agent, the firefighter—all who protect your life and
your independence 365 days each year, not just on 11/11/11.

ATAC TV, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, GLENN JUSTICE, JIM FULLER, VENOM TACTICAL, RIFLE DYNAMICS

Dry practice is the act of manipulating and practicing with an UNLOADED firearm in a safe manner; identical to the skills you practice on the range with live ammunition.  You should dry practice on the range, or other appropriate locations.

You should be implementing dry practice into your firearm’s routine, as it will drastically improve your firearm handling skills. Dry Practice IS the Skill Builder!  Shooting well is NOT an inherited trait – or perhaps a “natural” talent?  As with any accomplishment in life, you have to work for it.  Your ability to shoot well with a firearm is related to your hand-eye coordination and the effort you spend dry practicing your skills over and over again while those skills develop into the learned skill recorded by your brain, some people call it “Muscle Memory”. (Muscle memory is the increased accuracy of an activity through repetition, programming your brain.)  Advanced levels and techniques are the mastery of the basic fundamentals. You must first master these basics, which takes time, effort and lots of practice.

While practicing with the firearm platform, ALL SAFETY RULES APPLY and all ammunition must be removed from the training area.  Dry practice becomes dangerous if you get lazy or comfortable and complacent with the learning process.  You do not want an accidental discharge with your firearm, and/or nervously tracking the path of your bullet through your house.

Always abide by the four rules of gun safety:

1. All guns are loaded. (Treated as such)

2. Do not point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.

3. Finger off the trigger, out of the trigger guard until sights are on target.

4. Be sure of your target and foreground/background

So why not just go shooting more often?  It is fun to shoot, but burning through cases of ammunition could be non-productive to your skills, There are many great benefits of dry practicing you would miss if all you do is shoot live cartridges.  Practice the entire sequence of shooting, which includes presentation from the holster, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control and follow through.  As you dry practice, pressing straight back the trigger, 100% focused on the front sight, you must pay attention to any slight movement of the front sight, which will affect the accuracy of the shot, resulting from a mash, flinching or bad trigger control.  You must to be 100% focused as you dry practice, or it becomes a waste of time, or much worse, ingraining bad habits that are hard to fix.

Dry-Practice each skill you would normally perform while shooting with live ammo, whether you are training for a fight or just shooting paper targets at the local range.  Will it make you a better shooter?  Yes!  For each shot taken on the range, you should be dry pressing your trigger – or whatever skill you are working on – at least 50 times more than you do when shooting with live ammo.  It takes dedication to continue the hard work required for accurate dry practice. Good things happen for people who have the desire and determination to increase their skill levels!  It will help to take 20-30 minutes time out of your day for unbelievable advancement of your shooting skills and ammunition costs nothing.

Try this:  Practice “perfect” trigger presses 10 minutes each day for 2 weeks. Clear your firearm and get the ammunition out of the area, chamber check again telling yourself out loud “This gun is not loaded”, align sights on your target, focus 100% on the front sight, place the center of the pad of your index finger on the trigger and take the slack out, start to build the pressure until you achieve a surprise break (gun goes CLICK).  The front sight should not move.  Repeat as many times as you can concentrate and focus. If you are distracted, stop training and pick it up later when you can.

This would be the only time that getting a “CLICK” instead of a “BANG” is a good thing. The effort you put into your training will surface as you continue to increase your skills through different avenues of learning. Dry practice will absolutely make you a much better shooter.

Check out the Dry Practice programs for many of the weapons platforms on ATAC TV Firearms Channel for more tips and hints.

ATAC TV, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, JIM FULLER, GLENN JUSTICE, VENOM TACTICAL, RIFLE DYNAMICS, DRY PRACTICE, BANG, TRAINING, HANDGUN,

For many Americans, home invasions are what happen to “other” people. Most people do not plan for this as they do not believe they will ever be the victim of this type of crime, or any type of crime for that matter. Initially the best defense is awareness. Being alert can save your life and that of your family. As in any emergency situation, Do Not rely on the police or other people to come to your rescue in your time of need.

You will need to rely upon yourself and/ or your family members as law enforcement can only respond to what crimes they are aware of. If by chance they are made aware of a crime in progress, there is still the issue of how much time will pass before they actually arrive on scene. At that point we must also consider this home invasion could turn into a hostage situation. If that happens then your chances of escape as well as your choices shrink considerably.

1. NEVER open the door for a simple knock or for anyone selling or asking questions unless you know them. If you open it, you have just allowed the criminals entry to your home and have jeopardized the safety of your entire family.

2. Develop a crisis/emergency plan with your family. Rehearse it so that everyone is sure of his or her roles. Try to work in as many variables as you can think of. When unsure of how to go about developing such a plan, do not hesitate to contact a professional for help.

3. Keep a cellular phone accessible inside your home. Make sure it is always charged and in good working order. Your cell phone is no good if it is off; leave it on through the night.

4. While in your home, keep all the doors locked. Do not leave your garage door open at any time, unless you are doing something directly in front of it. If you are outside mowing the lawn, keep the garage door closed and locked.

5. Vary the routes you travel daily to work and/or recreational activities.  These criminals can also monitor a traditional or regular pattern of your schedule in order to follow you directly back to your home.

6. Know your neighborhood. Be familiar with the people, their vehicles and their typical daily routines. Be alert if anything is out of sorts. Unfamiliar people or vehicles.

7. When approaching your home after being out, scan the area for anything out of place or unusual prior to entering your property.

8. Always maintain proper lighting to the approach of your residence. Be alert if one or more lights

are not working.

9. Set up key words with your family members so that you can all communicate an emergency covertly, in the event you or a family member is in trouble. An example of this is as follows; you are out shopping, your youngest daughter who is 17 years old is home but an intruder is with her. You call her from your cellular phone on the way back from your work or outing and she answers by hitting the key pad three times then saying to you “I am sorry you must have the wrong number” and presses the key pad as many times as possibly before she hangs up. This is your signal that she is in grave danger and you immediately call the police.

10. When possible, designate or construct one room or place in your home to be the “safe room”. This room must maintain a very solid door (fire proof when possible), heavily constructed walls and ceiling. Always keep a form of communication, preferably a cellular phone in that space that is active and fully charged. Just to mention a few other items that are important to maintain inside that room, potable drinking water, non-perishable food items, weapons and a separate electrical supply (when feasible).

ATAC TV

ATAC TV, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, GLENN JUSTICE, JIM FULLER VENOM TACTICAL, RIFLE DYNAMICS, FIREARMS,

• Always park your vehicle as close to the entrance as possible
• Park your vehicle under or close to well lighted areas
• Put all items of value in the car out of site such as, car stereo’s, cellular phones and   radar detectors
• Close all windows completely and lock all doors after exiting the vehicle
• Activate your vehicle’s alarm system as soon as you exit the vehicle (if there is one)
• Walk to the closest entrance and enter immediately
• Whenever possible, try to use the “buddy system” when going shopping
• Whenever entering or exiting from the shopping center, walk with others
• Always observe and scan the area from your immediate surroundings out, be aware of all movement, noises and people, as well as those people or things that are out of place.  If your instincts tell you there is danger, get out of there quickly and go directly to security or the police.
• Never wear “flashy” jewelry to go shopping. Tuck all gold chains and necklaces under your shirt or blouse, and if possible pull down your sleeves over any bracelets. If you must wear rings, turn the ring so that any stones are facing into the palm of your hand.
• If you are carrying a wallet, put it in your front pocket, or in the Inside pocket of a jacket. If you are carrying a pocketbook or purse, keep it close to your body and maintain one hand on it at all times.
• If you are carrying cash, do not take it out in public view. If you have to take cash to go shopping, separate the money into smaller packets while at home, then while shopping use these individual packets for your purchases to avoid exposure of large cash sums.
• Try to avoid carrying large numbers of bundles or packages, in other words keep your arms and hands as free as possible. Always use shopping carts where available, and whenever feasible ask the store for assistance to your vehicle.
• Whenever storing bundles or packages in your vehicle make sure they are well hidden inside the vehicle or placed in the trunk.
• Remember when exiting the center and approaching your vehicle to have your keys wrapped tightly in your hand. Maintain alertness of the surroundings, people and vehicles in close proximity including your own. Move swiftly and cautiously to your vehicle while continuously scanning the area. Enter your vehicle and quickly lock the doors. Do not hesitate in your final exit out of the parking area.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only. ATAC TV, FIREARMS, SURVIVAL, TECHNOLOGY, LEO/MIL, FOUNDER TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, JIM FULLER, GLENN JUSTICE, RIFLE DYNAMICS, VENOM TACTICAL, Follow link for more information, are you exposed to risks?

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only.