Crutches? No problem!

Well, I'm not gonna lie, the being back on crutches has me a bit deflated. But, thanks to the folks over at USCCA and their sending me this awesome new rangebag, I was able to at least grab all my stuff and hobble over to my range to get some Sunday Gunday in to make myself feel a little better.

3 round, multiple target engagements at 15-25ft with my Sig Sauer P229 and P938. It's amazing how cathartic a couple hundred rounds of 9mm can be. They don't call it a boomstick for nothin'. Even though I'm not going to be able to compete for the next few weeks because of the crutches, I can still keep my muscle memory and reflexes sharp.

A little food for thought

It's funny, I was having a conversation the other day with some male friends (yes, I purposely didn't say "men") where they were talking about violence and if the need for it exists. Yes, yes indeed it does. Those of us who are or were on the tip of the spear have seen the evil that men do. Not the "evil" people talk about in this country...but the REAL evil abroad...practiced by tyrants, despots and their disciples. No worries, you can sit back on the homeland and talk about violence...we have, in uniform and will continue, out of uniform, to be there protect you.

Ya, I'm just gonna leave this right here...

Finally able to get back at it

Unfortunately I've not been to the range...or really even standing up over the last 9 days because of reconstructive hip surgery. One of the motivating factors to get me back up and walking was that I wanted to try out that new Mossberg shotgun I bought and that since shooting is a perishable skill, I knew that time off the gun is bad.

Talk about a happy boy to get back on the range! First up, get rounds through that brand new Mossberg 930 JM Pro shotgun...and it's like buttah!!! Smooth action and spot on the target at 20 plus feet...all 8 rds. I mean ALL 8 rounds, center of the target. This good on a static range?! I can't wait to get it outside for hunts and competition. 

 Next up, three round multi-target drills with mag changes with my SigSauer P938 and P229 to knock off some rust...then onto single round multi-target engagements at 30ft with mag changes with both guns. Ya, I missed this. Now that I can stand and move and shoot like this, I gotta find some competitions!

In order to compete in 3 gun competitions, you have to have 3 guns...

I've been looking for a shotgun to round out my 3 gun competition arsenal. Well, they dont come cheap...especially if you're on a budget. but after a lot of research I found THE gun to have.

Now that I'm up and moving around easily, I finally got some time to look over/enjoy my new O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. 930 JM Pro series shotgun. If you're not a shotgunner you don't know who Jerry Miculek is (the namesake of the JM Pro series)...but when he has input to a gun, with his nearly 100 National and World titles and his years of experience, you know the platform will be top notch. His input resulted in: an oversized charging handle/bolt release/safety (so you'll never miss with bare or glove hands), a beveled loading gate for faster reloading, corrosion resistant finishes on the gun for smooth shooting and easy cleaning, adjustable trigger stop, vented rib, 3 adjustable chokes, fiber optic front site, which means...you get a competition quality (clay or 3 gun) semi-auto shotgun right out of the box at literally half the price of other "competition" shotguns. I can't wait to get back on my feet in earnest so I can put this gun through it's paces on the range and in the woods.

Sometimes your thermos need to reflect your hobbies

I don't always buy novelty thermoses. But when I do, I prefer them to have a gun theme. My new coffee carrier arrived...and I love it!

It's all about diversifyng your weapon portfolio

While I do enjoy pistols and rifles, I do believe having a well rounded weapon portfolio is key. I haven't been behind a bow in years but I have I have to say there is something supremely calming about drawing a bow string back and letting an arrow fly.

Talk about "it's like riding a bike". What was going to be a quick trip to the range to check out archery...turned into a 4 hour, shoot everything that was available, make a list of the bow and bow accessories I need to get back into the game. I really did forget how enjoyable archery truly is. Its been years since I've bow hunted and even longer since I've done any archery competitions but the fire...for both...are rekindled indeed. Now to start shopping and building my archery kit that can be use for hunting and competitions. Like I don't have enough hobbies already...

My new every day carry

I love my SigSauer P229 but when it comes to every day conceal-carry, especially in warm weather, it has been a challenge. 

Since I'm an average size guy, even with a great "inside the waistband" holster like the ones made by Alien, the "compact" 9mm frame of the P229 gun makes it difficult to hide...for my anyway. Well, thanks to SigSauer there are LOTS of other platforms in their suite of guns. Looking to the "micro compact" P938 proved just the ticket. A single-stack, 1911 framed, 6+1, 9mm gun makes it perfect for appendix or hip carry no matter the weather or clothing. The "Extreme" version, with its Hogue G10 "Piranha" grips means you get a great, sure grip everyday you draw the gun. SIGLITE night sights means low light/night engagements are no problem. The P938, paired with Federal Ammunition's 145gr HST rounds means I have a FANTASTIC setup choice for personal defense.

I'm a member of USCCA and you should be too

I'm proud to say I'm a member of U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). Why? Because responsible gun ownership doesn't just end with being proficient and carrying a weapon. You have to go beyond that. What happens, God forbid (and I say that because most people think that if we're concealed carrying that we must be "looking" for a reason to use our gun. That couldn't be further from the truth. The last thing I want to do is take another life...but in defense of myself or my family, I won't hesitate) after I've used my weapon? Most people wold think that if it's "justifiable" self defense then its over. Oh no my friends, it's not over at all. During the subsequent investigation, how do you cover time away from work? What happens if you do need a lawyer? Are you going to trust a public defender? Do you have money to pay the retainer and court costs for a great lawyer? What happens if you're found innocent in criminal court but the individual you shot in self defense and/or their family decides to sue you in civil court? Don't think that can happen? Then you need to go do a web search. There's been PLENTY of cases where an attacker or the family members of an attacker bringing cases against the person acting in self defense. Really? YES, really!

If I do have to grab my weapon in self defense, in addition to the multitude of things already running through my mind, including saving my life or those around me, the LAST thing I need to worry about is "am I going to get sued". My father, a retired soldier AND then a retired police officer used to have a saying, "...I'd rather be judged by 12 than be carried by 6", and those words have always stuck with me. So, that led me to spending time researching insurance options and becoming knowledgeable about what's out there. What did I find? USCCA is the best thing out there...period. USCCA has tiered options based on your need, a great support team and even more importantly a HUGE library of information/courses/classes, that's always growing that members have access to. I'm a firm believer that knowledge is power and USCCA is driven to provide its members with information to be a better, more capable gun owner, regardless of the environment or situation presented. As you can see in the image, this is what came in the mail as part of my membership package. Whoa! That's a ton of great stuff!!! Including the Real Avid Pistol Tool which is a must have for any range bag and I've already used it a ton!

Bottom line, responsible gun owners think ahead and plan for the worst...just to ensure they're covered in case it happens! Thanks to USCCA I have the piece of mind knowing I am.

If you're gonna start...start right

I'm a firm believer in bang for your buck and not just how that it applies to this pursuit. I first came into contact with the SigSauer line of guns during my time in the Ranger Regiment dealing with all sorts of special operators who absolutely loved the Sig guns and especially the P226. Why? Because it's the Cadillac of pistols with amazing craftsmanship and bombproof details. Well, my small hands have always had an issue with the P226 chassis. 

So, when it came time for me to find the gun that I'd use for personal protection as well as everyday carry and personal defense it had to be the P229. Same style and layout as the P226 but just gives me a better fit/feel for the weapon which results in a more stable platform for engagements, magazine changes and on the move shooting. No safety but the P229 has a 10lb single action draw that drops to 3lbs in double action. That means I can carry with the hammer down with little to no worry of an accidental discharge from the trigger catching on anything. Now to get back shooting, working on rebuilding muscle memory and hopefully competing again soon. 

And the journey begins...

I've hemmed and hawed for years about getting my gun license, concealed carrying and getting back into gun competitions since I left the service. As silly as it sounds, when I turned in my guns when I left the Ranger Regiment I told myself I'd never pick another one up unless I got called to war or it was the apocalypse.

There were a host of issues that kept me from pulling the trigger (haha, see what I did there) since then, not the least of which being I had no faith or trust in the person I lived with being "trusted" with a gun. But, now as a single guy, not wanting to put my own security and safety in someone else's hands and wanting to get back to hunting and shooting, I figured now was as good a time as any. So...a little research too find the requisite NRA classes (taken at $125 worth ugh) and now I can apply for my license. And so it begins...