1 Oct 04

What deployed Marines need:

Cold Steel, Emerson knives, fixed and folding
White socks
Dry lube, Hoppe’s, Outer’s, Remington
9mm and 223 Boresnake
Beretta OEM 92F normal-capacity magazines
Leatherman tools
Surefire flashlights
LED “soft” lights

This is what my students in Country tell me they need and can’t get. If you want to help, put together a care package and send it to:

MSgt Earl Mitchell
MWSG-37
UIC 41106
FPO, AP 96426-1106

It will get to those who need it.

/John

 

6 Oct 04

From an LEO friend in Capetown, SA:

“An local couple, both in their sixties, pulled into their driveway last week. They were there confronted by two armed men just as the man turned off the car’s engine. At gunpoint, the criminal pair demanded the car keys.

The man quickly handed over the keys and both he and his wife stepped clear of the car, giving the men easy access. The robbers, however, suddenly grabbed the woman and began forcing her into the back seat. The man then drew his concealed 9mm CZ75 and opened fire at the kidnappers. He was untrained and panicked. His CZ was not carried with a round chambered, so he had to take the time to chamber a round. By the time he did get his pistol running, he was in ‘spray & pray’ mode. His rounds (all thirteen of them) impacted on the car, a nearby tree, the driveway, and the lawn, everywhere, in fact, except on the robbery suspects!

Happily, the two suspects also panicked and fled the scene immediately. They may have fired a single round. We’re not sure. The woman was grazed by one bullet, and it is not clear whose bullet it was. In any event, she was transported to the local hospital, treated, and released. Neither she nor her husband suffered serious injury. The best evidence suggests neither suspect was hit either. No arrests have been made, nor are any likely. Since our local media has a policy of never presenting a story depicting the successful use of firearms in personal defense (much like yours), this incident went unreported in the evening news.”

Lessons: A precipitous, unexpected counterattack will nearly always deflect the focus of criminals while disrupting their plan. Plans that have been thus rudely interrupted, unless they have been worked out in detail and rehearsed, customarily disintegrate straightaway, as was the case here.

In this instance, even a poorly trained shooter was able to save his wife’s life and probably his own, because he acted, albeit clumsily, at the critical moment. However, competent training would have surely reduced collateral damage.

/John

 

7 Oct 04

24 September 1914, during WWI, on the Four-de-Paris Road, then Lieutenant Irwin Rommel gives this account:

“Our platoon leader wanted to know if we should open fire. What else was there for us to do? We were about to get into a nasty scrap, and there was no use allowing the French to start it free from casualties… Once again we rushed the enemy. Again, the enemy fired madly but carelessly. Finally, scarcely twenty paces ahead, I saw five Frenchmen firing from the standing position. Instantly my gun was at my shoulder. Two Frenchmen, one standing behind the other, dropped to the ground as my rifle cracked, but I still was faced with the remaining three. My rifle then failed to fire. I quickly opened the magazine and found it empty. The nearness of the enemy left no time for reloading, nor was any cover at hand. My fixed bayonet was my only hope. I had been an enthusiastic bayonet fighter during training. Even with the odds of three to one against me, I had complete confidence in the weapon and in my ability… and I prevailed that day!”

Lesson: “Great souls have wills; feeble ones only wishes.”

“We’re face-to-face with destiny, and we must meet it with resolute courage. For ours is a life of action, of strenuous performance, of duty. Let us live in the harness of striving mightily. Let us run the risk of wearing out rather than rusting out.”

Theodore Roosevelt

“There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions. In a little while the servant returned, white and trembling, and said, ‘Master, just now, when I was in the marketplace, I was jostled by a women in the crowd. When I turned, I saw that it was Death that jostled me. She made a threatening gesture. Now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away to Samara. I will avoid my fate, for Death will not find me there.’ The merchant lent his servant his horse as he had requested. The servant mounted and galloped away as fast as he could. The merchant then went himself down to the marketplace, and, when he saw me standing in the crowd, he came to me and said, ‘Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant this morning?’ ‘That was not a threatening gesture, I said. It was only a start of surprise. You see, I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight… in Samara.’”

“Who constantly ‘fears to fail’ will, in the end, fail without even trying.”

/John

 

8 Oct 04

From a friend in TX who works security at a big cocktail lounge:

“The State of Texas, in their infinite wisdom, imposed an insurance requirement several months ago, stating that armed guards could not be employed at drinking establishments without a ‘special binder’ which is, of course, extremely expensive. The State is obviously trying to get rid of armed guards. In response, our establishment immediately dropped armed guards. I submitted a proposal to upper management suggesting that, once our guard company had the required insurance, I could train the new people. I pointed out that having no armed presence on property would be an invitation to armed robbers. Management agreed to allow one pistol on property (mine). However, I was not to wear it during business hours but would be allowed to ‘access it’ in the event of trouble.

Sure enough, on the evening 24 Sept 04 we had an armed suspect enter the property and start shooting! The club was packed with patrons. I personally saw one of the muzzle flashes. Executing our plan, I quickly commanded employees, ‘Gun on floor! Everyone behind lockers now!’ The office door flew open, and our GM burst out in a panic, yelling, ‘Greg. He’s shooting everybody. Take him out!’ He had obviously forgotten that I had to ‘access’ my own pistol first, as I was not wearing it, per his instructions.

Once armed, I rushed toward the sound of gunfire yelling, ‘Police officers. Everyone on the floor now!’ This proved useful, as most responded and dropped out of my line of sight. I commanded the DJ to turn up the house lights all the way.

Next, I hear my guards yelling ‘We’ve got him!’ I ran to the lobby and discovered that my guys had indeed captured someone. I said ‘Where’s the weapon?’ They didn’t know. Then, a frightened patron screamed ‘I’m standing on it!’ Sure enough, she was. We recovered it immediately. The SO arrived shortly thereafter and took charge. Shooter was arrested and charged with attempted murder, et al.

One of our female entertainers, an ex-girlfriend of the shooter, had been shot under her right arm. She was the only victim. She was transported to the local hospital. She survived.

Footnotes: Have a plan. Put it together and rehearse it regularly. Otherwise, you’ll have to make it up as you go along, which, to a degree, you’ll have to do anyway. But, having a framework in place really helps

Don’t underestimate the importance of loud, clear verbal commands and challenges. Like everything else, verbal commands have to be refined and practiced.

In any emergency, you much resist the temptation to give into panic. The ability to stay rational and move smoothly is a lifesaver.

Last point: anyone running their mouth about the ‘thrill’ of engaging in mortal combat is full of crap. I’m just glad to be alive.”

Comment on the State of Texas: “An appeaser feeds the crocodile in the hope that it will eat him last.”

Winston Churchill

/John

 

12 Oct 04

On the Steyr Pistol from a friend and colleague:

“A student brought a Steyr 40 to a course last week. It has a manual ‘safety button’ mounted inside the trigger guard in front of the trigger, which requires the shooter to push it up prior to persuading the pistol to shoot. The owner several times forgot to do this, which, of course, caused him to fail to fire when he desperately needed to.

The owner told me had gone to a Colorado Springs gunshop to buy a G23, but was talked into the Steyr by a sales clerk. The clerk glowed when describing the ‘loaded chamber indicator,’ the ‘extra’ manual safety above the trigger, and the ‘key lock’ safety, which renders the weapon completely sterile. I suspect the ‘great deal’ was mostly an effort on the part of the clerk to unload this dog which had been, I’m sure, sitting on the shelf for a long time.

To make things worse, the new Steyr owner had purchased several hundred rounds of crap ammunition at a gunshow. Got a ‘real deal’ on it too! It was all nearly useless. Out of the first one hundred rounds, sixty failed to fire on the first hammer strike. He then switched to CCI, and had no further ammo issues.

This shooter discovered that ‘LOADED CHAMBER INDICATORS,’ MANUAL SAFETIES, GRIP SAFETIES, AND KEY LOCKS ARE PUT ON GUNS PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MANUFACTURER, NOT THE USER. All this time, my plain-vanilla G23 worked just fine!

He also learned that scrimping on ammo is an exercise in futility and frustration.”

Comment: The foregoing is a typical scenario. We try to advise students to bring to our courses reliable, plain-vanilla pistols, good holsters, and factory ammunition. An unhappy experience awaits those who don’t!

/John

 

14 Oct 04

If you haven’t visited Oregon Firearms Academy in Halsey, OR, you ought to check them out. Vicki and I are regular guest instructors there, and we conducted a course at their range last weekend. OFA’s facility is modern, complete, and compact. Equipped with Action Target bobbers, movers, and Betterbilt’s famous Rotators, OFA is able to offer sophisticated training at every level. Resident staff, Dan Abbott, Rick Benson, and Marion Ratliff are all certified DTI Affiliate Instructors, and are all experienced, professional, and accomplished in their own right.
Included at the facility is a wonderful building mockup, complete with darkened room. A modern classroom facility provides the opportunity to easily integrate lectures, videos, and demonstrations with live-fire range exercises.

There are few enlightened and progressive shooting facilities in the Northwest. OFA is at the top of the list. Call them at 541 451 5532. Recommended!

/John

 

15 Oct 04

Comments on the current state of our military bureaucracy, from a friend in the system:

“I just returned from a large base in MO. The meeting there was to discuss protection from chemical and biological weapons. As you know, the US military no longer stocks offensive chemical or biological weapons, but defense against this stuff is still a great concern.

I was stunned at the difference between people who purport to patronize this mysterious, futuristic ‘warfighter’ about whom we’ve all heard (but never seen) and those who are actually participating in genuine fighting, right now. I met at least twenty dancing marionettes from different ‘support groups,’ Navy and Army, who incessantly gushed about how there were planning the next generation of wonder gear. There were testing, and testing, and evaluating, then testing some more. The only conclusion of which they seem capable was that we need more tests!

Between briefings, I talked with just as many True Warriors who desperately wanted working gear, in the field, now, and they didn’t care where it came from or who took credit for it! Most had been deployed to the Mideast at least once (10th Mountain, 101st, USMC, MEI, and some NAG units) and were about to go over for their second or third time. They pleaded with this collection of ‘planners,’ insisting that we do not have five to seven years to wait for the next generation of wonder gear. They openly asked why we can’t use what is commercially available now, but outside DOD. Case in point: currently deployed NBC detection equipment does not enjoy the confidence of anyone. Special Operations Command, et al thumb their collective noses at the current directive to stay within the DOD system. ‘Regular’ service units, unfortunately, are stuck.

The Army is hopelessly enthralled with the ‘joint programs’ concept that procures everything for all branches. Interminable delays in actually fielding new equipment seems to escape the notice, much less the concern, of ‘planners.’ Marines take the biggest beating as they have the fewest budget dollars and hence the least influence.

‘Planners’ want the new XML-8 rifle in 6.8 mm, with an integral, proximity-fused grenade launcher. Warriors want Cor-Bon DPX ammunition for existing M16s/M-4s, now.

‘Planners’ want yet another new pistol, this one with rails, lasers, adjustable grips, ad nauseum. Warriors want magazines that actually work in existing M-9 pistols, now.

This is the way it must have been during the Vietnam Campaign in the 1960’s, eh?”

Comment: If we can’t aggressively field working equipment now, when do we think, in our wildest fantasies, we will ever be able to. Flexibility, daring, audacity, and the ability and willingness to more forward swiftly marks a victorious army. Stilted, uninspired armies, lead by those more interesting in keeping their jobs than doing their jobs, ever flounder, no matter how big, nor delusionally self-assured.

/John

 

20 Oct 04

The USMC is quietly converting over to the Mk262 5.56mm round for rifles (no belt-link yet), system wide. The Mk262 is manufactured by Black Hills and uses a 77gr bullet. This round is displacing current inventories of the 62gr “penetrator” (green tip) round.

The inadequacy of the 55gr hardball in both range and penetration has long been acknowledged. The 62gr successor provided little improvement in either category and terminal performance that is actually inferior to the round it replaced.

This new Black Hills round is yet another interim fix, while the Pentagon decides on a new rifle caliber. Penetration, however, is, with the Mk262, much improved. Range is slightly improved. The jury on terminal performance is still out. Some say it is about the same. Others claim significant improvement.

The USMC deserves a lot of credit for moving forward on this, instead of just continuing to sit on their hands, as the Army is doing. Like all steps forward, the Mk262 is far from perfect, but improvements are significant enough to justify making the change, and making it now, while it is still likely to help troops currently engaged in fighting.

Good show!

/John

 

21 Oct 04

More on USMC rifle upgrades, from a friend in the system:

“USMC has contracted for 50,000 ACOGs. The goal is to make every Marine infantry rifle ACOG equipped within two years. This optical sight, mounted on M-16s and M-4s was popular with Marines in Fallujah last fall and generated large numbers of enemy casualties. Marine riflemen are sold on it!

I bought one when I was in Somalia. For what we do with rifles, they’re hard to beat.

As expected, the match-shooting community, within the Corps, never wanted it, is distressed with this development, and have made their collective unhappiness known.”

/John

 

21 Oct 04

More details on the ACOG and the Mk262:

“The M262 round shoots and functions well in the AR-15 system, but, in current lots, bullets are not adequately crimped onto the case mouth. As a result they sometimes push back into the case during feeding, causing feeding failures. This defect is easily fixed and may have already been in subsequent lots.

In my experience, it still often takes several good body hits with the Mk262 to get people down and out. Terminal effect is thus only marginally superior to that of the M855. However, penetration of both homogeneous and layered barriers is substantially improved over the old round.”

“The model ACOG being purchased by the USMC is the TA-31. With 3.5X magnification, it is robust and easy to use. There is an internal tritium lamp to illuminate the reticle, as well as a light-gathering fiberoptic atop. Resolution is superb, and we consistently see instant improvement in scores as soon as rifles are equipped with them. The unit is exceedingly popular with troops currently deployed. Everyone seems to benefit.”

/John

 

21 Oct 04

From an LEO friend who works in an area where thick fog is common, year around:

“We tested tritium ‘night sights’ installed on department pistols. One foggy evening we found that the glowing inserts made a green halo of light around the weapon and the user’s face. This halo was so evident that one only had to scan the area in order to locate anyone with the tritium sights. This glow was evident from all angels.

The phenomenon prevents concealment in fog. There is no way to hide. For this reason alone, our department elected not to adopt night sights.”

Comment: If equipment is tested long enough and under enough varied conditions, weaknesses will become evident. The forgoing is a phenomenon that I have not seen, simply because I obviously don’t train enough in thick fog!

A solution is to have the glowing dot on the front sight and not the rear. I have several guns set up that way.

Another way to address the problem is with Jim Garthwaite’s “gold dot” front sight. I have several of my pistols set up that way, and I can clearly see that gold dot in nearly any light. It doesn’t “glow,” but it is visible in any lighting, except, of course, for total darkness.

/John

 

26 Oct 04

Sage advice from a colleague and Instructor:

“I had a basic student last weekend. Of course, I explained to him why we repeatedly check guns manually and visually to assure they’re in the condition we want them. I also stressed to need to retract one’s support hand during the draw. I explained that these safety steps need to be always in place in order to prevent that ‘one in a thousand’ accident.

He cocked his head and replied, ‘It seems that, WHEN THE OUTCOME IS GRIEVOUS ENOUGH, THE MATHEMATICAL PROBABILITY OF THE EVENT ACTUALLY HAPPENING BECOMES IRRELEVANT!

Comment: That is, of course, precisely the reason we train, practice stoppage reductions, and go out into the world armed. Wisdom comes from all sources!

/John

 

28 Oct 04

This is from one of our Marine students who joined us for a pistol class last January in Yuma, AZ. He was deployed to Iraq shortly thereafter and is just now returning to CONUS:

“John. Just wanted to let you know that your philosophies caused quite a stir over here in Iraq. Many other SNCOs, and even officers, where taken aback by the aggressive attitude I had, garnered from your class, about continuously carrying my weapon in a high state of readiness, everywhere. However, as the level of excitement went up, they all came to me, one-by-one, and asked me to teach them. As you taught us, ‘Where you stand depends on where you sit!’

I carried a rifle AND A PISTOL whenever we went outside the wire. Even though I had a formidable security element with our team, I took personal responsibility for my own safety and was PERSONALLY PREPARED AT ALL TIMES, both inside and outside the wire. Your lessons on pistol concealment came in handy!

I also wanted to let you and your wife know that all of us from ______ , that you trained, came home safe.”

Lesson: Nitobe: “The very possession of a dangerous instrument imparts to him a feeling and an air of self-respect and responsibility.”

Ghandi: “When faced with a choice between violence and cowardice, always choose violence”.

Their world is defined by “rules.” OURS ISN’T. Victory is the only reality in the universe!

/John

 

29 Oct 04

Beware of UPS Stores!

Recently, I attempted to ship a broken gun via a UPS Store in a large, metro area in the Midwest. Part were dissembled, and the weapons itself was broken. In fact, I was shipping it back to the manufacturer for repair. I’ve done this same thing many times.

Unknown to me, the local PD has instituted a “turn in your neighbor” policy, where UPS Store employees are instructed to pilfer any package they consider “suspicious.” Such pilfering is done out of sight of the shipper and without his knowledge or consent. It is clearly illegal, but nobody seems to care. I got caught in the trap, and my package ended up with the local PD. I was never notified by UPS or the UPS Store, and, when I called them, they played dumb and claimed to know nothing about it. I called a number they gave me, and it turned out to be the number of the PD. This bureau seems intent on manufacturing criminals where there are none, and they look upon all gun owners as outlaws.

In any event, I got my package back, but it took six weeks. The UPS Store did fully refund all shipping and packaging charges. My letter and calls to the PD all went unanswered for weeks. Only when I retained a local lawyer and had him write a pointed letter did they suddenly learn how to use a telephone! The fact that I am also a police officer did not seem to do anything in my favor.

When one tries to ship a gun, and he tells the shipper it is a gun, the gun will routinely be stolen. I’ve always chosen to go low profile. I am still persuaded that is the best way to go. However, UPS and UPS Stores are particularly vehement gun haters, and this city has a gun-hating, gun-owner-harassing agenda, which is enforced as if it were law.

All is well that ends well, but there are some important lessons:

>Never ship anything important via UPS. FedEx is much friendlier, and they seem happier to have your business.

>Don’t use UPS Stores. There are plenty of other places that are more agreeable and don’t ask questions.

>Whatever shipping place you use, always pay with a credit card. Knowing you can later contest a charge makes employees less likely to mess up a sale.

>Always insure the package. Again, they don’t like to mess up a done deal.

>Never leave a shipping place without a receipt, and a tracking number. Again, once the package is in the system, they tend to leave it alone. Don’t just drop it off and believe them when they say, “We’ll take care of it.”

>Have the package wrapped at one place, and than take it to another for actual shipping. Don’t perform both functions at the same place.

>Don’t ship from any big, metro area. The local PD may be bored!

>Don’t have anything on the package marking or label that suggest it contains a gun. Words like “gunsmithing,” “arms,” “gunworks,” etc are all an invitation to pilferage.

>If store employees start asking nosy questions, don’t answer them. Take your package and leave immediately.

It won’t get better. We warriors have to find, as always, ways to work around whatever barriers are erected.

/John

 

30 Oct 04

Nearly everyone responding reported negative experiences with UPS and particularly UPS Stores. They are to be avoided like the plague!

Additional shipping tips:

>Additional words to avoid: “Glock,” SIG,” Smith & Wesson,” etc. Too recognizable.
>Never tell anyone what is in the box. I ship lot of “machine parts” and “electronic components.”
>Never check the “Hazmat” box on the label
>Best day to ship is Monday. The system is busy. Everything keeps moving. Worst day is Friday.
Your package will be stagnant over the weekend. Lots of opportunities for sticky fingers to find it.
>Always ship overnight. That way, you’ll know right away if something went awry.

/John

 

30 Oct 04

This is a wonderful message from USMC M/Sgt Earl Mitchell, now deployed in Iraq. I asked that certain supplies be sent to him (message duplicated below).

Response was great and is sincerely appreciated by Vicki and me and all our Marine students:

“Mr and Mrs Farnam,

Well, bare with me for I’m not of elegant speech or writhing, but I will do my best to express my gratitude for your support, and support of your friends and comrades over here. There have been some wonderful packages containing items that all have enjoyed.

It is nice to see the faces of those who receive gifts, like a knife, a flashlight, cleaning gear, socks, and Surefire batteries. They all know these items our not cheap and are usually bewildered when they receive such items; thinking who in the world would be so generous to give such things and how did I get so lucky to receive them. For many, a Sgt and below, they have not had a wonderful childhood were parents had money, nor do they. So, buying items such as ones given by you and your friends is a luxury they do not have. I know lot of us take this for granted and can buy these things with little or no thought of the price, but, to the ones to whom I give these items, I can see written in their faces the thanks that they will never be able to express, but they cherish the item as if they had received a sack of gold!”

A message like that makes my day! If you want to really help these guys, put a package together and send it on. Here is the original message:

What deployed Marines need:

Cold Steel, Emerson knives, fixed and folding
White socks
Dry lube, Hoppe’s, Outer’s, Remington
9mm and 223 Boresnake
Beretta OEM 92F normal-capacity magazines
Leatherman tools
Surefire flashlights
LED “soft” lights

This is what my students in Country tell me they need and can’t get. If you want to help, put together a care package and send it to:

MSgt Earl Mitchell
MWSG-37
UIC 41106
FPO, AP 96426-1106

It will get to those who need it.

/John