Erek Sanchez

Shot Placement and Effectiveness

If you’re reading this, you probably carry a firearm either for self defense or for duty. And, if you’ve been around the internet for more than five minutes, you know that on just about any forum you go to, someone somewhere is going to tell you what caliber you should be carrying. Interestingly, very few individuals are discussing shot placement.

Whether it’s 9mm, .40 Smith and Wesson, .45 ACP, or something a little more exotic, each and every shooter has an opinion on what caliber is the best and why.

You may have even been drug into the not-so-friendly debate over the same topic. While it’s true there are some points where one load excels over another, more electrons, ink, and hot air are burned on this subject than probably needs to be.

We’ve all heard the same arguments being trotted out and a long-winded replies (and hey, I’m guilty of being a ballistics geek myself) about why this load is better, or that caliber is better. However, would you believe that when looking at the data from a street use perspective, the level of effectiveness between calibers is close enough to be irrelevant? Surely, there are differences between the calibers, based on tissue damage and size of the projectile, velocity, etc.

So, why is it that no matter WHAT caliber is used, one man’s wonderbullet fails miserably for someone else?

Take a step back and think about the human body for a moment, and then think about where exactly the human anatomy’s most vital spots are. This should help, for those who might need a refresher:

If we look at the body, the torso is basically divided in half. Waste recycling happens below the solar plexus, and the process of keeping oxygen in the body happens above it. Most folks don’t think back to their Anatomy 101 when they consider stopping a threat, but when we are under the gun, we need the target to go down, fast, and the fastest way to do that is either through bleeding him dry (loss of blood), or taking out the body’s electrical system (hitting the central nervous system).

And when you look at the human body, you’ve got a far greater chance of hitting the heart, lungs, and liver than you do of hitting the spine. All of the major pipes that keep the blood flowing through the body are concentrated in this one area, centered in the chest, above the solar plexus. And with this concentration of blood and breathing, it’s the best place to land your shots.

So, why the anatomy lesson?

Most targets available that are popular with training and your average shooter for practicing with his gun don’t really cover the difference between center of mass and the center of the chest. In fact, most of them place the center of mass too low, and most shooters under stress will land their shots too low to hit the vital organs in the chest, leaving the bulk of the damage in the liver, stomach, intestines, and kidneys.

Now, no doubt the guy is going to bleed out sooner or later from these shots unless he’s promptly cared for, but that’s not our goal. Even with these grievous wounds, the threat can still remain active. In fact, in cases of altered mental states from drugs or other emotional factors, the subject may not even register you’ve shot him.

When looking again at the vast number of accounts of shooting incidents, one thing that is exceedingly clear is that a psychological factor isn’t reliable in stopping a threat, so we have to rely on physically incapacitating our subject. That’s where anatomy comes in. By doing grievous damage to the vital organs for breathing and pumping blood, we can more quickly deprive the brain and body of oxygen, quickly rendering the target incapacitated.

Modern training targets, too, are coming out with their bullseye placement updated to reflect this, too. Training yourself with targets that show the ten ring in this upper chest area will help the shooter naturally associate the vital organ area on the body with a distance from the shoulders, making quick acquisition under stress far easier than if you have to stop and think about it.

At the end of the day, if you’re going to walk away from a confrontation, a lot of factors play into it. Using ammunition that does a lot of damage to the tissue while penetrating deeply enough to reach the vital organs is one. Using a caliber you shoot well in a gun that you know to be 100% reliable is another.

But more importantly than anything, hitting the vital organs repeatedly is the most important factor.

Kit Review | HK45 Handgun

Many people regard Heckler and Koch as one of the best firearms manufacturers in the world. Their rifles and pistols have earned a reputation for being reliable and sturdy under the harshest of conditions, and have been for longer than even Gaston’s Miracle Pistol. A favorite of the US Navy and law enforcement around the world, the HK USP became synonymous with a no-frills, all business gun, and with its durability and 12-round capacity, it brought a world of .45 ACP hurt to forces looking to increase their ammunition capacity without overloading themselves on weight.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of the 1911. But with the HK USP, a pistol of roughly the same weight with 5 more rounds per magazine is a good thing. Add in the ability to service it without a lot of training on the theory of operation, and you’ve got a great tool.

Only one problem.

HK45: USP 2.0

The HK USP is big. It’s a beefy animal that not every shooter finds fits their hands well. Also, while accurate, the USP was not generally what many would call match grade. But the platform is sound.

With the now-defunct Joint Combat Pistol Program coming on the board, the US Military sought out a new pistol that would bring the best of many worlds together: 1911 ergonomics, external safeties, higher capacity, durability, and a grip any recruit could get their hands around. Many different companies provided entrants into the program, and HK was no exception.

Enlisting the help of Larry Vickers, a former Delta operator and one of the foremost 1911 pistolsmiths in the world, HK sought out to do what few other people had done with their platforms: Take two great systems and build one pistol that brought all of the best features of each to the table. Combining elements of the 1911, USP, and HK P30 platform, and including new features such as the use of a rubber o ring to tighten the barrel to slide fit, HK felt they had a winner.

Comparing the HK USP to the HK45 shows exactly why this gun is such a great pistol, too. Overall, the pistol feels smaller. A narrower grip and slightly narrower frame make the gun easier to conceal, while a greater effort to dehorn and smooth out the pistol leaves the gun less blocky and overall more comfortable for concealment. All of the normal controls you would expect are where they should be: Thumb safety/decocker, easy-hit mag release, large trigger guard, and slide release.

Parts commonality between the USP and the HK45 is also a good thing. While not all of the parts are similar, most of the major components can be used, meaning that entirely new stores of parts don’t need to be acquired.

A Pistol for All Shooters

One of the best features I found on this pistol was its ability to convert the pistol between modes of operation based on the shooter’s comfort and desired use. 1911 fans can rejoice at the fact that with the switch of a plate, cocked and locked is easy and safe, and also allows the shooter to attain the thumb’s high shooting position (thumb on top of the safety), without activating the decocker.

In its natural state, the gun can be carried and used as a cocked and locked single action or a double action pistol with the hammer down. And, once again, with another switch, the gun can be made double action only. An available kit even makes the gun’s trigger in this mode light enough to compete with the average glock or striker-fired pistol.

Another feature that sold me was the ergonomics. Where I have problems with most pistols in the way they fill up my hand and feel when I shoot, this gun absolutely doesn’t have that problem. The grip’s shape and replaceable backstraps, while some shooters might not see the utility without using it, makes the gun’s size just right for shooters with a variety of hand sizes.

Accurate and Dependable

I have had the pleasure of shooting about 2,000 rounds through my HK45 so far, and what surprised me most about this pistol was the accuracy. The Smith and Wesson M&P and Glock that I tried previous to this were certainly accurate enough, but when this HK45 proceeded to land a 1″ group at 15 yards off hand, soundly beating everything but my high-end custom 1911, I knew I had a plastic pistol I could really get into. And, a two thousand rounds without cleaning may seem like a lot to expect a pistol to handle when you’re used to keeping clean guns. However, ToddG over at pistol-training.com ran his gun through an impressive 50,000 round torture test over several weeks, without cleanings, and had nothing but good to say.

Drawbacks

Like anything, the HK45 is a compromise. It has a lot of great points to it. However, there are also drawbacks.

Like the USP, the HK45 is still fairly large. The compact version is also fairly large for what it is. Another issue is that the guts of the pistol itself are still more complicated than a striker fired or single action 1911 pistol, so service in the field is probably not the easiest chore. Unfortunately, any time you introduce more mechanical actions to the gun, such as a decocker, double action, etc., the mechanical bits become more complex, so this is probably a necessary evil of the design.

Also, like most other things made by HK, everything’s expensive. Magazines, parts, etc. all come with a hefty markup. And, at $70 per magazine, it hurts the wallet for this pistol if you need or want to keep around a lot of spares.

The biggest downside I found, though, is the magazine capacity. Where the USP holds 12 rounds per magazine, the HK45 only holds 10 (though I’ve noticed that my HK45 Mags actually hold 11 rounds, with the last being difficult to insert, and I doubt it’s officially supported.) Since the HK45 uses the same mag tubes as the Compact USP’s 10 Round mag option, using the USP’s magazines is out of the question. Also, HK has indicated that there’s no plans for a higher capacity option.

Bottom Line

The HK45 is an above-average pistol, providing exceptional accuracy and ergonomics in a package that can run in the harshest environments. It is truly a magnificent pistol, if the price tag is worth it to you. With 10-round magazines and a great trigger, this is also a pistol that makes for an excellent service weapon or defensive sidearm. Unfortunately, it’s hard to ignore the downsides.

Mechanically complex clockworks makes routine maintenance and servicing more difficult and less field-friendly, with air-soluble springs and small parts. I installed springs and completely disassembled my pistol as is my routine for any gun on first acquisition to inspect the parts, and while it wasn’t the most pleasant 20 minutes of my life, it was also not the worst experience I’ve ever had.

This pistol earns a solid A- from me, its issues far from outweighing the features and benefits the pistol offers, and any serious shooter should consider this firearm, or one of its Compact brothers, as an exceptionally good option.

See it in Action

Here, Todd G. from pistol-training.com shows us how it’s done, shooting the HK45 like a champ.

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(Some photos courtesy of HK-USA.com)

Kit Review: Benchmade 950BK Osborne Rift folding knife

Gibbs’ Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife. Knives in this day and age are about like cards or hand tools: Everyone and their grandma makes them, and you can buy ’em for just about any price you can think of, at any store you can name. I think even the girl scouts are selling them with their cookies these days. With so many options, picking a knife that will stand up to use and abuse can be a bit more tricky than one might think.

It’s All About The Steel

Spend any amount of time on a knife enthusiast’s forum, and like the average gun forum discussion about caliber, the topic of steel will come up. And up, and up and up. It’s like Aunt Louise’s Been Dip, it just won’t stay down. However, for good reason, the topic is built around a kernel of wisdom that anyone looking for a good knife is going to need to be aware of: Not all steels are equal, and not every steel is good for the same thing.

Take 420c for example. This is by far the most common steel you can find a pocket knife in. This steel is great for light use, but if you’re like me and use a knife for everything that needs cutting, chopping or prying, it’s very poor quality. It’s soft so it dulls very quickly. Also, because it’s soft, it will tend to deform, chip, or break very easily if put to hard use.

When looking at knives for high durability, most people recommend Aus8, S30V, or 154cm. I won’t bore you with the metallurgical details, simply say that these steels are right in the middle between hardness and flexibility. They take an edge and hold it, are durable and won’t break if really used, and are corrosion-resistant enough that unless you plan to go diving, will stand up to the rigors of daily wear and tear.

Benchmade: American Made and High Quality

As far as knives go, there are as many brands from common to high end as there are ARs or 1911s. One of the best names among these choices is Benchmade. The knife company, based in Oregon, has been around for a long while and specializes in making high-quality cutlery. Available in fixed and auto-opening and manual-opening folders, their prices range from budget to collectors only. Their knives are divided as well into various categories for use: Black being lower-dollar hard-use, no-nonsense knives to Gold being the high-end collector’s edition.

Since being introduced to Benchmade through their basic Griptillian folder, I’ve been a solid fan of these knives and have carried nothing else for years. After about 10 years of stripping wire, cutting rope, shaving wood, and scraping steel, my Griptillian folder finally bit the dust, breaking in half while prying loose a stuck pin.

Rift: Hard Use Folder

Anyone who’s known me for any period of time knows that I’m a huge knife aficionado. I own everything from cheap basic folders to high end custom knives, antique blades to the very latest in modern steel. I like to think of myself as discerning.

When I went looking for a replacement knife, I found the Rift, a knife that looked as good as it felt in the hand. Featuring Benchmade’s patented Axis locking mechanism, G10 grip panels for durability, and 154cm steel heat treated to 58-61HRC, the blade could stand up to a fairly good beating, and still hold an edge. For what I end up doing to knives, this was a good thing, especially since this was meant to be a daily carry knife, not just a shelf piece I’d be afraid to use.

I’m not afraid to spend money on good kit, often finding out that by cheaping out on gear ends up costing me more in the long run with a pile of broken or otherwise useless crap that ends up being thrown out (Goodwill looks at you funny if you try to donate cheap plate carriers, drop leg holsters and crappy tactical stuff), so considering Benchmade’s lifetime warranty and their great customer service when I had to beg for stuff for the Griptillian, I didn’t argue too much at the $173 price tag.

Daily Experience

4 years in with this knife, I can say that it was money well spent. My personal choice was to go with the partially serrated edge. I’ve been asked a lot of times why, and it isn’t until you can show them how much easier it is to cut rope, shipping container straps and strip wire with serrations than with a straight edge that you can truly do it justice. This knife has gone through all that, and more. It’s taken a hit from 220v electricity, been under water, and cut everything from small trees to opening up clothes to get at a cut.

In those 4 years, I’ve sharpened it maybe once a month, and never had issues with rust. It’s worn a little, been scraped against concrete and run over by a truck, and the thing still works. The pocket clip holds the knife right on the edge of a pocket within easy reach, and the locking mechanism is both smooth enough for one-handed opening (whether you flick the blade open or simply rotate it open with a thumb), and sturdy enough that the blade doesn’t collapse back on your fingers because the lock gave way (A good reason I’ll never own a knife with the spring bar lock along the inside of the handle.)

Bottom Line

Benchmade as a company is top notch, and you couldn’t go wrong with any of their products. The Rift knife happens to be my personal favorite for the shape of the blade and mix of features at its price point, and based on 4 years of use, is hard to beat. If I were going into work or combat, I would be hard pressed to think of a knife I’d prefer over this one, and that includes a LOT of high-dollar “tactical” knives that just don’t do the job as well at as good of a price.

For utility and quality alone, the blade gets an A+.

Kit Review: Burris Fastfire Micro Red Dot

Micro Red Dot sites are an interesting animal. Tiny enough to truly be useful on a pistol, these sites come in a wide variety of types, designs, reticle designs and sizes, and quality. In fact, with the growing desire to replace iron sights on everything with a red dot site, more vendors than ever are coming up with their own version of these tiny optics for use by everyone. The first in my series of reviews is the Burris FastFire Mifro Red Dot optic.

Entry Level Optics

As a long time optics snob, Burris as a company has always fallen squarely in the entry level category. Not the finest piece of glass or most durable, for the casual shooter who wants something inexpensive to start out with they do OK.

The FastFire series of optics is no exception to this, sporting a price tag in the sub-$300 category. For this price, our lucky purchaser receives the optic and a mount. Mounts are available to adapt the optic to Picatinny rail, most common handguns, and shotguns without any rails by inserting between the stock and the receiver, which is not a bad deal.

The reviews by other owners of this device were mostly positive, citing excellent results on .22s and AR 15s, among other applications, leaving the optic’s reputation pretty positive.

Unboxing

When I received the optic, I admit I was pretty excited. The packaging for the device shows a high-speed competition shooter with the little device sitting on top of a Beretta M9/92, and while I know from years of experience that pictures don’t equate to quality, I was hopeful that this device would do the job.

The optic itself came with a screwdriver needed to unlock and adjust the windage and elevation, a dial to indicate the scale of adjustment as it has no tactile clicks, battery, mount, mounting hardware, and the adapter for the optic.

Since I planned to test this using my trusty .45 ACP 1911, I had purchased also the 1911 Novak site adapter, which I was pleased to see came in a dovetail adapter and profiled plate that firmly sits the optic on the crown of the gun. Compared to other adapters I have seen which simply boost the optic mounting plate above the top of the slide, this actually hugged the slide in a way that made it lower and more pleasing to the eye.

Mounting and Sighting

Mounting the device on the gun was no tough job. A simple nylon drift punch to push out the rear sight, inserting the wedge, then setting the adapter plate and optic on top of the slide, finally screwing it all down until it was tight and didn’t move with a drop here and there of blue loctite to aid the optic in staying in place.

The Locks in Question. No, that’s not my target, unfortunately.

Once the device had been mounted, I checked and zero’d the device using a laser bore sight as I do with all of my guns when experimenting with optics, and got it to a working zero.

This process was less intuitive than I had imagined, as the laser unit in the gun floats unless locked down by two set screws. This was my first time dealing with this kind of issue, and I discovered that this process lead to a less than ideal initial zero process.

Once the laser had been nudged into zero with the windage and elevation screws, tightening the set screws would throw it off, and it took several attempts of back and forth until I was sure it was set with the laser.

The Proof is in the Pudding, or Questioning Your Sanity

With my new red dot site installed, I was confident that my old, outdated, obsolete 1911 was given a new lease on life and ready for the 21st Century. I stepped out back to my shooting range and set up the gun on sandbags for the initial fire-sighting and testing. After a few rounds of proof-checking and working the gun in, I was reasonably confident that my gun was zero’d to the ammo I was using, and began running my gun through its paces.

Now, have any of you ever had the zero on your optic walk? It’s a frustrating, mind-boggling experience that leaves you dazed and questioning your ability with a firearm. After all, if the optic is saying you’re on center of mass and the bullet actually hits somewhere in Tahiti, something’s seriously wrong with your shooting.

Two magazines and a lot of self doubt later, I began to realize that it wasn’t my shooting that was the culprit here, but the optic’s dot moving around.

I checked and rechecked the set screws and they were tight each time. Never the less, I vowed to make extra sure and got out the Red Loctite, set the zero again, then loctited the set screws in place, and resolved to leave it to dry for 24 hours before I retested. After that period of time, I tested the screws and was absolutely certain that those bad boys weren’t going anywhere.

With the gun loaded for bear and a deep burning desire to show this thing who’s boss, I set up again with a fresh target and took a couple of practice swings. Dead nuts zero, and not moving at all. Victory, I thought. Second magazine in, though, my heart sank as I watched my perfect laser-guided groups begin to open up and walk around again. Again I checked the screws, and again everything was tight as it should be.

Round Two

To be fair to Burris, their customer service was outstanding. I explained the situation and they were kind and helpful, and offered to replace the optic. I obliged after going through all of the steps to make sure that yes, the optic was tightly secured to the gun, and no, the set screws weren’t, in fact, moving.

I received my replacement optic and mounted it up, going through the same procedure to zero, using blue loctite this time to allow me to unscrew and adjust the laser. After a few hours to let the blue loctite set, another box of ammo in hand, I set out to again do some benchmark testing. First mag down, optic zero’d, the gun and optic worked as I expected them to.

Imagine my disappointment when, on Mag 4, using my standard range loads*, the optic began again to wander its zero. Once again, I checked everything twice and double-checked how it was set up on the gun. Once again, everything was where it should be and tight and torqued down.

Bottom Line

Another call to Burris, and they accepted both the replacement and the original back with a full refund to me for the purchase price, since I figured going through the process of replacing optic after optic was a waste of time when I could move up to a higher end device and save myself the trouble.

Asking around, I found that of the people that I knew that used the Burris option, all of them did so on .22s, where they had no issues whatsoever. My conclusion, then, was that unfortunately the optic was just not built to take a higher caliber gun and its recoil.

All of that said, this optic well and truly earned a D-. While I would call it a straight F given its uselessness for any handgun or rifle of sufficient caliber, this optic does still function well for .22s and given the price, is cheap enough to be attractive for use on a .22 target pistol for someone just starting out, so there’s that. Hopefully the Trijicon, Leupold, JPoint, and DROptic function better.

Stay Safe and Shoot Straight.

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* As some of you may know, I have a penchant for self abuse. MOST of my loads, then, for the .45 ACP start at +P and go up. However, I realize that the majority of shooters aren’t so masochistic, so for the purposes of testing, my range loads are, actually, very nice and gentle, a good 780 FPS in .45 ACP.

BLACKHAWK BLOCK GO BAG | First Impressions

BLACK HAWK has been around for many years supplying gear for operators, hunters, and outdoorsman. It would seem that variations of travel bags are exhausted, but these guys have made it a habit of making the right bag for your needs. Lets take a look at the BLOCK GO BAG, and my first impressions.

It is a small but functional bag that has many uses. I myself found it being a great and cool looking diaper bag, it comes with an assortment of small molle type pouches that can be attached inside or out using the S.T.R.I.K.E webbing. It does not have the capacity to serve as a multi-use tactical bag, but it does have versatility as a small GO-BAG. It’s features include:

• Seven removable heavy-duty mesh interior pouches with clear windows to label contents
• Multiple carry handles
• Padded, removable shoulder straps for backpack or sling pack configuration
• Shoulder straps can be stowed inside padded back panel
• Internal and external S.T.R.I.K.E.® webbing for attaching pouches or accessories
• External zipper pocket and various lash-down points
• Three-sided zipper allows the main compartment to be fully opened for bag to lay flat or be hung vertically using the integral strap

As you can see, there are many variations to this pack. The pouches provide convenient storage for small items you may have.

For a day at the park with the kids or for your essential carries this bag is for you. Not too many plastic pieces that will break and the stitching is superb, exceeding 10 stitches-per-inch. All in all, this is great gift idea for the person that has “stuff” to carry.

Templar Jungle Training | Advanced Jungle Tactics and Survival Wisdom

To be proficient in any discipline you must train constantly and with vigilance. To shoot, operate, and fight well you must practice whenever possible. Finding a school or program to meet your needs takes time and much research. Fortunately there are many reputable and top-notch schools that are taught by former SOF and Law Enforcement personnel that have curriculum’s available for CQB methods, Maritime Security, Firearm proficiency and other subjects important to the war-fighter, gun enthusiast or adventure seeker. The Templar Jungle Training School is one unique campus that shares the wisdom of decorated and experienced war veterans. It’s Advanced Jungle Tactics and Survival Training at its highest level.

Who are they and how do they do this? What it is not is a “Be-A-Ranger-For-The-Day-Adventure”. What it is, it’s having an excellent if not legendary instructor cadre made up of former Selous Scouts, French Foreign Legion, Rangers and British SAS. These old guys bring their experience and expertise not to teach but to expound and fine tune of what you already know. When I spoke with Tim Bax, former Selous Scout, he said just that, “I’m not going to teach you anything. I am going to take you back, back-in-the-day.” Meaning, how to work situations with limited or no technology, rely on your training and common sense. Training today’s active duty military students takes a different approach, especially U.S. Troops. What the major opinion is that the SPECOPS community relies too much on technology. Over reliance on SAT Based COMS and NAV is detrimental, map reading skills are secondary and many are not proficient. Combine that with the current ROE’s, the SPECWAR Fighter is very limited to do what they were created to do, fight unconventionally. The courses are designed to fit each individual unit according to their needs and requirements. There are three types:1. Jungle warfare in addition to tropical medicine and tactical combat casualty care 2. Jungle assimilation 3. Adventure and team building exercises. The training base camp can be made up to reflect the jungle environment to which the deployment is to be made, whether it be the jungles of South America, Asia or Africa. The location is ideal, the mission…bring back the unconventional back into unconventional warfare.

Where do they do this? Their website advertises, “The Templar II Remote Jungle training camp is nestled in an almost impregnable gorge beneath triple canopy rain forest on the banks of the Tanama River, Puerto Rico, on the outer fringes of the Caribbean Islands. The open-air camp is constructed of timber and natural materials found in the jungle. It comprises kitchen facilities, ablutions, lecture facilities, fireside chat facilities and much more. The area in which the camp is situated is wholly owned by Templar II Associates and covers a vast track of hugely challenging mountainous terrain in which can be found thickly covered, meandering streams, deep, fast flowing rivers and cascading waterfalls. The area in which the camp is situated is considered a “friendly and safe habitat”, free from poisonous snakes and dangerous animals.”

Not a former or current service member? No problem! The training is not limited to only military, they do have civilian, GOV and non-GOV courses available on a regular basis. Just recently a group of women took a week to learn the basics of jungle survival, in which they did very well, not to mention having tons of fun. The civilian courses offered range from disaster relief teams to aircrew survival training for airlines. Maybe you just want the knowledge or know how for your next expedition into the Amazon or points beyond. The instructor staff will have a curriculum to fit your needs.

What makes this school truly unique is the experience and the wisdom they have to share, the wisdom that they are willing pass down. All you have to do is listen and learn. “What we are here to do is to introduce you to the person you are” – Opening Staff Statement.