Jeff Cooper

More Power: The 10mm Auto

In spite of being forced to take a serious back seat to the .40 Smith & Wesson (which many 10mm devotees refer as the .40 Short & Weak), and the fact that very few modern pistols are being chambered for the 10mm Auto, it has made a bit of a comeback as a hunting round. Guys like Ted Nugent and Razor Dobbs have championed the 10, taking game up to the size of elk with it, and singing the praises of the cartridge in the hunting fields. It approaches the power of the .41 Rem. Mag., but in an autoloader.

SIG, Federal, Remington, Winchester, Hornady and other boutique companies make 10mm Auto ammunition, loaded with good bullets that are suitable for both hunting and for self-defense as well. Federal Premium’s Trophy Bonded 180-grain bullet at 1,275 fps would make for an excellent deer or hog, as would the Hornady 180-grain XTP at 1,180 fps. It’s obvious that distances will be on the shorter side of life, due to the limitations of barrel length and sighting radius, so with the higher impact velocities you’ll want a stout bullet to guarantee good penetration.

We are all familiar with U.S. Marine Col. John D. “Jeff” Cooper, his passion for defensive firearms training, and his love for the M1911 in .45ACP. He was the founder of the American Pistol Institute—you may know it by its modern name: Gunsite Academy. At API Col. Cooper taught the skills necessary to defend one’s self, and instilled the appropriate mindset for that defense. Invariably, the good Colonel preferred the .45ACP as the tool for that job. However, as good as the venerable Browning-designed cartridge was, is and shall be, Col. Cooper had a desire for a faster, harder hitting defensive cartridge.

In the early 1980s, Col. Cooper sat at the drawing board to develop a cartridge of suitable diameter, which would drive a 200-grain bullet to a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps, in deference to the .45ACPs heavy bullet concept, but with a bit more horsepower. What he ended up with—with the help of Whit Collins, John Adams and Irving Stone—would morph into the 10mm Automatic. Released in 1983 in the BrenTen handgun, the 10mm Automatic offered and improvement on the exterior and terminal ballistics of the 9mm Luger and .45ACP. Using a cut off .30 Remington case (a cartridge with .30/30 WCF ballistics, but of different conformation), measuring 0.992” long, the straight-walled design would function like the Luger and .45ACP in that it would headspace off the case mouth, and it would use the .38-40’s .400” diameter bullets.

Fast forward three years, in Miami, Florida. Two bank robbers, William Russell Matix and Michael Lee Platt were in a shootout with eight FBI agents, and despite being outnumbered, they were winning. Using a 12-gauge shotgun, a .357 revolver and a Ruger Mini-14 rifle, the robbers had held off the FBI for over five minutes, killing two agents, and subsequently dying for their efforts. A long investigation followed, and the FBI laid a portion of the blame for the fiasco on the 9mm Luger and .38 Special sidearms that the agents were carrying. The Bureau determined that these calibers had exhibited a lack of stopping power, and the hunt was on to arm FBI agents with a semi-automatic pistol (the difficulty of reloading a revolver in a fire fight was an issue in this case as well) of suitable caliber to stop an armed opponent, at distances greater than the .45 ACP could.

The FBI ordered 10,000 Smith & Wesson Model 1076 pistols, with a 4¼” barrel chambered in 10mm Auto, for issuance to their agents, but the order was cancelled when the recoil of the Big 10 proved to be too much for some agents to handle effectively. The ammunition was down-loaded, leaving a substantial airspace, and while the terminal ballistics of the lighter load was acceptable to the FBI, Smith & Wesson decided to shorten the case, resulting in the .40 S&W we all know so well. And, it seemed as though the 10mm would be headed for obscurity.

If you like the way a full-sized frame shoots, but want a bit more power than the .45 ACP has to offer, wrap your hands around the Big 10, and you may find the handgun experience you’ve been looking for.

by Philip Massaro

The Hidden Potential of the Practical Bolt Action Rifle

Bolt action guns don’t get the attention they deserve. They produce good accuracy at an affordable price and are generally rugged and reliable. While less aggressive looking than an AR, they are proven technology which can fire full power cartridges that out perform the .223

Chris Baker at Lucky Gunner has a been thinking about bolt action rifles. Here is a great video about how to select and operate a practical bolt action rifle and where to train with it..

The Mossberg MVP Patrol Bolt-Action Centerfire Rifle 7.62 NATO is a moderately priced rifle loaded with features. The coolest thing about this rifle is the patented MVP 7.62 Dual Push bolt design feeds from both standard AR-10 style (LR308/SR25) and M1A/M14 style magazines. The Lightning Bolt Action LBA Adjustable Trigger is user-adjustable from 3 to 7 pounds.

Sight Picture Theories - TheArmsGuide.com

Improve Your Shooting: Sight Picture Theory

Managing sight picture is one firearms fundamental that contributes to shooting accurately. Grip, stance, trigger pull, and even the way you breathe all play important parts in repeatable, accurate shooting. However, the point of this post is to focus on sight picture and a few of the prevailing theories on how to use it effectively to become a more accurate marksman (or markswoman, if you prefer).

This article was written with newer shooters in mind; my goal here is to help people explore some of the popular methodologies on sight picture with the hopes that it’ll get a new shooter pointed to a theory that works for them. If you’re a seasoned marksman, feel free to share this information with those less experienced.

Sights

Before we get into proper alignment, let’s talk about the sights themselves. There are several styles of sights, ranging from a notched rear sight and blade front sight, to three dot systems (two on the rear sights and one on the front sight), dot and post, adjustable target sights, to low profile bumps, and more. Aligning the front and rear sight of the pistol depends on the particular picture presented by the firearm being examined, but the general idea is fairly intuitive: line up the rear sight markers (whether dots, lines, notch, etc.) with the front sight marker.

Sight Picture Theories

Flash Front Sight

Some schools of thought follow the instruction of firearms instructor and former Marine Jeff Cooper’s recommendation to focus on the pistol’s front sight and place it over the target. Cooper explained this technique, “flash front sight,” allows the shooter to aim as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy as it is easier for the eye to focus on objects at a close distance (i.e., the distance from the eye to the hand(s) in which the pistol is held) rather than further away (i.e., the distance away from the assailant).

No Sight Shooting

Others maintain that, while accuracy is important, in self defense situations, it is more likely that the person defending themselves won’t have time to aim and would therefore be best advised to train for “no sight shooting.” This idea, taught by another former soldier and firearms instructor, Rob Pincus, teaches students to track the threat and use the pistol to “point” at it. Pincus’ reasoning is that a “pointing” gesture naturally follows the line of sight and will, for the most part, allow for accurate shot placement while still allowing the person defending themselves to keep their eyes on their assailant(s) even while moving.

6 o’clock Hold vs. Combat Hold

There is an extension of the sight picture theory discussion that focuses on target alignment. One concept, often called a “6 o’clock” hold, aligns the sights at the base of the bullseye. Some call it the “pumpkin on a post” method, with the target as the pumpkin on the post of the front sight. However, there is another alignment preference, commonly referred to as a “combat” hold, in which the shooter aligns the sights directly over the bullseye. In this theory, point of aim is equivalent to point of impact. Some firearms are configured from the factory in such a way that favors one of these methods over the other. If the sights on your pistol are adjustable, however, you can tweak them to work with whichever method you prefer.

Sight Picture During Sustained Fire

Whether you’re training at the range, or running a competition shooting stage, there will certainly be times when you want to fire several rounds in a row. How do you maintain sight picture when your muzzle rises each shot, interrupting your ideal sight alignment? Depending on who you ask, you may discover several solutions to combat this issue. One method I’ve learned is simple, and works well with Cooper’s flash front sight method. Set up the first shot while focusing on the front sight. While shooting, keep your eye on the front sight. Watch its pattern of rising and falling between shots. As your muzzle falls after a shot, fire as soon as the front sight dips far enough to align with the rear sights. This does take some practice to develop a feel for where your pistol moves while you’re shooting.

After several hundred rounds of practice, you’ll develop a degree of muscle memory for all the minute adjustments your aim requires to accomplish accurate shots. It’s similar to learning to drive. When you start, every tiny correction you make with the steering wheel is the result of active decision. Stiffly perched in your seat, you perpetually remind yourself to check your mirrors, to watch the other drivers around you, and keep your speed safe—and legal. However, after years of experience behind the wheel, your body and mind become accustomed to the adjustments that need to be made. Driving becomes almost second nature. None of the demands that driving has on your focus have changed, but after a while, the new driver evolves into a seasoned roadster who can change the radio station, sip a drink, and chat with a passenger while traveling through traffic at highway speeds. Learning to maintain sight picture during sustained fire feels much like that. It may seem drawn out and deliberate at first, but with more practice, it happens almost without thinking about it.

Final Thoughts

Test drive a few different techniques. Figure out with what style of sight picture methodology you shoot most consistently, and practice it regularly. Which sight picture theory is best is, to some degree, subjective. Some of it may have to do with how your sights are configured, but the rest is personal. After all, not all accurate shooters follow the same sight picture techniques. What sight picture alignment works best for you?

by Destinee

Destinee is also a vlogger. She publishes videos on weapons, gear, and fitness on her YouTube channel every Tuesday and Thursday.

Continued evolution in lethal handgun employment for combat situations

Continued evolution in lethal handgun employment for combat situations. First, let’s discuss the Modern Technique of the Pistol as presented by Jeff Cooper and the changes to the curriculum since his death in 2002. Then, my additions to the curriculum.

The five major concepts are:

A large caliber, the semi-automatic pistol should be used
The Weaver stance
The importance of the draw stroke
Flash sight picture
Compressed, surprised trigger break

Only numbers 1 and 2 really need an update from this list. The others need only modern language clarification.

Updates to 1:

The weapon selected should be a weapon you feel comfortable fighting with. Not shooting with. Fighting with. It should be of the largest caliber that you can rapidly score hits in a vital zone with. Rapid hits are at least 2 per second. Jeff Cooper favored the 1911 in .45ACP as I tend to as well. A quality 1911 is reliable and the .45ACP was designed as the result of testing “what cartridge actually kills cows” at the Chicago stockyards. The 9mm Luger round favored by many today was tested alongside, and .45ACP was selected as the army’s new pistol round. Jeff Cooper was also a man, and not a small one. This isn’t meant to be ugly but women aren’t as strong as men. Men aren’t even as strong as men. A 50 yr old rancher is probably stronger than a 25 yr old computer programmer. Our lives got easier, we got softer. It’s just how it is. .45ACP is too big for many modern people.

That was then. Advances in bullet design have given the 9mm a second life here in North America. A 124gr +P 9mm hollowpoint projectile of reputable manufacture basically matches the kinetic energy transference profile of a 185gr +P .45, the 9mm is not necessarily underpowered anymore. Furthermore, even considering the one shot, one kill combat performance of Medal of Honor recipients Alvin York and Thomas Baker, a couple decades of data on handgun shootings by police and civilians have shown that one shot stopping cannot be counted on. So, rapid follow up shots are required. Whatever the biggest holes you can rapidly punch in the target are, use those or as similar as you can. For me, that boils down to 9mm and .45ACP.

Aside from and in conjunction with, caliber selection is weapon selection based on magazine size. 15 rounds of 115gr 9mm are less total bullet mass in the mag than 8 230gr .45ACP rounds. Consider certain scenarios. If 4 large men confronted me and a loved one in a parking garage, can I incapacitate and kill them with what I’m carrying without reloading the gun? I think 8 rounds of .45 can do that, I’m not so sure about 7 rounds of .380ACP unless I’m John Wick… Which I am not.

So consider a weapon you’d be comfortable fighting with when we’re “asshole deep in used grenade pins” as Clint Smith likes to say. A Glock 19 is a great place to start, and a good place to end up.

Updates to 2:

The weaver stance is effective. That was proven by Weaver when he started dominating the matches in Bear County. We’ve grown since then, also. We got body armor and hard plates, so we started squaring off with the target more. This isosceles stance and weaver stance fought for years until something new emerged. Much like the grappling of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or wrestling needs to be incorporated with a solid striking discipline to create an MMA champion, the two stances needed hybridization. Arron Baruga from Guerrilla Approach calls it an athletic stance, I call it a fighting stance. The point is that the way a batter at the plate stands isn’t much different from a boxer stance. You need to be able to seamlessly go from a fist fight to shooting and back with just a draw or reholster in between.

The other major portion of the weaver stance was the grip. I’m not here to be a grip Nazi. Hits on time are hits on time. But the thumbs forward grip is superior. It is. Fight me for it.

Now, the modern language for the other 3 concepts:

Draw stroke

Drawing is reholstering in reverse. Pretty much every time you’ve drawn your pistol, you were a little worried about it. But I’ll bet you weren’t so worried about the reholster, you just smoothly put your gun away. Do that in reverse. A fast draw is a smooth draw. Smooth comes first, speed comes second.

Flash sight picture

Equal height, equal light… that’s really important at 50 yards but not at 5. You just want an acceptable sight picture. This means seeing that the front sight is generally level and generally even with the rears. A little low and to the left or a little high or right is acceptable for putting bullets in the chest. If the front sight is on it at close range, you’re probably gonna hit it.

Compressed, surprised trigger break

If you’re coming into my house to save my family, I don’t want anything looking surprised about your shooting. I want you deliberately hitting what you mean to. The concept is so easy to say and so hard to do. Just pull the trigger without moving the gun. Learn to do that rapidly. You’re going to jerk the trigger at speed, learn to do it without moving the gun. The entire system should be still with relation to the target the moment firing pin impacts primer.

Additions:

6. Muzzle control

Keep your weapon aimed on target throughout the string of fire is essential for controlled rapid fire. The goal is to have the weapon slide reciprocate in your hand as if it was locked in a vice. This allows the weapon to function at it’s best and the shortest possible time for your weapon to be not ready to put a round on target.

7. Boarding house rules

Everyone gets meat and veggies, then dessert until they pass out. The best example of this is the 22422 drill. It’s basically an el prez without the reload. All three targets wind up with 4 holes, but everyone gets two bullets(meat and veggies) before the other two holes are formed(dessert). The root of the concept is shoot everyone twice, then kill anyone still standing.

8. Target transitions

Multiple assailants need to be expected. Learn to transition from target to target during trigger reset. This is how professional shooters like Jerry Miculek are able to put hits on multiple targets in the same time it takes to put an equivalent number of hits on one target.

9. Weapons manipulation

Being able to fix your gun when something is wrong quickly is an important skill. The longer you sit there with an empty gun, stovepipe, double feed, etc. the more likely you aren’t gonna win that fight. Learn how semi-auto handguns work, in general. Learn the 8 cycles of function on a firearm. This will aid in the fast identification of problems with your firearm and therefore faster resolutions.

Pistol shooting has evolved rapidly since WWII. There are tons of people out there teaching less than ideal, outdated techniques. Vett your trainers, and vett your training periodically to make sure you don’t fall behind the power curve.

*Photo courtesy of DVIDS

Author – Seth Lewis served as a reconnaissance infantryman in the 82nd Airborne with two deployments to Iraq as well as 18 months in Afghanistan doing High Threat Protection for the Department of State. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics and is currently working as a security contractor for DHS and a firearms instructor.

The Scout Rifle: The One Rifle To Have If You Could Only Have One

Firearms come in many forms, with some designed deliberately for distinct undertakings, such as long-range marksmanship with a precision rifle or a micro subcompact built for concealed carry. Others may fill multiple roles, like an AR-15, which can be used for plinking, hunting or competition.

However, there is one type of rifle designed with excruciating detail that fits a spectrum of uses, meant to be “the one rifle you would have if you could only have just one rifle: the scout rifle.

Former Marine lieutenant colonel and firearms instructor Jeff Cooper, the founder of the legendary Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, is the architect of the versatile scout rifle concept. A leading expert on rifle shooting and marksmanship – he authored the rifleman’s tome “The Art of the Rifle” – Cooper envisioned a general-purpose rifle that could be used for hunting and fighting.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Cooper began prescribing the characteristics of what would constitute the scout rifle, named so as it would befit the lone rifleman –he described the scout as “a man who acted alone, not as a member of a team” –heading into unfamiliar and potentially hostile environments. To meet the demands of the uncertain, Cooper thought the scout rifle should be lightweight and maneuverable, but use a full-power cartridge capable of stopping large game or other threats to the shooter’s person.

While Cooper’s ideas weren’t groundbreaking by any means – the Germans employed forward-mounted scopes on their Mauser K98K rifles in World War II – it did bring together a series of features not before purpose-engineered in one rifle. The characteristics outlined by Cooper included:

Continue reading on Soldier of Fortune

Photo courtesy of Soldier of Fortune

Learn About the Scout Rifle’s Past, Present and Future in Richard Mann’s ‘The Scout Rifle Study’

(Article courtesy of Tactical Life)

Interested in learning about the scout rifle? There’s a new book out now that’ll definitely scratch that itch. It’s called “The Scout Rifle Study,” and it’s written by renowned gun/outdoor writer Richard Mann.

“The Scout Rifle Study” offers a comprehensive look at the history of the scout rifle and its place in the new millennium. The scout rifle is a general-purpose gun originally conceived, developed and promoted by the legendary Jeff Cooper back in the early 80s. Up until a few years ago, it had a fervent, cult-like following. Now, just as Cooper predicted, it’s starting to become the rifle of the 21st century.

“People are finally beginning to realize Cooper was mostly right; the simplest one-rifle solution for the world is a Scout Rifle,” Mann says.

RELATED STORY: The 6 Best Scout Rifles For Today’s Shooters

The book is being offered in a free access, webpage format, which allows for a host of features not supported in the print and e-book format. Interested readers can register at thescoutrifle.com to receive email notifications when new chapters or content have been added. Once on the site – scoutriflestudy.com – they’ll be able read, watch videos, and interact in an active discussion forum with other scout rifle aficionados from around the world. The site will also soon include a market place resource for aficionados of this gun.

Continue reading on Tactical Life

Photo courtesy of Tactical Life