Triangle Tactical

This week we talk about some tips for staying safe around the holidays. If you're staying in town, or traveling, there are some really basic things you can do to stay off the radar of crooks. Full shownotes are forthcoming (it's late, need sleep...)

If your goal is to become a better shooter, competitive shooting has 3 "pillars" that are advantages over just shooting at the square range: Schedule: The match starts when it starts, so you can't just decide to go to the range later, or tomorrow, or whenever. It forces you to commit to shooting the match when it's happening. Scoring: Competitive shooting gives you a quantifiable means to judge things like gear, technique, etc. Shot timers don't work very well on the shooting line at a public range with lots of other people shooting, and you don't get the opportunity to shoot from different positions, or scenarios drawn up by other people. Exposure: When shooting a match, you'll be exposed to the best shooters in your area, maybe even some of the best shooters in the world (especially if you're in the Triangle area) so you can see techniques, and really get a feel for just how those folks do things. You might learn a thing or two... The News Legislation introduced in Ohio would allow for Active Duty military personnel to carry concealed handguns without a permit in the state. USPSA issued a statement (.pdf) on the security breach of their website. Turns out they didn't encrypt the passwords for a specific reason. Contact luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net (919) 295-6128 (voicemail line)

Rob calls in a match report from his first competition shooting match at the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center this past Wednesday. He shot his Glock 41 with reloads from his pocket, and emailed in his thoughts on shooting a competition for the first time. Kenny called in on the Triangle Tactical Voicemail line (919-295-6128) and left us a voicemail asking about why we like to bash 1911 pattern pistols on the podcast. He left two voicemails, the first one got cut off, but I liked it the best, so I spliced the two together as best I could. If you have a voicemail for us, you can call the voicemail line at (919) 295-6128, or you can leave a voicemail from your computer by clicking here. Alternatively, you can just record something on your phone or computer and email it in. I'm not too worried about format, I'll make it work. The News: Two students that were caught in the FSU library shooting were members of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus organization, but were not able to carry (and potentially stop the threat) because of the law. USPSA's website was hacked, and many usernames and passwords were leaked. Remington issues a recall for the 887 shotgun. It appears that something is causing the firing pin to stick out of the breech face which can create a condition where the 887 can slam fire when a round is chambered. Tip of the Week: When installing a new set of dovetail sights, I always put a glob of loctite in the dovetail before pushing in the new sight. It seems to act like a little bit of a lubricant when pushing in the new sight, and when it sets up it helps to hold the sight in place. Contact: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net  

The main topic for this episode comes from a voicemail from a listener (who didn't leave his name) about whether or not it's okay to shoot competition with a pistol that isn't your carry gun. Ben and I both carry different guns than we generally shoot in competition, but there is a bit of philosophy there which we go into in this episode. Local Shooting Sports News H2O Fowl Farms is hosting their BUG match on Saturday, Nov. 29th 2014. This is a great match for a new shooter to get started in, you don't need a holster or mag pouches, just a pistol, magazine, and 60rds of ammo. This particular match is benefiting Toys for Tots, so it's also for a great cause! More details over at Carolina Shooters Club... The News Alan Gura is spanking Washington DC again over their concealed carry situation. A 12 year old in Ohio was shot and killed by police while reaching for an airsoft pistol in his waistband. An unfortunate situation for everyone involved and a reminder to be extremely cautious when carrying, and informing police that you are carrying. Just because you know that you don't mean anyone any harm doesn't mean that they know that. Plug of the Week: I wrote a blog post about protecting yourself from holiday scams. Black Friday is this week, and the holiday shopping season will soon be in full swing. Know what's up! Contact luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Voicemail: (919) 295-6128

Full shownotes are forthcoming. Basic rundown of this episode is this: We recap the Gun Powder Gals IDPA clinic that we helped with on Saturday, we look at a couple of bills that have been introduced in Texas that would allow for open carry, and constitutional carry, Ben reviews the Steve Anderson class, and we go through some listener feedback. You can order your Triangle Tactical shirts until about 10PM on Monday 11/17/2014, so you officially have less than 24 hours. Go get one or three! Check back to this post as the day goes on, I'll be updating it throughout the day.

This week we talk with Andrew Branca, the author of Law of Self Defense (that we reviewed back in episode 51). We talk about the basics of what Stand Your Ground laws ACTUALLY are, and not what the media tells us they are. We've also had a lot of listener questions about self defense "insurance" so I picked Andrew's brain about that as well, and he thinks the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network has the best model for this sort of thing. Law of Self Defense iTunes Link Law of Self Defense Podcast Feed Address: http://lawofselfdefense.libsyn.com/rss The News: Michigan is changing a law to allow qualified instructors to teach minors how to shoot handguns. Currently the law states that the only person that can allow a minor to shoot a handgun is a parent or legal guardian. More on this here. The Misguided Moms are being called out by many news outlets like The Blaze, and even more surprisingly CNN (the same place that employed Piers Morgan...) about their claim that there has been 74 school shootings since Newtown. When we look into the actual "school shootings" we find that a bunch of these happened off campus, took place after hours, were suicides, or were the result of a crime spree that took place elsewhere, and just happened to end in a shootout in a school parking lot. Plug of the Week: Ben plugs a recent episode the the Ben Stoeger "Practical Pistol Show" podcast where Ben Stoeger talks about what you need for dry fire. It's just your pistol. Tip of the Week: When drawing your pistol while seated, make sure you don't sweep your legs with the muzzle while drawing it. We like our femoral arteries without bullet holes in them, and you should too. Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

This week we talk about the 4 rules of gun HANDLING, and when we break those rules. The News: California State Senator Yee has been arrested under charges of gun trafficking. (Large .pdf file, but it's worth a read or at least a skim) Yee has been an outspoken proponent of a complete ban on "assault weapons" in the state. Interesting that he wants to ban these guns from the general public, but is allegedly on with sending them to terrorist groups around the globe. Last week a Washington DC man was convicted of having muzzle loader sabot rounds in his possession within the city of Washington DC. This is an absolute injustice. We have a right to keep and bear arms in the US, the fact that this case even went before a judge is a travesty. Plugs of the Week: Episode 366 of Black Man with a Gun is pretty great. Kenn Blanchard reads an excerpt from David Kopels book "The Truth About Gun Control". You'll like it. The Gun Show Podcast guys are back online after a pipe burst above their studio and ruined their equipment. Their new equipment is apparently up and running, and they sound really good. Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram  

Ben and I talk about how we got started in competitive shooting. Neither of us are lifelong competitors, and we talk about how we got started, and the things that kept us wanting to improve our shooting. Neither of us are lifelong competitive shooters, and we both got started different ways. The News: Sen. Diane Feinstein has written an 'open letter' to President Obama asking him to ban the import of semi-automatic rifles, and "assault pistols" citing the 1968 Gun Control Act. Last week we talked about the Winston-Salem, NC gun buyback, and how they issued IOU's for the guns after they ran out of money. Looks like the city had to make some budget changes in order to pay for the guns they took in, and it should be noted that they will not be offering IOUs at the April gun buyback. Also, look at the stock photo used on the linked news website, they only took in 2 "assault weapons" at the event last weekend, so that picture is obviously from a different location... hmmm... A Tennessee Home Owners Association has passed an ordinance banning guns on the property, and people have lost their minds about it, calling the action by the HOA unconstitutional. HOA's aren't legislative bodies, and they can't pass laws. They have already stated that they will change the wording of the ordinance to just make discharging a firearm on the property disallowed. A Lumberton, MS shop clerk was attacked and stabbed by person in the convenience store where she worked. A concealed carry permit holder chased down the attacker, and held him at gun point until police arrived. In another blog post, I took the stance that CCW holders shouldn't chase people down and hold them at gunpoint, and I've taken a bit of flak about it. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts here. The Misguided Moms claimed victory this week for the Slidefire billboard being removed in the Chicago area. Turns out the billboard was put up with a 2 month contract, and the contract had just ran out. Sorry moms. Tip of the Week: When shooting a gun that you aren't familiar with in a match setting, and you aren't sure where the sights will impact with that pistol (6 o'clock hold, or POA/POI) you may be able to split the difference and aim in an area of the target that it won't hurt your game too much of the bullet impacts one way or the other. Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

As a concealed carrier, it's inevetible that you will find yourself in a place where you end up leaving your gun in your car. Taking some steps to secure it, rather than just leaving it in he glove box can be the difference between losing your gun (and putting it in the hands of a bad guy) and keeping it. Ben mentions this great video about breaking into cheap gun safes, and how to upgrade them to make them much more secure. The News: Winston Salem, NC held a gun buyback thos past weekend at the fairgrounds. Unsurprisingly most of the guns they took in looked like absolute garbage (and weren't worth the $100 offered) with the exception of a couple of 1911's, an SKS, and maybe a nice "wall hanger" side by side shotgun. The Utah legislature passed a bill changing some wording in the law clarifying that the act of open carrying a handgun is not disorderly conduct. Not exactly sure what happened to lead up to this, but it's a welcome change for Utah residents I'm sure. Ares Armor (the same guys fighting the city over their billboard), and EPArmory.com was raided by the BATFE this week. There's been an interesting series of events leading up to this. It seems that this whole situation stems from a disagreement over whether or not EPArmory's 80% lower receivers are actually 80% lowers, or if they are technically firearms as defined by the BATFE's criteria. The lowers are made from polymer, with a different color polymer in the areas where material needs to be removed. The Idaho Governor signed a "campus carry" bill into law this week. This will allow students with "Enhanced" CCW permits to carry on college campuses, but not in dorms, because screw those guys... Plug of the Week: This week we plugged Episode 92 of the Gun Nation Podcast. Average Joe made a joke on this episode that made be burst out laughing, and I nearly ran my car off of the freeway on-ramp. Thanks for almost killing me, and thanks for the laugh... Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

We had the opportunity to go shoot the inaugural ZSA Steel Challenge match at The Range in Oxford, NC on Saturday. This was the first steel challenge match for both Ben and I, and we both had a great time. Steel Challenge is great for a number of reasons: On paper, it looks boring, however once you actually shoot a stage, you see that there is a lot going on within the short stages that are challenging It's great for new shooters You can shoot pretty much any pistol you may own We both had a great time, Ben took 1st overall (I took 11th) and it was a lot of fun. I'll definitely be back. Housekeeping: Donate to the show at about $1 an episode ($4/monthly) The News: Walther announces their new CCP pistol. It looks like a cool little concealed carry pistol on the surface, and as we hear more, it sounds like it borrows the "delayed gas blowback" system from the HK P7, which should make it a sweet shooter. The Washington State House and Senate have approved a bill to allow short barreled rifles and shotguns in the state. You'll still need a BATFE tax stamp, this isn't a bill nullifying federal firearms laws like some other states have passed. The 9th Circuit ruled on the Yolo County, CA policy of requiring "good cause" for issuing concealed carry permits. Much like the San Diego county case, they said it is unconstitutional. Plug of the Week: This week we plugged the Zombie Shooters Association. John at ZSA is, and has been doing some pretty awesome things for the shooting sports here in NC. In the beginning ZSA was running their own matches with their own targets and rules, but now they are an official USPSA club and are hosting official USPSA and Steel Challenge matches in different places around NC. Tip of the Week: Ben has a reading from the second gospel of "Do what is fast, not what you think is fast" Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

Sometimes changing your gun and shooting a different division can help you improve your skills. More often than not people change gear perceiving that it will make them better, but Ben brings up the point that getting better gear only knocks down barriers, but doesn't do anything to actually make you better. You need to find the right balance between sticking with your gear enough to master it, and sometimes changing things up to work on certain skills. Housekeeping: Crossbreed MiniTuck review at Carolina Shooters Club The News: Connecticut Gun Confiscation rumors: As of right now, there is no gun confiscation going on in CT. There are no letters saying that there will be a gun confiscation or anything like that. As a community we need to be careful about getting too worked up about this, because if it does end up happening, we may end up looking like the boy who cried wolf, and we won't be able to drive the awareness about it that we will need. Judge drops charges against man in violation of 7rd NY SAFE act: What we found interesting about this, is that the judge ruled that the officer "searching" the magazine was a violation of the mans constitutional rights. Oh, and the 7rd magazine capacity part of the SAFE act was ruled unconstitutional between the time of the mans arrest, and his court date. Ruger is looking to expand in NC even more. Mike Fifer, CEO of Ruger is looking to bring the plant in Rockingham County, NC up to the same level of employees as their facilities in New Hampshire, and Arizona. As far as I can tell, they have about 100 employees in NC now, and they need about 10 times that to get where they need to be. Plug of the Week: In Episode 70, we talked about some low-cost gear to get started in IDPA. We mentioned the Blackhawk Sportster holsters (which don't have the awful SERPA lock). Ben bought one to try with his 1911, and it's not too bad. You can help support the podcast by using these links if you want to purchase one: XD/XDm Sig 228/229 Glock 17/22/31 Beretta 92/96 Tip of the Week: Secure your gear. Ben had an open pocket almost cost him a magazine during the classifier match this past weekend when doing a reload. Full match video here. Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

Making a big equipment investment when you are getting into competitive shooting can be a hard thing to do if you don't know if you will like the game. This week we talk about some low cost equipment options for getting into competition shooting, specifically IDPA. You'll want a pistol and at least 3 magazines to start. Next you'll want a holster, here's a few inexpensive options that we've used: Blackhawk! Sportster (Don't buy a SERPA, some ranges don't allow them) XD/XDm Sig 228/229 Glock 17/22/31 Beretta 92/96 Uncle Mikes Kydex Holsters (Don't roll your eyes! They really are a decent holster!) Inexpensive Mag Pouches Alternatively, you can also make a holster The News! You can now donate to the podcast by signing up for a $4 monthly subscription. Details here. Wake County, NC is getting online applications for concealed carry, and pistol purchase permits starting Monday 2/24/2014. This will make it so PPP applicants only have to make one trip downtown to get their permit! We reported last week in Episode 69 about the Peruta v. San Diego case that struck down the unjust requirements for obtaining a concealed carry permit in San Diego County, CA. It looks like San Deigo county is deciding not to appeal the decision, and several other counties are deciding on their own accord to begin issuing concealed permits "shall issue". Sen. Markey in MA has introduced a bill requiring that would require all new handguns in the US to have smart technology within 2 years of passage, and within 3 years it would require all handguns sold in the US to be retrofitted with smart technology. Right. Plug of the Week: If you are looking to get into competition (or just buy your first pistol) check out this episode of the Roadgunner Podcast. Trucker has Bob Mayne on to talk about different triggers on pistols and why you may want to choose one over another. Tip of the Week: Put a reflective vest in your trunk! You may just find yourself at the top of a freeway overpass, in a snowstorm, in the dark, on a sheet of ice, trying to get back into your car without getting run over... Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

We roll through some of the common excuses we get from people for not coming out and trying competitive shooting. Am I ready to shoot my first match? Yes, next question. I did mention in the episode that there are several options for safe competition holsters that won't break the bank. Here's the cheap Uncle Mikes kydex holsters that really aren't too bad for a cheap holster to get you started. Housekeeping: Stickywire Holsters Mini IWB Hybrid Holster Review Signup for Triangle Tactical Email Subscription List The News: The ninth circuit rules on the Peruta v. San Diego case striking down the San Diego "just cause" clause for handing out concealed carry permits. Basically, because open carry was banned in California last year, citizens of San Diego county were deprived of their constitutionally protected right to bear arms. If you can't open carry, and you essentially cannot get a concealed carry permit, you are being oppressed. On the latest episode of the Gun Talk podcast, Tom Gresham has Eugene Volokh on to talk about this, and what it means in the future. This isn't an immediate victory, but it's a big step in the right direction. Our friends in South Carolina gained the ability to carry concealed in restaurants this past week. Many outlets are reporting that Gov. Haley said that she would sign S115, the Constitutional Carry bill if it gets sent to her desk, but unfortunately when I look at the quote of what she actually said, I'm not quite as encouraged. “I think criminals are dangerous, and I think that every resident should be allowed to protect themselves from criminals,” It's encouraging, but it's a lot different than coming right out ans saying "Every citizen should be able to carry concealed without a permit in South Carolina!" which she didn't say. I wish she did, but she didn't. Remington has announced that they will be moving to a facility in Alabama. It's still unclear if they will be completely abandoning their factory in Ilion, NY, or using a reducing the amount of work done there. If they totally pull out of NY, it would be a huge middle finger to the NY state government. Plug of the Week: Back in episodes 43, and 60 of the podcast we talked about shooting in low-light and no-light conditions. In the most recent episode of the Handgun World Podcast, Bob Mayne has John Hodaway on the show to talk about the same thing. Mr. Hodaway brought up a lot of things that Ben and I haven't discussed, including the science behind our eyes work in the dark, weapon mounted vs. handheld lights, lasers, and more. I though it was a great episode, and I think you should check it out. Tip of the Week: Ben has some tips for going shooting at a new range for the first time. Things to bring, things that you should assume, and not assume about a new range. Contact Us: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

Today we went to the Wake County Firearms Education and Training center to do a pocket 9mm shootout using a S&W Shield 9mm, XDs 9mm, and a Walther PPS 9mm. The folks at LuckyGunner.com were nice enough to send us a bunch of ammo to test out, and Linoge from Wallsofthecity.com let us borrow his Walther PPS for the test. Sean from NCGunBlog.com handled the ammo stuff, and I brought my Shield and XDs 9mms. We chose these pistols because they are relatively the same size, and they all have triggers that are very similar to a standard service pistol, which is very popular these days. Ammo shot: Federal Hi-Shok 9mm JHP 150rds Remington Golden Sabre 75rds PMC Bronze 115gr FMJ 150rds Federal Champion 115gr FMJ 100rds Huge 'Thank You' to the folks at LuckyGunner.com for sending us the ammo for this test! Here's Sean's full write-up on the shoot. Bottom line: XDs was the winner, and I think the PPS and Shield tied for second place. News: Wilmington, NC man pretends to be drunk when he finds intruders in his home. They apparently don't pay him any attention and he's able to get his gun safe open and then get the intruders out of his house using the gun. How do you pull this off? I don't know, but it's awesome. Grand Jury won't indict man who shot a police officer during a no knock warrant. Police didn't knock, and the homeowner says that he thought he was being burglarized and opened fire. "This was a terrible tragedy that a deputy sheriff was killed, but Hank Magee believed that he and his pregnant girlfriend were being robbed," DeGuerin (The mans attorney) said in an interview Thursday. Rand Paul has been pushing for some reform regarding guns in post offices. Currently we can't carry on post office grounds, or in the buildings, and he's trying to change that. Unfortunately it looks like his amendment got shot down, and the Senate is going with another bill that will at least allow for guns in the parking lot. I wonder if this is in response to a court ruling on guns in post office parking lots. Tip of the Week: We told Sean that if he wanted to come on the podcast again that he had to come up with the tip segment. Sean's tip was to never shoot up all of your ammo at the range, and he tells a great story about what happened to his father in Los Angeles in 1965. Feedback: Facebook Twitter Leave a voicemail from your phone at (919) 295-6128 Leave a voicemail from your computer Email us: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net Follow us on Instagram

I think this is the first full episode dedicated to listener feedback. Y'all wrote in a lot of great questions, and I did my best to answer them on this Episode! Ed sent us a message on the Facebook page, and asks about the best way to secure a gun ...