The Day We Met A Legend

Recipe for an incredible time:

One part military members
One part fund raising
One part firearms
One part ammunition
One part Ranger Legend
Four parts smart-ass attitudes
Two parts smack talk
Cases of wee little golf balls
And Beer. Gallons of beer.

Mix in large area (ie: Savannah GA). Expose to gunpowder and sunlight. Marinate in beer, add in wee little golf balls with a liberal helping of ball busting. 

Springfield's offerings for a fun day

Your end result?

Ranger Events Annual Range Day and Golf Tournament. 

And roughly $10,000 raised for an outstanding charity, Wounded Veteran Retreat Program.
 

Jon from Springfield, with Chief O'Neal

Once again, Patrick's was proud to host Range Day for Ranger Events. We were joined by Springfield Armory, PolyCase Ammunition and Ranger legend, Chief Gary O'Neal. 
 

Chief and a former Ranger from back in the day

Jon, with Springfield, answering more questions. Great guy!

Craig, from PolyCase. Thanks for your help, Craig!

As I looked over the crowd from behind my beloved range counter, I couldn't help but smile. Jon from Springfield was kept busy answering questions, freely sharing his knowledge about the fine firearms he brought with him. Craig and Sean from PolyCase were doling out information on ammo, and every 30 minutes a winner was announced for a box of free rounds. (The bullet kind, not the beer kind of rounds. The beer came the following day at the golf course.) Chief O'Neal's generosity with his time, and his ever present smile and laughter were humbling. One of America's greatest war fighters was right there - in our shop - shaking hands and just... hanging out.. with staff members and our customers. What more could a body ask for?

The man himself, Chief Gary O'Neal

Chief testing a .45 from Springfield

The charity this year was Wounded Veteran Retreat Program. A great group, driven by a need to provide as much support to the veteran community as they possibly can. Questions were raised about how much of the proceeds would go to this fine organization and the answer was- ALL of them. 

At the end of our part of this event, range staff were exhausted. We all went home that night with huge grins on our faces, happy hearts, and already anticipating being able to participate again next November. It was such an honor for us to host this amazing group of individuals. 
 

 Chief O'Neal with Rangemaster Matt

Mark it down now. Next November sometime, plan on stopping in at the range. Plan on donating a couple dollars to the chosen charity. Plan on an incredible time, for a very worthy cause. Plan on a great feeling of satisfaction, knowing that you too were able to support our veterans. 
 

He was trying to hide, but that is Jason with Ranger Events.

See y'all soon!
~Shannon

Boobs and Brass- An Up Front Discussion on Attire

Ladies, we have discussed a multitude of safety aspects in our posts. Muzzle direction, trigger finger discipline, and the four rules of gun safety are all exceedingly important. We have neglected to examine one other crucial area, that of our attire. 

As we know, when shooting we are essentially creating a small explosion in the palm of our hands. This explosion carries with it a specific set of reactions, one of which is the expulsion of hot brass from semi-automatic slides. The trajectory of this expelled hot brass varies from gun to gun, round to round. Why is this important to be aware of? 

Hot brass, comin at ya. Image from Google

Weeellll.....

Sometimes, that brass will fly off to the right side, harmlessly.
Sometimes, it might head backwards, over your shoulder.
Sometimes, it may make contact with your forearm, landing long enough to singe your skin,and fall to the floor.
Other times, it will bounce off your safety goggles, the brim of your ballcap, or your exposed forehead.
Or.. it will head directly down your shirt, to either the front or the rear.

We have seen brass hit the shirt collar and roll over a shoulder, down the shooters back, and get hung up in their belt, leaving the shooter with a brass tattoo on his hip. 

Even with proper attire, brass can sneak in and land in tender spots. The chances of injury are greatly lowered though, when you cover up rather than leaving areas open for assault by flying projectiles.

Over time, discussion over how you obtained the tatt may provide some lively entertainment. As you dress for your shooting engagement, please keep these two stories in mind.
 
- A young couple, obviously in the first blush of attraction, decided a date at the range would be great fun. Since it was during one of Savannah's warmer months, the young lady dressed in a lovely tank top, short shorts, and heels. Her young man, with stars in his eyes, proudly taught her grip and stance and how to pull the trigger........ and I bet you know where this is going, right? 

The lovely young lass fired off several rounds. Grinning triumphantly, gaining more confidence with each shot fired, she continued to shoot, squee, bounce and smile, right up until a hot case made its way rearward, landed on her sternum and rolled on down into the depths of her tank top. 

The contact of the brass with exposed skin set off a chain of events that has range staff shaking their heads to this very day. 

The young lady did react somewhat as expected, and thankfully the first thing she did, was to set the gun down. Rather than trying to pull her shirt away from her body to allow the brass to escape though, she proceeded to rip her top off, along with her bra.

The brass rolled to the floor, the young lady calmed enough to realize her state of undress, and her companion managed to pick his jaw up off the floor and help cover her as best he could as she pulled her tank top back on. Talk about a Flash-Bang... or maybe this one is a BANG-FLASH. 

Good. Covered. Safe. Image- Google

Lesson learned:
- She DID set the gun down, pointed downrange. Other ladies who have had this happen have caused staff to tense, hold our breath and RUN into the range to intercede, as the muzzle of the gun was wildly swept around unsafely, with a finger on the trigger. Take note- when (not if-- this is a WHEN situation as it happens to men and women alike,) this happens to you, SET THE GUN DOWN before fishing out the burning brass! (Keeping your shirt on is advisable as well.) Trust me- the pain is temporary and not worth risking further injury by a negligent discharge. 

Not Good. Google Image

What do we advise to avoid the twins becoming brass catchers?
- Cover up! T-shirts are great. Yes, there may be a stray case that makes an attempt to invade, but your chances of injury are much lower with a t-shirt, than they are with a tank top. Ball caps may create hat hair, but they do offer protection to your forehead and face, and may deflect the course of the brass enough to avoid the journey into the tender zone. *Quick note, a bit off topic here. Ladies- we live in the south. Portions of our anatomy get rather warm and.. dewey. There will be no fishing (sweaty) money from your bra to pay for your range time. Thank you.

On different day, another young couple wandered in for a shooting date. The young lady was wearing a top that covered her well enough, however her choice of what we refer to as Hooker Heels and a micro-skirt were maybe not the best. The rather snug fit of her skirt combined with the less than stable platform provided by her strappy, sky-high heels provided another painful lesson. Walking on a clear floor is one thing- add in spent cases that roll on the cement floor with those heels and you have a recipe for disaster. The young man provided brief instruction, the young lady fired a few rounds. Hot brass bounced onto her pedicured toes, she went to step out of the way and rolled her ankle as the brass shifted under her heels. The polite way to describe the end of this date was, "She was not happy." 

Not good for shooting! Image from Google

Lesson learned:
- Proper footwear to protect the toes! Brass ruins pedicures. There may be times when we must dress lady-like in heels and dresses, and we may need to be able to safely fire in that attire. When you are first learning to shoot is not that time.

What do we advise?
- Shoes with closed toes and no heels. Boots, sneakers, something that is going to provide you with full coverage on your foot, and no tender toes peeking through. Slick soles on an indoor range are not going to provide the safest traction either, even when there is no brass rolling on the floor. As to your bottom attire, wear something you can move in safely. Save the painted on jeans, Daisy Dukes and micro-skirts for another time, and wear comfortable bottoms that you can move in (and not moon the entire store, please.)

Good. Flat with grippy sole. Image from Google.

In short, Don't Be Those Gals! Cover up your assets ladies, as tender spots and swollen ankles make it difficult to have a fun date. Your outfit does not have to be tacti-kewl with 5.11 pants, shooting shirts, and combat boots. But use common sense when picking something out. 

Oh and gents? A word , please? If you plan a surprise shooting date, don't encourage the spaghetti strap tank tops and Daisy Duke shorts. Range staff will not hesitate to call you out, in front of your girl and the whole world, for putting her in potential jeopardy like that. Show some class and behave like a gentleman who cares about the welfare of his companion.

There you have it. Range attire summed up. Be safe and keep your finger off the trigger!

~Shannon

5 Tips For Safe Daily Carry

You've got your chosen defensive daily carry gun. You've obtained your carry permit. You've invested in proper training. Now, you're ready to go, right? Ready to carry everywhere, every day. (Where legally permissible, of course!!)

Take a look at these five tips and pointers as you begin the next stage in your daily carry adventure. 


1) Ask Yourself:
    *Are you competent with your chosen defensive carry gun? This is not the time to be PC, and pat yourself on your back just because you know how to pull the trigger and can mostly get rounds on the paper target. Brutal self honesty is required here. 
When was your last training session? What were the results? Did you improve in shot placement? Were your magazine changes smoother? How did you test yourself? Your competency level with your gun is critical. Being competent increases your confidence. Higher confidence increases your desire to learn more and your ability as you train. 

Dot Torture Shooting Drill- Image from Google

2) Complacency. Kills. I can not stress this enough. The idea that just because you now own a gun, does not make you Annie Oakley. I fear for the safety of those people who honestly feel this way. Not only are their lives in danger should they ever have to use their firearm in a defensive manner, but lives of innocent bystanders are in danger as well. Competency requires discipline, discipline builds skill. Much like piloting a vehicle, your firearms training requires dedication to learning and hours of practice.

3) Examine your wardrobe. Hopefully, you have picked up two or three different holsters to test, with the understanding that a sturdy belt is a critical point for proper, safe carry and weapons retention. A flopping gun is an unsecure gun in many cases, and not something you want to have happening. Make sure your holster covers the trigger guard, fits your gun snugly, and has no pieces or parts poking out that come in contact with the trigger on reholstering. 
**For those who prefer to purse carry, and enjoy the argument, "I can shoot through my purse." Fine. What does that say about the security of your gun in there? Is it safe? In My Opinion (that and $5 might get you a cup of coffee and a cookie,) NO. Your gun is NOT safe. Why? Because if you can put your hand in the purse and NOT have to unholster your weapon, it means your trigger guard and trigger are exposed. Is an exposed trigger safe in a purse? Again- In My Opinion- NO. It is too easy for something- such as a pen, lipstick, etc- to be accidentally dropped in with your gun. Why take the chance on a negligent discharge?

4) Practice at home. While you are folding laundry, doing dishes, cooking dinner, mowing the lawn- carry your gun. The only way to determine what holster and carry position is going to work perfectly for you is to carry them. Plus you have the added benefit of being prepared for Decepticons. Don't let your peers poking fun at you deter you. This is YOUR life and safety- not theirs. If they wish to be complacent in the knowledge that their home is "safe" and home invasions only happen to the Other Guy, that's fine. Just remember what we say about COMPLACENCY. It kills. 

5) Carry with an air of comfort and confidence. The next time you go to the store, or out for an evening stroll, take a close look at the people moving around you. Observe what they are doing, where they are looking, and if they are honestly paying any attention to their surroundings. Chances are, they are looking down at their phones or some electronic gizmo, have no clue you are there, and are only aware enough to have a basic understanding of getting from point A to point B. People see what they WANT to see- not what is in plain sight. Projecting an air of confidence as you carry in your chosen (legal) method prevents people from noticing whether or not you may or may not be armed. Should someone ask, if they do notice, smile. Be polite. Be confident. Be willing to talk. Also be willing to walk away if the person attempts to engage in a discussion on your decision to protect yourself. They are not worth your time and are generally just looking for a fight, so they might further convince themselves of their superiority. (The reverse of which is you, for carrying a gun, are inferior.) 

From a personal standpoint, as a woman who has carried over five years now. I often open carry. (It is legal in GA and I have my Georgia Weapons Carry License.) That is just me, and what I am comfortable with. There is no law saying YOU have to carry like that. In that time frame, I have had mostly positive interaction with strangers. I have been asked if I was a police officer (no, I'm not.) I've been asked what I'm afraid of (to which I smile wickedly and say, "Absolutely Nothing" and then I walk away.) I've been asked most about training and obtaining a permit to carry. (Wonderful discussions have ensued from this.)

There are those who attempt to argue with me over my chosen carry method. Fine- they are entitled to their opinion. The "criminals will target you first" argument is old and tired, and I tell them a brief story of my own, about a sick child, a late night run to a local big box store, my openly carried 1911, and a thug on the phone to his homies telling them to scatter because, and I quote, "... F@!k that - B!tch got a gun!" The thugs ran off like roaches when a light comes on, and I made it home unmolested with the meds for my son. 

Moral of the story? Train. Carry. Observe. Have Plan A, B, C and D in place. Behave in a professional, confident manner. Above all else, carry safely and intelligently, in a manner which suits your situation.

In the meantime, get in some range time and challenge your skills. You never know when you'll need them to save your life!

~Shannon

Safe Gun Storage In Your Home

There are all manner of rules involved in gun ownership, including rules for keeping it secure in your home. For a quick review, we are going to revisit the four universal rules of gun safety, and then take a look at a few rules for safe home storage.

To begin:
Rule 1: Treat EVERY Gun As If It Was Loaded, All The Time! 
Rule 2: NEVER Point Your Gun At Anything You Are Not Willing To Destroy
Rule 3: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER Until Your Sights Are On Target
Rule 4: Know Your Target And What Is Beyond The Target

These are all common sense, right? You'd think so, but day in and day out at the range we see them violated, by customer after customer. (Yes, range staff does get a bit tired of being swept by muzzles and having guns pointed at us and others.)

Not only do those four common sense rules apply when you are out shooting, please keep them in mind as you devise a plan for safe home storage as well. 

While you are debating the best course of action, here are a few additional things to consider:
First, KEEP QUIET! Don't broadcast what you have, or where you keep it, in your home! Why provide potential bad guys with any additional information? Teach your children to not discuss family business outside the home as well. 

Secondly, examine your personal situation. Are you single? Or do you have children? Do you entertain and host guests frequently? What is the area you live in known for (high crime, low crime)? Don't allow yourself a false sense of security- crime can happen in the deepest of ghettos to the most elite. The only safe place is one you secure by being careful, cautious, and alert. Given your situation at the moment, your plan will vary. Plans are fluid and need to be adjusted accordingly. If it is normally you alone in your home, you need to adjust your plan should you agree to watch your nieces and nephews for an extended stay while Mom and Dad are on a 3 day get-away. 

Thirdly, can you be sneaky? Can you think outside the box? Being able to think creatively and on the sneaky side is going to be a great benefit in how you secure your firearm. Again- have several plans in place for various situations. A bedside placement isn't going to do you much good when a potential home invader rings your doorbell to see if anyone is home. 

Fourth, understand that having your firearm locked in a lock box or small safe is not necessarily going to keep you safe. The benefit of a locking container of sorts is keeping small children from being able to access it. It won't deter a thief from walking away with it, as they will simply pick it up and carry it out. 

The single best place to secure your firearm while you are in your home?
That is an easy answer: on your person. Carrying your gun on you has multiple benefits, from increasing your comfort level as you carry, to being secure in the knowledge that no one else (such as your kids) can access the gun. 

There are times when having your gun on you won't be an option- such as when you are bathing or sleeping. By examining your home and surroundings, you can come up with several different locations to place a firearm. Remember: securing your gun does not always have to mean locking it up behind a biometric safe bolted to your floor deep in your closet. Secure in this instance means out of sight and away from small hands.

If you are willing to invest in a storage option, but are not overly enamored with the large, heavy not overly attractive gun safes on the market, consider gun storage furnishings. Tactical Walls is a veteran owned company, using all American materials, that produces hand crafted items to secure your firearms. No one would ever expect that lovely wallnut shelf holding your service medal shadow box is also securing a short barrel rifle and handguns. Added benefit? Your children won't be able to get into it either. 

Just like every other aspect of owning a firearm, there is no one answer. Be flexible. Have multiple plans, for multiple situations. Be creative and think outside the box. Examine your situation often, and adjust your plan accordingly. Avoid that false sense of security like the plague- don't allow yourself to slip into complacency (ie: "I have a gun now, locked up in the closet, so we're safe. I can get to it in time and remember the combination of the lock before that intruder gets to me, no problem!") Complacency. Kills. 

Stay alert, think outside the box, and stay safe!

Until next time-
~Shannon