Book Review – Path of Focused Effort (Perez, 2018)

USPSA Grandmaster Charlie Perez self-published his “Learning Guide to Practical Shooting” in 2018. Perez has been a competitive shooter since 2008, achieving a GM rating in Limited in a year and half after his first match. He offers competition training through his company Big Panda Performance. The book is an excellent and very complete compendium …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – Path of Focused Effort (Perez, 2018)’ »

Book Review – FBI Miami Gunfight (Mireles, 2017)

The 1986 gunbattle between two violent criminals and multiple FBI agents is the most analyzed and discussed shootout of the 20th century. The FBI’s decision to shift to 10mm handguns, which led to the creation of the .40 S&W caliber, and widespread law enforcement adoption of that caliber, was likely the biggest change that affected …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – FBI Miami Gunfight (Mireles, 2017)’ »

MAG Deadly Force Instructor – Thronburg article

Tracy is currently attending the Massad Ayoob Group alumni reunion, so I thought this would be good time to post her article from the MAG Deadly force instructor class last year. Deadly Force Instructor Course Massad Ayoob and Marty Hayes Jan 31 – Feb 4, 2018 Giddings, Texas A group of KR Training assistant instructors …

Continue reading ‘MAG Deadly Force Instructor – Thronburg article’ »

Book Review – Pistol Shooters Treasury, 2nd ed (Hebard, 1972)

This very popular compilation of articles from the best pistol shooters of the 1960’s and 1970’s was reprinted many times, into the 1980’s. The inside cover describes the book as “A collection of classic articles by world champion shooters, eminent authorities and the editor (Gil Hebard) on how to shoot a pistol and how to …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – Pistol Shooters Treasury, 2nd ed (Hebard, 1972)’ »

Book Review – Combat Pistol Shooting (James Mason, 1976)

James Mason’s 1976 book, Combat Pistol Shooting, is an excellent book full of great photos and scientific discussion. Mason was a “small arms and ballistics consultant” to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. The book merges the classic techniques of the pre-Gunsite era with Modern Technique information. The photographer for the book liked big plumes …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – Combat Pistol Shooting (James Mason, 1976)’ »

Book Review – How To Use the Pistol (Charles Taylor, 1875)

Back in 1875, Charles Taylor published a small book on defensive pistol skills. The book was digitized and is available for download here. Many of the concepts in the book are as relevant and applicable today as they were when the book was published. The copy that was digitized was a gift to the Harvard …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – How To Use the Pistol (Charles Taylor, 1875)’ »

Book Review – Defensive Pistol Fundamentals (Grant Cunningham, 2014)

Grant Cunningham’s Defensive Pistol Fundamentals is a fairly complete collection of the essential topics any armed citizen should know. From a historical perspective, it’s a time capsule of material commonly taught by many trainers in the mid 2010’s.  I read this book right after Dalton and Fowler’s 1984 Handguns and Self Defense book, which provided …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – Defensive Pistol Fundamentals (Grant Cunningham, 2014)’ »

2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Gun Guy book review

On Sept 21-22, 2019, many of the key figures in the early days of Practical Shooting reunited for a weekend of shooting and socializing. The event was hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at the Circle WC Ranch. Part one of this blog post series has more details about the event and who attended. At …

Continue reading ‘2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Gun Guy book review’ »

Book Review – Handguns and Self Defense, (3rd printing, Mike Dalton and Mickey Fowler, 1984)

By the start of the 1980’s, the influence of Jeff Cooper on firearms training was at its peak. Most schools, including International Shootists, Inc. (ISI) run by Mike Dalton and Mickey Fowler, were teaching the Weaver stance and promoting the use of the 1911 semiauto pistol in .45 ACP as ideal for self-defense. Their core …

Continue reading ‘Book Review – Handguns and Self Defense, (3rd printing, Mike Dalton and Mickey Fowler, 1984)’ »

Do Aftermarket Mods Help You Shoot Better?

I’m a big advocate of upgrading sights and trigger parts on factory guns, and changing the controls and grips to make manipulation of the gun easier. One giant weak spot of the gun culture is that most of the advice that’s given to others about equipment is nothing but anecdote and opinion. “You should get …

Continue reading ‘Do Aftermarket Mods Help You Shoot Better?’ »

Gabe’s class and the Swampfox Kingslayer RDS

On October 19-20, 2019, KR Training hosted Gabe White’s Pistol Shooting Solutions class. John Daub’s AAR provides a lot of background on Gabe and information about the course. Gabe runs long days on the range (10+ hours each day), and I was performing music Friday and Saturday nights, so I attended about 14 of the …

Continue reading ‘Gabe’s class and the Swampfox Kingslayer RDS’ »

The new NRA CCW class

Over the October 11-14, 2019 long weekend I and KR Training instructors John Daub and Tracy Thronburg got certified as instructors in the new NRA CCW course. The training was conducted by Tiffany Johnson and Aqil Qadir from the Citizens Safety Academy. Tiff and Aqil are also Rangemaster certified instructors in addition to being NRA …

Continue reading ‘The new NRA CCW class’ »

2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – the original IPSC targets

On Sept 21-22, 2019, many of the key figures in the early days of Practical Shooting reunited for a weekend of shooting and socializing. The event was hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at the Circle WC Ranch. Part one of this blog post series has more details about the event and who attended. Several …

Continue reading ‘2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – the original IPSC targets’ »

2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Los Alamitos Pistol Course

On Sept 21-22, 2019, many of the key figures in the early days of Practical Shooting reunited for a weekend of shooting and socializing. The event was hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at the Circle WC Ranch. Part one of this blog post series has more details about the event and who attended. As …

Continue reading ‘2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Los Alamitos Pistol Course’ »

2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Advanced Military Combat Course

On Sept 21-22, 2019, many of the key figures in the early days of Practical Shooting reunited for a weekend of shooting and socializing. The event was hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at the Circle WC Ranch. Part one of this blog post series has more details about the event and who attended. As …

Continue reading ‘2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Advanced Military Combat Course’ »

2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Los Alamitos Pistol Course

On Sept 21-22, 2019, many of the key figures in the early days of Practical Shooting reunited for a weekend of shooting and socializing. The event was hosted by Bill and Joyce Wilson at the Circle WC Ranch. Part one of this blog post series has more details about the event and who attended. As …

Continue reading ‘2019 Practical Pistol Reunion – Los Alamitos Pistol Course’ »