The Dot Torture targets are a pretty good skill test for those that want to see where they stand. The target will guide you through the basics such as drawing, reloading, transitioning targets, and shooting one-handed. That is all good, but if you get a bundle of 100 of these babies, you might like to hear that there are things you can use it for things other than just what is printed or suggested on the target. Creativity is key to a fun and challenging time at the range.

With the Fall season reaching it's prime and October being right around the corner, Alaska is about to dive right into Winter. This will entail us getting snow, very little light, and generally undesirable living conditions. With this seasonal change, it is time for me to think a little bit about my daily carry system in terms of weapons, clothing, etc. I will run you through my method for selecting the firearm I use and why.

The gas system of the RIA VRBP100 is not necessarily new, but it is slightly different from other more common designs people are familiar with. I personally am not familiar with too many semi auto shotgun gas system designs, but I know that this shotgun gas system is relatively unique to Turkish shotgun designs. However, it is basically akin to a short stroke gas system you seem piston operated rifles. I have had a little bit of an issue with this shotgun gas system during the break-in period. I am going to go over this issue and discuss how the system works and what might be happening internally to cause these issues.

The pump-action shotgun is a longstanding design that has served all around the world, and will most likely continue to serve for decades to come, just like the 1911 pistol. However, the question is whether the pump-action shotgun still has the vigor it once had, or is it starting to lose it's relevance in the world?

If you ask people today what kind of shotgun you should get, as far as action the vast majority are going to recommend you to get a pump-action shotgun. One of the biggest reasons for this is because it is trusted to be completely reliable since it is on the operator to fully cycle the action. Positively yanking back on the action is easy to do under stress since we typically apply more pressure than necessary in response to the threat. Shotguns are known for their versatility and with that, you have all different types of loads, which are accompanied with a variety of powder charges. Anything from mouse fart charges to full powered 3" Magnum shoulder bruisers can be used. Unlike semi-auto shotguns, the pump action is not dependent on the gases being almost perfect in order to ensure reliable cycling. Also, feeding is typically not an issue as long as the shells being loaded are not minishells, like the ones sold by Aguila.

The one thing I think people are missing is that pump-action shotguns are not impervious to wear and reliability issues. I have had issues with my pump-action shotguns having weak extractors and ejectors. It is also an issue when the magazine springs get weak. Depending on how well you are taking care of your shotgun, they can last a long time. However, when you use your shotgun, you need to make sure you are cleaning it and replacing the parts that are worn. Do this and you will have a perfectly functional shotgun.

The pump-action has a functional advantage in the minds of some professionals and those looking to defend themselves. First of all, the control on the cycling of the action can be seen as a good way to control the shooter and prevent stress firing multiple shots. I mean, one stress shot is bad enough, I suppose the advantage here is that you can't  do a mag dump without having enough time in between shots to evaluate the target and see if the threat has ceased or not. This helps you conserve your ammo, and keeps you accountable, in theory.

Although I do not buy that the pump action shotgun has an intimidation factor, it is said by many that simply cycling the action can stop a fight before it even starts. Personally, if it comes to having to use the shotgun, it is most likely not going to matter if there is a distinctive sound presented. The sound of a firearm being cycled is a pretty distinctive sound to begin with, so I feel that any firearm would defuse a situation if the saying is true. However, some people just really like the sound of a pump action shotgun being cycled. Personally, I like the sound, but not for the idea of it being intimidating.

The question I have been having in my own head lately is whether the pump-action is still relevant and superior today. We are seeing several good semi-automatic shotgun designs coming on the market lately. These designs are reliable, durable, have intuitive controls, and are lightweight. When you have all of these features available in one fast shooting package, what is there not to like? I think that perhaps semi-automatic shotguns are the obvious next step forward in shotgun evolution, as well as converting them to bullpup designs. Perhaps the pump-action will go the way of the double barreled shotgun and become a niche action type. In any case, I feel that the pump-action is still relevant and useful, despite it being and old and classic action design.

I will just say right away that the double action/single action, or DA/SA is my favorite trigger system to work with all around. I feel that this trigger system offers more to all users than any other system. No trigger system is going to be perfect, but this system comes pretty close for me. After learning how to use it and practicing a bit, the DA/SA became my favorite.

The double action trigger, or simply DAO, has a long history in all types of pistols and revolvers. The concept is still technically seen in many different pistol designs that people trust and love, like Glock. In my experience, the hammer fired variants of the DAO are misunderstood and simply damned due to inexperience and ignorance. The illusion of the DAO being harder to learn means it must have no use in today's world of instant gratification. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I would have to say that the DAO has become one of my favorite trigger designs for carry after lots of training and pushing myself.

I will agree that firearms are indeed tools, and typically it is good to have a variety of tools in your toolbox. However, a firearm is not a $5 wrench that you can just toss in a little chest or bucket in case you need it down the road. Firearms require training, practice, commitment, care, etc. Not to mention that each firearm is hundreds of dollars, not including the amount of rounds needed to not only verify a lack of manufacturer defects but also to gain proficiency with the platform. These "tools" are money pits if you get too far down the rabbit hole on the "WHAT IF" game, which effectively turns them from being tools, into being financial burdens.

This is going to be a general overview of the history and concept of using a knife to defend yourself against imminent death. This kind of combat has been around for centuries and has alot of lessons behind it, if you are paying attention to your history. There is absolutely no free lunch in this type of combat since sometimes you are just going to break even in terms of returned damage. Nevertheless, this is an important discussion as many people carry bladed instruments, or multiple, just in case the situation gets so bad that you have to revert to this ancient and deadly art of defense.

There has been a request for me to look at some tactics for SHTF or WROL scenarios. I will get into that subject, but first I want to talk about the gear one might wanna get prepped with first. Once you understand and get your gear squared away, I think you will end up with a greater understanding of the tactics you will be employing in these hard times. This is mostly catered towards those who will be acting as the security element of a group or neighborhood in these crappy times.

Striker drag is an issue that became a popular critique of the Sig P365. However, this is not the first pistol I have seen that gives striker drag on the primers. For instance, the M&P Shield has always done that for me, and I never really saw it as an issue because it wasn't really a topic that came up until the Sig P365 came out.