Primary & Secondary Article Library
Explore the Primary & Secondary Article Library: practical writing on firearms, defensive training, law enforcement, equipment, tactics, mindset, and the people who contribute to the professional training community. Articles are organized to help readers find durable information, professional perspectives, and useful resources by subject.
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Machine-Gun Fire-Control Methods Explained
A doctrine-informed overview of oral commands, visual and prearranged signals, personal contact, range cards, redundancy, and confirmation in machine-gun fire control.
Read articleMalfunctions with a Primary Weapon, Part 2
For Manual Monday, we are continuing our discussion on Control. Specifically, we will continue our discussion on malfunctions as we address when in the cycle of function immediate…
Read articleTrainers, Training, and Mindset
“The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.” – Sun…
Read articlePrimary-Weapon Malfunctions: Diagnosis and Corrective Action
Understand how weapon malfunctions interrupt the cycle of operation, how immediate and remedial action differ, and why safe diagnosis must guide corrective action.
Read articleSelecting a Compact Breaching Tool for Police Work
Practical considerations for selecting a compact police breaching tool, including material, construction, grip, head geometry, carriage, retention, authorization, and training.
Read articleThe Gun Elitist Debate
There are some who will argue pure price point in both the excessively cheap and unnecessarily high extremes when it comes to guns and gear. Some are brand…
Read articleBuying Night Vision and Thermal Equipment Safely
Questions to ask about sellers, builders, component identity, specifications, documentation, warranties, returns, provenance, and independent inspection before buying night vision.
Read articleBallistic Helmets, Construction, Testing, and Ratings
So, after one of my gear reviews, I received so much feedback, I decided to clarify/expound. It seems most end users are merely consumers. They want to give…
Read articleChoosing a Protection Level for Rifle Plates
Armor 101… I tell customers that armor is one of the most confusing commodities in the defensive industry. Understanding the rating systems, the materials, and the capabilities associated…
Read articleMaterials Used in Hard Armor
*Editor’s note: NiJ ratings do not consider 5.56 in classifications. If something is rated level III it will stop .308 but not necessarily 5.56/.223. Currently there are four…
Read articleInstructor Background, Teaching Ability, and Student Value
Credentials and operational experience matter only in context. Students should also evaluate an instructor’s evidence, communication, diagnosis, safety, humility, and results.
Read articleCitizens Defense Research’s The Armed Parent/Guardian AAR
So my friend John Johnston of Ballistic Radio called me out on a recent Primary and Secondary modcast to check out his class Contextual Handgun: The Armed Parent/Guardian.…
Read articleCritical Firearm Equipment: Reliability Before Accessories
A framework for identifying and maintaining critical firearm equipment through inspection, testing, confirmed zero, service intervals, replacement parts, and measurable training.
Read articleAARs for Scenario-Based Training: How and Why
A practical method for conducting scenario-training AARs using chronological review, guided questions, video evidence, and feedback matched to the learner.
Read articleBattlesight Zero
Those who carry guns for a living know the world isn’t a nicely manicured flat range and threats will present at differing distances. You won’t have an opportunity…
Read articleSucked Down the Tube: A Failure in Training
Much, if not all training and practice is conducted on flat ranges under calm conditions with no surprises. We shoot steel and paper that we purposely place and…
Read articleConcealed-Carry Holster Position: Access, Safety, and Fit
Compare small-of-back, strong-side, and appendix holster positions using trigger protection, retention, access, concealment, stability, comfort, and individual fit.
Read articleRaven Concealment Copia Magazine Pouches
In mid 2016 Raven Concealment announced the Copia Pistol Magazine pouches. The Copia is a one size fits most injection molded (edited) pistol mag pouch. You can adjust…
Read articleInches, Minutes, Clicks- Zero That Blaster
Zeroing is literally one of the most important thing we need to accomplish with our rifles and #spacegun pistols. There is much talk around the technique to accomplish…
Read articleBattle of Takur Ghar
15 years ago today, my amazing husband was the platoon sergeant in charge of a 65 man Ranger strike force from 1st Ranger Battalion deployed to Afghanistan ??…
Read articleA Reminder About Patience for Firearms Instructors
Keith Morgan explains why firearms instructors should combine firm safety standards with patience, diagnosis, clear feedback, and respect for the beginner’s cognitive workload.
Read articleRunning the Irons.
Iron sights have been part of shooting since the very least April 19th 1775. Aiming was a major part of our tactics that helped defeat the British unaimed…
Read articleMalfunctions
We are continuing our discussion on Control. Specifically, we will be addressing how to handle malfunctions, which is a particular part of the shot process that was not…
Read articleUnderstanding the AR-15 Gas System
The AR-15 Direct Gas Impingement System is a rather straight forward system to understand. When the weapon is fired, gas travels down the barrel behind the bullet. As…
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