{"id":866,"date":"2009-09-01T15:46:51","date_gmt":"2009-09-01T20:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/?p=866"},"modified":"2009-10-15T15:59:58","modified_gmt":"2009-10-15T20:59:58","slug":"smoke-signal-from-gunsite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/smoke-signal-from-gunsite\/866\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke signal from Gunsite"},"content":{"rendered":"

Where has the time gone?\u00a0 It seems as though we just started the year, and here it is September already.\u00a0 Here at Gunsite<\/a> we\u2019re already seeing the hints of fall weather coming on.\u00a0 Daytime temperatures are starting to fall, nights are cool and the summer Monsoon is breaking down.\u00a0 We look forward to these changes as they herald the best weather and our favorite time of the year.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason this is our favorite season has to do with the upcoming GAS match.\u00a0 Held on October 10th this year, the GAS match is our annual family get-together and shoot.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t made arrangements to come see us you should do so right away.\u00a0 And if you wish to spread out your fun here at Gunsite, we have classes both before and after the match.\u00a0 The week before we\u2019re running the 250 Defensive Pistol class<\/a>, an Alumni Refresher class and Ladies Pistol on Thursday and Friday.\u00a0 Then, the week after, we have Close Quarters Pistol, the 350 Night class, and Ladies Pistol II, a three day class.<\/p>\n

For those of you who have been waiting anxiously for the 2010 training schedule to be posted, it is now up on our web site at www.gunsite.com<\/a>.\u00a0 Remember, if you sign up for a 2010 class before December 31, 2009, you get the class at the 2009 price.\u00a0\u00a0 And while you are on our site, browse around and check out the many new additions to the online store.<\/p>\n

Small, easily concealed pistols and revolvers are increasing in popularity.\u00a0 Our friends at Ruger tell us that their LCP, .380 Auto pistol<\/a> has been the most successful product Ruger has ever introduced and that their LCR revolver<\/a> is in high demand as well.\u00a0 Likewise, our friends at Smith & Wesson tell us they are producing some 750 of the small J-frame revolvers<\/a> a day and cannot keep up with demand.\u00a0 These facts might lead to the conclusion that more people are interested in self defense, as well as concealed carry, as these are the primary uses for these pistols and revolvers.\u00a0 Here at the school we have been asked to do several television shows on these little guns and we now have a special class just for the pocket pistols.\u00a0 Called Concealed Carry Pistol<\/a>, it is scheduled for September 24-25, Thursday and Friday, and costs $571.\u00a0 Our regular CCW class follows it on Saturday for those who may wish to obtain a CCW permit after getting tuned up on the little guns.\u00a0 If you carry a small concealed pistol or revolver you should really consider this new class.<\/p>\n

One thing we have discovered concerning these little carry pistols is that the demand for them is fueling a demand for better defensive ammunition.\u00a0 In the past we would have been reluctant to recommend a .380 as a defensive caliber since there wasn\u2019t any decent ammunition available for it.\u00a0 Now, Hornady and Winchester, among others, are producing high quality defensive .380 ammunition that provides for penetration and expansion on a level with a good 9MM load, making this caliber a viable defensive option.\u00a0 These little guns are driving the ammunition companies to improve all of their defensive ammunition and we now have better choices than ever in all of the pistol calibers.<\/p>\n

Among the new small pistols and revolvers we have been testing, the one that stands out is the little Ruger LCP in .380ACP caliber<\/a>.\u00a0 Almost as small and as lightweight as the Kel-Tec .32ACP<\/a> it resembles, the Ruger is very reliable and can be concealed almost anywhere.\u00a0 As a general rule, we feel that if you are going to carry a small pistol or revolver it is wise to carry two guns, and the Ruger facilitates this nicely. Why carry two? The Ruger holds 7 rounds, six in the magazine and one in the chamber.\u00a0 A little J-frame S&W, or Ruger LCR, in .38 Special, holds 5 rounds.\u00a0 Should you need more ammunition than that to solve your problem, the quickest reload is another gun.\u00a0 And, since you aren\u2019t going to be accomplishing your best competition reload with these little guns, a second gun can be rather comforting to have with you.<\/p>\n

Of course, another reason for these small pistols and revolvers is as a back-up to the main carry pistol.\u00a0 Whether in law enforcement of for civilian concealed carry, these little pistols are ideal as second guns.<\/p>\n

Finally, when we start talking about little guns and small calibers we risk being criticized for abandoning the mighty .45ACP and for advocating \u201cmouse guns\u201d.\u00a0 You will hear the admonition, for example, that friends don\u2019t let friends carry mouse guns.\u00a0 Well, before we get anyone riled up, let me say this; I\u2019m wearing a custom Novak 1911 in .45ACP, as I do every day, while writing this.\u00a0 Still, as a back-up, or when the mode of dress, or the weather, doesn\u2019t allow for carrying the big pistol I often carry a small .38, and\/or, a little 9MM or .380 auto.\u00a0 I frequently practice shooting two .380s at the same time, one in each hand.\u00a0 To those who think we are poorly armed when carrying mouse guns, I can only say, if you want to stand there and take a swarm of .380 rounds in the face, you are afterwards welcome to respond with the Blaster 5000 of your choice.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing, my friends, nobody wants to get shot, with anything, regardless of caliber.\u00a0 And remember the admonition of our friend Mark Moritz, to wit:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has often been said there are no rules in a gun fight.\u00a0 Not true!\u00a0 The first rule of gun fighting is \u2018have a gun\u2019.\u00a0 If you do not have a gun, do not come to a gun fight.\u00a0 Just having a gun on your person when you need it is 90% of the fight.\u00a0 Everything else \u2013 caliber, action type, ammunition, even skill \u2013 is way back in second place.\u00a0 Have a gun.\u201d<\/p>\n

DVC,<\/p>\n

Ed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where has the time gone?\u00a0 It seems as though we just started the year, and here it is September already.\u00a0 Here at Gunsite we\u2019re already seeing the hints of fall weather coming on.\u00a0 Daytime temperatures are starting to fall, nights are cool and the summer Monsoon is breaking down.\u00a0 We look forward to these changes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[117],"tags":[124,123,3605,118,110],"class_list":["post-866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ed-head","tag-380-auto-pistol","tag-defensive-pistol","tag-ed-head","tag-gunsite","tag-ruger-lcp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}