50 miles- 8hr 15 min

Ever notice that kids don't complain about running? They also have perfect foot strike, and stride. It's not until they are introduced to the Big Mac and video game that things go downhill.

As far as a hobby goes, it's pretty cheap, you don't need much; shoes, socks, shorts, water bottle, and your off. I keep it pure(and situational awareness)- no music for me.

Since I beat Jeremy Beasley in the second grade to become the fastest kid on the playground, I've always loved running. I was spinter in school. I clocked a 4.5 40 yard dash in the 10th grade, came in 5th in the state in the 60 in the 11th, then decided to go to BUD/s- enter distance running. My senior year, I ran cross country to prepare for frogman school-and I sucked, I mean, I was horrible. I literally thought my heart would come out of my chest the first time a ran 3 miles (22.00). It wasn't until I was in SoCal that I really grew to love distance running.

Throughout the years I did the normal 5k stuff (17.51 PR), marathons (3.35 PR)and the like. After running only 15-20 miles a week since I got out, one day, about a year ago, I just decided I had to go run. Since then I became obsessed with ultras, so I started training to hopefully knock out a 50 or 100 miler.

So yesterday was my big day. You learn a lot running that far. You appreciate things more. It's good to do something on that scale every once and while. Not everyone gets it.

Thanks: Howie Lyons (High School CC Coach)
Pat H.
Lafe P.
Art T.

Aimpoint vs. EOTech

I've received this question enough since I started this blog to warrant its own post.
This debate has been around as long as the two optics themselves. You can find varied opinions on the internet. Some of these opinions are based on good data to back up the choice, some are made by the inexperienced, and others are made by obvious sponsored shooters.

First and foremost, I'm not sponsored by either company. I also currently do not have to pay for either one I choose to use. My opinion is based on both operational and instuctional experience of using both red dot sights at one time or another.

I'll start out by saying that in my mind, a modern, complete carbine needs 3 things; a flashlight, some type of attachment system (sling), and a red dot sight mounted correctly (bottom third of sight glass). The red dot being the most important. A few years ago, red dot sights were sketchy in some aspects-battery life, mounting, reticle size. Recently, all these issues have been rectified for the most part.

So... I personally beleive the Aimpoint Micro to be the best red dot sight available today. Here's the reasons;

1. Battery life is something like 5 or 6 years. It will most likely outlast your weapon depending on how much you shoot.

2. Mounting is stupid proof from the factory-putting iron sights in the bottom third of the glass (like they should be)

3. The brightness adjustment knob is easy to use, yet locks into a positive detent so as to not get turned off or really bright accidentily (i.e.-fastroping, brushing up against something)

4. It's as small as you can get an optic, which means -light weight (my favorite gear trait)

From what I hear, the Micro will soon be available in a 2 MOA dot size, as opposed to its current 4 MOA dot. My second choice would be the Aimpoint Comp M4, which can be had already with a 2 MOA dot, and convenient AA battery power.

Why I don't prefer EOTech;

1. Mounting is a pain. Most will forego any riser to correctly place it in front of the irons. What you end up with is a EOTech mounted on top of the receiver with the red dot looking directly at center mass of the front sight post. Some will opt for flip down irons to fix the problem. I personally feel that irons should be up all the time in case of optic failure. If mounted correctly, you'll never see your irons unless you want to. The riser mounts on the market for EOTech's take up a lot of space on the rail, and most have proven to be unreliable.

2. Battery terminals have historically been a major flaw. They would fall out when changing batteries. To the point that the U.S. Army requested that over 100,000 be retro-fitted with new battery compartments.

3. Some models blink when battery life is low, also some will automatically shut off when left on over 8 hours.

The reticle is a matter of preference. I hate it. It's to busy to me. Some like it. It has some good features- the ability to range, and to have a POA for CQB distance.

I think it imperative that anyone who uses their carbine in a duty role (Military, L.E., contractor) think hard about their choice using the info above. Don't use it because some "high speed" unit does it. For all you know they may have had some custom work done to solve any shortcomings.

Also remember that red dots are becoming the GPS of shooting. You have to know how, and be good at using iron sights at all distances. You never know when or with what weapon you might have to use them.

No new gear

I noticed it a few days ago. None of my kit I currently use was actually bought by me, or was ever mine. The funny thing is, it's all the best set-ups I've had in a long time. My plate carrier and gun belt are from Jason, my Kydex gear is from Tony, leather and Wilderness belt from Looey, gloves and sling from the LAV. I like it like that, has more soul. So go give a pouch or knife to a friend, hopefully he'll return the favor, it has good Karma that way.

Hackathorn Standards (288,cold)

The best way to truly test one's skill with any weapon is without a "warm-up". Today Jason, Billy, Looey, and I shot the Hack cold without having done any pistol work in awhile. For me, about a week. I had 2 rounds over time (which is really bad because they were hits), and 1 outright miss, for a total of -12.

I consider it to be the best pistol test ever. It has everything in it, except malfuctions. We use it here as a standard for instructors (275 and above).My history of the test; first time score-281, my lowest ever-276, highest ever-296. I've shot 275 and above with the big three; Beretta 92F, Sig sauer P226, and Glock 17,and I've also matched my highest score (296) with a retention rig (Safariland 6004) as well.

The test;

HACKATHORN STANDARDS
3 IPSC targets 1 meter apart and staggered heights.

5 yards - 1 round to each head freestyle. 3 secs
5 yards - 1 round to each head strong hand only. 4 secs
5 yards - 1 round to each body strong hand only. 3 secs twice

8 yards - 2 rounds to the body left target. 2 secs
8 yards - 2 rounds to the body middle target. 2 secs
8 yards - 2 rounds to the body right target. 2 secs

10 yards - El presidente 10 secs
10 yards - Weak hand pick up (pistol on ground, butt strong side. Flip pistol with weak hand and fire 1 round per target to each body.) 5 secs

12 to 8 - Shoot on the move, 2 to each body 5 secs

15 yards - transition drill, 1 to each body 4 secs

20 yards - standing to prone, 2 to each body 10 secs

25 yards - using vertical cover and tactical order, 2 to each body tactical/retention reload, kneeling, 2 to each body. 24 secs

The score is out of 300. 5 points for an A, 3 points for a C and 2 points for a D

The complete test is on the below videos. You'll have to view a couple of them from roll-over prone (Australian camerman!), sorry!

5000

Sometime in the next couple of months, I'll teach my 5000th student. Someone else brought this to my attention. At first, I thought- there is no way, but, after doing the math, looking at old rosters, critiques, emails, and contracts, that's about right. A few things I've learned along the way:

1. There is always someone, somewhere, that can beat you at your own game.

2. You can learn as much from students as they do from you if you look hard enough.

3. Eat humble pie - Keep up with new tactics and techniques, or you'll get left behind. If that happens, in this industry, you'll be forgotten quickly. That means you'll have to go to your competitors classes every once in awhile.

4. Encourage students to go to at least 2 other schools to get a different opinion of things.

5. Eventually, you'll get a bad critique, or find a student that is truly hopeless.

6. None of us are as good as we think.

"...we're them ole boys raised on shotguns..."

Jim Gilliland and I both grew up hunting and shooting in North Alabama, him in Double Puddle, me in Hooterville, just in the foothills of the Appalachain Mountains at the edge of the Cumberland Plateau. As with most, we started with Daisy BB guns (at 5 or 6 years old) handed down by our dads, graduated to a single shot, breech loaded .410 around age 8 or so, the coveted .22 (tube magazine of course) at about 11or 12, and finally a "man's" rifle (.308) by the time we were in our teens. Jim went in the Army, me the Navy, and we both became experienced snipers.

Ever since, we've both made a living placing bullets in a predetermined spot. Recently after a class, we got to go to the range and just shoot. No students, no media, just rednecks doing what we do.

One of the things we've both noticed lately is the dying art of fieldcraft- non-GPS navigation, patrolling, concealment, basic survival skills (water, shelter, fire), mostly due to the direction training is going because of OEF/OIF. These are skills that can't be lost.

So get outside- run, hunt, fish, hike, bike, camp. Get rid of those damn video games, the real thing is better.