If you are a member of the minority, the people who planned and prepared for national shortages and potential bans, you probably won’t need to read much of this because you likely understand. If, however, you are new to the firearms and defensive realm, you are probably experiencing difficulty elevating or sustaining your defensive posture because:
Buying ammo in bulk- probably not gonna happen for months, maybe even longer.
Wanting to buy an AR-15? AK? AUG? SCAR? FAL? FSC? M1A? You’re gonna either pay a hefty premium or have to wait, and that is banking on no potential bans.
So what can you do to maintain your defensive capabilities during these trying times? Some would say little, but we disagree. Heck, most of the military trains extensively without firearms, so you can too. Let’s look into some options that will help you keep your defensive edge, while not needing large amounts of ammunition and days at the range.
1) Fitness and Diet
Easily the most overlooked facet of self-defense. Proper fitness and a good diet is the backbone to defensive capability, and if you think you can bank all of your defensive ability on the act of pulling a trigger, you may need to reorganize your priorities and look into another hobby.
Unless you have one of these. If you do, enjoy your cheeseburgers and ignore the rest of this section. Photo from ENDO Gun Blog.
If you are not fit, yet you are looking to increase your capabilities in defensive situations, there are a host of options can consider to develop yourself into a better fighter. Crossfit, which has become a national fitness craze, comes to mind. There are countless options for Crossfit in the valley and across the states. If you are one who thinks that Crossfit is a fad, there are still more options, to include traditional weightlifting and cross-training. Be proactive and find out what works best for you. As always, thanks to the modern American legal system, consult with your physician before attempting a new (or any) physical training regimen.
You shouldn’t stop at a new fitness regimen. You should also incorporate the fitness requirements of fighting (hand-to-hand and weapons) into your fitness regimen. Go to any carbine course and you will understand this concept. An example is when you see an individual, who may have the largest biceps you have ever seen, grow tired after just an hour of shouldering their rifle on the line. If defense is your priority, don’t focus on looking pretty for the opposite sex. Focus on what works when the moment counts.
Drills-
The drills that we become accustomed to do not necessarily require ammunition. For example, if you have attended formal carbine training, you have likely performed a modified navy qual drill as an evaluation. If you have not, you can see what the drill consists of by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv5epCk5KRY. An individual can easily practice this drill without ammunition. You can develop a consistent movement between the positions, consistent eye relief, cheek weld, magazine reloads, and other fundamentals of shooting while running the drill.
There are a multitude of drills that you can run in the confines of your home. For example, you (with the help of a partner) can run dime drills to work on properly pressing the trigger. You can also practice speed reloads and tactical reloads. As always, make sure to properly observe safety rules while practicing anywhere, especially while at home.
Make a Plan, and Practice your Plan (Repeatedly)
We cannot tell you how many times we meet people who own firearms yet have no plan on how to use them in a defensive situation. For example, do you know where in your abode you will have a defensive advantage or disadvantage? Have you practiced moving around in your home with light deprivation? Have you communicated with your loved ones on what to do in a home invasion? These are all critical points that many, if not most, ignore. You need to work on an adaptive plan to defend your home. Look around and see where people could forcibly enter your abode. Practice on methods to react to situations and make performance notes. This all sounds like a lot of work, but if you unfortunately experience a home invasion, it could mean the difference between survival and victimization.
You shouldn’t stop planning with just your home. If you carry concealed or in a vehicle, you need to plan on how you would defend yourself in these situations. Always communicate new or evolved reactionary methods with your loved ones so they stay out of the fight and know what to do.
Conclusion-
Times are tough in this industry right now. While we may not have the means to practice defensive measures the way we want, there are still a few options that we have to ensure we can practice our natural right to protect our lives and defend our loved ones and property. Thank you for taking the time to read this entry, and as always, feel free to add comments and thoughts in the comment section below. Stay vigilant, train safely, and we hope to see you on the range soon!
Posted on January 2nd, 2013 by dd-sgc
Filed under: General Notes, Blogroll | 1 Comment »
