swat magazine 2004.09

WEAPONS, TACTICS AND TRAINING FOR THE REAL WORLD

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18 SEVEN RULES FOR CONCEALED CARRY BY KEVIN DAVIS

44 LARUE TACTICAL RINGS AND MOUNTS BY PATRICK A. ROGERS

50 DECEMBER SWEEPSTAKES H-S Precisions Pro-Series 2000 HTR

52 MORRIGAN CONSULTINGS ADVANCED DEFENSIVE PISTOL Training You Can Bet Your Life On BY TIGER McKEE

56 TACTICAL DUTY KNIFE COURSE Training On The Cutting Edge BY ERICK GELHAUS

LINEUP 40 POSITION SUL Heres The Scoop BY MAX F. JOSEPH

www.swatmag.com4 S.W.A.T. DECEMBER 2004

www.swatmag.com S.W.A.T. DECEMBER 2004 5

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S.W.A.T. (ISSN# 1062-2365) Volume 23, Number 9, December 2004. Published monthly, except February, July and November by Group One Enterprises, Inc. 5011 North Ocean Blvd., Suite 5, Ocean Ridge, FL 33435. Copyright 2004 by Group One Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, photographs, etc., if they are to be returned, and Group One Enterprises, Inc. assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. All letters sent to S.W.A.T. will be treated as uncon-ditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to S.W.A.T.s right to edit and comment editorially. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: For subscription customer service, call (800) 673-4595. A one-year subscription is $26.95 (9 issues). Foreign subscriptions add $15.00 U.S. funds. Back issues are $8 each, postage and taxes included. (California and Ohio add applicable sales tax.) These prices represent S.W.A.T.s standard subscription rate and should not be confused with special subscription offers sometimes advertised. Change of address: Allow six weeks advance notice and send in both your old and new addresses. ATTN POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: S.W.A.T. Magazine, PO Box 16207, North Hollywood, CA 91615. Periodicals postage is paid at Boynton Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. S.W.A.T. is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Group One Enterprises, Inc. Printed in the USA.

6 BRIEFING ROOMNo Right To WhineBY DENNY HANSEN

16 STREET SMARTS The Fine Art Of DebriefingBY BRENT T. WHEAT

30ENEMY AT THE GATECrazy Gun Laws: The Laughable MenaceBY RICHARD W. STEVENS

36UP CLOSE AND PERSONALHabitsBY JEFF GONZALES

98 TRAINING AND TACTICSI Am The Bullet...BY LOUIS AWERBUCK

8 MAIL ROOMLetters From Our Readers

12LONG GUNSRemingtons 7600P Patrol RifleBY LEROY THOMPSON

24 LAWFUL CARRYBlackhawk Carbon Fiber CQC GearBY FLINT HANSEN

32FRONTLINE DEBRIEFSHere I StandBY SCOTT REITZ

88OFFBEAT4th Gen Lasergrips For 1911sBY EUGENE NIELSEN

90THE CUTTING EDGEFoster 1911 FolderBY DENNY HANSEN

92TRAINING CALENDAR

94GEAR LOCKERNew Products And Accessories

97ADVERTISERS INFO

60 HILTON YAMS 10-8 PISTOL Fit For Duty BY PATRICK A. ROGERS

66 KEL-TECS SU-16 RIFLE The Perfect Bug-Out Weapon? BY DENNY HANSEN

70 TO THE REAR, MARCH! Nostalgia and Refinishing An AR-15 BY MIKE DETTY

76 TEES ENTERPRISES High Risk Environment Dignitary Protection Course BY DAVID L. CRINKLAW

80 BANG! Reconditioning Drills To Avoid Involuntary Discharges BY PHIL MESSINA

84 HEARING LOSS AND PROTECTION BY DR. GEORGE E. DVORCHAK, JR

ON THE COVER: Gunsite Instructor and Downey, California cop Tim Lau takes aim with one of Hilton Yams pistols.

6 S.W.A.T. DECEMBER 2004 www.swatmag.com

THE

TEAMPUBLISHER

Richard J. Lucibella

EDITORDenny Hansen

PRODUCTION DIRECTORKathleen Allard

ART DIRECTORBetty Wendt

COPY EDITORDennis Bateman

TACTICAL CONSULTANTLouis Awerbuck

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSULTANTBrent Wheat

TRAINING CONSULTANTRob Pincus

CONTRIBUTING STAFFR.K. Campbell , Ashley C. Emerson

David Fortier, Jeff GonzalesFlint Hansen, Steve Malloy

Tiger McKee, Eitan Meyr Eugene Nielsen, Scott Reitz

Patrick A. Rogers, Clint Smith, Richard W. Stevens, Leroy Thompson

CIRCULATION DIRECTORRichard Convertito

FINANCE DIRECTORJoel Marcus, CPA

WEBSITE TECHNOLOGYJustin Guyett

ADVERTISING SALESphone: 800-665-SWAT

email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATIONJ. Masloe Freen

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SWATMAG.COM

DISCLAIMERCertain products represented in this magazine may be subject to prohibitions, restrictions or special licensing for sale, possession or interstate transport. If this annoys you, Get Involved...support the Bill of Rights...all of them! In the meantime, check with local and federal authorities regarding legality of purchase, possession and transport. The information described and portrayed in this magazine is based upon personal experience of the author, under specific conditions and circumstances. Due to time and space constraints, the entire authors experience may not be reported or otherwise verified. Nothing in these pages should be construed to substitute for a manufacturers manual or for professional firearms training. This magazine, its officers, agents and employees accept no responsibility for any liability, injuries or damages arising from any persons attempt to rely upon the information contained herein. Responsible shooters always seek formal training.

EDITORIAL INFORMATIONFor editorial submissions, press releases or questions, contact the editor at:3025 N. Valley View Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 or by email at:[email protected]

BRIEFING ROOMNO RIGHT TO WHINE

This issue is scheduled to hit the newsstands two days before we elect the next President of the United States. I fervently hope all readers of S.W.A.T. do their duty. If you dont, and things do not turn out as you would have hoped, please keep it to yourself. If you do not exercise the right to vote, you certainly have no right to whine.

***

Since Rich Lucibella purchased S.W.A.T. in 2001, we have raised the bar on the competition time and again. First, we added color on every page. Next, we increased the size of the magazine by twenty-five percent. Finally, glancing at the magazines masthead to the left of this column, you will see that our S.W.A.T. Team includes some of the most respected trainers and writers in the business. Beginning with this issue, we have something really special in store. A new column, Frontline Debriefs, makes it debut here.

Written by nationally known firearms trainer Scott Reitz, the column will focus on what works on the street (and what doesnt) based on his experienceand that experience is vast.

Scott is a twenty-eight year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Depart-ment, with twenty-three years in the elite Metropolitan Division, which includes D platoon (known as SWAT).

During the last fifteen years Scott has conducted training for private citizens, police officers, the Department of Energy, USMC Recon, the State Department, Naval Special Warfare Groups and more. Scott is a welcome addition to the S.W.A.T. Team.

To make room for Frontline Debriefs, we obviously had to make some changes to avoid cutting feature articles. One change included removing The Skunk Works from our lineup of columns. However, Eugene Nielsen, the author of Skunk Works, will be staying on board and contributing both short and full-length feature articles.

***

The entire staff of S.W.A.T. Magazine would like to take this opportu-nity to wish all our readers a Happy Holiday Season, with our hope that the coming year will be safe and prosperous.

Until next time, stay low and watch your back.

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GEAR IN S.W.A.T. SAVES A LIFE

Dear S.W.A.T.,Thanks for the article on CSM Gear. I

used their tourniquet on a team member during an ambush in Iraq and it de-nitely saved his life. I also carried their pro-mask bag, which was perforated by a round but held together. The single-point sling was a huge help in situations where I had to use both hands but didnt want to take off the carbine. I ordered twelve tan thigh drop holsters and sold them at cost, in-country, to the other troops. They worked perfectly, even when riding inverted on the thigh (due to the foot being high on the side of the HMMWV, supporting a carbine point-ing outward).

Aside from the tourniquet, though, the best item was the hydration pack, which is insulated. Late in the deploy-ment I had access to a freezer. A frozen 1-1/2 liter bottle of water ts perfectly in the pack and stays frozen in 120-degree heat for six hours. The smaller pouches on the pack carried an MRE and extra magazines, and I put odds and ends in the smaller pouch. This was the best

birthday gift my wife ever gave me!Kudos to Chief McMillan for his qual-

ity control and attention to detailas well as keeping the work in the USA.

(Disclaimer: remarks do not reect of-cial policy)W. Anderson, email

First, thank you for your service. We will never be able to repay you and your fellow warriors for what you have done for us. Were happy to hear that the gear featured in S.W.A.T. is saving the lives of our brave men in uniform.

THIRD WORLD COUNTRY?Dear S.W.A.T.,

I would like to thank you for tak-ing the time to go behind the scenes in Greece at security/anti-terrorist efforts. I am sick and tired of everybody paint-ing Greece as a backwards third world country and a haven for terrorists. No-body says anything about serious secu-rity problems (such as writers from a left wing political satire magazine FRANK in Canada where these two editors man-aged to enter the ofce of the Canadian Prime minister. If they were terrorists

they could have planted bombs every place on Parliament Hill). Keep up the right to bear arms.Y. Pemptos, Canada

Thanks for the feedback on the September issue. S.W.A.T. will continue to bring our readers the most factual, up-to-date informa-tion as is humanly possible.

HAPPYSWEEPSTAKES WINNER

Dear S.W.A.T.,I won the August 2003 sweepstakes

for the Blackwater training course with ammunition supplied from Black Hills Ammunition and gear from BlackHawk and just wanted to write and let you know how great it was. I attended the ve-day Pistol/Carbine course April 5-9, 2004.

Everybody at Blackwater was great. They went out of their way to make the experience a fantastic one both in train-ing and in after-class accommodations. It was like being at a tactical Bed and Breakfast. The instructors were really down to earth and knew their craft and were easily able to pass on that informa-

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tion to the students. The students were also great, all with an interesting ar-ray of backgrounds. Some contractors, SWAT guys from several agencies, FBI, military, real estate and even a journal-ist.

The Black Hills ammunition worked awlessly as well. Their staff made get-ting the ammunition I needed for the class easy. I highly recommend them. The BlackHawk products I won and used never let me down and are guaran-teed for lifeall agreed at the class that they are top of the line.

Well, in closing I would like to say I had a great time with great gear. I learned a lot of new things as well as sharpened up on older rusty skills. Blackwater is the best and I am denitely going back soon. Thank you, S.W.A.T., for giving me the gear and the opportunity to at-tend this training and make some new friends.Dr. Thomas H. Stillwell

Congratulations on winning the Sweep-stakes. It sounds like you had a very enjoy-able learning experience.

WHAT WAS THAT CARBINE?

Dear S.W.A.T.,I wanted to say that I enjoyed the

Quick Peek article in the August is-sue. I do have a question though. What is the long gun shown in the article? It appears to be a bullpup AR-15. I really dont know what it is. Any information would be appreciated. Have a great day

and I look forward to the next issue.G. Miller, email

The carbine used in that article was a prop (for obvious safety reasons). It was made by Crye Associates as a futuristic looking weap-on for the Future Force Warrior program and to highlight their MultiCam which was then in contention for the Armys new uniform.


A recent trend has been to arm law enforcement agencies with some type of patrol carbine in addition to, or instead of, the shotgun. For exam-ple, one local department recently armed their officers with AR-15s and another department is considering pistol cali-ber carbines such as the Beretta Storm. The arguments for a patrol carbine are fairly standard: greater range, stopping power, and accuracy at ranges past ten to fifteen yards, plus greater confidence for officers and greater intimidation effect on criminals. However, a substan-tial number of younger law enforcement officers have little firearms background, so trainers must consider disadvantages which may arise when personnel are trained on multiple weapon systems.

When an agency issues both a pistol and a shotgun, recruits must be trained in two systemsusually a self-loading pistol (DA only with many agencies) and a slide-action shotgun. Mossberg, in fact, offers a DA-only slide-action shotgun for those agencies which use a DA-only pistol. Adding a patrol carbine creates an additional training challenge for the agency, the trainers, and the recruits. Personally, I dont necessarily think current police recruits, who tend

to be better educated than ever before, are incapable of learning three weapons systems; but many people entering law enforcement are not weapons oriented and view them only as a necessary part of the job. Also, I believe a substantial number of U.S. law enforcement agen-cies think its probably a good idea to have officers who are not exception-ally familiar with firearms and do not want to know much more than they are taught in the academy or quarterly qualification.

The theory in many agencies is that giving officers a semi-auto handgun, a slide-action shotgun, and a self-loading carbine creates a confusion factor which may cause the officer to have problems under stress. Most of us familiar with police firearms incidents know that it is relatively common to have two or more officers empty large capacity magazines from their duty pistols at suspects, often at very close range, with few hits on the criminals. Therefore, trainers and police administrators must consider the dam-age that a thirty-round magazine of .223 rounds might cause in an urban area.

One solution is to issue a patrol car-bine that functions much like the issue shotgun, thus requiring a manual opera-

tion for each round fired, and which employs a relatively low capacity maga-zine. One such carbine would be the Remington 7600P (P for Police).

Based on the ever-popular Remington 7600 slide-action rifle, the 7600P has fea-tures designed for law enforcement. The standard 7600 in .308 has a twenty-two barrel but, if my measurement is cor-rect, the 7600P has a barrel 16.75 inches long. Overall length is 37.5 inches and weight is 7.3 pounds. Its really a very handy weapon. The 7600P employs a ghost ring rear with a front post with white insert. Although not as precise as conventional rifle sights, it is the same, familiar type of sight used on many Remington 870 shotguns. The stock and forearm are black polymer, and the bar-rel and receiver are blackened. The stock is fitted with a thick recoil pad. The slide release is similar to that on 870 shotguns, and the magazine release is located behind the magazine on the opposite side from the slide release. It doesnt really lend itself to fast maga-zine changes, but this isnt a military battle rifle. As supplied from Reming-ton, the 7600P comes with a four-round magazine and is chambered for the .308 Winchester cartridge.

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Although .308 is standard for most police tactical marksmen, .223 is a much more common choice for police patrol riflesand Remington will soon have a new .223 patrol rifle on the market. However, I see more positive aspects of the .308 chambering than negative. A patrol rifle may well be employed against suspects in vehicles or behind cover, and the heavier .308 round will penetrate better and provide greater stopping power. It also has greater range if employed in the counter-sniper role, but more about that mission later. On the downside, the .308 will recoil more, but with the thick recoil pad probably less than the 870 shotgun. The greater range and penetration of the .308 makes it more dangerous in an urban area if missed shots are thrown downrange; but the four-round magazine and prop-er training should counter any spray and pray mentality.

The 7600P comes with posts for mounting sling swivels, a feature I con-sider useful on a patrol carbine. The abil-ity to mount a sling allows an officer to carry the carbine slung when he needs his hands freea feature which might keep it from being left in the patrol car. On the other hand, with the sling

mounted it would be difficult to mount the rifle in most racks.

The 7600P is drilled and tapped for scope mounts. The ghost ring rear sight is fast but not adequately precise for a counter-sniper role for which a good scope is still best. One simple solution would be for Remington to offer an L-flip sight which retained the ghost ring for normal usage but offered a more precise peep sight for longer range. Fir-ing prone, head shots were reliable out to fifty yards. However, at 100 yards, the groups opened up to eight to nine inches. All the hits with a .308 round would have probably disabled a shooter, but at the same range with a .308 tacti-cal rifle the group would have been an inch or less. Although a good optical sight would help ensure tighter groups, a scope would make the 7600P more dif-ficult to carry in a patrol car and would offer the possibility of the scope being knocked around.

When firing at multiple targets at twenty-five yards, I found the slide-action worked quickly and smoothly. I do a lot of shooting with the 870 and thus found the 7600P familiar to operate quickly, which is, of course, one of its main advantages for law enforcement

personnel who use the 870.Overall, I like the 7600P and believe

that the compatibility with the Reming-ton 870 in a weapons system is a positive feature. The .308 chambering makes it a more formidable anti-personnel and anti-vehicular weapon than a .223, while the small magazine capacity lowers the possibility of spraying a lot of rounds down range. The ghost ring sight is fast and familiar if one uses a shotgun with the same sight, but is not really good for precise shooting past 100 yards. Certain-ly, the 7600P is worthy of consideration by an agency wanting a powerful patrol rifle which is not semi-auto and which does not have a large magazine capacity. The fact that the 7600 is such a widely used hunting rifle in many parts of the country might also make it a bit softer than a military rifle such as the AR-15/M16.

SOURCE:Remington Law Enforcement and Government SalesDept. S.W.A.T.P.O. Box 700Madison, NC 27025(336) 548-8899www.remingtonle.com

LONG GUNS

THE ARTICLE NAME


STREET SMARTS

While driving around and try-ing to decide upon another cockamamie topic for this months column, I was interrupted by a radio call of an upset man wav-ing a gun inside a public building.

Unfortunately, I was nearby and didnt have the good sense to slow down or drive one more time around the block. As I pulled into the parking lot within a minute of the initial call, my radio barked with the excited voice of a dispatcher ad-vising that the man was walking outside.

As my friend Louis Awerbuck of-ten says laconically, Oh Goodie!

Parking alongside the building, I ran toward the front entrance. Seeing my suspect, I simultaneously tried to chal-lenge him and seek cover under some low groundcover next to the nicely landscaped building. I also noticed a large group of elderly people, war vet-erans, clergy, pregnant women, tod-dlers, infant strollers and baby harp seals surrounding the front door to serve as a backstop in case I was forced to re on the suspect. FunnyI didnt see the president of the ACLU there alongside me to offer advice on whether to shoot or not, but back to the action.

Hopefully youve read enough of my columns to already guess that there were no heroics involved. The man was distressed, but not suicidal and was therefore captured without gun-play, then disarmed and handcuffed. We were even reasonably civil about it.

I apologize if you were expect-ing a hairy-chested account of major gunplay, but there is a point to this somewhat anti-climactic sea story.

Once things were nished and our suspect was safely en route to visit with the talking doctors, I met with my shift partners. I felt that I had made a few tac-tical mistakes in my approach, but after discussing things we ultimately decided that things had gone reasonably well. We then went on with our lives, wait-ing for the next crisis of the moment.

Later, I realized that I had instinctive-ly done something that I consider vital to anyone who might be called upon to

face a future crisis situationdebrief.Dont get confused and think I am

talking about those debriefs where ev-eryone sits around and talks about their feelings. While I think that emotional support after a major traumatic incident is important, I am talking about another kind of debrief. I am talking about sit-ting down with yourself or those who had also owned a piece of the prob-lem to discuss what went right and, more importantly, what went wrong.

The ability to critically analyze and dissect your performance should be considered a prerequisite to gradu-ate from the school of tactical think-ing. While this seems such an elemen-tary procedure, there are far too many people with thin skin and ego who cannot take those lessons to heart.

With each passing day I more ful-ly learn the wisdom behind the old chestnut that says The hardest les-sons are the best learned. Therein lies the most important point when analyzing past performancetell the truth to yourself, even though it hurts.

It has been stated previously in this corner that my personal test for instruc-tors is to see if they are capable of talk-ing about the times they have made major mistakes. If someone can hon-estly see where they came up short in an urgent situation, they are truly on the path to enlightenment. Not being honest with yourself about your tactical performance is perhaps one of the most self-destructive things you can do short of snorting heroin mixed with jet fuel.

Stop right now and get it out in the open. Think about those times you have been tested by circumstance. You cer-tainly did things right or you wouldnt be reading this outstanding magazine. However, there were undoubtedly things that would have made the outcome even betteror at least made the incident ow more smoothly and safely for you.

Debrieng should be a continuous part of the tactical process rather than an oft-forgotten step in a owchart after a major incident. Regardless if you are a police ofcer, member of the military or

Joe Citizen living his day-to-day life in the mean streets of 21st century Amer-ica, you should constantly be scrutiniz-ing, evaluating and understanding your own responses to tactical problems.

Without knowing how you have re-sponded in the past, there is no way that learning can occur. Learning is based upon previous experience and for you to ignore the valuable lessons taught by the school of life would be a grave injustice to yourself and those who de-pend upon your skills for their safety.

It should be standard procedure for you to take a few moments after all the hoopla has died to consider the larger picture and your performance within. This is not just for major incidents that involve gunplay and hostage nego-tiators. Suppose you found the garage door ajar upon returning home and de-cided to check the house before allow-ing your family inside. After the house is secure and the groceries are put away, stop to critique your response and deci-sion-making. Tomorrow, your life could depend upon the lessons learned today.

A group debrief is very useful if com-munication can be maintained. Sharing opinions and a laugh with those present can provide greater insight that leads to better performance. The potential down-fall is that a majority of other people are not so fond of hearing about their own mistakes. If this is the case in your situ-ation, gently point out major errors in the overall response and hope the per-son in question gets the hint, regard-less if they publicly fess up or not.

Regardless of how your friends and co-workers reexamine their own per-formance, never be satised to close the books on any incident without a personal review. While schooling and training are vitally important, you will never have the nal exam until those skills are tested in the real world.

Realizing and correcting any personal shortfalls that are apparent after todays event is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure that you will suc-ceed in whatever happens tomorrow.

THE FINE ART OF DEBRIEFING BY BRENT T. WHEAT

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When all you have is a ham-mer, everything begins to look like a nail. And if all you have is a pistol, you are severely limited in how you can defend yourself and how effective (as well as how long) you may be in the fight. We acknowl-edge that a proper mind-set is numero uno in terms of emerging victorious from a violent interpersonal encoun-ter. Certainly being properly armed is vital, but the defensive handgun is only one piece of proper preparationthere are other components that should be integrated. The subject of this article is proper preparation of our total defen-sive package.

We dont want to carry so much equip-ment that we need an insulated winter coat to conceal it all. But can we carry

too little? The answer is unequivocally yes! Tucking your pistol in your pocket or in your belt a la Mexican carry may arm you, but it does not properly prepare you. Fortunately, the quality of equipment now available to com-fortably carry concealed has improved tremendously. Excuses that Ive heard about not going armed include: Its too hot to wear a gun, Im not going any-where dangerous, and I dont think Ill need to carry where Im going. Now if you only carry when you think youll get in a shooting, dont go out that dayor join the sideshow and tell the future!

All of these comments, aside from being stupid, are illogical in light of the fact that there is a plethora of carry rigs and pistols available to allow the

SEVENSEVENSEVEN RULESSEVENRULESS

EVEN BY KEVIN DAVIS

FOR CONCEALED CARRY

Carry as much gun as you can.

S.W.A.T. DECEMBER 2004 19www.swatmag.com

SEVEN RULES FOR CONCEALED CARRYplainclothes officer or citizen to carry 100% of the time. Ive car-ried under a T-shirt in 100-degree heat with 90 percent humidity, sit-ting in a car with the windows closed and no A.C., while working surveillance on a target fifty feet away. (Oh, that detective work! Aint it sexy?) Ive carried in fanny packs (more accurately called pelvic packs), strong side hip holsters, ankle rigs and shoulder rigs. Ive carried full-size, mid-size and compact pistols. Ive also seen terrible failures occur both on the range and on the street with concealed carry equipment. How about running up to a dope house with a detective right behind me, and his pistol goes skidding past me on the sidewalk after it fell out of his holster?

Based on these experiences and many more, I have formulated some rules for concealed carry.

RULE 1First of all, I subscribe to the

carry as much gun as you can school. Yes, body type has some-thing to do with this, but Ive seen small stature males and females carry full-sized pistols completely concealed and large persons who insist on carrying pocket pistols. The concept that a smaller indi-vidual can only carry a mid to small-frame pistol can be overrat-ed. Considering that a pistol is a last ditch emergency weapon (or as Clint Smith says, you use your pis-tol to fight your way to your rifle), you are going to need this arma-ment in dire situations. Since pis-tols have marginal stopping power anyway, carry the biggest that you can get away with. Pocket pistols are good for close up work and are better than throwing rocks, but are invariably harder to hit with accu-rately due to a shorter sight radius. They also carry less ammo than a full or mid-size handgun.

RULE 2Your holster and belt work in

tandem to position the gun for a proper draw and secure the weap-on from takeaway. This combina-tion of quality in both holster and belt is imperative. Why carry a $100.00 custom holster on a $20.00

belt that will break apart under pressure? The holster must be secured to the belt. Paddle holsters are in vogue right nowquite hon-estly its because the paddle holster facilitates taking your gun off and on. With that said, on a recent day at the range four detectives suc-ceeded in drawing both the pistol and holster. This can be embar-rassing on the range, but deadly on the street. Four different shoot-ers, three different holster types. Two were less expensive holsters, but one was a $75.00 leather rig. All had the same outcome. In my opinion, based on street experience and a lot of money spent on leather and Kydex rigs, the most secure holsters are threaded onto the belt via slots and require the belt to be removed to take off. At the very least select a holster that has straps that snap around your belt.

RULE 3The holster must have some type

of retention device. Fortunately holster companies have understood this and have made great strides to develop security rigs for concealed carry. At the very least you want some type of tensioning screw, but thumb breaks and other designs give additional safety. Individuals carrying concealed are not immune from attempted gun snatches. Remember youll oftentimes be alone without backup. There is always a trade-off in terms of speed of draw versus retention. Amateurs call security holsters death traps, professionals call them lifesavers. Furthermore, professionals practice with the rig of choice to ensure a smooth and reliable presentation of the pistol. Always remember that most holsters have life spans, meaning they dont last forever. Inspect your gear on a regular basis. If the holster will not securely carry the weapon any longer, its time to get rid of it.

RULE 4Carry additional ammo. You

cant predict what the circumstanc-es of your shooting will be. The mere fact youre in a shooting is an anomaly. It could be close up and personal, and it could be at longer range. You could be facing multiple

top: The author in summer casual attire, the T-shirt conceals a Glock 19 and spare magazine.

middle: A quality holster should be firmly affixed to a quality belt. In this case a Galco thumb break holster is attached to an Uncle Mikes Mirage trouser belt. Belt slots secure the holster to the belt and the thumb break increases pistol retention in case of arduous movements or attempted takeaways.

bottom: Spare ammunition is a must for the serious self-defense practitionera magazine on the belt is more accessible than a magazine in a pocket. Its better to have it and not need it than be in dire straights and run out of ammo.


SEVEN RULES FOR CONCEALED CARRYsuspects or just one homicidal maniac that wont stop despite center mass hits. Your shooting could be over in one shot or it could require several magazines to neutralize the threat. I remember during the video taped debrief of the infamous F.B.I. shootout with two armed bank robbers in Miami nearly 20 years ago, when an agent stated, carry as much ammo as you can.

Carry your magazines on your belt, not in a pocket. I have seen numerous people fumble in the front or rear pants pockets trying to get a mag out while kneeling or sitting. Imagine trying to do this while prone on the ground behind low cover. There are some great combo rigs to carry a mag and small flashlight, etc. Without spare ammo your pistol is a temporary solution. After its been shot dry its only useful as a poor substitute for a good club.

RULE 5Wear appropriate attire and do your

firearms training from concealment with that clothing. While working undercover as a street narcotics detective in all envi-ronments, I never had an occasion where my cover was blown or my being

armed was detected. I dressed in cloth-ing that fit in with the level of society in which I worked and properly concealed my hardware. From tank tops and shorts in the summer to coats in the winter you must properly conceal your armed sta-tus while at the same time being able to quickly address a threat.

Regardless of whether you are a licensed citizen, or armed law enforce-ment officer, you must practice and train while wearing your daily attire. Whether using the Hackathorn rip from under a T-shirt or brushing back a jacket to draw your pistol, you must practice, train and qualify in that manner. The law of playing like you practice couldnt be truer. If in a sudden deadly assault you fumble with the clothing covering your firearm, it might cost you your life. Sweat equity is the cost of realistic training.

RULE 6Carry some sort of less lethal device

such as expandable baton tucked in the front of the waistband or in the back pocket, O.C. spray in a jacket or vest pocketsomething that will give you an intermediate option. Without less

Keychain O.C. (pep-per) spray is an easy way to carry an inter-mediate force option. In the authors agen-cy, street results with O.C. average over 80% success rate. Even if you dont have time or the opportunity to use the spray you can testify you were prepared to use non-deadly force.

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lethal tools readily available you can punch or shoot an attacker, but dont have any option for the bulk of assaults that occur in the gray area between these two situations. If you are forced to shoot, you want to be able to testify that you were prepared to control the suspect via less lethal means, even if you couldnt.

RULE 7The final rule. In order to prevail

in a gunfight you must have a gun! Placing your gun outside your body, for example, in a glove box, briefcase, etc. is asinine. In a shooting you will not have time to reach to the glove box or on the seat next to you to open your briefcase. I know some detectives that place their pistols under their seats or under their thighs as they work. What happens if youre in an accident?

Remember what happened in the Miami gunfight mentioned earlier. One agent lost his pistol after colliding with suspects Platt and Matix and was shot while unarmed.

On December third of last year while at work in plainclothes, I left my office to walk downtown to get a bag of pea-nuts for lunch. One hundred feet from the front doors I encountered a masked robber with a small automatic in his hand. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to: a) have my head in the game and be paying attention, b) be armed with a suitable pistol and c) move quickly to cover to draw and take the suspect into custody. Several officers in plainclothes were in my training offices that day. Most were honest enough to say they hadnt brought a pistol to work that day.

It should be noted that the suspect attempted to victimize me not as a law enforcement officer, but as a private citizen. Considering Im 62, 235 lbs., my gender or size wasnt enough to scare off this crack-smoking suspect (who was on probation for a previous robbery). Im glad that prudent prepa-ration and proper tactical mindset pre-pared me to meet and defeat the threat that day.

Regardless of whether youre a licensed citizen or law enforcement officer, there are bad guys prepared to kill you. Be prepared both mentally and physicallyand always securely carry the lifesaving tools you need to win the day!

SEVEN RULES FOR CONCEALED CARRY

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When I think of BlackHawk, my first thoughts are of their nylon tactical gear and hydration sys-tems. While I have one of BlackHawks assault vests and Im very happy with it, if I were to go in to McDonalds for lunch wearing it I would probably be getting some very strange looks. At the very least I would have lost the element of surprise against a bad guy.

Recently S.W.A.T. received some practical, everyday type gear from BlackHawk for evaluation. The sam-ples were from BlackHawks new CQC (Close Quarter Concealment) line that uses strong, lightweight carbon-fiber material.

A good concealed carry rig, in my opinion, does not start with the pistol

or even the holsterit begins with the belt. It must be strong enough to not sag under the weight of the pistol, holster and any other incidentals that are worn on it. To meet this requirement, most intended for use with a pistol are verily wide and heavy. Ordinary dress belts, for the most part simply wont do.

Part of the CQC line features the new Stealth pistol belt. Although it is only 1-1/4 inches wide and appears to be a dress belt, make no mistake that it is designed to hold the weight of a pistol without the sagging or roll out that slim belts usually have. The Stealth is made of a top quality micro fiber material and is available with either a carbon-fiber or lizard skin finish. It is a very nice looking belt. I would have no

CARBON FIBERCQC BY FLINT HANSEN

For those who have a pistol with a light rail, but choose not to carry the light mounted on the weapon, the Dual Rail Accessory Platform allows both a spare magazine and the light to be carried. The DRAP comes standard with the Insight Technology M-3 light carrier, which is designed to keep the switch in the off posi-tion. The M-3 carrier can be removed and replaced with any other CQC accessory.

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trouble wearing this out for a business meeting or dinner with my wifeespe-cially since I would be wearing the matching carbon-fiber SERPA holster (I dont want trouble from the fashion police).

The SERPA holster is another part to the new CQC line. The name SERPA comes from the last name of Michael Serpa, an attorney in California, who designed the unique locking feature found on the holster.

Instead of a thumb break that goes over the top of the pistol, the SERPA locks up on the trigger guard. The release is a push-button operated mechanism on the body of the holster. This release, unlike a traditional thumb break, allows the shooter to obtain a full firing grip and release the lock even as the pistol is holstered while still keeping the trigger finger straight. It is both secure and fast to operate.

The SERPA holster comes complete with a standard belt slot attachment and a paddle. Both are adjustable and can be worn as a straight drop, or canted forward or to the rear. This adjustment feature allows the SERPA holster to be worn strong side, small-of-back, or cross draw.

A carbon-fiber appliqu on the front

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BlackHawks CQC Carbon Fiber offerings include the SERPA hol-ster, magazine and light carriers and the Stealth pistol belt.


The SERPA lock engages the pistols trigger guard. Unlike a thumb break, the shooter can obtain a full firing grip and release the lock while the pistol is holstered.

of the holster is aesthetically pleasing and adds the final touch to the holster.

OK, were all ready for a night out, right? Not without a spare magazine and a tactical light.

Other accessories in the CQC line include a carbon fiber magazine pouch and a flashlight carrier that will fit the SureFire 6P, 6R, Streamlight Scorpion and similar sized lights. Both accessories have carbon-fiber appliqus.

Both of these accessories have a built-in tension spring to securely hold the maga-zine and the light. The belt clip is easy to put on or remove, but is as stable as a solid loop.

The belt clips for the magazine pouch and light carrier are removable for use with BlackHawks Dual Rail Accessory Platform (DRAP). The DRAP has two universal rails mounted on a paddle-type carrier. For those who have a pistol with a light rail, but choose not to carry the light mounted on the weapon, the Dual Rail Accessory Platform allows both a spare magazine and the light to be carried. It comes standard with a carrier for the Insight Technology M-3 light carrier, which is designed to keep the switch in the off position. The M-3 carrier can be removed and replaced with any other CQC acces-sory, including the magazine pouch and

l i g h t carrier. Using one or two DRAPs, an individual can carry magazines, hand-held tactical lights and weapon lights in whatever con-figuration works best for the mission at hand.

One other item from the CQC line I evaluated was a leather inside the waistband holster. This type of hol-ster is my personal favorite for con-cealment purposes. These holsters are made in Tuscany, Italy, and leather appears to be of very high quality. The holster is secured to the belt with a snap. The male portion of the snap is secured to the holsters body with a screw that can be loosened, allowing the operator to set the cant angle to his personal preference. I feel a one-way snap would be a better choice to use than the standard snap the sample was equipped with. A tension screw on the back, allows you to determine how much retention you need.

The SERPA and IWB holster tested were for a 1911pistol. SERPA holsters are avail-able for Glock models 17, 19, 22, 23, 26, 27 and 32. They are also available for Beretta 92/96, SIG 228/229 Springfields XD and the H&K USP Compact. The IWB holster


LAWFUL CARRY

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is available for all the above, as well as other semiautomatic pistols and S&W J frame revolvers.

Now youre all set for that night out on the townjust you, your wife and your CQC gear from BlackHawk.

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THE ARTICLE NAME


ENEMY AT THE GATE

Have you heard about those crazy laws that supposedly were or are still on the books? Its illegal to fall asleep under a hair dryer in Florida. Mississippi law prohibits teaching people what polygamy is. Georgia law forbids carrying an ice cream cone in your back pocket on Sunday. Monkeys may not smoke cigarettes in Indiana.

Gun owners have to deal with similarly bewildering and contradictory laws. Until recently, federal law prohibited common citizens from buying a semiautomatic rie if it has more than two military style features. In California, you may not possess any semi-auto weapon that appears on the statutory list.

In Arizona you can carry an unregistered, unconcealed rearm in public, and you may transport it in your glove compartment. The same conduct in other states will get you arrested. Your valid concealed-carry permit in Pennsylvania is worthless across the line in New York. Possessing a shotgun is legal under federal law, but you face a federal felony charge if the barrel is a half-inch too short.

Truly horrifying are the laws in New York and elsewhere that result in prosecutions of victims who shoot

armed attackers and home invaders in self-defense. Then there is the tragic joke about the woman who must endure a waiting period while her stalker gets his weapon immediately from a local criminal.

BAD JOKES MAKE BAD LAWWhen arguing against more gun

control laws, gun rights advocates sometimes point out how illogical and contradictory the existing laws are. Gun owner audiences laugh when they hear yet another nutty gun law joke. In public debate and in testimony before lawmaking committees, advocates and legislators may spotlight the crazy inconsistent gun laws as serious reasons to oppose new laws.

Joking about and criticizing the crazy quilt of gun laws, as an argument against gun control, is a big mistake. The jokes and critiques actually end up working against gun rights. Consider these four reasons why.

One: If you criticize a gun law for being inconsistent or contradictory, then you are conceding that gun laws in principle are acceptable. (If you complain about how poorly your horsemeat steak is cooked, then you are conceding that eating horse meat is ne when cooked

properly.) You have surrendered to the idea of victim disarmamentyoure just quibbling over the implementation.

Two: If you argue that certain gun laws are poorly written or illogical, then the legislators will x them. The California ban on certain semiautomatic weapons covers only certain guns while excluding others that function the same way. Thats an inconsistency, sure, but do you want that gun law xed? California lawmakers wont x the law by repealing it. They will x it by illegalizing all semiautomatic weapons and thereby close the loopholes. We dont want the law xedwe want it repealed.

Three: If you emphasize how gun restrictions vary widely among the States, and how they conict with federal gun laws, then you are inviting another legislative solution: national uniform gun laws. Congress can cure the problem of inconsistent gun laws by federalizing gun regulation. States can adopt a multi-state uniform gun law just as they have adopted uniform laws for wills and trusts, consumer protection and commercial transactions.

Uniform national gun restrictions will not protect individual gun rights. New York and Massachusetts wont sign up

CRAZY GUN LAWS:THE LAUGHABLE MENACE

BY RICHARD W. STEVENS

www.swatmag.com

for Arizonas open-carry or Vermont-style concealed carry laws. Nationalized gun laws wont repeal Californias semi-auto ban, they will spread it to other States instead. Nationalized gun laws mean uniformly heavy restrictions on rearms ownership and possession.

Four: If you devote precious time and resources to lampooning the crazy gun laws, then you are distracting the audience from the real reasons to repeal gun laws. The right to rearms ownership and possession comes from the fundamental right to self-defense. Any law that prohibits, delays or interferes with an innocent persons defending himself or herself with a rearm is a law that needs to be repealed outright.

The Second Amendment says, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The Second Amendment does not say that our rights shall not be infringed by poorly-written and inconsistent laws. Clear, concise laws can infringe our rights just as surely as the crazy laws do.

ENGAGE THE AUDIENCEArguments about the crazy gun laws do

not inuence non-gun owners. Problems that hunters, gun collectors and sport shooters face do not interest people outside of those hobbies. The arrest and prosecution of a gun owner for some bureaucratic paperwork violation draws no attention from the folks doing crafts, sailing boats, riding snowboards or collecting stamps.

To affect the hearts and minds of non-gun owners, we must deliver the messages that affect everyone. Gun control laws disarm only innocent citizens, not vicious aggressors. Unarmed individuals are vulnerable to robbery, car jacking, rape and murder. Unarmed populations are easy prey for tyrants, terrorists and foreign invaders. The right to rearms possession and ownership protects the life, liberty and property of men, women and children against predators of all kinds.

Got crazy gun laws? Stop laughing, and start repealing.

[Richard W. Stevens is author (with Aaron Zelman) of Death by Gun Control: The Human Cost of Victim Disarmament, which is available at www.jpfo.org.]

REFERENCE:Silly and bizarre laws are collected at: www.dumblaws.com

S.W.A.T. DECEMBER 2004 31

ENEMY AT THE GATE

THE ARTICLE NAME


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Rich Lucibella and Denny Hansen have graciously agreed to a S.W.A.T. column devoted to sepa-rating fact from ction, and myth from reality. In a very real sense this gives you, the reader, insight into whats working and what isnt what is most likely and least likely to help you in a gunght.

As of November 2004, I will have been with the Los Angeles Police Department for twenty-eight yearstwenty-three years in the elite Metropolitan Division which is comprised of three, sixty man platoons, B and C platoons and D platoon (known as SWAT). In addition, both E platoon (the mounted unit) and K-9 are housed out of Metro.

All members are highly seasoned train-ing ofcers with a minimum of ve years on the job and undergo stiff competition for the limited openings available. Metro is responsible for all VIP, Presidential and Vice-Presidential details as well as

for other heads of state and dignitaries. All witness protection, bank stakeouts, serial criminals, high risk gang/crime suppression, high risk warrant service, riot control and rst responders fall under the purview of Metro. In short, Metro is a mobile force that can respond to situations where a traditional depart-mental response would not be as effec-tive. (Metros radio call sign is, 114 de-rived from the room number of the long ago razed Georgia police station where Metro was rst housed.)

For the last fteen years I have been instructing for International Tactical Training Seminars, Inc. of Los Angeles alongside Brett McQueen and a super-lative shooting staff. I have taught for DOE, the USMC Recon Battalions, State Department, Naval Special Warfare Groups and countless police agencies and civilian groups among others.

I have learned both tactics and re-

arms from the LAPD Academy, LAPD Metro and SWAT (ten years) as well as from numerous military and Federal en-tities and individual instructors whose integrity and credentials are beyond reproach. I have applied what I have learned on the streets of L.A. (for real) in some not so nice areas. I have taught what I have learned and experienced in real settings to literally thousands of people from all walks and facets of life, and now defend deadly force and tactics on behalf of individuals both in Superior and Federal court as well as testifying on capital crime cases.

I state my credentials for the following reasons:

One: I will not concoct some technique and then try to justify it, but rather dis-seminate what really transpires out there in the real world.

Two: When one does anything ex-tensively for a period of time there are

FRONTLINE DEBRIEFS

HERE I STAND BY SCOTT REITZ

w w w . s u r e f i r e . c o m 8 6 6 - 3 0 2 - 1 2 7 3

Using a bright light toidentify and momentarilyblind intruders is always agood tactic. Who knows, youmight even get a chance toask Santa about upgradingyour presentafter all, youneed another tie like, well,another tie. But anotherSureFire high-performanceflashlight you could use.Especially one like the E2eExecutive Elite, the smallestlight SureFire has ever madethat qualifies for tactical use(60 lumens or brighter). Or theA2 Aviator, a dual-beam, LEDand Xenon bulb power-house of technology.Low light LEDs forclose-in work and astunning 50 lumenmain beam for search-ing. Both are Mil-Spectough and guaranteed forlife. So tell Santa to save theties and stuff your stockingwith SureFires.

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FRONTLINE DEBRIEFS

some rather salient points that jump out at you when observed time and time again. There are similarities in outstand-ing performance in the eld that directly correlate to efcacious and experienced-based training. Conversely there are also failures directly attributable to nonsensi-cal techniques and substandard training as well. I will share these with you in future articles.

Weapons and caliber selection, tech-niques and training, mental preparation, tactics employed, and nally the lessons learned from these frays will all be ad-dressed through this column. If you want to know whats working, what is real and straight to the point and not theoretical, well discuss it. The unique aspect of Los Angeles in this day and age is that one does not have to wait long to know whether or not things work. In the rst six months of 2004 the LAPD has had approximately thirty-three separate incidents involving deadly force with real suspects. If one does the math, this is not insignicant.

Many of these cases involve ofcers that Ive trained at one point or another

and on many of the cases Ill either be debriefed or brought in to assist the L.A. District Attorneys ofce or other entities. Its a fairly straightforward pro-cess to gure out what works out there and what doesnt. If one is as confused as I am by the proliferation of rearms experts that are falling from the trees faster than Viagra in a retirement com-munity, then I will try to simplify things for you based on what really transpires in the eld.

I have never, nor would I ever, profess to have all the answers for all the situ-ations one could encounter. However, there are many lessons to be learned and some have come to us at a very high cost. Not to learn from them is imprudent and to repeat them may be fatal. As equip-ment changes so do techniques and very often we are among the rst to see some of the latest versions of sliced bread and canned beerwhile some have merit, some are pure nonsense. We will explore these in future columns.

There is a difference between play shooting and real training, a difference between the theoretical and the real.

There are places in the world for all of these until real lives are in jeopardy and then the line should be drawn. The les-sons learned, by the way, apply to pri-vate citizens every bit as much as police, so please bear this in mind.

I have always been open to new ideas and techniques as long as theyre de-rived from real situations, well thought out and the person espousing these represents himself with integrity. What you can get away with on preconceived rehearsed square range or feel good drills may not reect reality. So well talk about it.

There is no one out there that hasnt made mistakes or that cant be taken. Were human after all, and our job as re-sponsible parties is to acquit ourselves to the best of our ability on demand under stress. Its called gunghting.

[Scott Reitz is a twenty-eight year vet-eran of the Los Angeles Police Department and the director of the highly acclaimed International Tactical Training Seminars. Course information and schedules are avail-able at their website at www.international-tactical.com or by email at [email protected].]

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HABITSUP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Breaking a bad habit can be more complicated than the actual habit itself. A habit in its sim-plest form is the involuntary tendency to perform certain actions which is ac-quired by their frequent repetitions. In other words, when you do something over and over again to the point you dont think about the actionit more than likely has become a habit. The brain doesnt discriminate whether it is a good or bad habit; it just programs the body to act. The art of habit breaking is about controlboth in changing the behavior and the lack of control that led to the habit in the rst place.

As a professional instructor and train-er I have had to assist folks in breaking bad techniques as well as changing my own behavior. Over the years I have come to understand that while a habit can be deeply embedded in our psyche it still can be altered. In order to achieve this desired change you have to identify what you want to change, make the de-cision to change, bring the action back into the conscious realm, solicit help from others and work hard.

The rst thing we need to identify is the habit to change or the new action to adopt. Completely eliminating a bad habit will be more complex and dif -cult. Instead, modifying or evolving the habit can be more productive and sets the stage for gradual improvements on large projects. Usually we want to change the habit or program because we have perceived it to be bad. You will need to de ne why the action is bad. Once you can identify why the ac-

tion is bad you want to identify why changing would be good.

Understanding why it bene ts you to make the change can develop motiva-tion that may be needed over the long haul. Developing motivation to change is the best way to keep the project alive by changing knowledge into action. If changing habits was an easy process then motivation would be a luxury, it is, however, not an easy process.

Instead of letting the habit be the driving force, we will need to exercise some control. This control is needed

to help bring the program from the subconscious realm into the conscious realm. The habit has been repeated so many times that we have relinquished control of the activityby repetition we no longer have to think about the action as it has almost become involuntary.

A major foundational block to suc-cess will be the decision to change. Once we make the decision to change we have started to generate momen-tum. We will need other tangible items to help keep that momentum going. A good idea would be to commit to your goal in writing. This can be a very powerful tool and a helpful reminder.

It is also bene cial to record the posi-tive outcomes as a result of successfully changing and a realistic time frame for completion. This may seem a bit struc-tured, but putting forth an organized attempt will be more likely to succeed than a jumbled half-hearted attempt.

You will also need to take the time to break down the action into its parts. Clearly understanding each of the steps to successfully completing the task will help prevent accidental remission of the old habit. It will also help to identify the obstacles to successful change. If you

are not aware of the pitfalls that force you back to the old habits then it will be hard to avoid them. For instance, if you dissected an action into its A to B to C to D steps then you will have a bet-ter understanding of when you need to skip C. Construct a program that con-sists of starting, stopping and changing portions of the bad habit. By chang-ing portions of the conditioned action you develop more control. If you want to conduct a different chamber check, then start the chamber check after you have conducted a post shooting as-sessmentchange when you start the chamber check. If you want to change

The most important aspect to change is the belief it can happen.

From there, anything is possible.

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

the way you conduct a magazine ex-change then change the way you ac-quire the fresh magazine. These are just some random samples to help illustrate the point of how making these small strides can have a lasting effect.

Soliciting the help of friends and oth-ers can help in monitoring your prog-ress. Having an objective onlooker can help paint a more accurate picture of how well you are progressing. There is a lot to be said about the pros and cons of peer pressure, but here it can actually be turned into a positive ac-tionand a powerful one at that. When you have the added factor of compet-ing or training with another person it can help motivate you to do the right thing. They must be honest with you and tell you how much progress you really are making. Based off their feed-back you can determine if your original time frame is realistic or if it will need some modifying and if the new habit is a good merge. Through controlled repetitions, where you process through detailed steps in their correct sequence, you help reinforce the correct behavior and having somebody there to keep you honest only adds to the benet.

The rst step in changing a habit is in identifying what you want to change or improve. You will need to lock onto this sometimes-abstract action. Then you need to make the decision to change the action. Use the positive results as moti-vation and leverage your performance with what lies ahead of you with the new change. Take the time to break the action down into bite-size pieces and bring it back into the conscious realm where you can think your way through the problem. The slow step-by-step ex-ecution of controlled processing is the best way to reliably make the change. Get help from other likeminded indi-viduals that can help you stay honest and provide valuable feedback. Some-times our actions can be biased, so hav-ing somebody watch our performance allows us to focus on the performance sequence and not the result.

Breaking bad habits has been a life long endeavor for me and some of the battles I have won and others I have taken a break from. The most impor-tant aspect to change is the belief it can happen. From there, anything is pos-sible.

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Have you ever felt that a team-mates muzzle was sweeping you whether in training or on an operation? If you have, you are not alone. They used to say a long time ago that it is normal for mens muzzles to sweep each other. Say again? There may be some men who still subscribe to that theory today, but I am not one of themnor should you be if you take your job and life seriously.

There is a position that has been in wide usage for the past eight years now that is a solution to the potential lethality of pistol muzzles agging other of cers during high intensity, live- re activities. Position Sul has been in use since 1997.

Alan Brosnan (TEES) and I (TFTT) de-veloped it jointly. The word Sul means south in Portuguese, as this is where your muzzle is directed. Sul was devel-oped as an answer to wild muzzle con-trol by men armed with pistols during CQB training and operations.

Sul is a close-in ready position where the muzzle is directed at the ground about twelve to eighteen inches in front of you. The muzzle is permitted to oat slightly left or right if the situation dic-tates, but is usually directed right at the deck. The presentation up to the target from Sul is every bit as quick as the tra-ditional Low Ready. The traditional Low Ready or Position 3 (Arms locked and

weapon down somewhere around 45 degrees) is somewhat awkward and stiff during close quarter work. In addition, men who maintain the traditional Posi-tion Three have the tendency to cover their partners legs or butt when cross-ing sectors, and also sometimes present their weapons out too far when they are dynamically going through doors or around corners.

Since 1997 Sul has been adopted by thousands of operatorsreal operators, not armchair warriors or laptop com-mandos. The consensus is 95% positive from those who have been properly indoctrinated in Sul and its use. This speaks volumes for the quick ease of

POSITION BY MAX F. JOSEPH

When one man begins to effect entry, that is when his partner brings his weapon to Sul. As soon as the number one man fin-ishes crossing number two mans sector, the number two man brings his weapon back up to bear on the threat area as he begins to make his entry.

When men are stackedwhether two men or twentythe number one mans weapon needs to be up on the threat. Everyone else should be in Sul (with the possible excep-tion of the rear security man).


Have you ever felt that a team-mates muzzle was sweeping you whether in training or on an operation? If you have, you are not alone. They used to say a long time ago that it is normal for mens muzzles to sweep each other. Say again? There may be some men who still subscribe to that theory today, but I am not one of themnor should you be if you take your job and life seriously.

There is a position that has been in wide usage for the past eight years now that is a solution to the potential lethality of pistol muzzles agging other of cers during high intensity, live- re activities. Position Sul has been in use since 1997.

Alan Brosnan (TEES) and I (TFTT) de-veloped it jointly. The word Sul means south in Portuguese, as this is where your muzzle is directed. Sul was devel-oped as an answer to wild muzzle con-trol by men armed with pistols during CQB training and operations.

Sul is a close-in ready position where the muzzle is directed at the ground about twelve to eighteen inches in front of you. The muzzle is permitted to oat slightly left or right if the situation dic-tates, but is usually directed right at the deck. The presentation up to the target from Sul is every bit as quick as the tra-ditional Low Ready. The traditional Low Ready or Position 3 (Arms locked and

weapon down somewhere around 45 degrees) is somewhat awkward and stiff during close quarter work. In addition, men who maintain the traditional Posi-tion Three have the tendency to cover their partners legs or butt when cross-ing sectors, and also sometimes present their weapons out too far when they are dynamically going through doors or around corners.

Since 1997 Sul has been adopted by thousands of operatorsreal operators, not armchair warriors or laptop com-mandos. The consensus is 95% positive from those who have been properly indoctrinated in Sul and its use. This speaks volumes for the quick ease of

POSITIONlearning and adaptability of Position Sul.

First let it be said that at no time does your muzzle ever cover any part of your body when you are in a proper Posi-tion Sul. Not while you are moving, nor while you are static. This position was developed for teams, not for individual tactics. Training civilian shooting enthu-siasts to clear their house in the event of an intruder, or training individual patrol of cers for that matter is vastly different from training SWAT and Special Opera-tions personnel. The difference is that the individual needs only to worry about hismuzzlenot his teammates bodies or his teammates muzzle.

Those who point out that Position Sul Takes the gun out of the ght are very astutethat is exactly what it was designed to do. To take the weapon out of the ght is precisely the reason we do it. You are not in the ght or else your weapon would be up on target or on a horizontal bore axis. The mental Tac-tical Toolbox for all special operators needs to be diversi ed, to allow us to adapt ourselves to the great variety of situations that may confront us. If one only has a Bob the Builder toolbox, one probably wont see any use for this position.

A team member who lets his muzzle cover his partner or non-combatants

creates issues for the entire team. Such a person needs to sort out his existing skills and determine where he is in the food chain.

There has been a great amount of mis-conception by various entities out there regarding Sul. For those out there who have already made up their minds and discarded this position out of hand, I am not the least bit concerned about what they thinkI dont have to go through a door with them. I am, however, very concerned with the operators out there who may bene t from proper utilization of this technique. The purpose of this ar-ticle is to allow those who are undecided or possibly misinformed about Sul to

SULHERES THE SCOOPNote the contact between the middle finger knuck-le of the shooting hand, and the index finger knuckle of the non-shooting hand. This is your reference point for fast acquisition of your sights.

Position of Domination (POD) in a 360-degree perimeter around the principle who is inside the perimeter.


reexamine this position. We will discuss when it is to be used, when it is not to be used and what it was developed for.

Position Sul is to be used in one of three occasions.

1. WHEN YOU ARE IN TRANSIT AND YOU ARE NOT THE COVER MAN.

Transit means from the time you have left your tactical holding area on the way to the objective, it means being in a stack, it means anything other than standing in one spot. It also would include executing stationary turns with friendlies on your anks. Additionally, it would include moving to an area of cover where your partner already is.

If youre the cover man, of course your weapon needs to be up covering the threat area whether that threat area is a doorway or a downed suspect. Position Sul is not to be employed by any man whose primary responsibility is to pro-vide cover. It has no purpose if you are doing individual tactics, except to possi-bly allow hostages or noncombatants to pass in front of you. If you are doing in-dividual ofcer survival techniques, Sul has very little to no use. Once again, it was designed for teams, not individuals.

2. WHEN FRIENDLIES ARE CROSSING IN FRONT OF YOUR SECTOR OF FIRE OR ARC OF COVERAGE.

This means going through a door, it means when one man is bounding through your sector headed towards an-other area of coverit means a multitude of things. If a friendly or non-combatant is going to cross in front of your sector of re, the muzzle does not belong up on them, it belongs towards the ground. When men are on opposing sides of a doorway getting ready to make entry, it is insane for one man to leave his muzzle up and force his partner to run in front of it. Far too many ofcers have been shot because they happened to be in front of

a fellow ofcers weapon which just went off at that inopportune time. Men need to open up their sphere of aware-ness and be able to transition from the position of cover, to Sul and back to the position of cover.

3. DOMINATION OF CROWDSAn example of this would be an evac-

uation drill of a dignitary away from a crowd whe