New SAF DVD, Aug '09: Fundamentals of Defensive Long Guns

[Fred Fuller]

Just received the newest release in the Second Amendment Foundation's Personal Firearm Defense DVD Series, titled Fundamentals of Defensive Long Guns.

From the I.C.E. Training website:

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http://www.icestore.us/servlet/the-38/NEW-RELEASE!!!-DVD15-dsh-DLGF-"Defensive/Detail

NEW RELEASE!!! DVD15-DLGF "Defensive Long Gun Fundamentals"

SKU: DVD15-DLGF

Rob Pincus and his team of experienced instructors introduce you to the fundamentals of using long guns in personal or home defense. Instructors provide an overview of long gun concepts and specific techniques that you should learn for the use of an AR type semi-automatic carbine, pump and semi-automatic shotguns and lever action rifles. Rob also thoroughly reviews types of long guns and long gun optical systems and discusses the various advantages and disadvantages they can offer during a lethal encounter. This DVD features over 1 hour of valuable information appropriate to anyone considering the use of a rifle or shotgun during a dynamic critical incident.

PRICE: $24.95
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Chapter List (from the DVD case):

Opening
Defensive Long Gun Overview
Long Gun Optics
Lever Action Rifles
Lever Action Shooting
Lever Action Scenario
Pump Action Shotgun
Pump Action Shooting
Deploying A Long Gun That Is Stored In A Vehicle
Semi-Automatic Shotgun Manipulation
Semi-Automatic Shotgun Shooting
AR15 Type Rifles
AR15 Shooting
Drills
Comparing Pistol And Carbine Time To Fire First Shot
Storing A Vest With A Rifle
Movement In Confined Spaces
Active Shooter Considerations
Closing
Bonus Segment: The 6.8 SPC

More to come when I get it written...

lpl

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Does it include retention techniques?

 

[Rob Pincus]

First, Lee, Thanks for sharing!

Jimbo,

Only briefly, in the section about using the rifle in confined spaces. There is not a segment on striking or maintain control if someone grabs the rifle, for example. Just some simple concepts to help prevent that from happening.

-RJP

 

[Fred Fuller]

You're welcome, Rob.

One thing I can say about this DVD so far is that Rob's cyclic rate of speech has slowed down enough for Southerners to keep up with his presentation .

lpl

 

[Rob Pincus]

Glad to hear that, lpl!

This is also one of the last DVDs in the series that will have a lot of footage from the Valhalla era. It features some segments from my staff instructors there.

Next month we are taping the "Combat Focus Carbine" DVD that will take the fundamentals covered in the DVD we are discussing here and apply them in the context of CFS training methodology and drills.

-RJP

 

[Bob_P]

Exactly what I've been looking for

I just ordered a copy of this DVD. Thanks for letting us know about it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Bop P,

I don't think you'll be disappointed. I've gone over the DVD pretty thoroughly now in the past week, much to the disdain of the big dog here, who dislikes the sound of the shot timer in the video going off. So, with no further ado, here we go.

People seem to enjoy arguing over 'what gun for home defense' almost as much as they like to argue 9mm vs. .45 or Colt vs. S&W. It's an Internet standard, responsible for employing untold billions of electrons, busying no telling how many bytes, and consuming lots of memory space on various servers. I'm sorry to have to inform everyone that this DVD is not going to settle that old argument.

What it DOES do is present an excellent overview of the use of the long gun in the defensive role. For centuries in the USA, the ol' fowling piece or squirrel rifle did double duty by helping stock the larder as well as standing off all comers who had a hostile nature. In generations past, guns were very expensive and not that easy to come by, and people used whatever firearm they had for whatever purpose came to hand.

In these more cosseted days, we can expend untold hours discussing what choice is best for defending hearth and home, and even more hours deciding how best to accessorize whatever the best choice is to make it even better. There's not a lot of that in this video presentation. If you want a video catalog of gun goodies, this isn't it.

What we get here is a heaping helping of information about the effective use of whatever long gun might be at hand. The chapter list is posted above, I don't have to go through that again. There is some discussion about what long guns might be less well suited for defensive use- large caliber hunting rifles with telecopic sights are one example- but the lion's share of run time is how to best use whatever long gun you choose in a defensive role. The emphasis is on mindset and skillset far more than toolset. That approach is always going to make this particular reviewer happy.

This is a genuinely hard-working DVD. It requires a good bit of its audience. There is a lot of meat here, that's one of the reasons I haven't been able to just sit down and dash off some passing impressions based on a single casual viewing. The main presentation runs about an hour and a half, and there is a lot to go over.

Please understand, I do not consider any video- no matter how well done- to be a full substitute for hands-on instruction by a qualified trainer. But for anyone looking for a good broad overview of the employment of the long gun in the defensive role, this DVD offers a great introduction. For anyone who wants to get a feel for how Rob Pincus and crew runs their training, this video will give you a good sample.

With all the material this video covers, there's no way I have time or room to do more than a quick overview. I solidly recommend buying this one if you have an interest in the subject. It will be money well spent in my opinion. For the record, the copy I have was not a free sample- my family supports the Second Amendment Foundation strongly, and this one came in the mail just like the other DVDs in the series. We've sent in a check for every one of them so far, including this one.

Rob Pincus opens the discussion with a commentary on the practical considerations of defensive long guns. He recognizes the fact that pistols can be faster to employ, much more convenient than long guns, more readily available more of the time and in more places since they can be carried on the person, and easier to move about with in confined spaces. But long guns might well have advantages in power, accuracy, range, magazine capacity, and ease of use. There are tradeoffs in everything, including here. The main thing is to analyze your situation and use what gives you the most advantages while offering the fewest disadvantages.

I like the video's layout. First you get a discussion of a given platform, an overall demonstration of its basic use, then a more involved presentation concerning its employment as it might be needed in a real defensive situation. Yes, this is an introductory presentation- that's pretty clearly indicated on the packaging.

There are no attempts here to "what if" every possible situation, just a succinct overview of various platforms- lever action rifles, pump and semiauto shotguns, and semiauto carbines- and running commentary on how best to employ them in defensive situations.

This is not a how-to-clear-your-house video- emphasis is on moving to retreat, to rescue a family member in distress, or to secure family members in a pre-determined safe room in the home. There is constant commentary on maintaining enough room to avoid presenting a long gun for a grab, and maintaining an indoor ready or muzzle depressed position with the gun. That keeps the gun more out of reach of a potential grab attempt, doesn't 'flag' the defender's presence around corners or obstacles, keeps an assailant from getting in under the muzzle, and prevents covering any friendlies who might be downrange with the muzzle. The emphasis is more on properly employing the long gun in defense than on moving about with it.

One detail I appreciated that wasn't mentioned in the commentary I heard (maybe I missed it?) was the muzzle-down storage of the defensive long gun, when other safety considerations allow. Keeping a 'ready gun' stored muzzle down that will be recovered while you are in a standing position might not be intuitive, but it works for me. That lends the gun more readily to coming up into an indoor ready position as soon as it is picked up, with no fuss or bother. It's clearly demonstrated, but not mentioned in the commentary that I heard, and I think it's a point worth emphasizing.

Other than that I have no nits to pick with this presentation. Rob and his crew do a good job demonstrating the paces of various long guns, the technical quality of the video and audio is quite good, and as I said earlier, Rob has finally slowed down his cyclic rate of speech to a manageable speed. Maybe the move to Virginia had something to do with that?

Thanks for your patience while I finished this, all-

lpl

 

[Bob_P]

Thanks, Lee! Great review.

... Please understand, I do not consider any video- no matter how well done- to be a full substitute for hands-on instruction by a qualified trainer. But for anyone looking for a good broad overview of the employment of the long gun in the defensive role, this DVD offers a great introduction...

First you get a discussion of a given platform, an overall demonstration of its basic use, then a more involved presentation concerning its employment as it might be needed in a real defensive situation. Yes, this is an introductory presentation- that's pretty clearly indicated on the packaging...

That's precisely what I'm looking for - a good introductory presentation. I can't wait to get started with this one!

 

[benEzra]

Just ordered the video. Thanks for the recommendation, guys; I've been looking for something like that.