TST: Tools, Strategies & Tactics

[AStone]

Caveat: this is a long post. It's probably more story than technical information. It's even somewhat like a journal entry about what i did today to enhance my knowledge of & tools for strategies & tactics.

If you're not into stories and essays, but prefer shorter, more technically-oriented posts, I'd recommend that you just skip this one, and will take no offense if you do.
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Before clicking "New thread", I looked at the THR categories listed on the home page for a few minutes to try to decide where to put this post.

I'm not entirely confident of my choice, but for now, subject to moderator approval , I'm thinking "Strategies & Tactics" is appropriate. Here's why.

This post is a summary of the tools, strategies & tactics (TST) that I've spent most of the last 24 hours working on, related to a broader set of strategies & tactics that i've been focusing on lately (read hours per day) as a result of reading THR over the last couple of months. (Thanks.)

The post is not about shotguns alone, but includes one (870P).

It's not about handguns alone, but ordering a holster for one (Kahr K9) AND learning how to dismantle, clean & reassemble it.

It's not about knives per se, but includes what i learned about the knife that I'm looking at (SOG Seal Pup Elite) for, um, general camp utility and - if pressed - survival, plus how to sharpen it .

It also contains some info about an interesting new piece of technology that i bought today that's not directly related to THR, only indirectly.

And, last but not least, it's about my new bumper sticker. Guess which one.

While trying to decide which category to post this into, it occured to me that what i'm writing about is an emerging set of strategies & tactics for keeping myself alive: the tools, strategies & tactics (TST) that, in a SHTF situation , could play key roles in allowing me to continue life, breath & consciousness.

This post is a summary of what i did with one day, yesterday, informed by information i've learned on THR (and related links from THR) over the last couple of months.

All of this happened in one day. Maybe I'll add more entries to this thread every so often.

I'm curious to read of other THR members' daily TST snapshots.

What's in your wallet?
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NemA~ TST for Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005

Shotgun: first thing this morning, I called to check on the availability of a Remington 870P of a particular configuration. There are still several in stock, but if i told you where, i'd have to shoot you with paint balls &, as back up, a squirt gun loaded with warm, sticky grape cool aid. ill buy one (an 870, that is) as soon as that proverbial "check in the mail" arrives. <stomps foot impatiently>

i can't wait to own a shotgun again. it's been too long. then, the serious training begins.
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Handgun news: In anticipation of *finally* getting to the range tomorrow with my shiny, new, unfired Kahr K9, I cleaned it for the first time tonight before dinner. Well, not just cleaned it. I field striped it: took it down to frame, slide, barrel & recoil spring & guide assembly (+ slide lock pin). Then, I cleaned the barrel for the first time with a brush, some solvent (Kleen Bore Formula 3), & a swab.

(Question: I noticed that the recoil spring & guide were coated with petroleum related substance, but the manual doesn't address that, whether to clean them or not. Should they be wiped or not? If so, what replacement?)

General note: disassembly of the K9 was simultaneously humbling, a learning experience & a confidence builder. Ultimately, I completed the task, and that felt good. But I hit a few snags in the process. Remove magazine. Check. Double check chamber empty. Check. Remove slide lock pin. That took a while with lots of head scratching. Eventually, check. Remove slide. Check. Remove recoil spring assembly. Check. Remove barrel. Piece o' cake.

Clean barrel. Check.

Reassembly: Reverse order. Reassembly took 3X as long as disassembly - especially complicated by a confusing description of how to reinstall the slide lock pin and it's relationship to a part named ("recoil lug") but neither defined nor labelled in the K9 schematic ((( ))) ... but finally, check.

Upon reassembly, after I finally :banghead: got the slide lock pin correctly reinstalled, i discovered what i'd not experienced before: without a magazine inserted, the slide rocks slightly (tiny fraction of an inch) side to side. When I felt that, i thought i'd done something wrong. I looked on the table carefully for some part that i'd forgotten, or something that fell out. Nada.

So, I used that as an excuse to take it apart again, just to double check that everything was there, that all was alligned, and to practice the procedure.

But everything was right. And - side benefit - the second reassembly took 1/3 the time. Ah, I'm getting it.

The slide still rocked, but when I shoved the magazine in, I noticed that it no longer rocked. Ah, i learned something new.
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Earlier in the afternoon, I rode my bicycle over to a local knife shop, a recommended SOG dealer, where i looked at the next knife I'll buy: that SOG Seal Pup Elite. Yep, I've pretty much decided on the elite. There's just that much difference from the standard pup. It just feels right. Nice balance. Good grip.

I put it on hold. (They hold it for 24 hrs.) The price is full MSRP - $118 - but they're pretty helpful folks, answered a LOT of questions, allowed me to handle it of course, showed me the sheath. They offer a free first sharpening, reduced price after that, etc.) I'll see what my dreams say about it tonight. The other option is to order it for $15 less via Internet. (What would you do?)
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While I was at the knife shop, I found the watch I've been seeking for a decade or more: a Smith & Wesson (yes) carabiner watch. My dad's pocket watch died a number of years ago. Unrepairable. Plus, I no longer wear many pants with watch pockets, and i hate wrist watches. (Why is irrelevant here.) So here, in the middle of this knife & sword shop, is this little watch that attaches to {choose one or more: belt loop, pack loop, key chain, nail on wall...} via a fixed carabiner. $30. (Which, as I discovered, is cheaper than Internet prices due to shipping charges.)

It's nice to know what time it is again when i'm away from home.
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Finally, the other cool thing i got today was my molon labe bumper stickers in the mail. I received three. (Thanks!). One went on my truck bumper (F250 diesel). Second went on my bicycle. Third ... remains to be seen where that one's going. Fridge maybe, or ... ?

Molon labe , yall.

NemA~

 

[AStone]

disassembly of the K9 was simultaneously humbling, a learning experience & a confidence builder...<snip>...Reassembly took 3X as long as disassembly.

But tonight, after returning from the range, where i burned 175+ rounds through the K9 before my out-of-condition wrist said, "Stop shooting now or i'll hurt you tomorrow!", and after dinner of burrito and beer, i disassembled it, cleaned it, and reassembled it comfortably & confidently in under half an hour without a single glitch.

It just felt as natural as ... {choose your favorite activity}. Ahhhh.

And, oh, by the way, this K9 is one sweet dog.

Admittedly, I only shot 175+ rounds today, whereas Kahr recommends 200+ for adequate break in. But still, I can already tell a difference in the action: much smoother, yet also more solid than yesterday.

I'm very glad I bought this pistol. Much work to be done to become more proficient with it, but that will come ... for now, I'm just glad I have it.
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In addition to today being the first time I shot the K9, it was also my first trip to a range in quit some time. Here's a snippet of what I wrote about the experience to a couple of friends earlier.
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I took a station at 12 yds...

Observations:

I have a tendency to "jerk" the trigger in the last 2 mm of pull
(it's the anticipation of "boom") which makes my trajectory move off POA.
Groupings were consistenly high. Out of 175, I got only ~ 3 in the center 1".

Still, i did manange to (mostly) at least hit the target.

I was proud that, by the last 50 rounds:
1) I was consistently nailing the middle 6" of the target from 12 yds.
2) i could shoot almost as well with my left hand as my right (!!!!!!!!)

Issues to work on:

1) I had some problems with the sights, because I (and the sights) were in the shade whereas the target was in the sun. this provided a challenge with using the sights. [And, I'm still not relating the target, the rear sight, and the all important front sight in an effective way in my visual field. I still need work on:
A) how to orient the white bead of the front sight with respect to the single white bead of the rear;
B) where that front bead should be with regards to the bullseye at 12 yds (on it? below it?).

2) I realized - once again, after having not shot in a while - that in a real fire fight, the sound - without ear protection - would be a psychological factor. I know I've got to practice some without EP.

3) in practicing "double tapping" (first shot followed by the second as rapidly as possible, in case #1 misses or is ineffective in stopping an attacker), I found it difficult. (It's that recoil, then reallign sights thing.) Much more work is needed there.

On the way home, in addition to an asada burrito, i purchased a box of 124 gr. Remington Golden Saber JHP (jacketed hollow points) as defensive rounds.

I don't know, something tells me that I may actually like them better than powRballs. I'll try them out next week.

 

[Wheeler]

I don't intend to try and change your mind or get bogged down in a my toy is better than your toy flame war, so please take these comments as constructive. Why buy a $130 knife? If your looking for a simple utility knife for use around a campsite or in the day to day situations that require the use of a knife, why not a good quality folding knife. something that you can carry in a pocket and have accesible at ALL times? I personally carry two knives, one on the left and one on the right side. I use a knife several times each day for work (I'm an electrician) and prefer the convinience of one handed operation.

If you are lookig for a survival type knife, There is a slew of knives out there that fit the bill, have been proven in field and combat conditions and are much, much cheaper. I have an Air Force Survival knife stashed in a rucksack for "emergency use" on long trips and I have an M9 bayonet that I cut the barrel ring off of, reworked the grip, attached it to a web belt for the above stated purpose, in addition to my two pocket knives. Both the AF Survival knife and the M9 were purchased for under $20. They both have anodized, high carbon blades that once sharpened, keep an excellent edge. I believe the AF knife runs for around $35 dollars new now, the M9's you can pick up at gun shows for less.

Don't get me wrong, I have a SOG serrated folder that I bought over 10 years ago that is an excellent little knife, I just thought I would throw out some other options.

Regards,

Wheeler

edited for piss poor typing

 

[AStone]

Why buy a $130 knife?

edited for piss poor typing

LOL. I can relate to that. I'm sure I'll edit this one at least twice before all the little typo demons are erased.

Wheeler, thanks much for your questions and suggestions.

No, I don't at all take your ideas as a flame war. I wanted some opinions. Thanks for offering yours.

Well, as for why I'm considering buying a $100 fixed-blade knife (actually MSRP is 118, but avail on the web for about $93), there are mainly these reasons:

1) the one i'm eyeing - an SOG Seal Pup Elite - is a SOG. I'm so impressed with my SOG multitool - its design, its edge & balance, its utility - that I'm considering buying another one. (Yes, I confess, I tend to err on the side of extreme quality - i tend to buy the best - whether it's justified in an absolute sense or not.)

2) I held one at a local knife store. Just like the first time I held my Kahr K9 at my local gun shop, this knife said, "I fit your hand, and am very useful. Buy me." Jedi mind control? Maybe, but very convincing.

3) As for why fixed-blade & not folding:
a) I already have two folders - my SAK & the SOG tool - that more than meet my needs for EDC for the last ten years.
b) I'm interested in a sheath knife more for camp use than EDC
c) I like the instant availability and size of a fixed-blade (this SOG Seal Pup Elite has a 4.85" blade).
d) there's just something sexy about a fixed-blade...

Don't get me wrong, I can still be talked out of this madness (at least potentially). So, one of my nagging questions is this: when is a folding knife better than a fixed-blade, and vice versa?

That is, under what circumstances would I want to be wearing a fixed-blade instead of a folder, and vice versa?

Thanks for your thoughts.

NemA~

 

[The_Antibubba]

order it for $15 less on the Internet

It sounds like you got your money's worth of advice and help from that store. If it were $50, I'd say go ahead, but, unless you have other sound reasons not to patronize them, buy it from the guys who took their time with you-and who may do so again in the future.

 

[DR]

(Question: I noticed that the recoil spring & guide were coated with petroleum related substance, but the manual doesn't address that, whether to clean them or not. Should they be wiped or not? If so, what replacement?)

You can leave the assembly lube on there or clean it. Once you do clean them, just oil them along with everything else. Kahrs tend to like to run a bit "wet". Don't be afraid to put some oil on it. Take note of how the spring comes off. It's not symmetrical and if you put it on backwards you may have problems.

General note: disassembly of the K9 was simultaneously humbling, a learning experience & a confidence builder. Ultimately, I completed the task, and that felt good. But I hit a few snags in the process. Remove magazine. Check. Double check chamber empty. Check. Remove slide lock pin. That took a while with lots of head scratching. Eventually, check. Remove slide. Check. Remove recoil spring assembly. Check. Remove barrel. Piece o' cake.

Kahr makes a take down block that makes this a bit easier. With practice you'll be lining up the slide with one hand and popping the slide release out with the other without even thinking about it. I use a capped Sharpie to push out the slide release: the bottom of the marker is a little bit concave so it doesn't slip off the pin.

The bit with the recoil lug took me a bit of figuring too. The manual could be clearer.

2) I realized - once again, after having not shot in a while - that in a real fire fight, the sound - without ear protection - would be a psychological factor. I know I've got to practice some without EP.

That sounds like a really bad idea. You'll damage your hearing for no purpose. Under stress, you won't even hear the gunshots anyway: a phenomenom called auditory exclusion. I've experienced it under the mild stress of shooting in competition (unexpected charging target). I would no more train for a gunfight by omitting protective gear than I'd train for one by getting shot. Did I mention it's a bad idea?

 

[Wheeler]

Nematocyst-870,

I'm not sure what the differences are but Cheaper than Dirt had the Seal Pup listed for $50.49 and the Field Pup listed for $33.65. Gun stores and sporting goods stores usually have boutique prices when it comes to knives. I suppose they have a low turn-over rate and price accordingly.

In my opinion, folders are useful mainly because of their compact size and ease of access. Due to their size, they have a limited range of function. Fixed blade knives offer the ability to hack with and a larger cutting surface however, due to their size, they limit you when trying to accomplish something that requires a bit of finesse. When I am out hunting or hiking, I carry both.

I hope this helps,

Wheeler