Sharpening the Warriors Edge

Book Review: Sharpening the Warriors Edge
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If you are a trainer, CCW holder, martial artist, cop, soldier, Marine, or otherwise involved in self defense – you need this book.

Sharpening the Warriors Edge tells you how to program your mind for self-defense through proper training and practice.

Bruce Siddle is well known in the firearm trainer field and this book is full of knowledge to make you better prepared to deal with a use of force situation.

Between Mr. Siddle and Col. Grossman, just about everything you need to prepare your mind for surviving lethal force encounters is written down.

While some people don’t feel the need to examine what goes on mentally when engaged in a killing situation, I feel that every little bit of information on the process will help be better understand what is going on so that I can better survive the actual event, as well as be prepared for the aftermath.

This book is about performance, how to understand the science behind it as well as how to manipulate it to get the best from your mind and body during times of extreme stress.  It is a very interesting read, and the concepts within may one day save your life.

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Suits You?

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Suits You?
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Which is better, saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing? A lot of fishermen are saying their own version of which is better for them. And they all have their good points one way from the other.

But saltwater vs. freshwater fishing is not really a thing. That is because each person or fisherman can benefit from any of them with a specific purpose.

In any case, for the purpose of comparison, this is an article to humor your queries. Here is a comparison about saltwater vs. freshwater fishing and which one suits you.

The Difference Between Saltwater and Freshwater

Before heading straight to the comparison, we must first learn to identify the difference between the types of bodies of water. The first thing is saltwater. The saltwater is basically the ocean and the sea. Those bodies of water that are high in salinity or in layman’s term “salty” are obviously the saltwater types.
The freshwater types are those that we call lakes, stream, rivers, ponds, and other wetlands with salinity as low as 0.05%. Naturally, freshwater areas are not as vast as saltwater areas and so is the amount of creatures in them.

Saltwater Fishing

As vast as the world can be, saltwater makes up the 96.5% of the Earth. Can you imagine the number of resources that people and other creatures can benefit from saltwater?
If you are to use that statistic in terms of the amount of what you can catch between those two, naturally, saltwater will win. But there is no such single person that can cover the whole of this planet just by fishing let alone angling. That would certainly be ridiculous.

But given the number of areas to which you can go for fishing, how many creatures can you actually catch from saltwater? Honestly, thousands to hundreds of thousands of species can be your prospect. Here are some of the common possible saltwater creatures that you can catch from saltwater:

• Bonefish
• Barracuda
• Bluefish
• Ballyhoo
• Bonito
• Croaker
• Drum
• Flying fish
• Grouper
• Grunt
• Herring
• Hogfish
• Amberjack
• Jack
• Mackerel
• Marlin
• Mojarra
• Mullet
• Needlefish
• Perch
• Pigfish
• Pilchards
• Pinfish
• Pompano
• Porgy
• Sailfish
• Sardine
• Sea Bass
• Seatrout
• Snapper
• Snook
• Spadefish
• Spearfish
• Spot
• Stingray
• Swordfish
• Tarpon
• Threadfin
• Tripletail
• Tuna

Saltwater Fish Are Bigger Than Freshwater Fish

The list can go on and on but we will stick to those for now. As you can see, it can be endless. And each of those fish has other subspecies.
The most beneficial about saltwater fishing is that the fish caught from there are a lot bigger than freshwater. It is not to say that freshwater fish cannot get bigger. It is just that it is more common with saltwater fishes to grow more than the other. And it is common for saltwater fish to have high in omega-3 fatty acid which is known to be good for the heart.

Another aspect about saltwater fishing is the part where a lot of big fish caught from these parts often fight back. And since it is common to catch huge fish in this area, expect a lot of fighting every time a fish bites into your bait. So if you are the adventurous type who likes more challenges then saltwater fishing could be good for you.

The bad thing about saltwater fishing is that due to its salinity volume, equipment such as metallic ones can easily get deteriorated. Boats get ruined much faster and so you will have to invest in a lot of repairs, renew, and replace.

It should worth noting that the chances of risk and danger in saltwater fishing are higher than freshwater. Not to mention the tides that occur with storms passing through. But that could easily be avoided if you just look out for news about the weather.

I don’t have much expoerience saltwater fishing except for my time at Camp Lejeune.  I kept getting stranded out on the intercostal waterway because I bought cheap equipment. If you want good stuff Check Global Marine Top Pick Trolling Motor For Saltwater use if you don’t want to paddle back to shore.

Freshwater Fishing

For those who love to go fishing and enjoy more about the nature such as the trees and see some wild land animals, freshwater fishing should fit your portfolio.
Did you know that freshwater is only 2.50% of water all over the globe. But that percentage includes the frozen glacier, ice, snow, and fresh groundwater. Only 0.01% consists of surface water in lakes, swamps, and rivers. That is how small freshwater is around the world. So from that statistic alone freshwater gets defeated by unanimous decision.
Despite the size of freshwater, there are plenty of fish species that can be found and caught here. Here are some common fish that you can find in these bodies of water:

• Bluegills
• Catfish
• Crappie
• Largemouth bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Freshwater drum
• Trout
• Walleye
• White bass
• Carp
• Burbot
• Giant Gourami
• Kampango
• Kapenta
• Tilapia
• Longear Sunfish
• Tahoe sucker
• Snakehead
• Sardinella Tawilis
• Redfish

The same goes for freshwater fishes. Each fish has its own different subspecies so they are not limited to one type or appearance and even size.
Although it is not as common to find big fish on this side of the water, there is still some challenge to be had. One is if ever you caught a really big one, it is considered as a jackpot. The memory and the picture are worth hanging on your wall. If you are onto those kinds of stuff, that is.

Another good thing about freshwater fishing is with expenses. Unlike saltwater, your boat gets to last longer and with lesser maintenance to boot with. And since you can go fishing without always going out in the middle of the deeper areas of the water, you will not always have to spend more on fuel. So you can enjoy more without spending as much. All you need to do is to maintain your fishing equipment such as your rod, baits, and other stuff related to it.

The bad thing about freshwater fishing is the part where alligators can get a bite off of you. And more instances of encountering some wild and dangerous animal could occur. There is also some chance that a snake, a wild bear, a wolf, or other animals that can bite you along the way. Not to mention the leeches.

Also, since there are only a number of species in a freshwater lake or river, you could probably just catch common fish such as trout, bass, or catfish. With saltwater, you could end up with an octopus or a shark. There are even reports of freakish squids and other normally small-sized creatures. Otherwise, freshwater is likely best for those who just prefer simpler fishing activities.

Technically, you could use both natural bait and artificial bait on both bodies of water. There is no definite restriction regarding those things. Just as long as you can catch a fish with what you have, who are we to question which is better or not. It is your expertise that matters and not the bait you put on the end of your line.
I am not saying that freshwater fishing is easier than saltwater fishing. It is just that if you are looking for a comparison, size and abundance could easily topple the competition. But if you are looking for adventure, it does not matter whether you are into any of those types of fishing. Just as long as you are enjoying yourself and it is what you love doing then your choice is the best way to go fishing. Nothing more and nothing less.

On Killing

Book Review: On Killing
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It is no secret that I am a fan of Lt. Col. Grossman’s work. I think it fills a niche that has been lacking in the field of martialism. If you deal with firearms for self defense then you owe it to yourself to understand that there is more to it than being proficient with your chosen gun.

There is a cost to using violence to solve problems – sometimes that cost is worth paying – but you need to be informed so that you are able to make those split second decisions under stress.

On Killing is more about the general public as a whole than on combat. I learned more about the tools I might use during and after a deadly force incident in On Combat, but I learned more about society in On Killing. Personally I felt that On Combat was a better book, like I thought Steven Hunter’s Point of Impact was better than his book Black Light – but both were well worth the read and I am glad I own then both.

This can be a difficult read if you have issues with interpersonal conflict being resolved with lethal force.  The entire book is devoted to the concept of killing and its impact on the human mind – with a special emphasis on how to make our sheepdogs better at it so they can protect us (society) from the wolves.

How to Customize Your Glock

 

Book Review: How to Customize Your Glock
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I used to be one of those guys that didn’t really like Glocks – of course to be fair – I really am a revolver guy at heart… BUT once I bought one and began shooting it, I realized that a Glock is a wonderful utilitarian tool. It is dead on reliable.  Additionally, a Glock’s  accuracy exceeds the abilities of the majority of users.  Furthermore it is rather inexpensive for a major firearm brand.

When I really fell in love with Glock is when I went to the factory armorer school and learned just how simple the design is.  A punch and a small screwdriver is all you need to completely tear one of these guns down. (well you also need the know how- and this book provides it).

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I don’t think How to Customize Your Glock is as good as the armorer course, but it is a lot cheaper. It has large clear pictures and instructions that walk you through the total disassembly and reassembly of Glock firearms.  Furthermore it gives some good modifications you can make to the firearm.

One thing I particularly like is that the book is divided into sections based upon level of skill so that the reader does not get in over there head.

I must warn you however, that the manufacturer does not have to repair under warranty firearms that are jacked up by non-armorers. If you decide to start modifying your gun you can mess it up. So if you buy this book think about what you are doing and use a little common sense.

If you have not been to the factory Glock armorer school, then this book is the next best thing.  This book shows, using clear photos, how to totally disassemble your Glock.  Additionally, it teaches how to customize your Glock so that you are comfortable with it.

While I don’t believe in modifying my firearms outside of anything the factory recommends.  I d0 know a lot of people that feel different.  If it is your gun then I think you should be able to do with it what you want.

Book Review: The Ultimate Ruger 10-22 Manual And Users Guide

The Ultimate Ruger 10-22 Manual And Users Guide

 

Book Review: The Ultimate Ruger 10-22 Manual And Users Guide
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Owning guns isn’t enough – you need to be skillful in their use. If one of the reasons you own a gun is because of your concern that you may need them in a grid down type of disaster, then you might also need to fix them.

To do that you need to know how. The Ultimate Ruger 10-22 Manual is not a gunsmith manual exactly, but it does cover total disassembly, modification, and use.

While I believe the section on machine guns and silencer construction are too vague to be useful ( and don’t tell the entire story on the legal issues of such modifications) the rest of the book is well worth the price.

Just be careful with the modifications, it is easy to go overboard, and each modification contributes to the characteristics of the whole gun – too much is not a good thing, and can cause malfunctions of the firearm.

I don’t own a ruuger 10/22 any longer, but I plan on buying one for my boy.  Right now all he has is a cricket single shot and a bunch of mosin nagants still in cosmoline (I figure when he is old enough for a real gun he is old enough to clean out the cosmoline from it).

In the past I have owned several of these handy little rifles, but besides putting optics on them I never really cared much for modifying them with fancy stocks and the like.  Even though I must admit, I have said if I ever get a nice range I am going to get some and put them in the Gatling gun kits and rent them out.