The Tactical Pistol

Book Review: The Tactical Pistol
Buy at Amazon

Big-city cop and gunfight veteran Gabe Suarez teaches you the most vital lessons and techniques for prevailing in any situation where you must draw your weapon.

Chapters in The Tactical Pistol include The Dynamics of a Gunfight, The Rules of Close-Quarter Combat, Holding Hostiles at Gunpoint and more.

This is not the only Suarez book I have reviewed because he has written several books worth reviewing.  I particularly like his book on the combative perspective.

This particular book builds upon the mindset lessons of the combative perspective by showing specific pistol techniques that you should master.

This is not the only pistol tactics book I own, and I do not think it should be your only book on handgun fighting – but I do think it is worth owning.

If you add this book to your library on pistol combat you are not wasting your time, money, or shelf space.  Which is saying a lot because for me, after collecting as many books as I have shelf space is pretty valuable.

I recommend the Tactical Pistol as a useful book to read as you study the science of handgun survival.  Read books like this from the old masters and add that to the work of the new masters and you will quickly gain skill.

1984

 

Book Review: 1984
Buy at Amazon

Along with Atlas Shrugged,  1984 is one of my “go-to” philosophical fiction books that I read to keep myself grounded when I get to feeling that the majority of people do not share my belief that we are heading in the wrong direction.

I find it telling that some of our governmental czars and their agencies sound just like some of the organizations in this document.

This book is a lot darker than atlas shrugged, the movie was not nearly as well done as the Shrugged series, but it is a lot easier to read.

Both authors have first hand experience in the birth of communism in Russia, and many of their observations are very telling.

Because of this, I feel everyone needs to read this book for themselves.

The Home Schooled Shootist

Book Review: The Home Schooled Shootist
Buy at Amazon

The Home Schooled Shootist is an instruction guide for intermediate to advanced shooters. It addresses fighting with shoulder-fired weapons at ranges 0 through 600 meters. The book assumes the reader has mastered basic remedial techniques and is fully versed in firearm safety.

In order to ensure the buyer’s skills match the difficulty of the included exercises, a video preview showing limited examples has been created.

It can be found at holdingyourground.com or via other common sources for internet videos. A search of “Home Schooled Shootist” should generate several options.

This work is divided into three basic sections:

  • How to create and execute eleven different drills that sharpen skills necessary to survive violent encounters
  • How to evaluate the results of these exercises
  • How to improve the operator’s capabilities

Covering topics ranging from sight pictures, on-range and off-range training techniques, and even rifle specific weight training, Shootist is intended for those who want to train at their own pace, using their own facilities. The drills are creative, unique and can be challenging. Detailed instructions are included on how to construct the various training tools and courses.

In addition, a bonus section covering nutrition and its impact on shooting skills is included. Written by Mike Adams – The Health Ranger, it addresses the seldom-discussed topic of how physical health can impact fighting skills.

I have to admit, when I first saw this book I did not know what to think, but once I started reading it, I found it to be full of useful information presented in a very clear format. Everybody needs to look at this because Nobody did a great job.

Disguise Techniques

Book Review: Disguise Techniques
Buy at Amazon

Disguise Techniques is an older book, created by an actor working for the OSS, forerunner of the CIA. I expected more from the book due to its history of being a text of sorts for our spies, however it really did not give any new insights.

It was an interesting read, but you could probably learn more from an acting class…

This book dealt a lot with  controlling body language and how putting on a hat or taking off a jacket combined with body expression would change your appearance.

In my mind any one that has watched a modern spy movie where the hero was framed and on the run is familiar with more relevant disguise techniques.

That is not to say I did not enjoy the book – I found it an interesting read, as well as something to provide insight into the mindset of the time.  But not being a cynical person I did not get the feel it was something somebody threw together to get a piece of wartime government money.

I don’t really like giving negative reviews, and most of the time I try to not give a review rather than to say “this book is a waste of money”, but in my opinion, if you are buying this book because you think it may someday prove useful to you, save the money and watch mission impossible.

Book Review: On Combat

On Combat

Book Review: On Combat
Buy at Amazon

This is a quality book filled with several concepts that any armed citizen need to fully understand. If you carry a gun, you need to read On Combat.

Col Grossman is one of the few modern warriors that has done any substantial research into the mental aspects of the use of force. He discusses what PTSD is, some information on how to deal with it, the flight or flight response, survival breathing techniques to reduce stress during lethal encounters, and much much more…

When I began learning how to shoot defensively this book was one I read over and over.  When I graduated into teaching people how to shoot defensively I dogeared On Combat even more.  I am on my second copy.

While some of the concepts in the book have come under scrutiny lately.  I still find them to be a good common sense description of what takes place in the body and mind when under life or death stress.

Despite the title, On Combat is not just for Soldiers and Marines.  It is a resource for anyone that carries a gun defensively.  I think it is most notably useful for armed citizens.  He has other books I will review on here, like On Killing, and Stop Teaching our Kids to Kill, but I think this is his best work.