A review of the current literature

The following article is from the National Association of EMTs website: www.naemt.org.

BLUF: Direct Pressure is still the best way to stop bleeding.

PHTLS Executive Committee

Lance E. Stuke, M.D. MPH

Background: The 7^th edition PHTLS textbook discusses the use of topical hemostatic agents which were are available for prehospital use. Products come and go from the market so it is difficult to remain current on all available products. Additionally, older products may still be in use due to surplus, although they may not be commercially available.  Data on many of these products is based primarily on military reports and very little data is available on their use in the civilian prehospital setting. The vast majority of these products have been researched and developed for use in the military setting in Iraq and Afghanistan although some limited civilian data is also available. At the time of printing of the 7^th edition of PHTLS, only Combat Gauze has been recommended by the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee (COTCCC) for military use.

The perfect hemostatic dressing does not exist. Ideally, the dressing should be lightweight, easy to store, and able to be rapidly applied to a hemorrhaging wound. It should be conformable to the wound, allowing the hemostatic agent to reach areas of injury which are difficult to access with direct pressure (i.e. deep groin wounds). The dressing should cause minimal local tissue destruction, be easily removable from the wound, and not contain particles which can spread systemically. Finally, the dressing must not be washed away by rapid bleeding from high-flow blood vessels.

Manufacturers have tried various methods to deliver hemostatic agents into bleeding wounds. Some products are packaged into a granular form which can be poured directly into the wound. Others are incorporated into a dressing or mesh which allows the provider to apply direct pressure to the site of injury. This dressing can be formed either as a rigid bandage, a small bag, or a gauze which must be unrolled prior to application. Each method of preparation has distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on the location and type of injury being treated.

Literature and Product Review:

HemCon: HemCon dressing (Hemorrhage Control Technologies, Portland, OR), is composed of chitosan, a substance derived from arthropod skeletons. Chitosan dressings are thought to function by mechanically sealing the wound and adhering to surrounding tissue. HemCon is a dual-sided 4 x 4 inch rectangular bandage: a chitosan-containing active side which must be placed directly on the wound and a nonstick side which the provider uses to apply pressure. The efficacy of HemCon depends entirely on the bandage adhering well to the wound, which is difficult in wounds which aren’t flat and easily accessible. The bandage isn’t flexible and can break when forced into a wound. It is best applied to flat, superficial wounds which are easily accessible. HemCon has been studied in both the military and civilian settings. The military demonstrated a 97% success rate in controlling bleeding with HemCon.^1,2  The civilian experience has been less optimistic, controlling bleeding in 27 of 34 cases studied (79%). Of the seven failures, six were felt to be due to user error, possibly due to less training by civilian EMS providers in the proper use of the product.³   An additional study using a complex groin injury model in swine noted an increase in the rate of rebleeding and mortality between those treated with HemCon versus QuikClot.  The authors noted that application of HemCon was more difficult than other agents and all failures of HemCon were due to the bandage not adhering to the injured tissue to which it was applied.⁴

As previously noted, a disadvantage of the HemCon dressing is that it is relatively non-conformable and difficult to pack into deeper wounds. ChitoFlex is the latest development from HemCon Medical Technologies. It utilizes the same chitosan-based hemostatic agent but packages it into a gauze form. This allows the dressing to be packed into deep bleeding wounds for improved access to the site of hemorrhage. ChitoFlex is available in several sizes, including 1”x3”, 3”x9”, and as a 3”x28” roll. In one study, ChitoFlex was found to be equivalent, but not superior to QuikClot and Celox (a chitosan granule).⁵

WoundStat: WoundStat was an FDA-approved mineral-based agent consisting of granular smectite, a nonmetallic clay. When the granules were exposed to blood they absorbed water, swelled, and formed a clay paste with strong adhesiveness to the surrounding tissue. Initial studies were promising^6,7,8  and it was used by the U.S. Army for a short time. However, later data demonstrated that the granules could cause injury to the blood vessels and make repair difficult. The granules were also shown to enter the circulatory system and cause thrombosis in distal organs.⁹ Because of these potentially serious side effects, the U.S. Army announced in April 2009 that WoundStat would no longer be used by their medical personnel.

QuikClot:  QuikClot (Z-Medica, Wallingford, CT) is a granular product consisting of kaolin, which is a combination of inert minerals such as silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and sodium found in volcanic rock. When placed in a bleeding wound, it absorbs water thereby increasing the local concentration of clotting factors, platelets, and red blood cells to stimulate clot formation. A byproduct of its mechanism is a severe exothermic reaction, with heat generation of up to 70̊ C (158^o F). This heat generation causes local tissue destruction and even burns. QuikClot has been studied in both the military and civilian sector, with up to 92% effectiveness in stopping hemorrhage.¹⁰ QuikClot was issued to U.S. soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Civilian use has been by a wide range of providers, including EMT/firefighters, paramedics, and police. Examples of civilian use include treatment of severe lacerations, gunshot wounds to the neck and even hemodialysis catheter dislodgement. Trauma surgeons have also used QuikClot for successful treatment of bleeding during surgery in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. QuikClot was noted to have two significant weaknesses. Since it is a granular powder poured into a wound, it had limited usefulness in high-pressure bleeding (i.e. femoral artery bleed) as the granules were washed away by the bleeding before they were able to form a clot. Furthermore, the heat generated from its use was associated with several burns.

QuikClot production was stopped after development of several newer generation products. These newer generation products have minimal heat production and are packaged both as gauzes and in a bagged form. Currently Z-Medica sells QuikClot packaged in 2”x2” and 4”x4” gauze pads for use on superficial lacerations which don’t have severe bleeding. QuikClot has also developed a small zeolite-impregnated pad (QuikClot ACS+) and as a laparotomy pad (QuikClot Trauma Pad) for use by trauma surgeons in the operating room for cases of severe bleeding during surgery. This later product remains in the research phase and is not yet approved for widespread use.

Combat Gauze^TM is a 3”x4 yard long roll of nonwoven gauze impregnated with kaolin. Combat Gauze has all the advantages of normal gauze (easy application, flexible, large coverage area, and easily removable) with the additional advantage of hemostatic function from the kaolin. It is designed for packing into deep wounds which are actively bleeding (i.e. arterial injury in the groin). Prehospital personnel can also use combat gauze as they would any standard Kerlix gauze. Combat Gauze was recently compared to several newer generation products, including the HemCon RTS, and found to be superior and had no apparent side effects.¹¹ A study from the Israel Defense Force reviewed fourteen uses of Combat Gauze and noted a 79% success rate.¹² The authors noted that in the three instances where Combat Gauze was unsuccessful, the soldiers had such severe injuries that only surgical control was successful. One of the three soldiers died from the severity of his wounds. Currently, Combat Gauze is the only product endorsed by the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee and they recommend it as first line treatment for life-threatening hemorrhage on external wounds not amendable to direct pressure and tourniquet placement.

A disadvantage of most topical hemostatic agents is they require 2-5 minutes of direct pressure to be effective. This amount of time is often not available during care under fire situations seen in combat or during a mass casualty situation. A study published in the Journal of Trauma compared Combat Gauze (used by the U.S. military), Celox Gauze (used by the United Kingdom), and standard Kerlix gauze.¹³ A 6mm side-wall injury was created in swine, 30 seconds of free hemorrhage was allowed, and wounds were packed with one of the three gauzes. The animals were resuscitated with Lactated Ringers to maintain baseline mean arterial pressure. The authors noted no difference in success of either dressing. The Kerlix gauze was packed faster than Combat and Celox Gauze. There was no difference in survival, dressing success, or blood loss between the three dressings. The authors note they were somewhat surprised by this finding and note that in care under fire situations where tourniquet use is not an option, standard gauze packed in a wound performed equally well to Combat Gauze and Celox Gauze.

A study from the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA compared several commercially available topical hemostatic agents to the application of direct pressure with standard gauze.¹⁴ The authors used a swine model with a severed femoral artery and vein to simulate a high-velocity projectile injury with jagged surrounding muscle. Combat Gauze, WoundStat, Celox-A, and ChitoFlex were applied to the created injuries per the manufacturer recommendations. They were then compared to each other and to standard gauze applied using direct pressure. Manual pressure was held for 5 minutes and any bleeding occurring after this was considered a failure of hemostasis. Primary outcome measures were failure of initial hemostasis and the incidence of rebleeding. Secondary measures included total blood loss, amount of rebleeding, and survival. WoundStat performed more poorly than Celox-A in achieving initial hemostasis and in the incidence of rebleeding. Surprising to the authors, standard gauze and direct pressure performed equally as well as the 4 commercially available topical hemostatic agents. There were no significant differences in failure of initial hemostasis, rebleeding, or death between standard gauze and the other agents.

Summary:

- Numerous topical hemostatic products have been developed and released onto the market.

- Some of these products have since been discontinued, while others are widely used.

-Economic and medical considerations continue to make this a rapidly evolving and growing area of prehospital care. It is important for the EMS provider to remain cognizant of these products and their advantages, disadvantages, and complications as they continue to evolve.

- Recent data suggests direct pressure with standard gauze may be equally effective as commercially available hemostatic agents. Providers should consider this when attempting to control hemorrhage. Principles of adequate direct pressure and wound packing continue to be the cornerstone of controlling severe traumatic bleeding from penetrating extremity wounds.

PHTLS Recommendation:  Topical hemostatic agents may be used to control hemorrhage occurring in sites not amenable to tourniquet placement and which cannot be controlled by direct pressure alone.

Bibliography

1. Achneck HE, Sileshi B, Jamiolkowski RM, et al. A comprehensive review of topical hemostatic agents: Efficacy and recommendations for use. Annals of Surgery 2010; 251: 217-228.
2. Mabry R and McManus JG. Prehospital advances in the management of severe penetrating trauma. Crit Care Med. 2008:36(7);S258-266.
3. Brown MA, Daya MR, Worley JA. Experience with chitosan dressings in a civilian EMS system. J Emerg Med. 2009;62:239-243.
4. Kozen BG, Kircher SJ, Henao J, et al. An alternative hemostatic dressing: comparison of CELOX, HemCon, and QuikClot.Acad Emerg Med. 2008; 15:74-81.
5. Devlin JJ, Kircher S, Kozen BG, et al. Comparison of ChitoFlex, CELOX, and QuikClot in control of hemorrhage. J Emerg Med. 2009 Apr 1 (Epub ahead of print).
6. Ward KR, Tiba MH, Holbert WH, et al. Comparison of a new hemostatic agent to current combat hemostatic agents in a swine model of lethal arterial hemorrhage. J Trauma. 2007;63:276-284.
7. Kheirabadi BS, Edens JW, Terrazas IB, et al. Comparison of new hemostatic granules/powders with currently deployed hemostatic products in a lethal model of extremioty arterial hemorrhage in swine. J Trauma. 2009;66:316-328.
8. Arnaud F, Parreno-Sadalan D, Tomori T, et al. Comparison of 10 hemostatic dressings in a groin transaction model in swine. J Trauma. 2009;67:848-855.
9. Bheirabadi BS, Mace JE, Terrazas IB, et al. Safety evaluation of new hemostatic agents, smectite granules, and kaolin-coated gauze in a vascular injury wound model in swine. J Trauma. 2010;68:269-278.
10. Rhee P, Brown C, Martin M, et al. QuikClot use in trauma for hemorrhage control: case series of 103 documented uses. J Trauma. 2008;64:1093-1099.
11. Kheirabadi BS, Scherer MR, Estep JS, et al. Determination of efficacy of new hemostatic dressings in a model of extremity arterial hemorrhage in swine. J Trauma. 2009;67:450-460.
12. Ran Y, Hadad E, Daher S, et al. QuikClot Combat Gauze Use for Hemorrhage Control in Military Trauma: January 2009 Israel Defense Force Experience in the Gaza Strip – A Preliminary Report of 14 Cases. Prehop Disaster Med 2010;25(6):584-588.
13. Watters JM, Van PY, Hamilton GJ, et al. Advanced Hemostatic Dressings Are Not Superior to Gauze for Care Under Fire Scenarios. J Trauma. 2011;70:1413-1419.
14. Littlejohn LF, Devlin JJ, Kircher SS, et al. Comparison of Celox-A, ChitoFlex, WoundStat, and Combat Gauze Hemostatic Agents Versus Standard Gauze Dressing in Control of Hemorrhage in a Swine Model of Penetrating Trauma. Acad Emerg Med. 2011:18(4);340-350.

Last year during the Shot Show, Sig Sauer introduced its second 9mm “pocket pistol”.  The first was the P290.  It’s a 100% reliable firearm (P290), just like any Sig Sauer product, but the chief complaint by shooters was that it was too “blocky” like a Glock and the trigger pull had a substantially long travel before firing, which is very similar to the P250 (not a fan of this particular trigger).  So Sig developed the P938.  The P938 was developed to compete with other 9mm pocket pistols like the Khar CM9, Ruger LC9, Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield, or the Kel-Tec PF9 to name just a few.

The P938 is identical in appearance and operation to the P238 (.380 ACP).  The P238 has an impeccable service record like any Sig firearm, but the .380 round is just too small and does not pack enough punch for me.  The complaints with the P290 and popularity of the P238 led to the P938.  The P938 is the first 1911-inspired 9mm micro-compact by SIG SAUER. This lightweight, all-metal pistol builds on the trusted P238 platform, delivering accuracy and reliability with duty caliber performance.

I purchased my Sig Sauer P938 in early January this year with the intent of carrying it simply as a concealed carry weapon (CCW).  Sig or not, before I ever put any weapon into service I like to conduct several tests at the range.  There are some people out there that don’t mind taking a gun right out of the box and putting their life behind the gun’s operation.  If you want to rely on the one or two rounds they shoot at the factory then that’s all you.  But any competent and highly effective shooter is going to take their time and make the gun earn your trust.  Of course barring any crazy manufacturer defect the gun is going to operate flawlessly out of the box (except for most 1911s that require some fine tuning) but you should really take the gun home and clean all the manufacturer’s oil off and use your preferred lubricant.

My New Baby…

The P938 looks just like a mini 1911 minus the beaver-tail safety.  It’s a single action only (SAO) firearm, with a consistent 7.5lb-8.5lb trigger.  So just like any 1911 platform, it can only be fired from and is carried in the cocked and locked position.  There is virtually zero slack in the trigger.  If I was to give it a number I would say it’s easily 1mm or less and very difficult to detect.  I can only describe the trigger as crisp.  There are eight different variants of the gun that are all completely based on aesthetics in terms of finish and grips.  All eight variants operate exactly the same.  The variants are: Blackwood, Extreme, Rosewood, Equinox, Black Rubber Grip, Nightmare, AG, and SAS.  They all come with full-size SIGLITE night sights and have an ambidextrous safety.  With dimensions just slightly larger than its .380 ACP counterpart, the P938 packs six plus one rounds of 9mm into an all-metal frame. The cocked-and-locked single-action trigger gives the P938 unmatched accuracy in a pistol its size (sigarms.com).  Some of the variants like mine come with a seven round extended magazine instead of the flush six rounder.  I highly recommend purchasing the seven round extended magazines if your specific model only comes with the six round magazines.  The extended magazine gives you just enough extra space for people with larger meat hooks like Chris and I, to get a proper, full, comfortable grip.  If you need a refresher on proper grip check out Chris’ article “7 Habits of Highly Effective Shooters”.  That is my shooting bible!  According to Sig, the only models that come with the extended magazines are the Black Rubber Grip and Extreme variants.  These are metal single stack magazines that aren’t exactly cheap.  They both retail for the same price from Sig for $46, which is on par with any high-end all-metal single stack magazines.  Most gun stores are selling them for $49.99.

A drawback of many micro-compact or 9mm pocket pistols available today can be punishing to shoot a box of 50 rounds at the range.  Every major gun manufacturer today lightens their firearms by simply replacing metal with polymer.  Polymer is great, but not in a micro-compact 9mm round, especially if you’re carry/defense ammo is 124gr or 147gr.  The all-metal platform provides a stable platform that easily handles the recoil of any 9mm round even in a micro-compact frame.  The all-metal frame really makes a difference.  I like the way my P938 handles recoil better than my Glock 26, plus the P938 is so much easier to carry, especially IWB.

Crazy Relatives

Before I get into my range report/review, lets clear the air and talk about the problems many P938 experienced last year.  In this section and the follow-on review, the following terms mean: FTF (failure to feed) and FTE (failure to extract).  If the gun simply did not fire after the hammer struck the primer, then I’ll just call it a good old misfire.  So the initial release of the P938 up until models manufactured to OCT 2012 (per Sig and my research) are the ones that had FTF and FTE issues.  Sig narrowed down the actual serial numbers.  The serial numbers on the P938 all start with “52A0” then all numbers after that are the unique numbers to your pistol.  The ones with serial numbers of 8899 and lower are the “misfit toys”.  These serial numbers relate to manufacture dates of about mid-September 2012 and earlier.  Now we talked about the P238 and P938 being very similar in appearance and size, except one is chambered in .380 ACP and 9mm.  Though the P938 is slightly, and I mean slightly beefier, the internals are the same.  This is the root of the problems.

Apparently Sig used the same extractor, extractor spring, and recoil spring from the P238 into the new P938.  Remember that the .380 ACP round is pretty much a shorty-9mm round.  But the these parts (the extractor, extractor spring, and recoil spring) from the P238 were not enough to properly function and extract the 9mm round.  This is where the FTE problems came from.  Now the FTF problems were directly related to the smaller P238 recoil spring coupled with what I call a “not so polished” feed ramp.  Once the problems were identified, you could send your P938 directly to Sig (on their dime) and they put in what they called an enhanced extractor assembly and recoil spring, along with properly polishing the feed ramp.  From what I’ve seen from Sig and forums like SigTalk, those that had the upgrades installed were happy with the final product.  I’m sure Sig used those parts from the P238 as a way of cutting costs.  I mean it’s a business so these things happen.  But what sets Sig apart was how quick they identified the problem and took care of its loyal consumers.  I did my research before I purchased my P938 and made sure my manufacture date was beyond SEP 2012 and my serial number was higher than 8899.  Mine is actually 3XXXX, which is well beyond the problem line.  If you have one of the problem guns you should contact Sig and have them replace the parts, even if you haven’t seen the problems.  If you have a problem gun and haven’t seen the FTFs or FTEs, then Sig says you’re likely using 115gr ammo or lower.  If you hit the 124gr or 147gr, you’re going to start seeing the problems.  These are rounds most people use for carry/defense ammo.  And if you find yourself buying a previously owned P938, private party sale or from an authorized dealer, with a serial number 8899 or lower, you can contact Sig with the serial number and ask if the enhanced upgrades have been completed already.

Order up!

When buying a pistol, especially a micro-compact pistol like the Sig P938, one is likely doing so with the intention of carrying the weapon concealed.  This is why this specific firearm was designed and produced.  Now I know times are tough for many people with the economy, but when it comes to buying a firearm for self-defense you should not be cheap.  If you want to spend $300 or less for a new gun that you’re going to rely upon when your life or someone else’s life is on the line….well all I can say is good luck.  I’m not saying that you need to go out and buy the most high-end firearm, but you should do your research and go with the a company like Sig Sauer who is simply reliable.  Again, Sig is what I carry as my duty pistol and concealed carry pistol.  This is my personal preference.  Take your time buying a reliable firearm from a reliable company.  Even in the rare instances where a firearm from a company like Sig has some manufacturer defect, they will go out of their way to remedy the issue and go as far as replacing your firearm with a brand new one.

Where was I?

7 rounds, 7 seconds @ 15 yards.

So finally, here’s my review and range report.  I fired a total of 1,200 rounds (1,000 rounds of range ammo and 200 rounds of defense ammo) from my purchase date in early January 2013 to the end of March 2013.  This was completed over a total of 15 different range visits (all indoor sessions).  I shot the various targets listed above from distances of 3-yards all the way out to 25-yards.  Now let me be clear, a 9mm micro-compact pistol was not designed as a long-range pistol.  It’s intended for close quarters defense situations.  I pushed it out to 25-yards to test the gun’s and my limitations.  The firearm was accurate out to 25-yards and I was easily able to hit center mass.  Part of my success at this distance for such a small pistol was due in part to the weapon having the full-size SIGLITE night sights.  It’s exactly the same sights that are on my duty pistol (Sig P229R-DAK chambered in .40 S&W).  So the sight picture was identical.  Don’t forget this rule when it comes to self-defense shootings, “3, 3, 3”.  Most self-defense shootings occur within 3 yards, last 3 seconds or less, with a total of 3 rounds or less fired.

I fired 256 rounds before I had my first malfunction.  It was an FTE.  All malfunctions that I had going through all 1,200 rounds were FTEs (a total of 12), with the exception of six misfires.  I was shooting the cheapest ammo I could find when I had my first and most malfunctions, which was the HSM 115gr FMJs.  HSM is a small company out of Montana that sells reloads/remanufactured ammo.  It comes lose in an orange box.  This was the first time I had ever seen or heard of this ammo company.  Out of the 12 FTEs, 10 of them were during the 100 rounds of HSM I shot.  The other two FTEs came with the Magtech 115gr FMJ and the other with the Winchester Ranger T-Series 147gr JHP.  Out of the six misfires, four of them were also with the HSM ammo, one with the Magtech, and one with the Remington UMC 115gr.  With all the misfires I attempted to fire the round a second time with no success.  I then took the misfire rounds and tried to put them through my Glock 26, since Glocks have a fantastic track record of being able to eat any ammo.  All six rounds also misfired in my Glock, so this was a complete failure of the round and not a malfunction of the P938.

Man-Up!

I would shoot on average between 50 and 100 rounds each session at the range, as I wanted to take my time and get a true feel for the gun.  Even on the days I shot 100 rounds I experienced no fatigue or pain.  With other 9mm pocket pistols that have a polymer frame like the Kel-Tec or Ruger, it can be a bit rough to even shoot a box of 50 rounds.  The all-metal platform of the Sig P938 gives it just enough weight and beef to absorb the recoil instead of all the recoil being absorbed by your wrist.  I shot the pistol strong-hand supported and unsupported and reaction-hand supported and unsupported.  I shot from various stances and positions ranging from combat (squared up to the target), weaver, modified weaver, kneeling, strong and reaction side barricade, and shooting through the barricade window.

Equipment Used:

Targets:

• Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 8-inch Bulls-eyes (sticker)
• Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 9-inch Silhouettes (sticker)
• Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 12-inch Site-ins (sticker)
• DHS/U.S. Treasury Transtar 1 Silhouettes (blue and green)
• DHS/U.S. Treasury Transtar 2 Silhouettes (blue and green)

Ammo:

• Target/Range:
  • HSM: 115gr FMJ (remanufactured – worst ammo I could find)
  • Federal (white box): 115gr FMJ
  • Federal American Eagle: 115gr FMJ
  • Federal American Eagle: 147gr FMJ (subsonic flat-nose)
  • Magtech: 115gr FMC
  • Sellier & Bellot: 115gr FMJ
  • Remington UMC: 115gr FMJ

• Carry/Defense:
  • Speer Gold Dot: 115gr JHP
  • Federal Hydra-Shok: 124gr JHP
  • Winchester Ranger T-Series: 147gr JHP

Pros:

• It’s a Sig!
• Micro-compact frame
• All-metal platform
• Chambered in 9mm
• Slim and lightweight
• Full-size SIGLITE night sights
• Ambidextrous safety
• Checkered rear grip/back strap
• All-metal single stack magazines
• 8 different variants
• Reliable and crisp 7.5lb-8.5lb trigger with virtually zero slack
• Easily concealable whether IWB, belt carry, or ankle carry
• Disassembly/Assembly is simple
• Easy to clean
• Fun to shoot
• Did I mention it was a Sig?

Cons:

• Initial release had FTF and FTE problems
• They only come with one magazine
• Magazines are expensive and hard to find
• 6 round magazine is too small
• Magazines are a bit tricky to disassemble/reassemble
• Trigger face is a little rough

Did you notice I didn’t mention anything in the “Pros” or “Cons” about price?  MSRP depends on the variant you choose and ranges from $795 to $838.  I purchased mine in WA state from West Coast Armory in Bellevue, WA for $699.  It was a steal, especially given the current climate and political non-sense surrounding firearms…..don’t get me started!

Sig Sauer P938: PASSED

My overall impression of the Sig Sauer P938 (Black Rubber Grip) is that it’s an exceptional firearm.  I give the gun a grade of an A.  I would expect nothing less from Sig Sauer.  I would have given it an A+ if it came with more than one magazine.  I enjoyed shooting this gun and love carrying it concealed.  The “Pros” in my opinion far exceed the “Cons”.  Even in a micro-compact size, the pistol is highly accurate.  When it comes to shooting, the equation of human factors + firearm factors + ammo factors + weather factors = accuracy.  I only shot this gun at an indoor range, so weather was not a factor.  When it comes the firearms factor of the P938, the full-size SIGLITE night sights, the zero slack trigger, and extended magazine are all geared towards increasing the accuracy of the firearm.  I was easily able to keyhole my target out to 15 yards.  It’s just a great gun to shoot.  My wife and other people that I’ve let put rounds down the range absolutely love the gun too.

Carrying this gun concealed, as it was designed for, is pleasant.  With the correct holster you virtually forget you’re even carrying it.  I have the “Down Under w/ Clip High Ride” IWB holster from High Noon Holsters.  HNH is a high-end leather holster company and quite possibly the best holster I’ve worn.  With this specific HNH holster and “J” clip design, I can wear my P938 even in shorts or sweatpants.  The “J” clip has so much retention against the holster that there is no problem drawing the gun when you’re not wearing a belt.

Bottom line:

Sig hit the mark with the P938 and they now have a competitive firearm in the popular 9mm pocket pistol market.  I’ve tested this gun extensively and it’s my first choice when I want to carry a pocket pistol.  I have no reservations with relying on this gun to save my life or the life of another.  I highly recommend the Sig Sauer P938.

If you’ve shot this pistol before or have any comments or questions, please leave them in the comments below.

ITS Tactical’s ETA Trauma Kit

As a Navy SEAL you learn a wide variety of skill sets to make you a better tactical operator.  Most people know that I was Sniper instructor before I retired from the Teams in 2009 and I continue to hone my skills as firearms and tactics instructor for Center Mass Group.   What many don’t know is that I’m also a combat medic and attended the Special Operations Medical Sergeant Course (18D) in 1995 at Fort Sam Houston, TX (The training has since been moved to Ft Bragg, NC).   Since that time I have also kept up my tactical medical skills by maintaining my Paramedic registration and helping teach a SOF paramedic refresher course at one of the few SOCOM approved courses.

If you’re in the war-fighting community, you know (unfortunately) that medicine is usually the first block of training that gets dropped as schedules get tighter.  To make sure that medical training stays on the schedule, I’ve found it best to inject it into any other training you’re doing.  For instance, the units going through any CMG shooting course get some free medical training as part of the curriculum.   Don’t ever train to be the tip of spear, and expect to be cut sometimes.

Enough About You

With this in mind, I was happy when my friends over at ITS Tactical asked me to give them an honest review of their ETA kits.  Since they’ve posted other gear reviews I’ve done in the past, they knew they would get honest feedback.  They’ll be happy to hear I give the kit my stamp of approval, but with it comes some recommendations.  If you have or plan to purchase any one of their tactical medical kits, I’ve also made some recommendations on how to prepare your kit for emergency use.  I’ll be reviewing the kit they sent: ETA Tallboy Kit (MIL/LE) version with the Tallboy Trauma Kit Pouch and make a few points on the SOFTT-W.

What They Say

ITS Tactical developed the kit by following the TCCC Guidelines to treat the three leading preventable causes of death in the field: Extremity hemorrhage, Tension pneumothorax and Airway obstruction.  The Tallboy configuration is their Fatboy redesigned with input from Haley Strategic and Zulu Nylon Gear to take up less precious real estate and fit into a double magazine pouch.  The pouch will hold the Vacuum Sealed Tallboy ETA Trauma Kit, as well as the contents of the kit if the end user needs to break the seal, or wants faster access to individual components. It can be secured to your gear vertically or horizontally with included long or short MALICE Clips or optional Molly Stix.

With a simple pull on the handle, the pouch quickly opens to provide immediate access to the components. The small 1″ section of red Velcro affixed to the handle can be removed for a lower profile*. (*I think reduced signature would be better than lower profile.)  The main pocket provides space to fit the Vacuum Sealed Tallboy ETA Trauma Kit or other medical items. The two wing pockets are large enough to store Decompression Needles and NPAs, or other Airway devices. The flap panel design allows you to custom configure the shock cord loops to hold whatever you need it to.

Standard Contents (From website)

• QuikClot Combat Gauze LE (1)
• HALO Chest Seal (2)
• MojoDart Decompression Needle (1)
• Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) Adj. 28fr (1)
• Pressure Dressing (1 – 4″) *Should say, 4” Pressure Dressing (1)
• Elastic Bandage (1 – 2″)* Should say, 2” Elastic Bandage (1)
• Z-Fold Dressing (1)
• Combat Casualty Card (1)
• Nitrile Gloves (1 Pair)
• Lubricating Jelly (1)
• Pencil (1)
• Contents List w/ TCCC Care Under Fire Instructions (on reverse) (1)

Each ETA Kit is hand assembled in the USA (Bonus Points) and has an expiration date of at least three-years.

What I Found

I don’t care if reviewing gear is your full time job, when you get new gear in the mail, it’s like Christmas!  I opened up my brown and clear tape-wrapped present to find:

ETA Kit: ITS-MED-003 (MIL/LE)

Vacuum sealed with an expiration date of 2/16.

Right off the bat I can say the quality of the vacuum seal packaging is very high-quality.  In the teams we’ve tried using industrial “Seal-a-Meal” machines without much success.  The bags that are commercially available are not thick enough to last during combat training or operations and would often leak during maritime or diving operations.  It doesn’t take a medic to know that this is not good! I spent a day with it in my kit and tried to bang it around as much as I could and it held up great.  Next thing I needed to do was open it up…

Contents of the sealed kit

Contents:

• QuikClot Combat Gauze (X-ray), 3” x 4 yards
• Combat Medical Systems, Decompression Needle, Mojo Dart, 14GA, 3.25” with an expiration date of 04/15.
• Nasopharyngeal Airway, 28fr w/packet of lube
• Tytek Medical, EZ Gauze TM-215. Sterile (Z-Fold Dressing)
• Nitrite Gloves, Purple, Large (Unknown thickness/mils)
• PMI HALO SEALS, 2-pack with use before date of 12/15
• Dynarex, 2” Elastic Bandage
• 4” Israeli Emergency Dressing (Pressure dressing)
• Combat casualty card with rubber band for attachment and pencil
• Bonus: TCCC, Care under fire directions on back of contents list

The first thing I noticed upon opening and inventorying the kit was the difference in the expiration date on the outside of the pack and the expiration dates on the items inside that pack.  The pack was labeled with an expiration date of 2/16, while the Mojo dart expires 4/15 and the HALOs on 12/15.  I contacted ITS about this and they were setting expiration dates by how we (18D medics) use our gear: It’s good to at least one-year past the printed dates.  Although I have 20+ years of experience saying this is true, I thought it would be better for the customers to make that decision – and they totally agreed.  In the future, the expiration date on the outside of the pack will be equal to the item that will expire first.

Probably best to read prior to combat operations…

I liked that they had the TCCC: Care Under Fire directions on the back of the contents card, but I do wonder if that’s the best place for them?  I’d hate for someone to be reading notes in a gunfight…1. Return fire and take cover… I think it might be better to have a rapid trauma assessment such as

MARCH:

M – Massive Bleeding

A – Airway

R – Respirations

C – Circulation

H – Head

Or the one I used in the teams:

BATS:

B – Bleeding

A – Airway

T – Tension pneumothorax

S – Shock

You could even make up your own (like I just did):

SEALS^©:

S – Stop massive bleeding; seal and treat…

E – Entry/Exit wounds on the thorax; make sure the…

A – Airway is open; check…

L – Level of consciousness; treat for…

S – Shock

BAMM!  SEALS – We put you down…and patch you up!  That’s now my favorite rapid trauma assessment acronym and it’s officially copyrighted by Center Mass Group, LLC (all rights reserved).  Feel free to use it in the saving of lives; just give credit to CMG when doing you interviews.  The point is, use whatever you’ll remember and practice on a regular basis like you do shooting…You do practice shooting on a regular basis, don’t you?  Even if you’re a Certified Ninja-Medic, remember: this kit is supposed to be used on you.  If you’re in combat and you go down, someone should use your kit on you (and you would use their kit on them).  Why not help them out as much as possible.  Maybe they’re not the high-speed, low-drag medic you are – give them some directions! Of course you’ll use your kit to treat someone else if needed and some quick medical directions in sight when you’re taking fire and trying to assess your buddy might just save a life.

AT-MIST

Use rubber band to keep pencil with card.

In addition to this, I would recommend adding AT-MIST to MIL kits combat casualty card.  AT-MIST stands for:

A – Age

T – Time of injury

M – Mechanism of injury

I – Injury(s)

S - Signs and Symptoms (+LOC & Peripheral Pulse)

T – Treatments.

This is the new acronym SOCOM is using for calls for CASEVAC and patient turnover.

Nice Sack! (Did I just say that out loud?)

FREE: Additional occlusive dressings!

This kit is very well thought out and as I stated earlier, the vacuum seal bag is awesome.  In fact the vacuum seal bag and HALO wrapper can be used as additional occlusive dressings (don’t waste anything!).  A few minor negatives: Not digging the one-long piece of shock cord.  Maybe I couldn’t figure out a good way to keep the items in, but on testing when I pull one item out, the rest either comes with it or spins around making it hard to zip back up.  I would recommend some thin elastic loops or elastic-Velcro sewn onto the flap.   You also need to be carful zipping up the bag that the plastic wrapping does not get caught.  A few times I had it get stuck if when I pulled the quick-rip handle.  This is easily avoided by making sure you don’t get any plastic in the zipper when you prep your bag.

As for those expiration dates, the choice to use medical gear past the manufacturer recommended dates is a choice you will have to make.  We did it in the teams my whole career, normally up to a year past the date, but mostly depend on storage and handling.  For non-drug items, the main reason for having an expiration date is sterility or usability. The items in this kit all come down to glue, which is tested for the worst possible environment and first possible failure.  In the HALO it’s the degradation of the glue on occlusive dressing.  On the decompression needle it’s the glue on the sealing band around case, which keeps the needle sterile.  So if you’re not climbing around in the desert for 3-years straight, your kit will likely last longer than if you are…again, YOU make that choice.

Nothing a Little Duct-Tape Can’t Fix

Trust me on this one: When your hands are full of blood, it’s not easy to tear the little cut-tabs on bandages.  The fix: Buddy-Tab and Label everything! Like anything else, you need to prepare for battle to find victory on the other side.  Get lady-luck on you side by doing everything you can to make your medical kit battle-ready.  If you expect to get wet, keep your gear in the well-made, sealed pouch.  If you’re not using a medical pouch or you really need to conserve space, keep it in the sealed bag.  If these things aren’t’ a concern, then get them out and ready for use.

Note the small tear-tabs

Easy to open on a sunny day in your office…

Fold tape and cut notch

Will open if underwater being chased by sharks.

If you are going to keep in the Vacuum sealed bag, be a buddy…

Note the small tab

Problem fixed

By taping the lube to the pouch, it’s easy to find and self opening upon grabbing.

Battle-Ready Pouch

The SOFTT-W

Make sure it stays in place

This is a great tourniquet, but I would not recommend attaching any tourniquet to anything with the small rubber bands provided.  I used some of the extra shock cord from the pouch, which will hold up much better in combat.  Now, if you’re only wearing your kit from your car to the range, then you might be ok.  I would also keep it near the center of your chest (if possible) where you can access with both hands.

Cord from inside

Tactical medicine is second only to tactical shooting from me, so if you have any questions or comments, please let me know below.  Stay Safe!

To show my support for woman’s history month, I’ve decided to highlight one of the greatest snipers in history; Lyudmila Mikhailivna Pavlichenko (a.k.a. “Mankiller”)

In June 1941, Nazi Germany was invading the Soviet Union and at 24-years old, “Mankiller” was among the first volunteers and she asked to join the infantry. Her wish granted, she was assigned to the Red Armies 25th infantry Division. Due to her time on a shooting team before the war she became one of 2000 soviet female snipers.

Originally Pavlichenko had the option to become a nurse but refused; “I joined the army when women were not yet accepted”. There she became one of 2,000 female snipers in the Red Army, of whom about 500 survived the war. She made her first two kills as a sniper near Belyayevka, using a Tokarev SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle with 3.5X telescopic sight.

The first action she saw was during the conflict in Odessa. She was there for only two and a half months, but  put  an impressive 187 notches in her belt. When her unit was forced to move, she spent the next eight months fighting on the Crimean Peninsula. There she upped her total body-count to 257 and for this feat she was cited by the Southern Army Council. Pavlichenkos’ total confirmed kills during World War 2 was 309, with 36 of those being enemy snipers.

In June 1942, she was wounded by mortar fire. Because of her growing status she was pulled from combat less than a month after recovering from her wound.

Pavlichenko was sent to Canada and the United States for a publicity visit and became the first Soviet citizen to be received by a U.S. President, whenFranklin Roosevelt welcomed her at the White House. Pavlichenko was later invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to tour America relating her experiences. While meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C. she was dumbfounded about the kind of questions put to her. “One reporter even criticized the length of the skirt of my uniform, saying that, in America women wear shorter skirts and besides my uniform made me look fat”

As a Navy SEAL Sniper instructor, I’d be proud to have been her spotter!

It’s been a little bit since my last article…sorry for the delay.  I’ve finally received my PCS orders to another Deployable Specialized Force (DSF) in the USCG as an Assault Force Commander.  Needless to say I’m excited and I’ve been going to the range about 2-3 times per week in preparation to lead my new team.  When I’m at the range, I don’t just focus on my own firing point or lane (unless I’m actively shooting of course).  I’m the type of person who likes to take in my surroundings and even watch other people shoot.  There’s something to be said about observing another person shoot.  You recognize the good and bad things a lot easier.  Especially with shooting, it can be difficult for novice shooters to properly critique themselves.  One of the most important aspects of shooting, especially on your own, is the value of self-criticism and holding yourself accountable for not following the fundamentals of shootings.  If you’ve forgotten those fundamental or habits, refresh yourself by reading Chris’ “7 Habits of Highly Effective Shooting”.  Chris also goes in depth on each of the fundamental or habits in seven follow-on articles.  I keep two copies of the main article in my range bag (my new 5.11 range bag, which I’ll critique in the coming weeks).  One copy is for me, which I review every time I shoot as part of my own internal safety brief and mental preparation.  The second copy is for anyone who asks me for “tips” at the range.  I explain the habits of highly effective shooting, let them practice the skills, then I give them the extra copy.  I’m not plugging CMG, but it’s simply about sharing something I believe to help another person improve his or her own shooting skill sets.  There’s something to be said when you align all seven habits and you punch a hole center mass!  No matter how many times I hit center mass or whatever my target area is, I never get tired of it.  Shooting and training are my passions.

Hitting the Range

Like I said I’ve been spending a copious amount of time at the range conducting both slow and rapid fire drills.  I’ve been using the DHS Transtar (TS) full-size and half-size blue and green silhouettes, along with 25yd pistol bulls-eyes.  I’ve always considered myself an excellent shooter, but I want to be an accomplished and exceptional shooter.  I’m always looking for the edge in my training.  I actually told Chris this past week that the best thing to happen to my shooting skill set was his arrival to my unit as the lead advanced marksmanship and close quarters combat instructor.  Chris DOES NOT hold back when you aren’t following his shooting task direction and instruction.  He’ll straight-up ask you “why didn’t you listen to me” when you’re not hitting your target.  He instilled a new sense of training in me.  Chris always says you should hold yourself accountable for every round, regardless if you’re at the range or on an operation.  Holding yourself accountable not only means being responsible for where that round impacts (your target and beyond) but it also means holding yourself accountable for your training habits when punching holes in paper or making steel ring.

A few weeks ago, though I was hitting center mass in very tight groups at 25yds with my duty pistol (Sig Sauer P229R-DAK chambered in .40S&W), I was noticing my rounds were being just slightly pushed to the right of dead center.  It seemed no matter what I did with my grip, sight picture, trigger manipulation, stance, etc., I kept tight groups just slightly off-center.  Though I was still “key holing” at 25yds, I wanted to do better.  I sat down again and went over the seven habits of highly effective shooting.  After reading, I was able to determine that my thumb(s) were the cause.  I was doing what’s known as “thumbing” the grip.  As I was manipulating the trigger to the rear I was inadvertently applying very slight pressure with my thumb(s) on the left side of the pistol.  Hardly enough to even change my sight picture.  So I decided to relax my thumbs off the weapon just enough to where they were just touching at the base of my right thumb in the back strap or tang of the grip.  It felt odd but I couldn’t deny the results.  A small group hitting dead center…keyholing my keyholes.  It didn’t matter if it was slow or rapid fire.  For me rapid fire is about one round every two seconds at 25 yeads.  It’s ample time to acquire a proper sight picture and manipulate the trigger to the rear.  Sure you could shoot faster but I live by the motto that “loud noises DON’T end gun fights”.  Meaning you can spray and pray and not hit a damn thing, and I’ll bust out one well-placed round per threat and call it a day.

Use it or Lose it!

Needless to say I was ecstatic about my new shooting grip and results.  I’ve been shooting consistently now for just under 15 years, but I was willing to deconstruct my habits one by one, then once the problem was identified, I was able to reconstruct my grip.  I know that I’ve effectively increased my shooting skill sets, both combat and marksmanship.  If you take anything away from this article it’s we can all learn something new no matter how good we think we are or how long we’ve been shooting.  If you go to the range and just keep doing the same thing over and over again, well I guess that’s just good enough for you.  But “good enough” often times isn’t enough to get the job done.  You should always find ways at the range to make yourself that highly effective shooter.  My next step is to look for my next improvement that’s going to take me up to the next level.  It’s a never-ending process and shooting is a perishable skill set.  Never forget that the bad guys are out there training too.  Make the best of your training because in a moment your life can change and I guarantee you will revert back to your training…so make it count and remember, “loud noises DON’T end gun fights”!

Have you ramped up your range game lately?

Something we’ve all been taught, if we were taught the correct way to shoot, was utilizing the seven fundamentals of shooting.  For a refresher on those fundamentals or what we like to call “habits”, check out Chris’ all encompassing article titled “7 Habits of Highly Effective Shooters”.  He later goes in depth on each specific habit in subsequent articles.  I’m going to add to his article on the 5^th habit, breathing.  Chris goes into great depth by talking about breathing while shooting, or what we were all taught to do when being an effective shooter was to essentially hold our breath.  Take a deep breath, exhale normally, and then manipulate the trigger to the rear within 3-5 seconds.  Sure there is a time and place for this technique and that’s taking one steady long-range shot, otherwise I say breath brother!  Suck in that air… it’s about the only truly free thing left in this world anyways, so take it in!

Chris and I get this a lot from people asking about this very technique.  We say breath, and it’s really not a technique, it’s natural.  Close Quarters Combat (CQC) shooting is about shooting while moving and holding your breath is counter-productive to “doing work” and being that effective shooter.  Whether you’re on the range or downrange conducting operations it’s imperative that you learn how to breathe while you’re shooting.  If you enter a room with your team and you are forced to employ deadly force stopping and taking a breath so you get that one perfect shot is going to get a teammate killed.  Hesitation during CQC equals negative and undesirable outcomes.  CQC is about decision-making and leadership on a grand scale.  Remember that CQC is not about saving your own life, it’s about saving your teammates life and what they do is about saving your life.  If you go into the fray thinking about saving your own ass then maybe you need to reassess what you’re doing.

Okay, so getting back to the breathing thing.  When we’re moving and being physical in order to keep our energy levels optimal we must breathe.  If you don’t breathe you’re going to slowdown and you’re brain function is also going to suffer.  A great thing to do during training is something you should be doing during CQC anyways and that’s talking and conveying your movements to your team.  It’s that old adage that if you’re talking you’re breathing.  Chris does a phenomenal job going into the scientific aspects of what oxygen does for us during exercise and shooting and more importantly what happens to us when there’s a lack of oxygen.  For me personally when I use to hold my breath when shooting for too long I would suffer from involuntary eye twitches or a what’s called a nystagmus.  Definitely not a good thing for my sight picture/sight alignment and overall shooting skill set.  Once I met Chris and started training with him I quickly saw that I wasn’t properly breathing.  Once breathing during shooting became second nature to me just like normal respirations, my shooting progressed to the next level.  Nothing good comes from a lack of oxygen.  Well, I take that back, when a Tango suffers from a lack of oxygen this is a great thing!

In Chris’ article titled “The 5^th Habit of Highly Effective Shooters” there’s a quote in there that says it all.  He said, “We all know that breathing is an essential part of life, but it is also an essential part of shooting”.  Plain and simple you must practice breathing and shooting on the range and in the house, so when you head downrange or respond to a call you’re ready to respond and take action.  Start concentrating on shooting all your courses of fire while you’re breathing and develop that highly effective habit and you’ll your shooting progress.  Remember in high stress situations breathing keeps you calm, focused, and putting rounds exactly where you intend to deliver them; center mass!

Who you calling a blogger?

Someone asked me recently, “As a blogger, what other blogs do you read?” Blogger? Me? I’m not a blogger! I write articles and post them on a website.  That makes me…a blogger. OK fine, so I don’t like the name.  When I think of a blogger, I picture some 30 year old computer geek who still lives with his mom. I don’t picture a high-speed, low-drag door-kicker like myself; but they’re out there.  I should know too because I have a few regular stops I make on the web and I’ll share a few here.

Everyday, No Days Off – Gun Blog

I love Mike’s articles and sense of humor.  He generally finds videos of people doing stupid things with guns and opens up a discussion.  Sometimes the comments are as good as the article.  Check out, “You’re Not A Man Until You Put A Gun To Your Head” and join the conversation.

ITS Tactical

Bryan and his team are a great bunch of guys and I’m not just saying that because I have a few articles on his site like, “Gun Control Means Using Both hands.” They do a lot to support the troops and have some awesome giveaways too.  I really like the look of their site and they’re one of the best sites out there with social media.  Check them out and tell them I said hello!

Survival Blog

You won’t find anything fancy here, but Jim Rawles has become a household name (or should I say bunker?) when it comes to surviving the end of the world.  I haven’t dug any holes in my back yard yet (still need HOA approval letter), but I have begun prepping incase Obama is at the helm after November.  Anyway, you’ll find a lot of practical advice and the ability to ask questions and get answers like, Letter Re: Advice on Pre-1965 Silver Coinage

Vuurwapen Blog

If you’re Dutch, you would say “Vuurwapen”, here at home we would say “firearm”.  And that’s what Andrew talks about in his blogs and videos.  He put’s out some solid information like Revolvers Are Not Perfect, Or, The Problem With Revolver Fanatics but what would you expect from a former Navy Corpsman, like myself!

Again, these are just a few of the blogs I read on a regular basis.  I actually have Google Reader set up to deliver my new articles, so I don’t have to spend time searching the web myself.  I’m sure there are a lot of other great articles being posted somewhere so please let me know what you’re reading. I’ll post my full reading list soon.

It’s something that we all do when we go to the range, and typically it’s something we don’t put much thought into until the question is posed to us by the range staff.  We have our weapons, ammo, eyes and ears…we think we’re ready to do some work on the range.  Then the question comes……targets?  You may already have some on hand if you’ve prepared before hand or have some leftover from the last time you shot.  Most of time we buy targets at the range on a whim, on the spur of the moment.  But does the type or target we choose to put holes in mean anything to our shooting and training?  I mean, there are so many manufacturers, types, sizes, and colors.  There’s silhouettes, bulls-eyes, terrorists, cartoons, Zombies, shapes (circles, triangles, squares, etc.), paper, plastic, splatter/reactive targets, and the list goes on.  Picking out the target is usually the last thing we do before getting on the range and we just look at what’s available and pick something that fancies us at the time.  For most of us we don’t even think about it,  we’re just complex creatures of habit and go with the same ones every time.  Again; does our target mean anything to the overall outcome of our training?  Well let me ask you a few questions first….does the ammunition, lubrication, caliber of the gun, or the gun itself mean anything to your overall training?  Hell yes, they all do!  Every little thing you do in firearms training, even selecting your targets contributes to what you get out of your training.  The type of training you’re doing should dictate the target you use for that particular training block at the range.  When you go to the range just don’t have in mind you’re going to waste some ammo and paper, look at it more as a particular block of time set for your firearms training.   Just like going to the gym.  You probably have a workout in mind before you arrive along with some basic goals.  You don’t just show up and grab whatever weights are laying around…or at least you shouldn’t! Treat shooting the same and the benefits will pay dividends.

So how do you pick the right target?  Well it depends on a few things:  What are you shooting for (LE, military, self/home defense, hunting, etc.) and what do you want to get out of your time at the range?  Do you just want to go an burn off some ammo or are you (you should be every time) going to the range to grow your shooting skill set.  I don’t care if you’re going to range to showoff to some girl or your buddy, you should always be going with a goal in mind and focus on that goal.  Before I go to the range I already know the targets I’m going to be shooting at and I’ll be visualizing punching keyholes and center mass groups (pun intended “Center Mass Group“)!  You should either have already purchased your targets in advance or know exactly which ones you’re going to buy when you arrive.  You should also be choosing targets out of your comfort zone.  If you’re use to shooting full size silhouettes at seven yards, try picking smaller targets at the same distance.  Chris has me hooked on shooting small three to five inch colored shapes at three to 15-yards.  I typically warm up with those and 3-inch dots.  I’ll start with the 3-inch dots at 3-yards and keyhole them.  I’ll continue moving back until I’m no longer key holing and I’ll stick at that distance and slow down my controlled pairs till I’m back into keyhole groove.  Next I’ll go to targets that I’m basing my training on that day.  It could be anything from various silhouettes, hostage or what we call “low-percentage” targets.  I will always close out my day of shooting with shooting the large realistic picture or photo targets at distances between three and 25-yards.  The reason I like closing out with that particular target is because one it’s a full-size human shape (torso up) and ultimately we’re all shooting with defense in mind.  If the time comes where you are forced to take another person’s life because they are trying to take yours or someone’s you care about, you will revert back to the training of shooting those life-like pictures without hesitating.  So it’s good to close your training with that burned into your mental shooting game.  As you can see, I shoot all kinds of targets on a typical day.  I’m always shooting new targets and doing different tactics, techniques, and procedures with them.

Remember that it doesn’t matter what you’re shooting at target wise as long as you follow and you use the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Shooters”.  When you master all seven, each time you manipulate the trigger you’ll be unstoppable.  The target is simply about keeping your mind in the game.  Most people who have marksmanship troubles is because they’re over-thinking the actual fundamentals of shooting rather than just keeping it simple and enjoying the act itself.  When I’m training people on the range that are having various issues with the fundamentals, when I get them thinking about other things other than actually shooting it typically all falls into place for them and they have the “ah ha” moment like riding a bike for the first time.  Once it feels right and see the success on the paper it’s simply about repeating it.  Changing up targets is a great way to put your mind on other things while you’re shooting.  Whether it’s a new hostage type target or one of those cool Zombie splatter targets, your focus goes to that and the physical act of shooting becomes second nature.

So although I’m not really saying one target works better than another, I’m simply saying keep it fresh and look at your targets at part of tool bag.  Next time you hit the range get a challenging target and test yourself; push yourself beyond your limits and comfort zone then ratchet it back a bit till you’re dialed in.  That’s the only way your shooting will go to the next level.  A good transition to  a newer and smaller target is to put the new one at center mass or the bulls-eye of the target you’re used to shooting.  The visual stimulus of the old target will keep you comfortable, especially if you’re moving the target further downrange, but now your focus goes to the new target.

Like anything else with shooting whether you’re doing your requals on the job or in the service or just headed to the local range on your own; make it a fun and unique training experience.  It’s your time, make the best of it because I guarantee the wolves (bad guys) are out there training to defeat you, rob you, harm you, and take what’s not theirs.

Thank you to everyone who supports the Wounded Warrior Project!

Our weekend giveaway is over and the winner is…

Kyle Manzella!

Kyle, send us your mailing address and we’ll get your package in the mail.

More giveaways coming soon…

Here at Center Mass Group we support the Wounded Warrior Project and we want you to support them too! This weekend, we are giving away a Wounded Warrior blanket to one lucky winner. It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting those who protect our freedoms.

Starting today, May 18th and running through Sunday May 20th 2012, you can enter to win a Wounded Warrior Project blanket.

To enter, go to our Facebook Giveaway page:

1. Like the Wounded Warrior Page tagged to the left.
2. Share the giveaway announcement note on your timeline.
3. Post a comment on the giveaway note: “I support the Wounded Warrior Project!“ or something else that shows your support.

Rules, Details and Prizes

• Only one entry per person. Winners will be pooled and drawn at random.
• Open to US addresses or military PO boxes only.
• All entries must be received by Sunday, May 20th, at 11:59 p.m. pacific time. Any entries after this cutoff will not be counted. Winner announced Monday, May 21st.