U.S. Concealed Carry
“Armed American Report”

March 7th, 2008

Dear Friend,

Well, I’m pleased to say that the new Photo Gallery and Classifieds areas on the Members-Only forum are both Big hits! Thanks to all the members- especially Coastie- for helping our developers work out the bugs!

Next order of business, the ongoing USCCA Testimonial Contest. I can’t thank you enough for your participation, and for the testimonials that you have submitted so far. I’ve got many excellent testimonials, and it’s going to be tough to choose a winner! They are all so good! Whoever wins the Kimber Ultra Carry II will definitely have earned it!!

Okay, what-say we get this show on the road? I’ve got the second half of last week’s article from Dr. Leonard M. Breure, which I know you are going to love, another great “laugh of the week”, and all the rest of the great stuff that you have come to expect from the USCCA’s ‘Armed American Report‘!

USCCA Laugh of the Week

The Ultimate Tactical Firearms
~A Three Part Series~

by Dr. Leonard M. Breure, PhD

Last week, we read the first half of Len’s “Ultimate Tactical Firearms” article, which involved tactical carbines. If you missed that article, you can check it out on our newsletter archive site: avoid-the-3rd-rookie-mistake-of-concealed-carry

Part #2 - The Combat Shotgun

For almost 30 years I’ve had a tactical shotgun as part of my daily armament. Whether it was as a Military Policeman in the Army, a “City Cop” in New Jersey or a home owner protecting my family, a shotgun was always close by. The Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590 have ruled the roost for decades.

For years, most agencies use the standard Remington 870. However, the Mossberg has been steadily gaining ground. These days, however, upgraded guns are becoming much more prevalent. For example, the Marine Corps is issuing Benelli semi-automatics as well as Mossberg pumps set up for breaching. Today we also have the option of semi-custom guns from makers such as Wilson Combat / Scattergun Technologies and custom made pieces from gunsmiths like Hans Vang.

The standard riot gun of the past will do a yeoman’s job in most cases. However, with a few modifications, the basic gun can be made to really shine. It used to be that you had to send your shotgun to a gunsmith to have these changes made. Today, manufacturers such as Remington and Mossberg are offering factory guns up-graded and ready to go.

If you want more, consider a semi-custom gun from Wilson Combat. Wilson’s Berryville, AR operation is the home of Scattergun Technologies and some of the best shotguns in the world. Operators can choose from several tactical models based on the modifications that they are looking for. High quality fit and finish, as well as many other options, make the Wilson/Scattergun Technologies shotguns ready to go right out of the box.

I recently purchased two of their outstanding Standard Models. Based on a Remington 12 gauge 3” 870 Magnum, the Standard Model offers all the best features in one complete package. These include; TRAK-LOCK Ghost Ring sights, seven round magazine capacity, Sidesaddle shell carrier, synthetic stock, SureFire forend light, jumbo head safety, tactical sling, Speed Feed stock and Armor-Tuff finish. As with the tactical carbines preciously discussed, I wanted two similar guns, one for me and one for my wife. She appreciates the handle qualities and performance of the Wilson Combat guns as much as I do.

My Wilson Combat Standard Model also has a Vang Comp Systems barrel to complete the package. The lengthened forcing cone, back bored barrel, custom choke treatment and proprietary porting combine to make Hans Vang’ barrels the absolute best tactical shotgun barrels in the world! On the range it functioned flawlessly and produced some of the tightest, most even patterns I’ve ever seen. I think this might be the ultimate tactical shotgun!

Today, the shotgun I keep for home defense and the one that rides in my vehicle are Remington 870s customized by master gunsmith Hans Vang of Chino Valley, AZ. Hans offers a series of unique modifications that have anchored his work in the industry. Called the Vang Comp System, they are a set of modifications to shotgun barrels. The alterations consist of lengthening the forcing cone, back-boring the barrel, and adding compensating ports. With the Vang Comp System accuracy improves, felt recoil is reduced, and muzzle rise diminishes.

Not only is felt recoil reduced by 15%, but the resulting patterns are the best I’ve ever seen. The issue with tactical shoguns is not how wide we can make the pattern, but how well we can get the pellets to hold together. A typical cylinder bore 12 gauge, loaded with standard buckshot, is limited to a 25 yard weapon. After that, the spread of the pellets and the probability of some of them impacting unintended things becomes a liability.

With the Vang Comp System and high quality loads, I’ve been able to get 35 yard patterns that measure 10 inches! This is a huge increase in performance and a major decrease in liability! As if this wasn’t enough, Hans also offers some of the best accessories made today. His one piece magazine extension, jumbo safety head, shell follower and Ghost Ring sights are all extremely well thought out and practical. The D.E.A. must agree. Hans Vang is now the suppler for D.E.A. shotguns world-wide! As we all know, the D.E.A. is the tip of the spear when it comes to drug enforcement. These guys go head to head with some of the worst modern day outlaws. For them to choose the Vang Comp System, speaks volumes.

If I could have only one thing done to a standard shotgun, it would be the addition of good quality Ghost Ring sights. As a young officer, trying to qualify at 50 yards with slugs and only a bead sight, I was happy if I kept my five rounds on the target. Today, with good Ghost Ring sights and proper ammunition, 100 yard head shots are attainable.

The second most important thing is a quality sling. John Farnam, in his outstanding book “The Farnam Method of Defensive Shotgun and Rifle Shooting” states, “It is important that a person armed with any longarm have a disciplined appearance. This tends to relieve some of the inherent misgivings of bystanders.” When you need to go hands on, you need a sling to stow your shotgun. When the situation deescalates, being able to sling your weapon not only allows you to maintain a “disciplined appearance”, it also allows you to get back into action quickly if necessary.

The biggest drawback to a tactical shotgun is its limited magazine capacity. A one piece magazine extension would also be high on my list. I stress a one piece unit because I’ve seen many of the two piece units separate under recoil. I have had to shut down the firing line far too many times and delay training while repairs were made to guns with two piece units. Fortunately, I’ve never had it happen on the street.

Criminals love the hours of darkness. Even in daylight, many of the places that they ply their trade are poorly lit. Because you have to positively identify your target, a light becomes a requirement. It is extremely difficult to manage a shotgun AND a hand held light. The best solution is therefore a gun mounted light.

The arrangement that I’ve found to work the best is the SureFire Dedicated Forend Light. My model 618FA came with a pressure sensitive activation pad for momentary light use, and a constant On/Off switch. The P60 lamp assembly is standard, providing 65 lumens of light for one hour. The P61 ultra-high output lamp assembly can also be used, giving 120 lumens for 20 minutes!

That about covers my list of required modifications. Both Hans Vang and Wilson Combat can supply you with a gun so outfitted. Both will also be glad to make these modifications to your gun if you send it to them. A Remington 870 in 3” magnum is the gun that I would build on. Do yourself a favor and stay away from the Express version. If you’re going to spend the time, effort and money to build a custom shotgun, stick with the beefier gun.

All of my tactical shotguns are loaded with Federal ammunition. I’ve become extremely impressed with Federal’s Tactical Buckshot with FLITECONTROL wad. It’s the tightest patterning buckshot I’ve ever used. Likewise Federal’s Tactical Truball Rifled Slug is capable of outstanding accuracy. Compare them side by side with what you’re shooting now. I think you will be pleased. I was. In fact, I switched over all four of my tactical shotguns to these two loads!

Either one of my Wilson Combat / Scattergun Technologies Standard Models or one of the two custom Remington 870s built for me by Hans Van, customized as described above would be my choice for the “ultimate combat shotgun”.

Two Custom Remington 870s by Master Gunsmith Hans Vang!

The Author’s two Wilson Combat / Scattergun Technologies Standard Model 870s.

Part #3 – The Personal Protection Handgun I believe that it was Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch who said the purpose of a handgun was to fight your way to your rifle. The handgun is a defensive firearm. We carry them because they are light, portable and concealable. We carry them because we can’t always carry a rifle or shotgun. If I knew I was going to have to fight for my life, I wouldn’t choose to arm myself with only a handgun. I would however want to have one (or maybe two) as a backup to my long gun. Like many who have made their living with gun and badge, I choose to go armed all day, every day. This means that my choice of handguns might very well be one of the most important decisions that I ever make.

So how do we choose from the plethora handguns on today’s market? Maybe we can narrow the options by setting some basic criteria. First and foremost our handgun must be totally reliable. It must go bang every time we pull the trigger – period! Second, it must possess enough stopping power for the job at hand. While all handgun calibers are poor man stoppers, I would highly recommend using the largest caliber that you can shoot well. I also would limit our selection to 9mm / .38spl or larger. The one exception would be a .380 that is carried as a backup gun. The third issue is the size of the weapon it self. While small guns are easier to conceal, they are harder to shoot well. Larger handguns are generally easier to shoot, but harder to conceal.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching thousands of people - police, military and civilians how to shoot. After all that time on the range, I can tell you unequivocally which handgun is the most reliable and the easiest for most shooter to shoot well. It’s the Glock – period. There is a reason that over 70% of the law enforcement agencies in the U. S. issue Glocks. They just plain work!

When I start a new shooter out, I always start them with a Glock 19. The mid-sized gun fits most people well and the 9mm is extremely user friendly. I have never had a student that could not learn to shoot a Glock 19 reasonably well. If the recoil isn’t an issue, move up to a .40 S&W or better yet a .45. There is an old saying, “A 9mm might expand, but a .45 will never shrink!”

My perfect combination for the shooter with average to medium skill at arms is different then what I would recommend for the shooter who has the desire to put in the time and effort to bring their skills up to a higher level. For the average shooter, military (if a choice is available), law enforcement or civilian my recommendation would be this. A trio of Glocks, preferably in .40 S&W. The full size Glock 22 makes a perfect duty or tactical gun as well as a great home defense gun. Add a SureFire X300 light to the guns light rail and a Crimson Trace laser sight to the grip and you have one of the world’s best fighting handguns. For off-duty or concealed carry, the mid-sized Glock 23 fits the bill perfectly. For backup or when deeper concealment is needed, the sub-compact Glock 27 is the ideal size. My three Glocks are always loaded with Federal 180 grain HSTs. The HST is an improved version of Federal’s outstanding Hydra-Shok ammunition. One of the advantages of this Glock trio is that you can use the full size, G22 magazines in all three size guns!

For the shooter willing to put in the extra time and effort, I strongly believe that the best handgun platform is John Moses Browning’s 1911 in .45 ACP. I’ve carried one almost every day of my life since I was first issued one as an Army MP in 1977. 1911s have come a long way since then. How does one sort through all the guns and modifications that are available today? Hopefully by learning from the mistakes of others rather than making the same mistakes as those who have gone before. While it applies to most firearms, in seems to pertain to the 1911 more than most – the guns that seem to work best are the ones with the least amount of “tinkering” done to them.

Once again, after over 30 years of playing with 1911s and being involved in a couple of shootings with them, I’ve developed some strong opinions as to what works best. As with the Glocks, I’ve distilled my primary carry guns down to three 1911s, all different sizes.

In the duty gun, tactical gun, home defense role, I’ve selected the Springfield Armory MC Operator as my “ultimate” choice. The 5” two tone 1911 rail gun is equipped right out of the box with almost everything that I think you need with nothing extra. Between the night sights, a SureFire X300 on the light rail and the Crimson Trace laser grips that I added, the MC operator is ready for duty in any environment, day or night. Both of the MC Operators that I’ve owned have functioned flawlessly with the Wilson Combat 8 round magazines that I use in all my 1911s. The accuracy had been nothing less than phenomenal. Whether as a backup to my AR-15 carried in a Safariland 6004 leg drop holster or on the night stand next to my cell phone and SureFire tactical light, the MC operator fills it’s role superbly.

For day to day carry over the past several years, I have been extremely pleased with my Kimber Tactical Pro II. This 4” 1911 is built on an aluminum frame that offers substantial weight savings when that gun is carried all day every day. Once again the night sights and Crimson Trace Laser Grips make this gun a good tool for low-light situations. My Kimber has been utterly reliable and just as accurate as any 5” 1911 I’ve ever owned. The smaller size and lighter weight give up nothing over a full sized 1911, yet the gun is more concealable and easier to carry. This translates to carrying this full power .45 at times that might otherwise call for a smaller gun / caliber combination. If I had to select just one handgun to own and carry it would be the Kimber Tactical Pro II – hands down.

My backup 1911 has been with me a long, long time. In this day of mini versions of every major handgun model on the market, many aren’t aware of the gun that started it all. Since 1980 I have carried an original Detonics Combat Master 1911. This gun is the original chopped and channeled 1911. The stainless steel version that I own has seen duty as my backup gun in a shoulder holster when I worked uniformed patrol. It was my regular sidearm when I worked in plain clothes in the Detective Bureau and spent many hours on my side while off duty. This gun has been as reliable as any full sized 1911, which has been a major concern with mini 1911s. The good news is that Detonics is back on the market after many years of unavailability. Not only that, but the new guns are even better than the originals!

With the exception of one original short magazine in my Detonics, I use nothing but Wilson combat 8 round magazines in my 1911s. Even while carrying my Detonics, the two extra mags on my hip are Wilson 8 rounders. The Wilson magazines are loaded with Federals 230 +P HST hollow points. While the original Hydra-Shoks were good, they sometimes failed to expand after penetrating heavy clothing or wall board, The newer HST loads from Federal have solved these problems. I highly recommend them. The only other load I would consider carrying in my 1911s is CorBon’s DPX. This outstanding load takes pistol ballistics and penetration to the next level.

So there you have it. My 30 years of experience whittled down to 4,114 words. The guns listed, customized as described are what I consider to be my “ultimate tactical firearms”. I hope that you have found this useful in you quest for your own “ultimate” tactical tools.

Biography of Dr. Leonard M. Breure:

As a professional, who for over 30 years has made his living on a daily basis with a weapon, Dr. Breure takes seriously the tactics and techniques that work in the real world. Below you will find a brief description of his credentials.

Len has had the opportunity to collect a host of training, experience and awards. These include military “Expert” ratings with the M-1911 and M-9 pistols; M-16 and M-4 assault rifles; M-79 and M-203 grenade launchers; M-2 and M-60 machine guns; MP-5 sub-machine gun and M-14 battle rifle. Add to that instructor certification, as both an Infantry and Military Police Weapons Instructor and you have a solid foundation to build on for training and experience with Special Response Teams and Anti-Terrorist Operations. He was also able to round out his military career with Sniper Training, shooting on the Army Rifle Team, serving as a Lanes Training Observer/Controller and being a member of the New Iraqi Army Training Team.

Early in his law enforcement career, Len was given the opportunity to become a firearms instructor. That led to becoming the Range Master of the county’s police academy, responsible for all the weapons training for the 19 agencies within the county. These duties progressed to positions as an Instructor Trainer for the New Jersey Police Training Commission, a Special Response Team Instructor and as Emergency Services Coordinator for his police department.

Len has also had the opportunity to accumulate a number of degrees and honors in the academic realm. Graduating Summa Cum Laude three times, Len holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Management and a Doctorate Degree in Criminal Justice Education.

Over the years Len Breure has been involved in numerous types of firearms competition, earning N.R.A. expert ratings in High Power Rife and Practical Pistol, I.P.S.C. AA class rating and U.S. Army Excellence in Competition medals for both rifle and pistol. This pales in comparison, however, to having “seen the elephant” as Col. Jeff Cooper would say, on several occasions.

He has also had the opportunity to train under (or conduct training with) some of this nation’s finest. These have included the F.B.I., D.E.A., B.A.T.F.E. and Department of Defense. Much of what he teaches and lives by today comes from such noteworthy instructor’s as Chuck Taylor -American Small Arms Academy, Col. Jeff Cooper – Gunsite Academy, Massad Ayoob - Lethal Force Institute, John Farnam – Defense Training and many others.

As an author, Dr. Breure had written 4 law enforcement training manuals and 5 military training manuals. He is also the author of “The Personal Protection Handbook” which is a comprehensive training manual for handgun shotgun and rifle. In addition, Len has also written numerous articles for several gun magazines and police trade journals.

Psst! Don’t forget!

In case you haven’t heard, I am giving away a Kimber Ultra Carry II… or $900 of cold-hard cash.

For your chance to win, all you USCCA Members have to do is submit a testimonial to me about how awesome you think the USCCA is.

For the low-down on how to submit your Kimber-Winning Testimonial, simply go to the following page!

http://www.uscca.us/contests/testimonials/testimonial_contest.html

Hurry! This contest ends March 14th, and when it’s over, it’s OVER!

Pentagon Light L2

USCCA GEAR REVIEW

This week, I want to review a Pentagon LED light, and I am choosing the L2. The only other Pentagon Light that I’ve reviewed was last summer, and it was an incandescent job that while being well constructed, couldn’t compare in brightness to the other LED versions that I was reviewing at the time.

Well, this Pentagon Light L2 is 100% LED, and 100% as tough as any Pentagon Light I’ve ever came across.

Let me start off on that note- this thing is built like a tank. It’s really hard to argue with the way Pentagon light puts these things together. I can’t imagine ever being able to bust one of these things- every model I’ve ever handled feels the same, too- as solid as a rock. I don’t know for a fact that Pentagon Light’s flashlights are any more durable than those of Surefire or any other brand, but they really feel that way.

The other side of the coin to that factor is that Pentagon Light’s flashlights are generally larger and more bulky than their Surefire counterparts. Not all models- there are some pretty big surefire’s out there- but this L2 certainly isn’t a flashlight that you could just stick in your pocket and forget about. You would almost want to keep this thing on your belt, or in a pack.

For that purpose though, this thing is awesome. If you need a flashlight to keep in your vehicle or on your nightstand, this thing’s larger frame is actually an asset.

At 85 lumens, this LED is plenty bright for any purpose that I can think of, and the beam is excellent. It’s got a bright center and a very evenly-distributed outer-beam, which lets you focus on an object and still be able to view all of the object’s surroundings.

The thumb switch has a “momentary-on” setting, so you can just hold it down for ‘on’ and let up for ‘off’, OR, you can just push it all the way in and let it out for a ‘constant on’. My only complaint about the thumb switch is that it’s very stiff, and after 3 or 4 minutes of working the switch, my thumb got pretty tired. It may very well ‘break in’ over time- this particular model is fairly new.

Well, that’s pretty much all I have to say about the Pentagon L2! Overall, it’s a pretty darn good flashlight.

For more information on the Pentagon Light L2, visit their site: http://www.pentagonlight.com/item_detail.cfm__id.144

USCCA Members-Only Forum Highlights

Every Member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over thirty-five-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!
Thank you for being civil.
I have recently joined this forum, and started carrying. I spent twenty years in military service from Vietnam to Granada. I have never shot anyone inside the United States, and have never shot a civilian.

Now having interest in concealed carry and my wife and my safety, I have browsed other CCW sites. How crude and callous the comments about taking human life on other forums. I can not tell in words the emotions that brings up, but I do want to thank all the members here for being civil in your postings.

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YES, one vote can make a difference!
From NRA-ILA:

In 1994, a race for the U.S. House was decided by FOUR VOTES. In 1998, a U.S. Senate race was decided by 400 votes out of 400,000 cast. In 2002, an anti-gun candidate won a state primary in Arizona by FIVE VOTES. Last year, a pro-gun State Senator in Virginia was re-elected by less than 100 votes. And of course, in the 2000 presidential election, 537 votes in Florida elected George Bush U.S. President over Al Gore.

Think one vote doesn’t count? History is replete with examples such as these that demonstrate the importance of every single vote.

No doubt, many elections this year will be determined by the slimmest of margins. Will your vote make the difference? To ensure that pro-gun candidates prevail, NRA-ILA has launched an aggressive voter registration drive.

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Smooth GLOCK trigger
I had a question- what company(ies) makes those smooth triggers for a GLOCK, and do you recommend them?

Thanks!

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Magsafe Ammo
I got some Magsafe ammo for my 380. It is a 52 grain bullet going 1720 FPS and making 340 lbs of energy. If I was going to be chasing someone like the police do and shooting thru windshields I might want something else. I figure as a CCW user I would be shooting up close if I ever have to use them.

I think they make a great product especially for the 380. It can’t be used in the Keltec though according to their packaging of the Ammo. They are rated as +P+ Some say they don’t make a +P in 380. I don’t know all I have to go by is what is written on the Magsafe package. I trust it for my use. Everyone will have to make up their own mind about it though.

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Another great Magpul gun idea

USCCA VIDEO OF THE WEEK

This video is an amazing story about how a kitten and crow become the best of friends! It’ll touch your heart!

Note: Because some email programs don’t display the newsletter very well when the Video of the Week is included, I’ve decided only display the video on the website itself. This change will make the newsletter load a lot faster for you, so I think you’ll like the change! To go to our newsletter site to watch it, visit the following link:

http://www.usconcealedcarry.org/news/newsletter/the-ultimate-tactical-firearms/

“Tim-spiration” of the Week

USCCA QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they’ll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week…

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

-Edward Abbey

Self Defense Story OF THE WEEK

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

Tucson Homeowner Kills Intruder

found at:

www.kold.com

and written by:

A deadly shootout between burglars and a homeowner took place Thursday night, just after 9 p.m., on Tucson’s east side, near I-10 and Wilmot Road.

Police say three men busted into a home in a quiet new neighborhood. They then shot the homeowner in the arm; the homeowner returned fire and hit one of the burglars, who later died at a local hospital. According to Tucson police, when they arrived, the 29 year-old home owner and his two year-old daughter had taken refuge in a bathroom. The home owner suffered minor injuries and the little girl was not hurt.

Police are looking for two suspects, but have not released a description. Investigators say they do not know what the relationship is between the home owner and the suspects.

Closing Thoughts

Like a good cup of coffee, I hope you found this week’s Armed American Report ‘good till the last drop’!

See you all next week!

P.S. - USCCA Members, don’t forget to submit your entry to the Testimonial Contest soon!