17 Oct 03

Sage readiness comments from overseas friends, one in the Philippines and on e in SA:

From SA:

"As you know, we live on a farm and must be able to keep multiple attackers occupied, perhaps for as long as a day, before any kind of help is likely to arrive. I would love to carry a pistol chambered for 40S&W or 357SIG, but w e're pretty much stuck with 9mm over here.

We now fit the red Glock firing pin Springs (twenty-eight Newtons, not quite sure of the pound equivalent) and maritime/amphibious firing pin spring cups to all our Glocks. We found these Glock-approved modifications significantl y improve detonation of the hard primers that are so common here. Combine thi s with a NY1 Trigger, and the Glock pistol is unbeatably reliable. I carry a G17, loaded with WW147gr Black Talons (Cor-Bon when I can find them). Gwen carries a G19. At the house, we have several G18 (33rnd) magazines lying ab out. With accurate shooting, we should be able to destroy a dozen or so and hold off the rest. I'm acutely hoping I don't get the chance to test my theory!"

From the Philippines:

"The legal climate is strict over here, and we are only allowed to own one rifle. The predictable tendency is to find one that fits all tasks. Naive people are still insistent on having a single rifle that is simultaneously suitable for both CQB and long-range sniping. As you noted, such a creature does not exist. As in the States, most of the people here insisting on owning a rifl e that will 'drive tacks at six hundred meters,' lack the personal com petence to hit any kind of target at one hundred! If your rifle will consistently group into a twenty-five centimeter (ten-inch) circle (under field condition s) at two hundred meters, it is sufficient for any challenge you are likely to encounter here.

In addition, our experience is that the first guy taken out by the bad guys is always the one with the shiny, gimmick-laden gear. Guys with 'hi gh-speed gear' are perceived to be the more affluent and thus the 'alpha memb ers' of the pack. Get rid of them first, and the entire group will fall into disordered chaos, or so goes the theory.

Civilian gun owners have had to defend their homes and villages from raiding insurgents. Sieges are typically fourteen hours, or longer, before governme nt forces arrive. Some in remote areas have lasted for days, even weeks. Neighborhood skyline is typically composed of two-story houses and shops, surrounded by open fields. Most engagement distances are within two hundred meters, and fighting usually carries over into the night. Most shots are on moving targets.

Guns that see the most action include the ubiquitous M16, but also much obsolete' weaponry, including 30-06 Garands, 308 M14s, and M1 Carbines. Car bines are especially popular among women and teenagers. In these town raids, the carbine proved its worth more than once! Bad guys are particularly scared o f the Garand, because it shoots through nearly anything, and it is effective a t very long range. More than one surprised insurgent has been killed by a 30- 06 bullet, when he thought he was far enough distant to be safe!

The forgoing stands in stark contrast to the manicured lawns and perfect target presentations typical of static rifle ranges, where increased difficu lty is always created by increased distances and/or smaller targets (that still remain distinct in color against the greenery).

As you say, it's not a 'game' over here. Insurgents may not be comp etent riflemen, but they mean to take over this country, and, if you get in their way, plan on a desperate and prolonged fight!"

Comments: My esteemed colleague, Louis Awerbuck, makes a good point when he suggests that we complicate training challenges, not by increasing target distance, but by reducing contrast and adding movement. At any such suggest ion, of course, all the target shooting kiddies shriek in horror!

While, in this country, we make casual and quaint games out of critical shooting skills, good and decent people in other parts of the world are lite rally fighting for their lives, as we can see. We may face the same situation her e, and maybe a lot sooner than any of us think!

/John