8 June 04

2004 NTI

"There are some things that cannot be imagined, but there is nothing that ma y not happen!"

Vicki and I just finished the 2004 NTI (National Tactical Invitational) in Harrisburg, PA. Skip, Jim, Hersh, and the NTI Staff put on the best one yet , and we thank them all!

This year, Vicki served as Sheriff of ASTA Village. I shot the event on Wednesday and again on the Saturday Team event with Steve Camp, president of Betterbilt. Also in attendance were such notables as Jeff Gonzales, Tom Giv ens, George Demetriou from Modern Warrior, as well as Peter Pi and Mike Shovel fr om Cor-Bon and many other friends and colleagues.

Last two years, I used my G32 in 357SIG caliber. This time, I used my SIG M229/DAK, also in 357SIG in my Comp-Tec IWB, held in by a George Wells gunbe lt. I shot all live-fire events with Cor-Bon PowerBall ammunition, which is my current carry round. My backup guns were a G36 (also in a Comp-Tec IWB), slicked up by master gunsmith Jim Garthwaite, and an S&W 340PD (38Spl). My G36 now has a "gold dot" front sight. Jim uses a hemisphere of gold which gathers i n even small amounts of light. I can see my front sight clearly in nearly any light. It never corrodes and never fades. Highly recommended! My S&W revolver was carried in a Rusty Sherrick shoulder holster. Rusty's holster carries the pistol upside down. He is the only one who makes it. Draw is fast and smooth, and the revolver itself is so light, one hardly knows it is there.

In addition, I was armed with a Cold Steel Ti-Lite, Vaquero Grande, and Culloden, Fox OC, and a 6P Surefire. In one scenario, out of ammunition and backup guns, I quickly deployed my Ti-Lite and used it to stab the last attacker in the neck. That Ti-Lite is quick and deadly!

Concealing it all was a Concealed Carry Clothiers vest, which I wear all the time anyway. All pistols and knives worked without a hitch.

As in past years, there were five live-fire exercises on various ranges and five Simmunitions exercises in ASTA Village. In the village, each participa nt is confronted by actors who simulate varied personal security scenarios. Events are free flowing. Posturing, positioning, and verbal skills are all tested, as well as shooting skills.

Each live-fire drill was, of course, a come-as you-are affair, except for one, where we were required to use an "unfamiliar" weapon (this year, a side-by-side, double-barreled, break-open, 12ga shotgun, with two triggers a nd external hammers which had to be cocked manually). Most challenges are in building mockups. Some are in low-light. Targets and "non-targets" alike are rubber mannequins or three-dimensional shells. All are dressed. All are responsiv e, and some are animated. Not all hostiles are in the open. In some cases, only a knee or foot is exposed.

There were, in addition, excellent talks and seminars presented by Tom Givens, Jeff Gonzales, George Demetriou from Modern Warrior, Vicki Farnam, P eter Pi, and me. It is an annual learning opportunity not to be missed!

Lessons from this year's event:

When the fight for your life has commenced, be:

(1) Highly violent and unrestrained. Make the Doctor-Jeckel-to-Mr-Hide transformation decisively and at once. Shoot threatening individuals repeti tively and relentlessly until they no longer represent a threat.

(2) Ready to instantly move off the line of force when a threat is detected. Don't dither!

(3) Prepared to forcibly disarm threatening individuals when they get within an arm's reach with pistols. I disarmed robbery suspects on two separate occasions when they stuck guns in my face. Both were so surprised and start led they just gawked at me in disbelief!

(4) Scanning constantly, in all directions

(5) In constant motion

(6) Constantly behind, or moving to, cover

(7) Constantly aware of, and moving to, an exit

(8) Surgically accurate. Keep all hits on the body midline whenever possible. Be prepared to instantly transition to a backup gun or blade, whe n necessary

(9) Absolutely objective, paying no heed to conventional "Authorized Personnel Only" signs and the like.

Most shooting was close, but not all. Precise trigger control and correct use of sights are more important than body position.

When confronting potentially dangerous people:

(1) Attempt to be invisible and/or deselected. Exit at the first sign of trouble/danger.

(2) Aggressively disengage! Use posturing, movement, distraction, OC spray, and verbiage to separate yourself from threatening individual(s). Don't get boxed in. Stay in the open where you can move in any direction. Continue t o separate from them, even when they chase after you or try to get in front of you. After a while, they will give it up.

(3) Use OC spray at the first sign of physical or verbal aggression on the part of suspect(s). After spraying the individual(s), disengage and separat e quickly.

(4) Be fully prepared to draw your pistol promptly when suspect(s) produce a weapon of any kind or otherwise threaten with deadly force. As your pistol is drawn, move to cover immediately.

(5) Don't allow suspects to engage you in conversation. If you answer their questions, you are allowing them to set the agenda. Instead, politely, but firmly, dismiss them and separate. Be in constant motion. Don't stand in o ne place and answer their questions.

(6) When talking with police, be polite but not talkative. Don't answer questions that weren't asked. If you're involved in a violent incident in a ny capacity, request that no questions be asked before your attorney is persona lly present. If questions are asked anyway, politely respond that you want to consult with your lawyer before answering.

(7) Don't be restrained by other peoples' lack of action. If danger signs are clearly present, get out! Don't worry about what others are doing or no t doing.

Interesting facts from presenters:

Most defensive shootings take place in parking lots, driveways.

The way we are living in the USA in the wake of 9/11 is the way we're going to live from now on. The world situation is not improving, nor is it likely to any time soon.

357SIG caliber is taking off. It has now become a major part of Cor-Bon's business.

9mm +P ammunition actually creates less chamber pressure than does "NATO" 9m m ammunition. In light of this fact, it is interesting that most pistol manufacturers advise their customers not to shoot +P, but, in the same breat h, insist that NATO ammunition is just fine.

In Iraq, a Leatherman tool is essential. Many soldiers are now also carryin g tomahawks. Cold Steel makes a wonderful one. They report excellent results !

Benelli shotguns with 00 buckshot have been used to great effect in Iraq. Popular weapon. Effective range is 25m. One shot nearly always ends the fig ht abruptly.

Being able to shoot a rifle or shotgun from either shoulder is an essential skill. Many "tactical" sling systems don't allow a quick transition. They are not recommended.

A 10-round, 40S&W XP magazine makes an excellent and reliable 15-round 9mm magazine that works just fine in the 9mm XP.

In the late 1700s, a brash and mouthy young lad named Andrew Jackson found himself in a rowdy bar somewhere on the American frontier. General Andrew Jackson, during the War of 1812, would win a stunning victory over the Briti sh during the Battle of New Orleans and go on to become President of the United States. But, at this time, Jackson was barely more than a teenager, and he made the mistake of picking a fight with Simon Kenton. Kenton, then in his forti es, was a rugged, hardened frontiersman, a contemporary with Daniel Boone. Kent on had already been captured twice by Indians and had twice escaped. He was as tough as they come!

When Jackson finally pushed the right buttons, Kenton exploded into action. He was all over Jackson and would surely have decapitated him with his knife if other patrons had not pulled him away. In his first display of intellige nce that evening, Jackson took advantage of the opportunity and ran out of the building.

Jackson would later make the understatement of the day, "Kenton doesn't figh t for fun!"

Yes, and neither should we.

"An 'adventure' is the inevitable result when opportunity and unprep aredness collide!"

/John