Flat-Stock Technique

14 Sept 07

Flat-Stock Technique:

When carrying rifles and shotguns while moving in tactical environments, I've advocated keeping the muzzle down and the stock indexed into the shoulder. In fact, "muzzle-down; head-up" is the by-word with all longarm handling.

However, my colleague, Henk Iverson, showed me a better way of positioning the rifle while in the depressed-ready position. He calls it the "Flat-Stock" technique, and I've gradually come to see its inherent superiority.

When the rifle is at eye level, we emphasize the importance of a consistent cheek-weld that reliably positions the eye in line with the weapon's sights. However, we can only "stay-in-the-sights" for short periods, because our view is limited. Except when shooting, and particularly when moving, we must arc the rifle downward, open both eyes, and move our head, so neither threats nor other important details escape our notice.

Heretofore, we've arched the rifle straight up and straight down. Now, when arching the rifle downward, we rotate the stock ninety degrees counter-clockwise (right-handed shooter), so that the stock lays flat on our shoulder. That will, of course, necessitate a half-turn when the rifle is remounted,and therein is the great benefit if the "Flat-Stock" technique.

That half-turn during remounting arrests the rifle's motion as the sights lock on target. This is particularly apparent when the shooter is pivoting and mounting simultaneously in an attempt to engage a threat to the side. The flat-stock technique, by and large, eliminates characteristic over-shooting of the threat and subsequently over-correcting when trying to get back on target, that is commonly associated with the conventional, straight-stock technique.

I now teach the flat-stock technique and find most students pick it up right readily. Speed and accuracy are substantially increased (as is weapon retention) and over-shooting/over-correcting is essentially eliminated.

Recommended!

/John

Exegent Gun Maintenance

14 Sept 07 Exigent Gun Maintenance: There are many commercially-available solvents, lubricants, and devices made specifically for firearms maintenance, and all work well. However, in a crisis, none of that stuff is likely to be available. What is universally available is (1) hot, soapy water, (2) diesel fuel, (3) transmission fluid, (4) old T-shirts, (5) a toothbrush. Those five items can be used to adequately clean and lubricate nearly any gun, and you'll seldom find yourself in a place where they are not readily at hand. After soaking for a few minutes in hot, soapy water, nearly all hardened deposits of crud on gun parts will soften and can then be easily removed with a toothbrush. After a subsequent hot-water rinse, excess moisture will self-evaporate. A light coat of diesel fuel can then be applied to prevent steel parts from rusting. Chamber and bore are particularly susceptible to rust and must be continuously coated with oil. On any car or truck, both transmission housing and crankcase have dipsticks. Remove the dipstick from the transmission. On the tip will be several drops of transmission fluid, one of the best lubricants in existence! Half-dozen drops of transmission fluid is all that is necessary to adequately lubricate most guns. All moving parts that rub against other parts should be lubricated. On large-caliber pistols, dipsticks can be used to drag an oily T-shirt remnant through the bore. These is little reason, and even less excuse, to be packing poorly-maintained guns. In exigent circumstances, we may have to get creative, but sensible gun maintenance at the user level is always possible and ever necessary! /John