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Four Rules of Firearm Safety

Treat every weapon as if it’s loaded.

Never point your weapon at anything you don’t intend to kill.

Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are aligned on your intended target and the decision to fire has been made.

Know what is in front of, behind, and to the sides of your target.

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Pistol Sights

Iron Sights

Source: Rao, H.L. (2022, February 23). Sight Alignment and Sight Picture Means Hitting Your Target. NRA Women. Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.nrawomen.com/content/sight-alignment-and-sight-picture-means-hitting-your-target

Red Dot

Source: Ayoob, M. (2023, February 8). How to Find the Red Dot on Your EDC. The Armory Life. Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.thearmorylife.com/find-the-red-dot-ayoob/

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Rifle Sights

Source: Baker, C. (2017, September 21). How to Use an AR-15. Lucky Gunner.�Retrieved July 25, 2024 https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/use-ar-15/

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Stance & Grip

Pistol Grip	Rifle Grip
Grip weapon with dominant hand as high up on the frame as possible.	Grab high up on rear grip with dominant hand.
Rotate non-dominant wrist so thumb is pointing toward target; press palm to grip of pistol, ensuring as much contact as possible.	Place non-dominant hand on forward grip, with thumb wrapped around bore and four remaining fingers below it.
Wrap non-dominant fingers around dominant fingers.	Bring elbows in as tightly as possible to your sides so they are in line with rifle.
Rest dominant thumb over non-dominant thumb, ensuring both are presented toward target.	Place rifle stock in shoulder in such a position that you can bring sights/optic directly up to your eyeline without tilting head.
Bring weapon up to eyeline, extend arms out with slight bend to elbows (not locked completely out), keeping elbows down (not flared out).	Place finger pad on trigger and apply smooth, steady pressure to rear.
Place finger pad on trigger and apply smooth, steady pressure to rear.

Feet shoulder-width apart, with dominant foot slightly back and weight on non-dominant/forward leg (fighting stance).
Shoulders, hips, and chest squared up to and facing target.

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Reloading

Speed	Tactical
Weapon Condition: Magazine Empty, Slide/Bolt Locked to Rear	Weapon Condition: Magazine Partially Depleted, Slide/Bolt In Battery
Depress magazine release with dominant hand and drop empty magazine.	Retrieve fresh magazine with non-dominant hand.
Retrieve fresh magazine with non-dominant hand.	Depress magazine release and drop partially depleted magazine into non-dominant hand.
Insert fresh magazine with non-dominant hand.	Insert fresh magazine with non-dominant hand, then return partially depleted magazine to pouch.
Depress slide release with dominant hand thumb -OR- grip slide with non-dominant hand, pull back, and release.	Depress slide release with dominant hand thumb -OR- grip slide with non-dominant hand, pull back, and release.

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Handgun Rounds

Source: Hung, E. (2024, June 24). Bullets: Sizes, Calibers, and Types. Pew Pew Tactical. �Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.pewpewtactical.com/bullet-sizes-calibers-and-types/

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Shotgun Rounds

Source: Johnston, J. (2019, February 15). The Maximum Practical Range of Slugs & Buckshot. Shooting Illustrated.�Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/the-maximum-practical-range-of-slugs-buckshot/

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Rifle Rounds

Source: Hung, E. (2019, October 4). Rifle Caliber Guide. Pew Pew Tactical. �Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.pewpewtactical.com/rifle-caliber-guide/

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Rifle Rounds

Source: Hung, E. (2019, October 4). Rifle Caliber Guide. Pew Pew Tactical. �Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.pewpewtactical.com/rifle-caliber-guide/

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Ammunition Anatomy

Source: Baum, G.R., Baum, J.T., Hayward, D., & MacKay, B.J. (2022). Gunshot Wounds: Ballistics, Pathology, and

Treatment Recommendations, with a Focus on Retained Bullets. Orthopedic Research and Reviews, 2022(14), 293-317.

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Terminal Ballistics

Source: Baker, C. (2023, August 29). Rifles vs. Pistols: The Basics of Terminal Ballistics. Lucky Gunner.�Retrieved July 25, 2024 from https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/rifles-vs-pistols-the-basics-of-terminal-ballistics/

Two types of wounds bullets can inflict:

Disrupt the central nervous system with damage to brain or spinal cord (instant)
Cause damage that ultimately deprives brain of oxygen: blood loss or damage to vital organs (couple of seconds to several minutes)

Two ways bullets cause damage

Permanent Cavity: also known as the wound channel or wound track; tissue that is cut or crushed by the bullet as it passes through
Temporary Cavity: shortly after impact, bullet creates opening in tissue that lasts ~10 milliseconds

To cause permanent damage, temporary cavity must be stretched far enough to overwhelm tissue’s elastic limit

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Terminal Ballistics

Handguns do not typically have enough velocity to create a temporary cavity; can only count on the permanent cavity

Creating a large temporary cavity requires velocity, and a bullet that is designed to deform, fragment, or yaw

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Terminal Ballistics

9mm Federal 147 gr HST fired at 1010 fps into bare FBI ballistic gelatin

.223 Rem Barnes 55 gr TSX fired at 2574 fps into bare FBI ballistic gelatin

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Terminal Ballistics

12 gauge Fiocchi 1 oz Exacta Aero Slug Low Recoil fired at 1101 fps into bare FBI ballistic gelatin

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Terminal Ballistics

Source: Baum, G.R., Baum, J.T., Hayward, D., & MacKay, B.J. (2022). Gunshot Wounds: Ballistics, Pathology, and

Treatment Recommendations, with a Focus on Retained Bullets. Orthopedic Research and Reviews, 2022(14), 293-317.

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Types of Ammunition

Full Metal Jacket: Less expansion but deeper penetration

Soft Point: Lead core is exposed at tip of bullet; ideal for big game due to medium expansion and small fragmentation

Hollow Point: Shallower penetration, but considerably more expansion; limits overpenetration by creating a wider primary cavity and increased temporary cavity

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Light Pistols

Types of Rounds

.22 Long Rifle (LR)
.32 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)
.380 ACP
.38 Special

Common Types

Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief’s Special
Walther PPK

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Light Pistols

S&W Model 36 Chief’s Special�(.38 Special)

Walther PPK�(.32 ACP or .380 ACP)

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Medium Pistols

Types of Rounds

9x19mm
.40 S&W
.45 ACP

Common Types

Beretta 92FS (M9)
Colt M1911A1
Glock 17
Glock 22

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Medium Pistols

Beretta 92FS�(9mm)

Glock 19�(9mm)

Colt M1911A1�(.45 ACP)

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Heavy Pistols

Types of Rounds

10mm Auto
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.50 AE

Common Types

Colt Delta Elite
Glock 20
S&W Model 13

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Heavy Pistols

Colt Delta Elite�(10mm)

Glock 20�(10mm)

S&W Model 13�(.357 Magnum)

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Shotguns

Mossberg Model 500

Remington Model 870

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Light Rifles or Carbines

Types of Rounds

5.45x39mm
5.56mm NATO

Common Types

AR-15
Colt M4
FN SCAR-L
AK-47

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Light Rifles or Carbines

AR-15 / M4

(.223 or 5.56)

FN SCAR-L

(5.56)

AK-47

(7.62x39mm)

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Types of Rounds

5.7x28mm
9x19mm
.45 ACP

Common Types

B&T MP9
FN P90
H&K MP5
IMI Uzi
KRISS Vector
MAC-Ingram 10

Submachine Guns

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Submachine Guns

B&T MP9

(9mm)

IMI Uzi

(.45 ACP or 9mm)

FN P90

(5.7x28mm)

KRISS Vector

(.45 ACP)

H&K MP5

(9mm)

MAC-Ingram 10

(.45 ACP or 9mm)

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Types of Rounds

7.62mm NATO
7.62x54mm
.30-06

Common Types

H&K G3
FN FAL
Izhmash SVD
M1 Garand
Remington Model 700 (M24)

Heavy Rifles

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Heavy Rifles

H&K G3

(7.62x51 NATO)

SVD

(7.62x54mm)

FN FAL

(7.62x51 NATO)

M1 Garand

(.30-06)

M24

(7.62x51 NATO)

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Types of Rounds

.408 CheyTac
.50 Browning

Common Types

Barrett Model 82A1
CheyTac M200

Very Heavy Rifles

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Very Heavy Rifles

Barrett Model 82A1

(.50 Browning)

CheyTac M200

(.408 CheyTac)

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Most Common Firearms

Glock 19 (9mm, Medium Pistol)
Remington Model 870 (12 Gauge, Shotgun)
M4-Style Carbine or SBR (5.56mm NATO, Light Rifle or Carbine)

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Suppressors

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Suppressors

Source: SilencerCo, American Suppressor Association

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Suppressors

Source: SilencerCo, American Suppressor Association

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Carrying Options

Tactical

Outside the Waistband (OWB)

Inside the Waistband (IWB)

Appendix

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Carrying Options

It’s 2024, not 1984.

No one uses shoulder holsters.

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Body Armor

Source: Blocker, R. (2021, May 19). What Do The NIJ Protection Levels Mean? Bulletproof Zone. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://bulletproofzone.com/blogs/bullet-proof-blog/nij-protection-levels-choose-the-right-vest-for-you

Riot Helmet

Kevlar Helmet

Kevlar Vest

Low Profile Plate Carrier

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Body Armor

Tactical Body Armor

Bomb Suit

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Considerations & Misconceptions

Federal agents and law enforcement can carry just about everywhere, including on planes. Civilians can’t; know your local gun laws.

Shooters may develop calluses on the web of their dominant hand and the knuckle on their middle finger (which rests under the trigger guard) due to constant contact/friction.

Experienced shooters no longer flinch when their weapons fire.

Shooting a firearm inside without a suppressor or hearing protection will result in severe hearing damage/loss. Not might, will.

Spent/burnt gunpowder has a very unique smell that can only be described as “gunpowder-y.” Everyone has a different description; the most common is acrid, metallic, maybe a bit (but not quite) like sulfur or fireworks.

On that note, cordite is no longer used in modern gunpowder.

Suppressors do not completely silence a gunshot. They make it less easily identifiable as a gunshot, and more difficult to determine the exact direction it originated from.

Bullets “crack” because they’re going supersonic (breaking the sound barrier). They “whiz” when they’re close; grab cover.

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Considerations & Misconceptions

Adrenaline and the fight-or-flight response can be both your best friend and your worst enemy.

Tunnel Vision: hyperfocus on what’s immediately in front of you, up to 70% loss of peripheral vision.

Auditory Exclusion: temporarily unable to hear nearby voices, sounds.

Loss of Fine Motor Skills: occurs when heart rate exceeds 115 bpm; between 115 bpm and 160 bpm, blood flow is redirected from extremities to major organs, resulting in loss of dexterity

Can often be mitigated through physical training/conditioning and psychological awareness of what to expect (stress inoculation)

Source: Sorrentino, D. (2023). Impact of the Tach-Psych Effect while under Stress, Duress or Heightened Anxiety. International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://icisf.org/impact-of-the-tach-psych-effect-while-under-stress-duress-or-heightened-anxiety/

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Considerations & Misconceptions

Cover: Protects you from incoming fire. How effective your cover is will depend on the weapon.

Examples:

Brick or cement walls
Vehicle engine blocks
Large natural features, like boulders or thick oak trees

Concealment: Protects you from being observed.

Examples:

Everything else, to include drywall, wooden tables, and car doors.

Source: Nadler, J. (2023, May 23). Cover: What Is It, How To Use It, and Do-It-Yourself Ways To Create It. GunMag Warehouse. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/cover-what-is-it-how-to-use-it-and-do-it-yourself-ways-to-create-it/