Triangle Tactical - Uspsa | 3 Gun | Idpa | Competitive Shooting

This week we talk about a bunch of stuff. Some listener questions from Facebook, some new stuff from the NRA show (we're not there), and a bunch of other stuff too. We'd like to get some more listener feedback from y'all for future episodes, so shoot an email or a voicemail (919) 295-6128 and let us know. Contact: - luke@triangletactical.net - ben@triangletactical.net

In the past couple of weeks here in NC, we’ve seen several bills flow into the state legislature that would make some positive changes to our concealed carry (and other gun laws). The biggest of which is HB562. Among other things, HB562 would allow a little more leeway for people bringing guns onto school grounds in their vehicles, add an exception to an exception to allow concealed carry at the state fair (which in our opinion, adds to the “Quagmire of Stupidity” that we talked about back in Episode 103), adds a vehicle storage law that basically says that employers cannot disallow people from having a gun in their locked car, and would standardize signage requirements no guns signage. The bill does a lot more than what I mentioned here, but these are the parts we cover in this episode. We also have a look at SB708, a bill that makes for an extra special concealed carry permit in the state. I’m all for expanding carry privileges, but I don’t think this bill is really the way to do it. I outline some of my pr

This week we had a chance to meet up with USPSA Grand Master and current Production National Champion Ben Stoeger. We talk a lot about how he got into shooting, robocop, Mel Gibson, mullets, and goons. Contact: - luke@triangletactical.net - ben@triangletactical.net - (919) 295-6128

Nothing but listener feedback in this episode! Marty tells us about his first match, Mike is going to shoot his soon and asks about a Bravo Concealment holster for IDPA, Brian emails in from Canada (America's Hat), Ron sets us straight about local 2-Gun matches, Terry asks about Major vs. Minor power factor scoring, and Steve has a couple retarded questions for us.  Contact: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net (919) 295-6128

At the top of the show we talk a bit about USPSA and our practice regimen. I mentioned a couple of Instagram videos on the Triangle Tactical Instagram page where I FUBAR a reload in a drill, and some video of the “Drill of the Week” from last week. Find them all here. Main Topic: I was inspired to talk about this topic after listening to the latest episode of the PARAcast podcastwith Tom from the GunDudes. I’d recommend you go have a listen to it in addition to this episode. He’s got iTunes and RSS feed links here on his website. Anyways, we talk about the difference between Training and Practice, and why you should practice more than you train. It seems that there are a lot of people in the firearms community who love to go get training classes from experts, but they don’t really practice all that much. If we think about athletes, lets say someone like a basketball player, you would think they were odd if they were going to training camps all the time, and never practicing with a ball and the hoop in their d

This is an exciting episode for us, because for the first time ever, Ben and I recorded this episode with both of us in the same room. Anyways, here’s the shownotes: We’ve both had a few things that have been bothering us for a little while, and we decided to vent about it this week. In the main topic segment, we vent about the following: Spartans. Why does everything in the shooting community have a spartan helmet on it?   10mm. We don’t really have a problem with the 10mm itself (it’s a fine round), but rather the rabid fan-boys that seem to think every firearm should be chambered in 10mm. .45 GAP. On the other hand, people really bag on the .45GAP too much. It’s a fine round, get over it. “Patriots” who love freedom, until they realize someone else is making money. Specifically people who cry “PRICE GOUGING!” whenever someone decides to sell their own property when demand goes up. “Because mil-spec” People who advocate others to “polish the feedramp”. If someone tells you this, run away The News

Oh boy, this episode has been... interesting to get published. Anyways, after using 3 computers, a phone, and 2 different cloud data storage sites, it's finished.  We talk about confidence as a shooter, just listen to it, ya hoser! Contact: - luke@triangletactical.net - ben@triangletactical.net - (919)295-6128

When learning a skilled trade in the old world, people fell into one of three categories: apprentice, journeyman, and master. The apprentice was the first step to learning the trade, and the apprentice would be paired with a master with whom he would learn all there was to learn from that master. The apprentice would then graduate into a journeyman, where he would go and learn from many different masters. After the journeyman had completed his learning, he would then become a master himself and have his own apprentice. In the shooting world, these categories aren't as hard and fast as they were way back when, but most shooters can probably fit into one or two of them. Ben talks about his beginning as an apprentice to one instructor, and when he learned more, and became more skilled he began to learn from other instructors and shooters basically graduating to a journeyman, but for a new shooter who he showed the ropes to, he was a master. The News: A person was stabbed in the eye at 2:30AM near Moore Square in

This week we try to define, and explain our perspective on things as shooters. In the world of gun owners, there are a bunch of different types of folks, but most commonly, we find ourselves interacting with shooters, and gun guys. Shooters tend to be more focused on the aspect of shooting, and less focused on gear. We try to find gear that is good enough, and leave it at that. Gun Guys however are the dudes you see on the range constantly looking for the latest/coolest/newest piece of gear to help up their game. Simply put, the Gun Guy tends to have more money invested in his gear, where the Shooter invests more time in his gear. There's nothing wrong with fitting into either category, but we wanted to define where we're coming when we answer questions for listeners. The News:   A Federal Judge ruled on the Mance vs. Holder case, which has to do with interstate sales of handguns (you know, how if you buy a handgun from a vendor that isn't in your state, you have to have it shipped to an FFL in your state). I

We received a question from a listener about where to start in competitive shooting, and what the differences between IDPA and USPSA were. For beginners, looking to shoot their very first match, Ben and I agree IDPA is generally the best place to get your feet wet. Ben breaks it down into three areas: IDPA requires less stuff to get started. All you need is a pistol, holster, and a mag pouch, and you’re good to go for a bit. IDPA stages are shorter, and they give you a plan to follow (start here, shoot these targets in this order, etc). IDPA is more forgiving of less perfect gear. Plenty of folks own something like a S&W Shield that they carry, and that pistol is just fine in IDPA, but I wouldn’t recommend it for USPSA. The News: Para is “going out of business”. They aren’t really, Remington is just killing the brand when they move everything over to the big super-plant in Alabama. Sounds like you’ll still be able to get your favorite pistols, they’ll just say Remington on the side instead of Pa

I was standing in line at the coffee shop this morning when I got a text from a friend asking if I had seen the new IDPA rulebook yet. I haven’t been an IDPA member for several years, so I didn’t get the memo that the new rulebook had been posted. Here’s the new rulebook .PDF if you would like to peruse it I started getting text messages with all of the new changes, and I have to say, I’m shocked to see that they listened to the membership and have made a lot of positive changes in the new rulebook. 4.1/4.2 No more “Vickers”/”Limited Vickers” scoring. Stages are still scored the same, but it’s called limited/unlimited now. This sounds like a little thing, but I can tell you the “Vickers” name was confusing to me as a new shooter years ago. No more stuffing magazines on the clock. I’ve never come across this in a match, but there was a video from a Major match a few years back where the stage required shooters to stuff rounds in their magazine at the buzzer, and then shoot the stage. IDPA is a shooting gam

A concealed carry permit holder walking into a Walmart was tackled and stripped of his pistol by someone who saw him putting it on in the parking lot. This video brings up a lot of things that both concealed and open carriers need to be aware of: No matter how you carry, you should have a means to retain your weapon in a fight. In the video the victim is attacked, and instead of trying to retain his pistol, he attempts to ward off the attack. Thankfully the person that attacked him wasn’t trying to kill him, because once the attacker took his weapon, he could have easily done so. If you open carry, you should really do so in a holster that has active retention. I really like the Safariland ALS series of holsters, and I abhor the Blackhawk SERPA. For more on why the SERPA isn’t recommended and weapon retention, check out Episode 85 of the podcast with Chris Clifton from Defense Concepts NC. Sometimes folks categorize open carry as the “easier” way to carry, since they don’t have to put on an extra layer

This week we talk about gun belts. There’s a lot of BS spewed on the internet about belts, and we sort through it based on our experience. Some folks like leather belts because they have a more traditional look, and they tend to flex and form to your body real nice. Other folks like the “tactical” nylon type belts because they are more adjustable, and can be extremely stiff. I started out carrying concealed with a Wilderness Tactical CSM belt (the one with the kydex stiffener) and later moved to the Two Fools Leather Goods Fat Boy Belt after Curt from TFLG sent me one for review. Some years later, I’m still wearing the leather Fat Boy Belt. I miss the infinite adjustability of the nylon belt, but the leather, while being really stiff and sturdy, has a little stretch and give to it that makes is perfect for carrying a pistol for me. The News: As you’ve certainly heard, the BATFE changed their mind about the Sig SB-15 Stabilizing Brace. No, the braces weren’t made illegal, even though some headlines would have

I’m back! I’ve been away from the podcast for almost a month because we did the 2014 “best of” show, and then I got really sick. Started out with a cold, then the flu, then an ear infection, and finally a ruptured ear drum, but I’m back! Due to my absence I haven’t been able to get out all of the things that have been bothering me over the past several weeks, so this week I told Ben to clear the main topic for me so I could vent, and I did. Here’s a preview: I’m tired of people on the pro-gun side of things being so quick to “blood dance” whenever there’s a shooting somewhere. It’s not okay when the anti-gun people do it, and it’s not okay when the pro-gun people do it either. People being stupid with guns. I know it’s easy to get complacent when you handle a gun every day, but please be diligent about safety. People who are “anti-cop”. Listen, we are supposed to judge people based on the content of their individual character. If a cop, or anyone else treats you wrong, it’s okay to be mad at that person, but

Ben recorded this episode solo because I'm still under the weather, but I plan to be back next week. Anyways, he talks about his plans for 2015, and makes some predictions for what the future may hold for guns and the shooting sports. Contact: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net (919) 295-6128

We didn't have much to say for our last show of 2014, so Ben did something completely different, and it's completely awesome.

It's the end of the year again, and that means it's time for another "best of" podcast with our favorite clips from the year. If you want to hear the full episode from any of the clips, hit the links below: Original R51 clip - 63 Getting worried about R51 - 65 Andrew Branca on self defense insurance - 86 Stupid YouTube comment - 84 Chris Clifton on SERPA holsters - 85 Durham Gun Registry Repealed - 87 Chad Thompson - 89 Shooting Range Shenanigans - 91 Candy Sugarman on 'What men do wrong' - 94 Future of gun laws - 98 Steve Anderson - 107 Don't Worry About Your Division - 104 We'd also like to know what your favorite podcast clips of 2014 were, hit the comments below and let us know! Contact luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net (919) 295-6128

Shownotes forthcoming... Contact: luke@triangletactical.net ben@triangletactical.net (919) 295-6128 (voicemail)

If your goal is to become a better shooter, competitive shooting has 3 “pillars” that are advantages over just shooting at the square range: Schedule: The match starts when it starts, so you can’t just decide to go to the range later, or tomorrow, or whenever. It forces you to commit to shooting the match when it’s happening. Scoring: Competitive shooting gives you a quantifiable means to judge things like gear, technique, etc. Shot timers don’t work very well on the shooting line at a public range with lots of other people shooting, and you don’t get the opportunity to shoot from different positions, or scenarios drawn up by other people. Exposure: When shooting a match, you’ll be exposed to the best shooters in your area, maybe even some of the best shooters in the world (especially if you’re in the Triangle area) so you can see techniques, and really get a feel for just how those folks do things. You might learn a thing or two… The News Legislation introduced in Ohio would allow for Active Duty military

Rob calls in a match report from his first competition shooting match at the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center this past Wednesday. He shot his Glock 41 with reloads from his pocket, and emailed in his thoughts on shooting a competition for the first time. Kenny called in on the Triangle Tactical Voicemail line (919-295-6128) and left us a voicemail asking about why we tend to bash the 1911 pistols on the podcast. He left two voicemails, the first one got cut off, but I liked it the best, so I spliced the two together as best I could. If you have a voicemail for us, you can call the voicemail line at (919) 295-6128, or you can leave a voicemail from your computer by clicking here. Alternatively, you can just record something on your phone or computer and email it in. I’m not too worried about format, I’ll make it work. The News: Two students that were caught in the FSU library shooting were members of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus organization, but were not able to carry (and pot