GST

10/26/2025

Am I the only one?

10/20/2025

I'm not generally one who enjoys puzzles. However, I found this one at Bass Pro Shops this weekend. I think I would enjoy this one.

10/15/2025

This is interesting.

I'm off and looking for training tools that will help give my students a better experience. This is probably one of those things I would consider using but I'm not sure about using it for adult students.

What are your thoughts?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AzDENZGhD/

09/22/2025

I learned something today! There are more rimfire cartridges than I knew!

Thank you, 22plinkster for sharing.

I've made a living having a passion for rimfire. Many gun enthusiasts shoot every caliber under the sun except for rimfire. Many find it boring, but I find it challenging and one of the purest form of shooting. If you're a rimfire rat like me, you may notice I left someone out of this picture. Who did I leave out? Hint: He wasn't used very long; his big brother stole the show.

09/11/2025

I may not need to say it, but I want it to be clear:

I do not wish for, nor do I celebrate, anyone's death. I wish for human suffering to cease, but I do not celebrate loss of life. I want you, your family, loved ones, and everyone, to be able to protect yourselves and each other. What would be even better is if there was no need for it.

Send a message to learn more

09/03/2025

Pistol-mounted lights, revisited.

I was studying some material from the USCCA (the United States Concealed Carry Association) to prepare for delivering the Firearm Basics lesson. However, it’s firearm basics with a substantial lean toward personal and home defense since it is part of the Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals course. Part of it made me stop and think about something I hadn’t thought of before.

The NRA and USCCA have some universal safety rules—3 and 4, respectively—and I’ve seen both sets, many times. This time, it struck me about how one applies to pistol-mounted lights. The rule that gave me pause:
NRA: ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
USCCA: NEVER point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.

These are SAFETY rules. Moreover, they are UNIVERSAL safety rules. That means that these rules apply no matter the activity or situation, including defensive situations, or what the USCCA calls a “dynamic critical event.” Yes, safety still matters, even in a situation where someone may get seriously injured because you’re defending yourself from someone who is targeting YOU. But how do pistol-mounted lights come into the conversation?

Let’s be real though, we civilians are not military, paramilitary, or law enforcement. We are not seeking someone to harm. We are DEFENDING ourselves and our loved ones if we cannot avoid, diffuse, or escape the situation. With that in mind, in what situations would you need a flashlight? Low light, obviously, but where? Are you out and about at night? Are you at home, in the dark? Wherever you are, maybe you need to illuminate your target (and maybe blind them). Hmm. Ok. Light up your target and aim at it in one convenient package with a pistol-mounted flashlight.

But…

What are you doing? Where are you? Are you searching for your target because they’re searching for you or maybe they are looking for a loved one? You’re searching with your flashlight… On your pistol… pointing it at anything and everything you want to see better. Who else is there? Family? Pets? What are you potentially pointing your PISTOL at so you can see and clearly identify it???
NRA: ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
USCCA: NEVER point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
And an additional rule that is not part of the big 3 or 4: Be sure of your target and what’s beyond. Are you pointing your gun at something before you can figure out if it is even a target?

Nope…for critical situations, pistol-mounted lights are not for me. I would use a separate flashlight. For having fun at a range or other recreational activity? Sure.

Picture from Wikipedia

08/23/2025

If you've been in class,you may remember that the gun needs to fit your hand!

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/they-need-to-fit

When it comes to your defensive handgun, it has to fit.

07/27/2025

My journey in concealed carry - Part 4 – carry position

It is truly an exercise in trial and error with holsters. To start with, where are you going to carry the firearm on your body, i.e., the carry position? I’ll focus on concealed carry because that’s the theme of this series, but the first step is to figure out where on your body (or not) to carry the firearm is the first step in picking out a holster. This wasn’t clear to me to begin with, so I didn’t put much thought into my carry position other than what feels most comfortable. I know better now.

Generally, carrying will NOT be comfortable unless it’s OWB or off-body, but I’ll get to that later. You need to just figure out what’s the most practical AND effective carry position, then experiment to find what’s the most comfortable way to carry. Yes, in that order.

The carry “position” depends—again—on YOU. Most carry in a holster attached to their belt. That means you’re going to need a belt that is up to the task. More on that in the “clothing” post near the end of this series. For those carrying a purse or bag, will you have the firearm inside that?

If you’ll have a holster attached to your belt, will your holster be inside the waistband or outside the waistband? IWB and OWB, respectively.

- - An IWB holster will have your holster between the waist of your pants/shorts and your body. The holster will be right up against you so think about what you may want touching your skin when you’re buying a holster. No matter what, IWB carry is NOT comfortable. It’s hard to get used to tit because it’s so unfamiliar and that discomfort makes it difficult to do carry consistently. You will need to get used to it until it’s just “normal” for you, and as comfortable as possible. Only YOU can determine what’s comfortable for you and what isn’t. I did NOT like IWB, and it still greatly depends on the combination of firearm, holster, and clothes I’m wearing.

- - OWB holsters are far more comfortable because they aren’t tucked inside your pants, BUT they will print more than an IWB holster. If your shirt drifts up, there’s also a greater possibility that your holster—or even firearm—will be plainly visible. You may also discover that it gets in the way more and you might hit it on things. You could easily put holes in the garment worn over the gun/holster from those accidental catches or scrapes. I really like OWB for the comfort factor, but I have certainly put holes in a few shirts. Shirts I really liked! Grrrrr.

- - Off-body means you’re carrying the firearm in something that is not attached to you, e.g., a bag, purse, or something you can carry with you but it isn’t under-or-in the clothes you’re wearing; something that is not securely attached to you. I can’t imagine for ME that off-body would be a good idea. There are “concealed carry purses” but… I don’t carry a purse, and I wouldn’t carry off-body anyway.

The following link has a really nice guide on concealed carry positions. https://concealedcarrysociety.com/concealed-carry-positions/

I narrowed down the options to the following list of popular/common IWB carry positions: small of the back (SOB), appendix, and hip (side):

- - Small of the back (SOB) carry – Behind you; usually at the base of your spine. You’ll have to reach back behind you to draw the firearm. But what if you’re sitting down, laying down, or back up against a wall? How feasible is this in terms of printing, comfort, or access to your firearm (whether it’s obstructed or due to your own flexibility)? This was my choice until I got more training and realized how impractical that can be.

- - Appendix – Basically, down the front of your pants. I definitely see how it’s a great way to carry… IF you don’t have a big ol’ gut, like me, OR if you ever plan to sit down. I know people do, even with a gut, but I just can’t even comprehend it. Lifting my gut out of the way to access the firearm or having it dig into me so hard if I’m sitting down? No thanks. NOT for me. If I could though, it seems the easiest way to lift up the shirt, access the firearm, and draw.

- - Hip/Side carry – Think cowboys drawing a pistol at their side. This is great for me, either IWB or OWB, but IWB tends to be the best combination of practicality, compatibility, comfort, and concealability. Either way, my biggest problem is pulling up my shirt. I have to pull it WAY high, or try to reach across my body to that side as far as I can, or both, to make sure my shirt clears the firearm so I can draw it.

Again, the selection is very personal and I started with SOB. After realizing how limiting and slow it is compared to side carry, I changed. But that also meant I needed to start my holster selection all over again. You may have to do the same thing because your first choice may not be what works best for you after you’ve had more experience.

Carrying a concealed weapon is a step in the right direction in making you and your family safer, but being able to actually draw it is even more important. For this reason, testing out the different concealed carry positions is extremely important.

07/27/2025

Get a solid grip on your firearm!

Some students have struggled with operating the slide on some of the semi-autos we use in class. For some, it's a hand strength issue, but it is also VERY affected by the slipperiness of the slide itself.

Slides grooves or other kinds of texture milled into them, called "cocking serrations" to help get a good grip for operating the slide. Some fi****ms have much better cocking serrations than others, but that still isn't enough for some people.

There are options for you though! There are manufacturers that make products to help make fi****ms easier to use, such as aids for getting a better grip. One example is TALON Grips. https://talongungrips.com/

If you're like me, the thought of buying accessories/attachments to modify your firearm never entered my mind for many years. One reason is because I didn't know what existed. Otherwise, I just thought "it is what it is" and I needed to deal with it.

Now I know that you can, and maybe SHOULD, consider aftermarket options to help make your chosen firearm the best it can be for you. If you don't know what's out there, then a good place to start is to talk to experienced shooters about your struggles and they may be able to point you in a certain direction for products that will make things much easier for you.

TALON Grips are adhesive backed grips for guns. They are 100% made in the USA and free shipping is available!

07/18/2025

My journey in concealed carry - Part 3, concealed carry considerations

To reiterate what I mentioned in the intro, I’ll forego the details about deciding whether or not to carry a firearm. Most people have already made up their minds. What I’ll talk about here is what I learned and had to consider after that decision was made. I’ll talk about HOW to carry.

Open carry versus concealed carry:
Concealed carry means carrying a firearm in such a manner that people can’t see it, at least not easily. It’s usually hidden under your clothes. Nobody should ever know you have a firearm on you unless you pull it out in a critical situation. You may hear a more general term called “CCW” or Concealed Carry Weapon and that usually encompasses carrying, holsters, and the firearm itself. With a concealed carry situation, you face the challenge of making it as comfortable as possible, in any physical position or activity, all the while keeping it concealed as much as possible. Walking, running, bending over, sitting down, reaching up. What if there’s wind? What about weather considerations? What activities will you be doing where even having a firearm on you is not a good idea? You’ll probably start your day by checking yourself in the mirror after you get dressed, or asking a family member, to see if your CCW “prints.”

A quick reminder on the term “printing.” If your firearm/holster situation sticks out enough that someone can look at you and tell there’s something under your clothes, that’s called “printing.”

Open carry means carrying a firearm completely unhidden, for all the world to see. Open carry is generally illegal in my state of residence, but I also think it’s just a bad idea. Open carry draws unnecessary attention to yourself, good or bad (usually bad), and I think it could make you a target for someone who wanted to take your firearm. It’s easy to see that you have one. I’ve seen videos of cops stopping people just because they’re carrying openly and people on the street are freaked out. It may not be against the law in your state, but it COULD land you a “disturbing the peace” charge or they might even try to charge you with “public menacing.” Not everyone shares my opinion though, but I feel it’s best to avoid the trouble altogether.

For me, concealed carry is the way to go, both legally and from what I would consider to be sound judgement.

This directly affects firearm selection because they come in a variety of sizes and smaller ones are easier to conceal than larger others, but with smaller fi****ms usually come with other trade-offs.

- - Shorter barrels equal easier to conceal but the trade-off is less power and lower accuracy with distance.

- - Lighter weight equals less pulling your pants up and less fatigue carrying that weight all day, but the trade-off is more recoil/kick when shooting and slower “follow-up” shots.

- - Shorter grips equal easier to conceal and more carry options, but the trade-off is usually lower round capacity, harder to control due to the kick, and your hand may be too big to feel like you have a solid grip on the firearm.

- - Longer barrels and grips, and bigger, heavier guns, gives you more benefits when shooting but are harder to carry AND conceal. Your hand might also be too small to reach the gun's controls and operate it easily, or to get a solid grip on the firearm.

You may never wind up in a critical situation. If you DO end up in one, how are your firearm selection trade-offs going to benefit or hinder you?

Again, it’s all up to you. Get as much knowledge and experience as you can. You’re likely to find that some trade-offs are absolutely worth it to you, and you make them work effectively. You may find that your carry position, holster, and even firearm may need to change to arrive at that “sweet spot” that suits you best. That’s what happened to me.

My journey in concealed carry - Part 4 – carry : positionhttps://www.facebook.com/GSTTrainingServices/posts/1203571481785329

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07/17/2025

My journey in concealed carry – The handgun, almost part 3 but not quite. Part 2 of part 2: Additional thoughts and lessons from the handgun search and selection process.

As my knowledge and experience have grown, my choices and preferences have changed. I expect that will happen again. Your first gun will probably NOT be your last. It’s amazing what you learn by doing and learning EVEN MORE by doing it enough to develop a deeper understanding. That applies to not just shooting, but every aspect of owning and carrying a firearm or essentially living your everyday life with a firearm attached to you.

As for the handgun selection process, there are so many options out there that I didn’t try or even know about. A lot of that is because you are kind of “stuck” with what’s available in gun stores around you. Not even online stores carry every make and model in existence, and brick-and-mortar stores often stock far less. You will find something online that you want to check out, but it's a gamble on whether you can find it in a store anywhere near you.

Yes, do your research! But I can’t imagine buying a firearm that I couldn’t even get my hands on first. So go to as many stores as you can, maybe even plan some days to travel around to gun stores within a couple of hours from home, to see as much as you can and build a good list. Then do MORE research about what’s on your list.

Another problem is rental options. You may get your hands on a firearm, but you won’t know if you like it if you don’t shoot it and do it enough to really get a good feel for it. IF a gun store has a shooting range, they only have a certain selection for rent. They do NOT let you try anything / everything off the shelf. Finding a rental that is on your list might prove to be a big challenge.

Why put in all this work? It’s all part of gaining knowledge and experience. You may end up redoing all that work in the future anyway BECAUSE you’ll be better and smarter. And why are you doing all this in the first place? If you’re going to have a gun for defensive use, or even carry, you’re trying to prepare for a situation where you may depend on that firearm AND your own skill / knowledge / experience to save a life. Is it worth putting in the work to be as prepared as you can be? I hope your answer is yes.

Another reason to put in so much work—THE MONEY! It’s not a simple matter of returning it and getting your money back if you get a gun you’re not very happy with. Your options are usually selling it or trading it in. You’re going to lose money because you’re not going to get your full purchase price out of the deal. Done repeatedly and you’ll be out A LOT of money. So choose wisely as you can but remember that there is still a lot of experimentation involved! Look at it this way: The money isn’t actually lost; it’s an investment in your future. And like I said, as YOUR knowledge and experience grows, so will your choices and preferences change.

My journey in concealed carry - Part 3, concealed carry considerations: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AyxpcTsQq/

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07/16/2025

My journey in concealed carry - Part 2, the handgun

There are MANY factors involved in choosing a handgun to carry. Whether my class or someone else’s, you probably saw a few handguns, so you already know they come in different sizes and designs. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are TONS more out there! Your selection process is a VERY personal thing. Nobody can pick a gun that is best for you because they aren’t you! They can guide you, but you must decide for yourself. First off, the size of my hands ruled out A LOT of options. And like I said in a previous post, your choices will evolve as you gain more experience. Mine certainly did.

At first, I thought I did my research. I looked up reviews and listened to the advice of several experienced shooters. I heard about some brands of guns and certain models that have a great reputation. I ended up with a carry size 1911 in .45 caliber, from a brand that seems to have a reputation of great quality. Although, I hadn’t done my research on ammo/caliber yet and I was excited to get a firearm. I just wanted something, and I didn’t want to spend THAT much time researching. After very little carrying, it really sank in how heavy it was. I should’ve worn suspenders to keep my pants up!

I did some more research and ended up with another great “subcompact” size gun from a “legendary” manufacturer, in 9mm. I liked it a lot better. It was lighter, but bigger than the last one. How is it a subcompact, a 9mm, and BIGGER than the .45? Its size made it harder to carry because it was more uncomfortable and was harder to conceal. The search continued.

I found a revolver. An oddball one at that. I really like it, but… six shots? Why only have 6 when I can have 8 or 10? I never carried it. It’s fun to have and interesting to shoot, but it may never even be a “backup” option.

SO many people told me to get a G***k. I held one and immediately didn’t like it. I didn’t even shoot it. No thank you. Not for me. It just didn’t feel comfortable in my hand, and the grip even felt slippery. A “slippery grip” is NOT a quality that ANY gun should have.

I landed on a Sig Sauer P365, 9mm, classified as a “micro compact.” It was kind of revolutionary. Such a small size with a 10-round capacity. It's about one inch wide. It really changed the game for concealed carry. It’s SO much easier to carry and conceal than everything else I checked out, and it fits my hand wonderfully except for how short the grip is. So short that I can’t get my pinky on the grip. BUT when I shot it, I felt like I still had a solid grip on it. With such a short barrel, the kick wasn’t as bad as I expected AND I was more accurate with it than I expected. I was so excited to get one that I didn’t care that I couldn’t find one available in the color I wanted (all black). It has been a nice choice. Not too long after, Springfield Armory came out with a direct competitor: The Hellcat. No big deal though. I’m happy with my choice.

Now after a few years of experience, both with carrying and with the P365, maybe the P365 isn’t the greatest choice. I still really like it, but some key lessons have changed my perspective.
- - The barrel length robs the projectile of performance. A.k.a., velocity. A.k.a., power. It’s well documented that a barrel that is too short doesn’t have adequate length for building optimum pressure and projectile velocity. Would it still suck to get shot by that? YES, but that means there’s a possibility that it won’t be as effective as necessary, and the shorter the barrel, the greater the possibility. Are there special-made cartridge loads for short barrels? Yes. But that means I have to buy special ammo, which is probably more expensive and less available.
- - The shorter barrel length also makes the front and rear sights closer together. The distance between the sights is called the “sight radius.” The greater the sight radius, the easier to be accurate at longer distances.
- - A longer barrel would actually help counteract how my side fat pushes the firearm’s grip outward when carrying in the holster. If the gun sticks out, it prints more. {“Printing” means you can see something sticking out from under your clothes.} The barrel pushes against the hip or thigh, which pulls the other end of the gun closer to the body.
- - The longer grip DOES make a difference in how solid you can grab the grip. Your pinky provides A LOT of strength when it comes to keeping something from flying out of your hand. Many short-grip pistols have an option to put an extended baseplate (bottom piece) on a magazine, so it acts as a grip extension. Great! But that means you have to buy the magazines, or the parts to extend the existing magazines.

I still really like the P365. It’s width is REALLY a huge benefit. Thankfully, Sig Sauer has a few variants. The following list is not all, but the rest are pretty much based on these four. The grip itself on each of these is different, but they don’t provide a measurement of the grip itself, so it’s included in the overall height. Every variant retains the same 1.1” width of the original model.
P365 (original) - Barrel length: 3.1" | Height: 4.3"
P365-XL - Barrel length: 3.7" | Height: 4.8"
P365-XMacro - Barrel length: 3.7" | Height: 5.2"

Enter the P365 Fuse - Barrel length: 4.3" | Height: 5.1"
The Fuse variant has the longest barrel--enough to produce ballistic performance for optimum effectiveness--and the long grip length I should have for the best grip without needing an extension. Guess what P365 model variant I’m switching to?

Almost part 3 but not quite: Additional thoughts and lessons from the search and selection process: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CvmAF2od4/

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