Generations Firearm Training Blog http://generationsfirearm.com/blog Insights and perspectives on firearms training Mon, 07 Feb 2011 02:51:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Some Safety Rules http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/02/hello-world/ http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/02/hello-world/#comments Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:13:39 +0000 Jim http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/?p=1 The single biggest difference in muzzle loading as opposed to breach loaders is the safety rules. I mean, I don’t have to tell someone not to wrap their lips around the muzzle of a 1911 and blow. I don’t have to tell someone loading a .357 not to smoke while handling explosives. Not to mention not having your head in front of the barrel while loading the thing.
Let’s start with some safety rules then we will get into a little history.

1. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. This is up while loading and moving to and from the firing line. Make sure your muzzle points up and not at an angle when people are in front of you
2. Never blow down the barrel. If you feel you must, use a flexible hose so your head is never over the muzzle
3. Only load in a designated area.
4. Powder must be completely capped when not pouring
5. No loading from a flask or can. A powder measure of some type must be used.
6. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas.
7. Never prime or cap until on the firing line.
8. Always wear eye and ear protection.
9. Never mix powders
10. Only use black powder or black powder substitutes.

Some History

Keep in mind the majority of the population in history was uneducated. The major participants in science and literature were monks or “men of the cloth”. Their employers were frequently rulers and pleasing their rulers was pretty important if they wanted to continue to live.
Black powder was invented somewhere in the 1100-1200s AD in China. The monks were looking for an aphrodisiac in the service of their emperor. If I recall history correctly, this guy had about one hundred wives. Perhaps aspirin would have been a better invention. While it was first used in fireworks, it didn’t take long, for it to be used in hand canons in the 1200s AD. In 1242 AD there was a published book in England by Roger Bacon on the composition of black powder. It appears Berthold Schwartz of Germany started its use in canons and as an explosive in the early 1300s AD. He is also thought to have invented the first firearm in Europe.
Match locks were the first hand held firearms after hand canons. The match or wick was clamped in the lock and when the trigger was pulled fell forward into the pan. These weren’t very efficient and were for short distances. Remember during this time long bows are still the main tool for hunting and swords and bows are still the main tool for defense. These were used between the 15th and the early 17th centuries.

The wheel lock was next and had a relatively short life span. It was complicated and expensive. The spring was wound prior to firing. The jaws held a piece of iron pyrite and when the trigger was pulled the wheel spun and showered sparks into the pan. These were the firearms used by the Three Musketeers.

The flintlock was next around the middle of the 17th century and had a very lucrative life span. It used a simpler leaf spring and a piece of flint was held in the jaws. When the trigger is pulled the cock falls forward and showers the pan with sparks. This was the primary firearm used in the Revolutionary War. This is also where the United States Marine Corps began its full time job of fighting for freedom while keeping seaman alive so they could have a sea going taxi service.

The percussion lock was next. It had a short life span since breach loaders were right behind. The percussion lock used a copper cup with fulminate of mercury as the ignition source. The cap and drum replaced the flash pan and a hammer replaced the jaws and cock of the flintlock. This was the primary firearm used in the Civil War.

The last and most disdainful to traditional muzzle loader shooters is the inline. The inline is a straight line ignition system as opposed to its predecessors that are considered side locks. It may use musket caps or percussion caps, however most use 209 shotgun primers. These were designed primarily to be used in muzzle loader only hunting throughout the country. They generally shoot a copper jacketed, hollow point bullet. There are very few social shooting events involving these. And the skill set to use one is closer to center fire breach loaders then muzzle loaders.

]]> http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/02/hello-world/feed/ 0 Deterring an Attack In The Home http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/deterring-an-attack-in-the-home/ http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/deterring-an-attack-in-the-home/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:17:00 +0000 Jim http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2009/07/deterring-an-attack-in-the-home/

The best way to survive an attack in the home is to encourage bad guys ( non gender specific) to go some ware else. Lets talk about deterrents.

The first thing you should do is ensure all windows have good locks. Sticks in window frames and sliding glass doors are not only inexpensive but they work. Make sure sliding doors and windows can’t be “lifted” out of their frames.
Put up a “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dog” sign.
Security systems are a great deterrent and can also summon help. If you don’t have one make a nice sign and place it in a window where the shape can be seen but the writing is difficult. Make it look professional.

Use outside lighting. Plant prickly shrubs or cactus under windows. Don’t let shrubs get big enough or high enough to hide an attacker. Lock gates to back yards so no one can “accidently” walk in.
Secure your garage door opener. This can not only help protect your car but can also keep an intruder from using your own tools to break in.

Install solid doors and reinforced frames. Security screens are very economical and can be decorative. Use a double key dead bolt on the screen door so if someone does break in they can’t just carry everything out the door. NEVER lock a double key dead bolt when someone is home. This is so you can get out of the house quickly if you need to.

Dogs are another deterrent. Ankle biters that yap are more likely to drive off a threat than a big dog that would be more likely to wait quietly then counter attack. If you don’t have a dog here’s some ideas.
Buy the biggest dog dish you can find. One big enough to water an elephant would be better. Put it outside your front door or where it can be seen. Keep it clean and move it a little every few days. Buy a Frisbee and have someone you know let their dog play with it and chew it up. Place it near the dog dish. Have a big chain placed in the back yard near a dish and disappearing around the house.

Beware of signs that reflect you might have guns inside. This could be a deterrent or an incentive.

Lights on automatic timers can work but must be altered so a pattern isn’t easily detected. When your on vacation make sure there are no old newspapers in the driveway. Have a neighbor pick up the mail.

]]> http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/deterring-an-attack-in-the-home/feed/ 1 The Safe Room http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/the-safe-room/ http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/the-safe-room/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:57:00 +0000 Jim http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2009/06/the-safe-room/ Lets talk about the safe room. Most safe rooms are the master bedroom. That’s due to the fact parents usually reside there and most attacks occur at night. The best way to set up a safe room is to actually consider options when you purchase a house. Assuming you already have a house this is just information to be used at a possible later date. Make sure you have safe fields of fire. If you need to shoot an intruder it will usually be in a hall or doorway. Ensure incoming or out going bullets won’t hit family members.
The safe room should only have one door. This is easier to defend. Since internal doors are quite flimsy this door should be changed and the frame should reinforced. Steel reinforced plates can be purchased at any home improvement store and are readily installed. It’s not as good as the previous option but it is cheaper and quicker. I advise a longer deadbolt and latch plate. The safe room should also have a window. This would make it easier to contact police when they arrive.
A cell phone should be kept in the room. Old cell phones that are no longer active will still call 911 so one of them and a charger is not bad to have. A firearm and ammunition kept for personal protection should be available and stored in an appropriate device. A whistle would be a noise maker used to alert other family members of danger. I prefer an air horn, it will warn the family and startle the snot out of an intruder. There should be some packaged food and water, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a good flashlight. This room may also be used in a natural disaster or other crisis. These are common things. Let’s look at other items that aren’t so well thought of. If you are threatened and you retreat to your safe room you are going to notify the police. They need to get into the house. If you don’t give them a key they may have to break down the door. This will also make it more difficult to enter the house. You should have a house key on a big stick or better yet a glow stick. In the night you can throw it out the window so the police can get in.
If you woke up startled and are thinking you heard a noise you might not want to move to the door to close it right away. Make sure you have some method of defense immediately available while you are assessing the situation. If you place decorative mirrors or pictures in strategic places, along with placement of a night light or two you can use these items to see reflections around corners or along halls. If you are in the dark or not backlit someone won’t be able to use these devises to find you.
If the master bedroom is on one end of the house , with the living quarters in the middle and other bedrooms on the other side this is called a split floor plan. Split floor plans are very difficult to defend. Intruders frequently are between you and members of your family. Code words or sounds are needed to direct occupants on how to react in a life threatening situation. Fields of fire are more difficult to establish.
If there is an altercation use every tool at your disposal to win!

]]> http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2011/01/the-safe-room/feed/ 0 Fighting room to room http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2009/01/17/ http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2009/01/17/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:15:00 +0000 Jim http://generationsfirearm.com/blog/2009/05/17/ What if you come home and someone is already inside the home? Set up your home to fight room to room until the threat is stopped or you and your family have reached your safe room. There are many implements of destruction in a kitchen, so lets look at other rooms.Bathrooms – is there a plunger that can be used for defense, a bottle of alcohol, any aerosol hair spray, any powder that can be thrown into the eyes of an attacker? Don’t forget about the toilet tank cover! Other rooms can be set up as well. Place items like baseball bats or T ball bats in corners or behind doors. How harmless is a little pink aluminum bat? How about a golf club? A fire extinguisher can be used. It may be difficult to pull the pin and spray an attacker but it can still be used for blunt force. Set up tables with vases or other items that can be used to turn the tables on an intruder. Glass items or large picture frames with glass thrown at an intruder to break and cut may provide a deterrent. Furniture polish in the eyes. Fireplace tools. A chunk of firewood. Laundry soap or bleach. Chairs that can be thrown. Look through each room of your house for things that are already there and things you can strategically place. Be sure if you have to fight your way through you house the aggressor is hurt, bruised, and tired. Try to keep away from your attacker. The more you fight the greater the chance your attacker will decide your not worth the beating your dishing out. Use your command voice and command him to leave or else. Criminals are looking for easy prey not a fair fight. You have the home field advantage. Use it!

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