WKD Resonations – November 13, 2026
#fridayfundamentals
This is a different kind of Fundamentals; no marksmanship or skills with arms is involved. Synchronicity happened several times when I read this week’s Weekend Knowledge Dump. https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-november-13-2026
Earlier in the week, I become aware of the incident in which Amanda Colley and her friend, Lindy Dobbins. https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/07/13/medical-examiner-testimony-james-colleys-wife-shot-9-times/ I’ve tried to find a link where their loathsome killer isn’t mentioned first with no luck.
Two links in WKD resonated with me about this incident. The first link was about getting shot.
What it’s like to get shot
https://www.survivalsullivan.com/how-it-feels-to-be-shot/
Three women were present during the murders. One was wounded and not killed.
“Hendricks said a shot fired through the closet door grazed her arm and felt ‘like a rug burn.’”
I found that to be an interesting analogy.
The second link concerned skills not taught.
Never Get Taken To A Second Location | Active Self Protection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho-VyzyiouE
Although the Colley incident didn’t involve being taken to a second crime scene, Greg’s comment “Over the years I’ve seen fewer and fewer instructors teaching the skill sets to avoid being taken to the second crime scene” made me think of something related.
When the Colley killer incident began his rampage, there were four innocent people in the house, one man and three women. When the killer started shooting from outside, the man immediately said “Run” and he ran. According to court testimony:
“He ran into the garage, rolled under the garage door and ran from the home. He wasn’t hurt and found someone a few streets away to call 911.”
In contrast, all three women hid in the house. Amanda hid in a bathroom. Lindy, the other fatality, and Rachel Hendricks, who survived, hid in a walk in closet.
“Colley put the handgun he was carrying up to [Lindy] Dobbins’ head, and that’s when Hendricks ran out of the closet and through the front door, looking for help.”
Both of the survivors RAN. One at the outset and the other when she had the opportunity to. Since most of our training is structured as ‘firing squad practice,’ running is not a survival skill we include. Years ago, when I taught my Advanced Concealed Carry Skills Course, one of the exercises was to run away to a specified safe point when the clients ran out of ammo during an extended decisional shooting exercise. They would run out of ammo at different times in the exercise and had to make a personal judgement call about when to run. Running away as an individual judgement call isn’t a skill often seen in firearms or self defense training.
The third resonant to me was Significant Advantages to the Revolver in Deep Concealment https://reflexhandgun.com/2021/11/02/a-significant-advantage-to-the-revolver-in-deep-concealment/
This article had a personal implication. As fond as I am of my Walther PPS, I have largely gone back to my 640-3 as my EDC. My reasons mostly align with the themes of the article.
I admit I have a probably excessive interest in deep concealment because of the amount of time I’ve spent in NPEs. Another aspect I’m influenced by is my desire to avoid a ‘Hindi Incident.’ Las Vegas Police officer Bob Hindi had occasion to quickly run out to the store late in the evening. Because it was so time sensitive, he didn’t take any of his personal protection equipment. Naturally, a robbery occurred while he was there. As he was struggling with the robber, he thought “I wish I’d brought my gun.” Fortunately, Bob fought the guy enough to force a Break In Contact https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2021/04/10/breaking-contact-part-i/, https://ccwsafe.com/resources/breaking-contact-pt-1/ and he wasn’t injured. Bob is a very squared away officer and ordinarily will never leave home without his gear but it took a few minutes to put on. He simply didn’t have time in this case.
The concept of having a tool I can quickly slip in my pants is very appealing to me as a result. I wouldn’t do a Clip Draw with a striker fired gun but I’m very comfortable using one with a double action revolver. Although I used a Barami Hip-Grip for decades, I became uncomfortable with it when I had my revolver slip out after a fall on ice. The Clip Draw seems a little more secure. How much so, I haven’t measured.
Another aspect of the 640-3 that I like is that it’s stainless and very visible when drawn. A Chicargo cop told me something a long time ago about stainless steel revolvers that I had never considered.
“Most of these nitwits are in a fog or can’t see very well. I want them to know I’m pointing a gun at them.”
I doubt optometry is high on the list of health care services considered essential by low-lifes and other undesirables.
A friend and I were discussing a few days ago what the most useful survival skill was. A point of agreement is that one of the most valuable skills is ‘emotional control.’ Within that broad category, I place ‘fear control’ as key. It’s another skill we don’t train on very well.
Fear Illusions: How Your Brain Gets Hacked Every Day
https://www.neilstrauss.com/neil/fear-illusions-and-the-brain/
Note that some of best literature about controlling fear comes from the swimming community. Fear of drowning is pretty high on everyone’s list.
In the past I’ve referenced many Army and other Service Field Manuals in my writing. Unfortunately, most of the official digital copies have now been removed from public access. No CAC card, no access. The Field Manual Vault is a good substitute resource.
Military Field Manuals
https://www.trex-arms.com/field-manual-vault
Colonel Max Radl spoke about Carl Jung and synchronicity.
“A very great thinker. A rational man And yet he speaks of something called synchronicity, events having a coincidence in time, creating the feeling that a deeper motivation is involved.”
If you would like to read more in-depth articles about self-defense and personal protection, please consider subscribing to my Patreon page.
Analogue Guns for Training and Practice
Greg Ellifritz https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/ posted an heirloom article that is totally worth reading. Several of my colleagues have commented to me about having people trying to use small guns in a class and how it handicaps the clients that do. I have long been an advocate of using a larger size handgun, with the same action type and controls, for practice and training. It’s what I call an analogue. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analogue#h1 “something that is similar or comparable to something else either in general or in some specific detail”
Small guns are great for carry but are often painful to shoot for any useful amount of training or practice. Using a larger analogue allows a shooter to develop skill and familiarity that can be transferred to the smaller handgun.
This is especially true for Airweight snub revolvers. Even practicing with a steel framed analogue instead of an Airweight makes a world of difference. Using something like a Model 10 snub allows a shooter to get in a meaningful practice session without the pain caused by an Airweight.
For shooters who are serious about improving their skill level, there’s a lot of downside to the philosophy of “shoot what you carry.” Having a second gun, analogous to the carry gun has a lot of upside.
If you would like to read more in-depth articles about self-defense and personal protection, please consider subscribing to my Patreon page.
Tiny Guns – Keeping It Real
My friend Mark Luell recently published a post about his “Dog Walk Rig,” which is a very interesting take on the subject of really tiny guns. https://www.growingupguns.com/2026/11/04/underwear-gun-naa-sentinel-mini-revolver/
In his article, he references a Patreon post I recently made. One of my Patrons had asked about incidents involving really small guns, such as mini-revolvers.
“Claude, do you have any real world experiences or insights as to use, and actual examples of these tiny guns in actual shootings? I envision them useful in very specific scenarios.”
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor/posts/tiny-guns-irl-173153879
It’s an interesting discussion about Rule 1 of a gunfight; “Have a Gun,” so I’ve unlocked the Patreon post and anyone can read it.
I’ve owned an NAA mini and didn’t care for it so I sold it. My issue was that the gun was so small and the sights so off that I couldn’t hit anything past arm’s length. This latest evolution of the mini seems to be more useful.
What’s noteworthy about the discussion is that it brings up something the late Pat Rogers said.
“The Mission drives the gear train.”
In my case, copperheads on a dog walk aren’t one of my concerns. Rat shot doesn’t fit into my mission profile. But in Mark’s case it does. In the case of the motel clerk referenced in my Patreon article, the mini with solids was ideal for her mission profile.
Once again, we’re back to that discussion about METT-TC. https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2019/12/01/mett-tc-and-how-it-applies-to-us/
What’s The Best Load For A Snub Revolver?
#wheelgunWednesday
From Legendary Lawman Chuck Haggard:
“It’s an equilateral triangle. Is the ammo reliable? Does it shoot accurately to the sights? Does it penetrate enough?
Then we can start to think about the nuances of bullet performance.”
The 5^4 Black Belt Test
More about the topic and drill on my Patreon page.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor/posts/whats-best-load-173016099
5 + 1 Drill
#fridayfundamentals
Last night’s IDPA match at Johns Creek Indoor Gun Range concluded with a Standards stage. It was a simple drill that we can call 5+1. Some variation of this drill is the last stage of every match there. It began loaded with five rounds and an available reload of at least two rounds. Since I was shooting my Model 65 revolver, I used a full speedloader for the reload. A single IDPA target was placed at 7 yards.
The drill was to: draw and fire four shots to the body, one shot to the head, reload, and fire one more shot to the head.
The drill is timed and scored. Although it seems simple on the surface, it includes a number of marksmanship components.
- Draw to a good first shot
- Three splits (successive shots to the same target, in this case the eight inch – 0 zone of the body)
- A transition (shot to a different target, in this case the four inch – 0 zone of the head)
- A reload
- One shot to a precision target (in this case the four inch – 0 zone of the head)
- Follow through on the last shot
It also requires the shooter to remember the drill while being timed. This may seem straightforward but every match several shooters make some kind of Procedural Error, such as shooting too many shots, forgetting where the shots are supposed to go, or riding the slide stop so the slide doesn’t lock back. Not having the slide lock back doesn’t incur a Procedural Penalty but if you look at the gun for a bit before initiating the reload, there’s additional time on your score.
For many shooters, the trip ups come at three places; the first shot, the shot after the reload, and following through on the last shot. Missing the first shot is the single most common marksmanship error. Missing the first shot after a stoppage clearance, e.g., a reload, is the second most missed shot. Not following through after the last shot is the source of many dropped shots.
Those two shots, first and first after a reload, require the shooter to ‘Shoot better,’ as Bill Rogers https://rogersshootingschool.com/ says it. It’s easy to let the trigger finger get ahead of the sights but that’s a mistake. In 1893, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, wrote in his book The Wilderness Hunter:
“No possible rapidity of fire can atone for habitual carelessness of aim with the first shot.”
Some concepts are timeless, regardless of what gun you’re shooting or what sighting system it has on it.
Ill-Annoy Practice Session and Tune-up
#wheelgunwednesday
I’m going to shoot my Model 65 tomorrow at an indoor IDPA match, so I did a little practice and tune-up yesterday. The Ill-Annoy Concealed Carry License Qualification is a nice little tune-up vehicle. Good thing I did because the locally procured reloaded ammunition didn’t perform 100%. Remington UMC 130 gr ball is 100%. Testing one’s equipment is always a good idea.
If you would like to read more in-depth articles about self-defense and personal protection, please consider subscribing to my Patreon page.
Defense of a Third Party – Double Trouble
“What’s the difference between truth and fiction? Fiction has to make sense.” Variously attributed to Mark Twain, Tom Clancy, and other notable authors of fiction.
A recent incident was summarized in a news release by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation because it involved a GBI Agent’s interaction with an Armed Citizen. It is an example of why I don’t bother making up ‘Worst Possible Cases.’ I just follow the news. I’m not clever enough to dream up something as weird as this.
Incident Summary
While driving with his daughter, a man was blocked in by an unhinged driver. The attacker exited his vehicle and approached the victim. The victim put a revolver in his pocket and got out of his vehicle. A fight ensued and the attacker got control of the victim’s revolver. The victim regained control of the revolver and shot the attacker.
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent passing by saw the confrontation. Upon seeing the victim shoot the attacker, the GBI Agent opened fire on the victim. Fortunately, no hits were scored. The victim dropped his revolver and complied with the Agent’s commands.
The attacker drove off. He went to an adjacent county and called for medical assistance. After being treated, he was arrested and charged with multiple felonies.
This incident contains at least three, possibly all four, elements of the Avoid, Escape, Confront, Resist paradigm. https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2016/07/24/the-cost-of-killing/ The underlying causes of all this weirdness have not yet been revealed.
A few of the elements involved in the incident for consideration
- Road rage
- Perils of Intervention
- Don’t Go Outside
- Car carry
- Entangled fight
- Defense of 3d party
- Mistaken identity shooting
This incident is worthy of an entire series on my Patreon page.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/complicated-of-i-156362758
Why re-enact the losing gunfight?
#wheelgunwednesday
The subject of ‘The Pence Drill’ came up today in the context of reloading a revolver during an incident. I posted a video explanation of what ‘The Pence Drill’ is on my Tactical Professor https://www.facebook.com/ATLFirearms/ Facebook page.
Someone asked, “Why re-enact the losing gunfight?” That’s actually a meaningful question. Two of my friends posted the answers that I would have.
“He is showing a solution that may have saved the officer. Why waste time loading all 6 when two will do?
It’s the teachable moment. Learning from the mistakes of others.”
As my colleague Michael de Bethencourt of Snub Noir https://snubnoir.com/ says, “when you’ve got at least one live round back in the gun, it’s loaded.”
It’s good to hear a meaningful question asked rather than just expressing a criticism.
The 1950 Assassination Attempt on President Truman
This post and article are dedicated to the memories and heroics of Officer Leslie Coffelt, who made the ultimate sacrifice, and Special Agent Floyd Boring, who kept his cool under fire.
In the afternoon of November 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican Nationalists made an assassination attempt on President Truman. It’s been described as the biggest gunfight in Secret Service history. Before the assassins were able to enter Truman’s temporary residence on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House, their attack was stopped by the White House Police and the Secret Service.
https://www.thetacticalwire.com/features/546e4b74-c821-4f5c-a59d-8ddbbb64aba7
It’s worth noting that the assassins were stopped by two shots by two men armed with revolvers, who knew how to shoot them well.
If you would like to read more in-depth information about shooting and personal protection, consider subscribing to my Patreon page.
Optimizing the J Frame EDC Revolver
#wheelgunwednesday
“The small-frame revolver has been a mainstay of everyday carry and personal protection in the U.S. for the better part of two centuries. They’re not the easiest of guns to shoot, but they have an uncomplicated manual of arms and are easy to carry, which is why they remain popular. Some simple improvement can be made to them to make them easier to shoot. Main among those improvements are improving the visibility of the sights and using stocks that properly fit the shooter’s hands.”
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/upgrading-the-small-frame-edc-revolver/
Here are a few illustrations that didn’t make it into the online article.
I know everyone likes fancy wood boot stocks on their revolver but shooting 5^5 https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/start-shooting-better-5×5-drill/ with them shows how hard they are to hold onto. Except for an ankle, pocket, or barbecue gun, they’re not very useful.
A decent set of larger rubber stocks is a huge improvement. On a belt gun or for FlexCarry https://www.flexccarrysolutions.com/ , they’re no more difficult to conceal. Even rubber boot stocks are better than wood ones.
If you would like to read more in-depth information about shooting and personal protection, consider subscribing to my Patreon page.
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