I just got this today and thought I would share it with you.  Woolrich makes cool clothes, but they also do a lot for the men and women of the armed forces.  This throw would make a nice Christmas present for anyone on your list, and it would give you the satisfaction of knowing your gift blessed someone else as well.

WOOLRICH ELITE SERIES TACTICAL DONATES $7,000 TO WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

Portions of “Freedom Throw” Blanket Sales Benefit Non-Profit Organization Improving Lives of Injured Service Men and Women

WOOLRICH, Pa. (November 12, 2009) – Less than a year after introducing the “Freedom Throw” wool blanket, Woolrich Elite Series Tactical announces it has donated $7,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), www.woundedwarriorproject.org, a non-profit organization that honors and empowers wounded warriors. WWP provides veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, combat stress, or who have been physically injured with beneficial programs and a network of support from like service members.

“We are proud to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause,” said Jerry Rinder, vice president of sales and marketing for Woolrich Elite Series Tactical. “Woolrich has a long history serving the military, dating back to the Civil War. We feel it’s important to continue that tradition, and the Wounded Warrior Project is a natural partnership. It’s a crucial element in the recovery of our injured service members and their families.”

“Wounded Warrior Project is thankful for this support from Woolrich Elite Series Tactical,” said Executive Director Steven Nardizzi. “Our goal is to ensure this generation of veterans is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation’s history, and with this generous donation from Woolrich we can continue this important work.”

The “Freedom Throw” is handcrafted in the Woolrich woolen mill in Woolrich, Pennsylvania in a red, white, and blue design inspired by the American flag. The throw, $100.00, is 84 percent wool and 16 percent nylon.

The “Freedom Throw” is available from Woolrich Elite Series Tactical retailers nationwide. Information on the complete Elite Series Tactical line and a list of authorized retailers can be found at www.WoolrichEliteSeriesTactical.com.

One of the things that amazes me the most when it comes to new gear are the advancements that have been made in the area of illumination.  When I served as an LEO we carried two flashlights, one for illumination and persuasion, and one for serious tactical illumination.

The mag light was used for illumination and persuasion.  It was not intimidating, but could easily be employed for self-defense or other purposes.  The SureFire 6P was used for tactical illumination and for searches. Obviously both served their purposes, but the SureFire was a big hit with the guys on our force.

First, it was rugged.  They could take a pretty good beating.  Second, they were compact.  Third, they put out better light than the mag light.  For a focused beam they were unbelievable.  SureFire continues to be a leader in illumination and their new products continue to be amazing.  They aren’t cheap, but the quality matches the price tag.

If you don’t have a trusty light, I encourage you to check out some of the higher end vendors.  You have to remember that tritium sights will not illuminate the target to distinguish it from friendlies.  Learn to use one of these effectively and it might save your life.

By the way, learning implies training.  Take your light to the range with you from time to time to practice shooting while holding a light.  Just because your department issues you light doesn’t mean you are proficient with it.  Learn to use the tools correctly.

Massad Ayoob is considered to be one of the leading trainers in the world.  He trains law enforcement and civilians, but what makes him different is that he can actually back up everything he says with his shooting.  In fact, he holds the master ranking in all 5 IDPA classes.  Since we have been getting so many revolver questions lately, we thought it might be helpful to see go over the best reloading techniques out there.  Hope this helps.

There exists a wide gulf in my house when it comes to the clothing that I wear.  My wife and I were headed out to dinner Friday night with some family members.  We weren’t going to go anywhere out of the ordinary, and it wasn’t designed to be a really nice dinner either.  Something along the lines of O’Charley’s or Applebees.

As we got ready to leave I heard the dreaded phrase . . “are you wearing those pants?”  I have a little bit of a cynical side, so I really wanted to say, “Actually this is a figment of your imagination,” but I showed restraint.  What she was alluding to were the pair of Woolrich Elite Series Discreet Pants pictured below.

I replied that I wasn’t wearing tactical pants.  Notice that there are no pockets for knives, AR Magazines, medic kits, or any of the other cool things that you might normally find on a good pair of tacticals.  However, my wife pointed out that regular khakis don’t have a key ring sewn onto the front belt loop, and that the back pockets are normally not cut in a wierd shape.

I started to argue, but then thought better of it, because she was right. Which leads me to this.  Why not offer the Discreet Pant that is actually discreet?  5.11 doesn’t offer one, Woolrich comes close, but in the end they are simply tactical pants.  I love these pants, but they could be a little more refined with the subtraction of the two things my wife mentioned.  I’m not looking for Polo chinos, but something in between would be perfect.  Who knows, maybe they will design a pant like that and call it the MCC pant, and you can all say you heard it first.

As I am sure you know, the weather affects many things in shooting.  A cartridge left in the sun during the summer will build pressure adding another variable to the shot.  This is why so many precision shooters keep dope books (not that kind, dope means information in the shooting world) for every rifle that they have.  They want to know what bullet is going to do on a cold bore or a rifle that hasn’t been fired.

Now that the weather is getting colder you need to make sure you know how your weapons systems will respond.  It is good to test your ammo again.  It might be important to test your lubrication methods.  I have a friend in Alaska who generally uses a dry lube because about this time of year it starts getting seriously cold.

Cold weather also may mean gloves for those of you behind the shield.  I always wore a Kevlar glove to prevent sticks.  I can’t over state the fact that you need to practice with the gloves on.  Make sure they give you enough dexterity to operate your weapon.

Finally, the cold weather brings out jackets which make your CCW options exponential.  I guess for many this is the most wonderful time of the year!

Several years ago I purchased Combat Handugnnery by Chuck Taylor.  It covered the basics of choosing a handgun, shooting, defensive tactics, and how to properly choose a CCW system.  A new updated edition of the book, written by Massad Ayoob is now available from Krause Publications.  Ayoob is the founder of Lethal Force Institute, and is widely respected in the firearms industry as solid teacher and expert witness.

The updated version of the book is a great read, and can be found in most major bookstores.  If you are new to handguns or considering expanding your knowledge on their use you should check out the book.  Ayoob covers everything from the basics to CCW and Open Carry.  You will definitely enjoy the read and be better becuase of it.

One of the great things that the ultralight revolver gives you is the ability to carry in a pocket.  This may be the most discreet way to carry off duty or CCW.  With the right holster you never print, and your weapon is relatively secure.

A few considerations about pocket carry;

Make sure you have a decent holster that will stay in the pocket when the gun is drawn.  Everybody makes one, but you need to try them out.

Think twice before you carry an automatic in the pocket.  Autos require a little more maintenance to be reliable.  Pocket lint is not your friend.  A revolver is not quite as susceptible to things that might be in your pocket.

Don’t heavily oil your gun unless you want to wear it on your clothes.  Another reason to think about the old wheel gun.

Revolvers still have a place in the modern world, and they can be very useful.  Above all, practice with your system to make sure it works, and that you are proficient with it.

They call him The Great One, TGO for short.  Here he is shooting a steel stage earlier this year.  Notice how he misses one on the plate rack and keeps it going to finish it off.  Many of us miss a plate and completely lose our rhythm.  He brings it back in to finish the run nicely.  I’m sure he was not happy with this run, but at the end of the day you have to keep going.

If you miss on the plate rack, give a hard sight focus until they start to fall again.  Don’t hurry up and miss.

I just got an email from a friend who is new to shooting handguns.  He had asked my advice for his first purchase, and I of course told him to get a Glock.  Only problem is I forgot he is left-handed.  He looked it over at the store, but ultimately decided on the Smith and Wesson M&P because of the ambidextrous controls.

He has been very satisfied with the pistol so far because it fits him which brings us to a great point.  Don’t conform yourself to any particular gun.  The gun needs fit you.  If you are buying from Smith, Glock or Springfield, you have nothing to worry about.  The quality is great, and the guns will simply run.  Don’t get caught up in the brand name.  We all have reasons why we like a particular gun, and at the end of the day that gives us confidence in our system.  Be confident in yours.

By the way, he is doing this right.  He has taken a CCW course and is getting some training.  I recommended that he shoot IDPA once in a while to gain the skills necessary to carry CCW.  Don’t just buy a gun and think you’ve got it all figured out.  Become proficient with it.

We haven’t updated the price list to include this area of work yet, but will asap.  If you are interested in getting a J-Frame trigger job or equivalent on your Taurus or Charter Arms, it is $100.

This includes the tuning of springs, polishing the plungers, polishing the trigger itself to a high polish, and cleaning the inside of the gun.  This also includes a test fire of 38 special.  Other calibers will be charged cost of ammo.

If you are interested in getting your gun ready for CCW or simply more comfortable to shoot, email us if you have any questions.