Author: Safety Reloaded

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New Gun Owners

July was a huge month for gun sales and new gun owners across the country and in all demographics. With that comes a lot of new gun owners which spark debates around the ethics of carrying a gun. Now I’m not going to sit here and debate that on the internet, because the internet is full of trolls. And frankly for me, this is not up for debate, if you can legally carry and feel comfortable to do so, you should! I want to take a few minutes to just remind the new owners of a few key pieces of info.

First and foremost, you need to know what the safe gun handling rules are. At a minimum they are: Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Keep the firearm unloaded until ready to use. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until ready to fire. Know your target, and what’s behind it.

Second, get training. I can’t stress this enough! If it’s your first gun, or you aren’t that familiar with them, seek out a professional to get training. Again, I said professional! Not just the loudest guy at the gun range or that one friend who tries to appendix carry his Desert Eagle everywhere. Everyone learns differently and good instructors can make all the difference. Small difference to technique or teaching can make a world of difference for some people.

Third, get the right gear. You want a hard-sided/kydex holster, not soft fabric. There are plenty of horror stories of soft fabric or thin suede folding over into the trigger guard while someone is holstering their firearm and causing a negligent discharge. A hard-sided holster really is a must. A quality belt that is correctly size is incredibly important to keep the firearm, and your pants, where you need them to be. Cheap belts can break or not keep the holster secure while you are carrying it.

My biggest thing for new gun owners is to also take everything with a grain of salt. Everyone has their favorite gun, holsters, tactical setup, ammo, etc. Find what comfortable and safe for you, and train with it. But that is the key, train with it! Know that gun intimately and how to safely manipulate, holster, draw, and field strip it. The better you know the firearm, the more comfortable you will be with it, and the more likely you are to carry it.

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Springfield Hellcat Review

Recently I got a couple of Springfield Hellcats in stock and I couldn’t miss an opportunity to put one in my own collection! I was asked by a few people what my opinion on the gun has been so far. With that in mind, I thought I would share my opinions in a blog post. I tried to be as impartial as possible, but as many of you know, I am a big fan of Sig and have a couple P365’s. The 3 things I will focus on in is the trigger, grip & feel, and my performance with the gun.

The Hellcat is Springfield’s entry into the high capacity micro-pistol market with a “class leading” 13+1 round capacity chambered in 9mm. The trigger pull came in at around 5.5lbs for me. The trigger is flat faced with a trigger bar safety. I wasn’t a fan of the travel and play in the trigger, personally. It was about a ½” of travel, then another ½” to break. Reset is about ½” also. There is a tactile and audible reset. The trigger itself isn’t particularly special when comparing it to the P365, which in my opinion is much better than the Hellcat. Now the Hellcat’s trigger is much better than the XDs, for those who have them.

I was able to find the grip on the gun, despite it not having a “Grip Zone”. The texturing is surprisingly nice! It’s aggressive enough to maintain traction with it in wet conditions, but not so rough that it will sand your skin when you carry. It does have stippling forward of the trigger for your weak side thumb or your trigger finger. It has carried over serrations on the back of the slide and on the front for those who press check their pistols. Overall, for my stubby, fat fingers the grip was comfortable, but those with bear claws may find it a bit too small. Comparing this to the P365, I think the grip on the Hellcat is better. It just feels nicer in my hand.

My overall performance with the Hellcat was virtually indistinguishable from the P365SAS with no malfunctions. The sights on it are a U-dot sight with tritium front dot that was very easy to see. I wish the Hellcat had night sights standard.  It would have really set itself apart from the P365SAS whose sights are non-existent in low light conditions. Additionally, for those who may have an issue with limp-wristing a firearm, causing malfunctions, despite my best efforts to induce an issue from poor grip and recoil management, it functioned perfectly. My groupings at 10 yards were consistently within 5” which for me is more than sufficient in a pistol of this size.

I think the gun is a big advancement for Springfield, who I have never really been a fan of. I think the gun stands on its own very well, could be a great carry gun for almost anyone, and I will be recommending it as a great carry option. 

My Pro’s for the gun is that it is comfortable in the hand, better slide serrations for grip, it includes a 13 round magazine standard, and it’s a sturdy made firearm. My cons, the trigger doesn’t feel good to me, it missed out on the night sights, and it’s made in Croatia. For some of you that won’t make a difference, for others, Made in America is important. I’m not so impressed that I am retiring my Sig, I still think I favor the P365 more. I am going to carry the Hellcat for a little while and put it through its paces some more and see if I can break my Sig bias.

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Making Your Own Face Mask – Part 2

Face masks, yes, I am sick of hearing about it too! Barring some major changes, this is the last time I will write about it. The current policy of many states, cities, companies and stores is that people must wear a face mask while shopping or within 6 feet of one another. The science behind wearing a face mask is sound, politics aside. If I cover my mouth and cough, I don’t spread as many germs. The few germs that may escape my covered face, are then impeded by the mask you are wearing. All of this reduces the risk, not eliminates it. And a reduced risk of infection is important to those who are at higher risk of severe cases of COVID, like those with asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, compromised immune systems, etc. With that in mind, face masks aren’t still that readily available so making them is still one of the better options for those who should be wearing them.

I’ve talked about in the past the that there are several ways to make your own face covering (original blog post), but if you are not a seamstress you may have found that link useless. With that in mind, for those of us with less than an ideal sewing aptitude, or those looking for other ways to make face masks, let me introduce you to HappyDIYHome.com. They put out a post that has 5 alternatives to creating a face masks, 2 of which that don’t require any sewing! Link HERE.

I hate to admit it, but the idea of making a face mask out of a T-shirt never occurred to me. Most of us probably have an old favorite shirt we are still holding onto, thinking one day we will fit back in it. This may be a great time to “up-cycle” it into a functional face covering.

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Facemasks Part 2

A lot of people across the U.S. are currently under some kind of order to wear a facemask or face covering in public. I am not going to go into any personal opinions about the orders, our freedoms, or anything like that. Instead, I want to focus on facts such as: how to correctly wear the damn things. This is something important to me for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is I have family in heavily impacted areas and people I care about that are part of the “high-risk” group. So, it is time for a very brief lesson on how to properly wear a facemask and some of the problematic behaviors. This may seem like a silly topic to waste time writing. After all, it’s so simple an idiot can do it, but as George Carlin put it: “Think of how stupid the average person is and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

First and foremost, a face covering, facemask, respirator, etc. are all different items. I won’t delve into that, as I covered it in a previous blog HERE. But the purpose of them is three-fold. First, it keeps whatever someone else has from easily and unimpededly entering your nose and mouth. Two, it keeps whatever you have from easily and unimpededly entering someone else’s nose and mouth. In both cases, the key is that they are helping protect both the nose and mouth of the wearer. Ergo, you need to wear the mask covering both your nose and your mouth! Third, is it is a reminder to keep your hands off of your face.

You should clean your hands before putting on the mask (aka donning) and taking off the mask (aka doffing). I call these two words out because you will most likely see them in the instructions of manufactured masks. You need to clean your hands because while your face is covered, many of our hands aren’t while we are all touching the same things, door handles, shopping carts, the number pads of checkouts, etc. Washing your hands, or sanitizing them, before and after removing the mask further reduces the likelihood that you will introduce a virus into your breathing area.

Depending on the type of masks, you should either be disposing of it as recommended by the manufacturer (if it’s a disposable style) or washing it regularly. Some will tell you to wash it daily, weekly, or every “X” number of hours. The key is that you wash it and wash it properly according to directions. Where available you should hang the mask to dry outside in the sun. The suns UV rays can kill a lot of germs. DO NOT microwave your masks. That’s a farce that isn’t based in any actual science and can cause more harm than good. Some masks put thin metal in the masks to allow them to keep a certain shape. Microwaves and metal don’t mix! Trust me, I’ve bought a lot of microwaves over the years.

Some of the behavioral issues that cause me concern, besides understanding how to wear the mask, include taking the mask down in public to sample the grapes, talk to someone, or scratch your nose. This completely defeats the purpose of the mask! Putting the mask on after you enter a building or before you leave is pointless. Modifying the mask, like cutting a hole in it, snipping straps off, or cutting it down the center also defeats the purpose of the mask—so don’t do it. All of these are intended to make it easier for someone to breathe, but again eliminates any protection. Put the mask on before you get out of the car and do not take it off until you get back in the car.

I want things to go back to normal, the way they used to be, not this “new normal” but we aren’t there yet. Whether you agree or disagree with wearing a mask, or the quarantine orders, etc., it has been shown to limit the spread of illnesses and is based in science. If me wearing a mask to get donuts makes someone’s grandparents feel safe to leave their house, my slight inconvenience is worth it. Even if the benefit is only psychosomatic for those people at higher risk of infection, I’m fine to wear it so that they can still be out enjoying our beautiful country.

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Bored and Sheltering in Place

Like many of you, we have been sheltered in place for what feels like several months now. During this time a lot of people have been complaining that they haven’t been able to go to the range or practice. Which is bizarre to me, because 80% of my practice happens at home already! I use my range time to confirm what I’ve been doing at home is working. So, with that in mind, here are a few things you can do at home to keep training.

Everything is built on dry firing. As always, make sure your gun is safe. MAKE VERY SURE! You are in the house with your family, triple check the gun! Getting familiar with your pistol on an intimate level doesn’t need fancy lasers. You can practice reloading, drawing from concealment, and more from your couch. One thing I like to do is to give myself a target to react to on TV. For instance, anytime I see a TV, or a plate, or a car while watching a show I need to draw from concealment and dry fire on the target before its back off screen. You will find this is harder than you imagine because those kinds of images are usually only on screen for a second or 2 in the background. But those quick targets can really help push you.

There are a huge amount of options from laser cartridges, SIRT practice pistols, and targets, like those from Laserlyte, that you can use to do more interactive drills. These are active feedback systems where you aim, and fire and it gives you immediate feedback. Depending on the system it could be timing you or showing your groupings. Now these systems can get expensive, going upwards of $150 for home use. There are also bigger and more complex systems like those from LASR that use virtual courses of fire.

Another great option is to give yourself a course of fire or a drill to do. For instance, you need to get out of bed and run to the front door, turn and dry fire on 3 predetermined targets in your house. Or you can set up a bunch of cups at varying distances and dry fire on them in a certain order, kind of like a memory game. All of our phones have timers on them so you can add a level of increased pressure the more you do these kinds of drills.

Just because we are stuck at home, doesn’t mean our skills need to atrophy. Take the time, 5 minutes a day, to do some training. Assemble and disassemble the gun without looking, practice reloading without looking, or do some of these dry fire exercise. And again, I can’t stress this enough, make sure the gun is unloaded before you start pulling the trigger in your home! We have all been given the luxury of time at home to train and be better than we were yesterday. Stay safe and keep training.

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Spikes Tactical Partner

Safety Reloaded is continuing to grow our business and our partnerships. Today we get to announce that we are now carrying the full line of Spikes Tactical. This includes stripped lowers, completed rifles, uppers, parts kits, and the awesome HAVOC series. Spikes Tactical is a leader in AR equipment and rifles. They provide quality products for 3-gun shooters, professionals, hunters, and enthusiast. Check out our firearms section for a small selection of their catalog. If there is something you are looking for and don’t see it on our site, shoot us an email and we will get you the info.

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Firearms

Accessories

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N95 Facemasks and How to Make Your Own

As the guidance for COVID-19 continues to shift and evolve, there’s a lot of talk about N95 face masks and the need for them. I want to clarify some information that some people may not fully understand. There are differences between an N95, surgical mask, and cloth face masks. Below there is a link to how to make your own and an info-graphic on the differences of these masks.

An N95 is a type of respirator that has been tested, evaluated, and approved by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The testing is designed to ensure the mask filters 95% of large and small particulates. It is tight fitting and needs to be adjusted properly to ensure minimal leakage around the edges when a user inhale. These were designed to protect workers from non-oil aerosols and droplets. They can be re-worn, although ideally discarded as frequently as practicable.

A surgical mask is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not a respirator and do not have a tight fit. They allow air to leak around the edges when the user inhales. They do need to be properly worn per instructions to offer the best protection. These are designed to be fluid resistant and provide against large droplets or splashes from bodily fluids. These are also designed to be disposable or laundered in some cases. They offer protection for both the wearer and those around them.

A cloth face mask, homemade masks, bandannas, and other improvised coverings are not typically tested or approved. There isn’t much info on the efficiency or protection offered by these. However, they do offer protection. They do stop a certain level of droplets and some aerosols from entering your respiratory system when properly worn. They should be worn covering both the mouth and nose and not removed until you are away from any hazard. They can be made at home and even include some filters. If they are re-usable, they should be washed frequently and dried in the sun.

If you decide to wear a face mask, it’s important to wear it properly and follow CDC and manufacturer’s instructions. Wear them when advised by your doctor, or before there is a hazard present. For instance, put the mask on before you get out of your car to go to the grocery store. Leave the mask in place until you are away from the hazard, i.e. back in the car. Do not remove the mask to talk to people, or on the phone, or sample the grapes. Anytime you remove the mask you could be putting yourself and others at risk.

We are in uncertain times, but we all need to do our part and stay home as much as possible. Allow elderly and parents of young children first option on necessities. And if you have any spare N95 masks, please donate them to your local healthcare providers. There is a huge shortage to keep them safe, and if they get sick, we are all screwed! Below is a link to the CDC guidelines on properly wearing a face mask, as well as how to make your own. Be safe everyone and if you don’t need to go out, don’t go out.

MAKE YOUR OWN

UPDATE:

If you are not a seamstress you may have found the link above useless. With that in mind, for those of us with less than an ideal sewing aptitude, or those looking for other ways to make face masks, let me introduce you to HappyDIYHome.com. They put out a post that has 5 alternatives to creating a face masks, 2 of which that don’t require any sewing! Link HERE. I hate to admit it, but the idea of making a face mask out of a T-shirt never occurred to me. Most of us probably have an old favorite shirt we are still holding onto, thinking one day we will fit back in it. This may be a great time to “up-cycle” it into a functional face covering.


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Our BIG Announcement Revealed

We teased a few weeks back that there were some big changes coming that limited our visibility on social media and our blog. So, as some of you have seen, I am officially announcing that Safety Reloaded is a licensed FFL in Lawrenceburg, KY. We can buy, sell, and special-order firearms as well as facilitate transfers. We will primarily be focusing on special orders rifles and pistols but will maintain a stock of new and used firearms on our website.

We are already set-up with several ammunition suppliers including Minuteman, Howell Munitions, and we are working with a frangible training munitions vendor to further enhance some of our classes. We are continuing to build partnerships within our community and have found a great range locally that will help grow our capabilities. Lastly, and one we are very proud of, we are an approved Bravo Concealment Holsters vendor! All of these will begin to start showing up on our website as well.

Our passion is still training and serving the community to better prepare families, churches, and businesses for whatever is thrown at them. We believe expanding the business to include sales of firearms and equipment is a logical step that continues our mission. We will continue to partner with other great groups and provide you the best firearms accessories and equipment we can.

Even with this new growth, we are not immune to the pandemic in our country. Given the current climate, we will only be open by appointment until further notice to pick-up or look at our firearms inventory. All on-line orders will be sent out as soon as possible, but we ask for your patience as we continue to work through the same challenges as all of you.

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Canceling Training Classes

In accordance with CDC and WHO guidance, we are suspending all training classes until May 1st. We will re-evaluate the situation at that time and make further recommendations. Discontinuing training will help our nation’s urgent need to maintain social distancing, limit COVID-19 spread, and decrease the burden on overtaxed hospitals; thereby preserving their ability to provide healthcare for everyone. Training remains an important priority at Safety Reloaded, and we do not make this recommendation lightly.

We are also an FFL and will continue to sell firearms, holsters, and ammo during this time. We find that service to be a critical need during this time, so we will not stop. However, to comply with social distancing we will be by appointment only. Please, email us at Info@safetyreloaded.org.

We, at Safety Reloaded remain committed to serving the community. Thank you for your patience and support during this trying time.

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What if I contract COVID-19?

What should I do if I get the Coronavirus? It’s a question I haven’t heard enough people ask. We’ve all heard what to do to prevent the spread: social distancing, hand washing, etc. But what should you do if you actually come down with Coronavirus? Below is the best medical advice out there right now from doctors and nurses.

What should you have stocked at the house ahead of time? Tissues, Acetaminophen/Tylenol, Ibuprofen/Advil, Mucinex, Robitussin or DayQuil/NyQuil, or whatever your preference of flu medicine is. A a humidifier is a plus. If you have a history of asthma and you have a prescription inhaler, make sure the one you have isn’t expired and refill it. Prepare as though you know you’re going to get bronchitis or pneumonia.

A fever over 101: Alternate Tylenol and Advil dosing every 3 hours. Use Mucinex. Don’t suppress your cough… you want to loosen chest, get that mucus out. Keep hydrating; electrolyte type drinks, half and half with water. Rest lots. If you’re sick, do not leave your house except to go to the doctor, and if you do, wear a mask. You don’t need to go to the ER unless you are having trouble breathing or your fever is high and unmanaged with medication.

Most healthy adult cases have been managed at home with rest/hydration/over-the-counter meds. The hospital beds will be used for people who need oxygen/breathing treatments/IV fluids. One major relief to you parents is that kids do okay with coronavirus— they usually bounce back in a few days, no one under 18 has died. Just use pediatric dosing of the same meds. For those with heart or lung conditions, diabetes, or compromised immune systems, you need to take additional precautions. Contact your primary care physician for more guidance for your specific conditions.