Read any good self-defense books lately?

Two I have especially enjoyed are:

1. "Protect Yourself With your Snub Nose Revolver" by Grant Cunningham

2. "Defensive Revolver Fundamentals: Protecting Your Life With the All-American Firearm" by Grant Cunningham and Rob Pincus

Both books primarily focus on Smith and Wesson revolvers as I have only relatively recently returned to the revolver from a lifelong journey with .45 ACP autos (which I still own and use) and the S&W revolver specifically for both plinking with my 617-4 8 3/8" barrel .22LR and self-defence training with my S&W 625-8 JM 4" .45 ACP Apex Tactical Specialties revolver.

The Law of Self- Defense Principles, Branca. Should be "required reading" for anyone who CCW's.

Grant Cunningham's snub book is good. I've read that one.

While I haven't read them lately, Massad Ayoob's Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense is a good reference and Rob Pincus' Counter Ambush has some good info. The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker and Left of Bang by Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley provide good info on situational awareness and mindset. Another good read is Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding's book, Defensive Living. Lovette's The Snubby Revolver is an excellent read for snub users, but it is currently out of print. I have read that Michael deBethencourt is trying to get it reprinted.

I re-read "No Second Place Winner" by Bill Jordan recently. Revolver-oriented and written before most of today's experts were born, but Jordan had been there and done that. Reading it 40 years ago gave me a solid foundation and probably saved my life and the lives of others.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

I just remembered the author of "Jim Cirillo's Tales Of The Stakeout Squad" Paul Kirchner has come out with a "Revised and Expanded Edition" in paperback that I was lucky enough to get a first printing of. I loved it so if you get a chance it is well worth the read especially if you are a revolver guy.

This book deals with an Officer involved shooting but it is an excellent book that provides much information to any defensive use of firearms.

Newhall Shooting - Home

Mike Wood has written a significant contribution to the subject gunfights.
Highly recommend!

__________________
LEX ET ORDO

I just got "Combat Focus Shooting: The Science of Intuitive Shooting Skill Development" by Rob Pincus in the mail today. Has anyone else read it? What is your opinion of it?

I was taught "Quick Kill" in the US Army and was very surprised how well it worked and easy it was to maintain my skill level over the years with just a little practice.

I have jury duty next week so I picked up Spotting Danger Before It Spots You by Gary Quesenberry. Something to read while sitting all day. In the past, while on jury duty, I was excused from a case by the defense. While being interviewed I heard both the prosecution and the defense teams whisper "De Becker". I was reading The Gift Of Fear while in the waiting area. Go figure.

The Gift Of Fear is a great book BTW. Highly recommended.

No, but when I have time, I try to re-read No Second Place Winner (Jordan), anything by Jeff Cooper, and of course, Massad Ayoob. I am also quite a fan of Col. Rex Applegate. Try, Kill or Get Killed.

The chapters Attention from the Left and Nocturne in the Ten Ring in Fireworks, A Gunsite Anthology are worth a re-read, not because actually shots are fired, but because they are not.

There's many books available on that subject. But it always comes back to one main question; what would a reasonable person do?

Equipment, tactics, etc.... all good but also variable. But your frame of mind has to be 100% right. That's the hard part...

__________________
Jorge

I will look into those. But I did read his other revolver books:

“Auto Shmauto,” “Magazines are for reading”, “Sissies need more than six”, and “Guns, like cars, should have cylinders.”

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

"The Modern Day Gunslinger: The Ultimate Handgun Training Manual" by Don Mann, U.S. Navy Seal. I found extremely good. It covers combat mind set, marksmanship, defensive training techniques, tactical guidelines and concealed carry. It is a thick book crammed with great information.

If you have not figured out that I am a voracious reader on the subjects of self-defense, and tactics; well I am and have a modest library on the subjects. I have yet to acquire a copy of "The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War" but I have my eye on a copy. There is just so much to read and learn and so little time. At 71 I'm slowing down physically but my mind wants to keep learning ever more.

The Book of Two Guns by Tiger McKee.

Ah, "The Book of Two Guns: The Martial Art of the 1911 Pistol and AR Carbine" is a good choice.

I would think any Seal—or any combat veteran for that matter—that found themselves having to use a handgun in combat would be having a very, very bad day.

I certainly have not talked to an extensive number, nor would I pry, but with the combat veterans I have spoken to, I cant think of a single one that ever drew their sidearm in combat.

__________________
No school like the old school.

Don Mann, U.S. Navy Seal was a firearms trainer as I understand it and even people new to the Seals have to train with their firearm's. I had trained with a Colt 1911 .45 ACP for years before entering the U.S. Army after graduating college and ROTC and using many different rifles. My time with the Colt 1911 and long experience shooting allowed me to qualify "expert" with the M-14, M-16, and Colt 1911. Many of my fellow ROTC cadets had minimal experience with firearms other than what they received in basic training which was minimal at that point. I hope they received more later before receiving their branch assignments but I never received more. OJT is a hard way to learn during those times, 1970.

People like MPs and people I served with in the first Drug Suppression Units established in the U.S. Army in 1972 often carried and used Colt 1911s. I was on Okinawa.

This book by Greg Ellifritz.



His Blog, Active Response Training | Providing Reality-Based Solutions to Resist Criminal Violence, is excellent as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Check this one:

Concealed Carry Class - the ABCs of self-defense tools and tactics

By Tom Givens 2019

Another:

Handgun Training-Practice drills for defensive shooting

By Grant Cunningham 2015

__________________
Tony

I have all of Bruce Lee's 1st edition books and Michael D. Echanis' 1st editions on Knife Fighting. I doubt most people outside the Knife fighting or military world even know who Michael D. Echanis is. I have had mine since they were first printed in the 70s. Keep them coming everyone as I love to know what everyone is reading and what you think of what you have read!

Has anyone read "Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools and Tactics" by Tom Givens? If so what do you think of it?

"Deadly Force Encounters, Second Edition" by Alexis Artwhol and Loren W. Christensen.

Doesn't deal directly with tools or techniques, but covers a lot of stuff you need to know. And, have available should you end up in court.

"Straight Talk on Armed Defense" edited by Mas Ayoob. Lot of good information by experts.

Combat Gunfighting: Advanced Handgun Fighting Skill. Michael T. Rayburn.

Similar to Don Mann’s book, it’s a complete doctrine for how to fight with a handgun - mindset, fundamentals (grip, stance, movement, yada, yada), tactics, drills. A little old school. Rayburn is a retired LEO and former S&W Academy Trainer. Book has a LEO slant with civilian ccw application included.

__________________
Vegan by proxy.

I’ve read both the ABC’s and Givens’ first book Fighting Smarter.

Easiest to use an analogy. Where I live, the CHP/CCW class is pretty basic. They spend most of the time discussing pistol safety and legal aspects of carrying a pistol. There’s only a short section where you actually fire the pistol. I think it’s only 30 rounds.

Most places that do training offer a couple follow on courses. The first is usually a two day weekend course called something like “Pistol I”, but a better name might be “Everything we should have taught you in CHP class, but weren’t required to.” — That’s the ABC’s book.

Then they usually offer a follow on one day course called “Pistol II” or “Intermediate Pistol.” Basic tactics. Shooting behind cover. etc. IMO, Givens’ “Fighting Smarter” is the book version of Pistol I and Pistol II.

From a writing style standpoint - The ABC’s is written way better. Probably used a professional copy editor and graphic artist. Fighting Smarter, not so much.

To add another brick to the pile. Places like Gunsite and Front Sight offer one week courses that are (IMO) the combo of Pistol I plus Pistol II plus more advanced things like moving through buildings. IMO content wise, the Mann and Rayburn books mentioned above, would be analogous to a Gunsight/Front Sight one week course.

BTW, I’m not saying reading a book is the same as attending an in-person course with a comptent instructor. I’m comparing the level of content between the various books.

__________________
Vegan by proxy.

The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen

by Andrew F. Branca (Author), Massad Ayoob (Foreword)

The title of the book pretty much sums up what the book is about. In today's world you cannot get enough preparation on this subject!

I have mentioned the subject of the U.S. Army training program called "Quick Kill" many times on this forum. Now there is a book out on the actual U.S. Army training manual.

Principles of Quick Kill - The U.S. Army Manual of Instinct Shooting: Learn to accurately shoot targets as small as an aspirin tablet with a BB gun without using sights.