Situational Awareness

The more you know, the safer you and your family will be.

This does not just apply to whether or not you carry a firearm (or six.)

We are talking about your personal safety. The awareness that KEEPS you and your loved ones out of harms way. I don't know about you, but hearing reports like the rampaging mobs in London, the flash mobs in Philly, Wisconsin and other places, well- it raises a level of concern.


It isn't just flash mob situations that are a concern.

Two months back my sons and I had an encounter in our local mega-mart that had all the potential to be a disaster. Fortunately, we were safe, but I lay that all to honing my situational awareness skills and USING the information that is gathered.

We've all heard about "gut instinct". I'm sure we've all got stories about how your gut saved your hide. That highly tuned sense of SA is a valuable tool when it comes to keeping yourself, your family and home safe.

But how many of us are putting ourselves in needless jeopardy by NOT paying attention? By being distracted at very bad times?

Too many.

Too many people are wrapped up in texting, cell phone conversations, ipods and other electronic brain drains. People, please- as you wander about in the store or on the street, put those things down for a moment. You are distracted while using them, and an easy target.

Criminals look for what?

Easy.
Targets.

Don't be easy. If a Bad Guy wants to confront you, make his job really suck. Be alert- aware. Listen to your gut- if your gut tells you something is not safe or right in a given situation, then get out!


Roughly a week ago in Savannah GA, a 15 year old girl was walking on the sidewalk. Men approached her, driving a van next to her, trying to get her into the van. She used smarts- and she turned into a nearby store and took shelter for a time.


But.

This story does not have the happy ending it could, because the scum bags waited for this child to leave the store, snuck up behind her and grabbed her. They forced her into their van and raped her.


There has been a lot of that type of action going on in and around Savannah lately.


If YOU find yourself in a similar situation, please- take it one step farther. Call 911. Call family members. Call SOMEONE to meet you and escort you where you need to be. Know if there is a back door, and use it. Know alternative exits and routes. Above all else though--

Listen.
To.
Your.
Gut.

Utilize your Situational Awareness.

Stay safe out there.

Why An Action Shoot?

These days, reading the news is just plain depressing. We are bombarded with stories of home invasions, muggings, car jacking, abduction, assault- the list of the bad news is seemingly endless. As a result of this, many people are turning to the purchase of a firearm for self protection and home defense.



They are investing the time in practice. Have planned out how to handle various situations, should something happen.

There is a shortfall though. You can only practice so much on a range- any range- during normal business hours. Being limited to single lane use and having to be stationary will teach you a lot about handling your firearm and how it shoots, but you won't be able to develop your strategies for having to shoot AND move that way. And you surely do not want to shoot up your home to test theories for real world scenarios.

Range Master Matt Harrell and Assistant Manager Joe Scull put their heads together to come up with a solution for this training issue, and Saturday Night Action Shoots were born.



These shoots are not timed nor scored. The range staff study the news and come up with scenarios from real life happenings. Each shoot involves target movement, target identification, shot placement, use of cover, magazine changes and low light settings. Taking advantage of our state of the art range's abilities, the lighting is adjusted and targets are controlled from the Range Booth. This allows for "surprise attacks" by Bad Guys, which really gives you a good feel for how things may happen in real life.

As you arrive and sign in, one of our Range Safety Officers does a Safety Briefing. At which time, all participants eye and ear up, and head out to the range for the first drill. The first drill is a qualifier, involving several elements that allow RSO's to determine the skill level and safety awareness of each participant. After qualifying, each participant works through more scenarios that have been planned from recent events in the news.

The purpose of each drill- from a home invasion situation (low light) to being approached by multiple assailants coming at you from an alley way- is to allow each shooter to get a feel for what it might be like should this ever happen in their life. It provides a better look at how your body will handle situations while you are moving, shows you how to reload on the go, and allows you to expand your defensive skill set. Please Note: This is NOT a training event- range staff is on hand to over see safety and set up the scenarios, but they are NOT providing actual defensive training during the event. If you are interested in defensive training, that can be provided in a one on one setting by qualified instructors. Ask the Range Master for more information.

Sound like something you'd like to participate in? Come on and join us! Saturday, August 13- arrive at the Range by 5:45PM for sign in and briefing.

Patrick's Indoor Gun Range
Highway 80
Garden City GA
912-355-0205

New At Patrick's Indoor Gun Range!

Welcome to the Range!


Plenty of exciting changes going on at the Gun Range, starting with new classes and events.

Several shooters requested an Action Shoot once a month-
we were happy to oblige!

What does an Action Shoot involve?
- Real World settings, including low-light situations
- Shoot and Move tactics

When is it held?
- This month the Action heats up on
SATURDAY AUGUST 13 at 6PM

The basis of the Action Shoots is to improve your skills
for Real World events.
There is no timing, no scores.
Cost is $20 per shooter.
Rentals are available at a separate charge.
Arrive by 5:45PM to sign in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introducing New Staff!

Shannon Harrell joins the Range staff.

Shannon will be handling all emails, blog updates, Facebook as well as coordinating
events and classes. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free
to email Shannon at gunrangeoffice@yahoo.com

Shannon also holds NRA certifications in Refuse To Be A Victim,
and Pistol.

She is looking forward to meeting you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New At The Rental Counter!

There is always a wide selection of hand guns available at our rental counter.
One of the best things you can do before buying a pistol is to see how you like that make and model.

Currently, our rental listing has 38 semi autos and revolvers.
We also have three long guns:
Chiappa M4 .22LR
AK 47 .22 LR
GSG 5 .22 LR

Handgun rentals are $10
Long guns are $15

There is also a full supply of range ammo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~


New In The Case:
The Springfield XDm 5.25 Competition Series

Springfield has yet to release a price on this fine pistol,
but it has been released to ranges across the country for testing.
Thus far the reviews have been nothing but fantastic.

Featuring a 5.25" match grade barrel, a forged steel slide with lightening cut,
fiber optic front sight and fully adjustable target rear sight,
this sweet shooting 9 x 19mm is turning some heads.

Our Range staff have put this gun to the test-
and thus far everyone at Patrick's has enjoyed it.
Stop in and send a few rounds through it yourself
and see how you like it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Coming Events in August:

Saturday August 13,
5:45PM Action Shoot

Thursday August 18,
5PM until ??
Ladies Night


Saturday August 20,
8AM
First Shots


Saturday August 27
5PM until ??
Date Night

We look forward to seeing you on the Range!
Please call 912-355-0205 with any questions.

Patrick's Indoor Gun Range
Highway 80,
Garden City GA
912-355-0205

Or Find Us On Facebook!
First 100 Likes, and we will hold a
one day 10% off firearms accessories sale!

First Gun Review

We have all heard a friend of a friend who has a horror story about Taurus semi-automatics. That reputation in their older firearms was hard to deny. Now they have a new generation of small frame, concealed carry pistols that are a new breed. This short review is on the Taurus PT709 Slimline. Not exactly a new gun but one that I consider a sleeper in the "concealed carry size, full size power" carry pistol. At first glance it is kind of blocky and a little less that stellar in it's shape and form. Don't let the "narrowed block" design get the better of you. It has amazing ergonomics and is actually a comfortable, manageable gun to shoot. The controls are all simple and easy to manipulate. The sights are 3 dot white standard but easily visible and adjustable for windage AND elevation. The 709 has a few safety features that make it a winner as well. It has a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator and has an *gasp* external manual safety! It also gives you multiple strike capability in case of a bad primer. The trigger pull is a bit long but is smooth with a clean break that can be improved by a good gunsmith. Break down is easy with a simple Glock type slide lock lever system. Maintenance is a breeze and a minimum is required. On the range we were able to get easy 3" groups at 21 ft. using a multitude of 115, and 124 grain range ammo. Recoil is felt but not nearly as powerful as you would expect in such a small package. Using +P ammo the recoil was easily manageable for very fast follow on defensive shots. All in all this little sleeper surprised me quite a bit. But why take my word for it..one of mu customers has run it through a real world combat scenario gauntlet. Here's his email to me about it... "Matt, It is good to hear from you! My team and I are sitting in Dubai waiting to head back to Afghanistan tomorrow morning. I threw some pics in because you wanted em. OH! by the way...that Taurus Slim 9mm I bought from you is the best compact I have ever owned. It's better than any Glock and it has a safety. John Reid". That from a private military contractor in Afghanistan that hunts terrorists for a living.

Marine's Last Wish

We were lucky enough to be able to help grant a Marine's last wish. Rather than try to paraphrase or do a summary I thought it would be better to link to this event from the actual source. I was proud to be a small part of this. Just remember to tell people that it is the pollen making your eyes water. ;)

http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=56752

1911 Pistols

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1911 being adopted for use by the United States Army. Today the pistol is just as popular as it has ever been with many manufacturers releasing anniversary editions. The 1911 is known for its accuracy, reliability, and simple operation. The history of the 1911 is very impressive.


In 1906 the Army had begun seeking a replacement for the .38 caliber revolvers currently being issued to its troops. They sought a reliable automatic pistol with more stopping power than the .38. It was decided by the Army that the .45 caliber round would suit its needs. At the time John Browning had been designing an automatic pistol in .38 Super for Colt. He modified the design for the .45 cartridge. The design was submitted with others from companies such as Smith and Wesson and Savage for testing.

Out of about a half a dozen different designs the Colt, designed by John Browning, and a pistol manufactured by Savage were selected for a final test. Thousands of rounds were fired through the pistols after being put through tests such as being buried in sand or dunked in acid. The Colt proved to be the most reliable and was adopted by the Army in March of 1911.

Over the years the 1911 has been carried by many Armies around the world. Colt and other manufacturers have released many modifications for the gun, but the basic parts and operation have remained the same. Today dozens of manufacturers construct 1911 pistols for sale to the public. Unfortunately (at least in the author's opinion) the 1911 was replaced by the Beretta M9 for use by the United States Military. The pistol has however made a come back and is currently in use by some special operations units.

Let's celebrate this famous pistol this year by taking your favorite 1911 to the range and firing a few hundred rounds.

The best advertising in the world

The best advertisement is the one your customer does for you. This gentleman is a member of our range and was actually doing a critique on a range he visited while in Atlanta.

"I will try to sum up my impression of sharpshooters in roswell, based on my experiences today. but be forewarned, im going to be 100% honest in my assessment of this range.

i will start by saying that i do all my indoor shooting at Patrick's uniforms, in Garden City. Any of you who have been to Patrick's know that it is a VERY high class indoor range. so here we go....

initial impression of the store.... pulling into the parking lot, first thought is that its a very outstanding looking building, kinda like a mix of a walgreens and a bass pro shop. walking in the front door, i was impressed with the spacious layout, and how un-cluttered the floor space is. the counters are all very nice, and looks like there is gonna be one hell of a pile of guns in there once all the shelves are stocked, and the gun racks are filled.

after being there a while, it was time to shoot. my thoughts.... i understand the emphasis on safety, and i can appreciate it, i really do. i understand that there are plenty of idiots in the world, and i also realize that there is a particularly high concentration of them around the atlanta area. however, i think all around safety is taken a bit too far.

1- they require a photo copy of your drivers license
2- copy of drivers license is printed onto a waiver that you have to sign
3- you are required to wear a cap with a forward facing brim
4- you are required to watch a safety video
5- you have a lanyard with your lane # on it
6- there is a full time range officer in the range.
7- you are required to wash your hands, face, and forearms before leaving the range



annoyances - ok, this may be a bit long.

1- the foul line laser is a bit high, and the targets hang a bit low. it is very annoying having the buzzer go off every few minutes, then you have to put your gun down and back away from the firing line every time someone with a silhouette target bring their target back to home and it breaks the foul line laser. this happend 3 times in 20 minutes while i was shooting. (on other lanes)

2- the range just feels......... unfinished. you kind of feel like you are shooting in an underground bunker. (patricks is very well finished, and has a much more alive feel to it)

3- you have to activate a button to go through the door. this is difficult to do with a range bag in one hand, and targets in the other.

4- the target holders operate in yards, so you can only shoot in 3 foot increments.

5- the target holders dont have any sort of rotation feature, and only go to shooting distance, then back. (the target holders at patricks have rotation, and can be programmed to go to a set distance, stop, move, rotate, and do "shoot / dont shoot" type scenarios)

6- the targets. they only have one target with any sort of bullseye, and the lines on it are so faint you cant hardly see them past 2 yards. (due to this, i shot the worst ive shot in a year)

7- you are required to have all of your gear (range bag, ammo, everything) inside of your shooting stall.

8- the tables in the shooting stalls are slick laminated tops, but only about 8 inches wide. i see many, MANY, dropped guns in the future. (the tables need to be covered with some sort of rubbery cover, so stuff wont slide around).

9- the range officer. forum user "samman23" was one of the range officers we met, and he was great, but the guy in there before him was kind of annoying.




things that i was impressed with about this range-

1- the shooting stalls are wide. 4 feet actually, however this is kind of negated by being required to have all your stuff inside the stall with you.

2- they have plenty of lanes, i believe it was 24 lanes.




summary -
dont take this the wrong way. i am in no way saying this range is a subpar range. this is a VERY high end range. of all the places ive seen, this is the second best indoor range ive ever seen. fortunately, the BEST ive ever seen is the one that is close enough to be my main range. I have confidence that Patrick's may very well be the nicest indoor range in the country, but sharpshooters has to be the closest thing you will ever find to it.

there are a lot employees there, and they are all ready to help you. they have an awesome range, and a great storefront. they have a great selection, and decent prices. if you any of you guys are looking for a nice range to shoot at, then you should definately check out sharpshooters, its one heck of a range!"


That is one heck of a compliment to our facility and staff. It would seem we are the benchmark that other ranges are compared to. We strive every day to exceed customer expectations and it is very flattering to see in writing how our hard work has left a lasting impression on at least one gentleman.

Gunfighting 101

There are 3 simple rules to a gunfight.

1) Bring a GUN!

2) Bring the biggest gun you can.

3) If your friends have guns...bring them too!

Why this post? I was reading a firearm industry magazine and noticed an article about a gentleman who thought he could gun fight. The gentleman in question started an altercation with some other fine upstanding citizens at a private party. He kept referring to the bulge at his waistline and asking if anyone "wanted some".

It seems the offended party had enough and escorted the crasher out with help of 2 friends. The crasher made a move for his belt line. At this point the 3 gentlemen (all firearm permit holders) proceeded to draw their pistols and ventilate the party crasher full of so many holes he would float. Police were called and the crasher was pronounced DRT. (Dead Right There for those of you not in the know)

Upon further inspection the crasher had a CAULK GUN tucked into his waistband. The outline looked VERY much like that of a pistol. So much so in fact that even his girlfriend thought it was a real. The shooting was later determined to be justifiable self defense.

What did we learn from this? Threatening people with the threat of a gun, a fake gun or even the outline of a gun can be hazardous to your health. In this modern age MANY law abiding citizens have taken their right to self defense seriously. More than a few take gun fighting seriously and so do their well armed friends. So if you plan on acting like a thug, or making threats at least remember the first rule of gun fighting....unless of course you plan to seal them up.

Welcome Aboard!!

Welcome to the new Patrick's Gun Range blog. This blog will be about a lot more than just guns or our range. We will have several permanent authors as well as guest bloggers on specific subjects. We will be running the gambit of everything from guns, to shooting, to personal safety and all points in between.