Let’s take a look back at some of our most viewed content from Instagram. There are some gems here!
Last but not least, this group photo from So Cal!
Videos – Retention, Brass over Bolt and Marksmanship
18 Wednesday Sep 2019
Posted in Training
Tag Archives: training
Drop Leg Holsters – When to use and how to use correctly
21 Wednesday Aug 2019
Posted in Gear Reviews and Tips, Training
By Aaron Ward
In the world of holsters, there are a plethora of options for carrying your handgun. From In the Waist band, Appendix carry, Outside the Waist Band, duty/battle belt mounted, armor mounted and drop leg holsters. Each of these holster options have their place in the world, depending on your mission, environment, body type, gear selection and lay out. While many have chosen to adopt their drop leg holster for their purposes, does this holster choice fit your needs? Do you know why you’re using it? Are there other options that better fit your needs? We’re going to dive in the weeds a bit to help you better understand the why’s of the Drop Leg Holsters and the When’s.
First, some history…
The forebearer of the modern Drop Leg Holster/thigh holster started initially with the U.S. Calvary and cowboys during Western expansion. These were simple holsters with long leather drop downs and simple leather thongs tied around the upper thigh. These allowed the holster to be drawn easier from the saddle. In a more modern context, we see these holster begin to gain prominence again, however for a very different reason. As police forces and militaries began to issue their personnel more body armor in response to ever changing tactical scenarios, these personnel found that a traditional belt mounted holster would be obstructed by the increasing bulk of body armor and equipment. The Thigh Rig/Drop Leg Holster allowed for the pistol to be drawn from without being fouled by equipment being worn.
The Why of a Drop Leg Holster:
- If wearing bulky gear or body armor a Drop Leg Holster (DLH) moves your gun and holster down further from that equipment, allowing for a cleaner draw stroke.
- If seated frequently a drop leg holster can be employed, as it may allow an easier draw from the seated position.
- If you have a body proportion where your arms are longer than your torso, the lower gun position may produce a smoother draw
Some things to think about…
- If worn improperly, the thigh rig can, and will rotate around the thigh during intensive movement, such as running, jumping, crawling and other strenuous activities.
- While moving, your holster is moving as well. There for your handgun is moving as well by nature of being attached to your leg. This can make drawing more unpredictable during movement. Requiring the user to modify their movements in order to successfully draw.
- DLH can be more difficult for the wear to maintain control of the firearm should they find themselves wrestling for control of the holstered gun.
Tips for Proper Wear and Use:
Wear a Stiff Belt
As with most holsters, a DLH relies on a belt to be utilized correctly. A flimsy belt will allow the holster to sag, with the holster itself sliding down further on the leg. Possibly putting the butt of the gun out of reach of the user’s hand.
Wear High on the Thigh
A general rule of thumb for wear of the DLH is the mouth of the holster should sit no lower than the top of your pants pocket. Or the butt of the gun should be able to rest easily within your grasp if your arms are resting at your side. If you have to bend/stretch your torso to draw, your holster is too low.
Use the Thigh Straps
DLH will come with a thigh strap. These should be worn as high on the leg as possible. Generally right below groin junction inside your leg will be your benchmark. These straps should be worn tight enough to prevent movement of the thigh rig, but not so tight to become uncomfortable or restrict blood flow.
Holster must have a Retention Device
Holsters with retention devices are highly recommended in my opinion, due mostly to the movement your gun will go through just completing daily task, or strenuous activities. Ensure any retention devices can being deactivated without requiring extra movements at the waist.
As with any gear used in a self-defense, you should know your gear, and practice with it regularly. Get out and move around with your holster of choice on, crawl, jump and run while wearing it. Take the time prior to training days, or duty use to hash out any issues and ensure that everything fits properly and feels comfortable.
Tips for Success on the Range: Defensive Handgun Skill Builder
24 Wednesday Jul 2019
Posted in Classes, Gear Reviews and Tips, Training
Tags
belt, dhsb, ear muffs, ear protection, gear, handgun, holster, knee pads, manipulations, pistol, skill builder, training
So you’ve signed up for Defensive Handgun Skill Builder class! Between being excited for the opportunity to shoot dynamic drills on an outdoor range and the eagerness to build on your self defense skills, you may have some concerns as to what you need to bring with you to have a successful learning experience.
We’ll talk about some things that will set you up for success in Defensive Handgun Skill Builder class and any future firearms classes you may attend, whether they be with us at Monarch Defense or any other instructor/school.
First let’s talk about your hardware (guns, gear etc…)
Belt
This one may seem like a no brainer, but you should be wearing a belt when you attend class. While any belt is better than no belt, you should be looking to bring the stiffest belt you own. This belt will not only keep your pants up but will also be responsible for keeping your holster and magazine pouches in place during movements you will be undertaking.
The stiffer your belt, the less movement in your holster you will get as we move through drills that include drawing the pistol, or re-holstering. This is vitally important. A loose or flimsy belt will flex and yield during these movements. Either fouling, or slowing your draw stroke. This is all applicable whether you’re carrying OWB (outside the waistband) or IWB (inside the waistband, concealed carry).
Holster
Ideally your holster should be fitted to your model gun, whether it be a kydex form fitted holster, or something like the Safariland ALS. These holster are designed to fit your gun, and will retain your pistol far better than any so called “universal holster” that is usually made of flimsy nylon. For a better idea on which holster to choose and what carry position is suitable for you, take a look at our “Choosing the Right Holster” article.
Ear Protection
Allow me to get a little more in depth on this one. While you’ll be served just fine using the tried and true “foamy” ear plugs, you may often times find yourself removing at least one of them, allowing you to hear instruction during class and having to haphazardly put them back in again when the line starts up again.
I’ve found that a huge benefit can be gained in training and your own sanity if you invest in good over-the-ear muffs. Even more so if you decide to get electronic ear protection, that allows you to hear instruction clearly, yet cancels out the noise of gunshots.
Useful tools
Some other things that you should consider bringing include:
- Multi-tool: They always come in handy. A good one should include pliers, a knife blade, and a Phillips and Flathead screwdriver.
- Knee-pads: While we don’t always end up in alternative shooting positions such as kneeling or prone position. If we do, you’ll likely be thankful you brought them along.
- Cleaning kit: Any time you take your firearm out to the range/shooting, you should bring along a cleaning kit for said firearm. It should include at minimum: cleaner/lube, a brush (old tooth brush works well), chamber brush, and cleaning rods. If your gun fouls up during the day from carbon build up or dirt, this will help you get back up and running.
Now that we’ve talked about some of the gear that will aid you in having a successful DHSB, let’s talk about some of the things on the software side, what you bring to the table.
Open Mind
Some of you will be coming to class with little experience shooting on an outdoor, dynamic and hot range, and that’s totally fine. Others will be coming with a plethora of shooting experience, and that too is awesome. And others will fall somewhere in the middle. The key to learning is coming into the event with an open and eager mind ready to soak up whatever knowledge may be presented to you.
Being open minded can be a challenge, especially if you’re invested in the methods you’re currently using. But as with all things in life we’ve got to be willing to try new things. Much as the world has adopted the internet as a means of communication over the letter. We too should strive to continue to learn and adopt new methodology and training in order to allow us to continue to become more refined shooters, and more responsible gun owners.
Safe Manipulations of your Pistol
In class we’ll go more in depth on how, where and why certain manipulations should be undertaken. Prior to class you can get a one up on your learning by going over some simple ones that you should be familiar with, and eventually instill into yourself as second nature.
These include locking the slide to the rear, ejecting magazines using the magazine release, working the safety if your pistol has one. This can be tricky depending on the size of your hands and the model pistol you intend to use. Finally exercise conscious thought on ensuring your finger is off the trigger, and firmly planted on the slide of your pistol when not shooting. Check out our video guides on basic handgun manipulations that you can practice at home. Training tips – 3 basic handgun manipulations
We look forward to seeing you out on the range. If you have questions about how to prep for this class, whether it be gear related questions or anything else, feel free to message us on Facebook, Instagram or email us directly at info@monarchdefense.org.
About the Author
Aaron Ward was born and raised in Southern California. Spending 11 years in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman, deploying to Iraq, and around the world. He’s been instructing with Monarch Defense since 2018. Follow him on Instagram! @keeper0311
Perfect prone vs Rifleman’s prone – how and when to use them
14 Tuesday May 2019
When it comes to employing the rifle as a fighting implement, understanding prone positions is crucial for your success. Bullets go both ways and our first priority is to not get shot. Getting small and low to the ground is the easiest way to make the bad guy work hard for his hits. Simultaneously, rifles are incredibly precise instruments, but if you can’t steady the rifle to aim properly, then the inherent precision of the tool is useless. Hence, getting down on the ground allows us to get hits on smaller and farther targets.
Let’s break down the 2 prone positions, and when to use one vs the other.
The Perfect Prone
From standing, tuck the stock of your rifle under your armpit, keeping the weapon pointing towards the target. Drop down to 2 knees with the palm of your support hand on the earth and your head up. This is the Three Legged Crawl position.
Now, sprawl your legs out behind you so that you are on your belly, with your legs straight and relaxed, feet turned outwards and flat to the earth, hips open, with your weight distributed between your chest and elbows. The barrel is aligned down your spine and to your weapon side foot. Your support side leg can be off to the side a little if that is more comfortable for you. This is the perfect prone.
By far, the perfect prone position is the most stable and therefore allows you the most accuracy when you need it. Hence, it is the sniper’s favorite position, and what you should use anytime you have the luxury of supporting the front of your rifle on a bipod or backpack or other object. This should should be your go-to position when you are zeroing your rifle, and when you find yourself proactively picking a place to lay down to wait for an extended period of time.
Drawbacks of Perfect Prone
The drawbacks of the perfect prone are that it does not accommodate those with big bellies, and those who have lots of gear on their chest, and it is very slow to jump up if you need to move. Furthermore, since your abdomen is in direct contact with the earth, when you breath, your body will rise and fall behind the rifle. Hence, the perfect prone position is best used when you are calm and your breath rate is low.
Finally, if you ever find yourself wearing a helmet, you will realize that in the perfect prone, all you can see is the inside of the helmet. Head mounted night vision? Forget about it. If you are breathing heavily, wearing armor and magazines on your chest, and suspect you will need to get up to sprint, opt for the Rifleman’s Prone instead.
The Rifleman’s Prone
Also known as the leg up prone, the rifleman’s prone position involves rolling up onto your support side, by bringing your weapon-side knee and foot up as high as it will go. Thus now you are propped up between your weapon-side knee, support-side thigh, support-side chest near the armpit, and your weapon-side elbow. The feet are laid flat to the earth, but unlike the previous position, in the rifleman’s prone, both feet face the same direction, and the legs are flexed, ready to spring up and sprint if necessary.
Have a buddy check your form to make sure your spine is straight, which usually means positioning yourself at an angle to the rifle, perhaps 20 degrees off the support side. The barrel should align with your shoulder and the boot of your flexed strong side leg.
The rifleman’s prone mitigates the weaknesses of the perfect prone: You can breathe deeper and more vigorously without effecting your aim, you can get up and down into the position much more quickly, you can wear full kit around your chest, and also see under the rim of your helmet or through night vision goggles.
Drawbacks of Rifleman’s Prone
The drawback is that it is quite a bit more awkward, and if you aren’t familiar with the position, it will cause some cramps in very foreign parts of your back and torso, but spend time to familiarize yourself to it, and the merits are significant. Also, you will find this position to be slightly less stable than having your entire chest on the earth, and that you present a higher profile to incoming fire.
Which ever positions you choose, getting up will be similar. Keep your head up, tuck the stock under your arm, brace against the earth with your support side palm, and push yourself up to a three legged crawl position. From here you can bring the support hand up to the weapon and gain situational awareness, then rise to a kneeling, crouching, and standing position.
There you have it, the two prone positions for fighting with a rifle, and the strengths and weaknesses of each. Learn both, understand when to use which technique, and this knowledge will serve you well out in the field.
Choosing the right holster
09 Tuesday Apr 2019
Posted in Gear Reviews and Tips, Training
Tags
appendix, ccw, concealment, crossdraw, dropleg, handgun, holster, iwb, ladies, owb, pistol, skillbuilder, training, women
This post was to be written as a “holsters for ladies” type article but this post applies to anyone who is looking to choose the right holster for their purpose and physical build. We thought a post title of “Holsters for people with shorter torsos compared to the ideal male physical build that is targeted by the gun accessories market” would be too long.
Natural wrist position
A natural wrist position is crucial for a smooth, fast draw. The less the wrist bends while going from holster draw to presentation, the more efficient the movement will be.
The position of the holster and therefore the gun determines the wrist angle when the shooter goes for the draw. Aim to have the forearm and wrist in a straight line with enough room to get the gun out of the holster. This goes for appendix carry, hip carry, back carry and etc.
When the holster is low, for example at the thigh level, the arm and wrist won’t bend at all. As the holster position rises up the body, the shoulder will rotate backwards, the elbow will bend and as you go even higher, the wrist will bend as well.
A good holster position will be allow the gun to come out of the holster with minimal wrist bending. The position will be different depending on torso length relative to arm length. Ladies will typically have a shorter torso and therefore holsters that sit on the belt line are too high up. They should opt for a holster that sits below the belt line.
What about concealment?
In the words of Lil Jon, shake what your mama gave ya. This means, work with your physical attributes to achieve your purpose.
For men, who typically have broader back and shoulders, this means wearing a holster at the belt at the 4 o’clock position so the butt of the gun can be concealed in the arch of the low back by the loose clothing hanging off the shoulder. For ladies, carrying in that same holster and position would not work well. Let’s take a look at this photo.
This particular holster has a built-in forward cant of the holster called the FBI cant. Back in the day, the technique was to shoot from a crouch or to draw the gun with a slight forward bend of the body. The holster complemented that by canting the gun forwards slightly so the wrist would be in a more natural position.
In this case, the holster is working against the shooter. The shooter’s wrist is at an awkward angle and while this photo is not of a concealed holster, put on your imagination hats for a minute and you can imagine that a shirt over this holster on this particular body frame would not be hidden very well.
Ladies can consider wearing the gun in front of the body at a 2 o’clock position either straight or canted slightly backwards which allows loose clothing hanging off what your mama gave ya to conceal the handgun and a smoother draw stroke.
What about [insert trendy carry position here]?
There are many ways to carry a gun. It all comes down to your purpose and working with your body’s physical attributes. There are pros and cons to different carry methods. They are too many to cover in an article here but we made a video of a few holsters that you don’t commonly see. Those are some examples of what kind of advantages and disadvantages different types offer.
If you have any questions about training with holsters, feel free to get in touch with us and we will try to answer your questions!
Training tips – 3 basic handgun manipulations
12 Tuesday Mar 2019
Posted in Training
We’re working on bringing training videos to the blog! Let’s start at the very beginning with the most basic 3 handgun manipulations that you should learn, practice and know very well as you advance in your gun-fighting skills.
For left handed shooters, don’t feel left out! There are instructions for left handed manipulation as well.
Mag in, mag out
An empty magazine is of no use to us and getting it out of the gun efficiently is an often overlooked skill to practice. Depending on your hand anatomy and the gun, you will need to discover the exact amount of shifting and button pressing to release the magazine. Also, get used to the idea of the magazine dropping and hitting the ground. No need to spend precious energy and time retaining an empty mag while you’re shooting on the range.
When inserting your magazine, use your finger to index along the front of the magazine to help guide it into the right place. This is also a good time to think about how to orient your magazines in your mag pouches on your gear or in your pocket.
Roll and rack
This manipulation can be tricky for those who are new and unfamiliar to semi-auto handguns. Where do I put my hand on this thing? Why is this so hard to pull? Argghh errghhh.. The next thing we know, the student has the gun pointing all over the place trying to rack the slide. No. We don’t want that.
When practicing this, remember to push the gun away from you while holding the slide firmly. Use both push and pull to rack the slide. Facing the ejection port to the ground will allow gravity to help you clear the chamber when you do this manipulation as part of a simple malfunction clear.
Slide open and lock
By being able to properly clear your gun and lock your slide open the first time, every time, without fumbling, it demonstrates that you’re familiar with your gun and can show that the gun is clear when called upon.
We hope this was helpful and gives you guys something to practice on at home to prepare you for a successful training day on the range!
If there are any topics you’re interested in and would like us to cover, send us an email at media@monarchdefense.org!