TacCon26 Day 1
This was my second trip to TacCon in Dallas, TX for a weekend of self-defense classes and shooting from some of the top instructors in the US. You select from a list of 2hr classes during the 3 day weekend.  This is a popular gun conference hosted by Tom Givens by Rangemaster with 300 attendees.  There are other conferences like Active Self Protection - Bibles and Bullets, Girl and a Gun, and Guardian Conference.  It's a good opportunity to learn a bit of many different things.  Here's a quick summary of the classes I took and tips I learned
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Tactical Anatomy/Range Emergencies Andy Anderson
Lots of gruesome photos of gunshot and impaled victims and how resilient the body is. Persons with faces blown off, rods impaled in their head, and shots to the brain survive and can still function. Emphasized shooting the "T" on the face for effective head stops. The spine is a thick protective bone that can deflect shots. Teach students where the heart is, front and back profile, so they can make a effective stop.
Vet Wrap(for animals) is a good cheaper alternative for self-adhesive bandage wraps in the aid kits. Also have water, eye wash, saline, or bactine to wash out wounds. Thin strips of ductape as an improvised suture for cuts. Both Benadryl and Pepsid to treat allergic reactions. Primatine Mist as an over the counter asthma inhaler. Solarcaine for bad sunburns. The hard cardboard corner protectors for new TVs & appliances can be used for splints. For remote ranges, get a site survey for emergency medical helicopters. Recommended online training at https://www.lonestarmedics.com.

Defensive Knife Greg Elifritz
I looked forward to taking this class as I have no experience using a knife. It focused on using a folding pocket knife for self-defense. Different methods to draw hold the knife. Effective places to stab and cut - groin, femoral, armpit, bicept, neck, collar. Methods to stab and cut. How to defend against grabs. I learned a lot in the 2 hour class. Knives are great companion to pepper spray: it's cheap, easy to carry, can carry almost anywhere, useful, and a backup if the spray doesn't work.

Active Shooter Problem Ed Monk
Ed Monk teaches active shooter instructor classes for civilians and law enforcement and they always sell out quickly. He also teaches church security. He researched many active shootings and has a general guideline of how many people get shot in the first few minutes of an incident, up to 24 within the first 3 minutes before police arrive. When advocating carry in schools and "gun free zones" ask what is the maximum acceptable number of victims. It should be zero. He went over how many shootings occurred, with and without resistance and there's a stark difference in the results. Lots of useful information to share with legislators.

Day 2 to follow



Cheap ammo sold there wish I could bring more back.  500 9mm for $97


Lots of gruesome pics which I can't show.  Can show this one of a civil war Soldier that took a musketball to the head and survived fine.


Cardboard corners for splints


Texas got some stiff penalties for carrying in a bar


Knife class outlining different holds and strikes.


Stats on active shooter encounters

TacCon Day 3
Shotgun day for me. It's been over five years since I've fired my shotgun so figured it's time for some practice. I forgot what a PITA it was lugging a long gun case around on travel.
I used a Mossberg 590 with a beadsight and ESSTAC LAMINATE shotshell cards. This is a new thing compared to the elastic ones which wear out over time.

Defensive Shotgun: Mastering Manipulations - Ashton Ray
This class was all about loading the shotgun quickly through the port and the tube. Most schools teach loading the port under the bottom nowadays since it's quicker. Before it used to be over the top so you don't fumble shells. Hold the shell between pointer and pinkie fingers and cradle with your fingers, trace the receiver with the thumb under the bottom, and pop in the shell. Tube loading they emphasized bending the thumb down when leaving the tube so it doesn't get ground up. Easy drills, they just call out a number and you shoot and keep the gun fed quickly in between.

Other notes:
- It was very difficult to remove shells from the laminate card, it's too snug. Hopefully it breaks in with use. Instructors say most elastic cards suck and to get the Vangcomp cards.
- Optics often break on shotguns, even Aimpoints and Trijicons, so have backup sights. Someone's Trijicon RMR broke during the class and wouldn't hold zero.
- 1/3 of the shotguns used optics. All the shotguns had rifle or fiber optic sights. No beads except for mine.
- Most people had Remington shotguns, some Mossberg, Beretta, and Benelli. 33% pumps, 67% semis.
- A person had a loose stock during class. Gotta use threadlocker on everything or screws will loosen and strip. They recommend Vibratite over loctite. Put witness marks on screws to check for movement.
- Flashlight battery springs wear out do to the recoil. It's recommended to remove batteries when training.[/li][/list]

Rule 4 Defensive Pistol - Wayne Dobbs
About knowing your target and whats around/downrange of it. Moving/getting in front of people to engage the threat. It was drills focusing on keep the shots in the target: 5" body circle and 3" head dot.

    Dryfire practice moving a partner out of the way to engage a threat.
    3 and 5yds, 3 shots on the dot in 5s, then repeat one hand from the ready.
    Hand on gun in holster, 2.5yds, 2 rnd 1.75s; repeat at 5yds, 10y 1rnd in 1.75s
    Move and shoot, 3y fire 1 step forward oblique fire 2, step side fire 3.
    Note: it was brought up most people on the line are taking their finger off the trigger too soon after firing, not enough time to assess the target.

Painless Power-Push Pull Development - Matt & Rob Haught
About mitigating shotgun recoil and staying on target with the support hand pushing forward and firing hand pulling back. Did multiple round drills to keep the sights on target and keep the gun fed. The stock mossberg forend is difficult to grip, I might replace it with something smooth.

TacCon26 Day 2
FYI if you ever go there I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Las Colinas which was cheap $110 night, nice place, free parking, and lots of eating places around. Let me know if you got questions

Dominating Contact Distance Shooting - Cecil Burch
My first live-fire session shooting at 0.5 to 7 yards with 50 rounds and blue guns. Practiced with the blue guns doing "Frankenstein drills" with a partner (aggressor) putting their hands out and walking toward the victim. Victim uses the appropriate position - retention, compressed, and arms extended based on the distance. Incorporating Frankenstein's quick lunge and swipes, they can swipe your extended gun to the side standing at 2.5-3 yds, farther than most people think and in typical self-defense range. So gain distance or go to compressed ready.
From the retention position, we practiced keeping the wrist and hand locked with gun hand fingers touching the body for support. Usually we're taught to angle the slide away from the body to avoid malfunctions, but this way operated fine. Shots were targeting the stomach and hip area on the targets to ensure the support hand was out of the way.
The targets we used had arm projections sticking out to visualize an aggressors reach. Lastly we're all taught the 21ft rule with paper targets. But it doesn't consider the shooters and aggressors arms extended and lunge distance, so more distance may be required.
Good close quarters practice and reminder that you need more distance than you think.

Run the Line - Gabe White
A classroom session with tips for instructors.  If you want more information on this class, please join my Facebook group "Hawaii Firearms Instructors" and submit your instructor credentials for verification.


Drills more Relevant than the Bill Drill? Lee Weams
Quick low count drills for effective practice and evaluation. Paper target with body & head areas, and 2" circle at 3 to 7 yards.

    Draw fire 1, 2, and 3 rounds in the dot
    1 reload 1, 2 reload 2
    2 reload 2 and 1 head.
    Call in random order - 3 body 2 head 1 dot
    FAST drill at 7 yards - 2 head, reload, 4 body
    Vickers drill - 6 shots, 6 yards, 6 seconds using 2 magazines with 1 to 4 rounds each with 6 rounds total.

And one more video on Day 3 shotgun push pull technique to control recoil.