START HERE: Introduction to the Triangle Tactical Podcast

Introduction to the Triangle Tactical Podcast Last week's podcast was episode 250, so I figured this would be a great time to re-introduce myself to the audience, and have a good place for people who are new to the podcast to get started. Every now and again I get a question from someone who'd just found the podcast asking where they should start since there are so many episodes in the back catalog that it can be difficult to know where to start, and understand my point of view on things. Triangle Tactical started after I got the idea that I was going to start blogging on my way home from a competition shooting match in early 2012. I got home, setup a Blogger account, and excitedly told my wife that I was going to start a blog. I think she thought that she would hear about it for another day or two, and then it wouldn't ever come up again. Well, it's been 5 and a half years at this point, and I'm going stronger than ever, so here we are! The Basics: I'm a little different than other "tactical" blogs out there in that I'm probably the least tactical "tactical" blogger/podcaster out there. I don't really care about gear, unless it solves a real problem for me. A lot of folks are quick to run out and buy the coolest-newest gear all the time, but I really, truly, don't care about it. I've been shooting the same competition gun for 3.5 years, and that's the newest gun I own. I believe that practice is the only way to get better. Nobody has ever bought a new gun, and suddenly become a Grand Master at shooting. It just doesn't matter that much. With that said, I do think a new piece of gear can help you, if your current gun is actually causing you a problem. (Ex. I dumped all my Gen3 Glocks for Gen4 guns when they came out because the beavertail on the Gen4 guns kept me from getting slide bite and bleeding all over myself when I shoot.) However, I switched from shooting an M&P; Pro 5" to a Glock 34 5" gun and... my shooting didn't really change. At all. This is because both of those guns are good enough, and neither really offered an advantage over the other. I just like the Glock 34 more, and making the switch made me happy. I believe that competitive shooting is good for you. When I shot my first competitive match, I thought I was a hot dog. I'd been shooting all my life, and I really thought that I had a good chance at winning. I remember when a local Grand Master shot the same stage I had just shot and did it in about half the time, I was shocked. "How can he shoot that fast?" "There's no way he can see his sights" "He's just spraying bullets and hoping he hits something." LOL. Yeah, then I saw his hits. He hit everything. He was able to do that because he practices. Range/Trunk Med Kit On last weeks podcast I ran through all of the stuff that I keep in my range bag, but I neglected to talk about the stuff that I keep in my med kit for the range. I have one kit that stays in my trunk that has stuff for the range, as well as stuff for basic booboos and things that would be useful should I come across a car accident before first responders get there, etc. Nitrile gloves 2 CAT Tourniquets (I also own a SOF-T Wide tourniquet, but I prefer the CAT for self-aid. I feel like the hooks on the cats are far easier for securing the windlass with one hand than the little triangle thing on the SOF-T Wide.) Also of note here: If you're buying either of these tourniquets, buy them straight from the manufacturers website. DO NOT BUY ONE ON AMAZON! There are tons of fraudulent TQ's on Amazon and you really can't distinguish a fake one from a real one by their listing. The cost is the same, so go straight to the manufacturer. Kerlix gauze for wound packing SAM Splint - Foam covered aluminum splint for bracing broken bones, etc. Very handy to have around. In an easily accessible side pocket, I have a big box of Band-Aid Tough Strips band-aids. These are the best band-aids I've ever used. They stick, and stay stuck, they're fabric, and they're awesome. I don't buy anything else.