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MantisX May Be Your Best Firearm Investment Ever

1/12/2022

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Toward the end of last year, I wrote an article on the Mantis Blackbeard auto-resetting trigger system. I had taken some professional training with my Ruger AR-556, but had failed to follow up with any meaningful practice. In case you don't know, you can take the best training in the world, but if you don't practice what you learn in that training, you will quickly lose any skills and benefits you may have gained.

​Afterward, I was so impressed with the Mantis rifle dry fire system, I thought to myself, 'Maybe Mantis can help me improve my pistol skills, too.'

Full disclosure: This article won't cover everything about the Mantis X10 Elite and Laser Academy systems. This would be a really long article if I attempted to do that. Instead, I'll use this one to talk about what's included with the Mantis X10 Elite, the function of the system (including the MantisX app), what I hope to gain from integrating them into my training regimen (such as it is), and share some initial thoughts and results.​
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AR Platform with Mantis Blackbeard and Training Buddy

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Dry Fire Can be Fun (and useful)

10/30/2021

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(Preface: It has been far, far too long since we posted anything on Untactical! For that, I sincerely apologize. We've let life get the better of us, but hope to dedicate more time to shooting - and writing about shooting - through this and other platforms. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading about our experience with a great product that will help keep your rifle shooting skills sharp!)

One of the first things Mrs. Untactical and I discovered when we entered the world of firearms is how darn fun it is to shoot. Maybe we didn't have all the gizmos (and we still don't) but just hitting the range and "making donuts" as I've heard target shooting referred to, was really enjoyable.

Right after we learned how fun shooting is, we learned a couple of other truisms:
  1. Shooting is a perishable skill
  2. Shooting is an expensive hobby
Mrs. Untactical and I have continued to grow beyond our first firearm purchase (Ruger 9e) to being proud owners of a number of handguns and a Ruger AR-556. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still completely untactical! However, we have continued our firearm journey despite our lack of intended updates here on Untactical.net.

Today, I'm excited to tell you a little about a product that helps solve both of the problems above; a way to practice shooting to keep your skills sharper and to do so without breaking the bank. Give it up for the Mantis Blackbeard!
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What comes in the mail; the Mantis Blackbeard arrives in a very nice package.
I don’t have to remind you how expensive (and scarce) ammunition has been because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Blackbeard helps solve both the cost and availability problems in a simple and easy-to-use platform.

What is Blackbeard? It is a dry-fire system for the AR-style rifle platform. 

Why did I want a Blackbeard? I had recently received professional training on the AR. We went through various shooting positions, sling (ready) positions, single shots, multiple shots, multiple targets, shooting while moving and more, including my absolute least favorite: the off-shoulder drill. Although my instructor was sensitive to the amount of ammo we used in each drill, I still went through a fair amount of .223 in the three or so hours we worked. I was stoked! I wanted to keep working on these drills to up my rifle-handling ability.

Unfortunately, real life intervened...

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Guns - A Six-Month Review

4/9/2018

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Springfield XD Mod.2 SC
Springfield XD Mod.2 SC
Six months ago, Mrs. Untactical and I entered the world of firearms and shooting sports. What does that mean? So far, it means we've purchased two 9mm handguns, including the Springfield XD Mod.2 Sub-compact pictured at left.

I'm still in love with our first-born (okay, the first gun we bought), a Ruger 9E, but this little Springfield, which is ostensibly my wife's CCW (concealed-carry weapon), is a very nice pistol. Frankly, I'm thinking hard about getting one for me also!
Our Ruger 9E continues to be the Little Engine That Could.  Exhibit A is this image. On the right target is the first 9E magazine I shot at a recent date night on the range. The 9E has a 17-round capacity and I just stepped up from five yards out and unloaded it with no particular end in mind other than hitting the target.

On the left is the last target of the night, also from five yards out. Absent a couple of flyers, which I understand even the best shooters experience, I put 15 rounds inside a 3-inch group. That Ruger 9e runs!
Ruger 9E from 5-yards
Ruger 9E from 5-yards

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America and Guns

3/17/2018

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Image from Wikipedia article on the Activision game.
Image from Wikipedia article on the Activision game.
It has been several weeks since a gunman murdered seventeen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkman, FL. I've started writing this blog at least a half-dozen times. But the landscape of our national debate (use of the term debate is putting it very mildly, indeed) has shifted so quickly and so often, it's like trying to describe an earthquake in progress.


I grew up on the west coast of Florida. I remember going to the beach as a kid and getting knocked down by waves. Initially, the waves would roll in and I'd be fine, bracing my little legs against the insistent mass of green water. But then, one wave would arrive that was bigger than the others and I would be knocked flat, sand and salt water invading every orifice.  Today, I still love the beach, but more as a spectator. Fighting against the laws of nature seldom yields a different result.

Caveat: ​I'm not a behavioral scientist. The points I raise here will be purely opinion, based on my own thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and conclusions.

For years it has been hotly denied by the entertainment industry that music, television, film, and video games have any measurable effect when it comes to the behavior of consumers. "It's make believe," they say. "Everyone knows the difference."

Do they?

Although this article is not an indictment of the entertainment industry, let's look at a few high-level statistics:
  1. Consumers spent $6.7 billion on video game software in 2017. (Forbes)
  2. Half of the top ten best-selling video games in 2017 feature shooting and other first-person violent behavior (Forbes). (NOTE: Call of Duty: WWII came in at number 1)
I'm not exactly sure when I first came across first-person shooters - probably around the 1992 debut of Microsoft's Wolfenstein 3D. Sure, shooting games had been around for years before then but, for me, it really kicked off with the irreverent Duke Nukem 3D installment in which the hero intoned, "It's time to kick a$$ and chew gum; and I'm all outta gum."
Despite the eye-popping revenues raked in by the video game industry, Hollywood is still king. Led by a band of intrepid superheroes, the top ten films of 2017 earned over $11 billion, helped over that fiscal line by the Star Wars juggernaut, The Last Jedi (Business Insider).

Although kid-friendly films like Beauty and the Beast and Despicable Me 3 finished number one and four respectively, 70% of the top ten were action-oriented. Putting on my best impression of pirate captain Hector Barbossa, "That means violent."

According to the Pew Research Center, a whopping 73% of teens have access to a smartphone.  All, or at least most of them, will have access to free-to-play first person shooter content, like that offered by Call of Duty: Heroes.

So, what is a hero? Merriam-Webster online lists the first definition as, "a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability."


Spiderman Homecoming Film Poster
Spiderman Homecoming (Columbia Pictures/Marvel Studios)
In the top video games and films, our kids see heroes who are great fighters. With and without guns. It's not a bad thing for people to have heroes. We all have heroes. I grew up idolizing prominent sports figures. Then I, too, began to idolize film and television stars.  And what thoughts go through a kid's head when they are idolizing someone? 

"I want to meet them!"

Yes, but also, "I want to be just like them!"

These days, there are heroes everywhere. The sport and film stars are still there. The old-school, traditional heroes are still there (teachers, police, firefighters, etc.). And they've been joined by a whole new breed of anti-hero. Anti-heroes go against the grain. The 80s were awash in young anti-heroes. Just watch a re-run of The Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

These days, society celebrates those who are different. And why not? Diversity is a good thing, right?

Except when it comes to someone who is so different from the rest of us that they desire to kill.

I won't use names here because many mass murderers' ethos includes narcissistic and attention-seeking tendencies. Not going to get it from me. Sorry.
Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad
I am a writer, so I understand character motivation.  In the entry for the television series Breaking Bad, Wikipedia reads, "Breaking Bad is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time."

What makes the show so great? This isn't a television critique, so I won't go there. The article's introduction highlights the lead (i.e., hero) character's motivation: It tells the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer. Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), White turns to a life of crime by producing and selling crystallized methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future before he dies, while navigating the dangers of the criminal world.

White is a hero. He's sacrificing all sorts of things in order to provide for his family's future. That makes him a good guy, right?

Not so much. At least not in my opinion. 


But America loved the show, which apparently means they love the idea of a meth-cooking, gun-shooting, anti-hero... as long as he's doing it for the right reasons. Modern anti-heroes like Walter White and others on television,  film, and video games can get away with murder... as long we (the writers) strongly communicate a character motivation that resonates with consumers and allows for the suspension of disbelief.

But where is the line between fantasy and reality? I don't mean fantasy like sword and sorcery.  In this case, fantasy is anything in someone's mind that does not conform to social norms, laws, etc.

And this brings us to America's love affair with guns.
A prominent thread on social media this past week highlighted Matt Damon's supposed desire to move to Australia. I didn't read the articles. Frankly, I couldn't care less where Matt Damon lives; none of my business.

Pro-Second Amendment-types made hay with an image showing Matt standing in front of a movie poster for the film 12 Strong. The poster features lead actor Chris Hemsworth on horseback wielding... an assault rifle. 

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne
GASP! And therein lies the crux of the debate I mentioned. 

​
The statement I've seen most often in the weeks that followed the Parkland shooting is a variation of, "No one needs an assault rifle except the military and maybe Law Enforcement."

This statement is usually followed with even more stringent rhetoric. "All semi-automatic rifles should be banned!"

As if the person truly believes that all semi-automatic rifles are  to be considered assault rifles.

I don't want to rehash all the back and forth between the two sides in this argument. And make no mistake; there are only two sides. Sure, there may be a few people in the middle trying to parse things a little more finely in an effort to reach some sort of detente but, ultimately, it comes down to two: those who support the literal meaning of the Ssecond Amendment and those who don't.

Mrs. Untactical and I own a grand total of three firearms. And here they are, in order of acquisition:

1. .32 Smith & Wesson Revolver: We inherited this pistol from my mother. Her dad was a deputy-sheriff in Spartanburg County, SC back in the day. This pistol is nickel-plated with mother-of-pearl handles; basically a six-shooter if you grew up watching westerns. 

2. Ruger 9E Semi-automatic Pistol: We purchased this gun last year as we began our journey into the firearm community.  It was relatively inexpensive and shoots great. A very accurate pistol for both of us and we like it a lot.

For those who don't know, guns in general are FREAKING expensive! So, despite your various opinions on the law and the constitution, not everyone can afford to rush out and gun-up like it's the zombie apocalypse. Between the cost of the gun itself, ammo, training, licensing, and accessories, you are talking at least several hundred dollars, if not a couple of thousand.

3. Springfield XD Mod 2 Sub-compact Semi-automatic Pistol: Technically, we own this gun - we just don't have it, because it's currently on lay-away at one of our local retailers not named Dick's, Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc.

And, honestly, the only reason there is not an AR-15 style rifle on this list is because we can't afford the one we want (yet).
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
To the left is the only thing standing between those of us who own guns and those who would take them away.

Yes, it's just that simple. 

Our country was founded upon a number of precepts and this is a big one.

Writing is hard; at least hard to do well. I'm no expert, but I am pretty handy with grammar. That's why authors pay me good money to edit and proof their manuscripts.

What you have in the Second Amendment is, generally, a couple of independent clauses. Separating independent clauses is one of the jobs for which we use the comma. The other primary purpose for a comma is to insert a pause in a sentence. Let's break it down using those definitions:

A well-regulated militia <pause> being necessary to the security of a free state <separation between independent clauses> the right of the people to keep and bear arms <pause> shall not be infringed.

You see, the framers wanted this (and all the other text of the Constitution and various amendments) to be crystal clear. Back in the 1800s, folks tended to write much more formally than we do today. If we (normal folks like you or me) were writing  the second amendment today, it would read something like this:

A well-regulated militia is necessary for state security. The citizens of the United States have a perpetual right to keep and use weapons.

Instead of commas, we would just use periods. Periods are easier for us to understand . Periods are kind of like the Harry Truman of punctuation.  Here's what I want to say <stop>. Here's something else I want to say <stop>.

This subject has all sorts of little rabbit holes we could explore. But if you've read this far, I don't want to keep you. It's Saturday and you probably have better things to do, like spend time with your family or go to the range. Maybe you need to spend time with your family at the range!

Mrs. Untactical and I were able to begin our journey into the wide world of firearms specifically because the Bill of Rights guarantees us the freedom to do so. And while we mourn alongside everyone else the senseless loss of life at Parkland and elsewhere, we do not believe that banning guns - and let's face it, that's EXACTLY where this is leading - is the answer.

There are millions of law-abiding gun owners in this country and taking our guns away is not going to keep bad people from doing bad things. So let's work together as a country to solve the real problems and leave the strong foundations of America intact.

Stay safe, thanks for reading, and God bless.

Mr. Untactical
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Product Review: Anson Complete Belt

1/22/2018

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Anson Belt and Buckle - Company Logo
Anson Belt and Buckle - Company Logo
This is a product review, but first, let me throw out a few thoughts on the front end. The outlook I take into any product demo is one that aligns with the premise of this site: What does the product do for a new or relatively new gun owner? 

In a previous article that covered gear in general, I mentioned the importance of a belt that can support the weight of a carry pistol. It’s also important that a belt used for this purpose be able to withstand the rigors of drawing and holstering a handgun.

That’s all true, right? However, the purpose of a belt, first and foremost, is to hold up one’s trousers. Anson Belt and Buckle don’t represent themselves specifically as a gun belt company. And that also aligns with the purpose of this site: we’re untactical!
First, a little about the company. Anson Belt and Buckle is a family-owned business founded in 2009 by father and son team, Frank and David Ferree. The company is located in Morehead City, NC. 

Anson make what I refer to as a ratchet belt; that is, a belt without holes. Apparently, this isn’t a new concept. However, like the Ferree family before me, I have somehow managed to live my life unaware that there was such a thing as a ratchet belt. Having said that, I did attend military school and spend more than nine years in the U.S. Air Force, so I’m very familiar with web belts that are cut and sized to use with a small metal buckle with a clamp and clip.

The Anson belt and buckle system is very much like that, only updated and improved.

Let’s get to the review!

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Maybe if I get enough equipment?

1/15/2018

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Overly Tactical Lego
This probably won't ever be me
A few months ago, Mrs. Untactical and I began this journey with the goal of becoming responsible, qualified gun owners. We think that is a good, solid, achievable goal. Perhaps, someday, we’ll be at least a little tactical, but that day is still somewhere in the future. For one reason, attaining a significant level of tactical ability – at least as I’ve derived from my Internet travels – is expensive. Let’s break down the how and why of it - at least as it pertains to gear .

What does one need in the way of gear to be tactical? I suspect that question has as many answers as their are gun owners. The wisest response I’ve found suggests that it’s not the equipment that is most important – it’s the mind.
All the gear in the world won’t save you in a life-or-death situation if you have not trained and prepared well.

Still, this article will focus on the equipment side of things.


Equipment needs are dictated by their specific applications. Are you considering equipment for concealed carry? Home defense? Shooting at the range or in some type of competition?

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So... you've decided to buy a pistol

1/14/2018

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1911 R1 - Remington Arms
Photo: 1911 R1 by Remington Arms
If you’ve somehow stumbled into this distant and lonely corner of the Internet gun universe, welcome! I’m Mr. Untactical (you can call me Mike), and I’m using this blog to help chronicle our journey from completely untactical neophyte gun owners to, well, we’re not really sure where the journey will lead just yet!

If you’ve read our other articles, you know we’re pretty darn new when it comes to experience with a firearm. Mrs. Untactical has her days when she believes I’m taking this whole “gun thing” just a little too seriously. My belief is if you’re going to purchase and use a gun of any kind, you need to know as much as you possibly can about that gun. 
You should also know a great deal about shooting in general.  Which brings us to likely the most important thing(s) you need to learn and remember:

THE FOUR RULES:
  1. Treat every gun as if it is loaded (ALWAYS!)
  2. Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy
  3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you have made the (conscious) decision to shoot
  4. Be sure of your target and be sure of what is beyond your target, too

For those entering the world of guns these are the four most important things you can learn. Learn them first and learn them well.


Rules? We don’t need no stinking rules…

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Our First Pistol: Ruger 9E

1/11/2018

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After a good amount of research, we decided to purchase the Ruger 9E as our first modern handgun.

Since purchasing our 9E, we’ve had the opportunity to shoot it a number of times. We bought the 3340 model. The only difference between the 3340 and 3341 is magazine capacity. The 3340 version of the 9E holds 17+1 rounds of ammunition. 


The other variant of the 9E - the 3341 - utilizes a magazine that holds 10 (+1) - one assumes for folks living in California, where magazine capacity is limited. 
Ruger 9E
Ruger 9E (Essential)

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Welcome to Untactical!

1/10/2018

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​If you’ve found your way here, congratulations!

In the galaxy, nee, universe of weapons, tactical advice, survival tips, and general home defense wisdom, websites, blogs, YouTube channels, and so forth, Untactical is the veritable drop in the ocean. In fact, it’s more likely a grain of invisible sand at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

What will you find here?

​
​The definition of tactical (adjective) is: characterized by skillful tactics or adroit maneuvering or procedure.

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    Greetings!

    I'm Mr. Untactical and welcome to our blog. Mrs. Untactical and I will strive to post informative and interesting articles that will provide measurable benefits to the shooting community at large.

    Most of our articles will highlight the challenges, successes and bumps along the road of our own journey.

    We will also include the occasional opinion and product review, so we encourage you to visit often!

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