March 2008 Archives | S.W.A.T. Magazine

More Carbine Tips: Hold It, Mark It, Tighten It, Lube It

As time marches inexorably on, we see more and more of the same problems cropping up in class. Or as the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” The reasons may be many, but generally fall under the category of “You don’t know what you don’t know.” The equipment aspects have…

The Cutting Edge: Strider’s DB Concealable Crowbar With An Edge

From time to time, circumstances arise that result in a solid piece of gear being developed. In the mid-1990s, a California officer—whose jurisdiction included three interstates, an international airport, major truck stops and a rail line—identified the need for a new tool. This tool needed to be capable of prying and impromptu breaching, yet functional…

She Carries Concealed: But It Ain’t Easy…

If a gun and concealment holster cause pain and discomfort, most SWAT readers simply buy a new holster. What would you do, however, if most holsters jabbed the gun mercilessly into your ribs or hips, and comfortable holsters required voluminous garments to conceal the gun? Would that make carrying concealed harder? Welcome to the armed…

Training and Tactics: The Myth of Muscle Memory

There are a lot of hackneyed phrases floating around out there these days. One of them is, if you practice garbage, after 20 years you’ll end up with perfected garbage. The antithesis to this is, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And both have validity. Unfortunately, what Robert the Bruce learned from…

SWAT Training Goals: Planning and Practice

Training must be continuous and ongoing. Instructors and students must be willing to learn new information without any fear of change. The best officers and teams are the best trained. SWAT teams must have the best training possible. If you follow the six “Rs” of training, they will assist you in providing a successful training…

Smith and Wesson Model 325 Thunder Ranch Revolver

Some 31 years have passed since several other Yavapai County, Arizona, deputies and I petitioned our sheriff to allow the troops to choose between the mandated .38/.357 revolvers or 1911-type pistols. The sheriff finally gave his blessing after meeting with Colonel Jeff Cooper at the American Pistol Institute (API—now Gunsite) and being shown the advantages of the 1911.