Hello,

Today, Sunday is the one-year anniversary since a gunman opened fire in front of a Tucson grocery store on Saturday January 8th 2011 for a political event.
Six people were killed, and 13 were wounded, including AZ State Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D), who was shot in the head and survived and Federal Judge John Rolls was also fatally shot in this horrible massacre. 

Tragedies happen in many different ways daily, but today we honor and pray for the families and victims of the Tuscon massacre. 

Thank you,

Mark Volpone
Director of Training
www.maricopatactical.com

Hello and Happy New Year

 Now that you have your NEW GUN, get professional training and Learn how to use it Safely, and Effectively.  There are many potential attack scenarios and restrictive gun  legislation issues that every American may have to confront in the future. These Freedom and Protection issues affect all races, gender, political ideologies or personal financial situations.

Do yourself a life size favor and hire a professional firearms instructor to help you take this serious issue to a higher level of safety and security.

Unarmed and Helpless or Armed and Powerful (Your Choice)

Suggestions to consider along with a new Gun.

1) Make sure it is a legal purchase or trade according to Federal, State, County and City Laws.

2) Confirm the comfort and grip fit of your Gun with a qualified individual or firearms professional.

3) Get a basic cleaning kit and learn how to disassemble and clean it yourself for better familiarization.

4) Purchase and or have installed on your Gun, Tritium Night Sights, for low or no light situations.

5) Learn how to safely and efficiently Dry Fire the your gun in a controlled environment. (Not for .22 Rim-fire guns) 

6) If you are going to carry it exposed or concealed ever, research what holsters and extra magazine pouchs are available. 

7)  Get Practice (FMJ), and Hollow Point Defense Ammunition.

8) Get a couple of extra magazines for a semi-autos or speed loaders for a revolver.

9) Consider a small mountable flashlight that attaches on rails for many new semi-auto gun types or get a handheld version.

10) TRAINING, TRAINING,TRAINING  This is the most important and overlooked aspect of having a new gun.

These are diminishing skills, so please take the time, money and responsibility to be at a minimum, Safe and Efficient.

Good Luck and The best of life in 2012!
God Bless the USA

Mark Volpone
Director of Training
Maricopa Tactical

Concealed Carry with a .50 caliber 1911 Commander

Handgun REVIEW

Personal Protection, Concealed Carry and Tactical Training go hand in hand with the uneasiness and dangerous threats that are steadily increasing in America. By doing your research about self defense is a good start, however the application and action to go further and actually getting trained is yet another issue. Learn more, and practice with multiple tools of defense in your personal protection tool box.  Whether it is awareness techniques, threat verbalization, physical movement, striking, non lethal or lethal force, don’t wait until an incident happens, before you get motivated and educated.

If you choose to carry a concealed carry handgun, you may want to consider this .50 caliber M3 1911 GI Commander as an option. We are reviewing this gun, and have previously been impressed with the Guncrafter Industries M1 and M2 .50 caliber 1911 type handguns. These handguns are very impressive visually, as well as their superior functioning capabilities.

In this article I will give a brief overview of the New M3 Commander.

Come Check out the Video we did on the M3 @ http://www.youtube.com/lonegunneraz
This Video is NOT a Training Video. We wanted to do a entertaining view of the M3 Ultimate Tool with the Ultimate Tool Instructor. Common sense and humor is required to appreciate this.

From basic gun safety to advanced weapons training, if you master the basics of shooting and learn some self-defense options, one of these skills may one day save your life.  Before you commit to a lethal option, ask yourself if you are mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared for the possibility of defending your life, while potentially taking another person’s life. This is a dicey subject at best!  The knowledge pertaining to the use of shooting skills is very important, however the gaps in a person’s mental and emotional state, must be overcome before anyone that is serious about carrying a gun, i.e. weapon or firearm for personal security, actually does carry. The best idea is to find not just a qualified personal protection instructor, but to enlarge your vision, and find one that could also be an excellent mentor for you.

The Guncrafter M3 is one of the most impressive concealed carry guns that I have ever come across. The .50 caliber GI round was tested by me, “Mark Volpone” CQC specialist for Maricopa Tactical in Phoenix Arizona. I also had our Military/Law Enforcement Veteran instructor from SEAL Team One and Six, as well as a former SWAT Team Leader “Chris Caracci” test the GI system.  Overall we both were very impressed with the handling and functioning of the GI .50 caliber weapon system.

The .50′ GI round is a little shorter, and is slightly larger in diameter then a .45 acp round, and the rim is also reduced to .45 acp specifications.  Looking at the two next to each other the .50 GI rounds slightly dwarfs its cousin the .45acp.  The brass is made by Starline and is beefy and of very good quality. The brass is fully reloadable, and Guncrafter sells the reloading dies.

The GI .50 Commander has felt recoil somewhere between a .45 acp and a 10mm 1911, but without the snapping of the 10mm round.  Since recoil is more of a subjective issue and everyone has a little different opinion on what it means to them, we have given you our opinion to consider.  There are four proprietary rounds made by Guncrafter for the .50 caliber GI handguns. There is the 300 gr TMJ @ 700 fps, the 275 gr Hollow Point @ 875 fps, the 230 gr CHP Hollow point @ 1000 fps and the 185 gr CHP HP @ 1200 fps.

We found no major differences in the placement of rounds or recoil in less than 15 yards.  The 185, 230 and 275 grain HP have felt recoil more like a .45 acp +P, and the 300 grain felt more like a hard hitting .45 acp FMJ round.  The 300 grain groups very well, and is probably the best value for overall CQC training.  The 275 grain is a great all purpose defense and training round, but adds a little more cost and recoil associated to it.  The 230 and 185 grain are machined Guncrafter bullets, and awesome in accuracy, velocity and penetration. Upon impact, both rounds have shown in 10% ballistic gelatin that simulates body flesh composition, that they will expand to a full inch in diameter, or roughly the width of a quarter, and not over penetrate.  The CHP hollow points have pointed petals like a star when expanded, and are significantly higher in price then the other rounds. However after seeing them in action, I wouldn’t leave home without them. http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/50gi-chp.shtml

As far as accuracy with the M3, at 3 to 10 yards was within an inch and a half group from a modified Isosoles stance, with many rounds one on top of the other.  At 15 and 25 yards we had less than a two inch group. We experienced No malfunctions or feed issues during any of the testing phases. I like the Commander size for Concealed Carry, because it is about the same size as a .45 acp Commander, but with a hair more beef to handle the .50 caliber round.

Here are some more features of the GI .50 M3 Commander.  Weighing in at about 35 oz empty, a 7+1 round magazine capacity, a 25 pound flat spring, full length guide rod, and a standard 4.5lb trigger.  I prefer a trigger pull closer to 3lbs myself, but this one is still clean, crisp and consistent.  It has a forged proprietary frame from Guncrafter, a forged slide and a heavy match stainless steel barrel.  They come standard with a parkerized finish, and are available in upgraded black melonite. We had the MT Tactical upgrade package on this M3, which has the tougher melonite finish, shredder grips, ambidextrous safety, bobbed frame for concealed carry, a lighter 3.5lb crisp trigger, Heine or XS Big Dot night sights, and front cocking serrations. Definitely old school 1911 heaven!  I assisted Guncrafter in this M3 design and upgrade options, because I believed it could be the best of the best in 1911 style concealed carry handguns.  There are many nice .45s, but the .50 GI is at the top of the list.

I have carried a many top of the line concealed carry handguns in the last 20+ years, and although the M3 is in the custom handgun price range, the .50 M3 Commander with the MT Tactical upgrades is worth every penny of investment, and peace of mind.

Guncrafter also has the M1 which is the size of a Government 5”, and the M2 is the same size, but with a Light Rail.  We previously did a review and video on the M2, so check it out online. With the added weight of the light rail, the M2 was incredibly balanced and extremely comfortable to shoot, but not practical for most concealed carry situations.

Guncrafter also makes a Conversion Kit of the .50 cal for the Glock 20 and 21.  This kit comes with the slide, barrel assembly and one .50 caliber GI magazine.  It is available in either hard chrome or upgraded to a black melonite finish.

Regardless of your skill level with a concealed carry firearm, or whether you are a new shooter, the person or people you choose to train you can be a significant difference in determining the outcome of a violent attack. Training is more important than whether you carry a .50 caliber, a 9mm or .38 special handgun.  If you are ever attacked, it is so important to compartmentalize the danger, and the fear. You must stay focused and in the moment, and keep your mind on the business at hand of survival that is in front of you. Learn how to manage your crisis awareness, and to be able to react faster or avoid a confrontation completely. Get your mental awareness techniques as sharp as your physical abilities, and gun handling skills.

Contact Mark Volpone at Maricopa Tactical for the structure and functioning of your personal protection, fitness and firearms training, as well as gun sales and gear, or contact a qualified professional in your area.

Your Will and Mind must be Challenged to get the Maximum Results!

Train to Win – Win to Live

Mark Volpone
Director of Training
Maricopa Tactical
www.maricopatactical.com
480.460.0059

Tactical Specialist

Hello,

In a crazy world of no-nonsense violence and  societal moral debauchery, we must be more assertive in our own personal safety issues. Many criminals do not fear the police as they once did, but look at them as a nuisance or distraction to their nefarious deeds.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you some of the more specific details of Street Predators and their basic identification, behaviors and tactics. I hope that this information assists you in staying safe and making better decisions when it comes to  your personal protection. Remember Maricopa Tactical is here for all of your protection needs.

In a perfect world, the Police would be there to protect you from Street Predators and violent situations. That being said, we need to be proactive and not reactive about our own personal protection and the steps we take to protect  our lives.

In my experience and research, I found that there  are four general types of criminals.  The Professional or Experienced, The Amateur or Wannabee,  the Psychotic or Delusional and the Opportunist or Manipulator.  Each type of criminal has different levels of danger, as well as behavior signals and tactics that they use.

In a fight for your life in an ever changing world, there are some questions you must first answer for yourself prior to any violent situation as well as lessons in life. Answer these Questions Below and Clarify your Defense Needs.

1) What is my Objective? To survive a violent attack,  how far you are willing to go to protect your life?

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2) What is my Plan? Do you have a Primary Plan for surviving an attack?  If so, do you have a multiple layered backup plan when the primary plan goes bad or is it also in need of immediate adjustment?

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3) What can I Give? What preliminary time and effort are you willing to put forward to assist in your survival in a violent situation?

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4) What can I Receive? What is it in a personal protection scenario that you really want to receive?

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5) What Service can I Give? Are you willing to stand in defense for perfect strangers, that may also put you in harms way?

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6) What Service can I Receive? Are you willing to have others help you, or will your ego push help away?

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7) What are my Obstacles? What could stand in your way and stop your ability to defend yourself?

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8) What is the next Step? Is there new direction you would like to go, to  further your personal protection training?

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9) Do I need to make Adjustments? Do you need to change the way you treat your everyday security issues?

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10) What will make me Happy? Will more confidence and personal protection tools, give you a better sense of empowerment?

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11) What is my next Objective? Are you open to learn to adapt to new thinking, disciplines and actions?

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12)  Is the training I do for self protection Secure and Significant? Are you getting value for your training, if any at all?

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Answer these questions honestly, and you will be on your way to a more safe and secure lifestyle.

Contact Maricopa Tactical TODAY, for current Training and Education.

Mark Volpone
Director of  Training
Maricopa Tactical
www.maricopatactical.com