THE

SAGUARO
GUNNER
The monthly journal of Arizona Weaponcraft Solutions.
A division of Johnnie L. Mock PSP
Security Consultants LLC
500 N. Estrella Pkwy, Suite B2-267
Goodyear Arizona
E-Mail: awsl@mindspring.com
Web: www.azwcsl.com

Vol. I, Issue 2
Mar/April 2010

Welcome to our second issue. A number of interesting things have gone on since our last
issue. We are increasing the number and variety of our classes which you can explore
below. In addition, we now have a new law regarding our Arizona concealed weapon
permit. Basically, when it takes effect, the new law will allow Arizonans to carry
concealed without the need of a permit except in those places where a permit is required
by law. This basically means any establishment that serves alcohol, and perhaps other
specific places. We instructors are still waiting for DPS to publish and clarify training
requirements, as the CCW permit still exists for those who want it. The two advantages
of still having a CCW is the ability to carry concealed in the 32 other states that recognize
Arizona’s permit, plus having a CCW exempts you from having to do the “instant” (not
always) background check when purchasing a firearm. As a Constitutionalist, I applaud
any advancement that restores our Second Amendment rights. I believe that the Second
Amendment means exactly what it says, “The right of the People to keep and bear arms
shall not be infringed”. Period. This law advances the rights of Arizonans.
HOWEVER, I have some reservations in regard to the way it may have been constructed.
If the training requirements are substantially lowered to actually get a CCW, we could
find that many of those other 32 states that now recognize the Arizona permit rescinding
that recognition. New Mexico has rescinded recognition of Utah’s permit because of
lowered training requirements.
Only time will tell, but I hope we haven’t shot ourselves in the foot on this one. (pun
intended). It could end up being that we have actually suffered a net LOSS of Second
Amendment rights for Arizonans.
 In This Issue

1. Our upcoming class schedule

2. Equipment Review: Insight XT1 Procyon
3. Book Review: Tactical Pistol Shooting, 2nd Edition
4. Shooting Fundamentals: Sight Alignment

1. Our upcoming class schedule

NRA Personal Protection in the Home

We live next to one of the most increasingly violent borders in the Western
Hemisphere. Phoenix is now considered the #2 kidnapping capitol of America.
Violence and home invasions are on the increase. Can you protect your home and
loved ones? This class covers MUCH more than just pistol marksmanship. Please go
to our website for more information.
Next Class: 19 June 2010
Cost: $85.00 payable in cash, check, or money order

NRA Basic Pistol Course

This is an excellent course for the new handgun owner or someone considering buying a
handgun.
Next Class: 12 June 2010
Cost: $75.00 payable in cash, check, or money order

Arizona Concealed Weapon Permit (CCW)

The Arizona Concealed Weapon Permit is recognized in 32 other states. REGARDLESS OF
THE NEW LAW, YOU MUST have a CCW to carry concealed in any establishment that
serves alcohol including restaurants. It also exempts you from the “instant” (not always)
check when purchasing firearms!
Next Classes: 08 May 2010
05 June 2010
Cost: $75.00 payable in cash, check, or money order

(Note: we will be doing tactical classes in the fall which will include
Intro to Kalashnikov (AK series weapons) and tactical carbine)
 2. Equipment Review:
Insight XT1 Procyon

One thing I stress to students in regards to having a defensive pistol at home is that they
need to have three critical items located together: Handgun, flashlight, and cell phone.
The problem is that this is three items to handle with two hands in a stressful situation.
The problem is solved by utilizing one of the many weapon lights available on the
market. Most modern semi-automatic pistols now have standard rail mounts which will
allow the easy off and on installation of one of these sights. The one I am currently using
is the Insight XT1 Procyon. On my Glock 19.
The XT1 is evidently no longer listed on the Insight website, but is sill available from
various sources on the web.
The XT1 is an excellent example of this type of light. Named after one of the brightest
stars in the night sky, the XTI Procyon (Pro-see-on) delivers the stunning white light
necessary in any tactical scenario. Whether it’s the blinding effect of direct illumination
or the debilitating effect of getting hit with the strobe mode, the XTI (Xtreme Tactical
Illuminator) with the solid state LED is exceptionally reliable. I can highly recommend
this light, or any of the other well made products manufactured by Insight.

The XT1 is currently available from:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/676812001278.html

To view the entire Insight line of weapon sight, check out their website at:

http://www.insighttechgear.com/
 3. Book Review:
Tactical Pistol Shooting 2nd Edition
Erik Lawrence and Mike Pannone
Gun Digest Books
ISBN-13:978-1-4402-0436-4
ISBN-10:1-4402-0436

This is another outstanding example of the tremendous amount of really good training
material available to the law abiding citizen who wishes to be an accomplished hand
gunner. It wasn’t that many years ago that this type of information was hard to come by.
Erik Lawrence is a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, and this second
edition of his book is an outstanding reference. All of the techniques are well explained
and demonstrated by high quality color photographs. The quality of the photos in this
book advances it beyond many other publications on the same subject The author takes
the student through the basic fundamentals of combat mindset, and combat
marksmanship techniques. He then covers reloading techniques, malfunction drills,
shooting while wounded, shooting while moving, low light shooting, and much more. He
also gives recommendations on developing your own personal training program. This
volume is a must have for anyone wishing to learn advanced combat pistolcraft, or the
pro who wants a good review reference. I read mine often. Available from the author’s
website at:
http://www.bhigear.com/
Click the “Training Publication/Videos on the left side links.
4. Shooting Fundamentals:

Sight Alignment

Last month we covered trigger control, and this month we will move on to sight
alignment. There are a number of basic marksmanship fundamentals that contribute to
shooting one good shot, or a string of good shots, but sight alignment and trigger
control are, in my opinion, the TWO critical actions that must work properly together.
All of the other elements such as stance, position, grip, breath control ect. are nothing
more than enhancers to enable these two fundamentals to work.
First, you have to accept one basic concept: That the human eye cannot focus on
more than one distance at a time. You have three items on the focal plane: Target,
front sight, and rear sight. Without belaboring the mathematical issues involved, just
trust me that your focus must be on the front sight!
Second, you need to understand the concepts of sight alignment and sight picture.
Sight alignment is aligning the front sight properly in the rear sight notch. Sight
picture is taking those two aligned sights and placing them on the target you are
shooting.
O.K. so what does all of this actually look like?

When you focus on the target, both sights are indistinct. This causes you to have
misses that you can’t understand, because you are not really seeing where the sights
are aligned at the instant the weapon fires.
Nope, still wrong answer.

O.K. Now we are getting somewhere. By keeping your focus on the front sight, you
accomplish not only proper sight alignment, but you can also maintain a proper sight
picture.

Here is a good example of what you should be seeing.

O.K., so now we know how to keep our sights properly aligned on the target for one
good shot, or a string of good shots. And you need to get this fundamental ingrained
into your training. But in a serious life and death confrontation, you are not going to
have the time to perfectly line up your sights for that perfect shot. That’s when you
use a flash sight picture. Look, a serious armed confrontation is going to be at very
close range, perhaps even as close as arm’s length. The sights don’t have to be
perfectly aligned. As long as you can see some portion of the front sight in the rear
notch and can place it on the target, you will get an effective hit. The assailant isn’t
going to know, (or care) that you didn’t drill him perfectly through the third button of
his shirt but instead were about 3 inches to the left. Let’s look at what I mean.

If you imagine that the circular targets are the width of an average chest at close
range, you can see that at realistic combat ranges the sights do not have to be
perfectly aligned to get a good solid hit. Try this the next time you go to the range and
train with your particular pistol. Try misaligning the sights slightly in all directions at
close range to see where you and your handgun hit.
O.K. That’s it for sights. Next issue, we are going to talk about breathing, including
tactical breathing. Till then, train serious, train safe!

5. Final Thoughts: Let us hear from you!

OK, this was our second issue, and we hoped you enjoyed it. We
sincerely solicit both feedback on our articles, and if you have a relevant
article you would like to write, feel free to send it to us. We reserve the
right to edit any articles for content and length.
Until next time, shoot SAFE! and Have Fun!