Desert Eagle

 The Desert Eagle 44 magnum in gold has been on my wish list for a while, but I was turned off by the Picatinny rail in the front.  Mainly because I didn't want my red dot to be whipped around like crap.  In this video, I just noticed that the front of the rail doesn't actually move.  Notice when he racks it in this video:

Caseless Ammo Firearms - the future of firearms

Mantis X Challenge (Week 11) Completed

WEEKLY PROGRAM (WEEK 11)

• Open Training - standing-kneeling - 20 shots - sore 90
• Reload, In Battery - from table - 20 shots - <4.0s - score 85
• Shot Timer - malfunction with reloading - 10x - <6 seconds
• Hostage Taker Beginner - 6ft (2m) backward - 2x 10 shots - 7 hostages rescued

EXPLANATION:

The first exercise "Open Training" 20 shots; each time change from a standing position to a kneeling position and then shoot. The score must average over 90. It doesn't matter which kneeling position you do (left knee, right knee or both knees on the ground) - Focus: shooting from a different position.

The second exercise "Reload, In Battery" 20 shots at a time. Gun is in front of you on the table (muzzle facing the target); on the buzzer, pick up gun, loading motion and shoot. Average over 85 and under 4.0 seconds. (Remember in SETTINGS - ADVANCED SETTINGS - set Buzzer Delay for Reload Drills up to 6 - 9s). Focus: Improve pistol grip

The third exercise "Shot Timer" 10 shots. For this you need two mags. Hold the pistol at the holster position. On the buzzer, "draw"  and engage (it clicks), malfunction tap rack, (slide stays open), immediately execute a reload and engage. The total time must be less than 6 seconds. The exercise must be restarted each time. Focus: Speed up and improve Weapon Handling

The fourth exercise "Hostage Taker Beginner" 2x 10 shots. At the buzzer, move backward at least 6ft (2m) while drawing and firing the pistol. You have to rescue min. 7 out of 10 hostages. Here it is important to have covered the 6ft (2m) before you pull the trigger. Focus: Move and still hit

Have fun!

Completed!

You really can make anything with duct tape.

In the Mantis facebook group, someone brought up the lack of holsters that accommodate a mantis attachment. This is an issue when you are doing drills that require holstering and drawing.  My existing holster for my Mantis is this Ghost Holster, but when the mantis is attached, the holster won't work.

The barrel goes on that little knob on the bottom, and the trigger goes in that slot by the "Gh" part of the logo.  The Mantis is attached on the underside of the rail and prevents the trigger guard from fitting into the slot and locking.

This last year for a family fun activity, Cathi stopped by Walmart and picked up a bunch of roles of different colored duct tape.  She designed an activity where the family would have a duct tape building contest.  You can make whatever you want out of duct tape and any other type of material.  I found some cardboard and measured my CZ Shadow 2 while it has the Mantis attached under the rail.

This worked awesome, and I even fashioned it with a G.  Except when I was done, I realized I had put in the belt slot on the wrong side so that the holster was built as a left side holster.  But it still works, just not as form-fitting as I originally had designed.  But it's tight and keeps the gun in a functionally protected way and stable for doing holster draw / shoot drills.  I would never use this as a real world holster by any means. 

Here is some video of me using the CZ Shadow with the Ghost holster for drawing.  I've only done 2 USPSA matches which were totally fun by the way.  And I'd like to do it again sometime.  But right now ammo is so pricey, that it would have to drop back down to normal for me to justify that expense.

Mantis X Challenge (Week 4)

So now that I have all the challenges completed from Mantis.  While I should just keep training, someone on the Mantis X facebook group has created a series of challenges to keep things interesting.  So here is the challenge for Week 4 that I just completed:

Calendar Week (CW4)

• Open Training - 50 shots - score over 90
  
• Support Hand Only - 40 shots - score over 85
• Compressed Surprise Break (Finger on the trigger) - 20 shots - score over 85, less < 0.3s
• Open Training (90° pivot to left / 90° pivot to right) - 40 shots - score 85 points

Explanation:

All scores are average scores. Each drill must be done in one piece. For Support-Hand Only drill, you will do it 4 times (4x10) and if you don't succeed one of you need to redo it until you complete it.

Open Training 90°: Your body is 90° turned away from the target. Pivot to shooting position and shoot. You can do 20 left and 20 right.

50 shots open training
averaging 95.6 

4 sets of 10 support hand
each averaging over 85

4 sets of 10 compressed
surprise break
each averaging over 85
with less than .30 sec

Last two sets of 20 shots
open training with
90 degree pivot
left, then right
both averaging over 90.

These challenges are issued via facebook Mantis Owners page