John Hearn’s Mississippi Casino Drill

I recently attended John Hearn’s Who Wins, Who Loses, & Why: Understanding Human Performance When Death is on the Line and Cognitive Pistol with Tactical Anatomy classes – great classes; everyone should attend. Karl Rehn of KR Training hosted the classes.

John introduced the Mississippi Casino Drill variation of the Classic Casino Drill that Tom Givens of Range Master originally developed. The classic casino drill is fired from five yards, uses the original casino target (see picture at the right), with a total of twenty-one rounds. The shooter loads seven rounds in their pistol and has two spare magazines with seven rounds each. On the signal, shooters engage target numbers 1-6 with the same number of rounds as the target number: e.g. one hit on the #1 target, two hits on the #2 target, and so on; reloading as necessary until all twenty-one rounds are fired. The shooter’s score is their raw time plus one second per missed shot or shot fired on the wrong target.

John’s Mississippi Casino Drill variation is fired from five yards, uses the original casino target or variations thereof, with a total of fifteen rounds. The shooter loads five rounds in their pistol and has two spare magazines with five rounds each. On the signal, shooters engage target numbers 1-6 with the same number of rounds as the target number: e.g. one hit on the #1 target, two hits on the #2 target, and so on; however, the shooter DOES NOT engage target #6. Like the classic casino drill, the shooter reloads as necessary until all fifteen rounds are fired. The shooter’s score is their raw time plus one second per missed shot or shot fired on the wrong target. John’s Mississippi version uses six fewer rounds so shooters can log more repetitions for the same round expenditure.

Rangemaster uses the Classic Casino Drill in many/most of their classes so naturally people practice the drill. That’s not the point of the drill however, Tom designed the drill to stress the shooter’s ability to perform the primary task of recognizing and hitting the target while simultaneously performing the secondary tasks of reloading the pistol and remembering what target to engage (and with how many rounds) after a reload.

So how do we maintain the drill’s purpose and preclude shooter’s from memorizing the engagement sequence? In class, John turned some of the targets upside down which did provide some variation.

I recently used the Mississippi version in one of my classes and tried some other variations which worked to keep my students motivated and precluded them from memorizing the sequence. For starters, I found that there are at least three version of the casino target available with the number/shape targets different in each version. That being the case, by turning some upside down you would have six variations. If additionally, you rotate some ninety degrees left and right, you have nine variations.

If you are an instructor and you have a mixed group of intermediate and advanced shooters in your class (it happens a lot), you can use white masking tape to reduce the outline of some targets or you could draw a line across some targets (diagonal or horizontal) and challenge the advanced students to make ½ of the hits in each half of the target. You can add a dummy round in one magazine. You can tell the students to shoot in sequence from one to five, five to one, or start with a number (e.g. three) and then shoot in ascending or descending sequences. There are probably other variations.

John mentioned a method for training alone using modified dice. Take one die and add labels for up and down--one on each face while leaving the other as is.  Roll the dice and shoot as indicated.  For example, if you roll an "up" on one die and a "four" on the other, start with target #4, then engage target #5, then target #1, and so on. 

John’s Mississippi Casino is a useful drill that accomplishes the goal of stressing the shooter’s ability to perform the primary task of recognizing and hitting the target while simultaneously performing the secondary tasks mentioned above. If we add the variations and modifications we can maintain the challenge for everyone.

Wednesday Wisdom: 23 September 2026

Medal of Honor: Glenn Harry English Jr

SSG English was riding in the lead armored personnel carrier in a four-vehicle column when an enemy mine exploded in front of his vehicle. As the vehicle swerved from the road, a concealed enemy force waiting in ambush opened fire with automatic weapons and antitank grenades, striking the vehicle several times and setting it on fire. SSG English escaped from the disabled vehicle and, without pausing to extinguish the flames on his clothing, rallied his stunned unit. He then led it in a vigorous assault, in the face of heavy enemy automatic-weapons fire, on the entrenched enemy position. This prompt and courageous action routed the enemy and saved his unit from destruction. 

Following the assault, SSG English heard the cries of three men still trapped inside the vehicle. Paying no heed to warnings that the ammunition and fuel in the burning personnel carrier might explode at any moment, SSG English raced to the vehicle and climbed inside to rescue his wounded comrades. As he was lifting one of the men to safety, the vehicle exploded, mortally wounding him and the man he was attempting to save.

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Zev Technologies x Magpul FDP-C

An interesting firearm released in 2026 was the Zev Technologies FDP-C, a folding pistol-caliber design that the company produced in conjunction with Magpul Industries. It's actually a short-barreled rifle, so it does fall under the National Firearms Act.

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Carrying Vintage Pistols: A Practical Guide

Whether you call it retro or vintage or old-school, there’s something to be said about the classics, but deciding to go with that type of carry presents some challenges, both practical and aesthetic. First, I’ll argue that if you’re carrying any sort of revolver you’re already carrying a vintage design. Revolvers are 150-year-old technology—people still carry them because they work. On the semi-auto side, you’re looking at actual vintage pistols, collectors’ items, family heirlooms, or newly-made retro/classic versions of famous models; as an American you’ll most likely think of the 1911 first, then maybe iterations of the Browning Hi-Power. In fact, it was the arrival of a newly-manufactured Inglis L9A1 which gave me the idea for this column.

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A Guide to Many but By No Means All Suppressors for 2026

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all available suppressors on the market. However, it does include many of the new and innovative models being offered in 2026. Some are built for performance in the hunting fields or in competition. Others are built for tactical applications or compactness. All provide a measure of safety from hearing damage. As industry-wide testing standards have yet to be implemented, it’s difficult to compare suppressors and many makers opted not to provide sound attenuation figures.

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STATION SIX 45

Tracing its roots back to the covert World War II-era Welrod pistol and the more modernized contract VP9 (not to be confused with the H&K VP9), the all-new Station SIX-45 (Silenced Project caliber 45) harkens back to the famed Birtley Hall weapons development section—known as SOE Station VI and later Station IX—where the British originally conceived of the concept. This updated, integrally suppressed pistol features a new grip and updated magazines while maintaining its non-descript appearance, whisper-quiet sound signature, and unique rotating bolt operation.

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Fixing Problem Shooters – Part 1 

If we take the time to understand just a little bit about how the brain functions, we can use that knowledge to inform ourselves about how to improve student's shooting ability. Here, we’ll focus on the remediation aspect.

First the bad news. There is no “secret sauce.” Or, more precisely, if there is, we haven’t found it. There’s no quick formula, no incantation, no set of standards, no whiz bang drill, and no pill that can zap a student with immediate and lasting improvement in these types of skillsets. The human brain simply doesn’t function that way.

The good news, however, is that there actually is a lot that can be done in these in-service settings, both to conduct effective and lasting remediation for problem shooters and to run highly effective training that can maintain and enhance even the most advanced skillsets. 

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How A 3D Printed Suppressor Is Made

Opens to a video showing behind the scenes at Griffin Armament where they manufacture the 3D Additive Manufacturing 3D Printed Suppressors. If you are interested in some of the new 3D printed suppressor technologies, this is a fascinating video showing how they actually make them.

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Suppressor Mirage Cover: Stop Heat Distortion in Your Scope

Heat mirage occurs when ground surfaces, rifle barrels, or suppressors heat the surrounding air. As this air warms, it expands and becomes less dense than the cooler air above it. Light passing through these air layers of varying densities bends, a phenomenon known as refraction.

Through a rifle scope or spotting scope, this refraction appears as shimmering heat waves that can obscure distant targets or create optical illusions, making objects appear to shift from their true position.

Mirage impacts long-range marksmanship in both positive and negative ways. When generated downrange across terrain, heat waves serve as an accurate tool for reading wind vectors. However, when generated near the muzzle, heat waves become an optical obstacle.

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A New Feature: Dumb Criminal of the Week Tried to Rob a House Full of Construction Workers Half His Age

I will have a dumb criminal of the week periodically as I come across the stories. Look at that sad face. We should not tell anyone to limit themselves, but if you’re a 60-year-old, 15-time convicted felon, maybe robbing a house full of construction workers half your age isn’t the best career move. But William Garrett didn’t ask for career advice, and prosecutors say that’s exactly what he did in West Pullman.

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The LVAW: JSOC’s Micro Sized Blaster

 

The name Low Visibility Assault Weapon is an interesting one and is a weapon that should be looked at with military eyes and not civilian. It’s certainly not a concealable platform. It is a very compact carbine design that features a super short barrel — it’s a mere 6.75 inches long. I have handguns with a six-inch barrel, for reference. Finding official measurements is tough. This isn’t a rifle that pops up in SIG’s catalog.

The LVAW does feature a folding stock and has been seen with both a standard metal folding stock and the modern folding and collapsible design we see in numerous MCX rifles. It’s a rifle design that can be very small and compact. It’s not designed to be hidden under a coat, but it does help the operator keep a low profile in other ways.

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Trigger Press Casualty

A post is circulating about a fellow whose hand became a casualty when the chambered round in his Glock 44 (.22 Long Rifle caliber) failed to eject. He then pressed the trigger and a loud noise occurred instead of the ‘click’ he expected. Unfortunately for him, his hand was over the muzzle and the bullet injured his hand.

When you put your hand over the muzzle of a loaded pistol and then pull the trigger it should not be surprising that you will shoot your hand.  Another example: Don't Shoot Yourself

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Communism In America - Part 1

From someone who knows the evils communism firsthand

It seems that an affinity toward communism is growing in America. If Americans were not historically illiterate, they would see incredible parallels between the agenda of the left...the liberals, the progressives, and the avowed socialists (democratic or otherwise), with the agenda communism’s founders promoted. Please read history before scoffing as uninformed opinions are as worthless as the results of communism.

Communism remains as the greatest threat to humanity and the greatest danger to the success of this country and those who live here. What we are seeing now is the American Communist Machine at work to hold on to a sliver of power while seeking to discredit those who defeated it.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

Wednesday Wisdom: 16 September 2026

Medal of Honor: Stephen Wesley Pless

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a helicopter gunship pilot attached to Marine Observation Squadron 6 in action against enemy forces. During an escort mission Maj. Pless monitored an emergency call that four American soldiers stranded on a nearby beach were being overwhelmed by a large Viet Cong force. Maj. Pless flew to the scene and found 30 to 50 enemy soldiers in the open. Some of the enemy were bayoneting and beating the downed Americans. 

 

Major Pless displayed exceptional airmanship as he launched a devastating attack against the enemy force, killing or wounding many of the enemy and driving the remainder back into a treeline.  

 

The Department of Defense, recognizing the extreme circumstances of the helicopter rescue, awarded all three of Pless's crewmates decorations. Rupert Fairfield, Leroy Poulson, and John Phelps were each awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest Naval award for valor. The combined crew of four represent the most highly decorated helicopter crew to fly in the Vietnam War.

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The Taurus GX2

Taurus is well known for making handguns, producing its first revolver, the Model 38101SO, in 1941. For those on a limited budget, the compact polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm Taurus GX2 may be a viable every day carry pistol. 

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Remington .50-70 Rolling Block

 

In rearming with new cartridge-firing guns after the Civil War, many states chose different ones than the U.S. Army. Remington, Peabody and Sharps rifles armed many, and all initially competed to become the arm of the United States. A main contender for the U.S. Army’s first official cartridge rifle was the Remington rolling block, a design Joseph Rider perfected and among the few that easily made the jump from rimfire to centerfire rounds.

Remington made millions and under license to others, it was used worldwide. While our Army ultimately went with the Springfield Trapdoor, the Navy chose the Model 1867 Remington-made rolling block carbine in .50-45, then ordered a further 10,000 Model 1870 rolling block rifles in .50-70 Gov’t made at Springfield Armory under license.

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Myths & Facts Concerning Self-Defense Training

Separating the facts from the fluff surrounding self-defense training so you can focus on what really matters. The point of this article is not to declare that what you’ve been doing and have been taught about self-defense handgun application is wrong. The point of this article is to get you to apply some practical thinking to certain aspects of defensive handgun use in a life-or-death situation.

 

The observations are based on some experiences in the military and as a police officer, and while training at some well-respected schools. Sometimes we get so caught up in the dogma we fail to think for ourselves.

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How the Shortest War in History Lasted Only 38 Minutes

 

Wars usually last months or years. Some conflicts drag on for decades, shaping the course of history and leaving deep scars on nations. But one war stands out as a striking exception. In 1896, a military conflict between Britain and the Sultanate of Zanzibar ended in just 38 minutes.

 

The Anglo-Zanzibar War is widely recognized as the shortest war in recorded history. Despite its brief duration, the event had dramatic causes, intense action, and lasting political consequences. This article explores how such an incredibly short war began, what happened during those 38 minutes, and why the conflict ended so quickly.

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Farnam’s Thoughts: Lubrication of Serious Rifles During Serious Use

 

  

The current generation of high-tech lubricants available to us for gun maintenance are vastly superior to what was available just a few decades ago. Superior, both in terms of their ability to efficaciously lubricate moving parts and in their ability to continue to lubricate adequately in small amounts and over a wide range of temperatures.

 

Thus, particularly with the AR and other military rifles that may see continuous, heavy use in dirty environments, I am a proponent of running the gun wet, and letting the mechanism throw off the excess.

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Even Revolvers Can Fail 

Yes, revolvers can malfunction. Here’s what to do if your wheelgun wilts on you.

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The Cons (and Pros) of Traditional Double Action Pistols

Advocates of this design refer to it as “traditional double action” (TDA). Many also use the term Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA).  DA/SA pistols are designed to be carried with a round chambered and the hammer lowered using a decocking lever. That means that the trigger pull for the first shot will perform two actions: cocking the hammer and releasing it. For follow up shots, the cycling of the slide cocks the hammer for the user, so those rounds are fired in single action mode.

Typical factory double action trigger pulls can be 10-12 pounds, but action work or installation of modified parts can lower it to 6 pounds. Some duty/carry trigger modifications lower the single action trigger to 3-4 pounds. Many TDA guns used in competition have the single action trigger lowered below 3 pounds. Generally, people shoot shorter, lighter trigger pulls better than long, heavy triggers.

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The 9×18mm Ultra cartridge—No it is Not the Same as the 9x18mm Makarov

 

The 9×18mm Ultra Police cartridge was primarily designed for German police forces in the 1970s as a more effective alternative to the .380 ACP in wide use at that time. 9×18mm Ultra Police saw limited use and although a few firearms were chambered for it, the cartridge never achieved widespread adoption. The most notable firearms that use the 9×18mm Ultra Police ammunition are the Walther PP Super and the SIG Sauer P230, although the latter was also available in other calibers. Some less common firearms also include models from Mauser and Erma, but these are significantly rarer.

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Springfield Kuna Tri-Lug Review: A Better Suppressor Host?

 

Springfield Armory has expanded the Kuna line with a new Tri-Lug Barrel model. At first glance the change may appear minor, but for suppressor owners it is a noteworthy addition. The tri-lug mounting system has been a favorite among submachine gun and Pistol Caliber Carbine enthusiasts for decades and remains one of the fastest and most convenient methods of securely attaching a suppressor to a firearm.

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Silencer Hazard Maps

Absolutely ear safe? Most suppressors other than .22 long rifle and .300 AAC Blackout subsonic probably are not. Literally everything you might want to know about the suppressors that Pew Science has tested.

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The Webley Revolver, A Very British Gun 

 

 

 

The origins of the now famed Webley revolver can be traced back to a highly regarded bullet mold manufacturer from Birmingham. A father to only daughters, and notably a veteran of Waterloo, William Davis would be succeeded by his son-in-law, Philip Webley and his brother James in 1845. The Webley brothers would take the company in a new direction, focusing on the production of firearms. Joined by their sons in the 1860s, the firm that became Webley & Scott began manufacturing what they are certainly known for best today — revolvers.

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Dry Fire Training: The Complete Guide to Practicing at Home

Dry-fire practice is one of the simplest ways to stay connected to your skills between range days, and it is also an opportunity to learn more about how your firearm, your gear, and your body work together. A few focused minutes can reveal whether your grip is consistent, whether your sights come into view the way you expect, whether your holster is truly working for you, and whether the skills you rely on feel as familiar as they should. Because confidence is built through repetition, not assumption, making dry fire part of your regular training routine can help turn occasional practice into lasting proficiency.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.

Wednesday Wisdom: 9 September 2026

Welcome Home: PFC Harlan W Melinsky

On April 2, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army PFC Harlan W. Melinsky, missing from World War II.  

Melinsky entered the U.S. Army from Minnesota and was a member of Company I, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. In May of 1944 the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, was taking part in the Fifth Army's drive northwest through Italy to meet with Allied forces breaking out of Anzio. On May 20, 1944, Melinsky was part of an advance scout patrol from the 351st Infantry Regiment which came under attack north of Itri, Italy, taking fire from the front and both flanks. Members of Melinsky’s unit initially reported him missing when the company was forced to withdraw. Company I later retook the area and searched for Melinsky without finding him or his body. Following the war, an American Graves Registration Service team recovered the remains of an American Soldier on the slope of a valley just south of Itri, Italy but could not identify the remains.

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Grayboe’s Universal Mini Chassis and Stock System

One of the important advances in precision rifle shooting has been the development of high quality stocks and chassis. If you aren’t familiar with the difference between the two, let me clear it up for you; a stock is usually made of wood, polymer or other material (fiberglass, carbon fiber), while a chassis uses a more rigid material like aluminum.

Think of it like this; you can bolt an outboard motor to either a wooden boat or an aluminum boat. Over time, and with use and water involved, the transom of the wooden boat could deteriorate and allow some wiggle room. The aluminum transomed boat, however, is likely to continue to work until a weld breaks or something similar.

Modern rifle stocks have greatly improved, but the more modern chassis have taken it to the next level. Grayboe’s Universal Mini Chassis and Stock System illustrates perhaps the best of both worlds.

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Hornady .338 ARC Guide: AR-15 Conversion, Ballistics, & Suppressors

For those who are curious about the Hornady .338 ARC. Long-range precision isn’t the goal here—hard-hitting terminal energy and optimized suppressor performance are. Engineered to squeeze maximum heavy-payload energy out of a standard AR-15 platform, the .338 ARC fills a crucial gap for shooters wanting true subsonic stopping power without jumping to a large-frame rifle like the 8.6 AAC Blackout.

While the .338 ARC offers impressive energy and suppression, it does come with a few trade-offs to consider. First is its steep trajectory—a 307-grain bullet moving at subsonic speeds drops fast. You’re practically mortaring the round out to 200 yards, and with a 100-yard zero, expect to see around 30 or more inches of drop at the 200-yard mark.

Cost is another factor. Ammo is expensive—all of the ARC rounds are expensive, and this chunky .338 requires a lot of lead and copper to produce. As a result, factory ammo will likely remain expensive throughout the cartridge’s life compared to standard intermediate rounds.

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Knife Violence: Zombie-Style Knives Banned

Zombie-style knives and machetes have this week (24 September 2024) been added to the list of prohibited weapons in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 as the government cracks down on dangerous weapons with no legitimate purpose. 

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Farnam’s Thoughts

John Farnam’s thoughts on grip safeties, loaded-chamber indicators, manual safeties, hyper-accuracy, and magazine safeties.

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Gustave Young Exhibition Engraved & Gold-Inlaid Smith & Wesson Second Model American Revolvers

 

These wonderful revolvers are consecutively numbered Smith & Wesson Second Model American Revolvers that S&W displayed at the Moscow & Vienna World Fairs in 1872 & 1873 and at the United States Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.

Master engraver Gustave Young embellished both with the finest quality detailed foliate scrollwork with punch-dot background shading extending onto the hammer, trigger guard, and latch. Young’s record books have rubbings of the revolver’s engraving and gold inlay pattern. Description and Images courtesy of Amoskeag Auction company. 

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The Rifling Marks on Your Bullet Tell a Story

Every bullet that passes through a rifled barrel picks up a unique set of marks. The lands and grooves of the rifling engrave themselves into the bullet's surface as it spins down the bore. Most shooters never look at these marks. But if you do, they'll tell you more about your barrel's condition, your ammunition's fit, and your gun's health than almost any other diagnostic tool available.

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The Story of the .30-30 Winchester: America’s Original Deer Cartridge

There are cartridges that are faster than the .30-30 Winchester. There are cartridges that shoot flatter, hit harder, handle wind better, and look considerably more impressive on a ballistic calculator. None of that has managed to kill the .30-30. Hornady even makes subsonic rounds for the .30-30.

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Shooting is not "Just Shooting"

The sport shooters like to say that “shooting is just shooting” in an effort to convert everyone into sport shooters. That is a complete fallacy. Shooting is a closed skill and Gun Fighting is an open skill.

Taking their perspective, we could also say “punching is just punching” or “kicking is just kicking.” And in their context we would be correct. Punching in dry training is the same as dry firing, and punching a bag is the same as shooting a target. But saying that is the same as fighting is a ridiculous thing to suggest. Punching a bag is a closed skill. Applying a perfectly timed punch in a fight is an open skill.

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The Relative Draw Speeds of Pistols

From one of the masters Elden Carl: As far as I know no one has written about the comparative draw and fire speeds attainable from a hip-mounted speed holster like the ones built by such folks as Arvo Ojala (the inventor of the metal lined speed rig), Andy Anderson, and Alfonso Pineda. Since I am the only person I am aware of who won major events with all three action types (single action, double action (D.A), and semi-auto), perhaps I can use my experience to address this subject.

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The Hesitation Escalation

You don’t rise to the occasion behind the steering wheel--you default to your last level of training which most drivers don’t have. They have habits, what they saw in a reel, or the assumption nothing bad will happen between ignition and destination. That assumption is where things start to unravel.

When a street turns hostile, drivers don’t perform to the level of their intentions — they perform to the level of their preparation. Steel and glass feel protective right up to the moment they stop being so. A vehicle is not a bunker. Steel and glass give you the illusion of safety right up until they don’t. A vehicle gives you movement. Movement is leverage. Distance buys time. Time preserves options. Lose either one and the whole equation folds like a lawn chair.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.