Brian Ostro

Brian Ostro Web

Brian Ostro is an NRA-certified pistol and rifle instructor. He teaches concealed-carry courses in west central Florida. He also runs a firearms and related-topics discussion online forum.

From Brian Ostro
Weapons
Use Reliable Pistol Magazines
Most firearm owner's manuals cover magazine maintenance. It isn't always necessary to disassemble the entire magazine for cleaning after every range session, but it is necessary to wipe the follower and lips with a cotton patch or cloth after every range session.
December 27, 2010
Image via Glock.
Weapons
AR Pistols and Short Barreled Rifles
It'll take you at least 30 seconds to bring the rifle into battery (in your hands, shooting stance, round in the chamber, sights on the perp). A simple solution is to equip the front compartment with a compact short-barreled rifle or AR-style pistol.
December 14, 2010
The Bushmaster C15 Law Enforcement Pistol. Image via Bushmaster.
Weapons
SIG Sauer To Offer 556 Carbine In 7.62x39
The 7.62x39 was not developed for sniper work. Longer cartridges such as the Soviet 7.62x54 were developed for precision work and mimic our 30.06 and .308. The 7.62x39 is a relatively short cartridge case, but packs an effective punch.
November 23, 2010
The SIG 556 Classic rifle will be available chambered in 762.x39mm for 2011. Image via SIG Sauer.
Weapons
Reloading With Your Weak Hand
Dep. Jennifer Fulford never expected the assailant's 9mm bullet to rip through her nerves, disabling feeling in her fingers and causing the loss of use of her entire dominant hand. Fortunately, she was not out of ammo; she performed a one-handed reload with her weak (non-dominant) hand, as she had learned.
November 9, 2010
Grasp the entire grip and frame of the gun with your weak (non-dominant) hand. Turn over the pistol, gain a foothold into the fabric, and rack the slide. Photo by Brian Ostro.
Weapons
Shotguns Still Have Their Role In LE
We must first understand that today's shotguns and rifles have crossbred features that mimic each other, but there are distinct differences that are fundamental to each type. It's paramount that you understand those differences to better fill your own or your agency's needs.
October 27, 2010
Wilson Combat's Professional Model is exclusively available to LE and arrives with a 14-inch barrel and SureFire tactical light.
Weapons
Can Officers Learn From a Competition Shooter?
Most academy and qualification training with firearms is devoted to shooting at stationary silhouettes at 25 and 50 yards. This isn't the real world. In the real world, the bad guy is pumped full of adrenaline and is mobile.
October 13, 2010
Weapons
Is the 1911 Still Viable for Law Officers?
The main reason the M1911 is so successful is its grip angle. It's a natural pointer. The pistol takes advantage of the hand's natural geometry to promote accuracy, and the angle also makes the gun a pleasure to shoot. Having said that, certain steps must be taken to make the M1911 ready for carry.
September 29, 2010
The grip angle of the M1911 pistol takes advantage of the hand's natural geometry to promote accuracy, and makes the gun a pleasure to shoot.
Weapons
Dry Firing: Reinforcing the Fundamentals
Dry firing can be done almost anywhere. Once you have decided to implement this course of action, you must develop a plan on paper and stick to it.
September 14, 2010
Pachmayr produces spring loaded primer rounds known as snap caps. Photo courtesy of Pachmayr.
Weapons
.308 Gives You the Longer-Range Edge
The .223 is a respectable cartridge for many applications, but can fall short at a longer-distance range for penetrating heavy media such as concrete, armor plating, and dense steel.
August 30, 2010
Hornady 308 Tap 1
Weapons
Should You Consider a Custom Holster?
While holsters from the "custom" lines of such holster makers as Galco and Safariland can cost 20 to 50 percent more than their respective "generic" lines for the same model of pistols, I think they should be given consideration by those serious about practicing and gaining every possible advantage against the bad guy.
August 11, 2010
Black Hills Leather's Police Duty Holster is designed for law enforcement agencies. Photo via Black Hills.
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