Blade Tech Training Barrel

I picked up a Blade-Tech Training Barrel last week.  Initially I picked it up for training purposes and for filming training videos where we wanted to use a realistic weapon and still have the weapons be noticeably safe.  The installation of the training barrel is as easy as field stripping your handgun and putting it back together.  The Training Barrel also works great for dry fire exercises.  There is no way a negligent discharge could happen with a Training Barrel installed in your handgun.  Though the price tag is a little bit more than a chamber plug/flag, I think that the barrel being replaced is well worth the extra few dollars, especially with the ability to have a completely safe environment to conduct dry fire drills with.

From Blade-Tech's Web Page:

1. The Training Barrel provides the ability of realistic dry-fire weapon handling during practice and training but more importantly eliminates any chance for a tragic accident, such as a negligent accidental discharge.
2. The training barrel will allow full slide function which aids in tap rack manipulation drills and trigger function.
3. The training barrel allows the operator/instructor to use his/her OWN weapon by simply removing the factory barrel and inserting the high visibility yellow training barrel which is recognized as a safety color.
4. By using the training barrel one of the many key benefits is that you will be able to get good sight picture while presenting the pistol to a threat or target, this eliminates bad habits and promotes good training habits.
5. The training barrel is ideal for disarming, weapon retention, room clearing and CQB tactics.
6. While the solidly constructed training guns available today are 100% safe, they are not beneficial to teaching or demonstrating weapon manipulation along with trigger function.
7. The training barrel is lighter, smaller, and easier to transport than plastic training weapons and is made with strong impact resistant material which prevents flexing& bending; and is resistant to harsh chemicals.
8. The training barrel is less expensive and more economical than the average training weapon.
9. The training barrel has no complex parts to attach, lock/unlock, etc. It is one piece construction. No extra equipment is needed.
10. The Training Barrel works with all holsters! In the case of closed bottom holsters the barrel length can be modified to fit by just shortening the Training Barrel’s length (easily done with a hacksaw). The 19/23 barrel will also work in the 26/27, Just needs to be shortened to desired length. (Easily done with a hacksaw)
11. It makes weapons on display at trade Shows or in a gun stores 100% safe, allowing the potential client’s, student’s and customer’s to observe and handle the weapon.
12. Instructors can maintain possession of all real barrels until students have demonstrated proficiency with handling the weapon and “graduate” to the actual barrel.
13. Eliminates using annoying large steel dry fire plates at training schools.
14. The Training Barrel is backed by a 1 year warranty! 

Blade Tech Web Page

Blade Tech Link to Training Barrel



Get The Lead Out

Great article from the Baltimore County Police Department on Lead Exposure:

Lead Poisoning - The purpose of this article is not to suggest curtailing shooting or reloading activities in any way. Rather, it is to make Officers, Firearms Instructors, and Administrators aware of the possibility of lead poisoning and how to protect yourself from toxic lead contamination.

A Firearms Safety Hazard - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies lead as a heavy metal with no beneficial biological use in the body. When a person inhales or ingests lead, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the body it becomes very difficult to remove. Continual exposure results in the accumulation of lead in the body, and measurable amounts of lead indicate cumulative exposure over a lifetime.

The EPA has determined that lead poses a serious health hazard to everyone. Unfortunately, individuals working with and around firearms often overlook the harmful effects of lead. Therefore, firearms range personnel must take precautions to control all unnecessary exposure to this toxic element. For firearms range personnel, knowing the hazards of lead is a primary responsibility. Taking the necessary precautions to minimize exposure is a duty of all firearms instructors.

Effects of Lead on the Body - Approximately 6 percent of all lead ingested or inhaled is deposited in the blood or soft body tissues, such as the kidneys, brain, or other vital organs. The remaining 94 percent is deposited in the bone. Because the body mistakes lead for calcium, it presumes that, once deposited, the lead needs to be stored. However, the body does break down lead so that it can be removed. The time required for this process is measured by the term "half-life", which means the amount of time the body needs to excrete one-half of that lead. The half-life of lead is approximately 20 years. This means one-half of the lead dosage absorbed by the body through only one exposure and deposited in the bone would still be present after 20 years.

Health Concern - For decades, the presence of lead in the environment has been widespread, beginning with smelting factories and continuing with the manufacture of glazed pottery, batteries, and lead gasoline. It has only recently been acknowledged as a serious threat to public health that warrants government control.

In 1971, the EPA began enforcing the Lead Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, which restricts the amount of lead used in paints. Seven years later, the agency set the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which serves as the primary mechanism to reduce lead in gasoline. However, even with these standards and controls, the residue of lead in food, water, and dirt can elevate the lead level in a person's blood.

Firearms and exposure to lead, typically the exposure to lead on the firing line occurs as soon as the shooter pulls the trigger and the hammer falls. This action causes the primer of the cartridge to explode, in the chamber, which then ignites the main powder charge. At this point, a breathable cloud of lead particles is expelled into the air, with lead dust spraying the shooter's hands.

Lead particles also shear off as the bullet travels through the barrel. When the bullet leaves the barrel, a second cloud of contaminants, in the form of the muzzle blast, blasts into the air. Then, as the bullet strikes the impact area, another contaminated cloud rises.

When shooters inhale these clouds of contaminates, lead particles go directly into their lungs and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. The blood then transfers the lead to soft body tissue and bone. Heat from smoking, sweating, or physical activity accelerates this process.

Lead can also settle on the skin and hair, and in turn, can be absorbed through the pores of the skin. If lead particles reach the mouth, they can be ingested into the digestive system.

Exposure increases at clean-up time. Handling empty casings can result in lead being transferred to the skin. The weapon cleaning process also removes much of the remaining lead in the barrel and transfers it to the cleaner's hands. Oils and solvents used to clean and lubricate weapons cause the natural oils in the skin to evaporate, leaving dry skin and open pores through which the lead can pass.

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning - The numerous symptoms of lead poisoning mimic various diseases, often making diagnosis difficult. Most commonly, individuals experience abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, subtle mood changes, headaches, constipation, irritability, and depression. Muscle pain, muscle weakness, weight loss, impotence, convulsions, anemia, and renal failure may occur with increased lead levels in the body.

Testing for Lead - Testing for lead can be performed in several ways. The blood lead level (BLL) test detects recent exposure to lead but does not provide information regarding long term or past exposure. The BLL measures the quantity of lead in micrograms per deciliter of blood, written as us/100 dl, that is micrograms of lead per 100 deciliters of blood.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards states that the median blood levels for adults should be about 15 ug/100 dL. For reproductive health, the blood level should stay below 30-ug/100 dL. OSHA recommends removal from the work place of any employee whose BLL measures 40 ug/100 dL or higher.

The zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) test can be performed in conjunction with the BLL to determine longer exposure. Lead interferes with the absorption of iron into the blood, which is needed to transport oxygen, thereby allowing zinc to replace iron. The ZPP measures the amount of zinc in the blood, which remains elevated longer than the BLL. The normal range for the ZPP is 0-100 dl. An elevated ZPP indicates concentration in the bone marrow.

The only effective test used for bone lead levels is the disodium edentate (EDTA) chelating agent test. EDTA, a solution that is administered intravenously, bonds with the lead in bone, and clears it from body compartments so that it is excreted through the urine. EDTA both tests and treats an individual; however, medical personnel use it only in extreme cases of lead poisoning because of the potentially harmful side effects.

Special Risks - In males, high levels of lead can decrease the sex drive and cause sterility. Lead can also alter the structure of sperm cells, thereby potentially causing birth defects.

Pregnant women are vulnerable to rapid absorption of lead, along with calcium, from the blood into the bone. This mobilization occurs due to hormonal changes caused by pregnancy. In pregnant women, lead passes unimpeded through the placenta to the fetus, potentially causing miscarriages of the fetus and birth defects.

Children are more vulnerable to lead toxicity than adults are. Children exposed to lead may manifest into slow learning, mental drifts, slight retardation in development, hypertension, and behavioral problems. Excessive blood levels in children can seriously and irreversibly damage a child's brain and nervous system. Because the symptoms mirror those of various childhood diseases, many doctors do not test for lead.

Precautions on the Range - Precautions can be taken both on and off the range to protect shooters, instructors, and their families from lead poisoning. Administrative controls and good hygiene are two necessary tools. In addition, all shooters and instructors should practice the following dos and don'ts of range safety.

Do Not Smoke on the Range - Smoking any type of tobacco products on the range should be prohibited to prevent acceleration of inhaled lead into the blood stream and ingestion of lead transferred from hands to the cigarette, cigar, etc.

Do Not Eat on the Range - Lead dust on hands and face can be ingested through contact with food. Airborne lead expelled from the weapon can also contaminate food.

Don't Collect Fired Brass in Baseball Caps - Many shooters use their baseball caps to collect spent brass, this contaminates the cap with lead particles, When the cap is placed back on the head, the lead is deposited into the hair and absorbed into the skin. Providing boxes for the brass prevents this practice.

Do Be Aware Face, Arms, and Hands Are Covered With Lead - Shooters and instructors should wash thoroughly with cold water and plenty of soap. Cold water is preferred because warm water enhances the absorption of lead by opening the pores of the skin. If no water is available, shooters should consider carrying a box of wet hand wipes or a bottle of cool water and a washcloth for this purpose.

Do Be Aware That Hair and Clothes Are Still Contaminated - Shooters and Firearms Instructors should wear an outer garment, such as a jumpsuit or coveralls, or change clothes before going home. Contaminated clothes should not be cleaned by blowing, shaking, or other means that dispense lead into the air. To prevent cross-contamination, range clothes should be washed separately from the family's regular laundry. Families with infants should be particularly careful, since infants are most vulnerable to lead contamination. Families with infants should be particularly careful since infants are most vulnerable to lead contamination. Changing to clean clothing before leaving the range prevents recontamination of the hands and any contamination of the family vehicle.

Do Change Shoes Before Entering The Residence - Shoes can also transport lead into the home. Shoes should be left at the door to prevent tracking lead onto floors and carpets. Ordinary vacuuming does not remove lead from the home, but redistributes it by blowing it in to the air to be inhaled and/or resettled onto the carpet.

Do Avoid Physical Contact With Family Members Until After Shower, Shampoo, and Change of Clothes - Lead can be transferred by casual contact. Family and friends should not be hugged or kissed until after a shower and a change of clothes. Any physical contacts should be avoided while the shooter is still in range clothing.

Indoor Ranges - Most indoor ranges have a greater lead dust problem than outdoor ranges. However, range personnel can institute several controls to lower the amount of lead dust in these facilities.

The choice of ammunition is one such control. Nonjacketed ammunition produces the most lead dust and fumes, jacketed ammunition, the least. Shotgun shells produce more airborne lead dust than any handgun round. Currently, many ammunition manufacturers are developing lead-free ammunition.

Indoor ranges should not be carpeted, since lead dust settles and contaminates the rugs. A High Efficiency Particulate (HEPA) vacuum, which has a 3-stage particulate air filter is the best vacuum to use for lead.

Because water cannot be treated for lead contamination, personnel should use water sparingly to remove lead when cleaning ranges. If water is used for lead removal, minimizing the amount of water used will result in less pollution. Range maintenance employees should wear disposable coveralls and air purifying masks while cleaning and/or repairing indoor ranges.

What Does All This Mean To You? - Baltimore County Police Department conforms to OSHA lead standards, which became law in 1978. The police department monitors firearms training instructors for lead, and employees are informed of their results. Medical monitoring, such as BLL testing of employees, is conducted and funded by the department. In addition, air-purifying masks are provided to employees.

Washroom and showers are provided to ensure proper clean-up and eating areas are separate from lead contaminated areas. A Lead Abatement Training program has been instituted for all firearms training instructors who may be exposed to lead.

The department has placed warning signs on the range and weapon cleaning area that read: "WARNING, No Smoking or Eating in the gun cleaning area." Additional signs have been placed stating: "Wash Hands With Cold Soapy Water."

The blood level of the typical Baltimore County Police Officer is about four. The typical blood level of those continuously assigned to the Firearms Training Unit is slightly higher. As long as the above precautions are observed, employees of Baltimore County continue to remain safe from excessive exposure.

During the early years of firearms training, neither eye protection or ear protection was provided or encouraged on the range. Today, most departments now require both types of protection on the line.

Currently we have learned that another health hazard, - Lead Poisoning, threatens the physical well being of shooters and instructors in firearms ranges. However, through administrative controls and education, departments can reduce the on-the-job exposure of employees and their families to lead.

If you have any questions, please contact the Range Staff, 410-887-2330.

Revised October 17, 2007

 Link to original article

Fundamental Firearms Safety Rules

Something as simple as safety should go without saying, but just to reiterate here are the four Fundamental Firearms Safety Rules:

1.  Treat all guns as if they are loaded. - The thought behind this is that if  you treat all guns, even those that you have already confirmed as unloaded and safe, as well as "toy" guns as real guns, you will never have a lapse in judgment and have a negligent discharge.  There is an exception to this rule.  During training, we use red or blue plastic guns.  There are some who are uncomfortable in having these chunks of plastic pointed at them.  Reminder: red or blue plastic training guns are not guns, they are chunks of plastic molded to resemble a gun for use in training.

2.  Never point a gun at anything that you are not willing to shoot / destroy. - This one is pretty self explanatory.  If you point your gun at something and have a negligent discharge, it will be destroyed.  It could be your brand new flat-screen TV that you are using for "dry fire" practice (bad idea) or your partner's head during a building search.  Maintain the low ready or "sul" position when your gun is out of the holster (handgun) or unslung (rifle) until you are ready to shoot.  Walking around conducting a building search while maintaining a perfect isosceles stance is never a good thing.

3.  Keep your finger off the trigger (indexed) until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot. - Studies, especially the "Enoka Study" show that having a finger on the trigger while "conducting business" can cause negligent discharges through sympathetic contractions, loss of balance, or through a startle response.  If you have not yet read the "Enoka Study", I highly recommend it.

4. Be sure of your target and the backstop and beyond. - Not only should you be aware of your target, but also what is directly in front of and behind the target.  Also know what the ballistic capabilities of your ammunition is.  You may think that you have a good backstop, only to find out that your round went straight through it.

Be safe out there!

Low Light Considerations

I would guess that the mass majority of Law Enforcement Officers in the United States carry at least one flashlight of any make and model at least part of their shift. Whether the officer works during the day or during the night, every officer should carry at least one light, if not more. There is nothing worse than conducting a building search and have your light’s battery completely drain and not have a backup.

A few years ago, fellow officer and I were conducting a building search of a residence that had the front door kicked-in and the alarm sounding. It was late afternoon so the majority of the first and second floors were fairly well lit by the ambient light from outside. However, Mr. Murphy reared his ugly head as we went to check on the basement. The fellow officer that I was clearing the residence with had that “uhh-ohh” moment when we were about halfway down the basement stairs when his light stopped working. Luckily I was carrying my duty-issued Streamlight Stinger and my personal Surefire 6P. I was using the 6P because I liked the smaller size that allowed me to manipulate door knobs and anything else I needed to open while leaving my strong hand for what the strong hand should be doing, holding my handgun. I provided him with the Stinger and we completed the job. My point to all of this is that your light can fail you at any time, most likely it will happen at the most inopportune time.

One light or two or more?
As I mentioned above, only having one light has its obvious drawback. Aside from the batteries or bulb failing, burning out, or dying, there are some other problems that can cause you to have a bad day. You could drop your light, you could break your light, you could forget your light in your patrol car, the possibilities could be endless. I am a huge advocate of having multiple light sources on your person. I’m not saying that you have to have two full sized flashlights on your duty belt. The days of large incandescent D-Cell Maglights are behind us. I still have a Streamlight SL-20, but I rarely, if ever carry it anymore. My primary light for patrol is the Blackhawk Gladius Maximus, which packs 120 lumen for 2 hours on just 2 CR-123 batteries. It has a robust rotating tailcap that I can select constant on, strobe, and momentary on. I can also dim the light from 120 lumen down to 1.5 lumen. I also carry a SureFire G2 on my belt. Both lights are small and lightweight and produce enough light throw to get the job done. Think outside of the box as well. I carry a small Life Gear LED light on my keychain that doesn’t pack much light throw, but it will assist me in navigation if the other two fail. So what if all three fail? I have a flashlight application on my HTC EVO cell phone that actually puts out quite a bit of light to navigate with. Don’t restrict yourself to the conventional thought of what types of lights to carry, but try to ensure that you have at least two of them.

LED or Incandescent?
With the advancements in LED technology these days, it is hard to beat the brightness and battery life of LED over Incandescent. Some say that LED light produces a cooler, more white color balance which they do not feel is natural. Incandescent lights produce a warmer color balance, which some are more accustom to. However, in my opinion, the LED lights appear to throw light further than the Incandescent lights do. I personally prefer the LED lights over the Incandescent ones.

Small, Medium, or Large?
The size of your flashlight is something that you will have to determine for yourself. I prefer a smaller flashlight that packs a high lumen count. Others prefer a large flashlight that can be used as an impromptu impact weapon. A smaller light can be an advantage when you are in need of doing some sort of manipulation while holding your light, whether it be turning a door knob or racking the slide of your handgun. Before buying a new light, see if someone already has one so you can try it out to determine if it fits your style of doing business. Train with it as well. A lot of officers will clear a building with flashlight in one hand and gun in the other, but never fire that way on the range.

Plastic or Metal?
There are pros and cons for each. Metal flashlights are heavier, which is more weight that you have to carry around with you, however they make a great impromptu impact weapon or can be used to break out a car window if need be. Plastic flashlights are lighter, but may not be the best tool for using to impact anything with. More likely than not, your light will break before your suspect or the window will.

Rechargeable or Replaceable Batteries?
I currently have many different lights. Some are rechargeable, some require new batteries. There are pros and cons to both. With a rechargeable flashlight you can save money over time without having to buy new batteries, but you may have to wait a considerable amount of time before your light is fully charged. With a battery powered flashlight you will have to spend the money to replace the batteries, but once they are replaced you are immediately ready to continue on. Again, another reason to have a backup light.

5.11 Tactical currently makes a flashlight called the “Light for Life”. The UC3.400 model puts out up to 270 lumen and recharges in 90 seconds. Interestingly, the “Light for Life” does not use a conventional rechargeable battery, rather it uses a capacitor.

Strobe Feature?
Does your flashlight have a strobe feature? Yeah, I know they are fun to mess with your friends with and you can pretend that you are in a nightclub, but there are actually tactical purposes for the strobe. When the strobe feature is used in a manner where the user is moving the beam of the light around in a figure-eight pattern while moving the arm around, the suspect has an extremely hard time in determining where the source of the light is coming from. Couple the disorienting strobe effect with the light bouncing off of interior walls of a building in almost complete darkness, an officer can enter a room undetected by the suspect while the officer’s partner is controlling the light. Note: The light has to momentarily be turned off while the officer is entering the room. During a low light class during a Firearms Instructor course, this technique was used. There were eight students in the room, with one acting as a suspect. The instructor showed that he could detect the suspect and another officer could enter the room undetected, which nobody believed. Not one of the eight students observed the second officer enter the room and that officer had the “suspect” at gun-point (dummy gun) before the suspect could react. Obviously this is a tactic that needs to be practiced, especially with both officers, but it is a great technique to be used.

Weapon Mounted Light?
Handgun or Rifle, it doesn’t matter. The largest problem that I have seen over and over with weapons mounted lights is the propensity for the officer to use the weapon mounted light for searching. Unfortunately when an officer uses the weapon mounted light to search with, the officer is violating one of the Fundamental Firearms Safety Rules….”NEVER POINT YOUR GUN AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO SHOOT/DESTROY.” If you are searching with your weapon light and are more mindful of where the light is than where your muzzle is, you will be aiming your muzzle at many things/people that you don’t intend to shoot. You can use your weapon light to search with, however, use a light-bounce technique that will allow the light to bounce off of the floor or the surroundings, while maintaining a low-ready or sul position. With a handgun, I highly recommend that you search with a handheld light in one hand and your handgun in the other. You will be able to maintain a low-ready or sul position, keeping your gun pointed in a safe direction, while having the capability of freely shining your light wherever you wish.


Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions, comments, or concerns at washlefi@gmail.com.