Upcoming Classes

Snubby I
1/5 Las Vegas, NV

Defensive Medicine
1/6 Las Vegas, NV

Team Tactics
1/12-13 Yuba City, CA

Officer Rescue Tactics and Command
1/14-16 Albuquerque, NM

Pistol I
1/19-20 Fayetteville, NC

Team Tactics
1/26-27 San Jose, CA

Carbine 1 - SHOT Show
1/31-2/1 Las Vegas, NV

Introduction to Pistol
2/9 Yuba City, CA

Integrated Combat (FOF) Basic Course
2/9-10 Casa Grande, AZ

Carbine I
2/16-17 Ravensdale, WA

Carbine I
2/16-17 Holidaysburg, PA

Carbine I
2/23-24 Fayetteville, NC

Carbine I
3/1-2 Casa Grande, AZ

Home Defense
3/8-9 Yuba City, CA

Street Combatives
3/8-9 Warrensville Heights, OH

Team Tactics
3/8-9 Fayetteville, NC

Defensive Medicine
3/10 Yuba City, CA

Pistol I
3/14-15 San Jose, CA

Carbine I
3/15-16 Nashville, TN

In This Issue

• Results: LMS Twelve Days of Christmas
• Letter From The Editor
• LMS Defense News
• Training Topics: Why I Carry A Concealed Handgun
• Feature Class AAR: AK101 Course
• Gear Review: Ciener 22 Long Rifle Conversion for AR Rifles

Letter From The Editor
Yancey Harrington

It has been a whirlwind year for LMS Defense and we would not want to have it any way. We have grown leaps and bounds and could not have done it without the help of our loyal students and our tireless instructors. 2008 is going to be a great year for LMS Defense and we look forward to training with our students in the coming year.

If you watch the news, you are aware of the tragedies in Omaha, Nebraska and in Colorado. We at LMS Defense grieve at the senseless loss of life and offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who died and were hurt. During the Christmas season, enjoy time with family and friends, yet also be aware and alert of what is around you.

With that being said, our very own senior instructor Troy Price has a great article about why he carries his firearm with him every day, everywhere he goes. Tim has an excellent review of the Ciener .22 LR conversion for AR rifles. With the price of .223, it could be a very good investment. Mike_F has a review of an AK101 and AK Operator Level Armorers Course class that was held in Casa Grande, Arizona the early part of December.

I would like to welcome back home Mike_G who was working over in the Sandbox as a medic contractor for the past six months. Mike_G, myself, and a few other friends met up in Tampa, Florida recently at the 2007 Special Operations Medical Association Conference. Mike_G finally got that steak and Guinness he has been having dreams of for the past six months.

In closing, be alert, be prepared, be safe and we look forward to seeing you in 2008. Enjoy the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season.

LMS Defense News
John Chapman

December has been a month of growth and preparation for us here at LMS.  Our 12 Days of Christmas event has been a great success; raising a lot of money for Fisher House and getting some cool prizes into the hands of our clients.  We want to congratulate our grand prize winner, Vic, who took home a Cavalry Arms CAV 15A carbine and a two day LMS Defense Carbine 1 course.  We would also like to congratulate the 13 other prize winners; and thank those of you who registered for courses and gave so generously to Fisher House.

In response to requests, we will be continuing to post videos on the forum at LMS Defense Forums.  Beginning January 7, 2008, these mini-lessons will include dry fire drills, range exercises and other items of interest; and will be posted every Monday.  If you have ideas or questions for these mini-lessons, please contact us at Questions@LMSDefense.com. December caps off a great year for LMS Defense.  With the support of our clients, we have grown from 2 instructors in December 2006 to over 20 instructors today. This growth has enabled us to organize regionally; bringing better training to more areas more often throughout the United States.  Our unique approach to specialized training courses such as Counter Assault Team, Dignitary Protection and Officer Rescue Tactics has allowed many qualified people to receive this training who would otherwise not be able to participate due to budgetary or time constraints. 

  In 2008, look for an expansion in the law enforcement course offerings from LMS Defense; including long-range Precision Rifle and Sniper courses, Basic and Advanced SWAT courses, CQB and Vehicle Assault courses and law enforcement related instructor course offerings.

  Also in 2008, our Dignitary Protection training program will come to full fruition.  We have separated our 21-day Dignitary Protection Curriculum into three 7-day blocks of instruction.  This modularized program now makes it realistic for a busy working professional to spread the time and cost of this course over an entire year.

  Look for us at the 2008 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV.  LMS Defense will be conducting a Carbine I course the two days prior to the SHOT Show (January 31-February 1).  We will be doing this course at the Boulder City Police Department range, so if you are in the area stop by and say hi; or better yet, sign up for one of the few remaining spots in this course.  Also, if you see an LMS Defense instructor at SHOT show ask him for an invitation to our exclusive Super Bowl Party on Sunday.

From the staff and families of LMS Defense, we want to wish you a very happy and prosperous 2008.  We look forward to training with you next year.  Happy Holidays.


Always Fight, Never Quit.

Training Topics
Troy Price

Why I Carry A Concealed Handgun

The topic of “why I carry a concealed handgun” has become the hot topic on several discussion boards. I have heard answers that span the gamut from protecting family to protecting society at large. Some of the answers to this question actually disturb me for their apparent lack of thought and prior crisis planning.  Since many of us have decided to carry a concealed handgun I think we should take a look at why we carry and the huge responsibility that comes with carrying a concealed handgun. 

I choose to carry a concealed handgun for a number of reasons: 1) to protect myself and my family 2) to attempt to affect a positive outcome on life threatening threaten situation that I find myself in the middle of whether it be an Active Shooter scenario or a terrorist incident in a public place when there is no other option but to fight. 

I have read, on several internet forums, of the increasing amount of people that said that if they were in a public place and heard shots they would proceed towards the sound while drawing their concealed handgun. While I can respect this course of action, I don’t think that individuals give enough thought to their actions before a critical event.  Drawing your gun and running blindly towards the sound of gunfire, as a private citizen, can be a tricky thing. Without prior thought and planning you could be running towards your demise in an effort to make the ultimate sacrifice. You won’t be looked at as the cavalry by responding law enforcement, you’ll just be another guy with a gun; and that may not turn out well for you. 

Having completely defined to oneself why you carry a gun is an important part of knowing how you are going to use it in defense of yourself and others. If you are carrying a gun because it is an integral of your self-image you are wrong. Carrying a concealed handgun is not analogous to Clark Kent wearing his Superman costume under his business wear. I have witnessed personality changes in people only for the reason that they put on a gun. Putting on a gun does not make one bulletproof, nor does it make one exponentially stronger. A wrench to the back of the head will kill you all the same whether you are wearing a gun or not. 

In order for you to be part of the solution instead of a compounding factor of a dangerous situation you must prepare yourself for a crisis situation. There are building blocks in crisis preparation. Mindset is the foundation on which all actions are based. When I talk about mindset I am not talking about “fighting mindset”, “combat mindset”, or even Col. Cooper’s Color Code of Mental Awareness. While these are all parts of coming out on top of any life-threatening situation, what I am trying to define are considerations prior to entering into a crisis situation that you have the ability to choose whether you will participate in or not. 

Not knowing what the situation is of primary concern. Are you running towards an incident that involves Law Enforcement resolving a deadly force encounter, where you can be mistaken as a threat to them? Are you, with your J-Frame revolver, running towards an Active Shooter(s) with AK-47s? 

There are cases of mistaken identity between private citizens and undercover police officers, where the private citizen actually thought the police officers were criminals. There was actually a case where a man in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin thought he heard a woman being raped in the apartment below him, whereupon he grabbed a sword and charged to the rescue. After kicking down the door of the suspect apartment, to his horror he found the occupant watching a pornographic movie.  

We could sit here and construct numerous scenarios where what appears to be happening may not be exactly what is happening. Know what you are getting yourself into and what the projected outcomes could be, good and bad. If you can live with the possible result, take action. 

The next issue to cover is to answer the question of does your level of skill and training give you the highest probability for a positive outcome to whatever threat you face. While most American males believe that they have the genetic ability to shoot as well as Sgt. Alvin York, we need to recognize that this is not reality. I have seen time and again where people ask me “why do I need training, I grew up shooting?” I have also seen students, after giving me their impressive training resumes, have less than impressive weapons handling and marksmanship skills.  

In this “country of riflemen” the American male seems to think that he is born with the genetic ability to shoot a gun. This fact, combined with our ego, is a recipe for disaster. Many people are unable to conduct an objective self-assessment of their abilities. Until this first hurdle can be cleared we cannot develop a training plan that will enable us to become proficient with the tools, and develop the mental skills, to affect a positive outcome of a crisis scenario.  

Two skills that will aid you the most are 1) knowing what your real abilities are and 2) knowing when what you are doing isn’t having an effect and it is time to change tactics.  

In 2005 a gunman outside of the courthouse in Tyler, Texas opened fire on his ex-wife and son. As law enforcement engaged the gunman an armed citizen also responded and hit the gunman several times. The gunman was wearing body armor; he had gone to the courthouse with the intention of killing his family and any law enforcement that intervened. After the armed citizen’s hits had no effect, the gunman turned and killed the armed citizen. Subsequently the gunman was killed by law enforcement officers. 

Any number of conclusions can be drawn from this encounter. The single most important conclusion that I draw is this: using a gun in self-defense and the defense of others is a thinking man’s game. You need to be aware of everything that is happening. If your hits are not effective you need to transition to the head. Mark Wilson is a hero for laying his life on the line in defense of others that day in Tyler, Texas. But things don’t always go the hero’s way.  The bottom line, if you are going to carry a gun, is this: know what you can and cannot do, know what you are willing to do, understand that there may be a personal cost to you. If you can live with all of that then you are beginning to understand the great responsibility that comes with carrying a gun. 

Feature Class After Action Report
Mike F.

AK101 Course

I had the good fortune to attend Yancey Harrington's AK101 course held in Casa Grande, AZ on 12/8/07 and Ted Marshall’s AK Operator Level Armorers course held in Phoenix on 12/9/07. I became interested in taking the classes because I have been a fan of the simplicity of the AK family of rifles, and all of my previous rifle training was based on AR-type rifles. I learned a great deal, improved the way I operate & maintain AK-type rifles, and changed the configuration of my gear based on what I learned in the courses. The courses also were a lot of fun.

The AK101 class started about 8:30AM Saturday. Coming from out of state, I was expecting the typical sunny & mild Arizona winter weather. I brought rain gear but didn’t expect that I would need it. Well the weather was windy, wet, and a little on the cold side which turned out to be a good thing in a way because I usually don’t shoot much in that type of weather.

Our class consisted of individuals with about the broadest range of experience that I can imagine. At one end of the spectrum was a shooter that had never fired an AK and at the other end was a nationally recognized firearms instructor. I thought Yancey did a fine job of keeping everyone active and engaged in the course of instruction. He was a confident and effective instructor without being overbearing or intimidating.

The range had firing positions out to about 100 yards, and our activities were performed from ranges of 5 to about 60 or 70 yards. We performed a wide variety of stationary & moving drills from both our strong and weak sides. The drills also included transitioning from rifles to pistols. We shot as a group and individually, with a couple of the drills being performed with time limits. Yancey spent about as much time addressing firing the AK from the left side as the right, which was important to me because I’m left handed.

After lunch we had a gear “show & tell” session. Everyone had the chance for a “hands-on” comparison of each others’ gear plus additional gear that Yancey brought. The students’ gear varied from simple chest rigs to plate carriers to discreet carry bags. It was educational for me to see the various types of gear that are available for the AK.



Yancey also set up a series of problem-solving exercises for us. With our rifles left on the firing line, the class moved to an area hidden from view. Various problem conditions were created with our rifles. The problems ranged unloaded chambers and magazines to partially disassembled rifles. Our task was to diagnose and fix the problems and get the rifles firing again as quickly as possible. The students even swapped rifles to get experience with other AK configurations.

As the day progressed I encountered some problems with the way I had my gear set up. Many of them involved interference between the colder-weather shell & fleece jacket I was wearing, my belt holster, and chest rig. With Yancey’s help I ended up switching a couple of things that made it much better for me. A really great thing about way Yancey teaches is that he presents several options to solve a problem. With him there isn’t just one “right way” to do things.

Yancey set up a demonstration of the penetration of typical AK ammo (5.45 & 7.62) through concrete blocks (aka cinder blocks or concrete masonry units). The 7.62 ammo literally pulverized the concrete blocks and the 5.45 busted them up pretty well too. After the demonstration it was very clear that these should be considered concealment and not cover.



The last event of the AK101 class was a night firing demonstration using the various muzzle devices found on AK-type rifles. The types demonstrated were a 5.45 AKSU74 (Krink) muzzle booster (good for signaling low-flying aircraft), a 5.45 AK74 muzzle brake (bad, not as bad as I would have guessed), a Wolverine 7.62 flash hider (it worked very well), and a 7.62 Saylor’s Phoenix flash hider (which worked the best of those tested).

I thought it was an excellent class, and was well worth the time and money that I spent for it.

The Operator Level AK Armorer class with Ted Marshall was held the next day and started at about 9:30AM. We met in a classroom that was very nice and had large tables. There was plenty of room to spread out and work on our rifles. Ted is a “fountain of AK knowledge” and was able to discuss in great detail every functional aspect of the rifles. He also discussed the origin and history of the various configurations and calibers of the AK family of weapons. Ted also recounted his experiences meeting in former Warsaw Pact countries with museum curators, AK factory managers, and meeting Mikhail Kalashnikov himself. Yancey was also present for this class and shared some of his knowledge about the ammo industry in Russia which complimented the information presented by Ted. Ted brought along several of his AK-type rifles in various configurations from different countries of origin. Most were factory original, full-auto rifles. He was generous enough to allow us to handle and examine all of his rifles. This allowed us to compare and operate different types of folding stocks, various types of sights, different selectors, etc., side by side. It was a unique experience being able to compare the inner workings of standard AK’s to the more complicated 3-round burst capable rifles.



Ted showed us how to perform a normal field strip of the rifle, then progressed on to removal of the fire control group, and bolt disassembly. He showed us the functions of the various parts of the cleaning kit. Although I have used the standard cleaning kits before, I was unaware of the many tasks that can be performed with the kit. The uses included complete bolt disassembly (and reassembly), a cleaning rod guide to minimize contact with the muzzle, and to move those stuck gas tube retainer levers. I found I had unnecessarily been carrying extra tools to perform some of these same tasks.

We were shown parts from AKs with various round counts (new, 5K-10K, 15K-20K). Ted showed us the various wear points and wear patterns that occur with use of the rifle. When he described the methods used to recondition the worn parts I was surprised. Most of the fixes merely involved judicious use of a jeweler’s file in the right places to get the parts ready for further service.

The rifles were then reassembled and we were taught a few tricks to make things easier. I’ve installed the fire control group (hammer, trigger, disconnector in a semi-auto-only rifle) a few times. But I have to admit that I’ve endured a few scrapes and cuts from the springs and sharp edges. Using Ted’s tips greatly simplified the process with no scrapes or cuts involved. Ted discussed different types of lubricants and where to apply it. Like the other aspects of the AK-family, the lubrication required is simple and straightforward. The class was taught with a very open format and questions from the students were encouraged throughout the day. Like the AK101 class, I thought the AK Operator Level Armorers course was excellent and well worth my time and money.


- Mike F.

What other students have to say about the AK course:

"...Yancey did fantastic job of teaching the system. AK shooters...if you have an opportunity to train with Yancey, DO IT." - Gabe Suarez

"Yancey really did a great job." - Chris L.

Visit our website for upcoming classes and additional information.

Gear Review
Tim Pack

Ciener 22 Long Rifle Conversion for AR Rifles