Off Duty Armory Shooting Range and Gun Shop

Suppressors/Silencers; Let’s Hunt!

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:27:27 +0000

For those of you who don’t know already, YES we do sell legally registered suppressors at Off Duty Armory. Even with the internet and global information now at our fingertips, it never ceases to amaze me how many people still believe that these devices are illegal. Not only are these registered Title II devices legal, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. is now taking under consideration the legal hunting of all game and non-game species in the state with suppressors. The hunting of non-game species has always been legal with suppressors and now there are a series of public forums scheduled where YOU and other informed citizens can weigh in on the benefits of this proposed law change.

Click here for locations of public forums

The benefits of this proposed law change are many. Reduced hearing loss, reduced noise in encroaching urban areas, and increased accuracy due to reduced recoil are a few. There will always be people that will question why someone “needs” one of these tools or that these tools have some sort of “bad” reputation by their mere existence. I lived through this same ridiculous rhetoric when AR style rifles were under attack in the 90′s and are now commonplace firearms used in hunting, recreational and sport shooting, law enforcement and home/personal protection. Any such questions can always be answered with the following three words…. All Lawful Purposes.

Leave those earplugs at the house and get out to one of these public forums to voice your support for the lawful hunting of game animals in Texas with suppressors!

SHOT Show 2012

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:20:32 +0000

Back from Las Vegas and SHOT Show 2012. Every year this show gets bigger and better with more new products and things to see. We usually stock up for the coming year on our Title II weapons and accessories at SHOT and this year was no different. We are proud to add Tactical Solutions and HTG suppressors to our lineup and already have some special builds in the planning stages using these products. With the exciting news that Texas Parks and Wildlife is now revisiting the legal hunting of all animals (including non-nuisance species) with firearm suppressors, we want to make sure we are prepared!

If it was pink or “Zombie” related, it was HOT at SHOT this year! We saw Gen 3 and digital night vision products really starting to become more affordable as more new manufacturers emerge. Lots and lots of LED flashlights, weaponlights and IR illuminators on the market now and the technology just keeps getting better and better! Come see us for all the new stuff!

NRA Basic Rifle Course

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:32:12 +0000

Instructor: Jim Terrill
Date: Two weekdays per month; 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (see schedule) Course Fee: $150.00

Short Description: Teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the safe use of a rifle in target shooting.

More Details: This course is at least 14 hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot rifles. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; rifle parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest, prone, sitting, standing and kneeling positions; cleaning, and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Rifle Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 1988, revised 11/08)

Register for your class today!

Handguns with no safety? No such thing.

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:03:01 +0000

As I observe people who are looking for a handgun for concealed carry or home/vehicle defense, I often hear things like,”I want a gun that has a safety” or “Bubba told me not to get a insert brand name here gun because they don’t have safeties”. You will hear me talk about Bubba from time to time. He’s the guy we all know that knows everything about everything and is all too gracious to share his wisdom with you every chance he gets. Bubba the doctor, lawyer. plumber, electrician, rocket scientist, and in cases of my blogs; Bubba the gun expert. Bubba is right sometimes, and other times, well………..Read on.

Every firearm has two safeties. The first one is your brain. The second one is your trigger finger. If you use these two safeties every time you use any firearm, you can virtually eliminate negligent or accidental discharges. Yes there are mechanical safeties on all types of guns that block the firing pin, or disengage the trigger or hammer or lock the bolt closed, etc. These are all mechanical devices that have to be in good working condition that can also fail due to worn parts, getting dirty, or being poorly manufactured. And if you don’t train in consistent muscle memory exercises in releasing or switching a safety off when drawing your handgun, then you won’t do it in a real life crisis situation. And then it’s game over.

The analogy that I love to use is this. Gun safety and sex education. Think of properly using your brain and your trigger finger as abstinence. Think of relying on a mechanical safety as birth control pills or condoms. One works every time it is tried. The other works most of the time, but is never 100% reliable…………See you next month!

Weaponlights- Is the “Cardinal Rule” of gun safety changing?

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:05:39 +0000

11/16/11- Weaponlights, (weapon mounted flashlights) are becoming increasingly popular with law enforcement and civilian gun owners alike. The portability, convenience and “extra hand” that weaponlights offer are unparalleled. What seems to be slow to adapt to this trend is how we train with weapon mounted lights when we use them as illumination tools. Because when illuminating people (good or bad) with this tool, we are pointing the muzzle of a loaded weapon at them as well.

When a weaponlight is used as a illumination device for any task, such as searching a dark area while investigating a suspicious noise, clearing an unlit room, or positively identifying “friend or foe”in the dark, we are pointing the muzzle of the weapon in the same direction as the weaponlight beam. This violates one of the most basic and sacred rules of gun safety: “Never point the muzzle of a loaded weapon at anything or anybody that you do not intend to kill or destroy”.

Weaponlights are here to stay. Like so many other things that evolve and change, so must our mindset, training and diligence when it comes to weapon handling. We are currently designing a training program to hit this issue head on. Just as muscle memory and dedication to practice are key to traditional weapon training, so must it be for weaponlight training and use.

Check our training schedule for this training course coming soon! Stay safe and light em’ up!!

Who obeys the law?

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:37:18 +0000

Although this sounds like a silly question, you might be surprised at your own response to “gun laws” and who actually obeys them. I have had many instances where intelligent, educated people have indicated that they whole heartedly agreed with the often “knee jerk” passage of certain gun laws, especially after something tragic like a school or workplace shooting that makes headlines. My simple question to those folks usually is “exactly who will obey these laws”? Not a difficult question, yet the simple answer eludes many. Law abiding citizens will obey these laws. Criminals, by the very definition of their “occupation” will not obey these laws as they do not obey most laws; for if they did they would not be criminals.

As proven by the passing of the ridiculous 10 year “assault weapon” ban in 1994, passing more restrictive gun laws does nothing to deter gun crime, but vastly succeeds in restricting the rights even further of the people who obey the law. The U.S. cities and States with the most restrictive gun laws statistically have the highest murder rates.

Violent criminals rejoice in every new law written to restrict firearm possession. It just makes their “occupation” that much easier.
See you next month.

NRA Basic Pistol Instructor

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:35:16 +0000

Instructor: Dan Graeber
Date: TBD, 8:00AM to 6:00PM. This is a 2 day course.
Course Fee: $295.00

To qualify as an NRA Instructor, candidates must possess and demonstrate a solid background in firearm safety and shooting skills acquired through previous firearm training and/or previous shooting experience. Instructor candidates must be intimately familiar with each action type in the discipline they wish to be certified.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate solid and safe firearms handling skills required to be successful during an instructor training course by completing pre-course questionnaires and qualification exercises administered by the NRA Appointed Training Counselor.
Candidates must satisfactorily complete an NRA Instructor Training Course in the discipline they wish to teach (e.g., NRA Basic Pistol Course), and receive the endorsement of the NRA Training Counselor conducting that training.

NRA Instructor courses are discipline specific. During the course, candidates will learn NRA policies and procedures, basic public speaking skills, training methodology, use of a training team and training aids, organizing a course, building a budget, and finally preparing to teach. In addition, candidates will be provided the appropriate lesson plans and basic course student packets. Role-playing is a major part of an instructor course; therefore, the minimum class size should be at least four candidates, with 10-12 candidates being ideal. Candidates take turns working in teams, actually conducting portions of the course to other candidates who portray basic students.

Training Counselors will evaluate candidates’ performance based on their ability to handle the firearms with confidence, use of appropriate training aids, following the lesson plans and meeting all learning objectives, while utilizing the teaching philosophies expected of NRA Certified Instructors. Candidates can also expect to learn the NRA discipline specific instructional methods and evaluating and improving the performance of beginning shooters. Candidates will be provided with the NRA Trainer’s Guide, appropriate Lesson Plans and Outlines, Basic Course Student handbooks, certificates, basic student examinations, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program booklet, Basic Firearm Training Programs Brochure, Gun Safety Rules brochure, NRA Trainer’s Examination and NRA discipline specific instructor examination (minimum passing grade is 90%).

The Basic Pistol Course itself is at least 8-hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 2nd edition, 2009)

This course also includes NRA Home Firearm Safety Instructor. This is a non-shooting course and teaches students the basic knowledge, skills, and to explain the attitude necessary for the safe handling and storage of firearms and ammunition in the home.

Use of deadly force for “theft during the night”.

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:12:52 +0000

I always get questions while teaching the TX CHL Course about being able to use “deadly force” to prevent “theft during the night time”. Why just at night? Why not during the day? Who decided to write the law that way? Well, I say this law comes from the same source as most of the laws of our United States of America. The Holy Bible.

“If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft” : Exodus 22:2-3.

Notice that this passage from scripture also points out that the defender is “guilty of bloodshed” if it is after sunrise, meaning that you (the defender) can see clearly in the light of day and should know the thief’s intentions. Texas Penal Code says the same. This is also addressing a thief (someone who is stealing your tangible, moveable property). This is NOT addressing a criminal who has other intentions such as rape, murder, home invasion, etc. We will discuss that one in a future blog.

Give me your thoughts! Stay safe and see you next time.

Back from vacation…

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:23:18 +0000

8/18/11- Well, we just returned from 8 days in Sunny California! After 47 years on this planet, I finally got to go to Disneyland!! I must admit, it really is a magical place that has to be experienced to believe and experiencing it with my family made it even more special. The high temp. all last week was 77 and the low was 65! It was an awesome trip with the family and we all really needed this family vacation. It is GREAT to be back home. We now have scheduled monthly NRA classes in Basic Pistol, Home Firearm Safety, and FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation. Click the “Schedule” link for a full rundown of current courses. Coming soon…. MACHINE GUN RENTAL after 4:00PM daily!

NRA Basic Pistol Course

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:37:07 +0000

Instructor: Jim Terrill
Date: One Friday per month; 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Course Fee: $120.00

Short Description : Teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a pistol safely.

More Details: This course is at least 8-hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Firearms and ammunition are provided with this course at no additional cost. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 2nd edition, 2009)

Register for your class today!