I realize I'm probably one of only a handful of people in America who shoots regularly that had never shot a Ruger 10/22, but I fixed that problem this weekend. All I can say is: anybody want a Savage 64F? Only a slight exaggeration, but that was like an entirely different class of machine; like comparing a really nice car to an econo-box. Cadillac to Corolla?
Today, Mrs. Graybeard and I attended a Civilian Trauma Medicine first aid class. I used to have a Red Cross first aid card - 40 years ago. I even worked as an emergency room orderly at that time, helping the doctors with suturing, casting, even doing CPR on the hospital's "code team". But wars always advance trauma medicine, and my (partially-recalled) knowledge has gone obsolete in places. The combination of Gulf Wars I and II, plus Afghanistan, and the things Israel has learned from years of suicide attacks have changed some things. With small unit tactics, maybe four to six guys, the number one rule is to win the fight and then attend to each other. You might have to do first aid on yourself to keep fighting, or lean on your buddies groin to put pressure on his femoral artery, so that he doesn't bleed out and die while you're getting out of the mess.
I think our instructor is uniquely qualified to teach this, being a trauma specialist RN, as well as former special forces, an NRA instructor, and having worked security for the State department in Iraq, Haiti and other - shall we say, unpleasant - places. He says the class is not for the squeamish, and it was as advertised, with plenty of pictures of IED wounds and other damage from Iraq, plus other (mostly deceased) cases from back home. The highlight, though, was shooting a couple of pork roasts with 9mm hollowpoints and allowing us to examine, and then bandage the wound channels. Not something I've seen in person. BTW - what's the current recommendation for treating a gunshot? Plug it with a tampon. Quickclot was over used in theater and has fallen out of favor. Last resort only.
But... tomorrow is Monday, so back to the mundane.
First, if you haven't yet tried a 10/22 with a bull barrel, find someone who has one and give it a try. You will need to either replace the stock or rout out the forend of the one you have to accept the .910" barrel, but it is worth it. The difference in accuracy is amazing. If you get a carbon-fiber or aluminum barrel, you will also be pleased by how light the rifle has become.
ReplyDeleteSecond, that sounds like a great class you attended. The notion of using tampons, although I haven't yet had occasion to try it, has always sounded like an excellent idea. I am going to see if I can locate such a class within reasonable driving distance so that I can upgrade my EMT (ambulance and ER) and RN skills.
Have you seen these?
http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-War-Surgery-NATO/dp/0879474106
http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/Emergency_War_Surgery/EWS.zip
Funny, I was just shopping around for a 10/22 because I went to an Appleseed rifle training and this is one of their recommended training rifles. I borrowed a Marlin 795 while I was there. It's similar.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I learned while shopping is the 10/22 carbine with the synthetic stock has a relatively low ratio of wholesale price to their MSRP compared to some of the other models, so if you are on good terms with a gun shop, they might be able to afford to cut you a deal. From what I see at first blush though, getting a stock altered to accept a bull barrel is cheaper if it's a wood stock. A steel bull barrel is pretty heavy, so go with the light kind.
That tampon idea is great! I think I'll get some tampons for a trauma first aid kit I'm assembling. Maxi pads also make ok field dressings.
Just one caution using tampons for wound treatment.... make sure that they aren't prepped with an anti-coagulant to keep things moving for their original intended use. Generics at BigLots should do fine.
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