Rating: 
Summary: He knows his business
Review: A lot of this book is 'put you to sleep' basic but the chapters on "Failure to Stop" drills and dry firing make it a VERY VALUABLE BOOK for the serious defensive handgunner.
Rating: 
Summary: The Truth About Gunfighting
Review: As a Federal LEO, I can safely say that I have seen a lot of firearms training and Gabe is in the leage of master Trainers. He tells it like it is in this book and doesn't paint gunfighting with the rose colored glasses that cloud this sometimes PC topic. Gabe's techniques work and they work in the real world. I have used them on duty and they are far better than what is being taught at many of the so called high speed low drag schools. Gabe teaches Gunfighting, not shooting. real gunfights are violent and while violence seems to offend some of the more timid readers, it is reality and anyone that is carrying a gun ahs a responsibility to be trained in its use. This book is a big step toward that training. Unlike many of his detractore, Gabe has actually been in gunfights and won. He knows what happens when it is time to sling lead and he knows how to win. I highly recomend this book for anyone interested in using a firearm for self defense.
Rating:
Summary: Accurizing your shooting technique
Review: Gabriel Suarez is one of the best known authors on tactics and shooting, and for a reason. As with other books by Suarez, this book is written in clear and easy to read style, and the book is filled with photographs to add to the clarity of the text. Sadly, most of the photos are a bit too dark, or the lighting is bad (strong light coming directly from the side, for example). However, the pictures are clear enough to see what they are depicting. Suarez starts with a brief history of combat handguns and combat handgunning. Then he proceeds to weapon and ammo selection, and he also touches the subjets of accessories. These chapters are short however, and you just can't make a selection on proper defensive ammunition, for example, by just reading three pages. Suarez gives a few valuable pointers on what to take into consideration when choosing proper gear, however. Next Suarez addresses the basics of handgun shooting: the grip, stance, loading and unloading the gun, proper sight picture, and safety rules. After the basics he advances to ready positions, tactical and speed reloads and so on. Interestingly, he is not as strict in his opinions as he used to be. These chapters contain some ideas that are very interesting and were new to me. The next few chapters are what sets this book apart from most: Suarez gives detailed training program to improve your accuracy and speed. He also advises that you don't have to spend vast amount of money on trainig ammo, as majority of training can be conducted as dry practise. Besides, quality beats quantity anyway. This section is worth the price of the book alone. At the end Suarez tells "the truth about point shooting", and answers to some frequently asked questions. The question of point shooting seems to be a hard one, as Suarez defends aimed fire by giving what seems to be almost the same rationale as point shoters use when defending their point of view. In the end, I would give this book 4 ½ stars, if it were possible. Full five stars is reserved for special occasions, so I give this book "only" four.
Rating:
Summary: I'm impressed with this book
Review: If I could have only one book on self-defense with a pistol, this would be the book. It starts with the basics and moves thoroughly and well into intermediate levels.
Unlike many authors in this genre, Suarez does not use his books and articles as product advertisements for gun-makers, gunsmiths, and accessory makers. He focuses on technique more than equipment and I like that. His techniques are simple and very proven. I've been shooting pistols for several years and I've tried many techniques. But I changed the way that I do several things after trying them the way that Suarez teaches.
In particular, I liked chapter 17: Close Quarter Combat - Some New Ideas. This chapter covers gunfighting techniques at extremely close ranges. Suarez is not only one of the best firearms instructors in the country, he has an extensive martial arts background as well. In this chapter he blends the two studies very well.
I'm impressed with this book . . . impressed enough that I'm planning a trip to attend one of Suarez's seminars later this year. I would definitely recomend this book for anyone who wants to learn armed self-defense.
Rating:
Summary: I'm impressed with this book
Review: If I could have only one book on self-defense with a pistol, this would be the book. It starts with the basics and moves thoroughly and well into intermediate levels.
Unlike many authors in this genre, Suarez does not use his books and articles as product advertisements for gun-makers, gunsmiths, and accessory makers. He focuses on technique more than equipment and I like that. His techniques are simple and very proven. I've been shooting pistols for several years and I've tried many techniques. But I changed the way that I do several things after trying them the way that Suarez teaches.
In particular, I liked chapter 17: Close Quarter Combat - Some New Ideas. This chapter covers gunfighting techniques at extremely close ranges. Suarez is not only one of the best firearms instructors in the country, he has an extensive martial arts background as well. In this chapter he blends the two studies very well.
I'm impressed with this book . . . impressed enough that I'm planning a trip to attend one of Suarez's seminars later this year. I would definitely recomend this book for anyone who wants to learn armed self-defense.
Rating: 
Summary: What I Learned About Shooting At The Police Academy
Review: The contents of this book are largely lifted from Police training manuals, and are not suited for the average citizen, unless you happen to be in a militia or you are a member of Al-Queda. I can't imagine why ordinary gun-enthusiasts would be interested in combat with fellow citizens, clearing and entering houses with hostile foes, and all the other techniques on offer here. Suarez makes a big deal about how he is a decorated officer, but no police officer worth their salt would put out books teaching citizens to be members of a tactical SWAT team.
The author obviously isn't a police officer in good standing anymore because no commanding officer would permit someone to profit off the tactics presented here.
If you are a gun-enthusiast, you would be better off buying something by John Farnam or Andy Stanford. Their books are written for citizen gun owners, and they don't teach how to indiscriminately kill people.
Rating:
Summary: Ideas that work!
Review: This comprehensive work covers all the shooting fundamentals such as considerations for choosing a weapon, figuring out what type of ammunition to purchase, and understanding shooting essentials (e.g., grip, stance, sight picture, safety). These pages are pithy with just enough depth for readers to understand the important ideas. The best part of the book, however, is the detailed training program which can markedly improve your speed and accuracy with a hand gun. I shot competitively for years, going through as much as 10,000 rounds per annum in practice. Believe you me, that ain't cheap. With Suarez's dry practice advice, you do not have to spend anywhere near as much I did to improve your technique. There is also a great section on extreme low light shooting, much better than I've seen in other books. This is a very well written textbook on the finer points of marksmanship and defensive handgun skills. You can implement many of these ideas and see improvements right away.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Martial Arts Instruction: Applying Educational Theory and Communication Techniques in the Dojo
Rating:
Summary: A Book That Can Really Help You Improve Your Shooting
Review: This is a very good and useful book. It really is. If you are a pistol shooter and you are not shooting to your potential and you can tell yourself, though painful as it may be (we are guys after all) that you need to improve, and that you believe the fundamentals of shooting are the foundation of advancing your skill then this book will help you. If you're like the average guy I see at the gun range who "knows it all" and is just interested in piling a lot of brass on the range floor then this book will not help you at all. If police academies taught the fundamentals of tactical marksmanship the way Gabe presents it in his book then they are getting some really good initial training that could very well save their life. The problem with this book is that it concentrates on the basics of not only marksmanship but practical tactics that can make you a really good and effective shooter but people don't want to do the leg work any more, they want to skip right to advanced techniques that couldn't be executed without having a strong foundation anyway. Then what they ultimately miss out is what this book really does well. It takes you from the basics of marksman ship and fundamental tactics and molds you to a practitioner of a useful skill. It's not the end of your training but part of it. There are so many books and videos out there that promise you what Suarez delivers for a few dollars. My shooting was frustrating me. I reached a plateau and wasn't improving. I wasn't able to attend a shooting school and I seemed to have more empty casings than holes in my targets. I have had pistol training in the past but it was forgotten and I was just relearning bad habits. The book takes you through the necessary steps you need to make you better and more effective. It is that simple. It is concise, well written, it teaches concepts that are easy to grasp and no matter how good you shoot I would bet that you would be even better after reading and practicing what is taught. I was able to make the jump from practicing a lot to practicing more perfectly a lot. There is a huge difference. My shooting has improved immensely from this study. When I feel I am starting to slip I either re-read it or review the appropriate chapters. I am a better shooter because of it. It is that simple. I still need to learn, I still need to continue to dry fire and then go to the range and validate my practice but I am a better shooter. This book has really motivated me to improve even more. That's what you will get from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Book That Can Really Help You Improve Your Shooting
Review: This is a very good and useful book. It really is. If you are a pistol shooter and you are not shooting to your potential and you can tell yourself, though painful as it may be (we are guys after all) that you need to improve, and that you believe the fundamentals of shooting are the foundation of advancing your skill then this book will help you. If you're like the average guy I see at the gun range who "knows it all" and is just interested in piling a lot of brass on the range floor then this book will not help you at all. If police academies taught the fundamentals of tactical marksmanship the way Gabe presents it in his book then they are getting some really good initial training that could very well save their life. The problem with this book is that it concentrates on the basics of not only marksmanship but practical tactics that can make you a really good and effective shooter but people don't want to do the leg work any more, they want to skip right to advanced techniques that couldn't be executed without having a strong foundation anyway. Then what they ultimately miss out is what this book really does well. It takes you from the basics of marksman ship and fundamental tactics and molds you to a practitioner of a useful skill. It's not the end of your training but part of it. There are so many books and videos out there that promise you what Suarez delivers for a few dollars. My shooting was frustrating me. I reached a plateau and wasn't improving. I wasn't able to attend a shooting school and I seemed to have more empty casings than holes in my targets. I have had pistol training in the past but it was forgotten and I was just relearning bad habits. The book takes you through the necessary steps you need to make you better and more effective. It is that simple. It is concise, well written, it teaches concepts that are easy to grasp and no matter how good you shoot I would bet that you would be even better after reading and practicing what is taught. I was able to make the jump from practicing a lot to practicing more perfectly a lot. There is a huge difference. My shooting has improved immensely from this study. When I feel I am starting to slip I either re-read it or review the appropriate chapters. I am a better shooter because of it. It is that simple. I still need to learn, I still need to continue to dry fire and then go to the range and validate my practice but I am a better shooter. This book has really motivated me to improve even more. That's what you will get from this book.
Rating:
Summary: If you have a pistol, you need this book.
Review: This is one of the best books I've read on practical handgun shooting and handling. Suarez writes well and demonstrates simple and proven methods. It is important with handguns to learn the basics correctly and this book will set you on the right path. You may also want to check out Suarez's "The Tactical Pistol", which deals predominantly with tactics and is for the more advanced operator.
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