RYAN BURKETT
Profession: Firearms instructor, freelance photographer
Current job title: Owner/cofounder, Mantis Defense, LLC
Describe your residence and its occupants as it relates to protective or defensive decision-making.
I split my time in a much more country area as well as a more suburban area, close enough to major highways and towns/cities, but also far enough away to know when someone isn’t from the neighborhood. Depending upon where I am, the response time can be 10 to 20 minutes out here. Single-family home, decent land footprint versus single-family neighborhood; dense versus less dense populations. A lot of opportunities to egress or stand ground in both.
How does your home/neighborhood environment affect your choice of home defense/bedside firearm and defense items?
Again, depending upon which neighborhood I am staying at, I know there is a bit more backup in the country/rural setting from my neighbors than in the other location where I would expect law enforcement to show up. Flashlight is key for positive identification, both handheld and mounted. A handgun is always kept in a smaller safe for quick access, while a rifle is secured with a belt, carrier, etc. I wouldn’t choose the rifle for the more subur-ban environment as most homes are a stone’s throw away. For both environments the Modlite OKW head is my choice for beam throw.
Describe each of your home defense/bedside items.
SIG P226 MK25 with SureFire X300 light (Federal HST 124-grain)
DA for quick deployment and positive ID with the light. I also use a P225 to make cross-training easier between the two platforms for home and carry. Other items are staged so that this will get me to them.
Handheld Light – Modlite OKW head, Valhalla Tactical body
Handheld OKW for extra distance and beam power if someone else has a light; also makes a quick fistload. I find this is the right size and power ratio.
