Home Defense Full-Size Pistols: Considerations, Characteristics & Examples
The on-going debate is what gun makes the best home defense gun. A shotgun, rifle, and handgun each has advantages and disadvantages. Some choose one primary type with a different type as a backup. Most accept that a shotgun with appropriate ammo is usually the best primary choice, but even that is hotly debated. The…
An Argument for the Double-Stack as a Carry Gun
The newer breed of single-stack 9mm handguns, epitomized by such weapons as the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield, Glock 43, and the Walther PPS, are all the rage among concealed carriers these days. Such handguns provide adequate shootability, sufficient ammunition capacity for general civilian needs, and prove very easy to carry. Civilian defenders rarely encounter…
The Flaws in Georgia’s Campus Carry Bill
At least one flaw in an update to Georgia's concealed weapons law caused one gun-supporting member of the House of Representatives to vote against it. "I am not opposed to the bill," said Rep. Clay Pirkle (R-Turner County). "I looked at the bill. I had questions and insufficient time to get answers. If I don't…
Reloading for Beginners Part 2: Necessary Steps to Reload Cartridges
This is the second part of a two-part series concerning reloading. In the first article, the basic necessities were outlined in order to get you ready for this portion; actually completing the necessary steps to reload your own cartridges. Step 1: Cleaning Your Brass As a new reloader, you will most likely be doing small…
Incorporating Failure Drills into Training
It’s a sad truth in the concealed carry community: most of us don’t train as much as we should or would like to. And the training we do is incomplete in that we tend to focus on the “fun” parts of concealed carry and tactical training. We love to shoot, or run a tactical course, or…
Credit Card-Sized Fun .22LR Plinker Pistol
How about a fun plinking pistol that weighs less than 7 ounces, is only .5 inch wide, and has an overall length of 3.375 inches? Well, this discreet, sleek, no-snag designed pistol is about the size of a credit card when folded. This .22LR American-made pistol is designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed by a North…
Is Bullet Design More Important Than Velocity For Self-Defense Ammunition?
When picking self-defense ammunition, what's the prime attribute to look for? A lot of people would tell you it's velocity, and with the popularity of +P ammunition as carry ammo for both police and civilian carriers it would appear to be a good one. Or is it bullet design? There are design attributes of expanding…
New to CCW? Avoid These 5 Bad CCW Habits
First off, let me say that there is no judgment in this article: we were all newbies once. No one is born knowing how to shoot, CCW, or most other skills. That having been said, the beginning is foundational to all that comes later. The old saying about shooting remains true: there are no advanced…
Reloading for Beginners: Options and Necessities for a Resourceful Skill
This is the first part of a short series concerning reloading. It will cover what you will need to get started, basic safety, practice methods and ways to feed your firearms in a more economical (and fun) way. The first part covers the basic essentials concerning reloading components that are necessary and the second part…
Decocker or Manual Safety: Which Is Best?
Is a double-action gun better off with a decocker or manual safety? Which is better to carry with? A good number of double-action semi-autos are available with both, though some may require a special order to get one variant or the other. (The Beretta 92, for instance, can be had with a decocker only, a…
A Low-Recoil Compact .380 Pistol for Carry – The Browning 1911-380 [FIREARM REVIEW]
A thing of "Beauty and Performance." Some words meant to describe the new for 2017 Browning 1911-380 compact carry pistol. This new offering blends the 1911 design with the .380 caliber and a very lightweight, compact frame for concealed carry purposes. Some of these new 1911-380s are in Browning's "Limited Availability" category, while others are…
Do You Shoot More Than Paper?
So you got The Pistol for defense, because you’re thinking it might be a good idea these days. And, you took The Class and obtained "The Permit" so you can take it with you. Maybe you also sprung for some boxes of ammo, even different kinds, to make sure you can operate The Pistol and…