There is a staggering array of available sighting systems for handguns today. One variety, which have been around for some time, is night sights. These rely on small vials of tritium, a radioactive agent, that perpetually glow to illuminate the sights in dark environments. Night sights tend to be loved or dismissed depending on who…
I get it. Carry the biggest gun you can. I am a believer in that. I carry a double-stack autoloader the majority of the time. I find that most people can carry a more formidable gun than they think and I encourage all to do so. However, most of us lead lives in which we…
Despite the right to keep and bear arms as specified in our Constitution the armed citizen still faces many jurisdictions and locations where this right is denied. Schools are a particular point of concern for armed citizens since many of us have children and need to spend varying degrees of time on school property. So…
A “no clip” holster is one that has no apparatus for securing to the belt. While ankle and pocket holsters obviously do not secure to a belt, the no clip holsters under discussion here are the variety that are designed for in-the-waistband carry. These holsters rely on friction to stay in place. These designs utilize…
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…
Carrying a gun is as American as apple pie for those of us that do it. We are blessed to live in the only nation on this earth that truly honors this essential liberty, at least in most places. Americans have been heavily armed since the inception of our nation, and even before. The European…
About a year ago I bought an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 holster for my Glock 19. It has remained my carry holster for that particular gun. Up until now it is my favorite hybrid holster that I have yet tried. When I just recently got my hands on the Alien Gear ShapeShift Module Holster…
As people who go armed and trained we should apply the grey man concept anywhere that we go. By blending in we don’t attract attention and if something bad does happen we maintain the element of surprise. The “average” person in modern society is, sadly, totally unprepared to face human violence. Bad guys expect this.…
Many concealed carriers don’t bother packing a reload for their handgun. Statistically it is exceedingly rare for a citizen to reload in a use-of-force situation so there is an argument for not bothering with a reload at all. However, I believe there is a convincing argument for being prepared for even the outliers. Personally, I…
Speaking and communication is, believe it or not, an integral part of being able to protect yourself. Even criminals communicate verbally, although most may not speak at quite the intellectual level you are used to. Being able to communicate directly and clearly to individuals who are potential threats is a skill that you should give…
An obvious and undeniable limitation of the revolver, particularly the small-frame revolver, is limited ammunition capacity. The second and related limitation is the fact that it is an extremely slow gun to reload. Yes, I know, Jerry Miculek can reload a revolver quickly, but I remind the reader that even he, the modern master of…
Within the self-defense community when we think of “vehicle tactics” we probably think of a shooting course offered by some ex-special forces dude in which we shoot through windshields with AR15s and lay with our feet pressed against hubcaps to shoot under cars with all possible tactical pizazz. Very entertaining stuff. The only problem is…
