Hey guys... remember to write down the serial number of any firearm you purchase and keep it forever.
If it is lost or stolen, inform the police, give them the serial number and it will go in to a database. If anyone tries to sell that firearm to a dealer or pawn shop it will red flag and you will get your firearm back.
It just happened to a friend of mine who had a gun stolen 9 years ago. Last week a guy tried to sell it at a show and the check on the serial number showed that it was stolen. A detective called my friend and he's getting his gun back after 9 years.
It's important as well as it saves you a load of trouble should a gun that is stolen or lost be used in a crime. If the police track it back to you and you never reported it, they are going to look at you a little funny... and probably be suspicious of the veracity of your statements.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Lethality versus Stopping Power
Ok, time for a discussion on semantics here. You hear lots of debates around the Internet, on forums, heck anywhere anything is discussed, this will probably be mentioned; Lethality and Stopping Power are two completely different things.
Lethality is the ability of a round to cause an end to life.
Stopping Power is the ability to immediately incapacitate.
As I’ve said numerous times, there’s no such thing as a non-lethal bullet. However, there are those rounds that aren’t as potent as others and can, in fact, leave you hanging as it were, if you’re in a bad situation.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t carry a .22 or a .25 if that’s what you feel comfortable with or what you can afford; both of these will, when used properly, protect you. They may or may not, however, immediately incapacitate a determined attacker. You’ll have to be very particular in your shot placement to ensure maximum efficacy.
When you are looking for a self protection weapon, you need to determine if you feel comfortable in your PDF’s (Personal Defense Firearm) ability to immediately incapacitate and not its lethality.
In my humble opinion, anything of the caliber of .32 an over is an immediate stopper. There are those that will argue that the .380 is the base line, and those that will go even higher. But, based on the numbers I’ve seen, the .32 should do the job. Again, this isn’t to dissuade you from carrying a .22 or a .25, it’s just another item to consider.
There's a lot to think about when choosing the PDF you're going to use... this is just another thing.
Lethality is the ability of a round to cause an end to life.
Stopping Power is the ability to immediately incapacitate.
As I’ve said numerous times, there’s no such thing as a non-lethal bullet. However, there are those rounds that aren’t as potent as others and can, in fact, leave you hanging as it were, if you’re in a bad situation.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t carry a .22 or a .25 if that’s what you feel comfortable with or what you can afford; both of these will, when used properly, protect you. They may or may not, however, immediately incapacitate a determined attacker. You’ll have to be very particular in your shot placement to ensure maximum efficacy.
When you are looking for a self protection weapon, you need to determine if you feel comfortable in your PDF’s (Personal Defense Firearm) ability to immediately incapacitate and not its lethality.
In my humble opinion, anything of the caliber of .32 an over is an immediate stopper. There are those that will argue that the .380 is the base line, and those that will go even higher. But, based on the numbers I’ve seen, the .32 should do the job. Again, this isn’t to dissuade you from carrying a .22 or a .25, it’s just another item to consider.
There's a lot to think about when choosing the PDF you're going to use... this is just another thing.
Cold hard facts on gun violence
Again, I'm going to diverge from my usual tips and reviews to bring you a little cold hard reality.
There are those out there, I know many of them, who think that guns are inherently bad and that no one should be allowed to have them. I respect the opinion and I understand what they want to accomplish with this train of thought, however, I disagree with it. Then again, I also disagree with someone owning a bajillion firearms and spending every free moment practicing their tactical reloads for the "upcoming revolution". I respect their opinion, I just disagree with it.
But for those people who may glance by my blog to see what we, the armed citizens, think, here's the deal.
In 2007, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 42,031 people died in fatal car accidents. For the exact same period of time 12,632 people died due to a gun shot wound. Take a look at that difference;
we're talking a 3 to 1 ratio here. So, cars are MUCH more dangerous that a firearm when speaking from a pure mortality stand point.
There are those that think a removal of firearms would make for a safer society and that's just not true.
Remember, drugs are outlawed...and we still have a drug problem. Drunk driving is illegal...still happens.
People who refuse to abide by the laws when it suits their fancy aren't going to give a wet slap about the new fangled law you have in place that prevents them from doing whatever it was you were looking to accomplish.
You see, gun control isn't crime control (Thank you ABC News). Regulating something only reduces or changes the accessibility of that item to those people who would seek to obtain said item via legally recognized means.
Guys, you can't legislate safety, if we could, we wouldn't need the police department (God bless every last one of them), we wouldn't need seat belts, we wouldn't need child locks. It would all just magically be safe.
Banning guns will not, I repeat, will not, prevent further crime. Crime will, in fact, increase. If you want to ban them, and I respectfully disagree with that idea, the tell the truth about it. You don't like guns, they scare you and you don't want to be around them. Otherwise, the rest of your arguments are usually bollocks and easily dismissed with about 10 minutes of research.
Ok, I'm stepping off my soapbox.
There are those out there, I know many of them, who think that guns are inherently bad and that no one should be allowed to have them. I respect the opinion and I understand what they want to accomplish with this train of thought, however, I disagree with it. Then again, I also disagree with someone owning a bajillion firearms and spending every free moment practicing their tactical reloads for the "upcoming revolution". I respect their opinion, I just disagree with it.
But for those people who may glance by my blog to see what we, the armed citizens, think, here's the deal.
In 2007, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 42,031 people died in fatal car accidents. For the exact same period of time 12,632 people died due to a gun shot wound. Take a look at that difference;
we're talking a 3 to 1 ratio here. So, cars are MUCH more dangerous that a firearm when speaking from a pure mortality stand point.
There are those that think a removal of firearms would make for a safer society and that's just not true.
Remember, drugs are outlawed...and we still have a drug problem. Drunk driving is illegal...still happens.
People who refuse to abide by the laws when it suits their fancy aren't going to give a wet slap about the new fangled law you have in place that prevents them from doing whatever it was you were looking to accomplish.
You see, gun control isn't crime control (Thank you ABC News). Regulating something only reduces or changes the accessibility of that item to those people who would seek to obtain said item via legally recognized means.
Guys, you can't legislate safety, if we could, we wouldn't need the police department (God bless every last one of them), we wouldn't need seat belts, we wouldn't need child locks. It would all just magically be safe.
Banning guns will not, I repeat, will not, prevent further crime. Crime will, in fact, increase. If you want to ban them, and I respectfully disagree with that idea, the tell the truth about it. You don't like guns, they scare you and you don't want to be around them. Otherwise, the rest of your arguments are usually bollocks and easily dismissed with about 10 minutes of research.
Ok, I'm stepping off my soapbox.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Accuracy
Alright, we're going to move away somewhat from pure concealment topics and talk about training a little bit.
When I got to the range, I'm not looking to key hole the target at 25 yards, I believe I've made that clear in the past. What I'm looking to do it put a round on paper at a reasonable distance, maybe 7 yards at the most. I don't stage the trigger and really sight in with my carry gun either, I just, basically, point and shoot. The reason being is I won't have time in an engagement to really get a bead on the target. I'll have to "shoot from the hip" as it were. So I try to practice in as loose a manner as possible. The less I have to remember and work on; the less I'll forget should the unfortunate event ever befall me.
You see, when your adrenaline gets running, you lose fine motor skills, so really careful aim is right out. Your accuracy will decrease by about 100% (not scientific, just my guess) when the poop really hits the fan. So if all you practice is slow methodical sighting, staging, squeeze the trigger, etc... you're in for a serious awakening when you're under stress.
Remember, there are hundreds of reports of shoot outs with police where dozens of shots were fired at distance of 15 feet and less where no one was injured at all. And these are trained professionals.
I'm not telling you not to train to be accurate, I think you should. I'm also not telling you not to have proper form when your practicing, you should. In times of stress you will revert to the highest level of training you've mastered...and I mean mastered, it has to be second nature.
You want an example, don't you? Alright... Let's say someone yells "Look out!" and you see some runaway car coming towards you. Well, you're gonna bolt out of the way, right? Right. You aren't going to do some ninja back handspring with a twist to get out of the way, you're gonna run... because that's what you know how to do best.
Practice, practice, practice... Get to where you can hit center mass every time in, I would say, an 8 inch circle on a target. That way, if you're accuracy goes to poop, you'll still be hitting something fleshy regardless of whether it's the shoulder, the leg, neck, bladder (especially nasty wound), etc. Also, practice off-hand, one-hand, and if you can, practice while drawing as well.
All of those things can be useful in a fight, not that we want one. By the same token, I don't want to be in a car wreck, but I have insurance...just in case.
When I got to the range, I'm not looking to key hole the target at 25 yards, I believe I've made that clear in the past. What I'm looking to do it put a round on paper at a reasonable distance, maybe 7 yards at the most. I don't stage the trigger and really sight in with my carry gun either, I just, basically, point and shoot. The reason being is I won't have time in an engagement to really get a bead on the target. I'll have to "shoot from the hip" as it were. So I try to practice in as loose a manner as possible. The less I have to remember and work on; the less I'll forget should the unfortunate event ever befall me.
You see, when your adrenaline gets running, you lose fine motor skills, so really careful aim is right out. Your accuracy will decrease by about 100% (not scientific, just my guess) when the poop really hits the fan. So if all you practice is slow methodical sighting, staging, squeeze the trigger, etc... you're in for a serious awakening when you're under stress.
Remember, there are hundreds of reports of shoot outs with police where dozens of shots were fired at distance of 15 feet and less where no one was injured at all. And these are trained professionals.
I'm not telling you not to train to be accurate, I think you should. I'm also not telling you not to have proper form when your practicing, you should. In times of stress you will revert to the highest level of training you've mastered...and I mean mastered, it has to be second nature.
You want an example, don't you? Alright... Let's say someone yells "Look out!" and you see some runaway car coming towards you. Well, you're gonna bolt out of the way, right? Right. You aren't going to do some ninja back handspring with a twist to get out of the way, you're gonna run... because that's what you know how to do best.
Practice, practice, practice... Get to where you can hit center mass every time in, I would say, an 8 inch circle on a target. That way, if you're accuracy goes to poop, you'll still be hitting something fleshy regardless of whether it's the shoulder, the leg, neck, bladder (especially nasty wound), etc. Also, practice off-hand, one-hand, and if you can, practice while drawing as well.
All of those things can be useful in a fight, not that we want one. By the same token, I don't want to be in a car wreck, but I have insurance...just in case.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Failure to Feeds...aka Limp Wristing
If you’re an inexperienced shooter, or a experienced shooter who has ever had a gun fail to feed and someone told you that it was because you may have been “limp wristing” the weapon and wondered what in the heck that had to do with anything… I’m here to explain what that had to do with anything.
This is a fairly visual and scientific explanation, but I’ll do the best I can.
When you pull the trigger on a pistol the firing pin hits the primer in the round of ammunition. The primer ignites and causes the powder in the round to explode causing the bullet to be propelled forward due to the pressure of the expanding gasses.
The recoil is the force of the explosion in the equal and opposite direction of the propulsion of the projectile. This recoil is required to push the slide backwards causing the round to reach the terminus of its travel, be expelled by the extractor pin. The next round in the magazine is then pushed upwards by the spring behind the magazine follower. The slide rebounds due to the guide rod spring; the round is then captured by the slide and pushed forward in to the barrel.
If there isn’t enough propulsion from the expansion of the gasses, the slide may not make the complete circuit, then the next round of ammunition may not have the room to completely extend in to the receiver, thus causing a failure to feed.
At the same time, if you “limp wrist”, as opposed to holding a firm grasp on the weapon, your wrist may act as a shock absorber and rob the pistol of some of its energy thus causing the slide not to extend all the way to the far back position.
So, if you have failure to feeds, don’t check the ammo or the magazine first, check your grip… that could easily be the cause.
This is a fairly visual and scientific explanation, but I’ll do the best I can.
When you pull the trigger on a pistol the firing pin hits the primer in the round of ammunition. The primer ignites and causes the powder in the round to explode causing the bullet to be propelled forward due to the pressure of the expanding gasses.
The recoil is the force of the explosion in the equal and opposite direction of the propulsion of the projectile. This recoil is required to push the slide backwards causing the round to reach the terminus of its travel, be expelled by the extractor pin. The next round in the magazine is then pushed upwards by the spring behind the magazine follower. The slide rebounds due to the guide rod spring; the round is then captured by the slide and pushed forward in to the barrel.
If there isn’t enough propulsion from the expansion of the gasses, the slide may not make the complete circuit, then the next round of ammunition may not have the room to completely extend in to the receiver, thus causing a failure to feed.
At the same time, if you “limp wrist”, as opposed to holding a firm grasp on the weapon, your wrist may act as a shock absorber and rob the pistol of some of its energy thus causing the slide not to extend all the way to the far back position.
So, if you have failure to feeds, don’t check the ammo or the magazine first, check your grip… that could easily be the cause.
The venerable 1911
Well, we've talked about the wanna-be's when it comes to semi-auto pistols, so we might as well talk about the one that started it all. The venerable and most excellent, not to mention longest standing production firearm...well, ever.
Not only is it functional, I think it's pretty to look at.
However, pretty isn't a requirement for CCW, let's talk about this in serious terms.
The 1911 is a single action, semi-automatic, hammered pistol. It is usually chambered in .45 acp. In it's "mil spec" format it carries 7 in the magazine and one in the chamber.
It has, as part of it's design, two safety mechanisms. One is a manual safety which can only be actuated when the hammer has been moved fully to the rearward position, and a grip safety. The grip safety is actuated when you actually grasp the firearm itself. If you were to pull the hammer back and then pick the gun up by the trigger (Don't do that... I'm just saying) it would not fire. The grip safety has to have pressure applied to it before it allows the mechanisms to do their thing.
Because it is single action only, one must have the hammer fully moved to the rearward position before it will fire the first round. After that, you're good to go.
Now, the interesting thing about how you carry this is that there are 3 positions in which it can be carried. I forget the order, so bear with me on this one, and if it's in the wrong order...I don't care, the info is correct.
Condition 1: Hammer is down, safety is disengaged.
Condition 2: Hammer is back, safety is engaged.
Condition 3: Hammer is back, safety is disengaged.
The most practical carry method is cocked and locked (hammer back, no safety). The gun isn't going to go off without someone grasping the grip and pulling the trigger, so that's how it is mainly carried by those who carry it.
The ergonomics of this gun are the best in the world, period. There's not but 14 shooters in the world who won't agree with that statement. It really is a well designed pistol. It's comfortable, has a good grip radius, and just feels good in the hand.
While it shoots one of the biggest rounds out there, there's not much in the way of recoil. The gun, on average, weighs two pounds unloaded. It doesn't feel that heavy in hand, it feels substantial, but not heavy. That weight soaks up alot of the recoil as does the fact that the recoil spring is about 3.5 inches long.
I've owned one before (and I will again...) and it is very accurate and very reliable. It does have a problem with feeding if you limp wrist it (I'll talk about that in another post) and certain models don't like certain ammo, but otherwise, she cycles like she's supposed to.
I have put a double tap on to a Starbucks "Double Shot" (no pun intended) can at 15 feet before from a low ready stance, in about 1.5 seconds. I'm not that great of a shot, but that's impressive, I don't care who you are.
The only downside about this weapon is the size and weight. The barrel is anywhere from 3.5 to 5 inches long. Add another 2.5 inches for the extraction port and upper receiver and you have a long pistol. The width is nice an lean, but that barrel makes it a little unwieldy in a CCW application. However, if you can make it work, you'd be hard pressed to find a better option out there. They aren't cheap, good ones anyway, and after market upgrades are plentiful, so you can shell out some money on one of them, but it would serve you well.
Glock 26 - Review
I guess, if I'm going to have any credibility with concealed carry people all around the globe, I'm gonna need to review the Glock 26.
This seems to be, kind of, the gold standard for concealed carry by a lot of people.
There is no more reliable firearm on the planet. It is flawlessly designed and impeccably executed. It shoots like a champ as well.
Here's the low down on this tank of a pistol.
Design: It's a no nonsense, utilitarian design. There's no extraneous parts or gadgets. There are no external safety levers. The grip on the G26 is short due to it being a sub-compact. It's basically a 2 finger grip. You can get an extension for the magazine which adds 2 rounds of capacity and a little more room on the grip. All in all a good feeling pistol in hand.
Function: This is a striker fired, semi-automatic, single action pistol. You must chamber a round by actuating the slide in order to "prime" the striker. After that, you pull the trigger... it goes bang.
Reliability: The single most reliable handgun on the planet, period. There are examples of G26s out there with 100,000 round through it and it's still going strong. Yeah, I wouldn't hesitate to say that this gun will last, literally, forever.
Shooting impressions: This is a shooter's gun. If you enjoy trigger time, you'll like this gun. It's accurate, has almost no appreciable recoil, and will eat any ammo you put in it, period.
So, on paper this is a great gun, heck, in reality it's a great gun.
I however, contrary to all the good things it has going for it, would probably not carry it.
Simply put this thing is a solid brick of steel. It isn't necessarily heavy, but it is bulky. Unless you're willing to shell out some serious money on a serious holster and carry system this thing may be a wee uncomfortable, or at least unconcealable.
Now, there are guys out there that carry them religiously, but they change their entire manner of dress to accomodate the pistol. I'm all for a little bit of adaptation, but I'm not going to wear a shooting vest at all times just so I can carry a weapon.
All of that being said, if you had the money (although they aren't terribly expensive) you could do a heck of a lot worse than picking up this or it's middle sibling the Glock 19. It's a lot of gun for a very reasonable price and you won't be disappointed in the value it gives you.
Just consider how you're going to carry it before you lay down the cash.
This seems to be, kind of, the gold standard for concealed carry by a lot of people.
There is no more reliable firearm on the planet. It is flawlessly designed and impeccably executed. It shoots like a champ as well.
Here's the low down on this tank of a pistol.
Design: It's a no nonsense, utilitarian design. There's no extraneous parts or gadgets. There are no external safety levers. The grip on the G26 is short due to it being a sub-compact. It's basically a 2 finger grip. You can get an extension for the magazine which adds 2 rounds of capacity and a little more room on the grip. All in all a good feeling pistol in hand.
Function: This is a striker fired, semi-automatic, single action pistol. You must chamber a round by actuating the slide in order to "prime" the striker. After that, you pull the trigger... it goes bang.
Reliability: The single most reliable handgun on the planet, period. There are examples of G26s out there with 100,000 round through it and it's still going strong. Yeah, I wouldn't hesitate to say that this gun will last, literally, forever.
Shooting impressions: This is a shooter's gun. If you enjoy trigger time, you'll like this gun. It's accurate, has almost no appreciable recoil, and will eat any ammo you put in it, period.
So, on paper this is a great gun, heck, in reality it's a great gun.
I however, contrary to all the good things it has going for it, would probably not carry it.
Simply put this thing is a solid brick of steel. It isn't necessarily heavy, but it is bulky. Unless you're willing to shell out some serious money on a serious holster and carry system this thing may be a wee uncomfortable, or at least unconcealable.
Now, there are guys out there that carry them religiously, but they change their entire manner of dress to accomodate the pistol. I'm all for a little bit of adaptation, but I'm not going to wear a shooting vest at all times just so I can carry a weapon.
All of that being said, if you had the money (although they aren't terribly expensive) you could do a heck of a lot worse than picking up this or it's middle sibling the Glock 19. It's a lot of gun for a very reasonable price and you won't be disappointed in the value it gives you.
Just consider how you're going to carry it before you lay down the cash.
Info by Caliber and some other data points
I decided to lay this out there for anyone who is interested.
I've compiled (not a difficult task, just go to wikipedia) a listing of the speed and initial impact force (theoretical, based on F=MA) of the most popular handgun calibers out there for concealed carry.
Caliber Ft/s MPH Sonic Ft/Lbs
0.25 900 614 Sub 63
0.22 1080 736 Sub 104
0.32 925 631 Sub 123
0.380 1000 682 Sub 200
0.38 980 668 Sub 235
0.45 1060 723 Sub 412
9mm 1300 886 Super 420
0.40 1190 811 Super 424
0.357 1600 1091 Super 710
The "most" important number on this list is the "Ft/Lbs" of force at the end. That means how hard does this thing hits. I say this is a theortical number, basically because in the real world if you were hit with 710 lbs of force, for instance, you'd explode. Basically, take a 710lb weight, and drop in on your chest from a height of 1 foot... yeah, ouch time.
For those people who say that a .40 cal is world's better than a 9mm... check the numbers, you'd be wrong. It's a little better, but not much. The .45 is on par with the 9mm and .40, but it's a much larger round, so there's more hole produced, so, bigger wound.
However, as I have stated, the .357 magnum is the ultimate in hand gun calibers.
Just a little info for you so you can determine which caliber you'd like to start looking at.
I've compiled (not a difficult task, just go to wikipedia) a listing of the speed and initial impact force (theoretical, based on F=MA) of the most popular handgun calibers out there for concealed carry.
Caliber Ft/s MPH Sonic Ft/Lbs
0.25 900 614 Sub 63
0.22 1080 736 Sub 104
0.32 925 631 Sub 123
0.380 1000 682 Sub 200
0.38 980 668 Sub 235
0.45 1060 723 Sub 412
9mm 1300 886 Super 420
0.40 1190 811 Super 424
0.357 1600 1091 Super 710
The "most" important number on this list is the "Ft/Lbs" of force at the end. That means how hard does this thing hits. I say this is a theortical number, basically because in the real world if you were hit with 710 lbs of force, for instance, you'd explode. Basically, take a 710lb weight, and drop in on your chest from a height of 1 foot... yeah, ouch time.
For those people who say that a .40 cal is world's better than a 9mm... check the numbers, you'd be wrong. It's a little better, but not much. The .45 is on par with the 9mm and .40, but it's a much larger round, so there's more hole produced, so, bigger wound.
However, as I have stated, the .357 magnum is the ultimate in hand gun calibers.
Just a little info for you so you can determine which caliber you'd like to start looking at.
An interesting point on Self-Defense ammo
A friend of mine was told, or I should say warned, in his CCW class that the kind of ammo you buy could make a difference in your trial should, Heaven forbid, you get involved in a tangle.
Oh, you didn't think you'd go to court? Yeah, guess again. Depending on where you live, it could be a mandate that there's a trial whenever there's a shooting. Where I live, the police department will choose whether to press charges or not, however, that's just where I live.
Back to the point...
The instructor of the class made the statement that a prosecuting attorney could and probably will ask you what type of training you've had, what kind of weapon you carry, and what kind of ammunition you have in it.
If you are a once-in-a-while range goer; and you took the requisite class and passed it for your license, while at the same time carrying standard off the shelf, nothing special ammunition, you won't "look" so much like a person who was hoping to have to defend yourself.
However, if you're at the range every week; you take tactical clinics several times a year and you carry the newest and messiest personal defense ammo from Hornady "Now with 1000% more brain smushing power"... guess what; you could be made to look like someone who was hoping to get in to a fight just so you could use all these tools and training.
Remember, the appearance of impropriety is enough to convict in some cases.
There's the "Hope versus Wish" philosophy in self-defense. Me, I'm of the "I hope nothing ever happens, I hope I never have to defend myself, I hope my bullets rust in the magazine before I'd ever have to draw it".
Then there's the "I wish someone would step up to me" mentality. If you are of that mind-set, please, do us all a favor and sell your guns right now. We don't want you around, nor are you a responsible gun owner. You will make the rest of us look bad and we don't want that.
I'm not saying don't carry, I'm not saying don't practice. I'm saying that there are about a million things that one must think about before starting down this road.
Oh, you didn't think you'd go to court? Yeah, guess again. Depending on where you live, it could be a mandate that there's a trial whenever there's a shooting. Where I live, the police department will choose whether to press charges or not, however, that's just where I live.
Back to the point...
The instructor of the class made the statement that a prosecuting attorney could and probably will ask you what type of training you've had, what kind of weapon you carry, and what kind of ammunition you have in it.
If you are a once-in-a-while range goer; and you took the requisite class and passed it for your license, while at the same time carrying standard off the shelf, nothing special ammunition, you won't "look" so much like a person who was hoping to have to defend yourself.
However, if you're at the range every week; you take tactical clinics several times a year and you carry the newest and messiest personal defense ammo from Hornady "Now with 1000% more brain smushing power"... guess what; you could be made to look like someone who was hoping to get in to a fight just so you could use all these tools and training.
Remember, the appearance of impropriety is enough to convict in some cases.
There's the "Hope versus Wish" philosophy in self-defense. Me, I'm of the "I hope nothing ever happens, I hope I never have to defend myself, I hope my bullets rust in the magazine before I'd ever have to draw it".
Then there's the "I wish someone would step up to me" mentality. If you are of that mind-set, please, do us all a favor and sell your guns right now. We don't want you around, nor are you a responsible gun owner. You will make the rest of us look bad and we don't want that.
I'm not saying don't carry, I'm not saying don't practice. I'm saying that there are about a million things that one must think about before starting down this road.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Kel-Tec PF9 - PDF!
I think this might be the third time that I have mentioned or outright reviewed the Kel Tec PF9, and with good reason, it's a fantastic little firearm.
Please to enjoy:
I was recently given this little gem for my Birthday, so who's luckier than me? Ok, enough grandstanding, let's get down to business. On paper, this is a fine firearm and would work in a variety of roles. Home defense, CCW (PDF), or the ever present "Truck Gun" would all be roles that this gun could fulfill and do well.
My initial impressions of the weapon were mostly favorable, I liked the size and weight and I liked the feel in the hand. The only down side was the rather sharp edges on the grip. Otherwise, the fit and finish are good, but not great, but then again, this isn't a showpiece, this is a tool.
So, obviously, after being given this little beauty, I had to take her to the range, so I did.
My shooting impression of the firearm are even better than my perception of the pistol on paper. I bought the crappiest ammo I could find, 1984 military surplus from Pakistan, and went to the range. My feelings were this; if it will feed, fire, and eject this junk, it'll do just fine with decent home grown ammo.
Well, it ate 50 rounds of Paki ammo and had not one fail to feed or fail to eject. I will admit that it did fail to stay open on an empty magazine twice, but I've had full blown 1911's do the same thing, so I'm not worried. My main concern is feeding, firing, and ejecting.
Now, where the rubber meets the road is when you pull the trigger. I was expecting the trigger to be longer and more difficult, truth be told, but it wasn't. It was easy to engage, easy to pull, super easy to stage, and all in all quite pleasant and surprisingly easy to use all around.
The weapon is accurate, although, I will admit I only had it out to about 5-6 yards, and I was just going for center mass shots, so for that purpose, it did well. It shoots a little left (that could be me as well) so I'm going to drift the rear sight to make up for that, and all should be well.
Also, I've read many places that this isn't a fun gun to shoot because it is a lightweight and it's pumping out a 9mm. I would agree and disagree with that statement. The recoil is manageable, no worries, and the report isn't that bad. There is some muzzle flash, which is more than likely due to the ammo. Otherwise, it doesn't buck nearly as bad as an airweight Smith and Wesson or my Derringer.
Where it got a little uncomfortable was the sharp points on the grip, those weren't fun. To be honest, they weren't a problem until I squeezed off a round one handed. That one hurt, but two hands, not a worry in the world.
I have doctored some of the hard edges and will probably get a sleeve grip to go over it, but it isn't really necessary, just something I'd like to do.
I carry it in a $14.00 blackhawk size 5 holster and she carries like a champ. It's very thin and light, so there's not uncomfortable or unseemly bulk around my waist. I could carry it all day long and probably not notice.
All in all, I'd have to say that this was a great choice as an everyday carry option. Will I say it's the end all be all of CCW possibilities, no. Will I say that this is a gun that anyone can handle, no.
What I will say is that if you are an experienced shooter and get this for its intended purpose, you will not be disappointed in the slightest.
That's all for now.
Please to enjoy:
I was recently given this little gem for my Birthday, so who's luckier than me? Ok, enough grandstanding, let's get down to business. On paper, this is a fine firearm and would work in a variety of roles. Home defense, CCW (PDF), or the ever present "Truck Gun" would all be roles that this gun could fulfill and do well.
My initial impressions of the weapon were mostly favorable, I liked the size and weight and I liked the feel in the hand. The only down side was the rather sharp edges on the grip. Otherwise, the fit and finish are good, but not great, but then again, this isn't a showpiece, this is a tool.
So, obviously, after being given this little beauty, I had to take her to the range, so I did.
My shooting impression of the firearm are even better than my perception of the pistol on paper. I bought the crappiest ammo I could find, 1984 military surplus from Pakistan, and went to the range. My feelings were this; if it will feed, fire, and eject this junk, it'll do just fine with decent home grown ammo.
Well, it ate 50 rounds of Paki ammo and had not one fail to feed or fail to eject. I will admit that it did fail to stay open on an empty magazine twice, but I've had full blown 1911's do the same thing, so I'm not worried. My main concern is feeding, firing, and ejecting.
Now, where the rubber meets the road is when you pull the trigger. I was expecting the trigger to be longer and more difficult, truth be told, but it wasn't. It was easy to engage, easy to pull, super easy to stage, and all in all quite pleasant and surprisingly easy to use all around.
The weapon is accurate, although, I will admit I only had it out to about 5-6 yards, and I was just going for center mass shots, so for that purpose, it did well. It shoots a little left (that could be me as well) so I'm going to drift the rear sight to make up for that, and all should be well.
Also, I've read many places that this isn't a fun gun to shoot because it is a lightweight and it's pumping out a 9mm. I would agree and disagree with that statement. The recoil is manageable, no worries, and the report isn't that bad. There is some muzzle flash, which is more than likely due to the ammo. Otherwise, it doesn't buck nearly as bad as an airweight Smith and Wesson or my Derringer.
Where it got a little uncomfortable was the sharp points on the grip, those weren't fun. To be honest, they weren't a problem until I squeezed off a round one handed. That one hurt, but two hands, not a worry in the world.
I have doctored some of the hard edges and will probably get a sleeve grip to go over it, but it isn't really necessary, just something I'd like to do.
I carry it in a $14.00 blackhawk size 5 holster and she carries like a champ. It's very thin and light, so there's not uncomfortable or unseemly bulk around my waist. I could carry it all day long and probably not notice.
All in all, I'd have to say that this was a great choice as an everyday carry option. Will I say it's the end all be all of CCW possibilities, no. Will I say that this is a gun that anyone can handle, no.
What I will say is that if you are an experienced shooter and get this for its intended purpose, you will not be disappointed in the slightest.
That's all for now.
Friday, September 3, 2010
to .380 or not to .380
And this is a pretty serious question. Actually, every question or idea I've posted on this blog are serious questions, simply because one day (and let's all pray that day never comes) you could be betting your life or the life of a loved one on the choices you've made.
I've gone over calibers and personal choice on which firearm to carry. Every decision is a trade off. You want a small concealable gun, you're going to give up caliber. If you don't give up caliber, you give up comfort and magazine capacity. Trade offs, that's the name of the game.
After doing, what I would consider to be extensive, research, I've settled on the determination that for true concealed carry the .380 is probably the best choice for me. Here's why I say this:
To be of any use to you whatsoever, you have to actually carry your PDF, right? Right. I mean, it's no good to you at home should the poop hit the fan.
So, that means, for me at least, that the firearm in question needs to be small enough to conceal completely but at the same time not get lost in my pocket, etc.
I have that Beretta .25, and I like it, I carry it in a pocket holster on in the waist band pretty consistently. However, and this is just a fact of life, despite what I've said about a .25s power (which admittedly isn't much, but better than nothing) I'd like to step up a couple notches.
I am pretty sure I don't want to carry, ok, I KNOW I don't want to carry a Glock 26, or something of that size. I just wouldn't like it and I wouldn't carry it all that often thus defeating the purpose. I'd love to have one, but I wouldn't carry it.
The .380 sits right in that wheel house of comfortable to carry, easy to shoot, and effective.
Now, there has been an explosion of popularity in the .380 recently, but I've been a fan of the .380 for about 10 years. When I went to my first range and shot my first gun, it was a Bersa .380 and I was in love from the beginning.
If you'll check my reviews of the Bersa and the TCP you'll find that I'm a big proponent of this caliber and the pistols that can be made to fit this round.
So, the question becomes, should you vote for a .380 for your PDF. I'd say yes.
You have a good sized projectile going at a pretty good rate when it comes out of the barrel. It hits, on average, with 200 ft/lbs of force when it hits. Here's how to consider that. Drop a 200 lb weight from a distance of one foot on to your chest, yeah, that's gonna put a hurting on someone..
You tend to get decent round count, 6 or more, and they are usually in slim, lightweight, easy to conceal and manage frames.
Some people will say that you need a minimum of 10 rounds plus an extra magazine, etc, etc. I disagree completely. If I need to shoot more than twice then some very bad things are going on. The main problem is that I'm not hitting my target, the next problem is that I'm way outnumbered... and besides, you can't miss enough to stop and engagement.
So, I'd go with a nice, easy to conceal .380 every day of the week.
Y'all be safe out there.
I've gone over calibers and personal choice on which firearm to carry. Every decision is a trade off. You want a small concealable gun, you're going to give up caliber. If you don't give up caliber, you give up comfort and magazine capacity. Trade offs, that's the name of the game.
After doing, what I would consider to be extensive, research, I've settled on the determination that for true concealed carry the .380 is probably the best choice for me. Here's why I say this:
To be of any use to you whatsoever, you have to actually carry your PDF, right? Right. I mean, it's no good to you at home should the poop hit the fan.
So, that means, for me at least, that the firearm in question needs to be small enough to conceal completely but at the same time not get lost in my pocket, etc.
I have that Beretta .25, and I like it, I carry it in a pocket holster on in the waist band pretty consistently. However, and this is just a fact of life, despite what I've said about a .25s power (which admittedly isn't much, but better than nothing) I'd like to step up a couple notches.
I am pretty sure I don't want to carry, ok, I KNOW I don't want to carry a Glock 26, or something of that size. I just wouldn't like it and I wouldn't carry it all that often thus defeating the purpose. I'd love to have one, but I wouldn't carry it.
The .380 sits right in that wheel house of comfortable to carry, easy to shoot, and effective.
Now, there has been an explosion of popularity in the .380 recently, but I've been a fan of the .380 for about 10 years. When I went to my first range and shot my first gun, it was a Bersa .380 and I was in love from the beginning.
If you'll check my reviews of the Bersa and the TCP you'll find that I'm a big proponent of this caliber and the pistols that can be made to fit this round.
So, the question becomes, should you vote for a .380 for your PDF. I'd say yes.
You have a good sized projectile going at a pretty good rate when it comes out of the barrel. It hits, on average, with 200 ft/lbs of force when it hits. Here's how to consider that. Drop a 200 lb weight from a distance of one foot on to your chest, yeah, that's gonna put a hurting on someone..
You tend to get decent round count, 6 or more, and they are usually in slim, lightweight, easy to conceal and manage frames.
Some people will say that you need a minimum of 10 rounds plus an extra magazine, etc, etc. I disagree completely. If I need to shoot more than twice then some very bad things are going on. The main problem is that I'm not hitting my target, the next problem is that I'm way outnumbered... and besides, you can't miss enough to stop and engagement.
So, I'd go with a nice, easy to conceal .380 every day of the week.
Y'all be safe out there.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Taurus TCP 738 - .380acp
Hey guys, I'm coming back at ya with another firearm review.
This one is on the Taurus TCP (Taurus Compact Pistol) in .380 acp.
I'll admit that I haven't shot this gun yet and as soon as I do I will have more to say on the subject...however, this is a first impressions review.
The TCP is comparable to the Ruger LCP or Kel-tec P3AT, as in it is a compact, extremely lightweight concealed carry pistol. Here's what it looks like.
Now, most pocket pistols are small and compact, etc, etc, but this one feels a little more substantial in the hand, which is nice, and it has a nice deep grip, so it fills your hand nicely. Of course the grip is abbreviated, but not so much as to be an issue.
The TCP is, of course, dual action only, so there's no external safety, which is nice. That makes for a much slimmer design. Also, this model has a slide stop, so the gun fails open on an empty chamber.
The trigger pull on most pocket pistols is horrible, just plain old terrible. The TCP has a very smooth, light pull (about 4 lbs), with a reasonable travel length. This is in stark contrast to the LCP, for instance, which has such a long pull that you aren't even sure if the gun will go off at all.
All in all, I give this an initially favorable review. I'll let you know more once I've put some rounds down range.
This one is on the Taurus TCP (Taurus Compact Pistol) in .380 acp.
I'll admit that I haven't shot this gun yet and as soon as I do I will have more to say on the subject...however, this is a first impressions review.
The TCP is comparable to the Ruger LCP or Kel-tec P3AT, as in it is a compact, extremely lightweight concealed carry pistol. Here's what it looks like.
Now, most pocket pistols are small and compact, etc, etc, but this one feels a little more substantial in the hand, which is nice, and it has a nice deep grip, so it fills your hand nicely. Of course the grip is abbreviated, but not so much as to be an issue.
The TCP is, of course, dual action only, so there's no external safety, which is nice. That makes for a much slimmer design. Also, this model has a slide stop, so the gun fails open on an empty chamber.
The trigger pull on most pocket pistols is horrible, just plain old terrible. The TCP has a very smooth, light pull (about 4 lbs), with a reasonable travel length. This is in stark contrast to the LCP, for instance, which has such a long pull that you aren't even sure if the gun will go off at all.
All in all, I give this an initially favorable review. I'll let you know more once I've put some rounds down range.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Ruger SR9C
Hey guys, I'm back with another review of an excellent PDF.
This is the new-ish SR9c from Ruger. I say new-ish because the SR9 has been available since 2007, I believe, so the base pistol, the SR9, is fairly well known and established.
To be honest with you, I've only fired the SR9, not the SR9c, but the mechanisms are the same and there isn't such a dramatic difference in the frame size that the impressions would be so very different. So, with that caveat out of the way, let's begin.
First, the basics: This is a "compact" 9mm. I say compact only because Ruger says it is compact. It isn't something that you can slide in your pocket and walk out of the house, unless you happen to be a kangaroo. It is by no means a large pistol, but it isn't in the class of the LCP either.
However, I can say that it will easily ride in an IWB holster and no one would be any the wiser. A friend of mine carries his in a Crossbreed super tuck and unless you know what you're looking for, you'd never know he has it on. He is of slight build and even then, it doesn't print at all.
It is thin enough to carry, but still big enough to give you a good slab of gun to grip on to, so the ergonomics are favorable. The grip is polymer and the important parts that go bang are either aluminum or steel, so it's a winner. I, personally, would say it has it all over the Glock so far as concealability goes as it has a more rounded slide than the Glock and therefore doesn't feel like such a block of steel strapped to you.
The SR9c is a striker fired semi-automatic (meaning no exposed hammer). There is an integrated trigger safety much like a Glock pistol as well as an external safety.
The magazine capacity is 10 round with one in the chamber for a total of 11. Not to bad for a compact pistol. It also comes in the box with an extended magazine of 15 round, I believe. So, my advice would be to carry the 10 round mag in the well, but keep the 15 as your reload, just in case.
My shooting impression is very favorable. It was accurate with very little experienced recoil. The gun is substantial in the hand without being too heavy. The controls are where you'd want them and work as they should.
Now, the most amazing thing is the price. I've seen it retail for 429.99, new, with the extra magazine included from the factory. You'd be hard pressed to find a better value with what you get for your money.
That's all for now, stay safe out there.
This is the new-ish SR9c from Ruger. I say new-ish because the SR9 has been available since 2007, I believe, so the base pistol, the SR9, is fairly well known and established.
To be honest with you, I've only fired the SR9, not the SR9c, but the mechanisms are the same and there isn't such a dramatic difference in the frame size that the impressions would be so very different. So, with that caveat out of the way, let's begin.
First, the basics: This is a "compact" 9mm. I say compact only because Ruger says it is compact. It isn't something that you can slide in your pocket and walk out of the house, unless you happen to be a kangaroo. It is by no means a large pistol, but it isn't in the class of the LCP either.
However, I can say that it will easily ride in an IWB holster and no one would be any the wiser. A friend of mine carries his in a Crossbreed super tuck and unless you know what you're looking for, you'd never know he has it on. He is of slight build and even then, it doesn't print at all.
It is thin enough to carry, but still big enough to give you a good slab of gun to grip on to, so the ergonomics are favorable. The grip is polymer and the important parts that go bang are either aluminum or steel, so it's a winner. I, personally, would say it has it all over the Glock so far as concealability goes as it has a more rounded slide than the Glock and therefore doesn't feel like such a block of steel strapped to you.
The SR9c is a striker fired semi-automatic (meaning no exposed hammer). There is an integrated trigger safety much like a Glock pistol as well as an external safety.
The magazine capacity is 10 round with one in the chamber for a total of 11. Not to bad for a compact pistol. It also comes in the box with an extended magazine of 15 round, I believe. So, my advice would be to carry the 10 round mag in the well, but keep the 15 as your reload, just in case.
My shooting impression is very favorable. It was accurate with very little experienced recoil. The gun is substantial in the hand without being too heavy. The controls are where you'd want them and work as they should.
Now, the most amazing thing is the price. I've seen it retail for 429.99, new, with the extra magazine included from the factory. You'd be hard pressed to find a better value with what you get for your money.
That's all for now, stay safe out there.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Kel Tec PF9
Alright boys and girls, if you are thinking about carrying a semi-auto for personal defense you could do a lot worse than the surprisingly affordable Kel-Tec PF9. I haven't fired this yet, but I intend to very soon. However, I've handled it and futzed with it extensively.
The PF9 is a 9mm semi-auto which carries 7+1 capacity. It isn't recommended to fire +P loads very often in this firearm, just so you know.
The PF9 is a polymer based grip/frame, with the important pieces being Aluminum or Steel. The gun weighs in at about 12.8 (call it 13 ounces) empty and just shy of a pound when loaded. That's a sight better than just about any other firearm out there. Especially one that carries the capable 9mm.
Please to enjoy:
The dimensions are small to say the least. At .88 inches at the widest point, we're talking serious concealment. However, as small as it is, I will say, even with my mutant sized paws, it still feels very comfortable and solid in the hand. I can't complain. I've slid one in my waist band while examining and you can barely tell that its there. I'm a huge fan of the concealment factor.
Now, there is one, tiny downside. This is a dual action only firearm. When you pull the trigger, you are actuating the hammer which will strike the firing pin and so on. There isn't a "double strike" option on this gun, however. If the round fails to go off, you can't just keep pulling the trigger until it goes "bang". You'll have to run through a "Tap, Rack, Bang" clearing procedure.
Now, what this means is you have a looooong trigger pull which you need to practice with. What this also means is that you lose the need for an external safety, since "cocked and locked" isn't an option. So that saves on space and on unnecessary frilly extras.
Another one of the great things about this gun is the price. I've seen them as low as $278.00 brand new, in the box. You find me another reliable, quality, firearm that you can purchase, brand new, that hefts out a 9mm at that price. You won't find one.
So, all in all, I would recommend this one. In fact, that's what I'm looking to get here in the next couple weeks and then I'll give a shooting review of it, as well.
The PF9 is a 9mm semi-auto which carries 7+1 capacity. It isn't recommended to fire +P loads very often in this firearm, just so you know.
The PF9 is a polymer based grip/frame, with the important pieces being Aluminum or Steel. The gun weighs in at about 12.8 (call it 13 ounces) empty and just shy of a pound when loaded. That's a sight better than just about any other firearm out there. Especially one that carries the capable 9mm.
Please to enjoy:
The dimensions are small to say the least. At .88 inches at the widest point, we're talking serious concealment. However, as small as it is, I will say, even with my mutant sized paws, it still feels very comfortable and solid in the hand. I can't complain. I've slid one in my waist band while examining and you can barely tell that its there. I'm a huge fan of the concealment factor.
Now, there is one, tiny downside. This is a dual action only firearm. When you pull the trigger, you are actuating the hammer which will strike the firing pin and so on. There isn't a "double strike" option on this gun, however. If the round fails to go off, you can't just keep pulling the trigger until it goes "bang". You'll have to run through a "Tap, Rack, Bang" clearing procedure.
Now, what this means is you have a looooong trigger pull which you need to practice with. What this also means is that you lose the need for an external safety, since "cocked and locked" isn't an option. So that saves on space and on unnecessary frilly extras.
Another one of the great things about this gun is the price. I've seen them as low as $278.00 brand new, in the box. You find me another reliable, quality, firearm that you can purchase, brand new, that hefts out a 9mm at that price. You won't find one.
So, all in all, I would recommend this one. In fact, that's what I'm looking to get here in the next couple weeks and then I'll give a shooting review of it, as well.
IWB...kind of bites
After carrying my PDF (Personal Defense Firearm) around for some time now, I have come to the conclusion that IWB (In the waistband) carry, really kind of sucks. Or, at least it does so far as my person piece goes.
And I should be more accurate and say that a holster that loops on to or is supported by your belt sucks. Your range of movement is kind of tethered and there's an annoying pressure point where the clip is.
I've been doing some research, if for no other reason, I'm getting a new PDF so the wife can have the one I currently use (well, at least this time I have a reason!). And it looks like I might be going with a BellyBand style. For your reference:
This is the Galco "Underwraps" version, which I'll probably be getting.
I looked and looked and looked at Supertucks, Kholsters, etc etc, and they are all obvious holsters if you're looking for them and if you know what you're looking at. A friend of mine has one and I can tell every time. The clips just stick out like a square apple. He likes his and is perfectly comfortable wearing it. However, I've seen him suit up, as it were, and it can take a little time.
The belly band is elastic, plyable, it moves with you. It can be worn under anything, tucked, untucked, shirt, no shirt, you name it. Also, unlike a tuckable holster which has small "slots" where you tuck your shirt in, with a Belly Band, it's completely under your shirt, so you aren't limited in the length of shirt you wear.
Another nifty advantage is that you don't have to remove the holster to remain comfortable if you have to take off your firearm for some reason. If you're going in to a bar or to someone's house, let's say. Since it is high quality elastic with 4 inches of velcro, with no hard points, you can slip your PDF out and keep on trucking. My friend removes the holster too, if he isn't going to carry his weapon (a lovely SR9C, by the by).
So, once I get it and have tried it out, I'll post a full review, but as I've said in the past, you'll go through many a holster before you're comfortable with what you carry with.
And I should be more accurate and say that a holster that loops on to or is supported by your belt sucks. Your range of movement is kind of tethered and there's an annoying pressure point where the clip is.
I've been doing some research, if for no other reason, I'm getting a new PDF so the wife can have the one I currently use (well, at least this time I have a reason!). And it looks like I might be going with a BellyBand style. For your reference:
This is the Galco "Underwraps" version, which I'll probably be getting.
I looked and looked and looked at Supertucks, Kholsters, etc etc, and they are all obvious holsters if you're looking for them and if you know what you're looking at. A friend of mine has one and I can tell every time. The clips just stick out like a square apple. He likes his and is perfectly comfortable wearing it. However, I've seen him suit up, as it were, and it can take a little time.
The belly band is elastic, plyable, it moves with you. It can be worn under anything, tucked, untucked, shirt, no shirt, you name it. Also, unlike a tuckable holster which has small "slots" where you tuck your shirt in, with a Belly Band, it's completely under your shirt, so you aren't limited in the length of shirt you wear.
Another nifty advantage is that you don't have to remove the holster to remain comfortable if you have to take off your firearm for some reason. If you're going in to a bar or to someone's house, let's say. Since it is high quality elastic with 4 inches of velcro, with no hard points, you can slip your PDF out and keep on trucking. My friend removes the holster too, if he isn't going to carry his weapon (a lovely SR9C, by the by).
So, once I get it and have tried it out, I'll post a full review, but as I've said in the past, you'll go through many a holster before you're comfortable with what you carry with.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pocket Holsters...personal experience
Good Morning...
I got kind of tired trying to be careful with my movements and constantly pulling my shirt tail down (and not having my shirt tucked in, as per my usual) so I broke down and bought a pocket holster for my Beretta.
I'll have to say, after just a couple of hours using it, I can't believe how easy and comfortable it is.
It cost me all of $14.00, but it was well worth it.
This allows me to dress as I normally would, shirt tucked in, and still carry my CCW piece with me. Also, I don't have to restrict my movements at all, since this sits in my pocket.
I will say that I have to work on the draw some, just because every pair of pants is different, so maybe the holster "catches" and I get a good draw, maybe it doesn't. I still have to work all of that out, so, stay tuned. I'll let you know how it goes from here. All in all, however, I'm a fan, thus far.
I got kind of tired trying to be careful with my movements and constantly pulling my shirt tail down (and not having my shirt tucked in, as per my usual) so I broke down and bought a pocket holster for my Beretta.
I'll have to say, after just a couple of hours using it, I can't believe how easy and comfortable it is.
It cost me all of $14.00, but it was well worth it.
This allows me to dress as I normally would, shirt tucked in, and still carry my CCW piece with me. Also, I don't have to restrict my movements at all, since this sits in my pocket.
I will say that I have to work on the draw some, just because every pair of pants is different, so maybe the holster "catches" and I get a good draw, maybe it doesn't. I still have to work all of that out, so, stay tuned. I'll let you know how it goes from here. All in all, however, I'm a fan, thus far.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Success!
So, I had my gun on the counter, which is where I leave it, loaded, chambered, and in the holster. I don't have kids, my wife knows how to use it, and the dogs either can't get up that high and/or don't have thumbs, AND there are no children in my house, so I'm safe there.
Anywhoser... so she says "Hey, what's the little guy doing up here?" I told her that I was carrying it earlier in the day and that I carry it wherever I go. She said "Oh, I didn't notice that you carried it all the time.".
Success!! When your wife doesn't notice that you're carrying, that's a huge win!
Anywhoser... so she says "Hey, what's the little guy doing up here?" I told her that I was carrying it earlier in the day and that I carry it wherever I go. She said "Oh, I didn't notice that you carried it all the time.".
Success!! When your wife doesn't notice that you're carrying, that's a huge win!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
It gets easier, really
Good Morning.
After several weeks of consistent carrying, I have to tell you that it does get easier. You stop feeling like you stick out and worrying that someone's going to notice that you're armed.
I had a full blown conversation with 3 guys while getting my oil changed and not a one of them even looked to see (which is normal) if I was armed. So, just be cool and everything will be fine.
We CCW guys kind of base our ability to carry on the fact that most people aren't looking for you to be armed, so they aren't curious to look at your waistband, etc. I check when I'm in close proximity to someone I don't know, but that's just me.
Here's a little hint, by the way. If you see a guy with a waistpack (fanny pack) and his wallet is in his back pocket, guess what, he's armed. Yup, you can almost count on it.
Be safe out there!
After several weeks of consistent carrying, I have to tell you that it does get easier. You stop feeling like you stick out and worrying that someone's going to notice that you're armed.
I had a full blown conversation with 3 guys while getting my oil changed and not a one of them even looked to see (which is normal) if I was armed. So, just be cool and everything will be fine.
We CCW guys kind of base our ability to carry on the fact that most people aren't looking for you to be armed, so they aren't curious to look at your waistband, etc. I check when I'm in close proximity to someone I don't know, but that's just me.
Here's a little hint, by the way. If you see a guy with a waistpack (fanny pack) and his wallet is in his back pocket, guess what, he's armed. Yup, you can almost count on it.
Be safe out there!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Right gun, wrong holster...
I've covered some of this in the past and now that I have a little more experience with it let me tell you this right now... having a bad holster just plain old sucks.
I've got a great carry weapon, and it's with me wherever I go, day or night. But I have got to find a better holster for this thing because the one that came with it is uncomfortable, bulky, and just bad. Well, it's bad for the purpose for which I'm using it, it would be fine for a regular old OWB carry position, I guess.
So, just a word of caution... test out lots of holsters before you decide on one. I'm carrying this way out of necessity right now; it won't be this way forever.
I've got a great carry weapon, and it's with me wherever I go, day or night. But I have got to find a better holster for this thing because the one that came with it is uncomfortable, bulky, and just bad. Well, it's bad for the purpose for which I'm using it, it would be fine for a regular old OWB carry position, I guess.
So, just a word of caution... test out lots of holsters before you decide on one. I'm carrying this way out of necessity right now; it won't be this way forever.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Derringers...
There has been a resurgence recently of Derringer pistols and I think it's great.
For those of you who don't know a derringer is a small "over/under" style handgun which holds two round of anything from a .22 all the way up to a .45 colt/.410 shotgun. They are generally single action only.
The biggest benefit to a derringer is concealability. They are small, smaller than most compact revolvers and easy to carry around.
I have one and, without equivocation, it has the largest "oooohhhhh" factor of anything I own.
Ok, so leaving behind the fact that it's wicked cool and everyone wants to try it out it really is a good weapon. Mine is a Bond Arms "Snake Slayer" chambered in .45 colt/.410 shotshell. Think about that just a minute... Yeah, I have the world's smallest sawed off shotgun riding around with me in a rig on my belt, how cool is that?
See what I mean?
The upsides are many, It has a good weight and the recoil is super easy to manage all the way up to but NOT including 0000 Buck shot. Those puppies hurt like a mofo to shoot. It is very easy to use and to run through its battery of arms. It's single action only and has a manual safety on it. All in all, a nice gun.
It also conceals very well in an IWB holster and lays nice and flat.
The downsides are that you only have two shots. However, with some of the new self-defense loads for .410, you only need two for anything less than a platoon of bad guys. 0000 buck shot, for instance, shoots out 4 .38 caliber lead balls all in a nice neat line perpendicular to the horizon. When I tried this round out at the range I hit the target in the face, sternum, belly, and bladder... all in one shot.
Yeah, it'll get the job done, no doubt. But if you happen to have anything other than a 3.5 inch barrel shotgun in your hand (which I do) then you are going to have to aim the thing and be a little accurate. When I use .45 in mine, it does well, it's relatively accurate considering what I'm holding and all that.
However, should you choose something much smaller in caliber, I suggest practicing a lot. You only have 2 shots and it's slow to reload, so I would suggest making those shots count. If you're using the .410 meat grinder attachment, then...well, maybe it isn't so important to put lots of rounds down range, but you should still practice.
...Derringers make a heck of a car/truck gun.
For those of you who don't know a derringer is a small "over/under" style handgun which holds two round of anything from a .22 all the way up to a .45 colt/.410 shotgun. They are generally single action only.
The biggest benefit to a derringer is concealability. They are small, smaller than most compact revolvers and easy to carry around.
I have one and, without equivocation, it has the largest "oooohhhhh" factor of anything I own.
Ok, so leaving behind the fact that it's wicked cool and everyone wants to try it out it really is a good weapon. Mine is a Bond Arms "Snake Slayer" chambered in .45 colt/.410 shotshell. Think about that just a minute... Yeah, I have the world's smallest sawed off shotgun riding around with me in a rig on my belt, how cool is that?
See what I mean?
The upsides are many, It has a good weight and the recoil is super easy to manage all the way up to but NOT including 0000 Buck shot. Those puppies hurt like a mofo to shoot. It is very easy to use and to run through its battery of arms. It's single action only and has a manual safety on it. All in all, a nice gun.
It also conceals very well in an IWB holster and lays nice and flat.
The downsides are that you only have two shots. However, with some of the new self-defense loads for .410, you only need two for anything less than a platoon of bad guys. 0000 buck shot, for instance, shoots out 4 .38 caliber lead balls all in a nice neat line perpendicular to the horizon. When I tried this round out at the range I hit the target in the face, sternum, belly, and bladder... all in one shot.
Yeah, it'll get the job done, no doubt. But if you happen to have anything other than a 3.5 inch barrel shotgun in your hand (which I do) then you are going to have to aim the thing and be a little accurate. When I use .45 in mine, it does well, it's relatively accurate considering what I'm holding and all that.
However, should you choose something much smaller in caliber, I suggest practicing a lot. You only have 2 shots and it's slow to reload, so I would suggest making those shots count. If you're using the .410 meat grinder attachment, then...well, maybe it isn't so important to put lots of rounds down range, but you should still practice.
...Derringers make a heck of a car/truck gun.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Slouching...I'm not kidding
Hey guys, personal experience talking here.
If you carry in the small of the back and you have a shirt untucked... check yourself when you stand up.
We all pretty much slouch when we sit. We place a curve in our lower back, we just do it because it's more comfortable for us.
Little item here...this causes your shirt to pull up higher, which, depending on your holster, could cause it to hike up over your gun.
...just keep that in mind and do a print check when you stand up, should you be carrying that way.
If you carry in the small of the back and you have a shirt untucked... check yourself when you stand up.
We all pretty much slouch when we sit. We place a curve in our lower back, we just do it because it's more comfortable for us.
Little item here...this causes your shirt to pull up higher, which, depending on your holster, could cause it to hike up over your gun.
...just keep that in mind and do a print check when you stand up, should you be carrying that way.
Beretta Jetfire 950 - .25 acp
Alright boys and girls, here it is; the totally excellent Beretta Jetfire 950 in .25 acp. I realize I did a brief snippet on this one before, but that was more theoretical. I now own, have fired, and carry this little beauty, so this will be a better review.
Let me tell you this thing is awesome. It is hands down my favorite gun that I have owned or even shot. It sounds crazy and it may sound like hyperbole, but it is very true.
Don't get me wrong, I love my wheel guns, and I love me a 1911, but for the purposes of this blog and what the premise is, I'm telling you this is the best dang firearm on the market today. Yes, I am making that statement and I'll stand behind it.
The basics:
It is small, 4 inches square, maybe. It's light, less than 10 oz unlouded and maybe 14 when loaded. So it weighs very, very little. It holds 9 rounds of ammo, 8+1 to be precise. It also has a tilt up barrel, which is a nice feature.
Anyway, down to brass tacks:
The cons:
It fires the .25 acp round and most people will tell you that it's not going to do anything but piss off an attacker should the need arise to use it. I don't know about that. Will it go through a man's chest and exit out the back, no. Will it go through the skull, generally not. Will it, however, put 9 quarter inch holes in someone and start them bleeding, burning and hurting pretty darn badly? Yes it will!
Do you have to be good in your shot placement? Yup. I would go for upper chest and face. Yeah, I'll shoot to the face, what?
Will it stop any but a determined (read that drugged up) attacker, I say it will.
Now, people do seem to use a PCP crazed attacker as the basis for their carrying decision and I can appreciate that. However, unless you turn their head in to a canoe you aren't stopping them. I've heard police stories of 63 shots being put in a guy and he didn't stop... so, consider that. Can you think of something that you can carry, conceal, and keep on target that's going to do that? Didn't think so.
Performance:
I tested my gun using what I had around, which was a 2 liter bottle filled with water and capped off. At 15 feet, it shot clean through, entry and exit wounds through 4 inches of water. I don't know about you, but that seems like enough to start a good amount of bleeding and some serious pain.
Accuracy:
The accuracy isn't great, but then again, I'm new to shooting it and I'll have to dial it in a little and get used to it. However, I was rapid firing at 15 feet at a 2 liter and getting really good results. I think I put 6 of 9 in the bottle while rapid firing. I can't do that with a 1911 and I shoot those better than any handgun out there. So, for self-defense distances, this thing is spot on.
Recoil...none, moving on.
Report:
This little canon is also loud as hell!! It isn't at all like a .22 which is kind of "pop" as the round breaks the sound barrier, this thing is LOUD!!! If there is a fight, people will know it's a gun fight, no doubt about it.
Added Benefit: Rapid Fire!!!
Yeah, this little SOB will rapid fire as fast as you can pull the trigger and since you don't get thrown off your aim due to recoil, you guessed it, you get 9 rounds in 2 seconds (if you're slow) in about a 6 inch area. That's bada@@ I don't care what gun you're talking about.
So, in short it fits the bill perfectly for the intended use of a CCW. It is small enough to carry comfortably. It has great ergonomics, carries more ammo than any other pocket gun. Yes it does fire the smallest centerfire round out there, but being shot is being shot, I don't care what anyone else says.
Stay safe!
Let me tell you this thing is awesome. It is hands down my favorite gun that I have owned or even shot. It sounds crazy and it may sound like hyperbole, but it is very true.
Don't get me wrong, I love my wheel guns, and I love me a 1911, but for the purposes of this blog and what the premise is, I'm telling you this is the best dang firearm on the market today. Yes, I am making that statement and I'll stand behind it.
The basics:
It is small, 4 inches square, maybe. It's light, less than 10 oz unlouded and maybe 14 when loaded. So it weighs very, very little. It holds 9 rounds of ammo, 8+1 to be precise. It also has a tilt up barrel, which is a nice feature.
Anyway, down to brass tacks:
The cons:
It fires the .25 acp round and most people will tell you that it's not going to do anything but piss off an attacker should the need arise to use it. I don't know about that. Will it go through a man's chest and exit out the back, no. Will it go through the skull, generally not. Will it, however, put 9 quarter inch holes in someone and start them bleeding, burning and hurting pretty darn badly? Yes it will!
Do you have to be good in your shot placement? Yup. I would go for upper chest and face. Yeah, I'll shoot to the face, what?
Will it stop any but a determined (read that drugged up) attacker, I say it will.
Now, people do seem to use a PCP crazed attacker as the basis for their carrying decision and I can appreciate that. However, unless you turn their head in to a canoe you aren't stopping them. I've heard police stories of 63 shots being put in a guy and he didn't stop... so, consider that. Can you think of something that you can carry, conceal, and keep on target that's going to do that? Didn't think so.
Performance:
I tested my gun using what I had around, which was a 2 liter bottle filled with water and capped off. At 15 feet, it shot clean through, entry and exit wounds through 4 inches of water. I don't know about you, but that seems like enough to start a good amount of bleeding and some serious pain.
Accuracy:
The accuracy isn't great, but then again, I'm new to shooting it and I'll have to dial it in a little and get used to it. However, I was rapid firing at 15 feet at a 2 liter and getting really good results. I think I put 6 of 9 in the bottle while rapid firing. I can't do that with a 1911 and I shoot those better than any handgun out there. So, for self-defense distances, this thing is spot on.
Recoil...none, moving on.
Report:
This little canon is also loud as hell!! It isn't at all like a .22 which is kind of "pop" as the round breaks the sound barrier, this thing is LOUD!!! If there is a fight, people will know it's a gun fight, no doubt about it.
Added Benefit: Rapid Fire!!!
Yeah, this little SOB will rapid fire as fast as you can pull the trigger and since you don't get thrown off your aim due to recoil, you guessed it, you get 9 rounds in 2 seconds (if you're slow) in about a 6 inch area. That's bada@@ I don't care what gun you're talking about.
So, in short it fits the bill perfectly for the intended use of a CCW. It is small enough to carry comfortably. It has great ergonomics, carries more ammo than any other pocket gun. Yes it does fire the smallest centerfire round out there, but being shot is being shot, I don't care what anyone else says.
Stay safe!
Finally...
Alright, I've finally made my decision, I have what I want to carry with me and I keep it with me wherever I may roam.
I bought, used, a Beretta Jetfire in .25 acp.
Now, now, now, before you get all weird on my, let me set a couple of things straight here.
1. While the .25 is technically "underpowered" for CCW. I would say this in retort; There are many stories of men being killed by a .25 acp, and there are many stories of men surviving a hail of lead from a 9mm or a .45 acp. So lethality isn't a binary system of this is lethal and that isn't. All guns are lethal, I've said that before. Also, to any detractors out there. If you don't think its dangerous, I invite you to stand very still while I unload a magazine in to your chest. No takers? I didn't think so.
2. It is the perfect (and I'll do a full review soon) size, weight, capability for CCW. It's small, light, and had 9 round of rock and roll ready to do it's job.
So, that's what I'm carrying these days. Again, small, light, cheap (always nice) and reliable. At the end of the day, that's what you want.
Here's a picture:
I bought, used, a Beretta Jetfire in .25 acp.
Now, now, now, before you get all weird on my, let me set a couple of things straight here.
1. While the .25 is technically "underpowered" for CCW. I would say this in retort; There are many stories of men being killed by a .25 acp, and there are many stories of men surviving a hail of lead from a 9mm or a .45 acp. So lethality isn't a binary system of this is lethal and that isn't. All guns are lethal, I've said that before. Also, to any detractors out there. If you don't think its dangerous, I invite you to stand very still while I unload a magazine in to your chest. No takers? I didn't think so.
2. It is the perfect (and I'll do a full review soon) size, weight, capability for CCW. It's small, light, and had 9 round of rock and roll ready to do it's job.
So, that's what I'm carrying these days. Again, small, light, cheap (always nice) and reliable. At the end of the day, that's what you want.
Here's a picture:
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Weekend Report
Well, I spent the entire weekend out of town and carried with me while I was away.
It wasn't as nerve wracking as I thought it would be. I simply strapped on, checked myself in the mirror and walked out the door. It was all that hard nor all that odd feeling.
Getting used to the holster and the weight, etc wasn't all that much fun, but otherwise, it was no big deal.
To answer the question: A single action Bond Arms Derringer, loaded with 1 45 Long Colt lead slug and 0000 Buck .410. I figured that if that doesn't do it, nothing will.
And, as per usual, didn't have even a whisper of need for it, for which I am thankful.
It wasn't as nerve wracking as I thought it would be. I simply strapped on, checked myself in the mirror and walked out the door. It was all that hard nor all that odd feeling.
Getting used to the holster and the weight, etc wasn't all that much fun, but otherwise, it was no big deal.
To answer the question: A single action Bond Arms Derringer, loaded with 1 45 Long Colt lead slug and 0000 Buck .410. I figured that if that doesn't do it, nothing will.
And, as per usual, didn't have even a whisper of need for it, for which I am thankful.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Wait, she is over!!
Alright boys and girls, the wait is finally over and I am now a card carrying member of the CCW club. I am legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon on my person (with in limits, of course) whenever I see fit to do so.
Very cool and very humbling all at the same time.
I will post more regarding my foray in to the armed citizen world as they progress.
7 weeks... not too long of a wait and worth it in the end.
Very cool and very humbling all at the same time.
I will post more regarding my foray in to the armed citizen world as they progress.
7 weeks... not too long of a wait and worth it in the end.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A perfect example!
Ok, here's exactly what I'm talking about, here's the reason that you need to at least own a firearm and know how to use it.
A friend of mine was accosted, at home, in front of his son, by some looney with a knife. Now, I'll admit her did know said looney, but this guy was off his rocker and brandished a knife...in front of my friend's son, at their front door.
Ok, a few things could have happened here.
1. Looney stabs/slashes friend... bad.
2. Looney doesn't and cops are called (what actually happened)
3. Looney attempts to stab/slash friend and friend defends himself with a firearm.
Best choice? Option 2, without a doubt. I want to carry, just in case, but as I've said, I want the bullets to rust of old age before I ever have to use them. I've said that before and I'm still saying it... I never want to have to draw my weapon. I would rather boogie out of the situation.
However, let's say that looney is seriously not well, I mean he's snapped all but for sure. He's gone bye-bye to reality. It isn't too hard to imagine, I mean he was brandishing a knife at some other dude while at the front door of other dude's house.
Ok, well... guess who could have gone home in a bag that day? If you said Looney, you're half right. Either my friend or Looney could have died that day. If looney was determined he could have easily killed my friend. However...had friend carried a gun on him... you get the point.
A salient point to this story is that in my state, you don't have the duty to retreat in your own home. If a guy is at your door or in your house and you feel you are in imminent danger, then you are within your right to defend yourself. Also, considering his kid was right there with him... You get the picture.
So, my friend and his wife have decided that they want to purchase a firearm. I think that's a good idea, obviously. They want me to help them pick it out, and train with it... I'm flattered and as qualified as anyone, I guess, to give them the basics.
At any rate, this is the kind of stuff that you don't expect to have happen. However, you never know when it will.
A friend of mine was accosted, at home, in front of his son, by some looney with a knife. Now, I'll admit her did know said looney, but this guy was off his rocker and brandished a knife...in front of my friend's son, at their front door.
Ok, a few things could have happened here.
1. Looney stabs/slashes friend... bad.
2. Looney doesn't and cops are called (what actually happened)
3. Looney attempts to stab/slash friend and friend defends himself with a firearm.
Best choice? Option 2, without a doubt. I want to carry, just in case, but as I've said, I want the bullets to rust of old age before I ever have to use them. I've said that before and I'm still saying it... I never want to have to draw my weapon. I would rather boogie out of the situation.
However, let's say that looney is seriously not well, I mean he's snapped all but for sure. He's gone bye-bye to reality. It isn't too hard to imagine, I mean he was brandishing a knife at some other dude while at the front door of other dude's house.
Ok, well... guess who could have gone home in a bag that day? If you said Looney, you're half right. Either my friend or Looney could have died that day. If looney was determined he could have easily killed my friend. However...had friend carried a gun on him... you get the point.
A salient point to this story is that in my state, you don't have the duty to retreat in your own home. If a guy is at your door or in your house and you feel you are in imminent danger, then you are within your right to defend yourself. Also, considering his kid was right there with him... You get the picture.
So, my friend and his wife have decided that they want to purchase a firearm. I think that's a good idea, obviously. They want me to help them pick it out, and train with it... I'm flattered and as qualified as anyone, I guess, to give them the basics.
At any rate, this is the kind of stuff that you don't expect to have happen. However, you never know when it will.
Friday, April 23, 2010
And now, we wait...
The hardest part about getting your CCW isn't picking the right firearm or holster or even taking the class. It is, in fact, the waiting.
I turned my form in Monday morning, I got fingerprinted, poked, prodded, inspected, injected, etc. And now... I wait.
I can wait 3 weeks, I can wait 3 months, there's no telling how long it will take. The maximum is 90 days, however, it appears to be running about a month based on my friend who just recently got his experienced.
Anyway... the waiting is the difficult part, but worth it in the end.
I turned my form in Monday morning, I got fingerprinted, poked, prodded, inspected, injected, etc. And now... I wait.
I can wait 3 weeks, I can wait 3 months, there's no telling how long it will take. The maximum is 90 days, however, it appears to be running about a month based on my friend who just recently got his experienced.
Anyway... the waiting is the difficult part, but worth it in the end.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Revolver Ammo
I was reviewing some of my older posts and I realized that I had completely skipped over the revolver calibers in my description of what I think and what are popularly considered self-defense calibers.
Again, I'm a little biased here as I've decided to carry a revolver. Some people would say that I'm under-gunned and will be a dead man should I have to engage multiple attackers. Well...to that I say with confidence, "bite me".
6 shots, well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 3 men. 6 shoots, not as well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 2 men. So, unless I'm taking on an entire Mexican cartel, I should be in good shape. But I digress...
Revolvers have less choices in caliber than semi-automatics do, tis true.
.38 Special:
This is the tried and true revolver load. It's cheap to shoot and packs a good punch. If a manufacturer makes a revolver, they make one in .38, just a fact of life. The police and military carried .38s for about 3,245 years and it worked like a champ. It's simple, effective, light recoil, all in all, a good round.
The only downside is if you have an ultralight/airweight revolver, then it will buck and bark like mad and it is exactly NO fun to shoot. Just keep that in mind.
.327 Federal
I have no had the chance to personally try out this caliber, however, everything I've read says that it gives you .38+p power with 30% less recoil. To me that spells winner!
.32 H&R
A nice easy round. Not the easiest to find, but it packs a pretty good wallop and doesn't kick hardly at all. If you are recoil adverse, then this might be a good place to start looking.
.44 Special
A big, but slow, round. Not bad to shoot at all. When you get this size, however, you are really making for a bulky cylinder in your revolver. However, if you can comfortably carry it, go for it. I've shot this through a single action cowboy gun before and it's a honey. It is pricey though. The upside is that it will chamber in a revolver made for .44 Magnum... speaking of which;
.44 Magnum
Big, bad, Buick stopping power. Not too bad to shoot if you have the right pistol for it. I wouldn't suggest a 3 inch barrel for this one as it's just too hard to control and you're going to think someone took a hammer to your hand. Although the .44 Magnum will get the job done; be prepared to shell out BUCKS for this ammo.
...last but not least...
.357 Magnum
I've mentioned this one before. It will do the job. It has the answers to all of life's burning questions. This is the round that looks at Dirty Harry and calls him "punk". The only thing on two legs that this won't stop would be Chuck Norris. It is considered by most to be the ultimate, gold standard, one stop shot round.
A study found that this caliber has up 95% one shot stop capability with incapacitation in as little as 5 seconds.
Easy to find, not too bad on recoil and fairly cheap for a good solid round.
This is my personal choice, in case you were wondering.
Again, I'm a little biased here as I've decided to carry a revolver. Some people would say that I'm under-gunned and will be a dead man should I have to engage multiple attackers. Well...to that I say with confidence, "bite me".
6 shots, well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 3 men. 6 shoots, not as well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 2 men. So, unless I'm taking on an entire Mexican cartel, I should be in good shape. But I digress...
Revolvers have less choices in caliber than semi-automatics do, tis true.
.38 Special:
This is the tried and true revolver load. It's cheap to shoot and packs a good punch. If a manufacturer makes a revolver, they make one in .38, just a fact of life. The police and military carried .38s for about 3,245 years and it worked like a champ. It's simple, effective, light recoil, all in all, a good round.
The only downside is if you have an ultralight/airweight revolver, then it will buck and bark like mad and it is exactly NO fun to shoot. Just keep that in mind.
.327 Federal
I have no had the chance to personally try out this caliber, however, everything I've read says that it gives you .38+p power with 30% less recoil. To me that spells winner!
.32 H&R
A nice easy round. Not the easiest to find, but it packs a pretty good wallop and doesn't kick hardly at all. If you are recoil adverse, then this might be a good place to start looking.
.44 Special
A big, but slow, round. Not bad to shoot at all. When you get this size, however, you are really making for a bulky cylinder in your revolver. However, if you can comfortably carry it, go for it. I've shot this through a single action cowboy gun before and it's a honey. It is pricey though. The upside is that it will chamber in a revolver made for .44 Magnum... speaking of which;
.44 Magnum
Big, bad, Buick stopping power. Not too bad to shoot if you have the right pistol for it. I wouldn't suggest a 3 inch barrel for this one as it's just too hard to control and you're going to think someone took a hammer to your hand. Although the .44 Magnum will get the job done; be prepared to shell out BUCKS for this ammo.
...last but not least...
.357 Magnum
I've mentioned this one before. It will do the job. It has the answers to all of life's burning questions. This is the round that looks at Dirty Harry and calls him "punk". The only thing on two legs that this won't stop would be Chuck Norris. It is considered by most to be the ultimate, gold standard, one stop shot round.
A study found that this caliber has up 95% one shot stop capability with incapacitation in as little as 5 seconds.
Easy to find, not too bad on recoil and fairly cheap for a good solid round.
This is my personal choice, in case you were wondering.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
My personal philosophy on choosing a weapon
I've gone around the bend on this a couple of time, if not more, on this blog when speaking about which weapon a person should get.
I've reviewed different types of weapons, different calibers, different holsters, etc etc, I've even changed my mind a couple of times on what I'm willing and will probably end up carrying.
However, I'm not sure that I've ever really stated what I would suggest to someone were they to ask me what I thought.
I have had a couple of people ask me before what I thought and my answer has been fairly unwavering. Get something that you are comfortable with. Test out as many as you can and find one that feels comfortable in your hand, that doesn't blast so hard it startles you and something that you feel you will carry with you a good portion of the time.
I know some people who say "get this gun and then get used to it". I do NOT subscribe to this idea. I'm not going to "get used to something", thank you. I'm going to get something that is immediately comfortable to me. I don't want to have to work at something to make sure I conform to it.
When you buy a car, do you say "well, this one has all the features, but I just don't like the seats or where the controls are, but I'll get it anyway and get used to it"? Nope, you don't. Why should it be any different for a firearm?
So, I'd say test out revolvers and semi-autos and find one that feels right to you.
Maybe you don't like the complexity of a semi, that's fine, get a wheel gun. You don't like a .45 or a 9mm, get a .380 or a .32.
I've found my gun of choice. It's a revolver, a .357 GP-100. As I said in my review, we were meant to be together. It was instinctive and comfortable. I can shoot the heck out of this thing too, so all in all, it's the one for me.
And believe me, I've tried a boat load of different guns out there. I've tried every popular caliber except for .32 and .25 (hard to find rentals in that caliber) and I've tried almost all of the top tier and 2nd tier manufacturers. I've tried Smith, Springfield, Taurus, Ruger, Bersa, Glock, you name it.
So, to sum up, get what is comfortable and what will lend itself to consistent carry and consistent practice.
My two cents.
I've reviewed different types of weapons, different calibers, different holsters, etc etc, I've even changed my mind a couple of times on what I'm willing and will probably end up carrying.
However, I'm not sure that I've ever really stated what I would suggest to someone were they to ask me what I thought.
I have had a couple of people ask me before what I thought and my answer has been fairly unwavering. Get something that you are comfortable with. Test out as many as you can and find one that feels comfortable in your hand, that doesn't blast so hard it startles you and something that you feel you will carry with you a good portion of the time.
I know some people who say "get this gun and then get used to it". I do NOT subscribe to this idea. I'm not going to "get used to something", thank you. I'm going to get something that is immediately comfortable to me. I don't want to have to work at something to make sure I conform to it.
When you buy a car, do you say "well, this one has all the features, but I just don't like the seats or where the controls are, but I'll get it anyway and get used to it"? Nope, you don't. Why should it be any different for a firearm?
So, I'd say test out revolvers and semi-autos and find one that feels right to you.
Maybe you don't like the complexity of a semi, that's fine, get a wheel gun. You don't like a .45 or a 9mm, get a .380 or a .32.
I've found my gun of choice. It's a revolver, a .357 GP-100. As I said in my review, we were meant to be together. It was instinctive and comfortable. I can shoot the heck out of this thing too, so all in all, it's the one for me.
And believe me, I've tried a boat load of different guns out there. I've tried every popular caliber except for .32 and .25 (hard to find rentals in that caliber) and I've tried almost all of the top tier and 2nd tier manufacturers. I've tried Smith, Springfield, Taurus, Ruger, Bersa, Glock, you name it.
So, to sum up, get what is comfortable and what will lend itself to consistent carry and consistent practice.
My two cents.
So...what could happen
...if you were to draw your weapon at the wrong moment, or with the wrong intent?
Its a big question and something that your average CCW class may not cover. I don't believe it was covered in mine, but that was about a year ago, so there's that.
Anyway, the term "assault" is making a threat towards someone which causes them to fear for their lives or safety and they person making the threat is capable of carrying out the threat. This is NOT a legal definition, but a layman's term.
So, if you're hanging out with your friends and say "Dude, don't make me hurt you" in jest, then it isn't assault, because there was no fear, etc.
However, some guy in an alley states that he's going to cut you open, that might.
So, how does this come in to play with our topic, I'll tell you.
If you are over-zealous and pull your weapon on someone and they are afraid for their lives, if you are not in the right to draw that weapon you are now guilty of assault. It could be considered "aggrivated assault" since there was a deadly weapon involved.
Again, I'm not a lawyer or the police, but I do want to warn people about being a cowboy out there and just willy-nilly pulling their gun.
Heck, there was some dumb-ass in Texas (I think) that was fiddling with his gun at the check out at Wal-Mart. He took it out, dropped the mag (and I mean it hit the floor) and while he tried to replace it in the gun, the gun went off and the round hit the ceiling. He was arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm and something else, which I don't recall.
This goes back to one of the first posts I made, become familiar with your firearm and wear the novelty off of it. This guy, apparently, hadn't done that yet and he wanted to fiddle with it. Well, he's now going to jail and will lose his CCW permit for life. Not to mention the fact that he makes the rest of us look really, really bad in his states of dumb-ass-ness.
So to sum up...keep your damn weapon in its holster until such time as you are:
A. Training
B. Cleaning
C. Storing (if you have children)
D. Actively and rightfully engaged in defending your life.
If you aren't doing any of the above mentioned activities that thing NEVER leaves your holster. And by NEVER... I mean NEVER. You strap that puppy on in the morning and you don't fidget with it. You don't show it off to people, in public. You act as if you are just a normal person doing their normal things, because you are. You just happen to be a normal person with a normal firearm under their normal clothes doing their normal things.
Think, people. It will save you a lot of grief later on.
Its a big question and something that your average CCW class may not cover. I don't believe it was covered in mine, but that was about a year ago, so there's that.
Anyway, the term "assault" is making a threat towards someone which causes them to fear for their lives or safety and they person making the threat is capable of carrying out the threat. This is NOT a legal definition, but a layman's term.
So, if you're hanging out with your friends and say "Dude, don't make me hurt you" in jest, then it isn't assault, because there was no fear, etc.
However, some guy in an alley states that he's going to cut you open, that might.
So, how does this come in to play with our topic, I'll tell you.
If you are over-zealous and pull your weapon on someone and they are afraid for their lives, if you are not in the right to draw that weapon you are now guilty of assault. It could be considered "aggrivated assault" since there was a deadly weapon involved.
Again, I'm not a lawyer or the police, but I do want to warn people about being a cowboy out there and just willy-nilly pulling their gun.
Heck, there was some dumb-ass in Texas (I think) that was fiddling with his gun at the check out at Wal-Mart. He took it out, dropped the mag (and I mean it hit the floor) and while he tried to replace it in the gun, the gun went off and the round hit the ceiling. He was arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm and something else, which I don't recall.
This goes back to one of the first posts I made, become familiar with your firearm and wear the novelty off of it. This guy, apparently, hadn't done that yet and he wanted to fiddle with it. Well, he's now going to jail and will lose his CCW permit for life. Not to mention the fact that he makes the rest of us look really, really bad in his states of dumb-ass-ness.
So to sum up...keep your damn weapon in its holster until such time as you are:
A. Training
B. Cleaning
C. Storing (if you have children)
D. Actively and rightfully engaged in defending your life.
If you aren't doing any of the above mentioned activities that thing NEVER leaves your holster. And by NEVER... I mean NEVER. You strap that puppy on in the morning and you don't fidget with it. You don't show it off to people, in public. You act as if you are just a normal person doing their normal things, because you are. You just happen to be a normal person with a normal firearm under their normal clothes doing their normal things.
Think, people. It will save you a lot of grief later on.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
For my money...
Hey there guys...
I've spoken about the cost of your firearm from time to time here, but there's something that has my attention now and I felt compelled to talk about it.
Smith and Wesson revolvers. I will be the first to admit that they are fantastic quality and will last a lifetime, without exaggeration.
However, they are expensive. Now, I don't mean a hundred bucks over the competition, I mean double and sometimes triple the cost of the next best competitor.
Are they worth the extra cash? In my humble opinion, not even close.
They are fine machines, they are quality built and stand the test of time, but I can get 3 Ruger SP-101 for the price of 1 Smith. You heard that correctly, a 3 to 1 ratio. And Ruger is no slouch, they are solid machines and are just as good and just as reliable as any Smith out there.
That is just my two cents, of course, but I thought it necessary to mention it as I was poking around on the internet last night checking out comparable models to my new and utterly awesome GP-100. When I saw that a regular old .357 was upwards of $1000 when a new in the box GP-100 was about $450, well... I was less than thrilled.
However, if you are a die hard S&W fan, go for it. It is, after all, your money.
I've spoken about the cost of your firearm from time to time here, but there's something that has my attention now and I felt compelled to talk about it.
Smith and Wesson revolvers. I will be the first to admit that they are fantastic quality and will last a lifetime, without exaggeration.
However, they are expensive. Now, I don't mean a hundred bucks over the competition, I mean double and sometimes triple the cost of the next best competitor.
Are they worth the extra cash? In my humble opinion, not even close.
They are fine machines, they are quality built and stand the test of time, but I can get 3 Ruger SP-101 for the price of 1 Smith. You heard that correctly, a 3 to 1 ratio. And Ruger is no slouch, they are solid machines and are just as good and just as reliable as any Smith out there.
That is just my two cents, of course, but I thought it necessary to mention it as I was poking around on the internet last night checking out comparable models to my new and utterly awesome GP-100. When I saw that a regular old .357 was upwards of $1000 when a new in the box GP-100 was about $450, well... I was less than thrilled.
However, if you are a die hard S&W fan, go for it. It is, after all, your money.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Safety...
I don't think that I've covered this as a singular post yet, and for that I do apologize. My assumption being that anyone who reads this, all two of you, would be fairly well versed in the basic rules of handling a fire arm. However, it is possible that someone could just pop in and read this and I would have done a disservice to them had I not mentioned the following:
1. Treat EVERY gun as if it were loaded.
2. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
3. Do not point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
4. Be aware of the target and what's behind it.
To elaborate on these, I may tell you how I do things. This is just my way of not dying in a self actuated firearm accident, your mileage may vary.
1. I check, double check and then check again every gun I pick up. That means the ones I own; the ones I look at in stores, the ones I use when I'm at the range with a friend. I don't care if the man behind the counter checks the gun and hands it to me with the action open or the cylinder hanging loose, I'm checking it again. My good friend could hand me a gun that he just checked, and I'll check it. I have guns at home that I don't even own ammo for and I check them when I pick them up. I'm a fanatic, but... I'm alive.
2. Your finger should never, ever, be in the trigger guard until you are about to actually fire the weapon. When you draw, when you hold a weapon your index finger (aka "Booger hook") should be indexed along the slide/barrel of the firearm. There is a saying "Keep your booger hook off the bang button". It keeps people alive.
3. Kids and adults have and will continue to accidentally shoot someone else simply because they pointed a gun, in jest, at someone else. Remember, guns are designed with one purpose only, to kill things. While the gun itself is not going to just go off and shoot someone, if you treat it like a toy, someone will eventually get hurt or get dead.
4. This is extremely important in an actual defensive scenario. If you're in a crowd and there's a bad guy and you shoot him (in a justified shooting) and the bullet goes through him and hits someone else...guess who's going to jail for that. Correct, you are. This is also important if you are shooting out of doors. Bullets fly for a long distance and still maintain a lot of their kinetic energy...
Again...be careful. Guns are safe and fun if you aren't an idiot. You can't hurt someone with a bullet fired from a gun unless you have broken one of these rules.
So, don't break the rules.
1. Treat EVERY gun as if it were loaded.
2. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
3. Do not point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
4. Be aware of the target and what's behind it.
To elaborate on these, I may tell you how I do things. This is just my way of not dying in a self actuated firearm accident, your mileage may vary.
1. I check, double check and then check again every gun I pick up. That means the ones I own; the ones I look at in stores, the ones I use when I'm at the range with a friend. I don't care if the man behind the counter checks the gun and hands it to me with the action open or the cylinder hanging loose, I'm checking it again. My good friend could hand me a gun that he just checked, and I'll check it. I have guns at home that I don't even own ammo for and I check them when I pick them up. I'm a fanatic, but... I'm alive.
2. Your finger should never, ever, be in the trigger guard until you are about to actually fire the weapon. When you draw, when you hold a weapon your index finger (aka "Booger hook") should be indexed along the slide/barrel of the firearm. There is a saying "Keep your booger hook off the bang button". It keeps people alive.
3. Kids and adults have and will continue to accidentally shoot someone else simply because they pointed a gun, in jest, at someone else. Remember, guns are designed with one purpose only, to kill things. While the gun itself is not going to just go off and shoot someone, if you treat it like a toy, someone will eventually get hurt or get dead.
4. This is extremely important in an actual defensive scenario. If you're in a crowd and there's a bad guy and you shoot him (in a justified shooting) and the bullet goes through him and hits someone else...guess who's going to jail for that. Correct, you are. This is also important if you are shooting out of doors. Bullets fly for a long distance and still maintain a lot of their kinetic energy...
Again...be careful. Guns are safe and fun if you aren't an idiot. You can't hurt someone with a bullet fired from a gun unless you have broken one of these rules.
So, don't break the rules.
I'm changing my mind...maybe, again.
Previously, I had stated that I was either going to go with the Glock 19, 26, or the Ruger SR9C for defensive carry. However, the more I work this over in my mind, the more I'm leaning towards tossing all of that away from a simple .357 revolver.
I should back up a little bit. As you know I just tested (and now own) a 4 inch GP100 in .357/.38. As soon as we met it was love at first shot.
I don't care what other gun you would offer me, I'm going to find a way to make this puppy work for my carry piece. I just will.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the aforementioned pistols, they are great! However, I do like the ease and simplicity of a good revolver.
There are a million advantages to having a semi-auto on or about your person. There are also many more important disadvantages in my opinion.
You get more ammo capacity with a semi-auto, it is easier to reload, more often than not a longer sight radius, you usually get a slightly or extremely slimmer frame too.
All that being said... in this particular case, it's what you don't get that is more important. I don't get jams, double feeds, magazine malfunctions (oh, you didn't know, yeah a mag can go bad on you in a heart beat), stovepipes, etc etc etc.
Most people will tell you that newer firearms, semi-autos, don't do that very often. And while I agree, I want "Never" instead of "Not very often".
So, I'm going with a revolver... yeah.
I should back up a little bit. As you know I just tested (and now own) a 4 inch GP100 in .357/.38. As soon as we met it was love at first shot.
I don't care what other gun you would offer me, I'm going to find a way to make this puppy work for my carry piece. I just will.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the aforementioned pistols, they are great! However, I do like the ease and simplicity of a good revolver.
There are a million advantages to having a semi-auto on or about your person. There are also many more important disadvantages in my opinion.
You get more ammo capacity with a semi-auto, it is easier to reload, more often than not a longer sight radius, you usually get a slightly or extremely slimmer frame too.
All that being said... in this particular case, it's what you don't get that is more important. I don't get jams, double feeds, magazine malfunctions (oh, you didn't know, yeah a mag can go bad on you in a heart beat), stovepipes, etc etc etc.
Most people will tell you that newer firearms, semi-autos, don't do that very often. And while I agree, I want "Never" instead of "Not very often".
So, I'm going with a revolver... yeah.
Across state lines
Hey, something I think I need to mention here. If you are in a state which has CCW reciprocity with other states, that does NOT mean that your current state's laws are applicable in the other states. It means that you can carry concealed in the other state so long as you observe their laws.
Keep that in mind, it could be very, very important.
Keep that in mind, it could be very, very important.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Magic training distance
There is a distance inside of which you will have no choice but to defend yourself. There is also a distance outside of which you can haul some serious boogie and get the hell out of the engagement.
To me, and this is my opinion only, it is not legal advise, etc... is about 5 yards.
That's right, 5 yards, 15 feet.
Some guys will train out to 25 yards and be impressed when they can keyhole a bulls eye over and over. And I will admit, it is impressive, but useless in a defensive engagement. Why do you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked.
The guys who are shooting out to the distance are taking their time, controlling their breathing, squeezing the trigger, etc etc. They aren't drawing their weapon, sighting, and shooting. They aren't practicing for an engagement.
I won't take away from their ability because I sure can't do it... but I can make smiley faces on targets at 5 yards just as quick as I can pull the trigger.
There was a point when I could draw, acquire, and pop off a round, and hit a Starbucks doubleshot can, at 5-7 yards, in about 1-1.5 seconds. Record breaking? Nope. Not too shabby? Yup. However, that was practice for if I needed it. I'm not that good anymore, but I can still draw and get on target pretty well and hit, pretty much, what I'm aiming at.
The point is this, if your target is further away than say 5 yards, then you can run away. If he's 7 yards away, you can get a good head start. If he's further than that, in my humble non-legally binding and in no way a reflection of the laws of your jurisdiction, then its murder, plain and simple.
So when you practice (and practice you SHALL) practice at a reasonable distance. 25 yards is a good challenge and its fun to do (I shot at 25 yards this weekend for a couple of cylinders worth) but I can't think of an situation where you'd need to pop off a 25 yard shot in self-defence.
Train at 3-5-7 yards. Go one handed, strong and weak side, two handed strong and weak side. Get to where you can hit center mass, more or less. It doesn't have to be one hole accuracy. Heck, it could be 6 shots in something the size of a paper plate at 3 yards. It doesn't matter, just so long as you're hitting the target and actually practicing for the distances in which you may, hopefully never, have to engage.
Remember... if you have to sight in, you're too far away...RUN!!!
To me, and this is my opinion only, it is not legal advise, etc... is about 5 yards.
That's right, 5 yards, 15 feet.
Some guys will train out to 25 yards and be impressed when they can keyhole a bulls eye over and over. And I will admit, it is impressive, but useless in a defensive engagement. Why do you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked.
The guys who are shooting out to the distance are taking their time, controlling their breathing, squeezing the trigger, etc etc. They aren't drawing their weapon, sighting, and shooting. They aren't practicing for an engagement.
I won't take away from their ability because I sure can't do it... but I can make smiley faces on targets at 5 yards just as quick as I can pull the trigger.
There was a point when I could draw, acquire, and pop off a round, and hit a Starbucks doubleshot can, at 5-7 yards, in about 1-1.5 seconds. Record breaking? Nope. Not too shabby? Yup. However, that was practice for if I needed it. I'm not that good anymore, but I can still draw and get on target pretty well and hit, pretty much, what I'm aiming at.
The point is this, if your target is further away than say 5 yards, then you can run away. If he's 7 yards away, you can get a good head start. If he's further than that, in my humble non-legally binding and in no way a reflection of the laws of your jurisdiction, then its murder, plain and simple.
So when you practice (and practice you SHALL) practice at a reasonable distance. 25 yards is a good challenge and its fun to do (I shot at 25 yards this weekend for a couple of cylinders worth) but I can't think of an situation where you'd need to pop off a 25 yard shot in self-defence.
Train at 3-5-7 yards. Go one handed, strong and weak side, two handed strong and weak side. Get to where you can hit center mass, more or less. It doesn't have to be one hole accuracy. Heck, it could be 6 shots in something the size of a paper plate at 3 yards. It doesn't matter, just so long as you're hitting the target and actually practicing for the distances in which you may, hopefully never, have to engage.
Remember... if you have to sight in, you're too far away...RUN!!!
GP-100 Ruger
Sweet Monkey spunk on crutches! This is the finest firearm I have ever, and I mean ever, picked up and put rounds down range with.
But, before I get a little too far in to the superlatives, let me tell you something about it. It is a 6 shot revolver, 4 inch barrel, chambered in .357/.38. It has a rubber grip with a wooden inlay in to it.
As I have said on countless posts I'm a big dude, there isn't much I can't carry on me without printing...this one just might be too close to the edge to allow me to carry it, which would be sad. That is not, however, meant to be construed as I'm giving up in trying to find a way to carry it. Oh, sweet momma... I'm in very strong lust with this firearm.
Now... on to the actual review of the firearm.
Well, let's just start off with the fact that this thing is a slab of metal. Unloaded it weighs 34 ounces, so two pounds. Add in 6 shots of your favorite .38 or .357 in it and the weigh goes over 2 and a half solid pounds. To some people that would be excessive and I would tend to agree with them. For me, however, it isn't that much weight. To me it just feels solid and I think that's important.
The practical upside of the heft is that it manages recoil very, very well. I had no fatigue at all when I took it out to the range. There was no uncomfortable blast, no muzzle jump, nothing but smooth sailing, really. I was, admittedly, shooting the .38 special loads, but I can't imagine that a .357 would be that much worse. It'll still be manageable with those as well.
The barrel is 4 inches long, which makes it a little unwieldy so far as the draw is concerned and I fully admit that. Again, this is not a small person gun. You'll need to have long arms and a fairly long torso to have the room needed to clear the weapon. Although, I practiced with it and it worked fine for me.
It is a double action/single action revolver, so you can with stage the hammer and pull the trigger or just pull the trigger, either way. The trigger itself is smooth and easily actuated. I use my wife for the real test of a trigger, if she can pull it, then it is good to go. She could and it is.
The sights on this thing do not disappoint. They are easy to see and easy enough to pick up. The front sight is black, so its hard to focus on in low light.
However, the greatest thing...is the intuitive nature of how it shoots. It is, basically, point and click. I brought in the Target to about 10-15 feet, somewhere in there, and went to town. With a good (read correct) grip on the revolver you can literally, with no exaggeration, point and pull the trigger and hit what you are aiming at without having to close one eye and look down the sights. I put rounds right there I wanted them, using double action, and there wasn't one miss.
And I don't mean I was looking at the front sight, etc, I mean I was looking at the "8" on the target and I would hit within 1/2inch of the 8, if not completely remove the 8 from the paper. I would get 1 inch (or smaller) groups at 5 yards. I actually put 3 shots in the same blessed hole going double action with this puppy.
It will do its job, there is not doubt about it.
Ok, final thoughts: It is a great gun, it will hit what you point it at and it can carry the dirty-bad-nasty .357 or the cheaper and easier .38 special. The grip feels good in the hand and really softens recoil. The only down side is the weight and barrel length. However, if you are of the right size, there's no reason this wouldn't be a good carry or "truck gun".
I'm a fan.
But, before I get a little too far in to the superlatives, let me tell you something about it. It is a 6 shot revolver, 4 inch barrel, chambered in .357/.38. It has a rubber grip with a wooden inlay in to it.
As I have said on countless posts I'm a big dude, there isn't much I can't carry on me without printing...this one just might be too close to the edge to allow me to carry it, which would be sad. That is not, however, meant to be construed as I'm giving up in trying to find a way to carry it. Oh, sweet momma... I'm in very strong lust with this firearm.
Now... on to the actual review of the firearm.
Well, let's just start off with the fact that this thing is a slab of metal. Unloaded it weighs 34 ounces, so two pounds. Add in 6 shots of your favorite .38 or .357 in it and the weigh goes over 2 and a half solid pounds. To some people that would be excessive and I would tend to agree with them. For me, however, it isn't that much weight. To me it just feels solid and I think that's important.
The practical upside of the heft is that it manages recoil very, very well. I had no fatigue at all when I took it out to the range. There was no uncomfortable blast, no muzzle jump, nothing but smooth sailing, really. I was, admittedly, shooting the .38 special loads, but I can't imagine that a .357 would be that much worse. It'll still be manageable with those as well.
The barrel is 4 inches long, which makes it a little unwieldy so far as the draw is concerned and I fully admit that. Again, this is not a small person gun. You'll need to have long arms and a fairly long torso to have the room needed to clear the weapon. Although, I practiced with it and it worked fine for me.
It is a double action/single action revolver, so you can with stage the hammer and pull the trigger or just pull the trigger, either way. The trigger itself is smooth and easily actuated. I use my wife for the real test of a trigger, if she can pull it, then it is good to go. She could and it is.
The sights on this thing do not disappoint. They are easy to see and easy enough to pick up. The front sight is black, so its hard to focus on in low light.
However, the greatest thing...is the intuitive nature of how it shoots. It is, basically, point and click. I brought in the Target to about 10-15 feet, somewhere in there, and went to town. With a good (read correct) grip on the revolver you can literally, with no exaggeration, point and pull the trigger and hit what you are aiming at without having to close one eye and look down the sights. I put rounds right there I wanted them, using double action, and there wasn't one miss.
And I don't mean I was looking at the front sight, etc, I mean I was looking at the "8" on the target and I would hit within 1/2inch of the 8, if not completely remove the 8 from the paper. I would get 1 inch (or smaller) groups at 5 yards. I actually put 3 shots in the same blessed hole going double action with this puppy.
It will do its job, there is not doubt about it.
Ok, final thoughts: It is a great gun, it will hit what you point it at and it can carry the dirty-bad-nasty .357 or the cheaper and easier .38 special. The grip feels good in the hand and really softens recoil. The only down side is the weight and barrel length. However, if you are of the right size, there's no reason this wouldn't be a good carry or "truck gun".
I'm a fan.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Revolvers
Love em. Can't get enough of them.
I think that they are the most perfect handgun out there, to be honest.
There are some I'm not crazy about, sure.
The airweight series from Smith and Wesson I can most certainly do without. They are too light to make shooting them any fun at all. Also, you can't stay on target with one and they are just a pain to be accurate with.
That being said, they are effective, easily concealed and easy to find ammo for.
And speaking of ammo, there is no semi-automatic firearm on the market which fires the venerable and for all intents and purposes the mack-daddy .357 Magnum.
No matter what your problem is, the .357 has the answer. You got one guy on drugs, problem solved. You have two guys with knives, no problems. As long as you can hit your target you would be hard pressed to find a more effective anti-personnel device.
Admittedly carrying a revolver, well anything other than a stubby, is not the easiest thing in the world, however. And every thing is a trade off. You only have 6 rounds, it is a little heavy, etc. But for ease of use, reliability and the oh so spankalicious .357... revolvers should definitely be on your list of guns to test out and perhaps carry with you.
I think that they are the most perfect handgun out there, to be honest.
There are some I'm not crazy about, sure.
The airweight series from Smith and Wesson I can most certainly do without. They are too light to make shooting them any fun at all. Also, you can't stay on target with one and they are just a pain to be accurate with.
That being said, they are effective, easily concealed and easy to find ammo for.
And speaking of ammo, there is no semi-automatic firearm on the market which fires the venerable and for all intents and purposes the mack-daddy .357 Magnum.
No matter what your problem is, the .357 has the answer. You got one guy on drugs, problem solved. You have two guys with knives, no problems. As long as you can hit your target you would be hard pressed to find a more effective anti-personnel device.
Admittedly carrying a revolver, well anything other than a stubby, is not the easiest thing in the world, however. And every thing is a trade off. You only have 6 rounds, it is a little heavy, etc. But for ease of use, reliability and the oh so spankalicious .357... revolvers should definitely be on your list of guns to test out and perhaps carry with you.
The "Back-up" gun
I have spoken mainly about the primary weapon here. The one that you carry, day in and day out, with you. What I have not talked about, much, is the back-up weapon.
Personally, I don't see much value in a back-up. That's just my opinion. I can understand that value that some people place on one, but value is relative.
My problem with a back up is this: If I'm in a fight and my primary fails or is taken from me, well, I'm dead. That's just the way it is. I wouldn't be able to get to my secondary fast enough to prevent very much badness from happening.
So, should you carry a back up? Yeah, sure, go right ahead. There are many options that lend themselves to easy carry. The Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P38t, so on and so forth.
However, I would say the same thing I do for a primary. Train with it, learn its functions, what ammo runs well through it, what doesn't, be comfortable with it. All of the same rules apply to a back up gun as a primary.
For me, however, my "back-up" weapon, is my wife. Oh yeah, she'll be packing just like I will. She won't be the first to draw, I will, she won't be the first to fire, I will. However, if bad juju happens, the last thing they bad guy will see is my wife...then she will make it rain.
Oh yeah, it's like that.
Personally, I don't see much value in a back-up. That's just my opinion. I can understand that value that some people place on one, but value is relative.
My problem with a back up is this: If I'm in a fight and my primary fails or is taken from me, well, I'm dead. That's just the way it is. I wouldn't be able to get to my secondary fast enough to prevent very much badness from happening.
So, should you carry a back up? Yeah, sure, go right ahead. There are many options that lend themselves to easy carry. The Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P38t, so on and so forth.
However, I would say the same thing I do for a primary. Train with it, learn its functions, what ammo runs well through it, what doesn't, be comfortable with it. All of the same rules apply to a back up gun as a primary.
For me, however, my "back-up" weapon, is my wife. Oh yeah, she'll be packing just like I will. She won't be the first to draw, I will, she won't be the first to fire, I will. However, if bad juju happens, the last thing they bad guy will see is my wife...then she will make it rain.
Oh yeah, it's like that.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Kids and guns
Folks, let me just say this one time and one time only...
Kids are smarter than you think they are.
If you have a gun for personal protection and there is a child living in your house you can not, in no uncertain terms, prevent that child from accessing a locked gun.
Oh yeah, you heard that right. They can and will find your firearm. They will be able to unlock the storage box and get to playing. As you can imagine "kids, playing, and guns" should not be in the same sentence unless the phrase "parental supervision" is in there as well.
So, here's what you do: Teach your children about firearms, their uses, the power that they can unleash and the whole 9 yards.
I've mentioned before that one needs to wear the novelty off of a firearm so it isn't a toy any longer, the same holds true for children.
Teach your child about how your firearm functions, how it works, and what it does.
By "what it does" I mean what that little bullet can do to someething so they know, without equivocation, that it will destroy whatever it hits.
Take them shooting, let them hold the gun whenever they want. Do not demonize it, do not make it forbidden. That's the fastest way to end up with a tragedy on your hands.
Just my two cents.
Kids are smarter than you think they are.
If you have a gun for personal protection and there is a child living in your house you can not, in no uncertain terms, prevent that child from accessing a locked gun.
Oh yeah, you heard that right. They can and will find your firearm. They will be able to unlock the storage box and get to playing. As you can imagine "kids, playing, and guns" should not be in the same sentence unless the phrase "parental supervision" is in there as well.
So, here's what you do: Teach your children about firearms, their uses, the power that they can unleash and the whole 9 yards.
I've mentioned before that one needs to wear the novelty off of a firearm so it isn't a toy any longer, the same holds true for children.
Teach your child about how your firearm functions, how it works, and what it does.
By "what it does" I mean what that little bullet can do to someething so they know, without equivocation, that it will destroy whatever it hits.
Take them shooting, let them hold the gun whenever they want. Do not demonize it, do not make it forbidden. That's the fastest way to end up with a tragedy on your hands.
Just my two cents.
Ending the fight
I've talked a little bit about when to engage an assailant, but since when you can and can't or should and shouldn't are left up to both your current jurisdiction and municipality and whether you should or shouldn't is strictly up to you... I'm going to say this very, very simply.
If you do have to engage a target...shoot to end it. There's no other way to say it.
You don't got for the leg, you don't fire a "warning shot", you don't do anything other than shoot to hit center mass or the head and end the fight, period.
If you don't think you can do that because of lack of skill, then train, alot.
If you don't think you can do that because of lack of fortitude, don't carry.
There's nothing wrong with not being able to take someone's life, even in anger, nothing at all. But, you don't want to have a gun with you and not actually be able to use it effectively. It could be taken from you and turned against you.
You may or may not be able to "scare" an attacker by brandishing a weapon, it might not work, so don't draw and think this will stop the aggressor. It might not.
There's an old saying that a Samurai's sword had to taste blood before it could be placed back in the scabbard. The same should be true of your firearm. Never, ever, ever draw your weapon unless you are 100% sure that the time, situation, etc has degraded to the point that your life or another innocent's life is in danger.
But if you do draw, be the fastest, be the first on target and put the bad guy down.
If you do have to engage a target...shoot to end it. There's no other way to say it.
You don't got for the leg, you don't fire a "warning shot", you don't do anything other than shoot to hit center mass or the head and end the fight, period.
If you don't think you can do that because of lack of skill, then train, alot.
If you don't think you can do that because of lack of fortitude, don't carry.
There's nothing wrong with not being able to take someone's life, even in anger, nothing at all. But, you don't want to have a gun with you and not actually be able to use it effectively. It could be taken from you and turned against you.
You may or may not be able to "scare" an attacker by brandishing a weapon, it might not work, so don't draw and think this will stop the aggressor. It might not.
There's an old saying that a Samurai's sword had to taste blood before it could be placed back in the scabbard. The same should be true of your firearm. Never, ever, ever draw your weapon unless you are 100% sure that the time, situation, etc has degraded to the point that your life or another innocent's life is in danger.
But if you do draw, be the fastest, be the first on target and put the bad guy down.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Ruger LCR
The Ruger LCR is the newest Lightweight Compact Revolver (...LCR, get it?) is on the market and let me just say a couple of things about it.
The first thing I want to say is that I'm a rationalizer and an analyst by nature. I don't take anything at face value, I read, study, compile informaiton, compare, contrast, look under microscopes, etc. However, the first time I got a grip on this little gem, I was sold, no fuss, no muss, no nothing. It's that good.
This is a 5 shot, polymer, revolver which is capable of accepting +p loadings, which bumps up the muzzle energy by 20%, give or take.
It comes with a very comfortable Hogue grip and can also come with a Crimson Trace lazer grip.
I've held and dry fired and live fired several revolvers and this has, hands down, the smoothest, lightest trigger pull of any revolver ever, period. My wife tried it and was SUPER impressed. She's broker her fingers several times playing field hockey as a kid and has trouble with a heavy pull, but this one was like "buttah" when she tried it out.
As with any snubby, the bark from at .38 could provide some uncomfortable recoil, but the new grips will mitigate that to a decent degree.
I am seriously considering getting one of these for a truck gun and so my wife has something to carry as well. It is awesomeness...hands down.
The first thing I want to say is that I'm a rationalizer and an analyst by nature. I don't take anything at face value, I read, study, compile informaiton, compare, contrast, look under microscopes, etc. However, the first time I got a grip on this little gem, I was sold, no fuss, no muss, no nothing. It's that good.
This is a 5 shot, polymer, revolver which is capable of accepting +p loadings, which bumps up the muzzle energy by 20%, give or take.
It comes with a very comfortable Hogue grip and can also come with a Crimson Trace lazer grip.
I've held and dry fired and live fired several revolvers and this has, hands down, the smoothest, lightest trigger pull of any revolver ever, period. My wife tried it and was SUPER impressed. She's broker her fingers several times playing field hockey as a kid and has trouble with a heavy pull, but this one was like "buttah" when she tried it out.
As with any snubby, the bark from at .38 could provide some uncomfortable recoil, but the new grips will mitigate that to a decent degree.
I am seriously considering getting one of these for a truck gun and so my wife has something to carry as well. It is awesomeness...hands down.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
... at church?!?
Oh yeah, you heard me right... carrying at Church.
You may think that no one is going to bop in to the house of the Lord and start some mischief, to that I would say you couldn't be more wrong.
One just happened on Valentine's day in Virginia. A couple of guys walked in, strolled around a bit and started shooting. Seriously, in church, I shit you not!
So, since most churches don't have sign posted asking you not to, I would say "why not?". Just be discrete about it. The shepherd looks after his flock and it may be you that gives the assist.
You never know.
You may think that no one is going to bop in to the house of the Lord and start some mischief, to that I would say you couldn't be more wrong.
One just happened on Valentine's day in Virginia. A couple of guys walked in, strolled around a bit and started shooting. Seriously, in church, I shit you not!
So, since most churches don't have sign posted asking you not to, I would say "why not?". Just be discrete about it. The shepherd looks after his flock and it may be you that gives the assist.
You never know.
Beretta .25acp
This post really covers all .25 acp firearms out there, but more specifically the Berettas.
First off let me just say that I'm not enamored with the .25. It's little, it's short ranged, blah, blah, blah. Trust me, go to any gun forum on the web and 9 out of 10 people will tell you that the .25 ain't work the metal its made from.
If that is the case...then I would ask (and several people do on those forums) for a volunteer to stand in front of one when its fired. Never any takers on that one, odd isn't it?
Anyway, the ultra-compact, extremely portable and concealable pocket pistols that are chambered in .25 acp are fantastic carry guns.
The Beretta holds 8+1, weighs nothing, and will fit right in your pocket, no worries.
They are cheap to buy, well made, and durable. The accuracy at 7 yards is excellent.
So, as I've said previously, the .25 you carry is better than the howitzer you have at home, so this could be a great option for someone who has a limited carry scenario.
Just give it some thought, ok?
First off let me just say that I'm not enamored with the .25. It's little, it's short ranged, blah, blah, blah. Trust me, go to any gun forum on the web and 9 out of 10 people will tell you that the .25 ain't work the metal its made from.
If that is the case...then I would ask (and several people do on those forums) for a volunteer to stand in front of one when its fired. Never any takers on that one, odd isn't it?
Anyway, the ultra-compact, extremely portable and concealable pocket pistols that are chambered in .25 acp are fantastic carry guns.
The Beretta holds 8+1, weighs nothing, and will fit right in your pocket, no worries.
They are cheap to buy, well made, and durable. The accuracy at 7 yards is excellent.
So, as I've said previously, the .25 you carry is better than the howitzer you have at home, so this could be a great option for someone who has a limited carry scenario.
Just give it some thought, ok?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
.32 acp, the little bullet that could
There's some on going debate, and by on going debate I mean heated vehement arguements about what's the smallest round you should carry for personal defense.
Some say, .25, some say 9mm, some say .50... opinions will vary on this one all day long.
I overlooked one very capable and very cool cartridge the last time I discussed caliber. I overlooked the venerable .32 acp.
While this round will not punch a softball sized hole in another human being at 100 yards, it is effective and it will do the job which is to protect you from another person's life threatening agression.
There are, at last count, 47 bajillion pocket pistols chambered for this round.
Kel-Tec, Beretta, Seacamp, Browning, Charter Arms, etc etc etc.
The practical upshot of this is that you get good, better said, adequate, firepower in a lightweight package. You get a good round count in the magazine, usually 6 or 7 +1 and they are very easily concealed.
The one thing that I will recommend is that if you do carry a .32 pocket pistol, don't carry hollow points with it. What you say?!? You heard me.
The reason I say that is because of the relative light weight and slowish speed of the round, it is possible that one of two things happens. The first is that the bullet expands and stops short of any vital organs, leaving a now hurt and angry attacker who still has energy for more willful action against you... that's bad. The other is the same principle, but it hits thicker clothing and expands inside the clothing and then does only superficial damage to the attacker... again, that's bad.
So, I'd say go with full metal jacket. Also, I would suggest practicing putting two in the chest and one in the head, over and over and over again. I can't confirm that you'll stop an attacker with torso shots alone. However, I DO know that if a man's grey matter is disrupted, they tend to start stopping.
So, the .32 is a viable option for conceal carry, go test a couple out, see what you think.
Some say, .25, some say 9mm, some say .50... opinions will vary on this one all day long.
I overlooked one very capable and very cool cartridge the last time I discussed caliber. I overlooked the venerable .32 acp.
While this round will not punch a softball sized hole in another human being at 100 yards, it is effective and it will do the job which is to protect you from another person's life threatening agression.
There are, at last count, 47 bajillion pocket pistols chambered for this round.
Kel-Tec, Beretta, Seacamp, Browning, Charter Arms, etc etc etc.
The practical upshot of this is that you get good, better said, adequate, firepower in a lightweight package. You get a good round count in the magazine, usually 6 or 7 +1 and they are very easily concealed.
The one thing that I will recommend is that if you do carry a .32 pocket pistol, don't carry hollow points with it. What you say?!? You heard me.
The reason I say that is because of the relative light weight and slowish speed of the round, it is possible that one of two things happens. The first is that the bullet expands and stops short of any vital organs, leaving a now hurt and angry attacker who still has energy for more willful action against you... that's bad. The other is the same principle, but it hits thicker clothing and expands inside the clothing and then does only superficial damage to the attacker... again, that's bad.
So, I'd say go with full metal jacket. Also, I would suggest practicing putting two in the chest and one in the head, over and over and over again. I can't confirm that you'll stop an attacker with torso shots alone. However, I DO know that if a man's grey matter is disrupted, they tend to start stopping.
So, the .32 is a viable option for conceal carry, go test a couple out, see what you think.
You become a different person
And this post is a nod to my man Nutnfancy, of the Nutnfancy project on You Tube.
He made mention in one of his videos that you become a different person when you carry, you aren't the person you once were.
And you know what, he's absolutely right.
Once you have your CCW and you are actively carrying in public, you have to become a cooler, more docile, more aware person.
If you can de-escalate a situation, you have to. If you can walk/run away, do it. You can't go bucking up for a fight. You have to be cool.
Remember, the law gives you the right to carry a concealed weapon, however, that law does NOT absolve you from responsibility if and when you need to use that weapon.
If you are the agressor in a confrontation and you end up using your gun, guess what... you're going to jail for manslaughter or murder. And, personally, I think you deserve to. You broke the law and you abused your right to carry.
You make the rest of us look bad. You make people who carry guns look like whackos. Don't do that, don't be a tool, don't be an ass. Be cool, groovy, and all around relaxed.
Keep that in mind and y'all be safe out there.
He made mention in one of his videos that you become a different person when you carry, you aren't the person you once were.
And you know what, he's absolutely right.
Once you have your CCW and you are actively carrying in public, you have to become a cooler, more docile, more aware person.
If you can de-escalate a situation, you have to. If you can walk/run away, do it. You can't go bucking up for a fight. You have to be cool.
Remember, the law gives you the right to carry a concealed weapon, however, that law does NOT absolve you from responsibility if and when you need to use that weapon.
If you are the agressor in a confrontation and you end up using your gun, guess what... you're going to jail for manslaughter or murder. And, personally, I think you deserve to. You broke the law and you abused your right to carry.
You make the rest of us look bad. You make people who carry guns look like whackos. Don't do that, don't be a tool, don't be an ass. Be cool, groovy, and all around relaxed.
Keep that in mind and y'all be safe out there.
Ladies...carry, please
Contrary to popular opinion and even contrary to my own, very personal, feelings on things, women should definitely get licensed and carry a firearm.
It isn't that I don't think that women should be armed or that women can't shoot, blah, blah, blah. It is the naive and very hopeful belief that if something ever does happen that I'll be there with my wife and that I'll be able to take care of the problem or be the sacrificial lamb so that the wife can haul boogie out of there.
Yeah, I know, it's campy, it's a little outdated, but that's how I'd rather it happened if, God forbid, it ever does have to happen.
Baring that... a woman should most definitely carry a firearm with her, period.
There are a couple of reasons behind this:
1. Women are considered "easy targets" by wouldbe attackers.
2. Women are, by and large, not as physically strong as men
3. NO ONE would expect a woman to be carrying and therefore, if something bad happened, you'd be ignored and thereby given a little extra time to draw your weapon and stop said bad guy.
Your carry options are about the same as a guy with the exception (in my mind) of the shoulder holster.
I would NOT, and by NOT, I mean FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS CUTE AND FLUFFY DON'T, carry in your purse. It's the first thing a bad guy is going to grab and take and run, or grab and throw to the side. So, it's a bad place to stash your weapon.
Just my two cents.
It isn't that I don't think that women should be armed or that women can't shoot, blah, blah, blah. It is the naive and very hopeful belief that if something ever does happen that I'll be there with my wife and that I'll be able to take care of the problem or be the sacrificial lamb so that the wife can haul boogie out of there.
Yeah, I know, it's campy, it's a little outdated, but that's how I'd rather it happened if, God forbid, it ever does have to happen.
Baring that... a woman should most definitely carry a firearm with her, period.
There are a couple of reasons behind this:
1. Women are considered "easy targets" by wouldbe attackers.
2. Women are, by and large, not as physically strong as men
3. NO ONE would expect a woman to be carrying and therefore, if something bad happened, you'd be ignored and thereby given a little extra time to draw your weapon and stop said bad guy.
Your carry options are about the same as a guy with the exception (in my mind) of the shoulder holster.
I would NOT, and by NOT, I mean FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS CUTE AND FLUFFY DON'T, carry in your purse. It's the first thing a bad guy is going to grab and take and run, or grab and throw to the side. So, it's a bad place to stash your weapon.
Just my two cents.
N8(2) Tactical Holster
I just had a chance over the weekend to try out the N82 (pronounced "Nate Squared", the owners are both named Nate) Tactical holster.
Its an IWB holster made in 4 sizes, from Full size down to pocket pistol in a "One size fits most" configuration.
The backing that sits against the body is suade with a think neoprene filler and the weapon is held in place by think elastic/spandex. It clips on the the belt or waistband of your pants.
Let me tell you, it's comfortable! It isn't heavy and because it's textile as opposed to leather it moves where you move and doesn't poke or have sharp edges.
I will also have to say it fits a large varietty of pistols! I tested a SWE40, full size, a Bersa Mini-40, compact, and a Kel-Tec P11, Sub-compact, and they all fit in this holster with great retention.
I was a little concerned about reholstering, but even with this being a textile the reholstering was a cinch!
I am very impressed with this holster. I used it in the small of my back and it was easy to put on, easy to take off, easy to draw and easy to reholster and comfortable... Is there anything else, really, that one needs?
N82 Tactical has a website and their prices can't be beat. I think its about $40.00 per holster, which as anyone can tell you, is a good price for a quality holster.
I will add the disclaimer that they are local and I like to lend my support to local vendors, but at the same time a good product is a good product, and this one really is.
My one caveat would be that this system lends itself better to compact and below in size, but that could be because I'm not a fan of carrying a full sized pistol... again your mileage may vary.
Look them up, give them a try, I think they are great!
Its an IWB holster made in 4 sizes, from Full size down to pocket pistol in a "One size fits most" configuration.
The backing that sits against the body is suade with a think neoprene filler and the weapon is held in place by think elastic/spandex. It clips on the the belt or waistband of your pants.
Let me tell you, it's comfortable! It isn't heavy and because it's textile as opposed to leather it moves where you move and doesn't poke or have sharp edges.
I will also have to say it fits a large varietty of pistols! I tested a SWE40, full size, a Bersa Mini-40, compact, and a Kel-Tec P11, Sub-compact, and they all fit in this holster with great retention.
I was a little concerned about reholstering, but even with this being a textile the reholstering was a cinch!
I am very impressed with this holster. I used it in the small of my back and it was easy to put on, easy to take off, easy to draw and easy to reholster and comfortable... Is there anything else, really, that one needs?
N82 Tactical has a website and their prices can't be beat. I think its about $40.00 per holster, which as anyone can tell you, is a good price for a quality holster.
I will add the disclaimer that they are local and I like to lend my support to local vendors, but at the same time a good product is a good product, and this one really is.
My one caveat would be that this system lends itself better to compact and below in size, but that could be because I'm not a fan of carrying a full sized pistol... again your mileage may vary.
Look them up, give them a try, I think they are great!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Why we fight.
I just realized that I've spoken alot about how to conceal, what to conceal and why to carry, but I haven't really mentioned something that I believe is even more crucial then all of this; why we fight. Not why we carry a concealed weapon, but why we choose to fight.
We could simply not carry anything, right? Then, when faced with an aggressive force, we could submit and that would be that. Yes, we could do that. It is certainly safer and causes less headaches.
However, I have a huge problem with that. Not because I'm some macho dude who "doesn't take crap off anyone". That's exactly the WRONG reason to carry a weapon. I have a huge problem with it because it is my right to walk on this earth unencumbered by others. I should be able to walk from my house to Iowa, if I wanted to, and never be harmed by another human being. I give them respect I should get the same.
That being said, there are people in this country that want to hurt people, that want to take what you have instead of work for it. There are sick people, who can't get any better, who think that pain is fun and hurting and stealing is a way to gain power and respect.
Yeah, here's what I have to say to those people: Fuck you.
You want to run up in a 7-11 with a shotgun and rob and terrify the poor dude or woman working the counter at 2:00 in the morning because YOU can't be bothered to get a job? Fuck you.
You want to gang up on a weaker kid because he likes to wear suspenders and jack boots and listen to weird music, then beat him to death for being different? Fuck you.
You want to violate a woman in the single most hideous fashion imaginable? Fuck you.
We, the American people, are sick and tired of the bullshit.
If you are one of those people I want to introduce you to the silent minority of people out there that will straight up shoot you dead for that bullshit.
Bad guys, you've been warned. You are on notice. Stop what you are doing or you may end up on the wrong end of a gun carried by a law abiding and otherwise patient and kind civilian who will put a stop to your crap, permanently.
That's why we fight. Not for the adrenaline rush, not because its cool to carry a gun, but because we believe in protecting something greater than ourselves.
...thus endth the sermon.
We could simply not carry anything, right? Then, when faced with an aggressive force, we could submit and that would be that. Yes, we could do that. It is certainly safer and causes less headaches.
However, I have a huge problem with that. Not because I'm some macho dude who "doesn't take crap off anyone". That's exactly the WRONG reason to carry a weapon. I have a huge problem with it because it is my right to walk on this earth unencumbered by others. I should be able to walk from my house to Iowa, if I wanted to, and never be harmed by another human being. I give them respect I should get the same.
That being said, there are people in this country that want to hurt people, that want to take what you have instead of work for it. There are sick people, who can't get any better, who think that pain is fun and hurting and stealing is a way to gain power and respect.
Yeah, here's what I have to say to those people: Fuck you.
You want to run up in a 7-11 with a shotgun and rob and terrify the poor dude or woman working the counter at 2:00 in the morning because YOU can't be bothered to get a job? Fuck you.
You want to gang up on a weaker kid because he likes to wear suspenders and jack boots and listen to weird music, then beat him to death for being different? Fuck you.
You want to violate a woman in the single most hideous fashion imaginable? Fuck you.
We, the American people, are sick and tired of the bullshit.
If you are one of those people I want to introduce you to the silent minority of people out there that will straight up shoot you dead for that bullshit.
Bad guys, you've been warned. You are on notice. Stop what you are doing or you may end up on the wrong end of a gun carried by a law abiding and otherwise patient and kind civilian who will put a stop to your crap, permanently.
That's why we fight. Not for the adrenaline rush, not because its cool to carry a gun, but because we believe in protecting something greater than ourselves.
...thus endth the sermon.
Carry positions, the ups and downs...part 4
Still following our basic criterion for review:
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
Alright, the newest (so far as I know) concealment item out there is the concealment t-shirt. To explain this isn't really easy, but I'll try.
Imagine a standard undershirt, made of rather elastic (but not suffocatingly tight) material with a sling/pouch under the left arm for your weapon to slip in to. See what I mean? Just awkward to describe.
However, back to the talking points...
The comfort, assuming you purchased the right size and aren't being squeezed to death is pretty good from what I've heard. The weight of your firearm is spread out over the entirety of your left side shoulder and arm and to some extent the scapula and mid back.
The concealability is terrific. All you need is a shirt over the concealment shirt and you're golden. Since the gun lays under your arm, more spefically between your arm and ribs, it won't show unless you're making some wild gesticulations.
Now, the speed of draw is where this one falls short, I believe. To access your weapon you have to unbutton your shirt or reach under it, get some sort of grip on the weapon (and sweep your body as you draw) then draw. It isn't fast and it's pretty obvious what you're doing and you may get jumped in the interim.
Just a consideration
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
Alright, the newest (so far as I know) concealment item out there is the concealment t-shirt. To explain this isn't really easy, but I'll try.
Imagine a standard undershirt, made of rather elastic (but not suffocatingly tight) material with a sling/pouch under the left arm for your weapon to slip in to. See what I mean? Just awkward to describe.
However, back to the talking points...
The comfort, assuming you purchased the right size and aren't being squeezed to death is pretty good from what I've heard. The weight of your firearm is spread out over the entirety of your left side shoulder and arm and to some extent the scapula and mid back.
The concealability is terrific. All you need is a shirt over the concealment shirt and you're golden. Since the gun lays under your arm, more spefically between your arm and ribs, it won't show unless you're making some wild gesticulations.
Now, the speed of draw is where this one falls short, I believe. To access your weapon you have to unbutton your shirt or reach under it, get some sort of grip on the weapon (and sweep your body as you draw) then draw. It isn't fast and it's pretty obvious what you're doing and you may get jumped in the interim.
Just a consideration
Friday, March 19, 2010
Carry positions, the ups and downs... 3
Still following our basic criterion for review:
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
The Belly Band
You may be unfamiliar with this type of carry rig. Not to detract from those people who like them nor those that manufacture them, but it is, in fact, a girdle with a pocket in it for a gun and an extra magazine. It wraps around your lower torso and affixes with velcro.
All anecdotes point to the fact that this is a comfortable carry rig. I would think the only stipulation is that you wear an undershirt or it would rub something awful against you. I would also think that it would be very warm in the summer and a breathable material would be a must.
the concealability is very good. You'd never know the other guy was carrying unless you bumped in to him and actually hit his gun. It is very good in this aspect.
Your clothing options are limitless, really. Since this goes under the outter shirt, so long as you're buttoned up, you're good to go!
Ease of access is HORRIBLE! It is a super slow draw. However, if this is the only comfortable way you can carry, then go for it! The only slower draw would be a small gun from a overstuffed purse where you would need to really search for your weapon.
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
The Belly Band
You may be unfamiliar with this type of carry rig. Not to detract from those people who like them nor those that manufacture them, but it is, in fact, a girdle with a pocket in it for a gun and an extra magazine. It wraps around your lower torso and affixes with velcro.
All anecdotes point to the fact that this is a comfortable carry rig. I would think the only stipulation is that you wear an undershirt or it would rub something awful against you. I would also think that it would be very warm in the summer and a breathable material would be a must.
the concealability is very good. You'd never know the other guy was carrying unless you bumped in to him and actually hit his gun. It is very good in this aspect.
Your clothing options are limitless, really. Since this goes under the outter shirt, so long as you're buttoned up, you're good to go!
Ease of access is HORRIBLE! It is a super slow draw. However, if this is the only comfortable way you can carry, then go for it! The only slower draw would be a small gun from a overstuffed purse where you would need to really search for your weapon.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Carry positions, the ups and downs... 2
Still following our basic criterion for review:
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
Shoulder Holsters
The comfort of the shoulder holster is, again, a point of personal preference.
However, considering that you have a weight dispersal strap that covers both shoulders you can heft a pretty sizeable gun without discomfort. Just keep in mind that you may be banging in to this thing with your elbow and upper arm all day.
The concealability is pretty good, all in all. Standard movements are still easily performed without worrying about printing because the gun rests under your arm.
Mode of dress is pretty simple, wear an outer shirt and you're good. It can be tucked in, untucked, open, or buttoned up. It doesn't really matter.
However, all of that ease of use comes with one huge draw back. You can't get to the weapon quickly. The positioning of the holster means that you have to draw across your body after you've swept away any clothing that was in the way or unbuttoned or untucked or lifted up whatever shirt or jacket you were wearing. Also the draw forces you to sweep a part of your body with the barrel of your firearm.
Most people are going to say that isn't a problem because they are safe in their draw. While that may be true, in a moment of panic you could very well startle yourself in to putting a whole in your arm or someone in the 90 degree arc that you have to cover in order to get in to a forward facing grip.
It just isn't as safe and as quick as I would like. You can pack a full sized service pistol in a shoulder holster, but a reasonably savvy bad guy will be all over you by the time you've been able to present your firearm.
Remember, you've got 1.5 seconds.
Ankle Holsters
The comfort of these is pretty good. So long as you have a reasonably weighted firearm, Kel Tec, Beretta Tomcat, so on and so on. Remember, this thing is going to rest against your ankle and, depending on the model, have a calf retention strap further up the leg. After a while, it can get itchy, uncomfortable or warm.
Concealability is good. Most people don't look at people's ankles, they especially don't notice a bulge around the ankle, so a good flat or small framed firearm will be well hidden there.
Clothing options are almost limitless...aside from the fact that you can't wear shorts... I hope that much was obvious. Also you have to be careful about tight jeans or tight pants. Not only could they emphasize the bulge you're carrying, they can also really impede your draw.
Speaking of which... the ankle holster is the one of the more cumbersome holsters to draw from. Remember you have to bend down, reach down, move your pant leg, draw the weapom, aim, and shoot. That's a lot. And if you've never shot from a one knee position, you could have some trouble.
All in all though, the ankle holster is a great option for when you're traveling in your car. More often than not a potential bad guy isn't going to notice you going for the draw since you can move your leg and not your whole body from a sitting position.
Up next... the belly band and concealment shirts!
1. Comfort
2. Concealability
3. Mode of dress
4. Speed of access
Shoulder Holsters
The comfort of the shoulder holster is, again, a point of personal preference.
However, considering that you have a weight dispersal strap that covers both shoulders you can heft a pretty sizeable gun without discomfort. Just keep in mind that you may be banging in to this thing with your elbow and upper arm all day.
The concealability is pretty good, all in all. Standard movements are still easily performed without worrying about printing because the gun rests under your arm.
Mode of dress is pretty simple, wear an outer shirt and you're good. It can be tucked in, untucked, open, or buttoned up. It doesn't really matter.
However, all of that ease of use comes with one huge draw back. You can't get to the weapon quickly. The positioning of the holster means that you have to draw across your body after you've swept away any clothing that was in the way or unbuttoned or untucked or lifted up whatever shirt or jacket you were wearing. Also the draw forces you to sweep a part of your body with the barrel of your firearm.
Most people are going to say that isn't a problem because they are safe in their draw. While that may be true, in a moment of panic you could very well startle yourself in to putting a whole in your arm or someone in the 90 degree arc that you have to cover in order to get in to a forward facing grip.
It just isn't as safe and as quick as I would like. You can pack a full sized service pistol in a shoulder holster, but a reasonably savvy bad guy will be all over you by the time you've been able to present your firearm.
Remember, you've got 1.5 seconds.
Ankle Holsters
The comfort of these is pretty good. So long as you have a reasonably weighted firearm, Kel Tec, Beretta Tomcat, so on and so on. Remember, this thing is going to rest against your ankle and, depending on the model, have a calf retention strap further up the leg. After a while, it can get itchy, uncomfortable or warm.
Concealability is good. Most people don't look at people's ankles, they especially don't notice a bulge around the ankle, so a good flat or small framed firearm will be well hidden there.
Clothing options are almost limitless...aside from the fact that you can't wear shorts... I hope that much was obvious. Also you have to be careful about tight jeans or tight pants. Not only could they emphasize the bulge you're carrying, they can also really impede your draw.
Speaking of which... the ankle holster is the one of the more cumbersome holsters to draw from. Remember you have to bend down, reach down, move your pant leg, draw the weapom, aim, and shoot. That's a lot. And if you've never shot from a one knee position, you could have some trouble.
All in all though, the ankle holster is a great option for when you're traveling in your car. More often than not a potential bad guy isn't going to notice you going for the draw since you can move your leg and not your whole body from a sitting position.
Up next... the belly band and concealment shirts!
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