Sprigfield XD 45 - Something for everyone!

I have just purchased and will be and am coddling, oogling, and carrying the Springfield XD in 45 acp.

Everything in the first sentence is true...what?

Whether or not you you were aware there is a struggle for first place in the CCW manufacturing world.  The top contenders are Glock, S&W, and Springfield XD.  Any one of those three would make an excellent choice for a concealed carry weapon.  However, after trying all 3, I'm giving my vote and my money to Springfield.

Let's go through this step by step, but first... a little show and tell.

Ain't she pretty?

Ok, back to the review:

Function:  This is a striker fired pistol, so no exposed hammer.  It's also single action only, meaning you have to manually feed a round in to the chamber, after that it's rock and roll.

Ergonomics:  This is a personal thing, since no one has the same sized hands.  But, for me, this puppy fits just right.  Plenty of room on the grip, the grip length is right where I want it.  It fits really well.  Now, XD's have these optional backstraps, but this one didn't come with any (I got it used) however, it fits as it should for me as it, so no worries there.  The grip is 1911 style, meaning it's a little raked, which is great.  The gun isn't heavy or, better said, it doesn't feel heavy in your hand, solid, yes, but not burdensome.  It's slab-like much akin to the Glock series of pistols, but I think it feels slimmer than the glock does, probably because of the backstrap.

Firepower:  Holds 10 rounds of 45acp ammunition and one in the chamber, so that's 11 rounds of bad-assness in a pistol frame that's easily (for me) concealable.  You can't go wrong with that.  A Glock 26 which is just as thick in the frame and thicker in the grip (not to mention shorter) and holds 10 + 1 in 9mm.  So, the XD stacks up favorably.

Reliability:  It's a shooter.  Will it last 100,000 rounds like a Glock will...doubt it, I'm not saying it wouldn't, I'm just saying I doubt anything can outlast a Glock.  However, I ran 50 rounds through the XD and it handled them flawlessly.

Accuracy: Extremely accurate.  at 6 yards (remember, realistic training distances people) I put 35 out of 50 in a fist sized hole in the target, I took some head shots and connected and had some flyers as well, all of which were me, not the XD.  I was a little to the left, but I think that's just me adjusting to the gun.  I'll get it back to center.

Recoil: Due to it's weight and size, and the Chevrolet 2500 HD Diesel sized recoil spring, it's not a beast to shoot at all.  I was quite pleased with it's smooth action and almost non-existent recoil.  Now, I was mentally comparing that to my PF9 which slaps your hand around some, so keep that in mind.  Also, I was initially concerned that the bore axis being about the webbing in the thumb would cause some flip and rise, but it didn't... well done XD, well done.

Concealability:  Believe it or not, as big as this gun is (I would say it's a full-size, and some would say compact) it carries really easily, I can't complain in the slightest.  Now, again, you have to consider my personal dimensions, I'm a big guy, I can carry larger guns.  But I think with the right holster, one should be alright.

In conclusion, I think you'll find that the XD 45 fills multiple roles and does it well.  It's a range gun to be sure, it's a home defense gun extraordinaire, and it's a pretty good CCW tool as well.  All in all, you can't go wrong.  I was lucky and got mine used, but even new they are right in line with Glock and a little cheaper than the M&P.

Stay Safe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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:

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.

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.

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.

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?

.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.

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!

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

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!