Idaho Concealed Carry is tops with customers at Center Target Sports. And the gun shop/range’s most popular handgun from earlier this year is among one of the newest on the market.
The Glock 42 has been moving like hotcakes, with the .380 Auto selling for $449.
Recently, the store got in 16 of the Glocks and sold all of them in under two days!
Owner Ed Santos also pointed to Crimson Trace laser grips as another hot item. Santos estimates that 40 percent of the new carry guns he sells leave the store with a laser grip. Night sights for carry handguns are moving well, too.
“CCW holders are buying higher-quality retention holsters,” Santos notes. “We are finally getting away from the cheaper, less-secure alternatives and people are now spending $75 to $100 on a CCW holster.”
Editor’s Note: This brief originally appeared in the May 15, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
When you make the decision to carry a firearm for self-defense it’s a good idea to have a solid foundation in the fundamentals. In this video Matt Jacques walks you through all the fundamentals of everyday carry in a step by step approach. Matt is a retired police officer and a Marine Corps veteran. He served with two Virginia law enforcement agencies as well as a Special Deputy of the U. S. Marshal Capital Area Fugitive Task Force for the Washington D.C area. Today Matt trains both law enforcement personnel and civilians under his company, Victory First.
The Salvo 12 suppressor review: a look at a game-changing tool in the world of shotgunning.
I heard the thwack-thwack-thwack! as I approached the firing line, and for all the world it sounded like a loud pellet rifle. But when I got to the line I realized the “thwacks” were from 12-gauge shotguns equipped with SilencerCo’s new Salvo 12 shotgun suppressor.
Shotguns outfitted with the four different sizes of the Salvo 12.
And these weren’t subsonic 12-gauge loads being shot, either, but Federal Top Gun 2¾-inch field loads with 11⁄8 ounce loads of 71⁄2 shot.
Amazing, I thought to myself.
I was at the new product introduction of the Salvo 12 in July this year, held just outside of Salt Lake City and hosted by SilencerCo. The suppressor manufacturer had invited about three dozen people to the event—media, retailers and distributors—to observe and use their newest product. And my early impression was: it works and could be a game changer, especially for shotgun hunters.
The Salvo 12 has a different look to it. Most suppressors I’ve used are round and slim. Not the Salvo 12, which is long and rectangular. I assumed it would be really awkward to use, especially at the end of a swinging shotgun barrel.
Instead I found the balance point pretty quickly on the Salvo-equipped Benelli Model M2 12-gauge. I missed my first three clay pigeons, but began making hits as I got used to this rig.
What took me more time was figuring out how to truly aim a shotgun with a Salvo 12 attached to the end of the barrel.
The Salvo 12 comes in four lengths, from 6.42 inches long to just a bit over 12 inches, and weighs from 21 ounces at the smallest size up to 34.5 ounces. I used the 12-inch model on two different shotguns, the Benelli and, later, a Mossberg. But something about that extra 12 inches protruding from the end of the barrel had me aiming and looking above and beyond my targets.
“You’re shooting over,” said Darren Jones, of SilencerCo’s marketing department and the range officer at my shooting position. “Bring it down, man!”
Once I did that and got used to dropping my aim point, the pigeons started breaking with some regularity. Other shooters, I noticed, knocked down more clays as they went through the firing line multiple times, many dusting off six and seven pigeons in a row by their third session.
The Salvo 12 connects to a shotgun via the choke tube device, which threads into the end of the barrel. Screw in the connector, and then attach the Salvo 12 to the end of that connector. Connecters will be offered in a variety of choke tube sizes, including an extra tight choke for turkey hunters.
The suppressor is is a modular design of rods and baffles and can be taken apart. So a lot of people are simply going to buy the 12-inch model, along with a kit that has different sized rods, and will adjust the size to fit their particular shotgun or hunting or shooting situation. The rod kit will likely sell in the ballpark of $50 to $70.
The Salvo 12 attaches to the barrel with a choke tube connector. Author Photos
Recoil was greatly reduced with the Salvo 12, too, by about 25 percent was my estimate with the 12-inch model. Of the four sizes, the largest three models of the Salvo 12 muffle the sound, measured at the ear, to below 140 decibels—over 140 decibels and the human ear can sustain damage.
The smallest Salvo 12, though, the 6-inch model, is rated at 149.2 decibels at the muzzle, 140.6 decibels at the ear. So shooters using this version will still want to use hearing protection.
The Salvo 12 is designed for use with shotgun slugs, as well as all wadded shotshell loads, and has been tested extensively on a wide variety of slugs. However, not all new slug gun barrels have choke tube-style threading. SilencerCo is working with shotgun makers and its own design crew to come up with various options for attaching the Salvo 12 to slug barrels, smoothbore and rifled.
While at the new product intro, I didn’t get a chance to use the Salvo 12 with shotgun slugs, but I will this fall on a slug gun hunt for deer and wild hogs.
For hunters, the Salvo 12 promises to let us shoot without ear plugs or bulky muffs, communicate with other hunters and hear the game as it is approaching. For volume shotgun shooters, the reduced recoil can only help our shoulders.
All of this does come with a cost, however. The current price is $1,400, though actual in-store prices remain to be seen when the Salvo 12 gets to stores in fall 2014.
Salvo 12 Shotgun Suppressor All models Width 2.21 in. Height 2.96 in. Attaches via threaded connector, included. Weight (with connector) 6-inch 21 oz. 8-inch 25.5 oz. 10-inch 30 oz. 12-inch 34.5 oz. Decibel (dB) level, at ear 6-inch 140.6 dB 8-inch 137 dB 10-inch 134.1 dB 12-inch 132 dB MSRP $1,400 Website silencerco.com
ArmaLite’s new family of AR rifles, the affordable Defensive Sporting Rifle series.
Looking for a AR-style rifle with all the bells and whistles? ArmaLite might have what you’re after with its Defensive Sporting Rifle line.
ArmaLite has always seemed to price its rifles competitively. And it’s a trait the company doesn’t appear ready to jettison anytime soon.
The Illinois manufacturer (subsidiary of Strategic Armory Corps) has introduced a new line of AR-style rifles that has made affordability one of its top features. ArmaLite’s new Defensive Sporting Rifle series adds three new firearms to the company’s catalog, all coming in below the $1,000 mark.
The DSR series includes two AR-15 variants, the DEF15 and DEF 15F, both chambered 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington. And it includes a new AR-10, the DEF10, chambered 7.62 NATO/.308 Winchester.
The new AR-15 models have MSRPs of $699, while the AR-10 comes in at $999. Given a few more bucks will be shaved off by the time these rifles hit the shelves, they should move like hotcakes.
This might especially hold true for the DEF10, considering AR-10s, for the most part, well exceed the $1,000 mark brand new.
Overall, ArmaLite doesn’t appear to have skimped on most features to save money on its new line. All three rifles, however, are flattops, which means shooters will have to outfit them with their own sights or optics.
On the DEF 15F, however, this only means the addition of a rear sight, as the rifle comes outfitted with a standard height fixed front sight. This is, incidentally, the only difference between it and the DEF15.
Tacking on sights and optics should be a snap, given each rifle has a MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny Rail on its upper receiver. The DEF15 and DEF10 also have Picatinny Rails integral with their gas blocks.
The direct-impingement rifles each have 16-inch barrels, double lapped and chrome lined to extend their lifespans. The DEF15 and 15F each have 1:7-inch twist rates, which ArmaLite pegs as ideal for 69- to 80-grain ammunition; the DEF10 has a 1:11.25-inch twist rate, which the company said works well with 150- to 175-grain ammo – 168-grain being the best.
ArmaLite’s Defensive Sporting Rifle series includes an larger-caliber AR-10 option – the DEF10.
The receivers are made of 7075-T6 forged aluminum, helping to keep each rifle a manageable weight. The DEF15 and 15F each come in at 6.35 pounds, while the DEF10 weighs 7.9.
Each of the Defensive Sporting Rifles boast a M4-style collapsible buttstock. This feature gives the DEF15 and 15F variable overall lengths of 32 to 35.25 inches and the DEF10 35 to 38.3.
The line of rifles have a number of features typically left off other affordable lines, including a forward assist, dust cover and brass deflector.
Each of the rifles is sold with a Magpul PMAG, a 20-round version on the DEF10 and a 30-round one on the 15 and 15F. The firearms all, also, are outfitted with flash suppressors and single-stage triggers.
When you’re competitive, it’s easy to let equipment empty your wallet. Shooting sports are no different.
When it comes to 3-gun competitions and the like, however, it appears Colt has a rifle that performs and pinches pennies in the same breath. Or at least that’s Anette Wachter’s (30CalGal) verdict on the CSR-1516 in the above video.
Wachter should know a thing or two about competitive-grade firearms, given she is part of U.S. National Rifle Team, in addition to being a tactical-rifle and 3-gun competitor.
Right off, Wachter admits she had her doubts about the rifle that is until she got it out of the box. From there, the competitive shooter found the CRS-1516 exceeded all expectations – right down to shooting MOA on her first three shots.
One of the big pluses Wachter touts in the video is the price of a rifle. At less than $1,000 (it’s listed with a MSRP of $990 on Colt’s website) the rifle is within the range of most shooters and seems to be a value.
Some of the savings is achieved by the 1516 being fairly spartan when it comes to features. It does not have a dust cover or forward assist, which might cost it a fan here or there. But what it lacks in a few of the perks, it appears to make up for in performance.
Watcher’s take, the lightness, managable recoil and snappy trigger make it a fine choice – pegging it as a workhorse AR-style rifle. For someone aiming to protect their home and loved ones or is interested in jumping into competitive shooting the CSR-1516 might be an option.
True stories of everyday armed citizens taking action to defend themselves and others.
A 63-year-old grandmother from Prichard, Ala., used her 9mm handgun to protect herself and her granddaughter during a home invasion. Phyllis Law’s home had been broken into previously so she was ready when she recently heard a door being broken apart. She gave the burglar a chance to retreat, but the man kept coming closer and Prichard fired several times, killing the home invader. Police arrested a second suspect, too, according to FOX10News.
Hearing a commotion downstairs, a New London, Conn., homeowner grabbed his handgun and discovered a teenaged burglar armed with a knife and loaded handgun. But at the sight of the armed homeowner, the Hartford Courant reported, “The juvenile immediately dropped his gun and complied with the resident’s orders to remain still until police arrived.” Police charged the young burglar with a number of offenses, including assault with a firearm and first-degree threatening with a weapon.
A homeowner in Jackson, Miss., recently opened fire on two intruders, killing one and wounding the other, after the pair staged a 2 a.m. break-in. “You’re entitled to have a weapon in your home and certainly you’re entitled to defend yourself and your home,” Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance told WAPT.com. “The deceased suffered the consequences that come sometimes when you break into somebody’s house.”
Lisa Atkin, of Junction City, Ore., was home sick from work when she heard the noise of an apparent break-in. She retrieved her handgun from the nightstand and found that a young man had forced his way into her home. She held the burglar at gun point until police arrived. “We’ve been through the Oregon Firearms Academy courses, so we were trained to deal with these kinds of situations,” Atkin told KEZI.com News.
Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact has all the features of the popular line, squeezed into a petite package.
The new Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact looks to have all the features of the popular line, but in .22LR – an ideal training pistol or small game getter.
Yeah, .22-caliber ammunition has been in short supply. But a guy can dream can’t he?
If he did have such flights of fancy, his mind just might wander off and trip over Smith & Wesson’s newest rimfire pistol. The Massachusetts manufacturer recently expanded its flagship line of semiautomatics to include what looks to be a sweet little .22.
The M&P22 Compact boasts the features that have made the tactical/sporting line one of the most popular in the world of polymer pistols. Only, it comes in a package Smith & Wesson pegs at 15-percent smaller than its M&P 9 and 40.
Much of this size reduction is seen in the .22 long-rifle pistol’s weight. Tipping the scales at just under one pound (15.3 ounces), it is nearly 10-ounces lighter than its larger-caliber cousins.
A good deal of the extra weight looks to have been trimmed by the incorporation of an aluminum slide. While the metal wouldn’t be the top choice for a larger caliber, it should function soundly with the lighter recoil of a .22.
The dimensions of the new pistol are very similar to the M&P 9 and 40 Compacts, just a hair smaller in overall length. Some of the idea behind keeping the .22 and its big sibling in the same ballpark in measurements is to give shooters a cheaper firearm to practice with – when there’s ammo to be had – and a larger one to carry for self defense.
Smith & Wesson has also aimed at giving shooters a leg up on the slim picking when it comes to rimfire ammunition. The company is offering 222 rounds of Winchester .22LR ammunition until December 2014 with each purchase of the M&P22 Compact.
The .22 pistol comes with two 10-round magazines and has a 10+1 capacity. It has the potential to win the hearts of lefties and righties, being fully ambidextrous. In this regard, it has a reversible magazine catch and ambidextrous thumb safety.
The pistol is a straight blow-back action with an internal hammer, and has a fixed barrel – which should help it shoot tight groups. And Smith & Wesson has followed the silencer trend by cutting the 3.56-inch, carbon-steel barrel with a 3/8-inchx24 thread, making the pistol suppressor ready.
The handgun is outfitted with a white-dot front sight and two-dot rear. The rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation.
The pistol has a front Picatinny rail under the barrel for swift accessory attachment. It has the same aggressive rear cocking serrations as the rest of the M&P line, as well as similar grip ergonomics and texture.
The pistol appears to be a fairly affordable option with its MSRP $389.
Whether as a wildcat or factory cartridge, there has always been something mystifying about the high-velocity .22-250.
There is some considerable confusion as to when this popular varmint cartridge was developed, and who developed it.
Its name comes from the fact that it uses a .22 caliber bullet, and the parent case is the .250 Savage. The parent case came out in about 1915, so it was sometime after that.
The names associated with the cartridges development most often include Harvey Donaldson, Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E. Gebby and J. B. Smith. Considerable development work went on in the mid-1930s.
At least one version was called the .22 Varminter, and others, the .22-250. Wotkyns is generally credited with developing the forerunner to the .220 Swift, although Winchester chose to use the 6mm Lee Navy case, rather than the .250 Savage. Author, gunsmith and consummate handloader, Phil Sharpe, was an early fan of the .22-250.
For many years the cartridge languished as a popular wildcat, until Browning announced in 1963 that they were adding the chambering to their rifle line.
My old pal, mentor, and good friend, John T. Amber, wrote in the 1964 issue of Gun Digest, the following: “Browning did an unprecedented thing this year—they added a caliber to their High Power rifle line, the Wildcat 22-250, for which no commercial ammunition is available! As far as I know, this is the first time a first line arms maker has offered a rifle chambered for a cartridge which he—or some other production ammunition maker—cannot supply.”
Ever since the .22-250 has gone from wildcat to factory cartridge, varmints have been shaking in their boots.
The cartridge also has, in a way, a powder named for it. H-380 was an unnamed spherical rife propellent when the late Bruce Hodgdon first used it. When a 38.0 grain charge behind a 52 grain bullet gave one hole groups from his 22 caliber wildcat (now called the .22-250), he appropriately named the powder H380.
I’ve also heard that the velocity delivered with that load, around 3800 fps, played a role in the decision though that may also be just so much fluff.
I have owned at least a couple rifles so chambered for many years now. When I tire of one and get rid of it for something, at the time anyway, that’s more spectacular, I end up down the road always picking up another.
I currently have two, a heavy varminter from Savage that has had a few custom touches added to it (another stock for one thing) and a Mark VII medium weight varminter from E.R. Shaw. Both are superbly accurate.
I don’t do a lot of varmint shooting here in southeastern Arizona, but when I do go out, one or the other of these two rifles goes with me.
Typically, gun auctions muster up images of firearms with a patina and of historical vintage.
Earlier this year, however, it was much more recent guns that drew top bids at an event.
At an KIKO Auctions, bidders made it plain they wanted AR and military-style rifles and pushed up the prices accordingly.
According to KIKO firearms expert John Slagle, the auction house recently sold a Heckler & Koch model 91 Rifle for $1,900; a pair of Springfield Armory M1A rifles, one for $1,700 the other at $1,500; a Bushmaster XM15 for $1,125 and a DPMS LR 308 for a cool $1,000.
Huh, and the AR buying frenzy was suppose to have been over in 2014.
“They were used rifles, all in very good condition,” Slagle said. “And we were a little surprised at how the bidders kept going at it.”
Self-defense handguns were sought after, too, especially Glocks and SIG Sauer models.
A Kimber Ultra Carry lightweight 1911 in .45 ACP recently commanded $825, a difference of less than $200 from the new-in-store price.
Editor’s Note: This brief originally appeared in the January 27, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The Ruger LCR, now chambered in the ever-popular 9mm Luger.
From their simplicity to their reliability, there is a solid case to be made for revolvers as defensive weapons.
Obviously, this is something Ruger has been well aware of, having come out with one of the more popular concealable wheelguns on the market. The LCR’s petite dimensions have made it a choice as a primary and secondary handgun for many practicing concealed carry.
Since its introduction in 2009, the line of revolvers has grown to include the most popular calibers for that platform – .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .22 Long Rifle. But the most recent model to join the LCR family is definitely not the first caliber that comes to mind when thinking about a revolver – 9mm Luger.
For most, a 9mm conjures up thoughts of semi-auto pistols, but in recent years more and more manufacturers have come out with revolvers chambered for the round. The introduction of the LCR in 9mm was made, according to a Ruger press release, due to consumer demand.
This makes sense, given the 9mm is among the most popular self-defense calibers presently. Cartridges of the World places it as the most used cartridge in the United States.
The newest LCR retains all the features of the other revolvers in the line.
The double-action-only 9mm, has polymer fire control housing, an aerospace-grade aluminum monolithic frame and an extensively fluted five-round stainless steel cylinder. These features keep the gun a svelte 17.2 ounces.
The gun appears to be designed for comfortable carry from waistband to ankle with a length of 6.5 inches and height of 4.5. The revolver has a 1.875-inch barrel.
While the dimensions of the gun make it a natural for concealment, it potentially could give newer shooters some trouble. Smaller, lighter guns produce more felt recoil, thus control issues. This, however, can be overcome with practice and becoming familiar with the attributes of the firearm.
To combat some of these issues, the LCRs are outfitted with a Hogue Tamer Monogrip. The rubbery grips give a more solid purchase on the handgun, thus more control. And the grips have attributes that help reduce felt recoil. The LCRs are also outfitted with a grip-peg system, which allows grips to be switched out quickly.
Full moon clips are available for the revolver and it comes outfitted with a blade front sight and a U-notch integral rear. As a bonus, the revolver is sold with a soft case. The 9mm is also available in LCRx external hammer model.
The gun is at the high end of the line’s MSRP, ringing in at $599.
The past couple years, there has been no shortage of suppressor-related merchandise to hit the market.
From suppressor-ready rifles to silencers for shotguns, it seems every company wants to make noise with the accessory. But what might be the simplest take on the device to come down the pike could also be one of the coolest.
The Cadiz Gun Work’s Econo Can is little more than an adapter, connecting a firearm to an oil filter. And while it might sound crazy, as the above video shows, it appears to work pretty dang well.
There is definitely a grind-house-movie cool factor in strapping a can with STP on the side to the muzzle of a gun. But there is also a practical reason behind an oil-filter suppressor – cost.
The price of the most affordable manufactured suppressors is effectively doubled due to the $200 NFA tax stamp required to own one. The Econo Can – a registered suppressor with the ATF – still requires the stamp, but retails for only $85 on Cadiz website.
The really neat thing about this dandy little device is it puts a suppressor within reach of any shooter – that’s definitely not something to keep quiet about.
With a nickle finish, the Cobra Marine gives shooters a shotgun that is comfortable on land and water.
With a nickel finish, Tri-Star’s new defensive shotgun is comfortable on land and water. Boasting a nickel finish on its barrel and receiver, and a nifty spring-loaded pump-action, the Cobra Marine looks to handle trouble on land and water.
Tri-Star Sporting Arms definitely has a hunting bent when it comes to its shotguns. A majority of the importer’s smoothbore catalog is angled at downing fowl of one feather or another.
The Missouri-based company, however, is no stranger when it comes to defensive arms. Tri-Star’s Cobra Tactical Pump Shotguns offer shooters what looks to be an ingenious and affordable line of smoothbores – Turkish in origin.
Recently, the company expanded this line of defensive shotguns with a model likely to strike a cord with those in inclement environments and around saltwater. The Tri-Star Cobra Marine Tactical Pump Shotgun offers shooters all the options of the rest of the line in a corrosive-resistant package.
The primary feature that keeps the synthetically stocked 12-guage in the fight no matter the conditions is a nickel finish on its barrel and receiver. The metal has historically been a popular plating material, given its slow rate of oxidation at room temperature.
Truth be told, the nickel finish also endows the shotgun with a bit of a cool factor, as well.
The new defensive shotgun has an 18.5-inch barrel, which is a new feature to the entire Cobra line; previously, the pump shotguns had slightly longer 20-inch barrels.
Shortening the barrel has made the shotgun more maneuverable, trimming down its overall length to around 41 inches. This should prove to be a solid design modification for the marine model, which has the potential of being called upon in the close quarters of a ship.
The defensive shotgun also has what appears to be an innovative feature designed into the pump-action. The forearm is spring loaded, so simply pulling back on and releasing it cycles the gun.
The shotgun is set up to fire a wide variety of ammunition. It has a 3-inch chamber, accepting both 3- and 2 ¾-inch shells, and any size of shot.
The defensive shotgun also has a number of other notable features.
It has a chrome-lined chamber and barrel for increased lifespan. It is outfitted with a Picatinny rail on the forearm for the quick addition of an accessory. It has a blade front sight and comes with one Beretta-style choke tube.
The defensive shotgun appears to be an affordable option, with an MSRP of $369.
Always train and practice with the same pistol you plan to carry daily. Author Photo
It’s not enough to own a gun and shoot it a few times a year. To be prepared to defend yourself and your family, regular handgun shooting practice is a must. Get the most from those sessions.
The handguns of today are smaller and more powerful than ever, allowing a person to carry a viable weapon, concealed and ready for use. Ask people what they have at home for self-defense and the most common response will be a pistol. More people own and carry handguns now than any other time in our nation’s history. But, just having a firearm doesn’t prepare you to use that weapon efficiently to stop an attack. To properly use a handgun, both safely and effectively, requires application of basic defensive fundamentals such as movement, communication, using cover, shooting, if necessary, and thinking. Applying these fundamentals in response to a sudden, violent attack requires an introduction to these training principals followed by plenty of practice. Learning through repetition is a must for any shooter to become proficient and prepared.
MOVE
The Skill: You move during an attack to create distance between you and a threat. Distance reduces your chance of being injured, no matter what type weapon, if any, the threat is armed with. In order to obtain a clear field of fire it may be necessary to move because of bystanders or the environment. You move to cover and the protection it provides. Moving puts the threat into a reactive mode. Initially you may be in a reactive state because you didn’t start the confrontation, but as soon as possible you need to make the threat start reacting to you. Moving is one of the best ways to achieve this. With repetitive practice moving in response to a threat while armed with a firearm can be programmed.
Master the Skill: The best way to practice moving is with dry work, using a dummy pistol or even your pretend pistol. Few of us have the time, ammo or a facility to run live fire drills necessary to learn how to move and, if necessary, shoot while moving. With a dummy or blue gun you can practice moving and drawing the weapon from concealment, without the worries associated with working with a real handgun. Still treat the plastic pistol like it’s real, following the big four safety rules, to minimize the development of bad habits.
For example, I’ll holster my Glock 19 blue gun, and watch a show on television. I decide the next time I see a certain character on screen I’m moving left, or right or back, while drawing my pistol. If it’s a movie with lots of gunplay I move when a weapon appears. This is an easy way to program movement in response to an unexpected cue.
Airsoft weapons, which fire plastic balls, are great tools for practicing movement. You still have to pay attention to safety—the pellets travel fast enough to hurt—but they allow you to practice inside a garage or backyard. When you get the chance to practice these skills on a range, focus on efficiency, not speed. Start with the pistol holstered. On command or cue you move, draw and engage your target with one or two accurate shots while moving. Eventually you work on multiple hits to the different zones of the target.
COMMUNICATE
The Skill: Communication is a key tactical skill that is often overlooked. You communicate with a threat: “Leave my home now!” More than two million times a year the presence of a weapon and strong verbal commands diffuse potentially violent confrontations, and this is just what’s documented. You’ll need to communicate with family, friends or bystanders. Sometimes it’s good to talk to yourself. It may sound funny, but verbalizing your actions helps maintain mental focus. Communication is best kept short and simple. For example, “Bob, move toward that exit and call 911!” Using a name first helps get that person’s attention. Also keep in mind almost everyone experiences auditory exclusion under stress. You’ll have to yell out loud, maybe more than once. Communication consumes a big part of our brain’s resources, so it’s necessary to practice it in advance.
Master the Skill: You can practice communication with your partners or family during dry drills. Every time you go to the range communication should be a part of your practice. For example once you’ve engaged your target you announce, “Threat down!” to let your partner know the status of your threat. The real world has all types of obstructions. You’ll have a different view of the world than your partner, and vice versa. Once the threats are down you scan, communicating with your team that it’s clear left and rear, or whatever your area of responsibility is. Then you’re announcing where cover is, the exit or any other critical information. The other shooters on the range may be amused, but we don’t care what they think, we’re developing our defensive skills.
USE COVER
The Skill: Cover provides a physical barrier between you and a threat. Whenever possible, even if you think the fight is over, use it. To use cover there are a few principles to apply, keeping in mind there are always exceptions. Create and maintain distance from the object you’re using for protection to greatly reduce the chance of being injured by fragmentation and debris created if bullets are bouncing off that object. Most objects offer a certain degree of protection, but they aren’t bulletproof. About three pistol rounds, even fewer high-velocity rifle rounds, will punch a hole through a concrete block.
When you are able move to better cover or toward an exit or escape route. Distance also opens up your field of view, allowing you to see more of what’s going on in your environment. When possible, work around the side of cover, as opposed to over the top, which exposes all of your head. Don’t discount the value of concealment. It doesn’t offer any ballistic protection, but if they don’t know where you are, the chances of them attacking you are greatly reduced.
Master the Skill: Dry practice, again, is the best way to work on cover. With your dummy pistol, or your “pretend” pistol—your hands—work with the furniture and corners in your home as cover, focusing on exposing the least amount of your body in order to locate, identify and, if necessary, engage the threat. A great way to fine-tune your position is by using the edge of a mirror as the edge of your cover. As you lean out, you get to see what the bad guy sees, and you can adjust your position accordingly. It’s the mental and physical aspects of using cover that are important to practice, getting these skills programmed into your mind in advance.
Airsoft can be used to practice firing from cover. All you need is something set up to represent cover and a target. You begin a few steps to the left or right of your cover. On cue you’re moving, drawing the pistol, issuing verbal commands and engaging the target. With the proper preparation you can do a form of “force-on-force” practice with the Airsoft, working against live, thinking and reacting opponents.
On the range do the same thing. For example a target stand with cardboard can represent cover. You practice working on moving, communicating, using cover and firing accurate shots on target.
SHOOT
The Skill: The firearm is like any other tool. You have to work with it a lot in order to use it effectively. If it’s necessary to shoot to stop the threat, you apply the fundamentals of marksmanship: aim, hold, press and follow-through for every shot. You must practice until you can fire an accurate shot. After each shot, you follow through, recovering from the recoil, reacquiring a new sight picture and resetting the trigger in anticipation of firing again, because multiple shots will probably be necessary to stop the threat.
Master the Skill: The shooting range, where about all you can do is fire one shot at a time, is the place to practice these fundamentals. Eventually, through repetition, you will get to where you can fire an accurate shot subconsciously.
Manipulation skills are an important part of owning a pistol. It’s mandatory to know how to load and unload safely. During a confrontation, if you have a malfunction, or the weapon runs empty, you must clear the stoppage or reload efficiently without delay.
Dummy ammo allows you to practice these manipulations, plus the basics like loading and unloading, without going to the range. On the range you can mix in dummy ammo with live rounds in the magazine for malfunctions at unexpected times.
THINK
The Skill: Basically it’s problem solving at high speed. You’re presented a problem. Normally you have a very short amount of time to come up with a solution to the problem and apply the proper response.
Master the Skill: To develop these skills constantly play the “what if” game. While having lunch at your favorite spot you’re thinking about what if someone comes through that door and begins an attack. Where is the best location to be in case there is an attack, protective cover or an alternative exit? While sitting at a red light, you’re scanning, again thinking about what you’ll do if an attack occurs. Not only will this improve your thinking ability, but it will help you develop better situational awareness.
This article is an excerpt from the Summer 2014 issue of Modern Shooter magazine, presented by Gun Digest.
Perhaps one of the biggest selling points of Glocks, at least in recent years, is the amount of aftermarket upgrades available. If you can imagine a way you’d like the Austrian handgun to perform more to your tastes, well, there is probably some company churning some little add on to make it a reality (Patrick Sweeney did a whole chapter on the subject in Glock Deconstructed).
Above is a short video by Scootch00 of a couple quick and easy Glock upgrades. I shan’t disclose how he improves his 10mm Glock 20, you’ll just have to watch the video to see in full. But overall, they seem to be practical improvements with the potential to make the firearm more user friendly and are fairly simple to install. They’re also appear to be affordable upgrades, to boot.
Perhaps best of all, Scootch00 demystifies the process of working on a Glock. He adds all of his upgrades to the pistol in less than 14 minutes, which also includes a good deal of jawing about each new part he adds.
Get a realistic and common sense approach to concealed carry and other personal protection topics with Firearms for Personal Protection by Joseph von Benedikt. Providing a practical, non-tactical perspective, this comprehensive guide covers essential concepts pertaining to personal-protection gun ownership and use, including concealed carry, good safety and handling practices, nightstand guns, shotguns, carbines, and much more. Stemming from several years of real-world gun carry and use in the Southwest United States, this book provides the knowledge you need with the experience to back it up.
With a slimmer head, the new SureFire weapon lights help keep tactical arms highly maneuverable.
Given the amount of doodads available today, it’s easy to go overboard with firearms accessories. But when it comes to outfitting a tactical gun, there are some basics that should be considered.
Quality optics or sights should be the first concern, after which a solid weapons light of some kind is next on the shopping list. (Gun Digest writer David Morelli did a solid write up on just this topic, read it here.)
SureFire has been one of the leaders helping defensive and tactical shooters light up the night. And recently, the California-based manufacturer has initiated a number of refinements to a couple of their popular lights, which appear to make them more user-friendly accessories.
In essences, what SureFire has done to its M600V and M620V Scout Lights is slim them down, making them less burdensome when attached to rail. The big changes, reducing the LED lights’ heads down nearly a ¼ inch in diameter and cutting the weight, nearly 20 percent on the M620V and 23 percent on the M600V.
The weight reduction shaves 1.5 ounces off the lights. It might not sound like much on paper, but lightening the lights has the potential to add up for the weight conscious. And their smaller diameters and reduced profiles make them less likely to snag or bang into an object, thus maintaining a firearm’s maneuverability.
The smaller heads have changed the dimensions of the lights, but they do not look to have affected their performance.
The output and runtime of the new LED heads remain the same in both lights, whether they are run in white or infrared. The M600V has a 1.8 hour runtime, while the M620V goes for 1.5 hours. The white light on the Scouts turns out 150 lumens and with IR they have 120 mW of output. They also retaine their weatherproof sealed heads, which make them useful no matter the conditions.
SureFire has slimmed down its Scout weapon lights, but has kept all their popular functions, such as run time, output, pressure pad and thumbscrew clamp.
SureFire has kept switching from white light to IR as simple on the new Scouts as it was on previous models. Shooters need only twist the self-locking selector ring on the bezel to switch between heads.
The lights are also still constructed from aerospace aluminum, coated with Mil-Spec hard anodizing and boast O-ring and gasket seals for weatherproofing. They can be activated via either a tailcap click switch or an included remote pressure-pad switch, as in earlier models.
They both quickly and securely attach to MIL-STD-1913 rails, though in different fashions. The M600V uses a thumbscrew clamp and the M620V attaches via SureFire’s proprietary Swing-Lever clamp. The latter devices also attaches to out-of-spec rails.
The M600V Scout Light has an MSRP of $485, while the M620V retails for $595.
Tammy Sapp – Bass Pro Shops, National Headquarters Springfield, Mo.
Mega outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops has more than 60 stores in the United States and Canada, plus does major sales via the internet.
And one definite trend the chain is seeing, as reported earlier this year, is the purchase of first rifles and shotguns for youngsters.
Favorites include the Henry Mini-Bolt .22LR youth model at $300, and the Marlin XT-22YR youth model for $200.
“In shotguns, 20-gauge models are our number one seller for these first-time shooters,” Tammy Sapp said, communications director for Bass Pro Shops.
In centerfire rifles, .223 and .243 calibers lead the way.
“We’ve also been selling first firearms to others, including numerous women who want to shoot for fun or to own a firearm for personal protection,” she said.
Bass Pro Shop gun managers report many customers specifically looking to become recreational shooters, with no real thoughts of hunting or self-defense.
“We’re selling increasing numbers of shotguns that will never see a feather, and rifles in calibers large and small whose only purpose is to hit long-range targets or put bullets in ever-decreasing group sizes,” Sapp said.
Editor’s Note: This brief originally appeared in the January 27, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.
It’s easy to spend a lot of money on a bolt-action rifle, just go to your local gun store and find out first hand. What is difficult is finding a solid long gun that doesn’t break the bank. Luckily, manufacturers of every stripe are offering excellent entry-level bolt-action rifles at reasonable prices. Here are 10 economical choices ($600 or less) that will get the job done in the field or at the range.
P.S. You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Edward Santos — Center Target Sports, Inc., Post Falls, Idaho
