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Explore expert insights, training tips, and the latest updates on firearms, firearms law, and prepping.
Ruger GP100 Review: The Working Man’s Revolver That Will Outlast You in the Apocalypse
Some guns look great in the glass case at the gun shop. They’re polished to a mirror finish, and they’re practically begging to be admired. And then there are guns like the Ruger GP100, which doesn’t really care about impressing you at all. That’s because it’s too busy being the kind of revolver that you can carry into the wilderness for weeks at a time without a single worry. It’s the sidearm that just plain works, and that’s true regardless of whether you’re facing down a black bear on a mountain trail or knocking over steel plates at the range on a sunny Saturday afternoon. This revolver is a chunk of steel and it really has a robust personality. It feels solid in the hand, and not in that “heavy for the sake of heavy” way, but in a “this thing could probably survive a nuclear winter” kind of way.
SIG Sauer P229/M11-A1 Review: The Swiss Watch of the Handgun World
If the Beretta 92-series is the Italian Stallion of the handgun world, then the SIG Sauer P-series is the Swiss Watch: precise, refined, meticulously engineered, and built to last. And in the middle of all that precision and craftsmanship sits the SIG Sauer P229, which is (in my humble opinion) arguably the most practical and versatile of the P-series lineup. It’s a gun that doesn’t just do everything; it does everything well. The SIG Sauer M11-A1 9mm in the original factory box with x3 15-round magazines. And the M11-A1 variant that I happen to own? I think it might just be the best blend of old-school SIG and modern carry gun you can still get, brand new in the box that is. Beretta vs. SIG is like Ford vs. Chevy You can’t talk about the SIG P-series without also bringing up the Beretta 92. The two are locked in a
Beretta 92/M9 Review: The Italian Stallion of the Handgun World
If I could only own one pistol for the rest of my life (and I mean just one, no safe full of options, no weekly trades, no “what ifs” or other scenarios), the Beretta 92 would be very close to the top of that very short list. It’s not just a personal favorite of mine either. It’s a gun that makes sense. It’s reliable and rugged and ready for hardcore tactical situations…and yet it’s also so elegant and refined that it’s beautiful to look at. It’s also just plain fun to shoot. And here’s the thing: it’s not just great for me. If you’re the kind of shooter who appreciates the old-school feel of DA/SA pistols, and who also loves the weight and balance of a full-size metal frame (and if, like me, you also want something with both soul and performance)… then the Beretta 92 might just be the
Semi-Automatic Pistols Guide
Semi-automatic pistols are the go-to pistols for law enforcement, concealed carriers, competitive shooters, and weekend range warriors. Why? It’s pretty simple: they can be carried around literally anywhere and they also offer speed, capacity, and a whole lot of practicality packed into one tidy little frame. But before diving headfirst into the sea of polymer frames and striker-fired triggers, it’s worth slowing down and getting a clear lay of the land, so to say. As we’ll soon see, emi-auto pistols might all look like cousins, but they’re built for very different roles. What Exactly Is a Semi-Automatic Pistol? A semi-automatic pistol is a handgun that uses the energy from firing a live round to eject the spent casing, rack the slide, and load the next round into the chamber from the magazine…all in one fluid and rapid motion that happens faster than the blink of an eye. It fires one
The Best Secret Gun Storage Spots and Their Risks
Hiding a gun doesn’t mean that you should just set it into a shoebox in your closet or slide it under a mattress like you’re the hero in an action flick stashing guns around in the house in preparation for the bad guys to come. These days, people are getting quite crafty with their concealment and are also generally becoming more effective at keeping a gun in the home and with turning everyday household items into covert storage with a purpose. And while some of these ideas as we’ll soon see are impressively clever…not all of them are as safe (or even as practical) as they can look like they are on paper. Here are nine unconventional secret gun storage spots and the risks that come with each: Secret Gun Storage Spot #1 – The Mirror A full-length mirror with a hidden compartment isn’t just for checking your hair before
Is the Nightstand the Best Place to Keep Your Home Defense Handgun?
When it comes to home defense, there’s a common image that comes to mind for most folks: a generic handgun (like a 9mm Glock or a .38 revolver) that’s tucked away in the top drawer of the nightstand, maybe hidden under something like a shirt, and ready to rock and roll at a moment’s notice. It’s the go-to spot for many of you who are reading this, but is it really the best place to keep a firearm that’s meant to protect your home and family? Or is it just the default answer because it’s what a lot of people have always done? In this article we’ll discuss whether or not it’s a good idea to keep your home defense pistol or revolver on your nightstand. We’ll dig into the nitty-gritty, the practical, and the clever (and maybe even the slightly paranoid). This is about what you need to do
Gun Etiquette
Gun Etiquette: The 7 Unspoken Rules That Every Gun Owner Needs to Know There’s owning a gun, and then there’s knowing how to act when you’ve got one. Gun etiquette isn’t about being fancy or looking tactical. It’s actually more about not scaring the hell out of everyone who is around you. It’s the difference between being someone who others want to train with and being the person no one wants to stand near on the line. Good gun manners aren’t optional. They’re literal survival skills with social consequences. Let’s explore more. Gun Etiquette Rule #1: Start With the Basics… and Mean Them The four rules of firearm safety get repeated so often they almost become background noise. But when someone actually follows them to the letter, it shows. Here they are: Plenty of folks can quote the four rules. But fewer practice them like gospel. The people who do?
The Best Laser Dry Fire System
Are you looking to tighten up that shot but without blowing through your ammo budget? Dry fire training has really come a long way from pretending with a mirror and finger guns. These days, laser dry fire systems let you practice your aim, refine your draw, and even time your reloads without you having to step foot in a range or dropping a single dime on ammo. But with a truckload of products out there, figuring out which laser dry fire system is actually worth the money is about as tricky as hitting a soda can at 100 yards with iron sights! So here’s a guide that cuts through the fluff and tells it like it is. No generic gobbledygook…just straight talk. But before we jump into all the excitement, let’s start by asking this question: What Makes a Laser Dry Fire System Worth It? Before getting into the best
Firearms Training for Beginners
So you bought your first gun. Or maybe you’re thinking about it and your Google history looks like a blend of “best home defense pistol” and “how not to shoot yourself.” Good! That means you care. And caring is the first step toward becoming a responsible and competent gun owner, and not just someone who owns a gun but someone who actually knows what to do with it. Here’s what you’ll want to keep in mind. Start Before You Even Touch the Gun The first thing to know about firearms training before beginners is that before the first round is even chambered (and before your hand even touches the grip) there are things you need to learn. And the first is that owning a gun doesn’t make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician! The proper place to start is safety, and not as a
Dry Fire Mag Glock 19 Review
Of the different laser products for Interactive Gun Range, I recommend the Dry Fire Mag for the Glock 19 as the best value for money and also delivering the best training value. As reviewing the Dry Fire Mag alone doesn’t make sense, I also review the other laser training systems I have tried. From most recommend to least recommended: Dry Fire Mag (Glock 19) The Dry Fire Mag for the Glock 19 is the best dry fire option for Interactive Gun Range for realistic training value and convenience. It is a combination laser cartridge and slide reset magazine. I’m not certain how it works, but I like that I don’t have to take the gun apart to use it. I simply insert the laser cartridge, slide in the magazine, and it works. When I am done training dry fire for the day, I take these two items out and put
A shot timer for dry fire
Introducing the “Par Time” game mode Interactive Gun Range provides a shot timer for dry fire, called the “Par Time” game mode. As you can see from the screenshot, it simulates an indoor range minus the cost, noise, drive, or range rules. On the left side of the screen you have a simulated shot timer for dry fire combined with the target range controls. The last 4 shots are saved in your shot timer history, along with split times. As a shot timer for dry fire, your training records are recorded This mode, as well as every other game mode, also stores your game results in a spreadsheet. The “Par Time” game mode in particular stores whether or not you met the par time you set, allowing you to see your progress over time. For increased training value, see the indoor shooting range drills. For the purpose of drills, this
Shooting Range Drills (outdoor)
From my dozens of paid shooting classes I’ve distilled some shooting range drills you can do at the outdoor range into a handy list you can take with you. Every indoor range drill can also be done at the outdoor range, so combine the two for a comprehensive list. Most of these drills are shot for time, bring a shot timer with you. Outdoor shooting range drills list Outdoor Shooting Range Drills Explanations Target Identification This requires two people, one to write a number on a target, another to fire. Put targets behind cover, where the shooter cannot see them unless moving or leaning past cover. Setup a course of movement such that the shooter moves past all targets. When the shooter reveals a target, his partner should call out a number, odd or even, or a math problem. It forces the shooter to think and analyze the target before
