Yesterday I attended Shotgun Skills with FPF Training. Taught by Tim Chandler and Ashton Ray, this is my first formal shotgun class. Bottom line up front: if you’re looking to improve your existing shotgun skills or gain new ones, if you want to tame the monster and turn it into a pet, you should consider this class.
Carry 1911 Review: Kimber Aegis Elite Pro
I write quite a bit about 1911s, and really enjoy shooting and carrying them. In the interest of offering some defensive 1911 recommendations, I recently borrowed a commander-sized 1911 from Kimber. The gun, the Kimber Aegis Elite Pro is the subject of this review.
Racking the Shotgun: Fear Factor or Bullet Magnet?
Things in the firearms world tend to suffer something of a pendulum swing. One such thing is the concept of racking the shotgun. For decades there was a lot of really obnoxious conventional wisdom that said working a pump shotgun’s action was a terrifying sound. The sound alone, it was said, would make a bad guy run away in fear.
Shotguns are Not Low Capacity Weapons
The internet is chuck-a-buck full of myths and distortions about defensive shotguns. There is one that has always particularly bugged me. The myth, one common even among “shotgun guys,” is that the shotgun is a “low capacity weapon.” Shotguns are not low-capacity weapons, and this article will explain why.
Improving the TL-Racker Shotgun Light
Last year I reviewed the Streamlight TL-Racker shotgun light. I really like the light, but I have some problems with the TL-Racker as a forend. Fortunately, it can be improved upon.
The Holster as Administrative Safety Adjunct
I have written extensively about the benefits of a holster. Since beginning work with the Sig P365XL I’ve discovered another one: a good, high-quality holster is an excellent administrative safety adjunct. Let me explain.
Gun Owner 101: Choosing a Carry Gun
Today we continue with the Gun Owner 101 series, finally arriving at the guns themselves. Choosing a carry gun is a daunting proposition in market crowded with competing offerings. This article will hopefully offer some tools to help you thin the herd and arrive at the best possible handgun for your personal protection.
A Look Back at My Concealed Carry Handguns
I have carried several different firearms over the past two decades. I recently did an accounting of the guns that I have considered my “carry gun.” The list was longer than I anticipated – six pistols and three revolvers. Since I’m sort of on a retrospective kick lately, let’s take a look at my concealed carry handguns, and more importantly, what I learned from them.
Defensive 1911: Managing 1911 Safeties
The 1911 has a two manual safeties that must be disengaged simultaneously to operate the firearm. These safeties are often misunderstood or simply misused. Managing 1911 safeties effectively and reliably is paramount to deploying the defensive 1911. There are hardware and software issues that go into managing these safeties, and today we take a look at those factors.
Gun Mistakes in Fiction Writing: Handgun Edition
I recently finished a book by Steven Pressfield, 36 Righteous Men. Pressfield is one of my favorite fiction authors; if you haven’t read Gates of Fire you don’t know what you’re missing. With that said, 36 Righteous Men wasn’t my favorite Pressfield work. When I read a line about a character “flicking the safety off” her Glock I cringed†. I realized this wasn’t the first book in recent memory with such a slip-up. Here are some common gun mistakes in fiction, as well as how to avoid making them.