In Defense of Citizenry - A Concealed Carry Blog

Accuracy

2010-09-09T09:18:00.000-04:00

Alright, we're going to move away somewhat from pure concealment topics and talk about training a little bit.

When I got to the range, I'm not looking to key hole the target at 25 yards, I believe I've made that clear in the past. What I'm looking to do it put a round on paper at a reasonable distance, maybe 7 yards at the most. I don't stage the trigger and really sight in with my carry gun either, I just, basically, point and shoot. The reason being is I won't have time in an engagement to really get a bead on the target. I'll have to "shoot from the hip" as it were. So I try to practice in as loose a manner as possible. The less I have to remember and work on; the less I'll forget should the unfortunate event ever befall me.

You see, when your adrenaline gets running, you lose fine motor skills, so really careful aim is right out. Your accuracy will decrease by about 100% (not scientific, just my guess) when the poop really hits the fan. So if all you practice is slow methodical sighting, staging, squeeze the trigger, etc... you're in for a serious awakening when you're under stress.

Remember, there are hundreds of reports of shoot outs with police where dozens of shots were fired at distance of 15 feet and less where no one was injured at all. And these are trained professionals.

I'm not telling you not to train to be accurate, I think you should. I'm also not telling you not to have proper form when your practicing, you should. In times of stress you will revert to the highest level of training you've mastered...and I mean mastered, it has to be second nature.

You want an example, don't you? Alright... Let's say someone yells "Look out!" and you see some runaway car coming towards you. Well, you're gonna bolt out of the way, right? Right. You aren't going to do some ninja back handspring with a twist to get out of the way, you're gonna run... because that's what you know how to do best.

Practice, practice, practice... Get to where you can hit center mass every time in, I would say, an 8 inch circle on a target. That way, if you're accuracy goes to poop, you'll still be hitting something fleshy regardless of whether it's the shoulder, the leg, neck, bladder (especially nasty wound), etc. Also, practice off-hand, one-hand, and if you can, practice while drawing as well.

All of those things can be useful in a fight, not that we want one. By the same token, I don't want to be in a car wreck, but I have insurance...just in case.

Failure to Feeds...aka Limp Wristing

2010-09-08T16:01:00.000-04:00

If you’re an inexperienced shooter, or a experienced shooter who has ever had a gun fail to feed and someone told you that it was because you may have been “limp wristing” the weapon and wondered what in the heck that had to do with anything… I’m here to explain what that had to do with anything.

This is a fairly visual and scientific explanation, but I’ll do the best I can.

When you pull the trigger on a pistol the firing pin hits the primer in the round of ammunition. The primer ignites and causes the powder in the round to explode causing the bullet to be propelled forward due to the pressure of the expanding gasses.

The recoil is the force of the explosion in the equal and opposite direction of the propulsion of the projectile. This recoil is required to push the slide backwards causing the round to reach the terminus of its travel, be expelled by the extractor pin. The next round in the magazine is then pushed upwards by the spring behind the magazine follower. The slide rebounds due to the guide rod spring; the round is then captured by the slide and pushed forward in to the barrel.

If there isn’t enough propulsion from the expansion of the gasses, the slide may not make the complete circuit, then the next round of ammunition may not have the room to completely extend in to the receiver, thus causing a failure to feed.

At the same time, if you “limp wrist”, as opposed to holding a firm grasp on the weapon, your wrist may act as a shock absorber and rob the pistol of some of its energy thus causing the slide not to extend all the way to the far back position.

So, if you have failure to feeds, don’t check the ammo or the magazine first, check your grip… that could easily be the cause.

The venerable 1911

2010-09-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-08T14:08:00.000-04:00

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.

Info by Caliber and some other data points

2010-09-08T09:50:00.000-04:00

I decided to lay this out there for anyone who is interested.
I've compiled (not a difficult task, just go to wikipedia) a listing of the speed and initial impact force (theoretical, based on F=MA) of the most popular handgun calibers out there for concealed carry.

Caliber Ft/s MPH Sonic Ft/Lbs
0.25 900 614 Sub 63
0.22 1080 736 Sub 104
0.32 925 631 Sub 123
0.380 1000 682 Sub 200
0.38 980 668 Sub 235
0.45 1060 723 Sub 412
9mm 1300 886 Super 420
0.40 1190 811 Super 424
0.357 1600 1091 Super 710

The "most" important number on this list is the "Ft/Lbs" of force at the end. That means how hard does this thing hits. I say this is a theortical number, basically because in the real world if you were hit with 710 lbs of force, for instance, you'd explode. Basically, take a 710lb weight, and drop in on your chest from a height of 1 foot... yeah, ouch time.

For those people who say that a .40 cal is world's better than a 9mm... check the numbers, you'd be wrong. It's a little better, but not much. The .45 is on par with the 9mm and .40, but it's a much larger round, so there's more hole produced, so, bigger wound.

However, as I have stated, the .357 magnum is the ultimate in hand gun calibers.

Just a little info for you so you can determine which caliber you'd like to start looking at.

An interesting point on Self-Defense ammo

2010-09-08T09:01:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine was told, or I should say warned, in his CCW class that the kind of ammo you buy could make a difference in your trial should, Heaven forbid, you get involved in a tangle.

Oh, you didn't think you'd go to court? Yeah, guess again. Depending on where you live, it could be a mandate that there's a trial whenever there's a shooting. Where I live, the police department will choose whether to press charges or not, however, that's just where I live.

Back to the point...

The instructor of the class made the statement that a prosecuting attorney could and probably will ask you what type of training you've had, what kind of weapon you carry, and what kind of ammunition you have in it.

If you are a once-in-a-while range goer; and you took the requisite class and passed it for your license, while at the same time carrying standard off the shelf, nothing special ammunition, you won't "look" so much like a person who was hoping to have to defend yourself.

However, if you're at the range every week; you take tactical clinics several times a year and you carry the newest and messiest personal defense ammo from Hornady "Now with 1000% more brain smushing power"... guess what; you could be made to look like someone who was hoping to get in to a fight just so you could use all these tools and training.

Remember, the appearance of impropriety is enough to convict in some cases.

There's the "Hope versus Wish" philosophy in self-defense. Me, I'm of the "I hope nothing ever happens, I hope I never have to defend myself, I hope my bullets rust in the magazine before I'd ever have to draw it".

Then there's the "I wish someone would step up to me" mentality. If you are of that mind-set, please, do us all a favor and sell your guns right now. We don't want you around, nor are you a responsible gun owner. You will make the rest of us look bad and we don't want that.

I'm not saying don't carry, I'm not saying don't practice. I'm saying that there are about a million things that one must think about before starting down this road.

Kel-Tec PF9 - PDF!

2010-09-07T21:19:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-03T09:52:00.000-04:00

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.

Taurus TCP 738 - .380acp

2010-09-01T13:52:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I'm coming back at ya with another firearm review.

This one is on the Taurus TCP (Taurus Compact Pistol) in .380 acp.
I'll admit that I haven't shot this gun yet and as soon as I do I will have more to say on the subject...however, this is a first impressions review.

The TCP is comparable to the Ruger LCP or Kel-tec P3AT, as in it is a compact, extremely lightweight concealed carry pistol. Here's what it looks like.

Now, most pocket pistols are small and compact, etc, etc, but this one feels a little more substantial in the hand, which is nice, and it has a nice deep grip, so it fills your hand nicely. Of course the grip is abbreviated, but not so much as to be an issue.

The TCP is, of course, dual action only, so there's no external safety, which is nice. That makes for a much slimmer design. Also, this model has a slide stop, so the gun fails open on an empty chamber.

The trigger pull on most pocket pistols is horrible, just plain old terrible. The TCP has a very smooth, light pull (about 4 lbs), with a reasonable travel length. This is in stark contrast to the LCP, for instance, which has such a long pull that you aren't even sure if the gun will go off at all.

All in all, I give this an initially favorable review. I'll let you know more once I've put some rounds down range.

Ruger SR9C

2010-08-25T11:23:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I'm back with another review of an excellent PDF.

This is the new-ish SR9c from Ruger. I say new-ish because the SR9 has been available since 2007, I believe, so the base pistol, the SR9, is fairly well known and established.

To be honest with you, I've only fired the SR9, not the SR9c, but the mechanisms are the same and there isn't such a dramatic difference in the frame size that the impressions would be so very different. So, with that caveat out of the way, let's begin.

First, the basics: This is a "compact" 9mm. I say compact only because Ruger says it is compact. It isn't something that you can slide in your pocket and walk out of the house, unless you happen to be a kangaroo. It is by no means a large pistol, but it isn't in the class of the LCP either.

However, I can say that it will easily ride in an IWB holster and no one would be any the wiser. A friend of mine carries his in a Crossbreed super tuck and unless you know what you're looking for, you'd never know he has it on. He is of slight build and even then, it doesn't print at all.

It is thin enough to carry, but still big enough to give you a good slab of gun to grip on to, so the ergonomics are favorable. The grip is polymer and the important parts that go bang are either aluminum or steel, so it's a winner. I, personally, would say it has it all over the Glock so far as concealability goes as it has a more rounded slide than the Glock and therefore doesn't feel like such a block of steel strapped to you.

The SR9c is a striker fired semi-automatic (meaning no exposed hammer). There is an integrated trigger safety much like a Glock pistol as well as an external safety.
The magazine capacity is 10 round with one in the chamber for a total of 11. Not to bad for a compact pistol. It also comes in the box with an extended magazine of 15 round, I believe. So, my advice would be to carry the 10 round mag in the well, but keep the 15 as your reload, just in case.

My shooting impression is very favorable. It was accurate with very little experienced recoil. The gun is substantial in the hand without being too heavy. The controls are where you'd want them and work as they should.

Now, the most amazing thing is the price. I've seen it retail for 429.99, new, with the extra magazine included from the factory. You'd be hard pressed to find a better value with what you get for your money.

That's all for now, stay safe out there.

Kel Tec PF9

2010-08-24T13:04:00.000-04:00

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.

IWB...kind of bites

2010-08-24T12:46:00.000-04:00

After carrying my PDF (Personal Defense Firearm) around for some time now, I have come to the conclusion that IWB (In the waistband) carry, really kind of sucks. Or, at least it does so far as my person piece goes.

And I should be more accurate and say that a holster that loops on to or is supported by your belt sucks. Your range of movement is kind of tethered and there's an annoying pressure point where the clip is.

I've been doing some research, if for no other reason, I'm getting a new PDF so the wife can have the one I currently use (well, at least this time I have a reason!). And it looks like I might be going with a BellyBand style. For your reference:

This is the Galco "Underwraps" version, which I'll probably be getting.

I looked and looked and looked at Supertucks, Kholsters, etc etc, and they are all obvious holsters if you're looking for them and if you know what you're looking at. A friend of mine has one and I can tell every time. The clips just stick out like a square apple. He likes his and is perfectly comfortable wearing it. However, I've seen him suit up, as it were, and it can take a little time.

The belly band is elastic, plyable, it moves with you. It can be worn under anything, tucked, untucked, shirt, no shirt, you name it. Also, unlike a tuckable holster which has small "slots" where you tuck your shirt in, with a Belly Band, it's completely under your shirt, so you aren't limited in the length of shirt you wear.

Another nifty advantage is that you don't have to remove the holster to remain comfortable if you have to take off your firearm for some reason. If you're going in to a bar or to someone's house, let's say. Since it is high quality elastic with 4 inches of velcro, with no hard points, you can slip your PDF out and keep on trucking. My friend removes the holster too, if he isn't going to carry his weapon (a lovely SR9C, by the by).

So, once I get it and have tried it out, I'll post a full review, but as I've said in the past, you'll go through many a holster before you're comfortable with what you carry with.

Pocket Holsters...personal experience

2010-08-17T10:56:00.000-04:00

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.

Success!

2010-08-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

So, I had my gun on the counter, which is where I leave it, loaded, chambered, and in the holster. I don't have kids, my wife knows how to use it, and the dogs either can't get up that high and/or don't have thumbs, AND there are no children in my house, so I'm safe there.

Anywhoser... so she says "Hey, what's the little guy doing up here?" I told her that I was carrying it earlier in the day and that I carry it wherever I go. She said "Oh, I didn't notice that you carried it all the time.".

Success!! When your wife doesn't notice that you're carrying, that's a huge win!

It gets easier, really

2010-08-05T11:24:00.001-04:00

Good Morning.

After several weeks of consistent carrying, I have to tell you that it does get easier. You stop feeling like you stick out and worrying that someone's going to notice that you're armed.

I had a full blown conversation with 3 guys while getting my oil changed and not a one of them even looked to see (which is normal) if I was armed. So, just be cool and everything will be fine.

We CCW guys kind of base our ability to carry on the fact that most people aren't looking for you to be armed, so they aren't curious to look at your waistband, etc. I check when I'm in close proximity to someone I don't know, but that's just me.

Here's a little hint, by the way. If you see a guy with a waistpack (fanny pack) and his wallet is in his back pocket, guess what, he's armed. Yup, you can almost count on it.

Be safe out there!

Right gun, wrong holster...

2010-07-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-07-08T13:42:00.000-04:00

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.

Slouching...I'm not kidding

2010-07-06T13:52:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, personal experience talking here.
If you carry in the small of the back and you have a shirt untucked... check yourself when you stand up.

We all pretty much slouch when we sit. We place a curve in our lower back, we just do it because it's more comfortable for us.

Little item here...this causes your shirt to pull up higher, which, depending on your holster, could cause it to hike up over your gun.

...just keep that in mind and do a print check when you stand up, should you be carrying that way.

Beretta Jetfire 950 - .25 acp

2010-07-06T13:25:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-07-06T13:16:00.000-04:00

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:

Weekend Report

2010-06-29T09:45:00.001-04:00

Well, I spent the entire weekend out of town and carried with me while I was away.

It wasn't as nerve wracking as I thought it would be. I simply strapped on, checked myself in the mirror and walked out the door. It was all that hard nor all that odd feeling.

Getting used to the holster and the weight, etc wasn't all that much fun, but otherwise, it was no big deal.

To answer the question: A single action Bond Arms Derringer, loaded with 1 45 Long Colt lead slug and 0000 Buck .410. I figured that if that doesn't do it, nothing will.

And, as per usual, didn't have even a whisper of need for it, for which I am thankful.

The Wait, she is over!!

2010-06-11T13:47:00.000-04:00

Alright boys and girls, the wait is finally over and I am now a card carrying member of the CCW club. I am legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon on my person (with in limits, of course) whenever I see fit to do so.

Very cool and very humbling all at the same time.

I will post more regarding my foray in to the armed citizen world as they progress.

7 weeks... not too long of a wait and worth it in the end.

A perfect example!

2010-04-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, here's exactly what I'm talking about, here's the reason that you need to at least own a firearm and know how to use it.

A friend of mine was accosted, at home, in front of his son, by some looney with a knife. Now, I'll admit her did know said looney, but this guy was off his rocker and brandished a knife...in front of my friend's son, at their front door.

Ok, a few things could have happened here.

1. Looney stabs/slashes friend... bad.
2. Looney doesn't and cops are called (what actually happened)
3. Looney attempts to stab/slash friend and friend defends himself with a firearm.

Best choice? Option 2, without a doubt. I want to carry, just in case, but as I've said, I want the bullets to rust of old age before I ever have to use them. I've said that before and I'm still saying it... I never want to have to draw my weapon. I would rather boogie out of the situation.

However, let's say that looney is seriously not well, I mean he's snapped all but for sure. He's gone bye-bye to reality. It isn't too hard to imagine, I mean he was brandishing a knife at some other dude while at the front door of other dude's house.

Ok, well... guess who could have gone home in a bag that day? If you said Looney, you're half right. Either my friend or Looney could have died that day. If looney was determined he could have easily killed my friend. However...had friend carried a gun on him... you get the point.

A salient point to this story is that in my state, you don't have the duty to retreat in your own home. If a guy is at your door or in your house and you feel you are in imminent danger, then you are within your right to defend yourself. Also, considering his kid was right there with him... You get the picture.

So, my friend and his wife have decided that they want to purchase a firearm. I think that's a good idea, obviously. They want me to help them pick it out, and train with it... I'm flattered and as qualified as anyone, I guess, to give them the basics.

At any rate, this is the kind of stuff that you don't expect to have happen. However, you never know when it will.

And now, we wait...

2010-04-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

The hardest part about getting your CCW isn't picking the right firearm or holster or even taking the class. It is, in fact, the waiting.

I turned my form in Monday morning, I got fingerprinted, poked, prodded, inspected, injected, etc. And now... I wait.

I can wait 3 weeks, I can wait 3 months, there's no telling how long it will take. The maximum is 90 days, however, it appears to be running about a month based on my friend who just recently got his experienced.

Anyway... the waiting is the difficult part, but worth it in the end.

Revolver Ammo

2010-04-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

I was reviewing some of my older posts and I realized that I had completely skipped over the revolver calibers in my description of what I think and what are popularly considered self-defense calibers.

Again, I'm a little biased here as I've decided to carry a revolver. Some people would say that I'm under-gunned and will be a dead man should I have to engage multiple attackers. Well...to that I say with confidence, "bite me".

6 shots, well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 3 men. 6 shoots, not as well placed, with a good carry caliber will handle 2 men. So, unless I'm taking on an entire Mexican cartel, I should be in good shape. But I digress...

Revolvers have less choices in caliber than semi-automatics do, tis true.

.38 Special:
This is the tried and true revolver load. It's cheap to shoot and packs a good punch. If a manufacturer makes a revolver, they make one in .38, just a fact of life. The police and military carried .38s for about 3,245 years and it worked like a champ. It's simple, effective, light recoil, all in all, a good round.

The only downside is if you have an ultralight/airweight revolver, then it will buck and bark like mad and it is exactly NO fun to shoot. Just keep that in mind.

.327 Federal
I have no had the chance to personally try out this caliber, however, everything I've read says that it gives you .38+p power with 30% less recoil. To me that spells winner!

.32 H&R
A nice easy round. Not the easiest to find, but it packs a pretty good wallop and doesn't kick hardly at all. If you are recoil adverse, then this might be a good place to start looking.

.44 Special
A big, but slow, round. Not bad to shoot at all. When you get this size, however, you are really making for a bulky cylinder in your revolver. However, if you can comfortably carry it, go for it. I've shot this through a single action cowboy gun before and it's a honey. It is pricey though. The upside is that it will chamber in a revolver made for .44 Magnum... speaking of which;

.44 Magnum
Big, bad, Buick stopping power. Not too bad to shoot if you have the right pistol for it. I wouldn't suggest a 3 inch barrel for this one as it's just too hard to control and you're going to think someone took a hammer to your hand. Although the .44 Magnum will get the job done; be prepared to shell out BUCKS for this ammo.

...last but not least...

.357 Magnum
I've mentioned this one before. It will do the job. It has the answers to all of life's burning questions. This is the round that looks at Dirty Harry and calls him "punk". The only thing on two legs that this won't stop would be Chuck Norris. It is considered by most to be the ultimate, gold standard, one stop shot round.
A study found that this caliber has up 95% one shot stop capability with incapacitation in as little as 5 seconds.
Easy to find, not too bad on recoil and fairly cheap for a good solid round.

This is my personal choice, in case you were wondering.