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You are here: Home / Archives for Home Defense

Home Defense

Gun Test: Charter Arms Professional .32 H&R Magnum

The Charter Arms Professional is a small-frame revolver with a three-inch barrel, hand-filling grips, double-action/single-action mechanism, good sights, seven-shot cylinder, and a nice finish. Open the cylinder by pushing the cylinder release forward, and you will see a seven-shot cylinder chambered in .32 H&R Magnum. The pistol uses the classic Charter Arms steel frame, but the finish is a modern black nitride. I cannot see any problem with the durability of this finish. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Charter Arms Professional .32 H&R Magnum


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December 28, 2019

Filed Under: Ammunition, Charter Arms, Pistols, Reviews Tagged With: .32 H&R Magnum, Black Hills Ammunition, Buffalo Bore Ammunition, Charter Arms, Concealed Carry, double action revolvers, Home Defense, Hornady Ammunition, Hornady Critical Defense, personal defense, Small Game

Gun Test: Taurus 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver

The newest Taurus revolver is among the most interesting and innovative the company has manufactured. The Taurus 692 is a double action revolver with a swing out cylinder. There is a single-action option, useful in a field and trail revolver. This handgun features a seven-shot cylinder, giving the relatively compact Taurus .357 Magnum an advantage over traditional six-shot revolvers. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Taurus 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver


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December 24, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews, Revolvers, Taurus Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, double action revolvers, handloads, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Revolvers, Target Shooting, Taurus

Tactics: Holsterless Handgun Carry

For years, most of us have counseled concealed carry handgun carriers to choose a proper holster. A holster keeps the handgun stable and angled for the proper draw. Just the same, who am I to go against 200 years or more of holsterless tradition? After all, Wild Bill Hickock packed his revolvers in a tightly-woven sash. [Read more…] about Tactics: Holsterless Handgun Carry


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December 23, 2019

Filed Under: How To, Pistols, Self Defense, Tactics Tagged With: Colt, Concealed Carry, CWP, double action, Glock, hammer fired, Home Defense, personal defense, Revolvers, self-loaders, SIG, single action, Smith and Wesson, striker fired

Accuracy in Handguns

Over the decades, I have researched handguns and used the terms practical accuracy, intrinsic accuracy, and absolute accuracy. Firing from the benchrest is important and always interesting. However, absolute accuracy isn’t as important as the practical accuracy we may coax from a handgun. [Read more…] about Accuracy in Handguns


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December 17, 2019

Filed Under: How To, Pistols Tagged With: Accuracy, Federal Cartridge Company, Fiocchi Ammunition, handguns, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Target Shooting

Round Butt vs. Square Butt (Revolvers That Is)

When choosing a double-action revolver, the shape of the handle makes a great deal of difference. The primary difference is between round and square butt grip frames. Smith and Wesson offers only one grip frame (round) in modern revolvers, while conversion grips allow the use of either round or square butt grips. Understanding the how and why of grip design will allow you to make the best choice for different chores. [Read more…] about Round Butt vs. Square Butt (Revolvers That Is)


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December 15, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols Tagged With: Colt, Hogue, Home Defense, hunting, Pachmayr, personal defense, Revolvers, Round Butt, Ruger, Smith, Square Butt

Guncrafter: The Best 1911 You Will Ever Own

When you look over the many quality 1911 handguns available today, the word “best” is difficult to qualify. Let’s just say if Guncrafter isn’t the best, it is certainly one of the best of the best two or three. After all, “best” is subjective and may refer to the handgun that suits your needs and your style the best. Quality isn’t as subjective, but some have a more difficult time recognizing quality. [Read more…] about Guncrafter: The Best 1911 You Will Ever Own


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November 12, 2019

Filed Under: 1911, Pistols, Reviews Tagged With: .45 ACP, 1911, Gun with no name, Guncrafter Industries, Home Defense, Nightingale Gun Leather, personal defense, SIG Sauer Elite, V-Crown JHP, wound potential

The Real Deal in Training

In a profession that should be conservative by nature, we see a lot of flash, bling, and “pie in the sky” when examining the personal defense field. A healthy dose of self-respect is sometimes alloyed with ego, but the real deal in training means the trainer must train for likely scenarios. Personal defense isn’t a tactical operation by any means. It is small scale and most important only to the ones involved. [Read more…] about The Real Deal in Training


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November 8, 2019

Filed Under: Self Defense, Tactics Tagged With: handguns, holsters, Home Defense, Hornady Critical Defense, personal defense, Revolvers, semi-automatic handguns

Smith and Wesson Versus Colt — Old Iron at its Best

When Samuel Colt invented the revolver as we know it, he turned the handgun world on its nose. Most handguns were horse pistols or pocket guns similar in design to rifles, they were simply shorter. The Colt revolver had to be designed to stabilize the firing hand to allow thumb cocking and to present the sights for proper aiming. Either way, this article details Old Iron at its best! [Read more…] about Smith and Wesson Versus Colt — Old Iron at its Best


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October 16, 2019

Filed Under: Colt, Pistols, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .45 Colt, Colt, double action, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson

The 10mm — Powerful Pistols and Revolvers

The past few months have been good to the 10mm cartridge and 10mm pistol fans. While sales and popularity of the .40 Smith and Wesson seem to be slipping, the 10mm is enjoying a comeback. New pistols including the Kimber Custom II, the now well-established Ruger SR1911, and even a double-action revolver have been met with enthusiasm. [Read more…] about The 10mm — Powerful Pistols and Revolvers


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October 10, 2019

Filed Under: Cartridges, Pistols, Self Defense Tagged With: .40 S&W, 10mm, animal defense, Federal Cartridge Company, Home Defense, Hornady, hunting, Kimber, personal defense, Ruger, SIG Sauer

Thoughts: Handgun Stopping Power

In writing, I prefer my information to be valid, the research verifiable, and the experiments repeatable—especially when it come to handgun stopping power. I like to give the reader an opportunity to get a handle on things. Quite often the things that the critic points out harshly are the things the majority of the readers find valuable. I have found that the subject of handgun wound potential or handgun stopping power isn’t a puzzle at all but remains a puzzle to those who make it so. I realize that there is no natural law that gives a man a reward that matches his endeavor, so I hope that the reader finds something of value in this work. [Read more…] about Thoughts: Handgun Stopping Power


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October 8, 2019

Filed Under: Op-ed Tagged With: .45, 9mm, ammunition choices, Concealed Carry, handguns, Home Defense, one shot stops, penetration, personal defense, wound potential

Gun Test: Remington 870 DM

The Remington 870 DM is a detachable magazine, pump-action shotgun that is garnering a great deal of interest and both positive and negative comments. It isn’t the first detachable magazine shotgun, as the AK types have been in use for some time, and there are detachable aftermarket kits for modifying existing shotguns. However, this is a production pump-action shotgun from Big Green. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Remington 870 DM


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September 27, 2019

Filed Under: Reviews, Shotguns Tagged With: 870, area defense, Home Defense, personal defense, pump action shotguns, Remington, Remington 12 gauge, Ultimate Defense

Taurus 856 and 857 Versus S&W J Frame Revolvers

At the 2018 SHOT show, among the more interesting revolvers was the Taurus 856 revolver. The 856 is based upon the proven and immensely popular Taurus 85, a small-frame revolver that holds five .38 Special cartridges. The 856 is a version of the Model 85 with a six-shot cylinder. It is quite an engineering feat to design such a revolver. [Read more…] about Taurus 856 and 857 Versus S&W J Frame Revolvers


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September 27, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews, Taurus Tagged With: .38 Special, 856, Blackhawk, Concealed Carry, Galco, Home Defense, personal defense, pocket holsters, Revolvers, Taurus, Winchester

Excellence Redefined: Guncrafter Commander 1911

Some folks like anything that goes bang! I find firearms of all type immensely interesting. However, when it comes to personal defense, I like to have a firearm that compliments my skills and one that is both accurate and completely reliable. [Read more…] about Excellence Redefined: Guncrafter Commander 1911


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September 3, 2019

Filed Under: 1911, Pistols, Reviews Tagged With: .45 ACP, 1911, Fiocchi, Guncrafter, handloading, Home Defense, Oregon Trail, personal defense, personal defense ammunition, Target Shooting, Wilson Combat

The New, Less Expensive Ruger 10/22

Hard on the heels of the Ruger Wrangler revolver, Ruger has introduced a more affordable version of the 10/22 self-loading rifle. The new rifle, SKU 31139, is intended to retail for less than $200. This is the same reliable 18.5-barrel 4.5-pound rifle as before, but without sights and a rather plain vanilla plastic stock. A sight rail is included. [Read more…] about The New, Less Expensive Ruger 10/22


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August 23, 2019

Filed Under: Reviews, Rifles, Rimfire Tagged With: .22 Long Rifle, 10/22, CCI Ammunition, custom rifles, Federal Cartridge Company, Home Defense, Hunter Match, hunting, Mini Mag, Ruger, Small Game, Target Shooting

A Great Home Defender: The .38 Special

A time proven axiom is that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. This applies to the .38 Special revolver as a home defender. I have trained many shooters over the years to use the double action revolver well, and most, if not all have chosen a .38 Special as the baseline caliber. [Read more…] about A Great Home Defender: The .38 Special


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August 16, 2019

Filed Under: Ammunition, Reviews Tagged With: .38 Special, Concealed Carry, Federal Cartridge Company, Federal HST, Galco, Home Defense, personal defense, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Taurus

Colt AR-15: Trail-Dirty Deeds and Off-Road Shooting

K-Var Armory offers several variations on the Colt AR-15 rifle. While I have my favorites, any of the Colts will give long service in the harshest environments. It is like the old question, Do you know the difference between an elephant and an ant? An ant can ride an elephant. Many companies have done the AR-15, and some have done it well, but the Colt is still the one that all others are judged by. In fact, in my humble opinion, the Colt kicks most competitors in the teeth! [Read more…] about Colt AR-15: Trail-Dirty Deeds and Off-Road Shooting


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July 19, 2019

Filed Under: Anything AR, Reviews, Rifles Tagged With: 1911, AR-15, Colt, Home Defense, hunting, K-Var, personal defense, SIG Elite Ammunition, Target Shooting

Speed Is Good, but Accuracy Is Final

Before we make a purchase, we research what we are buying. By the same token, an investment in time should not be taken lightly. We look to those with good information in order to learn. After all, we are all ignorant, simply about different things. When it comes to training, speed and accuracy are always among the top considerations. [Read more…] about Speed Is Good, but Accuracy Is Final


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July 12, 2019

Filed Under: How To, Self Defense, Tactics Tagged With: Combat Shooting, handguns, Home Defense, personal defense

Illumination and Imaging: Tools for Home Defense

Red dot sights, powerful combat lights, and self-luminous tritium sights are important parts of the home defender’s working tool box. How they are used is more important than how they are chosen. Just the same care in obtaining this gear pays big dividends in security. While skill at arms is purchased with a different currency, obtaining modern high-tech gear, such as thermal, gives the prepared defender an option. A combat light is useful not only for illumination but for identification. There are worse things than being shot, and shooting the wrong person is one of these. Lighting up the potential threat is important. [Read more…] about Illumination and Imaging: Tools for Home Defense


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April 2, 2019

Filed Under: Optics, Reviews, Thermal Tagged With: Glock, Home Defense, Leupold, personal defense, SureFire, Thermal, TruGlo

Home Defense Details

The most dangerous places are outside the home. For home defense, we have barriers including outer doors, glass, and hard interior doors. Hopefully, the family has your back, and you have a plan. If not, you have more problems than I can address. Illegal narcotics, and the pharmaceutical industry’s greed fed opioid epidemic, turn many against their fellows, and the family is the first victim—just so you will not be surprised. [Read more…] about Home Defense Details


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March 30, 2019

Filed Under: Self Defense, Tactics Tagged With: handguns, Home Defense, Rifle

Gun Test: Beretta APX 9mm Compact

The Beretta APX is Beretta’s entry into the polymer-frame striker-fired field, and they added a modular design for good measure. The APX is going against stiff competition. While Beretta has brand loyalty, the piece must stand on its own merit. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Beretta APX 9mm Compact


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March 22, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews Tagged With: 9mm, APX, Beretta, Federal Ammunition, Fiocchi, Home Defense, personal defense

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