Should You Shoot Someone In The Back As They Flee?
Let it be known that we are in no way giving legal advice with this post, nor are we ourselves attorneys. Our main goal with this is education and to point out some basic tenets to using your concealed carry gun in defense of life, as well as why you must be very careful in certain situations. One of those situations is this: Should you shoot someone in the back as they flee, after an attack or crime?
Remembering that we are not attorneys and nothing we say here can be construed to be legal advice, can you shoot someone in the back as they flee from a crime they committed? Probably not, and the rest of this article will make an attempt at explaining why the answer to this question is almost always going to be no.
But first, why do we bring this up? Facebook gun groups, and plenty of gun forums are riddled with posts about this very topic, with gun owners saying things like: “he should have shot him, the world would have been better off,” or, “I would have shot him as he ran away!” Whether or not the world may or may not be better off without that criminal can be debated, but what can’t be debated is that a court of law could have a field day with your choice to shoot at someone as they run away.
At the end of the day it will all likely come down to two things, and how well they play together. Those two things are imminence and deadly force. Or, in order for you to use deadly force, you must be in imminent (about to happen) danger. Some states view deadly force as nothing more than you grabbing your gun and pulling it out of your holster without ever firing a single shot.
In most states, in order to use deadly force to stop a threat you must reasonably believe that your life is somehow in immediate danger. Because of this there are likely only a very few select circumstances where you’d be justified in shooting a person in the back as they fled the scene of their crime, and your ego is not one of them. No matter how badly they hurt your feelings or ego by robbing you, once the threat is over there is no longer an imminent threat of death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping, or sexual abuse. Since there is no longer an imminent threat, deadly force in defense of your ego is not recommended regardless of how you feel about that person.
At this point, it’s probably a better idea to pull your phone out instead of your gun and dial 911 to report the crime to the police, to start them on their job. Fill them in on what happened, what the crime was, what he was wearing, if he had any weapons, etc.
The argument can be made, unless he had turned around and began slinging bullets in your general direction, that the threat to you was over and that you should not have shot the person. Once that argument is made, it’s not very hard to get to the next argument, which is that you just wanted to kill someone.
Then, your argument goes out the window when the court makes Facebook, Reddit, and the others, give them your records where you kept saying you would have killed some other person in an unrelated incident because “the world would be better off.”
It’s very easy for a court to get your entire history on your preferred social media platform, and a certain amount of caution should be exercised to make sure you don’t say anything that might jam you up later on down the road if you do ever need to use your concealed carry gun in defense of your life.
Of course, we recommend that you always have a solid understanding of the local laws so you know them and can be well within what is considered to be legal in your area. With all the states and their jurisdictions, it’s impossible for any one person to know all the gun laws on the books. Knowing them beforehand can only help to keep you out of trouble later on.
To summarize, it’s rarely ever a good idea to open fire on a fleeing criminal unless you still feel as though life is being threatened. What you should do instead, is dial the police to report the incident and give them as much info as you can regarding the criminal and what he did. And, in a roundabout sort of way we made another point, which is to not brag about wanting to kill someone on social media because it can be used against you.
]]>This will be a regularly recurring theme of ours on a monthly or twice per month basis. We’ll examine a recent defensive gun use story in our own news write up of that story (so we can properly share all the details). That story will then be followed by a constructive breakdown on the circumstances of that incident, as well as what may have happened differently, both good and bad.
Ultimately, our goal is to learn from these incidents.
This time out of Las Vegas and reported by Fox 5 Vegas on December 28th, a woman opened fire, shooting one shot, at a man who attempted a burglary in her home while she was there.
At about 11:15 am on Knoll View Drive, the woman heard the sound of shattering glass shortly after hearing someone knocking on her door. The woman ignored the initial knock.
Lt Ray Spencer of the LVPD Homicide Department told reporters that the 30-year-old man broke the back sliding glass door and entered, at which time the woman retreated to her bedroom to get her handgun.
It was at this point where the attempted burglar confronted the woman and lunged at her, causing her to shoot one round at him. The man fled the scene, ran back through the now-broken glass door, and drove off in his Kia.
She dialed 911 to tell police what had happened. Lt Spencer said that police found him about half of a mile up the road at an intersection where he ran into other cars. The alleged burglar was taken to the hospital where he died.
Police think he sat in his car for many hours checking the area out before he settled on the woman’s house.
At this time it is believed that the woman acted in self-defense.
Now let’s break this story down to see what we can learn from it --
We don’t know many of the specifics like the type of gun or ammo that was used, why only one shot was fired, why her gun was in her bedroom, etc. But, not knowing these things in no way prevents us from learning from this story.
First, it’s a common misconception that break-ins and burglaries don’t happen in the daylight hours for all to see. This is a popular time for a break-in because, oftentimes, people are at work leaving their residence unattended.
The unnamed man likely sat in his car for hours because he was trying to make sure nobody was home, and we’re led to believe this further because he knocked on the door. The door knocking also leads us to the next point which is actually a double edged sword with an outcome that differs from one criminal to the next.
First, when she didn’t open the door it likely showed him that nobody was home, and he felt bold enough to break the glass on the sliding door to gain entrance to the home. Just her presence may have been enough to deter him from choosing her home. Then again, maybe not, which brings us to point number two ...
If she had opened the door and he was intent on breaking in, it wouldn’t have mattered and she would have likely gotten hurt, or worse, died. Remember, she was unarmed and went back to her bedroom to get her gun. Her not opening the door to a stranger likely saved her life.
While it sounds crazy to some folks, we recommend carrying a gun during all waking hours, to include when you’re comfortable in your own home. One needs to not look any further than an incident like this, or any of the other break-ins that happen each year, for a reason why we advocate carrying your gun in the home.
We can only speculate, because we don’t know for sure, but what would have happened if she hadn’t gotten to her gun on time? Again, we always recommend that you carry a gun in your house for just this reason. You just never know how a criminal will react if he or she finds you on the inside of your home as they’re ransacking it. It’s better to be prepared for any circumstance than be caught without your life-saving device.
Thankfully, she was able to get to her gun and was able to fire a shot off, which brings us to another important consideration. This time, we’re talking about the one stop shot. In the world of handguns there is rarely such a thing as a one stop shot, or stopping power. To prove that, this man got shot one time, ran back to his car and drove half of a mile before stopping, and even then, didn’t die until he was at the hospital.
The truth of the matter is that the human body is willing to do amazing things to stay alive, even with a gunshot wound causing the body to bleed profusely. This is an important consideration because if he had his own weapon with the determination to use it, he clearly had enough time to do damage of his own.
Before opening your door make sure you know the person on the other side. If you don’t know him, don’t open the door. Carrying a gun on your person even while in your own home guarantees that you’re prepared during an unexpected break-in. Anything that could have happened differently in this particular situation, down to the smallest detail, could have changed the outcome. For example, if she was on the other side of the house when the glass broke and didn’t have enough time to make it to her bedroom, things might be drastically different.
Being prepared with your gun on you, is the only way to ensure survival--especially since a break-in can happen in the daylight hours when you’re home.
]]>After a self-defense incident, especially one where a firearm was used, it’s imperative that you follow specific steps to keep yourself out of trouble with the law. One wrong move afterward, even if you were totally in the right, can really jam you up just because you had a slip of the tongue. One thing we see some people do after an incident where a firearm was needed to defend life, is opening up about it afterward to the police or reporters.
After a self-defense incident, even if you were totally right to defend yourself, nothing should be said to anyone except for your lawyer.
Before moving on, let it be known that nothing we say in this article, or anywhere in our blog, should be taken as legal advice. We always recommend that you consult with an attorney prior to making any decisions regarding the law, and believe strongly that nobody should ever seek out legal advice from the internet.
This is more of a guide on what you can discuss with your attorney than actual advice on law.
As Americans, we have access to things called rights that people in other countries don’t necessarily have. Many Americans believe that the right to remain silent only applies to certain people who have done wrong and are being arrested for committing a crime.
The right to remain silent doesn’t just apply to criminals. It can apply to anyone who needs to remain silent who is being questioned by police. And in fact, if you shoot someone out of self-defense you SHOULD remain silent and talk to an attorney before you say anything that may incriminate you later on.
There are things you can say, but before we get to that, let’s discuss why opening up as to what you think happened, or the reason why you used your gun to defend yourself may be bad. After a critical incident occurs, your mind is a mess of emotions and chances are excellent that you don’t really yet understand all that happened to get you to the point where you’re at. The last thing you’ll want to have happen is to say something that you may end up regretting later on because you interpreted a situation a certain way. Remember, anything you say can be admissible in court and used against you.
It’s therefore always better to say less than more.
As mentioned a few moments ago, there are things you can say to the police without cause for concern. Things like what your attacker was wearing, the kind of getaway car he had, etc., are all important for catching the actual bad guy. But, as far as the reasons why you felt you needed to defend yourself or whether you meant to shoot him, should be left off the table for the time being. You’ll need to speak to your attorney first.
Many people say they worry about looking guilty and want to divulge as much as possible to help them look better. But, regardless of what you may see on the TV, your silence is not an admission of guilt. And, really, who cares when your freedom is on the line?
One thing many people don’t realize is that they have a right to remain silent, and once you ask to speak to your attorney, any questioning must immediately stop. The key, though, is that you actually have to invoke that right by stating you’d like to speak to your attorney before saying anything else.
There have been documented instances of people who used their firearm in self-defense and said one stupid thing on accident that ended up in a conviction in court. It is not necessary for the police officer to read you your Miranda Rights before you invoke your silence, even though this is a commonly held belief. If you’re not in custody, you can still be questioned and the things you say can still be used against you--which is why your silence is so important.
If you accidentally say something that incriminates you for murder, your attorney has to work overtime just to try and figure out how to undo what your loose lips did. And, at that point if you do end up with a conviction you can kiss your legally owned firearms, and your freedom, goodbye.
There is actually a scientific reason why you need to wait before opening up about a critical incident. There is a period of time afterward that your body undergoes a dump of adrenaline as you begin to recall moments of the attack. At this time, you may say something that could be damaging to you.
And in fact, most police departments have a 48 hour or so requirement that they must wait before interviewing a police officer after a shooting or other traumatic incident occurs. There’s science behind it that says your brain is more apt to remember events properly after having a couple of full sleep cycles behind it.
If it’s good enough for the cops, it’s good enough for us, too.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for your attorney before answering questions after you’ve used your firearm for self-defense. Hopefully we’ve helped to drive that home in this article. We strongly recommend that you attend a self-defense law seminar or speak to an attorney regarding this further to gain clarity on the subject of lawyering up, and shutting up.
]]>There are a series of events that lead up to, and should take place after, you purchase a new-to-you gun. Leading up to the purchase there is obviously a certain amount of research that needs to be done to find out what kind of gun, how much it’ll cost, etc. But, afterwards, there are things you should be doing as well.
For example, you should inspect and clean your gun when you get it to make sure all the parts are in working order. The writer of this article received a brand new gun from a major manufacturer with a gouge on the inside of the barrel. Because he saw that before he started shooting it, he was able to get it taken care of by the manufacturer.
Furthermore, you should always read your instruction manual before you do anything with your gun for the first time. There are things you’ll learn about your gun that you might not have otherwise known, just by reading the manual your gun came with.
The rest of this article will discuss some of the more important things you’ll learn by reading the owner’s manual your gun comes with:
Believe it or not, even with today’s technology, not all guns are created equal. Not all guns are +P or +P+ rated (plus P, or plus P plus). If you are wondering, the main reason why is because these two types of ammunition have higher pressures associated with them and are known to wear parts out quicker.
Your owner’s manual will tell you what kind of ammunition your gun is capable of shooting. The last thing you want to do is try to run an ammo type that can hurt your gun in anyway.
There are important things to know concerning your firearm’s maintenance. For example, how to break it down. Also, how to put it back together again the proper way. And, you may think you know which points to lubricate your firearm at, but you may be missing something important.
Your owner’s manual tells you all of that maintenance stuff, and more. What else does it say regarding maintenance? It shows you part diagrams, part numbers, how to contact the manufacturer if there’s a problem with the gun, and more.
Something you may already know how to do, especially since you’ve likely already read our article covering this topic, is how to clear a stoppage. But, if you wanted to know what the manufacturer says about stoppages and how to clear them, every manual we’ve ever read has a section on how to clear malfunctions in your gun.
A lot of folks never even open up their warranty information, but if you have a problem with your gun you’d be glad that you did. Most gun manufacturers offer some kind of warranty, with some being better than others.
These days many people are quick to take themselves to the internet to find answers as to why their gun may be doing this or that, when many times, reading the trouble shooting guide in your owner’s manual is more than sufficient to help you get to the bottom of an issue you may be having.
Many manuals have a section on this that will lay it out … if your gun is or isn’t doing this, check this part. The thought here, is that since they made the gun they must know how to fix it.
Sometimes guns have little things that you should know, that, without reading the manual could cause serious problems to the gun itself. For example, the SIG Sauer P938 has a section in the owner’s manual that states not to manipulate the safety while the gun is broken down, and to do so could cause the safety detent plunger to fall out. If this happens, chances are good you’d need a gunsmith to put it back together.
The truth here, is that sometimes guns have little things about them that you may not know about that could cause you issues later on down the road. Every gun is different.
This really only applies to you if you’re left-handed, or bought a gun from a lefty and want to return it to right hand operation. If you want to reverse the magazine catch/release, then your manual will tell you how to do that if your gun is capable.
Another aspect to take into consideration is the gear you'll want if you're going to be concealed carrying your new weapon. We recommend a gun belt and holster to safely and properly carry your weapon if the purpose of the weapon is for concealed carry. We have a few listed below that will most definitely fit your needs regardless of which sidearm you choose to buy.
At the end of the day, reading your owner’s manual whenever you get a new gun is a good idea. It’ll not only teach you about your chosen firearm, but make sure you stay safe when you’re handling it, tell you how to fix it, explain what parts you may need and when, tell you what type of ammunition to use, etc. The owner’s manual is one of the most important, and sadly most underrated tools in the gun owner’s shed.
]]>If you have been reaping the rewards of dryfire, but have become bored with the same routine, here are some drills you can work into your sessions. We chose to put these two drills together because they focus on similar skills. To spice up your dryfire practice even more, add a shot timer to the mix and see how quick you can get.
A gun is a tool and thus is only useful if the user has the skills to wield it. Your proficiency will suffer if you do not have confidence in your ability to handle the gun under various conditions.
When conducting dryfire, ensure your firearm is unloaded with no live ammunition in the vicinity, and that you’re pointing the gun in a safe direction. Here we go:
1) Draw to first shot: The purpose of this drill is to work on speeding up your draw from concealment. You may ask, how is this working on firearm manipulation? Your draw is all about how you manipulate the gun.
Tips: Efficiency and consistency is the key, not frenetic movements. Here is the basic 5 step draw stroke. If you’re just learning this, practice it by the numbers, do not build bad habits by adding speed without first building the skill.
Goal: Your goal is to draw your firearm, pick up your sights and squeeze off a shot. Times to look for; 2 seconds or under for good, 1.5 seconds and under for better, and sub-second for best.
2) Emergency reloads: Even if you don’t carry a spare magazine (which is totally up to you) practicing emergency reloads will help your overall skills. Breaking your grip, performing some function and then re-establishing your grip is a skill that you are also building during this drill.
Tips: Set up the gun with the slide locked to the rear with an empty magazine. In a second magazine, use a dummy round, mag block, or remove the spring and follower so that the slide can go forward. Spare magazines should be carried on the non-dominant side, with the bullet facing the strong side.
Goal: Your goal is to reload your firearm, pick up your sights, and squeeze off a shot. Times to look for; 2 seconds or under for good, 1.5 seconds and under for better, and sub-second for best.
Important considerations: Make sure you pick up your sights and get a good sight picture before you break your shot. Speed is completely useless without accuracy. Additionally, ensure you are getting good reps. Meaning, make sure that your technique is sound. Lots of poorly executed reps will build bad habits. Use a shot timer's par time to figure out if you’re getting the shot off in time. A par time is just setting a predetermined time between beeps.
These are just some of the drills you can start adding to your dry fire routine that will get your hands used to running your gun. Stay safe.
Check out our Comfort Carry Leather Holster & Mag Pouch Combo. This is a great product to pair with your dry fire drills!
]]>In the world of concealed carry, an often-asked question is “What is the best caliber for a concealed carry handgun?” While there are many calibers to choose from, two stand out from the pack as being very popular choices for small, lightweight, concealed carry firearms, 9mm Luger and .380 ACP.
The older of the two is the 9mm Luger, also known as the 9mm Parabellum, was designed by Georg Luger and introduced in 1902. The 9mm has been in service with much of the European armies since its inception and has been the primary handgun cartridge of the United States Military since the adoption of the Beretta M9 as the standard service sidearm in 1985. The 9mm is an outstanding cartridge for personal defense and also adapts well to use in sub-machineguns and pistol caliber carbines (PCCs).
The 9mm, while popular with European police and militaries since its inception, did not gain a lot of popularity in the US until the 1980s with the rise of the so-called “Wondernines,” which were high-capacity pistols that had magazine capacities of 15 rounds compared to 7 rounds in the 1911. 9mm handguns were adopted by many police agencies across the US and the FBI and Secret Service as well.
The 9mm fell out of favor after the Miami Shootout in 1986, as one of the perpetrators had continued to engage police for several minutes after being shot numerous times by an FBI agent’s 9mm service weapon. In 2016 the 9mm was re-adopted by the FBI after recent advancements in bullet technology has made the 9mm a significantly more effective round.
The .380 ACP is the brainchild of one of the world’s most prolific firearms designers, the esteemed John M. Browning and is also known as the 9mm Browning, 9mm Short, and 9mm Kurz. It was introduced in 1908 with the Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless model.
The .380 became very popular with European police and military officers looking for a small, compact handgun. While it did not reach the same popularity as it’s big brother, the .380 did gain some notoriety, since an FN model 1910 in .380 ACP was used to assassinate the Archduke Ferdinand, an act that has been credited with starting World War I.
The 9mm Parabellum is typically loaded with bullets weighing from 115 grains to 147 grains with velocities ranging from 1180 feet per second (FPS) to upwards of 1400 FPS while the .380 runs a bit lighter with bullet weights from 85 grains to 100 grains and velocity from 975 FPS to 1125 FPS. In terms of power alone the 9mm is a pretty clear-cut winner. However, power alone is no good if you can’t put it on target and the .380 with its lower recoil is easier to control, especially for inexperienced shooters or shooters who have weaker hands or arthritic joints.
Ammunition prices also give a slight edge to the 9mm with the price of FMJ ammo coming in around 12.4 cents per round as compared to 16.4 cents per round for .380 (at the time of this writing), assuming you purchase your training ammo in bulk. If you purchase your ammo by the box at your local sporting goods store or gun shop, the spread gets a bit wider as 9mm is pretty cheap to shoot and is almost always in stock due to its popularity. The .380 is a little bit pricier to purchase by the box and is not typically stocked in the same volume as its big brother.
When it comes to concealed carry handguns, sub-compacts are currently in the driver’s seat. This is where the .380 makes its mark. Most of the handguns chambered for it have been compact to subcompact for years. Handguns like the Walther PPK, Bersa Thunder, and the Beretta Cheetah while all falling into the class of subcompacts are at the larger end of the .380 spectrum. On the other end are a group of pistols that are known as pocket pistols, examples of popular .380 pocket pistols are the Ruger LCP, Taurus Spectrum, and the S&W Bodyguard.
For fans of the 1911 there are scaled down versions made by Sig Sauer, Kimber, Colt, and Springfield Armory, and for those of us that prefer polymer framed, striker fired pistols there is the Glock G42, Kahr CM380, and the Ruger LCP II.
Over the past few years manufacturers have been closing the gap with subcompact 9mms that are comparable in size with their .380 brethren. The Sig P938 for instance is only slightly larger than the P238 and the Glock G43 is comparable in dimensions with its little brother the G42. Several manufacturers have come out with 9mm subcompacts in the last couple of years that are all outstanding pistols, the Sig P365, the Ruger LC9, the Springfield Armory Hellcat, and even Mossberg (yes, the shotgun folks) has gotten into the game with the MC1sc.
While overall the .380 has the edge over the 9mm in terms of size, firearms manufacturers have been working hard to close the gap.
When it comes to recoil, again the .380 has the edge, with a less powerful cartridge and lighter bullet weights the .380 does have a milder recoil than its big brother in all but the smallest of pistols. In the larger sub-compacts, the .380 is very mild, but in comparable sized pistols the 9mm is very controllable as well due to well thought out design.
Either caliber would be a good choice for concealed carry, the power and effectiveness of the 9mm cartridge make it an outstanding choice for everyday carry. The .380, while not as powerful as the 9mm is still an effective cartridge as long as you remember that shot placement is the key. If a light-weight ultra-compact pistol is what you are in the market for, you have plenty to choose from in either caliber.
Check out some of our popular IWB concealed carry holsters below.
The Defender Leather IWB - Fit's Most .380's
The Defender Leather IWB - Fits Most 9mm
]]>The term situational awareness gets thrown around a lot in the concealed carry and self-defense world. Rarely do people talk about what it is, what it means, and how to apply proper situational awareness correctly to everyday life. The purpose of this blog post is to tackle just that, and give an overview of what it is, as well as give you some tips to be more aware of what is around you.
Let’s first start by answering the following question --
Situational awareness can be described as having a general sense of what is going on around you at most times so you can react appropriately to a threat, should you be presented with one.
The biggest threats tend to come when people are distracted, and it is very easy to be distracted in today’s society.
To fully understand situational awareness, we have to try and understand how a criminal thinks. While it’s never a good idea to make blanket statements, a lot of the time you won’t see the attack coming because it’s an ambush.
What’s interesting about this, is that the attacker won’t always know who his victim is until the attack is about to happen. An ambush is usually when a predator hides, jumping out at the last second. However sometimes, an ambush is nothing more than an opportunity. Some criminals won’t know their victim until they see him or her firsthand.
In other words, they may set out to commit a robbery, but they won’t know you’re the victim until they see you walking down the street with your earbuds in, sitting on a park bench on Facebook, or otherwise distracted. When they see you distracted, they know you’re an easy target.
It’s still an ambush because you had no idea it was coming. The only difference is that they didn’t know either, at least, not until they saw how distracted you were and, thus, making yourself a soft target.
The goal for remaining aware of your surroundings is to stay undistracted in this busy life we live in. Let’s take a look at some of our bigger distractions.
Perhaps the biggest vacuum to the normal American being aware of their surroundings is that the entire world can be had at their fingertips in the form of these things we call smart phones. Think about how many times each day you look at your phone to check your favorite social media account, check to see what time it is, check to see if you received any text messages or calls, etc.
There is a cost to having the world at our fingertips, and it is that we lose our situational awareness because we’re constantly distracted by these little rectangular things. They consume us. And, because they do, our minds are always on them. It’s not our goal with this blog post to say that these things are bad, just to point out that looking at our phones so very often distracts us from seeing the world as it might be.
If you’re like the average American, you check your phone while stopped at traffic lights, walking around the street, right after you load your groceries but before you get in your car, etc. These are all times that are perfect for a determined criminal to get the jump on you before you even know what was going on. And why? All because your friend Sally posted a picture of what she ate for dinner last night.
So, how do we combat this? The best way is to try and make a mental note of how often you check your phone and try to check it less. Try to not check it while you’re out and about unless you need to. If you’re just grabbing it because you’ve got a few seconds at the red light because it’s second nature to do so, try to stop.
Every second of distraction is the perfect opportunity for a crook to take advantage.
People use less cash these days than ever before with so many different ways to pay for our goods. However, there are instances when we need to get cash out of the bank, and once again, the ATM Machine is a distraction.
Not only is it a distraction, but it’s the perfect opportunity for a criminal to ambush you because your back is turned and you’re accessing your money.
Think about it, you’ve got to insert your card, punch in your pin number, figure out how much money you need, or if you’re making a transfer, and anything else that may take brain power. When you’re at the bank machine, doing whatever, you’re distracted.
Next time, try to blade (turn) your body at an angle that allows you to use at least some of your peripheral vision as you’re making the transaction. And, in between inputting your pin and other info, glance around behind your back.
It also pays to know exactly what you need to do beforehand, so you minimize your actual time spent at the machine, distracted.
There are many instances for distraction while walking or jogging down the street. In keeping with the overall theme of this article up until this point, we’re once again going to say that it’s in your best interest to remain distraction free.
The cell phone comes into play again here, as it contains every bit of our lives on it, or as we use it for some other task. For example, some people feel safe on their phone talking to a loved one at night as they need to walk to their car, but the truth of the matter is that it’s a distraction. And, if you’re holding the phone up to your ear one of your hands is now busy and unable to get to your gun or to sufficiently defend yourself.
Another thing people like to do while jogging or otherwise exercising, is listening to music with their ear buds in. How can you hear a potential attacker sneaking up on you if you’ve got music in?
If you want to exercise, do so in a more open setting where you can still listen to music in the comfort of a gym, or with a running buddy. And, it may seem like a good idea to be on the phone late at night because that person knows where you are and can call the police if something bad happens, but the cops are still at least minutes away and you’re down an arm because you’re holding a phone up to your head.
The better bet is to always be aware of your surroundings so that a criminal can’t get the jump on you.
Situational awareness is key to avoiding an attack. It’s our hope that this blog post was able to get your gears turning as to how you can be better aware of your surroundings.
Check out some more helpful CCW tips here --> Tips For Concealed Carry
]]>Maybe you've heard someone say that shooting skills are perishable and that if you don't regularly work on those skills, you will lose them. There is some truth to that and you should be training with your firearms. But let’s say you’re like many adults and haven't ridden a bike in years. You’d still likely be able to ride the bike if needed, you just may not be as agile on it as you were when you rode it to and from school every day.
But that statement does bring up a really important question: How often is often enough to train with your firearm in order to still be effective at self defense? The most simple answer would be to say, “it depends.”
What is enough for one person may not be true for another. There is one thing we can say with certainty, and that is this: Getting regular training with your gun increases your proficiency.
Here’s the thing that nobody admits: we all miss. But, those who practice and train with their guns miss less. From the point of view where you need to defend your life with your handgun, missing could have ramifications that you might not have considered.
If a police officer's errant round strikes an innocent person, and that officer has met the minimum firearm qualifications, they are not going to be held individually liable. Unless, of course, they also did something reckless, unreasonable, or outside of the department's policies.
On the other hand, if you, being a civilian, discharge a round that strikes an innocent person you have no immunity. We’re not saying that the only reason you should be proficient is to stay out of court. But it is important to consider other potential issues arising from inadequate skills.
And of course, there is also the part about your proficiency being able to effectively stop the threat, and if you can’t, it puts your life in danger.
Many people think of firearm training as only involving live-fire range time. While live-fire is a huge component of it, it is actually only a portion of it. Part of learning how to become proficient with your gun is being comfortable handling it.
Along with safety, you need to have the ability to establish a good grip, draw from a holster, load, unload, chamber a round, clear stoppages, transition from one to two-handed shooting, move with the gun without muzzling yourself or everyone around you, taking your gun apart and putting it back together, and so on.
If you can shoot a good, slow-fire group at 10 yards, but you're not comfortable shooting in unconventional positions, you're being ineffective with your training. When that’s all you do at the range, you're not working on the actual skills necessary to survive a gunfight. You're like a marathon runner training by only running 100-yard sprints.
Handling your unloaded firearm and working various skills or tasks with it outside of the gun range is referred to as dryfire (which we’ve covered more in depth here). How often should you be using dryfire practice? Ideally every day, or several times each week.
Getting the gun in your hands daily, even for just 10 or 15 minutes, is important to help maintain the pathways that connect the muscles to the brain (called neuromuscular pathways). For example, if you've ever driven a rental car that is nothing like your regular car, it can initially feel a bit odd because you’re not used to it.
Think of how that would similarly apply to your home defense gun. If you have only practiced with your semi-auto handgun and left your home defense shotgun to collect dust for a year, you're not going to have that same familiarity and proficiency that you had when you last touched it a year ago. Check out our Tips For Self-Defense in the Home for more information on this subject.
If the answer to how often should we dry fire is “daily,” the question now remains: How often should we live fire then? How much is enough? We've heard people say things like "you should shoot X number of rounds a month." Or "just go shoot as much as you can, because anything is better than nothing."
The truth of the matter is that the volume of rounds does not always create a better shooter. And, likely, you won't be consistent in doing something unless you plan or form a habit. To make matters worse, if you don’t know how to train, you won’t be able to do it properly.
That’s where taking a class comes in.
Professional firearms trainers hold classes that are purpose-built and designed to develop skills, rather than just check a box stating that you shot some rounds. Shooting a ton of ammo, with bad technique, can arguably make you a worse shooter.
It is always recommended that you attend a formally instructed class at least once a year. They can be expensive, but well worth the cost as you’ll be taught concepts and drills you’ve never thought of before and remind you of things you’ve forgotten. Then you can get out to the range without the instructor and work on the skills you learned in your formal class.
To answer the above question, if you can add 8-10 or more practice sessions each year to your formal training class and continue your daily dryfire practice, you're setting yourself up to remain proficient and grow in your firearms skill set.
Firearms training does not have to be a 100% dogmatic training regimen, but it can't be 100% plinking tin cans on a fence post either. If you carry a gun and plan to use it to save your life, your priority should be building a set of appropriate skills and maintaining them through regular dry and live fire training and practice. This includes practicing on your own, as well as in a formal class.
]]>With the concealed carry mindset comes certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to be prepared for an incident whenever the time comes. And, if there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that an attack can happen at any point in time, to include whenever you’re out and about, or sitting in front of the tube at night during your Netflix and Chill time.
Because an attack can happen whenever you’re least expecting it, it’s best to have your gun on you whenever you’re awake, and close by whenever you’re sleeping so you can defend yourself should that dreaded time ever come. But, what if it’s night time and you can’t see after the attack starts? That is one of the main reasons why we recommend that all concealed carriers make use of an EDC (every day carry) flashlight.
As an added bonus, chances are excellent that you’ll even use your flashlight in times when you don’t need to use your gun, as well as more often than you need your gun.
Think about how many times you’ve needed to see in the dark and had to use either your on-board cell phone light, or the screen itself. And, how often are either one of those options insufficient for your needs to see in the dark?
If you’re like most people, you need to use your cell phone light at least a couple times per month. The difference, is that you won’t whip your cell phone out if you’re ever attacked in a dark alleyway or walking out of a restaurant at night.
All of these reasons are why the need for an EDC flashlight exists and why many people who own and carry a concealed gun, also have some sort of flashlight on them. This article, though, is meant for those of you who don’t yet carry a flashlight on a regular basis.
It’s not our goal to say which platform is better in this article, just to say that each one has situations where one performs better than the other. For the sake of this article, we’re going to focus on a handheld flashlight as opposed to a Weapon Mounted Light (WML), but do want to point out a couple of important distinctions.
Because the WML is attached to your firearm, it should be considered to be a part of the gun itself, and no longer a flashlight. What this means is that it’s considered irresponsible to whip your gun out at night to look for an earring on the ground. A weapon mounted light should only be used in self-defense situations, not for general purposes where a handheld light should be used.
The chances that you’ll need a handheld light far outweigh you ever needing your gun and we’re firm believers that you should carry a handheld flashlight, even if your gun is so equipped with a WML as stated above.
The reason why is simple: If you need to see in a non-emergent manner that doesn’t require your gun, using a handheld light is just the obvious choice. As an added bonus it’s also brighter than your cell phone light.
As stated a few minutes ago, the flashlight on your phone isn’t bright enough. These lights are usually about 100 lumens, max, and are unable to be focused. If you’re opting for a 100 lumen light, having the ability to be focused into one spot will help you out some.
Otherwise, it’s recommended to carry a light of about 200 lumens or more, depending on what you need.
Your flashlight may or may not have different options on it, depending upon what you deem to be important. Here is a bulleted list of some of the more popular options found on a tactical flashlight:
Of the above options, the most important is likely the type of button or switch it has, with the ability to have a momentary or constant on function. The least important of the above options is having a disorienting strobe feature, because many firearms trainers agree that most people are not likely to use such a thing during a low light attack, as it wouldn’t just disorient the attacker, but you too.
Another important feature is strength, meaning you don’t want a cheap, plastic light that will break when you drop it. And having a way to attach it to your pant’s pocket (via a clip) is also a plus.
Ultimately, what it boils down to is research. You’ll want to read a lot of reviews on different flashlights and check out all of the features for each one. Finally, you’ll likely want to go with a name brand like Streamlight or Fenix so you’ve got a company who has stood the test of time and is more willing to stand behind their products.
We hope we’ve convinced you that you need to have an EDC flashlight to help light up your life at night, both when you lose stuff in the dark or when you need to defend yourself. In a future article, we’ll talk about some of the best techniques for holding a tac light and your gun at the same time.
]]>Those of us who carry daily do so without much thought given to where we go on a day to day basis. Our days consist of going to work, picking up the kids from school, shopping, traveling to and from work, and occasionally going out to eat at a restaurant or taking in a movie. For the most part, the majority of us don’t leave our basic radius and are comfortable with our routines.
Generally speaking, we have a good understanding of the legality of carrying a concealed handgun in our home area, so we don't spend a lot of time agonizing over where we can and cannot carry our pistols.
But what do you do when your boss decides to send you to San Diego for a business conference, or the corporate office has a training event taking place in New York, or you finally make the time to take the family on vacation to Disney World? The importance of carrying your gun should always be thought about carefully. Do you leave your handgun home and depend on local law enforcement to protect you and your family? Or do you take it with you and risk running afoul of the local laws of the state or municipality you are traveling to? These questions, like all, are best answered by a little research, and here as always, the internet is your friend.
The basic things you need to explore to make an informed decision are best summed up in three questions, first what are the laws concerning possession of firearms in the state you’re traveling to? Second, does the state you’re entering allow concealed carry, and if so, will they recognize your home state’s permit? Last, is it legal to transport your firearm to where you’re traveling and what are the legal means of transport?
A simple search of the term “state gun laws” for whatever state you will be traveling to will give you a very long list of search results regarding the gun laws of that state. Some are very useful, others not so much. It is highly suggested that you look for a search result that leads to the state government website. Either the state’s Attorney General or their Department of Justice is usually where you would find a good, reputable repository of the state’s gun laws.
Once you have found the gun laws of the state in question, study them without attempting to interpret them. Just read and follow them. The minute you start trying to play TV lawyer and read something in the law that isn’t there, you may just find your stay in that state lasts longer than you had originally intended.
If you have any questions about the gun laws you are reading on the state website, contact them and ask. If you can email them, even better. That way you will have a copy of the clarification directly from the office of the State AG in the off chance that you come across an LEO who is unfamiliar with the ever changing laws of the state.
Sadly, this does happen on occasion and in states with voluminous criminal codes the word often travels slow when it comes to getting changes out to the guys that are tasked with enforcing the law.
This is probably the easiest nut to crack as there are several notable websites that stay up to date on reciprocity laws amongst the states. A simple search will let you know exactly which states have an agreement to honor your home state’s permit.
However, some due diligence is required, just because a state has a reciprocity agreement with your home state doesn’t mean that the laws concerning concealed carry in that state are the same. Again, the state DOJ or Attorney General website is a good place to start to nail down the particulars of carrying concealed in that state. Some states are OK with you carrying in a bar as long as you are not drinking alcohol, others make that expressly forbidden, and still others don’t allow carry in a bar, but have exemptions for bars that serve food.
Some states require you to announce to any LEO you come into contact with that you are licensed to carry and are in fact carrying a concealed handgun, and in others announcing that you have a carry permit will get you a strange look as there is no requirement to notify an officer that you are carrying a concealed firearm.
It is your responsibility to research, know, and follow the laws of the state that you are traveling to, since if you are not in compliance with the laws of that state, the fact that you are in compliance with the laws of your home state will be of little solace as you are getting fitted for steel bracelets.
Also, just because a state doesn’t honor your concealed carry permit doesn’t always mean you cannot take your firearm, it just means you can’t carry it concealed, some states may allow for open carry to anyone who can legally own a handgun. Others may prohibit carrying a firearm at all but are OK with you keeping it loaded in your hotel room for personal defense, as those states may consider a hotel room to be a domicile.
Then, of course, there are states that would consider you a criminal for having your gun with you.
When it comes to the interstate transport of firearms it really should be pretty easy since interstate travel and commerce is federally regulated, but unfortunately it is subject to whims of state by state laws.
When traveling by airplane, it is pretty cut and dried. Follow the TSA and your carrier’s regulations concerning the transportation of a firearm and all is well, right up until your plane from North Carolina to Texas gets diverted to New York City for an overnight stay where they make you claim your bags until you can get a different flight.
When you go to check your bags for the next flight and declare your perfectly legal (in NC and Texas) firearm is unloaded and locked inside your luggage in accordance with federal law, you can, and most likely will, be charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
The Firearm Owners Protection Act was supposed to cover owners who were legally transporting firearms for lawful purposes against prosecutions like this but unfortunately the courts didn’t agree (see Greg C. Revell vs. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) having sided with prosecutors in practice. Unfortunately, you have no control over where the plane actually lands in case of an in-flight emergency.
It is a bit easier if you choose to drive, but that doesn’t come without its hazards as well. You may be perfectly legal with a loaded weapon in the console of your vehicle, but once you cross a state line you may now be carrying an unlawfully loaded and concealed weapon, so it pays to do a little research as to the laws concerning transport of weapons in each state you will be crossing through. Reading up on some tips for concealed carry in your vehicle can be beneficial.
It also pays to know where you are going so as not to get lost and accidentally cross into a prohibitive state by accident, or in the case of a young Marine a few years back, cross an international border with a vehicle full of firearms and end up with an all expenses paid stay courtesy of the Mexican government.
Traveling with a firearm can be fraught with legal challenges but a little research can pay dividends when it comes to making the decision as to whether it is worth dealing with the headaches that come with it. Just because you are out of your state doesn’t necessarily mean you relinquish your right to self-defense, just remember it is your responsibility to research and comply with all the laws of the state or municipality you will be traveling to and failure to do so can definitely ruin an otherwise enjoyable trip.
]]>The saying, “you’re only as good as your last practice” has some value to it. While it’s not completely true, because if you’re training properly over the course of time it should help regardless of how your last training session went, the truth lies in the fact that you should try to train properly for anything you’re doing from playing an instrument to shooting your gun.
That said, there are certain things you can do at the gun range during live fire practice to really help you get the most out of your training.
It should start with your mindset. Not the concealed carry mindset we’ve spoken about in this article, but a training mindset. You don’t just want to go to the gun range to sling lead downrange at pieces of paper. That’s not the proper training mindset.
Instead, you want to go with the thought that you’re there to practice your defensive shooting skills to increase your level of proficiency just in case you ever need to defend yourself with your gun.
You don’t want to just go to the range and do target practice. Of course, trying to get bullseyes is cool, and you do want to improve upon your accuracy whenever you can. However, that should never be your only goal.
Proper training with your gun means practicing your fundamentals as much as possible, and trying to get as close to a real word scenario as you can while practicing.
What does this look like?
If you’re a concealed carrier, and we have to assume that you are because you’re here reading this blog, chances are good that you own a holster, carry your gun in it, and even go to the range to shoot every so often. While it’s great news that you go to the gun range, it can be detrimental to your success in a critical self-defense incident if you’re not practicing with your holster and your gun.
In other words, if you don’t practice getting your gun out of your holster and on target, all you’re doing is setting yourself up for failure.
The biggest problem is that many gun ranges will not let you practice shooting from the draw for insurance reasons. If this is the case, bringing your gun up to the ready and training from there is the next best thing. For the purposes of this article, the “ready” is at your chest, or, the point in the drawstroke where your two hands come together after you’ve drawn your gun.
Always remember to keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
From the ready, push the gun out to the target, acquire your front sight and picture, and press the trigger.
Bring the gun back to the ready position and do it all over again several times. If you’ve never done it before, you’ll find that acquiring your sights may be difficult. Don’t stop practicing because it’s the only way you get better.
You can start slow and continue to increase in speed, adding follow up shots, different shot combinations, etc.
Then, while at home, practice drawing from the holster with an unloaded gun. This is 100% something you need to master if you’re serious about concealed carry and the defense of life.
Getting your gun out of your holster with a proper grip is arguably one of the most difficult things you’d ever have to do and if not done properly during a critical incident, could put everything from your grip to trigger squeeze out of whack.
If there is one thing that almost all defensive gun uses have in common, it’s stress. Things being what they are with the human body, when presented with the opportunity to fight for your life, tunnel vision can set in. Time seems to move at a different speed and loss of motor function makes manipulating your firearm even harder.
While this can be extremely hard to train for because it’s hard to recreate, one of the ways people can train for it is to add the stress of time. What this means, is to not just go to the shooting range to put lead on paper, but bring a shot timer with you and see if you can beat your old times for drawing from the holster and getting a shot on paper.
While this will never completely simulate you needing to defend your life with your firearm, it helps to a degree and is better than nothing.
One of the worst things you can ingrain into yourself is just standing there like a stiff pillar with a gun extended towards the target, shooting. In all reality, defending yourself with your gun is not usually going to be a static thing. In fact, the argument can be made that once you start shooting, you should likely be moving to prevent yourself from getting hit, if possible. One of the reasons why is because you make yourself a harder target when you move. And as a byproduct, you also increase your chances of finding cover or somewhere to hide.
Granted, each situation will be different and sometimes you can’t move. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t train to shoot and move, though, because it’s a different kind of marksmanship.
If your gun range does not allow this, and chances are good that they won’t, you’ll have to do it with dry fire at home. Some gun ranges do have what they call a “pit” area that’s designated for this type of shooting.
Oftentimes, ranges that host USPSA and other competitive shooting matches will have an area like this. It should also be said here that this area will usually also allow the shooter to practice shooting from the draw, as well.
If you suspect you’re doing something wrong with your shooting fundamentals there is something you can do to help get back on the right track in just a few minutes.
Once you notice that you’re dropping more shots than usual stop shooting, shake out your hands, clear the gun of all ammunition and dry fire it a few times. Many times, this will help you diagnose what you’re doing wrong and give you a chance to concentrate your efforts to fix it so you can continue on with your training.
If you’re like most shooters, for example, you’re likely anticipating the shot and breaking the muzzle downward just before the shot does break--also known as flinching. If this is the case, dry firing a few times will help you clear that mistake from your system. Do it a couple times from the shooting line until you’ve successfully stopped the flinch, and then start shooting again.
You should improve.
When you’re a concealed carrier, one of the most important things you can do is proper training both at home with your dry fire practice and at the range during live fire. When you train properly you increase your chances of survival should the time come when you need to defend yourself with your gun.
Finally, try to find a good range that will allow you to safely train for self-defense shooting, and not just target practice.
]]>
A distinction is often made in various types of ammunition. For our concealed carry guns, you often hear the term: Self-defense ammo, which is also known as hollow point ammunition. For those times when you’re strictly training, you’ll hear one of a few different terms, like: Ball ammo, target ammo, or FMJ (which stands for Full Metal Jacket).
While it is a good idea to make a distinction between these two different kinds of pistol munitions, a few considerations need to be taken into account and thought of on a deeper level to make sure mistakes aren’t made with ammo selection when carrying a concealed handgun, or shooting at the range.
Target ammo is exactly what it sounds like, ammunition that you practice with as you shoot at targets while at the gun range. Other names for this ammo are ball or FMJ. Both of these terms describe the ammunition itself. For example, the tip, or bullet, is shaped like a ball. FMJ, on the other hand is a designation of a specific kind of ammunition.
Target ammunition should not be used for concealed carry except for very limited circumstances. These circumstances may be something like the gun doesn’t feed hollow points properly (in which case the argument can be made that you need a new gun), you’re out of proper self-defense ammo, are unable to carry it due to a local restriction, or you’re hiking through bear territory and don’t have hard cast ammunition and need to use it as a last resort.
The main benefit of target ammo is that you can buy larger quantities of it for much cheaper than any self-defense ammo because it’s generally cheaper to manufacture. Because you can buy more of it, you can train more often with it, and that’s important.
Self-defense ammo is exactly what it sounds like: Ammo designed to stop an attacker from advancing his attack by creating more shock to the body (by the transfer of the bullet’s energy as it expands), and a bigger wound (again, because the bullet expands). Self-defense ammunition is often known as hollow point ammo, but bullet technology has come a long way and this isn’t always the case. Some types of self-defense ammo are designed in such a way that they cause internal damage differently, like using the bullet’s rotation along with channels built into it.
For the sake of this article, from here on out we’ll use hollow point and self-defense ammo interchangeably because they are by far the most common type.
Because they need a little bit of extra work to make them do their job right, they cost more money to manufacture. Because they cost more money, people have a harder time justifying the need to shoot them during practice sessions. After all, you can just shoot more affordable target ammo that’s meant to be shot in larger quantities.
It’s important to know that you must shoot both target and self-defense ammo from time to time.
Hollow points tend to not work in all types of firearms, and this is where it can get a little tricky as the gun shop clerk is willing to sell you two totally different types of munitions for your newly acquired concealed carry gun. As he sells it to you, he explains that target ammo is for practice, and the more expensive stuff, the hollow points, are strictly for concealed carry and self-defense.
What they usually fail to mention, is that you must make sure you’re shooting your hollow point ammunition in your gun, too, to make sure that it works properly. The last thing you could ever want to have happen is to need your gun in self-defense and have it not work because it doesn’t cycle your hollow points properly.
This issue isn’t as prominent as it used to be because both guns and ammunition have gotten better, but it still happens on some guns more than others. Little pocket sized .380 ACP guns, for example, are one of the most popular culprits solely because of how they’re designed.
Regardless of the type of gun you carry, however, you should always shoot a couple magazines of your chosen self-defense ammunition through your semi-auto pistol to make sure it works. This also pulls double duty by teaching you how it feels when you’re shooting it.
Here’s another key, though, just because your gun doesn’t cycle one type of hollow point, doesn’t mean it won’t cycle another. If you’re dead set on carrying the gun you have, you should test different brands of ammo until you find one or two that work right in your gun.
In conclusion, it’s okay to shoot your target ammo, but generally not a widely accepted practice to carry it in a concealed carry gun. Comparatively, while you don’t want to just buy boxes of expensive hollow point ammo to shoot at the range, you do need to make sure your EDC (everyday carry) gun cycles it properly, without malfunction.
]]>
Whether or not that is the case, we have been introduced to a whole slew of new phrases that have recently made it into the lexicon and the American consciousness. Phrases brought to us by Uncle Sam and repeated ad nauseum by the media such as, “see something, say something” and “run, hide, fight.” The constant drumbeat of scary news has conditioned a new generation to react a specific way to danger, much the same way that “duck and cover” was taught to children from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s as a conditioned response to a nuclear attack during the Cold War years.
Some of the terms that we see thrown around these days need little to no definition as they are pretty self-explanatory, others however need some defining as they are misconstrued and often used interchangeably. Two of these are cover and concealment. These two words, while often used together do not necessarily mean the same thing.
In the context of concealed carry, if presented with an attack where you must defend yourself, your chances of survival go up dramatically if you can use cover and concealment correctly. Let’s take a look at each --
The term concealment refers to something that acts as a hiding place, when the term “run, hide, fight” is said, the hiding portion is referring to finding concealment. When in a dangerous situation concealing oneself to attempt to evade a hostile attacker who is intent on doing you harm is a good idea, but it is something that should be done prior to the hostile individual identifying you as a target. The intent of finding concealment is for your attacker to be unaware of your location, since if the attacker is aware of your location, they can simply shoot through whatever you are using to conceal yourself.
Concealment protects you from being identified, it does not protect you from being shot. The movies where the victim is being chased through a house by an attacker and the attacker watches the victim running into a bedroom closet, and then acts confused when they can’t seem to find the victim in the closet because they are hiding behind clothes is just that, a movie. It requires the willing suspension of disbelief to think that the bad guy who is intent on mass murder, who has already shot numerous people, wouldn’t just indiscriminately fire a weapon into the closet.
Things that you can use for concealment that do not provide any ballistic protection from incoming fire would be interior doors that you can hide behind, curtains, and blind corners. If you are armed and capable of fighting back then taking temporary concealment can give you an element of surprise if you choose to launch a counterattack on an assailant. Sometimes the split second of shock in your attacker will be just enough for you to turn the tables and get the upper hand, but concealment should never be considered a substitute for cover when it comes to ballistic protection.
The term cover is something that provides physical shelter or protection that is sought by people in danger. Hiding under a bed may very well provide you with concealment but the mattress can easily be penetrated by rifle fire. Cover provides some extent of ballistic protection when you are on the receiving end of hostile fire. Items and places that provide cover can also provide you with concealment, a locked safe room with built in ballistic protection would provide the user both cover and concealment, since the hostile individual would not be able to pinpoint your actual location and shooting through the walls to get you would be futile.
In a situation where you must take cover you should never assume that you are concealed, chances are very good that the perpetrator has identified your position, especially if the item you are using for cover is doing its job of stopping bullets. If the attacker has identified you and targeted you then your first priority should be to break contact with your attacker, since they have the advantage of being able to maneuver while firing and will most likely be moving with the intent of mitigating whatever you are using for cover.
Your movement should be with the intent of finding cover and concealment where the attacker does not know your location. It also should go without saying that you should use cover and concealment in your attempt to break contact with the attacker. The idea being that you want to utilize short rushes from cover to cover; less than 2 seconds of movement without cover, the old “I’m up, he sees me, I’m down” from basic training works here if there is enough cover around. The last thing you would want to do is to present an extended target for the assailant to shoot, so panicked running with the crowd should be out of the question as a running herd will only attract the predator’s attention. It may however provide you with a distraction to evade or counterattack.
Up to now we have been going on the assumption that you were caught in the worst possible condition, unarmed. If you are armed however that changes the equation slightly, because now you can be in a position to return fire if you can get a safe, clear shot. It should be noted that the above information still rings true. If you can shoot, shoot from behind cover because, just because you are capable of returning fire on your attacker doesn’t mean that his bullets will suddenly become ineffective.
If you find yourself on a 2-way firing range and you need to move to get a clear shot at your attacker, move from cover to cover, heavy solid wood or steel furniture, solid concrete or other masonry walls, and vehicles can provide good cover. However, if you use a vehicle for cover, use an unoccupied vehicle since the idea is not to turn vehicle occupants into human shields. Also, make sure you use the engine compartment for cover as rifle rounds can punch completely through both doors of a passenger car, and make sure that you stay behind the tire/rim assembly because a round that is fired at the ground will not ricochet up into the car but will instead fly parallel to the ground until it buries itself in you.
To conclude, cover and concealment are two different things and while items used for cover can provide concealment, things that provide concealment do not necessarily provide good cover. The two when used together with movement, surprise, and unexpected resistance can sometimes be enough to save lives and end the threat. It is well documented that you stand a better chance at survival when used properly.
We offer plenty of products to improve your safety and concealment in the real world from holsters to gun belts. Check them out today!
]]>Hopefully the reason why is obvious, but in case it’s not, let’s discuss that for just a moment. Firearm malfunctions can and do happen to just about any type of gun that’s made by any gun manufacturer. Anything mechanical will eventually break down, and this is even truer under the conditions of firing a gun.
If your gun malfunctions when you need it to defend yourself, it can be detrimental to your survival of that incident. The best way to know how to handle these things so you can get your gun back into working order again is to practice them so you know what to do to fix it.
This article applies to handguns of the semi-automatic variety, not revolvers. (Though revolvers can experience malfunctions, they tend to be more detrimental, needing to be taken apart to fix.)
There are a few different types of firearm malfunctions that your handgun may have while shooting. Some of them are caused by the ammunition while others are the gun’s fault. There are also those malfunctions that are caused by the shooter not gripping the gun correctly, or limp-wristing (this, by the way, is one of the reasons why we suggest practicing your draw and getting a good grip from the draw).
No matter the kind of malfunction you experience while firing your gun, you should be able to quickly clear it to get yourself back into the fight again. One of the reasons why, is because in a self-defense incident, every tenth of a second counts and can mean the difference between successfully protecting yourself or dying at the hands of your attacker.
Identifying the different types of malfunctions is a bit of a necessity as the way they’re cleared can change based on the type you get. Let’s take a look at each of the three most common gun failures, and how to correct each, in turn.
A failure to feed is when, after the shot is fired, the old casing is fully ejected but for some reason the new, unfired round gets hung up and stops the gun from returning into the firing position (known as battery).
To clear this malfunction, smack the bottom of your magazine (because these are caused a lot of the time by a mag that’s not fully seated), rack your slide, and then assess the situation and return to fire again if needed.
A failure to eject, also known as a stovepipe, happens when the old casing gets hung up inside the ejection port before fully ejecting. The slide closes on the empty case, unable to return to battery with the new round in the chamber.
To clear this malfunction, you’d smack the bottom of the magazine, tilt the firearm inward for gravity to assist, rack the slide while it’s tilted, and then assess the situation and return fire again if needed.
The double feed is the rarest of these malfunctions. These happen when there is a case in the chamber that was not ejected, and stays in the chamber as the slide reciprocates backward. Then, as the slide moves forward, it picks up a new round but cannot push it into the chamber because there is already something there. The new round hits the old one, causing the slide to stop.
Most of the time, muscle memory kicks in causing you to go through the tap, rack assess/bang method mentioned in the previous two malfunctions. But, that won’t work to clear a double feed.
To clear a double feed, you must strip the magazine out of the well, rack the slide a couple times to clear the stuck casing, re-insert the magazine, and then rack the slide again to chamber a round.
Where it gets interesting here, is what you do with the magazine you stripped out. In a fight for your life, if you’ve got a spare mag, getting rid of the old one may be the best bet. But, if you don’t have another one, you’ll have to hold onto that magazine to re-insert it again.
You can practice all of these malfunctions at the range during live fire practice, as well as in the comfort of your own home with the use of dummy rounds during dry fire practice.
One of the best ways to learn how to clear a malfunction is to have someone else load up a magazine for you, inserting a dummy round in an unknown position. That way, as you’re shooting you can experience the malfunction, clear it, and get back on target. But, this only helps with one type of malfunction.
To practice for the others, you have to set them up a bit. While you won’t have to deal with the element of surprise if you put them there, it still has the benefit to practice clearing while at the range to experience the clearing and returning to fire.
There is also a major benefit to dry fire practice in the comfort of your own home as you practice your malfunction clearing.
All that’s needed is knowing how to clear them, set them up with dummy rounds, and go to town. This looks a lot like it does when you’re at the range doing your live fire practice, but it’s different in that you’re not using live ammunition in the drill.
Learn more about dry fire basics on our blog post here: Dry Fire Basics
Because they don’t announce themselves before they happen, and can happen at the most inopportune times, practicing malfunction clearing is key to helping you build up muscle memory in case it happens when you least expect it as you’re defending yourself. Being able to clear a malfunction is a necessary step in your gun training, and having the ability to do it quickly is a must.
]]>The first thing that can happen is an unintended discharge from somehow coming into contact with your gun’s trigger. Second, is giving up your tactical advantage by bringing attention to the fact that you’re carrying a firearm for self-defense.
We’ll tackle each of them in turn.
First and foremost, whenever you touch your gun the chance of having an unintended discharge goes up. There are documented incidents where an individual thought it was a good idea to adjust their gun, only to have shot it because something came into contact with the trigger.
This is one of the reasons why we recommend not taking your gun or gun/holster combo off your hip when you’re getting into or out of your car. The truth of the matter is that whenever you administratively handle your firearm, the chances of you having an unintended discharge go up dramatically.
It’s not a good idea to handle your firearm when you may be distracted by, say, passersby, as you remove your gun. If you’re distracted, as you attempt to remain discreet, you may unintentionally come into contact with the trigger. And, as you can imagine, that’s not a good thing.
Here’s the thing, though, these things don’t just happen while you are in the car. A story comes to mind of a concealed carrier who was fidgeting with his firearm, attempting to get it in the spot he wanted and somehow came in contact with the trigger, firing a shot into the ground.
Sadly, the shot ricocheted off the ground and a piece of the bullet hit a little boy, putting him in the hospital.
Had the concealed carrier not made an attempt to adjust his gun things would have gone differently, and that boy wouldn’t have a piece of a bullet hit him. Thankfully the injuries were minor, but those incidents don’t do anything but hurt our cause as we push responsible gun ownership.
While we don’t know the type of holster, or if one was even being used, we always recommend using a high quality holster. We obviously recommend our own holsters to fill this role, but whatever you choose, make sure your gun is in a quality holster that won’t move on you to the point you feel you have to continuously reach down and adjust your gun to get it where you want it to be.
Today’s guns aren’t meant to just fire on their own. There are safety devices built into each firearm manufactured, which means that more often than not it’s operator error that causes a negligent discharge, and not the gun itself.
There is another negative aspect of adjusting your gun that we also want to touch on, and that is announcing to everyone within looking distance that you’re carrying a gun just because you’re uncomfortable and can’t keep your hands off of it. If you’re constantly adjusting your gun because it is uncomfortable, has moved, or is driving you nuts in some other way, you need a new holster, a new gun, or perhaps both.
We say this because a good holster won’t move around on your body. And, if your gun is too big or too small, it can also wreak havoc on your concealed carry success. There is a delicate balance between comfort and concealability that you should be able to have with the proper setup.
If you’re unable to keep your gun where you want it, you may want to consider buying a new, quality holster that should do a better job. (Here is a link to our online store if you want to check our selection of holsters out.)
One of the reasons why some of us practice the concealed carrying of our self-defense firearms is because we want to have a tactical advantage should we need our firearms in defense of life. If we’re constantly adjusting the position of our guns, or making sure they’re still there, it could tip someone off that there is a gun there, leading to a different set of problems. You can read more about the importance of carrying a gun and stacking the deck in your favor here.
Adjusting your gun could have a disastrous outcome. You could unknowingly give yourself away to a criminal or someone just looking to pick a fight, or have an unintended discharge of your firearm. Neither are ideal, and you should do everything you can to prevent this from happening. This includes carrying your gun in a comfortable position, in a holster that won’t move around on you once you put it on.
]]>Many years ago, it was often said that the only people who carried a concealed handgun were Cops and criminals. A lot has changed since the early 1980s; guns, gear, and most importantly, attitudes towards the concealed carry of firearms. Those of us who carry concealed firearms have learned, through trial and error over the years, a few tips that might make life a little bit easier for the first timer who has made the decision to carry a concealed firearm.
There are numerous things to take into account when deciding to carry concealed, but for this article, we will keep it simple and stick to the following subjects; firearm, carry position, holster design, and cover clothing.
The decision to carry a concealed handgun is a personal one, as is the choice of firearm that you carry, but your decision should be an educated one instead of basing it off of your favorite TV detective. Things to consider when deciding on which handgun you are going to carry should be the size of the handgun (concealability), power vs. controllability, your personal competency with said handgun, and capacity.
The size and weight of your handgun of choice should be of great importance. After all you are going to be lugging it around with you most of your waking hours, or at least you should be. There are quite a few people who take off their handgun as soon as they shut the door of the house behind them, which can be a bad idea.
Statistically speaking, all home invasions happen in the home and if some thugs kick in your door while you are enjoying some private reading time, your pistol sitting on the kitchen counter will do you no good, no matter what the make, model, or caliber.
The M1911 pistol has been a favorite of concealed firearms carriers for a long time but, a full size 1911 weighs in at around 39 ounces empty. That’s 2 ½ pounds without any ammo and while it doesn’t seem like much, try strapping 2 ½ pounds to your belt and carrying it around all day. At the very least your pants will need to be constantly hitched up, at worst you’ll be pulling your hips and lower back out of whack.
While a 1911 can conceal rather well, there are better handgun options in this day and age to conceal on your body. Check out these top 5 guns for concealed carry.
Your body type should be of some consideration as well, unless your body fat percentage is below 6% and you have a 6-pack stomach without love handles, a full-size service pistol is going to end up digging into some portion of your anatomy and it may be less than comfortable.
Right now there are people out there saying “a concealed firearm should be comforting, not comfortable.” Ok … but, and just play along here, if your “concealed” firearm is digging into your gut, love-handle, or for those that choose appendix carry, some other equally sensitive portion of your body, you will feel it.
No matter how much self-discipline you have, eventually your body will override your control and whether you know it or not you’re going to make an adjustment. You’re not very concealed if you are doing the St. Vitus dance trying to work your “concealed” handgun into a comfortable spot.
Also, if it is uncomfortable you will start making excuses for leaving your firearm at home in the safe, where it is doing you and your loved ones absolutely no good if it is needed.
Next you will need to decide on a caliber that has enough power to do the job but is controllable enough in a firearm small enough to conceal effectively. This also affects your individual competency with the handgun as well, since if you are going to be depending upon it to save your life or that of your loved ones then you need to practice with it to maintain a minimum level of competency or you may find that you are not up to the task when you are needed most.
What caliber is best for daily carry, you ask? Wars have been started over easier questions to answer. As with the choice of firearm, the choice of caliber will largely be a personal decision.
Some people prefer heavy, slow moving bullets to smaller, faster ones because historically they have a reputation for doing the job. That said, 9mm sub-compacts from Glock, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Sig Sauer, Mossberg, Taurus, and countless other manufacturers can be found in gun shops in every town in this country.
So, it basically comes down to your individual competency with said firearm, but a good rule of thumb is to carry the most powerful caliber you can shoot well, because you are responsible for your misses as well as your hits.
Lastly, we should talk about the capacity of your chosen firearm. We probably all know someone who wouldn’t leave the house without 2 spares for their Glock 19, which if you’re any good at math comes out to 45 rounds of 9mm. That is, of course, unless they top off the magazine in the pistol for a total of 46 rounds.
They may never need them but they will always have them, and that’s a good thing. A good rule of thumb is a fully loaded sidearm, plus at least one reload. Again, it’s something that you will have to weigh and decide how much ammo you carry, for yourself.
30 years ago, holster choices were limited to what you could find in your local gun shop, and these were all pretty much variations of some type of duty holster.
Whether it was the cheap nylon hip holster or a leather version of the same thing, some of the larger holster manufacturers advertised their products in magazines. But unless you were willing to do a mail-order then you were stuck with what was available locally.
The internet has put more quality gun leather at our fingertips today than could possibly be imagined a quarter of a century ago and there is absolutely no excuse not to invest in a holster that will keep your firearm secure and handy at a moment’s notice.
The positioning of the holster is a key point that should not be overlooked, and there is a holster made for every possible placement you can think of, like: strong-side, weak-side or cross-draw, small of the back, horizontal and vertical shoulder holsters, and appendix carry.
The prevailing thought is that your firearm should be as close to the hand as possible at all times and your draw-stroke should be as natural and spare of movement as can be. Strong-side carry with a slight forward cant of the holster, and Appendix Inside the Waistband both fit this description and either is a fine choice depending on your personal preferences.
Shoulder holsters have their purpose but unless you are going to have your coats specially tailored for them, the bulk of a firearm still shows like you're carrying something tucked up under your armpit. Shoulder holsters do have their place however, say if you are on a long road trip in the car as it keeps the firearm secured, close at hand, and you don’t have to fight with a seatbelt to get your pistol into action if needed.
Whatever position you choose, investing in a quality holster and belt is without a doubt one of the most important investments you will make. You want a holster made from good material. Whether that is leather or Kydex is up to you, but don’t just grab the first one you see and call it a day. Do some research and read a lot of reviews to find what will work best for you.
Some things to look for in a quality leather holster are the thickness of the leather, stitching, and retention. You should look for a holster with thick, stiff leather and passive or friction retention as compared to active retention or straps.
Some also prefer the “Pancake” style holsters above all else as the design sandwiches your firearm between two pieces of leather and provides plenty of retention without having to fumble with straps when you needed your firearm 2 seconds ago.
When it comes to Kydex holsters, the shape of the mold and retention as well as the way it attaches to your body are important things to consider. Good Kydex should be molded to the firearm without any rough edges or pressure points that would cause unnecessary wear to the firearm finish.
The retention is typically provided by an adjustment screw tensioner that squeezes in the area of the trigger guard to keep the pistol in the holster. The main issue with Kydex is that because the holsters are rigid moldings they have a tendency to ride away from the body depending on the design, which makes them a bit less “concealed.”
Unfortunately getting the right holster for you sometimes takes a bit of trial and error and most people out there that carry a concealed firearm have the proverbial “box of holsters,” along with at least 2 more drawers worth that just didn’t make the cut.
“Dress for Success” is an overused axiom in the business world, however as far as carrying a concealed firearm is concerned, what is the point of spending hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars on the ultimate defensive pistol and the latest concealment holster to then cover it with clothing so tight that you can read the manufacturers roll-mark through your shirt. “If you got it, flaunt it” kind of defeats the purpose of carrying a concealed firearm.
Your cover garments should be loose enough that a protruding bulge in your shirt doesn’t give away the fact that you are wearing a handgun. It should also be loose enough that you can clear it at a moment’s notice to access your firearm.
On that note you don’t want your clothing so large as to make it look to the casual observer that you are wearing obviously loose clothing. That can draw just as much attention as the proverbial bulge.
Finally, if you are going to carry inside-the-waistband then your pant size needs to be taken into account. If your pants already fit snug then you will definitely want to go up 1 size in the waistband, a Glock 19 in a hybrid IWB holster will turn a 34-inch waist into a 36 quickly and the same goes for your belt as well.
Hopefully you will find these concealed carry tips helpful, just remember that the gear you choose could quite possibly be called upon to save your life or the lives of your loved ones, so a bit of forethought and planning is a good idea before you head out the door.
]]>In the world of concealed carry, there is quite a bit of debate as to whether one should carry a handgun with an empty chamber or with a round in the chamber. Some folks would have you believe that to carry a round in the chamber is unsafe and that an individual who does so is just inviting disaster, they would have you believe that the weapon in question is capable of bypassing all of the built in safeties and discharging a round all by itself.
This article is written to hopefully dispel those misunderstandings and to give the reader insight on why you should never carry a weapon without a chambered round, regardless of whether the firearm in question is equipped with a manual safety. We will discuss the physiology of what actually happens when you are confronted with a threat, the many options for concealed carry and why they are expressly designed to be carried with a round in the chamber, and the things you can do to ensure that when carrying a concealed firearm you are not a hazard to yourself or those around you.
Have you ever been faced with a threat, be it real or imagined, or have you ever been scared or frightened so badly that you momentarily lost the ability to think rationally? Maybe you’re afraid of the dark, or afraid of heights, or perhaps during that trip to the haunted house something jumped out at you and startled you enough that you jumped back without even thinking about it. That is known as the “fight or flight” response and it is built into our DNA going back to a time when things were not so civilized in our world, from a time where humans were nowhere near the top of the food chain.
Fight or flight is the name given to what our body does to prepare us to either fight an unknown danger or to flee from that danger, it is the body's automatic response to the stimulus of fear or anxiety that manifests itself in a physical manner such as tense muscles and rapid heartbeat. It is the human body's primeval survival systems kicking in to hopefully keep us from assuming room temperature.
Unfortunately, the built-in system that is designed by nature to keep us alive can also rob us of our ability to stay that way because of the physiological effects of `fight or flight”. The release of hormones and adrenaline that kicks in when we are startled or threatened can often work against us. The increase of our breathing and heart rate is designed to pump lots of oxygen rich blood to our muscles to prepare them for exertion and our muscles automatically become tense and primed for action, which results in trembling that can become an impairment to our fine motor skills. Keeping a calm concealed carry mindset is key in these situations.
In the case of a life-threatening encounter with a predator, whether it be of the two or four-legged variety, your best chance at surviving is to be prepared with the correct tool for survival and for the tool to be ready to use. A worst-case scenario would have you threatened or assaulted by surprise at a very close distance, with little to no time to process what is happening to you or your loved ones and even less time to formulate a plan to deal with it. The clock is ticking, you have identified the threat, have decided to deal with it, and time is short.
Most authorities have determined that an assailant can cover 21 feet in roughly one and a half seconds, which gives you 1.5 seconds to identify the threat, decide how to deal with it, and execute. Even for trained law enforcement and military that is not a lot of time. If you believe that you will have the time to manipulate the slide to chamber a round and then get your weapon on target to eliminate the threat then try this little drill: Making absolutely sure that your weapon is unloaded, holster your weapon and then have someone with a stopwatch time your draw and presentation of your handgun. Then have them time you draw, manipulate the slide to simulate chambering a round, and present your handgun to a target.
Takes a little longer doesn’t it?
Now try that drill again, but first run 2 miles with the last ¼ mile being a dead sprint to simulate the physiological effects of the fight or flight response and then immediately run the drills again. You will find that your time is significantly increased on just drawing and presenting the weapon to a target. The increased heart rate and breathing, the sweaty palms, and the shaking hands will make drawing, manipulating the slide, and getting your pistol on target nearly impossible within 1 second and that is the point of the exercise.
A smooth practiced draw stroke is relatively easy to perform when in the confines of your bedroom when nothing is a stake. That same movement can become extremely hard when the stress of a life or death situation kicks in on your sympathetic nervous system. For this reason, most law enforcement and military units have moved to carrying either double action/single action (DA/SA) or striker fired semi-automatic pistols and they are carried with one in the chamber. The powers that be have determined that odds of surviving a gunfight get significantly higher when impediments to firing your gun are removed.
The simple fact is that adding a complex motion, the manipulation of your slide to chamber a round into your draw stroke increases the chances that you will not be on the winning end of a dangerous encounter. The object of a fight is to win, and if you find yourself in a fair fight, you already screwed up.
The basic design of almost every popular self-defense firearm made today is what makes them also inherently safe for carry with one in the chamber. Almost without exception they are equipped with redundant active and passive safeties that keep them from firing unless the trigger is deliberately pulled to the rear.
Some manufacturers, such as Glock and Canik equip their pistols with a passive trigger safety that must be depressed before the trigger can be pulled to the rear. Some like the Springfield Armory XD and Colt M1911 have a grip safety that must be depressed before the trigger can be pulled. Almost every manufacturer incorporates a firing pin block that makes it nearly impossible for the pistol to fire unless the trigger is pulled. These have been installed to protect the companies from liability in case a firearm is dropped, so that it doesn’t fire accidentally, but it also makes them inherently safe to carry with a round in the chamber.
Double action revolvers have a long, heavy trigger pull and firing pin block system that makes them one of the safest options there is for concealed carry. The days of the Colt Peacemaker, when guns were carried with an empty chamber under the hammer, are long gone as firearms designers have incorporated devices like transfer bar ignition systems in both double action and single action revolvers which make them extremely safe for daily carry with a full cylinder.
One of the most important safety devices to assist in carrying safely with a round in the chamber is a good holster. You should look for a good holster that combines good retention with a completely covered trigger guard to ensure you don’t have any issues with your firearm falling out of the holster or anything working its way into the trigger guard and inadvertently depressing the trigger. The holster should also be rigid enough to keep anything from manipulating the trigger through the holster, so stay away from cheap nylon holsters, stick with good leather, kydex, or a hybrid of the two. If you need help deciding which holster to pick, feel free to read our blog post discussing the differences between kydex and leather and which is best for each situation.
What it all comes down to is a personal choice and when you make that choice, make an informed decision based off of good information. Modern firearms, when in good condition are no more dangerous with a loaded chamber securely holstered than they are stored in a safe with a round in the chamber, assuming of course the wearer isn’t doing something unsafe themselves. If the person carrying the firearm is doing unsafe things with his or her firearm then no safety mechanism in the world can prevent a negligent discharge. Never forget that you are responsible for every round that leaves your gun, whether you meant the shot or not.
]]>The end result was that the duo was the victim of an attempted robbery, and the father shooting at the robber as he fled the scene of the crime.
There are things you can do to ensure your safety as you conduct these transactions on Facebook’s Marketplace, Craigslist, and others. This article is meant to help you stay safe and stack the deck in your favor so you don’t become a statistic as you attempt to buy or sell whatever it is you want. Read more about the importance of carrying a gun on our blog.
When it comes to the place where you choose to do a private party transaction, as in the briefly mentioned cellphone story above, it’s never a good idea to meet at someone’s house. It doesn’t matter if it’s your house or another, either can have potentially bad ramifications.
If it’s your house, the person now knows where you live and at least a few things about you. Some criminals are brazen as they ask for info on your neighbors, your car, etc. This is a bad situation to find yourself in, and it’s essentially a criminal casing a neighborhood for crime.
If it’s at their house you may be walking into an ambush that you never saw coming.
The best bet is to meet up at a public place. Public places where there is a healthy amount of foot traffic from other people is the safest because criminals are less likely to commit a crime where there are many witnesses.
Even better is when you can conduct your business under surveillance or near police or security.
Bringing another person as backup should deter a criminal from attacking you. Though, if there are more of them, it may not work as a deterrent. Still, bringing another person is a good idea because your odds of surviving go up even if they do still attack, because there are more of you to fight against.
You don’t want to just bring anyone, though, and don’t bring a child. Bringing someone who is willing to fight and have your back is the best person to bring. If they have their own concealed carry gun and know how to use it, even better.
Remaining aware of your surroundings is always a good idea, but meeting someone to buy or sell something is more dangerous than your average activity. Because it is more dangerous, an extra amount of vigilance is needed to stay safe. Having someone stay vigilant with you is a good idea if you’ve got someone you can bring.
The entire purpose of this blog of ours is to talk about concealed carry and self-defense. So, it makes sense that this is on our list of ways to stay safe during a meet up. Your gun should only be used as a last resort when you legitimately feel your life is in danger, but having the option to equalize a threat is the best option when it’s needed. To be discrete you could carry an IWB Holster without bringing any attention to yourself.
There is a point before the transaction even really starts where you can cancel it once it starts to smell fishy. If the person is unwilling to meet in a public place because “they don’t have a car” or any other reason, your life is worth more than the object you’re buying or selling. Cancel the transaction.
If the person is giving off any other bad vibes, again, cancel the transaction. It’s not worth it.
This one may sound stupid, but there are people who have brought criminals to the bank with them to make an ATM withrawl. Why did they bring them to the bank? Because of a classic bait and switch.
When selling something, the bad guy might list a certain price only to say that the price was wrong or a typo and that if you want the item, it’s actually going to cost you this much money. People who don’t see this coming and are generally very trusting fall for it, bring criminals to the ATM with them, and then get robbed for whatever amount the bank allows them to withdraw at once.
Simply confirming the price before leaving should help mitigate this, but criminals are creative.
You should always take every precaution to be as prepared for a self-defense incident as possible, especially when you’re walking into a situation where you’re opening yourself up to potential crime. Staying vigilant, bringing backup, and carrying your gun are just some of the ways you can stay safe during a meet up.
We have tons of resources on our blog that can help you with common questions regarding many topics surrounding your concealed carry weapon. Take a look and learn more about every aspect from caring for your gun, to best practices when carrying.
]]>There are certain things you’ll want to look for when you go to purchase a used concealed carry piece, and this article will cover some of those things.
You’ll want to look for obvious signs of proper maintenance and premature wear. How worn down do the parts look? You’ll want to inspect the firearm on the outside, as well as on the inside.
A side benefit to buying a firearm is that most gun enthusiasts are meticulous with their firearms maintenance, and take better care of their guns than they do just about anything else, including their cars.
You'll also want to continue that meticulous maintenance, whether you're cleaning your gun from home, or taking to a professional for a cleaning. At home, you can pick up Gun Cleaning Mats for multiple models that make the process easy and clean.
Some people may disagree with us on this one, but the recoil spring is usually one of the first components to wear out on a gun. Because there really is no way of knowing how many rounds of ammo the person you bought it from put through it, changing this part is recommended.
They’re cheap enough, and you don’t want to find out the hard way that your recoil spring stopped working during a self-defense incident. Replace it after you buy it, even if the previous owner said they only have a few hundred rounds into the gun. They may be lying to you, and recoil springs are easy and cheap enough to replace that the chance shouldn’t be taken.
Especially not with a concealed carry gun.
It’s almost always better to buy a firearm that you can see in person and inspect. The last thing you want is to buy something sight unseen and regret your decision later. Of course, there are certain times when buying from a distance is likely okay, but for the most part, it’s almost always better to buy a used gun in person.
The best way to purchase a used firearm is to buy it from someone you know. The main reason as to why this is, is because if you know the person they can explain anything that’s been done to it, if it’s been modified at all, how well they took care of the gun, etc.
Even better, if you have any issues with the gun you can take it to them and ask what’s up.
It’s a very good idea to know how much the item you want to buy is worth in used condition. There can be a gray area here. If the item isn’t popular in your area, the seller may be able to sell it for more money than it may be worth, simply because of supply and demand.
This won’t always be an option, but if you can shoot the particular gun before you buy it, doing so will help tell a story that you wouldn't have otherwise gotten. If you can, try to shoot your chosen self-defense ammunition to make sure it’ll function how you want it to.
Even just shooting a few rounds through the gun is better than nothing, and if buying in person, is a good way to know for certain if this is the gun for you, or not. This isn’t usually an option, however, and if you can’t shoot it, it is not a deal breaker.
Much in the same vein of shooting the gun before you buy, is shooting the gun after you buy. Chances are very good that you won’t have the option to shoot it beforehand. So, the next best thing, is to shoot it after you buy it.
You should do this with any firearm you purchase, especially if it’s a gun you plan to carry for self-defense. You don’t just want to bring your target practice ammo with you, but also the self-defense hollow points you plan to carry in this gun to make sure it cycles them.
If it doesn’t cycle them, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker, as this particular ammo may have issues with this particular gun. However, if you try more than one type of ammunition and none of them seem to work right, it may be time to get rid of your new purchase.
You should ideally shoot the gun a couple hundred times with your chosen ammo to make sure there aren’t any bugs that need to be worked out. While shooting, we like to think about safety first. Picking up a pair of Tac Strapz for your protective eye wear is highly recommended when shooting at the range.
It can be a hard pill to swallow, but if your new, used gun doesn’t perform how you want, there is no reason to keep it. Someone will buy it, even if it doesn't cycle your self-defense ammo properly, just as a target practice gun, or for some other reason.
Sadly, this is the name of the self-defense gun game. Buying something that doesn’t work how we want is to be expected from time to time, and there really is no way of knowing beforehand. Sometimes, you just need to sell it.
When you know what to lookout for, buying a used concealed carry firearm is a good option to help you save some money while still getting a reliable gun. Following the steps in this article should help you find a used gun that’s right for you.
]]>Thank you and stay safe out there!
- Billy
]]>This can be seen with the advent of new guns on a fairly regular basis with pistols that are starting to fill a different niche. At least some of the .380 guns are getting bigger and are perfect for the shooters that these pistols are designed for.
Nowadays, anything goes with the old .380 ACP, to include the smaller pocket pistols like the G42, up to beefier guns designed for people with weaker hands who still want to have the ability to protect themselves. Strong clip IWB holsters (like our Defender series) offer a great way to carry while remaining concealed and safe.
The time tested .380 still recoils lighter, and will remain relevant for many years to come.
This, then, begs the question …
What are the best .380 ACP Pistols on the market right now?
The SIG Sauer P238 is perfect for those who are comfortable with 1911 style ergonomics with a short, crisp trigger that has minimal travel before the shot breaks. Because of this trigger, along with the simple fact that many shooters shoot a gun with this type of single action trigger better than others, it’s a no brainer.
The SIG Sauer P238 is a small gun, capable of fitting in the pocket or comfortably on the waistband and is the smaller version of SIG’s best seller, the P938 (chambered in 9mm).
The P238 is a hammer fired, single action firearm with a capacity of six or seven rounds (depending on the model).
While this is a great gun, newer shooters, or those with weaker hands may find it snappy, or hard to hold on to.
This gun, having 1911-like controls, has a thumb safety.
The EZ is a fantastic, light-shooting gun for those of you who are looking for one that is easier to handle, easier to rack the slide on, and is still enough gun to protect you should you need it.
People with older hands, weaker hands, arthritic hands, injured hands, etc., all have the right to defend themselves, as much as any other American does. This pistol is designed to give them the ability to do so. Based on the regular M&P Shield, with similar ergonomics but a few small differences, this is a great gun that is highly recommended.
One thing that’s different is the magazine setup. The 8-round mags have assistive devices that allow the shooter to have an easier time loading them, similar to what you see on many of the 22 caliber handguns on the market.
When compared to the rest of the guns on this list of the best 380 ACP pistols, this is the only gun here with a front accessory rail to mount a light or laser of your choosing. This makes it an excellent addition to your home-defense setup if you want to add a weapon mounted light to it.
There is one thing that folks will either love or hate, and that is the grip safety. The main thing is that, just as long as you can grip the gun properly it will work as it’s intended to.
The Shield EZ can be ordered either with or without a thumb safety, depending upon your preferences.
Glock pistols are usually the ones all others are measured against, and the Glock 42 does not disappoint. The G42 is Glock’s smallest pistol, is chambered in .380 ACP, and has a magazine capacity of 6+1 rounds.
For those who are used to the ergonomics of Glock’s pistols, but are looking for perfection in a .380, this is the obvious choice. The 42 boasts Glock’s Safe Action trigger and weighs only 15.8 ounces, loaded. Some consider the Glock 42 to be the best .380 concealed carry gun of all time. Paired with a sturdy gun belt (like our Ultimate series), this combination is unmatched.
The Glock 42 does not come standard, or have the option of having a thumb safety. And, while there is no accessory rail for traditional style attachments like lights and lasers, there are some options. Streamlight, for example, made a TLR-6 light that attaches to the G42’s trigger guard if you’re looking for a solution.
The main thing to remember with any gun, whether one of these best .380 ACP pistols, or otherwise, is to make sure that your gun works with the ammunition that you plan to carry in it. Some of the smaller .380 pistols are finicky on the type of ammunition they’ll properly cycle, with hollow points being the main culprit for most of them. Shoot multiple different kinds of ammo until you find your chosen self-defense ammunition, and of course, make sure you practice with your gun so you can effectively use it if the time ever comes.
]]>What follows are some tips for self-defense in the home (also known as home defense), some of which you may have never thought about before. Let’s get started:
Many people go to work, shopping, or wherever their travels may lead them during the day or night. During this time, they holster their concealed carry firearm and run out the door.
Then, the moment they return back home they cannot wait to get the gun back off the hip. What they may not consider, is that their home has been canvassed by local criminals and is next on the list in a rash of home invasions.
This often spells out disaster for those of us who are unprepared or unwilling to carry a gun at home.
Why don’t people carry where they live? There are usually a couple of reasons we’ve heard about why people don’t do this.
Let’s tackle each of these in turn.
In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to worry about people breaking into your house, hurting you, and taking your stuff. But, we don’t live in a perfect world. Quite the opposite, actually. Because of this, who really cares what other people may think about you taking your own safety to the next level? Not only that, but who is going to know anyway?
Moving on, we talk about being comfortable in the home. There are actually ways you can carry a gun on your person while in your residence, AND remain comfortable. If you’re using drawstring pants, you can conceal a smaller gun on your waistline using a holster with a strong clip (like ours Ultimate Suede Holster). Just stick the gun and holster onto your chosen position and tie the pants so they stay up around your waist properly.
While a smaller, lighter weight gun may not be ideal for round count, it surely beats nothing and can help you get to a better spot for defense or a dedicated home defense gun.
Finally we talk about whether or not it’s necessary to carry a gun in the home. We’ve already passively tackled this to some degree by stating that a home invasion is a likely thing, which is really the main reason for carrying a gun to begin with. To word it differently, an attack can happen anywhere, at any time to include inside and outside the home.
For those of us who live by the mantra, it’s better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it--also applies where you live.
A few moments ago, we mentioned having a dedicated home defense gun. Please note that having a gun that is safely where you can get to it is important. A couple of things to keep in mind here, is that the firearm needs to be stored in a manner that nobody else can get to it to include criminals or children.
Also, the home defense gun needs to be capable, higher capacity, and a firearm that you’re not only proficient with but are willing to practice with at least a few times each year.
This means that you shouldn’t just go pick a 12 gauge shotgun because an article on the internet told you so. Sadly, many people who buy a 12 gauge shotgun for home defense never even shoot it after the first shot because people generally underestimate how much recoil it produces.
Then, because they don’t shoot the 12 gauge even on a semi-regular basis, they have no muscle memory with it causing a different set of problems if they need to use it during an emergency. Is it better than nothing? Sure, but it’s not the best option unless you do train with it.
Let’s word that differently because it is important: If you’re not training with your dedicated home defense gun you should be because you won’t be proficient with it until you do.
If you have absolutely zero desire to train with your home defense gun because it’s painful to do, then you need a different gun. Find one that you’re comfortable shooting more often that you can become proficient with, whether a handgun, rifle, or lighter recoiling shotgun. The type of gun isn’t as important as you putting in the proper amount of time training with it.
Training also includes dry runs through your house. You may think you can maneuver through tight spaces with your AR-15, opening doors, etc., but can you really? If you have never done it before, you’d be surprised how different it may feel.
Many gun owners have thoughts of grandeur when they consider home defense. They falsely assume that the best case scenario is for them to hear the bump in the night and then go investigate what the bump is, to find the bad guy, and then engage.
While each situation is different and it’s not our goal to tell you what to do, let us give you some thoughts about this that may change your mind about going to investigate.
First, let’s say you do hear the bump in the night. You have no idea what caused that bump, but you have a sinking suspicion that it’s a home invasion/burglary in progress. Going to investigate could be a disaster waiting to happen because bad guys tend to travel in packs and if there is more than one invader, you’re now outnumbered by people who don’t want to go to jail and may be willing to eliminate witnesses.
If you suspect that there is someone in your home and you keep hearing noises, whispers, seeing flashlights, etc., the best course of action is to isolate yourself and family in a room that you can defend as you call the police to report that you believe someone is in your house.
And then wait for the police to arrive. You’ll want to tell the dispatcher where you’re located, that you’re the homeowner, and are armed in case you’re confronted by the bad guys.
Unless you’ve got cameras in each room, there is no way of knowing how many you’re dealing with, where they are, if they’re armed, etc. The best course of action is to isolate yourself and defend your own position.
This has the added benefit of keeping you out of trouble with the law, as well. If you don’t go looking for trouble and only open fire if the trouble comes to you, they’ll have a very hard time accusing you of looking for a fight.
Failing to properly notify the police during a traffic stop (in a state you need to by law) that you’re carrying your gun in could cost you your license, firearm, or freedom. It’s important to note that gun laws vary wildly from one state to the next. So if you carry a firearm you must understand the laws specific to your state, or any state you may cross into. For simplicity, in this article, we’re going to use the term CHL or concealed handgun license with the understanding that each state calls it something different.
Many states have what are commonly referred to as “duty to notify laws.” These are the laws that stipulate if, and how, you must notify the law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed handgun during instances like a traffic stop.
These laws usually (please remember to check your local laws) relate to being detained by the police. In other words, a consensual contact between a citizen and a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) does not require you to notify them that you’re carrying your concealed carry firearm. However, if you are being detained and are considered “not free to go” for an investigation or detained by the LEO to issue a summons for a traffic violation, the “duty to notify law” (if the state has one) would be applicable.
One of the biggest issues with the condition of gun affairs as they currently are in the United States, is that all 50 states have different laws regarding things like the duty to notify law enforcement. We highly recommend that you research and know the gun laws for your home state as well as any state in which you’re traveling so you can be better prepared for any of the scenarios you may find yourself in, including a traffic stop.
When are you supposed to notify the police that you’ve got your concealed gun on you?
The actual answer to this question may vary from one state to the next. There are general guidelines, however.
Many states that require notification ambiguously describe when or how the citizen must notify the law enforcement officer and many of them are different. Upon first contact is usually a good place to start.
Sadly, a violation of this law can result in the suspension of your license. For example, if the law were to state (like many do) “the citizen shall promptly notify the LEO …” how do you go about abiding in the laws of that state if you forget?
If the officer does not ask, and you, being nervous, forget you have your handgun in the glove box (not the best place for it, by the way) and have to open it later to retrieve your registration and insurance card, are you in violation of the law? Probably.
As a rule of thumb, always try to notify the LEO when the laws in that state suggest.
There are many concealed gun carriers who have made the decision that they want to inform the police officers out of respect each time they have interaction with a cop.
There is nothing wrong with this outlook, the only advice we have here is to have a general idea of what you’re planning to do beforehand. That way, you know what you’re going to say. These people tend to have the thought that it puts the officer’s mind at ease a bit because chances are excellent that if a criminal wanted to shoot a cop he wouldn’t go about telling him he has his CHL first.
These people aren’t wrong in their assumptions.
Regardless of everything we’ve discussed so far, the way you interact with a cop will either help you or hurt you. If you’re in a duty to notify state while carrying a firearm and are stopped by the police try to do the following:
In summary, always know the gun laws in the state you’re in when you have your gun. And because not all states have a law where it’s required to tell the police you’ve got your gun on you during a stop, it’s also always the best idea to know what you’re going to do beforehand. Some folks still inform the officer they’re carrying, even when they’re not required to do so. These people generally do this out of respect for the officer in an attempt to put them at ease.
Knowing the laws in the state you’re in can only help you, and be sure to follow the above tips on what to do during a traffic stop to make sure you don’t get jammed up.
The author of this article is a former LEO in San Diego County.
]]>Concealed carry has been growing in popularity over the past few decades. And, looking out into the world it’s easy to see why. Criminally-minded people who want your wallet, phone, jewelry, or worse your body, etc., aren't afraid to try and take those things from you, even at the cost of your life. And, the sad reality is that the fight is usually over within seconds before you even have time to respond.
What this means is that a criminal can take our valuables, stab us with his knife, and run away before we even know what happened. And, while the police do the best they can, they cannot be everywhere all at once.
To make matters even worse, let’s say you were stabbed and were able to get a call out to the police -- you now have to wait several minutes for them to show up because, as previously stated, they do the best they can but are likely miles away from you. Because you can’t carry a cop on your back or afford to have a bodyguard with you 24/7, you must do the next logical thing: Carry a firearm in the holster that’s attached to your body.
Breaking this whole thing down even further, though, are some things that some concealed gun carriers may never even think about. While certain things, like proficiency with firearms, are needed to help you win out against this attacker, it really is a numbers game. At the end of the day if you can spot that an attack is coming and get your gun out on time, your chances of coming out on top is compounded.
You’ve likely heard it said that a determined bad guy can make up a distance of about 21 feet in about 1.5 seconds. While it’s not our goal to dispute the accuracy of this statement (because some say it’s not true), we can use it as a rule of thumb. Another stat we know is that it can take about half a second to react to a threat, and that is if you see it coming. If it’s coming up from behind, or from a shadowed area, you may not even know there is a threat.
But assuming that you do know it’s coming, you're left with only one second or so to pull your gun, present to target, and pull the trigger once you’ve made the connection that your life was in danger. Then, if the bad guy started under 21 feet with determination, it’s even less time than that.
So, best case scenario, you’ve got about 1.5 seconds (maybe more, could be less) to recognize the threat and defend your life accordingly. Considering that your average gun carrier can clear their outer garment, draw their gun, present to target, and get the first shot on that target in about 1.7 seconds, many gun carriers would lose that battle.
What can you do to increase your odds of surviving? How do you stack the deck in your favor?
The first thing you can do is practice your draw because this is where most shooters screw up. If you’ve never pulled your gun and fired it as a part of your drawstroke, you may be in for a rude awakening. It’s not easy to do properly with speed.
The drawstroke is the part that is most critical because this is where you establish your grip. You absolutely need a solid grip on your firearm (from the draw without having to re-adjust because you may not have time) to defend yourself properly. So much can go wrong because of a bad grip that it deserves its own article.
You need a holster that allows you to get a good grip on your gun because if not, it could mess up the rest of the incident. Here is a quick example: You may be able to get the first shot off, but your chances of having a malfunction goes up exponentially with a weak grip, as it changes the way the slide reciprocates.
Once you get proficient with getting your gun out of your holster, attempt to do it with speed. The best thing you can do is practice with a shot timer to see if you can get better than the average 1.7 seconds from draw to fire without sacrificing your grip.
The next thing you should strive to do to stack the deck in your favor is something most of you are likely already doing, but it bears repeating because some do not. This thing, is to carry your gun with a round in the chamber once you’re comfortable doing so. If you’re not comfortable doing so yet, keep practicing with your gun until you get there.
There are real reasons why the experts recommend carrying with a round in the chamber that goes beyond sounding “tacticool.”
One of the reasons being, in a critical incident, you already don’t have much time to properly defend yourself. As we’ve seen, when you’ve got 1.5 seconds to make the decision and get your gun on target, it’ll take you at least 1.7 seconds to do.
Having to add an extra step to the mix that may just cause a different set of problems is just not a good idea. Then, when you take into account that you’ll have tunnel vision, an adrenaline dump, and a loss of motor skills, it just makes your life that much more difficult to save. However, if you’ve already got the round in the chamber, all you have to do is draw, present, and shoot.
Finally, we talk about having a reload -- but not for the reasons you may think. Automatically when someone thinks about having an extra magazine on their body, they think that it’s because they’ll need it against a bunch of criminals. While that may certainly be the case, chances are better that you’ll have enough ammo in your first mag, but that magazine may fail. Instead of fumbling with trying to fix one that’s broken, getting you back into the fight is much more important and swapping out mags is (usually) the best way to do that.
This is another skill that you must learn if you don’t already have it, and practicing in both dry fire and live at the range are beneficial.
You’ve made the decision to carry a gun on your person, and now it’s time to stack the deck in your favor. One thing is for sure, criminals don’t seem to be slowing down their crime much. That means it’s up to you to survive. Do all you can now, so you can be better prepared if that time ever comes.
]]>What does that look like? What does a firearm training New Year’s Resolution look like? Let’s take a look at one plan to make sure you’re better prepared for a self-defense incident.
Dry Fire Practice:
We’ve already discussed dry fire practice and what it is in this article. So, if you’re unfamiliar with the term and how to do it, give that article a read first. It is recommended that you dry fire practice at least a few times each week for at least 10 minutes each session. What this does is keep your chosen EDC gun (everyday carry gun) in your hands, manipulating the trigger, racking the slide, etc., so you can keep your handling proficiency up as well as practice your trigger press.
Resolve to practice pressing your trigger a few times each week during dry fire practice. During this time you’ll want to practice fundamentals, like utilizing a proper grip, to increase your proficiency.
Practice Drawing:
The drawing of the firearm is one of the most important aspects of self-defense that, for some reason, people rarely practice. A lot of the time when people think about practicing with their self-defense gun, an image of shooting at the gun range comes to mind. However, as with dry fire practice, there is much more that goes into it than that.
If you’ve never drawn your gun from your holster, you may be in for a rude awakening. It’s not as easy as it looks, and is something that needs to be practiced in order to be done properly. One of the reasons why it’s so important, is because getting the gun in your hand with a bad grip can cause you accuracy issues, as well as problems after getting your first shot off.
If you need to draw your gun in a hurry and were somehow able to get your shirt out of the way, your hand on your gun, and get the gun on the target, but your hand isn’t sitting up high enough on the gun or has a chicken wing of a grip, you may unintentionally cause a malfunction on subsequent shots. Then what happens? Then you need to take the time to clear the malfunction before you can continue defending your life.
However, when you practice your draw before you ever even need to defend yourself you’ll be much better off. This is true even if you are only able to do it a few days each week in the comfort of your own home with an empty gun (like dry fire practice). If you do it enough you’ll be much more prepared to defend yourself if that time ever comes.
If you have never practiced drawing your gun before, we’ve got you covered.
At first, you may need to practice what are called micro drills just so you can eventually get through all the steps. A micro drill is one that just focuses on one aspect of a much bigger equation. In other words, a micro drill is nothing more than practicing smaller, specific steps of something until each one is mastered, giving you the ability to combine them all.
So, the first step after noticing a perceived threat is to pull your shirt up high out of the way, and establish the grip on your gun with your shooting/strong hand. At first you’ll need to do this slowly, with much repetition. Then, once you’ve gotten speed and a proper grip down pat, you move on to the next step in that drill, which is pulling the gun out of the holster and bringing it up to your chest as your support hand joins in on the grip. Finally, pushing the gun out to target and pressing the trigger (with a dry gun) is the last step in this particular micro drill.
We’ll cover proper drawing techniques in a future article.
Go To The Range More
This is what many consider to be the fun part, but chances are good that you’re not training right during your live fire training if you’re doing what most consider to be “training” while at the range. While going to the range and shooting accurately at the target is important, it’s not the only aspect of training that you need to be doing.
The only problem is that some gun ranges are strict on what they allow the shooters to do while on premises. If you can, find a gun range that allows you to practice proper self-defense, instead of just target shooting, because it’s important.
This means drawing from the holster and shooting your target, shooting and moving, shooting from behind objects, shooting from unconventional positions, and tons of other skills that you should be honing while at the range.
If you cannot do any of the above types of shooting at your range, and there are no ranges in your area that allow you to effectively train, the micro drills once again come in handy. For example, your range may prohibit you from drawing from the holster and shooting. What you can do instead, is a micro drill that consists of coming out of the ready position (at your chest, and as if you were drawing and made it to this step in the draw stroke), presenting to target, and shooting.
Doing this will at least allow you to practice coming from the ready position to your target, and is better than nothing. Once you’re comfortable with one shot on target, add more shots to the mix, like two the the chest one to the head.
Set your New Year’s Resolution to go to the range more often. If you’re currently going once per month, try to make it two, or at least increasing it by 50% over the course of the next year, if you can’t increase it by that much.
Conclusion
There is nothing wrong with setting a New Year’s gun training Resolution. In fact, if it helps you succeed and survive during a self-defense scenario, it’s time well spent. Figure out what you need to do to get better at shooting, and do it. There’s no time like the present.
]]>While this could be a great idea, there are some things you need to consider and a few rules you should follow to make sure you don’t get yourself, or the person you’re giving to, in trouble. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind as you do your last minute shopping that may prevent you from getting jammed up later on down the road:
The gun buyer --
Can you give a gun as a gift? Technically speaking, yes. However, there are a couple of very strict things that you must know in order to do so, to make sure you’re not doing something illegal.
The first thing that you need is to be the actual buyer of the gun. In other words, it has to be YOUR money being used for the gun’s purchase. You cannot be expecting anything in return for the gun, which is commonly known as a straw purchase. The second thing, is that the person cannot be prohibited from owning that firearm in any way. More on this in the next section ...
The gift receiver --
You have to know whether or not the person on the receiving end of the gift is actually allowed to own a firearm to begin with. This includes knowing the local laws of the state where the person resides, as well as making sure the person is not a felon. Taking it a step further, are age requirements that may be prohibitive of certain kinds of firearms for individuals under a certain age.
Buying a gun --
There is a fine line between what’s legal and what may be a straw purchase. The best advice is to not only know the gun laws, but also make sure you understand the difference between what is considered to be a gift, and what may be a straw purchase.
If you’re buying the gun with the intent to resell it to another person, or if that gift is technically somehow being bought by another person, it’s likely to be considered a straw purchase by authorities. However, if you’re buying the gun as a gift and expect nothing in return, it’s actually considered to be a gift.
If it’s the latter, you’re safe in most cases provided you’re following the rest of the laws.
Shipping a gun --
As far as handguns are concerned, they can only be shipped via what’s known as a common carrier like FedEx. Long guns, on the other hand may be shipped by U.S. mail or common carrier.
As a rule of thumb, both handguns and long guns should only be shipped to an FFL dealer so that the person on the receiving end can still go through the appropriate background check.
Another good practice is to check with the carrier to see if any of their rules have changed.
Across state lines --
Buying a gun for someone across state lines will usually bring its own set of struggles with it. If this is the case, the receiver has to go through a background check in their home state. It is technically illegal to bring a gun with you from one state to another with the idea of just handing it to another person. They have to go through a background check in their state.
If shipping it, this means you have to ship the firearm to their local FFL as talked about above so they can go through the transfer process. If this is the case, it’s recommended that you include a note to the FFL with your contact info, the contact info of the other person, and a copy of your state issued ID.
That way, if there are any questions they know who to contact.
Gift Card --
The gift card may be viewed by many as “the easy way out” when it comes to giving a gift. But when you just don’t know what to give, the gift card may be the best thing. It clears your name by allowing the person to pick out her own thing, even if the card doesn’t completely cover the cost.
All of the major big box stores like Cabela’s and Bass Pro have gift cards available, as do most of the smaller mom and pop gun shops you may frequent. And, any of them will be happy to have your business. We don't sell guns be we offer gift cards here at Relentless Tactical.
To play it even safer, is the purchase a debit style gift card with the logo of one of the major credit card manufacturers on it, that way if they don’t want a gun they aren’t forced to spend your money on something they don’t want from a store they’d never shop in.
Conclusion --
Buying someone a gun as a gift can be a rewarding thing for both the giver and the receiver, but can be a confusing process to follow correctly. Following the rules will help keep you out of trouble, and the main thing is to know the rules in the state where the receiver lives and follow them exactly. Then again, maybe the easiest thing would be just to follow the ATF’s advice and just give a gift card or certificate, and let that person pick out whatever he or she wants.
]]>In an attack, your goal is to stop the threat as quickly as possible. And contrary to the ballistics lessons taught in Clint Eastwood movies, this doesn’t happen with one shot, or just from pulling out the gun. It happens with multiple, well-placed hits on the attacker. The way you grip your gun is the major driver of how fast you get these impacts on the attacker.
And this is why your grip is important.
In order to understand why the way you grip your gun is important, we have to have a solid understanding on how a gun cycles when being shot. When the round is fired, the slide moves quickly rearward, slamming into the rearmost position. This causes the muzzle end of the gun to rise. Then springs in the gun cause the slide to return forward where it slams into place causing the muzzle to dip slightly.
To shoot quickly you need to minimize this muzzle movement because you can’t shoot accurate shots if your muzzle is off-target. The “thumbs forward” grip is the most widely used grip for defensive and competition shooting with semi-auto handguns.
Let’s discuss the best method of establishing this grip on your bottom-feeder pistol:
When establishing your grip, it’s helpful to think about how the gun moves and how we can use our hands to counter those movements. To start, the web of the dominant hand should be as high on the backstrap as possible without interfering with the slide’s movement to the rear.
The dominant thumb should be on the opposite side of the grip from the four fingers. The four fingers on the dominant hand should grip the pistol in a way that allows the index finger to naturally rest on the trigger. You should not have to reach for the trigger. Ideally (but not always possible), your trigger finger should rest somewhere on the first section of your index finger. The purpose of this is to allow your index finger to squeeze the trigger straight back and not to one side or the other.
The other three fingers, including the pinky of the dominant-hand, should be providing consistent rearward pressure. Think of squeezing the gun toward the palm of your hand. If you look at the diagram, you can see that if you want to counteract the rise of the muzzle, the pressure at the bottom of the grip (your pinky) gives you the most leverage.
Your support hand is also important so don’t miss its role. First, point the thumb of your dominant hand straight up. When you do this, you will leave some of the grip exposed on the support side of the grip. The goal is to get as much hand-to-grip contact with your support hand as possible. Place the heel of your hand on the exposed portion of the grip. With your thumb extended, rotate your support hand so that your support thumb rests parallel with the slide.
At the same time, your four other fingers should overlap the dominant hand knuckles and lock them into place. Try to get your support hand index finger as high under the trigger guard as possible. Now allow the thumb of the dominant hand to rest on top of the support hand. Do not allow the dominant hand thumb to go under the support side palm.
When you extend the gun out to the target at eye level, the support hand thumb will be pointed toward the target. Ideally, you should see a straight line beginning at your thumb and extending through your arm.
Another way to confirm you have it right is to straighten the four fingers on the support hand. They should all point at about a 45-degree angle to the ground. If these fingers point toward the target, rotate your support hand until you achieve the 45 degrees and the straight line through the support side hand and arm.
You can also check to see if you have nailed it by keeping your support hand on the gun and removing your dominant hand. You should have a firm grip on the gun without gaps between your hand and the gun’s grip.
A lot is made about how much, or the distribution of, grip pressure. Ideally, you want to provide 360-degree pressure around the grip. The more pressure the better, but only to a point. When it comes to your dominant hand, too much starts to make the trigger finger also start applying grip pressure and that will cause accuracy issues.
As far as the support hand is concerned, apply as much grip pressure as you can, without causing your hands to shake. Apply the grip in the same way as if you were trying to crush a can of pop. Something you may notice if insufficient support hand grip is given, is your shots drifting to the side. So, make sure you’re putting the support hand to use whenever possible.
If you don’t have a strong grip you’ll find that it may be harder to manage the recoil as you shoot your gun. Something you can do to help your grip out is to build up your hand strength with exercises. There are also a plethora of products available to enhance your gun’s grip, like adhesive grip textures or stippling your gun’s grip to your desire.
With your new grip, you should be managing the recoil better and your rapid-fire groups should be getting tighter. It may take some getting used to, but with proper live and dry fire practice, all the pieces of the puzzle will come together.
]]>
Dry fire, sometimes spelled dry-fire or dryfire, can also be referred to as dry fire practice or dry practice, describes the use of an unloaded firearm to practice the mechanics and fundamentals of firearms handling and shooting.
The most common method of dry fire is using an unloaded, fully functional firearm. But as the benefits of dryfire became recognized, new products were developed which not only made dry fire more fun, but enhanced the outcome. Devices like inert guns that emit lasers such as Next Level Training’s SIRT line of guns, dummy guns, and even airsoft guns are used and commonly thought of as dry fire tools.
It should be noted here, however, that all you really need to dry fire practice is your EDC (every day carry) concealed carry gun and to make sure there is not any ammunition in it before you start.
In its simplest form, dry fire allows us to learn how to safely manipulate the gun. Using a gun requires not only proficiency in the basics of pointing the gun where it needs to be pointed and pulling the trigger but also getting the gun loaded, unloaded, and fixed if there is a malfunction.
All of this must be done safely, observing the basic firearm safety rules.
For brand new gun owners, learning how to safely handle the gun while it is unloaded or while using inert dummy ammo allows them to learn without the fear of a fatal mistake.
Finding time to go to the range can be difficult and expensive when you factor in the cost of ammunition. But dry fire can be done at home for free at any time, day or night. More time manipulating the gun, loading, changing mags, working a manual external safety (if your gun has one), racking the slide, etc., will give you more confidence when you get out and live fire. Not having to think about these things frees your brain to focus on some of the other aspects of shooting.
Furthermore, drawing from a holster, moving and shooting, shooting from unconventional positions, and using barricades or shooting from in or around vehicles is likely not something you will be able to do at the majority of ranges. And even if you could, it is better to first learn some of these more advanced skills with an unloaded firearm.
Additionally, think of the layout of your home. Learning the blind corners, positions of advantage or the potential different shot distances inside your home helps you realistically prepare if you ever have to use your firearm inside your home.
Finally, we spend a lot of time in our vehicles, and dry fire practice is great for learning how to handle and deploy your firearm while you’re inside your vehicle.
At what point does the gun begin to recoil? It starts once the trigger breaks and the firing cycle has begun. Is there anything that we do before we squeeze the trigger that can affect the shot? Things like obtaining sight alignment, sight picture, trigger squeeze, proper grip, presentation, efficient and safe draw, presentation, magazine changes, malfunction clearing, etc., all take place outside of recoil.
All of this and more can be worked on with an unloaded firearm, for free, inside your home, at any time of the day or night. So if you’re not leveraging this, you’re not maximizing your skill development.
Once you begin establishing good fundamental skills in dry fire, you will see a corresponding increase in your skills during live fire. Think of grip for example. If you have a poor grip, you cannot effectively manage your gun’s recoil. Developing a proper grip through dry fire, even while not experiencing recoil, will result in your ability to better manage the recoil during live fire.
While it is true that there is no replacement for live fire, we can use various dry fire techniques to solidify basic fundamentals, and then confirm them through live fire in training and practice.
Some people caution against dry firing because they have heard that it damages the internals of the gun.
This debate is based on solely on opinion instead of any facts. Center fired rifles and handguns are safe to dry fire, while rim fired firearms should not be dry fired without either a dummy round or expended brass in the chamber.
If there are any further questions about dry fire being safe for your gun, be sure to check the owner’s manual that your gun came with. Most manuals will say that dry firing your firearm is fine.
Dry fire practice is something you can safely do in the comfort of your own home, that will take your proficiency as a shooter up to the next level, as well as help you handle your concealed carry firearm better. The basic firearms safety rules still apply, and always make sure the gun is unloaded before you start.
We’ll cover the ins and outs of dry firing, how to do it, and give you some tips and drills in a future article so make sure you stay tuned for that.
]]>