Tom McHale - My Gun Culture

About Tom McHale

Tom is the Editor of American Handgunner Magazine and has published numerous books on shooting, concealed carry, reloading, and the United States Constitution. You can find print and ebook versions of his books at Amazon. Find Tom online at Parler, MeWe, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

You Can Be Right—And Still Lose

By Tom McHale|2025-01-18T11:19:53-05:00January 18th, 2025|

If you carry a gun for self-defense, you can do (almost) everything right… and still lose. Some good advice here from Ken Hackathon. What’s the missing piece? Read on. I also talk about these scenarios quite a bit in my new book, The Practical Guide to Concealed Carry.

Organize Your Butt Off with this Vanquest Gear

By Tom McHale|2025-01-16T09:16:40-05:00January 16th, 2025|

I organize each of my hundreds of albums and CDs in alphabetical order by artist. If i don’t delete them, I folder each and every one of the hundreds of emails I receive daily by topic. You get the idea. Maybe that’s why I love Vanquest gear, especially this nifty little organizer. It’s designed to operate both standalone or as an add on. (or add in) to a larger pack or bag. Check out the details...

The Unrepentant Sixgun

By Tom McHale|2025-01-16T09:09:20-05:00January 16th, 2025|

I appreciate fine craftsmanship. I appreciate art, well, maybe not the “banana taped to a wall” sort, but that which displays masterful talent. And if you’ve been reading this stuff before, I also appreciate a laugh or two. Sometimes, all of these fuse together.

New XRB Solid Copper Defensive Ammo from Sellier & Bellot

By Tom McHale|2025-01-09T09:16:00-05:00January 9th, 2025|

Sellier and Bellot has some new(ish) defensive ammo. It’s an all-copper projectile design that’ll stay together when passing through challenging barriers like glass. I tested it with a couple of pistols with known accuracy and was able to print sub-two-inch groups from 25 yards, so it can shoot more accurately than most humans.

How to Become a Better Shooter This Year, and Have Fun Doing It

By Tom McHale|2025-01-09T09:06:43-05:00January 9th, 2025|

While many law enforcement officers dread annual qualifications, some of the courses, especially the “old school” ones are a lot of fun. Better yet, they’re guaranteed to make you a better shooter. For example, the old Air Marshal qualification is tough to complete if you follow the rules, but if you do, you’ll be among the very best of gun owners out there.

Practically Useless? The Ultimate “Hand” Gun

By Tom McHale|2024-12-30T16:53:52-05:00December 30th, 2024|

A look at the Haight glove gun: an impractical wartime invention that sounded great on paper.

A More Affordable Carry 1911: Springfield Armory RONIN EMP

By Tom McHale|2024-12-30T16:52:40-05:00December 30th, 2024|

She stole it, and I can’t even press charges, in part because she’s my wife, and in part, because I had it coming. The year was 2012. I was doing a story on the Springfield Armory EMP (Enhanced Micro Pistol) and its lineage to the 1911 TRP model. I had a loaner pistol sent my way — the original 3″-barrel 9mm model.

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A Very Boomer Christmas

By Tom McHale|2024-12-20T11:51:29-05:00December 20th, 2024|

An entertaining Christmas story about the days when a “healthy” childhood carried the expectation of broken bones, the occasional burn, and lots of outdoor fun.

5 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the Shooting Enthusiast

By Tom McHale|2024-12-20T10:19:15-05:00December 20th, 2024|

Hurting for gift ideas? Here are some moderately-priced ideas for the shooting enthusiast in your life.

Staccato CS Compact 2011 Pistol Review

By Tom McHale|2024-12-13T12:50:53-05:00December 13th, 2024|

I’ve been shooting a flock of Staccato 2011 pistols side-by-side and regardless of size, they all shoot exceptionally well. Off a bench rest at 25 yards, this little pistol still prints just over one-inch five shot groups. Don’t let the small size fool you; the compact CS model’s double-stack design still packs 15+1 capacity.