I’ve been testing a few different revolvers outfitted for moon clip use over the past several months. The idea is nifty, as moon clips help to mitigate one of the big disadvantages of using revolvers for defensive use. That would be fast and efficient reloading. When not using a moon clip, this Smith & Wesson 586 L-Comp […]
Brass Tacks: Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact
There’s always room for another plinker on the shelves. If it’s a good one… It’s not as if there is a shortage of .22 pistols on the market. And rimfire ammo isn’t as affordable as it used to be. We might as well get used to that, because just as steaks, movie tickets, and Shake […]
Drifting Away from Leather Holsters and Magazine Carriers?
I still love a finely crafted leather holster, but maybe a bit less in the hot summer months… The thermometer in my car read 101°, but that didn’t account for the fact that the humidity level was 3,012%. Besides picking the worst day in 2018 to do outdoor range work I was still having fun, […]
A New Red Dot Choice: The Crimson Trace CTS-1000
Crimson Trace gets into the optics business… The laser recently made a big splash in the more traditional optics world. Over the past year they have not so quietly produced a family of red dot sights and a related family of traditional rifle scopes. I guess if you started out in the “aiming” business it […]
Is Your Holster Making Your Pistol Inoperable?
Here’s a frightening scenario. You find yourself in a self-defense encounter. OK, so that’s frightening enough, but it can get worse. What if when you go to draw from your holster and fire your pistol, it doesn’t work? Or maybe it shoots once because your magazine is either unseated or, worse yet, completely missing. What? How’s that […]
What You Need to Know About the New 224 Valkyrie
There’s always a new cartridge out there. Some grow legs while others remain relegated to small communities of Wildcat enthusiasts. Meet the Valkyrie. Earlier this year, the folks at Federal Ammunition announced the 224 Valkyrie. Its purpose in life is effective and accurate long-range shooting. What makes it different is that it fits into the […]
The Springfield Armory 1911 TRP: An FBI Contract Gun for Regular Folks
The Springfield Armory 1911 TRP (Tactical Response Pistol) is more or less a production version of the custom pistol demanded by the FBI. The model that won the 5,000 pistol contract back in 1988 had to meet stringent performance requirements like 2,500 rounds without stoppage and 1.5-inch groups from 25 yards with service ammunition. To […]
Deep Concealed Carry Tips and Tricks
How to carry when deep concealment is the primary factor… Sometimes deep concealment may be more important than ease of access. That doesn’t mean concealed carry can’t be practical. How do you pull it off? In a perfect world, you might carry your self-defense handgun in an outside-the-waistband holster and cover it loosely with a […]
A Quick and Easy Way to Improve the Glock Trigger
Once you shoot a pistol with a nice trigger, you’re spoiled for life… I’ve been tinkering with a new pair of Glocks – the Slimline 43X and 48 models. They’re identical except for slide and barrel length. Yes, they share the exact same 10-round magazine too. If you haven’t checked them out yet, take a look. I’m […]
10mm or .45 ACP?
Recently I got my hot little hands on a new Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite 10mm pistol. Years earlier, I’d bought a similar pistol, a Springfield Armory 1911 TRP pistol chambered in .45 ACP. I’ve always loved that production version of the FBI contract gun, so I was anxious to compare it to this […]