If you interpret “home defense” in the broadest sense, the objective is to protect your people and your home from threats of any kind. That would include not just home invasions but also simple burglary and even fire. While the concepts overlap a bit, we’re going to focus on the intruder scenario here. When thinking […]
High-Tech Home Defense?
Tinkering around with a new gun and some sweet accessories has got me thinking about high-tech home defense pistols. I’ve been testing out the new Springfield Armory XD(M) OSP Threaded model with all of its associated bells and whistles to explore the concept. As for sweet accessories, I’ve added a Crimson Trace Railmaster Pro and SilencerCoOsprey 45 Suppressor to complement the Vortex Venom red dot sight already included. The Springfield Armory XD(M) […]
‘Halloween’ Home Defense: Protecting Yourself from Michael Myers
Yes, it’s that week again. It’s time for youngsters to roam the streets begging for Hershey miniatures and Nerdz while lobbing eggs at houses that offer up saltine crackers. Not coincidentally, the latest iteration of the evil slow-walking guy with a knife movie series – Halloween (2018) – hit the theaters last weekend. True to form, Hollywood […]
Should You Consider an AR-15 for Home Defense?
Everyone knows, at least according to the news, that an AR-15 rifle is capable of leveling an entire city block and creating a rupture in the San Andreas fault. So, why on earth would anyone want to choose an AR-15 or similar rifle for home defense? Well, when you examine the issue with consideration of […]
Handgun Lasers Aren’t a Crutch; They Add Capabilities
There are a lot of myths about handgun lasers. Many people don’t consider that lasers add capabilities without replacing those you already have. Laser sights get a bad rap from gun know-it-alls. You’ll hear pithy and condescending comments like these… • Laser sights are a crutch. • Lasers are only for people who can’t use […]
Gun Science: Should You Use Birdshot for Home Defense?
There are a lot of myths floating around when it comes to shotguns and their abilities as a defensive firearm. Every once in a while you hear the old saw that you just have to point a shotgun in the general direction of someone trying to do you harm—the spread of the pellets means you […]
How Do You Use a Gun, Weaponlight, and Flashlight?
This article originally appeared at AmmoLand. Technology has really fouled up some of the classic gun handling techniques. Back in the day, if you had to do scary gun stuff like investigate bumps in the night, you had a flashlight and a gun. You could use the flashlight however you liked, with little risk to […]
Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump-action Shotgun: Full Review
I’m thinking a 20-gauge shotgun for home defense is kind of like Miller Lite. You know, all the great taste, but with half the calories. If you’ve fired different types of shotguns, it’s obvious that recoil can be all over the map. Some load and gun combinations are relative pussycats, allowing one to fire hundreds […]
Shooting With A Flashlight
I’m a big fan of mounting lights on defensive handguns. Before you ever pull a trigger in low light or dark conditions, you need to know exactly what you’re shooting at. Besides positive identification, a weapon-mounted light will even allow you to see regular iron sights quite clearly. Yes, glow-in-the-dark Tritium sights are fantastic and […]
7 Things You Learn Shooting Lasers In the Dark
This article originally appeared at AmmoLand. By Tom McHale USA –-(Ammoland.com)- We gun people have a terrible habit of arguing to the death over trivial theoretical debates like the whether using the wrong stance will cause painful bunions, adopting anything other than appendix carry will disqualify you from the cool kids club, or choosing the […]