Mental Training

January 12, 2011

Regardless of the amount of time spent or number of rounds fired in training, many gun owners are unprepared for a deadly force encounter—mentally unprepared. The idea of defending one’s life or home seems very simple, but if you haven’t thought it through completely, you might hesitate at a time that could get you seriously hurt or worse.

100 Years And The 1911

January 12, 2011

Proctor & Gamble had just invented Crisco, King George V had just been crowned the new monarch of England and the United States Army had just adopted a new service pistol designed by a wiry, bald-headed genius. The year was 1911.

Marathon Shoots

January 12, 2011

I have been involved in several marathon shoots that gunzine editors take such delight in ordering. One was with a rifle (Colt H-BAR), another was a disaster with a gun that was quickly withdrawn from production and one more was with a Sig P220 .45. This last one was easily the most memorable. The project consisted of a crew of volunteers running 10,000 rounds of high-quality Black Hills ball ammunition through the gun in one day-long session. We could have done it quicker, but I insisted on being fair to the gun, as well as finding out some interesting stuff along the way.

1911 Centennial Celebration Coming to SHOT Show

January 07, 2011

The Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show is mere weeks away, but the buzz about what might be unveiled is already ringing the Insider’s bell. One area that stands out is the centennial anniversary of the 1911 pistol.

Groundwork

January 06, 2011

While it’s important to stay on your feet in a fight, a lot of things can go wrong when you’re attacked, such as being knocked to the ground. If this happened could you defend yourself? If you haven’t practiced drawing and shooting from the ground, it’s highly unlikely.

Illumination

January 05, 2011

As an infantry guy, I called for illumination quite often. It usually came from mortars or howitzers, but occasionally from naval gunfire or aerial flares. As a cop, I used my big 4-cell Kel-Lite far more than my Model 19. And as the saying goes, you can't fight 'em if you can't see 'em. Of all the possible accessories to a good fighting handgun you could possibly buy, one of the most important is an effective light. It's so important that the synonym for flashlight in the tactical sense is “target identifier.” There's a vast liability issue awaiting the police officer or even armed citizen who lets fly with old Betsy without positively identifying the target, but that's only part of the handgunner's need for a good light.

Straight from SHOT 2011

January 05, 2011

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The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference (SHOT Show) is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports and hunting industries. It is the world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, camping and related products and services. The SHOT Show attracts buyers from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. In short, it's a gun lovers' dream. Every brand is represented, and every type of firearm is on display.

SHOT Show Poised For New, Improved Venue

January 04, 2011

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the non-profit industry organization that owns the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show, is marking its 50th anniversary this year and the 2011 SHOT Show promises to spearhead the organization’s celebration with a strong show in a renovated Sands convention center.

Larry Kelly Passes Away

December 23, 2010

Handgun hunting pioneer and founder of Mag-na-port, Larry Kelly, dead at 75.

Terminology: Hammer Spur

December 20, 2010

Times are a' changing. Not so long ago, almost every handgun hammer had a spur. This is the rearmost visible extension of the hammer on a pistol or revolver. It's the part on which the shooter places his thumb in order to cock the gun's action.