Worst of the Best

November 18, 2010

Question: You have said that a handgun is the worst possible weapon for personal defense. How about telling us what are better choices and ranking them in order, 1 through 10.

Tracking Sales In The Gun Business

November 18, 2010

Continuing our look at the business of the gun business, the next component to consider is how the industry’s distribution channels further obfuscate sales trends and product demand. In many industries, a lot of data is collected in the distribution channel, but in the gun business, virtually none of this information is available to industry analysts.

Concealed or Open

November 17, 2010

In the comments section of my last blog, I was asked if I had to carry concealed when hunting. Well, the answer is no. In a lot of states, you can carry open when hunting, and in Virginia, where I currently live, open carry is completely legal.

The Armed Citizen® December 2010

November 15, 2010

*His delivery completed, a pizza driver began to drive away when a masked man accosted him with a shotgun and announced a robbery. The driver drew a handgun that he was licensed to carry and shot the suspect. After asking a passerby to call 9-1-1, the compassionate driver reassured the wounded suspect that help was on the way.

How Do You Cover?

November 15, 2010

Over the weekend, I was pheasant hunting with a buddy down at Rose Hill Game Preserve. As always, I was carrying my Kimber in my Milt Sparks VersaMax II. The morning started cool, but as it warmed up, I had to remove a layer and ended up only covering with my upland game vest.

Why The Gun Business Defies Analysis

November 12, 2010

What is this thing we call the shooting industry or, to put it another way, what is the business of the gun business? Unlike other industries that can be analyzed, quantified, objectified and measured, the metrics of the gun business are largely unknown. It’s amazing how mysterious the industry is when you think about it. Even an industry analyst like the Insider cannot get hold of basic data that other industries take for granted.

One-Handed Tap & Rack

November 10, 2010

One of the most difficult drills simulates clearing a stoppage with a single hand because the other hand has received an injury during a fight. However, the concept is still the same regardless of the type of stoppage; you still have to rack the slide while maintaining control over the handgun.

Double Tap Denied

November 10, 2010

“Double Tap” is a slang term that I don't believe has a precise meaning. They don't use the term at Gunsite, which has been teaching for a long time now. Most commonly, I believe it means two fast pistol shots.

Winchester Moves To Mississippi

November 08, 2010

The shooting industry is moving south. Remington left New York for North Carolina, Para USA moved from Canada, USRAC shut down completely, then moved to FN’s factory, and now Olin’s Winchester ammunition factory is relocating from Illinois to Mississippi.

100 Years of Reminiscing

November 05, 2010

Remington's recent decision to offer the public a 1911 style .45 pistol is well timed. Back in March, we passed the 99th anniversary of the official adoption of the M1911 pistol as the sidearm of the U.S. Army. Next year, we'll see the centennial of that great old classic. For a host of reasons, the 1911 is an enduring firearm. I have yet to handle a sample of the Remington version, but it looks good and the early reviews of the gun by other writers are favorable.