The Armed Citizen® April 2011

March 23, 2011

*Jeff Gibson and his wife, Tammy, had returned home after an evening church service when Jeff noticed something awry. "The garage door was open," he recalled. "When I went to see what was going on, I saw a black car pulling out." The car sped down the driveway toward Tammy, who was checking the mail.

Utah Names M1911 Its Official State Handgun

March 22, 2011

Honoring a native son, the state legislature of Utah designated the M1911 pistol as the official state handgun. John M. Browning’s legendary design joins 24 other official Utah state symbols ranging from the blue spruce to the honeybee.

Trick Shooting the Classics

March 22, 2011

If the previews are to be believed, the Top Shot contestants are going trick shooting during this week’s team competition. It looks like it might be a shooting version of H.O.R.S.E., which should provide some fun shots if the shooters have some imagination.

Iain Harrison: Blues Send Home One of the Best

March 16, 2011

Readers of this blog (yes, both of you—you know who you are) will be familiar by now with my usual Tuesday evening routine of finishing work and then heading over to my local Irish bar to watch Top Shot. The reason I watch there with friends, rather than secluded in my man cave is twofold. First, the service is a lot better. Second, it's really entertaining to look around the bar during the show and see how many non-shooters become sucked into the drama that unfolds onscreen. Last night's episode was definitely a winner in that respect. I know that some of the shooters watching will have been turned off by the fact that the contest revolved around primitive weapons, but given what the show has done to bring the shooting sports into living rooms across the country, I'm OK with that.

Uncle Mike’s Reflex Holster

March 16, 2011

Retention is an important part of carrying concealed. A gun that falls out while a peson is performing normal duties is embarrassing and could have legal implications. Having your handgun pulled from its holster by an unauthorized user could get you killed.

The Uber Industry Trade Show

March 16, 2011

German=based IWA show features unique mood, international flavor.

Terminology: Bore Diameter/Groove Diameter

March 15, 2011

Here's the definition, right out of the NRA Firearms Sourcebook. It is “...the minor interior diameter of a barrel that is the diameter of a circle formed by the tops of the lands.” That is the bore diameter, but groove diameter is “...the diameter of a circle circumscribed by the bottom of the grooves...”

Distraction of the Cell Phone

March 14, 2011

A reader made a very accurate comment on my headphones blog about how distracted people become when talking on a cell phone. I personally believe that this is an understatement. There are people who don’t realize that they’re still in this world when talking or texting on a cell phone.

Survey Reveals Top Brands In The Industry

March 14, 2011

Once again the world is conspiring to humiliate the Insider. No sooner had I opined that the shooting industry is lacking in market share data than two surveys surfaced, one dedicated to “modern sporting rifles” (MSR) and another to the overall industry.

Iain Harrison: Zins Could Have Turned the Tables

March 10, 2011

Currently on the second leg of my March odyssey, I'm watching Top Shot tonight with some friends in a restaurant in Fairfax Va., just down the road from NRA HQ. It feels like revisiting the scene of a crime, as last time I was here, Pete Palma joined me for the occasion, and the celebrations were a little, shall we say, spirited? Pete has since moved to Blake Miguez's stomping grounds, so he won't be able to make it for episode five of Season 2, but I'll be reporting back when he accompanies me to a 3-gun match next month. The inimitable Adam Benson is among tonight's audience however, and I know that Jermaine, George and JJ Racaza have their own viewing party tonight in Atlantic City.