Innholdsfortegnelse for 221 CCH i Personal Defense World

A college professor once told me something that has always stuck over the years. Interestingly enough, it was a statistics class, and he said, “If someone is about to give you a statistic to prove their point, you’re about to be lied to. You can very easily manipulate the numbers to support your case, and I am here to show you how.” What brings this memory to the forefront of my mind are mainstream media outlets decrying “America’s gun violence epidemic,” our “everyday mass shootings” and more. But according to FBI statistics, violent crime has been on the decline for decades. In 2016, violent crimes were 12.3 percent below where they were in 2007. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, violent crime…

Kimber is a big believer in the idea that if you are going to do something, go all in. That’s obvious with the additional release of two more awesome-looking Micro 9 pistols. MICRO 9 ESV GRAY: The Micro 9 ESV Gray is the beautiful sibling of the Micro 9 ESV Black, with many of the same fantastic features. Most obvious are the great slide cuts, providing a view of the barrel. In this case, it is a beautiful rose-copper color. The gun is a tribute to form and function, with its inclusion of ball-mill cocking serrations and tritium night sights. These features, combined with exceptional aesthetics, make it a great gun for EDC. The durable KimPro II finish is designed to last so the gun can be a constant companion…

Compact semi-automatic pistols, commonly referred to as “pocket pistols,” are becoming more and more popular as everyday-carry (EDC) handguns. By far, the most popular calibers are the .380 ACP and 9mm, and some of these pistols are surprisingly small and lightweight. Several new models and updates of previous designs were introduced at this year’s SHOT Show, the premier venue for firearms manufacturers, and I scoured the aisles looking for the best. Here are some of the latest and greatest offerings. BERSA TPR9CMX The compact TPR9C was a bit hit among Bersa fans last year, and the company is now offering a version with a threaded barrel for suppressor use. This hammer-fired, double-action/single-action (DA/SA) 9mm features a steel slide and an aluminum frame. The barrel is 4.1 inches long with polygonal…

IF you’ve followed my paper trail over the years, you’ve probably noticed more than one article about Ruger double-action (DA) revolvers under my byline. I’ve carried Ruger DAs in uniform, concealed on my own time and adventuring in the wilds, and while I switched to a semi-auto some years back for most daily routines, there are still occasions today where a Ruger magnum tags along when I want more power. Hands down, my favorite Ruger product for personal and professional purposes has to be the GP100. Designed from the ground up for magnum pressures, the GP100 is built for the long haul, and it’s a perfect platform as a “tweener” when you want more steam than a .38 Special generates, but not quite as much backlash as a .44 Magnum…

My wife and toddler son were with me in our SUV, parked at a fast food restaurant, when a drug deal went south not 10 feet from my rear bumper. There were three active participants conversing in fluent profanity and brandishing firearms. It arose unexpectedly out of the clear blue on an otherwise unremarkable day. I was a soldier at the time and could run a gun. However, I had never trained tactically from a vehicle. My first action—before I reached for my weapon, before I thought about the cops, before I really evaluated the circumstances—was to shove my wife and son into a ball in the floorboard. On a visceral level, I wanted as much car between them and bullets. I kept a 9mm Sig Sauer P226 in a…

Purchasing a gun can be expensive, and many people are forced to compromise due to budget constraints. They may sometimes pass on exactly what they want because they just can’t afford it. But this is where the used firearms market comes in, as you can find some amazing deals here. What if you find a used firearm that was a great performer back in its prime but has been used and abused during its life? Maybe it just has cosmetic issues. Maybe the issues are more mechanical in nature. Many people don’t understand how simple it really can be to refurbish a beat-up firearm. That’s why I decided to do just that and show everyone that it is sometimes better to buy used than new when it comes to guns.…

When I think of 1911s, I automatically associate them with the .45 ACP cartridge. But lately we’ve seen quite a few of them chambered in 9mm. Interest generated by 3-Gun competition shooters has trickled down to the concealed-carry market. Why the 9mm? There are a few reasons. Probably the most often heard is that steel-framed 1911s chambered for the mild-mannered 9mm are incredibly soft-shooting and, combined with the platform’s short trigger travel, allow shooters to put rounds on target very quickly. Sounds like what you’d want for a carry gun, right? The folks at Magnum Research Inc. (MRI) have listened, and I recently got my hands on their Desert Eagle 1911C for testing. These pistols are built by Bul Transmark in Israel to MRI’s stringent specifications before coming to the…

Despite a constant stream of mainstream news headlines decrying gun ownership, more citizens are carrying firearms now than ever before. Last year, the Crime Prevention Research Center reported that concealed-carry permits had grown to more than 17.25 million. That figure marked a jump of nearly 900,000 in 2018 alone. From 2007 to 2018, carry permits grew by nearly 13 million, an astounding increase, according to John Lott, who founded the center. Meanwhile, bullet technology and terminal ballistics in factory loadings marketed for self-defense have rewritten the rules on what a proper carry gun looks like. While the .45 ACP was once the unquestioned king, more diminutive calibers are seemingly finding new life. The result is an ever-growing stable of subcompact pistols. Beretta’s newest entry into this crowded field is the…

When it comes to firearms companies, it doesn’t get any more American than O.F. Mossberg & Sons. It may seem contradictory to say that since the founder, Oscar Frederick Mossberg, was a Swedish immigrant, but that’s exactly what makes his story so American. Exactly 100 years ago, Mossberg and his sons began producing their first firearm, a four-shot .22 pistol called the Brownie. Upon its success, Mossberg turned his attention to long arms, with the company becoming a dominant force in the American market. The Brownie was the only pistol made by Mossberg—that is until now. A RETURN TO PISTOLS With an overall length of 6.25 inches, the 9mm MC1sc is designed from the ground up to be the ultimate concealed-carry pistol. This might be obvious from the pistol’s dimensions,…

IT seems every new model that Glock brings out creates even more demand for the brand. That was certainly the case when the company introduced the Glock 43, its first subcompact, single-stack 9mm, which was an immediate success. At 6.26 inches long and just over an inch wide, the G43 was an ideal pistol for concealed carry or as a backup for law enforcement. It provided 6+1 rounds of 9mm firepower while being easier to carry than the larger G26. The pistol came standard with two magazines, one with a flush baseplate for maximum concealment and one with an extended baseplate for a slightly larger grip. As with all Glocks, the G43 comes from the factory with plastic sights. And while Glock’s “Perfection” slogan is catching, the G43 can benefit…

Smith & Wesson introduced its J-Frame revolvers to the world in 1950. The Chief’s Special—later known as the Model 36—became a popular gun for concealed carry because of its small size and lightweight design. Over the decades, other models have evolved from the original Chief’s Special design, including the brand-new Model 360 Airweight. FIRST IMPRESSIONS When I first picked the Model 360 Airweight up from my local gun shop, I would have sworn the box was empty had I not seen the staff place the gun back inside after doing the paperwork. Yes, it’s that light! Weighing in at 14.9 ounces unloaded, the gun truly lives up to the “Airweight” moniker engraved on the right side of the frame. Don’t let that fool you, though, because this gun is definitely…

Pocket pistols are popular. They sell well. People like them. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest one that overrides all the others is that they’re small enough and light enough to actually carry, on a regular basis, all day long and just about everywhere. Whether they’re carried as primary guns in a concealed-carry role or as backups for law enforcement personnel, they don’t create “He’s got a gun!” bulges under clothing, and they don’t drag your pants or purse down in daily life. Pocket pistols have evolved over the years, from the mostly symbolic vest-pocket .25s on through the larger .32s and .380s of much of the 1900s, and today we have some true engineering marvels in what some companies have been able to achieve in maximizing…

As my daughter often reminds me, “Bling matters.” This is usually followed by me giving her a lecture about substance. But the entire firearms industry has recognized the growing interest in bling and dramatic-looking guns, and the good folks at Kimber have seen the writing on the wall as well. And while they have indeed embraced the gold and shiny, they also seemed to have heard my often-spouted lecture about substance before launching the Micro 9 ESV series. Available with a black or gray KimPro II finish, the Kimber Micro 9 ESV is a subcompact pistol for those who prefer 1911-style controls. The gun varies slightly from John Moses Browning’s design in that it does not have a grip safety or barrel bushing. It does retain the thumb safety and…

With the MC1sc being so new at the time of this writing, there weren’t a lot of holsters available for testing the pistol, but I found two companies ready to roll with what I needed. BARE ARMS OWB: Bare Arms of Ashland, Kentucky, offers a staggering number of color combinations and graphics for its Kydex holsters. With the American-made MC1sc, I was feeling especially patriotic, so I ordered one of Bare Arms’ Kydex OWB holsters with 1.5-inch Infinity Loops and a USMC eagle motif, even though I’m not a Marine. I just thought it was an especially appealing design. Paired with a quality belt, the holster carried the MC1sc all day like it wasn’t even there. This is an excellent OWB rig for the range, around the house or under…

THE GLOCK19 has ruled the mid-sized, polymer-framed pistol niche for years. But I’ve never been a huge Glock guy and have typically stuck with smaller-framed guns for concealed carry. I’ve always accepted the tradeoff of carrying fewer rounds in favor of better concealability. But when FN released the new 509 Midsize at the 2019 SHOT Show, I knew it was time to revisit the “midsize” market. This 9mm is similar to the original FN 509, but it has a shorter frame, a 15+1 capacity compared to its larger sibling’s 17+1 capacity, and a few more upgrades. GUN DETAILS When my test sample arrived, I was immediately impressed with its overall look and feel. In fact, the first thing I noticed was that the FN 509 Midsize felt much better in…

Everybody wants a full-sized gun, until it’s time to carry one. This is especially true when it comes to the 1911. For those who crave the feel of steel and the classic appeal of John Moses Browning’s design, it means carrying around an extra 2.5 pounds every day. And while that might not sound like a lot, it’s a very noticeable addition to your daily-carry loadout. There have been efforts in the past to reduce the weight of the 1911, with varied results. Many people have opted to just go with a smaller-framed 1911 and call it good. Recently, however, I discovered a manufacturer doing something different. The owner of Ultimate Arms, Rick Uselton, knows a thing or two about metal, and the company’s Magna T5 series pistols use magnesium-alloy…

As this issue headed to press, we got an inside scoop on the Smith & Wesson Performance Center’s new M&P9 Shield M2.0 sporting a 4-inch barrel. In addition to that, it also has a new “Optics Ready” designation. That’s right, the M&P Shield M2.0 series now has a touch of modern aiming technology, marking the first time one of these pistols has ever been able to mount a reflex sight. OPTICS READY To sweeten the pot even further, S&W includes an optic with the gun. You only need to remove the cover plate on the top-rear portion of the slide and replace it with the supplied reflex sight. All of the necessary hardware is included as well as a dial to help you get the sight quickly zeroed. One of…