Innholdsfortegnelse for October - November 2023 i Personal Defense World

“Let them eat cake!” Incorrectly credited to Marie Antoinette, historians believe that this statement was likely made by an unnamed “great French princess” upon being informed that the peasants had no bread to eat. When deliberated upon, the quotation reflects either a frivolous disregard for the starving peasants, a poor understanding of their plight or, more likely, both. In today's United States of America, the same phrase, though left unsaid, is acted out daily as big-city Democrat mayors continue to push ever more restrictive gun laws on their “subjects” while at the same time blissfully walking around surrounded by dozens of armed security guards. The oft-used anti-gun catchphrase, “Why does anybody need that many guns?” is regularly said of us “lesser” Americans, but it's seldom used when describing these “important”…

■ Forty-two years ago, I spent my spring break at Gunsite taking the introductory #250 Class. It was an early graduation gift from a WWII Marine who, understandably, had reservations about his youngest son going into the Corps after college. That weeklong class became the foundation for a lifetime of shooting, and when what was a hobby turned into a career, Gunsite's #250 became an important part of my resume. Over the past few years, I've lost count of my trips to Paulden, Arizona, but each was as important as the last in building industry relationships, making and maintaining friendships and, most importantly, expanding and improving my skill set. I was sitting in the classroom there when our Rangemaster for the Stoeger STR-9 event introduced himself. Like many of the…

OUTSIDER'S INSIGHT In the eyes of a beginner, firearms can come across as loud, scary and dangerous. I can attest to this because I used to have the same thoughts. Once exposed, I found my views on them changed. Firearms suddenly were not that loud if I was shooting them, nor were they scary and dangerous as I presumed. Plus, I learned the importance of safety. As for their ranking on the scary meter, I ask my-self the question, “How can something be scary if I am the one controlling it?” The more I familiarized myself with firearms, the less uncomfortable I became around them. The absence of fear opened my eyes to a new understanding that they are a tool used for sport, hobby and personal protection. Shooting firearms…

FOR several years now, European American Armory (EAA) has been importing firearms from Turkish manufacturer Girsan. They have been producing handguns and shotguns since the 1990s. In the very recent past, I tested one of their MC P35 pistols, a clone of the Browning Hi-Power 9mm, and came away very impressed. At the 2023 NRA Annual Meeting, I visited the EAA booth in the exhibit hall and marketing rep Paul Richter showed me the new Girsan MC 14T—a .380 ACP semiauto with some interesting features. I haven't evaluated a .380 pistol in quite a while and asked Paul to send me one to test. As many firearms enthusiasts deride the .380 pistol as a “Mouse Gun,” I was curious to see how this handgun and cartridge combination would perform with…

Because their self-defense fense weapons are not classified as firearms, you can utilize the following benefits. NO BACKGROUND CHECK - No need for a background check for any of Byrna's products. NO WAIT FOR YOUR WEAPON - Want your weapon as fast as shipping allows? No problem. There are no mandatory waiting periods to acquire your desired product. NO PERMIT NEEDED – No need to wait in line or send an application for a permit. You don't need one, plain and simple. SHIPS TO YOUR HOME - No middleman is needed. Byrna's products ship directly to your front door and are ready to use. LEGAL IN 50 STATES– No need to check the law in your state, Byrna's weapons are perfectly legal in all 50 states (however, some states have…

HOME DEFENSE Recently, in a concealed pistol class I was teaching, the question came up of what is the best option for home defense. This sparked a huge debate, which made me realize that the topic of home-defense firearms is not so cut and dried. There are so many different options out there and so much that goes into choosing the perfect home-defense firearm. You must consider penetration, power, sound, size and much more. So which type of firearm is the best for the job? Well, I am going to break down each option for you here so you can decide. Before we continue, I feel it is important to point out that each platform also has many variables and options within the specific platform. I will cover the platform…

BEFORE THE PURISTS EXPLODE at the thought of the sacred icon of American handguns chambered for a 20th century European martial cartridge, let me point out that Colt themselves actually chambered a few Gen III SAA revolvers in 9x19mm. They are exceedingly rare. Furthermore, if you really love cowboy guns as I do and think every hobby is a little more fun when it doesn't cost too much (because you can enjoy it more often), the idea of a 9mm Model 1873 Single Action Army should have instant appeal. It's the most popular centerfire handgun cartridge in the world after all. BUDGET FRIENDLY Between commercial production and military surplus, the sheer quantity of 9mm in circulation works to the budget-minded shooter's advantage even in weird times like these when all…

Think you or someone you know has been scammed? Then take these steps to help put a stop to their deceptive ways. Collect Facts Fast: Gather as much info as you can immediately after you've been scammed because it's fresh in your mind. Record phone numbers, descriptions of the people involved, email addresses, websites or anything else that may help your situation. Call the Police: Physical theft due to a scam should be reported to the local police. File a report, and if it's a local scam, the police can assist on their end. Report It: Scams by phone or online can be eported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. They will work with you to help protect you from future problems with scammers. Protect Yourself Quickly: If your…

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP for the venerable wheelgun. At the 2023 SHOT Show, I saw no less than a dozen new revolvers. Then, at the 2023 NRA Annual Meeting, Kimber introduced the K6xs “Carry,” a version of their K6s series but with a lightweight frame and in .38 Special +P. Of course, when you go looking at the top-selling handgun list or similar enumerations, you're not likely to find revolvers mentioned. Small-frame revolvers with 1.88- to 3-inch barrels and five or six-shot cylinders aren't the easiest handguns to master and are decidedly off the menu for beginners. Even seasoned veterans grit their teeth shooting .357 Magnum loads from a scandiumframe snub weighing 13.8 ounces. Besides a sore palm, you might get a lacerated thumb from the cylinder release latch on…

REVOLVER REVAMP Every firearm HAS ITS OWN PURPOSE AND INTENDED USE. You wouldn't use a rifle to shoot sporting clays just like you wouldn't want to use a small smallcaliber pistol to hunt big game. Well, some years back, Taurus decided to break this caliber mold and came out with a revolver that could pretty much do it all. It was like the Swiss army knife of guns. They named it the Judge, but it was really a one-man show and easily could be seen as the Judge, Jury and Executioner. You could take it hunting, use it for home defense or even take it to the range and try your hand at shooting some clays. The Judge immediately hit legend status in the firearm community, and Taurus has come…

Despite being bonkers with everything else, New York has some surprisingly lax hunting laws. However, it happened, and we've managed to evade Sunday hunting restrictions, draconian bag limits and even (amazingly) action bans. Although semi-automatic rifles have to be built a specific way, there aren't any restrictions against using them in the field, not even by caliber. Shotguns and handguns have a few interesting exceptions for hunting as well, but, of course, the rules surrounding them are completely different. This is likely designed to confuse and deter you, and that's precisely why I enjoy writing pieces like this to thwart those efforts. The mountain regions of this state present excellent hunting opportunities, and out-of-state licenses aren't that hard to come by. For these reasons, many hunters wish to visit and…

PREPARED TO DEFEND The world can be a dangerous place. One minute, you're minding your own business at work, home or school, and the next you're face to face with an assailant out to do you harm. Now, mind you, not every dangerous encounter you may have will be with a hardened criminal who will stop at nothing to hurt, maim or even kill you. Some people who have a severe case of road rage, those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or anyone who has a short temper and you're in their crosshairs, may be trouble for you, and you'll need to deal with them one way or the other. With both legal and mental consequences of using a firearm or a knife to defend yourself, there is…

LOAD OUT 5.11 Tactical has for a long timelong since made rugged, reinforced, long-lasting clothing and gear for law enforcement, military and prepared civilians. Their mission is “Always Be Ready,” which every product they make represents. If you're serious about having the right gear for any situation you may find yourself in, 5.11 Tactical is here to help you be prepared I first found 5.11 Tactica when I was getting started shooting multi-gun competitions back in 2014. At the time, they were the only company making ladies’ leggings with belt loops that could carry a duty belt with a loaded and holstered pistol, magazine pouches, spare loaded magazines for rifles and pistols, loaded-up shotgun caddies, and more. The leggings were the Raven Range Tights and Capris. That first pair of…

FIELD REPORT THERE is something eternal about the lever-action rifle. Since the early 1800s, lever guns have been a part of the firearms world. Rare is the old Western movie that at some point does not showcase a lever-action rifle. It is simply the epitome of cool. For the most part, these lever guns have been American as apple pie but to think we have a corner on the market would be a mistake. In the Italian town of Gardone Val Trompia, the Davide Pedersoli & C. company is hard at work making their own mark on the lever-gun world. While they are mostly known for their modern replicas of muzzleloading and metallic cartridge firearms, they have a modern angle on our Old West rifle. With a desire to offer…

MICRO 9MM Americans have a seemingly insatiable appetite for microcompact 9mm pistols. Just when I think we've hit our saturation limit for these tiny polymer, strikerfired guns it seems like another company introduces one. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not! With the memory of the 2020 summer riots fresh in our minds along with the defund the police movement and Soros-funded district attorneys in some of our largest cities, who simply refuse to keep violent criminals locked up, folks have realized that they need to be their own first responder. With major gun manufacturers still in a backorder status, another source for these petite autoloaders is a good thing. Competition generally keeps prices down and quality up, so I was pleased when I heard Stoeger introduced the new STR-9MC…

BULLPUP IF you were interested in guns when the Army adopted the M16, you should recall the derogatory “Made by Mattel” jokes inspired by the new rifle's plastic stock. In the 1980s, Glock broke the traditional metal-framed handgun paradigm for good, converting polymer naysayers into believers with solid engineering. Sometimes all it takes is one great product to win over a market. I think the Hellion may be the bullpup that sells American shooters on bullpups…and simultaneously the supremacy of modern plastics over metal for firearms applications. The Hellion is a semi-auto version of the Croatian HS Produkt VHS-2 Croatian military as well as Iraqi and Kurdish troops fighting ISIS. According to reports from the battlefield, the VHS-2 appears to have earned a solid reputation for accuracy, reliability and durability.…

While many people believe the use of pepper spray for selfdefense is a relatively modern concept, it actually dates back, in its most primitive form, nearly 2,000 years ago. The ancient Chinese and Indian people would use peppers during their conflicts by throwing bits of chilis (a group of peppers that contain capsaicin) at their enemies, causing many of the same effects that modern pepper spray produces. Additionally, the Aztecs, in the Americas, would throw chili peppers into a roaring fire. This would create an airborne irritant and, when carried by the wind, would deliver a burning and irritating surprise for their enemies. —Michael D'Angona…

BEWARE YOU WORK HARD FOR YOUR MONEY, as most people do, so it can be both infuriating and problematic when you are basically scammed out of your hard-earned cash. Deceitful scammers can cross your path while you're on your way to work, over the phone when you pick up that unknown number and when traveling abroad where you're a target as soon as you step off of the plane or leave the cruise ship at one of your ports of call. These swindlers will prey upon your good nature, your naivety, your compassion and, I hate to say it, your lack of focus when you're either on your cellphone, chatting with friends or overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of a new location. But you can learn to stop these profession- professionals…

Four signs that callers are up to no good. Impersonation is Common: Scammers will impersonate representatives from organizations, banks, the government (IRS or Social Security) or utility companies. Most of these entities will not contact you by phone but rather through email or snail mail letters. Don't listen to them and contact the true agency through an official website or official phone number. Incite Fear or Excitement: Scammers use fear or fortune to prey on others. They either threaten you with lawsuits, jail time or an immediate shutoff of a service if their demands are not met, or they will also lure you in with the thought of free money or prizes. Don't fall for either. Lawyers and law officials don't operate like that, nor will you win any contest…