Self-Defense

While I was testing the Kel-Tec PF-9, everyone I encountered fell into three camps: Those who simply hated the brand, those that felt the gun was such a strong value that perhaps it should replace precious metals as a form of physical currency, and those who had never formed an opinion of the pistol at all. I was a never able to find anyone that had experience with the gun, but was ambivalent about it.

Two weeks ago at the Smith and Wesson factory, I got my hands on something truly exciting, and the day has finally come that we can talk about it. That pistol is the M&P M2.0, a terrific new version of an already great pistol design. It is exceedingly rare that a company listens carefully to all the wants of its consumers, and actually puts those features in its next generation of product. I am very happy to report that S&W is one of those companies.

If you’ve fired different types of shotguns, it’s obvious that recoil can be all over the map. Some load and gun combinations are relative pussycats, allowing one to fire hundreds of rounds per day with no ill effect. Others make you want to start sticking safety pins to your shirt and run for the nearest safe space. With recoil in mind, I got an itch to check out a 20-gauge pump shotgun for home defense. That brought me to the Stevens 320 Pump in 20 gauge.

To be taken seriously in any high-stakes 1911 debate, you must know when to raise an eyebrow in approval and when to scoff. And if you want to raise the collective blood pressure and volume level of everyone in the room, just say three words: “polymer framed 1911”. Okay, the last one was really a number, but you know what I mean. But, with a gun like the Witness 1911P from EAA, we may want to reconsider this reaction.

The Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. will adopt a new corporate name effective Jan. 1, 2017. The change reflects their expansion into more outdoor activities.

While most premium self-defense ammo will cost you over a buck per round, Remington’s HTP line appeals to the more budget conscious crowd. Packed in boxes of 50, it sells for about the same as most self-defense ammo packaged in boxes of 20. Doing the fancy math indicates that it’s a little less than half the cost of the most expensive stuff.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my home defense posture, you know, mulling over the obvious questions, what would happen if someone broke into my one-bedroom apartment? Would I be prepared to confront them and defend my lovely girlfriend and our adorable puppy? While thinking about this question, I was reminded of what I’ve come [...]

For those of us for whom carrying a 1911 for EDC is the right choice, the Kimber Ultra TLE II makes for a great choice. It is compact, reliable, powerful and downright beautiful.

There have been multiple efforts by companies to create guns in that same mold as the revered CZ-75, but few have come as close to bringing a solid version to market as TriStar. The best part of this effort is the notably affordable price of their offering here in the US. Say hello to the C100.