National Gunowner
This is a great tutorial on how to polish the parts on your Glock. It is a relatively inexpensive way to create a smooth recoil, and smooth working parts. Here are a few reasons that might interest you in polishing your Glock parts.
1) Carbon doesn’t stick as bad after a day at the range. (Easier To Clean)
2) The polished parts move with less resistance giving you a smoother trigger pull.
3) You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new trigger to get similar results.
Mrgunsngear made this very basic video for the brand new AR owner who doesn’t know anything about the platform (we were all there once guys…). He shows in detail how to break down the rifle, how to clean it, and how to lubricate it to ensure proper functioning.
Some folks buy a bunch of cool guy gear and throw it in their closet, only pulling it out to go to the range. Even worse- many folks don’t even wear their gear to the range in order to appear normal to the other recreational shooters, or they aren’t allowed to because it’s an indoor range that may have restrictions. This is problematic, as one should always do their best to train how they would fight. Range time is still good trigger time and can dial in the dynamics of accuracy, recoil control, belt reloads, et cetera. However, if one wishes to be prepared for SHTF or battlefield conditions it behooves them to take some time out of their day to familiarize themselves with the kit they’ll be working with. Below will be some videos of some simple drills I do at home to keep an edge. If you don’t use it you’ll lose it!
-Speed Reloads–
Speed reloads are just as the name implies. They are meant to hone your ability to reload with tactical expedience. This is meant for when cover is not available to conduct a more proper reload. In most cases it is better to retain your magazines, as resupply in a non military context would be difficult. When reacting to ambushes or chance contact you may not have time to keep your mags, this is why honing your speed reloads is important. Take it slow and repeat the process over and over again until it is one seamless process for you. You can enhance this training by going Instructor Zero style with it and using a beep timer if you want to become really high speed.
-Tactical Reloads-
For the reasons previously stated, magazine retention is important. Practice different methods to retain your magazine. Some folks use drop leg dump pouches, some just stuff the magazine in an empty mag pouch, some use a pocket. I use the J-method for mag changes, where I tilt the new magazine forward of the one I’m pulling out, then when I drop my mag I simply twist the new mag up into the mag well. This gives me the ability to have rounds back in my weapon while I’m still manipulating the old mag into the dump pouch. Some people also practice taking a knee when reloading, which is the standard SOP of the Infantry. However, I find it to be unnecessary in many cases. You should still be familiar with the idea, though.
-Transition Drills-
While I am of the belief that should you need your pistol in a firefight you’re probably going to die, it’s still important to train on that transition. Sometimes you just don’t have time to reload or have run out of ammo for your primary. This is when the secondary should come in. Side note- don’t switch to your secondary for CQB. That may work well in video games but in real life you’re trading some serious accuracy and stopping power for something just slightly more comfortable. Notice I have the bad habit of simulating recoil when I aim my weapons. This is something I’ve tried to dial in over the years but comes from a life full of playing with toy guns. Derp.
-Speed Reload Secondary-
Once again the speed reload is about dropping your mag and slapping in the new one without retaining your empty magazine in a pouch. You must familiarize yourself with all of your magazine pouches so they are easy to access. You should dial in your speed reloads to be under two seconds. Preferably around one second.
-Tactical Reload Secondary-
The same principal applies to all tac reloads. Insert empty magazines in a pouch to keep them on your person so you can refill them later. If you are part of a team it is a good SOP to practice taking a knee when you reload, and in CQB situations keeping down on that knee until a team mate picks you up. That will minimize the chances of friendly fire while your buddies move around you.
-Magazine Placement-
Placing your magazines in an accessible portion of your kit is of high importance. Also of import is having all of your magazines face the same direction. Some people face them to the right, most face them to the left. Your hand will become used to one placement over the other, so keeping them all in the same direction will prevent you from fumbling around, flipping the magazine in your hand trying to figure out how to get it into your mag well.
-Belt Rig Mag Placement-
Belt rigs are perfect for pistol magazines and those few extra mags you just can’t fit on your chest rig. The same exact rule applies to these magazines. Your hand should be able to comfortably manipulate the magazines from their pouches and they should feel the exact same way as they do when you’re pulling them out of your chest rig. Side note- I keep a bunch of extra utility stuff in a pouch on my belt rig. Batteries, drivers, allen wrenches, etc. A belt is the perfect place to put that kind of stuff so that more mission essential equipment like ammunition, medical equipment, and radios can be kept on your chest rig.
These are but a few simple drills one can practice at home, however there is so much more you can do. Don’t let difficulty accessing the range prevent you from keeping your edge sharp. Do these drills every once in awhile to simply keep that edge and you won’t regret it next time you’re at the range. More importantly you won’t regret it should the range become hot two ways!
“Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum”– Tommy
When the Glock 42 hit the market, it was Glock’s way of trying to edge in on the single stack magazine design so popular amongst concealed carriers. Many Glock enthusiasts were probably thinking, “better late than never.” One of the major complaints from concealed carriers, though, was that it came in the odd .380 caliber – not 9x19mm.
Why is that an issue?
Market demand. A lot of shooters like to be able to change their form-factor (i.e., full-size vs. subcompact) while staying in the same caliber. It’s economical for those who enjoy practicing with both their preferred conceal carry and their other pistols.
Enter the Glock 43. Weighing in at 18 ounces unloaded and with a capacity of “6 +1” rounds, it was about time Glock took aim at the subcompact 9mm market. However, is its arrival too late? What on earth does Glock have to offer in a subcompact single-stack pistol that handgun owners don’t already have access to via Sig Sauer, Ruger, Beretta, or Kahr?
Glock is relying upon reputation.
Glock is known as one of the finest manufacturers of handguns par none. It’s trusted by law enforcement, police, and military. More importantly, through its full size Glock 17s, 19s, and 34s – it’s proven itself as a leader in producing reliable, accurate, and durable pistols chambered in 9mm. That should count for something.
Range Report: Glock 43 Is Super Responsive
Going to the range with the Glock 43 feels awkward at first. It’s not this writer’s preferred concealed carry weapon – that distinction goes to the M&P Shield .40. However, the strange thing about picking up the Glock 43 for the first time was how alarmingly good it felt. A double stack magazine always feels a bit bulky and conceals poorly under light layers. With the Glock 43’s single stack, its outline seemed to melt along the torso.
Here’s what the Glock 43 has going for it in terms of shooting:
That means getting all six rounds out of the chamber and onto target in next to no time – precisely what a concealed carry enthusiast wants to see. Less movement of the trigger means less ability to botch up trigger pull mechanics in a high stress environment.
Very ergonomic grip that feels like a sleeker, hand-friendlier version of the Glock 26. While the “Baby Glock” is just a double stack version of the Glock 43, slimming down to a single stack really changed handling. The new design also greatly reduces the risk of “printing” or being spotted – great news for concealed carriers in warmer weather.
Downsides?
As with any subcompact single-stack pistol, the biggest downside is going to be magazine capacity. The G43 holds true to the industry standard of 6+1 – respectable but nothing special. More importantly, the light trigger is going to prioritize expending ammunition versus a revolver which forces priority on marksmanship. Ultimately, that’s the shooter’s problem and is far from a strike against Glock.
Honestly, the biggest downside to the Glock is how unnecessary it is in the subcompact marketplace. The G26 already served as a benchmark for how subcompact pistols ought to handle. And certainly, with a 10+1 double stack magazine, there is absolutely nothing the G43 has that the G26 does not.
Finally, the G26 has been out on the market for years. It’s not hard to find one on the cheap. The G43 has just made it to market – it’s averaging in the mid-to-high $500s. The major market that the G43 breaks into are Glock enthusiasts who just love buying Glock handguns and newcomers to concealed carrying. For veteran, non-Glock preferring folks – the G43 offers absolutely nothing that an S&W M&P Shield or Ruger LC9 can’t.
In conclusion, the G43 would have been a remarkable single stack subcompact concealed carry pistol if it had hit the market seven or eight years ago. Arriving now, it’s uncertain what use the G43 will have except to tempt Glock enthusiasts into another purchase.
Alternatives in the Market – Subcompacts At A Glance
Sig Sauer produces an extremely affordable single stack known as the P290. It has a six round capacity (eight with an extended magazine) and has all the customizable features such as grip plates and a mini laser. Retailing at $513 (MSRP), it’s certainly got all the same performance of the Glock 43 with the exact same price tag.
Where the Sig Sauer P290 falls short is its striker fire assembly. Glock clearly has one of the better striker assemblies on the market while Sig Sauer, for some reason, keeps relying on these plastic hammers to hit the striker pin. Ultimately, it means that the shooter has to pull for a longer stretch on the P290’s trigger.
Neither have safeties – though Glock mysteriously keeps advertising this elusive “Safe Action”. As a concealed carrier, by the time the pistol is out and on target – no one wants to mess around with a lazy trigger. So in terms of shooting performance, the Glock is going to be faster to the draw. So, for the same price point – Glock certainly has Sig Sauer beat.
Is the Glock 43 Worth It?
Based upon range performance and retail price – no. Once the G43 hits the used gun marketplace, it is a great find. However, there is absolutely nothing about it that wasn’t done first by the G26 (cheaper) and, in terms of price range – there’s other new guns on the market for less money that can do the same or slightly better.
So, we’re not tossing out the Glock 43 with the baby and the bath water – just hold off until the price comes down.
By: James England
Almost any gun owner relishes in the thought of getting the drop on an opponent at 20 feet. At 20 feet, it’s almost guaranteed bullets will hit target. However, what happens when the tables are turned? Not all attackers wander right into the open and wait.
Close quarters is generally the weakest place for a concealed or open handgun carrier to get caught. Not only is there the issue of drawing, there’s the risk of having the firearm taken away. This is why close quarters drills are some of the most important techniques to practice for an open or concealed pistol carrier.
The priorities of movement will always push towards:
This is also essential. Unless you are confident you can subdue your opponent without needing to draw your firearm, you need to take every opportunity to break contact and to create space.
This is a very dangerous game. You need room in order to draw. If your opponent has made it into close quarters and has his hands on you, you need to break contact to create that space. That opens you up to more damage.
Space is necessary to get the muzzle of your firearm safely onto target. You don’t need to draw all the way out as if you were aiming at a paper target – just enough to get the muzzle onto your opponent.
And anywhere will do! Legs, feet, hands, arms – as long as the muzzle has crossed that point, you’re good to go. Even a shot to the extremities can give you enough time to create space and gain the advantage.
If breaking contact and creating space just isn’t possible, you need to redirect your attacker away from your firearm. If you’re a concealed carrier, he may not even know you’re armed. If you’re an open carrier, it’s all the more important that he doesn’t gain access over the handle or trigger group.
If you can, grab hold of an ear, nose or any exposed soft tissue on the face. A person’s instincts are to preserve their face and head before anything else. Once an ear is in grasp, tear it off. It only takes five pounds of pressure to rip an ear right off the head of man – and this is more than enough pain and misery to redirect his attention. Slam your hand into that wound as much as possible until you’re able to create space – then use your firearm to do the rest.
Once you gain the advantage in a close quarters situation – always press the advantage. Never doubt that if the tables were turned, your attacker would gladly do the same. A moment of panic, hesitation, or fear is ammunition that can and will be used equally depending upon who’s aware.
No matter what you do, maintain control over your firearm at all times. Your firearm is your lifeline and it will be used against you if it falls in the hands of your attacker.
A primitive survival shelter as is common in survival training.
With regards to modern survival training, I often hear folks make excuses as to why they don’t get out and train more often. The biggest excuse is of course location. It can be hard to find a suitable spot to put your survival skills to work. Places like parks, campgrounds, and state parks can often be filled with other occupiers. This can suspend the disbelief, and also make it seem pretty weird when you’re slabbing piles of mud over a stick hut in broad daylight as people drink beer and cook hot dogs over fires with their children running around. In order to cater to our readers from across a wide range of locations in America, I will highlight my seven favorite locations to practice survival. These locations span from the East Coast to the West Coast, and could be closer to some of you than you thought!
GW National Forest is one of many of Virginia’s gems.
7- George Washington National Forest (Virginia)
Nestled within the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains, this is an awesome place for East Coasters to visit and practice their skills. The thing I like about this National Forest is that it is relatively safe to navigate without worry of large predators but still can give you a serious survival challenge. Navigation through the National Forest is easily mapped, and there are a number of gorgeous sights to be seen, such as Crabtree Falls. It’s easy to avoid the more traveled portions and utilize your stealth skills. In a SHTF scenario stealth will be of utmost importance, so it’s good to practice your route selection, camouflage, and movement techniques. This National Forest comes with some restrictive gun laws, which is its major disadvantage. I like to bring my guns with me on survival challenges, but one should be skilled in the arts of survival voiding firearms, because that could be a reality in a number of situations. Virginia has a wet climate, but its temperature ranges are generally survivable. So you won’t have to worry about freezing to death most times out of the year in this beautiful piece of National History.
Green Mountain as seen from the sky. A beautiful sight to behold!
6- Green Mountain National Forest (Vermont)
One thing you will notice is I have a tendency to recommend National Forests for survival training. The reasoning behind this is simple- they tend to be less frequented than National Parks, the rules and regulations are less strict, and with most National Forests gun play is allowed. For our Northeastern readers, you may want to give Green Mountain a try. The Northeast is notorious for its liberal gun policies, with most states making it a serious pain in the butt to even own firearms much less shoot them on public land. With Vermont this is not the case, as it is the most gun friendly state north of the Mason-Dixon. Green Mountain will offer up survival challenges typical of the northeast. Cold, wet climate with variable terrain, frequented by moose, bear, and other large wild creatures. This is definitely a place to bring your gun. While hunting without a permit brings heavy prosecution nationwide, killing an animal in self defense is in fact legally permissible. While it is not as big of a problem in some states, there are in fact some places where I won’t go without a gun, as it’s just asking to have your face eaten off.
There are few places more rugged and beautiful than Prescott’s Forest.
5- Prescott National Forest (Arizona)
Prescott and the surrounding areas offer some of the most beautiful sites in America. From soaring, rock strewn mountains to lush lowland forests and saguaro cacti desert highlands, it offers a serious challenge to those who wish to really rough it. An awesome offroad trail called Senator Highway runs through the length of its center, and there’s even an awesome little town called Crown King in the far south, where all manner of apocalyptic offroad vehicles frequent the local saloon. This place is as cowboy as it gets in America, with folks dirt biking up and down the trails with loaded AR 15’s and shotguns on their backs. There are bullet holes in every sign, and be warned, this place has seen its fair share of weirdness in its years. A gun is absolutely necessary for a journey into this land. Its risks are far and wide, from dehydration, unpredictable climate, big cats and poison snakes, to suspicious mountain folk, this is a place that will offer many unique challenges and sights. It is truly a beauty to behold, and epitomizes the American West.
Olympic Forest is the closest thing to a fairy tale I’ve seen!
4- Olympic National Forest (Washington)
Since I like to avoid states that have harsh gun restrictions, Olympic National Forest is the perfect location to practice survival. Spanning much of Washington’s Olympic Pensinsula, this gorgeous piece of land will offer visually stunning vistas reminiscent of a Jurassic Park movie. With massive hemlock trees, billions of ferns, and a thick layer of moss covering any and all acceptable surfaces, this place is nothing short of amazing. Shooting is allowed anywhere where there is a back stop, and those come aplenty as the Olympic mountains and its surrounding foothills dominate this landscape. There are centuries old rumors of Bigfoot in this area, so be wary! More likely you will run into the huge Roosevelt Elk that permeate this forest. Make no mistake, it is their forest, and they will have no qualms with letting you know! Some of the challenges associated with this place are navigation, fire starting, shelter building, and temperature control. Though it rarely drops below freezing this portion of America is wet, very wet! You will be soaked to the bone in no time, and it’s highly advisable to take some wet weather gear with you on this awesome journey.
Iconic Pike’s Peak can be seen from Woodland Park.
3- Woodland Park ATV Trails (Colorado)
If there were any overall state that I would recommend for some of the best survival and navigation challenges in America, it’d be Colorado. Our nation’s Fourth Infantry Division uses this state as their training ground, making them the most lethal mountain Infantry our country has to offer. Sorry 10th Mountain. Olympic Athletes use Colorado Springs as a base camp to conduct their conditioning training as well, as the high elevation helps strengthen their cardio to a world class degree. The Woodland Park ATV trails are no different. Rugged, beautiful, and a generally awesome place to camp and offroad. Their location in the Rocky Mountains promises a plethora of sights and challenges. From avoiding big cats and rattlers to discovering old mining caves and hidden gems, Colorado itself has so much to offer the budding survivalist. It is also a very outdoor friendly place, where groups of hikers and campers are readily available to help you should you lose your way. Some of the challenges you will face here are temperature control, as it can get oppressively cold during the winter and sweltering hot during the summer, injury avoidance as navigating the terrain has many obstacles such as fragmenting shale rocks, rock slides, dangerous animals, and even occasional flash floods of fires, and keeping hydrated. This place will smoke you on foot, and by the time you are finished with your long trek you will undoubtedly be parched for a drink. Shooting is permissible as long as you follow federal law and do not shoot across roads or bodies of water and have a backstop. Make sure you carefully tend to any fires, as wild fires are all too easy in this dried up location.
A Forest Reserve in Virginia.
2- Forestry Reserve Lands.
Take some time to research it online and you will likely find many State Forests in your particular state. These places are often used by hunters during season, so be wary of safety concerns regarding that and wear the proper protective equipment. Some of these lands are reserved for logging, and and as such are used less sparsely for hunting. These kinds of places are convenient because their location is much easier to access than National Forests multiple states away. You may very well have one of these Reserves in your back yard and not know it! These are perfect locations to hunt, trap, build temporary shelters, camp, and practice your field craft. Most hunters these days aren’t entirely surprised to see a group of guys with AR 15’s rolling through the woods together, and will tend to just steer clear of you or even offer up some friendly small talk. The advantage to using these locations is that you get to train on the terrain of your local area, which gives you a huge advantage in a SHTF scenario and perhaps will even unlock different locations for you to bug out to. For this reason I give State Forests and Reserve lands the number two spot on where to practice survival!
Deer in someone’s Back 40.
1- Your Land Or A Friend’s Land
Let’s be honest, sometimes federally or state owned lands just simply cannot offer you the full scope of training you wish to have. Whether it be tactical drills, base building, fires, or movements through terrain, some places are more restrictive in that category. You also always run the risk of coming across people who are not open minded to what you are doing, and that can create problems for you such as possible law enforcement intervention. The best places on the planet to practice real world survival techniques without having to worry about legalities are your own personal land. You can run any number of crazy drills, set traps, and have large fires without worry. You also get the added benefit of knowing each and every piece of your own land, which is likely your end of the world location as it is. If something apocalyptic goes down the best bet is to stay in locations you already have mapped out. Your resources can be pooled in these places, and it’s easier to defend from intrusion because you know the little details about the place that others probably don’t. Bugging out in a random direction runs many risks unless you are a true blue Type A survivor. So, in essence, training on your own plot of land is the best option, but also knowing how to navigate unknown environments will come in handy as well should you ever have to leave.
These were just my personal preferences, if you have any sweet training spots by all means let us know! There are countless options in our beautiful nation, so any and all advice is welcome!
“Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum”–Tommy
Is this video a little far fetched? We don’t think so.. After the attempt at banning certain ammunition, this video is right on point. Some may think these guns look scary, most of us look at these rifles as tools and art. Let us know your thoughts on this. Do you think the government will try and ban these weapons? A better question is if these weapons are ever banned will you voluntarily hand them over?
Everyone’s all like- “Hmmmm, yes. Quite so. Pistols. Indubitably!”
Have you ever been to a gun show and seen the same characters over and over again? The past six months I’ve been working as a vendor, and I’ve grown quite acquainted to seeing the same archetypes come through the tables each and every time. It’s odd, it’s a feeling of deja-vu when you see the same hat and jacket, the same personality, the same gun on a man’s hip but with a different face. In this article I will outline the FIVE main stereotypes I’ve run into at gun shows while dealing tactical nylon for my company. This is just the tip of the iceberg, because there’s a lot more than just five, but for the sake of expedience we’ll stick to the main ones.
The Deermaster- The Deermaster, or “Bubba” for short, is that same guy who’s always brought all five of his kids to the show to find their next animal killing machine. He, his two sons, two daughters, and that random kid who’s not even related to him always wear a complimentary mixture of Mossy Oak, Realtree, Neon Orange, and rain boots even when it’s not raining. He’ll turn his nose up to any expensive tactical gear he sees, and when he catches his little boy saying “Whoa…” and fondling one of our mannequin’s tacced-out Daniel Defense Mk18s he’ll adopt an annoyed tone and quickly push his clan of children along to go look at the shotgun section nearby. He doesn’t subscribe to the tactical shooter world, thinking of everyone with expensive gear as “mall ninjas”. Interestingly enough though he tends to think of himself as an uber competent member of the prepper community. He’ll always be the first guy to say “I’ll take care of my own when the shit hits the fan, all I need is my bolt gun and my shotgun and I’ll take out anyone who comes in my woods! Weeew!”
“All I need is this here shotgun and my back 40 and I’ll survive anything!”
The Possible Future Active Shooter- This guy reeks of sketchiness everywhere he goes. He’s dressed in some archaic mixture of camouflage, normally from foreign countries. He has a look of confusion and borderline fear on his face. He is normally uncouth, anti social, and malnourished. He has a polymer lower AR-15 or Mosin Nagant strapped to his back and a dropleg on his leg carrying some cheap pistol like a hi-point. He flits from gun to gun picking it up and aiming it at the ceiling and simulating the recoil as he fires at dozens of indistinguishable targets, and you often wonder who he’s imagining shooting. When he comes to my booth he immediately goes up to our tactical vests and asks in hushed tones “Does it come with plates?” to which I respond in a friendly manner “No, it just comes with what you see”. I give the man no indication of the fact that we do sell plates separately, because I kind of suspect I’m going to see this man’s face on the news some day and I don’t want to be that guy who indiscriminately sold him his gear. He awkwardly retreats from my table and starts fondling the cheap Russian surplus table’s wares.
Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris fit the profile perfectly. Skinny little twerps that look like they obviously should not have guns.
The Good Ole Boy- This guy is at every gun show within a three state radius. He’s always got a new piece of gear hanging from his back with a “For Sale” sign taped to it. He looks like he may have been in some remote Special Forces unit in Grenada in the early 80’s and that’s how he likes it. He’s mysterious and quiet, but yet always alludes to being “in the know” about what gear is worth a shit and what prices everything should be set at. He too thumbs his nose at the expensive tactical vests and harkens back to the day when everything was attached with ALICE clips. He always has a buddy who’s nearly identical to him wondering about the show who comes up and notifies him quietly of something he needs to go look at from the flank. Like a wolf pack him and his buddy proceed to pull a flanking maneuver on the table in mind, which is more often than not the same Russian surplus table the Possible Future Active Shooter went to.
“Yall don’t know what I been through…but by the end of the day you damn sure will!”
The Undercover Cop- This guy comes in a few forms, but no matter how well he tries to hide it his coppyness is undeniable. He is clean cut, wears business casual attire with a bulge where his issued full sized pistol is holstered under his shirt, which is either a button up or a polo. He sees the nice tactical nylon and often can’t help but reveal that he’s a cop, as if it weren’t totally obvious by his haircut and clothing options. He then takes our card and makes tentative verbal plans to have us custom build a dozen or so of our vests for his local team. He asks questions like “Do you guys sell plates too?” and when we say we can get them for him he says nothing, but raises an eyebrow and walks along quietly. He never calls back to order those vests.
“No one would ever suspect that I have a badge and a gun hidden under this spiffy concealment polo, right?”
The Dude That’s Totally Special Forces- This guy always comes with a team. He’s often either jacked and stands over six feet tall, or somewhat short with a beer gut. He has a beard that looks like some Taliban Mullah’s and a quiet but deadly confidant demeanor. He picks up the most random survival items on our table, like our Manta strobes or our fire starters, and says “I need one of these. Remember when I lost mine?” to his buddy, who is also deadly quiet. His demeanor is always friendly but you can’t help but feel like he’s hiding something. Like the undercover cop, he’s often in a polo shirt as well, or a random Bar and Grill or Crabshack shirt that’s from a restaurant a minimum of two thousand miles away from his current location. The short, old beer gut guy next to him is always the team leader, and the one who speaks the least. He picks up some small items and shows it to his buddies with a smile on his face, they smile back and you can’t help but feel you’re under the cold judgmental radar of a seriously dedicated warfighter. When he checks out the tactical nylon he’s actually pretty impressed as he surveys the minute little details like the positioning of the stitching and the material. He anonymously calls the company weeks later and orders a few thousand dollars worth of vests as if they cost nothing. He is my favorite customer.
“When I get home I’m going totally undercover man. No one’s ever gonna know I’m military if I keep my Joe’s Crab Shack shirt on.”
Gun shows are a great way to look into the tactical industry and see who it most appeals to. There’s a ton of different characters that you will run into, not limited to the simple five that I have outlined. These are just some of the more common characters I run into but there’s really a host of different folks from all sorts of backgrounds who come through and that’s what’s best about it. The tactical community is not limited to any one type of person and that’s a beautiful thing! Gun shows are also the best way to find good gear for cheap, they are the go-to places to find everything under the sun that you would want to fill your needs. Whether it be full blown machine guns all the way down to cheesy Dads Against Daughters Dating tee shirts and cheap Chinese made knives, you’ll find your fix. Next time you’re at the gun show pay attention to some of the typical characters there, and let us know if you saw any of ours!
“Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum”- Tommy
Whenever we’re asked to review firearms, we try to stick with the basics: performance, reliability, and safety. A close fourth is price point – because let’s be honest, unless you use it all the time you’re not going to want to sink $2,000 on a shotgun. And if you are one of those people who goes duck hunting with a country club – these 5 shotguns below will be the instruments of war that bring the aww back in awesome.
SPECIAL NOTE: Don’t worry folks — we got MORE TACTICAL SHOTGUN options coming your way! Due to popular demand, we’re continuing to show you the very best tactical shotguns out on the market. Never fear and check back often!
For this list, we’re just focusing on 12 gauge tactical shotguns. Most of these are offered in smaller gauges (20, 410) but it’s up to you to determine availability in your area.
The Saiga-12 manufactured by Izhmash is perhaps one of the most brutal semi-automatic shotguns to date. Using the same configuration and lower receiver as the AK-47, it can be chambered in anything from 12 gauge to 410. Magazine capacity is generally limited. In the 12 gauge model, it comes with a capacity to hold 5 shells, with magazines available which extend this to 10, 12, and even 25 (cannister).
PROS: Brutal semi-automatic action mixed with the versatility of 12 gauge double-ought or solid slug ammo. This is a ruthless close to medium range tactical shotgun.
CONS: The Saiga-12 can sometimes have issues feeding different shell sizes. It seems to prefer double-ought and similar — it doesn’t like alternating in between quail shot and solid slug.
MSRP: $950.00
Restrictions: Russia is presently a banned importer so the supply of Izhmash Saiga-12s is limited. Check out Century Arms for ancillaries.
This is a bank buster in terms of semi-automatic capabilities but absolute sleuth in terms of price point. Benelli really put a lot of emphasis in recoil compensation in this model. With a shorter 18.5″ barrel, it’s definitely good for doorways and narrow corridors.
PROS: Recoil compensation, tactical size.
CONS: Limited magazine capacity, non-detachable magazine.
MSRP: $1,200.00
Fabrique Nationale offers a fantastic semi-automatic shotgun with 8 round internal capacity. This is ideal for people expecting to encounter a variety of dangerous circumstances.
PROS: If you have to pick just one shotgun for both tactical and sporting purposes – this is the ideal.
CONS: Longer barrel (22″).
MSRP: $1,000.00
Extremely high ammunition holding capacity – 14+1 – the Kel-Tec KSG shines when it comes to close range shotgun training.
PROS: Extreme close range and medium range capabilities – ideal for home-defense.
CONS: Absolutely worthless out in an open field. Definitely useless for hunting game.
MSRP: $800.00
This is more for the sportsmen turned Mad Max. The Benelli Super Black Eagle II is a semi-automatic shotgun with 3 rounds of capacity plus one in the chamber. For tactical situations, it has limited application but out in a woodland environment or wilderness – it’s ideal.
PROS: All terrain capabilities.
CONS: Limited ammunition capacity.
MSRP: $1,400.00
The Silver Eagle is produced by a small Turkish firm but the golden egg for this semi-auto is its interchangeable barrels – 28″ and 20″. The 28″ is definitely great for the sportsman out in the wilderness but the 20″ is ideal for firing slugs and home-defense rounds. It’s a one size-fits-all approach to shotguns.
PROS: Good construction, reliable.
CONS: Not very well known.
MSRP: $300.00
The Top Questions About Concealed Carry
Regardless of our level of experience, I would submit that most of us still have a few questions here and there about concealed carry. And that’s understandable; laws change all the time, and vary from state to state. New equipment and new tactics come into being all the time, and individual tastes change. Adapting to all of this requires a vigilant and curious mind, something that I hope we all cultivate in all aspects of life.
For those of us new to the CCW life, some pertinent and immediate questions may spring to mind. Here are a list of questions for which you’ll probably want answers before voyaging into the world of concealed carry. These are presented in no particular order, nor is this a comprehensive list.
There’s a lot else to think about, but these are some points to get you started. If you have some other respectful comments or ideas for newbies to CCW, please let us know in the comments section.
