Innholdsfortegnelse for August - September 2023 i Personal Defense World

AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON has occurred in the ranks of gun owners over the past handful of years, and it might not be what you expect. A virtual deluge of firsttime gun owners has changed not only gun ownership, but the entire firearms industry. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF], there were 8.4 million first-time gun purchasers in 2020, 5.4 million in 2021 and about 3.6 million more in 2022. The result is no small thing: nearly 17.5 million brand-new gun owners are among our ranks. “Why?" you might osk. It’s likely a combination of several factors including political- and media-driven racial unrest leading to rioting and looting, diminished police resources due to the “defund the police” movement, tyrannical business and school closures, lockdowns, medical mandates and resulting chaos,…

THERE is nothing quite as sacred as your home. Be it a small apartment or a luxury house, it is what we call home. It is where we enjoy meals, quiet time and special moments with family and friends. It is a place where we feel safe and let our guard down to relax and take a breath from our hectic days. Unfortunately, our sanctuary can also be a tempting target for criminals. Home invasions and break-ins are common events around the country. While we loathe thinking it could ever happen to us, we are all keenly aware that nobody is immune from danger. For those serious about personal protection, a home-defense plan is a must. Just like we have plans on what to do if a fire breaks out,…

■ About AO years ago, Skeeter Skelton wrote that he preferred the .380 automatic for personal defense over a .38 Special snub-nose. Why would Skeeter say this? Most likely because a .380 pistol holds more rounds and the fact that the .380 pistol and snubnose .38 both deliver roughly the same effect on the target. Neither are powerhouses, but they both deliver enough energy to make many of today’s modern bullets expand, at least to a limited degree. When a .380 bullet expands, it usually penetrates between 9 to 13 inches, depending on the design of the bullet. From the information, I’ve found that the .380 ACP Speer 90-grain Gold Dot is one of the most consistent expanders, and it usually delivers 9 to 11 inches of penetration. This is…

With the historic Bruen decision easing unconstitutional concealed carry laws across the land, naturally, demand for defensive ammunition has gone through the roof. Between a resurgence of 10mm Auto and a new interest in ammo that can defend against furrg foes, the 2023 NSSF SHOT Show was ablaze with new offerings. In my typical fashion, I hustled to make my way through miles of displays to get a look at the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. Here are my top 21. BARNES ■ PIONEER You are no longer at the top of the food chain when you enter the woods. If something decides that you would make a good lunch, you’ll want ammunition guaranteed to perform. Barnes’ new Pioneer line of loaded ammo is optimized for revolvers…

ARE YOU SHOPPING FDR AN AK-47? If so, how does one choose from so many different options on the market today? If you’re just starting out with your first AK-47, then you’ve come to the right place. There are several forums out there, and many of them will give you some solid advice, but knowing where to turn for good, honest advice can sometimes be a challenge. Many times, you are going to get some kitchen table gun plumbers advice on why their favorite brand is the best. I’m not here to sway you one way or the other, but I would like the opportunity to introduce you to quite possibly the finest American-made AK-A7 on the market as of this writing. There are so many different options out on…

GUN TEST ANYONE that’s been exposed to the firearms industry for any length of time and has been paying attention has heard of Ed Brown and Ed Brown Products. From doing custom work on 1911s to making high-end gun parts and manufacturing its own line of guns, the compony has more than 50 years of experience at pretty much doing it all and enjoying great success along with the way, While 1911-style pistols have been the backbone of the company’s business over the decodes, the folks at Ed Brown Products have recently begun to apply their expertise to the world of striker-fired pistols. Much like other boutique companies have done with Glock and Sig Sauer pistols, the employees at Ed Brown Products have chosen to work with Smith & Wesson's…

As someone who is not too familiar with guns just get, having some misunderstandings about them is bound to happen. Just like all new shooters, I will have to learn through research, gaining insight from others, and trial and error. But beware of where and how you get your information. In today’s world, we barely have time to comprehend the info and could easily be misled. With social media making an imprint on today's society, it is always one thing onto the next-a publicity stunt hers, a political gain there. If you ore not careful, you con subject yourself to rumors that spread like wildfire. Social media is a place you must tread softly about what to believe and always second-guess everything you see and hear. Let’s set the facts…

■ New York is one of the few states that has a 10-round magazine capacity limit. As such, most of us use short-bodied mags in our AR-15s. While these are great for shooting off of the bench, they fall too for into magazine pouches and are even outside of the match-legal specifications for NRA service rifle. To express sympathy to those behind enemy lines, Magpul has introduced the 10/30, a magazine that shcirss the same exterior features os its revered PMAG but is reduced to a 10-round capacity via a special plate that is riveted in place to meet state requirements. For more information, visit magpul.com. -Frank Melloni…

PDW GUN TEST IN THE WORLD OF HIGH-SPEED, real-world application shooting, the submachine gun has held a special place for decades. These fast-running guns chambered in pistol calibers have served those in harm's way like no other gun. Classics like the MP5 and the Swedish K have not only served us well, but they have also earned a world of admirers. A gun that flew under the radar yet had its own group of fans was the CZ VZ 61. This gun was released in 1962 specifically to the military and law enforcement community. The gun saw extensive service in the Czechoslovakian military as a fully automatic, compact firearm chambered in .32 AGP with a 20-round magazine. In the following years, that gun would be chambered in 9mm and be released…

PDW GUN TEST CZ has been synonymous with the development of exceptional handguns for a very long time. They make some of the most highly sought-after handguns in the competition and EDC markets. Equally as respected is the name of Dan Wesson, the man who founded Wesson Firearms Co., Inc. in 1968. His goal was to build the finest revolvers that the shooting world had ever seen. As a result of his hard work and dedication, his firearms are known for their innovation, indestructibility and match-grade accuracy. Today, the focus has been on worldclass 1911s. Continuing in his footsteps, Dan Wesson Firearms joined the world’s largest firearms producer, CZ, in 2005. The Dan Wesson legacy continues with new and exciting products and innovations from the excellent people of CZ and Dan…

PDW BASIC RAINING I’ve never met someone who buys a gun intending to be a bad shot, but I’ve seen enough of them at the range to know they're out there. For them, practice begins with a bucket of ammo and a handful of Walmart targets and ends when they’ve induced a malfunction that would take a team of gunsmiths to clear. The flip side of that coin is the responsible gun ownersthe man or woman who wants to get better at shooting but isn’t exactly sure where to start. If that sounds like you, then keep reading, and I’ll do my best to walk you through the skills required to achieve your goals. FIRST STEP Before you can get better at anything, you’ve got to know where you are,…

I am no longer working in the world of counterterrorism where packing and strapping weapons were as common as me now carrying a laptop bag and phone charger to the office. These days, I am just a regular guy with a regular job who is raising a family in one of the safest towns in America with a bunch of other backyard dads who will hopefully never have to draw a weapon in self-defense. For this article, I set out to highlight some of the coolest looking compact concealed carry pistols that I thought many of the backyard dads would take pride in bringing to the range or showing off to friends like backyard dads do. From my experience with these middleaged guys (or almost at that age), they like…

Most are familiar with the term nightstand gun. The root of the concept is having a weapon nearby to respond to a bump in the night. Unfortunately, more brazen home assaults are also a growing threat. Imagine sitting while watching TV or working on the computer and your door is suddenly breached. While a rifle, shotgun or pistol-caliber carbine can certainly be considered, we are going to focus on handguns and best practices to keep nearby. Alarms, hardened doors, dogs and valid security enhancements will be saved for a more in-depth discussion. Nightstand weapons and implementation methods hove gotten more complicated. Anecdotally, I remember the 4-inch barrel Colt Python in the drawer beside my father’s bed when growing up. Eventually, this was replaced by a Glock 19 with laser, as my…