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February/March | www.USCCA.com 3 CONTENTS

60 54 1911s .45 ACP THREE FEATURES ON GUARD FOR Smith & Wesson’s THREE Big-Bore Shield Compact .45 ❚BY BOB CAMPBELL Countdown ❚BY MARK KAKKURI 66 TACTICS HARD CORE MBC’s Defensive Responses ❚BY MICHAEL JANICH 70 AMMO ROUND HOUSE An Inside Look at SIG Sauer’s New Ammo Factory ❚BY TOM McHALE 76 SMART BUYS THRIFTY 3 88 A Trio of Budget Defense Guns KNIVES ❚BY BOB CAMPBELL THE RIDDLE 82 REVOLVERS OF STEEL BOBBING FOR Knife Steel From a HAMMERS Different Perspective To Grind or Not to Grind? ❚ BY JASON ‘BUCK’ BUCKLEY ❚BY SCOTT W. WAGNER 94 SELF-DEFENSE BATON BASICS Leading the Parade ❚BY ED COMBS

10 0 BERSA BY ANY OTHER NAME Bersa Thunder .45 Ultra Compact Pro 10 6 ❚ BY MARK KAKKURI GLOCK GEN-G Glock’s Generation 5 9mm ❚ BY BOB CAMPBELL

4 www.USCCA.com | February/March FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

COLUMNS

42 24 BALLISTIC BASICS EXPANSION How & Why ❚ BY TAMARA KEEL

34 LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN RECHARGE RELOADED History of the Spare ❚BY ED COMBS

February/March | www.USCCA.com 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Tim Schmidt

A PERSONAL INVITATION TO JOHN M. BROWNING...? Although I’m no expert when it al Concealed Carry tendees this year. If comes to firearms history, I do know Expo in Louisville, you’re over 18, stop that it’s pretty impossible to have a se- Kentucky, this April. by and choose a rious discussion about the last century Call me crazy, but gun to test-fire with and a half or so of American handgun- I tend to think the the helpful guidance ning without mentioning John Moses USCCA Expo cele- of USCCA-Certified Browning and his .45 ACP cartridge. brates a few of the Firearms Instructors. Designed by Browning and intro- same things that I also encourage duced in 1905 — just a few short Browning himself you to check out our years after the .32 ACP — the .45 embodied: things Reality-Based Train- ACP, also referred to as the .45 Auto, like innovation, ing Center; it, too, is is a truly iconic American handgun craftsmanship and 100 percent free this round (read Executive Editor Kevin a lifelong dedication time around! We’ve Michalowski’s “Editor’s Shot” on Page to perfecting his de- partnered with Ulti- 8 for an insightful analysis of how that signs. The world is mate Training Muni- came to be). certainly better — tions to provide you What always strikes me as interest- and safer — for it. with everything you ing and impressive is that, despite the Of course, the USCCA Expo is more need to take down targets on the ded- well-known and often vocal .45-ver- than just a collection of firearms and icated range or in the unique shoot sus-9mm debate that continues to concealed carry products; it’s also a house. USCCA- and UTM-Certified In- engage shooters of all ages and of celebration of the responsibility and structors will be on hand to guide you varying skill levels, you’ll rarely hear accountability that accompany the through it all. anyone — on either end of the spec- decision to carry a firearm for self-de- Of course, we’ll have plenty of ven- trum — claim that Browning was any- fense. Now, I might be biased, but I dors and seminars to keep you busy thing less than a pioneer in the firearms happen to think there’s a little bit of throughout the weekend, and — good industry. I don’t know about you, but I magic in that. And if you’re available news! — the Women’s Concealed Car- think that’s really saying something. April 13 to 15, 2018, I’d love for you ry Showroom will be open again in Lou- If God created men and Sam Colt to join me and the rest of the USCCA isville — this time conveniently located made them equal, as the old adage team in Louisville to soak up some right on the main show floor. professes, then certainly John Brown- of that magic. I guarantee you’ll be Oh, and word on the street is that ing helped to keep it that way. Con- among friends. Graham Allen will be in attendance. sider that a number of defensive arms I’m excited to announce that our (OK, I can actually confirm this one!) still produced today — the M1911, for mobile Live-Fire Shooting Range, Doors will open Friday, April 13 at 3 instance — deviate only slightly from where you can test out a plethora of p.m. I know that John Browning can’t Browning’s original designs. quality firearms from the industry’s top make it, but will I see YOU there? I You know, if Browning were still alive, manufacturers, like Bond Arms, Glock hope so! I’d personally invite him to the 4th Annu- and Walther Arms, is free for all at-

MEET TIM SCHMIDT IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY LEARN MORE AT CONCEALEDCARRYEXPO.COM

6 www.USCCA.com | February/March

EDITOR’S SHOT by Kevin Michalowski

THE OLD GUARD Is It All in the Reputation? The .45 ACP is often described as “legendary” and “timeless.” Did you ever wonder why? Did you ever wonder how the .45 ACP became so revered? various calibers, one of which — his I guess such a tremendous reputation Model 1905 pistol — was built around likely comes from having served with the .45 ACP cartridge. About the same American market, the Unit- distinction in two world wars and count- time, Austrian gunmaker Georg Luger ed States equipped hundreds of less smaller wars all around the world was developing his proprietary firearm thousands of troops for a major foreign for more than 100 years. But how did and cartridge. You’ve heard of them: engagement. The pistol and cartridge that round, combined with the 1911 pis- the P08 Luger and the 9x19mm round. served well. Weapons designers began tol, even get the chance to serve? That cartridge, now known by several building other platforms for the .45 ACP. First up, the U.S. Army has loved the names — including 9mm Parabellum, Then, 25 years later, the pistol was .45-caliber projectile since the early 9mm NATO, 9mm Luger and just plain hip-deep in another war. This time, mil- 1870s, when cavalry troopers started old 9mm — is currently the most wide- lions of pistols were turned out, along carrying Colt Single Action Army revolv- ly used pistol cartridge in the world. with hundreds of millions of rounds of ers. The .45 was a big, stout bullet that Think about that. The two most revered ammunition. The .45 became the gold did the job in the era of black powder and longest-serving pistol cartridges in standard of defensive ammunition, and round-nosed lead bullets. But the the world were developed in 1905 and largely because nothing else was tried. Army drifted away from the .45 and, by 1908, respectively. By the time there was any real op- 1899, soldiers were carrying .38-caliber Is that because they are great or be- portunity for research and develop- revolvers and an anemic round was, cause they were there? Did you know ment, people’s minds were made up: shall we say, underpowered for the the venerable M1 Garand was de- The .45 ACP round would live forev- demands of close-quarters battle. Sol- signed to fire a .276-caliber round? The er and gunmakers around the world diers returning from the Philippines told change to .30-06 required intense rede- would, to this day and beyond, con- horror stories of how poorly the round sign work. The reason: The U.S. had, at tinue to build firearms around the performed in battle. By 1909, the Army the time the rifle was being developed, cartridge. There might be something was once again issuing .45-caliber re- great stores of .30-caliber ammo. better out there, but chances are it will volvers, but the move to auto-loading Perhaps this is how the .45 grew to be not be discovered, because the .45 pistols was already underway. so legendary. Not long after the round ACP is so firmly woven into the fabric By 1909, John Browning had devel- and pistol to which it is most close- of self-defense pistols that few people oped several auto-loading pistols in ly associated were dropped into the see the need to change.

MEET KEVIN MICHALOWSKI IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY LEARN MORE AT CONCEALEDCARRYEXPO.COM

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FNA160059_Covert_7_75x10_5.indd 1 11/18/16 10:15 AM ABOUT THE COVER PLAY IT AGAIN ■ WHO DOESN'T like a nice classic forty-five? Few inventions are as unmistakably American as the vinyl record and the .45 Automatic. Both invoke strong emotions, immediately bring millions of Americans back to specific times and places in history, and are experiencing something of a rebirth in the 21st century. Though some write off both as anachronisms in this era of hyper-modern technology, there's no question that the .45 Auto is as relevant as ever, and the platforms available to those who elect to carry it — such as this extremely light and powerful magnesium- alloy-framed Magna T5 from Ultimate Arms (uaarms.com) — are far more modern than some critics might think.

With Kevin Michalowski TRAIN FOR THE POSSIBILITY, NOT THE PROBABILITY Get your insider information every week with the Into the Fray video series found exclusively at:

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2017_M9DT_OSG.indd 1 6/14/17 11:08 AM ASK THE USCCA

CHARGE ACCOUNT QUESTION: I am a USCCA mem- have self-defense insurance and have to ber and I also have your self-defense in- bring a lawyer into the picture to defend surance. Having the insurance gives me them after a shooting? I was talking to a a great deal of peace of mind. As a sub- local police sergeant in my area and he scriber to your magazine and several of basically told me that, in a self-defense the NRA magazines, I enjoy reading from shooting, charges would most likely nev- both yours and the NRA’s “true stories” of er be filed against the self-defense shoot- self-defense. er. I guess I would like to hear more fol- My question and comments come from low-up on these self-defense shootings. the point that a lot of the endings to many Like I said, I have the USCCA insur- of these stories end up being that the DA ance for peace of mind. And, for the cost, or police found the shooting justifiable as it is worth it. And what is nice in having it self-defense and don’t press charges. Of is it doesn’t just cover one in the use of a course, I am sure the story doesn’t stop firearm for self-defense, but as I under- there, does it? stand, it covers you if you have to defend Just to beg a rhetorical question, I yourself with a knife, club, fists, etc. wonder just how many of these people Thanks for your time, who are subscribers to USCCA or NRA Steve, via email — or even non-subscribers — actually

ANSWER: We’re so glad to have You will be questioned and possibly ar- her or his feelings toward armed citizens? you in the USCCA family, Steve! Thanks rested until everything gets sorted out. In There are many legal aspects involved for reaching out to Kevin and the Con- this situation, if the witnesses say you did when you defend yourself and they vary cealed Carry Magazine editors. not act in self-defense and the evidence from state to state and sometimes from You’re right; in many cases of self-de- does not initially seem to add up, there is town to town. You are right that, in many fense, charges are not filed. However, a chance that charges could be filed and cases of self-defense, charges are not there is always an investigation and you’ll have to defend your actions. filed. That does not, however, take into police questioning after the physical If you defend yourself in your home, consideration the investigation and po- self-defense situation. there might not be witnesses. However, lice questioning that you’ll go through For example, let’s say you’ve shot there will still be an investigation and po- when you physically defend yourself. someone who is attacking you while lice questioning. Depending on the state There can be a lot of legal expenses you’re in a public location. The police ar- in which you live, the physical evidence leading up to no charges being filed or rive and there are witnesses who will see and the political atmosphere of your charges being dropped. your situation as self-defense, but there hometown, it might be resolved quick- I cannot imagine the stress, adrenaline might be witnesses who saw the situation ly, or you might face charges. Does the and fear that someone who has to shoot as nothing more than a violent criminal evidence clearly show this was self-de- another person goes through in the im- encounter and say that you were not defense? How badly might the local district mediate aftermath of a self-defense inci- fending yourself. attorney maybe try to make a point about dent. I’m grateful that if I have to phys-

12 www.USCCA.com | February/March ❚ TO SUBMIT A QUESTION TO “ASK THE USCCA,” EMAIL US AT [email protected].

PRESIDENT & CEO Tim Schmidt EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kevin Michalowski MANAGING EDITOR Jared Blohm ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ed Combs CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ken Wangler ART DIRECTOR Dusty Reid COPY EDITOR Carla Dickmann PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Wangler • Dusty Reid COLUMNISTS John Caile • Ed Combs George Harris • K.L. Jamison, ESQ. Mark Kakkuri • Tamara Keel • Alan Korwin Anthony Lambert • Duncan Mackie Kevin Michalowski • Rick Sapp Tim Schmidt CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jason Buckley • Bob Campbell Ed Combs • Michael Janich Mark Kakkuri • Tom McHale Scott W. Wagner

Published for USCCA by:

1000 Freedom Way West Bend, WI 53095 MEMBER SERVICES (877) 677-1919 [email protected] ■ Though plenty of self- FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, defense shootings end up with CONTACT: no charges filed, the other side Bruce Wolberg of that coin is too much to risk. (715) 445-8722 or (715) 281-4075 [email protected] ADVERTISING COORDINATOR ically defend myself, I won’t have to go to sue the Good Samaritan for excessive Carol Busse through the aftermath alone. I’ll be calling force. It’s a very difficult situation to see (262) 806-0117 the police and then calling our Critical unfold. Here’s an article about it for you: [email protected] Response Team and having an attorney https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sus- Concealed Carry Magazine (USPS: 022-302, ISSN: 1550-7866), Volume 15, Issue 2, by my side for that aftermath. pected-starbucks-armed-robber-may- FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 Issue. Published 8 times a This doesn’t even touch on the civil li- sue-man-who-overpowered-him/ year, monthly, except combined issues: Feb/Mar; May/ ability portion of the self-defense act. If And you are correct: If you have to use June; Aug/Sept; and Nov/Dec. By Delta Defense, LLC, 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095. Periodicals any of your shots miss your attacker and any legal weapon — gun, knife, base- postage paid at Jackson, WI and additional mailing offices. cause damage to someone or something ball bat, fists or more — for your phys- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: else, you may be sued for damages. ical self-defense, we’ve got your back Concealed Carry Magazine, 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095 Sometimes, in some states, the criminal 24/7/365. who attacked you can sue you for dam- Have a great day and stay safe! ages. Dawn

The aftermath of self-defense incidents Social Care Supervisor Signed articles in Concealed Carry Magazine reflect the can be heartbreaking to watch. Have you views of the author, and are not necessarily the views of the editors at Delta Defense, LLC. Concealed Carry heard about the gentleman who stopped Magazine and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association are the armed robbery in a California Star- registered trademarks of Delta Defense, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2004-2018 by Delta Defense, LLC. bucks? The armed robber is now looking Reproduction, copying, or distribution of Concealed Carry Magazine is prohibited without written permission. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

■SHOT SHOW? deadly force, I do not believe that the on Page 94 of this very issue, I give a In response to both “President’s Mes- tiny load of birdshot sent downrange by general overview of baton use and se- sage” by Tim Schmidt and the “House a .410 revolver can be counted on to lection. You can skip ahead to read what Gun” article by Tamara Keel (Page 6 stop a threat. Shooting an attacker with a I have to say about them, but like any oth- and Page 46 in the October 2017 issue, charge of birdshot will take valuable time er piece of self-defense technology, the respectively), I am surprised there is no in the middle of a deadly force incident, key will always be proper training and mention of the .410/.45 Colt handguns and if you fail to “change the objective” diligent attention to technique. available. The .410 shotshell, in my opin- of whomever it is who’s trying to murder Ed Combs ion, is the perfect “in-home” defense you, there might not be time to deploy the Associate Editor round. From experience, a load of “fine “backup” rounds you mentioned. shot/birdshot” will change the objec- Handguns firing shotshells are excel- ■LOCKDOWN tive of any intruder, except possibly a lent firearms, and while there is room for I just read the article “Wheels Up” on drugged intruder. And the remaining .45 debate on the topic, I don’t believe they the transportation of firearms (Page 72, Colt cartridge “backup” would definitely are the best choice for personal defense. November/December 2017). Very good dispatch the drugged intruder very effi- Thank you very much for the email and comprehensive piece for anyone wishing ciently. Taurus and S&W make revolvers stay safe. to travel with a firearm. and Bond Arms produces derringers Ed Combs With regard to TSA asking for your chambered for such. In my opinion, ex- Associate Editor key or combination, you should never cellent options for both concealed carry surrender your key or provide the com- and home defense. ■C THE LIGHT bination. Rather, politely inform the agent Ray, via email Hi, Ed. that regulations require that only the own- Just wanted to thank Bob Campbell for er of the firearm is to retain the key or Ray, the article regarding the CZ P-10 C (Page combination and that you will open the I’m afraid I disagree. 28, October 2017 issue). Last weekend, lock for them. See 49 CFR 1540.111(c) I have no beef with Taurus or Bond or I finally purchased it and the pistol is ev- (2)(iv). You should have a copy of the Smith; none of those companies have erything Bob says and then some. All I above regulations handy to show them; ever been anything but good to us here lack is a good holster and it will become on your smartphone is a convenient at CCM and to me personally. That said, my carry pistol. There are so many choic- place. Always respect the agent and be we here at CCM base our opinions on es. Thanks for the article. polite and explain that, as a law-abiding practical experience and, the truth is, no Herbert, via email firearms owner, you are only following the easily carried handgun has great stop- law as written. ping power. While we certainly believe ■STICK AROUND Thanks! bad guys rarely stop to ask what cali- It’s been a wonderful experience to be John, via email ber is being fired at them, FBI research part of the USCCA family, not only for the shows that penetration is the most im- insurance coverage but for the valuable John, portant element to effectively stopping and informative videos and articles on You are correct: It would appear that an attacker. self-defense strategies and tactics. the whole idea behind how the TSA de- I do not believe that a .410/.45 Colt re- I may have missed this, but I do not mands you secure your firearms would volver is a good choice for anything other recall a discussion on the use of collaps- be that no one but you is capable of ac- than shooting snakes, spiders and other ible batons as self-defense weapons. cessing them. I’ve found that the simplest vermin. First of all, the size and weight of Like many self-defense options, pos- way to accomplish this is to buy a set of such a firearm makes it less than ideal for session and use of batons may not be padlocks that are keyed the same to lock concealed carry. If you demand to car- permissible in some states, however, for both of the latches on my travel case. ry a revolver of that size and weight, you those that do allow them, they allow a de- This allows me to easily unlock them for can find lighter, easier-to-carry guns that fensive response below that of guns and airport staff when requested, and it en- will fire rounds better suited to stopping superior to edged weapons because you sures that long weekends, jet lag and imminent deadly threats. are at arm’s length from the assailant. other stressors of travel don’t result in me Perhaps most importantly, though, I I’d be pleased to get your opinion. forgetting my combination. 100 percent disagree with the attitude Best regards, Ed Combs that .410 birdshot is a good way to Dan, via email Associate Editor “change the objective of any intruder.” As firearms of any kind — shot or solid Dan, projectile, .410 or .44 Magnum — are Funny you should ask. As you’ll notice,

14 www.USCCA.com | February/March CUSTOM HOLSTERS HANDCRAFTED IN AMERICA. LightTuck™, meet tight tuck. From now on every LightTuck QUICK SHIPPING Kydex IWB from Vedder will feature SHIP WITHIN 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS. the Claw, designed to pull the gun closer to your body for even better 250+ GUN MODELS concealment. The Claw can also be WITH 75+ COLOR CHOICES. attached to any existing LightTuck model. Who says you can’t improve LIFETIME WARRANTY on perfection. ON ALL PRODUCTS.

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SPECIFICATIONS COLONEL LOWVZ BLADE STEEL: N690CO GRIP SCALES: G10 SHEATH: G-CODE KYDEX BLADE COATING: QPQ IONITE MADE IN: ITALY MSRP: $149.99 NCO LOWVZ BLADE STEEL: AUS 8 GRIP SCALES: INJECTION-MOLDED SHEATH: INJECTION-MOLDED BLADE COATING: CERAMIC MADE IN: TAIWAN MSRP: $79.99 Top Brass COLONEL BLADES ■ THE MAJOR ISSUES facing those looking to defensively employ a knife haven’t changed much over the last thousand years or so: difficulty in delivering a high level of energy into a target, difficulty in striking an intended target and the danger of cutting your own hand on your knife. Colonel Blades attacked each of those problems head-on. The LowVz Combo Kit, which includes a pair of shooter-specific EDC blades and a training unit — as well as two G-code sheaths and a pair of injection-molded trainers — is an ideal setup for the individual or family who’s looking to cover all the bases and be able to train in a new system of close- quarters self-defense. (Aluminum trainers, as pictured here, are also available.) With multiple models and price points to meet any shooter’s needs, they’re definitely worth a look at colonelblades.com.

16 www.USCCA.com | February/March

TRUE STORIES Compiled by Duncan Mackie

ARMORED CAR DRIVER DEFENDS AGAINST HAMMER SLEDGEHAMMER ASSAULT ■ After exiting his armored car to pick up money at a Chicago currency exchange, DOWN the car’s driver was assaulted by an unknown man with a sledgehammer. Though struck in the back and neck with the sledgehammer, the driver was able to draw his weapon and shoot his assailant four times, stopping the incident. Responding police found the suspect near the scene of the crime, bleeding from his bullet wounds. The armored car driver will survive the attack but sustained what are being called life-changing injuries. Guns.com

18 www.USCCA.com | February/March

TRUE STORIES Continued from Page 18

■ INDIANA MAN FOILS RESIDENTIAL ROBBERY turned out the intruder had four outstanding warrants for his An unidentified armed man entered a Hammond home at arrest. Police said the homeowner “did everything right.” about 7:30 a.m. and announced a robbery. Herding three resi- Breitbart.com dents into the basement, where the robber claimed a safe was to be found, the robber was unaware that a fourth person was ■ OHIO TACO BELL EMPLOYEES in the home. That man took up a pistol and, when the robber en- DEFEND AGAINST ARMED ROBBER tered the kitchen from the basement, shot and mortally wound- Two armed and masked men attempted to rob a Cleveland ed him, ending the incident. Responding police questioned Taco Bell at about 3:30 one morning and were unpleasantly the defending shooter and other residents, then released them surprised when three of the store employees drew guns and without charges. fired on them, killing one robber and putting the second to Guns.com flight. The dead robber suffered six gunshot wounds; his ac- complice was apparently uninjured. ■ MICHIGAN CONCEALED CARRIER CNN.com FIGHTS BACK AGAINST ROBBERS Two Detroit men, one carrying under a Michigan concealed ■ NORTH CAROLINA MOTHER carry permit, were accosted outside a convenience store by FRIGHTENS OFF TWO BURGLARS two men who demanded money. When the permit holder saw a A young Gaston County mother of two heard noises coming pistol stuck in his face, he knocked the gun away, drew his own from the rear of her home. Taking a pistol with her to investi- pistol and fired on the robbers. In the ensuing exchange, the gate, she found two men trying to force entry into her home armed robber was shot multiple times, and the victim’s cousin through a glass door. When she displayed the pistol she had was shot four times. Both wounded men are expected to recover. with her, the two men fled without further incident. Both robbers were arrested. WSOCTV.com Fox2Detroit.com ■ ILLINOIS HOMEOWNER SHOOTS HOME INVADER ■ ARMED TEXAS CITIZEN STOPS SEXUAL ASSAULT A Springfield homeowner heard noises in his house one An Austin man was jogging one evening when he heard a afternoon and, shortly thereafter, was confronted by an un- woman screaming nearby. Shining a flashlight in the direction known male who had forcibly entered the home. Fortunately, of the screams, he saw a female jogger on her back on the the homeowner, fearing for his life, was able to get to a gun he ground with a man on top of her. Drawing his legally carried kept for protection and shoot the invader, who fled the scene. pistol, the Good Samaritan ordered the attacker off the woman, The wounded invader was later apprehended by police when who immediately got up and put distance between herself and he sought medical attention for his gunshot wound. her attacker. When the woman was momentarily between him The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois and the gun, her attacker, naked from the waist down, took that opportunity to run off, taking with him the woman’s shorts and ■ CHICAGO HOMEOWNER DEFENDS AGAINST BURGLAR shoes. The assailant was captured the next day sleeping next Hearing strange noises at home one evening, a 60-year-old to a different part of the same jogging trail. Chicago man found a crowbar-wielding individual had broken The Austin American Statesman, Texas into his home. Fearing for his life, the homeowner took up a legally owned handgun and fired on the intruder several times, ■ NEW MEXICO CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK wounding him and causing him to flee. Police apprehended SHOOTS ARMED ROBBER the criminal when he sought medical treatment for his gunshot Hearing about nearby convenience stores being robbed, an wounds at a local hospital. Albuquerque woman carried a pistol with her when she was The Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois working the late shift at a Circle K. When an armed man entered her store, pointed his pistol at her face and demanded money, ■ FLORIDA OCTOGENARIAN the armed clerk drew her own pistol and shot the robber in the SCARES OFF HOME INVADER torso. The clerk was not charged in the shooting, but her store Seeing an unknown man break his living room window and suspended her for two weeks for carrying a pistol on the job. attempt entry to his home, an 81-year-old man used a .22 pistol KOAT-TV Channel 7, Albuquerque, New Mexico to fire several shots at the burglar, who fled the scene. The homeowner reported fearing for his own safety and that of his ■ WASHINGTON STATE HOMEOWNER wife, who was also home at the time. CAPTURES WANTED MAN The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Seeing an unknown man standing outside his child’s bed- room window one night, a Marysville homeowner and concealed carry permit holder drew his pistol and confronted the intruder, then held him at gunpoint for responding police. It

20 www.USCCA.com | February/March

IN THE 10-RING

In the January 2018 issue, we listed an incorrect web address for Target Tiles. The correct web address is roll-tech.net. We regret the error.

OMAHA TARGETS PHOTO THREAT SERIES PICTURE PERFECT ■ REALISTIC TRAINING is imperative for all who decide to carry concealed, and one of the first steps in making training as realistic as possible is facing realistic-looking threats. These photo targets from Omaha Targets allow instructors and students to train in “shoot/no-shoot” scenarios, forcing them to make the fast decisions necessary to avert disaster and save innocent lives. With the gun in his hand, the man on the front target is a threat; with the available overlays affixed over his gun — a phone, a flashlight, scissors or a badge — he may or may not be. These targets are available in paper and card- stock formats and can be the next step up in your shooting school or training regimen. Twenty different versions, including hostage targets, are available in color and black and white at omahatargets.com. MSRP: As low as 47 to 52 cents each

22 www.USCCA.com | February/March CBH_USCCA_MainStreetAd.pdf 1 9/1/16 3:38 PM BENCH REPORT by Mark Kakkuri

NIGHTHAWKBEAUTIFUL CUSTOM 1911 BEAST GET TO KNOW THE NIGHTHAWK CARRY +PLUS

24 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ YOU KNOW NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM for their awesome 1911s, arguably some of the best you can buy today. But you also know 1911s for their undying legacy, rabid fan base and — when compared to the myriad double-action-only pistols around today — seemingly complex operation. And despite the complexities, the 1911 platform has been winning over shooters for more than 100 years. These days, with self-defense all the rage and a citizenry bent on finding the best solutions for concealed carry, Nighthawk’s Carry +Plus offers a unique, high-end solution you should know more about. Besides being a terrific 1911 in and of itself, the Nighthawk Carry +Plus offers additional features for concealed carry — mostly thinning, shortening, reducing or other effects that result in subtracting rather than adding. In a lot of ways, it should be called the “Carry -Minus.”

SMOOTH OPERATOR This gun is of a lighter weight (26.2 ounces) and a shorter overall length (7.4 inches) than most 1911s available today. An aluminum Officer’s frame contributes to the smallness, as does the 3.8-inch barrel, but the Carry +Plus also sports a thinned front strap and aluminum mainspring housing. Also missing: sharp edges. Nighthawk de-horned the entire gun to make it as friendly as possible when carried on-body — inside the waistband or otherwise. Put- ting the gun through the paces of drawing, firing, reloading and reholstering prove how friendly to the hands a sidearm can really be.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 25 TWO VERSATILE NEW FIREARMS. The frame safety, ■ while strong and positive, clicks off ONE LEGENDARY PLATFORM. quickly and easily. NIGHTHAWK CARRY +PLUS 9MM Worried about the beavertail safety and cocked hammer catch- Weight: 26.2 ounces ing on clothing as you go to draw? Overall Length: 7.4 inches Don’t be. When your hand grasps the gun, it takes up most of the space under Barrel Length: 3.8 inches the beavertail safety, ensuring a snag-free Magazine Capacity: 8 (9mm) draw. Don’t know how you’d do with a man- ter) being what it Sights: Tritium (front); ual safety? As you wrap your hand around is, you might be the stocks, your thumb falls naturally to the inclined to baby it. Heinie Straight Eight frame safety, which, of course, is engaged Certainly take good SlantPro (rear) when you carry. A purposeful sweep down care of it, but don’t MSRP: $3,895 with your thumb deactivates the safety and fuss about using it the gun comes up into your line of sight, too hard or carrying it bow will fall naturally with your eye falling on the rear Heinie too much. It’s meant to over the gun, an extra Straight Eight SlantPro sight and the tritium be shot and carried. measure of conceal- unit up front. With most 1911s, these oper- Because the Carry +Plus shines on the ment and security, especially if you find Feature-rich, accurate and reliable, the ations feel quite natural from the jump and range, you’ll be all the more likely to find yourself in a hand-to-hand struggle before Taurus 1911™ only get better. With a Nighthawk 1911, it holstered at your side. Because they’re you can draw. Commander these operations almost immediately seem relatively thin, 1911s make for great carry Taurus 1911™ Commander and Taurus 1911™ Offi cer second nature and you appreciate the feel guns anyway. But, in the smaller Officer’s MODERN TIMES? of precision workmanship even more. frame — just shy of 5 inches in height — As you know, this is a departure from are more compact, lighter-weight versions of Besides the reductions to increase how and enhanced with all the features that what many carry for self-defense. While Taurus 1911™ easily the gun can be carried — and the make it a Carry +Plus, this Nighthawk bor- it is a single-stack 9, it has an aluminum O f fi c e r unmatched engineering fostering fantastic ders on concealed carry perfection. frame rather than polymer. Instead of a our long proven full-size. Always Bring It.™ function — the Nighthawk Carry +Plus lets The most natural place for this gun striker-fired, double-action-only piece, it is you know you’re in control via custom fea- is strong-side, just behind the hip — 4 a traditional single-action with an exposed tures, such as the ultra-high-cut front strap, o’clock for the righties, 8 o’clock for the hammer. Add a manual safety and grip checkered front strap and mainspring lefties — or maybe just a bit further back safety but no “tactical” rail and you have housing, Everlast Recoil System and the than that. Knowing that this gun is an in- a classic design continuing to prove itself G10 thin ETC Frag grips with thumb scoop. vestment, it’d be wise to also invest a bit over generations. These features, along with the 1911’s nat- more in an excellent inside-the-waistband With the proliferation of 9mm self-de- ural pointability and great feel, make every holster and gun belt. Go for all leather or fense rounds available today, the abun- draw, grasp and shot a veritable sympho- a leather/Kydex combo, and make sure dance of 9mm concealed carry guns ny of physics. The squeeze of the trigger, the holster provides a slight forward cant. and even the marked increase in 9mm the recoil of 9mm rounds and the cycling of Opposite the gun, carry a reload in a belt 1911s, it’s clear the market considers the slide all work in concert. pouch. Keep this rig simple and, as al- 9mm a viable defensive cartridge for If there’s a problem with the excellent ways, practice drawing, shooting, reload- concealed carry. And it is. But, as you 1911 platform, especially one from the ing and clearing malfunctions the same know, you’re only as effective as the Nighthawk Custom team, it’s that it is so way you would while out in public. training and practice you put in — even if easy to shoot quickly and accurately that When carried in a rig like this, you’ll you have a Nighthawk Carry +Plus, and you’ll zip through the eight-round maga- know the gun is there, of course, and you’ll even if shooting it comes naturally. zines again and again. A box of 50 rounds feel a bit more balanced with the reload on will disappear in 6.25 magazines, so don’t your weak side. Covering garments can forget to pace yourself at the range. be fairly simple: an untucked shirt or two, // 45 ACP // Matte Black Finish // Commander (8 shot capacity, 4.3” barrel, 38 oz.) a jacket and the other usual suspects. The SOURCES // Offi cer (6 shot capacity, 3.5” barrel, 35 oz.) // Novak Drift Adjustable Front and Rear Sights CARRY CHAMP right rig will point the Carry +Plus stocks Nighthawk Custom: The Nighthawk Carry +Plus (or any up toward your armpit. Such positioning NighthawkCustom.com Nighthawk Custom gun, for that mat- means your arm and especially your el- TaurusUSA.com

26 www.USCCA.com | February/March TWO VERSATILE NEW FIREARMS. ONE LEGENDARY PLATFORM.

Feature-rich, accurate and reliable, the Taurus 1911™ Commander Taurus 1911™ Commander and Taurus 1911™ Ofﬁ cer

are more compact, lighter-weight versions of Taurus 1911™ O f ﬁ c e r our long proven full-size. Always Bring It.™

// 45 ACP // Matte Black Finish // Commander (8 shot capacity, 4.3” barrel, 38 oz.) // Ofﬁ cer (6 shot capacity, 3.5” barrel, 35 oz.) // Novak Drift Adjustable Front and Rear Sights

TaurusUSA.com DRILL OF THE MONTH by Ed Combs

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

RELOAD DRILL ■THIS DRILL — Drill No. D-006, for So, as mentioned, 7 yards — 21 feet those of you following along at home in — is no challenge for most any shooter your Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards hand- when he or she is holding a Glock 17 books — is one that most anyone who or full-sized 1911. Bump that down to a carries concealed might be shirking on. Ruger LCP or a Beretta Pico, and now It’s simply called the “Reload Drill,” and we’ve got a game. before you get too cocky, you might want Like many of the drills available at live- to read on. firedrillcards.com, there’s no reason not The filthy secret a decent number of to run this one at least once on every trip concealed carriers hide is that the side- to the range. If you’re not training with the arm or sidearms they shoot the most ar- gun you’re carrying, you’re not training; en’t the ones they carry the most. Most you’re just shooting. any avid shooter can reliably perform Follow Live Fire Drill Cards on Facebook the following with a full-sized pistol; if you or Instagram @livefiredrillcards. To use the can’t ace it with your carry gun, you need complete selection of drills and targets in to get to work on that. the Handgun Training Log system, visit live- Load two magazines with two rounds firedrillcards.com. each. Rig one the way you normally carry a reload (you do carry a reload, right?), and use the other to charge your sidearm. Holster your gun and, standing 7 yards from an 8-inch plate-style target (Target FOR MORE INFO, VISIT: T-008 or an 8-inch paper plate), wait for livefiredrillcards.com/downloads

DOTM-JAN-2018.pdf 1 12/11/17 1:15 PM your shot timer or training partner to give you the signal to begin.

Y Upon the signal, draw your sidearm, CM MY

CMY fire two shots into the plate, reload and K fire both of those remaining shots into the same plate.

28 www.USCCA.com | February/March February/March | www.USCCA.com 29 LEGISLATIVE NEWS by Rick Sapp

■CALIFORNIA: POLITICAL AGENDAS a firearm in a school zone. Current Cal- and one to make Kim Jong Un play nice. IN SEARCH OF PROBLEMS ifornia law makes it a crime to possess There are practically an infinite number of Is California just anti-gun, or is it deep- a firearm in a school zone, regardless of sweet, worthwhile projects into which our ly anti-American as well? whether one knows it’s a school zone, Lewis could really sink his teeth. Governor Jerry “Moon Beam” Brown, unless he or she has written permission Under Lewis’ bill, a first offense for pur- who recently signed Senate Bill 54, mak- from the school district superintendent or chasing and selling ivory or ivory prod- ing California a “sanctuary state,” is, as “equivalent school authority.” ucts nets a fine of up to $4,000 or an of this writing, studying on three bills that McCarty claims that the dysfunctional amount equal to two times the total value would further restrict an American’s rights California Legislature knows better than of the ivory and possible imprisonment under the 2nd Amendment. Given Brown’s local elected officials. If there is a glim- for up to six months in a house of cor- left-wing agenda, his signature is likely. mer of good news in McCarty’s bill, it (mi- rection. Here is his ivory definition: “SEC- Mike Gipson, D-Watts, who is fond raculously) exempts sanctioned shooting TION 1. (a) ‘Ivory’ means a tooth or tusk of striped shirts with polka-dot bowties, sports activities, such as hunter educa- composed of ivory from any species of sponsored Assembly Bill 7. It would re- tion programs. elephant, mammoth or mastodon, or any strict the open carry of an unloaded And then there’s Jerry Hill, D-San Ma- piece thereof, and includes any item or firearm on public property by making teo, who voted to fine public bus riders product containing ivory.” It is indeed for- unincorporated areas prohibited places. who don’t buckle seat belts and, now that tunate for the citizens of Massachusetts This bill, Gipson says, closes an “exist- Princess Hillary — his “dream candidate” that Senator Lewis, eager as he is to pro- ing loophole.” (Haven’t we heard that one — has been defeated in the presidential tect them, has included animals extinct before?) election, promotes NationalPopularVote. for thousands of years. In asking for support of this solution com. Hill’s Senate Bill 464 seeks to in- Senate Bill 450 would require that any seeking a problem, Gipson quipped, crease the mandatory storage and se- collector, big-game hunter or recreation- without proof or evidence whatsoever, curity requirements for licensed firearms al shooter examine his or her collection, “This legislation has widespread approv- dealers. Of course, California already because many older firearms and im- al by the majority of Californians.” has the strictest laws in the country re- plements — your grandmother’s brush He writes, “This is a completely unac- garding how dealers must store and se- and comb set, perhaps? — contain ceptable loophole because the flaunting cure firearms; Hill’s bill simply imposes small amounts of decorative ivory. These of assault weapons invites mayhem, con- additional regulations and costs on small would all have been legally purchased fusion and fear ... I will continue to stand business owners. It’s another small slice and sold and owned for years before the with my colleagues in the legislature, gun in Californians’ impending death by a esteemed senator even became a U.S. safety advocates and all of my constitu- thousand cuts. citizen. ents to reduce gun violence in California. NRAILA.org, Wikipedia.org Under this bill, it would be illegal for I believe we have what it takes to rise firearms collectors to buy or sell many above political division and enact laws ■MASSACHUSETTS: firearms containing decorative ivory in- that will strengthen public safety and re- HUJAMBO, BWANA! lays, bead sights and/or ivory grips. The duce the plague of gun violence.” Grow- How ironic that Democratic State Sen- exceptions for buying and selling antique ing up in a lawless suburb like Watts, ator Jason Lewis would live in a town products and other valuable collectibles Gipson knows all about violence. named for a famous firearms line — Win- containing ivory are extraordinarily lim- “We are not aware of a person openly chester. As a “public servant,” Lewis has ited. Antiques containing ivory must be carrying an unloaded firearm in an unin- signed on to all the correct “Blue State” more than 100 years old, leaving the corporated area being convicted of any venues and values. And, wouldn’t you owner with the burden of proof to doc- crime between 2012 and now,” the NRA know, he was born in South Africa. There ument the age of antiques in his or her wrote in response to the bill. “With this must be a connection for his Senate Bill possession. being said, this is just another bill harass- 450: “An Act Relative to Ivory and Rhino Senate Bill 450 would create strict and ing law-abiding gun owners exercising Horn Trafficking.” unnecessary restrictions that wouldn’t do their 2nd Amendment rights.” Lewis’ bill prohibits the sale, offer of a single thing to prevent the poaching of Sacramento District 7 Democrat Kev- sale, purchase or possession with intent elephants in Africa. Instead, it will annoy in McCarty sponsors assembly Bill 424. to sell of any ivory or rhinoceros horn with thousands of Bay Staters who legally ac- McCarty’s bill seeks to remove the au- limited exceptions. It’s thrilling that he quired products that contain ivory or thority of school district superintendents has sponsored this bill. Perhaps he will have legally hunted elephant or rhino in (or any school authority) to provide writ- next sponsor bills to outlaw crime, one the past. ten permission for a person to possess that forbids going barefoot in Georgia The bill would — and perhaps this is

30 www.USCCA.com | February/March Senator Lewis’ unspoken objective — ry a concealed firearm without having to state and federal law can carry it con- eventually require a new state bureau purchase a license. And he or she could cealed in a purse, a car or briefcase, for and hundreds of new employees to le- carry anywhere in the state where an example, without a license. gally harass and burden the working, individual is legally allowed to be pres- Even with arguably the finest 2nd taxpaying citizens. ent. Bill 169 would also expand the list of Amendment and self-defense protec- If Lewis’ bill were not sufficient, Rep- places where firearms owners can legally tions in America, Granite State legislators resentative Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, carry and would make the current con- continue to tinker — pro and con — with and Senator Lewis have developed cealed carry licensing system optional. the laws. House Bill 419 that also “prohibits the (Going through the licensing procedure Three house bills have been entered sale, offer for sale, purchase or possess- would allow people to take advantage of for debate in the 2018 legislative ses- ing with the intent to sell of any ivory or reciprocity agreements with other states.) sion. Brian Stone (R, Rockingham) has rhinoceros horn with limited exceptions.” WisconsinFirearmsCoalition.org, brought forward HB 1542 to let law-abid- Ehrlich’s other claims-to-fame are having NRAILA.org ing gun owners carry handguns on the become a “vocal opponent of a new pow- exterior grounds of any university or er plant being constructed in Salem” (be- ■WASHINGTON: community college. Stone also appends cause everyone knows power corrupts), GETTING PERSONAL language that prohibits universities or sponsoring a Mexican Independence Let’s all hope that S-2954.1 squeaks colleges from regulating firearms on their Day celebration at the State House and through the state’s bipartisan, bicamer- property beyond what is already con- thanking communities and individuals al legislature and is signed into law by tained in state or federal statute. who “push back on hate.” Governor Jay Inslee, a Clinton friend and Delmar Burridge’s HB 1566 would pro- NRAILA.org, Wikipedia.org associate … but don’t hold your breath. hibit law-abiding gun owners from openly This bill seeks to amend Washington’s carrying firearms at many public places ■WISCONSIN: ONE TO WATCH… public records act exemptions to better — doctor’s offices, restaurants, church- Not every elected public servant is protect the private, personal information es or any public building in the state; it an unmitigated scoundrel. State Senator of a number of classes of individuals — would also prohilbit carry in “any enter- Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, is a career including Washington’s concealed pistol tainment venue which seats more than law enforcement officer. State Senator license holders — from public records 5,000 people.” Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, believes, requests. The outstanding bill before the legis- “America values freedom. Freedom Currently, Washington state law pro- lature could be HB 1749, sponsored by leads to opportunity. Opportunity leads vides an exemption from a public records J.R. Hoell (R, Merrimack). It provides to progress.” State Senator Duey Stroeb- request for a concealed carry license ap- an enforcement mechanism for existing el, R-Cedarburg, is a 4H project leader plication, except as needed by law en- law that should help prevent a complex and coaches recreational youth football forcement or corrections. S-2954.1 would patchwork of gun regulations across the and baseball. add further clarifying language to the state, which makes it difficult for respon- If Wanggaard, Testin and Stroebel existing statute to ensure the concealed sible firearms owners to ensure they are have their way, Wisconsin could become pistol license itself — along with any following the law. the next state — the 13th — to allow its supporting documentation (names, ad- Note: Unlike other states, New Hamp- citizens to carry firearms precisely as the dresses, etc.) — is also exempt from dis- shire has a volunteer legislature. (Per U.S. Constitution states: “The right of the closure. This amendment remains con- the state Constitution, Part Second, Arti- people to keep and bear arms shall not sistent with existing laws’ protection of cle 15, the total compensation is $100/ be infringed.” records that contain individual, personal year.) Therefore, each of the members Wisconsin currently allows an individ- information, just as library card and bus that serve at the State House either need ual to carry a firearm openly without a pass user information is also protected. a good job and supportive employer or license or concealed with a license. A NRAILA.org, Wikipedia.org they must be financially independent or person without a valid license is in viola- retired. tion of the current law if he or she carries ■NEW HAMPSHIRE: SMALL LegiScan.com, StatisticalAtlas.com, in a purse or a backpack — or even if the STATE, BIG ATTITUDE! JRHoell.com, NRAILA.org firearm he or she carries becomes inad- New Hampshire means constitutional vertently covered by a coat or shawl. carry. In February 2017, lawmakers ex- The Wanggaard/Testin/Stroebel bill, SB panded on its no-license, no-permit-re- 169, would allow an otherwise law-abid- quired open-carry statutes. Now anyone ing individual with a clean record to car- who can legally possess a gun under

February/March | www.USCCA.com 31 GEAR WE LOVE

{1} 2A EDC TRAY {5} BARRELBUDDY MSRP: $25-$40 BORE-CLEANING SWABS This Kydex tray is a perfect landing pad for your keys, MSRP: $11.99/50 magazines, flashlights and everything else you ground These two-stage polymer barrel cleaners are ideal for before bedtime. Visit freedomholstersllc.com to select shooters who prefer to employ traditional cleaning rods from a few dozen colors and designs or to upload a but who are no longer interested in patches and brushes. personal image for a personalized tray. When attached to the end of a cleaning rod jag, these swabs evenly apply solvents and lubricants, scrub {2} CELTIC HOLSTERS deposits out of rifling and indicate levels of WEE DELUXE BLACK & TAN bore cleanliness. Head to barrelbuddy.com MSRP: $60 for demo videos and ordering information. With a draw screw that allows you to set your desired level of retention, the Wee Deluxe Black & Tan is very comfortable in the traditional 4 o’clock position as well as appendix and even borderline small-of-the-back. Visit celticholsters.com for this and other handmade selections from the line. {3} COLD STEEL TRAINING 1911 MSRP: $31.99 This unit from Cold Steel is appropriately weighted for draw and movement drills, but it is also safe for scenario and crowded-room training. Available in the pictured 1911 and other models at coldsteel.com.

{4} URBAN CARRY REVO {4} MSRP: $71 and up The modular nature of this new holster system from Urban Carry allows you to go from OWB to IWB to shoulder — all in security and comfort. Visit urbancarryholsters.com for a demo video and to assess your options. {1}

{2}

32 Januarywww.USCCA.com | www.USCCA.com | February/March {6} WHEELER F.A.T. WRENCH MSRP: $59.99 It’s important to tighten screws on scopes and other gun components no more than the manufacturer recommends, and this user- friendly torque wrench lets you do just that. It’s available at btibrands.com and retailers nationwide.

{3}

{5}

{6}

February/MarchJanuary | www.USCCA.com 33

LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN IT’S IT’S J UST THE LAW | LAW THE UST BALLISTIC BASICS |

❚ BY ED COMBS AFTER THE AFTER SHOT | RECHARGE DEFCON 1 DEFCON RELOADED HISTORY OF THE SPARE

34 www.USCCA.com | February/March MEET ED COMBS IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY LEARN MORE AT CONCEALEDCARRYEXPO.COM

TRAINING FOR RELOADS WITH YOUR SELF-DEFENSE SIDEARM IS A LOT LIKE FLOSSING: OFTEN NEGLECTED BY THOSE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT THE MOST. Some dislike reload drills because it’s & Wesson Model 10s, most officers car- a part of handgun training that can ex- ried 12 or 18 rounds of ammunition on pose the practitioner as anything less the front of the duty belt. These rounds than an expert. You’d be amazed how were eventually carried in speedloaders, many shooters, even when told to start but before the 1980s, they were carried slowly and build speed as the technique in simple drop pouches or even old-style is perfected, will rush too quickly and cartridge loops. Sometimes, these car- basically negate whatever training they tridges were carried on the left side of could accomplish. They quickly become the officer’s belt buckle, but if he could frustrated and end up basically wasting swing it, he’d wear them at his 1 o’clock their time (and, even worse, training in in- position. There was a very good reason effective techniques that might someday for this: When the revolver was run dry, get them killed). Add to this the fact that the (in this case, right-handed) officer some shooters only engage in training was to get to cover if possible and do the of any kind at an actual live-fire range, following as quickly as he could: and you have a recipe for general unpre- 1. Holding the revolver in a firing grip paredness. It gets tougher though. in the right hand, hit the cylinder release Like other areas of training and tech- with the right thumb. Swing the cylinder nique, reloads and the positioning of ex- of the revolver out of the frame with the tra ammunition can be tricky. The reason middle and ring fingers of the left hand, is the same as why so many other areas pin it between those fingers and the of defensive handgunning get so hazy: swell of the palm and slam the cylinder Individuals offering advice and training plunger with the right hand. might have been trained in handgun use 2. After the cylinder is completely decades ago, and they might be applying cleared, retrieve ammunition from the what we’ll call “classic” training method- duty belt with the right hand and execute ologies to contemporary subject matter. a reload. This can cause difficulties, and those dif- 3. Push the cylinder back into battery ficulties can often be traced back to the and index it with the left hand while re- evolution of law enforcement equipment. gaining a firing grip with the right hand; I understand that it can seem like we get back in the fight. talk a lot about law enforcement in these When practiced, this could be done pages that are dedicated to the private quickly enough. However, when it comes citizen, but please understand that many to running an automatic pistol, the posi- of the most important advances in hand- tioning of the ammunition supply isn’t re- gunning equipment and tactics came ally up for debate: The two or three mag- from the ranks of law enforcement, espe- azines on the duty belt are worn at the cially prior to about 20 years ago. Con- right-handed shooter’s 11 o’clock. When cealed carry permit classes are also very executing an autoloader reload from duty likely to be instructed by retired law en- gear, this is the sequence after getting to forcement officers, and this is where the cover if possible: issues begin to compound. 1. Hit the magazine release on the pis- Back in the good old days of manda- tol with the right thumb. (Many agencies tory neckties and heavy-barreled Smith even train officers to always manually

February/March | www.USCCA.com 35 LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

CARRY THAT EXTRA AMMUNITION, BUT RESPECT IT. CARRY IT IN A WAY THAT YOU’LL BE ABLE TO ACCESS AND DEPLOY IT WHEN NEEDED, AND TRAIN IN DOING SO. strip an empty magazine out of the gun, ed their new “Automatic Pistol, Cali- to me where and how you carry your but I’ve never seen it strictly enforced ber .45, M1911.” The “Holster Model spare ammunition. If you carry a re- except during malfunction drills.) While 1912” was basically an old-style cav- volver and a pack speedloader pouch doing so, unsnap the first magazine alry holster slightly modified to fit the in the small of your back, good for pouch you can get your hand on. 1911 and clip onto the newfangled you. If you carry an auto and stow a 2. Holding the pistol in the right “web belt,” but one thing it was con- spare mag in an IWB carrier at your 7 hand, keep it at eye level as you drive spicuously missing was an integral o’clock, that makes me happy. Even the left thumb down into the magazine magazine pouch on the holster. Nope, if you’re going against the advice we pouch behind a charged magazine. the 1912 was to be used in conjunction provide here at CCM — maybe you’re 3. Gripping it with the left thumb, with the M1910 canvas belt. That belt, carrying a mag for your Ruger LCP index and middle finger, draw the the M1912 leather holster and a can- loose in your pocket or you tossed a charged magazine from the pouch, vas double magazine pouch were to speedloader for your revolver into your keeping the index finger on the front be worn as a system much like you’d purse and called it a day — that works. (or projectile) side of the magazine see on a modern law enforcement of- Do I prefer that you do those things? and guide it into the magazine well. ficer: gun on the dominant-hand side No. However, I understand how they 4. After certain that the magazine is and ammunition on the other. happen and I would rather you have seated, grasp the back top of the slide What I find so interesting about that spare ammo on your person at all with the left hand, jerk back on it and is the fact that we as a nation made times than not. release; get back in the fight. that decision before most people on What I do ask is that however it is As is apparent, this can make for the planet had even seen a picture of you’ve decided to carry your extra am- quite a training scar among those who an automobile, but, in other nations, munition, you train on accessing and worked for years (or sometimes de- the combination pistol/magazine car- deploying it. If you’ve invested sever- cades) with their spare gunloads on rier hung around until the 1970s (and, al hundred dollars in a custom-made their dominant sides. in a few of those nations, until present concealed carry system from a pre- In all honesty, this has to be one of day). What can I say? Just another in- mier tactical company, that’s swell. If the reasons why the combination side- stance of the United States leading the you’ve availed yourself of a very af- arm/magazine holster is still so popu- way in handgunning. fordable yet still high-quality pocket lar. The fine specimen from Mernickle holster, I’m, honestly, just as pleased Holster Company pictured on Page 34 TRAIN LIKE YOU’LL FIGHT? for you. Either way, you’ll need to train is absolutely top-of-the-line, yet it is a More than a few instructors swear drawing from that holster, and you’ll holster I would not personally choose up and down that, in the past, law en- need to train in reloading the gun after to carry. I’ve spent too many years im- forcement officers have been found you’ve run it dry or it malfunctions. If mediately going for my left side when dead on the ground with empty car- you fail to do this — if you think that I run a gun dry, and I don’t see an up- tridge cases in their pockets. This is “sidearm and reload physically on side worth training enough to change very important for reasons you might my person” equals “prepared to em- that. already understand, regardless of the ploy that equipment to save my life” Though not my cup of tea, such hol- origin of this (likely apocryphal) leg- — you’re falling into a very dangerous sters are nothing new. When you look end: Every time those men trained on trap that’s claimed lives since back at the military holsters made for Luger the range, they emptied spent shells when reloads involved powderhorns P08s, Walther P38s and all different from the cylinders of their revolvers di- and patch knives. Carry that extra kinds of Soviet service pistols, it be- rectly into their hands to avoid having ammunition, but respect it. Carry it in comes apparent that the appeal of a to scramble around and pick them up a way that you’ll be able to access combination holster/magazine carrier later. This left training scars so signif- and deploy it when needed, and train not only offered a shooter one fewer icant as to (allegedly) cost them their in doing so. If you’re there for your re- thing to worry about rigging onto his lives in actual exchanges of gunfire. loads, they’ll be there for you. loadout gear but didn’t require a whole What does this have to do with hol- lot more training beyond “when in sters and where you carry your extra doubt, grab for the pistol pouch.” ammunition? The U.S. military was one group that Almost everything. bucked this trend when they adopt- Look, it is of no real significance

36 www.USCCA.com | February/March NOW STANDS FOR EVERYDAY CHOICES

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IT’S IT’S J LAW THE UST IT’S SAID THAT A NOTABLE TEXAS RANGER WAS ONCE ASKED WHY HE CARRIED A .45. IN THE WAY OF TEXAS RANGERS, HE REPLIED, “BECAUSE THEY DON’T MAKE A .46.” Today, there are .46 handguns, and even .50 handguns. sive, unleashed dogs under the supervision of a man with

BALLISTIC BASICS | Besides sore wrists, they have raised the question, “Are his own socialization problems. The dogs attacked Fish, they considered excessive force?” The answer is, “They who fired a warning shot. This turned the dogs away but should not be, but...” In this best of all possible worlds, enraged their man. The man attacked Fish, who killed him. what should be has not always been our experience. The encounter was initially put down as self-defense. A powerful cartridge is bound to draw hysterical atten- Enraged animal lovers, more upset that he shot at the tion. In one of the rare cases of mistaken self-defense, a dogs than into a human, demanded vengeance. At trial, retired FBI profiler proclaimed the .44 Magnum used was the prosecutor focused on his pistol, claiming that it was second only to a bazooka in power.1 ultra-powerful. The man would have been just as dead if shot with a .40, but this was a significant factor in Fish’s BIG ISSUE conviction. The 10mm had been the FBI cartridge of In New York state, a license to carry bears the make, choice at one time, which would seem to give it official model, caliber and serial number of the gun for which the sanction as not being excessively powerful. Fish’s law- license is valid. This is nonsense, as it implies someone yer did not bring in an expert witness to refute the pros- AFTER THE AFTER SHOT | could be responsible with an S&W Model 36 of a specific ecution’s claim. It took two years of appellate work and a serial number but not the next gun in the series. It does change to the law to set Fish free. seem to approve — in a backhanded way — that the gun is appropriate for self-defense. California has a very spe- HOLE-Y SMOKE cific list of handguns allowed to be sold in the state. This Hollow-point ammunition has been the subject of hys- is a purported safety measure. It also appears to certify a terical comment. My favorite is, “The bullet doesn’t ex- gun as safe for self-defense. When life gives you lemons... plode ... you do.” Appellate decisions have made omi- The .357 Magnum has been with us since 1935 and nous remarks to the effect that mere possession of JHPs has served with distinction as the cartridge of choice indicates intent to kill. for various law enforcement agencies over its lifetime. It Hollow-points are often incorrectly referred to as “Dum- was first adopted to penetrate car bodies and reach the Dum” bullets. The term “Dum-Dum” dates to an 1880s Is-

DEFCON 1 DEFCON bandits inside; in one case, the prosecutor pronounced lamic insurgency in the Sudan. British soldiers armed with it as “MAAAGNUUUM” and made it sound like a nuclear the new .303 high-velocity smokeless cartridges found weapon. that their new metal-jacketed bullets would go straight In 2004, Harold Fish went for a walk in the Arizona through highly motivated Muslim warriors. The resulting mountains. Because of the strong chance of meeting hole would prove fatal but did not always inflict enough thick-skinned and heavily muscled wildlife, he carried a damage to stop a sword-wielding man at full charge. 10mm pistol with him. He encountered a pair of aggres- Some of Queen Victoria’s finest were subdivided by men

38 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ The argument of whether one particular self-defense cartridge is the “best” will likely go on forever, but when you start talking about what’s “too big,” everything can get very, very complicated.

IS YOUR CARTRIDGE TOO POWERFUL? ❚ BY K.L. JAMISON POWER

PROBLEMS February/March | www.USCCA.com 39 IT’S JUST THE LAW who were technically dead. Hollow-point ammunition is forbidden in tor insisted on double-taps, which makes The solution was to send the .303 car- what is charmingly called “civilized war- a great deal of sense.5 tridges to the Dum-Dum arsenal in India; fare.” However, soldiers get to use gre- The moral of the story is that no matter hence the name. There, the tips of the nades and napalm. Hollow-point ammuni- which cartridge is used, it can be argued bullets’ metal jackets were ground off to tion is now the law enforcement standard, that it is more powerful than some other expose their lead cores, leaving them but it is not used in all departments. Some cartridge or less than another. Prosecu- looking not dissimilar to hunting ammuni- departments buy cheap ammunition and tors make insane arguments regarding tion today. some even require officers to purchase the power and wounding effect of a car- A “Dum-Dum” is sometimes simulated their own. tridge. This is objectionable as testimony, by cutting a cross in the tip of a projec- which lawyers are not supposed to give. tile. Sometimes, the tip is cut off entirely, POWER DYNAMIC Further, such claims are objectionable, as although it is said that this sometimes Some police ominously testify that a they are not supported by the evidence. A causes the lead core to squirt out, leaving gun recovered with a round in the cham- judge might still airily declare such state- the metal jacket to jam the chamber. It has ber is “readily capable of lethal use.” On ments to be permissible argument, but it also been known to reduce the mass of cross-examination, the officer will admit is nonetheless imperative that a defense the bullet to the point that a semi-automat- that the pistol on his hip, there in the court- lawyer know when a statement is absurd ic firearm will not function.2 room, has a round in the chamber (and it and be able to explain why it is absurd. The United States had the same prob- is usually a hollow-point). The defense will need to have an expert lem with Islamic Moro warriors in the Phil- Cartridges are officially adopted to witness to testify regarding the absurd ippines. The U.S. response was similar, if meet perceived needs. When the per- statements. It is expensive to hire experts; unofficial: Individual soldiers turned their ceived need changes, the change is usu- if you carry concealed, an insurance poli- jacketed .30-40 Krag bullets around so ally to a more powerful cartridge rather cy is a good thing to have. they flew base-first. This was an inaccu- than to a less powerful one. rate and not-always-effective solution. The New York City Police Department Kevin L. Jamison is an attorney in the (12-gauge Winchester 1897 shotguns, began with .32 revolvers but replaced Kansas City, Missouri, area concentrating however, were just the ticket.) them with the more powerful .38. The rain the area of weapons and self-defense. Expanding bullets have been recorded tionale for the replacement was that the Please send questions to Kevin L. Jami- as early as the English Civil War in the mid- .32 was not powerful enough to dispatch son, 2614 NE 56th Ter, Gladstone, MO 17th century. A Royalist commander com- injured horses, which was part of a patrol- 64119-2311 or KLJamisonLaw@earthlink. plained of “chewed bullets” being fired man’s job in those days. net. Individual answers are not usually by Parliamentary troops using matchlock The U.S. .38 Long Colt revolver car- possible but might be addressed in future muskets. During the American Revolution, tridge performed only adequately in the columns. Royal commanders complained of Conti- Spanish-American War. It was rarely ef- This information is for legal information nental troops using “cut” bullets, suppos- fective against the Moros, leading to the purposes and does not constitute legal edly to improve expansion. In at least one adoption of the 1911 .45 ACP. advice. For specific questions, you should location, nails were driven through bullets, James Bond was initially “licensed to consult a qualified attorney. although the purpose is unknown.3 kill” with a Model 418 Berretta in .25 ACP. During the American Civil War, a “hate” Ian Fleming had used one when he was ENDNOTES bullet was manufactured in the field by in naval intelligence during WWII and (1) Ressler & Schachtman, I Have Lived both sides: A .36-caliber pistol ball would thought it was what a spy would carry. Inside the Monster, St. Martin’s Paper- have an “H” cut in the nose to cause ex- This is plausible, as during WWII, the OSS backs N., 1998. (2) Early and incompe- pansion. It would seem a “civil” war never canvassed police property rooms for .25 tent ballistic experiments of a near-sight- lives up to its title. automatics.4 Fleming was later advised of ed and unshaven attorney. (3) If some Explosive bullets are illegal under fed- the inadequacy of the .25 ACP cartridge; muzzle-loading enthusiast could explain eral law and many state laws. They were this concept was written into From Russia this one, I would be grateful. (4) After the deployed during the American Civil War With Love, and, in the beginning of Dr. No, war, they were transferred to the Army and by snipers against artillery caissons, but 007 is issued a Walther PPK in 7.65mm, made collectible — but no longer clan- the temptation to use them against peo- considered an adequate caliber in Eu- destine with military markings. (5) Jonas, ple was just too great. They can be impro- rope. George; Vengeance, Totem Books, 100 vised, but a jury might find that shooting Real spies went a different direction. An Lesmill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Cana- bombs at people is excessive. Israeli team took vengeance on terrorists da,1985, at 63-66. Frangible bullets are legal. They do not with .22 Berretta handguns. The pow- explode; the jacket peels off and allows der charge was reduced to minimize the small shot pellets to fly in different direc- chance of a bullet penetrating an aircraft tions. They make a messy wound but do and to reduce the sound of the shot; no si- not over-penetrate, and ricochet is limited. lencers were used. Their shooting instruc-

40 www.USCCA.com | February/March THE M2.0 FAMILY JUST GOT SLIM AND BRIGHT. S&W 40 |

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“9MM MIGHT EXPAND, BUT A .45 NEVER SHRINKS!” GOES THE OLD SAYING, BUT THERE’S A LOT MORE TO THE HOW AND WHY OF BULLET EXPANSION THAN CAN BE COVERED IN A BUMPER-STICKER SLOGAN. WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT THE EXPANDED BULLET MAKES A LARGER- DIAMETER HOLE, THAT’S ACTUALLY ONLY A SECONDARY EFFECT TO ITS

MOST USEFUL FUNCTION: THE ACT OF DEFORMING THE BULLET USES UP

| IT’S IT’S A LARGE AMOUNT OF ITS ENERGY. Respected trainer Chuck Haggard through a variety of barriers, whether heavy points out that his department used the clothing or drywall or auto glass. This is

J 124-grain +P Gold Dot hollow-points and where controlled expansion comes in. LAW THE UST that for years, in shooting after shooting, In the early days of jacketed hollow-point the spent projectile would be found — fully pistol bullets, the emphasis was on “WOW, expanded — in one of three places: just EXPANSION!” and light bullets with heavily under the skin on the far side of the bad skived (pre-cut) jackets were driven as fast guy, stopped in the clothing on the far side as possible in order to deliver it. The prob- of the bad guy or on the ground about 10 lem is that those light, fast, rapidly expand- feet past the bad guy. ing bullets bled off so much of their energy You literally cannot ask for anything more in opening up on initially hitting the target

BALLISTIC BASICS than that out of a pistol bullet. When mov- that they sometimes failed to penetrate far ing at pistol velocities, a projectile’s only enough to reach the vitals, most famously in real wounding mechanism is penetration. the FBI’s Miami gunfight, where a 115-grain There’s no magic shockwave or hydrostat- Silvertip stopped just short of the killer’s ic voodoo or anything like that happening heart after first traversing his bicep and lung. at 1,200 feet per second, let alone 800 or That shot could have been a fight-end- 900. As Tom Givens puts it, these little pop- ing hit if the bullet hadn’t expanded at all, guns we carry concealed are nothing but rather than expanding too much, too soon. remote-control drills: They put little .355- to There’s a certain amount of irony in the idea .451-inch-wide holes in whatever they hit. that the zoomiest, most cutting-edge jack- How deep those holes end up being has eted hollow-point of its day, performing ex-

far more bearing on their ability to stop an actly as it was designed to perform, failed attacker than any 1/10th-inch difference in crucially in a shot that would have been

AFTER THE AFTER SHOT diameter. perfect if it had been made with a 10-cent Being bipedal predators, humans have round of cheap-o military surplus FMJ. all the really important parts, like the heart As a result of that incident, the modern and spinal column, buried deep inside, on ballistic-testing protocols arose at the FBI the side facing away from their potential and, having an objective and demanding prey so as to be shielded from damage. standard to meet, ammunition companies Any handgun round has to be able to reach designed reliably expanding, deep-pen- these vital parts while still retaining enough etrating pistol bullets to meet those stan- momentum and energy to damage them. dards. At the same time, the bullet ideally should These days, all the major manufacturers

| not retain so much momentum and energy offer loads that have been rigorously test-

DEFCON 1 DEFCON that, after it penetrates those vitals, it then ed and street-proven, and it’s only a matter continues on to plow through a school bus of finding one that functions reliably and full of nuns and orphans being followed by shoots accurately in your carry piece. a limousine full of attorneys. Ideally, the bullet should be able to offer this sort of performance even after passing

42 www.USCCA.com | February/March HOW & WHY ❚ BY TAMARA KEEL

February/March | www.USCCA.com 43

LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

| IT’S IT’S J UST THE LAW | LAW THE UST

BALLISTIC BASICS NO

AFTER THE AFTER SHOT GOING

DEFCON 1 DEFCON BACKTHINGS YOU’VE NEVER CONSIDERED ❚ BY ALAN KORWIN

44 www.USCCA.com | February/March THIS COLUMN HAS GIVEN YOU A BOATLOAD OF REASONS NOT TO SHOOT ANYONE IF YOU CAN AVOID IT. A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION WAS SHARED FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE; ANOTHER BOATLOAD EXISTS FOR WHY YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SHOOT ANYONE. THAT’S THE LONGER LIST, AND CERTAINLY MORE EMOTIONALLY COMPELLING. The number of armed Americans is hearing protection handy at home, which trending straight upward, despite those is an interesting tactic for if you’re in your who vilify us and endeavor to infringe our residence and have even a few moments’ rights screaming louder than ever. Not a notice of a threat. After activated and ap- tragedy or controversy goes by that the plied, these amplify your ability to detect anti-rights advocates don’t use to insist intrusion and protect your hearing if you on gun confiscations, gun bans, gun-con- are forced to shoot. In the event of intru- trol lists, citizen controls, “regulations” sion, reasons for and importance of firing (laws without acts of legislatures), social do skyrocket, though numerous factors upheaval … it’s stunning. Someone com- continue to counsel against shooting if mitted vehicular homicide — murder by possible, such as… running a woman down with a car — and there came the screams to ban guns. HOW MUCH DO YOU LIKE LAWYERS? Those people are absolutely irrational and If you’re like most everyone, you proba- possibly in need of psychiatric treatment. bly don’t know many attorneys, and your general impression of “those people” REASONS NOT TO SHOOT might be somewhat less than favorable. With all 50 states now accepting some In large measure, that’s because you form of completely legal public bearing of don’t know them. Your main impressions arms — from open to papered discreet to come from TV and the same sources that constitutional carry — and at least 16.5 have poisoned the public against guns. In NO million people holding issued permits, my field of work, I know lots of them, and why aren’t we shooting each other all the they’re great, fun people. If you fire your time? Where’s the bloodbath our leaders gun out of need, you’ll get to meet loads and journalists promised? Should they re- of suits … and some of them will be out tract their bloody guarantees? What are to get you. the reasons for 100 million of us not shoot- Those are the not-such-fun people. ing anyone? The bigots sure don’t know. When someone is out to get you — in a Sometimes it’s so simple. Sometimes private action or a criminal one — well … you have to dig a little deeper. lawyers are good at that. They’re trained for it and they know all the tricks that bor- GOING DO YOU VALUE YOUR HEARING? der on the unfair (and worse). Those attor- C’mon, you’ve thought about this, es- neys might act like junkyard dogs. Keep pecially in a car or small room. You know your friends close and the lawyers as far damn well if you discharge that firearm, away as you reasonably can. Don’t shoot. even once, inside a closed vehicle or sim- And, if you do, self-defense insurance and ilarly tight space, you might never hear the a backup plan are wise preparations. same way again. Gunfire is, quite literally, deafeningly loud. You might carry judi- OH BOY, THE LEGAL BILLS ciously, but you don’t carry earmuffs at all. “When you drop the hammer, plan to In a carry-type emergency, all focus is on cash in your life savings for your lawyer.” BACK the threat, not donning hearing protection. That quote from After You Shoot is one That is one great reason to not take that of five new gun-safety rules for self-de- shot if you can avoid it. fense — rules you need in order to avoid Now, some people do keep electronic that potentially terrible aftermath of a le-

February/March | www.USCCA.com 45 AFTER THE SHOT gitimate self-defense event. Keep your only hear a story will come at it down the someone (or ourselves) going back and money in your wallet. Keep your home. middle and could go either way. That’s forth about whether we could pull the The cost of defense in a shooting case just the way it is. trigger and end another person’s life? can inflict financial hardship beyond You’re holding a smoking gun for Believe me, it comes up in conversation mortal comprehension. Anything paid Pete’s sake, not a chalk sock. Some- a lot, and I listen to friends or strangers for hourly can carry that sort of price tag, thing to avoid at all costs is explaining vacillate; I hear the internal struggles, even the therapy your entire family might why you fired, even if you’re dead right the little voices in their minds whisper- need. Keep the round in your gun and and still alive. That bitter pill refluxes, ing. It’s not just another debate — it is your money in your possession; duck, like immortal peppers and onions, and literally the life-or-death question, the avoid, run, do whatever you can to get there’s a chance it won’t quit for the rest one that never goes away. But there’s no home safely. “Shoot someone” should of your life. sense belaboring it … you’ll only find out only become your go-to option when if everything lines up just wrong. there really isn’t any other option, and ENDING ANOTHER HUMAN’S LIFE You will not be the same person after- never forget it. Now, if you’re perfectly, and I do mean ward and there is no going back. People perfectly, justified — no way to escape, who’ve been forced to take that step to THAT SICKENING VIBE murderous villain right on top of you or survive are different than the rest of us. How can you forget that feeling in another, lives saved, excellent shot — In my experience, they just are, and it’s the pit of your stomach when you got sure, you have every right to say that a great reason for not going there if at caught doing something so wrong at you had no qualms about pressing the all possible. The recurrent theme in the school your parents got called and you trigger. Hell, you had no choice, and book The Crucial Advantage makes it waited in detention? Believe this: It’s 100 at least it was you, someone who was clear: Why were you even there in the times worse after a shooting. Everyone capable of handling the situation, there first place? suspects you did wrong — even your when you were needed. But while your You will ask yourself that forever. family and closest friends. Don’t kid ears are still ringing probably isn’t the yourself; it’ll go through their minds. It time to start proclaiming that to the might have been a close call. If you’re world. lucky, people who don’t know you and How many times have we heard Pro Series

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AFTER THE AFTER SHOT OLD

DEFCON 1 DEFCON SOLDIER ‘ANY DEFENSIVE CALIBER’S GOTTA START WITH A 4 … AND END WITH A 5.’ ❚ BY JOHN CAILE

48 www.USCCA.com | February/March IT’S AN ADAGE AS OLD AS PRIVATE CITIZEN CONCEALED CARRY TRAINING, AND FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS HARD TO ARGUE WITH. It has been called “the most famous a .45, there was a 90 percent chance that pistol cartridge of all time, created for he was referring to a Colt Model 1911. the most famous pistol of all time.” And, The John-Browning-designed auto-load- even after more than 100 years, both are ing pistol was originally adopted by the still going strong. One reason, for sure, is U.S. military in (no surprise) 1911, and it the reputation of the .45 ACP as a prov- dutifully served until the mid-1980s, when en “fight-stopper” in military and law en- the Beretta M9 finally replaced it. forcement use. But given its enormous popularity with soldiers and civilians, it was hardly the A (VERY) BRIEF HISTORY end of the venerable 1911. On the con- In 1904, the Frankford Arsenal and trary, since its retirement and the pistol’s commercial manufacturers were asked patent expiring long ago, not only did Colt by the U.S. Government to develop a continue production but, today, just about .45-caliber cartridge for firearms genius every major manufacturer produces a John Browning’s new groundbreaking au- wide range of copies and new variations to-loading pistol. The round and the pistol on the original design. were replacements for the Army’s retir- It must have John Browning smiling ing Colt Single Action Army revolver and in the afterlife to know that even Colt’s its rimmed cartridge, both of which had arch-rival, Smith & Wesson, eventually been scrambled back into action along produced a version of the 1911. After all, with newer .45-cal revolvers after some it was the equivalent of Chevrolet building very disappointing experiences with the a 1965 Mustang. Colt New Army/.38 Long Colt combination In addition to companies like Colt, Kim- adopted in 1892. ber, Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Spring- Given its cavalry origins, the .45 ACP field, there is beyond a cottage industry proved to be more than adequate against in custom 1911-style guns from the likes human targets, even when loaded with of Ed Brown, Wilson Combat, Les Baer, the round-nosed “ball” bullets commonly Nighthawk and others. And advanced employed by the military. And the Mod- manufacturing techniques, like Computer el 1911 pistol for which it was designed Aided Design and CNC milling machines, went on to become a landmark in firearms allow for match-grade quality at assem- history. bly-line prices. After undergoing various modifications There is also an almost endless list of and redesigns, the new round was final- custom accessory manufacturers offering ly released in 1911, with several desig- grips, sights, guide rods, springs and just nations: “Cal .45 Automatic Pistol Ball about anything else. One of the more pop- Cartridge, Model of 1911” and, later, ular of these options is a conversion slide, “.45M1911,” coinciding with the Model barrel and magazine combination that al- 1911 pistol for which it was designed. lows your 1911 pistol to fire .22 Long Rifle. Today, this round is usually referred to The benefits are lower recoil and a huge as simply “.45 ACP” or “.45 Auto” in am- reduction in cost, making practicing less munition catalogs. Continuing improve- fatiguing and less expensive. ments in firearms and ammunition and, of course, the expansion of carry laws BEYOND THE 1911 makes it even more desirable for a large Fast forward to today, when many new- portion of the populace. er — and some would argue superior — pistols are chambered in the .45 ACP car- MORE CHOICES THAN EVER tridge. As a result, just about anyone who Years ago, if someone said he carried wants a .45 can find a gun that fits his or

February/March | www.USCCA.com 49 DEFCON 1 her needs and budget. the gun you are considering to see if it ON THE MATTER OF One of the most outstanding of the truly fits your needs. ‘STOPPING POWER’ “new breed” of .45s is the SIG Sauer Additionally, the .45 ACP is a relatively When it comes to self-defense, there P220, a single-stack, hammer-fired de- low-pressure round originally designed is no doubt that the .45 is up to the sign with a reputation for superb accu- for use in a firearm with a 5-inch bar- task, even when loaded with plain old racy and extreme reliability. Though the rel. Unlike more modern, high-pressure 230-grain ball ammo. (It has, after all, price reflects this, it is available in full- rounds, like the .40 S&W, the .45 ACP been “putting down” bad guys for more sized and “carry” models, and SIG has can sometimes suffer dramatic velocity than a century, and many of those tales recently released the P227, essentially losses when fired from sub-4-inch bar- come from wartime, when nothing but ball a double-stack-magazine version of the rels, especially when loaded with heavi- ammo was used.) However, one thing I’ve P220 with only a slight increase in grip er 230-grain bullets. This can result in learned from years of reading after-action circumference. hollow-point bullets failing to expand. reports is that there are simply too many Glock, Springfield Armory and Smith To reduce recoil and sustain velocity, variables to predict how much “better” & Wesson offer almost too many mod- I generally recommend the 200-grain one defense-oriented caliber is going to els to list, many at very reasonable price hollow-point rounds offered by most perform over another when it hits a real points. And many of these newer guns major manufacturers. human attacker in an actual confronta- have higher magazine capacities than tion. the old-style single-stack 1911s, some AMMUNITION CHOICES Besides, no matter how effective any holding as many as 13 or 14 rounds. As an instructor, I’ve advised carry bullet is, it is useless if it doesn’t hit the Heckler & Koch, known for making students to stick with “normal” calibers. assailant who is about to kill you. So, “serious” (read: big) guns for law en- If you’re a benchrest shooter, unusual, above all, make sure that you spend the forcement and military applications, mission-specific calibers are fine. But time necessary to hone your shooting now produces more “user-friendly” mod- a defensive gun should be in a caliber skills, and do so in as realistic a way els aimed primarily at the carry market. that you can find at your local gun store, as possible. And don’t be too proud to Springfield Armory, FN, Taurus and many as well as at the big-box sporting goods get some training and instruction; top others also offer a variety of configura- stores. For example, an excellent argu- professionals in every field, from airline tions available in .45 ACP. ment can be made that the 10mm Auto pilots to Navy SEALS, all seek out and If you’re on a budget, don’t overlook is a far finer defensive cartridge than undergo recurring training. the many lower-priced pistols from vari- the .45 ACP, but it is universally more ous manufacturers. Also, don’t turn your expensive and far more difficult to find. TRUE CONFESSIONS nose up at a used gun. There are always In terms of defensive .45 ammo, there I admit that I love my three 1911s: a some high-quality, “low-mileage” guns are currently dozens of reliable self-de- (5-inch) Kimber Stainless TLE, a (4.25- out there, sitting on gun store shelves, fense loads available, and companies inch) Colt Stainless Commander and having been shot little, if at all, and with like Hornady, Speer, Federal and Win- a (4.25-inch) SIG Sauer Nightmare substantially reduced prices. chester continue to innovate and im- “bobtail” Commander. But I never car- Lastly, for revolver aficionados, Smith prove their defensive offerings. This ry them. For one thing, I just don’t like & Wesson, Ruger and Taurus offer wheel- means that, if your dealer doesn’t have manual safeties on a carry gun. When guns chambered in .45 ACP. Like those one particular brand or bullet weight, I’m rigging up in the morning, I typical- offered back when “mechanized infantry” odds are they will have something that ly opt for one of my more modern .45s. was a newfangled notion, they use “half- will meet your needs. Heresy to some, I know, but I shoot moon” or “full-moon” clips to accommo- To revisit a matter: When carrying them as well as I do my 1911s, and their date the .45 Auto’s rimless cartridge case. for self-defense, I strongly recommend “point-and-shoot” simplicity combined sticking with factory defensive ammo, with utter reliability using any ammo I’ve COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT clearly labeled as “personal protection” tested makes the choice an easy one In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll or “defense.” Handloads are fine for for me. But that’s just my view. admit that I’m not a big fan of subcom- practice but can have potential prob- Whatever .45 you choose to carry, pact guns in .45 ACP, especially “baby” lems if you should find yourself in court. rest assured that this “old soldier” won’t 1911s. While they are easier to carry and Moreover, it’s tough for the average let you down. It’s not even that it’s re- conceal than more traditional models, home loader to replicate the precision fused to “fade away”… it seems to en- they have some drawbacks, the most and exacting standards of a large man- joy a future brighter than even the most obvious of which is recoil. It’s simple ufacturer. Speaking of which, functional optimistic fan anticipated. physics: A smaller, lighter gun is going reliability is non-negotiable, so test-fire to transfer more recoil into the shooter’s any ammo you intend to carry. If it jams, hand. So, before you plunk down your find another. This is especially true hard-earned money for a “baby” 1911, of some older 1911s, which can have I strongly suggest you rent (or borrow?) problems with modern hollow-points.

50 www.USCCA.com | February/March

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THREE FOR THREE COMPACT .45 COUNTDOWN ❚ BY MARK KAKKURI

54 www.USCCA.com | February/March ome days, a single-stack 9 just won’t do. S Don’t get me wrong — I carry my share of skinny 9s, and their shootability, cartridge and size make them some of the most effective solutions for concealed carry. But, some days, I prefer a cartridge known by Imperial measurements over metric, a cartridge with an Ameri- can legacy. In other words, the .45 ACP. And I like that cartridge on a 1911 platform — an Officer-sized 1911 platform with a 3-inch barrel, to be exact. Perhaps you’ve clicked through one too many tales of woe about how 3-inch-barreled 1911s aren’t reliable, and how John Moses Browning would be turning in his grave if he heard his beloved design was now being rendered in such a compact form. As for the former, manufacturers have gotten very good at perfecting this design, making it a reliable option for concealed carry. As for the latter, I think Brown- ing would approve, mainly since he designed other subcompact guns, such as the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket and FN 1900. A dozen or so years ago, 3-inch-barreled 1911s were all the rage as the concealed carry movement was ramping up. Anecdotally, as I visited local gun stores, I found many of the old- school sales staff had re- Though pairing a ■ placed their beloved Com- subcompact .45 with the correct ammo can mander models with Officer require something of a models because they were test phase, the payoff just as good but easier to can be substantial. carry.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 55 ■ RIGHT An entry in the “value” segment of the mini- 1911 market, the Iver Johnson Thrasher is truly a mini 1911 and extremely at home in a small (albeit experienced) hand.

■ LEFT Kimber raises quality, fit and finish to levels some carriers elect not to afford. That aside, it’s a dang fine pistol and carries exceptionally well.

56 www.USCCA.com | February/March I LIKE THE CLASSIC GI THUMB SAFETY, WHICH IS MORE OF A NUB THAN A LEVER, AS IT STAYS OUT OF THE WAY BUT CLICKS ON AND OFF VERY POSITIVELY.

Fast forward to today and 3-inch-bar- The Compact Black Rock retails for reled 1911s are not only still around but $786. This is the gun you choose not only more manufacturers have gotten into the for reliable compact carry but also for game. Credit the ongoing “rediscovery” some fun on the range. of JMB’s 100-plus-year-old brilliant design, yes, but credit modern manufac- IVER JOHNSON THRASHER turers with improving it as well, making With a 3.125-inch barrel, the Iver John- these guns more shootable and reliable in son Thrasher measures 6.93 inches over- a bigger caliber. all — almost a half inch shorter than the A word of clarification: We’re tossing Taylor. The reduction in length correlates around the term “3-inch-barreled” as if with less overall weight: The Thrasher is it’s an exact measurement. It’s not. In fact, a 1.9-pound gun, just more than a half- the Taylor’s Compact 1911 Black Rock, pound lighter than the Taylor. Other than Iver Johnson Thrasher and Kimber Stain- those specs, the two guns are very sim- less Ultra Carry II you’re reading about ilar. In its matte-blued finish, it retails for here have barrel lengths of 3.625, 3.125 $636, making it a veritable bargain in the and 3 inches, respectively. So, while 1911 world. “3-inch-barreled 1911” isn’t less than 3 Firing a .45 ACP 1911, especially in inches, in some cases, it is more. In any these smaller variants, creates a lot of case, each of these 3s gets it right when it drama. A lot of bark. A lot of recoil. It’s not comes to shootability and reliability in .45 unmanageable by any stretch, because ACP. the 1911 platform — with its grip angle and high hold — is eminently shootable TAYLOR’S COMPACT after you grow accustomed to it. So, don’t 1911 BLACK ROCK let the name intimidate you. That said, the With its 3.625-inch barrel, the Taylor’s Thrasher has a few sharp edges, so don’t & Company Compact 1911 Black Rock plan on putting dozens and dozens of made by Armscor is sort of a new/old rounds downrange. Your thumb will take variation on the compact 1911 idea. The a beating as you manipulate the safety longer barrel, of course, not only helps on and off, and you’ll feel the hot pricks with accuracy and velocity — it also looks of exhaust gas getting thrown back in better. With a capacity of seven rounds, your face every now and then. But this is an overall length of 7.37 inches and an the gun you choose to carry because it overall weight of 2.43 pounds, the Taylor is a workhorse and because it can take also seems most true to the 1911 function a beating; your end of the deal might in- and feel. I like the classic GI thumb safety, volve a little of the same. which is more of a nub than a lever, as it stays out of the way but clicks on and KIMBER STAINLESS ULTRA CARRY II off very positively. The checkered walnut With a relatively short 3-inch barrel, stocks over the Black Rock Nitride finish Kimber’s Stainless Ultra Carry II measures underscore the gun’s classic roots, but 6.8 inches overall — the shortest of the some of the other features are very good three, if only by .13 inches. Even better, modern upgrades. this aluminum-framed 1911 weighs only One of the first things you’ll notice is the 25 ounces unloaded — lighter than the skeletonized trigger and hammer. And Thrasher by 5.4 ounces, which I’ll argue then you’ll notice the adjustable rear No- is significant in a carry gun. Also, the Kim- vak-style sights with dovetail front blade ber literally does one better than both of sight. The upswept beavertail grip safety the other guns with its eight-round maga- and magazine base that just shows a bit zine capacity. beyond the stocks are the only other clues Retailing for $912, we have the most ex- that this is not one of the older designs. pensive of the three-gun lot, but included

February/March | www.USCCA.com 57 ■ ABOVE Though the largest of the three, the Taylor is still compact enough for easy concealment, and that extra size and heft doesn’t hurt any on the firing line. A pistol you are more likely to train with is a pistol with which you are more likely to land your shots. in that price is the satin silver finish of the Finally, none of these come stainless slide, a match-grade barrel and equipped with night sights. The aluminum trigger and, in current models, Kimber’s fiber-optic front sight and very well-appointed rosewood grips. fixed, low-profile rear provides the The Stainless Ultra Carry II wears rub- best sight picture. ber grips that are some of the best I’ve ever used on a 1911. They don’t look as HOLSTERS good as rosewood, but I’ll give up some Favorite holsters for these guns are aesthetics in favor of increased purchase. the ones that’ll put them inside the waist- This particular Kimber has been around a band at 4 or 5 o’clock, with a forward cant few years and has been one of the most offering a combat grip. Lots of holsters accurate and reliable guns I’ve had the do this, but my favorites include Cross- privilege of shooting. Its 16-pound recoil Breed’s SuperTuck Deluxe, Galco’s Royal spring and full-length guide rod contrib- Guard and High Noon’s Public Secret. ute to not only a manageable shooting The SuperTuck Deluxe is most comfort- experience but a pleasurable one. Equal- able but takes longer to install. The Royal ly importantly, it is as much a joy to car- Guard is decently comfortable and in- should suffice for normal private citizen ry as it is to manipulate its butter-smooth stalls with two snapped loops, and the concealed carry. operations. This is the gun you choose Public Secret is on and off in an instant because you want a concealable, accu- and can manage appendix carry if you’re TRAIN UP rate, incredibly reliable and refined .45 so inclined. Sure, with the right holsters, To be sure, all of these pistols are gen- ACP/1911 experience. you can carry outside the waistband with erally larger and heavier than most sin- the skinny frames of these 1911s — and gle-stack 9s. And, as single-action guns WEAKNESSES well! But the skinniness is why they be- with external manual safeties, they’re also Lots of positives in this three for three, long inside the waistband. It’s just better. more complex to operate. But that’s the but it’s not all roses. While any one of tradeoff when you want to fire a .45 ACP them can serve well as a concealed car- ACCESSORIES cartridge from a 1911 platform. If you’re ry piece, they have varying weaknesses. Other accessories I like for these willing to put in the time to learn and mas- The Taylor 1911 is relatively large and guns include Wilson Combat mag- ter such a beast, you’ll be rewarded with a heavy, which is good for shooting but azines, mainly because they’re so unique and effective carry solution. adds a challenge for all-day carry. The smooth and reliable. For the record, the Thrasher is a bit more hideable and it’ll stock magazines are fine, but not quite get the job done, but it lacks refinement as refined as the Wilsons. Sometimes, and has the most bark. And, for the Kim- I carry a spare Wilson mag in a weak- ber, while the price is higher, you can side belt holster, but, more often than SOURCES argue that you get what you pay for. I’ll not, I just carry it in my weak-side front Taylor’s & Company: add that the smooth front strap leaves a pocket. With 7+1 (Taylor, Iver Johnson) TaylorsFirearms.com bit to be desired when it comes to overall or 8+1 (Kimber) on board and another Iver Johnson Arms: grip; that’s another reason why the rubber eight rounds in a magazine, that’s 16 IverJohnsonArms.com scales win over just about anything else. or 17 rounds of .45 ACP on tap, which Kimber: KimberAmerica.com

58 www.USCCA.com | February/March RAPTOR® by DeSantis CONCEALMENT PERFECTED! MADE IN THE U.S.A.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PATENTED LOCKING SYSTEM WWW.DESANTISHOLSTER.COM SMITH & WESSON’S BIG-BORE SHIELD ❚ BY BOB CAMPBELL ON GUARD

60 www.USCCA.com | February/March he slim-line, single-column, poly- SPECIFICATIONS mer-framed handgun is among the CALIBER: .45 ACP T most popular of American carry guns. CAPACITY: 6+1, 7+1 The Glock 43, Smith & Wesson Shield and Walther PPS are light but reliable and more SAFETY: FRAME-MOUNTED THUMB SAFETY than accurate enough for personal defense. BARREL LENGTH: 3.3 INCHES The single most popular version of the 9mm OVERALL LENGTH: 6.5 INCHES “skinnies” is the Smith & Wesson Shield, WEIGHT: 20.5 OUNCES and it has much to recommend it. The pistol has been available in 9mm and .40 Smith & FRONT SIGHT: WHITE DOT Wesson for some time, though S&W recently REAR SIGHT: WHITE 2-DOT introduced the Military & Police Shield .45 ACTION: STRIKER-FIRED ACP pistol. This got my attention. MSRP: $479 I had high expectations for the new MSRP: Shield. The engineering to manufacture a .45 isn’t the simple fix of strengthening a 9mm frame for the .40 S&W cartridge and changing the barrel; the new pistol is larger and a redesign of the Shield platform. The Shield version of the M&P pistol is intact, but among the changes made is more aggressive abrasion in the grip frame, which is a definite positive when firing a powerful handgun. The pistol I assessed also featured a thumb safety. Some of us feel that a self-loader without a safety abro- gates some of the advantages of the type, while others feel that the long trigger alone is enough of a safety feature. As for pistols with safeties and big-bore autos, well, having come this far, I will extend my ig- norance of anything better a bit further. I prefer a handgun with a safety. The pistol is slim across the slide for a .45, more so than any other slim .45 of which I am aware. The barrel is 3.3 inches long and overall length is just shy of 6.5 inches, so don’t expect high velocity with a given load; in fact, you can expect 50 to 100 feet per second below factory specifications. The pistol is supplied with a flush-fit six-round magazine and a seven-round extended magazine, which offers superior control while shooting. The sights are excellent combat models and offer a good sight picture. The pistol features a deep black Mel- onite-finished slide over a polymer frame, and weight unloaded is 23 ounces. The hinged double-action-only trigger breaks clean at 5.8 pounds and reset is rap- id. The trigger is hinged and must be pressed straight to the rear to activate the firing pin block, and there is a tiny but effective trigger stop molded into the frame.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 61 ■ The .45 ACP model (top) is just enough larger than The proper way to fire this pistol is to the 9mm model press the trigger straight to the rear, that some shooters allow time for trigger reset during re- far prefer it, while coil and then fire again. some others are The magazine release is positive more than happy to in operation, and the slide lock is small stick with the 9mm. enough to avoid inadvertent activation yet large enough for manipulation. To charge the pistol, it is best to grasp the rear of the slide and allow it to run forward, loading the chamber; no surprises there. The slanted rear cocking serrations work well, and there is also a smaller set of cocking serrations up near the front of the slide. They aren’t particularly useful in day-today operations, but they don’t hurt anything and, with practice, might be used successfully, especially for clearing malfunctions. Field-strip is simple: Be certain the pistol is unloaded and, ■ Both of these with the atmosphere of preventive sobriety demanded while models lack manual handling any firearm, keep all body parts clear of the muz- safeties. On models zle. Next, lock the slide to the rear and rotate the takedown that include a manual safety, it is located lever forward. The trigger must be pressed to allow the slide just ahead of the grip to release and move forward off the frame. I was impressed frame rear roll pin. by the “spring-within-a-spring” technology of the .45 Shield’s recoil system, which would prove to go a long way in con- trolling the gun for follow-up shots. The grip cross-section is thinner than the Glock 36, which is good for hand fit and trigger reach, but we would see how “Makes a dynamite impact it translated to firing comfort. The size and weight of the weapon. Sleek and classically attractive, handgun lend themselves best to personal defense loads it flies below radar in even designed for modest recoil; the pistol is, after all, only in- the most non-permissive crementally larger than the 9mm Shield, which is downright environments.” comfortable to fire. The .40-caliber version exhibits sharp- —Concealed Carry Magazine, April 2014 er recoil and less control; with the .45-caliber Shield, which is .35 inches longer and 1.2 ounces heavier than the 9mm The Unbreakable® Shield, recoil doesn’t feel as sharp as with the .40. The typ- Umbrella supports this man without ical .45-caliber push is present, and the momentum does breaking or bending require more effort to control than the recoil of the 9mm ver- permanently. sion. There truly isn’t any free lunch, and the .45 version will require more practice. The wound ballistics of the .45 ACP make the effort worthwhile. Despite faulty logic, junk science and revisionist history, the 9mm cannot equal the .45 for wound potential. A high-velocity loading with a reliably expanding bullet might Learn more about all models of Unbreakable® Umbrella at make the 9mm suitable for personal defense, but the .45 www.UnbreakableUmbrella.com does not rely upon bullet expansion — rather, front diameter and bullet weight — for effect. Set aside the time and re- Legal to carry everywhere sources to master the .45 ACP. Never raises suspicions No strange looks when carried by an able-bodied person AT THE RANGE Keeps the rain off, like the best umbrella should I primarily ran the Black Hills Ammunition 230-grain FMJ, which is an affordable and reliable training cartridge. I drew from the Watch the videos of Unbreakable® Umbrella in action at Galco “Stow-N-Go” holster, sending initial strings from 5, 7 and www.UnbreakableUmbrella.com 10 yards. The pistol comes on target quickly, and the short slide

62 www.USCCA.com | February/March TRANSFORM YOURSELF FROM NOVICE TO ACCOMPLISHED PROTECTOR IN JUST 30 DAYS

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GET YOUR BOOK TODAY www.30DaysToCarry.com Or Call 877-677-1919 trigger controllable. You’ll need to spend a Up next were the Hornady 185-grain but it might be better suited to experienced hair more time to get a solid hit at 10 yards XTP, the SIG Sauer Elite 200-grain JHP shooters rather than novices. than with a lighter-recoiling pistol, but such and the Black Hills Ammunition 185-grain Speaking of potential issues for new is the cartridge. TAC +P, the only over-pressure cartridge shooters, the magazine springs are strong This isn’t a compact that shoots like a tested. With the 185-grain bullet weight, to such an extent that I had difficulty load- full-sized service sidearm, but it is cer- recoil wasn’t objectionable, but you knew ing more than three cartridges. I discov- tainly capable of meeting the demands of you’d fired something special. My prefer- ered that it was necessary to load a few personal defense for the private citizen. In ence would be to deploy a standard-pres- rounds and then tap the magazine to seat fact, I would rather carry the M&P Shield sure loading that shoots where the sights the cartridges to the rear, lest the bullet in .45 than more than half of the handguns point. The .45 Shield is properly regulated noses contact the front of the magazine I see in my training classes, full-sized or for 200-grain jacketed hollow-points, as box and make everything difficult. otherwise. There were no failures to feed, the 230-grain loads landed approximately chamber or eject, which should be the 2 to 3 inches high at 15 yards. My impres- ACCURACY IN ABSOLUTES case with all out-of-the-box firearms. sion is that the .45 Shield isn’t a bear to fire, A short-barreled pistol like the Shield might be surprisingly accurate, but landing accurate shots past about 20 yards really falls into the stunt category. The time to take the shot and the need for a braced firing position are such that long-range shots become impractical. Just the same, the Shield will hit a threat in the chest every time at 25 yards if run by skilled hands. To confirm sight regulation and as a test of absolute accuracy, I fired the pistol from the bench, taking my time and managing the trigger. The results were as follows: PERFORMANCE DATA LOAD 15-YARD GROUP Black Hills Ammunition 230-grain FMJ 3.25 INCHES Black Hills Ammunition 185-grain TAC +P 2.5 INCHES Hornady 185-grain XTP 2.75 INCHES SIG Sauer Elite 200-grain JHP 3.0 INCHES

Clearly, the Shield is accurate enough for personal defense. I prefer a manual safety, though many others elect to pass and carry the handgun at the ready, re- lying upon the pistol’s internal safety features and a quality holster. Either way, the .45 Shield is a more-than-reliable handgun capable of delivering lifesaving accuracy and substantial power — and more of both than its modest price would lead one to believe.

SOURCES Smith & Wesson: Smith-Wesson.com Black Hills Ammunition: Black-Hills.com Galco: GalcoGunleather.com SIG Sauer Ammunition: SIGSauer.com

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Or Call 877-677-1919 HARD CORE MBC’S DEFENSIVE RESPONSES ❚ BY MICHAEL JANICH

66 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ Rather than attempt to learn an encyclopedia of “moves” to counter attacks by edged or blunt weapons, it is far more reasonable and effective to master a small number of extremely adaptable HARD techniques. CORE

February/March | www.USCCA.com 67 ■ The “Crossada” technique depicted here is the preferred defensive ■ The “follow” technique works best when your attacker has a longer maneuver against the most common attacks. The combination of the contact weapon. By cutting the attacking arm’s triceps, you greatly force you exert with both hands greatly improves chances of success. compromise the attacker’s ability to project force into you.

he Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) quires mobility, which means your envi- missing. This creates a powerful scis- system of knife-based self-defense ronment must provide enough room for sors-like action that amplifies the power T is designed to be practical, logical you to move and the terrain must offer of the cut and forces the attacking arm and easy to learn. With those goals in enough traction for reliable footwork. If to overextend, making follow-up cuts mind, there are only four basic tech- your back is against a wall or you are easier to execute. niques in the core system. Officially otherwise confined, your choice of de- known as “defensive responses,” they fensive responses will be limited. Sim- THE PASS represent the four primary “physical ilarly, on ice, snow or a wet floor, you While the Crossada is the most pow- possibilities” for responding to an attack might need to stand your ground, be- erful and tactically advantageous de- with a contact-distance weapon. Which cause footwork might not be an option. fensive response, it requires you to be specific one you choose depends upon Finally, your reaction time and skill close enough to touch the attacker’s a number of different factors that define level will determine which defensive arm with both hands while still allowing the nature of the attack and your avail- responses you can reliably employ. If his weapon to miss you. If that’s not pos- able options. Let’s look at those first. either of those are not as finely honed sible, eliminate your non-weapon hand The first factor you must consider as you’d like, you’ll have to adjust. To (a.k.a. the “live” hand) and back up is the length of the attacker’s weapon. prepare for that reality, MBC’s defen- further to work at long range. This tech- Your primary target — if you can reach it sive responses are presented in a way nique, known as a “pass,” consists of — is the inside of the wrist or forearm of that allows students to “deconstruct” evading the attack, cutting the attack- the attacking arm. As discussed in pre- their technique and eliminate steps ing forearm and letting it continue past. vious issues of Concealed Carry Maga- by choice or necessity. Like the public While not as powerful as a Crossada, zine, the easiest way to stop an attack school system, when in doubt, lower it works against longer weapons and with a knife is to disable the body parts your standards. still takes advantage of the “collision” that deliver the weapon. The muscles created by cutting into the force of the and tendons on the inside of the fore- THE CROSSADA attacking arm. Done properly, it will cut arm are the highest priority since they The preferred defensive response with devastating effect. are directly responsible for the hand’s against forehand attacks — the most ability to close and grip a weapon. Sev- common type — is a Crossada. “Cros- THE FOLLOW ering them instantly cripples the hand, sada” is a Filipino term that means “to Against a sudden, committed at- disarms the attacker and eliminates the cross” and describes the crossing ac- tack with a lethal weapon, you might lethal threat. Against a short weapon like tion of your arms when performing this instinctively evade and let the weap- a bottle, brick, screwdriver or knife, you technique. Against an Angle 1 (high- on pass before you can deliver a cut. can evade the strike and let the weapon right forehand attack), shuffle backward This defensive response, known as a pass while still staying within range to and/or lean back to evade the attack. follow, typically involves “following” the cut the attacker’s forearm. If the attack- As the attacker’s arm passes in front attacking arm with the opposite angle. er’s weapon is longer, you have to get of you, cut the inside of his wrist while In response to an Angle 1 attack, you completely out of range or move inside you simultaneously slap the back of his would get out of the path of the attack the arc of the attack to stop it. hand. The simultaneous motion of your and target the back of the assailant’s Getting out of the way of an attack re- hands should be like clapping them but arm with an Angle 2 (a high-right back-

68 www.USCCA.com | February/March hand) as it passed. This works best with a longer weapon that provides greater reach and speed to “catch” the passing limb. With a knife, however, this isn’t practical. Instead, evade the attack, close in and execute a backhand cut to the triceps muscle on the back of the ■ The ability to attacking arm. The second target prior- physically move out of ity in MBC’s approach to stopping pow- your attacker’s immediate er, this muscle is closer to the shoulder range is key. As long as joint and moves more slowly, so it’s you’re able to keep your easier to cut. Severing it also destroys head about you and move effectively, you stand the attacker’s ability to extend his elbow an excellent chance of joint, making it difficult or impossible to successfully disarming wield his weapon effectively. your attacker and stopping Taken in the context of MBC’s “Master the threat he presents. Technique” (see Page 98 to 101 in the January 2018 issue of Concealed Car- ry Magazine), the follow is functionally Step 2 of that technique. If Step 1 — a Crossada or pass — isn’t possible, get out of the way, let the attack pass and pick up from there, letting the triceps cut become the follow.

THE MEET If your attacker is armed with a longer weapon, your back is against the wall or footwork isn’t an option, it might be impossible to back up far enough to evade the attack. In that case, the next- best option is to move inside its arc. The fourth defensive response — the “meet” — does just that. As the attacking arm approaches, step inside its arc and turn your shoul- ders parallel to the arm as you cut the forearm. Immediately after the cut, check and stop the arm with the back of your left forearm. Make sure you cut then check to avoid cutting yourself. For greatest structural strength, keep your hand open and check forearm to forearm to create a “plus” sign with the crossed arms.

STAY ON TOP The defensive responses can be applied to all four Zones of Defense and can be combined with the me- chanics of MBC’s Master Technique to form the foundation of a simple, extremely effective knife self-defense system. Train in them well!

February/March | www.USCCA.com 69 ROUND HOUSE AN INSIDE LOOK AT SIG SAUER’S NEW AMMO FACTORY ❚ BY TOM McHALE

70 www.USCCA.com | February/March February/March | www.USCCA.com 71 Advance knowledge of the test standards allows the SIG engineers to work backward as they design bullet types and scheme out powder performance. While no lab test could ever predict street performance against organic targets, the battery of tests is about as good as we can get. After the design stage, prototype loads head to the ballistic ranges for testing in all of the FBI scenarios in addition to the standard accuracy and velocity tests. The indoor ranges are stocked with all of the FBI-approved barrier materials, commercial chronographs and bullet traps for non-destructive testing. The company makes more ballistic gelatin than anyone I’ve ever heard of, so they’ve invested in building a custom gelatin-making system. A custom software program controls water volume, temperature, powdered gel weight and mixing to pro- Turning out ■ duce perfectly standardized centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition, 10-percent-ballistic-gelatin SIG’s new facility blocks, each uniquely la- manufactures training beled and tested for cali- and defense-oriented bration. They’re stored in ave you ever wondered why pre- it represents a number of ammunition to very refrigerators but never kept mium ammunition costs you more areas and plenty of interac- high standards. for more than seven days Hthan a buck per round? tion between them. and are only used once. A surprising amount of effort and Everything begins with an end per- This part of the operation alone is im- resources go into just your bulk-buy formance goal. Some loads, like the pressive. range ammunition. When it comes Elite Performance Full Metal Jacket, The indoor ranges are state-of-the- time to make self-defense or premium are designed to exhibit very consistent art. Ventilation systems protect engi- match ammo, the complexity and im- velocity and print small groups in prac- neers from lead exposure, and the bul- portance of absolute consistency in- tice and competition applications. On let trap uses a water system to collect creases by orders of magnitude. the other hand, the V-Crown self-de- the dust. I really, really wanted such a Manufacturing ammunition is a fense ammunition is designed to ex- setup for my garage, but the SIG folks business for very detail-oriented and cel across the battery of FBI ballistic weren’t willing to part with even one of finicky people. And, in this business, performance tests. If you’re unfamiliar their ranges, which struck me as not “finicky” is not a dig; it’s a compliment. with those, they were developed by entirely fair. (They have plenty, where- The ammo you buy, especially if it’s de- the feds as an objective way to test as I have none.) signed for self-defense, has to perform and rank ammunition using a range of Since the company makes ammuni- flawlessly every single time and under carefully standardized tests. tion, the internal armory is stocked with the worst of circumstances. Without going into all the details, all sorts of guns from other manufac- So, how does modern ammunition each type of ammunition is fired into turers, including revolvers, which SIG go from hunks of brass, lead and cop- gelatin blocks in a variety of test sce- does not make. There’s also a series per to accurate and consistent fin- narios, including bare blocks as well as of test barrels used for standardized ished cartridges? I recently had the blocks behind different types of barri- velocity and accuracy testing. As a opportunity to find out when I took a ers. Some of the barriers include light side note, when we walked through the tour of the brand-new SIG Sauer am- and heavy fabric to simulate clothing, brass manufacturing line, we noticed a munition factory just outside of Little steel car door analogs, wallboard, ply- long black tube, maybe 3 feet in diam- Rock, Arkansas. wood and automobile glass. All testing eter, stretching from the lab area to the is rigorously controlled, and each shot far end of the factory floor. That’s the THE LAB is measured for depth of penetration 100-yard indoor rifle range. Remote I’ll loosely refer to the first step in into the gelatin and expansion perfor- cameras allow testers to monitor re- the process as “the lab,” even though mance. al-time performance downrange.

72 www.USCCA.com | February/March MAKING BRASS One of the reasons that SIG moved to a brand-new facility was to obtain the space to start doing more in-house component production. On the day I toured the factory, the brand-spank- ing-new brass production line was in full swing, cranking out 6.5mm Creed- moor cases. The process of turning a compact brass cup into a rifle case involves a dozen or so steps. A series of presses (hold that thought) gradually form and stretch each brass cup into the proper length for a case; primer pockets are cut, flash holes are drilled and case rims are trimmed to finish the final product. One unique aspect of the SIG production line is that cases go through a wash at each step along the way. The factory is spotless, so it’s not necessary, but the engineers have found that keeping the brass shiny and clean throughout the man- ■ Though highly ufacturing process yields a mechanized, there’s more consistent final product. still plenty of hands- At this time, the company on work to be done isn’t making pistol brass in- at SIG’s ammo plant. house, but at the rate they’re Bullets are prepared for seating (top) and expanding the facility, I cases are prepared for wouldn’t be surprised to see charging by hand. that happen down the road.

OLD IS THE NEW NEW While touring the brass-case production line, something of which I took particular notice was the vintage machinery: more than a few old Bliss No. 304 vertical crank presses. These giant machines, maybe 10 or more feet tall, are used to draw a short hunk of brass into a rifle cartridge case. When I asked about this, I was told that these particular machines are the best in the industry and have become extremely rare. The SIG ammo team literally scoured the country for them and ran across a hidden cache socked away by an eccentric collector. After snapping them up, the company proceeded to modernize the machines — not the mechanical action, because that’s where the value lies, but in the controls and monitoring hardware and software. In fact, the factory floor is covered with time-tested presses, gauges and other equipment. What’s old is new.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 73 ■ ABOVE The spotless manufacturing floor.

■ LEFT “Powder kegs” uniquely: Rather than devel- aren’t just a figure of oping a single-file production speech at SIG; here line where cases go through you see hundreds upon each step on a conveyor hundreds of pounds system, the company loads of different smokeless “batches” of 210 cases us- powders in the facility’s magazine. ing custom-built trays. If you want to hear the loudest thing outside of a late-night cable news debate, try standing next to the machine that loads brass cases into trays. This system shakes the trays while workers dump pitchers of brass onto them. The motion, along with a bit of manual as- sistance, completely fills each tray with cases. A similar process loads bullets into slightly different trays. This system is used for all of the pistol-caliber MAKING AMMO for the presence of a primer but that it’s ammo and some of the shorter-case ri- The first step in final ammo produc- properly oriented. This is all done in a fle calibers, like .300 Blackout. Longer tion is priming, which happens in a separate room for safety reasons. Prim- rifle cartridges are loaded using more dedicated room containing giant primers are designed to explode on impact, traditional rotary press systems. ing machines. Brass is dumped into so it’s not a great idea to have that pro- At this stage, the loaded trays go spinning hoppers, which automatical- cess going on in the same area where onto a conveyor system, where cus- ly orient the cases properly and feed the powder is fed into cartridge cases. tom monitoring equipment re-checks them to a rotary system. During this After cases are primed, they’re properties like case size and primer process, fresh primers are inserted and ready for powder and bullets. SIG presence and orientation. The next the system checks each case, not only goes about the rest of the process stop is the powder-charging station.

74 www.USCCA.com | February/March PRIMERS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPLODE ON IMPACT, SO IT’S NOT A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THAT PROCESS GOING ON IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE POWDER IS FED INTO CARTRIDGE CASES. A whole tray goes in and is quickly signed assessment to ensure everything WHERE FROM HERE? pushed back out with each of the 210 cas- is up to spec. As the trays are emptied, SIG’s ammunition business literally es filled with the correct powder charge. some completed cartridges are siphoned began in an outbuilding of a Kentucky Additional top-secret automated meters off for testing to ensure the lot is made to farm several years ago and, partly ensure that the right amount of powder is proper specification and performs to de- as a result of a fanatical approach to deposited in each case, and I believe this sign standards. testing and tight manufacturing toler- step and its attendant quality control is a I might have lied about the tray-filling ances, has since taken off. While SIG large contributor to SIG ammo’s reputation station being the loudest. There’s anoth- engineers carefully design every piece for accuracy. In testing at my range, I’ve er that might beat it: the station at which directly, a few components are still found velocity numbers to be stunningly completed cartridges are oriented and manufactured by partner companies consistent, and a major contributing factor placed into those plastic trays you find — even though final production and to velocity consistency is precise powder inside your boxes of ammo. This opera- assembly are in-house. With the new metering. tion is so noisy that it has its own room; facility, the company certainly can ven- After the powder is loaded, the corre- filled trays leave through a small win- ture into more component production if sponding bullet tray is placed upon the dow on a conveyor to the packaging they choose. Time will tell. charged-case tray for seating and crimp- line. The boxing line is fully automat- ing. One machine simultaneously seats ed as well and the conveyor system the 210 bullets and the next applies the wraps the plastic tray with a box, seals appropriate crimp, which depends on the ends and prints the cartridge infor- whether pistol or revolver ammo is being mation on the outside. The only part of SOURCES manufactured that day. the process that’s not fully automated SIG Sauer Ammunition: Before the trays leave this line, they is packing the individual ammo boxes SIGSauer.com/Products/Ammunition/ go through more secret and custom-de- into cases.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 75 THRIFTY A TRIO OF BUDGET DEFENSE GUNS ❚ BY BOB CAMPBELL3

76 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ Never let anyone tell you that any gun worth carrying has to cost a bundle. If you know what to look for and if you’re willing to do a little legwork, you can get a whole lot of gun for less than $500.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 77 IF MONEY’S TIGHT, DO NOT DESPAIR. THE MODERN MARKET SUFFERS FROM NO SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HANDGUNS WELL-SUITED TO PERSONAL DEFENSE.

any shooters regard a handgun in BUY ONCE, CRY ONCE? mer-framed, striker-fired self-loader; the same light as a spare tire in the I think buying a cheap gun that will and the 1911. Each had to be compact M trunk: It isn’t terribly exciting and have to be replaced later is false econo- enough for concealed carry and also a not something we wish to splurge on, but my. I’ve seen too many bargain-basement credible choice for home defense. if we need it, we’re going to need it badly. handguns fail in my classes, and though A serviceable handgun is as necessary cheap self-loaders might be more likely OLD SLABSIDES as a life jacket on a boat or a jack in the to malfunction than cheap revolvers, I’ve I have more experience with the 1911 truck. Problem is, it’s much more expen- seen cheap revolvers fail to fully cycle than any other handgun, and reliability is sive, which makes a reliable, accurate and the hammer actually lock up halfway problematic with bottom-of-the-line units. and powerful handgun at a fair price a in its travel. There was no point in assess- Attention to detail is often lacking in these desirable (and sometimes scarce) coming them here. cheaper specimens, and broken parts, in- modity. I also eliminated derringers, mini-re- cluding the slide lock safety, are common. There have always been more cheap volvers and small-caliber handguns as, Rock Island Armory handguns are af- guns than good guns, and the cheapest by the definitions to which I restrict myself, fordable and, though the fit and finish should be avoided. The next rung up from they’re practically worthless for personal aren’t world-class, they usually work and cheap guns is affordable but utilitarian defense, even when well-made. I also have earned a reputation as entry-level guns. As an instructor and writer, I’m ex- avoided used vintage handguns. Sure, handguns. While more expensive pieces posed to an extremely wide array of fire- there are some good buys, but there are offer better sights and lighter, smoother arms, and, though I have my favorites, I also middle quality handguns of the past triggers, the RIA triggers usually break at recognize that quality firearms exist out- that might be well-worn. Spare parts, such 5 to 7 pounds, with which a trained shoot- side of my narrow preferences. as grips and magazines — much less er can do good work. The sights of the GI Students and readers often inquire smaller components — are very difficult to models are small but usually well-regulat- about an affordable but reliable handgun. find for some. If you cannot replace the ed for 230-grain .45 ACP loads. Some of the correspondents are begin- recoil spring at a later date, it’s best not to These pistols can be found for $429 ners and others are well-trained but on a invest in the piece. to $449 in the GI version, although I saw strict budget. It was with them in mind that I began with an open mind and elect- some of the overpriced stores with pistols I decided to buckle down for a few weeks ed to find three firearms at good pric- priced as high as $499. Websites like sc- and see what was available — and wheth- es. I chose three popular iterations: gunco.com sometimes have RIA pistols er or not it was up to my standards. the short-barreled revolver; the poly- on sale at less than $400. There are also

78 www.USCCA.com | February/March elevated versions with better sights and grips, but, frankly, if you spend more money, you might as well get a Remington or a Springfield. The 1911 is a handgun that should not be purchased used unless you have a great deal of experience with the breed. Shooters love to tinker with the 1911, but few are qualified to do so. I’ve had some two dozen Rock Island pistols pass through my hands, quite a few of which I’ve modified. Occasionally, I have had to tune an extractor — about one in 16 — and one of the pistols had a loose ejector. None, however, failed to feed quality ammunition. Considering that I recently had to send a competitor’s $700 1911 back to the factory for a non-functional trigger and a $2,800 1911 lost its fiber-optic front sight, that isn’t a bad record at all. As home-defense handguns, the RIA pistols have merit. The manual of arms isn’t difficult for an intelligent person willing to learn (and any other type of person need not apply for any handgun). As a home-defense pistol, the 1911 has a good natural point and the heft and balance are excellent. The Rock Island guns feed jacketed hollow-points reliably; mine is loaded with the Federal 230-grain Hydra-Shok and is accurate enough to put a full magazine into one hole at 7 yards. Speaking of which, these run fine on the MecGar magazines with which they ship; no need to go out and buy anything fancier. For the price, this isn’t a gun to be fault- ed.

SMITH & WESSON J-FRAME I found a Smith & Wesson Model 360 at one outlet for $389.96 and one at another for a few bucks less. This is an up- date of the original Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief’s Special, a well-made revolver with a smooth action, good sights and a hand-filling grip. It’s evolved through many different generations, the unit pictured here being a Model 37 Airweight. There is nothing simpler to operate than a revolver: Open the cylinder, load each chamber, close the cylinder, then press the trigger to fire. The snub-nosed .38 is light, compact and easily carried in the proper holster and, for new shooters and concealed carry permit holders, the snub-nosed .38 offers a reasonable level

February/March | www.USCCA.com 79 of protection. This isn’t to say that its short I purchased it as a test to see if an ac- gunco.com, a reasonable investment in sight radius doesn’t demand training and complished handgunner in need of an so trustworthy and effective a self- and close attention, but, with practice, the re- affordable but capable pistol could find home-defense pistol. volver can be used to make center hits at a bargain. In this case, I sure did. The fac- 7 yards and well beyond. tory night sights were still glowing, even if HIGH ON QUALITY, LOW ON PRICE The .38 Special is a baseline for wound not in all their former glory. If money’s tight, do not despair. The potential, and I would not wish to go be- To be fair, the .357 SIG isn’t for begin- modern market suffers no shortage low the .38 in a personal-defense hand- ners; recoil and blast are substantially of affordable handguns well-suited to gun. With a load such as the new Federal greater than that of a 9mm and require personal defense. Humble-but-reliable 130-grain Hydra-Shok, there’s nothing practice to master. That said, the Hornady companions such as those listed here wrong with a .38 Special as a home-de- Critical Defense load offers good perfor- are Godsends to those on a budget fense cartridge. mance at 1,215 feet per second, which and are excellent reminders that there’s beats most 9mm loads but isn’t exces- a big difference between “cheap” and SPRINGFIELD XD .357 SIG sively heavy. The Hornady 147-grain XTP “affordable.” As long as no aftermarket triggers or breaks a solid 1,198 feet per second if other questionable work have been inflict- such a level of power and penetration is ed, polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols required. are usually a safe bet on the used market. I’ve fired this handgun extensively SOURCES This pistol’s $250 asking price was more and find it accurate, controllable with the Rock Island Armory: Armscor.com than fair, although the slide showed con- proper technique and certainly powerful Federal Ammunition: siderable finish wear. It was fitted with a enough for personal defense. I splurged FederalPremium.com Crimson Trace laser for which I did not on a custom-grade James Nelson holster, Springfield: Springfield-Armory.com particularly care, as I had some trouble but then this handgun is good enough to Smith & Wesson: Smith-Wesson.com actuating it. I later traded the laser for am- ride with. I discovered that the 12-round Hornady: Hornady.com munition, so it all worked out. The hand- magazine failed to lock the slide back Nelson Holsters: NelsonHolsters.com gun was supplied with two magazines — on the last shot and I purchased a new a 12-rounder and a 10-rounder. Springfield magazine for $26 from sc-

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GET YOUR BOOK TODAY www.USCCA.com/MassShooterBook Or Call 877-677-1919 ■ “Hammer-bobbing,” or cutting the spur off of a revolver’s hammer, was once a common modification in the defensive handgunning world. Does it have a place in the modern era?

82 www.USCCA.com | February/March BOBBING FOR

HAMMERSTO GRIND OR NOT TO GRIND? ❚ BY SCOTT W. WAGNER

February/March | www.USCCA.com 83 hen my editors asked me to an- was carried in a pocket or covered by the risk of the spur hanging up on jack- swer this question for our read- a sport coat in a holster, the checkered et or pocket lining. It was never really W ers, I had to think about it for a hammer spur would not catch on any a necessary modification, because the while — about three seconds maybe — fabric during the draw. This reasoning two primary revolver makers — Smith & before coming up with my answer: No. has some problems. The first is this: I Wesson and Colt — offered “hammer- Since my editors would not be sat- know of no case involving an officer or less” revolvers (no exposed hammer or isfied with me ending the article at this a good-guy citizen forced to shoot that spur) for many years. point (at least not as far as payment blamed a lost gunfight on a hammer goes), let me go into the reasons why spur snagging on fabric — period. To NEW OLD STOCK not, as well as some history regarding the best of my knowledge, no one has In the case of Smith & Wesson, two the practice and why, especially today, ever said, “Ya know, poor Tex would still basic options were available: the Body- removing a functional hammer spur on be with us today if only he had ground guard and Centennial .38 Special a double-action revolver is a particularly off the hammer spur on his Smith & snubs. Both are still available today in bad idea. Wesson Chief’s Special.” A ground-off several different variations. Back in the day — and, most specif- hammer spur does not even improve The Centennial revolver was the ear- ically, before “shall-issue” concealed the ability to fire from inside the pocket. liest version of the breed, evolving from carry laws were passed — handgun (More about that in a bit.) the original top-break Smith & Wesson choices for concealed carry were very “Hammerless” revolvers of the late 19th limited. Very few permits of any kind ex- ORDERS FROM ABOVE isted, and the biggest consumer market The second reason hammer spurs for concealed carry handguns was law were ground off was strictly a law-en- enforcement, which was a limited mar- forcement-related issue. Police chiefs ket of about 350,000 or so people back hell-bent on doing right regardless of in the 1960s. negative consequences are nothing Choices for concealed carry guns new; they existed back in the days of centered around small-framed snub- wooden batons and radios too big to nosed revolvers, primarily from Smith & carry on patrol belts too. Occasionally in Wesson and Colt, compact semi-autos the revolver era, police chiefs became like the Walther PP and PPK series or concerned that their under-trained offi- micro guns like the Seecamp .32 or old- cers might, at some moment, cock the er Colt- or Browning-type .25s. (There exposed hammer spurs of their duty were also some imports available, such revolvers — doing what they were de- as those from the now-defunct Spanish signed to do — to fire precision shots Star or the import company FIE.) With the with the lighter 3-pound single-action limited selection available, when a man trigger pull rather than with the heavier wanted a handgun to suit his specific 12-pound double-action pull. They fig- personal needs and requirements, the ured that cocking revolvers increased popular solution was customization and the risk of accidental discharges, and modification. Modifying factory features decided to, as one famous lawman was was a big deal back then: Action “tuning” known for saying, “nip it in the bud.” jobs, various forms of electroplating of By grinding the hammer spurs off blued steel guns for increased rust resis- of department-issued revolvers, these tance, Magnaporting to reduce muzzle chiefs of police felt they reduced the rise and felt recoil, barrel cut-downs and, risk to the public, even though an officer of course, revolver hammer spur removal could still cock the hammer with a slow were just some of the modifications that double-action trigger press and then kept the custom gunsmiths busy. pull the modified hammer back with his thumb to a fully cocked, single-ac- HERE’S THE CATCH tion firing position. Which sounds more ■ The modern revolver market Hammer spur removal was done pri- dangerous to you: Cocking the hammer offers multiple options for the individual seeking a “hammerless” marily to revolvers — snub-nosed and as designed, or cocking the hammer by piece, be it a Charter Arms Off- full-sized — for two reasons. The first pulling the trigger first? Duty with shrouded hammer (left) was not to help with concealment per se But back to the first reason for remov- or a Charter Arms Boomer with but to help ensure that when the revolver ing a revolver’s hammer spur: reducing spurless hammer (right).

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84 www.USCCA.com | February/March century. (There was, of course, a ham- time drawing the handgun out of the to the Colt line of revolvers but certainly mer inside; it was just completely cov- pocket; you just shot through it. was preferable to grinding off the spur ered by the sleek, curved upper frame.) The Bodyguard, which is different … which brings me to the heart of the In the Centennial revolver line, which than the current M&P Bodyguard re- reason why I am in opposition to this long featured an additional grip safety, volver, offers the best of both worlds, as form of customization. the hammer was totally concealed and the hammer’s spur is accessible by the the revolver could only be fired dou- shrouding of the frame around it. Should THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T ble-action. As such, a Centennial could single-action fire be required, the ham- HAVE NICE THINGS be carried and fired from within a coat mer spur can be thumb-cocked through In the book No Second Place Winner, pocket — without snagging on anything the opening at the top of the frame. It the late, great Border Patrolman Bill Jor- — since the hammer couldn’t trap loose does not interfere with firing from inside dan discusses hammer spur and trigger clothing material during its cycle. No a pocket. The Bodyguard .38 is less guard removal. Jordan refers to such exposed-hammer revolver — even with sleek than the Centennial-style guns, modifications as “mutilations” — partic- the spur ground off — or semi-automat- with a “humpback” type of appearance. ularly the removal of the front of the trig- ic pistol could make the same boast. However it does offer a bit more flexibility ger guard, which is patently dangerous. This was a great tactical advantage in when compared to the Centennial style. Jordan clearly declares that the trigger that you could be holding a revolver on Colt had its own solution to the de- guard is not there as an “ornament” but a potential wrongdoer without him be- mand for spurless-hammer revolvers, rather as a critical safety feature. (This ing aware that he was “covered.” If you without doing any modification to its trigger guard modification was most needed to fire, you didn’t need to waste “D-frame” snubs, which include the popular in the 1930s through the very Detective Special, Agent and Cobra. early ’50s. To remove any portion of your For many years, Colt offered a hammer sidearm’s trigger guard is beyond ill-ad- shroud that easily mounted over the top vised.) of the hammer, thus making the D-frame As to the hammer spur modification, revolvers snag-free and capable of be- Jordan points out — quite accurately, ing fired double-action-only from within I might add — that while removing the a pocket. It was not a popular addition spur does smooth the surface of the re- TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE HAS EVER SAID, ‘YA KNOW, POOR TEX WOULD STILL BE WITH US TODAY IF ONLY HE HAD GROUND OFF THE HAMMER SPUR ON HIS SMITH & WESSON CHIEF’S SPECIAL.’

February/March | www.USCCA.com 85 volver, doing so can affect resale value. if it looked as if it were modified with a lighten the hammer spring or reduce the While it might be a desirable thing to do Dremel at someone’s kitchen table, and weight of the hammer — you have now for your own use, it can be hard to find here’s why: potentially veered out of the acceptable a buyer who feels the same way (or a The revolver, in particular, is a preci- operational specifications and are in gun store who is willing to give you top sion piece of machinery, designed to danger of turning a completely reliable dollar for a trade on a gun modified in operate within a specific range of pa- piece of machinery into something else. this way). From working in the firearms rameters, tolerances and limits. Ham- This is just the way it is, and there’s only retail business, I guarantee that it is mer weight and trigger spring strength been one exception to this rule of which much harder to sell a custom-modified are all tied together to ensure that, when I am aware. used handgun than it is to sell one that the firing pin strikes a primer, that primer While Ruger still markets a spur- is in its original form. Modified guns sim- will ignite and the revolver will launch a less-hammer, double-action SP101 re- ply sit on the shelves much longer than bullet each and every time. If you start volver, they used to sell spurless ham- box-stock models. I wouldn’t buy one changing the specifications of that mers that could be customer-installed, that was custom modified, especially precision piece of machinery — if you since pre-LCR Ruger revolvers feature a takedown capability much like that of modern semi-automatic pistols. A replacement hammer was easy to drop in and featured the necessary components to keep the modified SP101 — or Speed and Security Six — just as reliable as its spurred-hammer counter- parts. I did a quick check of the Ruger and Brownells websites and could no longer find this replacement kit available. It too was likely not a popular change to the gun.

GRIND COFFEE, NOT GUNS Smith & Wesson still offers many options for those who wish to carry a snub- nosed revolver with a concealed hammer. In fact, such models are currently the sales leaders for Smith & Wesson. During my time working in the world of retail firearms sales, I don’t recall selling a new Smith & Wesson with a standard exposed hammer; most people wanted a totally-concealed-hammer version, such as the Model 442 or 642. If you have a snubby with an exposed hammer spur, my advice would be to not seek modification. If you really want a smoothback that badly, trade your current revolver in and get the “hammerless” style you’re after. There are other makers that offer this style handgun as well, such as Charter Arms and now Kimber. Between the cost of the modification by a competent custom shop and the loss of resale value, chopping pieces off of your current revolver just isn’t an actionable plan. When it comes to this modification, buy your sidearm with the operational system you want — fresh from the factory.

86 www.USCCA.com | February/March All The USCCA Training & Gear You’ve Been Searching For, In One Convenient Place…

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www.USCCAStore.com THE RIDDLE KNIFE STEEL FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF STEEL❚ BY JASON ‘BUCK’ BUCKLEY 88 www.USCCA.com | February/March February/March | www.USCCA.com 89 he knife industry seems to have LEARN MORE blossomed into something of a The “Knife Steel Composition” app (for iPhone and Android) is a great Tmonster over the last decade. With tool for running additional research. It provides detailed metallurgical a glut of new companies, sub-brands info for the hardcore knife folks, but it also gives useful rundowns of the and manufacturers producing an enor- various properties that each steel possesses. mous selection of fixed-blade and fold- On a broader note, legal blade options vary dramatically from state to ing knives, we’re spoiled for choice now more than ever. state and sometimes even city to city. I heartily recommend exploring Our local sporting goods stores have your personal carry options via knifeup.com. I also recommend Knife entire aisles dedicated to a multitude of Rights’ excellent “Legal Blade” app, which provides a handy at-a- amazing-looking sharp and pointy things, glance guide to state laws. from celebrity endorsed hunting tools to sleek black tactical offerings — and ev- If you’re reading this magazine, or having backups for your backups, ery one of these knives has a little jumble it’s fair to assume that the right to de- or maybe you’re living or working in a of letters and numbers on the blade. fend yourself is something you don’t place where firearm carry is restricted in Testing the edge and thinking to your- take lightly. You’ve probably invested some way. self, “Yup, that’s sharp,” doesn’t cut it a great deal of time and thought into Don’t get me wrong. I’ve walked anymore — pun intended — and for personal defense and the protection and talked my way through enough those of us looking for a new knife, the of your loved ones. This usually in- gun shows to know that this concept is selection can be a little overwhelming. volves a significant further investment sometimes met with scorn and even de- There are plenty of resources out in tools, training and research, and, for rision by guys who tell me not to “bring there that will guide you through the diz- a lot of us, this is predominantly fire- a knife to a gunfight” — and I’ll admit zying world of knife steels and their vari- arms-based. For some people, howev- that a blade is far from ideal — but I’d ous pros and cons, but I’m approaching er, this thought process expands to the also be willing to bet that many of those this subject from the perspective of per- use of edged tools as well. gentlemen carried something sharp ev- sonal protection, and I’m aware that that This mindset could be born of any ery day, and felt perhaps even a small sentence alone probably isn’t going to number of things. Maybe you’re thinking amount of comfort and reassurance make me many friends. about layering your use-of-force training knowing that they had it with them.

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Karl L. | USCCA Member Personal defense is just that — per- tool. Our knife performs a multitude of STEEL TYPES sonal — and, if you train for the worst, duties. It’s almost certainly opened its I could ramble about blade size and then you have my utmost respect and fair share of boxes, and it’s possibly shape, deployment and lock strength admiration, whatever tool you choose. even covered in the gunk from thou- for dozens of pages, but, right now, I’m sands of yards of packing tape. For a talking about a multi-purpose pocket SELF-DEFENSE WITH A BLADE lot of us, that is the reality. The blade we knife: something you carry every day, Let’s be honest, what does the quality carry is a tool first and a weapon second your “EDC” — and something that, in a of the steel have to do with blade-based (if at all). pinch, might have to serve as a person- self-defense? Globally, kitchen knives That said, if things went bad right now al-protection tool. As a quick and ba- are probably the most commonly used and all you had was that knife in your sic rule, softer steels are durable, they edged weapons in violent altercations, pocket, how confident are you that it can take a beating (though admittedly, and do they have superior edge-holding could actually cut? sometimes, getting bent or warped in abilities? Mildly facetious, perhaps, but Unless we’re talking about a fight on the process) and they keep on truckin’. it’s a fair point. There might be some guy the beach (or an attack at the hands of However, they rarely hold an edge. My out there with $1,000 worth of perfect- a PCP or other dissociative anesthetic Pop’s old folding knife got the job done ly engineered razor-sharp “super steel” drug user), there’s a good chance that every day, but he was always sharpen- sitting in his tactical pants, ready to de- your attacker will be wearing several ing that thing. ploy in a flash, but I also wouldn’t under- layers of clothing of various densities Harder steels run the risk of being brit- estimate that old boy at the back of the and thicknesses. All those “knife guy” tle or chipping, and they aren’t as dura- room with his 30-year-old Buck 110 and videos with serious-looking dudes slic- ble when subjected to shock or impact; a smirk on his face. An old instructor ing lumps of meat wrapped in denim the trade-off is that edge retention is of- of mine used to say, “Steel meets skin, have a point. I’m not sure that the same ten considerably better. Simply put, they steel’s gonna win,” and he wasn’t wrong. pocket knife I’ve been using to open take a sharper edge and hold it for lon- Sharp is sharp, right? my Amazon packages for the last three ger. They can be a pain to re-sharpen, Well ... what if it isn’t sharp? months is going to make it through a but keeping that edge might be worth Do you carry a dedicated blade for leather jacket, and that’s where, for me, the extra effort, especially if you want a personal protection, or do you carry a those numbers on the side of my blade knife that’s “ready to go” in your pocket tool? For most of us, it’s going to be a become a little more important. at a moment’s notice. HANDGUN PRO SAFE Superior Security When You Need It Most!

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INVESTMENT This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I’m sure many knife aficionados out there will disagree with some of my choices. Your experience might differ from mine, and I hope that you share those experiences and that knowledge in online forums and groups as well as in conversations with your friends. The more we talk about this stuff, the more educated we all get and the better choices we all make. If budget allows, I heartily recommend investing in a knife crafted from steel that will take and hold a sharp edge for as long as possible. If you’re on a budget, invest in a decent knife sharpener and the time to learn to use it. Money spent on a quality knife that fails to stay sharp isn’t necessarily wasted, but it’s not exactly used to its fullest potential either.

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BASICS❚ BY ED COMBS LEADING THE PARADE

94 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ Collapsible batons are extremely popular force options with law enforcement and security professionals, but their use by private citizens brings some definite challenges.

BATON BASICS

February/March | www.USCCA.com 95 ■ Many modern batons, such as this sample from Monadnock on the left, have push-button releases. This prevents having to strike the tip of a friction-lock baton on the ground to close it, resulting in damage as seen on the right.

o one is sure which weapon an- es while the reality is far different. By the (While running, it’s possible to almost cient man first wielded. Some ar- 1980s, “billyclub” and “nightstick” be- kneecap yourself right out of a foot pur- N gue rock, as it was the first thing came unpleasant reminders of riots and suit.) Law enforcement needed some- to which he could lay a hand that was other circumstances most cops and pri- thing better, and Kevin Parsons of Ar- harder than his fist. Others argue stick, vate citizens wanted to forget, so baton mament Systems and Procedures, Inc. as, though more fragile than rock, it of- — an Anglicized version of the French had the answer. fered the advantage of keeping an at- bâton — began to catch on in American The original ASP baton was a fric- tacker at distance. (I’d imagine it had law enforcement circles. Though this tion-locked steel unit offered in lengths something to do with whether rocks or word is also used in musical and athletic ranging from 18 to almost 30 inches. sticks were more common in whichev- circles, it seemed custom-made for the Though it experienced growing pains er ancient man’s neighborhood we’re euphemistic softening of American En- through its first few years, it spawned an talking about, but that’s just me.) glish that ran amok in the ’80s and ’90s. entire industry. Very shortly thereafter, As mankind advanced and humans Some law enforcement agencies still other companies, such as Monadnock understood the necessity for defensive issue old-fashioned straight batons and Safariland, began manufacturing weapons, the stick remained a stan- while some issue side-handle batons, their own versions of the new “folding dard self-defense tool and found its way which are commonly known as “tonfa” in nightstick.” into the offensive batteries of warlords martial arts circles and “PR-24s” in law and armies. Even as spears, swords, enforcement lingo. Some, but not many. OLD RELIABLE bows, crossbows, artillery and firearms Though extremely versatile and intimi- The main upside to employing a ba- developed, the staff and stick not only dating in the hands of trained officers, ton for self-defense is the broad range remained but also developed alongside they’re bulky when getting into and out of training materials available to private their higher-tech brethren. of vehicles. This, however, was not the citizens. Not only does basically every only reason they fell out of favor with law enforcement agency in the United ‘WHAT’S BROWN AND STICKY?’ most agencies. When worn on a belt, States train its officers in the use of col- The baton is one of the most misun- the full-length baton swings against the lapsible batons, the batons themselves derstood pieces of self-defense equip- knee and thigh, which, over time, winds look suspiciously similar to sticks, and, ment. Even the name confuses a lot of up costing the agency a lot of money as mentioned earlier, the stick has been folks; they’re thinking twirling or footrac- in injuries, time lost and hospital bills. a go-to for the human race since time

96 www.USCCA.com | February/March immemorial. If you intend to defend For a baton shorter than 10 inches ly concealing a baton in the armpit will yourself with a baton, almost all of the when collapsed, you can employ a hor- be a lot easier than doing so horizontal- Eastern, Western, Northern or Southern izontal carrier if you can wear one com- ly, even if we’re talking about an excep- martial arts employ straight sticks of fortably. It holds the baton in against the tionally deep-chested individual. Which- varying lengths in their disciplines. As belt horizontally rather than vertically (as ever method you elect to employ, as with the manager of a traveling martial arts you see on the belts of LEOs). Retention a sidearm or OC spray, it is imperative team I knew said, “Other, more exot- is usually accomplished through friction, you train on your draw and reholstering. ic weapons can seem a lot cooler, but and draw requires minimal movement A baton will only be so helpful to you if a stick’s a stick anywhere in the world, when compared to the traditional verti- you don’t train in its use, and it’ll be of no and it’s not like you can pull a set of nun- cal carry. help at all if you haven’t even trained on chucks off of a mop during an emergen- That said, there’s a reason cops carry how to get it out and up. cy.” batons vertically rather than horizontally: As soon as you try to get into a vehicle STICKING POINTS PICK YOUR STICK or drive for any amount of time, it imme- One of the drawbacks of batons is As with flashlights, this is an area in diately becomes apparent that it’s more the fact that quality specimens are which you shouldn’t just ask a cop or comfortable to have a baton ride next to costly. Sure, you can purchase a $10 deputy what kind of baton he or she car- you than beside you (if that makes any “snake killer” at a flea market, but col- ries and then order one. The batons you sense). It is also easier to get more of the lapsible batons are a stark reminder that see on the belts of cops and deputies collapsed baton inside the carrier when you get what you pay for. I’ve seen the are duty-sized, meaning somewhere be- you carry it vertically rather than horizon- cheap units literally fly apart while between 24 and 34 inches long when ex- tally, and, as such, when (not if) it gets ing deployed, crack and fall apart when tended. Now that’s a reasonable size for caught on something, it doesn’t hit the striking a martial arts training bag and your ’ton if you don’t have to hide it, but, floor. Though opinions differ, most pro- shatter to pieces when pounded on if you intend to carry one concealed, fessionals carry their batons vertically if the ground to close them. (You’ll find you’re going to have to go smaller. they’re going to carry on the waistline. that none of the lower-end units offer One bump down from duty batons is A shoulder holster follows similar log- push-button retraction, which is com- compact batons, the kind often worn by ic. As with a vertical belt carrier, vertical- mon among professional-grade pieces.) plainclothes officers. They’ll usually fall between 18 and 24 inches long when extended, and this is what you’ll be looking for as a concealed carrier. The only step down in size from there is the “emergency”-sized batons, which will be anything from 16 inches and under — all the way down to karambits, kubotans and other small, pocket-sized impact devices. The issue with these is that they’re optimally employed not only by those who have a lot — and I mean a lot — of training in general martial arts and law enforcement arrest tactics but also by those who are more physically fit than the average individual on the street. If you’re going to carry a baton for self-defense, stick to a compact unless physical and combatives training is a large part of your lifestyle. (More on that later.)

BELT BILLY For the most part, batons are designed for carry outside the waistband on the belts of law enforcement officers. As such, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that a good number of them are no easier to carry concealed than squad radios or any other pieces of duty gear that were never designed to be hidden under polo shirts.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 97 ADVANTAGE: YOU NEVER FORGET THAT, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A BATON, YOU’RE STILL HANDFIGHTING SOMEONE; YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO OPERATE ACCORDINGLY.

Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the downsides. Batons are difficult for many to use and require a decent amount of physicality to pull off. Not only does the wielder have to be physically powerful enough to strike with sufficient authority to inflict pain on a target, the user must also have sufficient hand-eye coordination to hit that at which he or she is swinging — a lot more difficult than it sounds. I’ve seen batons deployed more than a few times and no one’s ever stood still like a cooperative little test subject. A baton is a hand tool, a magnifier of the force that the wielder is capable of mustering. As such, if you’re going to ADD AN ENHANCED GRIPPING SURFACE TO be fiddling with batons as defensive options, you need to YOUR GLOCK FOR EASIER RACKING internalize, right now, that you will be signing on to train. Ba- tons rely on high levels of physical competency and extreme Rugged, maintenance-free design | Slim profile perfect for concealed carry violence of action, meaning you need to know exactly when Manufactured from aerospace grade polymer, aluminum and stainless steel and how to strike an attacker in order for the barrage to be Fits 9MM, .40S&W, and .357SIG caliber Glock handguns with double stack magazines effective and for the criminal to not be able to avoid it. (Re- National Tactical Officers Association Member Tested and Recommended member, this probably isn’t the first time he’s had someone come after him with a stick, be it offensive or defensively.) If you aren’t trained and actually going for full-power Y O U R U LT I M AT E G LO C K A C C E S S O R Y ENTER CODE “USCCA” WWW.CHAMBERMAX.US AT CHECKOUT FOR 5% OFF strikes when defending yourself against an attack, it is simple for that attacker to block the baton on the backstroke and basically render it useless to you. Never forget that, even though you have a baton, you’re still handfighting someone; you need to be prepared to operate accordingly. If you’ve never been the aggressive type, batons aren’t for you.

TRAINING POINTERS It’s not always possible to execute the arcing wrist-snap necessary to deploy a traditional collapsible baton, so you’re going to have to train in using it in its collapsed form. If a baton is the only weapon you’re carrying and you don’t even realize you’re under attack until you’re already fighting, just as you cannot count on having both hands free to run your gun, you cannot count on having the foot-plus of free space to get that baton deployed. Train on a punching bag if at all possible. This could be a traditional hanging model or one of the more modern, pillar-style units available from companies like Century, but you’ll need to have an upright target

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for practicing your technique. A word of STICK TO THE PLAN warning, though: Strikes from a baton Keep in mind that if you elect to carry wear on a bag a lot faster than strikes a baton for self-defense, you’re signing from gloves or wrapped fists do. This on for, if necessary, beating someone isn’t a huge deal though, especially with a steel or aluminum pipe. Are you Unleash with the availability of heavy bags and up for that? Never forget that a baton martial arts strike pillars on Craigslist. of any kind is a less-lethal force option, Even if you completely waste the foam and the employment of force to stop padding surrounding the plastic pillar, a deadly threat can result in the death you can either order another padded of that threat. By carrying a baton, you cover or wrap the pillar with packing are not carrying a “more humane” level foam and athletic tape. However you of force than by carrying a gun. You’re XL650 STANDARD FEATURES: do it, if a baton is going to be part of carrying a less-lethal option, true, but • Automatic Indexing your EDC, you absolutely, positively you’re carrying a weapon that will join must train on it. you to your attacker, even if just for a • Loading Rate: 800-1000 Rounds/Hr. One of the biggest challenges mar- moment, and that’s a heck of a thing. • 5-Station Interchangeable Toolhead tial artists face with batons in a defen- Your defensive use of force will be far • Lifetime “No-B.S.” Warranty sive rather than competitive context more intimate and personal than with • RISK FREE 30-Day Trial Period! is that some of them will not follow a firearm or pepper spray, and not ev- through on their strikes. Unless you eryone’s up for that kind of situation. have been training striking a bag of Batons are the backbone of law en- some sort and really concentrating on forcement less-lethal force, but they’re striking through the target — hitting not necessarily even a reasonable op- that bag the way you’d hit an attacker tion for many private citizens. Only you — the temptation will be to only follow can make that call. through as you would while performing a kata rather than fighting for your life. Avoid this temptation at all costs.

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February/March | www.USCCA.com 99 BY ANY OTHER

NAMEBERSA THUNDER .45 ULTRA COMPACT PRO ❚ BY MARK KAKKURI

100 www.USCCA.com | February/March February/March | www.USCCA.com 101 carry a Bersa Thunder .45 Ultra it for less than $400.” So I suppose it’s least expected to read about. Most Compact Pro.” It’s a mouthful, a gun that would be better called a of the others have been good-look- “I yes, but there’s a lot of gun to “Bersa Thunder .45 Ultra Value Com- ing and super-accurate 1911s and explain. pact Pro.” double-action-only pistols worthy of Of immediate interest is the “Ultra Even a cursory look at the gun a place on the gun belts of America’s Compact” part of the name. While the shows its uniqueness and complexi- Finest. gun most definitely registers as a com- ty. Immediately, you see a tactical rail, The .45 ACP Bersa is tucked right pact, it’s barely a compact, let alone multiple large controls, an exposed between these more popular genres an ultra. With a length of 6.8 inches, and skeletonized hammer, and these of handguns and offers a unique plat- a height of 5.1 inches and a width of words on the side of the slide: “Thun- form for this most famous of handgun 1.45 inches, this carry gun has some der 45 Ultra Compact Pro.” It’s an im- cartridges. As you’ll see, the Bersa girth for you to deal with, but it turns pressive gun by sight alone. But when feeds and shoots the slow, heavy .45 out to be less than you might think. As you pick it up, heft it, load it and shoot ACP very well. for “Thunder .45,” that’s good: seven it, it gets better — and all for less than rounds of .45 ACP in a magazine. And $400. A quick run through this gun’s DOUBLE-ACTION/SINGLE-ACTION as for “Pro”: The double-action/sin- specifications, one by one, will make As you know, DA/SA guns offer an gle-action with an external safety/de- the case for this gun’s value. initial trigger stroke that is long and cocker is not particularly simple, de- heavy followed by trigger strokes that manding training and practice. What .45 ACP are short and light. The long, heavy else can you say? “This full-featured Of all the .45s in this issue, I’m stroke is sort of a safeguard against gun is accurate and reliable, and I got guessing the Bersa was the one you an unintended discharge (even as IN ADDITION TO JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF AMMO ON BOARD, THE BERSA’S 3.6-INCH BARREL LENGTH IS NEITHER SO LONG AS TO BE HEAVY OR CUMBERSOME NOR SO SHORT AS TO SACRIFICE ACCURACY AND VELOCITY.

■ All of the Bersa’s specs combine to CALIBER: .45 ACP create a good- ACTION: DA/SA looking, fine- CAPACITY: 7+1 shooting .45. WEIGHT: 27 OUNCES HEIGHT: 5.1 INCHES WIDTH: 1.45 INCHES BARREL LENGTH: 3.6 INCHES OVERALL LENGTH: 6.8 INCHES SAFETY: INTEGRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, MANUAL, FIRING PIN SIGHTS: INTERCHANGEABLE SIG-SAUER-TYPE MSRP: $508 (MATTE); $516 (DUOTONE)

102 www.USCCA.com | February/March there’s some debate about that term). CHECKERED BLACK good. (Of interest, while this grip is In other words, if you want to pull the POLYMER GRIPS relatively wide, it won’t adversely af- trigger, the long and heavy stroke The grips really aren’t checkered, fect concealment.) makes you pull it like you mean it. The but they do sport a texture that en- Bersa’s single-action follow-up offers hances purchase. Working in concert ALLOY FRAME/STEEL SLIDE very easy subsequent shots. with vertical scoring on the front strap, Well-balanced and eminently dura- it’s easy to get a good grip on the Ber- ble, the frame and slide interact well. 7+1 CAPACITY sa. The slide includes a loaded cham- Here you have the capacity of many And getting a good grip on the Ber- ber indicator up top, allowing you to 1911s and most compact .45s. In the sa reveals one of its key strengths: check your sidearm’s status with a rare instance you find yourself in an Compared to other handguns, the single finger. actual gunfight, since you’re carrying width of the grip is substantial. It fills As is common in the modern mar- a reload, you have the ability to bring the hand and puts a lot of gun in con- ket, the frame features a tactical rail 15 rounds of .45 ACP to bear on your tact with a lot of your paw, which is for a light, laser or both. attackers.

ND A 3.6-INCH BARREL LENGTH THE ALL NEW O R

In addition to just the right amount of B M S ammo on board, the Bersa’s 3.6-inch T barrel length is neither so long as to E X A N be heavy or cumbersome nor so short TEXAN as to sacrifice accuracy and velocity. This is a medium- to short-range self-defense gun that will put rounds on target, provided you do your part. The double-action stroke demands 6” Barrel practice for accurate first shots, but Shoots both .45LC & .410 FOR MORE INFO OR single-action follow-up shots are in- shotshell herently more accurate (and, as with A FREE BROCHURE, other DA/SA handguns, you can al- CALL 817-573-4445 ways thumb-cock the hammer before OR GO TO firing). BONDARMS.COM Made in Texas by Texans. SIG-SAUER-TYPE INTERCHANGEABLE SIGHTS This Bersa’s stock three-dot sights ® leave a lot to be desired. While the front sight is a bigger, bright white dot, the rear sights are smaller and contrast less against the black blade. It helps your eye pick up the front sight better, yes, but there’s a reason they’re called “SIG-Sauer-type” sights. You’ll want to replace them immediately with Tritium night sights, fiber optics or combo sights, and this helps you know what will fit.

DUOTONE, MATTE-BLACK FINISHES Whatever the Thunder .45 Ultra Compact Pro is, it’s all business — basic black with durable finishes to resist scratching and allow for less friction between moving parts. Frank- ly, some guns look cheap, and others try too hard to look important. Not the Bersa. Its understated look adds to its professional image.

MagazineAd-4x3.indd 1 February/March | www.USCCA.com10/3/2016 103 4:36:08 PM MULTIPLE SAFETIES chunky and heavy. But it’s easier to slide width is about an inch, a com- Atop the gun’s integral locking conceal than you might think. In fact, pletely reasonable measurement for system (which I’ve never used and the most difficult part of carrying it is concealed carry. probably never will) and the firing dealing with its weight. Loaded with Related to the width of the stocks pin safety, this Bersa offers a manual seven rounds of 230-grain Federal is the location of the gun’s magazine external safety. It also doubles as a Premium HSTs, the Bersa registers release. On this gun, it is virtually im- means to drop the hammer, changing 32.9 ounces on my digital scale. possible to accidentally hit the mag- the gun from single- to double-action. azine release when you’re drawing, After you chamber a round, the trig- LENGTH, HEIGHT AND WIDTH aiming or firing: The wide stocks keep ger moves backward to its single-ac- Overall handgun length is hardly my fingers and thumb in just the right tion position and the hammer remains an issue with a concealed carry gun, place. When it is time to press the back. You don’t carry the gun this way; as the right holster and covering gar- magazine release, I have to alter my instead, you thumb the manual safety ments will help conceal it. The Bersa grip slightly in order to access it with up (similar to a 1911) and, as you do, is less than 7 inches long, so no wor- my thumb, which I consider an excel- the gun will safely drop the hammer ries there. lent design feature. In fact, the more I and move the trigger forward. Now Its height is just right for a con- fire and carry this gun, the more I ap- the gun is safe to carry. In fact, if you cealed carry gun and is easily con- preciate the wider stocks. squeeze the trigger with the safety on, cealed if carried in a straight drop or On the range, the Bersa Thunder the trigger will move all the way to the with a slight forward cant. The width .45 Ultra Compact Pro reliably feeds, frame, demonstrating the trigger has might be the most problematic issue fires and ejects .45 ACP rounds; bul- been deactivated. Alternatively, if you with concealment. At 1.45 inches, the lets strike targets consistently at the don’t want the safety on, just thumb gun is almost half an inch wider than most common self-defense ranges, it down (off). The trigger remains for- many concealed carry guns available proving the gun to be what they call ward and the hammer down. today. But take note: The 1.45-inch “combat effective.” The reloading width is found mainly in or over the process is like most other pistols: WORTH THE WEIGHT stocks and is a result of the large, am- Press magazine release, watch mag- While a compact gun, this Bersa bidextrous slide release and manual azine drop out, insert fresh magazine could be described as somewhat safety. In front of those controls, the and tug the slide or press the slide release. You’re back in business. This pistol rides best at 4 or 5 o’clock when carried concealed, but you can also get away with appendix carry, one of my favorite modes, especially with guns featuring all the safeties found on this Bersa.

BEST FEATURE The best part of the Bersa Thunder .45 Ultra Compact Pro is the combination of features you can have for less than $400. The stock sights could be better, but even if you spend $100 to upgrade them with aftermarket night sights, you’re still under $500 for a full-featured self-defense gun. As such, you’ll find yourself saying, “I carry a Bersa Thunder .45 Ultra Com- pact Pro. It’s a tremendous value.”

SOURCES Bersa: Bersa.EagleImportsInc.com

104 www.USCCA.com | February/March “My attorney fees were astronomical... Arrested & Charged For Defending “ His Family On His Own Property...

Buddy Sheppard, USCCA Member

Responsible gun owners like Buddy shouldn’t have to worry about the consequences of a self-defense shooting. But Buddy discovered he was still vulnerable to criminal charges and ﬁnancial ruin – even after he did everything right. Your USCCA membership arms you with the peace of mind you need to protect your family with conﬁdence. Because, after all, doing the right thing shouldn’t cost you everything...

Join USCCA Now For Complete Peace Of Mind: www.GetUSCCAMembership.com Or Call Our Wisconsin-Based Team At 877-677-1919 ■ After a few decades of stripping down, rethinking and refining the G17 and its four previous iterations, Glock released the Generation 5 17 to an eagerly curious public.

106 www.USCCA.com | February/March GEN-G GLOCK’S GENERATION 5 9MM ❚ BY BOB CAMPBELL

February/March | www.USCCA.com 107 very year, Detroit, Tokyo and Berlin roll out the window dressing for the E new models. The new vehicles might have different grills or taillights and perhaps new paint schemes or rally stripes. Though cosmetic alterations are com- ■ The most obvious change monplace, meaningful changes in proven to the G17 Gen 5’s design is models are rare. the flat front strap, which will In the firearms community, new mod- endear it to many shooters who were never fans of the els of proven guns are much the same. finger grooves present on The pistols might have new finishes, new earlier models. sights or perhaps special grips, but a genuine change comes along but occasionally. Glock’s long-awaited Genera- tion 5 pistol is very much a Glock 17 and maintains the reliability and basic manual-of-arms that have made Gaston’s company successful, but handling and function enhancements make for a genuinely isn’t interchangeable with improved gun. said 17s. It also features By any standard, the Glock 17 re- a recessed barrel crown, mains a reliable service pistol well worth which is a nice touch. its cost, and the new model is a genuine Accuracy potential should be high. The improvement without downside. On the grip frame is reasonably textured and of- ample, a coil other hand, if I had a long-serving Glock fers good hand fit for most shooters. The spring rath- that worked for me, I would not rush out finger grooves found on most Glocks are er than a flat to trade it in for the Gen 5. All of that said, gone, and four back strap panels ship spring now ten- the improvements are such that I would with the pistol from the factory. These grip sions the take- recommend a new buyer purchase the panels accommodate the largest of hand down lever. The new Gen 5 over any other Glock. sizes; I used the thinnest grip that added safety plunger is cut a nice beavertail to the top of the frame. at a different angle, HOW NEW IS NEW? The grip frame itself features a flared and the striker is thicker The Glock 17 Gen 5 closely resembles magazine well. The flare is modest but than in previous genera- previous pistols, but something tells you provides a significant advantage in rap- tions. the new handgun is different. The slide is idly replenishing the ammunition supply. The firing pin channel is beveled near the muzzle as an aid in hol- Using the proper technique — angling teardrop-shaped in profile. stering the handgun in tightly fitted hol- the magazine in and then slamming it I’ve examined many hand- sters. The front sight is taller than previous home — this improvement makes for guns with dirt, debris, un- types and the rear sight is cut with a wider sure handling. During practice, I slam the burned powder and brass shav- sighting notch. The barrel is considerably magazine home and then grasp the slide ings in their channels, and this different than earlier versions for several by the rear and release. The ambi slide new design seems a step forward reasons, but one rises above the rest: The lock is a moot improvement for me, but it for reliability. Glock tells us the lock- barrel in the Gen 5 is cut with convention- makes for easier administrative handling. work doesn’t interchange with older al rifling. The previous polygonal rifling The magazines now have orange fol- handguns, so current aftermarket has advantages, but it isn’t well-suited lowers and the base pads are thicker, parts will not fit the Gen 5. to launching lead bullets. Polygonal ri- almost qualifying as bumper pads. The Trigger compression broke exact- fling has a smooth profile without deep Glock 17 ships with three magazines, ly at the standard 5.5-pound mark. I’ve grooves in the barrel; there is nowhere for and in a day when some makers (and fired the pistol extensively — nearing the lead deposits to build up. As such, lead not just those in the bargain-basement 1,100-round mark — and I cannot detect will coat the barrel and eventually lead crowd) deliver handguns with a single an advantage or disadvantage in the to pressure spikes (though this can vary magazine, this is noteworthy. new trigger. It feels the same as my other depending on whether true hard-cast The strengthening pin applied to the Glock handguns. Reset might be sharper, bullets are used). This new “Marksman” action is omitted, but since there isn’t a but then this might not be true, as this is barrel is well-suited to use with any type .40 S&W model planned for the Gen 5 a new gun and my other Glocks are more of ammunition. platform, this doesn’t really matter. There than well-used. Do not expect a different Beyond the new rifling, the Gen 5 bar- are incremental improvements that make trigger action with the Gen 5, as there rel employs a lockup more similar to the for a better handgun, but the improve- is no difference in the feel or compres- Glock 19s than the previous 17s and thus ments are not obvious in firing. For ex- sion. While doing this evaluation, I found

108 www.USCCA.com | February/March that the new grip without finger grooves placement — and hitting what you’re and, with logical upgrades, the Glock worked better for me than the previous shooting at in the first place — remains Gen 5 is well worth your time to inves- iterations, but your mileage might vary. more important than any other factor. tigate.

‘RANGE IS HOT!’ NEW DOG, NEW TRICKS For this evaluation, I completely The Glock Gen 5 features improve- cleaned the pistol and lubricated the ments that are incremental rather than single spot that the owner’s manual sweeping. Depending on your needs, SOURCES deemed in need of lubrication. Next, I one upgrade might be more important Glock: US.Glock.com loaded the magazines with a standard than the other. The ambidextrous slide Oregon Trail Bullet Company: handload comprised of the Oregon Trail lock would likely be most important to OregonTrailBullet.com 125-grain lead round-nose over enough left-handed shooters, and handloaders Black Hills Ammunition: WW231 powder to yield 1,080 feet per will appreciate the “Marksman” barrel Black-Hills.com second. At this point, there have been more than most. Glock improved an al- Speer Ammunition: Speer-Ammo.com no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject ready reliable and effective handgun, Brownells: Brownells.com in 1,000 rounds, but light loads such as this one, intended for economical, low-recoil practice, do not always function well in all autos. The Gen 5 never failed to feed this load and, firing from the retention position — a sure test of function — and at man-sized targets at 7 and 10 yards, the Glock turned in a fine performance. Next load up was the Black Hills Ammunition 124-grain jacketed hollow-point, one of my standards for excellent accuracy in a number of 9mm handguns. Clocking 1,100 feet per second from most 9mm pistols, this pairing offers a good balance of expansion and penetration coupled with excellent control. I followed with a heavyweight bullet: the Speer Gold Dot 147-grain at 980 feet per second. Even with a heavier diet, the Glock remained docile to fire and accurate on paper. Last on the line was a +P loading: Winchester’s 124-grain PDX at 1,203 feet per second. Recoil increased, but the pistol remained controllable. Large front sight I fired the pistol for accuracy from increases speed two firing positions. First, I sent a five- round group at 25 yards with each of of front sight the service loads from a standing FRONT acquisition. barricade rest. Groups were 2.6 to 4 inches — excellent results for REAR V-notch rear a service pistol from such a position. Next, I used a Brownells covers the Bullshooter rest to test the pis- least amount tol for absolute accuracy. Firing carefully and taking every advantage, of the target, groups were more consistent — 2.5 to 3 Use US10 encouraging the inches. shooter to focus Clearly, the Glock Gen 5 is accurate for 10% off enough for personal defense, though the your next purchase on the front sight. 9mm Luger demands careful attention to load selection. A balance of penetration xssights.com and expansion is imperative, though shot

February/March | www.USCCA.com 109 INSTRUCTOR’S CORNER by George Harris

has had his ■ AFTER A STUDENT or her initial exposure to the safe handling and firing of a handgun, the question inevitably arises: “What’s next?” As an instructor, you’d best have an answer ready for this one — an answer that makes sense, that isn’t overly complicated and that meets the individual student’s needs with regard to what his or her short- and long-term goals are. Odds are that, at this juncture, the student has minimal to no equipment with which to work and is really looking for some guidance on what to buy in order to get started with his or her own guns and gear. Although there are many answers to WHAT’S what’s “next,” narrowing the choices down to three or four will get your student started down the right path without feeling overwhelmed. Separate disciplines, NEXT? such as personal defense, competitive shooting or recreational shooting at infor- mal targets, are definitively different, but THE EVOLUTION all emanate from the same foundational skills learned during a student’s initial ex- OF A STUDENT periences with handgun shooting.

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110 www.USCCA.com | February/March In any of these choices, it is which order to shoot the targets that important to start with a need to get shot, which is dictated by gun that fits the hand course regulations or the threat level of the shooter and the presented. purpose for which it is Departing from competitive and rec- to be used. Size of the reational shooting and moving into the gun and caliber for personal defense arena brings with it which it is chambered introduced early in non-standard initiation cues, safely ex- are two of the main the handling stages of ecuted 360-degree scans and verbal- considerations here; if working with handguns izations to the target and potential by- the gun isn’t comfortable but primarily to instill the standers, just to name a few. This part to shoot and carry, it is proper mindset from the of the evolution of training transitions likely that neither will hap- outset. “Speed” is nothing an individual’s mindset from simple tar- pen for long. more than minimizing get engagement to thinking in a broad- There can be a the movement nec- er sense and contextualizing personal considerable amount IF THE GUN ISN’T essary to accomplish defense situations into their everyday of crossover among a task, and a student lives. the aforementioned COMFORTABLE TO SHOOT thinking and practic- One of the final and most effective paths, but each di- ing economic move- phases can be interactive scenario rection can and prob- AND CARRY, IT IS LIKELY ment will evolve as training, which draws on all aspects ably should get more faster sooner than a of the previous instruction, from safe specific as progress THAT NEITHER WILL student just trying to handling and marksmanship skills is made. Regardless HAPPEN FOR LONG. make it happen by through making split-second deci- of the initial direction moving quickly. sions as whether to disengage, ne- a student wishes to Sustained fire — gotiate or use force. The force in this travel, it is likely he or strings of multiple type of training comes from non-lethal she will want to branch out into other shots on single targets or engaging firearms and other tools that provide areas as interest and familiarity build, multiple targets at varying distances — a pain penalty without leaving perma- which usually results in the acquisition is a set of lessons all unto itself. Proper nent damage for making a mistake in of more guns and gear. trigger manipulation coordinated with dealing with an attacker. The variables In each case, after the student is proper sight picture is the key to suc- are as many as the participants in the comfortable with the foundational skills cess here. Shooting one-handed-only scenario can imagine. of safety and marksmanship from a with the dominant and non-dominant These scenarios, properly choreo- static firing position, the next step is sides, shooting from improvised posi- graphed, replicate real-world situa- learning safe handling skills from the tions, shooting while moving, learning tions and test the student’s ability to holster. The draw from and recovery to the difference between cover and con- negotiate and prevail in an unpredict- the holster are the key points to profi- cealment and how to engage targets able encounter. Although mentally and ciency at this stage. After the draw can from behind either add to the skills nec- physically challenging, these scenari- be performed comfortably, safely and essary for the next progression. os are the epitome of preparing for a efficiently, handling manipulations in All of these skills, and perhaps others real-world encounter. conjunction with a draw, such as load- as conditions require, need to be prac- As with many professions, after a ing, unloading and learning the various ticed and refined such that they can particular level of accomplishment is phases of immediate action, come into be integrated into one another without met, continuing education is required play. Handling skills are paramount in the practitioner needing to consciously to stay up-to-date and proficient with providing a foundation for the next level think about doing so. the most current information as well of skill development. Regardless of discipline, after the as to hone physical skills. After train- For the casual plinker, executing ba- mechanical skills are in place, re- ing begins, the evolution of a student is sic handling skills and successfully en- al-time decision-making comes into perpetual throughout his or her lifetime. gaging a target might be the plateau of play. The most important types of this After all, as in all things shooting, once goals with a handgun. For those inter- decision-making are (perhaps not sur- a student, always a student. ested in personal defense or competi- prisingly) whether a target should be tive shooting, there’s a lot more to learn. deemed a shoot or no-shoot target The concept of speed should be and, only slightly less importantly, in

February/March | www.USCCA.com 111 LIFELINE by Anthony Lambert

There isn’t much spare space inside a human■ body, and when something like this deployed jacketed hollow-point has found its way into your system, you’re on a clock with regard to how you’ll react.

MEDIC!ANATOMY OF THE GSW

112 www.USCCA.com | February/March ■ ON OCT. 1, 2017, 58 Americans were murdered, with an additional 458 injured, at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. It was the deadliest mass shooting in American history. There are stories of courage: strangers helping strangers in a very high-stress environment — heroic actions that saved many lives. Off-duty police officers, military veterans, trained medical personnel and just plain old Good Samaritans sprang into action and to victims’ aid. Imagine if every American citizen sue or Hypodermis: This layer is A bullet that passes through the were trained in basic trauma care. made of fat and connective tissue. body, creating an exit wound, gener- How many more lives might have been The projectile might continue to dam- ally will cause less damage than one saved that day and, indeed, every day? age the surrounding muscle and skel- that stays in the body, because a bul- If you don’t already know, you’re etal structure, which means you might let that stays in the body transfers all about to find out what happens to the be dealing with additional injuries in- of its energy and inflicts maximum human body when it suffers a gunshot flicted by the destruction of bone. You damage to tissue. This is the aim of wound. Better yet, let’s refer to the gun- might be dealing with a “through-and- most modern bullet designs; jacketed shot wound as a “penetration wound.” through” gunshot wound, or you might bullets are designed to fragment after Doing so allows for a simpler curricu- be dealing with a projectile that’s still in impact, dividing their destructive pow- lum and, all told, if you have a foreign the subject’s body. er. Hollow-point and soft-lead bullets object penetrating the human body, Now, depending on the type of car- are designed to flatten and spread, regardless if it is a bullet, knife, flying tridge from which the bullet was fired, creating a wider area for their tracks debris or anything else, you’re dealing the entry wound and the exit wound and increasing the damage caused by with a puncture wound. might not be in a straight line. This shockwaves and cavitation. A trigger is pressed, a firing pin typically happens when the bullet hits As is plain to all, a bullet hitting the strikes a primer, that primer ignites the bone, which changes the trajectory or body causes the primary injury, but you gunpowder and the hot gases from path of travel. You should also expect might encounter secondary injuries that burning powder propel a projectile the exit wound to be larger than the en- that are not necessarily from the bullet or projectiles down and out the barrel. try wound, which is caused by what is itself, such as pieces of fragmented Before that projectile even hits a hu- called “cavitation.” bone acting as projectiles and causing man body, it will likely pass through As a bullet enters the body, it caus- additional internal damage to arteries, multiple layers of clothing, the number es laceration and crushing wounds. The veins or organ systems. of which depends greatest on climate bullet punctures tissue and bone, crush- As a first responder, think about the conditions. Keep in mind that each ing or pushing aside anything in its path. body as a house with pipes. If you of these layers will slow the projectile When a bullet passes through tissue, it ever experienced a leaking pipe, you down (though to varying degrees). creates a cavity that can be 30 times wid- wrapped it or grabbed a towel to slow A plain T-shirt will be easier to pene- er than the path it takes. This cavity clos- the leak. The human body will react trate than a duck canvas work jacket. es behind the bullet less than a second like those leaking pipes, and, in the In fact, different materials can become after the bullet passes, but the cavitation human body, a leaking pipe is bad consequential in the types of injuries can damage nearby tissue, organs and news. First and foremost, you need to you could encounter. bones — namely through shockwaves stop that leak. The No. 1 reason why Let’s look at what happens to the hu- that spread rapidly and easily since the trauma victims die — major blood man body after the projectile enters it. human body is mostly water. loss — is also an emergency that’s far After the bullet gets through any cloth- The type and amount of injury sus- easier to train for than other medical ing, it will travel through multiple layers tained from a bullet also depends on traumas. of human tissue: what a bullet encounters. Soft tissue If you aren’t already, get trained on • The Epidermis: This is the outer- can carry shockwaves more easi- basic medical aid and encourage your most layer of skin. It provides a water- ly than bone, but bone is dense and friends and family members to do the proof barrier and creates our skin tone. therefore absorbs more force and same. Let’s start a movement to learn • The Dermis: Beneath the epidermis, damage. Bones also splinter, causing to save others and ourselves. If we the dermis contains tough connective tis- further damage as those fragments don’t, who will? sue, hair follicles and sweat glands. travel through the body, essentially act- • The Deeper Subcutaneous Tis- ing as projectiles themselves.

ATTEND ANTHONY LAMBERT’S “TOURNIQUET APPLICATION & TOP 5 MEDICAL SKILLS FOR YOUR SURVIVAL” FREE SEMINAR | LEARN MORE AT CONCEALEDCARRYEXPO.COM

February/March | www.USCCA.com 113 CLEAR IMPACT by Ed Combs

HORNADY CRITICAL DUTY .45 AUTO +P ON CALL 114 www.USCCA.com | February/March WATCH CLEAR IMPACT AT https://youtu.be/U-_HelMg8ms

SPECIFICATIONS BULLET WEIGHT: 220 GRAINS MUZZLE VELOCITY: 975 FEET PER SECOND MUZZLE ENERGY: 464 FOOT-POUNDS MSRP: $20/20

■HORNADY, one of the most trusted names in ammunition, led the way in the new renaissance of American handgun ammunition over the last decade with its Critical Defense and Critical Duty lines of cartridges. The patented Hornady Flex Tip eliminates the clogging that plagued jacketed hollow-points for decades, and the jacket-to-core bonding cuts down on core separation even after penetrating through standard FBI barriers. Loaded with low-flash powder and penetrating more than 16 inches into test blocks even when sent from this 3.24-inch-barreled Kahr CM45, it and the entire Hornady family of ammunition are available for viewing at Hornady.com.

February/March | www.USCCA.com 115 MEMBER PROFILE DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE…SUBSCRIBE NOW!

■TAYLOR GENTHE was building a career as a barber, but she was unhappy. She wanted to work somewhere that provided more stability and a more positive and uplifting work environment. In her search for a new path, she came across a USCCA job posting, and the rest is history. “The second I walked in for my inter- view, I knew I was in the right place,” Gen- the said. “I did not walk anywhere without being greeted with a smile and I felt like I was at home. This place has become my family. I am so blessed to work for this amazing company.” As a member loyalty specialist, Genthe contacts USCCA members to assist with a variety of different membership issues. “The most fulfilling thing about working I carry the magazine like here is knowing that I am actually saving lives by doing my job,” Genthe said. “I love waking up every day to do so.” I carry my firearm… Genthe grew up in a family of hunters, so she was familiar with rifles and shotguns from a young age, but her interest in handguns, especially for self-defense, has increased significantly in recent years. EVERYWHERE “It wasn’t until I moved out on my own that I really felt like I needed to protect myself,” Genthe said. “I originally thought – Paul, MN just having a firearm in the home would Magazine Reader suffice. Once I started working here, I re- I GO. & USCCA Member ally got more comfortable with the idea of “ carrying. I used all the training and education around me and eventually felt con- ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? Share with a friend and let them know why they should get fortable enough to carry.” their own copy of the magazine trusted by over 276,000 American gun owners… She advises those who are considering carrying a concealed handgun to do everything possible to make sure they find Over 276,000 like-minded patriots rely on the training and tactics found in every single the right gun, pair it with the perfect hol- issue of Concealed Carry Magazine. From true stories of self-defense to unbiased gun and gear reviews, ster and seek the best training. your subscription will boost your confidence, transform you into a more prepared protector, and build your “You aren’t going to carry if you yourself training regimen with unparalleled drills & exercises. Save time and money with dry-fire drills, improve your are not comfortable with the idea [of carry- accuracy with our Drill of the Month, and take your armed lifestyle to the next level by being informed and ing a concealed handgun] or comfortable ready when it matters most. with that firearm,” Genthe said. “Really ” TAYLOR take it seriously and never stop training.” Beginners and advanced armed citizens alike are reading every issue from cover-to-cover. If you like what When it comes down to it, that gun you see here, and haven’t claimed your own subscription yet, now’s your chance to join an elite community could one day save your life or the lives of of sheepdogs who will stop at nothing to protect themselves and the ones they love. Activate or renew your loved ones. your subscription today to ensure you never miss a single issue! GENTHE “Many people believe nothing will ever WEST BEND, WISCONSIN happen to them or their loved ones,” Gen- USCCA MEMBER the said. “I wish that was the case, but, LOYALTY SPECIALIST unfortunately, it is not. I know I am going to do everything in my power to protect EVERYDAY CARRY: myself and my loved ones and I am very GLOCK 42 thankful to have the right to do so.” Your Next issue Is Waiting For You…Claim It Today: Visit www.GetConcealedCarryMag.com 116 www.USCCA.com | February/March or Call 1-877-677-1919 DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE…SUBSCRIBE NOW!

I carry the magazine like I carry my firearm… EVERYWHERE – Paul, MN Magazine Reader “I GO. & USCCA Member ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? Share with a friend and let them know why they should get their own copy of the magazine trusted by over 276,000 American gun owners…

Over 276,000 like-minded patriots rely on the training and tactics found in every single issue of Concealed Carry Magazine. From true stories of self-defense to unbiased gun and gear reviews, your subscription will boost your confidence, transform you into a more prepared protector, and build your training regimen with unparalleled drills & exercises. Save time and money with dry-fire drills, improve your accuracy with our Drill of the Month, and take your armed lifestyle to the next level by being informed and ready when it matters most. ” Beginners and advanced armed citizens alike are reading every issue from cover-to-cover. If you like what you see here, and haven’t claimed your own subscription yet, now’s your chance to join an elite community of sheepdogs who will stop at nothing to protect themselves and the ones they love. Activate or renew your subscription today to ensure you never miss a single issue!

Your Next issue Is Waiting For You…Claim It Today: Visit www.GetConcealedCarryMag.com or Call 1-877-677-1919 PRESS CHECK

CZ 75 ■ IT'S ONE OF THE MOST-COPIED PISTOL DESIGNS ON THE PLANET, and yet some shooters don’t even know its name. The CZ 75 wins fans wherever it goes. It inspires new designs, as it did with the Bren Ten in the 1980s, as well as revivals, as it does in its original form with manufacturers throughout the world. Old form or new though, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: It served as the bridge between the Old World of gunmaking — a world ruled by men with names like Browning and Luger — and the New World of gunmaking — one in which men with names like Glock and Kellgren would earn their fortunes and change history. In the April issue, frequent Concealed Carry Magazine contributor Bob Campbell will read-in any of the uninitiated on this modern classic.

118 www.USCCA.com | February/March No More Lazy Leather.

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