Innehållsförteckning för March 2016 från Gun Digest

Self defense handgun ammunition is quite like a fire extinguisher: When you need it, you really need it, and you need it to work well. And furthermore, a discount fire extinguisher doesn’t quite cut the mustard. You need the bullet that will perform best in your handgun and possesses the qualities you can count on. We need a bullet that will neutralize a threat to life and limb; one that is accurate; one that will expand reliably and will penetrate enough to quell a very dangerous situation yet not over-penetrate and risk harming an unintended target. Not all handgun bullets can fit the bill, but I’ve found a few that will. Let’s take a look at them. Federal Premium HST Among the premium bullets, I feel the Federal HST reigns…

In a Washington press conference, former CIA official Dr. Peter Pry, warned, “There is an imminent threat from ISIS to the national electric grid and not just to a single U.S. city.” He explained that attacks on just nine of the nation’s 55,000 electrical substations could result in coast-to-coast blackouts for up to 18 months. Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy went even further, “... should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish.” What could be a more frightening thought than that? It may have already begun. In San Jose, California, snipers fired on an electrical substation for 19 minutes, knocking out 17 giant transformers that provide power as far away as Silicon Valley. It took…

Classics always seem to survive despite changes in style and taste. And the SIG P225 was, and still is, a classic handgun that the Swiss created in the 1970s as a compact companion to the SIG Sauer P220. It was adopted as the law enforcement sidearm by several nations, most notably the West Germans, who designated it as the P6. As time passed, the West Germans transitioned to a different sidearm, and surplus P225s began to arrive in the US. These single stack 9mm imports gained a loyal following and were prized by many as a gun for discreet carry even though the striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol trend had begun. Now, as more states make lawful, discreet carry easier, the trend is toward smaller, single-stack handguns. All the major handgun manufacturers…

When it comes to predator calls, FoxPro is without a doubt a leader in the industry. It makes some pretty high-dollar electronic calls, too, but as the company’s latest introduction, the Inferno, shows, it also makes a value-packed call for the budget-conscious hunter. The Inferno sells for $199, is compact and lightweight, and ideal for walking into a set and maintaining your stealth. It’s also incredibly loud, featuring 20 volume settings and 75 preloaded sounds (it can hold up to 200), including a substantial menu of rabbit calls. The wireless remote and speaker run off AA batteries, and the speaker also has an additional jack or another auxiliary speaker. I put the Inferno to the test during a recent trip to Eastern Colorado for a February coyote hunt. It’s an…

There are iPhones users and there are Android users. Proponents of one rarely cross over to the other. It’s the same with Remington’s 870 and Mossberg’s 500. Even though both shotguns are quite similar, there are differences that are favored by some over others. The Model 500 and Model 870 are both legendary, each being produced in the tens of millions, and still counting. Not bad for two designs that were developed in the early 1950s (Remington) and early 1960s (Mossberg) in a time when telephones had cords and a dial. It is hard to argue which is the most popular. The 870 and 500 are safe, adaptable, proven in the field, the streets and in combat. Originally designed for sporting use, theses pump-action shotguns have been adapted to tactical,…

Bad things happen to good people. According to the Department of Justice, an average of 3.7 million household burglaries take place each year. More than a quarter of a million involve some sort of violent confrontation with the homeowner. Are you prepared? Owning a capable home defense firearm and knowing how to use it is a good start. You can’t protect your family if you don’t have the necessary tools. However, even the most competent gun owner can’t hit his target if he can’t see it. A high-quality light and a reliable, accurate laser sight can put the odds in your favor. LASERMAX SPARTAN LASER LaserMax’s new Spartan series laser is light, compact, affordable and reliable, making it the perfect addition to any home defense handgun. Available in either a…

Springfield’s XD series of pistols has been around since 2001, but the latest iteration, a 3.3-inch XD-S 9mm in Flat Dark Earth (FDE), is perhaps the X-factor when it comes to compact carry handguns. Right out of the box, the XD-S is loaded with value, featuring a highly functional design and quality barrel that delivers supreme accuracy in a carry-friendly package. My confidence in the XD-S has only grown over the years, especially with the number of defense contractors or personal protection professionals who’ve told me it’s their go-to firearm when duty calls. To me it says a lot when someone who puts their life on the line everyday, and who could quite frankly choose any gun they wanted, opts for a gem out of the Springfield Armory. Design And…

Anyone who has followed columns I’ve written over the past few months knows what a stickler I am for training. If you are serious about carrying a concealed firearm for self-defense, training from a competent source trumps all the gadgets and whiz-bang, voodoo magic mind spells currently the rage in the age of the YouTube “expert.” The skills you acquire from those competent sources are perishable, and you don’t want to lose those hard won skills you took the time and money to learn. Therefore, sustainment training becomes vital to maintaining response capabilities. The problem that comes up regarding our ability to attend training and to practice acquired skills can be brought down to a single word: adulthood! We only have so much time between jobs, kids/grandkids, social life and…

Most are well aware that a concealed carrier’s response time is paramount when dealing with a deadly encounter. The shooter must evaluate and react to the situation at hand, cleanly draw from concealment, and, if necessary, use lethal force to end that encounter. However, time is a crucial element in responding to any lethal threat, including those that take place inside the home. In the event of a home-defense scenario, being able to access your chosen firearm quickly could mean the difference between life and death. While quick access for some means a shotgun propped against the closet wall or a handgun stowed within a nightstand drawer, many others prefer a more secure option. Luckily, manufacturers produce a number of safes and secure storage options that offer a level of…