But do we carry this fervor through to our every day lives?

A friend recounted a story to me a short while ago. He is a CCW holder and was pulled over by a Highway Patrol officer for talking on his cell phone while driving… a minor infraction in CA, but one that can get you hassled.. Unfortunately, he had not really rehearsed how he would handle a situation like this and fumbled the initial contact. He fully intended to hand the officer his CCW card as well as his driver’s license, even though it was not required in his county. He was nervous and sort of blurted out that he was carrying. The officer was particularly reactive to this announcement and basically drew down on him. Shortly after that, my friend got to experience being proned out on the pavement and handcuffed.

A nightmare for most of us. How could he have handled this situation better?

Let’s fast reverse to before the traffic stop. Have you considered the consequences that might await you with a simple traffic stop? I think we all have considered the larger issues and would consider ourselves ‘law abiding citizens’. We don’t steal, participate in road rage, drink and drive.. etc. Do you ‘break the law’ in small ways while carrying? Speeding, driving while on your cell phone, expired registration… all could get you pulled over by your friendly neighborhood police officer. Are any of these infractions worth the risk of being proned out and possibly arrested.

Now in my friends case, after securing the weapon and running him through the system, the officer released him with a citation and returned his unloaded weapon. But could you envision this turning out much worse?

Something to consider…

However, how many of us spend 3 to 4 hours a day in our cars and yet we never have the opportunity to train for a car-jacking scenario. Most do not have a private range and an old vehicle lying around that we can use to shoot out the glass. How do you carry your weapon in your vehicle? What does the law allow in your state? Do you keep your blaster in your strong side hip holster? Have you ever tried dry practicing your draw stroke seated in your car with the seat belt fastened? Rot a very quick presentation! Would we be better to consider mounting a holster under the dash or between the seats that we can slip our blaster into when we enter the vehicle? I would prefer to secure it somewhere that keeps my blaster from sliding a1Ì over my vehicle as I hit the brakes, so I would probably not just put it in the passenger seat with a newspaper covering it. Several manufacturers have created a vehicle-mounted single gun safe that can provide a secure location for your firearm. Some of these even have a holster that will present the weapon when you open the lid to make a quick presentation.
How about a less than lethal defense? Do we have any options beyond grabbing our gun and blasting away? Would a stun gun or taser be an appropriate resource “How about a chemical agent, though it might be a little to close quartered for that option. Have you even considered the possibilities?
How about the environmental impact of a vehicle involved shooting? I am not talking about recycling! Firing a weapon within a vehicle will certainly damage hearing. Likely, you will have to deal with breaking glass and glass dust quickly spreading near your face. How do you get into a stable shooting platform? Can you draw your weapon without muzzling some part of your own body? If firing through glass, have you anticipated the way the bullet will deflect as it goes through the glass? Do you aim high or low? Does it matter if you are firing through the side windows or through the windshield?
The point is that you do not know... until you know. If you have never fired your weapon through a car's windshield, you will not know how the bullet will deflect. You will not anticipate the intensification of the noise in a closed space or that glass chips flying outward with your bullet will propel glass dust inward toward you.
I encourage you to consider all of the options and find a tactical training opportunity that will allow you to expand your current regimen to embrace these new variables.

John Ross

By: Clark - Carryconealed.net

This was posted on our Forum just recently and we found it very appropriate. In almost every case where robbery, rape or other violent attacks occur the bad guys are looking for easy targets.

"I had a home invasion attempt on my neighbor. My dogs were going nuts and I stepped out of the house to see three gentlemen running across my neighbor’s yard. One was holding a bat; another was holding something that looked to be a gun in his hand. The small car they jumped out looked like a street racing car, with a bag over the tag. I shouted “What are you doing in my neighborhood?” They did not stop. I shouted again “What the @#$%#$%#$%#$%$%  are you doing in my neighborhood?” The trio then stopped and looked at me. While the trio were looking in my direction, I put my hand on my concealed .45 Springfield Arms 1911 and asked again; “What the #$%$%$$@@ are you doing in my neighborhood?” They finally got the universal body language of preparing to draw as language was not working. They ran to the car and slowly drove by in front of my house.  I stepped back behind my truck so I could draw and fire from cover should they start firing.

The police were called and they responded within 5 min. My CCW permit was presented to the police and they took down the description and direction of the gang members. The police were very professional, and were grateful for the information. They ran off looking for the gang members.

The learning points: (1) The ultimate goal is not to get into a gun fight; (2) Bad people may not understand English, but they do understand when someone is able to protect themselves; (3) Situational awareness is often forgotten and people need to think about possible situations before they happen and; (4) The police are one of our greatest assets, but they have limitations and can not always be at the scene of a crime." Posted on Carryconcealed.net forum.

In martial arts training we are taught to be constantly moving and assessing the opponent. We can not go through our day to day lives in this heightened state of awareness without taking away from our quality of life. Author David Kenik writes in his book “Armed Response” that there are different levels of awareness and has an insight on how we should proceed in our day to day activities.  He covers the range from those that are totally unaware to those that are on a constant state of readiness. The book “Armed Response” describes the “relaxed alert” as the best scenario for our busy schedules.

We would recommend taking the “relaxed alert” mode and add “Situationally Aware” together. We have been teaching that there are two kinds of people in the world; those that survive and those that do not. The survivors will react to a violent attack quickly and with a planed response.  The ability to react quickly can be happen naturally to some people, but it can be a learned response for those that have gone through life totally unaware.  Take several extra steps when you’re out and about.

    1: Before leaving your home, have a plan of your route and stopping points.

     2: Try to look around in a 360 view at all times.

     3: Have a plan if some one tries to attack you at different times during your outing.

     4: Keep your hands free so that you can use keys, phone, mace, or CCW if needed.

      5: Get eye contact with those around you. Bad guys do not like eye contact.

Practicing with being “Situationally Aware” will take some effort, but it may save your life and it will bug the bad guys when they realize that you are watching and are not going to be an easy target.

Many people have gone out and got their permit and then bought the biggest gun they could get. Then tried to hide it……I know that was me. It drove my wife nuts. We have so many holsters that make my back side look big (Grin) or just do not work.

The best thing to do, is pick the best gun and caliber first. If you properly pick the gun and the caliber, then the holster is a lot easier. We have a saying at Carryconcealed.net "Carry the gun with the largest caliber or greatest stopping power that you can handle comfortably and maintain control on your firearm." Choosing the right gun and caliber will be discussed in other articles, this one will be for the holsters.

All holsters should provide a safe haven for the firearm so that you do not have to worry about the gun being seen, or that it will fall out and possibly hurt an innocent bystander. Keeping a leather holster looking good and maintained is mandatory. When the snaps do not work, it is time to repair or get a new holster. I have had my firearm fall out of an old shoulder rig and the holster was repaired that day. We at Carryconcealed.net have put most holsters into two categories: (1) Quick Draw; and (2) Deep Conceal. Quick Draw holsters offer fast access to the firearm but may not always be the most comfortable. Deep Conceal are for long term carry, and may be slower to draw. We teach our students to always be "Situationally Aware" so that if they are carrying the Deep Conceal holster they have the time required to pull the firearm to defend themselves. The Deep Concealment holsters the ability to hide the firearm or ensure that the gun is not visible either by direct sight or outline better than the Quick Draw holsters.

With both categories of holsters, where and how you carry additional ammunition should always be considered. While most gunfights are only 3 to 4 shots, the increase of gang and violent illegal aliens lends it self to having more than one attacker and the need for more shots.

Where you wear the gun will be impacted by the actives that you are doing. While driving you would not want a "In the Back" type holster. While boating I actually use a neoprene slip that allows a Taurus 357 2-inch barrel to be worn on my bathing suit. This holster was picked up at a gun show and was only about $10.

The material that the holsters are made of is almost as important as the type of holster you choose. Ballistic nylon is cheaper and very durable. Leather is more comfortable and requires maintenance. I personally prefer leather in the city and everyday wear, while in the woods or working in the backcountry I prefer the ballistic nylon. Kydex is a plastic material that is low cost and should be considered.

There are several other key issues when shopping for a holster and they are the "Ride" and the "Cant". The ride refers to how the holster will hold the firearm in day to day activities. For example close to the body or like in the old west on the hip and slung low for fast draw. The "Cant" refers to the angle at which the holster rides. This can have a dramatic impact on how fast you can draw the firearm.

Quick Draw:

The Beltster Holster System:

The BELTSTER was introduced in 1996 is called the "Ultimate Daily-Carry Concealment Rig". This is the only belt-integrated system. We were interested in giving this CCW system a try and called Scott Key at Bandera Gunleather and ordered one in for testing. Scott was very knowledgeable about the sizing and how to measure an exact fit. After receiving the system we went to the range and also tried it out during normal daily wear and tear.

Pancake holsters – are holsters that ride on the hip on the belt outside the pants. There is typically a large plastic part that slides inside the belt to hold the holster tight. The advantage to this type of holster is quick removal from the belt for people that have to move in and out of gun free zones. The disadvantage is that most pancake holsters do not hold the CCW close to the hip and can be seen through the clothing covering the holster or firearm.  

IWB or Inside the Waistband Holsters – These holsters are worn inside the pants and attach to the belt with loops or snaps. These are very good concealing holsters, but not everyone can wear them. If you have pants that are about 1 size too large they work great. Try to get them from a dealer that will allow you to try them on before purchasing, as they are dependent on your pants fitting correctly.

Main Types

Cross Draw Holsters – As the name implies they hold the firearm on the opposite side of the body and the wearer must "cross" his or her body to pull the firearm. The advantage to this type of holster is for right handed shooters to wear a firearm on the left side of the body for quick access while driving. This would be critical in car-jacking situations having ready access to your defense tool. They do not hold the pistol handle close to the body and can give the "print" of the pistol on the outside clothing.

Shoulder Holsters – These are classic holsters that hold the firearm under one arm and many have an optional additional magazine compartment under the other arm. They do require a vest, coat or cover. Great for everyday wear in the winter or colder months when the weather allows for coats. During the summer months a vest is usually used. There are lots of manufactures and the holster can range in ballistic nylon to quality leather. While working in the back woods I prefer the Jackass from Galco because it is easy to grab on the way out the door with additional magazines and comfortable for long working days. The weight is not on your belt and helps to distribute the weight of a full sized auto for comfort.

Fanny Packs – Please do not laugh. Years ago I used to laugh at the older folks in Wal-Mart stores wearing fanny packs or at Hulk Hogan. After carrying for many years I have realized the fanny pack is a good way to keep your firearm handy. If there is a problem in any Wal-Mart, the first thing I am doing is ducking and looking for any older person with a fanny pack. They are most likely a retired military person with a gun.

Regular Belt Holsters – These are regular holsters that are fit to each gun and have to be threaded onto a belt. For right-handed people as the left-handed people have more to thread. There are lots of manufactures and some are listed in the resource section.

Clips – There is a company that provides a "Clip" that goes on the outside of the gun that allows the gun to be tucked in the pants without a holster.

Deep Conceal

Kangaroo – This is a belt that is worn around the chest just under the pectoral muscles. This is a cotton holster that is very comfortable for long term carry. Another advantage is the ability of the CCW Permit holder to wear a firearm under the arm in short sleeve shirts and shorts and not give away the fact they are carrying. The disadvantage is the quick access after pulling your shirt up. This is why you need to practice being "Situationally Aware" if using any deep conceal holster.

Ankle holsters – Should only be worn in Hollywood. Chris Rock is the only person to be able to actually do a quick draw from the ankle holster. This was in the movie with Jackie Chan. Seriously, they should only be considered for a back up gun. (Correction - After this article was written I was sent an ankle holster that had a support strap that connected to the top of the calf. It supported the .357 great and was a good solution. It is a good way to hold your CCW in slacks or jeans when other methods are not available. I have been wearing one only for several months and like the addtion to my holster pile. Wearing a CCW this way, you must be more "Situationaly Aware". Several readers have provided postivie feed back on this issue.We have even helped Judges in our training sessions that are getting ready to start carrying in the court house. The ankle holster with the top strap over the calf is a good way to carry as they are sitting at the bench. The top strap holds the weight and helps keep the handgun close to the leg to help avoid walking funny.)

Pocket holsters – This is a sleeve or pocket that fits over the gun that helps hide the shape of the gun from showing through in a "Print" in the pocket. Work great with small derringers or the Beretta TomCat or BobCat. These are small .22 or .32 caliber semi-auto pistols that fit in the palm of your hand. This brings up the question of what size caliber to use with CCW. We always recommend the larger caliber handguns, but it better to have a North American Arms .22 or a Beretta .32 than nothing.

SOB – Small of the Back – This can actually go in both categories depending on how you are sitting. It is a holster that fits behind the back of the person caring the gun. The advantage is no "Print" from the front showing that the person has a gun. The "Print" is possible from the back and sitting or driving with the SOB is not comfortable.

511 Tactical shirt from the NRA – It is a tight fitting shirt with two pockets under each arm. A great way to carry with out having to wear a vest. It is like wearing a python if you do not get the right size, but it is a great way to conceal and not leave a "Print".

Alternative Deep Conceal – these are purses or brief cases that are designed for a hidden holster but are not on the person’s body. The advantage is that they are very comfortable and there will be no "Print". However there is an additional responsibility to the gun owner of not setting the purse down and walking away. Some of the alternative carry devises even have "Day-timers" with hidden pouches that hold a full sized auto. They even have room for the additional magazines or speed loaders for a revolver. We can not stress enough that there is more of a responsibility for gun owners using these as there is the danger of leaving an unprotected gun laying round for an UN-authorized user to pick up. Do not forget the Bible Cover as another way to carry.

There are great two compartment leather covers that work great for small autos or revolvers.

The bottom line – Pick the biggest caliber gun that you can comfortably shoot and while you are going through to determine what gun…think about where you will carry the handgun. Ask a local expert, your police department, law enforcement, or local gun dealer. You can even ask your teacher for the CCW Permit class. They normally have years of experience and can save you a lot of money of buying the right holster the first time. This will help avoid the pile of holsters that most of us get after years of carrying a firearm. I always want to make sure the holster does not make my "backside" look too big. My wife accuses me of taking more time to get ready than she does when we go out because I have to match the right gun and holster to the right occasion.

Resources:

We have tried most of these holsters and can answer questions about most manufactures, but we take no responsibility for them. The links can be found in the link section of Carryconcealed.net

Bianchi International - Bianchi International is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of handgun holsters and accessories.

Bandera Gunleather –The Beltster

Brigade Holsters - Specializing in gun holsters, western holsters and law enforcement holsters.

Don Hume Holsters - Leather Holsters

Fobus - Seconds Count

Handgun Holsters.net - Cargo pants holsters - look great

HKS Speed Loaders - Speed Loaders

Kingston Car Seat Holster - 2 Holsters in 1

Kirkpatrick Leather - Leather - Police and Conceal

Master of Concealment – Good CCW products.

Pocket Holster - Mika's Pocket Holsters

Safariland Duty Holsters - SAFARILAND® is a manufacturer and distributor of a variety of products for the law enforcement, military and sporting goods markets worldwide.

The Beltster - The Holster that's a belt! Check out our review under the review area.

Wild Bill's Concealment - Holsters from Wild Bill

BibleCovers.com - Great leather bible covers.

Cabelas - Cabelas canvas duck gun cases.

Concealed Carry Systems, Inc - The "Just In Case" System and the "Anytimer" Concealment Systems

Pelican Cases - Waterproof cases

What guns should women consider for CCW.

We have received so many questions about what do we recommend for women that want to defend themselves. These are some suggestions, and we would welcome feedback from people who have other good ideas. The most important suggestion is seek out local experts and practice.

Let me be the first to say that I take longer to dress than my wife. I have had a CCW permit for over 10 years and I have to match the holster and the gun to the event that we are attending. There are so many to choose from that it is very confusing.  The choice should be one of four different factors: (1) Comfort, (2)Availability, (3) Ease of Use, (4)Knockdown power. Please remember that as you glance through this article, it is written for women who are just starting out.  These measurements would be different if we were writing this for a different audience.  Also, please note there are women out there that none of this applies to as they can shoot anything that they want. We are writing this to the majority of women out there looking to protect themselves.

Lets’ take a moment and cover one ground rule. We at Carryconcealed.net feel that it is best to carry the most powerful round you can carry while safely shooting in control. In some of our other articles we talk about “grain per buck” but control is the key word. We are about to test some defense rounds that may change this rule, but as a general rule it works. We will update this article after our new ammunition tests. Maintaining control is an important point of self defense. It is better to have well placed .22 round than have a miss from a .45 caliber.

Comfort: It is better to have a gun that you will actually carry than one that you leave at home because it makes your purse too heavy or it makes your back side too big if your are wearing a hip holster. There are lots of choices for this category. 

Ease of Use is a term that changes with every shooter. We have had some women shooters that could field strip a 1911 and correct miss feeding ramp faster than you can say Mae West. In one of our classes a young lady showed up with the new Springfield Arms XTD. She performed flawlessly and had very tight patterns on the range. We have had others that could not pull a hammer back because of thumb problems. “Practice is the equalizer among shooters”. With practice comes confidence and knowledge. That combination works to feed into the Ease of Use. So if you are not going to practice and only use it as a defense tool, then you need to take your local trainers advice when he tells you that a revolver is the hand gun for you.

North American Arms Pistol Grip Derringer. Carryconcealed.net team gives this a score of 3.75

North American Arms has a great selection of derringers. They range in function from pistol grips to a regular derringer. The advantage to these pistols is that they are very light and they will be carried. The pistol grip can clip in to pants or shorts front pockets and it looks like a pager or pocket knife clipped onto the pocket. The flip handle version comes in .22 Long Rifle or .22 Magnum. Both are very loud and if the built misses the noise will let the attacker know that you mean business. The down side is the .22 round it is very powerful and an attacker can live if only wounded by such a round. These are designed for close range and can be very deadly if used correctly.  These derringers are re-loaded by pulling the pin and removing the cylinder from the hand gun.  This is very slow but it is so easy to carry that it should be considered as a gun where discretion is needed.  Having a larger caliber gun in the car would be a great back up, but some states require that each gun be registered, and in some states only one gun may be used for CCW. Other states have not ruled and you may carry a back up CCW gun. Check with your attorney.

1: Comfort                      5 Stars

2: Availability                  5 Stars

3: Ease of Use                 2 Stars – (Basic shooting is very easy. Some of our students had trouble with reloading)

4: Knock Down Power     1 Star

Other derringers may also be considered, but you will only have two shots and they are sometimes difficult to use unless you practice. Bond Arms and Cobra have several good models out there. The Texas Defender is a large caliber .45 Long Colt or 410 Shot Shell. This model is well balanced and we have had our Concealedcarry.net testers hit 1 inch patterns at 10 and 15 yards.  This is not normal, but it does show that the Bond Arms Derringer is very accurate if you practice. Not many women in our classes have liked these, but there are some that do like them.

Bond Arms Texas Defender when considered for Women. Carryconcealed.net scores a 3.75

1: Comfort                        4 Stars

2: Availability                    4 Stars

3: Ease of Use                   2 Stars

4: Knock Down Power       5 Stars

Revolvers come in many flavors and most of our women that have been through our training have appreciated the ability of ease of use. Some of the most popular are the Taurus .38 and 357 compact, Smith & Wesson Airweight . 

Smith & Wesson 637 Airweight Carry concealed.net team gives this wheel gun a score of 4.25

The advantage of the wheel gun or the revolver is that it rates high on the comfort as weight is very light and if the proper ammunition is used the recoil can be minimized while still having a significant impact or knockdown power.  Most of the students that we have talked to do not have the hand strength to pull many semi-automatic pistol slides back. There are a few exceptions that we will address both large and small. This model of the 637 includes the Crimson Trace Laser System. 

1: Comfort                         4 Stars

2: Availability                     5 Stars

3: Ease of Use                     5 Stars

4: Knock Down Power         3 to 5 Stars

Taurus 2 Inch 357. The Carryconcealed.net team gave this pocket rocket a score of 4.25

For those women that can shoot the 357 round this is an excellent choice. We tested the version with the hammer, and actually prefer the hammer if accurate shooting is required. This model is heavier than the S&W Airweight  which helps with reducing the recoil. Our women students did not like the 357 heavy loads but liked the additional weight so that the recoil was reduced on regular .38 loads.

1: Comfort                           5 Stars

2: Availability                       4 Stars

3: Ease of Use                      5 Stars

4: Knock Down Power          3 to 5 Stars

Semi –Automatics are better than revolvers when re-loading. This is a general statement and sometimes an urban myth. There are Law Enforcement men and women that can reload large revolvers very fast with speed loaders. The primary difference is the more complicated working of the gun itself, and the difficulty of checking to see if the hand gun has one in the chamber. More accidents happen when people drop the magazine and think the handgun is “Unloaded” when there is actually one in the chamber.  Personally I carry derringers, revolvers or semi-automatics and like all of them for different environments. Like the young women we mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are women that can pull the slide or what is also called the “action”. She used the Springfield Arms new XTD compact .9. At the writing of this article we did not have one for a review, but will update this when we can get the tests done.

Kahr K9 Carryconcealed.net’s team overall for women is a 2.75.

Kahr has done a great job with its product line. The problem with the K9s when being considered by female shooters is the difficulty of the action of the slide on the handgun. Many students both male and female could not work the slide back to place a round in the chamber. We have tested the Karr K9 and will be posting a review later. Our police testers liked them as a back up as they weigh in less than .23 ounces.

1: Comfort                           5 Stars

2: Availability                      4 Stars

3: Ease of Use                      1 Stars

4: Knock Down Power          3 to 5 Stars

Springfield Arms Commander 1911 Carryconcealed.net’s team overall for women is a 2.25.

What can you say about the 1911? (This is different from the new Springfield Arms XTD) This is one of my favorite guns and my son is a great shot with his. My wife and other students that have come through our classes do not like the recoil or the difficulty in working the slide. The single action was also something for the students to get over. Most people that do not shoot very often have a little bit of trouble with the idea that the 1911 is not a double action hand gun. The Ruger listed below is a double action hand gun. This means that when the trigger is pulled the hammer will come back and the gun will fire if there is a round in the chamber.

1: Comfort                             2 Stars  

2: Availability                         2 Stars

3: Ease of Use                        2 Stars

4: Knock Down Power            3 to 5 Stars

Ruger  P95 and P85. Carryconcealed.net’s team overall for women is a 2.75.

For Home defense this score would be around 4. The Ruger P95 is an outstanding firearm. It is a little big, and should be considered for anyone for home defense or where you do not have to hide the gun. All of our women students have been able to use this handgun and because of its size there is a feeling of reduced recoil. The reason this got a lower score is because of the size of the hand gun. If you were thinking of getting two hand guns, one for home and one for CCW, then the score for this one would be a 5.

1: Comfort                              2 Stars

2: Availability                          2 Stars

3: Ease of Use                         4 Stars

4: Knock Down Power             3 to 4

Barretta Bobcat – Carryconcealed.net’s team overall for women is a 3.25

This is a nice little 7 shot semi-automatic pistol that I actually purchased for my wife and she could not pull the slide action back.  So, I am forced to carry it as a back up or when being discreet is required. We also wrote a review on this for our regular testing’s and found that the little Bobcat likes the more expensive “Stinger” CCI brand ammunition. We tested with the .22’s from the discount section and had many jams and a few looks of disgust. “This is what I have to defend myself with?” Well we shot up the good CCI “Stinger” rounds and did not have any problems. She could pull the Hammer back and then pull the slide back. She loved the size, but did not like the two step process to load the gun.

1: Comfort                               5 Stars

2: Availability                           5 Stars

3: Ease of Use                           2 Stars

4: Knock Down Power              1 Stars

UPDATE: The Carryconcealed.net team gave this a 4.3 over all score.

The Carryconcealed.net team reviewed the Walther P22 and found that it is a well manufactured semi-automatic that we had several women with arthritis test. This was the first semi-automatic that they were able to use. It is very accurate and well made. Click on the link for the review.

There are so many handguns that we did not cover and we like some of those as personal favorites but we are trying to help those women just starting to look at getting a firearm for defense.  Again, this is not written for those women that can shoot anything. We applaud those women who shoot on a regular basis and have picked up shooting as a hobby and as a life saving tool.   If you have any suggestions or additions that you would like to see implemented in this article, please contact us at Carryconcealed.net

The bottom line. The winners were the small frame revolvers chambered in the .38 or 357, and the updated information on the Walther P22. Get out and try some of the different kinds of guns that we have discussed. Get with your local trainer and CCW instructor and have them show you the differences. Work with them on the range. It is cheaper to pay for an instructor to go to the range and show you the differences than to buy several hand guns that do not work or meet your family’s needs for defense.

If you know a professional, ask for a shooting smorgasbord. We do this for our students that want to practice with the different types of handguns available for CCW Permit holders. We do not sell handguns, so we just try to fit the gun to the person.

The semi-automatics were almost 100% dependent if a shooter could work the action on the firing line. If you cannot work the action on the firing line under controlled conditions, what is going to happen when the bad guys are hurting your family? The pistol grip derringers scored well on comfort but not well on knock down power. The revolver scored the best and most female students gravitated to them. They are easier to learn how to shoot and light enough for daily carry.

Clark –Carryconcealed.net

We are getting questions regarding lasers and their use in concealed carry handguns. The questions normally include a follow up question like; “Are lasers good for home defense?”.

There are several ways to look at lasers. First they are a specialized aiming assistant that will help acquire the target for defensive purposes.  They have several different flavors and they can be found for most popular handguns.

We will break the lasers into several groups. They will be the handle embedded; after market universal style; and barrel mount designed by the gun manufacture.

First is the handle laser such as the Crimson Trace. This is a handle integrates the laser into the handgun handle. Pictured is the Smith&Wesson 637 Airweight with the laser. The Crimson Trace^® Laser Sighting System is built into the handle and has the official Smith and Wesson logo. It is not an after-market add on to this pistol. It has a very clean and professional feel to the gun. The "Red Dot" activation is on the front of the handle easily activated by a left or right handed person. While shooting this does add one more layer into the shooting equation. The shooter needs to think about the surrounding situation, activate the laser, and maintain the proper hold on the handgun. For folks that do not practice, this extra step may be a hindrance rather than having any benefit from the use of the Red Dot. On the 637 pictured you can see the laser on the top of the handle, and the activation button in the front of the handle that is activated by the shooting hand.

Dan Battreall, Carryconealed.net Senior Contributor, states in his series on “The Human Factor” the following;

 "Under stress people react differently than normal and your ability to gather information may shut down, start to filter incoming info or dwell on a certain part of the information. Tunnel vision, denial and not listening are examples of shutting down information gathering ability." This may have a significant impact on the ability of inexperienced (and experienced) shooters to rely or focus on the mechanics of operating the laser rather than the primal instincts to get out of or end a violent confrontation. Dan's point is right on the money regarding lasers, and the laser may distract the person from the critical decision making points.

The second is an after-market laser that “fits” on any semi –automatic. The laser mounts onto the trigger guard and sticks out under the barrel. It can be jostled and loose the alignment just by touching the laser mounts. It is very bulky and makes the mighty 1911 feel like a garbage truck. Please do not ever buy one of these for defensive purposes. This was given to us as the shooter could never get a grouping of more than 10 inches.

The third style is the barrel mount designed by the manufacture. We selected to use the Walther P22 for this test. The Walther is one of the best handguns that we have found for defense when people want to use a semi-automatic, but do not have the hand strength to pull back a larger caliber handgun. Even though it is a .22 Long Rifle it is better to have 4 to 7 well placed .22 shots than have nothing at all.

The Walther P22 design on the laser fits into a nice package and can be activated with the trigger finger. Once the laser is activated it stays on no matter how the gun is handled. It also has two lights indicating that the laser is on. This helps the defender to see that the laser is on and they should be looking for the red dot.  The Walther is around $360 and the laser is about $90.

Pictured on the left is a grouping of shots fired during a rapid fire test with the handgun held out and to my right. I was simulating shooting around a corner and was able to hit all of the shots well within a center mass without looking through the handgun’s iron sight.

In a crisis situation the laser that is mounted professionally and stays on has an advantage over the lasers that require additional manipulation during a confrontation.  The P22 Laser could be turned on using the trigger finger and then the defender can focus on the target and the potential ending of the lethal confrontation. Hopefully without firing a shot.

The bottom line: I do not prefer lasers. I feel that people become dependent on them and would not have the basic skills to defend themselves. That being said, I recommend folks get to the range and talk to your local concealed carry instructor to ask their opinion and practice with and without the laser. There are some great advantages for the barrel mounted lasers that are easily operated and stay on. If you are awakened at night and need to react quickly the active laser could be a good solution. But please practice with and without the laser.

Defense is an ongoing part of an overall plan for your home safety. Make a plan, and implement the plan. The laser is only one small part of your home defense plan.

Happy Trails and keep the lead down range. Clark – Carryconcealed.net

*Editors note – During the testing of the lasers we used CCI Stingers in the Walther P22. We also tested the Remington Yellow Jackets. They jammed on almost every shot. If you are shooting any .22 Long Rifle for a defense pistol, please spend the extra money for the CCI stingers as they have not jammed in our .22 semi-automatic pistols.

1. Bring a weapon. Preferably bring at least two.
Bring all of your friends who have weapons. Bring
their friends who have weapons.

2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice.
Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.

3. Only hits count. Close doesn't count. The only
thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably
not moving fast enough, nor using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your
friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement is preferred.)

6. If you can chose what to bring to a gunfight, bring
a big weapon and a friend with a big weapon.

7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of
caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember
who lived and who didn't.

8. If you are not shooting, you should be
communicating, reloading, and running.

9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting is more
dependent on"pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy
of the weapon.

10. Use a weapon that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is
in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your
musket."

11. Someday someone may kill you with your own weapon,
but they should have to beat you to death with it
because it is empty.

12. In combat, there are no rules, always cheat;
always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

13. Have a plan.

14. Have a back-up plan because the first one won't
work. ("No plan survives first contact with the enemy")

15. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The
visible target should be in FRONT of YOUR weapon.

16. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

17. Don't drop your guard.

18. Always tactical reload and threat scan 360
degrees.

19. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust.
Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.)

20. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

21. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you
will get.

22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

23. Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to
kill everyone you meet.

24. Your number one Option for Personal Security is a
lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and
de-escalation.

25. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the
caliber of which does not start with a ".4."

.

We headed off to the range to test the Colt Delta Elite 10mm and compare it to other handguns. In our testing we used CCI Blazer 200 grain 10mm TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) and the Winchester 10mm Super X 175-Grain Hollow Point. The Winchester 10mm defense round is about .75 cents per round and the CCI Blazer 200 grain is around .35 cents in lots of 1000. This compares to a .45 defense round Carbon 185 Grain +p at $1.02 per round and .34 cents for the CCI Blazer 230 grain FMJ. We were surprised to find the ammunition right in line with the .45 caliber ammunition as we had heard that it was much more expensive.

One our Carryconcealed.net testers pictured on the right did not have any problems with the additional kick that the 10mm round produces. Kyle, a USMC Marine, loved the performance and was able to produce tight groups at ranges of 5, 10 and 25 yards. None of the testers felt that the additional kick the 10mm provided was unmanageable or would stop us from carrying the Delta. In fact our Marine tester said that he would rather have the additional stopping power to help put down opium enriched terrorist. Blake, from Colorado, was able to get the Colt in action with the bullet in the air after Kyle shooting at the 25-yard range.

The Delta Elite Government model tested with fixed sights, 5.03 inch barrel length and a weight of 2.44 lbs. with magazine and no bullets. Average muzzle velocity is for the 10mm round is recorded at 1329 ft/s

There are several urban legends that are out there regarding the 10mm round and the problems with the Colt 10mm offerings. The word on the street is that the rounds are expensive, the frames on the Delta can crack and the springs need to be checked under constant wear and tear. The frame cracking and spring wear is due to the additional power of the 10mm on the redesigned 1911 frame. As we were shopping for ammunition we found that the rounds were not as bad as the legends led us to believe, but this does not take into consideration the great deals that you can get on .45 ACP every once and a while. These deals are usually in a divorce sale. We found several good forums that had discussions regarding both. One forum on Nodakoutdoors.com posts that the 10mm can drop a grizzly and has another link to a 10mm site claiming to have shot a black bear in self-defense. The bear was dropped with two rounds to the head. While the bear was only 6 foot and 5 or 6 hundred pounds, it is still a bear. The form also has postings of Alaskan Guides carrying the Glock 20, which is chambered for the 10mm.

The Delta Elite is a 1911 frame and fit into every one of our holsters. As a CCW gun this is one that would be difficult to hide (as is most large frame 1911) but you would be glad to have it in a situation with a wild animal or as our Marine tester stated the "opium enriched terrorist". With all of the gang violence and tough guys out there that are willing to rob, rape or steal things from good people, this may be one of the best home defense guns we have tested. Our Carryconcealed.net team gives this a 5 out of 5 for a home defense tool and 4 out of 5 for an all around CCW gun. The 4 stars is only due to the difficulty in hiding a full sized 1911. Anyone that practices with .45 ACP regularly should be able to use the Colt Delta Elite Government 10mm handgun with confidence. If the .45 is too much for you to handle, it would be better to have well placed shots from a .38.

The bottom line: While Colt does not manufacture the Delta any more, if you can buy one at a reasonable price it would be worth the money. You may want to stock up on 10 mm ammunition, as it may not be readily available in the future. Clark –Carryconcealed.net

CARRYING CONCEALED FIREARMS (CCW) STATISTICS

Violent crime rates are highest overall in states with laws severely limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms for self-defense. (FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1992) -

The total Violent Crime Rate is 26% higher in the restrictive states (798.3 per 100,000 pop.) than in the less restrictive states (631.6 per 100,000).

The Homicide Rate is 49% higher in the restrictive states (10.1 per 100,000) than in the states with less restrictive CCW laws (6.8 per 100,000).

The Robbery Rate is 58% higher in the restrictive states (289.7 per 100,000) than in the less restrictive states (183.1 per 100,000).

The Aggravated Assault Rate is 15% higher in the restrictive states (455.9 per 100,000) than in the less restrictive states (398.3 per 100,000). Using the most recent FBI data (1992), homicide trends in the 17 states with less restrictive CCW laws compare favorably against national trends, and almost all CCW permittees are law-abiding.

Since adopting CCW (1987), Florida's homicide rate has fallen 21% while the U.S. rate has risen 12%. From start-up 10/1/87 2/28/94 (over 6 yrs.) Florida issued 204,108 permits; only 17 (0.008%) were revoked because permittees later committed crimes (not necessarily violent) in which guns were present (not necessarily used).

Of 14,000 CCW licensees in Oregon, only 4 (0.03%) were convicted of the criminal (not necessarily violent) use or possession of a firearm. Americans use firearms for self-defense more than 2.1 million times annually.

By contrast, there are about 579,000 violent crimes committed annually with firearms of all types. Seventy percent of violent crimes are committed by 7% of criminals, including repeat offenders, many of whom the courts place on probation after conviction, and felons that are paroled before serving their full time behind bars.

Two-thirds of self-protective firearms uses are with handguns.

99.9% of self-defense firearms uses do not result in fatal shootings of criminals, an important factor ignored in certain "studies" that are used to claim that guns are more often misused than used for self-protection. Of incarcerated felons surveyed by the Department of Justice, 34% have been driven away, wounded, or captured by armed citizens; 40% have decided against committing crimes for fear their would-be victims were armed.

OTHER CCW FACTS

With adoption of CCW by Arizona, Tennessee and Wyoming in early 1994, 19 states have CCW laws requiring the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms for self-defense to citizens who meet fair and reasonable state standards. Vermont, which ranks near the bottom in violent crime rates year-in and year-out, allows firearms to be carried concealed without a permit.

In recent years NRA successfully fought for the adoption of favorable CCW laws now on the books in Florida (1987), Idaho (1990, amended 1991), Mississippi (1990), Montana (1991), and Oregon (1990). In recent legislative sessions, proposals for similar CCW laws have progressed in Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

Anti-gun forces oppose CCW with a variety of arguments, ranging from deliberate misrepresentations of commonly available crime data to "studies" pretending to show that private ownership of firearms leads to death and injury rather than providing protection to the owner.

1. Firearms ownership opponents claim that "violent crime" went up in Florida since that state enacted CCW legislation in 1987, a misleading statement for multiple reasons:

Florida's homicide rate has declined 21% since adopting CCW in1987.

No comparison of aggravated assault, robbery, and rape (99.3% of Florida violent crimes) beginning before 1988 is valid,according to the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement. In 1988,Florida changed its method of compiling crime statistics.

In Florida, as in the U.S., more than 70% of violent crimes do not involve guns. Violent crime rates, therefore, don't necessarily reflect violent gun-related crime trends. According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reports (1992), nationwide firearms were used in the four violent crimes that make up the total "Violent Crime" category, as follows: Aggravated Assault (58% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 25%; Robbery (35% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 41%; Rapes (6% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in an estimated 5%-10% (survey data); and Homicides (1% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 68%.

In Florida: Aggravated Assaults (64% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 25%; Robberies (30% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 37%; Rapes (4% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in an estimated 5%-10% (survey data); and Homicides (0.7% of violent crimes) -- firearms used in 61%.

2. Anti-gunners cite "studies" they claim show that firearms kept at home are "43 times more likely" to be used to kill family members than be used for self-defense. (Other "studies" claim different ratios.) The 43:1 claim, based upon a small-scale study of Kings County (Seattle) and Shelby County (Memphis), is a fraud, because it counts as self-defense gun uses only those cases in which criminals were killed in the defender's home. Approximately 99.9% of all defensive gun uses are not fatal shootings, however -- criminals are usually frightened off, held at bay, or non-fatally wounded. Also, many defensive firearms uses occur away from home. Further, suicides were counted as "family member killings" in the "study," elevating that number more than 500%. Unfortunately, some of these "studies" are funded with taxpayer dollars, through grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a division of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

-------------------------

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On May 6, 2006, I filled out my application for a handgun license for Indiana. I had had
the form for some time, and as it happens, someone with whom I work is a Notary Public,
so I was able to have the form notarized without cost.Several (a week to ten) days later, I went to a local convenience store and purchased two money orders for $10 and $15, respectively. Each of these cost $0.99. I then went to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office and asked to
whom I needed to speak about obtaining my permit. The clerk came out shortly thereafter
and confirmed my information on the form. I was required to write either my Indiana
Driver's License number OR my Social Security number on the form, and did so. I handed
her the money order for $10 and was given a receipt, then had the fingerprints of each
finger of my right hand taken on the back of the application form. The envelope required
two first class stamps, at $0.39 each, and the application was accompanied by the other
money order. I was told that I could expect a six to eight week turnaround to receive my
license.

Three days later, May 18, I received a letter in the mail from the sheriff,
warning me of the serious responsibility of carrying a handgun, of the potential
liability involved, and informing me of the amount of training the deputies undergo both
with their weapons and in the details of the law regarding the use of deadly force. The
letter also re-stated the 6-8 week time frame, and closed by informing me that my permit
was approved because I have a constitutional right to bear arms, and asking me to keep
the safety of the citizens in mind while exercising that right.

On June 14, I called the State Police to inquire as to the status of my license. I had no
expectation that they would have issued it or not at this point, but I was surprised to
be told that I was not even in the system yet. Apparently, that is the final step in the
process. I asked the person to whom I was speaking (presumably a trooper, but I don't
know this) what "the process" entailed, and he told me that he was not free to discuss
that. I found this rather surprising, and can't imagine why they would be unwilling to
divulge the various sources they check for (presumably) criminal history, etc. I was told
that I could call back at any time, though he recommended I wait at least a week to do so.
On June 23, I received a letter from the Indiana State Police Records Division,
containing a pink paper on which was printed my license along with information about it
and also containing a paper with information about firearm safety. As recommended, I cut
the license from the paper and had it laminated. One week from today, the law changes and
I will be submitting paperwork for my lifetime license. I have no expectation that the
process will be any different, with the exception of the fees involved.

Update: The law did in fact change, however in contrast to what I was told by my
Sheriff's department prior, since I have just received my license, I cannot "renew" it
until 180 days or less from it's expiration. Frustrating, but I have my license, so I'm
OK with this.
Apparently, ISP made this determination, and I'm not willing to surrender my license to
repeat the process for the lifetime version.

Expenses to this point:
County fee: $10.00
State fee:  $15.00
M.O fee:    $ 1.98
Stamps:     $ 0.78
Lamination: $ 1.30

Total:      $29.06

LTC Main Application

LTC Supplemental

LTC Instruction

INTRODUCTION:  Gun Facts is a free e-book that debunks common myths about gun control.  It is intended as a reference guide for journalist, activists, politicians, and other people interested in restoring honesty to the debate about guns, crime, and the 2nd Amendment.

Gun Facts has 84 pages of information.  Divided into chapters based on gun control topics (assault weapons, ballistic finger printing, firearm availability, etc.), finding information is quick and easy.

Each chapter lists common gun control myths, then lists a number of documented and cited facts that directly dispute the gun control claim.  Thus when a neighbor, editor, or politician repeats some slogan propagated by gun control advocacy groups, you can quickly find that myth, then rebuke.

Links to download the Gun Facts book are below.  Other e-documents on other pages of this site are for special gun control issues, with most data lifted from the Gun Facts book.

Very simply get the most "Grain Per Buck" that you can get. This refers to the ability of the shooter to comfortably control the shot while using the largest caliber round possible. We are refering to this as the Wound Potential.  R.K. Campbell defined the Wound Potential as the combination of Penetration and Expansion. A chart from Mr. Campbell's book is listed below. This is a very simplistic way to look at this, and we know there are many things that impact the performance of the bullet, but it does seem to be one of the best ways to get the point accross.

Pictured is a .357 with a 2-inch barrel using +P rounds. If you miss with the gun, the flames will stop the bad guys. Blake, one of our testers, enjoyed shooting the "Snubby".

The "Bullet" is actually only the projectile or the business end of the "Bullet". The shell makes up the rest of the components that consist of the primer, case, bullet, and gunpowder. Everyone just uses the term "Bullet" just as every one miss-uses the word "Clip" for an additional magazine used in a semi-automatic handgun.

There are different types of bullets made up in different calibers.

Types of Bullets:

Hydra-Shok®: Is a Federal branded product and comprises of a unique, patented center post design and notched jacket. Delivers reliable controlled expansion for efficient energy transfer and stopping power. Designed for law enforcement, hunting, home defense and personal protection.

ExtremeShock™ Explosive Entry tactical defense rounds represent the ultimate refinement in lethal bullet technology. The compressed Tungsten-NyTrilium™ Composite fragments upon impact, leaving a wound channel of catastrophic proportions. The expansive fragmentation characteristics of the ExtremeShock rounds transfer the bullets energy in a far faster time span than conventional hollowpoints. The resulting stopping power is utterly devastating.  This was refereed to Carryconcealed.net by Ivan and we will be testing this and other rounds from ExtremeShock. Ivan refereed to this round as a "Direct ticket to hell". He also provided the picture below on an insurgent watermelon. Please note in the picture that there was a watermelon behind the one that was blown to bits. You can see watermelon parts in the air from the first one and yet the watermelon in the back was left intact. Very impressive. This is a very important data point showing that the ExtremeShock™ rounds reduce the possibility of hitting an innocent bystander when defending your loved ones.

Expanding Full Metal Jacket: This revolutionary barrier-penetrating design combines a scored full metal nose over an internal rubber tip that collapses on impact. It never fills with barrier material and assures expansion on every shot. A lead core at the base maintains weight retention.

Lead Round Nose: Bullet is 100% lead with no jacket. Provides excellent accuracy and is very economical. You must take care on the range as some indoor ranges do not allow this type of round.

Full Metal Jacket: Jacket extends from the nose to the base, preventing bullet expansion and barrel leading. Used primarily as military ammunition and for recreational shooting.

Jacketed Hollow Point: Creates quick, positive expansion with proven accuracy. Specially designed jacket ensures smooth feeding in autoloading firearms.

Jacketed Soft Point: Designed for deep penetration when hunting small to medium-sized game.

Lead Semi-Wadcutter is the most popular all-around choice for target and personal defense. A versatile design that cuts clean holes in targets and efficiently transfers energy.

Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point is a good combination for both small game and personal defense. Hollow point design promotes uniform expansion.

Close Quarters Training is a copper-tin bullet designed to break up on hard targets for reduced backsplash. The Ballisticlean® CQT eliminates airborne lead and reduces barrel fouling.

Different types of caliber:

.17 Mach 2 – Based upon the .22 LR necked down with the Hornady V-Max Bullet.

.22 Long Rifle (LR) – developed in 1887 by the Stevens Arms Company. It uses a .40 grain bullet and is a very inexpensive bullet. Do not let this fool you as it is very dangerous and can be deadly. It does not have much in the way of stopping power but can kill as seen in the Virginia Tech killings.

.25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) This was introduced in 1908 with the Colt pocket pistol. It has a very poor stopping power and should not be considered for CCW. It is small and can be carried in any pocket but does not have the stopping power that may be required when defense against a robber on PCP or Crack.

.380 Automatic – This was introduced in 1912 and has achieved worldwide acceptance. It does not have much recoil, but it has less stopping power even the 9mm.

9mm Luger – This was introduced in 1902 and was approved for service in the German Military in 1904. This is the most common handgun ammunition used in the world today. There has been a large debate over stopping power vs. quantity available in the gun. Most 9mm handguns can carry larger amounts of ammunition than the larger .45 ACP or .45 Gap.

.38 Special – This was developed by Smith & Wesson as a military cartridge. This was carried by pilots in the Vietnam War and has earned a place as one of the best cartridges ever make. The use of a hollow point or other defense rounds makes this an excellent CCW choice.

.357 Magnum – This was introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1935. It has better armor penetration than the .45 ACP and has been a great law enforcement bullet over the years. The picture shows a Taurus .357Magnum with a two-inch barrel shooting +P loads.

.40 Smith & Wesson – This has been adopted by many police and law enforcement agencies around the world. It has less stopping power than the .45 ACP and ammunition is readily available.

.44 Magnum – The "Dirty Harry" of hand gun ammunition. Remington and S &W designed this round. The .44 is more powerful than the .357 Magnum and was considered the most powerful round when the original Dirty Harry Movie starring Clint Eastwood was made. Other rounds including the .454 Capsule have surpassed it.

.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) – This was developed in 1905 and included in John Browning’s legendary design the 1911.45. The FBI and other key law enforcement agencies have standardized on this round. This round has lots of different uses and has been pushed to new heights with bullet shapes and the newer types of gunpowder. This is an excellent round for CCW as it has a great stopping power. Gun manufactures have figured out how to take away some of the recoil and place the rounds in a smaller gun frame.

When looking at ammuntion look at the "Wound Potential" for defense rounds. The "Wound Potential" is a combination of Penetration and Expansion. The following is a summary taken from R.K. Campbell's book "The Handgun in Personal Defense". We had contacted the publisher and recived permission to use the data for this article. We will also be updating this after our testing of Extreme Shock Amuniton.

Resources:

Federal – Federalpremium.com

ExtremeShockUSA has been very helpful. Just based upon the customer service of ExtremeShock we are sold even before we get the review done. There are not enough customer driven companies like the proffesionals at ExtremeShockUSA.     www.extremeshockusa.net