Firearms of any given type only get one shot (pun intended) at being revolutionary. Take John M. Browning’s 1911 .45 ACP pistol, which is still extremely popular even 106 years after its…

It’s always exciting for me to hear about the successes of other women in the firearms industry, and one of those victories that came to my attention recently was about Minnesota’s Jeanine Gill,…

We tell you over and over: Get more training! Training will save your life. Training will help you overcome the dynamic and confusing nature of a self-defense incident. But there is another side of…

How many rounds of ammo do you have in your house right now? Don’t answer me, because it is none of my business. But, for your own personal peace of mind, do the math. Now, take a box of that ammo…

I’m always on the lookout for tactical lighting products I think our readers will find beneficial and useful to up their readiness, whether in an emergency or everyday situation. While not a…

New Year’s Resolutions have been a tradition for as long as most of us can remember. But let’s face it, whether it’s vowing to lose weight or quit smoking, it’s the follow-through that determines…

The Charter Arms Earthborn Undercover Lite (MSRP $422) weighs a mere 12 ounces unloaded and just over 16.5 ounces when loaded with five Winchester 158-grain lead round-nose cartridges. In a word:…

It seems that polymers have all but taken over the gun world these days. Almost everything you can think of in the firearms industry has a polymer counterpart somewhere — guns have polymer frames,…

My 4-year-old daughter has a set of fun touch-and-feel board books that all begin with the phrase, “That’s not my…” So each title and story focuses on a variety of monsters, pandas, tractors, puppies…

I keep saying this: Self-defense incidents are dynamic and each one is unique. So, if you hear a trainer tell you that you must “always” do something or you must “never” do something, raise the BS…

Very few self-defense incidents play out as we imagine them. The dynamic nature of a fight and the intensity of the investigation afterward means the worst 10 seconds of your life could drag on for…

I have been carrying my single-action auto — the Iver Johnson Hard Chrome .38 Super 1911A1 — as my duty pistol for about four weeks now. Combined with the previously reviewed Hogue Laser Enhanced…

When you have a 3-inch-barreled Smith & Wesson 686+ in hand, loaded with seven rounds of .357 Magnum, there’s not much upon which to improve. This is a heavy but carry-able handgun, a proven combat…

Firearms instructors like myself are constantly approached for recommendations. Many individuals have never owned any gun, and some are longtime hunters looking for their first handgun. I’m sure that…

{1} Altamont Silverblack Grips MSRP: $38 Modern manufacturing revolutionized the handgun grips industry, and Altamont does a heck of a job in hardwood for under $40. These Silverblack…

You may have seen the YouTube video clip I am about to describe. It involves a law enforcement officer in a classroom with an “unloaded” Glock 40. He stands in front of a room full of students,…

How do you defeat a predator who is bigger, stronger and has the drop on you? Well, first of all, only pretend to comply. Always be looking for an opportunity to use trickery, treachery and…

By now you’ve heard of the pipe bomb attack in Manhattan. I’m sure more details will be coming in between the time I sit to type these words and when they are published, but this incident begs the…

CrossBreed Holsters are well known for their inside-the-waistband holsters. But they make some very good outside-the-waistband holsters as well. The SnapSlide OWB you see here may be the most simple…

As you might have figured by now, I like knives. My very first knife was given to me by my dad. I still have that knife. It’s an Imperial pen knife with two stainless-steel blades and faux pearl…