USCCA Firearms & Self-Defense Blog
Guns & Gear
Read no-holds-barred reviews of both personal- and home-defense firearms and stay up-to-date on the latest concealed carry gear offerings on the market. Discover everything you need to know to select the best, tried-and-true self-defense gear — from holsters, knives and ammunition to flashlights, first-aid kits and alternate weapons.
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Concealed Carry Gear
An excerpt from the USCCA’s Concealed Carry Guide. Holster shopping can be as confusing as gun buying until you know the ins and outs of it. Here are a few of the most frequently used terms that will…
Continue Reading →Barrel Length in a Concealed Carry Gun: Things to Consider
Barrel length primarily affects two different aspects of any gun you plan to carry for self-defense: concealability and velocity. Considering them in advance can help you choose the right gun for you…
Continue Reading →The Brownells BRN-601 Retro 5.56 Rifle
Brownells’ new Retro series contains five AR-15 rifles, two of which are retro prototypes of the first M16s. It also includes a retro XM177 M4 carbine and the Model 605 — a copy of the very first M16…
Continue Reading →Build a Smaller ‘Get-Home’ Bag
Sometimes one CAN carry too much gear. In a past episode of Into the Fray, I showed you my emergency bag. It is pretty … um … extensive. Rifle. Multiple magazines. Breaching ax. You know … normal…
Continue Reading →Diamond D Leather Simple Shoulder Rig: Another Level of Comforting
I’ve been carrying a concealed pistol at 4 o’clock for more than 10 years, and it has its advantages. For one, you’ll get used to your pistol being there every time, so the movements to draw it…
Continue Reading →How to Build an AR-15
Now that Jeff Creamer of SB Tactical has helped us lay out the legal requirements of building an AR-15, it’s time to put a sample AR-15 modern pistol together. The Upper of Your AR-15 I started with…
Continue Reading →How to Concealed Carry a Firearm AIWB
In the world of self-defense, there exists a mob of proverbial pitchfork-wielding gun owners who feel appendix inside-the-waistband (AIWB) carry will get you killed in the streets (that or you’ll…
Continue Reading →Firearm Ammo 101
Understanding the various types of ammunition and the purposes of each is part of being a well-rounded shooter. Of course, it can be a little intimidating the first time you walk into a gun store and…
Continue Reading →Is the AR-15 the Best Home-Defense Gun?
Without a doubt, the AR-15 platform is becoming increasingly popular. It’s now finding its way into the hands of people for use primarily as a home-defense option. And it can be an ideal tool for…
Continue Reading →How to Concealed Carry in the Summer
Which of the following statements about summer concealed carry is true? Concealed carry in the summer requires a different approach to handgun and holster strategy. Concealed carry in the summer…
Continue Reading →Keeping Your AR-15 Pistol Build Legal
The modern AR-15 pistol — obtained complete at the time of purchase or assembled with user-selected components — is extremely popular these days. There are several good reasons for this: AR-15…
Continue Reading →How to Choose Ammo for Home Defense
Now that you have made a decision about which home-defense firearm to purchase — and which caliber or gauge — it is time to stoke it with the best ammo for home defense. The same defensive handgun…
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