Some years ago, I used ELEY ammunition when firing rimfire silhouette competition with my 8 3/8-inch barrel Smith and Wesson K-22—the results and performance were excellent. I have also used the ammunition in my CZ bolt-action rifle. In fact, ELEY .22 LR ammunition has been the choice of champions in some of the most grueling competitions. ELEY’s decision to bench rest test and lot test each batch of ammunition is also legendary.
A few decades ago, a startup company resurrected a revered name in firearms. Springfield Armory Incorporated has since prospered. Today, it is regarded as an old-line company by younger handgunners. Considering the conservative nature of shooters, this is quite an accomplishment. Springfield began its climb to the top by offering a good product at a fair price. The Range Officer now continues the tradition.
Among the decisions to be made when purchasing a personal defense handgun are caliber, action type, and size and weight. Among the options to be considered is the light rail. A rail gun is common parlance for a handgun with an accessory rail, but some just consider it common sense.
You have learned to shoot a handgun well, but that does not mean you can rest on your laurels. Now you must maintain these skills. That is the hard part and requires discipline. Through diligent practice, drills, and perhaps some advanced training, you may also increase these skills. In this article, Bob Campbell has penned a few thoughts and observations learned from a career of handling a firearm as a LEO and a trainer to help you in your quest to master the handgun.
This is a neat and affordable little kit gun—what more could we ask? It is a ball of fun to fire and use! As a kit gun or fishing gun, the .22 revolver is an American classic. There is little muzzle blast or recoil, and the revolver is useful for those who cannot tolerate heavier recoil. And, you just have to have a Charter Arms Pathfinder revolver in the bug out bag.
I have previously stated that the long slide Glock is a good special team pistol for use by agencies that issue Glock pistols. However, the long slide Glock is also a great home defense and competition pistol. For those who can conceal the piece beneath covering garments, the Glock long slide is a viable defensive handgun. In the proper caliber, the pistol is also useful for hunting thin-skinned game.
Red dot sights are not only increasingly popular, they have made strides in affordability, reliability, and accuracy. The cheap red dot sights are useful for plinking and getting the feel for a red dot optic. The mid level—over $200, but far less than $1,000—is useful for 3-gun competition and home defense. The Lucid M7 fits solidly in this category.
I do not own a safe queen. The safe is temporary storage. The true nature of a Combat Magnum is on the range, in the field or on the hip, not in the safe. If you use a quality firearm and take good care of it, the piece will last almost indefinitely. Abuse it, and a few years at best are all you will get out of it. These firearms have lasted not because I have babied them but because I have maintained them and you can too!
Training is a hard business. If you are serious concerning personal defense— and God help you if you are not—you must train to the best of your ability, use proper tactics, and seek communion with like-minded shooters. Are you taking your training seriously enough?
I have to admit to a number of rather odd stablemates resting in the safe alongside my 1911, SIG, and HK handguns. These firearms may have a historical or mechanical interest, or they may simply be fun to use and fire. The 7.62 x 25mm pistols are among the most interesting. This is as old a design as it gets in handgun ammunition, but the 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev is still a war fighter and a surprisingly good sporting cartridge.