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Plinking is difficult to define, and that is how I like it. Plinking is the purest form of shooting fun. It is without limits or rules other than safety. To place boundaries on recreation, or what may even advance to an art form, is an exercise in frustration. Anything that encourages the learning of proper trigger press and sight alignment is good, but take note of the danger of taking family and friends plinking. It may result in new enthusiasts to the shooting sports.
In a combat situation, the perfect sight picture is elusive. That being said, I almost always use my sights when shooting. The only time the sights are not visible to my eye when I fire is when I am firing from the retention position with the handgun hard against my ribs. For all other situations, the sights and sight picture matter. However, all sights are not created equal. Which sights are right for you and your situation?
The double tap drill is considered by most to be two shots delivered to the target as quickly as possible—but are you doing it right? Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. However, among the most misunderstood tactics in personal defense is the double tap. More than half of those practicing for defense shooting execute the double tap incorrectly. Worse yet, it is most often taught incorrectly.
The Army demanded that the Single Action Army take down an Indian war pony at 100 yards. Was this a reasonable expectation? The question is an interesting one, and perhaps since we do not have a need to shoot Indian war ponies these days, irrelevant. However, with our interests piqued, we simply had to have the answer, so Bob Campbell took on the challenge. Here are the results.
The Winchester 1897 shotgun was manufactured from 1897 to 1957. At one time the ’97 set the standard for combat shotguns. With a five-round tubular magazine fed by a helical coil spring and featuring a reliable slide action the ’97 is a rugged serviceable shotgun. While the author has tested quite a few shotguns for a new book, the pump-action clone of the Winchester 1897 is a hands-down favorite for fun shooting.
The shotgun is a great problem solver and best regarded as a tactical system. This is primarily due the respect and homage we pay to the great versatility of the shotgun and its payload. Why many shotguns may fit the bill, it is the ammunition that delivers the lethal blow. Will your load be up to the threat?
The pistol-caliber carbine enjoys a long and storied history. The Winchester lever action and Colt Single Action Army combination started the ball rolling. Today, the modern self-loading carbine is the popular option. The Just Right Carbine (JRC) is available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP calibers. The JRC may be changed from one caliber to the other relatively easily, but that is not the best reason to own a JRC.
SIG offers full metal jacketed training loads in the popular calibers but also hollow point defense loads. Among the most interesting are the three choices in .45 ACP hollow point loads. As with all top tier manufacturers, premium names need to deliver a premium product—preferably at a reasonable price. For this review, we put 185-, 2000, and 230-grain V Crown offering through their paces.
There are shotguns that do not look like shotguns. All are not practical but a few have merit. Among the most innovative and interesting is the Kel Tec KSG shotgun. The KSG is unmistakably a Kel Tec; the modern design and engineering shows. This is a shotgun you should immerse yourself in to learn the nuances of the design and operation if you plan to deploy the shotgun for personal defense.
There have always been more cheap guns than good guns in my opinion, and the same is true today. Likewise, there have always been very few inexpensive but good guns. Sometimes when looking over the choices in handguns the heavy hitter may say, ‘What is your life worth?’ This is true enough, but many of us cannot afford an expensive firearm despite our best intentions. Read the full story for the pros and cons of picking your self-defense handgun.
