Defending and Protecting Yourself, Family and Property
Not long ago, I was able to spend time with a long time correspondent and email buddy at an NRA convention. Each of us were carrying cocked and locked 1911 .45s and snubnose .38 backups. Each of us has real world experience that lead to this combination. ‘Old School’ he noted. Things become classics because they work and do the task well.
In the firearms world I see much hype and overstatement. As such the real article with genuine performance is often under appreciated. One example is comparing the latest 9mm +P or .357 SIG load to the .357 Magnum. Those may seem like fighting words to some, but read the full story before passing judgement.
In a world awash with mediocre handguns, a pistol with reliability, accuracy, and good features at a fair price is a desirable commodity. The Canik TP9SA exemplifies this concept. The Canik 55 9mm pistol is similar in outline to the Smith and Wesson SW99 and Walther P99. It is not an exact clone, but clearly, the designer was familiar with the Walther pistol. The Canik 55 is a service-size 9mm with a polymer frame, mid-size slide and 4.25-inch barrel, but how did it fare on the range and for self-defense? Read the full review to find out.
When it comes to personal defense ammunition, we all want the most for our dollar and a load that maximizes the caliber. This is especially true with the popular 9mm Luger cartridge. A number of manufacturers offer target grade loads, hunting loads, and personal defense loads. DoubleTap ammunition offers personal defense loads, and they do it as well as anyone and better than most.
Those familiar with Bob Campbell’s writing, knows he is a .45 ACP guy all the way, so why is he calling the 9mm “Every Man’s Defensive Caliber?” It’s simple. He believes, ‘Unlike some advocates of the 9mm, I do not ignore physics and claim the 9mm is as effective as the .40 or .45 caliber pistols. Of course it isn’t, because it cannot be. Physics cannot be changed. However, the balance of power and controllability is ideal for most shooters.”
The explosion in handgun choice, and the proliferation of handgun calibers and loads, is immensely interesting. Whether you wish to use a certain caliber and load or not, each is intriguing. Did you know, the popular cartridges of today fill the same basic niche in the same relation to others since Sam Colt codified the pocket, belt, and holster pistol? Colt’s revolvers were offered in .31, .36 and .44 most commonly. The .31 served the same role as today’s .380 ACP pocket pistol; the .36 was the 9mm of the day, and the .44, well, the .44.
Having a stalker can be very scary and one of the most important factors is your personal protection plan. In extreme cases, I would recommend hiring a bodyguard. However, I realize many people are unable to do that, so you need to put in place other security measures. Here are some tips that will hopefully keep you safe, and give you a little peace of mind, if you ever find yourself in this situation.
There are situations in which the shotgun must be carefully aimed for both hunting and self-defense. That’s primarily because the shotgun can be a formidable weapon to 50 yards and beyond when the user is familiar with its attributes. However, the pattern has not spread all that much at short range and should be aimed almost as carefully as rifle. Have you sighted in your shotgun?
A few years ago, Heckler and Koch introduced a new handgun design in hopes of achieving a military contract. The HK45 is a viable pistol for use by the Special Operation Command (SOCOM) or any military entity. The HK45 builds upon HK’s slide-to-frame design that features more contact between the frame and slide than most polymer frame pistols resulting in greater rigidity and greater accuracy potential.
Among the most reliable and battled tested handgun designs of all time is the Russian Tokarev. It simply doesn’t get the respect the 1911, Browning High Power and CZ 75 do, yet the pistol is always reliable, accurate enough for personal defense, and chambered for hard hitting cartridges. Century International Arms Zastava M88 continues the tradition.