Table of contents for September - October 2018 in Combat Handguns

Robert Ruark’s classic book Use Enough Gun: On Hunting Big Game digs into the author’s safari experiences in Africa and the importance of employing an appropriately sized rifle when hunting game that can easily stomp you into being worm food. Of course, the “use enough gun” sentiment absolutely applies when it comes to defending yourself against two-legged predators, too. Ruark is probably turning over in his grave as politicians are clamoring for so-called gun-control laws aimed at making us all “safer.” Imagine for a second that Ruark and Colonel Jeff Cooper are knocking around in Heaven talking about firearms, hunting and self-defense firepower when they hear things like: It has been decided that U.S. citizens can no longer carry guns with more than 10 rounds on board. Fifty-caliber guns are…

I began writing this article the morning after the county school commission where I live approved a program to arm and train volunteer faculty members. I consider that very good news. School massacres have become a major safety issue. Although the media and politicians have focused on gun bans as a panacea, professionals in threat management know the real answer is the ability to interdict such threats on the ground as soon as they erupt. In this context, arming school faculty members is a proven strategy. Let’s begin with the Israeli model.  ISRAELI DEFENSES In a February 2018 post on americanthinker.com, Ted Noel wrote, “In 1974, Israel endured the Ma’alot Massacre at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Twentyfive were killed and 68 more injured. Since then, the Israelis have completely…

there we were, like the monkeys from 2001: A Space Odyssey, staring at the obelisk before us. Not up, but down—down at the small cased handgun on the glass countertop. Everyone at my local gun shop circled around the Dan Wesson 50th Anniversary 1911 as soon as I unboxed it. And bear in mind that this is a gun shop loaded with weapons that can easily grab your attention, from full-auto World War II relics like the Thompson and Grease Gun to the select-fire FN P90. But this particular day, everyone’s eyes were on an eloquent, full-sized 1911 that could have been produced over 100 years ago, let alone the 50 it’s mean to honor.  A LESSON ON WESSON Let’s do a quick review in case you haven’t heard of…

The old saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is pretty much rule No. 1 in the case of .44 Magnum autopistols. A revolver can be trimmed down quite a bit to shoot the .44 Magnum—if you’re sufficiently resistant to pain and have access to a good carpal tunnel surgeon—but there’s no way to hold back on either size or weight in a reliable .44 Magnum pistol, and regardless of the maker, usually you’ve got to be a hardcore admirer to find any beauty in what has to be a big and chunky steel blaster. There’s no room for plastic in this particular section of the gun world, and svelte does not apply. Over the years, there have been a few attempts to produce .44 Magnum semi-autos for…

 DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Family member and long-time Orange Gunsite staffer Dr. Lloyd Pond of New Mexico has sometimes pointed out that the advantages of the Weaver stance over the isosceles are attributable to basic anatomical geometry. Now we get further corroboration from Dr. Edward P. Jastram III of Montana: “It turns out that the reflexive facilitation/inhibition patterns of gait involve the muscles of the shoulder girdle and upper extremities as well as those of the lower, and that the precision with which one may use his muscles specific for stability, trigger and recoil control is position dependent.” I am not sure I fully understand that, but I have seen the Weaver stance prevail and have taught it ever since its invention by Jack Weaver and its analysis by John Plähn so…

 Not Like The Movies: You can mentally prepare for home invasions in a variety of ways, but the reality of the situation is likely far different than what you have pictured in your head. Some people will remain somewhat cool and collected, but others will panic. Personaldefenseworld.com breaks down three intense, real-life examples of why home invasions aren’t at all like those shown in movies. bit.ly/2sfIZGf  Knife Throwing For Dummies: Ballistic’s resident mustache aficionado Alex Landeen is also an amateur knife-throwing enthusiast. Check out ballisticmag.com to see him tackle everything from finding the right blade to throwing techniques to building your own target. bit.ly/2kOxvGx  Subgun RFI: With the U.S. Army’s recent request for information (RFI) on select-fire 9mm subguns, we’re hoping for some new innovation in this niche of the market,…

I first heard of Ken Hackathorn when he wrote for Combat Handguns in the early days of the magazine. Somewhere along the way we met, probably at SHOT, and have been friends for over 20 years.  Ken’s love of the 1911 pistol is generational. His father and uncle were World War II veterans, so he grew up in the shadow of the greatest generation. He also grew up as a gun guy and shooter. And when Colonel Jeff Cooper burst onto the scene with his monthly “Cooper on Handguns” column in Guns & Ammo, Ken was intrigued. He wrote Cooper a letter expressing his interest in combat pistol shooting and asked how he could learn more.  Cooper later invited Ken to attend a course hosted by the Larimer County, Colorado,…

I've flirted with electronic earmuffs ever since the 1980s, when the original Wolf Ears were new and exciting.I first heard about Peltor's new Sport Tactical 500 model right before I received the Desert Eagle for testing and since I normally shoot at an indoor range, I thought it'd be a great chance to test these muffs' capabilities. And it certainly was. The .44 Magnum Desert Eagle's sound signature matches its size, and then some, in enclosed spaces.  Powered by AA batteries, the Sport Tactical 500 headset is designed to suppress gunshots with a noise-reduction rating of 26 decibels while amplifying background sounds. There are numerous other alternativeson the market, but the Bluetooth connectivity is one feature that sets these apart from most, and I like that the mics are recessed…

 DOUBLESTAR  ARP7 Weighing in at just 5.4 pounds unloaded with an overall length of 24.5 inches, the DoubleStar ARP7 is versatile AR-platform pistol. It’s loaded with upgrades from front to back, including the Big Timber Brake, the new DoubleStar Cloak M-LOK handguard, an ambidextrous safety selector, an Ergo grip, a Backbone Billet charging handle with a Strike Industries Tac Latch and the extremely durable billet DoubleStar Strongarm pistol brace. (star15.com)  BERETTA  APX CENTURION & COMPACT Beretta has expanded its striker-fired APX line with two smaller variants to complement the popular full-sized model. The mid-sized APX Centurion pistol holds either 15+1 (9mm) or 13+1 (.40 S&W) rounds in the same magazines as the full-sized APX. The APX Compact is designed for concealed carry and holds either 13+1 (9mm) or 10+1 (.40…

Why do you carry? In my opinion, “for personal protection” isn’t an adequate answer. I don’t carry for me. I carry to guard others—those who don’t have the means, intuition or wherewithal to protect themselves. There are a lot of sheep in this world. It is up to the sheep dogs to protect the flock whether the sheeple want it or not. They may say that they don’t want to be protected, but it’s not up to them. Sheep don’t think that they need a sentinel. Do it anyway. Now let’s talk about some more concealed-carry considerations. I’ll lead with some important questions that you should ask yourself.  WHAT DO YOU CARRY? Does your sidearm flow with your garb? Are you proficient in its use? Is it safely and securely…

Have you noticed how seldom you see a photo of a revolver on the cover of a gun magazine nowadays? I was at a newsstand the other day and perused half a dozen well-known gun magazines, and their covers were emblazoned with pictures of the newest polymer “wondernine” pistol or AR-platform rifle. Sigh. Readers familiar with my scribblings know that when it comes to handguns, despite my admiration for semi-autopistols, deep down I have always been—and will always be—an unabashed fan of double-action revolvers. I cut my handgunning teeth on self-cocking wheelguns and developed an admiration for the breed that no polymer-framed semi-auto can diminish. And at the danger of repeating myself (again), let me state the reasons for my admiration. First of all, few handguns handle better than a…