These reviews represent my personal opinion on the quality and usefulness of the material reviewed. If you are unwilling to use good sense and proper caution please leave this page now. All items listed require proper training. Misuse of any item on this page could result in injury or death.
For a small, easy to conceal handgun this small automatic is hard to beat. While lacking in polish, this is a good choice for a backup handgun. Quality is not always going to equal a $600 handgun so understand what you are buying. The .32 ACP round lacks penetration and expansion. I would much rather carry any number of other handguns before this one, but it still has its place for concealed carry.
Kel-Tec also offers the P3AT which chambers the .380 round in the same sized pistol.
For an 11 round 9mm pistol priced under $250 new this is not a bad option. When I was looking for my first gun to carry under Florida's concealed carry permit I did not have a lot of cash. For about $200 I was able to purchase the P11 "New in Box" at a local gun store.
Due to its low cost and compact size there were a number of compromises made in its design and production. This is no target pistol and it can be a difficult gun to shoot. But it is small and fits in my front pocket using an Uncle Mike's holster. Kel-Tec takes very good care of their customers, so if you do have a problem you can be sure it will be taken care of.
What a great gun. Small, light and reliable. Boy is it reliable. I have shot thousands of rounds and the gun has held up very well. For a first CCW gun, this would be at the top of my list.
For a full sized .45 ACP pistol this is one of my favorites. A little to large for daily carry (although it sees some service) it is my primary firearm for home defense. A good shooter and fairly accurate. Too big a grip for some people but it fits my hand.
One of my favorite carry guns. The grips are a little too big for some people, but it fits me just fine. The .45 ACP is one of my favorite defensive rounds and this is a good solution for my needs.
I have two of these. One is my wife's primary carry gun the other is my backup gun. A great solution that is about as reliable as possible. It lacks a lot of the flash that people seem to want today but I feel pretty safe with one of these on me. My wife's is one of the featherweight alloy guns and it is light. Hard on the fingers when shooting but easy to carry. Small and very light.
Available from Spyderco this is one of the greatest advances in folding knife technology I am aware of. Designed by Bram Frank, this knife provides a wide range of defensive options. Fully integrated into the CSSD/SC system this knife has features that allow for non-lethal responses as well as the more traditional knife techniqes.
Below is a list of ammunition that works well for defensive applications. It is best to purchase ammunition in quantity as companies will change the components used. Purchase enough ammunition to function test your firearm and practice for at least one year. This will involve the purchase of between 500 and 2000 rounds. Remember that 100% function and acceptable /expansion penetration is better than perfect expansion/penetration and 99% function.
The instructor for our class was Tim O'Rourke. Tim is a first-rate instructor with great shooting and teaching skills. He clearly states his objectives and goals. Tim was very clear in his desire to not create "signature" techniques for us to follow, but rather to take advantage of what might already be working for each student and only correct the problems.
Day one consisted of saftey, shooting skills and malfunction drills. This was important foundational work and set the stage for day two. At the end of day one groups were much tighter and everyone had the basics well in hand.
Day two introduced us to tactical shooting: Shooting while moving and supporting defensive actions. The class was well paced and the drills provided a great learning experiance. The drills were simple, effective and most of all safe. Tim ran the range with the kind of professional control that keeps things moving yet without danger to the students.
At the end of the class the one thing all students seemed to be disapointed in was the lack of a follow-up class. Tim moved fast and covered an amazing amount of material in just two days. I do hope that he offers a part three to this program.
A great class for anyone who is going to carry a defensive handgun. This class provided information and skills for the proper defense of yourself loved ones. I think I improved every aspect of my defensive skill set with this class.
This is the first class in a series by Gabe Suarez. His teaching style is first rate and he has a way of making the class feel like a group of old friends. The lectures were informative without being boring. They cut right to the bone and give you what you need to know to survive a violent encounter. The range sessions were intense with a lot going on but well supervised and very safe.
©2004,2005,2006 Al Lipscomb. All rights reserved.