Personal Defense World #231

It was 21 years ago when I started in the firearm industry. Truly, I didn’t know what to expect. My assumption was that everyone would be stand-offish, maybe a bit pretentious. Much to my surprise, I found an industry that was extraordinarily welcoming and extremely friendly. Like all industries, there are a few expectations to the rule, but they are few and far between. Even manufacturing competitors are friendly and actually want, for the most part, for their competition to do well. In fact, it’s not uncommon for some manufacturers to help each other out. I know that I can reach out to the editors at competitive publishing houses with any questions I might have, and they can do the same. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t share any company secrets…

“But one gunmaker has hit the sweet spot.” A home-defense shotgun needs to be a few things. It needs to be compact enough to maneuver through a home or apartment; it should be easy to use so that everyone in the household can use it in the worst of circumstances; and it must be utterly reliable. I would add that a defensive shotgun should also be easy to load and reload, but the ability to quickly load a tube magazine on a shotgun depends on the gun’s design and how much a person has practiced doing so—until recently. Let’s be honest about a few things. The pump guns that most people choose for home defense—your Remington 870s, Mossberg 500s and 590s and the like—can be outfitted with anything you can imagine in terms…

This adaptable red-dot was designed specifically for the AR platform. It comes with a skeletonized quick-disconnect lower. The 25mm objective lens allows for quick target acquisition, and the dot itself is a 2-MOA illuminated with .5 MOA at 100 yards with windage and elevation adjustment. There are six levels of illumination with a 40,000-hour battery life. The Riton HD glass delivers 99.5 percent light transmission for clarity and optimal sight picture. It is dry nitrogen purged and sealed so you can get the best performance out of it in all weather conditions. This rugged red-dot is 100 percent waterproof, fog-proof and shockproof. Check it out for yourself at ritonoptics.com.…

What makes holographic sights special is that they offer extremely fast and easy target acquisitions. With the holographic display, you can shoot with both eyes open, and it’s optimal for “off-axis” usage where you can’t achieve a proper cheekweld or align sights in a more traditional manner. The reticle’s center dot does not increase in size under magnification. The Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen II is an updated version of their Gen I, now with dedicated night-vision button, providing four night vision settings. Also, with the Gen II there is an improved sight picture through the enlarged window, making getting on target even faster. Plus, there is now a toolless battery cover and reduction in overall weight to just 11 ounces. Everything about this UH-1 Gen II screams speed, from its low-drag, no…

The words came floating toward me from the next shooting lane as I placed the pistol on the table: "Damn! That guy just put six rounds into one hole!" I had just received the new Wilson Combat-Sig Sauer WCP320 Carry pistol and had put five, not six, bullets downrange to get a feel for it. They did make a single large hole, and I was pleased by how easy it had been. With that introduction to the new gun, I looked forward to running it hard during the next several days. During that time, more than 1,000 rounds cycled through the pistol. Each seemed as accurate as the one before. I was impressed by this professional defensive pistol. Based on the popular Sig Sauer P320 pistol, the new Wilson Combat-Sig Sauer WCP320…

Being a firearms instructor for more than seven years now, I realize that there is more to firearms instruction than just safety—although of course safety is an important element of the classes. I know there are more subjects covered, things such as marksmanship, shooting techniques, grip and so on. I am mainly addressing the interaction between instructor and student. Before I go any further, I do feel compelled to give everyone a refresher on the Five Rules of Gun Safety. These may differ slightly from one source to another, but they all have the same concept. 1. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. 2. Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction. (Keep in mind that the safe direction may not always be in front of you or pointed down.) 3.…