Personal Defense World October/November 2021 (Concealed Carry Handguns)

While the right to keep and bear arms is under serious assault at the federal level, many states are swinging exactly the other direction—toward less regulation and expanded freedom. The result is more pro-gun legislation passed this spring and summer at the state level than at any time I can remember. Take constitutional carry, also called “permitless” carry, as probably the best example. Moving into the 2021 legislative season, 16 states recognized the right of their law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for defense of themselves and their families without having to jump through bureaucratic hoops and pay a substantial fee just to exercise that basic constitutional right. That 16 quickly became 21, with Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Utah all passing such laws this year. What suddenly caused the number…

In MANY WAYS, the .380 ACP is one of the more under-appreciated close-range defensive pistol rounds. This year, Ruger took a major step toward correcting what many have seen as the deficiencies of the .380 caliber by making a major upgrade to their Lightweight Compact Pistol (LCP). The new Ruger LCP Max has a tritium front sight and holds a maximum of 13 rounds. Yes, the 9mm is a more powerful cartridge, and there are some 9mm pistols on the market that are true pocket pistols. However, no 9mm pocket pistol that I know of can pack 13 rounds like the Max, and 9mm pocket pistols have a high rate of wear due to their excessive recoil. And some of today’s modern .380 ammunition performs better than the older stuff and…

OVER THE YEARS, the .380 ACP has had a lot of detractors. Yes, it doesn’t outperform the 9mm. But it is clearly equivalent to a snub-nose .38 Special revolver shooting standard-velocity ammo. Put +P ammo in a lightweight .38, and the recoil is more severe than many people can tolerate. Most .380s kick much less. As for terminal performance, I’ve seen the results of quite a few gelatin tests with both calibers, and there’s very little difference between most standard-velocity .38 Special ammo and most .380s. The rounds with expanding or solid copper-fluted bullets in both calibers penetrate 11 to 14 inches in gel, and with the exception of some .38 standard loads, deliver within 40 FPE of each other. Of course, you always have to take your gelatin with a grain…

IF I could design my own carry 1911, it would be built on a lightweight alloy frame with a reduced-length grip and shortened slide for concealability. I’d have it chambered in 9mm for reduced recoil and increased capacity. It would have to have good sights and a crisp trigger with firm reset. And it would have to be accurate—that is absolutely one thing I wouldn’t compromise on. Over the years, I’ve had many 1911s custom built by some of the top pros in the industry. The proposition is never cheap, but somehow I always found the money. Earlier this year, Nighthawk Custom introduced the Counselor, a gun that possesses all the features I’ve outlined for my dream 1911 carry gun, plus a few innovations that make it even more appealing for…

Living in New York offers a lot of advantages. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, Manhattan has anything and everything an urbanite could hope for. If you like your solace and a touch of adventure, we have three major mountain ranges that even include 88 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Then of course there is Long Island, home to scenic beaches, luxurious residences, award-winning vineyards and easy ocean access for year-round deep sea fishing. Sounds pretty good, right? It sure is sweet—that is, until you decide that you want to protect your life by carrying a gun. The difficulty of getting a carry permit in New York varies depending on which county you live in. Most would agree that the counties upstate have it a bit easier, while…

There aren’t really any new arguments for why someone would want to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense. It seems pretty obvious to me why a sane person would want to be armed right now. Fortunately this article is not about “why you should,” so we can skip what will be the inevitable holiday chat with Uncle Phil about how “dangerous” it is to “walk around with a loaded gun,” and delve straight into the rational nuts and bolts of how I like to carry my handguns, the types of pistols I have enjoyed carrying over the years and some lessons I have learned during the process. HISTORY & TRAINING I didn’t start carrying on a regular basis until I was in my late 20s. I had a photo assignment in 2012,…