Personal Defense World

THE ANNUAL SHOOTING, HUNTING AND OUTDOOR TRADE (SHOT) SHOW is again in the books, and by all accounts it was another raging success. The fourday show boasted pre-pandemic level attendance, with more than 52,000 firearms industry professionals packing the nearly 14 miles of aisles to view new, innovative products used for self-defense, target shooting, hunting, competition and other outdoor recreational pursuits. THE GOOD As Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief customer officer of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which sponsors the show, put it: “I always say the SHOT Show is like Christmas morning and the Super Bowl all in one, and this year it was that and more. We are thrilled at the positive response from our attendees and optimistic for a strong year of industry sales to come.” You…

Each year before SHOT Show, I get behind-the-scenes updates on new guns that are going to hit the market. Some are interesting and some are less so. What catches my eye in most cases, however, is who is releasing a new gun. When I got a notice that Beretta was adding to their handgun lineup, they had my attention. Beretta is not a company that randomly releases a gun. When I say that Beretta always catches my eye, it is because they have been making guns for almost 500 years. In fact, they are the oldest manufacturer in the world. They were in business before Shakespeare and before Michelangelo painted St. Peter's Basilica. The Beretta family has been in the ironworking business since the 1400s and made their first firearm…

“Again, it felt like I just couldn't miss.” MY FIRST TIME SHOOTING the Beretta 92X Performance was an eye-opening experience, it was at Athlon Outdoors’ Rendezvous event a couple of years ago in Idaho. The all-steel 92X sat great in my hand and it had a frame-mounted safety, which is good for me because I'm no fan of slidemounted safeties. I simply couldn't miss with that gun. I was knocking down plates with speed and ease, in fact, it was shocking how quickly I was doing it. I was in love. But unfortunately, it was only a short-lived relationship. I couldn't justify bringing her back home. It has been years since my brief but memorable encounter with the 92X Performance. Then I heard some great news: Beretta was coming out with the…

IF THE PAST TWO YEARS have taught us anything, it has been that any gun that you can label as a “defensive firearm” is guaranteed to fly off the shelves. If long guns aren't your style, Smith and Wesson has your six with one of their newest offerings-the CSX. Proving size doesn't matter, this micro-compact carry pistol is as at home in your IWB holster as it is in your bedside safe. Carefully crafted with a specific purpose in mind, we decided to give in and take a closer look at this small, yet mighty handgun. Before hitting the range, we decided to sit back and take a deeper look into what makes the CSX tick. Designed for ease of use by lefties and righties alike, you will find several ambidextrous…

GATORZ EYEWEAR Gatorz Eyewear is known for providing high-quality eye protection for everyone, including members of the military and law enforcement to avid shooters and those living on adventurous lifestyle. Made here in the USA, they feature an easily adjustable aluminum frame and nosepiece for a customized fit, eliminating any concern for slippage. Additionally, these frames are thin through the temple area, making them comfortable to wear under muffs all day without causing a headache. Choose from a wide array of frame styles with the two most popular being the Magnums and the author's personal favorite—the Wroptor frames. Further customize your specs with an array of assorted color variations and lens options, including mirrored, polarized, ballistic-rated or a mix of all three. Wear prescription lenses? No problem, Gatorz has you covered…

IT'S not all that often that we hear revolvers being discussed these days. Given advances in semi-auto pistols and ballistics technology, many consider old-school wheelguns to be obsolete. Personally, revolvers have always had a special place in my heart. They do serve a purpose, and if you follow along with me here, I'll try to touch on just how relevant the old wheelguns still are, mainly the “Combat Magnum.” FIRST TASTE When I was in the Army, we only touched on pistols (semi-auto) very briefly. After all, I was in a Parachute Infantry Regiment, so our rifles were our main battle weapons. Not long after getting out of the Armg, I was hired into a large Mid-Western sheriff's office. They issued me an old S&W Model 66 revolver, chambered in .357 Magnum/.38…