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What does your wife want to shoot? This is something men need to learn: Men buy guns that most women won’t shoot. That is, men will buy that ideal self-defense gun, maybe a 9mm or a shotgun, and hand it to their wife. They might get them to shoot it once. As a result, some women at the range are pressed into service by the male club members who ask them to get their wives to shoot.

The first thing the lady coach does is take away whatever gun the husband has provided and hand them a .22 pistol. She moves the target in close and works them through the basics. It’s amazing to watch the transformation from a timid shooter into one with confidence. Even problems can be fun. I watched the coach take away a .38 snub nose from a student and hand her a six-shot .22 revolver. She loved it.

She had another student whose husband had just purchased a Sig 22 after she refused to shoot a 45. Since the Sig is notorious for feed issues, you  would think that the “student” would be frustrated. But, since the coach was able to patiently explain why you needed to understand clearing issues, her student later said that learning to handle problems was the most interesting and fun part of the day.

This lady coach started with two women who didn’t want to even handle a gun much less be at the range and ended up with two new excited shooters.

What does your wife want to shoot? Don’t buy something you want. Start them with something they can handle. “Better to hit with a .22 than miss with a .45”.

Does this sound like something you may have been through? I know I have. That’s why my wife owns a .22.  Tell me your experience in the comments box below. I’d like to hear it.

When I first heard of Hi-Point Firearms (yes, “High Point Guns” is the wrong spelling, but that’s a very common search in Google) I read about how heavy and inferior they were compared to most other guns on the market. Terms like “junk” and “not worth looking at” were common.

I looked at some Hi-point handguns in the stores and did find them to be heavier than most, but didn’t notice them to be all that inferior in appearance and function, at least in the store, without firing them.

Maybe they aren’t right

I have recently, however, read a lot of stuff about Hi-Point that makes me wonder just how accurate those first comments I got really were. Lots of folks are talking about how reliable and accurate these guns actually are. People are running thousands of rounds through them without any malfunctions at all. And their groups are within an inch at close range and around two to three inches at as much as 50 yards.

So I am thinking maybe I want to get one for myself and get to the truth of the matter. At the price of these guns, it would be worth the expense to own one. MSRP for a .45ACP is only $199.00. And they are available in .380ACP, 9MM, 40S&W, and .45ACP. They also have carbines in the same calibers and the magazines are interchangeable between handguns and long guns.

Some Accessories Are Available

This video from YouTube mentions the smooth grips and how the gun could slip around in your hand. This owner put skateboard tape on the grip. Maybe if he had looked a little he would have found the Hi-Point Accessories website. Textured grips are available in many designs and list for only $17.00 (at the time of this review). This site also offers laser sights and a speedloader at reasonable prices.

The following few paragraphs are from the Hi-Point website and I thought it was worthwhile to reprint them here.

photo of Hi-Point .45ACP pistol

“The Hi-Point of Value

Value means offering the most gun for the dollar, and Hi-Point proudly delivers. Our semi-automatic handguns and carbines are available in several calibers.

Hi-Point firearms are 100% American-made from top to bottom(emphasis mine) and are very affordable.”

“The Hi-Point of Reliability

Hi-Point never makes you choose between reliability and affordability. Our quality control measures are second to none.

Each Hi-Point firearm is test fired prior to shipment to ensure proper and safe functioning. The result is high customer satisfaction, and one of the lowest return or repair rates in the industry.”

photo of Hi-Point .45ACP carbine

“The Hi-Point of Service

Damage, age, and plain old wear and tear – these things happen. When they do, Hi-Point customers enjoy a lifetime, no questions asked warranty(emphasis mine). And lifetime means just that – free repairs for the life of the gun, whether you are the first owner, or the third.

Hi-Point service is fast, friendly and expertly performed. Your firearm will be back in action and good as new, in no time.”

An Update:

During the course of writing this review, I made an attempt to find a Hi-Point to buy for myself. I was, however, unable to find one in the entire Las Vegas Valley. The dealer locator on their website listed a few, but when I went there I was told they have never been a Hi-Point dealer. So what’s going on here?

I remember seeing Hi-Points in a couple stores in California, but the sales clerk was reluctant to show them because he also had a negative view of them. He said they were available for the low budget buyers. That was where the conversation ended. At the time, I was not looking for another gun, since I already had my EDC and a couple back-ups. However, I will not give up looking for one because I want to know the truth for myself. If it actually is good or bad, I need to know.

I went to a Hi-Point forum that has a link on the Hi-Point website where I found all sorts of opinions and comments about these guns. I was surprised at the amount of feedback I saw. Lots of folks are using these guns and doing customizing for various reasons. It makes me think that maybe there are some positive aspects I am not aware of. So I kept reading. There seems to be an ever so small “society” of Hi-point owners all interacting with each other.

There Will Be Further Updates

I am going to publish this article now because I want this information to get out to you, but “I’ll be back” with more updates when I can finally find some “High Point Guns” to look at and get into my hot little hands.

Check back later a few times until I can get the updates installed here. In the meantime, enjoy what I have been able to find. It may be very useful to you. If you have something to add to this article in the way of comments or suggestions, I would like to hear you. Please leave your views in the comments box below. If you would rather speak with me privately, there is a Contact Page in the Menu at the top of the home page of this site.

Thank you for coming and please come back again, and often….

Harry

Thanks for coming

About 25 years ago or more, Congress began introducing bills to prohibit firearms in certain areas and facilities  of the country.

This article is to show a few of them and try to explain what they mean to the general public.

Schools

•  The Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) is a federal United States law that prohibits any unauthorized individual from knowingly possessing a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(25). Such a firearm has to move in or affect interstate or foreign commerce for the ban to be effective.

It was introduced in the U.S. Senate in October 1990 by Joseph R. Biden and signed into law in November 1990 by George H. W. Bush. [Wikipedia.org]

In 1994, Congress introduced the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, which encouraged each state receiving federal funds for education to follow suit and introduce their own laws, now known as zero-tolerance laws.^[2] President Bill Clinton signed the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 into law on March 31, 1994.^[1] The Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 requires each state receiving federal funds to have a state law in effect requiring local educational agencies to expel, for at least one year, any student who is determined to have brought a weapon to school. The one-year expulsion is mandatory, except when a chief administering officer of such local education agency may modify it on a case-by-case basis.^[2] In addition, schools are directed to develop policies requiring referral to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system for any student who brings a firearm or weapon to school.^[2]  

The two laws referenced here state that no guns are permitted within 1000 feet of any school property lines. In this country, does anyone really think they can go anywhere within a city or town and NOT be in a school zone? The GFSZA also states; ” Such a firearm has to move in or affect interstate or foreign commerce for the ban to be effective.” What does this mean to you and me? When I drive around town, I am not engaged in interstate or foreign commerce. How does this affect me?

When I was issued my CCW in San Bernardino County, Calif., I was told by the County Sheriff’s CCW Training Facility that this law applies to anyone “working at a school, either as a school employee or as a contractor, or contractor’s employee. It does not apply to a casual visitor to the school for reasons other than working there”. School employees I have talked with have disagreed, of course. They tell me the law applies the same to everyone. No firearms within 1000 feet of a school.

Now with these two laws, which one has jurisdiction? My training tells me the State has the final say-so. The 1994 Act also defers authority to the School Administration on a “case-by-case basis” when referring to a student who brings a firearm to school, but calls for a “mandatory one-year expulsion”. Does any of this make sense to a reasonable person?

Post Offices

Under federal law, guns cannot be taken into federal facilities except for “hunting or other lawful purposes” (18 US Code §930).  Most federal facilities will allow guns to be locked in the car while business is being conducted.The Postal Service has a much more expansive policy. They have claimed regulatory authority through the parking lot and even to the public sidewalk beyond.

The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, but yelling “fire” in a crowded building, when there is no fire, would not be tolerated anywhere. All liberties carry with them a certain amount of interpretation. The Postal Service enacted a policy forbidding the collection of signatures on petitions on the public sidewalks outside a post office. They said it would annoy the patrons of the facility. A District Court accepted this as a valid “time, place or manner” restriction of the first amendment. The appellate court disagreed saying the Postal Service had over-reached their authority.

Federal law forbids carrying firearms or other dangerous weapons in a “federal facility” (18 US Code §930(a)). The federal statute defines a “facility” as a building or part of a building owned or leased by the federal government.8 The Postal Service regulation brazenly expands this law designed to ban weapons inside a building to the parking lot outside.9 The Postal Service is adamant that this makes driving into the parking lot with a gun anywhere in the car a federal crime. There is a civil suit filed in Colorado (Bonidy v United States Postal Service 10-CV-02408-RPM in the US District Court for Colorado) disputing the “parking lot” portion of the Postal Service regulation. The outcome will be quite interesting, I’m sure.

Court Buildings

In studying the differing State’s laws and regulations regarding the carrying of concealed firearms or other weapons in court buildings, I have found widely varying statutes. Many states forbid weapons of any sort, legally carried or not. Some states will allow carrying by licensed citizens, but only in the common areas of the buildings.

I was permitted to carry concealed in Calif. The law there stated that it was legal to carry (legally, of course) in the Court buildings, but not in the actual courtrooms. The shortfall of this was that you had to get past the security at the door, who had the metal detector scanners installed. If there were no scanners available, most commonly because of space restrictions and budget, you could carry your concealed firearms into the building for a business that did not include a court appearance.

It is prudent to take upon yourself the task of knowing the laws in your own jurisdiction. My chief reference for this research was the NCSC, National Center for State Courts.

All Government Facilities

Federal law forbids carrying firearms or other dangerous weapons in a “federal facility” (18 US Code §930(a))

The National Park Service is required by statute to allow concealed carry in the national parks under the same conditions as in the state surrounding the park. However, the National Park Service does not allow weapons in buildings in the national parks. This discrepancy and other regulations are questionable. An agency cannot prevent the exercise of a constitutional right without a compelling need to do so.

I was a civilian volunteer with the Federal Government for many years. I worked with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Division. Officially, I was not permitted to carry my weapon while on duty as a civilian. However, there was a time when  I was asked, unofficially I believe,  to use my firearm for work purposes while in the National Forest.

I also worked for some years at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. as a civilian. At that time, no weapons of any kind were allowed on the base for any reason other than Law Enforcement. All cars and persons were subject to random search at any time. The law still stands today, even after the mass shootings at military installations around the country, and the world for that matter.

Any time you enter a Government building you are subject to search at any time. Even the little Social Security Office in my tiny town had a security guard on duty at all times the office was open. We were not allowed to even raise our voice in displeasure of our treatment.

But how easy do you suppose it would be to carry a firearm into a Government building or other facility undetected. I know of people who have done it on a regular basis just because they will never go anywhere without their own personal protection.

State Gun Free Zones

As covered in past paragraphs, States all have their own laws, regulations and statutes regarding legally concealed weapons. It just behooves you to know the laws in your own area and follow them, if you wish. I say “if you wish” because I know there will be folks who won’t go to a place their gun can’t go. Just be cautious.

Shootings In Gun Free Zones

Movie Theatres

Schools

Trump, Oct. 4: “You know that was a gun-free zone in Oregon where they had no guns allowed, no nothing. So the only one that had the gun was the bad guy, and everybody was sitting there and there was nothing they could do. Not a thing they could do”. This quote came from an interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend”

This was in reference to the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon on Oct. 1st of this year. This quote from Mr. Trump is not exactly correct. Umpqua Community College does have policies prohibiting guns on campus, but they “would not apply to those with valid concealed weapon permits pursuant to Oregon law,” quoting a college official.

Mike Huckabee and Carly Fiorina also called it a”sitting duck” situation in a gun free zone. The confusion is not misplaced.

The school has two policies that prohibit weapons on campus under certain conditions.The school’s student conduct policy states that students cannot carry a weapon “without written authorization.” “Possession or use, without written authorization, of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, substances, or any other weapons or destructive devices that are designed to or readily capable of causing physical injury, on College premises, at College-sponsored or supervised functions or at functions sponsored or participated in by the College” is prohibited, the student conduct policy states.

The Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting occurred in Marysville, Washington, on October 24, 2014, when 15-year-old freshman student Jaylen Fryberg shot five other students at Marysville Pilchuck High School, fatally wounding four, before fatally shooting himself. Fryberg’s father, Raymond Fryberg, was arrested the following year for illegally purchasing and owning the gun used in the shooting, among other firearms.

At lunchtime, students sat together at one table. Fryberg then entered the school cafeteria and sat down at a different table. At 10:39 a.m., according to eyewitnesses, he stood up, approached the table where his friends were sitting, and had a verbal altercation with them. He then pulled out a .40-caliber Beretta Px4 Storm handgun^[3] and fired at least eight shots,^[13][14] shooting several students in a “calm, methodical way”.^[15] During the shooting, Fryberg was described by a witness as having “a blank stare” and “staring at the victims as he shot them”.^[16] He also appeared to be targeting only the table where his friends were sitting. At the time of the shooting, seven students were seated at that table.^{[12]  [Wilipedia]}

October 21, 2013, Sparks, Nevada. 12-year-old seventh-grade student Jose Reyes opened fire with a handgun at the basketball courts of Sparks Middle School, injuring one student in the shoulder. Michael Landsberry, a teacher, and veteran tried to intervene and was shot and killed by Reyes. Reyes also shot and wounded a student trying to help the teacher. Reyes then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. The shooting happened before classes, and the school was evacuated and was closed for the week.^{[266] [Wikiipedia]}

All these and many more have all been at what is to believed to be “federal gun free zones”. There are others that were much more publicized, and the Media Circus played them up as far as they could possibly take them. They were all tragedies, of course. They were tragedies that may have been prevented or reduced if they had not been “gun free zones”.

Ben Carson says that “logic and common sense” make clear it’s time to talk about eliminating gun free zones, not guns.

Dr. Ben Carson was interviewed recently on WPHT’s Dom Giordano Show,  “Logic and common sense is something that seems to have escaped many people. In fact, when you look at some of these gun tragedies that have occurred, it’s quite amazing how they seem to occur in the gun free zones. A lot of these shooters are people who are mentally unstable, but they’re not so unstable that they don’t recognize that, if I’m going to kill a lot of people, I need to go to a place where people are not likely to have guns and kill me”.

Churches

Churches have even been attacked by armed “thugs” in obvious terrorist attacks, and robberies with brutal results. They have always been the epitome of safe havens all over the world. But now parishioners have come to the realization that they must defend and protect themselves while at church. People of all faiths throughout the country are going to their places of worship armed. I personally know some of them, and they tell me the majority of the congregation is “packing heat”.

Do Gun Free Zones Work In America?

NEW YORK MAGAZINE: TIME TO TURN AMERICA INTO A GUN-FREE ZONE

This headline and portion of an article were printed on Breitbart.com:  Indianapolis Star/AP/Charlie Nye  by AWR HAWKINS5 Oct 20155,165

On October 2–the day after the heinous attack on innocents in the gun free facilities of Umpqua Community College–New York magazine claimed that the difficulty of pinpointing future criminals should cause the US to rethink its gun policy and consider making the entire country a gun free zone.

They cited Australia as an example of this approach. Ironically, a shooting took place in Australia around 4:30 p.m. on the very day that NY MAG was using the country as an illustration of the benefits of gun confiscation and controls. Fox News reported that the shooting took place in Sydney, leaving “at least two dead.”

It is beyond me how anyone can truly believe that a “Gun Free America” could stand as the shining light that we have been for these last two and a half centuries. Look at the other countries with overly strict gun control laws. The citizens have absolutely no way to defend themselves, and it is evident in the latest world news.

It should be apparent to my readers that I believe in the Second Amendment and the Right to defend myself from all enemies both Foreign and Domestic. I don’t believe in gun free zones anywhere. As so many people have said repeatedly; “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”. ” The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”. “When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away”.

I know you will have something to say about all this, and I would like to here it. Please leave your comments below in the box provided.

 

In The Beginning

Front Sight Training Institute has become the Premier Firearms Training facility in the entire nation. Over the past twenty years, it has developed from a ten student class in Bakersfield, Ca. to a 550-acre facility that trains more people in one week than all other training schools in the US teach in a whole year, combined.

I have seen this for myself. I spent five days there last November for the Four-Day Defensive Handgun Course. I have been carrying a handgun and shooting for most of my adult life, starting with Jr. ROTC in high school (something I don’t see anymore in Calif.). This was my first visit to a training facility since being in the US Army back in 1967. I can say with complete conviction that this was the experience of a lifetime. I look forward to going back as often as I can. And with a lifetime membership, the only thing keeping me away is time.

My first visit to Front Sight Firearms Training Institute was just to ask questions and get a tour of the place. I was so impressed that I purchased a lifetime membership one week later. Then I scheduled my training for that November.

There were a few things I had to get before the course, like hearing protection and eye protection, and a new holster. The holster I was using didn’t fit the requirements of Front Sight; they were not satisfied with the safety of what I had. Like all training schools and larger reputable organizations, there are certain suggestions and then there are requirements. This is all pretty normal.

I arrived the night before my course started so I could set up my camp for the week. I brought my 5th wheel and parked in a piece of BLM property just outside the gate to Front Sight. I wanted to be ready since the training began at 7:00 the next morning. Check-in was at 6:30. I had to get my gun, holster, ammo, and other gear inspected before the class.

A typical classroom and range at the start of training. There are six of these classes and they are all full every day.

These pictures were taken on a random visit to Front Sight in October of 2015.

The first two pictures are day 3 and 4 of the 4-day defensive handgun course done at the larger range.

These 2 days are mostly shooting.The next picture is where the check-in begins at 6:30 am on the first day.

Classes started in the big auditorium where all new students were gathered together for the safety part of training and some rules of the ranges. Anywhere you go you have rules to be followed and here it is most important to follow all of them. During lunch breaks, there were always optional lectures in the auditorium covering the legal aspects of carrying a gun for defense. They also covered a lot of the moral and psychological effects of a defensive shooting. When you have to shoot someone for whatever reason, it will change your life.

 

 A Big List Of Courses

I can’t give you a description of all the courses in this review, but here is a list of the courses that are available at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. Just click on one of the courses to get a full description. As you can see, they offer almost any defensive course you could possibly need. They even include courses for the professional.

Firearms TrainingFront Sight Courses > All Courses

Firearms Training
Handgun Course Selection
2 Day Defensive Handgun
4 Day Defensive Handgun
1 Day 30 State Concealed Weapon Permit
2 Day Handgun Skill Builder
2 Day Tactical Handgun
2 Day Handgun Combat Master Prep®
4 Day Handgun Combat Master Prep®
4 Day Advanced Integrated Handgun
(Night) 2 Day Defensive Handgun
(Night) 4 Day Defensive Handgun
(Night) 2 Day Handgun Skill Builder
(Night) 2 Day Tactical Handgun

Shotgun Course Selection
2 Day Tactical Shotgun
4 Day Tactical Shotgun
2 Day Shotgun Skill Builder
(Night) 2 Day Tactical Shotgun
(Night) 4 Day Tactical Shotgun
(Night) 2 Day Shotgun Skill Builder

Rifle Course Selection
2 Day Practical Rifle
4 Day Practical Rifle
2 Day Rifle Skill Builder
4 Day Precision Rifle 1
4 Day Precision Rifle 2
(Night) 2 Day Practical Rifle
(Night) 4 Day Practical Rifle
(Night) 2 Day Rifle Skill Builder

Auto Weapons Course Selection
2 Day Uzi Submachine Gun
4 Day Uzi Submachine Gun
2 Day Select Fire M16
4 Day Select Fire M16
(Night) 2 Day Uzi Submachine Gun
(Night) 4 Day Uzi Submachine Gun
(Night) 2 Day Select Fire M16
(Night) 4 Day Select Fire M16

Special Course Selection
2 Day Tactical Scenarios (Combined Handgun, Shotgun, and Rifle)
2 Day Advanced Long Gun Tactics
4 Day Four Weapon Tactical
4 Day Four Weapons Combat Master Prep®

Armorer Course Selection
1 Day Armorer’s Course – 1911 Pistol
1 Day Armorer’s Course – Glock Pistol
1 Day Armorer’s Course – Springfield XD Pistol
1 Day Armorer’s Course – AR15 Rifle


Rope & Rappel
Rope & Rappel Classes
2 Day Rope & Rappel
4 Day Rope & Rappel
2 Day Rope & Rappel Skill Builder

Martial Arts Training
Martial Arts Course Selection
2 Day Empty Hand Defense
2 Day Empty Hand Defense (Night)
2 Day Edged Weapons
2 Day Edged Weapons (Night)
4 Day Advanced Martial Arts

Family Safe Forever
Family Safe Forever™ Course Selection
2 Day Children’s and Youth Safety
2 Day Children’s and Youth Safety (Night)
4 Day Children’s and Youth Achievement Camp
4 Day Children’s and Youth Achievement Camp (Night)

Instructor Development Course Selection
4-Day Front Sight Instructor Development Course
5-Day Front Sight Instructor Development Course

Private Course Selection
Private Training

Defensive Driving
Celebrity Training (Contact our Corporate Office for more information – 1-800-987-7719)

The videos tell the story really well.  There is so much to say and see at Front Sight Training Institute, it’s amazing that they can pack this much great experience and training into one place.

This kind of training can be really expensive, and at Front Sight, if you pay the full retail price, it is. This training is usually $500.00 per day for the group courses. Private training goes much higher. However, there are discounts available if you know where to look.

Special Discounted Courses And Memberships Available

I have access to special rates for training courses, gun and equipment rentals, and lifetime memberships. I’m not allowed by Front Sight to advertise these discounts openly, so if you are interested in going out to get some of the best training available anywhere in the country, just email me at  [email protected]. I can send you more details on how to get this training at a greatly reduced cost.

Don’t let distance stand in your way either. Folks from all over the country are coming to Front Sight every week. In the class with me were people from Alaska, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and London (yes, the one across The Pond).

 

I can’t say enough about the excellence of instruction at Front Sight Training Institute. I will be going back again, and again, and again. This is absolutely the finest training I have ever had.

Please give your thoughts in the comments box below. I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks for visiting and come again anytime.

 Colt History: A Look Back at the 1911

At the turn of the last century, the United States was engaged in a conflict with Moro tribesmen in portions of the Philippine Islands. The U.S. had seized the islands as a protectorate and one of the spoils of war at the termination of the Spanish-American War. In May 1899, 800 U.S. Marines landed on the island of Jolo. Initially things were relatively peaceful, but a series of mistranslations of a treaty led to the Islamic Moro people to instigate hostilities. Among the Moro was a faction called “juramentado,” Spanish for “one who takes an oath,” an extremely zealous group of Muslims who felt it was their honor-bound duty to kill all Christians. The juramentados were fierce fighters who reputedly bound parts of their bodies prior to combat to reduce bleeding and took local drugs to minimize the perception of pain.

Unfortunately for many U.S. officers, the government had replaced the heavy—but quite reliable— .45-caliber Single Action Army with a lighter Colt double-action revolver. Chambered in .38 Long Colt, the Colt New Army 1892 was a beautifully made gun, but its ballistics—a 150-grain, round-nose lead bullet at 770 fps, yielding 195 ft.-lbs. of energy—were pretty anemic. Even during the war with Spain, the revolver didn’t cut it for American forces. When put up against the Moro juramentados many officers learned of the cartridge’s shortcomings the hard way. Reports of juramentados absorbing a cylinder-full of .38 Long Colts and still beheading the shooter with a keris knife were disturbingly regular. In something of a panic, the Army reissued Single Action Army revolvers from reserve stocks, and purchased some M1902 .45 caliber double-action revolvers. The Ordnance Board established an evaluation committee led by Col. John T. Thompson (inventor of the Thompson submachinegun) and Col. Louis A. La Garde. They determined the need for a semi-automatic pistol that fired a .45-caliber bullet in order to reliably stop close-range combatants.

When the Army announced its intent to replace the .38-caliber revolver with a .45-caliber pistol several companies leapt at the chance for a lucrative government contract. John Browning had already been developing a semi-auto pistol for Colt designed around a .38-caliber cartridge similar to the .38 Super. For a genius like Browning, it wasn’t too difficult a task to upsize both the pistol and cartridge to .45 caliber.

A Browning 9 mm Hi-Power semi-automatic pistol

The pistol trials began in 1906, and samples from Colt, Savage, Smith & Wesson, DWM, Knoble, Bergmann and White-Merrill were tested. Both the Browning and Savage designs were selected for further testing. That testing revealed some shortcomings in both pistols, and the Army asked for more refinements in the designs. Browning traveled to Hartford, Conn., to supervise the changes. He teamed up with a young Colt employee, Fred Moore, and they painstakingly ensured that the pistols to be submitted were the finest they could produce. On March 3, 1911, the Army began a torture test. Each pistol would be fired 100 times, then allowed to cool for five minutes. After each 1,000 rounds the pistols would be cleaned and oiled. After 6,000 rounds, the pistols were tested with deformed cartridges, some with bullets seated too deeply, others not seated enough. The test pistols were soaked in water, mud and even acid. Browning’s design passed every test without a single failure—the first of any firearm to survive such a 6,000-round test.

On March 20, 1911, the Ordnance Board released a report of its findings that said, “Of the two pistols, the board was of the opinion that the Colt is superior, because it is more reliable, more enduring, more easily disassembled when there are broken parts to be replaced, and more accurate.” Nine days after that report, the Army designated the Colt Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 to be its official sidearm. Two years later the Navy and Marine Corps adopted the 1911 as their handgun as well.

Other features mandated by the Ordnance Board were a manual safety and a grip safety, a slide stop that locked the slide back after the last round is fired and a half-cock position on the hammer. Feedback from soldiers after World War I also caused the military to make some relatively minor changes to the 1911. In 1924, the flat mainspring housing was given an arch in order to force the web of the hand higher into the grip safety. The trigger was shortened and cutouts on the frame behind the trigger were added to ease access to the trigger. The grip safety tang was lengthened a bit and the hammer spur shortened slightly to prevent hammer bite. A wider front sight and simplified grip panels completed the changes, and the revised pistol was given the name M1911A1.

The 1911 was an instantaneous success—no surprise, given its endorsement by the military—and demand outpaced supply. As World War II approached, the demand for this powerful handgun became even more intense. By the end of the war, nearly 2 million 1911 pistols were made and sold to the government. Colt could not keep up with the demand so other companies were contracted to produce the 1911. The most productive was Remington Rand—the erstwhile typewriter maker—which made some 900,000 pistols. The Ithaca Gun Company added another 400,000 copies, while Union Switch & Signal tossed another 50,000 toward the war effort. Even the sewing machine company, Singer, made some 500 pistols. Today, these “non-Colts” command some hefty premiums.

Other countries also manufactured the 1911 under contract from Colt. Argentina, Canada and Norway have produced 1911 pistols, while between 1914 and 1915, the Springfield Armory made some 30,000 pistols. Spanish gunmakers have made several variations of the 1911 as well. Llama-Fabrinor S.A.L., Star and Astra all have contributed to the plethora of Spanish 1911s. In short, John Moses Browning’s M1911 has made a large footprint worldwide as a military and police sidearm.

Five years after World War II, Colt came up with a smaller, lighter version of the 1911 to cater toward those who did not want to pack the full-size version. The frame was made from aluminum, and the barrel and slide were shortened 3/4 inch. Christened the Lightweight Commander and available in 9 mm, .38 Super as well as .45 ACP, it proved a welcome addition to the 1911 family. When the Series 70 came out, an all-steel Combat Commander was offered to answer some shooters complaints that the alloy frame wasn’t strong enough to withstand a high volume of shooting.

M9 pistol used by the US military; a variant of the Beretta 92FS

An overabundance of lawsuits directed toward gunmakers in the 1970s and ’80s led Colt to develop a firing pin safety that prevented the pistol from firing unless the trigger is pulled completely to the rear. These Series 80 pistols came in many of the familiar 1911 configurations: Government Model, tactical, competition models and both Combat and Lightweight Commander styles with blued or satin nickel finishes. Even stainless steel was finally used to make the 1911 impervious to the elements. Answering the demand for a cut-down of 1911s to pocket-pistol size in .45 ACP, Colt introduced an Officer’s Model in 1985 featuring a 3 1/2-inch barrel and a shortened grip frame with a six-round magazine.

The 1911 was vigorously welcomed by militaries from all over the world from its inception, and it served well in combat. However, by the late 1970s political pressure from NATO to standardize around a double-action semi-auto pistol in 9 mm ushered the great 1911 into semi-retirement. On January 14, 1985 the Army adopted the Beretta 92F as its official sidearm. Nonetheless, several special operation units from the military branches still use the 1911, though often modified and enhanced.

As the 1911 turns 100 years old this month, there are a few who pooh-pooh it as a relic. But take a look along most firing lines or in the holsters of many high-speed, low-drag operators, and you’ll see that grand old pistol providing security and control just as well today as it did a century ago.

How They Operate

Typically, the first round is manually loaded into the chamber by pulling back and releasing the slide mechanism. This is called racking the slide or racking the gun. After the trigger is pulled and the round is fired, the recoil operation of the handgun automatically extracts and ejects the shell casing and reloads the chamber. This mode of operation generally allows for faster reloading and storing a larger number of cartridges than a revolver.

Diagram showing a simple blowback action

Some modern semi-automatic pistols are double-action-only (DAO); that is, once a round is chambered, each trigger pull cocks the hammer, striker, or firing pin, and additionally releases the same to fire a cartridge in one continuous motion. Each pull of the trigger on a DAO semi-automatic pistol requires the same amount of pressure. The Kel-Tec P-32 is an example of a DAO action. DAO semi-automatic pistols are most generally recommended only in the smaller, self-defense, concealable pistols, rather than in target or hunting pistols. A notable exception is Glock-brand pistols which optimize preset triggers (similar to DAO), but the striker is partially cocked back as the slide closes. This allows for significantly shorter trigger pulls than DAO. The trigger spring can be replaced with a lighter one and paired with a low-strength sear connector resulting in lightened trigger pulls to improve a shooter’s accuracy (like models G34 and G35).

 

Standard modern semi-automatic pistols are usually double action (DA), also sometimes known as double-action/single-action (DA/SA). In this design, the hammer or striker may be either thumb-cocked or activated by pulling the trigger when firing the first shot. The hammer or striker is recocked automatically during each firing cycle. In double-action pistols, the first pull of the trigger requires roughly twice as much pressure as subsequent firings, since the first pull of the trigger also cocks the hammer (if not already cocked by hand). The Beretta 92F/FS, a full-sized, service, semi-automatic pistol is an example of this style of action. A common mode of carry for DA semi-automatic pistols is with the magazine full, a round chambered, and the gun holstered and uncocked with the external safety unengaged or off. The Taurus PT145 is an example of a (SADA) weapon, as it has no decocker and thus has its striker primed from the moment of chambering and only enters double-action mode if a round fails to fire upon the pin’s impact; at other times, it operates as a single-action striker fired firearm.

Single-action

In contrast, a single-action (SA) semi-automatic pistol must be cocked by first operating the slide or bolt, or, if a round is already chambered, by cocking the hammer manually. The famed Colt M1911 is an example of this style of action. All SA semi-automatic pistols exhibit this feature, and automatically cock the hammer when the slide is first “racked” to chamber a round. A round can also be manually inserted in the chamber with the slide locked back. Then the safety can be applied.

Cocking modes

Many SA semi-automatic pistols have a hammer position known as “half-cocked“. Squeezing the trigger will not fire the gun when it is in the half-cocked position, and neither will dropping the gun in this state cause an accidental discharge. During WWII in the Pacific Theater, an unofficial and unapproved carry mode for the SA M1911 by left-handed US soldiers in combat was carrying the gun with the magazine full, a round chambered, the action in half-cocked position, and the thumb safety (accessible only to right-handed users) positioned in the off (or ready-to-fire) mode.The normal mode of carrying an SA semi-automatic pistol is condition 1, popularly known as cocked and locked. Condition 1 (a term popularized by Colonel Jeff Cooper) refers to having the magazine full, a round chambered, the hammer fully cocked, and the thumb safety engaged or on, at least for right-handed users. For many single-action, semi-automatic pistols, this procedure works well only for right-handed users, as the thumb safety is located on the left side of pistol and is easily accessible only for those who are holding the pistol in the right hand.

The primary advantage of the half-cocked position versus the uncocked position in that particular scenario was added sound suppression (of the click of the weapon being cocked). A secondary advantage was the avoidance of accidental discharges if the gun were accidentally dropped. The half cock was revised by Colt in the 1970’s and subsequently other manufacturers – the hammer will fall from half cock if the trigger is pulled on most newer 1911 type guns.

In general, single-action, semi-automatic pistols should never be carried uncocked with the safety off, although many newer SA pistols have modified actions which allow the hammer to exert pressure against the firing pin only when the trigger is pulled. Many modern SA semi-automatic pistols have had their safety mechanisms redesigned to provide a thumb safety on both sides of the pistol (ambidextrous), thereby better meeting the needs of left-handed, as well as right-handed users.

Semi-automatic pistols with different traits have been designed, including those with a magazine fed with a stripper clip, and those with non-removable magazines. These designs are rarely used in modern semi-automatic pistols. The Model C96, or “Broomhandle” Mauser, in its original configuration, has a fixed, non-removable magazine located in front of the trigger, which is loaded directly through the breech from the top of the pistol.

Semi-automatic pistols use one firing chamber that remains fixed in a constant linear position relative to the gun barrel. In contrast, although double-action revolvers can also be fired semi-automatically, their rounds are not fired from a single chamber, but rather are fired from each of the chambers that are rotated into linear alignment with the barrel’s position in turn just prior for each shot fired.

The Technology

A self-loading pistol reloads the chamber with a new round automatically each time the weapon is fired, without additional action being required by the user. For a semi-automatic pistol, this is typically accomplished by recoil operation. In a machine pistol, in contrast, this can be accomplished by blowback, or less commonly, by gas operation, harnessing gases produced when the gun is fired. The Desert Eagle is a rare example of a semi-automatic pistol that siphons off some of the gases instead of relying on short recoil operation.

A semi-automatic pistol will fire only one shot per trigger pull, in contrast to a “fully automatic” or machine pistol, which continues to fire as long as the trigger is held or until all rounds have been fired. The Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer (German for “rapid fire”), a modified Mauser C96 pistol, is a notable example of a true machine pistol.

While both types of weapons operate on the same principles, fully automatic weapons must be built more ruggedly to accommodate the heat and stress caused by rapid firing, and it can be difficult (and illegal in most countries) to convert a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic mode of fire. A selective-fire action pistol, though, can be converted back and forth by means of a switch, and often includes a burst mode, typically for a three-round burst with each trigger pull. Selective-fire weapons are generally used by specialized law enforcement and security personnel such as SWAT teams, hostage rescue teams, anti-terrorist units, or government bodyguards for heads of state. In the United States, selective-fire weapons are not available to civilians unless they live in a state that allows civilian ownership of the National Firearms Act or Title II weapons.

Actions: blowback versus locked breech

Self-loading automatic pistols can be divided into “blowback” and “locked breech” categories according to their principle of operation. The blowback operating principle is suitable for smaller, lower-powered calibers, such as .32 ACP and .380 ACP, as the resistance of the recoil spring and mass of the slide are sufficient to retard the opening of the breech until the projectile has left the barrel, and breech pressure has dropped to a safe level. For more powerful calibers such as the 9 mm Parabellum (9 mm) and .45 ACP, some form of locked breech is needed to retard breech opening, as an unlocked blowback pistol in these calibers requires a very heavy slide and stiff spring, making them bulky, heavy, and difficult to operate. A somewhat commercially successful blowback pistol design in the more powerful calibers was produced; the Spanish Astra 400 in 9 mm Largo and the similar Astra 600 in 9 mm Parabellum. U.S. manufacturer Hi-Point also produces a line of blowback-operated pistols in several calibers, including 9 mm and .45 ACP. Virtually all other service-caliber pistols are locked-breech designs.

Final Thoughts

As stated earlier, the 1911 auto-loading pistol is one of the most popular handguns in use today. People that own them say “if you ever use a 1911, you will love it and never want to give it up”. The first thing I noticed about the 1911 is the trigger pull. The entire trigger presses straight back as compared to most other guns that have a pivot point at the top. This makes it a lot more comfortable on your finger and seems to be a bit more controllable. Below is a video of field stripping the 1911, You will see it’s a bit more complex than many other guns, like the Glock or Ruger, and takes a little more care and attention to detail. But once you’ve done it a few times it becomes no big deal.

This article became a little more than just a history of the Colt 1911. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in presenting it. Please leave your comments and/or suggestions in the comments area below, and thanks for stopping by.

Harry

“Thanks for visiting”

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There are several viewpoints on the subject of how many rounds would I need to thwart an attacker. Revolvers, also known as “wheel guns”, will commonly have either five or six rounds in the cylinder.Some people advocate keeping the hammer resting on an empty chamber, thereby lessening the capacity even more.

An advantage of a revolver is that most of them are what is called ‘double- action”. This means when you pull the trigger, the cylinder advances, bringing a new round into position for the hammer to strike. So if the first hole is empty the spin of the cylinder will bring a round up to the ready. Unlike a semi-auto pistol, if the chamber is empty, you have to rack the slide to bring a round up to the firing position. This requires two hands in most cases. Carrying a semi-auto with an empty barrel is like being “unarmed”.

Another advantage of the revolver is shooting from a pocket if that is required. The hammer and cylinder are the only things that move, and they don’t go very far. A semi-auto fired from a pocket will only fire one round, then the slide will surely snag on the inside of the pocket, and be somewhat worthless. A third advantage is the lack of moving parts. The wheel guns tend to malfunction less than the autoloaders. Therefore, maintenance in autos is more of a concern.

Myth

Five or six rounds will be all you need to take down the bad guy. Hit him where it counts and he’s done.

Fact

The adrenaline rush and physiological makeup of the human body will overtake your accuracy. Tunnel vision will prevent you from seeing anything but the attackers weapon, and your first, and maybe second, shot may not hit the intended target.

Fact

What will you do if there is more than one attacker? Thugs frequently run in packs or pairs. If you have two or three muggers coming at you, and you only have five rounds, who do you try for first? What if the other muggers don’t run? Reloading a wheel gun is much slower than a semi-auto, especially with the stress of the situation.

Fact

Many times an attacker can be shot in a major organ (like the heart or head) and still keep coming at you. The first shot doesn’t always stop the attack. It may take three hits just to stop the first guy.

Myth

A larger caliber bullet will stop an attacker better than smaller rounds.

Fact

According to the FBI and almost all Local Law Enforcement Agencies, a 9mm hollow point bullet has the same stopping effect as a .45 ACP or .357 Magnum. Any of them may take two to three hits to stop a determined thug.

When Six Is Not Enough

My personal preference, if I would ever need it, would be the semi-auto pistol. A full-size autoloader will hold as little as six or seven rounds or as many as seventeen or eighteen. This depends on the model you carry, of course. My full-sized gun is a Glock 17 chambered in 9mm. The standard magazine holds 17 rounds and then one in the chamber (referred to as 17+1). I also carry at least one spare magazine that gives me a total of 35 rounds. It will, in all likelihood, be more than I would ever need, but it prepares me for multiple attackers, and I know I may miss the first shot.

I also have a couple revolvers. My experience in shooting them, like the Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum, tells me the trigger pull is likely to draw my aim off. The pull is around 11 or 12 pounds  in double action, and 5 pounds in single action (this is when the hammer is cocked before pulling the trigger). Carrying a revolver with the hammer cocked is a serious mistake since most of them don’t have a safety you can set.

My Glock is always ready with a round chambered and the striker in the firing position, putting the trigger pull at 5 pounds all the time. This gun can’t be fired in double action since it doesn’t have an exposed hammer. Carrying a Glock with a chambered round is OK because they have redundant safeties built into the gun mechanically. Nothing happens until the trigger is pressed.

To The Point

I would guess that probably 95 % of the firearms chosen to carry concealed are autoloaders. They are quicker to reload and carry more ammo. They also, in my opinion, tend to be more accurate because of the heavier trigger pull in the revolver.

There are always differing viewpoints with this subject. I would like to hear yours. Please leave a comment at the end of this article and I will reply promptly. You can also email me at;  [email protected].

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Handgun Buyer’s Guide: A Complete Manual to

Buying and Owning a Personal Firearm

My first of two 9mm Compact handgun reviews is of the Ruger SR9C 9mm auto loader.The SR9c is a striker-fired, double-stack design. I purchased mine a little over two years ago, and it is one of my favorite guns to carry and shoot. I have a couple holsters it fits, since it is the same size and style as my “Baby Glock”, the G26. The only difference is the accessory rail that the G26 doesn’t have.

Size

Ruger SR9C with Stainless Slide

The grip is only 1.18″ thick, making it one of the thinnest double-stack handguns available.
Overall length is 6.85″ (barrel is 3.5″), width (across safety levers) is 1.27″, height is 4.61″ It weighs just 23.4 oz. The full specs can be found at the Ruger website.

Caliber

As stated in the title of this review, the SR9C is chambered for 9mm. The compact SR is also available in .40S&W for those who like the extra stopping power, but it just won’t carry as many rounds as the 9mm. The 40c is identical to the 9c in length, width, height and weight. The 9c is, to no surprise, a little tamer in recoil. Muzzle rise is reduced due to a low slide profile. Overall it is a very easy and fun gun to shoot. I found it to be more comfortable, and more accurate than my G26.

Safeties

There are numerous safeties on this handgun. It has a Glock-like “trigger within the trigger”, internal trigger bar interlock and striker blocker, magazine disconnect safety, plus a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator on the top of the slide.

The thumb safety and magazine release are both ambidextrous, meaning you can use it flawlessly with either hand. The SR9c has a fairly short trigger pull compared to, say, an LC9, and because if this, some people like the manual thumb safety. I personally see no need for it because of the triple safeties built into the mechanism, similar to the Glock system. This safety, however, is small enough to not get in the way, but large enough to be easy to hit when you need to. In my experience with this gun, I found the safety moving from one position to the other by itself when the gun is drawn or reholstered. So I would prefer not to have it.

Reliability

To me, reliability is the most important factor of a personal defense weapon. If I am going to stake my life (or that of my family) on the firearm then I need to know it will go “bang” and not “click”.

I have put several hundreds of rounds through this handgun, and I have yet to have a failure of any kind. If I could not say that about the gun I would not carry it. If a gun malfunctions at the range, then I will not carry it, or maybe not even keep it.

The Grips

Ruger SR9C with extended      magazine

The grips have a fine, checkered texture. I find it is rough enough to have a solid handful of gun without being uncomfortable. It also has a reversible backstrap, allowing it to be adjusted to fit smaller hands. I prefer the larger of the two sides since it fills my hand the way I like.

It comes with two 10 round magazines to comply with some state laws.They both had extenders to give your fourth finger something to do. Also available are the 17 round magazines with a sleeve that slides down over the magazine to provide a full grip with all four fingers. I prefer this, but it does make the grip print a bit more when concealed under a light-weight shirt. So I just cant my holster a little forward to reduce the printing and it doesn’t affect my draw.
This gun also comes with a basic magazine loader. This is not essential but does make loading a little easier on the thumbs, especially with the 17-round magazine. I use a Maglula Loader. It’s much easier to use and works a little quicker.

Magazines

As mentioned earlier, the SR9c has a magazine disconnect safety. This is one of the things some folks dislike about the weapon. They don’t like magazine disconnect safeties because they render the weapon unusable during a magazine change. Most handguns with this feature either prevent the trigger from being pulled or just do nothing when the trigger is pulled. This one “clicks” and decocks, requiring one to cycle the slide at least 1/2″ (potentially ejecting the round in the process if you retract the slide too far – easily done when the pressure is on…) to make the gun usable again. However, a reputable gunsmith should be able to disable this for you should you wish. The problem with modifying a gun you use for self-defense comes in the court system. The Prosecuting attorneys will use this against you due to the argument of making the gun more deadly for nefarious reasons.

More Features

        3-dot sights on the Ruger SR9C

The sights are of the regular 3-dot type. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage and the front sight is fixed, as in not adjustable.

Ruger states that the SR-series may safely be dry-fired, as long as the magazine is in place. Do not dry-fire without the magazine in place, as damage or wear to the magazine disconnect mechanism may occur. Just use a confirmed-empty magazine or use snap caps.

It also has an accessory rail for lights, lasers, etc.

They are available with brushed stainless or black nitride slides. For concealed carry I prefer the stainless slide. I’ve found the black nitride scuffs just a bit when drawing or reholstering, and sometimes just riding in the holster. Besides, I like the look of the stainless slide and it won’t rust from body sweat when carried IWB in the warmer weather.

Simplicity

The firearm is very easy to strip and clean. You need to remember to push the ejector down once the slide is retracted. The takedown pin is pushed through from the right-hand side of the gun. It can be a little stiff the first few times but it gets easier the more you do it. Like anything else, the more you do something, the easier it becomes.

My Personal Opinion

As you have probably noticed, I enjoy this gun. At the time, I bought it the MSRP was $525. I paid just under $500 + taxes. I think it’s worth every penny. It’s accurate, fits my hand well and the recoil is easy to handle.

One thing to be aware of is the factory lube. It’s a bit heavy and you’ll want to clean and lube the gun yourself before you use it the first time.

Final Thoughts

I am very impressed with this gun in fit, finish, and functionality. The price was right, too. . I trust it with my life. It was chosen as the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence’s Handgun of the Year in 2010, and I believe it earned the award. This is the first of today’s 9mm Compact handgun reviews. Next we’ll take a look at the Ruger LC9.

 

The Details

The next of my 9mm Compact Handgun Reviews is of the Ruger LC9 auto loader.

The locked-breech LC9 semi-auto is double-action-only (DAO) and hammer-fired, with its external hammer flush with the rear of the slide. It’s constructed of polymer and steel and weighs 17.1 oz. with an empty magazine. The LC9 measures 6″ in length, 4.5″ in height and .9″ thick. It sports a 3.12″ barrel. additional specs can be found at the Ruger website.

Its appearance is similar to the LCP (.380) but just a little larger and holding one more round (7+1).

Sights

The LC9 has 3-dot sights with adjustment for windage. The rear sight notch with two white dots on either side, when combined with the single-dot front sight, allows for very quick sighting, which is, more often than not, all you’re going to get when using this gun for self-defense. The sights are large enough to provide a good sight picture, even for aging eyes. For an extra $50.00, you can get the LC9 with a built-in laser.

The Slide

The slide and barrel are made of hardened alloy steel with a blued finish. I found on my LC9 that the blueing on the slide is somewhat thin, and is disappearing slightly at the muzzle and the top edges. This doesn’t, of course, hinder the operation. It’s just a noticeable deficiency.

There is a double recoil spring on a polymer guide rod and a  “loaded-chamber-indicator”  just in front of the rear sights. It’s marked “loaded when up” and, when raised, displays red markings on either side.

A passive firing pin safety is also in the slide. A pivoting external extractor is located at the lower right rear of the port. There are serrations at the rear of the slide to make it easier to grasp and pull back. The slide is nicely tapered at its muzzle for a smoother draw and reholstering.

The Frame

The slide catch is located on the frame’s left side, centered above the grip area. It catches the slide as well as the barrel for secure locking to the rear.

The thumb safety is partially grooved and when down or off safe, it exposes a red oval on the frame showing the pistol can be fired. When up or on safe, a white oval on the frame is exposed and visible. The safety is easy to use and moved in a positive manner, with a definite click in both directions.

The front strap is checkered, and the magazine extension provides

extra grip room.

The magazine catch at the lower rear of the trigger guard is grooved on the surface for secure engagement. The takedown plate is forward of the slide lock lever and covers the take-down pin

The slide locks open on an empty magazine and the external slide stop is easy to reach, but is not so easy to operate, since it does n’t protrude very far. The LC9 has a magazine disconnect, which means you can’t fire the pistol unless the magazine is fully seated.

The Magazine

The seven-round, single-column magazine has a metal body with six cartridge witness holes on either side numbered 2–7. Its follower and removable base plate are made of glass-filled nylon. A finger-grip-extension base plate is also supplied. Adding the finger-grip base plate allows you to get a three-finger grip on the gun, compared to using the flat base plate, which only allowed me to have a two-finger grip. The LC9 ships with one magazine. a 9-round magazine is also available as an option and extends further to afford a full-handed grip.

The Grips

The front strap, back strap and the lower two-thirds of the side panels have checkering to enhance the security of the grip. This grip is somewhat thin in comparison to other handguns, so another option is a rubber sleeve that fits over the grip to thicken it and fill the hand a bit better. I personally prefer to use the sleeve.

Just above the texture of the grip, the frame curves inward lengthwise from the trigger guard back to the backstrap to give the thumb a place to park. The backstrap is also shaped such that the web of my shooting hand is well under the area of slide movement. This eliminates the possibility of slide bite. However, if you use the rubber sleeve as I do, you will never see or feel the front or back straps. All these grip features combine to allow the user to maintain a good grip on the gun. The trigger is hinged, smooth-faced and curved, and usually measures about 10 lbs.

Safety

The manual safety was discussed earlier in the article. The LC9 also has an internal gun lock with its keyhole at the top right rear of the frame. To engage the internal lock, you must apply the manual safety, which in turn requires the pistol to be cocked. Insert one of two supplied keys into the small keyhole, then rotate the key clockwise one-fourth of a turn.  This makes the gun completely non-functional, as the trigger cannot work as designed. To deactivate, rotate the key counter-clockwise. When the internal lock is engaged, the trigger will move freely and will not function.

Disassembly

To disassemble, after ensuring the gun is empty and the magazine removed, press down on the takedown plate and, using the internal gun lock key or another suitable push pin, push out the takedown pin from the right side of the frame. This requires moving the slide rearward just slightly to align the pin to the groove. You can now move the slide assembly forward off the frame.Next, slightly compress the dual recoil springs on their polymer guide rod and remove. Move the barrel slightly forward, which allows the barrel to be lifted up and out rearward. Further disassembly is not necessary or advised.

The Trigger

The LC9 has a long trigger pull, but the stroke was smooth enough to make the 10-lb. trigger weight manageable. The LC9 trigger action requires the trigger to run almost fully forward to reset in order to fire again. In essence, shoot the LC9 as you would pull the double-action trigger of a revolver.

My Final Thoughts

The Ruger LC9 is, to me, a better choice than the LCP, not only in caliber but in a more user-friendly platform. It’s also just a bit larger and fits my hand better. I, too,  prefer to carry a 9mm for the added stopping power above the .380. I like the LC9 for it’s size and I use it as a backup. I still prefer to carry my Glock or the Sr9C as my EDC.

If you would like more information about my 9mm Compact Handgun Reviews on either of these guns you can email me at [email protected] or visit the Ruger website.

Please add your comments below with your thoughts about these reviews.

 

America’s Mass-Shooting Capital Is Chicago

People living in Chiraq’s worst neighborhoods are more likely to be killed than citizens of the world’s leading murder capitals.

CHICAGO — Four men and two women were shot on April 5 last year, then five weeks later a 15-year-old boy and two men were shot.

Another 15-year-old boy and two men were shot in July. Three men were shot on August 21. Three men and a 73-year-old woman were shot in September. Again in September, two boys ages 12 and 16 were shot along with an 18-year-old man. Two women and one man were shot on that same block on Nov. 19.

These mass shootings didn’t happen in Roseburg, Lafayette, Charleston, or Chattanooga but in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods, where–by one measure–it is more dangerous to live than the world’s most-murderous countries.

West Garfield Park, population 18,000, had 21 murders last year, which makes for a homicide rate of 116 per 100,000 people. The world’s leader in murders, Honduras, has a homicide rate of 90, according to the United Nations.

Following West Garfield Park in lethality was West Englewood and its 73.3 murder rate, more than second-place Venezuela with its 53.7 rate. Chicago’s Chatham (58) beats Belize (44.7); Englewood (52.6) outdoes El Salvador (41.2); South Chicago (48) tops Guatemala (39.9). The United States as a whole has 4.5 murders per 100,000.

Chicago’s 411 homicides don’t look like a lot compared the city’s 2.7 million residents, but that’s the misleading part of this grim numbers game: Determining a city’s level of violence by looking at its overall per capita rate doesn’t tell you shit if you don’t examine numbers in the hood.

And West Garfield Park is certainly that. The neighborhood has an average annual income of just more than $10,000; 40 percent of households live below the poverty line. West Garfield Park ranks near the top of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods on the city’s “hardship index,” which is calculated by taking into account those living in crowded housing, and unemployment rates among teens and adults, among other factors. The higher the number, the more difficult life will be, according to the statisticians. West Garfield Park and its 96 percent black residents scores 92 on the hardship index.

Many of those killed last year in West Garfield Park were men in their twenties. But there were others whose deaths are perhaps less dismissable. Shamiya Adams, an 11-year-old killed by a bullet to the head as she sat in a friends bedroom making s’mores, could be one. Or 21-year-old Shambreyh Barfield, killed by gunfire intended for someone else as she sat on her front porch with a friend, might be one to pick out as a particularly tragic death.

And for every person killed by gunfire in Chicago, another four are shot and survive. Last year the city had more than 2,000 shootings and has surpassed that total in 2015. West Garfield Park’s per capita shooting rate was a staggering 411 per 100,000 people, followed closely behind by West Englewood’s 391.5.

The media and politicians don’t really care about that though. The new “epidemic” is mass shootings, they say, just a few months removed from the previous epidemic of police killings. Those clamoring for change in the wake of another unexpected gun massacre are right: Mass shootings are a problem–in Chicago. The city saw 107 mass shootings last year, defined as having three or more victims. As of July 25 of this year, there have been 192 mass shootings, according to the Chicago Tribune. When a crazed gunman shoots up innocents on a tree-lined campus in a sleepy Oregon town, calls to action are loud and forceful. But when six people are shot in the 4300 block of West Wilcox in Chicago–as they were last year–there is silence.

It can be hard for readers to keep up–let alone for people to contemplate–the daily massacres on Chicago’s streets. Just last week, a grandmother, her pregnant daughter, and the woman’s 11-month-old son were shot in a drive-by in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. The child lived; his mother and grandmother did not.

“You would think that the attention would be tremendous, but it really wasn’t,” Pastor Corey Brooks said. While he was surprised to hear that some Chicago neighborhoods near his own trumped per capita murder rates of violent South American countries, Brooks wasn’t that surprised.

“We keep telling people about the magnitude and seriousness of the issue, but we’re obviously not getting people to hear the message,” the anti-violence pastor and rare black Republican said. “I think what’s going on is it’s expected, that people think it’s a way of life on the South Side of Chicago. And people have been desensitized.”

With 6,000 shootings since 2012, perhaps that’s to be expected.

Please comment on this article in the space provided below.

There are a lot of differing opinions about what caliber ammunition is best for self-defense ammunition; .380 vs 9mm vs .40 S&W vs .45 ACP vs .357 Magnum vs .44 Magnum, etc. My personal choice when I became interested in carrying full time was the 9mm. The reasons being that most law enforcement agencies were using it. If it worked for them, it should work for me too. And if I had to use my gun, the courts couldn’t find fault with my choice of ammo.

Hollow Point vs Solid Projectile

Hollow point ammo is designed to crush as it enters an object, therefore not going all the way through. This is why police use it, to prevent innocent bystanders from getting hit with a bullet that goes all the way through a bad guy.

There have been municipal jurisdictions that have banned the use of hollow points, and they all went back to them. Solid projectile ammo has the tendency to go through whatever soft target it hits. A lot of bystanders have been hurt or killed because of this.

FBI Report

The FBI has made several reports about the different calibers and types of ammo. They are considered the last word on best practices of law enforcement and self-defense firearms and ammunition. The last report, from May of 2014, said the 9mm was the optimal caliber for many reasons.

The stopping power is virtually the same as .45 ACP and .40 S&W. They are also lighter to carry, less expensive and more readily available. Handgun stopping power is more in the accuracy of the shooter than it is the bullet. The report says, “There is little to no noticeable difference in the wound tracks between premium line law Auto enforcement projectiles from 9mm Luger through the .45 Auto.”

Military/Law Enforcement Use

At one point just before the FBI Study, the US Military were considering replacing the old Beretta M9 9mm pistols, and some local police agencies were thinking about going to a heavier round. They ultimately decided to stick with what was working. The study also has been a deciding factor in the use of ammo for civilian self-defense use.

Considering that stopping power mainly applies to hits in the central nervous system (in the head, spine or neck), 9mm Luger has the same ballistic action and penetrating force as larger caliber rounds but is easier to control and leads to more accurate shots. Only about 30% of the shots by law enforcers actually hit the target.

“The Ballistic Research Facility has conducted a test which compares similar sized Glock pistols in both .40 S&W and 9mm calibers, to determine if more accurate and faster hits are achievable with one versus the other,” the FBI says. The majority of shooters have been quicker and more accurate with 9mm caliber Glock pistols. The 9mm provides lesser accomplished shooters the best chance of success while improving the speed and accuracy of the most skilled.

Some law enforcement agencies have made the move to larger calibers from the 9mm Luger in recent years. However, they have done so with reduced magazine capacity, more felt recoil and, given adequate projectile selection, no noticeable change in terminal performance. Along with the fact that numerous ammunition manufacturers now make 9mm Luger ammunition with outstanding premium law enforcement projectiles, the move to 9mm Luger can now be considered a definite advantage for law enforcement personnel and responsibly armed private citizens.

If you would like more info or to just leave a comment, please write me in the box below, or email me at  [email protected]

This poem has inspired a great many concealed weapons carriers all over the free world. By “free” world, I mean those parts of the world that are free to carry weapons and defend themselves from the “bad guys”. Unfortunately, even in the US, where the Constitution guarantees the right to carry a weapon for self-defense, this freedom is always being challenged.

This poem was written by a regular guy who just so happens to believe in the freedom of self-defense. I’ll let Tim tell the rest of his short story. Just read and enjoy the poem as I have.

Harry….

by TIM SCHMIDT/ founder of USCCA
I receive hundreds of emails each day from USCCA Members and armed citizens who are thinking about joining the USCCA.

Last week I got an email that was different from most…

USCCA Member, Roger Temple, sent me a prayer. This wasn’t just any prayer, but rather the prayer of a sheepdog.

A prayer inspired by my dear friend Lt. Col. Grossman, and written for sheepdogs like you and I.

Enjoy…

The Sheepdog’s Prayer

The Knights of Old were Men of Honor

Who used their Might For Right!
Today they’re known as Sheepdogs,
Those who carry on the fight.

I am a tired old Sheepdog,
The guardian of my flock.
I keep the predators at bay
And stand watch around the clock.

Please stop the Sheep from pulling my teeth.

I’ll need them for the fight,
When the hungry Wolves come calling
Some dark and deadly night.

I pray I’ll never need my gun,
But someday if I do,
May my cause be just!
My draw be quick!
And my aim be ever true!

Heaven holds a special place
For those who do the deed,
Defenders of the innocent
In their hour of need.

May the Sheep someday be grateful.
There’s a debt they can not pay
To the Sheepdogs who lay it on the line
Each and every day.

I am proud to be a Sheepdog.
I’ve done my very best.
I’ll stand my watch until my Maker
Calls me home to rest.

But when I meet St. Peter
There’s just one request I’ll make,

“Please let me spend Eternity
Standing guard at Heaven’s Gate”.

Lord, help us bring this ”Age of Sheep”
To a rapid end.
Then fill this land with Sheepdogs,
Men of Honor, once again.

This prayer is dedicated
To those who bravely face,
The dangers all around us,
To make our world a safer place.

To the soldiers, cops and warriors-
Sheepdogs through and through.
Thank you for your service
And your sacrifices too.

Amen

Special thanks to Roger for writing and sharing this prayer, and a special thanks to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman for inspiring armed Americans everywhere.

Tim Schmidt Founder, US Concealed Carry, Inc.

Publisher, Concealed Carry Magazine

P. S. – For more information on Lt. Col. Dave Grossman simply click the link below.

“Lt. Col. Grossman Interview”