Firearm Tips

The stress and confusion of a violent criminal attack is not the place to try to work up a system of communication.

Technology and demand are driving a light-rifle trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Purpose-built, flyweight guns are a dream to carry and shoot, but the additional machining, exotic materials and manufacturing methods that can bring something like an AR rifle down to 4.5 pounds make it expensive.

The goal of this column is to inform Shooting Illustrated’s readers of top shotguns, shotgun techniques and training for self-defense. But, when I talk about a specific gun, it often alienates one camp from the discussion.

Hailing from the world of professional protection comes this phrase: “Do one thing every day to make yourself a better operator.” As the de facto protective agent of your family and loved ones, you are responsible for their safety. What is that one thing you can do every day to be a better agent?

Determination is a word that ought to be part of every armed citizen’s vocabulary. The dictionary defines it as “firmness of purpose; resoluteness.”  Determination is how we master the skills necessary to defend ourselves, and it is also how we deal with the violence of a criminal attack.

What size is best for the red-dot you mount on your pistol?

Light primer strikes aren’t always indicative of faulty ammunition. Judicious troubleshooting should be applied to the gun and multiple types of ammo to isolate the culprit.

Way back in the Dark Ages—well, OK, it wasn’t actually the Dark Ages, it was more like 2008—I attended a Tactical Handgun I class from the late, great firearm trainer Louis Awerbuck.

Simply alternating your handgun from one hand to the other between rounds helps to develop your skills with both hands while conserving ammunition.