Carrying Concealed While Hunting

by Trent Marsh

It's dark. You're alone.

You hear a noise to your left, not far away. It sounded like a footstep.

Are you in some dark alley, or a vacant parking lot behind the mall?

No. You're on your way to your tree stand.

Hunting typically requires getting off the beaten path. Accessing remote areas without much foot traffic is perfect when in search of game. It's also a highly desirable area for meth labs, marijuana grow operations, and in some parts of the country, illegal whiskey stills.

Second Amendment Exceptionalism

by Drew Beatty

In America around dinner tables, hunting cabins and on blogs like this one, we talk about firearms. If you are anything like me — and you probably are if you're reading articles on this site — firearms, ammunition, hunting, calibers and cartridges, gun handling tactics and techniques, and target practice are a regular part of life. We hardly think it's exceptional, but it is very special and unique that we have the option of living as we do.

A Second Look at Defensive Choices

by Keith Coniglio

Judging Gun Owners

by Keith Coniglio

As I opined in an earlier piece, there is no such thing as "the gun owner." We're a varied lot with differing opinions, motivations, and attitudes towards guns and our Second Amendment. But we have one unifying quality, often overlooked by many: we are hated or misunderstood by a significant number of our fellow citizens.

Which Holster Retention Level is Best for You?

by Drew Beatty

To safely carry a pistol, whether open or concealed, you need a proper holster. There are numerous holster manufacturers selling nearly limitless styles and designs. One important key to having a proper holster for your needs is the idea of retention — meaning in what manner and how well the holster retains the pistol — and how quickly you are able to draw from the holster.

4 Hard Truths of Defensive Shooting

by Keith Coniglio

"Defensive gun use." It's a pretty dry, almost clinical phrase, but with heavy connotations. While there are many reasons to own a gun, those of us who carry them do so as insurance against violent attack. Unfortunately, many of us haven't considered the reality of that kind of violence, confusing recreational or competitive shooting with the reality of an aggressive stranger suddenly closing into "bad breath distance," with intent to do bodily harm.

How to Avoid Negligent Discharges

by Drew Beatty

I've often heard it said in the firearms community that there are no accidental discharges, there are only negligent discharges. I tend to agree with this assessment. Negligence is legally defined as:

3 Bad Concealed Carry Habits

by Trent Marsh

Carry a defensive weapon often enough and you will develop habits. Some good, some bad.

The single greatest advantage the concealed carrier has is the element of surprise. A hostile party who is unaware of a concealed weapon is unlikely to prepare for a defensive retaliation. Sadly, many inexperienced or uneducated carriers engage in activities that give away their defensive weapon.

Why You Should Exchange the (wrong) Gun You Got for Christmas

by Rob Morse

Our friends meant well when they got us a gun for Christmas, but lots of Christmas gifts don't fit their recipient. I've several sweaters that are the wrong color and wrong size. Like a sweater, a firearm has to fit you, so don't be shy about returning the gun you got for Christmas if it isn't the right gun for you. A firearm is as personal as a pair of shoes. Finding the right fit is hard to do. Sometimes we are partially to blame.

Enhance Your Pistol Skills with 3 Dry Fire Practice Drills

by Drew Beatty

Dry fire practice — the practice of firing a firearm without ammunition — is an essential part of your handgun shooting skill development. Most modern pistols can be dry fired thousands of times without issue. It's inexpensive, it takes recoil out of the equation, and it's easy to do at home. While it's not as exciting as live fire, there are some key fundamental skills you can enhance with dry fire practice.

First, a reminder about the four rules of gun safety: