Lean and Very Mean: Taurus PT 709
As one competitor of Taurus has opined, “Slim is in.” The sub-compact Taurus PT 709 series certainly provides…
Eyes on Target, Not Your Wallet: Chiappa Firearms Model 1911-22
Ever since I received my first rifle when I was a young boy, I have liked shooting .22s. They are economical, usually very accurate and just plain downright fun. In the last year, however, my main focus with the double-deuce cartridge has been on the first reason: economy.
Shooting Star: DoubleStar 1911 Combat Pistol
After years of making various and sundry AR-15 parts, JT Distributing/ DoubleStar Corporation (DSC) began making their Star-15 rifle series. Their black rifles were made on their lowers. A number of parts came from other makers. They tended toward the better class of AR parts.
Don’t Tread on Me: Springer Precision Tactical XD Pistol
Both medium and large frame four-inch barreled revolvers were no problem for larger stature personnel, but as dress belts and belt loops became narrower and the FBI’s height requirement was abolished, issue sidearms also saw reductions in profile because of concealment concerns.
Single and Available: New Techniques Revive Single-Action Revolvers
Over the years I have attended numerous “tactical” firearm courses. With the exception of shotgun courses, the firearms I employed were modern semiautomatics, usually fed with high-capacity magazines. Recently, however, I attended a basic handgun course at Gunsite that was sponsored by Hornady, Ruger, Surefire and XS Sights.
Fight Club: Tactical Response Fighting Pistol Courses
James Yeager is the owner of Tactical Response and served as lead instructor during the courses, with instructor Jay Gibson also keeping the students on track during the four days of training. Yeager and Gibson’s full resumes are listed on Tactical Response’s well-executed website. Both men are imminently qualified to instruct and are dynamic teachers, each with their own style.
Family Affair: Charter Arms Revolvers
While I like revolvers, based on my experience, wheelguns—especially Snubbys—are actually about 20% harder to shoot well, excluding the more complex manual of arms of an auto-loader. That does not mean, however, that the Snubby is not still a viable weapon.
J Frame of Mind: The Snubby’s Guide to Life
Lately, against the counsel of many of my more appropriately armed friends, I have taken to carrying a Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight .38 revolver. I have my reasons, as undoubtedly do the many legions of permit holders and off duty personnel who slip the snub into a pocket and sally forth. I carry the J Frame having trained with it hard and understanding its limitations.
Girls Gone Wild! Kimber Custom Crimson Carry/EAG Tactical Pistol Course
Shooting — whether competition, hunting or of the tactical variety — is the domain of men. Not! Recently…
Down and Dirty: 224,000 Rounds In 12 Days
In a recent 12-day span here at Tactical Response (TR), we had 22 students attend the following courses: Fighting Rifle, High Risk Civilian Contractor, and High Risk Civilian Contractor Medical course. I decided to document the things that went wrong as we pushed men and machines through 12 very harsh days of training.