Firearms instructors get hung up on encouraging people to “carry as much gun as possible.” Arguably, a full-size pistol beats a micro gun if actually needed in a fight, but the primary reason behind this constant drone is the simple fact that most people shoot a full-size gun better than a small gun. Firearms instructors... Continue Reading →
Open Carry: Fit Only for the Uninformed
I generally avoid the topic of open carry as those devoted to it certainly should have every legal right to do so. Still, just because you can does not mean you should. There are certain environments where open carry is more acceptable than others, but they are few and far between. If you live in... Continue Reading →
The Necessity for an Alternate Carry Mode
I have long promoted keeping a holster for your carry gun that is for the opposite hand. In the event that you sustain an injury to your dominant hand, or in the event of having surgery on your dominant side elbow, shoulder, wrist, etc…, you will be out of commission for a recovery period and... Continue Reading →
Cool Features in Theory, not so Much in Practice
A lot of gear in the self-defense and preparedness community come loaded with features. Often, however, those features are cool only in pictures of the product, not so much in functionality. Case in point, the glow stick on the Snakestaff Systems Tourniquet. So far I like this tourniquet, and I hope it gets COTCCC... Continue Reading →
Wedging Holsters
The use of wings, or what is often called a claw, on holsters designed for appendix position carry, have been an absolute game changer in concealment as these devices draw the grip into the body, thus greatly aiding concealment. Another tool that has long been used to enhance AIWB concealment is wedging, which typically involves... Continue Reading →
The Deep Concealment Quandary
Wearing tools of personal protection is not very difficult to do when wearing casual clothing such as jeans and a T-shirt, or jeans and a sweater or jacket, etc…, but formal clothing, or gym shorts, make such carry much more challenging. While wearing jeans and an un-tucked shirt I carry a compact pistol and that... Continue Reading →
Assessment of the Snakestaff Systems Tourniquet
So, there is a new outfit on the trauma medical scene named Snakestaff Systems and they are producing a couple of tourniquets that are claimed to be specifically designed for on-body carry. Being a nerd for anything preparedness related, I bought one. These things, literally, sell out within five minutes. The website lists the next... Continue Reading →
Another Option for Carrying Medical
Several weeks back I ran an article on carrying medical gear. In that article I showed my methods for actually carrying this gear on-body. I always have a Soft-T Wide tourniquet in my pocket, but when doing activities that are more dangerous than usual I have an ankle kit that carries a tourniquet, packing gauze,... Continue Reading →
Handheld Lights
I am a flashlight fanatic: perhaps not in collecting lights (though I have quite a few) but as a devotee to their usefulness in a defensive use and overall preparedness. For myself, the three most important tools a prepared individual can carry is a pistol, a blade (primarily as an emergency cutting tool) and certainly... Continue Reading →
Focusing on the Essential Arsenal
The past two years have witnessed a dearth of ammunition availability and sky-high prices on anything that actually is available. Likewise, guns themselves were hard to find for a long time, although that particular shortage has greatly subsided at the time of this writing. I suspect that the ammunition crisis will not subside for some... Continue Reading →