Free Republic

The battle rages on between point shooters and those who rely on sighted fire. Is there a true winner in that contest? What are the pros and cons of each and which parts of each, if any, are utilized by professional lead slingers who carry a gun for food? ... Rather than spend valuable time arguing one side or the other, I'll ask a different question: How can we take the best that both sides have to offer and use it to become a better shooter? ... Instead of looking at it as two sides of a separate argument, what...

Have you ever wanted to have a Glock 19 and Glock 17 contained in the same gun? The Glock 19x just might have you covered. It started out as a submission for the military’s new sidearm, but it was passed on. The 19X was then made available for civilians to purchase where it’s enjoyed a favorable reception.

To that end, the AK-47 has been ideal for those who don’t adhere to “spit and polish” type drilling. Instead, the weapon was developed based on experiences gained when Russian soldiers – many of whom were conscripted to defend the motherland – fought for their very survival. It wasn’t uncommon for those conscripts to be deployed to the front line almost immediately, with little training and almost no instruction on weapons maintenance.

Everyone loves a good .22 LR shooting session. There’s nothing quite like casually sending rounds down range after a long day. What’s better is that shooting a .22 won’t break the bank. This tiny caliber isn’t just for fun either (although that’s what I use it for); it can also be used as a training caliber, usually to mitigate costs of more expensive calibers like 556. The Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 certainly fits the bill for that. Is it any good?

A long time ago I found myself searching up the “quietest pistol” on Google. What came up was a Ruger Mark IV outfitted with a suppressor. Watching that video is what started my love affair with .22 caliber firearms. Since then I’ve dabbled with plenty of handguns and rifles for plinking. The Rock River Arms LAR-22 is next up. Is it any good, or should you pass this one up?

This pistol is tiny. And of course, it was designed this way with concealed carry in mind. The Glock 43 is remarkably small and can fit in pockets (or a safe) nicely as well as ankle holsters and bags of all sorts. This pistol is the perfect size for really any kind of way you want to carry it, but it does have its limitations.

Large-frame handgun? Small? What caliber? Glock? S&W? It's all about balancing 'Comfort vs Lethality,' says longtime Policeman. One of the best parts about being a cop is HR 218. This law allows officers to carry a firearm in practically every locale in the United States. "Carrying on your badge," as it’s referred to, is one of the few perks law enforcement still enjoys. In 2020, the job lost a lot of its appeal, but I still appreciate the fact that I can carry concealed to protect others and myself. In a perfect world, these rights would be afforded to every...

In the long range shooting world the .308 and the .30-06 have been embedded in the history of American firearms. Both rounds have their roots in the U.S. Army and was used in many conflicts all over the world. The hunting community and self-defense groups also recognized its effectiveness and highly embrace them both. However, many gun folks love to debate which caliber is better or the best for hunting elk. Caliber Differences The bullets are an identical 7.8mm in diameter. The primers are the same. The only real difference is in the cases. Put a .308 and .30-06 next...

There is always this never-ending 1911 vs Glock argument. The two guns are as different as night and day. It’s time to look at another popular debate. Which is better, the 1911 or the Sig P220? Right off the bat most gun advocates in the shooting crowd that are not die-hard 1911 users have recognize the Sig P220 taking the lead on this. Yet, there are still debates among the hard core users. The short answer why Sig P220 trumps the 1911: ReliabilitySimple operationOnly one company builds Sig P220s (but, TJ is the man that can customize to your needs)You...

If you’re into long range shooting, its important to understand how the "Coriolis effect" affects your shot at 1000 yards or greater. The Coriolis effect is the rotation of the earth and the movement of a target downrange from the shooter. This is another element that a long distance shooter has to consider for along with wind, rain, snow, distance, elevation and a many other factors. Accounting for all these factors signifies the skill sets needed for precision long range shooting. Here's the laymen's term for "coriolis effect". "if you're shooting West, your target’s gonna rotate up and towards us,...

AR platforms have attracted many shooters from plinkers, hunters to long range competitive shooters. Even women are into AR's due to its lightweight system. Before making the decision to go with an AR10 or AR15, lets take a look at the comparisons and some questions surrounding the AR10 and AR15. Are AR15 and AR10 triggers interchangeable? Most AR15 triggers will physically fit and function in a current AR-10 and 308AR rifle. However the reason AR-10 and 308 AR specific triggers exist is for one main reason, military primers. The primers in military ammo often require more energy to ignite the...

Recently, a deranged leftist (pardon the redundancy) got angry with me for talking publicly about my firearms collection. Apparently, he not only opposes my ownership of guns but also does not want me to discuss them. In other words, he is one of those Beto O’Rourke leftists seeking to eviscerate both the First and Second Amendments. He even decided to write one of my bosses and petition for my termination after I refused to stop tweeting about firearms. So I am going to respond to his demands in the only reasonable way I can: I’m going to start writing about...

My last two columns really have my leftist detractors’ panties in a wad. I’m not just speaking metaphorically about the feminists who don’t wear them. I’m also talking about the anti-gun Beto males who do. Given the fact that these columns on recommended firearms have caused so much emotional distress to my adversaries, there is only one reasonable thing to do: Keep writing them!In this installment, we are sticking to the theme of a man’s three principal responsibilities; defending the family at home, defending the family away from home, and raising responsible gun-owning children. But in this segment, we enter...

In my last column, I recommended three firearms every man had to own in order to retain his man card. The theme of the column was threefold – 1) Protecting one’s home, 2) Protecting one’s loved ones while away from home, and 3) Raising children with respect for firearms (and, of course, knowledge of responsible firearm use). Since only three essential firearms were recommended, I was bombarded with emails asking me which should follow. I am certainly glad they asked. And I am happy to provide the next three choices needed to advance those three important interests:The Mossberg 500 .410...

Back in August of 2001, I made a trip to Walmart to pick up some items for the house. In those days, I always picked up one box of ammunition whenever I went to a store that sold it. I did this until both of my gun safes were completely full of guns and ammo. That day, as I was putting my ammo away, my girlfriend got a look inside one of my gun safes. Thus, she discovered for the first time that I had thousands of rounds stored away. She was appalled and asked why I owned so many...

Inside the gun community there are always talks about which is the better caliber, such as .308 vs the .243 or 9mm against the .45 ACP. Then of course thereÂ’s the long range rock star competitive round 6.5 Creedmoor against the .223/5.56 combat load issue of the military. For those in hunting and competitive long range shooting circles all know that there isnÂ’t much to compare when viewed only through long range superiority. Now for hunting or home defense there are some considerations. Lets take a look at some basic factors for hunting, home defense/tactical and competitive shooting. Ballistics Coefficient...

Which is better for Self-Defense, Hunting or Plinking? The 9mm and the 22LR are two popular ammunition out in the market. They are different in respect to cartridge sizes. Comparing the two in a head to head is easy when you’re only viewing the size of the caliber. The 9mm is bigger than the 22 round. The .22 rounds have much less energy than 9mm rounds, the powder load is smaller. When fired has less acceleration and kinetic energy. Which means the penetration and knock down power is not in the same class as the 9mm caliber. However, that doesn’t...

The SHTF gun means many things to many people. Having actually taken incoming fire and proven I cannot stop a bullet, I have a different idea than the casually interested. Planning for an apocalyptic nightmare seems a popular pastime—especially for cinematic writers. Just the same there are times when the need may be real.Perhaps the Remington 870DM should be at the top of the list in SHTF shotguns. Man’s propensity for savagery, slavery, and mayhem has little diminished since Neolithic times. Geopolitical woes, revolution, disease, and natural disaster are real concerns. I am not one looking forward to such a...

Everyone loves shotguns whether its for hunting or home defense, shotgun usually comes up first as the most preferred to have. Then, theres the talk of either having a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge, which is the better? Probably the best answer will always be that "depends". The 12 gauge will have more kick than the 20 gauge. To some folks they don’t mind or like the harder recoil. 12 Gauge For hunters that prefer the larger shot size (4 shot) and heavier loads, go with the Mossberg 500 12 gauge. Good for the gobblers and turkeys that don’t...

The .260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor are very similar rounds. Both are 6.5mm bullet diameter and compatible with .308 Winchester rifles with a barrel switch. The .260 Remington is well-known within the hunting circles, the 6.5 Creedmoor is basically the new unicorn of the long range precision shooting crowd. New shooters embrace the 6.5 Creedmoor without having to know how to reload. The 6.5 Creedmoor was design to be competitive at the top level of high-powered long range competition using factory ammunition plus being novice reloader friendly. The other factors that made this cartridge more appealing to the competitive shooter...