Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Firearms Cleaning

What do you use to clean your gun? and what schedule do you clean your gun on?  I don't have the end all be all answer for both, but I have learned a couple things.

First, My Glock will start to choke around 1100 to 1200 rounds if I carry it and don't clean it at all.  So I make sure I clean my gun before that point.  Not that I really care on the range if the gun malfunctions (it just gives me practice), but in the real world if I was trying to defend myself or someone else it could me that someone dies.  So cleaning my gun is simple compared to the consequences.

I know one instructor that cleans his gun every week.  I'm just not that dedicated, but it would be nice. Now I've started cleaning my guns once a month after each class I teach.  That's generally when I shoot a lot anyways and works out nicely for me.  You should find something that works and even if you never fire your carry gun, consider cleaning it on a normal schedule.  Once a month might be good depending on your climate or twice a year might work.  I would default to sooner rather then later.  Cleaning your gun is an easy task that could save your life.  So "do what I say, not what I do" and clean your gun regularly.

As for what to use.  Don't get complicated.  I just did a review of Frog Lube CLP and wasn't that impressed.  I am going back to Breakfree CLP.  It just does everything well.  Nothing outstanding, just well.  I like the CLPs because they do everything.  Lots of guys want something that is specialty for everything.  They keep three or four bottles of crap and they do everything a little better then the CLP, but not much.  For me it's not worth the hassle.  Just get a bottle of CLP and be done with it.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Pocket Guns

Do you carry a small gun? I do, a lot.  When I started carrying a firearm for self defense I carried the biggest one I could, a full-sized hi-capacity 1911.  It was big and heavy and what I carried as an armored car guard.  So when I got my Concealed Carry License it only seemed logical to carry the same gun.  It just got heavy and hard to hide.

As the years passed I started carrying smaller and smaller guns.  Now I carry a Glock and/or a small Ruger revovler.  A lot of times I'll leave the full-sized Glock and just carry the little revovler.  Why, because it fits in a pocket or I can carry it in the appendix position with a simple holster.  It hides as long as I'm wearing a T-shirt and I don't have to worry about it.  It weighs almost nothing and I don't have to think about it.

I just recently got the change to fire some great little .380 ACP pocket pistols.  The Desert Eagle Micro Eagle was my choice over the Ruger LCP and Taurus TCP.  I would buy the Micro Eagle because it's different and had useable sights and fit in my hand.  A more practical choice would be the TCP because it was the best all around.  It was big enough to git in my hand, small enough to hide, sights where kind of there, and recoil was easy.  The Ruger was the easiest to hide, but that was about the only thing I like about it.  Click the link above to see the entire review.

I've also shot a couple 9mm pocket guns.  I reviewed the Beretta Nano and the S&W Shield.  The shield was just too small for me and the controls weren't very usable.  The Nano fit my hand and was big enough to fight with.  It also had only a magazine release for controls so the frame and slide where completely slick.  Which was nice when I was trying to draw it from a pocket or deep concealment.  Check out the full review above.

Right now I carry a Ruger LCR .38 Special.  It's about the same size as a J-frame, holds 5 rounds of +P ammo and shoots very well.  Nice trigger, useable sights, accurate, light weight and doesn't recoil heave are the points I like about it.  Especially that last point.  Most J-frame light weight revolvers are almost un-shootable for me because of the recoil.  I don't like heave recoil.

Pick the gun that is right for you.  They are all good.

Stay Safe,

Ben