USCCA Firearms & Self-Defense Blog
Guns & Gear
Read no-holds-barred reviews of both personal- and home-defense firearms and stay up-to-date on the latest concealed carry gear offerings on the market. Discover everything you need to know to select the best, tried-and-true self-defense gear — from holsters, knives and ammunition to flashlights, first-aid kits and alternate weapons.
Recent Guns & Gear Articles
Taurus 850 Review: Affordable & Dependable .38 Snubnose
As a revolver enthusiast, few things are more satisfying than the debut of a new revolver like the Taurus 850, tailored for concealed carry, outdoor use such as camping or hiking, or home defense. The[…]
Continue Reading →Is the .32 ACP Still a Good Self-Defense Round?
The 7.65mm Browning cartridge — later known as the .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) — is a semi-rimmed pistol round developed by John Moses Browning for the FN M1900. Colt Firearms later adopted the .3[…]
Continue Reading →Smith & Wesson Model 36 Classic: Retro Snub-Nosed Review
The blued steel Smith & Wesson Model 36, chambered in .38 Special, debuted in 1950 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention. It made such an impression that attendees voted […]
Continue Reading →Why I Carry a Manual Safety Pistol for Self-Defense
Let me begin with a disclaimer: I have long been a fan of striker-fired pistols, particularly the Glock series equipped with a trigger-safety lever, also known as a “drop safety.” During my time as a […]
Continue Reading →Girsan 2311 Brat Review: A Budget-Friendly 2011 Pistol
The iconic 1911-style pistol design may be more than a century old, but it’s far from obsolete. In fact, with modern upgrades in capacity, ergonomics and carry readiness, it continues to thrive, espec[…]
Continue Reading →Best Concealed Carry Guns for Summer: Top 13 Picks
When the weather heats up, staying cool and armed becomes a balancing act. Summer often brings challenges for concealed carriers — less fabric, tighter clothing and fewer layers mean fewer places to c[…]
Continue Reading →How to Choose Your First Gun: Best Handguns and Rifles
Choosing your first gun — whether for self-defense, hunting or sport shooting — is a big decision. With countless models available, finding the best first gun can feel overwhelming. This beginner-frie[…]
Continue Reading →Liberty .380 Civil Defense Review: Fast, Light & Effective
Sometimes very surprising things happen when you test ammunition to evaluate its ability to deliver energy into what may be a threatening human or animal target. Occasionally, performance falls short […]
Continue Reading →S&W Model 10 Classic (No Internal Lock) Review
When I saw the first image of the new Smith & Wesson Model 10 Classic .38 Special revolver — built on the iconic K-frame and featuring no internal lock — I knew I had to own one. The Model 10 was […]
Continue Reading →Urban Carry Hyperion Review: OWB Leather Holster for Lasers
Finding the right holster can be a challenge, especially when your handgun features rail-mounted accessories like a laser or weapon light. In this review, I return to a lingering problem: securing a q[…]
Continue Reading →Byrna TCR Review: Is This Non-Lethal Gun Worth It?
The Byrna gun lineup has quickly become the gold standard in non-lethal self-defense weapons for private citizens. Byrna’s timing couldn’t have been better — civil unrest is rising, and po[…]
Continue Reading →Smith & Wesson 1854 .357 Magnum: Lever-Action Review
When I heard that Smith & Wesson was introducing its own American-made lever-action rifle, I received the news with enthusiasm. That was because another high-quality, top-tier firearms manufacture[…]
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