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.
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The SIG Sauer P210 Carry Review
The SIG Sauer P210 Target and the new P210 Carry are direct descendants of the legendary Swiss P210 Military pistol in use by the Swiss Army since 1949. SIG P210s are chambered in 9mm, and their…
Continue Reading →Ruger’s 22 Charger: A Versatile .22 LR Fun Gun for Young and Old
My 8-year-old son Owen is becoming quite the firearms aficionado and enjoys watching the videos Ruger includes on its website. He has learned a lot about Ruger firearms and was particularly…
Continue Reading →The Springfield Armory Ronin 10mm 1911
Polymer-framed pistols with nearly indestructible finishes seem to be the universal standard for defensive and sporting handguns at the moment. But Springfield Armory’s Ronin line 1911 pistols with…
Continue Reading →Versacarry Compound Holster
I recently reviewed Versacarry’s Trooper holster. I liked the Trooper enough that I requested another Versacarry model: the Compound, an outside-the-waistband, optics-compatible holster. My 9mm Springfield Armory SA-35 will pair with the Compound. It’s one of the guns I use to provide security at my church.
Continue Reading →Not-so-Heavy Metal: The Evolution of Lightweight Guns
In the earliest days of concealed carry, it was easy to understand the materials from which firearms were made. A handgun was simply an iron tube into which powder and shot were packed, and this iron…
Continue Reading →Ruger Mini-14 Review: Classic Ranch Rifle Tested
Ruger introduced its Mini-14 in 1972 and advertised it as “the smallest of powerful small arms.” With its 20-round magazine, it took the shooting world by storm for 32 years before the AR-15 became…
Continue Reading →Maglite’s Mag-Tac 2 TL and TM Flashlights
I have used Maglite flashlights longer than any other brand for good reason. Still American-made in Ontario, California, the 2 TL black plain bezel and 2 TM black crown bezel Mag-Tac handheld…
Continue Reading →Versacarry Trooper OWB Holster
Versacarry is an American manufacturer of holsters and carry gear. They make their gear from the toughest natural material available: premium water buffalo leather. Versacarry has a large number of…
Continue Reading →New Colt Python .357 Magnum Three-Inch Revolver
Over the past 10 years, I’ve had the privilege to evaluate several newly introduced firearms. Few have excited me more than the reintroduction of the classic Colt Python .357 Magnum. It is available…
Continue Reading →The Skeletonized AR-15
The AR-15 took its beginnings from the military M16 rifle. The goal at the M16’s creation was to be the lightest rifle available for battle. That first M16 — the M16A1 — met the military weight…
Continue Reading →Which AR Barrel Length Should You Use?
When considering purchasing an AR-15, one factor may be the length of the barrel. ArmaLite rifles (ARs) have three common barrel lengths: 16, 18 and 20 inches. Short-barrel rifles (SBRs) start at…
Continue Reading →How to Choose Ear Protection for Shooting
Hearing protection should never be ignored. Noise-induced hearing loss is a major problem faced by shooters. Too many shooters don’t think about the health of their hearing until it’s too late.…
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