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.
More Articles
Beretta APX A-1: Upgrades All Around
The Beretta APX got a facelift! This modular, polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm started life as Beretta’s entry to compete in the U.S. military trials for a new service pistol. Beretta originally release it to the public in 2017. Now, for 2022, the world’s oldest gunmaker is releasing the APX A1.
Continue Reading →Ask Ed: Concealed Carry FAQs — May 2022
Is an Old Handgun I Inherited Still Good for Home Defense? That depends on just what kind of old gun we’re talking about. If you don’t have any other options available… Probably — at least until you…
Continue Reading →Springfield Armory Stainless Steel 9mm Garrison 1911
Springfield Armory leaves stainless steel’s sordid history behind with the introduction of its 9mm Garrison 1911 in stainless steel. Let me explain. In the mid to late 1980s, semi-automatic pistols…
Continue Reading →Smith & Wesson 9mm Matchup: M&P9 Shield EZ vs CSX
It’s important to start these handgun comparisons with the caveat that each person will have a different take. The best firearm for you is the one you will train with and carry every day. Comparing…
Continue Reading →Galco’s UnderWraps Elite: A Belly Band Holster With More Options
Belly band holsters are a perfect fit for an active lifestyle. They have a lightweight and slim form-fitting design that hugs the body, allowing you to comfortably conceal and secure your handgun and…
Continue Reading →Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 vs. Gen 5 Glock 19 MOS
Features and history vary substantially from one gun to the next. That can make it difficult to choose which firearm is best, or even if one firearm is better than another. The answer to which gun is…
Continue Reading →Gear We Love — April 2022
The Mongoose Quick on the Draw Buck 110 Speed Sheath Buck 110 Speed Sheath With millions of Buck 110s still in the field, there remains a strong aftermarket for 110 accessories — specifically…
Continue Reading →Springfield Armory’s Garrison 1911 — Now in 9mm!
Not being a company that rests on its laurels, Springfield Armory introduced a new pistol line — the Garrison — in November 2021. The initial line consisted of two .45 ACP-chambered, full-sized…
Continue Reading →What About the Guys? Alexo Athletica Carry Options for Men
Somewhere along the line, you probably learned that embracing the concealed carry lifestyle meant you had to make some sacrifices — namely in the way you dress. To avoid showing the outline of your…
Continue Reading →Streamlight BearTrap Rechargeable Emergency Light
In today’s world of emerging cyberattacks, global animosity and increasing natural disasters due to climate change, long-term emergencies are a very real possibility. In the event of one such…
Continue Reading →Versatile Defender: Smith & Wesson M&P12
The new M&P Model 12 isn’t Smith & Wesson’s first foray into the world of shotguns. The Model 3000 pump-action was a traditional-style shotgun similar to the Remington 870 and manufactured for Smith…
Continue Reading →The Streamlight TLR-6 Laser/Light System
Two very popular items in the shooting world currently are micro-compact pistols and tactical laser sight/light combos. However, combining both can be difficult depending on the gun make and model.…
Continue Reading →
















