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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Star Model BM 9mm 1911: Classic Pistol Review
It’s always good to be reunited with an old friend — or, in this case, an old acquaintance: the Star Model BM single-action 1911-style 9mm pistol. The Star Model B and the Star Model BM once served…
Continue Reading →One Holster to Hold Them All?
To suggest there’s one holster to hold virtually all of your guns would be either foolish or brave. Foolish because the physical dimensions of today’s handguns run the gamut from micro to massive.…
Continue Reading →SIG Sauer P229 Legion Compact Pistol
SIG Sauer has introduced more variants of its existing handgun line than perhaps any other handgun manufacturer. The array is amazing. And while the basic models of each type are always available,…
Continue Reading →The Flap Holster in the Great Outdoors
Anyone who has perused the pages of Concealed Carry Magazine or followed our articles in Concealed Carry Report knows that there are literally thousands of makes, models and styles of concealed carry…
Continue Reading →Choosing the Right Caliber for You
There are currently something like 55 standard handgun cartridge options between .17 HMR and .500 Smith & Wesson. Any of them could be used for self-defense. It’s just that some are better than…
Continue Reading →BP380CC: Spec’d Out for Fun
Bersa’s polymer .380 concealed carry pistol could replace your plinker as the fun gun in your arsenal. At the same time, it can be a legit concealed carry gun as well. How so? A formula based on the…
Continue Reading →Flint River Armory CSA45: Short Piston .45 ACP AR-Style Carbine
Starting in the mid-1980s, semi-automatic pistol-caliber carbines became quite popular, particularly in law enforcement circles. While Colt AR-15s were available, most law enforcement agencies didn’t…
Continue Reading →Colt 1903 Hammerless Review: Rebirth of a Warrior
I first saw the prototype of the Colt 1903 Hammerless General Officer’s Pocket Pistol at the Colt booth at a recent NRA Convention. I was taken with this elegant, all-steel defensive pistol from a…
Continue Reading →Kershaw Barstow: Unique Folding Dagger for Special-Purpose Needs
Dagger: A dagger is a knife with a very sharp point and one or more sharp edges. Typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. Daggers have been used throughout human…
Continue Reading →UkoalaBag: A Creative Concealed Carry Option
I accidentally stumbled upon the UkoalaBag a few years ago, and it’s probably one of the best “accidents” ever. I have a fondness for Steampunk gear, and I happened to notice a post on Facebook about…
Continue Reading →S&W M&P .45 ACP Shield Review: Range Report
Back in July of 2016 (then updated again in 2021), I reviewed the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 9mm Shield pistol. Compact, reliable, easy to shoot, priced right and chambered for the 9mm…
Continue Reading →El Paso Sky Six Concealment Holster: Classic Construction, Versatile Design
Although you might be getting tired of me writing about it by now, the Bond Arms Bullpup 9 has given me an opportunity to work with holster designs that I don’t necessarily seek out for more commonly…
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