Somehow it slipped by me, but a new book called Combat Shooting with Massad Ayoob is now selling on Amazon. The book runs almost 200 pages and covers a variety of topics including mindset, using competition as training and examining the techniques of Jim Cirillo, Charles Askins and Wyatt Earp.
Amazon is selling the book for only $15.50. Based on Ayoob’s prior work, I’d say the book will be worth every penny. My order has already been placed.
Hodgdon announced the 2012 reloading manual is complete and will be ready in early 2012. The new manual will have load data for the 300 BLK (aka 300 BLACKOUT) cartridge, as well as load data for the new Hodgdon CFE 223 powder I wrote about recently.
The manual will be more than 100 pages, have more than 5000 recipes and new articles from industry writers. The manual will cover all of the Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders (59 different powders).
The 2012 Hodgdon reloading manual is $8.99 on the newsstand, or $11.99 direct from Hodgdon.
The World’s Assault Rifles is an in-depth exploration of the origins and evolution of the modern assault rifles. Released in April 2010, the book, written by Gary Paul Johnston and Thomas B. Nelson, is more than 1200 pages with almost 2000 photos and illustrations.
Gary Paul Johnston was on Tom Gresham’s GunTalk radio show on May 30, 2010 discussing The World’s Assault Rifles. GunTalk is available as a free podcast if you are interested in hearing the interview.
While scanning Amazon.com tonight, I discovered someone is selling Bill Jordan’s classic book “No Second Place Winners” for only $12.45…and that’s for a new condition copy. I don’t know how many they have, but I picked one up for myself.
Prolific gun writer Massad Ayoob is recognized around the world as one of the foremost experts on the concealed carry and use of firearms. Not only has he written for more than three decades on the subject, he has also taught citizens on the use of deadly force through his Lethal Force Institute. Additionally, he has been called as an expert witness in trials all across the United States of lawfully armed citizen who have been wrongly accused of using force.
Who better is there to write a comprehensive book on concealed carry?
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry was written by Massad Ayoob is designed to be a reference manual to the citizen who has decided to carry a firearm for protection. Ayoob covers a wide range of topics including hardware, mindset, and the law.
I’ve carried a concealed firearm for more than 15 years, and I found this book to be a fresh look at carry methods and gear. For the citizen brand new to concealed carry, this book should be one of your first purchases. It can likely save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in holsters, belts, and even firearms. Where no such book existed when I started carrying, I tried virtually every holster and carry style before finding out (the expensive way) much of what Ayoob discusses in the book.
The book starts with the fundamental question: “Why do we carry?” From there, the book moves on to the legal aspects of self defense and the carrying of arms. Ayoob then discusses in detail the selection of firearms, holsters, and ammunition. Plus he writes about the pros and cons of different modes of carry and style of dress. Ayoob wraps up the book with a discussion on the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and the benefits it can provide to the concealed carry practitioner.
Ayoob does an excellent job in explaining the topics, and answering questions to anticipated questions. The writing style is matter-of-fact and easy to read. If you have read and enjoyed any of Ayoob’s articles in American Handgunner, then you will find the reading of The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry like a conversation with an old friend.
It is unfortunate that I should feel the need to spend any time talking of Ayoob’s character, but unfortunately there are a few Internet ninjas who have taken unfair shots at Ayoob over the years. From behind the safety of their keyboards, some people have claimed that Ayoob is a bumbling fool and worse.
Let me state very clearly: Ayoob is an expert as both an instructor and handler of firearms. There are few lawyers who are as knowledgeable in the use of force as he is. When Ayoob states something as a fact, you can bank on that information.
Some of the topics covered in The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry include, but are not limited to:
Ayoob has written other books that are excellent companions to The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry. In the Gravest Extreme is Ayoob’s book that teaches when deadly force can legally be used to defend oneself. Although Ayoob talks about it in The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, he states that readers should refer to In the Gravest Extreme for the best information on when force may be used.
Additionally, Ayoob suggests the book Stressfire for learning how to shoot under extreme stress. I also suggest the video of the same name. I read Stressfire many years ago, and learned a lot from it. However, when I picked up the Stressfire video last year, it was a significant step forward in understanding the shooting concepts Ayoob puts forth.
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry is an excellent book, and worth the $24.95 price tag. As with a great many things, this book can be found much cheaper on Amazon, where $16.49 is a true bargain.
Defensive Living is a short, but very well-written book, by Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding that is written to preserve “your
personal safety through awareness, attitude, and armed action.” This book, now in its second edition, is an excellent primer for anyone taking responsibility for their own safety.
Covering many of the basic aspects of self defense inside and outside the home, the authors of Defensive Living speak from obvious experience. Defensive Living is easy to read, but makes a significant impact to your mindset. Read More…
Trying to figure out what to buy the gun-guy or -gal in your life for Christmas? Here are a few ideas:
Less Than $20
In the Gravest Extreme
Most ammunition can be purchased for less than $20/box. For a single box, your local dealer is probably the best vendor. For a larger quantity or for harder to find calibers, an online vendor like Natchez Shooters Supply, AmmoMan, or Midway USA is the best bet.
Speaking of ammunition, quality AR-15 magazines can still be had for less than $20. My favorites are the Bownells with the Magpul anti-tilt followers, but I also like the Magpul PMAG polymer magazines. Brownells is shipping as quickly as they come in, so if you order ASAP, they will likely be shipped before Christmas.
Bore brushes, cleaning patches, solvents, and oils are always needed and a good idea as a stocking stuffer.
Less Than $50
A NRA membership is perhaps the most important gun-related gift anyone can give this year. $25 includes a magazine of your choice plus all of the standard benefits such as firearms insurance, life insurance, legislative updates, and much more.
Handgun magazines are a useful gift. (The metal/poymer kind, not the paper mailed to you monthly kind.) With the run on all-things-gun, certain magazines, such as the Glock, have gotten more expensive ($25-30 tyically), but almost all common hangun magazines can be had for $35 or less.
More Than $50
A high intensity flashlight such as the inexpensive SureFire G2 Defender or the ultra-compact SureFire E1E are excellent choices for tactical lighting.
If your someone special owns a J-frame Smith and Wesson revolver, the Crimson Trace LG-405 Overmold Grips
While an AR-15 is certainly more sexy, the ubiquitous .22 rimfire rifle is a fun rifle to shoot plus it is inexpensive to purchase and keep fed with rimfire ammo. Nearly every rifle maker has at least one .22 rimfire in their line. Ruger’s 10-22 is pretty much the gold standard, but I really like the inexpensive, tube fed Marlin 60, which can be had for less than $150 at your local dealer or even WalMart.
Price Is No Object
If price is not a consideration, a trip to Gunsite or Lethal Force Institute is one of the best Christmas gifts you can give. Nothing beats professional training, and these schools are the best at what they do.
Like many gun enthusiasts, I enjoy shooting, collecting and studying military surplus rifles. I find the Mosin-Nagant rifles to be a great value for the shooter and budget hunter, and very enjoyable as a collector’s piece. Each rifle tells a unique story and the stories of some of these rifles travel back to the 19th century.
The Mosin-Nagant Rifle
To research this book, Lapin has traveled to many eastern European countries and gone through old imperial and communist-era records to discover as much accurate information about the Mosin-Nagant as possible. Now in its fourth edition, Lapin’s research has uncovered production numbers, arsenal manufacturer information, and a lot of significant details regarding the evolution of this gun from the Tsars to post-WWII.
Most Mosin-Nagant collectors know about the rifle’s general history in Russia and Finland. Many collectors know how these rifles relate to Poland and the United States. Lapin has sections on other countries and their involvement with the Mosin-Nagant rifle such as Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, China, Germany, North Korea, Spain, Turkey, and others.
I found The Mosin-Nagant Rifle
Lapin includes chapters on parts, bayonets, accessories and the 7.62x54R cartridge. Experimental models and rare examples are detailed in the book.
There is a lot of information about the Mosin-Nagant rifles that have been lost to time. Lapin does an excellent job in finding what information is still out there and piecing together an excellent history. Lapin is very clear regarding fact and supposition in his book. If he is surmising that somthing may be true based on the research, he indicates that information as his opinion and why he thinks that way.
If you own a Mosin-Nagant rifle and are interested in knowing more about its history, The Mosin-Nagant Rifle
Brownells has started mailing the new, 61st edition of their annual catalog. Up to a whopping 576 pages, the new catalog offers new gun products from Brownells, plus some tweaking to help you find what you want.
The new catalog now features color-coded ‘tabs’ on the end of the pages to highlight the different sections. If you have the 60th edition, the ‘tabs’ at the end of the 1911 and AR-15 sections have been added to all of the sections of the catalog. So sections like “Rifle/Shotgun Sights” and “Metal Finishing” are labeled for easy reference.
Also, Brownells has started to label products that are made in the USA. Unfortunately, Brownells states in the forward that the research of all of their prodcuts was not complete at the time of publication, so the catalog may not show “Made In The USA” for some products that rightfully deserve this designation. Brownells states their website is current.
The catalog is $5.00, but if you hold a Curios and Relics (C&R) license, or tell them that Tom Gresham from Gun Talk sent you, they’ll ship you one for free.
I recently picked up the second edition of Modern Reloading
As many loading manuals are, Modern Reloading is divided into two basic parts. The first half of the book is devoted to explaining the process of handloading cartridges and
shotshells, as well as describing bullet casting. The second half of the book is devoted to load data.
Richard Lee, the founder of Lee Precision, does an excellent job in walking the reader through the steps in reloading a cartridge. Lee’s causal writing allows the reader to easily grasp an understanding of headpsace without bogging down into unneeded complicated explanations. Although I have been reloading for some years now, I still found the front half of the book to be an enjoyable and informative read.
Modern Reloading claims to have the “world’s most comprehensive load data.” I do not have any way of proving or disproving this claim, but I can tell you that I found a lot more load data than I expected to find on some less common cartridges such as the 7.62x54R (3 pages) and 7mm Shooting Times Westerner (2 pages).
One unique aspect to the Modern Reloading load data is the inclusion of powder measurement by volume in addition to weight. All other load manuals list powder measurements exclusively in weight (grains). Modern Reloading also includes the volume measurements for reloaders using the powder dippers
Modern Reloading is one of the least expensive load books on the market. I suppose that I should expect that it would be, as Richard Lee built his company for the value-conscious buyer. Frankly, I would suggest this book at double it’s price, so at $17.93 on Amazon