Archive for Concealed Carry
Bi-Partisan Push for Concealed Carry in Illinois
Posted by: | CommentsIllinois is one of only two states that prohibits all manner of concealed carry of firearms by citizens. But there is legislation moving through the Illinois General Assembly to change that.
House Bills 245 and 462 would allow Illinois residents to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm outside of their home. HB 245 would have the Illinois State Police issue the permits, while HB 462 would place the task with the county sheriff.
Both bills were approved 11-1 in committee and sent to the floor of the General Assembly. Both bills had the support of Democrats and Republicans alike in committee. Rep. Julie Hamos, a Democrat, was the lone voice against self-defense and personal liberty.
Illinois is notorious for its anti-gun laws, but most of that comes from the politically powerful in Chicago. Outside of Chicago, most folks in Illinois are pretty sane. In fact, a lot of people would like to see concealed carry be legalized. Don’t believe me? Steve Chapman wrote a opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune encouraging the state to legalize concealed carry. The Illinois Sheriff’s Association is on-board too.
If you live in Illinois, please contact your representatives in the General Assembly. Let them know that these bills are important to you, and that you will be watching how they vote.
Also, consider joining the Illinois State Rifle Association. The ISRA is your state-wide voice on Second Amendment issues.
Uncle Mike’s Kydex Holster Review: A Concealable Holster for the Sig Sauer P226
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Several months ago, I purchased a kydex paddle holster from Uncle Mike’s for my Sig Sauer P226.
The Uncle Mike’s holster is an open top, but models with a thumb break strap can be purchased as well. I found that the holster held the Sig very securely, but was not so tight as to prevent a smooth draw. There are two screws on the front of the holster that you can use to adjust the tension of the holster, but I found the tension to be “just right” as it was, so I did not adjust them at all. Read More→
HR-197: National Right to Carry Bill Introduced
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the NRA:
U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), recently introduced H.R. 197– the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009″–a bill that would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.
The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if the permit holder meets certain criteria. In states that issue permits, a state’s laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal standard would apply. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other’s carry permits, just as they recognize drivers’ licenses.
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to introduce the Senate companion bill in the near future. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 197!
If you are not already a member, please join the NRA today!
Review of the Streamlight Strion Flashlight
Posted by: | CommentsI posted a review of the Streamlight Strion flashlight over at BlueSheepdog.com. The Strion is a compact rechargeable flashlight that is a perfect for concealed carry.
Taurus 709 SLIM Pistols a Reality: Information from the SHOT Show
Posted by: | CommentsThe Taurus 709 pistols, also known as the Taurus SLIM, is a series of single stack 9mm pistols designed for concealed carry. They are polymer framed, and offer a choice in slides: blued. stainless steel, and titanium. The blued and stainless models weight 19 ounces unloaded, and the titanium model shaves another two ounces off of that number.
All three models have a 3.2″ barrel and come with a 7-round, flush magazine and a 9-round extended magazine. The pistols have the Taurus SA/DA trigger system, meaning once you chamber a round, the trigger pull is a “short, crisp” SA pull. Should the gun fail to fire, the next trigger pull (second shot capability) is a longer double action shot. Assuming the gun fires each time, the trigger pulls will all be single action.
Sights are a low profile, but very usable, three-dot system.
Taurus announced the 709 series of single stack 9mm pistols last year, but never shipped them. During the past year, the Taurus SLIM has undergone several changes.
There are several cosmetic changes, such as the grips:
and recess around the take down:
The most significant design change has been the addition of a trigger safety. The original 709 did not have a trigger safety, but the shipping models of the Taurus SLIM will have one.
I had the chance to handle the blued and titanium models at SHOT. The SA trigger pull was light and felt pretty good for a polymer gun. The DA pull was much longer, but relatively smooth.
These guns fit in my medium-sized hand pretty well, but someone with large hands may not like the size as much. These guns should conceal easily in a IWB or belt scabbard. While not as concealable as a Taurus TCP or Ruger LCP, they do offer the added benefit of a more serious caliber, better sights, more grip surface, and up to 10 rounds on tap before a reload.
I hope Taurus gets these to the dealers soon. The single stack 9mm is a good choice for concealed carry and if they work well on the range, Taurus may sell a bunch of these.
Taurus 738 TCP: .380 ACP Pistol Takes Aim at the Ruger LCP
Posted by: | CommentsTaurus introduced three versions of the TCP, or Taurus Compact Pistol, at the 2009 SHOT Show. The TCP, also known as the model 738, is a .380 ACP pistol clearly aimed at taking market share from the Ruger LCP.
The TCP is a very small, very thin, very light polymer pocket gun. The sights are described by Taurus as “low-profile,” but I would describe them as almost non-existent.
The Taurus TCP has a slide lock, ambidextrous magazine release, and a loaded chamber indicator. It holds six in the magazine, with an additional eight round magazine available. The TCP has a 3.3″ barrel and an overall length of 5.19″.
It is a double action only (DAO) pistol. The trigger pull was long and moderately heavy. I would have liked it a lot more with a shorter trigger pull with the same weight.
The TCP is the lightest gun that Taurus offers weighing only 10.2 ounces with a blued or stainless steel slide, and a mere nine ounces (!) with a titanium slide. The titanium slide version is so light, you might actually forget you are carrying it.
The Taurus TCP will be manufactured here in the United States. The Taurus rep on the show floor said pricing would be “around $300″ with the titanium model “about $100 more.”
Taurus Judge: Public Defender
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Taurus introduced the “Public Defender” revolver, another in the line of the Judge revolvers, at the 2009 SHOT Show.
Chambering the same .45 Colt and .410 shotshells as the other handguns in the Judge line, the Public Defender is built on a smaller frame (the 85 series frame), and is clearly designed for concealed carry. The Public Defender still chambers five rounds, yet is smaller and lighter, weighing only 28.2 ounces for the stainless or blued versions, and 26 ounces for the blued steel/titanium cylinder model.
The Public Defender has a three inch barrel topped with a red fiber optic sight. The rear sight is a fixed notch. The hammer has been reduced, meaning it is less likely to catch on clothing during a draw, but it can still be cocked for a single action, precision shot. The Public Defender wears a set of the Taurus Ribber grips.
The Public Defender felt a touch front-heavy, but that is probably a good thing for helping to manage recoil. While this gun is nowhere near the size of a J-frame snubbie, it is noticeably smaller than the previous Judge models. If you want to carry a .410/.45 Colt, this is the best package to do it concealed.
I spoke with a sales rep on day one of SHOT who said the pricing on the Public Defender would be around $500 for the blued and stainless models. The titanium model will be about $600. A Taurus rep on day two of SHOT also quoted me the same general numbers.
5.11 Casual Belt: Quality Gun Belt at Reasonable Price
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Looking for a quality gun belt for concealed carry, but don’t want to spend a fortune? 5.11 may have jsut what you are looking for.
Available in brown and black, the 5.11 Leather Casual Belt offers a sturdy platforn to attach your holster to, while keeping a casual or dress-down appearance. The 5.11 belt has a simple, yet attractive buckle, and the leather looks good. Most importantly, it has a stiff, reinforced piece that runs on the inside of the entire belt that makes this an excellent belt for concealed carry. Read More→
