FRI | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Recognizing the need for a safe way to de-cock a crossbow, TenPoint recently launched the only safe de-cocking system on the market with the ACUSlide Silent Cocking and Safe De-Cocking system.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. congratulates Team Ruger members James McGinty and Dave Olhasso on each taking home a divisional win at the 30th International Revolver Championship held at the Shootout Range in Princeton, LA last weekend.
Team Federal Precision Rifle Series shooter Buck Holly finished strong in the 3rd Annual Federal Gold Medal PRS Match. With 140 shooters in attendance, Holly took home the top trophy in the Gas Gun category and placed eleventh overall during this two-day PRS Pro Series Qualifier match.

SIG SAUER Academy is pleased to announce the successful completion and results of the 2021 Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit held at the SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire September 10-11.
LUCID Optics’ recently concluded 2021 Ballistics Summit at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, gathered outdoor companies and media from across the U.S. for a weekend packed with shooting, networking, and hands-on product evaluation.
U.S. LawShield will sponsor Apache Rifle Work’s industry day on September 18th. Attending influencers are Matt Carriker of Demolition Ranch, Garand Thumb, Uncle Si from Duck Dynasty, along with Bill Goldberg of the WWE, World’s Strongest Man Robert Oberst, Kentucky Ballistics, and others.

Galco’s original VHS™ (Vertical Holster System) was field-proven across the globe from Afghanistan to America. The VHS series provides a very comfortable alternative for those who like Galco’s world-famous Miami Classic but prefer the traditional vertical carry style.
Plano’s Field Locker Element Cases are designed with Mil-Spec recommendations for traveling and to protect against dust, immersion, vibration, and accidental dropping. The cases are airline approved with a pressure relief valve for altitude changes when flying along with reinforced padlock gates for more security.
Win a Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP 3.8 along with 2 cases of Federal Personal Defense Punch ammo this week, during the Armory Life Giveaway. Over $17,000 in guns and gear will be awarded to winners this September.

Big Daddy Unlimited now offers a preferred Partner (FFL) membership program for only $24.99 per month.
Remington Ammunition has announced noted firearms and fitness expert Tony Sentmanat, aka “RealWorld Tactical,” has joined Team Remington’s roster of brand ambassadors. Sentmanat will use his following to showcase Remington Ammunition’s ability to perform at the highest levels.
The Hornady RAPiD Safe Ready Vault has been named the 2021 American Rifleman Accessory of the Year as part of the NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Awards.
Big Daddy Guns is excited to announce the grand opening of its Tallahassee store location this weekend. There will be an on-site “Bullets & BBQ” celebration open to the public.
Silencer Central President and CEO Brandon Maddox will appear live on Gun Talk Radio, Sunday, September 19, at 2:00 pm EST. Maddox will talk about trends in the suppressor industry, continued advances for American hunters, and innovations in Silencer Central’s Banish line of suppressors.
A report in the Wall Street Journal showing that nearly half of all new gun buyers since January 2019 are women is not surprising, considering efforts to defund police agencies, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

The first release from the KITANICA BAG LAB is the Envoy Attaché. The Envoy is outfitted with 4 different carrying options, has a lighter grey interior for visibility, and has a three compartment design.
AGM Global Vision announces the introduction of the Fuzion series of monoculars. The Fuzion will incorporate both digital night vision and thermal night vision to give the user the best overall experience possible.
HIPERFIRE’s reduced size recoil compensator, the HIPERCOMP 556, features the lowest felt recoil performance of any comp the company could test.

SilencerCo’s newly released “American Gun” episode spotlights a farmer from the small town of Ville Platte, Louisiana. The story reveals a unique point of view from someone who has been surrounded by firearms his entire life.
NSSF® is pleased to announce the launch of its all-new Share Center learning hub that features critical firearm-related topics through easy-to-share facts, captivating visuals and an option for extended learning into each respective topic.
EOTECH Magnifiers enhance any EOTECH Holographic Weapon Sight by enlarging the target’s image when needed. EOTECH’s G43 and G45 magnifiers pair perfectly with any EOTECH HWS, transforming them into flexible CQC to medium-range weapon sight systems.
It’s new guns & ammo, a hassle-free suppressor buying process, and more, this week on Tom Gresham's Gun Talk® Radio.
Federal Ammunition is proud to announce a partnership with nutrition brand Go Condition to offer an exciting new line of energy bars and supplements to help hunters and shooters get more from their sport.
Following on the heels of the highly successful Weatherby® Mark V® Backcountry™ and Backcountry Ti, the next generation of this rifle family will hit dealer shelves in fall 2021. The updated Backcountry 2.0 and the all new Backcountry 2.0 Carbon models are equipped with a brand new carbon fiber stock that is the lightest in the industry.
New to the outdoor accessories market, Peak 44 is focused on delivering premium ultra lightweight products for backcountry hunters and adventurers. Their first offering to hit the market is the Blacktooth™ carbon fiber stock – the lightest production carbon fiber stock in the industry.
Silencer Central is the latest Corporate Sponsor to renew its relationship with Safari Club International and its mission to promote and protect hunting and wildlife conservation in North America and across the world.
 

I find myself amused when I see the defense gun reviewers examine a sample firearm and say “I’d prefer it not to have a safety.” The mob in the comment thread often follow that line with “I wouldn’t have that gun, because it has a manual safety.”

A contrary position appeared in social media recently when a discussion of the “guns (which) ‘panic buyers’ most often returned” to a gun shop mentioned only guns that “have no safety.”

How critical an issue is it … or does it matter at all?

The guns mentioned in the “trade-ins” media post were all GLOCK brand; this made me wonder if a Ruger American Pro model, a S&W M&P without a lever, or perhaps a SIG P320 or FN509 was traded in along the way – because a new gun owner, one who’d never shot before, selected a pistol based on advice.

The potential new gun owner just believed what a family member, friend, associate told them about the “best gun.” Often, it’s because “all the cops use (fill in the blank-type of pistol).” That’s not horrible reasoning, though the civilian law enforcement mission isn’t exactly like ours.

What is the best defense gun? I’ve been asked. I turn the question around: “What do you think?” That often turns into “Which is your favorite?”

I reply, “The one closest to hand when I need it.”

Not all safety levers are created equal. The classic 1911 -- one of the service pistols with the most redundant safety features -- is vastly different from the S&W 3rd Gen autos -- the 4506 shown below, next to the S&W M&P45 - both with safety levers.

As to safety levers, “it depends.” On the 1911 and pistols like it, I’m a fan. I used the safety on the S&W 645 and 4506 autos issued to me for uniform service and was told it was “meant to be carried safety off.” I enjoyed the weapon retention advantage of the system and used it as I wished.

I’m glad I never had to test that use of the safety, but others did face that very test operationally, with some success.

As to guns without manual safety levers, I carried GLOCK pistols from 2001 onward without great concern about safety levers. I’ve used M&Ps with-and without them. If the guns have them, I often use them.

For my close concealment use, the Smith & Wesson Shield line has provided good service since they were introduced. Nearly all had the safety. I use the safety when the gun is off-body -- when retiring for the night -- flicking it “off” before holstering for the day.

The S&W M&P Shield (foreground, above) is often made with a small safety lever, as was the Ruger LC9. Below, when placed in a container for off-body use, the safety on the Shield goes on. Blackhawk "Day Planner" shown.

The most recent example, a Shield Plus doesn’t have the factory installed safety lever. When asked if I preferred the gun with a safety or with night sights, I thought “Why not both?” Apparently, the gun isn’t shipped that way, so I stuck with the night sights.

Am I anti-safety lever? No. In fact, I added the Tau Development Striker Control Device to my most commonly used GLOCK pistols, a compact and a micro – just for that added bit of comfort. But I’ve carried without such devices for many years.

The general rule with a safety-lever equipped gun is “do all the practice – the draw and from “ready” – with the safety on, sweeping it off as you engage in dry practice or in live fire.” That way you’ve prepared for the worst-case scenario for safety-quipped autos: trying to shoot when it’s locked.

I don’t care what your preference is and I trust you enough to have thought it out. If a potential new gun owner asks for your advice, be willing to explain before they buy that some pistols don’t have a safety lever. Some do. There are at least hundreds of thousands in common use by pistol-packing cops every day.

More critical than gadgets and gizmos is mindset; the two main physical safety checks – muzzle discipline and finger off the trigger – are essential. All the safeties in the world don’t prevent accidents. Serious users prevent accidents. Keeping your head out of your duffle bag and activating all your discipline before the gun gets into your hand is “safety.”

It’s a machine – and won’t go off by itself. As I was told so many years ago, “you have to be smarter than the tools you use.”

-- Rich Grassi

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