The following is a guest post that was submitted to You Can Carry. To submit a guest post contact us.

Note from You Can Carry: I prefer to organize my cleaning supplies in a fishing tackle box. This keeps things organized and portable. I had so many cleaning kits and brushes for different calibers that I couldn’t keep everything straight. When I switched it made cleaning much easier and more enjoyable. When I get started I lay a towel down and work on one gun at a time (I usually will clean multiple guns in one sitting). I put on a show as I clean and it can make for a fun evening. 

Looking After Your Handgun

Those of us who carry a concealed weapon do so in the hope that we will never have to use it. Nobody wants to have to face a life or death situation where you are forced to draw your weapon and shoot somebody. However, having a weapon on your person can mean the difference between your life and the life of somebody you care about, or that of a violent criminal.

You might carry because of your job, such as a security guard, or carry because of a personal conviction in the 2nd Amendment, or maybe you simply are a driver and want to lower your courier insurance, or just to ensure the safety of you and your family. Whatever your reason, carrying a weapon that is not reliable because of jams or doesn’t fire when you need it to, can be worse than not carrying a weapon at all. The good news is that if you have purchased a reliable weapon, then you can care for your gun to minimize the risk of failures in the gun. The cause for most weapon malfunctions is simply a lack of maintenance, so making sure the weapon you carry is properly looked after will prevent it from letting you down when you need it the most.

Cleaning

The most important maintenance required to keep a handgun in good working order is cleaning.  Cleaning is essential, not just to prevent a good from malfunctioning, but also to ensure accuracy and to make sure the gun lasts for many years to come. You should ideally clean your gun every time you use it, but this may not always be practical, depending on how often you shoot, but you should make sure you clean it at regular intervals. Even a gun that hasn’t been used will require regular cleaning, as dust will gather in the barrel and working parts, so even if you haven’t fired your gun in a while, giving it a regular clean will make sure it remains in good working order. When you first get a new gun, you should clean it and take it to the range to identify how the gun likes to operate. Some guns prefer to be very clean and “wet” (very oily), while others prefer to run a little more dry. Before you ever carry a gun you should identify how the gun prefers to operate and then maintain the gun in that manner.

It may sound obvious, but it is a point worth reinforcing – never try to clean a loaded gun. Always follow proper firearm safety rules.  The magazine should be removed and the gun should be checked to make sure no ammunition is in the chamber. You should also remove all live ammunition from the room your are cleaning it in so that you have to consciously re-load the gun once you are finished. A mistake here would at best put a small hole in something you don’t want to have a hole (perhaps your tv) and at worst could be deadly.  Once the weapon is unloaded, open the chamber again and clean from the chamber end to the barrel using a cleaning rod. This will prevent the muzzle end from wearing and will prevent you pushing debris into the action and frame.

Use a toothbrush, cut up rags/t-shirts, firearm cleaning brush, or cotton swabs to clean the action and frame and make sure you get into all the hard to reach places where carbon can build up. Gun cleaner or other solvent will help break down any hard to remove residues. If you are cleaning a revolver, make sure you clean the front of the cylinder and breach of the barrel, as powder often builds up in these areas.

A light coating of oil on all metal parts will add protection and prevent corrosion. Again, the amount of oil you leave on the firearm should depend on how your gun functions with the oil on it. You should also clean the outside of the gun, using a lightly oiled rag to remove fingerprints, as these can cause rust. Once the gun is cleaned, don’t forget to check the firing mechanism to ensure everything is properly assembled and working correctly.

Storage

Guns also need to be stored correctly to ensure moisture doesn’t creep in and cause corrosion. Most people store their guns in a lockable steel case or gun safe, which is fine, but placing a few silica packs will help keep moisture at bay. If you are storing a gun for a prolonged period of time without use, coating it in gun grease will prevent rusting, but the gun will need a thorough clean when you remove it for use.

Ammunition needs to be stored carefully too. You should keep all ammunition in a cool, dry and dark place. This matters less if you use your gun regularly and are continually buying ammunition, but if you do go through a lot of ammunition, make sure you always use the oldest stock first because if shells have been in a box for a long period, they may fail. Ammunition has both a shelf life and a service life, and these should be noted. While most small arms ammunition has an infinite shelf life, this is only applicable to ammunition stored correctly. For long-term storage, an ammo box with a good seal will make sure the ammunition is kept cool, dry and dark. If ammunition has been stored for a long time, it’s also worth giving it a clean before use. When storing ammunition in a magazine for extended periods of time it would be wise to reduce the number of rounds by 2 below full capacity to avoid excessive wear on the springs inside the mag.

Following these simple guidelines can help keep your firearms in safe, working condition so you can rely on them for when you need them the most.

Here is an interesting infographic about gun purchases and ammo prices over the last few years and their correlation with gold and gasoline.

Via: Ammo.net

Congratulations Wisconsin!!  Today is the official day that Wisconsin will allow concealed carry in their state. For Wisconsin residents they can now start submitting applications, but for non-residents who hold a permit that is honored by WI you can carry there legally now. This is a big day in the concealed carry world–state #49 moved over to the CCW side leaving only Illinois where no citizen can legally carry a loaded weapon (unloaded CCW may be legal).  It has been great watching state laws move more towards firearm freedom over the last several years and I look forward to a day soon where Illinois will follow suit. For any questions about concealed carry in Wisconsin check out the WI DOJ FAW.

We are in the process of updating our reciprocity maps and will have them updated shortly. Thanks for your patience.

In June 2010 the Supreme Court struck down Chicago’s gun bans. Predictions about Chicago running red with blood in the streets (not sure what they thought was already happening)  and turning into the wild wild west (that probably would have been better than what was currently happening in Chicago).

Chicago Mayor Daley predicted the following:

Overturning the gun ban was “a very frightening decision” and predicted more deaths along with Wild West-style shootouts and that people “are going to take a gun and they are going to end their lives in a family dispute.” . . .

Well, it didn’t happen. Time and time again (Virginia’s firearms in restaurants) we’ve seen more guns equals less crime. John Lott, author of “More Guns, Less Crime” analyzed the crime rates in Chicago before and after the gun ban was struck down.

See the rest of John Lott’s analysis of Chicago and DC after their gun bans were lifted:

John Lott’s Chicago Analysis

John Lott’s DC Analysis

I just got a call from my friend who lives in Manhattan saying that parts of lower Manhattan are being evacuated (along with several other areas along the east coast) because of Hurricane Irene. This is the first time ever that New York City has done a mandatory evacuation. Mayor Bloomberg said in a news briefing today (Friday August 26, 2011):

“We’ve never done a mandatory evacuation before now and we wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t think this storm is going to be serious,” Mayor Bloomberg

Because this is the first time in New York City that this has happened, I highly doubt many of them have sufficient emergency preparedness kits or 72 hour kits. I hope I’m wrong, but I would expect empty stores and people looking for food and water over the weekend and not being able to find what they need. It’s a good chance to take inventory of your bug out bags and take a look at how long it would take for you to be able to evacuate for any number of natural disasters.  How prepared are you for an evacuation?

The following article is a guest post by Max at Strange Weapon of the Week. . . for more strange weapons like this one, be sure to check out the ultimate guide in weird weaponry at http://www.strangeweaponoftheweek.com

Are you wondering what to get your elderly neighbor for her 87th birthday? Fear not because I have found the answer: the Palm Pistol. This isn’t some electronic device that helps keep your calendar items straight. Invented in 2008 by Matt Carmel, the purpose of the palm pistol would be to allow people to fire a defensive firearm who normally would not be able to physically shoot a typical handgun. But here’s the strangest part: It was once considered by the FDA to be a “medical device”.

The palm pistol is essentially a one shot “in case all else fails” firearm that has a .38 special chambered. It was meant to be used for the elderly or those with arthritis as they would not normally be able to handle the recoil of other handguns. It is held cradled in the palm, with the wrist absorbing the maximum amount of shock, and it is fired with the thumb instead of the index finger.

When Matt Carmel first filed the device with the FDA, they approved the device under a “Medical” category with the reasoning of the help-the-elderly-fire-weapons mentality. Pretty soon after, however, the Brady Campaign pressured the FDA to remove that categorization, which they did.

The Palm Pistol has unique features worth diving deeper into. For instance, it has no external moving parts and as a result it can be fired from within a purse or pocket. Thus, making it a super-concealable gun!

It has not been mass-produced as of yet, however the inventor is taking plenty of deposits for
when the final product does come out–which would give the elderly and physically inferior people an easier way to defend and protect themselves.

Edited to correct the FDA filing 8/25/11.

I recently received an email about a documentary that is being created.  I don’t know much about it (if anyone knows much about Firecracker Films or this project specifically let me know) other than they are looking for families where guns are a part of their everyday life. This could be those who carry firearms, hunt, participate in competition shooting or just love to go shooting for fun as a family.

Initially, they are looking for people to interview over the phone and then some would lead to follow up calls. Ultimately they are looking to “cast” one or two families for the documentary. The type of families that they are looking for are the dynamic and lovable type (“Osburne type family) with a lot going on. Ideally, the family would include a husband/wife with children in their teens, although that isn’t required.

If any of you are interested you can contact Alice at Firecracker Films directly:

Email: alice@firecrackerfilms.com

Phone: 310 309 3942

A little over a year ago I was given a certificate to attend a free 2 day defensive handgun coarse at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute by a friend of You Can Carry. Because of a busy work schedule it took me a while to get out and use it–but a few months ago my wife and I  finally decided it was  time for a vacation for the two of us. So we planned out a week long trip to Las Vegas with the first 2 days being set aside for the class at Front Sight. Overall it was a great experience for us–so here’s my take on Front Sight .

We arrived at 6:30am and waited in a line of cars for about 15 minutes as cars filed into the facility. They have a very controlled facility with gates surrounding everything and they had 2 staff members greet each car. The gates were on a schedule so people weren’t coming in and out except at specified times (obviously they would open the gates to let you out should you need to leave the facility at another time, but no one was getting in unless it was during the hours the gates were open ).  The beginning of the first day was check in and weapons inspection. They verified that you were in fact registered for the class and then inspected your equipment–your firearm, magazines, ammo, and holster.  They had some specific requirements in place for safety and wanted to make sure that everyone and their equipment were in compliance. They have all of the information on their website for review before you show up, and they have a pro shop where you can buy most anything that you may need including gear, ammo, shirts, etc. We didn’t feel rushed (which I enjoyed, but also was wanting some of that sleep back that I missed earlier that morning!).

At 8:00am or 8:30am we began the initial introduction and “housekeeping” items. Basically we got the introduction/philosophy for Front Sight and signed the waivers. Every class was grouped together in a big classroom which was connected to the pro shop and surrounded outside by a bunch of shooting ranges. When we were done there we headed out to the range.

The range we were at was 75 yards with a pavilion and chairs at one end, and three dirt berms surrounding the range. Our class had 38 students and 3-4 instructors at any given time. There was one instructor that was in charge and lead the group and then 2 or 3 others that mostly stayed the same, but we did have one join us on the second day that wasn’t there on the first day.

Range time was split up into three different activities–first was the lecture where we were seated in the pavilion and were listening to the instructors and watching the demos that they were going through.  We went over basic firearm safety rules, then started into the defensive use of a handgun.  The second activity was dry practice (they do not refer to this activity as dry fire–simply dry practice–since you can not fire an unloaded weapon). At the 75 yard marker we would line up and dry practice various drills including drawing from a holster, getting in the “ready” position, trigger control, malfunction clearing, and more.  Lastly, we did live fire drills from the 3 yard marker out to the 15-20 yard marker.

We didn’t fire a round for the first portion of the class, but lined up on dry practice line for exercises. For both dry fire and live fire exercises they implement what they call a “coach system”. Essentially, this just means that you split the group up into two firing lines and everyone is matched up with one person. The person not firing is supposed to offer help and critiques, as well as encourage and enforce safety with the person on the firing line. One line would go through the drills, then they would switch and the second line would go through the drills with the first line coaching.

I have mixed feelings about this coaching system–most of the time I was paired up (by choice) with my wife. While I am quite a bit more advanced in my training, she felt comfortable offering reminders and suggestions based on the instruction that we had received. Obviously, I felt the same and was more than comfortable making sure that she was safe and performing the drills properly.  However, on the second day the instructors switched it up and gave everyone a new partner (without a choice) so we got to know some more people in the group–but it is a little different “coaching” someone that I just met and I found it less effective because I didn’t want to be too intrusive or critical of my new partner. My wife had a similar experience but was even a little more magnified based on her shooting partner. At that point I felt like I was only on the lookout for major safety violations–and not as much of a coach. Either way, the system did allow for the instructors to give more personalized attention simply because only half the group was shooting at any given time.

After we went over the basics and practiced without ammunition, we lined up on the firing line. Following commands issued by the instructor we started from the ready position and slowly started to work through the proper mechanics of shooting. Sight alignment, sight picture and trigger control were the main focus as we began to slowly build our skills and speed. We didn’t begin drawing our gun from the holster and firing until the second day (the entire first day anytime your gun went in or out of the holster it was unloaded)–which left time for beginners to build up the confidence and skills to safely draw from a holster–and allowed time for the more experienced to gain muscle memory for the specific actions that they wanted you to perform. I found myself constantly walking through each step one by one in my head so it was nice to start with a slow repetition and work up speed.

By the end of the second day we were drawing from a holster and firing two rounds to center body mass–most of us could do it from 10 to 15 yards in under two seconds. However, we were taught to only go as fast as we could guarantee the shots.  That meant different speeds to different persons at different distances, but for a two day class I felt like we made good progress. They advertise the fact that you can take this class even if you have never fired a round before–which is true–but you’ll get more out of it if you are familiar with the basics of handguns, and specifically the one you are using.

One of the activities on the second day of class was the shooting house. It was a very simple and beginner version of a realistic shoot/don’t shoot scenario–but I found it was a good test of the skills we had learned and provided a step up in realism of the training. In this particular scenario we were standing about 10 feet in front of a house door with one window on one side of the door and two windows on the other. Targets would then present themselves and you would have to identify the target, decide if they are a threat or not, and then fire or not fire based on what you saw. One of the targets had a hostile holding a child as a hostage and you only have the face visible on the hostile.  Even though it was a pretty simple scenario, it was a good step up from a silhouette target that doesn’t move.

One of the other positive aspects was the lectures that they gave. During lunch and at other “break” times they brought everyone into the classroom for lectures on the legal and moral side of using your firearm in self-defense. They walked through different scenarios and asked thought provoking questions to get you to see different sides of situations–some that still get me thinking about various possibilities when you are tempted to use your firearm. Two stories in particular from one of the instructors have stood out in my mind. I won’t share the stories but they definitely made me think about when/how I would use my weapon if I am faced with certain situations.  I would also sit through these lectures again if/when I go back to Front Sight (even if they are the same lectures). I also liked the fact that they used lunch time to go through lectures so you didn’t waste shooting time going through lectures at a different time.

During some of the lecture series there was also a couple sales pitches–one from Front Sight themselves for anyone who wasn’t a lifetime member and another from Fort Knox safes (which was completely voluntary and was after the rest of the activities for the day were completed so you could leave if you didn’t want to attend).  The Front Sight sales pitch wasn’t over the top and they simply said that they wanted us to become members and then they explained the offer. There wasn’t any “pressure” tactics to get you to join.

Because I was out of state we drove down which meant that for the “free class” it costs my wife and I about $400 between gas, the hotel, food, and ammunition and the mandatory background check that Front Sight completes before you can attend a class.  We did not rent guns but we did buy a few items to get ready for the class (such as electronic ear protection which is required).  I enjoyed the two day course and now want to go back for the four-day defensive handgun class which goes beyond drawing and firing from a standing position. I don’t know that I’ll adopt every single step that they taught, but I think the training is fundamentally sound and will prepare you if you ever have to use your firearm for self-defense.

One side note—I am aware of a lot of the negative aspect of Front Sight–between the first members who purchased plots of land to the lawsuit(s) to the over-the-top marketing campaigns there are definitely some people that have negative feelings towards them. While I may not agree with how they conduct their marketing, my main concern is that I receive quality training for a good price in an environment that I feel safe and able to learn.  Others might feel that they don’t want to be included with an organization that does those types of things which is perfectly fine and understandable–but based on my experience I have every intention of returning for more training. I also have every intention of expanding my training with other organizations as time and money permit (including local instructors).

Also–if you are looking for a female perspective on the training check out this post.

**Lastly, in full disclosure, the link at the top is an affiliate link and I may receive commissions if you click through and sign up for a class. However, the review here is based solely on my opinion  based on my personal experience with Front Sight and is not influenced by my affiliate (or any other) status–in fact, I signed to be an affiliate after my class because of the positive experience that I had. If you have any questions about the course or my association with the Front Sight do not hesitate to contact us or leave a comment below. **

Another Press Release from our friend and fellow 2nd Amendment activist Rick Ector . . .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Detroit, MI – Jun 02, 2011 – Rick Ector, owner of Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit, has authored an E-book entitled, “How To Get A Michigan Concealed Pistol License.” Ector is giving it away – FREE of charge – to visitors of his web site.

Ector feels that there is currently a need to freely share information on a couple of little discussed facets on the process of acquiring a Concealed Pistol License in the state of Michigan: how to select a credible Firearms Instructor and how to select a state of Michigan compliant CPL Class.

Ector admits in his new E-Book that he unwittingly took and completed a non-compliant CPL Class several years ago from a con artist. Ector hopes that his new E-Book will spare others the experience of being licensed to carry a concealed pistol without knowing what is expected of them legally.

Ector stated, “There a few unscrupulous folks in our industry who are making our community less safe by not teaching everything that they should to their students. To do so would require them to contract out the services of an attorney to teach the law. My free E-Book will teach and inform the community how to identify and avoid bogus instructors who have no desire to fully inform their students.”

Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Class training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit. Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, UPI, NRAnews, Guns Digest, Tactical-Life, The Truth About Guns, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, The Detroit News, The Detroit Examiner, WJLB, WGPR, and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

For more info about the FREE E-Book on the Michigan Concealed Pistol License and the Detroit Michigan CCW Classes that Ector teaches, please contact:

Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit
Web: http://www.detroitccw.com.
Email: info@detroitccw.com
Phone: 313.733.7404

Rick Ector is a gun rights advocate in Detroit, Michigan who is launching a blog encouraging people to Open Carry in Detroit. Here is the press release that he has issued about his blog (May 17, 2011 )–

Rick Ector, a Detroit native and a nationally accredited Firearms Instructor, has launched a blog on the Internet to encourage citizens to openly carry handguns. The blog is entitled “Detroit Open Carry.” According to Ector, the time has arrived for city of Detroit to break ties with the racist roots of gun control. Ector stated, “Gun laws have always been most strict in cities with large numbers of black people. Detroit is no different in that regard.

In 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet was acquitted of defending his home from a mob of people who were upset with the gall of a black man who dared to integrate a white neighborhood.” Ector, was referring to the Michigan court case which many have credited as being the genesis of the 1927 Michigan Firearms Act. This law created County Gun Boards, required the licensing of handguns, and made acquiring Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) and handguns difficult for most black people.

Also, Ector concedes that there is another reason for pushing open carry in Detroit. He added, “Crime here is out of control and the local police department can’t be everywhere. A citizen wearing a firearm in a holster will serve as a visual deterrent to bad guys looking to rape, rob, and murder.” In general, it is legal in the state of Michigan for a person 18 years of age to display his own registered pistol in a completely visible holster without a special permit, as long as he does not venture into a state designated pistol-free zone.

Rick Ector is a Detroit based grassroots gun rights advocate and a National Rifle Association (NRA) credentialed Firearms and Personal Protection Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Classes training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit. Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, UPI, NRAnews, Gun Digest, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, WDIV News, WXYZ News, WWJ Radio, WJR Radio, The Detroit News, WJLB, WGPR, and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

For more info about Open Carry in Detroit and Detroit Michigan CCW Classes, please contact:

Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit
Web: http://www.detroitccw.com
Email: info@detroitccw.com
Phone: 313.733.7404