Tuesday, December 16, 2014

How to Carry a Full Sized 1911

taurus pt 1911 iwb galco kingtuk crossbreed random firearm dylan benson concealed carry self defense














When it comes to choosing the “right” gun to carry, you will find that there is no “right” gun.  It depends on so many factors: your size and shape, where you carry, ammunition availability, recoil, ability to be concealed, state and federal laws, and so on.  For me, the choice is a full sized, full weight 1911.  Now let me get two things out of the way: what the firearm is, and why I carry a 1911.

The firearm is a Taurus PT1911, and before you get on me about choosing a Taurus, I like getting things at lower prices, and after hundreds and hundreds of rounds, I have had no issues that were not ammo related (see my issue with PCM Starfire).  My reason for a 1911?  Well, no other reason than the fact that I love 1911s, and I like the .45 round.  I am not getting into a caliber debate, because with modern ammunition technology, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a .22, .380, .38, 9mm, .45, or anything.  It’s all deadly, and it will all hurt.  So, moving on…

So how do you conceal a 1911?  No matter how you look at it, it’s a big and heavy gun.  Let’s take a look:

taurus pt 1911 iwb galco kingtuk crossbreed random firearm dylan benson concealed carry self defense


She’s a beast, but with the right holster, the problem is solved.  First off, carrying a 1911 inside the waistband is probably your best bet at concealment.  What I use is the Galco Kingtuk.  A good friend of mine said that a carry gun sometimes can only be as good as the holster it is in.  He is right.  With a quality holster like this one, you can feel confident in knowing your draw will be the same each time.

Glaco Kingtuk
Now it’s time for me to review the holster.  Now, I haven’t been wearing this for a few days and now I think I’m qualified to review it.  No: I’ve been using this holster exclusively for over a year.  So here it goes…

First off, let’s address the weight (about 2.8 lbs loaded [1.27 KG]).  The two, one inch wide clips on either end do a fantastic job of spreading the weight out over a great surface area.  You don’t even need a fancy gun belt to accomplish this.  I wear a $10 belt from Walmart where the leather is separating and the stitching is coming out, but it still works just fine.  Just make sure your belt is tall and somewhat thick.

The leather itself keeps most of the firearm off your body except for the grip.  So you don’t have to worry about the safety digging into you.  The small piece of Kydex really does a good job at firearm retention.  I have run a few times with this holster on, and I felt confident the 1911 would stay in place.  For a full on sprint, I would hold the gun down just to be safe.  To help keep the giant firearm concealed, the holster has about a ten degree cant which keeps the butt of the gun from sticking out.

The holster is very comfortable, and easy to wear.

taurus pt 1911 iwb galco kingtuk crossbreed random firearm dylan benson concealed carry self defense

Back to main topic…
Now that we’ve covered the holster, let’s get back to concealing the firearm.  As you can tell, it really comes down the holster.  You also want to wear a shirt that is the correct size for you.  Something too tight will cause a 1911 (like any firearm) to print.  Depending on where you live, that may not be a problem, but that could get you in trouble in some states.

Since a 1911 does have a long grip, do be careful about bending and reaching.  When I do that, I have a problem with my shirt finding its way to a resting position on the back of the grip, exposing the firearm.  Depending on where you live, this could be illegal, as it is for me.  A quick exposure by way of everyday activity is “legal” here (in Florida), but if I don’t correct the issue after noticing, or fail to notice and don’t pull my shirt back down, I could be in some serious trouble.

taurus pt 1911 iwb galco kingtuk crossbreed random firearm dylan benson concealed carry self defense

So how about a 1911 while driving/sitting?  In all honesty, it’s not too bad.  Now, with a long barrel, when you sit, it may poke the seat.  With your body pressed against the holster, the firearm remains “locked” in the holster, but it is tight.  A firm sit down could push the firearm out of the holster, but the likeliness of that happening seems very slim.

When driving, it can be annoying.  I have bucket seats in my car, so they tend to try and cup your body.  With a 1911, the seats do push the firearm more into your side, but anything around 30-45 minutes of driving is quite tolerable.  I’ve driven as far as an hour and forty-five minutes with it, and it didn’t bother me too much.  You just may have to move the holster up a little more.

All in all, it is easy and comfortable to conceal a full sized 1911.  If you love 1911s, this may be something you are interested in doing.  I do each and every day.  Just make sure you get the right holster, dress appropriately, and you’ll be fine!

How do you carry your 1911?  Let me know in the comments below!  Don’t forget to check us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!



Saturday, December 6, 2014

Gun Review - Springfield XD-9 Mod.2

springfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defense














In the world we live in today, there are MANY options for small compact handguns for around $500.  Competition is high, but this did not stop Springfield Armory from trying to take that number one slot.  If you have spent any time around Springfield’s website or social media sites, then you are quite aware that they have been promoting the XD-9 Mod.2 very hard.  Recently, thanks to Southern Guns LLC, I got my hands on one to review.

Let me start out by saying that I have never been a fan of the XD line.  Needless to say, I went into testing this with that in mind, but I was opened minded.  The first thing I noticed about it was the way it looked.  In the past, I have found XDs to be, well, ugly.  This one is not too much better.  The second thing was when I picked it up.

I have big hands.  The 13 round flush magazine allows my pinky to wiggle freely.  It leaves nothing for me to grip onto.  Granted, this is a subcompact gun, but a small pinky extension would have done wonders for me.  Now, they do have an extended magazine that holds 16 rounds, but I personally think that sticks out too far.  That may be great for the range or as a backup magazine, but if you are going to carry a compact gun, you don’t want to turn it into a full sized firearm.  Regardless, out of the box, both magazines fed just fine.

One of the first things you’ll see and feel (besides lack of pinky support) is the textured grip.  Oh, my, gosh does Springfield promote this.  They are so proud of this texturing.  They have named it “Grip Zone” and everything!  After all that, the extended magazine that they send has the old texture on it.  Normally I wouldn’t think twice about that little inconsistency, but if 50% of your promo video is focused on the texture, don’t skimp out and forget the magazine.  Regardless, it does feel very good.  You get a very good grip purchase, and it’s easy to keep a hold of during firing.  The only downside I would see it that if you drop this in the dirt or have dirty hands, it may be tough to clean, but since it’s made of polymer, perhaps water will do the trick.

springfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defense

The slide is thinner then the outgoing model, and they have a nice fiber optic front sight.  I do really like the sights.  They are very easy to see, and they line up well.  I should also say that I enjoy the trigger.  There is a little bit of play, but when you pull it back far enough, it’s light, clean, and consistent.  I am not picky about triggers for the most part.  For me, if I know it will go bang, I’m fine with it, but it is nice to be able to know confidently when the trigger will break.  With this, I know.

With all of that out of the way, how does it perform?  Well, I did do some testing at a practical and expected distance of five yards, and the grouping was pretty good.  Could I hit the same hole over and over again?  Maybe if I tried hard enough, but I was content with the four inch rushed shooting that I did with it.  (Rushed because one would not use this gun for target shooting, but adrenaline pumping self defense.)

The one thing I do really like about Springfield is the extra goodies you get.  While it comes with two magazines (which is now pretty much standard), you also get a small holster, double magazine pouch, a loader, replacement fiber optic sights, and the other typical stuff (like the manual).  While you may not use that stuff, it’s nice to have.

All in all, I was surprised by this little gun.  It’s a good little shooter, but still ugly.  Even more so with the words “Grip Zone” on the side.  They might as well write, “Hold Here” on the side.  However, it does what it is supposed to do, and pretty well.  Am I going to rush out and get one?  No, but I know someone will.

What do you think about this gun?  Let me know in the comments below, or let me know on Facebook or Twitter.  Thank you again to Southern Guns LLC for the hookup.



springfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defense
springfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defense
springfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defensespringfield xd-9 mod2 armory southern guns dylan benson the random firearm concealed carry self defense


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

SCCY CPX-2 Guiderod and Spring Upgrade

sccy cpx 2 shooting review diy upgrade galloway precision random firearm db productions dylan benson 9mm concealed carry east orange shooting sports














By now it should be no secret that I am a fan of SCCY Industry’s CPX-2.  It’s small enough to fit in a pocket, yet big enough to be intimidating.  It holds 11 rounds of whatever 9mm you want to put in it (10+1), and all that can run you a street price of just $250.

However, it may have its share of problems, but that’s what the no questions asked warranty is for.  After that, there still are things that can be better.  That’s what after market is for.  Galloway Precision has all the goodies for the SCCY.  A while back they sent me some Traction Grips for it, and now I have their upgraded guiderod and spring. 

According to Galloway Precision, this 20lb spring will help reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip over the standard 16lb one from the factory.  They say the stainless steel construction is more durable then the stock one as well.  I put those claims to the test, and while I was pleased with some aspects, there were also some aspects that left some things to be desired.

I shot three targets while at the range at 20 feet away each.  Target 1 was 20 test shots with the original spring that I took off camera (as I was filming the test).  Target 2 is 10 rounds with the original spring on camera, and target 3 was a bunch of rounds with the new spring on guiderod also on camera.  If you take a look, you can see that my grouping actually increased in size with the last target.  Granted there are a lot more rounds on the paper, and if you watch the video, you will noticed that I aimed at different places of the paper with different magazines.  Still, there was a difference.

sccy cpx 2 shooting review diy upgrade galloway precision random firearm db productions dylan benson 9mm concealed carry east orange shooting sports

sccy cpx 2 shooting review diy upgrade galloway precision random firearm db productions dylan benson 9mm concealed carry east orange shooting sports

sccy cpx 2 shooting review diy upgrade galloway precision random firearm db productions dylan benson 9mm concealed carry east orange shooting sports


One may say, okay, there must have been a change in the operation of the firearm to cause the change in shot placement.  Well, I know I didn’t feel much, but I figured that must have been the reasons.  However, when I played the video back, muzzle flip was at 30 degrees both times.  I don’t know if the spring and rod made a difference, but it changed my shooting until I got used to it at the end again.

sccy cpx 2 shooting review diy upgrade galloway precision random firearm db productions dylan benson 9mm concealed carry east orange shooting sports














All in all, it part is very reasonably priced, and for that reason alone, it may be worth upgrading a part on a “cheap” gun.  Take a look for yourself by checking out the video and let me know what you think.  Do you want one of these for you SCCY?  Head on over to Galloway Precision and get one for your SCCY today!

Any suggestions on what you’d like to see next?  Let me know in the comments below, or tweet us at @RandomFirearm!  Be safe, and keep shooting!  Also, thank you to East Orange Shooting Sports for allowing me to use their range for these tests.



Monday, December 1, 2014

PMC Starfire (.45) Review


When it comes to self-defense rounds, there are plenty of options out there on the market.  Most people tend to go for a good old fashion hollow point.  Even if you just decide on wanting to have a “hollow point”, you still have tons of options available for you.  While we could spend all day with caliber options, let’s put that aside, and I’ll tell you that I carry a .45; a 1911 to be exact.

If you have not gathered by all the SCCY posts, I do enjoy a good bargain, so my 1911 is a used Taurus PT1911 that I got from a local gun shop.  Following the same budget minded avenue, when I first picked up some hollow points to carry, I settled on the PMC Starfire due to its reasonable price online and good reviews.

On paper, here are the stats about the rounds:

Caliber: .45 ACP
Grain: 230
Bullet Type: Starfire
Velocity: 850 fps
Price Per Box: $10 - $15 (USD)

Everything about it points to the round being a good defensive carry round.  You can find a good amount of YouTube videos of people testing these rounds, which I watched.  I decided that I would purchase a box.  This is where things got interesting.

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | GreenGeeks Review