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Category Archives: Off Duty
New Kahr CW380 Review
At SHOT Show 2013 Media Day at the Range, I was able to shoot five small handguns that are new to the market for 2013. My first was the latest “budget” offering from Kahr Arms, the CW380, designated the CW3833. I may have said “budget,” but the Kahr CW380 still has all the important functional features that have made their pistols popular with shooters and ’carryers. The 10.2 ounce micro-sized CW380 has a polymer frame with 4140 steel inserts, matte finished 416R stainless slide with bar-dot sights, “Safe Cam” DAO firing system, and quality fit and finish. The C-series of Kahr handguns finds its lower price point by using conventional … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, SHOT Show
Tagged CW380 Review, Kahr Arms, Kahr CW380, off-duty gun, Police Back-Up Gun
6 Comments
SHOT Show 2013 Small Gun Round-Up
At the SHOT Show 2013 Media Day at the Range, I was able to shoot a number of new small handguns meant for concealed carry self defense. The latest offerings from Kahr, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, and Ruger were loaded, locked, and let loose. In the photos, you will notice the dusty guns. It was very windy and fine sand mixed with the usual post-firing gunk. As I have said before, these guns are shot by literally hundreds of media members during this single day of firearms torture. All the guns I used functioned perfectly as designed.
Retired FHP K9 Drake Dies Defending Home
Retired Florida Highway Patrol K9 Drake was shot multiple times at his master’s West Palm Beach home last Sunday by armed burglars. On Friday, Trooper Bobby Boody, Drake’s owner, and Dr. Ken Simmons flew K9 Drake to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center in Gainesville in a final attempt to save the wounded dog’s life. After a consult between Dr. Simmons, Trooper Boody, and UF veterinary surgeons, it was decided to put K9 Drake down to end his suffering. K9 Drake was euthanized at 6:14 Friday. Trooper Boody was not at home Sunday when three suspects shot K9 Drake through a sliding glass door as the dog tried to … Continue reading
Posted in K9, Off Duty
Tagged Florida Highway Patrol, K9 Dog Shot, K9 Drake, Trooper Bobby Boody
8 Comments
New ArmaLaser TR1 Touch-Reflex Laser Sight Review
Gainesville, FL-based ArmaLaser, Inc., is best known for their Small Block laser sighting system which features a “touch activated” switching system. If you have not seen the video where they drop their gun-mounted laser 100 times from 10 feet onto concrete, I have included it below. Yeah, the laser still worked. A couple of months ago, I saw a gun magazine ad for a new ArmaLaser product in the works for the Kel-Tec P3AT/P32 series: the TR1 Touch-Reflex Laser. I liked its sleek look. Although the Small Block has its own touch activated switch and rugged construction, I can’t seem to get past its chunky profile. I’m shallow. ArmaLaser’s new … Continue reading
High Noon Holsters Side Effect Review
High Noon Holsters is a West Central Florida maker of custom cowhide and horsehide gun holsters. I saw the High Noon Holsters Side Effect hanging on a rack in the LGS. I needed a good concealed carry holster for my Glock 27, so I sprung for it. As a bit of background, about ten years ago I met High Noon’s owner Justin. He was making his holsters out of the garage of his Florida home at that time. He was a super nice guy who had worked for one of the larger holster companies. Justin decided to go off on his own to produce holsters of his design and manufacture. … Continue reading
BDS Tactical HydroBull Taurus Hydration Pack Review
I got tired of seeing tags inside my nylon gear that said, “Made in Some-Asian-Country-istan.” I have been trying to throw my hard earned treasury notes at more products Made in our United States of America. When I sought out a new hydration pack, I typed “Made in USA” into the all-knowing search engine. One of the top entries with which I was rewarded was BDS Tactical. BDS makes high quality nylon gear in their production facility in Oceanside, CA. The president and CEO of BDS Tactical is Michael Bornfriend, a USMC 1st Recon Bn and Baltimore PD veteran, who tired of failed tactical equipment. BDS Tactical makes a rugged … Continue reading
DeSantis Mag-Packer Pocket Magazine Carrier Review
Last night I went for a casual dinner with my wife. I wear either jeans or slacks when we go out. Not wanting to feel like I am equipped with a duty belt, I pocket carried my Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380. Inexpensive, functional pocket holsters are available from makers such as Galco, Uncle Mike’s, and DeSantis. But how to bring along more bullets… DeSantis Holster and Leather Goods of Amityville, NY, makes the Mag-Packer carrier, which solves the reload dilemma when you are dressed to tactically relax (heh, heh, heh). I was in the bad habit of dropping a spare magazine or revolver speed strip into my support side … Continue reading
GAP Enterprises Glock Finger Rest Extension Review
I love my Glock 27. It is that OD color that looks greenish or brownish, depending on the lighting conditions. Like many owners, I’m fond of its short grip for concealed carry, but wish I could get a better hold on the G27 when the trigger is depressed. Enter the GAP. GAP Enterprises, Inc. makes a finger rest that replaces the standard floor plate on a Glock magazine. Called the GAP Finger Rest Extension, it adds 1/2″ of tough polymer resin material to act as a stop for the ring finger at the front lip of the magazine. The peaked design of the GAP maintains a small footprint at the … Continue reading
Pistol Wear Trump Card Holster Review
In February, I wrote an updated review of the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380. I featured a Pistol Wear PT-2 concealed holster in the article and I had much positive feedback on it. I really liked the PT-2, so I decided to try a different Pistol Wear version that is slightly scaled down. The Pistol Wear Trump Card and Sub Compact Trump Card are lightweight concealed carry holsters that can be worn under the arm, inside the waistband, or outside the waistband. They are designed to be used in support of business attire or causal wear. Much like the PT-One and PT-2, the Trump Card has a breathable elastic belt … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged concealed carry holster, Pistol Wear, Sub Compact Trump Card, Trump Card holser
13 Comments
Smith & Wesson Announces New M&P Shield Pistol
This week, Smith & Wesson unveiled their new M&P Shield semi-automatic pistol. Made to compete in the single-stack concealed carry arena, the Shield is a slimmed down version of their popular striker-fired polymer pistol offerings. By my calculations it is .25″ thinner than an M&P9, weighs 2.7 ounces less, and is .6″ shorter on the slide topline. It is available in 9mm or .40 S&W cal. I think with the law enforcement popularity of the full-sized M&P guns, the Shield will be a nice compliment to those who want a smaller version of their everyday duty pistol for secondary weapon or off-duty carry. It is a training advantage to carry … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged back-up gun, Concealed Carry, M&P Shield, M&P9, off-duty gun, Shield Pistol, Smith & Wesson
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Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics–Now Running
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida came through my county today. The Torch Run is in its 31st year of raising awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. Each year in Florida over 5,000 law enforcement officers from more than 300 agencies will carry the Flame of Hope on a 1,500 mile relay through 66 counties. The Flame of Hope’s journey began March 26 in Escambia County and will finish on May 9 in Osceola County, in time for Opening Ceremonies to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Lake Buena Vista, FL on May 18. For the last ten years or so, Bill has been my agency’s … Continue reading
Posted in Misc., Off Duty
Tagged Flame of Hope, Guardians of the Flame, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Special Olympics
5 Comments
Diamondback DB9 Long Term Test and Review
In January of 2011, I was walking through the static vendor booths at SHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range and saw a familiar pistol that somehow looked off-kilter. It was a stretched Diamondback Firearms DB380 pistol. No. It was something new. Diamondback Firearms makes striker-fired polymer framed pistols and (soon) shotguns AR -15’s in Cocoa, Florida. After successfully marketing a micro-compact .380 ACP pistol, the company began producing a 9mm version. This was the gun I saw on the table. I handled the unloaded gun in the booth. It looked very promising, however, for its diminutive size, I worried about how it would actually handle in the hand when … Continue reading
New Charter Arms Pitbull .40 S&W Revolver Review
…Updated below… BlueSheepdog Richard and I went to the range a couple of months ago to get some trigger time with a mixed bag of pistols and revolvers. One of the wheelguns he brought was the unique Charter Arms Pitbull. The Pitbull is a .40 S&W cal. revolver, which was formerly called the CARR, for Charter Arms Rimless Revolver. The Pitbull was made to fire a rimless auto-pistol cartridge without the use of full or half moon clips. Integral to their design is a dual coil spring loaded extractor, which engages the case rim and ejects the spent rounds. Originally, Charter Arms’ idea was to provide a revolver that was … Continue reading
St. Petersburg Officer’s Killer Gets Life Sentence
Yesterday, Nicholas Lindsey was found guilty of first degree murder in the killing of St. Petersburg Police Officer David Crawford. At 17 years of age, Lindsey was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defense attempted to portray Lindsey, who was tried as an adult for the February 21, 2011 murder, as a “scared child” who accidentally shot Crawford. Five times. Jurors did not believe the rhetoric. Ofc. David Crawford’s widow, who was harassed in the 6th Judicial Circuit Criminal Courts Complex by Lindsey supporters, had no sympathy as she read her statement to the Court: “My name is Donna Crawford. I am the wife of … Continue reading