Category Archives: Pistol-Revolver

Backup Black Bear Medicine

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I have hunted black bear in Ontario, Canada many years ago with my 68 pound recurve bow. Canada does not allow hunters to carry a backup pistol. My Outfitter said I probably would not need bear spray. Right? My experience with a very aggressive and very large boar instantly changed my mind. 

Today, with a bear hunt in September, I reviewed my 45ACP as a backup pistol. Yes, it can work but it is considered marginal. I have always liked the 44 magnum as a brown or black bear backup. But you will likely only get one good headshot, if it charges. I tested a 44 mag for a moving head shot. It wasn’t easy and I had only 5 more shots left. The 44 mag with 250g or 300g or 454 Casull are very powerful but many can’t handle the recoil. If you can handle the recoil and shoot it straight, go for it. Many are true believers. 

Enter the 10mm Glock 20 Gen 5 semi-auto pistol (Retail $620)

Glock 20 Gen5 MOS Pistol

It is a better option for a semi-auto, throwing 15 hard cast 220g bullet at 1200 fps delivering nearly 700 ft-lbs on each shot. 

Underwood Ammunition 10mm Auto 220 Grain Hard Cast Flat Nose Box of 20

Underwood Ammo says “Hard cast flat nose bullets are non-expanding, powerfully penetrative bullets that are designed with your woods defense needs in mind; whether fending off wild hogs or black bears, the hard cast flat nose bullets are consistently effective in taking down any wild animals that you may encounter. In contrast to the round nose non-expanding bullets, the flat nose bullets are able to pierce through dense bodies of mass while maintaining their nose forward position, which is optimal for maximum penetration. ­Underwood Ammo’s hard cast featuring a “Black Cherry” coating. Equipped with enhancements from the previous Hi-Tek coating. “Black Cherry” coating is a polymer-based compound; its thermal stability allows it to handle more than any other coating today. The coating will protect against gas cutting with a high degree of wear and abrasion resistance. The “Black Cherry” coating prevents lead to bore contact, thus virtually eliminating lead fouling. All Underwood Ammo rounds utilize flash suppressed powder so that your vision will not be compromised if it becomes necessary to use your firearm in low light.”

The 10mm  is increasingly used as a hunting firearm for thin skin big game and a reasonable bear backup that allows faster follow-up shots. 

This 10mm 15 shot pistol is apparently taking the Outdoor Industry by storm say many reviews. Like the 44 magnum, the 10mm really does not have enough energy to penetrate a bear skull but most shooters can handle its recoil.  We shall see… I just purchased one. Yes, I needed a good reason to add it to my hunt options. 

 

Below is a comparison article from Meateater of 10mm vs 45acp

https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/caliber-battle-10mm-vs-45-auto

How you carry the pistol will also be discussed. How handy is it?

More Soon. 

Sig Sauer Academy -Intermediate Defensive Handgun 103 Review

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Yesterday I took the Sig Sauer Academy – Intermediate Defensive Handgun Class 103 in Epping, NH. Here is my review…

The Intermediate Defensive Class I took was an all day class 8:30AM to 5 PM at the SIG SAUER ACADEMY In Epping, NH.

It was just what I was looking for, a course jam packed with shooting skill builders for self and home defense with a great deal of safety instruction too beginning with Muzzle Management (where you pistol points) and Trigger Management ( finger off the trigger till your going to shoot). Below we prepare to engage targets from behind barriers.

The class instruction also touched upon the serious nature of having to defend our family and life with a firearm and it’s personal psychological and legal impact.

Here’s to being prepared and ready… but hoping that time never comes. 

Personally, I received “hands-on” training with the Sig P320 I am testing, but you can use any approved semi-auto pistol.

Courtesy Cabelas Image

Many students had their own SIG pistol, one had the Glock 17 or similar in 9mm or 40 cal. There were no 1911 or 45 cal shooters today and most all shot 9mm pistols. We had attendees that were lawyers, engineers and educated folks from local and far.

Before class I met a student that just arrived after a 26 hour drive from Texas to take a week long instructor class. They come from around the world too. Below our instructors Justin Christopher and assistant instructor Julia Banks. Justin, a former policeman and martial arts instructor and Julia an active NH police woman. Justin teaches all levels of Pistol to both military and civilian. Very Impressive!! 

This course is serious training and has you shooting at torso silhouettes targets as soon as safe handing practices and a discussion among the students and expectations were completed.

We covered a wide array of topics while at the outdoor range such as:

  • Review and reinforcement of SIG Principles
  • Presentations and recovery from the holster
  • Sight picture and its relationship to size and distance
  • Trigger control
  • Shot delivery
  • Refining shooting fundamentals
  • Reloading techniques
  • Malfunction clearance procedures
  • Single hand techniques
  • Moving then shooting
  • Target to target transition drills

We covered shooting fundamentals quickly as we are already have some skills. But moved to hone our grip, shot delivery, trigger control for the SIG and keeping the bullets in the core of the targets.

We all made improvements rapidly with Justin’s leadership and had fun too.

Every gun will eventually have a malfunction or a jam of some kind, for many reasons, so we practiced with each-other clearing the malfunction safely and continued shooting.

I have to say that I was simply delighted with the SIG P320 handling with very low recoil to my hands and came back on target so much faster than my Kimber 1911 in 45 Cal. The P320 I was shooting had a 15 round capacity in each of the two magazines provided. I did find loading the new magazines by hand to be very difficult, thus I recommend that a speed loader tool is an essential purchase if you wish to shoot volume like we did.  I was impressed with my improved shooting skills with at P320 in my hand. The second target in from right is mine, yes, the one with the center punched out with a big hole. Nice group!

 

We each shot around 300 rounds of ammo!!

Here is a photo of the successful students in attendance. I’m the chubby old guy in the middle!

This course is worth every penny!!

I highly recommend it!!

I give it an A plus!

Other classes such as Conceal Carry and other special training such as competition follow this course.

Go to https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/

And sign up!

Look for more on New Hampshire Rifleman’s further testing of the SIG P320

Good Shooting!

 

Preparation for SIG SAUER Academy – Intermediate Defensive Skills 103

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I have been recreational shooting all my life so I felt comfortable defending my home as many like me have.

However, that said;

“You and I can do better”… and go to the next level and beyond by taking Defensive Pistol Training and other classes like I am about to do in three weeks at the SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, NH, which is just up the street for me. 

https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/productdisplay/intermediate-handgun-skills-intro-defensive-shooting-handgun-103

This is serious training my shooting friends. Should be great fun too…

In preparation I need a new rugged belt 1.5 inches wide to “properly and securely” hold holster and the magazine pouch they can provide if you don’t have them. Even the gun can be loaned for the class.

Go to the above website for all the details…

SIG will provide New Hampshire Rifleman with a SIG P320 for Test and Evaluation and for class use.

Next is to buy my 300 rounds of 9mm non-toxic, non-jacketed frangible ammo at the Academy before training begins.

Course Outline from website
  • Tactical communication
  • Search and scanning
  • Threat identification
  • Presentations and recovery
  • Shot delivery
  • Refining shooting fundamentals
  • Reloading techniques
  • Malfunction clearance procedures
  • Single hand techniques
  • Moving then shooting
  • Failure drills

I am reading up on Tactical drills.

Should be a terrific learning experience.

Good Shooting!

When you sign up tell them New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine sent you!

 

Semi-Auto Pistols – Maybe a SIG? And SIG Training too?

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In a real life-threatening situation, you can feel your heart pounding like a drum or perhaps in a competitive situation, you want performance and accuracy from the first shot to the last shot from your pistol. Right?

I have shot pistols with too heavy triggers such as double action. I find my bullets pull left on the first shot with double action, perhaps you do too.

I have shot and own mostly “hammer fired” pistols but I am excited to try different makes and models.  I carried a 1911 many years ago when I was in the Navy Submarine Service as a Topside Watch. It is a simple gun with “a lot of bullet” but it does not carry well as a concealed gun.

On the 1911 I don’t like to carry with the hammer cocked and locked, even with the grip safety. With training it does not take much to cock the hammer but you have to do that…with fore-thought.

Times may be changing in the move toward a “striker fired” pistol that has no hammer to hang up and a consistent trigger pull.

What is the difference between hammer-fired and striker-fired?

Striker-Fired – There is an internal rod that strikes the primer, no hammer to hang up, but trigger pull in some makes and models can be heavy.

Hammer-Fired – uses an external visible hammer that strikes the primer or transfer bar.

There are pro’s and con’s to both. 

Since I am talking with my friends at SIG, I may have an opportunity at some point in the near future to shoot a SIG striker-fired pistol like the P320 the US ARMY is ordering but we will see.  Below is the P320 X-Carry. Perfect for Conceal Carry. It comes with 2, 15 shot magazines. Nice! More on capabilities and calibers later…

I am interested in an Intermediate Pistol Class as a skill builder at the SIG Academy. Maybe you are too. Check it out! See the website below. If I take the training class as I suspect then we will publish feature articles with lots of photo opportunities.

https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ 

The key to all shooting situations is to train for them so there are no surprises.

The SIG Sauer Academy here in New Hampshire provides world class training and you are so lucky to have them right here in your own back yard. Don’t miss this great opportunity!!

Photo from their website below.

 

Stay tuned….

Ok I guess this article worked. I have to take a later class because it is now full.

© 2018

 

To Shoot a Charging Bear with a S&W Model 69 in 44 Magnum?

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Have you practiced hitting  a 3 inch ball (the size of a bears brain) coming at you, undulating up and down at 20 miles an hour? I took some shots yesterday with the Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat 44 magnum at just a  stationary target and I could only get one bullet, the first shot, in the kill zone out of 5 shots. See Video below.

But that was just initial practice. Serious practice with a moving target over time would be best. And you or I might reach the conclusion that we are not up for that task.

I saw a video where someone used a 1911 pistol in 45 ACP place more than one bullet in the brain kill zone however the 45 ACP is not Brown Bear medicine and would not likely penetrate the skull before the bear reached your body.

Brown bear experts suggest that a 12 gauge shotgun with slugs and 00 buckshot are best in brown bear country.

But on black bear here in New England the S&W Model 69 for general use on deer in regular gun season or bear is just fine say for an archery bear hunt where the bear is climbing the tree you are in and you want more protection than spray repellent.

So where does that leave us in our testing with the SW Model 69 Combat Magnum? I like the confidence I feel with a pistol in 44 Magnum on my hip and will share more on my carry of it in the deer woods this fall.

Note: during deer Muzzleloader or Bow season, you must have “license to carry permit with you” in addition to your muzzleloader/archery license or leave your pistol home.

Open Carry it during “regular”gun season if you like but if concealed under a jacket you need a “conceal carry permit”. When in doubt call NH F&G to get any questions answered before hitting the woods. Unless you have a conceal carry permit, you must unload your pistol while in a vehicle just like your rifle or shotgun. Bone up on pistol laws.

Be Safe! Good Shooting!