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Articles by Sam Hoober
Best MP5 Clone Buyer's Guide [Field Tested]
Real MP5s from Heckler & Koch are full-auto, and very few of us are lucky enough to be able to afford a genuine transferable example. While much less expensive, even the semi-auto versions made by H&K are unfortunately out of most shooters’ price range. If on a budget, you may not be able to get the H&K logo on your receiver, but thankfully there are MP5 clones available now that will scratch the same itch for a fraction of the price.
Why You Really Should Get A .22lr Handgun
By Sam Hoober: Opinion; this excellent article first appeared on AmmoLand News in May of 2017 and appears here now, with fresh updates. Alien Gear Holster’s Sam Hoober argues why you should have at least one .22LR handgun in your collection. There may be no more pleasing pistol to shoot than a .22 handgun. The shooting is easy and the ammunition is cheap…if you can find any. There may be no better tool in learning or sharpening shooting skill.
Best .44 Magnum Revolvers: A Buyer's Guide
While there are many good reasons to own a .44 Magnum revolver, I think that there are plenty of reasons not to as well. So, let's go over what you want to look for while shopping for a .44 Magnum revolver, whether you should think twice about buying one in the first place and a few serious Big Maggies to consider adding to your arsenal.
Grip Buildup: An Old-School Mod For Improved Shooting
Gun fit matters, but not in the way people think. Talking points like “feels good in the hand” or “points naturally” are worthless qualities; fit matters when it enables better shooting. It’s like pillow-top mattresses. You think they’re great because they feel soft, but eventually, support matters more for a good night’s sleep. Subtracting is hard, but adding is easy. Here’s the how and why of building up the grip of a pistol. Don’t let anyone tell you that fit doesn’t matter.
The Fighting 10/22? A Primer On Rimfire Carbines
Believe it or not, a rimfire carbine such as the ever-popular Ruger 10/22 makes more sense than many people might be willing to admit. They are cost-effective to buy and run, and they are 50-state legal. The .22 LR is fully capable of penetration to a sufficient depth from a rifle-length barrel. Further, they’re mostly more innocuous than other platforms and easier for almost anyone to pick up and make hits with. There are pitfalls, of course, so it’s not that they’re perfect.
Best .410 Shotguns: A Buyer’s Guide
The humble .410 shotgun is maligned as being too puny for the purposes other, larger gauges excel at, but it's closer to the truth to say that it's been misused and misunderstood. Approached properly, it fills some roles and does so very well. So, let's talk about the best uses of .410 shotguns and look at the top models currently on the market. The .410 shotgun has a place, but where people go wrong is when they use a little shotgun for big shotgun things.
Level 4 Plates: Body Armor Buyer’s Guide
Whether you’re a tactical gear enthusiast or an armed guard or police officer who must supply their equipment, you've probably heard that Level 4 plates are what you should get. We're going to tell you why, what different levels and features mean and then look at the best types of Level 4 plates (or Level 4 body armor) to buy. We’re also going to explain why you need to pay close attention to what the various companies selling body armor say about their products.
.45-70 Ammo Buyer’s Guide: The Good Kind Of Big Gov’t
The beauty of .45-70 Gov’t is its versatility, as it allows shooters to find a load tailored to a specific need among a variety of different uses. It can’t do everything, but it can do a lot, so we’re going to discuss how to go about selecting the best load for your use case and firearm.
The Best AR Pistol Braces Buyer's Guide
AR pistols, AR-style firearms with no buttstock and a barrel shorter than 16 inches, have always been legal. AR pistol braces, on the other hand, have not been. Between the advent of AR pistol braces and today, the legality of the accessory has gone back and forth several times thanks to the ATF’s multiple contradictory rulings over the years. Will they always be legal? Who knows?
Best Thermal Scopes: Looking Hot
Thermal scopes are getting increasingly popular, so there are quite a few options on the market. How do you know what’s best for you? Which features will match your intended use? What models fall inside your budget? Here we're going to go over what thermal scopes are, how they differ from night vision optics, what you should look for when choosing one and finally the best examples of thermal scopes you can buy right now.
.280 Remington: The Forgotten 7mm
The .280 Remington is limping along to extinction, which is both understandable (for reasons we'll get into) and also quite a shame. It came along too early or too late depending on one's view, got sandbagged by poor marketing and, in general, never caught on enough to enshrine itself as one of the All-Time Greats. As a result, in my opinion, .280 Remington is asymptotically winding down to oblivion.
So, You Want An AR-12 Shotgun? Best Picks And Buyer’s Guide
The AR-12 is a loosely defined family of semi-auto shotguns with designs and features inspired by the AR-15. Why? Because jamming in a new box magazine will always be faster than stuffing shells in your tube. Not to mention, having the same manual of arms as America’s favorite carbine is pretty darn convenient. That said, there are a lot of very different AR-12s on the market, so which one should you get?
What are Potted Electronics And Do I Need Them in My WML and EDC Flashlight?
One of the features that you might have heard is essential in a WML is potted electronics. Potting is a process of sealing or otherwise reinforcing electronic components with some sort of compound, which typically goes in as a liquid and then solidifies or cures in place. Just like potted meats – cooked meat sealed in fat to preserve it – it’s a way of insulating electronic components against moisture and shock.
Refining Accuracy: Understanding Minute of Angle
MOA, or minute(s) of angle, is a standardized measurement of 1.047 inches at 100 yards that's used as a benchmark for measuring how precise a firearm (typically a rifle) is capable of shooting. The idea is that one minute of angle, 1 MOA, is a benchmark standard of how tight a rifle can group shots. The smaller the groups, the more precise the weapon is. Rifles that can produce groups smaller than 1 minute of angle are referred to as sub-MOA.
Are Pistol Braces Legal Now?
Of all the regulatory priorities to have, pistol braces are about the last thing that should be on anyone’s list but here we are anyway. The Biden administration is currently litigating to keep an ATF rule prohibiting their use, but challenges to that ruling are keeping them alive. So, are pistol braces legal? Here’s where things stand as of now.
5 Budget-Friendly Holsters Actually Worth Buying
The problem, of course, isn’t how to find a good holster; it’s how to get a good one that doesn’t cost an arm, a leg, and your firstborn. Dropping close to $100 for a plastic holster seems a little much at first blush. Can you get into a good one for less? Absolutely. Quality, affordable gear IS out there… …but you have to know what to look for. Look for a good design, attention to details, and good construction.
What Makes A Good Holster A Good Holster
By now, it’s generally accepted that some holsters are good and some aren’t, which begs the question of what separates them. Yes, there is a difference between the holsters that are supposedly the best and the ones that you find advertised for such low, low prices on social media. So let’s dive into what separates good from not.
What Makes The Best Bolt Carrier Group (BCG)?
The beating heart of any AR-style firearm is the bolt carrier group, the assembly that includes the bolt carrier, bolt, extractor and ejector. If there is one component you should spend money on to ensure reliable function, the BCG is it. So, let's talk about what bolt carrier groups are, what they do, why it's important to get a quality one, some important features to pay attention to and finally the best BCGs you can buy today.
Why Compact Weapon Lights Are Kind Of Terrible
Yes, compact pistol lights like the TLR-7 and so on (some people even try to defend the TLR-6 and Crimson Trace lights) are very popular right now, especially with the Instagram crowd. Let us suggest the following: First, compact pistol lights lack enough output to be useful except for some limited contexts. Top low-light trainers have been saying so for some time now. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have a light on a gun. It’s too good of an idea for anyone to say otherwise.
Bullet Setback And Three Ways To Mitigate It
Bullet setback is where the bullet gets pushed deeper into the cartridge case, usually from being chambered and extracted repeatedly. It’s a common phenomenon with concealed carry guns and police duty pistols, as they get loaded and unloaded with regularity. It’s something you need to watch for and – if possible – avoid, as it can be dangerous. It’s precisely why it’s recommended to rotate your carry ammunition, but – if you know a few tricks – it’s possible to not have to.
Best Revolvers Of All Time
While today’s handgun market may be dominated by auto pistols, revolvers remain extremely popular. A strong market for them clearly exists, as companies continue to design and manufacture new models every year. While there are some excellent modern revolvers available today, it raises the question of what were the best revolvers ever made. Of the 10 revolvers that I felt were deserving of a spot, some will only be available used while others are still being produced today in some form or another.
Get Steady: A Buyer’s Guide For The Best Shooting Bags
Precision Underground EL-Rx Rear Bag Armageddon Gear Python Caldwell DeadShot Combo Set CrossTac X-Bag Shooting Rest Wiebad DRC Fortune Cookie CVLIFE Shooting Rest Bag CrossTac Big Front Bag Armageddon Gear X-Wing Large Enhanced Rear Shooting Bag Birchwood Casey Tactical Tac-Match Bag Set Armageddon Gear Game Changer Shooting Bag Shooting bags, also called bag rests, are exactly what they sound like.
Why Drum Magazines Couldn’t Keep The Beat
Drum magazines, those big, round mags that store cartridges in a spiral rather than in a flat stack, have been around for longer than you might realize. While once a relatively common sight in the hands of soldiers around the world, the drum magazine has since largely fallen out of favor with militaries and armed professionals.
Everything You Need To Know About .408 CheyTac
The .408 CheyTac is an odd cartridge, in that it has almost no practical civilian use and doesn't fit any military need well enough to result in widespread adoption. Like many niche calibers, there's a certain mystique that the .408 has attained thanks to firearms culture and, of course, the movie Shooter. Almost everyone who longs to own a CheyTac M200 Intervention rifle in this caliber does so because it was prominently featured in that film.
Bone Dry: The Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers
Having a gun safe dehumidifier is a good idea in general for any gun owner, but it’s a downright necessity if you live in an extremely humid environment or if your firearm collection includes items of significant value or importance. So, let's talk about what they do, what kinds there are and what features you should look for when choosing the best gun safe dehumidifier for your needs.
Snubnose Revolvers - The Golden Age Is Right Now
Sam Hoober makes the case that there’s no time like the present for snubnose revolvers or wheelguns and the people who carry them. Obviously, there’s a glut of polymer-framed striker guns on the market, but what some people might not appreciate is there are also a great number of really good snubnose revolvers around as well.
Textbook Home Defense: Home Invader Shot Dead By Homeowner
SANDY SPRINGS, GA. – A home invasion in Sandy Springs culminated in the intruder being shot and killed by the homeowner. The intruder made threats to the homeowner after being advised to vacate the premises, resulting in the homeowner shooting in self-defense. Homeowner Shoots Intruder After Being Threatened Authorities in Sandy Springs, Ga., a large suburb of Atlanta, responded to a 9-1-1 call around 2:20 am on Dec.
Armed Employee Kills Armed Robber In Philadelphia Restaurant Robbery
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Two men attempted to rob a pizza restaurant in Philadelphia in early November, but were foiled by an employee carrying a concealed firearm. The worker fired on the armed robbers, killing one. The pizza industry is something of a target for armed robbery, as both restaurants and pizza delivery drivers are commonly targeted.
Chicago Liquor Store Clerk Opens Fire On Armed Robbers
CHICAGO, IL – Two armed robbers were chased out of Chicago-area liquor store by an armed clerk in early November, opening fire on them as they tried to shake down the store. The incident was part of a string of liquor store robberies in the Chicago area over the past few months. Liquor Store Shootout Sends Armed Robbers On The Run On Nov. 6, 2023, two armed robbers entered California Liquors on Chicago’s North Side, according to CW Chicago and started fighting with the clerk.
Samaritan Who Shot At NYC Subway Mugger Out On Bail
NEW YORK, NY – A good samaritan who fired a shot at a mugger in the NYC subway remains out on bail after he was arrested for discharging his firearm. While the shooting is being condemned by some New Yorkers, the shooter almost certainly kept the mugger’s victim from being harmed. Woman Heading Home From Already Bad Day Targeted By Subway Mugger In early November 2023, a woman was targeted by a mugger on the New York City subway, according to the New York Post.
Lever Action Vs. Bolt Action In The Context Of The Armed Citizen
Lever-action and bolt-action rifles are legal in 50 states, and with some states banning most semi-auto rifles (and a few others looking to do it, as well as elements of the federal government), it begs the question as of which is best as a surreptitious or ban-state legal defensive arm. Both have some very strong points, and there’s some mythology surrounding both that should be dispelled.
The 10 Best Glock 19 Holsters For Any Purpose (2024)
Best Budget Pick: Dark Star Gear Apollo IWB Best Leather Option: Milt Sparks Summer Special 2 Best OWB Holster: Kramer Vertical Scabbard Holster Best Sidecar Holster: Tier 1 Concealed Axis Slim Safariland 6360 ALS/SLS Level III Duty Holster Comp-Tac International C&G OWB Covert JM Custom 2.5 Claw/3 IWB Holsters GunfightersINC Kenai Chest Holster Henry Holsters Spark AIWB/IWB The best thing about having a Glock 19 is that everyone makes Glock 19 holsters.
Chicago Carjacking Escalates to Gunfight: Permit Holder and Passenger Wounded
CHICAGO, IL – A carjacking in West Garfield Park, Chicago erupted in gunfire during the early morning hours of Dec. 27, according to the Chicago Sun Times, when the would-be victim started shooting at the carjackers and they returned fire. The incident occurred just before 5 a.m. when the victims were stopped near a silver SUV. The carjackers exited the SUV and ordered them to get out of the vehicle and hand over the keys.
How To Make DIY Silhouette Targets
One of the consumables for shooting practice and training is silhouette targets, and while not the most expensive thing to buy – ammo is certainly worse – it’s also not something you can necessarily buy in most stores. Not only that, but this is being written close to the holidays, and a lot of us are going to have a lot of extra cardboard hanging around. Want to save some money on training and practice and put that cardboard to better use?
Homeowner Fires in Self-Defense at Erratic Drifter in Indiana
The scant details of a late November shooting read almost like a Western – a lot of them were titled “The Man From…” – but seem to indicate an unstable drifter who got himself into trouble. Police responded to a Nov. 27 call in Vanderburgh County, Ind., according to WTHI-TV, finding a homeowner/area resident who reported that he’d been attacked in his driveway by a man from Vincennes, and fired in self-defense.
CA Homeowner Shoots Two, Kills One In Armed Robbery Attempt
GRANADA HILLS, CA – A homeowner was recently the target of an early morning armed robbery on Dec. 4, but he fought back, shooting two and killing one. The robbery occurred before 5 a.m., so it’s probable that the break-in and ransacking of the home woke the homeowner up and alerted him to a robbery in progress. There were three burglars that had entered the home, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Bear-Spraying Robber Says "Happy Holidays" Before Jewelry Store Owner Shoots Her
GARDENDALE, AL – A jewelry store owner in Gardendale, Ala. (roughly 10 miles from Birmingham) shot a robber on Dec. 6, stopping the robbery attempt in its tracks. In an interview with AL.com, store owner Jeff Dennis said that the robber – one Heather Denise Wright, 32 – blocked the door of Jeff Dennis Jewelers after she entered the store, alerting him to an incipient robbery and prompting him to draw his concealed pistol.
Intruder Ignores Warning And Is Shot in the Face By Homeowner
KNIGHTDALE, N.C. – It pays to take good advice, as a home intruder learned to his cost recently when a homeowner armed himself and gave him a warning. Just before midnight on Nov. 29, a homeowner in Knightdale, N.C., was alerted to a man breaking a window, trying to enter his home according to ABC 11. The homeowner was armed and went to confront the intruder. Seeing the man outside the broken window, the homeowner advised that trying to gain further entry would be a foolhardy endeavor.
Beginner’s Guide to the Most Common Calibers and What They’re Good For
Go to article Posted December 17, 2023 6:00 pm by R.P. Mcmurphy Comments By Sam Hoober Yes, there are a lot of bullet sizes and it can be confusing. We call them “calibers,” except for shotguns, which are referred to as “gauge” or “bore.” Each is different and — just as with anything else — each has certain attributes that are beneficial for certain purposes…and its own drawbacks when the same caliber of cartridge is used for a different purpose.
The 6 Best Ban-State Carbines
Ban state carbines are what you can legally purchase in states that have an assault weapon ban. For now, only a few states have any sort of restriction on what form of rifle you can purchase, but that can change at any time. Obviously, assault weapon bans are idiotic. Unconstitutional. There’s not much evidence they even work. However…that doesn’t stop some of the population and legislators who want to be popular with them from passing them or trying to.
MRI Machine Causes Woman's Gun To Discharge After She Lied About Having It
The FDA reported an adverse incident report recently for an event that occurred in June – the report is available on the FDA website – but wasn’t reported (or for that matter, picked up on) until recently. The patient was concealing a semi-auto pistol and was going into the MRI room for a scan. The patient got into the MRI machine, but when it activated, the magnets of the MRI machine caused the gun to discharge.
Hunting Accident Leaves One Waterfowler Dead In Iowa
PANORA, IOWA – Authorities responded to a call for service near Panora, Iowa, the scene of a hunting accident near the Bays Branch Wildlife Area. The victim, 26-year-old Seth Egelhoff of Chesterfield, Ill., was shot in the face by another hunter as both were out for the waterfowl season. Bays Branch is a 1284-acre public land area, popular for upland and waterfowl hunters, with multiple species of each.
SHTF In The Real World: Localized Natural Disasters
The most likely SHTF scenario is a localized natural disaster, a climate-related or other adverse natural event in your immediate area. It is the single most common way that civilization breaks down, and it is the least discussed in the 2A/preparedness space. A lot of people have ideas about “SHTF” that are based on worst-case/least-likely scenarios, mostly because they’ve watched “Mad Max” or “Red Dawn” too many times or obsess over rioters in cities they don’t live in.
Why Range Ammunition Is A Bad Choice For Your Self-Defense Gun
Go to article Posted December 10, 2023 12:00 pm by R.P. Mcmurphy Comments By Sam Hoober Don’t use range ammo as self-defense ammo. There are a number of good reasons why it’s a bad idea. Range ammunition — meaning full metal jacket or fragmenting ammunition in center fire rifles and pistol, target or bird shot in shotguns — is a generally poor self-defense ammunition choice.
What’s the Difference Between Rimfire and Centerfire Ammunition?
Go to article Posted December 9, 2023 12:00 pm by R.P. Mcmurphy Comments By Sam Hoober Are you a newbie when it comes to shooting? There are millions of new, first-time gun owners out there who have come to own a firearm in the last three-plus years. Are you confused by the terms ‘rimfire’ and ‘centerfire’ when it comes to ammunition? We were all in your shoes once. So don’t fret…here’s the skinny. For the old salts who already know this stuff, please feel free to go directly to the comments.
What's the Difference Between Rimfire and Centerfire Ammunition?
Next Post Coming Soon...▶ Are you a newbie when it comes to shooting? There are millions of new, first-time gun owners out there who have come to own a firearm in the last three-plus years. Are you confused by the terms ‘rimfire’ and ‘centerfire’ when it comes to ammunition? We were all in your shoes once. So don’t fret…here’s the skinny. For the old salts who already know this stuff, please feel free to go directly to the comments.
Struggle Over Gun On Rooftop Leaves One Dead In California
MONTEBELLO, CA – In the early morning hours of Nov. 26, a man went to investigate and confront a man on the roof of his business on the 3300 block of West Beverly Boulevard in Montebello, Calif, according to the Whittier Daily News, arming himself with a revolver before going up. He was alerted to his presence by the sound of footsteps. The shooter, an unidentified business owner in the area, lives in a residence behind his shop. That section of Beverly Blvd.
Man With Knife Crosses Traffic, Attacks Food Truck Before Being Shot
SANFORD, MAINE – On Dec. 1, a man with a knife started walking in and out of traffic, yelling at cars and passersby, eventually making his way over to a food truck on the other side of the street, according to WMTW, and getting into an argument with the operator. The food truck operator, one David Poto, according to the Portland Press Herald, saw the man wandering in and out of traffic brandishing the knife and yelling at cars and pedestrians and yelled at him in the hopes that he’d stop.
Man Breaks Into Estranged Family's House, Shot And Killed By His Brother
TULSA, OK – A break-in in Tulsa resulted in shots fired and one dead in the early hours of Nov. 13, according to the Tulsa World. An intruder alerted the dogs at the residence of the Gattis family, and their barking woke up the residents, which include two elders – the parents and ostensible homeowners – and their younger son, all unnamed in reports.
Carry Gun Reliability: Is it Really a Big Deal If a Gun is Particular About Ammunition?
Go to article Posted November 27, 2023 4:00 pm by R.P. Mcmurphy Comments By Sam Hoober One of the criteria that some in the gun media as well as buyers use to judge a pistol is whether it digests a diverse array of ammunition. Brass case, steel case, multiple brands of FMJ, JHP maybe even flat-tops, JSP, hard cast and so on.
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