Sara Ahrens talks about the equipment, divisions, scoring and rules of 3-Gun competitions.

Sara Ahrens reviews alternative lethal and less-lethal options for self-defense. In this installation, she covers the limitations and disadvantages of carrying an Electronic Control Device or Taser, instead of a firearm.

Sara Ahrens reviews alternative lethal and less-lethal options for self-defense. In this installation, she covers the limitations and disadvantages of carrying pepper spray, instead of a firearm.

Can’t get ammo? Yeah, well, neither can the police! Recently, officers from another jurisdiction transported a prisoner from their county to ours. They said that their chief told them to, “stop at every Walmart, every sporting goods store and every Farm and Fleet in between, and buy every box of .40-caliber ammunition available.” Consumers realized […]

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend I’m a big fan of my SIG Sauer P238. I carry it more than any other firearm I own. It was my first SIG firearm, but I knew it wouldn’t be my last. Consequently, I’m also a big fan of diamond plate. As a matter of fact, I have […]

Large financial expenditures seem small when your life depends on it I spare no expense in making sure my duty belt contains the best equipment allowed by my agency’s policy. I work in an unforgiving environment where calling a ‘time out’ isn’t an option. It’s not uncommon for policies to be out of date, or […]

I ordered a Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight and received it about six months ago. The snub-nosed revolver, aka snubby, travels with me almost daily now. I crossed over the line a few years ago, from trying to decide ahead of time whether I’d need a concealed carry gun to the point of always carrying one when legal. It just became too much of a time waster to try to imagine why and where I’d need it. Better to, as 5.11 Tactical says, “Always be ready.”

It’s always tricky to choose the accompanying jewelry for a business shot. Babbs chooses a Gun Goddess bullet casing necklace in .45 caliber.

We lay side by side in the dirt in a farmer’s field. Some lay on state-of-the-art shooting mats while others made do with an old quilt from home folded in half. Some shot .22s while others shot AR-15s. A seven-year-old girl and her dad occupied one end of the line, and a 65-year-old grandpa hunkered […]

Last April, Smith & Wesson unveiled the M&P Shield, in 9mm and .40 calibers. This past summer I had the chance to test out Smith & Wesson’s new M&P Shield 9mm.  I also purchased another brand of 9mm, designed for conceal carry. So, I spent some time at the range with both pistols for a […]

The Colt 1911 Gold Cup is not a new gun design, but it is a gun I had not yet experienced and was anxious to do so. In fact, the Colt 1911 Gold Cup was first introduced in the 1950s. Its longevity in the marketplace is a testament to the success of its superior design. Although […]

The whole ‘zombie’ craze has always struck me as a bit ridiculous. Really, we all know it’s just another marketing strategy, right? Well, an incident a couple months ago in Miami has me re-evaluating my position. The more I considered their existence, the more prevalent the evidence of their possible existence becomes. I know the […]

I have no practical reason for purchasing a Smith and Wesson 500. This revolver is in reality a much too powerful a gun for me to shoot comfortably, the ammunition costs more than I can afford to shoot it with any regularity (about $3 a round), and last I checked, Illinois doesn’t have any elephants […]

Sara Ahrens on her lipstick bullet tee shirt: “As I prepared for my trip to Top Shot, the Women’s Tactical Association (of which I am a member) began selling an olive drab, lipstick bullet tee shirt. It immediately became my favorite shirt because of its style, fit and feel. The tee shirt is soft spun and similar to a burnout style (though it is not see-through) – just slightly distressed. The graphic design on the front is feminine, yet tough … kind of the way I like to think of myself.”

One of my most recent gun purchases is the Benelli Sport II shotgun. I am not a “shotgunner,” per se, but in the past year I have begun to evolve. This past year I have attempted to develop skills with a variety of weapons – the shotgun being just one of many. My shotgun experience […]

Like most people, I have a list of things that I would love to buy someday, but cannot really justify the expenditure on myself. Optics fit in this category and I have recently realized that I cannot avoid owning a pair. I have had occasions this past year where they would have been useful at […]

I have never been a big investor in any type of optics. This includes optics for my firearms, binoculars and night-vision. I have always equated the contemplated amount of money I would spend on optics in terms of how many more guns I could purchase with that money. I guess it seems silly that I […]

This year has been such a blessed year for me and my family. The blessings keep coming even after I thought one of the biggest events of my life was over, Top Shot. Several weeks ago, however, I did an article with our local newspaper, The Rockford Register Star (see article). During the interview I […]

I find it amusing that one of the most common questions I am asked in regards to the whole Top Shot experience is, “What does everyone have in their backpacks?” This question makes me laugh because people really want to know, like it’s a big secret. It’s not a secret at all, but since it […]

For those of us who want to make improvements to our firearms, but may lack the knowledge, skills and abilities to do so, there exists an option of purchasing products that require very little skill to install. As a rifle owner, one of the primary improvements I wanted to make on my AR was with […]

I recently purchased some cargo style pants to wear during outdoor training for work. These pants are not a product I just began to wear. As a matter of fact, the first time I donned them was in 1992 when I joined the US Army. I have never met a soldier who did not like BDUs. I cannot say the same about the Army dress uniforms (yuck). With evolution of the Internet and some research, I was able to determine that Propper International, Inc. manufactures BDUs for the military. Just a warning though, there are other alluring products on Propper’s website. Enter at your own risk.

According to Sara Ahrens, laser ammo provides benefits that are worthy of an investment into the Laser Ammo Training Technologies SureStrike dry fire training system. It’s a system that will benefit shooters at all levels and is a tool that can be used regardless of the accessibility of a range.

Once I decided the type of holster best suited my needs for concealment, I had to find a manufacturer. The companies that I usually purchase from, companies that I know to be reputable, did not offer concealment holsters for the P238. Read about the Cozy Partner manufactured by Desantis, which Sara Ahrens found to fit her P238 at The WON’s Gear Court.

The features of the P238 that appeal to Sara Ahrens are its compact size, the 1911 style frame, the adjustable front and rear sights with night sights, and the feel of the grip. The P238 is solidly constructed. These are just some of the features that tempt Sara to buy this firearm after doing her review. You’ll also enjoy reading about her disassembly and reassembly experience.

There appears to be more than a trace of evidence that Crimson Trace has hit the target with their new laser grip for the Ruger LCP. Read Marti Davis’ review on how they work with her new carry pistol, a Ruger LCP 380.

The UZI Tactical Pen was not clear and convincing to Sara Ahrens. It looked cool, felt solid and had an intimidating appearance, but there were other features that were not as appetizing.

Sara Ahrens was looking for a durable rifle carry case and found that and much more in the Blackhawk! Homeland Security Discreet Weapons Carry Case. Read what Sara has to say about it’s usability in the field.

Who’d a thought that Babbs would take to a pink I.O. Inc. AK-47 like a moth to a flame — a very hot, pink version — the first one off the production line? Read her analysis of this gun and a comparison to her husband’s macho FN FAL. And check it out, because the colonel shot the pink AK too.