Category: Self-Defense

Assuring M1911-Series Autopistol Safety, by Steve V.

For more than two decades, I have carried a variety of weapons ranging from revolvers to suppressed HKs, regularly shooting more than 30,000 rounds a year. (Our rich Uncle Sam has a lot of ammo). As a result, my colleagues and I spent a lot of time handling a variety of firearms. I witnessed more than one negligent discharge by these experienced professionals and have given a lot of thought about how to reduce this possibility. Too many shooters and bystanders are inadvertently injured or killed by poor safety practices. Long experience has shown very few people know how to …


Letter Re: In Praise of the MAK-90

James Wesley: Regarding the recent letter In Praise of the MAK-90, that there were a few slightly erroneous statements made which I wish to clarify:  Most Norinco MAK-90s (as well as newer Russian/Bulgarian AK family rifles) use Double Hook triggers (not disconnectors), which at the top of the single piece of steel that is the trigger itself (which makes up the trigger/axis pin-bracket/primary sear), operates as the direct primary (semi-auto) sear to the hammer’s release during trigger-pull.  And trigger-slap has nothing to do with double or single hook triggers, but with the disconnecter itself (a different part sitting within the …


Letter Re: In Praise of the MAK-90

I would like to talk about the Norinco MAK-90 in 7.62×39 because I believe it to be one of the best combat worthy weapons on the market for the money today. I will cover two parts: The MAK-90 specifically and the AK in general. First I’ll speak to those who already like AKs. MAKs are better than most AKs presently on the market in the U.S. because: 1) It is not a “parts” gun. It is 100% assembled in a foreign arsenal that has been making AKs for decades. This means no canted front sights or other shoddy workmanship. 2) …


Pat’s Product Reviews: Smith & Wesson Model 329PD

I know a lot of SurvivalBlog readers are fans of .44 Magnum revolvers – when I did my article on the S&W 329 Night Guard, I heard from quite a few of you. What we’re looking at today is the S&W 329PD – the PD stands for Personal Defense. The 329 PD is a super light-weight .44 Magnum / .44 Special revolver that weighs in at a mere 25.1 ounces. That’s not much weight in a gun that will shoot the powerful .44 Magnum round. S&W makes the 329PD with Scandium Alloy for the frame, and Titanium alloy for the …


Letter Re: Notes on Shooting From Inside Vehicles

Mr. Rawles: The recent PTR-91 post  by F.B. mentioned damage to a windscreen by ejected brass. I sometimes shot both rifles and pistols from moving vehicles during training exercises. The purpose of this vehicle based shooting was primarily to teach the futility of such. What a wonderful way to ventilate an innocent tax payer. Sometimes my passenger would shoot while we were on an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC). Driving was even more challenging when dodging hot brass. (Yes, the passenger was shooting through either side window – rifle only, not pistol for these were judged too hard to control …


Three Letters Re: The PTR91 Rifle

Dear Mr. Rawles, The five examples of PTR91 rifles in my “collection” are all fine pieces of work by Scorpion Arms (PTR-91) with numerous aftermarket and military accessories to make them more tactically friendly to the end user. I will agree that there is some ammunition that they do not like though not many (mine are early rifles with match barrels all). An important addition to Panhandle Ranchers comments regarding the ejection system is that you should NOT shoot from the driver’s side window of any vehicle with an HK family rifle. Each and every piece of brass will make …


Letter Re: The PTR91 Rifle

Dear Mr. Rawles: In a past life I used the popular HK MP-5SD. It’s reliability prompted me to purchase one of the first PTR-91s directly from the manufacturer. (Back when that was possible–they are all now sold though distributors). I found the PTR-91 capable of digesting a wide variety of ammunition thanks to the HK family of well designed roller delayed blowback systems. This functional reliability and availability of really cheap magazines indeed make it a popular battle rifle. What I haven’t read by those singing it’s kudos, is that the forcefulness of the extraction system throws the brass quite a distance, …


Pat’s Product Reviews: The PTR91 Rifle

In 1987 at a Colorado gun shop’s “Going Out of Business” sale, I purchased a brand-new HK (Heckler & Koch) Model 91 .308 battle rifle. I got the rifle, along with 10 brand new spare magazines, 1,000 rounds of ammo, a bipod and carrying case for the gun – for the combined price of just $600. Oh, for the good ol’ days! Today, you’ll likely spend $2,500 just for an original H&K Model 91 – and they are now hard to come by. A wave of stupidity overcame me one day, and I sold my HK91 to my friend, and …


Pat’s Product Reviews: Okuden Knives – Ammo Daddy, Alpha Pattern

I’ve been writing about knives for more than 18 years. However, I’ve only been to one knife show in all those years. I attended the Blade Show-West, at the invitation of a large knife company here in Oregon. I’ve been to a lot of gun shows, where there were custom knife makers displaying their wares, but I never attended an actual knife show, until about a year and a half ago.   To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the knife show – there were less than 100 tables there, and my oldest daughter and myself, were done …


Two Letter Re: The SKS for Tight Budget Shooters

Mr. Rawles,   Once again thank you for your work on SurvivalBlog, may God richly bless you. I read Pat’s review of the AK-47 and at the end the SKS was mentioned. I thought I would just add my 2 cents worth on the SKS.  I have had several people come to me who are on a very tight budget and cannot afford an AR, FN SCAR, or any of the other pricey weapons available.  If you are on a tight budget, I highly recommend the SKS.   I have several SKSes and AK-47s, along with the FN-FAL, CETME, and …


Letter Re: Better Performance for 7.62x39mm Ammunition

James Wesley: After personal experience testing and reviewing the tests results as reported by many parties, both layman and professionals that included photos of terminal performance on game animals and ballistic gelatin, if one uses the 8M3 bullet as found on the original 7.62×39 Sapsan, now offered on the Wolf Military Classic HP, one would have ammunition that reliably fragments after 3 inches in gelatin and penetrates 18″ much like soft point ammunition with in 100 yards, and becomes more like soft point ammunition and mushrooms after 100 yards.  The Sapsan and 8M3 bullet is discussed and recommended by an …


Pat’s Product Reviews: AK-47 vs. AK-47 vs. AK-47

I’ve received quite a few e-mails from SurvivalBlog readers, asking me to write an article on AK-47s. Well, here’s my take on the AK line-up. First of all, I only write about guns I actually own or have personally tested. I don’t take a press release and write an article based on that, like some writers (that I’ve heard have done.) There are so many different variations of “AK-47s” out there these days, it would cost me a fortune and a lot of time, to obtain samples of ’em all to test and evaluation. The question always arises, which is …


Letter Re: Ruger’s Model 77 Hawkeye in .300 Winchester Magnum

Jim:: Congrats to Pat for writing a nice review. There are a few items I would have included that may make a difference to a shooter with this caliber, especially for new shooters: 1. when shooting in the prone, expect to leave a dust cloud marking your position. You can lay a wet burlap sack on the ground beneath the muzzle to assist in disguising your position. This is a powerful caliber, remember, there are no free lunches with anything firearms related. 2. Even if you reload, you will be paying more for this cartridge [, since the brass and primers are more …


Pat’s Product Reviews: Ruger’s Model 77 Hawkeye in .300 Winchester Magnum

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Without a doubt, the .300 Winchester Magnum (“Win Mag”) round, is my all-time favorite round in a high-powered hunting rifle. What I like about the .300 Win Mag round is, you can load it down (if you load your own ammo) to the velocities of a .308 or 30-06, and it’s just fine the way it is, in the factory loadings as well.   In a life-changing situation, where there may be a break-down of law and order, you may find that you need some type of high-powered rifle, that can really reach out there and touch someone. Or, for …


Pat’s Product Review: Smith & Wesson SD9

The first revolver I ever owned was a S&W Model 36, .38 Special 5-shot snub-nose. I remember getting it while visiting some relatives down in Kentucky – this was before the Gun Control Act of 1968, which made it impossible to purchase handguns in a state other than the one you reside in. You can now purchase handguns from a state other than the one you live, however, the transfer must go through a licensed FFL dealer in your own state, these days.   As I recall, I wasn’t a very good shot with that little S&W Model 36 snubby …