All posts tagged Beretta 92FS

Summer heat and transitioning from one firearm to another

In this part of  the State we get all 4 seasons and some of the changes in weather can be drastic.  This year I’m transitioning over to polymer guns for summer CCW because I’ve rusted out the grip screws on so many of my Sig and Beretta firearms.   IWB is a must in the summer for my semi-autos but I have been using a Ruger LCR for pocket carry in environments were ultra concealment is called for.  I always like the looks of leather,  but now I am locked in with  using Kydex holsters for the same reasons I’m switching firearm, no rust as far as I’ve seen.

I’m still too skinny to carry with a paddle holster and I’ve had to retire all of my Blackhawk holsters because they still print if I wear a t-shirt.   Vests are too obvious in summer weather, but you can get away with it in the Spring.   I really miss carrying my Sig 226, but it’s time to play with my Glock 19, retired the Blackhawk holsters and go with an Uncle Mike’s kydex holster.   I’ll see  how well these holsters hold up because the belt clips I’ve had on previous holsters didn’t hold up very well and there were times I’ve stood up at work and was holding my gun in a holster because it just lifted right off my belt.

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Don’t expect a do it all gadget on your firearms

I saw a recent night fighting test where they basically showed how night sights become useless as soon as a flashlight gets turned on and the glowing dots won’t help you in low light conditions depending on your flashlight gun techniques.   The whole flashlight thing on handguns is a debate in itself because there are so many things to consider.   There are flashlight retention devices like the Section 8 Tactical ultimate retention device that have helped improve grip and freeing up your hand to open doors or do magazine changes, but it is true that it’s not as steady as a flashlight mounted on the firearm.

Night sights are nice, but who would get into a shoot out in their home without turning on a light or using a flashlight?   One thing to consider are Crimson Trace Laser grips for home defense because not only can you tell depth of a target in low light you can also get better cover and still know where your gun is pointed.   There are some really good defensive training DVD’s coming out an Massad Ayoob will be going over using laser grips in home situations.   I highly recommend using lasers on home firearms as well as flashlights, I think those are far more practical and advantageous than using night sights.

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New Crimes and home invasions

There has been a recent out burst of home invasions close to where I live.   Home invasions have always been something that occurs, but recently there has  been a new twist in the way it is being done.   Several older folks were the targets of invasions because they were easy targets.  Now a recent rash of daylight invasions where the  bad guys broke into the house while people were in it, ran up to the master bedrooms grabbed jewelry and valuables quickly and ran right out the same door they came in.   Most of the incidences occurred within less than 1 minute.   You might be in  your basement and hear a break in and by the time you call the police and come up stairs the person is already tossing something out a window to his counterpart or already out the door.

 

Crime is something that is always evolving, you will find the dunce novice criminal, but there are people that are good at what they do.   Smash and grabs have also become more common because criminal just want the fast easy money and don’t want a confrontation.   Think about making sure your Gunvault gun safes are properly mounted and out of sight even if it’s hidden in the obvious places.  Even bolting down a computer or monitor is something that can slow a bad guy down and help give the Cops a chance to catch them.

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Beretta 92FS open carry and non-CCW environments

I do a lot of security evaluations on commercial and private properties.   Much of what I find is obvious to those with street smarts, but not every has those.  Unfortunately some of the best prepared gun owners I know are the ones that had crimes committed against them and they had to learn the hard way.   I’m  not any different in those regards, but there are plenty of crimes I have studied just by watching the news and reading the local newspapers.  I actually  highly recommend that anyone that is considering take the big leap and taking defensive firearms courses to spend one month of reading weekly newspapers about the crimes that are committed in their home towns.

Just tonight I saw a story about a completely innocent guy who walked out of a Target shopping store and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, a drug addict in a bad move just started stabbing him.   What would you have done?   I have been carrying a Beretta 92FS in a Fobus holster for several years now, which is one of my primary CCW in the winter, and the reason I am carrying this holster is that it paddle holsters are easy to take off and put on and getting into and out of a bank with high security like metal detectors, means the guns have to come off.

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Spring and Summer holster options

With the advent of the Glock pistol, I have thought that it was smart to consider getting gun manufacturers to move in that direct, and I think just about everyone is on the bandwagon now.   I think firearms are like Golf Clubs and baseball bats, and everyone is going to have to find one that works for them and not expect every person to be using the same one.   There is a difference between someone that does investigation in a PD and someone that is showing up on the scene of a crime and rifles and handguns are should be chosen in the appropriate environments.

I have ruined a few firearms whether it was pitted or rusted out screws, and pretty much removed leather holsters from my non-Winter carry options.   My paddle holsters are all Fobus and Blackhawk holsters and I have no real concerns about using them, but I am still finding rust on some of my pistols.   I have taken the plunge into carrying Glocks for a few months just to see if I can adjust to the feel.   I’m still not very comfortable, but I will give it a few more months and possible look into getting a Springfield XD or a Smith & Wesson M&P pistol.

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Another way of doing things, the Fobus Level II

I don’t carry with a Fobus paddle holster very day, but I’m probable sporting some of their stuff a few times a month.   I recently found out about the Level II holsters from Fobus with the thumb lever.   I have to say that I have not had a lot of experience with these so I’m not going to rave about them or pass any criticism on them.   There are many ways of doing the same job and the job that a gun holster is suppose to do for you is hold your firearm.   I have tossed a few holsters in the trash after wearing them out, but I spent a lot of money on upgrading some of my primary medium and full size holster selection after sitting in on a few Carbine courses.

There is no difference in my opinion between a 1911 cocked and locked and a Glock 19 in a Blackhawk Serpa holster.  Each one of them is not ready for firing until a finger, take your pick, releases a safety in one way or another and the gun comes out and plays.   Fobus holsters are very well made and I have yet to ever break one.   They are not bullet proof and they will hurt to roll on, but they get the job done for $20-$30.   My Beretta 92FS always goes in a Fobus holster because it’s the most comfortable way of carrying it.

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If there is a faster way to clean a revolover…

Please show me how I can clean a revolver faster than if I were using a boresnake?   I’ve got several boresnakes that are showing a good bit of wear, but they are still getting the job done on cleaning my rifles and I don’t even think they have gotten to their half life yet.   Just wash them in the wash machine if they start to show signs they are getting too slimy.   The only difference between the pistol and rifle bore snakes is the length and although you can still use a rifle boresnake but it may flop around a little too much.

I have always liked Hoppes boresnakes, but I recently dug out a Ruger GP100 that was a rack queen and took it to the range for a day.   I didn’t put that many rounds through it, but after spending years of range time with Glocks, XD’s and Sigs, it was fun to break out a .357 magnum and do a range  report.  The Hoppes Boresnakes that I have for my handguns have not been used that much, and when it came time to clean the gun, i popped open the cylinder, rang the bore snake through each hole, then the barrel and was trying to figure out what else I needed to do.   That was it!

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Pocket carry the way for the White collar

I got a recent phone call from a few LEO’s that were getting moved to investigations and it was time for them to rework their working attire.  I think it’s safe to say that wearing a uniform all day is not as comfortable as wearing jeans or your preferences in shirts, pants and shoes.   I’ve had to wear boots all day for 5yrs straight and when I get a rare occasion to wear sneakers my feet and legs feel like they move faster.   Carrying a gun is something very similar to wearing boots.   If you have to carry a full size Beretta 92FS, you’ll feel the same way when  you are carrying a Rohrbaugh R9S in your pocket.

I have watched many of my LEO friends go from street work and SWAT Team apparel to white collar “is that the same guy I knew before” looking individuals.  Blackhawk holsters do make a pocket carry holster for the white collar work.  Guys that have to carry briefcases or laptops aren’t going to want to carry 50rds or more of ammunition when their job is to do office or investigations work.   You want to be able to show up at doors and not notify the neighbors of the people you are talking to that a cop is investigating a grim in the area.

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Are gun locks obsolete?

I’ve come to the conclusion that unless you are traveling and want to prevent someone from using a firearm against you on the road, gun locks are pointless to keep on a firearm.   As a matter of fact let me revise my opinion.   Gun locks are a waste of money and do not make your firearm more safe.  The traditional two piece gun lock the locks inside the trigger guard if  not absolutely rock solid tight can still cause a firearm to shoot if bumped.   What’s the frickin point of that?   Keep the gun unloaded and store the ammunition in a hidden place.  If the point is to keep children away from them, put them in a safe.  If you are concerned about theft or fire damage, get a gun safe.

With the advent of Biometric technology, many reasons for not locking up a firearm are now over.   I think  you are asking for more problems if you leave a loaded gun in your home and it is not in a safe.  Guns can get used against  you and children know how to get into things when Mom and Dad aren’t around. Gunvault gun safes are more diverse in application then from years ago and I have a few Biometric safes that are holding up as advertised.  They work great for keeping money and jewelry in and the Nanovault NV 100 is something I travel with.

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Getting picky about gun holsters is the norm

We get so many phone calls asking us basically asking us to tell people how to dress themselves when they get out of bed in the morning.   Maybe 5% of the questions we get asking about tactical clothing and concealed carry clothing are about how someone will look in the clothing once they put it on.   The same goes for gun holsters.  People often ask us how they feel and how well they are made and all of this really comes down to your personal preference.  I can give you a calorie count for every food item you eat, but you gotta tell me if you liked eating it.

Going through your house and pick out the type of clothing that you can wear all year long is probable impossible for you unless you live in a desert or the North Pole.  Just like we need rain coats when it’s raining and winter coats when it’s snowing, we need gun holsters and clothing for changes in weather and seasons.  Most people don’t carry a shoulder holster when they are living in t-shirt and flip flop land and nobody is going to tell you that you have to wear a leather holster in 100F temperatures.   You have to find what feels right and works for you and then think about another scenario for the other things.

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