Every gun owner should know the rules of safe gun handling and that these standards apply to guns in use and those stowed away. That’s why it’s important to always stay up-to-date on the latest gun safety tips.
From locking mechanisms to gun storage solutions, we review some of the best safety techniques for storing your firearms at home.
Some do it for sport. Others for meat. And for many, deer hunting is a family tradition passed down from generation to generation. Whichever the case, deer hunting should be fun and exciting, but most importantly, safe. The first and foremost thing to do is make sure that you’re properly certified and licensed by your state conservation department. Regulations on becoming licensed vary from state to state — so do your research.
Now that we’ve got all the safety talk out of the way, here are some deer hunting tips and tricks to help ensure you have a successful hunt.
You need to be comfortable and confident with any weapon you use. So, take time to find the right one. If you’re looking to bag a big buck, we suggest using either a rifle or crossbow. All of the options below are worth considering.
Bolt Action Rifles
Bolt action rifles are the most common in deer hunting. They’re known to be very accurate, reliable, and easy to handle.
Lever Action Rifles
With heavier bullets, lever action rifles are most effective within 200 yards. In general, they are quick to point, easy to use, and light to carry.
Semi-Automatic Rifles
Newer to deer hunting are semi-automatic rifles. The pros are that they come in various chamberings, have detachable magazines, and their accuracy is better than the common bolt action alternative.
Compound Bows
When choosing not to pack a gun, more hunters lean toward compound bows when given the choice because they are easier to draw and aim and are typically more powerful.
Recurve Bows
Recurve bows feature simpler designs but require more skills than compound bows. When choosing a recurve bow, be sure to consider draw weight, bow sight, sound quality, feet-per-second, bow sight, and axel-to-axel length — all while following the minimum requirements provided by the state.
Before heading out to the fields, it’s important to practice target shooting. Start with 25 yards, and as you become familiar with your firearm, you can move the target back 100 yards and master that distance. You’ll also want to get comfortable shooting from different positions, whether lying flat on the ground or leaning against a tree. And the same goes for archery — practice shooting your bow from different ranges and positions.
Camouflage clothing is standard in the hunting community. From pants to jackets and gloves to hats, most hunters invest in warm, camouflage clothing during the colder deer hunting months. Some will go as far as to paint their faces to cover any shine or glare. And, you can buy sprays that mask the human scent and release a smell that attracts deer.
As much as you want to appear invisible to your prey, you don’t want to be invisible to fellow hunters. It’s crucial to add some blaze orange in your attire so that other hunters can see you from a distance. And since deer don’t see colors the same way we do, fluorescent orange appears gray or brown to their eyes. That means you can stay hidden while staying safe.
Every deer hunter should be familiar with deer tracking basics. Here are a few signs to look for when in the great outdoors:
Rubs
When a deer rubs its forehead and antlers against the base of a tree, it leaves a mark — this is a rub. Hunters can use this abrasion to spot areas with high deer populations, a.k.a., ideal hunting grounds.
Scrapes
Similar to rubs, a scrape is the bare patch of land left behind after a deer paws away the leaves and ground. This is another sign that there are deer in the area.
Hoofprints
Hoofprints are great for tracking deers’ travel patterns. They can also reveal the size of the buck, whether they’re traveling alone or in a pack, and how long since they’ve been there.
Droppings
Dropping can help hunters better understand the hunting conditions. The amount can suggest how many deer are in the area, and the freshness can indicate whether the deer are nearby.
Wait for a shot you know you can make. Usually, you want the deer to stand broadside, which means perpendicular to your weapon. From there, aim behind the front shoulder towards the heart and lungs. You won’t always get this perfect angle, so if the deer is facing away from you, try to shoot through to the opposite shoulder.
If the deer runs away after being hit, wait 15-30 minutes before following it. This will give the deer time to go down at its own pace. If you chase it right away, the deer will have a surge of adrenaline, and that release of extra hormones can alter that taste of its meat to an unappetizing gamey flavor.
Along with your weapon of choice, make sure to pack the following items:
As mentioned earlier, deer hunting is a time-honored tradition. So, it’s important to maintain a high ethical standard of behavior. One way is to practice with your weapon beforehand. The better you are with your rifle or bow, the more humane you will be with the deer. Next, you want to treat the land with respect. It’s easy to get caught up in the chase, but always clean up after yourself. And finally, keep safety at the forefront of everything you do.
Happy hunting.
Get ready to add guns, ammo, accessories, and savings to your wish list.
Like everything else in 2020, Black Friday will be a bit different this year. But the one thing you can count on is holiday savings from GrabAGun – and that includes some of our best deals ever.
Guns. Ammo. Accessories. Now’s the best time to save. So whether you’re shopping for the hunter, competitive shooter, or home defender, we’ve got something for everyone on your list – even you.
Check out some of our favorite brands on sale:
Renowned for its prestigious line of pistols, Glock always ranks high on holiday wish lists. With its continuous pursuit of perfection, a Glock pistol is the American standard by which all other handguns are measured. And with over 50 types of pistols in a variety of sizes, calibers, and styles, Glock has the perfect handgun for you.
Good for:
The Home Defender
Glock Gift Ideas:
Check out all our Glock Black Friday deals.
From manufacturing the first gun that could fire a self-contained cartridge in 1852 to winning the “Rifle of the Year” award from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence in 2011, Smith & Wesson has always been leaders through innovation. And with a wide array of makes and models, Smith & Wesson has something for every gun enthusiast.
Good for:
The Home Defender
The Hunter
The Competitive Shooter
Smith & Wesson Gift Ideas:
Check out all our Smith & Wesson Black Friday deals.
With 800 variations of more than 40 product lines, Ruger has something for everyone. The company is known for the most popular .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol ever produced. But its other reputable lines of double-action revolvers, single-action revolvers, bolt-action rifles, single-shot rifles, and autoloading rifles, makes Ruger a go-to for all your commercial sporting needs.
Good for:
The Competitive Shooter
The Hunter
Ruger Gift Ideas:
Check out all our Ruger Black Friday deals.
American quality with Italian flair, Beretta brings the best of both to everything they do. And as one of the oldest gun manufacturers in the world, Beretta has earned respect and trust throughout the industry. Home to reputable lines of handguns, shotguns, and rifles, Beretta has something for all of your firearm activities.
Good for:
The Hunter
The Competitive Shooter
The Home Defender
Beretta Gift Ideas:
Check out all our Beretta Black Friday deals.
Last, but not least, is Sig Sauer. A company that made its mark by releasing the Prelaz-Burnand rifle that drastically outperformed the competition. Then in the 20th century, their line of pistols awed the industry with features and levels of reliability never seen before. Fast-forward to today and Sig Sauer remains a key player in the industry – especially within the hunting community.
Good for:
The Hunter
Sig Sauer Gift Ideas:
Check out all our Sig Sauer Black Friday deals.
Still not sure what to get? Let the gun enthusiast on your list buy the items on theirs – with a GrabAGun gift card. Gift-giving made easy.
Check out the GrabAGun Gift Card.
Dove hunting season has kicked off, and wing shooters are flocking to the fields. Considered one of the simplest forms of hunting — compared to larger games such as moose, elk, caribou, bison, and deer — hunters oftentimes use this fast-moving target as an opportunity to brush up on their shooting skills more than anything else.
However, there is still much preparation involved when hunting doves. From gathering the right accessories and supplies to conducting prior research, there are many dove hunting tips that can help increase your chances of success.
A shotgun is the typical firearm of choice when dove hunting. That’s because pellets are more accurate at hitting these small and fast targets than a single bullet. And in terms of shotguns gauges, 20-, 16-, or 12-gauge shotguns are the most common options for hunting doves. The 12-gauge, frequently referred to as the king of shotguns, is great for versatility and delivering more power. The 20-gauge, another popular choice, has a narrower barrel, making it a more manageable size. Halfway between the two is the 16-gauge, another, less popular, yet effective, alternative.
The next thing to consider is the choke. Chances are you’ll face a variety of shooting conditions, and because the choke allows you to control pattern diameters at given yards by shaping the shot’s spread, you’ll be able to adapt to these different situations. Open chokes, including improved cylinders and skeets, are ideal for close-range shooting of approximately 25 yards. In contrast, tighter chokes are better for longer shots that are required when birds fly further away. Therefore, it’s suggested to pack various chokes to ensure optimal range and accuracy, no matter the distance from which you’re shooting.
The shell type is another consideration. Doves aren’t necessarily tough to bring down, but their speed and unpredictable flight patterns make them a tough target to hit. Most wing hunters opt for No. 7 ½, 8, or 9 shotshells, as they are effective at close range. When shooting from a distance, however, consider upsizing your pellets to 4s, 5s, or 6s.
When deciding which shotgun to use for dove hunting, the choice is ultimately yours. The most important thing is to choose one that best suits your specific needs and preferences. The key is to pattern your shotgun before heading out so that you can find efficient patterns at different ranges.
Decoys can significantly boost the chances of hitting your prey, especially in dove hunting. Since doves always scope out the area before landing, decoys can help catch their attention, encourage them to fly at a closer range, and even instill confidence to land. Position four or five decoys in a given location, whether on the ground or in the trees.
There are many great accessories that can help while you’re in the great outdoors. Camouflage clothing, for instance, can be a game-changer since doves can spot hunters from high vantage points. You can even add camo tape to your shotgun to help hide sudden gun movements and glares.
Polarized shooting glasses can also be useful while hunting. Yellow-tinted/dark lenses will protect your eyes from glare and sunlight, making it easier and safer to shoot in areas with many reflective surfaces. At the same time, binoculars may also come in handy for tracking prey from a distance without startling them.
Another way to increase your success rate is to study doves’ flightpath in advance. Identify their roosting areas, water holes, and food fields, and determine the time of day they visit these locations. This information will give you an advantage since you’ll know exactly where to set up decoys, as well as when to expect your prey.
And finally, it’s important to note that many factors, including the legal hunting hours, hunting methods, daily possession limits, and protected dove species, will vary from state to state. So, along with gathering the right accessories and supplies and patterning your shotgun, it’s crucial to research the local hunting laws beforehand. And after following all the above tips, you will be well-informed and well-equipped for a successful dove hunting season.
Night vision equipment used to be difficult to find. It was exclusive and mostly used by the military. Civilians rarely possessed anything like a night vision scope, making it difficult to hunt nocturnal game.
Today, night vision gear is readily available and easy to find. From Generation 1 to Generation 3, you can find the scopes and goggles you need for each specific use. They range in price and effectiveness, so let’s review your options and address the basics of commercial night vision devices.
There are three categories by which we group night vision gear. There’s night vision gear that you wear, night vision gear that you carry, and night vision gear that you mount on your firearm.
You can wear or carry goggles, monoculars, or binoculars, but weight distribution is critical. You want to aim for long-term comfort and ease because overnight hunting is a strenuous task. It takes a toll on your body and your sight.
Keep your gear light and close to your face for increased balance and less noise. Long binoculars hanging around your neck, swinging while you walk, could be too noisy for hunting at night.
While wearing a helmet isn’t the most comfortable solution, it often offers the most stability. Make sure your helmet mounts are snug, so the forward weight is easy to manage. Also, keep your chin or harness straps tight.
You may also find that the higher-priced night vision goggles have helmet mounts that flip up out of the way when you’re not using them, which is a convenient feature when your environment is rapidly changing.
You can also find helmet mounts with good padding that are more comfortable than the less expensive ones. You may spend a little bit more money for your comfort, but it’s well worth it, especially when hunting in the dark.
Another way to see at night is firearm-mounted scopes. You can find stand-alone night vision optics, rear-mount optics, or front-mount optics.
You have to remove your day optic to use stand-alone optics, meaning your gun needs to be a dedicated night hunting platform unless you want to change out the scope regularly. Stand-alone optics are usually big, so it’s not easy to switch them a lot.
Rear-mount optics can be used in conjunction with day optics, so you don’t have to fiddle with toggling back and forth all the time, but be aware that you may need a special coupling bracket for any magnified optics. It can also be difficult to shoot this way because the loss of eye relief is significant and not comfortable.
Sometimes you can eliminate the glow of night vision scopes on the face, but eyecups aren’t very comfortable, and in humid weather, they may cause fogging problems. Not to mention, all night vision devices glow very brightly at long range, no matter what you do to try to stop it.
Most people’s preference for firearm-mounted night vision scopes are mounted in front of the day scope. Zero isn’t affected as it is with the others, and you don’t have to adjust your normal head position on the gun.
The bad thing about front-mounted night vision scopes is that they are pricey, and the added weight on the front of the gun makes it difficult to hold.
An old option for firearm-mounted night vision is a piggyback mount. They have significant zero-retention problems though and are quickly being replaced by the front-mounted variations.
Many of the same tools you mount on your helmet you can simply carry in your hand. It can be more comfortable than a helmet, but it adds weight to different areas of your body you’re not used to, and it’s just another thing to hold in your hand when you want to use it.
However, if you’re merely testing out hunting at night or you don’t do it a lot, this may be the best option. After all, sometimes hunting at night should be about the fun and not about the results.
Hunting at night gives you a certain advantage because many people prefer not to hunt at night. Only if you’re a serious huntsman do you consider journeying out in the dark to catch elusive beasts.
Night vision also comes in handy if you’re hunting with others. It illuminates the night and allows you to find other members of your party. Especially if someone gets lost, it’s an invaluable tool to recover those wanderers.
Most people can afford night vision today. There are many affordable options, so don’t shy away from giving something in your budget a try. It’s an irreplaceable experience to have eyes in the night when all of the night-dwelling creatures are out.
Class 3 firearms encapsulate a variety of products, all of which need extra TLC because of their high power. However, owning military grade firearms is fun, for lack of a better word. It’s really cool to be able to experience what a lot of civilians don’t.
It’s important to remember that something called the National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates these high-power firearms, and only licensed dealers with a permit can sell them. They are highly collectible, and with a proper understanding, you too could be the proud owner of one of these pieces of equipment.
Originally established in 1934, the NFA created a tax on making and transferring any firearm defined by the act. People who imported, manufactured, and dealt firearms defined by the NFA had to pay a special tax to perform these activities.
The Secretary of the Treasury required that all shotguns, rifles with barrels less than eighteen inches, machineguns, and firearm mufflers or silencers be registered. The ultimate goal was to deter any transactions involving NFA firearms.
If Congress found an unregistered NFA firearm, they assessed a $200 fine. This was the same as the tax imposed on imports, manufacturing, and dealing. It was significant enough in 1934 that Congress hoped it would prohibit these activities, and the tax is still in effect today.
In 1968, the NFA was amended with Title II, deeming part of the NFA unconstitutional. People who already possessed NFA firearms were no longer required to pay the fine. It violated their protection against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment.
Title II also prevents the use of information on any NFA application as evidence in a criminal case. It expands the definition of ‘machine gun’ and adds the term ‘destructive devices.’
Firearms, or destructive devices, must meet one or more criteria as listed here to be included.
The NFA defines a machine gun as “any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.” Included are parts or combinations of parts intended to manufacture a machine gun, as well as machine gun receivers.
Examples of machine guns are M16 rifles and a registered drop-in auto-sear for an AR-15.
Short-barreled shotguns include any shotgun with a barrel shorter than eighteen inches. Firearms made from shotguns with barrels shorter than twenty-six inches fall into this category as well. This includes sawed-off shotguns if the barrel length is less than eighteen inches.
Rifles are firearms fired from the shoulder. They fire one bullet at a time through a rifled barrel. Short-barreled rifles have barrels shorter than sixteen inches, but also include Firearms made from rifles, resulting in a firearm length of fewer than twenty-six inches.
If the rifle has a telescoping stock, this measurement includes the stock fully extended. If the stock is detachable, then the Firearm is measured without the stock. This measurement extends from the end of the muzzle to the front of the breech face.
Short-barreled rifles include M4 Carbines and semi-automatic pistols with shoulder stocks.
Any explosive device, poison gas, or incendiary including grenades, missiles, rockets, bombs, or mines are defined by this ordinance. The definition also includes parts used to make these devices. Claymore mines and improvised explosive devices (IED) qualify as well.
Projectile firearms with bore diameters larger than half an inch are considered large bore firearms. Most shotguns not specified by the ATF are exempt. Antique firearms “not likely to be used as a firearm” also don’t qualify. A manufactured date of 1898 is required for this exemption.
Any device intended to silence, muffle, or diminish the report of a firearm is a silencer. Combinations of parts for the assembly or manufacture of a firearm are included. All commercial silencers on the market today fall into this category.
The NFA includes a clause for any other firearm capable of concealment on a person that can be shot and discharged through the energy of an explosive. It’s a catch-all category including pistols with forward grips and cane guns.
With a better understanding of the NFA and what firearms are included, you can protect yourself and others while still enjoying the use of these military-grade pieces of art.
Online retailers like Grab a Gun specialize in the online sale of all guns and accessories, and you’ll find many NFA firearms for sale including fierce-looking Sig Sauers, this Kriss Vector, and this understated Nordic rifle.
All firearms are subject to NFA purchase guidelines, but now that you know what those are, you don’t have to worry. Happy firing!
Pop culture references to blanks have increased their notoriety among most people, even those who aren’t a fan of guns. Movies, television, and live theatre use blanks to produce drama. In track and field races, a starting pistol often uses a blank to signal the start of the race.
Blanks are different than bullets, but you should still exercise safety with any weapon, no matter what you choose to load in it.
A blank is a cartridge without the bullet. Often the terms ‘cartridge’ and ‘bullet’ are confused. They are not the same thing.
Typically, a cartridge contains gunpowder and a bullet. When you pull the trigger, it ignites the gunpowder, propelling the bullet toward your intended target. A blank is a cartridge with gunpowder and no bullet.
The cartridge has crimping on the end to hold in the gunpowder. Sometimes plastic, paper, or cotton seals the cartridge to keep the gunpowder contained. When you pull the trigger, it ignites the gunpowder, producing the same noise as firing a bullet, but without any projectile.
When you need the flash and sound of gunfire without the damage of a projectile, or when a real bullet would not be safe, you can use a blank.
In movies, theatre, and television, blanks produce the flare needed to convince the audience that the gun is real. They produce the same sound but are much safer when used under the appropriate conditions.
Often, a starting pistol signals the beginning of a track and field race. The primary purpose is to make a noise that runners cannot mistake for the start of the race. It reduces the amount of false starts and clarifies exactly when to begin.
For this same reason, they can indicate the start of a horse race or hound race. In this case though, the noise also frightens the animal, triggering their response to run. Fast.
Blank cartridges called power loads can also be used in things like nail guns, where what you want is power to drive the nail in place. The noise doesn’t matter so much in this case as does the propulsion of a different kind of projectile.
Some blanks contain slow-burning rifle powder layered with fast-burning pistol powder. The rifle powder and the pistol powder ignite at the same time. The pistol powder reacts quickly, propelling the rifle powder forward.
Because the rifle powder has a slower reaction time, it combusts in the air after traveling only a few yards. This is particularly effective in quick draw competitions because it travels just far enough to pop the target balloon.
Wax bullets are effective in situations in which training requires a non-lethal projectile. Some people consider this a blank and some don’t. It depends on your perspective.
Make no mistake. Blanks can kill. As stated above, one of the uses of blank cartridges is for nail guns, which are very dangerous tools if not used correctly. Just because something is loaded with a blank does not mean it doesn’t have the power to do any damage.
When used at very close range, the power elicited from the explosion can still cause severe trauma. On the set of CBS’s Cover-Up, actor Jon Erik-Hexum reportedly died after placing a gun loaded with blanks to his temple and pulling the trigger.
The force of the exploding gas is the same as a real bullet, so even though it isn’t launching a projectile, it still contains a massive amount of power. Blanks often contain even more gunpowder than regular cartridges because the intention is to produce a very loud, convincing sound.
You must always exercise caution when dealing with any type of ammunition, even if you don’t think it’s harmful. There are many other reported incidents of fatalities with blanks.
Blanks are useful for many different things. Sporting events, competitions, movies, and other productions use blanks for noise and other purposes. While blanks are effective, they can also be dangerous. Always be careful and make sure you take every necessary precaution to protect yourself and those around you.
Grab a Gun is an online retailer specializing in all kinds of firearms including smokeless blanks and 12 gage blanks. Find all you need here.
The Browning BLR is easy to use and offers the fast shooting of a semi-automatic with the accuracy of a bolt action rifle. It’s compact, lightweight, and perfect for deer hunting.
While it’s an excellent gun for almost anyone, it’s particularly useful for beginners because it has minimal recoil and noise, making it less intimidating.
The Browning BLR’s standard cartridges are a win over those of traditional lever action rifles. Standard Win 308 calibers give you a four hundred yard trajectory with enough power to take down the biggest buck.
Its short barrel and light weight make it easy to carry back and forth between hunting spots or to tote up to the tree stand.
The magazine slides nicely into place with little fuss and isn’t really noisy when you move it. It’s detachable, and better than a tube because it keeps the weight closer to the operator. Weight distribution is easier to manage. It’s also quick to load and unload.
While four hundred yards is about the maximum distance you get with the Browning BLR, it is a relatively easy shot in a moderately sized package.
The Browning BLR is the best lever action rifle on the market because it’s advanced enough to fire off powerful rounds. The bolt locks into place firmly enough to bear the brunt of your shot and enables pointed bullets to fly farther. It doesn’t require hollow point bullets like a lot of lever action rifles with tube magazines.
If you like scopes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the ease in which you can mount one on the Browning BLR. A traditional lever action rifle with a top eject is difficult to fit for scopes, but the BLR does it with ease.
Browning is one of the world’s most well-known manufacturers so you can count on the quality of all of their firearms. They are some of the more expensive rifles on the market, but they come with a better fit and finish than many others.
The Browning BLR is not an exception to this rule. It’s sleek and beautiful.
The Browning BLR is a mite safer for a beginner than a semi-auto. For starters, you can’t have a live round in the chamber of a semi-auto with the bolt open, so you have to use the safety. That’s fine, but it doesn’t make it easy to tell whether a rifle is loaded or not.
A bolt action rifle allows you to have a round in the chamber with the bolt slightly open. A lever action rifle, like the Browning BLR, enables you to have a shot in the chamber with the lever slightly ajar.
The BLR also offers a half cock option. Taking it from half cock to full cock is quiet, and it’s safer than using the safety because the probability is minuscule that you will both full cock the hammer and pull the trigger by accident.
Firing is faster than with a bolt action, and beginners have more selection to choose from.
One drawback to the Browning BLR is that there are a lot of small parts. You can’t tell when it’s assembled, but if you were to take the BLR apart to clean it, you’d have a heck of a time putting it all back together.
The only other drawback is that the maximum range is four hundred yards. If you want to shoot at any longer range than that, a bolt action rifle is your best bet. Accuracy is on point, just not at longer ranges.
The Browning BLR features fast firing and easy handling, which is excellent for any beginner who is learning about rifles or learning to hunt. It’s lightweight and has relatively quiet operations, so it’s the perfect hunting companion.
There are many different variations of the Browning BLR like this walnut finish one, or this gem here. You can accessorize as needed and find something that’s just right for you.
Online retailer Grab a Gun has a number of Brownings in stock and can meet all of your lever action rifle needs.
Home protection is at the top of everyone’s mind these days. When it comes to home security, there are a lot of different options. Security systems, smart home controls, and various other electronic devices are all fine choices. But it all gets very pricey, and fast.
When you don’t have the time, the technological knowledge, or the desire to implement any of these systems, sometimes the easiest and most reliable method for home protection fits in your arms.
Using a semi-auto shotgun for home security is not a new concept. However, when cost is a factor, it’s important to know that there are affordable firearms on the market, like the Mossberg 500. The Mossberg 500 meets you at the intersection of home security and cost savings.
Mossberg is quickly approaching its centennial anniversary. Over the years, it has solidified its place as a household name. The 500 model is especially well-known in the shotgun business. It’s safe to say that it is the benchmark by which we judge all other budget shotguns.
Over the years, the Mossberg 500 has been released in upwards of one hundred variants. You can choose from a wide range of finishes, calibers, sizes, and features, resulting in endless combinations.
Models like the All-Purpose 500 FLEX give you the ability to switch stocks, barrels, and butt pads quickly, making it the most versatile of the Mossberg 500 line of rifles.
The Mossberg Maverick 88 comes with a significant pocketbook savings and is essentially a Mossberg 500 without the ambidextrous safety and upgraded trigger group. It offers the same reliability and versatility of the Mossberg 500 and doesn’t feel at all like a downgrade.
The reason why the Mossberg 500 is the best affordable option for home protection is that it’s versatile. If you can only afford one gun, this one will do most of the things you need it to do by just switching out a few accessories.
By switching out only the barrel, you can have a long-barreled shotgun for hunting waterfowl, and a short-barreled shotgun for deer. Conversely, when you get home, you can switch out your birdshot for buckshot to stop an intruder.
The Mossberg 500 is among the most requested firearms for home defense. It is made of alloy, so it’s lightweight and easily maneuverable. The placement of the slide release and safety is perfect because you can reach them both with your shooting hand, giving you the ability to make quick decisions without fumbling the firearm.
You can extend the capacity of the Mossberg 500 to nine, as well as change out accessories like barrels and forend grips. It has two extractors on the bolt, giving you the ability to eject shells when they get stuck. Again, it’s easy to reach with your shooting hand, just in case.
Keeping a round in the chamber always ensures you are better prepared for a worst-case scenario, saving you valuable seconds loading a shell in the pipe. The expanded 8+1 capacity of the Mossberg 500 allows you to do just that.
With the easy-to-reach safety, you can quickly and efficiently defend yourself and your home with one-handed operation. Common sense would dictate that you keep a loaded firearm stored with the safety on and out of the reach of kids.
You can load the Mossberg 500 with either birdshot or buckshot, but it’s safe to say that buckshot has a better chance of stopping an aggressor. Birdshot has the potential to make them even angrier, and you lose those valuable seconds once again by having to fire more than once.
It goes without saying that you should always be situationally aware of your surroundings when handling a firearm, but buckshot will not only stop your aggressor, it will stop your family too. Make sure when you fire the firearm, you aim true and get your kids out of the way.
The Mossberg 500 is an affordable choice for anyone who can’t afford more than one gun or wants a cost-effective firearm for home defense so they can splurge elsewhere. It’s a multipurpose firearm that’s effective for hunting, home defense, and fun at the shooting range.
Online retailers have a wide range of options to choose from. Check out Grab a Gun for Mossberg 500 shotguns, accessories, and other firearms.
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The simple answer is a resounding yes, just because of its size. A pistol that fits in your palm conceals pretty easily. But the Derringer has a fascinating history. Take note that while the history of the gun has nothing to do with its concealability, it has everything to do with the way we view it, and all other conceal carry pistols today.
Derringers aren’t the most modern pistol, but they are arguably the most concealable. The historic use of Derringers tells us that. It was made for concealability and ease of use, and its most famous performance is what boosted its novelty and propelled it to success nationwide.
Named for Henry Deringer, its creator, the original Philadelphia Deringer only had one “r”. It was a black powder muzzle loading single barrel pistol. It was sold in pairs, so if the first shot failed, you had another.
Henry Deringer lived in Philadelphia. His father was a gunsmith, so he grew up around the rifles his father created and held an apprenticeship in Richmond, Virginia to follow in his father’s footsteps. The Philadelphia Deringer was one of his first creations, after switching from manufacturing rifles to pocket pistols.
Pocket pistols were not new to the people of Deringer’s time. However, nothing so small and concealable had existed before. Now men and women alike could defend themselves efficiently and secretly.
The Philadelphia Deringer was affordable, so they were accessible to anyone. They were popular among gamblers and ladies who used them as muff pistols in their hand warmers. Popularity soared, and money came pouring in for Henry.
As fate would have it, the Deringer became even more well-known with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and from there, other manufacturers started capitalizing on the name, and, to circumvent copyright law, the Derringer, with an extra r, was born.
Remington, Colt, Heizer, Ruger, Browning and many more all have Deringer-inspired pistols today. They’ve made quite a transformation from Henry’s original.
People most likely associate Remington’s design with derringers because of the improvements Remington made. The double barrel, over-under design (doubling capacity), and the metal cartridges helped maintain its popularity. Smokeless powder enabled the use of smaller cartridges with higher power.
Remington ceased production of their derringer models in 1935, but they paved the way for the evolution of the derringer in other manufacturers lineups.
Other companies have continued to make these pistols in a variety of calibers. Cimarron produces a .38 special and Bond Arms makes a .357 magnum.
Some derringers have trigger guards, and some have longer barrels. They even have fun names like Dragon Slayer, Ranger, and Cowboy Defender.
What’s not to love?
While a derringer lacks the same firepower as a larger revolver, it’s ideal for deep concealment. You can holster a derringer almost anywhere on your body, but even without derringer holsters, they fit nicely in jeans, jacket pockets, and even your bra. I’m looking at you, ladies.
Yes, the derringer is for everyone. It’s accessible, lightweight, small, and versatile. It’s not intimidating, and it really is a point-blank weapon. You only have one chance to make an effective shot, meaning the deep concealability and use at short range is exactly what it’s intended for.
You won’t get much distance with it, but a small gun is better than no gun, and this is precisely the reason why it seems so much less frightening and risky to carry one. You may not intimidate your target, but the point is that they not see it at all. I dare say you’ll undoubtedly startle them when you need to: at close range.
You can carry it when it’s uncomfortable to carry something bigger, and it hides entirely out of sight. Going for a run where you might run into critters? Derringer. You can even stick it in an MP3 player armband, behind the MP3 player.
We’ve covered how well the derringer conceals, and by now you may be convinced that it’s not just a novelty item. While the history of the derringer makes it a popular pistol by notoriety alone, it’s far from useless.
They’re fun to shoot, and some would say they’re cute, but don’t underestimate the need to practice with your pistol before carrying it. It offers a one-of-a-kind concealed carry option and is ideal for precisely that purpose.
