Concealed Carry Basics Part 1: Choosing the Right Firearm
Finding the right pistol to carry
This is the first installment in the Concealed Carry Basics series. Carrying a firearm on your person is as simple as… well, as carrying a firearm on your person. It is not rocket science – people have been carrying firearms for protection since there have been firearms – but there are pieces of information that you pick up along the way that make the practice easier, safer, and more effective. With a couple combined decades of carry experience among us, the GunLink team hopes to share some of that information with you to help make the process easier.
This article is not a primer on what specific firearm is best or which one you should get. Rather, it lays out a number of considerations that you need to make when choosing the best firearm for you and your situation.
If you are starting from scratch, head over to Firearms 101 for the basics on what firearms are, how they work, and commonly used acronyms.
Technically, the first thing you need is the mindset – the decision to carry a firearm in the first place – but the first three parts of this series are focusing predominately on the gear, with mindset coming in Part 4. For now, let’s presume that you have decided that you want to carry a firearm for protection… what next? Continue reading
Springfield’s New M-LOK Saint Rifles
Springfield Armory is pleased to announce new M-LOK compatible SAINT rifles chambered in 5.56mm NATO. These SAINT rifles now feature slim M-LOK compatible handguards from Bravo Company, with an internal aluminum heat shield.
The SAINT rifles now come in two configurations – one model features a pinned, picatinny railed gas block and includes an SA low-profile flip-up front sight, and the other has an A2-style front sight and pinned gas block. Each M-LOK compatible SAINT model includes a low-profile, dual aperture flip-up rear sight with ½ minute of angle windage adjustments.
At the heart of these SAINT rifles is an M16 bolt carrier group, with a Carpenter 158 steel bolt that has been shot-peened and magnetic particle tested to meet the most demanding durability requirements. The 16-inch barrel is made of Chrome Moly Vanadium and Melonite coated inside and out for longevity and corrosion resistance. A 1:8-inch twist rate barrel is capable of stabilizing a broad range of ammunition types and projectile lengths. The rifles are a lightweight 6.11 ounces, capable of quick and easy handling under strenuous conditions.
Unlike many AR-15s on the market, the SAINT family of rifles feature an upgraded trigger right out of the box. The nickel boron-coated GI single-stage trigger operates smoothly and provides a clean, grit-free pull. These M-LOK compatible SAINTs also use a mid-length gas system with an “H” heavy tungsten buffer, designed to mitigate snappy recoil and ensure a smooth, accurate, and comfortable shooting experience. The Accu-Tite™ tension system provides a tight, wobble-free fit between the upper and lower receivers, which are constructed from Type III hard anodized aircraft-grade 7075 T6 aluminum.
Bravo Company outfits the M-LOK compatible SAINT rifles with quality furniture, including the upgraded BCM Gunfighter stock, the Mod 3 pistol grip, and the BCM trigger guard. One 30-round Magpul PMAG is included.
These new M-LOK compatible SAINT rifles are also available in a California legal configuration with a Strike industries featureless grip, Magpul MOE fixed carbine stock and SA muzzle brake. These models ship with one 10-round Magpul PMAG.
For information about the M-LOK Compatible SAINT, please visit wwww.springfield-armory.com.
FEATURES AND SPECS: https://www.spr-ar.com/r/3343
SAINT 5.56, M-Lok (ST916556BMA) – MSRP $942
SAINT 5.56, M-Lok, CA Compliant (ST916556BMACA-S) – MSRP $942
SAINT 5.56 M-Lok, Pic Gas Block (ST916556BM) – MSRP $972
SAINT 5.56 M-Lok, Pic Gas Block, CA Compliant (ST916556BMCA-S) – MSRP $972
Ruger AR-556 Pistol Now in .300 Blackout
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. is pleased to announce a new AR-556 Pistol chambered in .300 Blackout. The second addition to the Ruger AR-556 Pistol line features a 10.50″ cold hammer-forged barrel with a 1:7″ twist and pistol-length gas system to reliably function with both the lightest supersonic hunting rounds and heavy, subsonic rounds.
This new .300 Blackout model is equipped with an adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace® that features a minimalist design and integral QD sling sockets. The pistol also boasts a 9″ aluminum free-float handguard with Magpul M-LOK accessory attachment slots for easy user customization.
The dust cover and metal magazine are marked with the caliber for easy identification of both the pistol and ammunition. The pistol-length gas system is tuned to run with a wide variety of ammunition, with or without a silencer. The 5/8″-24 muzzle threads are capped with a thread protector.
For more information on the AR-556 Pistol, or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger. To find accessories for the AR-556 Pistol and other Ruger firearms, visit ShopRuger.com or your local independent retailer of Ruger firearms.
Taurus Offers Sizzling Summer Rebate Program
Up to $50 Back by Mail on New TX22 and Select Revolvers
Taurus has announced a promotional discount for one of the company’s newest and most innovative polymer-frame pistols. The Sizzling Summer Rebate program will offer consumers a $50 rebate when they purchase the groundbreaking TaurusTX 22 semi-auto .22LR handgun between July 1 and September 30, 2019
The new TaurusTX 22 is engineered to be an out-of-the-box competition-ready polymer-frame pistol. Chambered for .22LR, the TX22 was designed to serve as a high-volume, full-frame handgun for competition or for training.
Built around a striker-fire system, the TX22 features a crisp 5-lb. trigger pull weight and positive reset. This refined trigger works with an easy-to-actuate recoil spring and aggressive slide serrations to make operation easy for beginners or advanced shooters. Other features include an ambidextrous manual safety, adjustable rear sights, and a reversible mag release.
To take advantage of the rebate offver, visit TaurusUSA.com/TX22Rebate.
The Sizzling Summer Rebate also offers up to $30 back on the purchase of select Model 856 revolvers.
The 6-shot 856 line usurped the 5-shot Model 85 line in recent years, featuring a rugged compact frame, smooth cylinder operation, and ergonomic, soft-rubber grip that assists in quick target reacquisition for follow-up shots. The aluminum-frame 856 Ultra-Lite model is an especially easy all-day carry. Chambered for .38 Special, the 856 series revolvers are offered with conventional hammer or spurless hammer designs in DA/SA or DAO, respectively.
The limited-time rebate program provides qualifying purchasers of all matte black model 856 and 856 Ultra-Lite revolvers with a $25 rebate offer while purchasers of all matte stainless models can receive a $30 rebate. Like the TX22 offer, the 856 rebate is valid from July 1 through September 30, 2019.
For rebate terms, conditions, and complete details, visit TaurusUSA.com/856Rebate.
Kimber Announces $100 Kimber Rewards Promotion
$100 Back by Mail on EVO SP Purchases
Kimber Mfg., Inc. is pleased to announce the Kimber Rewards promotion. Now through September 30th, 2019, eligible consumers will receive a $100 rebate check with the purchase of any EVO SP model: Custom Shop, CDP, TLE, Stainless Raptor, and Two Tone.
This offer is valid only on the retail purchase by eligible consumers of any new Kimber EVO SP firearm from a valid federal firearms license holder that is purchased between July 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019. After purchasing Kimber’s EVO SP firearm, eligible customers are able to submit their rebate at www.kimberamerica.com/promotions until October 31st, 2019. Once the promotion redemption has been processed, Kimber will mail the rebate in the form of a $100 check.
The EVO SP family-wide features include the innovative grip system, which eliminates the need for specialty hardware and the hazard of overtightening screws, a magazine release that can be configured for right or left handed shooters, a striker indicator that allows for both a visual and physical confirmation the striker is cocked, disassembly with no trigger press, ledged tritium night sights for single hand manipulations and a sight picture in all light conditions, and a 6-7 lb trigger with crisp reset. The aluminum alloy frame provides overall integrity and a rigid platform for the stainless-steel barrel, as well as a flared ejection port for enhanced ejection and a beveled magazine well for fast, positive loading. All EVO SP models ship with two 7-round magazines.
I Want to Purchase a Firearm; How Does This Work?
How long does it take? How does the process work?
For seasoned firearm purchasers, the buying process can be an easy, familiar process but for new buyers the process might seem complicated or overwhelming. Fear not, the process is actually easy and straight forward.
Gun laws, of course, vary by state with a dozen and a half or so states requiring some form of waiting period and other states requiring special licenses or registration of firearms. However, one thing is universally true – when you buy a firearm from a licensed dealer, you must fill out some paperwork and, generally, go through a background check process (sometimes called a “Brady Check”).
One of the most frequent questions I hear from new purchasers at the gun counter, right up there with (and sometimes ahead of) cost and features, is how the process works and how long it takes.
Since most states (including ours) do not have additional waiting periods or extra licensing or registration, we will not address those things here and will, instead, focus on the standard nationwide process. Continue reading
