CheaperThanDirt Blog

It does not matter whether you are a prepper, survivalist, hunter, student, commuter, boater, or parent. The world we live in depends on power. Recently, I discovered a product that has finally matured to point that it is worthy of cracking open your wallet and parting with a few hard-earned greenbacks. Portable solar panels and battery packs, have finally progressed to level of durability, size, and most importantly, longevity that make them a must-have item.

July 4th is a day we “oohh” and “ahh” over impressive firework displays and enjoy a charcoal grilled all-American burger with family and friends. It is also the most important date in American history. July 4th, also called Independence Day, is the day the colonists officially declared their independence from Great Britain, securing our freedom and liberty to this day. As gun owners, we understand how important these unalienable rights are. Without this day, 237 years ago and the relentlessness that the colonists fought during the Revolutionary War our liberty and freedoms would have been replaced with tyranny and severe firearms restrictions. On July 4, not only do we celebrate a free nation, but we also honor those 56 revolutionary men who secured our right to keep and bear arms.

Marksmanship can make up for power, but the reverse is seldom true. In a gunfight, shot placement is everything. Unfortunately, when choosing a handgun for combat, we risk becoming too interested in absolute accuracy and forget combat accuracy. A fascination with firing small groups on the target, even in combat courses, is counter intuitive to true combat practice. Are you carrying the wrong gun?

A recap or sampling of the most active, interesting, or on occasion, randomly selected reader comments from the previous week.

The word “rule” has been carelessly tossed about by law enforcement and CCW trainers for decades. In truth, they are referring to the “Tueller Drill.” Careless lips have led to some dangerous conclusions—especially among the civilian population. It’s a confusion that’s being cynically exploited to get headlines, and needs to be addressed for safety.

Hunting takes more than its share of knocks, by people who do not understand the sport or the contribution hunters make to conservation. Part of that is the fault of hunters and going forward, we need to do a better job of showing the money hunting and hunters put toward conservation versus the anti hunters. After all, hunters are the ultimate conservationist. Without conversation, we would completely lose our sport and passion for the outdoors and the wildlife we pursue.

The most common question presented to trainers, writers, and the family ‘gun person’ is, “Which handgun should I purchase for personal defense?” The bottom line is dependent upon the shooter and how much or how little time, effort, and training will go into the final choice. Here are a few tips to get you on the right path.

"Texas hog hunting is wide open with few restrictions. It’s more or less hunt when you want, with whatever legal weapon you want, in whatever style you want," attorney Cooper said. "But that’s not to say you can’t run afoul of the law and Texas game wardens—arguably the most powerful law enforcement officers in the state. To stay on the good side of the game wardens and wildlife laws, you still need to be in the know and within the rules."

A recap or sampling of the most active, interesting, or on occasion, randomly selected reader comments from the previous week.

In March, we reported on the details of NRA-backed concealed carry reciprocity legislation pending in Congress. The momentum behind those bills continues to build, with each attracting dozens of co-sponsors.

The biggest weapon lighting trend at this year’s SHOT show was integrated weapon light and laser combos. Streamlight and Crimson Trace both had some of the most well integrated models I saw at the show—each with their own unique features.

The AR-15 is America’s rifle in a very personal and individualist way—and in a manner no rifle has been since the Winchester ’73. The AR-15 may be modified, adapted, and built from scratch to suit the user. The rifle can be surprisingly affordable, or it may be as expensive and extensively modified as the user wishes. The rifle that was built as the subject of this review is in the middle of the road for expense, but at the top of my list for performance and versatility.

Ruger recently discovered that all Mark IV pistols (including 22/45 models) manufactured prior to June 1, 2017 have the potential to discharge unintentionally if the safety is not utilized correctly. In particular, if the trigger is pulled while the safety lever is midway between the "safe" and "fire" positions (that is, the safety is not fully engaged or fully disengaged), then the pistol may not fire when the trigger is pulled. However, if the trigger is released and the safety lever is then moved from the mid position to the "fire" position, the pistol may fire at that time.

A new bipartisan bill, introduced by over 20 Republicans and one Democrat seeks to make gun owners a protected class of citizens. This would be similar to the federal anti-discrimination law, where a protected class is a group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from discrimination on the basis of that characteristic.

A recent op-ed in The Hill newspaper points out that while professors seem to be very concerned about allowing permitted concealed handguns on college campuses, their actions don’t match their rhetoric. While a professor’s resignation at the University of Kansas gets national news attention, for example, only one out of 2,600 faculty members has left his or her post at the school.

Project Childsafe is just one of those things that we can all support—no politics, no ulterior motivations. Partnering with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and several prominent manufacturers, not only can you support Project Childsafe, you can win some pretty cool gear as well.

A recap or sampling of the most active, interesting, or on occasion, randomly selected reader comments from the previous week.

Concealed carry is on the rise, which means more citizens are able to defends themselves and their loved ones better than ever before. However, that means having the right training, holster, or carry system, and most importantly the right pistol. Handguns are not a one-size-fits-all affair. This makes choosing—or recommending—a handgun rather difficult. However, when it comes to handguns, even men love to shop! Here are 10 top choices for your consideration.

SIG Sauer is expanding its line of personal defense loads with two accurate and effective loads in .44 Special and .45 Colt. Each of these loads offers good accuracy and a clean powder burn. Muzzle flash is limited. Recoil is modest. For anyone owning a new revolver in these big bore calibers or those owning an older revolver they wish to press into service, these are good choices. Read Bob Campbell's full review.

During a recent training, Major Pandemic was introduced to the world of realistic training with the help of airsoft guns and rubber dummy targets. Previously, he had no idea the high quality airsoft trainers were so realistic, accurate, or well made. And, when coupled with Rubber Dummy Targets, his world of live fire, force on force, entry, and concealment drills expanded in new ways. Read the full details here.