Double-Action Semi Auto Pistols Have Become The Manual Transmission Of Handguns

Not all that long ago, not knowing how to drive a stick shift was a statistical oddity. Plenty of automatic transmission cars were sold, but just about everyone learned to drive a car with a third pedal. Heck, it was even advantageous to have one; automatic transmissions usually had only three or four gears until … Read more

Striker Fired vs. Hammer Fired Guns: What’s the Difference and is One Better?

There’s no firing a gun without denting a primer (if you aren’t sure what that means, start with how a gun works). There are two primary ways to do that: hammer fired and striker fired. So, what’s the difference, and is one better than the other? First and foremost, striker fired vs. hammer fired is … Read more

Double-Action or…Not: Everyday Carry Pocket Dump of the Day

This EDC was submitted as an Urban Weekend carry. It includes a Kahr CM9, a pistol that weighs fourteen ounces empty and has a 3-inch barrel. The CM9 is a double-action only gun which leads to my question for today’s EDC: do you guys think a DAO for daily carry is best for guns without … Read more

How it Works: Single-Action vs. Double-Action

Whether you’re new to the world of handguns or a seasoned veteran you might have some questions about the different hammer-fired guns on the market. Before we delve into that, let’s do a quick refresher on how hammer-fired guns work in general. Hammer-fired actions perform as the name suggests. When a hammer-fired semi-automatic gun is … Read more

The Argument Against DA/SA Pistols

By Russel Phagan I teach armed guard and CCW classes in Arizona. The students I teach have very diverse backgrounds. Some just bought a gun for the first time, some have done multiple deployments in the military, some were police officers for 30 years, some have been shooting their entire lives. The armed guard class … Read more