Gun Reviews | myUtahCCW.com

Concealed Carry Instructor’s Review of the Marlin 795

So I just went to the desert to try out my new Marlin 795. I picked this little guy up because I wanted the most accurate .22 for the money. I know that I were to go with the Ruger 10/22, I’d end up spending as much on it as I did my sniper rifle. Seemed sort of silly for just a .22. Marlin has a rebate on this rifle for $25 off the original price…still waiting for that to show up in the mail. First I needed to sight in the scope. Just for kicks, I shot 10 rounds of Federal bulk pack. Here’s the result at 25 yards.

Marlin 795 .22 LR Accuracy at 25 yards

I’m pretty sure that those two up top were more my mistake than the firearm’s problem. I was just shooting off the bed rail on my truck.

I also brought some pennies that I had taped up on a cardboard target. A friend said that the .22 probably wouldn’t punch a hole through the penny. This is also at 25 yards.

Accuracy of the Marlin 795 .22 at a penny 25 yards away

The scope I selected is the Bushnell rimfire 3×9 for $30. All in all, I’m rather happy with the accuracy of this rifle. Several people have complained about the trigger pull. I concur that it’s not nearly as nice as my Remington 700 out of the box. There appear to be a lot of folks that have done an aftermarket trigger job on these guys…more to come on that. What do you think? Have you shot one of these?

Dillon 650 reloader setup

I love reloading! I love it so much, that I thought I would share how I’ve got my Dillon 650 setup. I looked and looked and felt like I got the best deal for my money with the 650. I know it’s not the cheapest machine out there but you get a lot of features plus the amazing Dillon warranty. My good buddy has the 550 and he has loaded lots of rounds on his machine…it’s quite a workhorse. After loading several thousand rounds though, he wishes that he would have picked up at least the 650.

Setup: It didn’t take too long to setup the machine right out of the box. The instructions from Dillon on the 650 are easy enough to follow. Later on I did have a small snag with the primer loading disc but Dillon customer service was only a phone call away. That’s another nice thing about going with a Dillon, they have great customer service!

The Auto Case Feeder: I didn’t realize when I first bought the 650 that the machine is truly designed to be used with the the automatic case feeder. That’s one area where the Dillon website could be improved. Maybe some video of how the machine is used and some of it’s different configurations. So I bought the case feeder and have loved it ever since. My buddy with the 550 has to load a case in each time. The case feeder loads new brass with each pull of the handle. In a later post, I show the machine in action. Right now, I’m in the middle of a caliber conversion. The

Reloading bench and work space: I’m sort of in a small workspace (as you can see from the photo) and had to get rather creative to make everything fit in the 40+ inches width I had to work with. I built the entire bench with the light for $50. I got a couple of pieces of 2″x6″ and a board of MDF and used some old varnish that I had sitting around. Here’s how it all looked when I finished.

Organization:

As a very wise person said to me years ago, “organization is the key to success.” Having some type of, on-the-wall organization system has been crucial to my setup - especially given the small area I have to work with. If you didn’t already know this about reloading, but there are literally hundreds of small things that can magically disappear in the exact moment that you need them. It’s surprising how important one small piece can frustrate your entire reloading process. Here’s the organization pack I picked up from Harbor Freight, which I then placed on wall behind my bench.

The Bench Drawer:

As I was building the bench, I realized that I could get just a little more space if I added a couple of hinges and cut the wood to form a drawer.

I did the same thing on the bottom side as well. The drawer on the filled with brass (I think I bought too much) and the left side has bullets and primers.

Tool Heads:

Suffice it say for now that the tool head is what holds the dies in place (the half moon looking pieces). I HIGHLY recommend that with each set of dies that you pick up, you should buy an additional tool head. Since I didn’t really want the dies or the decapping pins to get damaged, I built this rather inexpensive PVC pipe tool head holder.

Reloading Bench Tool Head setup

Great Concealed Carry for Women

Model 442 Revolver

Smith and Wesson Model 442 Revolver Concealed Carry for Women

Right off, the thing I like most about this 38 Special +P revolver is that it’s hammer-less. Even when I’ve been out shooting my revolver, I sometimes get it stuck on my clothes when unholstering. So if you’ve got this concealed in a purse or hand bag, you’re less likely to catch the hammer on something. That would be terrible if you pack around your Utah Concealed Carry for all that time and then, when you have to use it, it gets stuck and then you drop it or something.

Another great feature about this S&W is that it only weighs 15oz unloaded. The air-weight feature from S&W has been and will continue to be an industry leader.

Other information that might be useful:
This revolver is Double Action Only
It Shoots the 38 special round as well as the more powerful round called the 38 Special +P
It has a synthetic grip
The cylinder has a 5 round capacity
Sells for around $450

. 06 Jan 09 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

Best FFL for your Utah CCW

Many people ask me what I think about getting a firearm off of the internet. I think you can pick up a great gun online for a super deal. So how do you go about it? Well, first of all you need to find a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder. Once you’ve got your FFL lined up, you can pick up that Utah Concealed Carry that you’ve looking for. Every FFL has a different price to do a transfer and can run as much as $65. For your Utah CCW, I highly recommend going with the same guy that has helped me out on numerous occasions. His name is Blake and he’s with Denali Firearms. Here’s his information. You can pick up guns online and have them sent to his place to do the transfer. Just call any gun shop and ask them what they charge and I can almost assuredly gurantee that they’ll charge more than Blake. So give him a call with all of your gun needs! He can also special order lots of other guns that you might be looking for. So don’t fight with the guys at the gun store, call Denali and they’ll take care of you!

. 18 Nov 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

5 Best CCW revolvers

MyUtahCCW’s top 5 revolvers for your Utah Concealed Carry (lowest price on up)

Most people coming here, looking to get their Utah CCW permit are also looking to save some money before getting their first revolver. So this is why the revolvers are organized in order of price.

#1: Rossi 357 2in Revolver

REVIEW:

While Rossi isn’t the most common name in Concealed Carry Revolvers, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of this Utah CCW revolver. No fancy bells and whistles on this bad boy, but for the price you can’t go wrong. Here’s a little video of a 357 Rossi.

#2 Taurus 357 2 in Concealed Carry Revolver

Review:

Taurus is a little better name and you’ll add a stainless steel finish for this Utah CCW revolver. You won’t be upset with the quality and the features of this revolver.

#3 Ruger 2.25 in Revolver

Review: Rugers have a little better reputation than the the Taurus version of this Utah CCW revolver. I think that their reputation is well deserved. With many more features than the other revolvers, you’ll be pleased with the longevity and strong character of these revolvers. Great little Gun!

Specs

#4 S&W 357 Scandian

Review: The most amazing thing about this Utah Concealed Carry Revolver is it’s light weight. Your bullets probably weigh more than this revolver. With this S&W and the one below, you’ll get a great name and a great gun! Wow, these look nice!

#5 S&W

Sorry about this video…it’s the best I could find for the S&W’s. The action starts at about 1 min…hang in there.

. 03 Nov 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

Best safe for your Utah Concealed Carry

So I’ve been considering getting a new safe for my Utah Concealed Carry. If I can get my wife to go along with it, I think I’ll go with the Canon Executive Safe from Costco. Wow, I can’t believe the deal! 30 cubic feet for only $1000. A Costco membership pays for itself in this purchase. First, here’s a look at a more economical choice.

Small size safe for your Utah CCW

Great under the bed safe for your Utah CCW

First is the GunVault safe for you to use for your Utah Concealed Carry. You can pick this up from Cabelas for $299. The coolest thing about this safe is that you open it by merely placing your finger into the groves. You can also have multiple users for this safe. And if that isn’t enough for you, the safe also keeps track of who opens the safe. That way, you can have more than one Utah Concealed Carry Permit holders have access to the safe. This is a great safe for under your bed.

How about something of a larger size?

This safe weighs in at around 600lbs and only costs $1000. I can’t believe the deal on this great safe for your Utah CCW. Canon offers an unheard of lifetime warranty that many other safes can’t compete with. If $1000 isn’t good enough for you, this also comes with shipping and delivery. Here’s some of the features:

Antique Matte Black and silk-screened logo
Heavy 12-gauge, unibody construction
High security type 1 electronic lock
Massive 1” composite door with 1” active locking bolts
Brass-plated handle
Sure Fire multiple re-lockers
True lock internal hinges
Extra-hard, Rockwell-rated hard-plate
Fully adjustable design
Upholstered shelving and inside walls
Easy-out firearm rack
Holds up to 28 firearms
Predrilled bottom for bolting to floor
Predrilled dehumidifier hole
UL listed residential security protection
30 Cubic Feet
Dimensions (includes handle & dial):
36″ W x 22″ D x 60″ H
Inside dimensions:
34″ W x 20″ D x 58″ H
Weight: 600 lbs.
Warranty: In-home, lifetime safe repair warranty that covers fire and burglary

Wow, this is a deal.

How about a premium safe?

Ok, now if you’re looking for the most premier and want something classy, Cabelas has a great deal on one of their ambassador series safes.

Here’s another view:

Here’s some features about this safe:

Lifetime warranty
four layers of fire board
keypad or manual locks
UL-listed for home security

Now, I have to say that this safe is nice! Wow, classy! If you want something a little bit more, I think you’ll like this safe. Prices vary, so check out Cabela’s website.

. 22 Oct 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

Concealed Carry Review of Walther PPS

Wow! Take a look at this amazing Concealed Carry for your Utah CCW. This is amazing! I love Walther’s slogan: More conceal, less carry. Check out all of the features:

Ambidextrous Magazine Release
Two Magazine Sizes (Third Optional)
Loaded Chamber & Cocking Indicators
Small & Large Backstrap
Trigger Safety
Internal Striker Safety
Walther QuickSafe™ Safety

So why would you want this for your Utah Concealed Carry? This Utah CCW is less than one inch width (.91) and weighs 19oz. The adjustable pistol grips are super for changing the pistol to your hand. The adjustable back strap also acts as a safety feature (pull it off and it won’t work). You can pick this up in a .40 or 9mm.

How about for my Utah Concealed Carry?

The low profile and light weight of this pistol make this an excellent choice for your Utah CCW. You can pick this up for around $650. You probably won’t love how this pistol fires, but you’ll love the comfort and portability of this firearm. Can’t go wrong with this pistol for you Utah Concealed Carry. Compare the small profile of this concealed carry to the Walther PPK chambered in .380 ACP.

. 20 Oct 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (4)

Revolver or semi-automatic pistol?

Many people have asked me what I recommend for a first time concealed carry gun owner. I almost always respond, go with a revolver. So you may be wondering why that’s the recommendation I make. Well, first of all, if you’re a first time gun owner and don’t have lots of experience shooting, then you can’t go wrong with a revolver.

What are the advantages of using a revolver as your concealed carry?

Simply put, revolvers are great because all you have to do is pull the trigger and the gun goes bang. Now for someone who isn’t supper familiar with handguns, I highly recommend revolvers for this reason alone. You’re not going to love going to the range with a snub nose .357 revolver, trust me. But this gun is not a range gun, it’s sole purpose is protection as a Utah Concealed Carry. I also love that a .357 can shoot .38 special rounds as well. I think it’s a perfect combo. I know that there are lots of really cool looking semi-auto pistols out there, and they’re really great for general use. But you have to be realistic and ask yourself whether you’ll be able to go through the semi-auto firing steps when confronted with a split second decision. If you’d rather go with a semi-auto, then here are some considerations as well.

Why go with a semi-auto pistol over a revolver?

If you feel more comfortable deploying a weapon in self-defense, going with a semi-auto may be a great option for you. The very nature of a semi-auto means that you can deliver lots of rounds to your target in a very short amount of time. Having an additional magazine is also a handy thing as well, where as with a revolver, it may take more time to reload. So speed is a serious consideration in regards to personal safety. Semi-autos give you a wider choice of ammo selections from .380 to .45 ACP. In the end, the decision is obviously yours and I hope that these considerations help in your selection for your Utah Concealed Carry.

. 10 Oct 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

Comparison of Three Popular Concealed Carry 9mm pistols

Why the Concealed Carry Review?

So, I’ve been asked by more than one person what I think about 9mm Concealed Carry pistols. The short answer is that I don’t think you can go wrong with 9mm for your Utah Concealed Carry Permit. Coupled with a solid hallow point or hydra shock round, I think you’ll be pleased with any one of the following 9mm concealed carry’s. I think it’s important to remember that most concealed carry pistols have a smaller frame, which is essential for concealed carry, but may make you frustrated if you plan on doing lots of shooting with your concealed carry. You’ll probably be happier with a full size pistol at the range than with one of the following concealed carry pistols.

What 9mm do people like?

Ok, so here’s a general overview of three rather popular concealed carry pistols. The Glock 26, Springfield Armory XD 9, and Kel Tec PF 9. If you’re interested in the technical differences, here’s a comparison between all three of them.

What about the Glock 26?

For starters I’ll talk about the glock 26 chambered in 9mm Luger. Glock’s are super popular. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for, and that applies here as well. Going with a Glock is a smart choice because you know that they have a strong reputation and you’ll be able to sell it if you ever need to for a reasonable price. Also, since the Glock is so popular, you’ll have no problem getting all the bells and whistles that you could ever want to go along with this concealed carry. You may have noticed, however, that the glock is the thickest of all three. You may not think that there is much difference between .25 inches or so, but believe me when I say that there is a huge difference. So, going with this concealed carry is not a bad idea. The glock has lots of great features, a solid frame and a great reputation. You do pay a little bit more than some of the other guns out there. So that’s something to consider as well.

How about the XD 9?

The Springfield Armory XD 9 is an increadibly popular pistol. Lots of people swear by their XD. Constructed of lightweight materials, you’ll be comfortable carrying this concealed carry around. The XD has some unique safety features and is rather comperable to the Glock 26. Many gun dealers will sell this pistol with standard 10 round magazine as well as an extended 16 round magazine. So if you have bigger hands or have to have more rounds on you, then this might be a great option. This XD adds a light rail, a feature that the Glock 26 unfortunately doesn’t have. Like I said, many people are extremely happy with the performance of XD pistols.

How about that Kel Tec PF 9

The first time that I saw this concealed carry, the guns salesman said, “that gun is only going to make you mad!” That wasn’t a very good sales pitch, so let’s try this angle. Sure, this concealed carry may be a little hard to get perfect bulls eye’s at the range. But show me a concealed carry pistol with those features and I’ll show you that’s it’s probably a full frame pistol. Practice and training will greatly increase your accuracy with this inexpensive and lightweight pistol. This pistol is the slimmest of all three mentioned here. I just don’t know how they got this concealed carry so slim…It is also extremely lightweight compared to the other two. You’ll also notice that this pistol has a light rail, a nice feature for a pistol priced at such a nice price. Probably the greatest downside to this pistol is that it’s double action only (DAO). DAO isn’t bad, it’s just that shooting lots of rounds can get tiresome as you have a long trigger pull on each round. So there you go, a quick reivew of three rather popular pistols to go along with your Utah Concealed Carry Permit. Don’t have your Utah CCW yet, contact us and we’ll get you going!

. 17 Sep 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)

Selecting the best caliber for your concealed carry

The debate between hangun rounds has a long history. There are, however, some key differences that you should consider when selecting a concealed carry round. For example, did you know that the 40 S&W round was created especally for the FBI because they had issues with the power of the 9mm Luger? Apparently the FBI got into a fire-fight with some criminals in Florida where the FBI was vastly out gunned. The FBI had 9mm rounds and the other guys had superior fire power. So the FBI developed a 10mm round that had greater penetration and stoping power. However, female FBI agents found the larger round problematic. That’s why we have the 40 S&W, a comprimise between the 9mm and 10mm rounds.

So how do you select the right round for your concealed carry in Utah?

The short answer is: it depends. It depends on your style of carrying concealed. What I mean by style is how comfortable are you with shooting a 40 S&W? An honest assesment is absolutely necessary. It doesn’t matter if you have 45 ACP in your handgun if you can’t handle that concealed carry round. I’d say that it’s better to have a round that you are comfortable deploying than have the roughest and toughest round out there. So let’s create some general categories here to assess which round is right for your concealed carry.

I’ve got smaller hands and don’t have lots of concealed carry experience:

For folks in this general group, I’d suggest either 9mm Luger, .380 ACP or .38 Special. These three rounds are probably some of the best small caliber rounds. Now, you’ll probably notice a difference between 9mm and the other two rounds. Here’s a comparison photo between the two.

The 9mm Luger is on the left and the .38 Special is on the right. There is a significant difference in the length. You may think that greater length means a better concealed carry round. However, the 9mm does have greater stopping power. A heaver bullet coupled with a great match of gun powder equals a formidable round. In fact, the U.S. Military still uses the 9mm Luger round. There’s been considerable debate about this but it seems that the U.S. Army will be moving to the .45 ACP.

Here’s something else to consider when selecting between the 9mm, .380 ACP or .38 Special. If you’re not as experienced handling a Concealed Carry gun, you may be better off going with something like a revolver chambered in .38 Special. I’ve posted a review of one concealed carry revolver that you might consider. You’ll also be able to find some great pistols chambered in .380 ACP. Bersa, Walther, and SigSauer all make a similar style pistol cambered in .380 ACP.

Some people ask about .22 LR round for their concealed carry round. There’s no doubt that a .22 round can do considerable damage, if placed in the correct spot. There are numerous pocket and purse pistols that could be a great option for the concealed carry holder who does not want something too big and bulky. I still recommend going with something a little larger, but if you really want small, you can go with .22.

I’ve got normal/bigger hands and feel comfortable shooting a concealed carry

I can’t say this enough, you have to pick a round that you are comfortable with. I love shooting .45 ACP. It’s a great round to take out shooting. It can do amazing damage. If you carry concealed in Utah in your bag or back pack, there’s nothing wrong with going with .45 ACP. However, my experience is that people who buy a Glock or a 1911 in .45 ACP, they almost always complain that their gun is too bulky. I guess fat bullets make a fat gun. So what are you to do? Don’t think that you won’t get some good bang if you go with a .40 S&W. Shooting the Kahr CW40 has almost twice the kick as a full size Glock in .45 ACP.

There’s nothing wrong with going with 9mm Luger. You can find some great compact pistols for your concealed carry. But when you look at the numbers, I can’t help but be totally impressed with the .40 S&W. It’s compact and powerful; that’s everything that you could want in your concealed carry round.

Now, having said all of the above things, I think the most important aspect is marksmanship. Of course you can stop someone dead in their tracks if you hit them with a .45 ACP round. You can also do amazing things if you deliver rounds in vital locations. I always say accuracy first, power second. It doesn’t matter if you have a .45 ACP if you can’t control where your rounds end up.

. 12 Sep 08 | Gun Reviews | Read on | Comments (0)