Category Archives: Defensive Shooting

New Conceal Carry Pistol- Kimber Micro 9 Rapide – Update

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I have on occasion worn my pistols as conceal carry locally, but most are too bulky, too heavy for everyday conceal carry.  My big requirements; weight, reliability, safety, and trigger pull/design and accuracy were utmost in my mind. 

I looked at many small conceal carry pistols. Gotta have a safety lever, light in weight, yet sturdy as all get-out. I bought the USA Made Kimber Micro 9 Rapide in 9mm (7shot) pictured below with my computer mouse. It has a 3.15 inch barrel and weighs just under a pound empty. Nice!

It is basically a Micro 1911. It has an ambidextrous butterfly safety on each side. The clips have a finger hook for a firm grip. 

Below is my first 10 yard 115g UMC Remington groups right out of the box.

My right/left group was excellent. I moved the point-of-aim higher and a bit lower as they vertically string . Trigger pull was clean and guess to 6 or 7 pounds.

April 22,2024, below a 4 shot Winchester 147g Hollow Points at 10 yards. Love the night sights. Recoil with 147g JHP was manageable given such a small pocket pistol.

Unfortunately it only comes with one clip. What? Ok, I bought an extra clip. 

Disassembly/reassembly video

 

Basic cost, $909.00.

Yes, that’s a lot, but l think it is worth it. There are a dozen color versions of the Kimber Micro 9. 

So far, it filled all of my requirements and it wears well with a sticky™ pocket holster. There it is, Invisible, in my pocket. The sticky holster holds itself in my pocket when I draw. 

Be Safe Out There!

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10mm Glock 20 Essentials for Bear Hunting Backup

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 The use of a handgun to ward off a bear attack is proven. It is not uncommon for aggressive bears to climb up your bowhunting tree stand with you in it or perhaps follow you back to your truck at night or a wounded bear attacks during recovery. 

Below, find an article with documented incidents where handguns were 98% effective on all bear species black, brown, grizzly and polar. 

Handgun Defenses Against Bear Attacks – 170 Documented Incidents, 98% Effective

Unfortunately, my new 10mm Glock 20 has set of daylight sights which makes the Glock defense use in dim light or darkness difficult at best.  I swapped them out for cost effective Tritium sights so I can see them in darkness.

I purchased a simple set of TRUGLO tritium sights for around $55 bucks. Not a bad price. Take the top slide off, remove the spring and barrel to get to the front sight nut and prep to remove the rear sight. 

 

You will need to purchase a tool for the front sight nut. 

and at least a push tool or bench vise and a wood or brass punch as in the video above. 

Next, is a holster for my Glock. 

I need instant access for a possible aggressive bear attack, thus I purchased a heat molded chest holster called the Kenai from Gunfighters, Inc. Cost $160.00

firearm

The first time the holster gripped the pistol, hearing a click,  I wasn’t able to pull it out without using great force. The Kenai literature instructed to carefully use a heat gun on the click/grip area.  Luckily, I had a heat gun. It worked.  Now, after heat adjusting, I can readily pull the pistol yet keep it secure.

Some folks find that a chest held binocular case can interfere with the draw of the pistol.  However, the holster can be adjusted to allow fast access. Below is  my Vortex Bino’s case with my Glock 20.  The bino case is huge, perhaps too big to wear. The pistol draw needs both hands. One hand to hold the holster base, while my right hand draws the pistol.

I will holster and practice drawing and shooting it with my binoculars on and off. If I’m on a bear stand in a tree, I will likely not wear the bino case. 

Below this video pitts the 10mm against the 44 magnum. 

A few year back I also did a 44 mag video below. In that fishing scenario, the 44 mag already drawn on an approaching bear, worked for the first shot but the recoil raised the pistol losing fractions of seconds to get back on target. 

Good Hunting!

 

Backup Black Bear Medicine

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I have hunted black bear in Ontario, Canada many years ago with my 68 pound recurve bow. Canada does not allow hunters to carry a backup pistol. My Outfitter said I probably would not need bear spray. Right? My experience with a very aggressive and very large boar instantly changed my mind. 

Today, with a bear hunt in September, I reviewed my 45ACP as a backup pistol. Yes, it can work but it is considered marginal. I have always liked the 44 magnum as a brown or black bear backup. But you will likely only get one good headshot, if it charges. I tested a 44 mag for a moving head shot. It wasn’t easy and I had only 5 more shots left. The 44 mag with 250g or 300g or 454 Casull are very powerful but many can’t handle the recoil. If you can handle the recoil and shoot it straight, go for it. Many are true believers. 

Enter the 10mm Glock 20 Gen 5 semi-auto pistol (Retail $620)

Glock 20 Gen5 MOS Pistol

It is a better option for a semi-auto, throwing 15 hard cast 220g bullet at 1200 fps delivering nearly 700 ft-lbs on each shot. 

Underwood Ammunition 10mm Auto 220 Grain Hard Cast Flat Nose Box of 20

Underwood Ammo says “Hard cast flat nose bullets are non-expanding, powerfully penetrative bullets that are designed with your woods defense needs in mind; whether fending off wild hogs or black bears, the hard cast flat nose bullets are consistently effective in taking down any wild animals that you may encounter. In contrast to the round nose non-expanding bullets, the flat nose bullets are able to pierce through dense bodies of mass while maintaining their nose forward position, which is optimal for maximum penetration. ­Underwood Ammo’s hard cast featuring a “Black Cherry” coating. Equipped with enhancements from the previous Hi-Tek coating. “Black Cherry” coating is a polymer-based compound; its thermal stability allows it to handle more than any other coating today. The coating will protect against gas cutting with a high degree of wear and abrasion resistance. The “Black Cherry” coating prevents lead to bore contact, thus virtually eliminating lead fouling. All Underwood Ammo rounds utilize flash suppressed powder so that your vision will not be compromised if it becomes necessary to use your firearm in low light.”

The 10mm  is increasingly used as a hunting firearm for thin skin big game and a reasonable bear backup that allows faster follow-up shots. 

This 10mm 15 shot pistol is apparently taking the Outdoor Industry by storm say many reviews. Like the 44 magnum, the 10mm really does not have enough energy to penetrate a bear skull but most shooters can handle its recoil.  We shall see… I just purchased one. Yes, I needed a good reason to add it to my hunt options. 

 

Below is a comparison article from Meateater of 10mm vs 45acp

https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/caliber-battle-10mm-vs-45-auto

How you carry the pistol will also be discussed. How handy is it?

More Soon. 

Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Conceal Carry Without Special Need

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New York gun case New York State Rifle & Pistol Asso­ci­ation Inc. v Bruen, addresses whether New York state’s concealed carry law violates the Second Amendment.

A century-old New York state law that requires gun owners to show “proper cause” — or a specific special need — to carry a handgun in public and was struck down by the Supreme Court 6/3 yesterday.

The momentous ruling by Supreme Court yesterday  has larger implications across the nation for self-defense without requirement to show special need.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-shoots-down-ny-rule-set-high-bar-concealed-handgun-licenses

My New Glocks for Home and Conceal Carry

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Below are my new Glocks, G19 Gen 5 in 9mm and G44 in .22LR.  I chose these Glocks because they are very reliable and essentially identical. The weight and caliber is different, but handling is the same and great for cross training.   

I purchased the .22LR – G44 at right for low recoil training for my wife. When she gets used to the .22, then we will train on the 9MM. Both pistols come with a lock, extra grips in medium and large. The 9mm comes with 3 clips and the .22 comes with two. 

I shot both Glocks (see the target below), just after purchase and shot CCI Mini-Mag .22’s and Remington 9mm FMJ ammo at 20 feet. If you look close, you can see the .22 and 9mm holes intermingled below the 10x ring. Not bad at all! My outdoor range was a sheet of ice to walk on, so I used just one target for both. 

I like the sights framed in white edging and can be seen clearly in darker shadows.

Glock OEM Adjustable Rear Sight SP05977 Gen 1-5Glock OEM Front Sight SP06956 Gen 1-5

The .22 pistol is lighter to handle. My wife is not an avid shooter at all, despite being married to  me for many decades. But now she is feeling fearful with large spikes in crime on TV and the need for her safety.

I already own a Kimber 1911 Pro Carry II for home protection, conceal carry. The size difference between my Kimber Pro Carry II in .45ACP  and the G19 Gen 5 in 9MM is very similar but the 45 has 8 shots and the G19 has 15 shots when fully loaded.

Weight-wise the difference between each gun when fully loaded is just 4.3 ounces, with the Kimber being a bit heavier.  The grip safety beavertail on the Kimber increases the length by an inch.

Which to carry depends on your abilities with each pistol and the kind of situations you believe to encounter. For a new shooter, as my wife is, training with a light recoiling .22 helps for confidence before using the 9mm. 

I will write more on these pistols in the near future. 

Good Shooting and Training!

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