The Aker Model 160A IWB Holster

I didn’t want to like this holster.

It wasn’t a question of workmanship or materials. It was obvious from the start that this holster was made of good stuff and had been assembled with care and attention to detail. This was not one of those holsters (and there are many out there) that missed its calling as a chew toy for a large dog. Continue reading “The Aker Model 160A IWB Holster”

2018 Project Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 60-15

It’s funny how things work. This article was planned to be the very first one ran on RevolverGuy.com. Several things happened (mostly at my own doing) that changed this course. My friend Aaron (at the ITRH Urban Survival Podcast) wanted to to run my revolver interview much earlier than I had anticipated. Wanting to space out reviews of revolvers (because I don’t have many), I pushed this one to the back burner. Then I got in touch with Mike Wood to write a review of his book. I got some new ideas and the next thing I knew, RevolverGuy.com was charting its own course. But a year later I’m finally getting around to writing the article I started in October of 2016. This is an article about MY first revolver, the Smith & Wesson Model 60-15. Continue reading “2018 Project Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 60-15”

The Perfect J-Frame: Two Years In Review

As the the sun sets on 2017, I wanted to talk about my experience with the perfect J-Frame Revolver: the S&W 640 Pro Series. I’ve carried this gun day-in/day-out for almost two and a half years now. It has been a special gun in that it has taught me an awful lot about the revolver. I’m going to talk about the accessories and solutions I’ve found to make this the most viable self-defense option possible, and my thoughts on going forward into the 2018. This will also be a bit of a reminisce over some of the changes I’ve made over the last year, and some things you can expect in the coming year. Continue reading “The Perfect J-Frame: Two Years In Review”

Dark Star Gear J-Frame AIWB Holster Review

I mentioned a while back that I have been working with appendix carry. I recently purchased a Dark Star Gear J-Frame AIWB holster. Dark Star Gear products generally get very good reviews, so I was anxious to try this one out. After a few weeks of working with it, here is my review: Continue reading “Dark Star Gear J-Frame AIWB Holster Review”

Ammunition for Small .357 Magnum Revolvers

There are two sides of the debate over shooting and carrying .357 Magnum ammunition in a small revolver. Both sides seem to be a bit dogmatic in their position, and I’ve been confronted with this a couple of times recently. I carry a J-Frame revolver as my primary defensive arm, and I carry it loaded with ammunition headstamped “.357 MAG”. I am a man who can appreciate a little nuance and I generally shy away from generalizations, so here are my thoughts.

WARNING: I’m about to take a hard right into revolver-geek territory. Proceed with caution. Continue reading “Ammunition for Small .357 Magnum Revolvers”

J-Frame Carry: Galco Tuck N Go IWB

I was recently at a the range with Chris Baker of the Lucky Gunner Lounge. He asked me how I carried my 640 Pro. Somewhat sheepishly I pulled a sweat-stained Galco Tuck N Go out of my bag. “It doesn’t look like much,” I began apologetically, and quickly trailed off. After thinking about for a second I said, “but, it actually works pretty well.” Continue reading “J-Frame Carry: Galco Tuck N Go IWB”

Apex Duty-Carry Spring Kit Review

When I initally pulled my 640 Pro Series out of the box I was in love. That feeling only lasted until the first time I pulled the trigger. Even though this is a Pro Series gun, the trigger was abysmal (read: about average for a J-Frame). Attempting to test its weight on my Lyman trigger pull gauge was futile. I received the dreaded “overload” message; the trigger pull exceeded the gauge’s 12-lb capacity. Needing badly to lighten it, I purchased the Apex Duty-Carry Spring Kit from Apex Tactical Specialties.

Continue reading “Apex Duty-Carry Spring Kit Review”

Smith and Wesson 640 Pro Series Review Part II

In Part I of my review of the S&W 640 Pro Series I covered its features. In Part II I am going to discuss the 640 Pro from a shooting and packing perspective. If you read Part I you already know I’ve carried this gun daily for over a year, so there’s not much suspense about what my conclusion is. Read on to find out why I like it. Continue reading “Smith and Wesson 640 Pro Series Review Part II”

VZ Grips Tactical Diamonds for J-Frames

Replacement stocks are on one of the most common modifications made to revolvers. Because it doesn’t store ammunition in the grip, stocks for the average revolver come in a broad array of sizes, shapes, and functions, including stocks with lasers, or that can be used as a holster substitute. For my daily-carry 640 Pro, I was just going for the sheer practicality of a grip that offered reasonable purchase without making the gun too large. Continue reading “VZ Grips Tactical Diamonds for J-Frames”