Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Inside the Mind of a Home Defense Shooting
Recoil Offgrid Magazine has recently published a few valuable articles about the mental processes behind using lethal force and managing the potential stress it might create. Start with the article linked above. Then read Stress Under Fire and Stress Response Part II.
Which Is Better in 2026: 9mm Luger or 45 ACP?
You’ve all seen article titles exactly like this in every gun publication produced in the last 50 years. How can we still be debating this issue?
This article does a deep dive into the issues of kinetic energy. I see lots of analytical folks attempting to quantify “stopping power” by using an energy calculation. Don’t get caught up in that trap. I think the actual value of calculated kinetic energy is almost zero. I’ve never once looked at energy stats when choosing a defensive load. Energy isn’t irrelevant, it’s just so far down the list of importance that it almost doesn’t matter.
When choosing a defensive round, these are the factors I look at (in order of importance):
– Is the round reliable in my gun?
– Can I shoot it fast and accurately?
– Does it hit to the sights?
– Does it penetrate to the FBI minimum standard of 12″ in ballistic gelatin
– Does the round expand to 1.5X initial diameter when it hits flesh?
After it meets those criteria, feel free to evaluate kinetic energy. I personally think that statistic is virtually useless. Look at my stopping power study. There is zero correlation between the best “stopping power” and the round’s kinetic energy value.
Up Close & Too Personal
Thanks to Erick for the shout out in his piece on retention shooting.
27 STATISTICS ON GUNSHOT WOUNDS: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET SHOT?
A lot of information about gunshot wounds. While on the site, you might also like their 8 Week Tactical Athlete Fitness Program (Free PDF).
Comparison of 22LR Multiple Lots 20K Rounds
Great information if you are into shooting long range .22 rimfire rifles.
Women and Real-World Gear Choices: 2026 AG & AG National Conference Report
The guns and gear that 700 women chose to bring to the national conference.
The Arcadian: A Novel
What I’m reading…
CAN YOU REALLY ACCESS YOUR GUN WEAK HANDED?
This is far more important than many people consider.
When Shit Hits the Fan, What Do You Do… First
A primer on mental preparation and “war gaming” various attack scenarios and your responses to them.
2026 Will Likely Have The Lowest US Murder Rate Ever Recorded
Some good news.
And if you geek out on crime stats, this article might be useful Did the homicide decline change racial disparities in firearm homicide victimization?
The Awareness Mindset: Why Most People Lose the Fight Before It Starts
Some excellent awareness advice.
Self Defense for EMS Professionals
An often-overlooked topic of critical importance to my medic friends. You will also enjoy the author’s piece on The Basic First Aid Kit.
MacGyver the Foley
While on the topic of medicine, this article might be of use to some of the higher level medical practitioners who read this. For most folks, I’d argue that time is better spent teaching better wound packing and direct pressure strategies. But for those of you who already carry a Foley catheter and know how to use it, this might be a useful bit of knowledge to tuck away for the future when you might be far from definitive care.
“We Both Know Why You Don’t Like Combatives”
“The real debate, therefore, is not about safety.
It is about whether the institution values controlled training in interpersonal violence enough to tolerate a level of risk it already routinely accepts elsewhere.
Combatives does not merely teach techniques. Routine Combatives training is one of the few leadership tools available that can systematically inculcate a unit with a genuine warrior ethos rather than a performative one.
It develops confidence under pressure, aggression management, emotional control during violence, resilience during chaotic physical struggle, and comfort with physical dominance contests. These are not abstract psychological traits. They are trainable behaviors directly connected to battlefield performance.”
But what about .22 Mag?! Any Good for Self Defense? VS .380 ACP – Hornady Critical Duty
Comparing the .22 magnum to the .380 in ballistic gelatin. If you want some more good gelatin testing information, you’ll also want to watch The Most Modern .22 LR Ammo VS the Old School “Best” .22 LR Ammo – CCI Uppercut VS CCI Stinger and Finally! Federal HST 9mm 124g Gel test from a 3″ all the way to our 16″ rifle. 7 total firearms.
History of the Fighting Tomahawk (and Best Models)
For tomahawk fans (like me).
Hourglass explains why school shootings are unpredictable
“When I look at decades of data from the K–12 School Shooting Database, no two shootings have exactly the same circumstances in the same order. Every time a school shooting occurs, people try to look for the single broken cog in a linear machine. By looking retrospectively at the grain of sand that caused the collapse, they point to a specific red flag, a door left unlocked, a police officer who didn’t go inside fast enough, or a social media post that didn’t get investigated. But this is applying linear, cause-and-effect thinking to a phenomenon that is fundamentally non-linear.”
A century of the ‘Ma Deuce’: How the M2 Browning became America’s workhorse machine gun
For those of you interested in the history of military weapons. Thanks to Jim for sending me the article!
The Myth of “Stupid Places and Stupid People”
John Farnam’s “Rules of Stupid” is generally good guidance, but as my late friend Dr William Aprill used to say: “What if I love me some stupid people.”
Casing a Joint: Why You Should Sit Facing the Door
Some tips from ITS Tactical about safety practices you can implement in your day to day life. In addition to their recommendations about sitting near an exit with a view of the front door, I also like to sit where I can see the cash register as well. If there is any type of robbery, that’s where it will occur.
Nine Generations of American Firearms Culture
You might have heard about “Gun Culture 2.0” or “Gun Culture 3.0.” How about “Gun Culture 9.0?”
Issue 25
A very informative and information-packed edition of Armed Lifestyle Magazine.
Concealed Carry 101: How To Appendix Carry
If you are interested in the topic, you should also watch this older video also from PHLster Concealment Tuneup
How to Keep Your Children Safe from Predators
Solid tips for better family safety. While on the topic of kids, you might also like Teaching Children Courage Without Teaching Them Panic.
Quote to Ponder:
“To teach trainees you need to be energetically enthusiastic about improving the welfare of your students, to have only loving sympathy for them, and to forgo any personal concern about the hardships involved in explaining doctrines over and over again until they sink in.”
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