Springfield Armory is a storied name. Its lineage stretches back to America’s early days, more than two centuries before the genesis of today’s Hellcat pistol. The original version of Springfield Armory was a military weapons storage facility in Massachusetts, ordered by George Washington in 1777. In 1795, they added arms production capability for the fledgling nation’s armed forces, and this practice continued for 173 years. After the facility ceased operations in 1968 and was subsequently declared a National Historic Site, a small gunmaker in Texas began using the name to take advantage of its notoriety. In 1974, the L. H. Gun Company officially became Springfield Armory, Inc. and moved to Illinois. Though the name is the only thing they substantively share in common, the modern private company gives a nod to the historic military armory’s legacy by wearing it.

Nighthawk Custom is no stranger to high-end 1911s. Recently, Nighthawk released the first in what they’re calling the Ambassador Series. This is the second installation in the series. Introducing the Delegate.

The 1911 pistol (along with the M2) have withstood the test of time and ventured far beyond anyone’s expectations when it has come to their longevity. Further proof of that exists today with the addition of the new Bantam 1911 Carry pistol from SDS imports. This new fully-featured 1911 carry pistol packs loads of customer-requested perks including flush-fit magazines and improved G-10 grips.

Every week, there are a few individuals who reach out to talk about certain aspects of carrying a concealed firearm. Whether it’s a question regarding holsters, guns or accessories, I get asked a fair bit about my personal carry options. So since you guys have asked repeatedly, I have decided to help out and break down three of my favorite carry options. It’s perfectly acceptable to disagree with me and I expect a few of you to completely disagree with everything I say, which is good for conversation. Let’s take a deeper dive into the top 3 carry options I use on a daily basis.

Walther Arms is primarily known for making handguns. This German manufacturer produces a variety of semi-automatic pistols suitable for a range of purposes. Their modern lineup includes models optimized for competition, concealed carry, duty use, and more. Even James Bond is a fan, with the iconic PPK serving as 007’s primary sidearm throughout a great deal of his time on the silver screen and in the pages of many Bond novels. The company recently began offering high-end custom shop versions of some of their pistols, upgraded under their “Meister Manufaktur” program. In addition to guns, this fine gunmaker offers a smattering of accompanying gear items as well. To compliment their EDC-intended handguns, they’ve just announced a new ankle medical kit.

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves reviews the brand new Ruger LCP MAX .380 pistol. According to Ruger, the LCP MAX is: “The latest upgrade to America’s favorite ultra-compact pistol: the LCP MAX. Chambered in .380 Auto, the Ruger LCP MAX fits 10+1 rounds into the same footprint as the LCP II. Compact and lightweight, the LCP MAX continues to be the definitive pocket-sized personal protection pistol.” James takes this brand new pistol to the range and gives you his honest opinion.

The great debate of carrying a spare magazine has gone on for years, but the idea of carrying a spare magazine is not a new one. Depending on the handgun, it’s extremely reasonable to carry a spare magazine as an insurance policy. The concept of carrying a spare magazine is fairly common among the younger generations of concealed carriers, but having a spare magazine is fairly common among carriers in general. One of the questions I get fairly often is the best route to go when carrying a spare magazine. There are a number of products on the market that assist in this exact topic which we will take a deeper dive into. Let’s take a closer look at different ways to carry a spare magazine.

In this episode of TFBTV, Hop pits the Ruger Max-9 against the Taurus GX4 to see which delivers a better value in the micro 9mm handgun category. Both pistols are about the same size and deliver similar capacity, but are otherwise very different. The Max-9 has an optics cut allowing for the mounting of micro red dots, and has a lot of nice out-of-the-box features. The GX4 has a better trigger and a lower MSRP.

In an earlier review, we took a look at the jeans from Dynamis Alliance. In this review, we’ll be examining the pouch system that goes along with the jeans, called the IWS. Current pouches range from Glock 19 and SIG P365 holsters, associated magazine pouches (AR15 STANAG and handgun, even MP7), trauma kits, baton pouches, and even a small utility pouch for those slim minimalist wallets that are all the rage these days. With the exception of the handgun holsters and the knife sheaths, these pouches are made from either a thin, stretchy fabric in the case of the IWS EDC Pouch, or in the case of the magazine holsters, a smooth canvas-like material that collapses against your body when the magazine has been withdrawn.

Constitutional Carry is hot right now. The list of states officially supporting the practice has grown to nearly half of the US. Texas recently became the twenty-first such state, and this new legislation will go into effect as of September 1st of this year. Second Amendment advocacy groups are working with legislators in several other states as well, so hopefully, the list will grow beyond twenty-one in the not-too-distant future. According to the National Association for Gun Rights, some of the next Constitutional Carry candidates could potentially include Michigan, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, and South Carolina. With this, organizations like U.S. LawShield are endeavoring to provide relevant education to firearms owners.

Often times I will get a number of questions about a certain type of carry style. Whether it’s carrying in a pocket or a shoulder holster, there will always be pros and cons to each method of carrying a concealed firearm. Every rating is based on my personal experiences as well as a number of colleagues that all collectively came down to this list. It’s perfectly acceptable to disagree with the rating and I would love to have a discussion in the comments at the end of the article. Let’s dive deeper into the carry positions ranked best to worst.

In the recent times of Covid, along with the countless other things driving people to buy more firearms, the used gun has taken somewhat of a beating. I get constant messages from people saying they can no longer find deals because there’s nothing left on the shelves. To their defense, the used market isn’t as easy to find deals like it was before the world went insane, but it’s still very possible to find bargains if you know what to look for. This latest edition of Pawn Shop Finds was purely by luck. I found an incredible 5906 at a local gun store while I was picking up another project they’ve been helping me with. Let’s dive into the perfect Smith & Wesson 5906 I found and how it is to shoot.

There are two main reasons to have a spare magazine when you’re carrying a firearm. The first is obviously more ammunition. The second is in case of malfunctions. Regardless of why you carry a spare magazine, it can be a hassle. We already have so much crap to carry on a daily basis that I see more and more people opting for smaller and more convenient systems. About as minimal as you can get, Strike Industries has released a clip that integrated specifically with their EMP. This is the Strike EMP Pocket Clip.

As of the time of this writing, twenty US states officially recognize their residents’ inherent right to bear arms without the imposition of governmental permitting hurdles. Vermont led by example in this area, thanks to the particularly narrow wording of its state Constitution. Vermont’s legal language has never allowed for state-level restrictions on methods of firearms carry, so it is considered the first of America’s fifty states to recognize that the Constitution essentially serves as Americans’ permit – more by intrinsic prevention than by the retroactive action that other states have had to employ subsequently. For decades, Vermont stood alone in this distinction. TFB has covered some Constitutional Carry-related news from time to time, and a sampling of those past articles is listed below.

Back in 2018, SIG Sauer dropped the initial P365 at SHOT Show and took the concealed carry market by storm. They were the first to come out with a micro-sized double-stack striker-fired 9mm handgun that was accessible to the masses. I can still remember the excitement buzzing around the booth when they were giving interviews to the various publications about their all-new handgun. Fast forward three years and now the SIG P365 family has grown with multiple variants and sizes to accommodate shooters in today’s market. Let’s take a deeper dive into the P365 family history and current variants.

With Father’s Day coming up this weekend, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at what my father has carried over the years. Most of these guns, whether it being good or bad, have taught me a number of lessons about carrying a concealed firearm growing up over the years. My father’s concealed handgun journey is fairly similar to the story of Goldilocks since he had to carry a few handguns in order to find the perfect carry piece. Let’s take a deeper look into my list of Father’s Day carry special guns.

With more and more states allowing constitutional carry, I am started to become bombarded with questions about what they should do when it comes to different types of carrying. Some ask if constitutional carry is the way to go while others ask if having a permit is better in the long run. There are a number of things to consider when debating on going with constitutional carry or applying for a permit and paying the government to carry a concealed firearm. Both have their own specific advantages when looking at each independently. Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of constitutional carry.

The United States Concealed Carry Association, or USCCA, is an organization focused on providing resources and benefits to responsibly armed Americans. They offer a variety of informational initiatives from training and education, legal guidance, digital tutorials and checklists, and more. They also offer self-defense liability insurance coverage for their members. Now the Association has announced a new partner, one of the firearms industry’s top gun manufacturers: SIG SAUER.

When you decide to carry a concealed firearm, there aren’t many areas that are fully off-limits to individuals but there are a few different places that are always gun-free zones. These can sometimes be tricky to work around and oftentimes there are choices that need to made one way or another. It’s not commonly talked about within the community but sooner or later you’ll have to decide one way or another. Everyone has their own belief system on gun-free zones and that’s totally acceptable. Let’s dive into working around gun-free zones when it comes to concealed carry.

Telor Tactical is a Georgia-based holster company. They make holsters for all manners of concealment, as well as 40mm round carriers, masks, and even seat cushions. I was recently tasked with reviewing three of their holsters: the Comfort-Air ITW Holster, the Comfort-Air Bodyband Holster, and the Comfort-Air LE Ankle Holster. I carried each of these in rotation over the three months, and have some thoughts. Let’s get into it. 

Summer is rapidly approaching and every year I will oftentimes get bombarded with questions when it comes to carrying in warm weather. Carrying a firearm in hotter weather can have its own challenges just based on the spike in temperature during the summer months. Whether it’s concealing your firearm under just a simple shirt or dealing with chaffing or weight, having a comfortable carry every day can sometimes prove to be challenging. A common issue with summer carry for some concealed carriers is the inability to prioritize their most important carry items. Let’s dive into the basics of carrying when it comes to summer carry.

This past weekend, I drove down to see my father and spent some time with him. He recently moved from Tampa Florida to Missouri and needed to take a new concealed carry course to apply for his Missouri permit. I decided to tag along and see what some of the students were shooting and how the average shooter does in a training course. Honestly, I was surprised by the lack of training most had and started talking to some of the students. During my time at the course, I noticed three trends throughout the students and often times it matches what happens in the real world. Let’s dive into some of the most common issues with concealed carriers.

In this episode of TFBTV, Hop reviews the new Taurus GX4. The GX4 is Taurus’ entry into the micro doublestack 9mm pistol market, with a standard magazine capacity of 11 rounds of 9mm in a package barely larger than a Glock 43. It’s also the first Taurus semi-auto handgun with no manual safety lever because it has a totally redesigned Glock-style trigger. Finally! I’ve never been so happy.

We all deal with daily life stress whether it’s work-related stress or just regular everyday stress, but we oftentimes forget about overwhelming stress when we are put in certain situations. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen both new and experienced shooters at the range start to fumble and fall apart because there was a little stress introduced into the drill. It’s nothing to be ashamed of but the vast majority of concealed carriers I have met stay within their comfort zone and don’t push their boundaries. This is typically what we all do, but if you want to truly mentally and physically train to deal with stress, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable while shooting. Let’s dive into understanding and training with stress.

Over the last couple of years, I have written a number of articles about the limitations of revolvers and how the modern-day micro semi-auto has taken the thunder away from snub nose revolvers. In a lot of ways, the snub nose revolver is outgunned and outclassed by many semi-automatic handguns on the market today. So after all these articles, do I think snub nose revolvers are obsolete? The short answer is no and there’s a number of reasons why a revolver may be a better fit for you than a smaller semi-automatic. Let’s dive into the benefits of a snub nose revolver.

When looking at switching styles of holsters, there are countless options on the market today. Now I know there will be some people who are screaming what about leather holsters. They are a great option for some circumstances but I get a ton of questions about hybrid and Kydex holsters so we are focusing on that today. It can be tricky figuring out what benefits each holster system offers if you haven’t used them before so let’s take a look at the hybrid vs Kydex holsters debate.

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves is walking you through the ultimate method of summer carry. Carrying your EDC or a pistol in the summer is no walk on the beach, but the guys at TFB are here to help you, whether if it’s the beach, the lake, or the swimming hole, we’ve got a solution for you this year – you can bet your fanny on it.

It may be hard to imagine now, but not all that many years ago, the concealed carry holster market was relatively small. Appendix IWB (Inside-the-WaistBand) carry was not broadly adopted and there weren’t vast throngs of Kydex holster makers, of widely varying qualities, plastered all over the internet. Today we’re inundated with holster choices, and AIWB is most commonly hailed as the optimal carry position/style for properly instructed shooters of everyday carry concealed handguns.

One of the most interesting debates I’ve heard lately is whether to carry a stock handgun or a handgun with upgrades. There’s been more than one occasion the last few weeks where I’ve heard guys arguing the pros and cons of carrying stock or upgraded handguns. Both have their valid arguments and it’s not a bad option to think about if you’re like me and carry on a daily basis. Let’s dive into the stock vs customized carry guns debate and what the benefits of each argument can be.

While I am not a huge fan of off-body carry, I do understand how there can be certain circumstances where you can’t or wouldn’t want to carry a firearm on your person. For that purpose, off-body carry options have a place at the table when it comes to concealment options. Primary Arms are now offering a few different styles of concealed carry handbags for off-body carry.