About Guns

There’s been several emails regarding guns and I’ll try to answer some of them here. I’m no expert, just my opinion, that’s all.

Hello Fernndo,

I just recently started reading your Blog and enjoy it very much. I think that there is a tremendous amount of useful advice there. As good as it is, I just finished reading your book, Surviving the Economic Collapse, and thought it was incredible. So much useful, practical information in such a readable book. I think you deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for creating something that has the potential to help save the lives of many thousands of people if they read it, take it to heart, and act on it...

That being said, your section on handguns states that you believe the Glock is the ultimate handgun. I think its a fine handun, but personally, I like the ergonomics of the Springfield XDM9 better. Have you tried these yet? If so, what are your thoughts?

Jerry in Florida...

Hi Jerry, thanks man. O beat me to it. Hell, I think I deserved it more than he did! :-)
I haven’t tried the XD. I hear about a lot of people that like it a lot, some doing very good in classes, even though the Glock is the most popular one and the one with the best reliability record.
The thing about the Glock, besides the well known design and many other characteristics that make it so successful is that its also so freaking popular. You can’t throw a dead cat without hitting a Glock.
Wherever you are around the globe, chances are you’ll find parts for one of these autos: 1911, Hi Power and Glock, CZ75 also being pretty popular, but in a much further away 4th place. I can find parts for my Glock ( and of course 1911 and Hi Power) here in Buenos Aires. I can’t say the same about the XD. Parts availability, mag availability and price, they are all important. Any gunsmith knows how to work with Glocks, even one that isn’t very experienced.
Finally, test of time. Maybe 20 years from now the XD will gain popularity, go through thousands of torture tests like the Glock did, be measured and found worthy, dropped from planes, buried, freezed and dragged from the car by a dozen guys and posting about it on the internet and still shooting. Time has passed and the Glock passed the test of time. It’s making its way up there to the hall of fame along with the JMB designs. 20 years from now the DX may gain such reputation, but then again the Glock will be legendary by then and you’d still want a Glock, maybe even more than you did before. :-)
Sorry for the rant. As far as I know the DX is one of the few guns that performs well on classes and such. If you like it and feel its ok for you, go for it man! Its not as if you’re asking about a Sigma or Taurus… :p

Thank you for a wonderful blog.

My firearms battery is pretty complete but after reading your advice on
pistols (which I have many), I thought that maybe a folding stock
shotgun would work well in an enclosed area like an automobile, and
using a pistol (in my case a Glock 23 in .40S&W) for backup. For home
defense I don't think shotguns can be beat.

What are your thoughts on short barrel folding stock shotguns, and if it
is favorable, do you prefer pump or semi-auto?

Thanks

Rob

Hi Rob,
I like folding stocks because they make the guns much more handy and easier to conceal. Then again for some reason, I like my shotgun to have a nice, comfortable fixed stock, that can also hold a shell carrier. That being said, my Mossberg 500 has a short 14 inch barrel (Fed tax stamp required for that in USA, don’t try cutting your barrel)
For a car, I wouldn’t want a shotgun, no matter how small. I’d go for a High capacity 9mm loaded with FMJ if what you want if vehicle penetration, or big bore (40 S&W , 45 ACP) if you’re worried about carjackers on foot. Main problem with the shotgun is that it requires both hands to operate, and its still cumbersome. I want something small, that can be operated single handedly, penetrates metal well and has higher capacity than what most shotguns can offer.

I definitely want an auto pistol, not a shotgun for my car (when I’m the one driving, that is) If you’re talking about a trunk gun, then I’d rather have a FAL Para or AK.
Pump actions are more reliable, even though semi auto shotguns have been improved lately and some are doing nicely. There’s the Hatsan Escort semi auto, supposedly its very reliable with all kind of loads, all weights. Still, for me the shotgun’s main advantage is the ability to fire a wide range of loads, the LTL alternative being attractive in some niche situations. Otherwise, no doubt, I prefer the FAL Para and the 7,62 rifle round it fires.

pistol lights and laser-
Ferfal, in all your pics of handguns especially glocks, I never seen you have any cool attachments on them like: laser, light, reflex sight, red dot, and other tacticool gears. How usefull do you think those gadgets will be in real life ? Thanks. love your blog.

Lamerz

Hi, Sometimes people confuse sport with self defense. Then they end up dropping their firearm magazine every time they get in or out of the car because of the oversized mag release button, or effectively lock the slide back in the middle of a messy gunfight because of an absurd extended slide release. Super XL Ambidetrous & Amphibious 1911 safety? Just perfect to get it tangled on the clothes or accidentally pushing the huge safety down when sitting in the car.
A gun like the Glock needs little or no customization. Only thing worth doing, and it’s a good idea, is to replace the weak front sight post. The little plastic part is vulnerable and can’t take much punishment. For rifles and carbines yes, I have a red dot and something like and Aimpoint or Etech 550 would be nice to have in a good rifle, as long as you have backup iron sights and are proficient with those as well.
Weapon mounted lights for your auto are also a good idea, specially for home defense but also for carrying along with your sidearm.
I was shooting my Enfield the other day, open sights, 200 yards away. Wasn’t grouping very well but the guy next to me with his huge scope was amazed I could hit anything “without a scope” at that range.
Little life lesson: Never become too dependant of something made of glass. :-p

FerFAL