GunUp The Magazine April 2013

3 DRY FIRE DRILLS: tO SURVIVE THE SHORTAGE
HOME DEFENSE ISSUE
YIPPEE-KI-YAY!
THE GUNS OF DIE HARD
WHICH GUN SAFE
IS THE BEST TO KEEP
YOUR GUNS SAFE?
SPOTLIGHT:
THE SAIGA AK IN .410
Also:
TAURUS USA
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
DEFENSE FROM THE UNEXPECTED:
HOW SAFE IS
YOUR HOME?
THINK CONCEALED CARRY:
WHAT YOU MAY NOT
HAVE CONSIDERED.
APRIL 2013 GUNUP.COM

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CONTENTS
FEATURES
“I LOVE THE
ARSENAL SGL-41
AND ALWAYS HAVE.
SO EASY TO HANDLE
AND SO EASY TO
SHOOT.”
Jason c.,
GunUp User
10 Whether
Saiga AK in .410
or not you agree that .410
makes a great home defense round, 14
there’s no way that this AK-style YIPPEE-KI-YAY!
shotgun could be mistaken for your THE GUNS
grandma’s gun. OF DIE HARD
14 Yippee-Ki-Yay! The
Guns of Die Hard
From Berettas to mini guns, the
Die Hard series has provided us with
plenty of entertainment, and we’re
not talking about the plot.
20 Taurus:
Under Construction
Under new administration, the
Taurus USA factory is seeing some
major changes that will lead to a
company-wide makeover. Find out
20
A BEHIND THE
what the Brazilian manufacturer SCENES LOOK
is doing different, and why we’re
AT TAURUS
impressed.
4 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

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CONTENTS
IMPROVE YOUR GAME

GUNUP ON FACEBOOK
26 How safe is your house, really? Take
The Full Plan WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND GUNUP?
a technical look at the disasters that

could happen and how to prevent
them.
32 Survive
Shortage
the
Even when ammo prices are high

and live rounds can be hard to
come by, it’s possible to keep your
shooting skills sharp. Try these dry
fire drills to keep your sights on
The GunUp AK Tac-Pac
target when your ammo store is low.
We are offering Arsenal Quad Rail Milled AK47s with Trijicon RMRs
for only $1,999. (Buy now at GunUp.com/Shop.)
34 Calm and Strong:

Shooter’s Yoga
These yoga moves can clear your
mind to keep the sights in focus, and
help tune the arm strength you need
for ultimate recoil control.
THE GREATEST GEAR
36 We
The GunUp Polls
asked GunUp users to tell us
how they defend their homes. Find
their answer’s in this month’s polls.
The 2013 Secretary of Defense
Employer Support Freedom Award
GunUp was selected by South Dakota for nomination for the
38 Think
Carry
Concealed 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
The concealed carry lifestyle is a

never-ending learning process, so Ruger Retail Program
we explored some common but We received our first Ruger retail program shipment!
not oft-discussed problems and Keep an eye on GunUp.com for more firearms from Ruger.
came up with some questions
every concealed carrier should ask
themselves to make their day-to-day
lives just a bit easier.
42 Keeping
Safe Solutions
your guns safe at home
is an important part of being a
responsible gun owner. Find out
what your options are to best
determine what safe will fit your
lifestyle.
46 Contributor
The M1 Carbine
Rob Reed takes an
in-depth look at what the classic
platform offers in terms of being a
good home defense gun.

Join the Fight...
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SAVE $10 ON ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP!
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XM027292
CONTENTS
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Contributors It’s funny how moving can make
you re-evaluate how prepared you
Rob Reed
really are for anything. Not too long
Rob Reed is a NRA Training Coun-
after relocating to South Dakota to
selor in the Detroit area. He writes
work for GunUp, in fact, the same
as the Michigan Firearms Examiner
weekend the movers dropped off all
and Detroit Gun Rights Examiner at
my stuff, there was a massive power
Examiner.com.
outage in downtown Sioux Falls and
my loft was down for the count all
weekend.
PRODUCTION
I ended up in a hotel room on the
Dan Hall, Dulles Air Traffic Control
other side of town. I won’t say it was
Caleb Giddings, Hans Gruber
a “struggle” but it was a definite in-
convenience, and a real reminder of
editorial
how important it is to be as prepared
SHELLEY SARGENT,
Head of Nakatomi Security as you can be at all times. I was one
of the only residents in my building
ART with a good flashlight. I was doing
STEVE RUML, my make-up by the 600 lumen light
steve@ghostcrtv.com of a FoxFury Rook and scouting
Thomas Gabriel the halls by TerraLux. No one else
seemed to be so prepared, it was
SALES surprising.
JOHN TIAHRT, What if I hadn’t had the means to
Harry Ellis
get a hotel room? To go out for a
couple nights to eat? There was a
time not too long ago I would have
been much worse off in such situa-
tion. So how do we ensure we are
truly prepared? We can’t foresee ev-
THE MAGAZINE erything, but we can strive to be as
safe and prepared as possible.
For information on rates and
advertising in GunUp the Magazine,
contact Caleb Giddings at
advertising@gunup.com.
For information on reviews or

product placement, contact Shelley Sargent, Editor
Shelley Sargent at shelley@gunup.com
editor@gunup.com.
With Brooke Sevigny of Sevigny

Performance at SHOT Show 2013.

GUN SAFETY FOUR BASIC RULES
1 TREAT ALL GUNS AS IF THEY ARE LOADED.
2 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL

YOUR SIGHTS ON THE TARGET.
3 NEVER POINT A GUN AT ANYTHING YOU’RE

NOT WILLING TO SHOOT.
4 ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR TARGET AND

WHAT IS BEYOND IT.
WE BELIEVE IN SAFETY FIRST.

FEATURES
THE GUN LOCKER
SPOTLIGHT:
Arsenal
Saiga SGL-41
GUNUP RATING

THE GUN LOCKER: SAIGA SGL-41
“I LOVE THE .410 ROUND!

IT’S SUPER COOL THAT IT COMES
IN AN AK PLATFORM.”
MICHAEL V., GUNUP USER
THE FACTS ARSENAL SAIGA SGL-41
The original standard Saiga .410 is a vast departure from the stylized SGL- CALIBER .410 BORE
41 sold by Arsenal. The original shotgun, manufactured by ISHMASH in Rus-
sia, was a simple self-loading smooth-bored shotgun featuring a .410 gauge
CAPACITY 30 ROUND
DRUM
barrel and able to accept ammo as either shot or slugs, including Magnum
rounds with up to 76 mm cartridge cases. It was developed on the base of ACTION SEMI-AUTOMATIC
Kalashnikov rifle in order to demonstrate equivalent reliability.
BARREL LENGTH 19”
On importation, Arsenal modified the firearm and replaced many of the piec-
es with AK-74 parts. Including the handguards, gas block and gas tube, front OVERALL LENGTH 38.5”
and rear sights, buttstock, pistol grip, muzzle brake and bayonet lugs. Some
of these changes meant modifications had to be made to the receiver itself,
CHAMBER 3”
as ISHMASH had developed the shotgun to comply with strict “sporting gun” BARREL ATTRIBUTES CHROME LINED
standards for importation. Buy it now at Gunup.com.
WEIGHT 6.85 LBS
FINISH BLACK POLYMER
GRIPS PISTOL GRIP
GUNUP PRICE $899
ARSENAL
SAIGA SGL-41
MODERNIZED
GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013 11

FEATURES
THE GUN LOCKER
WE LIKE
The .410 round is extremely versatile, providing sufficient ballistics for a good home defense round. During
testing out of an 18-inch cylinder bore four common defensive .410 rounds: Winchester Super-X 3” 5-pellet
“I LOVE THE
000 buck, Remington 2.5” 4-pellet 000 buck, Winchester PDX1 Defender .410, and Federal Premium Per-
ARSENAL SGL-41
sonal Defense .410 3” 5-pellet 000 buck, all performed satisfactorily, with 2.4-4” patterns at 15 yards and
AND ALWAYS
13-18” of penetration in ballistics gel.
HAVE. SO EASY TO
The gun is also easy to shoot. The muzzle brake and sufficient weight bring recoil down to a level manage-
HANDLE AND SO
able for almost any shooter. The controls will be familiar for anyone that has had the opportunity to handle an
EASY TO SHOOT.”
AK-47 or -74 platform rifle, the iconic simplicity is mirrored in the SGL-41.
JASON C.,
GUNUP USER Thanks to the variety of magazines available the SGL-41 has a widely varying capacity that can be altered
depending on the gun’s purpose and how comfortable the shooter is with the weight. The firearm can be
used with 4- or 10-round straight magazines, or a 30-round drum that GunUp is currently shipping with SGL-
41s purchased from our shop.
The SGL-41 is also compatible with many AK-74 parts, meaning that it’s possible to switch out the hand-
guard to one that has a picatinny rail and therefore have access to accessories such a sling mounts, flash-
lights and lasers. You can also switch out the buttstock, pistol grip and other AK-style parts with ease. The
one thing to watch when switching out parts is how the parts will fit over the gas tube and the larger barrel,
it’s best to read reviews prior to purchasing.
“.410 AKS ARE Most prominently, the SGL-41 has an undeniable “cool factor.” The idea of a .410 gauge AK-platform shot-
BALLER, SON.” gun is novel, and the tactical AK-platform is on the rise in popularity, especially with how difficult it’s been to
MATT P., find AR-style guns lately. For those who are fans of the AK-platform and are seeking either a shotgun or a
GUNUP USER
firearm just for fun at the range the SGL-410 is a no-brainer. It looks good, it shoots well, it’s easy to use, and
would be useful even to teach new shooters.
The SGL-41 makes a lot of sense for current AK owners who are seeking a shotgun, because of the stan-
dardized platform the SGL-41 will be second nature to those are well-versed in the AK platform.

THE GUN LOCKER: SAIGA SGL-41
ACCESSORIES AND AMMO FOR THE SAIGA SGL-41

WE DON’T LIKE
Not everyone is comfortable using the .410 round for
self-defense, and due to the capacity of the magazines the
SGL-41 isn’t practical for hunting purposes in many circum-
stances. While the round is easy to shoot, many shooters
feel that it is limited in usefulness.
The SGL-41 has classic 1,000 meter sights that are out
of place on a shotgun, which is not going be able to hold a
group nearly that far out. While the sights do hold with the Winchester Super-X 3” Remington 2.5” 4-Pellet
classic AK-style look that has made the Saiga popular, the 5-Pellet 000 Buck 000 Buck
Winchester’s Super-X line has a In 2010, Remington released this
traditional iron sights are not practical. Because of the AK-
long-standing reputation of reliability ammunition product specifically de-
style set-up it is also far from easy to switch out the sights and is used for a wide variety of ap- signed to enhance the effectiveness
to something that may be less in line with the styling but plications, including deer and upland of a .410 shotgun in home defense
bird hunting as well as home defense. applications.
would make more sense.
(Find out more at Winchester.com.) (Find out more at Remington.com.)
The SGL-41 is a far cry from the most practical shotgun
on the market, but not all guns are designed to be practical,
some guns are just designed to be awesome.
THE VERDICT
The SGL-41 holds value in its inherent ability to be fun
and look awesome. It’s not the most practical gun on
the market, although it could be used as a home defense
firearm or even in some limited hunting applications.
(Check your state laws for guidelines.) Federal Premium CSS Sight
The Saiga is for people who think AKs are cool and Personal Defense 3” Rail Mount
5-Pellet 000 Buck The CSS Sight Rail Mount replaces
people who think shotguns are cool, and very much
Although developed specifically for the factory rear sight on the Saiga
so for people who think both in one is even better. The shotgun with a 4” length of picatinny
use in the Taurus Judge, this Feder-
SGL-41 falls distinctly into this category, even with its al Premium Personal Defense round rail to mount a red dot sight. It locks
ease of use and possible home defense applications. displayed good ballistic performance in place to hold zero and installs eas-
out of a full-size shotgun during test- ily on all fixed sight or adjustable rib
The easy to shoot .410 round makes it an ideal option ing. shotgun models.
for newer shooters who may be intimidated by larger (Find out more at Federalpremium.com.) ($50, carolinashootersupply.com)
caliber shotguns.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how
you feel about AKs or the .410 round. The SGL-41 is
wonderfully impractical, a ton of fun to shoot and just
plain awesome.
Midwest Industries Tapco INTRAFUSE Saiga

Universal AK Quad Rail T6 Stock Set
This handguard can be used in con- Tapco’s INTRAFUSE stock and pistol
junction with the original steel sights grip kit contains all items necessary
or as a replacement. It makes the to convert a Saiga to have an M-4
handrest area smoother so that there style collapsible carbine stock sys-
is no bite from the gun. tem with 6-position and a SAW-style
($109, MIDWESTINDUSTRIESINC.COM) pistol grip with a thumb-rest cutout.
($70, tapco.com)
BUY IT NOW AT
GUNUP.COM/SHOP
FEATURES
JOHN McCLANE
sporting a M249 SAW in
A Good Day to Die Hard
Photo Attributed to Rex Features

JOHN McCLANE’S FAVORITES:
THE
GUNS
OF
DIE
HARD
With the 2013 release of the fifth movie,
A Good Day to Die Hard, and the upcoming
25th birthday of the Die Hard franchise, it’s a
Beretta 92FS
John McClane’s Sidearms

The original Die Hard movie saw John McClane carrying
a Beretta 92F, specifically modified for Bruce Willis with
an extended magazine release and slide release. The popular
9mm pistol, a version of the M9 that replaced the legend-
ary M1911A1 as the standard sidearm of the United States
Armed Forces in 1985, is still in production today in a variety
good time to take a look back at the firearms
of models and calibers.
used in the iconic action series, and how John In Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance, McClane
McClane’s taste has changed over time. upgrades to the 92FS, which was released in 1989, one year
after the original Die Hard movie came out. The differences
between the 92F and the 92FS are mostly internal. The 92FS
had an enlarged hammer pin head, preventing the slide from
flying back in the case of breakage, developed in response to
a problem reported during U.S. Military testing. The Model
92FS also upgraded to gloss plastic grip panels.
In the fourth movie, Live Free or Die Hard, viewers find that
McClane has adopted a SIG-Sauer P220R in .45ACP. During

FEATURES
An MP5A3 is also seen, fitted with a scope

and carried by Garber. The MP5A3 variant
lacks the four-position trigger group found
in the A4 and A5, but is differentiated from
the A2 by the same telescoping stock found
on Stuart’s A5 variant.
Stuart’s men are also seen carrying an
MP5K. The “K” stands for “Kurtz,” the
German word for “Short.” The MP5K
was designed with a shorter barrel for
SIG-Sauer p22or in .45 acp
close-quarter battle and does not have a
shoulder stock. The bolt and receiver were
also shortened at the rear for this mode
giving it a higher rate of fire. The civilian
the movie, the gun is taken in a confron- Heckler & Koch version of the MP5K, the SP89, lacks the
tation with cyber-terrorist Mai Linh. Once Submachine Guns vertical fore-grip and paddle magazine re-
McClane runs Linh down with his SUV the Throughout the Die Hard series, viewers lease seen on the movie’s MP5K.
SIG is not seen again. Later, McClane takes may notice an ongoing pattern of Heckler An interesting point is that, in the movies,
a Beretta PX4 from henchman Russo and & Koch submachine guns. Every single many of the MP5s are equipped with “jungle
carries it throughout the rest of the movie. movie uses at least one of the popular sub- style” magazines, or two magazines taped to-
The PX4 is a polymer frame double action/ machine gun models. gether. For each, one magazine is filled with
single action handgun that uses a short-re- In the first movie, Heckler & Koch 94s live ammunition and another is filled with
coil, rotating-barrel and is a radical depar- are frequently seen. The guns have been blank ammunition. Throughout the movie,
ture from the Beretta 92F and 92FS seen in chopped and converted to resemble the the magazines are switched out interchange-
the first movies. Heckler & Koch MP4A3, but lack a paddle ably with no adapations. In reality, this is
In the fifth movie, 2013-release A Good magazine release, lugged barrel and push impossible as auto-loading firearms must be
Day to Die Hard, John McClane has no pin set. adapted in order to cycle with blank rounds.
identifiable primary sidearm. However, In the second movie, several different ver- Blank adapters restrict the barrel down to
his son Jack McClane carries a two-tone sions of the Heckler & Koch MP5 are seen: anywhere from 50% to 75% of the barrel
SIG-Sauer P228R. The 9mm P228 was Colonel Stuart wields a Heckler & Koch interior, and could blow up a firearm if a live
introduced in 1988 and used by the U.S. MP5A5 as his primary throughout. The round was fired through them.
Secret Service until it was replaced by the A5 variant is differentiated from the A3 by
P229 in .357 Sig. Now, the P228 is no lon- the four-position Navy trigger group that GSh-23L ON MIG
ger in production, having been completely allows for three-round burst fire and differ-
supplanted by the P229. entiated from the A4 by a telescoping stock.
Beretta PX4

Photo Attributed to Varga Attila
HECKLER & KOCH MP5
What some Tweeters had

The Big Guns to say when asked about
The Die Hard series is not scant on heavy machine guns, large artillery and otherwise
their favorite guns from
awesome things that cause big explosions.
The first movie, Die Hard, plays host to two different models of M60 Machine Gun. the Die Hard franchise:
One of these was the original M60, adopted officially by the United State Army in the late
1950s, since then the design has undergone some small changes and produced by different “I have a Beretta taped to my
manufacturers. In Die Hard, a full-sized M60 is seen held by the gunner on a Huey heli- back at all times.”
copter transporting FBI Special Agents Johnson and Johnson. An M60E3, a lighter variant Rooster
of the M60 which was fielded in the late 1980s, was fired by Alexander at Sgt. Al Powell’s @FillYerHands
police car, and is also used to shoot out spotlights during the attempted SWAT raid on the
Nakatomi building.
In Die Hard 2, a Browning M2HB heavy machine gun makes a cameo appearance when “Hans Gruber’s chrome-plated
Baker and Thompson show up at the church and are knocking on the door. Here, the custo- Heckler and Koch P7.”
dian is watching a news broadcast of Esperanza’s extradition, when the Browning is seen on JCOL
@JCOL357
the TV. The M2 was developed in the early 1900s by none other than John Moses Browning
himself at the request of General Pershing, the commander of US expeditionary corps in
Europe. The water-cooled, belt-fed gun was officially adopted in 1923. In 1930, the Army “If no one’s said the porcelain
adopted a modified version of the gun, with a basic receiver that had been redesigned by GLOCK 7 that costs more than
Dr. Samuel G. Green. The new receiver could work with either water-cooled and air-cooled you make in a year, I will weep.”
barrels. Since the original air-cooled barrels were too light to provide sustained fire, heavier Allen Forkner
barrels were introduced for ground units, and thus the M2HB as seen in Die Hard 2 came @GrumpyGunner
into existence.
While Die Hard with a Vengeance sees the reappearance of the iconic Browning M60, the
alternate ending plays host to another piece of large artillery. In the alternate ending, John
“MP5 for sure. P7 is in far second.”
Jesse Ingall
McClane has a Chinese rocket launcher which markings, that indicate which side is the fir- @jesseingall
“It has to be the MP5 HO HO HO

Now I have a machine gun too :-)”
RomeoTangoBravo
@rometangobravo
“The ceramic Glock 7.”

BikeNGun
@BikeNGun
Browning M2HB

FEATURES THE GUNS OF DIE HARD
ing side have been removed from. McClane designed specifically to be mounted on the A Good Day to Die Hard also features an
then tracks Simon down in a bar in Europe F-35 lightning. The major difference be- FN M249 SAW Paratrooper with an EoTech
and forces him to play “McClane Says” and tween the GAU-22/A and the GAU-12/U sight mounted on top of it. McClane uses
point the launcher in what he believes to is the use of a four barrel system where the the SAW when the safehouse is attached,
be the safe direction. This launcher was cus- 12/U has five barrels, using four-barrels is and another is used by various Russian
tom-made out of iron for the production, purported to reduce weight and improve goons. The light machine gun, designed to
and was made hollow on the inside in or- accuracy. serve in the role “Squad Automatic Weap-
der to place the charge that simulated the In the fifth movie, A Good Day to Die on,” is a mobile suppressive-fire platform
launcher’s firing. Hard, an attack helicopter can be seen that is light enough and small enough to be
A pair of General Dynamics GAU-22/A equipped with Gryazev-Shipunov GSh- single-man transportable. FN’s SAW plat-
are found in Live Free or Die Hard, erro- 30-2 dual-barrel autocannons. The Gry- form, the Minimi, was first developed in the
neously mounted on a Lockheed Martin azev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 is not related late 1970s and early 1980s, and began mass
F-35B jet which, in reality, would only be to the GSh-30-1, but is a heavy-duty reproduction in 1982 in Belgium. Around
outfitted with one external gunpod. At the coil-operated weapons that, like the Gry- the same time, the US Armed Forces ad-
time the film was made, information on azev-Shipunov GSh-23L, uses the Gast opted the platform as the M249 SAW. The
the location of the mounts may have been principle. The gun fires about 3,000 rounds Paratrooper model is shorter than the stan-
difficult to find, forcing filmmakers to as- of 30x165mm ammunition per minute and dard model, with a barrel length of around
sume the F-35 used twin external pods. is designed to rugged and resistant to dirt, 13.7” versus the standard 18.3” barrel.
The GAU/22-A is the latest application of making it heavy, weighing in around 250
the GAU-12/U. It’s a four barrel version pounds.
Lockheed Martin F-35B
TO LEARN MORE
To read more about the
guns in the Die Hard
movies, please visit our
partner site IMFDB.org
that showcases firearms
in movies, video games,
television, and anime.
The Gast Gun

The Gast Gun was first produced in 1916, minute. It was also relatively light, weighing
designed by Karl Gast of Vorwerk und Com- in at just 60 pounds, and considered rugged
panie of Barmen. What made the firearm so and ideal for mounting to aircraft. After Gast
notable was its fast firing rate of 1,600 rounds first demonstrated the gun to the German
per minute. The gun was very similar, in prin- military in 1917, they immediately ordered
ciple, to an automatic machine gun that had 3,000 guns, the first 100 of which were to be
been patented by Bethel Burton in Great Brit- delivered by the 1st of June, 1918.
ain in March of 1886. The unique mechanism Despite the firearm’s success, the Gast
that powered the Gast guns combined the gun was not widely used, and thus remained
firearm’s two barrels in a manner that utilized a secret until after the First World War. The
the recoil of the first barrel to load and charge Allied Control Commission first discovered
the second round. The ammunition was fed the gun in 1921 when they stumbled on a
through two 180-round vertically-mounted secret cache in the Konigsberg fortress. The
cylindrical drums that sat on either side of the United States Army later tested the gun, and
gun. found it to be durable and reliable but not
Designed for ease of maintenance, the worth the expense required to replace their
Gast gun could be field stripped in about a machine guns.

FEATURES
TAURUS MANUFACTURING INC.
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT TAURUS MANUFACTURING AND HOW IT’S ALL DONE.
BY SHELLEY SARGENT
w
hen I first sat down with Taurus The brand name “Taurus” seems to result CEO Mark Kresser about the direction Tau-
International Mfg., Inc. CEO in two very different reactions from gun rus is hoping to move and the changes they
Mark Kresser and other compa- enthusiasts: critics are likely to tell tales of are wanting to make. As we roamed the fac-
ny representatives at SHOT Show 2013, I poor quality control and bad customer ser- tory floor it became clear that the changes
was apprehensive. I had spent a lot of time vice, while fans will talk about their amaz- they are making will set Taurus apart from
talking people out of buying Taurus brand ing experiences, their favorite guns and the other manufacturers, and over the next few
firearms when I worked for a gun range, the stack of Taurus boxes they have in their pos- years we will see some big things coming
idea of sitting down with the company to session. While I previously resided in the from the Brazilian company.
discuss their future made me nervous. To my former camp, I’m now making my own, be- The most notable parts of the factory,
surprise, they were open to all of my feed- cause I may not be a fan of what Taurus has and the ones where the biggest changes
back, they were interested in learning more been, but after my visit to Florida I have no are taking place, include the machining
about online media and they wanted me to hesitation in saying that I’m excited about floor, the assembly line, the customer ser-
come down to the factory in Miami, Florida what they will be. vice office, and the gunsmithing room.
to see the changes they were making. My visit started with a conversation with

TAURUS: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Machining Floor

After entering through a metal detector,
which inevitably “bings,” visitors to the
Taurus USA factory find themselves on a
large machining floor. Here Taurus makes
two of their smallest firearms: the PT22
and the PT25, along with a small variety
of other firearms branded under companies
owned by Taurus.
Here is also where visitors can start seeing
the changes, the steps forward, that Taurus
is making. The most prominent new addi-
tions are the green flags that are stuck to
every machine. Rather than encouraging
workers to churn out as many parts as they
can without stopping for something small
as, oh say, a part being manufactured the
wrong size, workers are rewarded for stop-
ping the machine. A machine with a green These green flags mark whether or not a machine on the machine floor is working properly.

FEATURES
flag means the machine is working properly, from the assembly line through this door it
The Assembly Line
is sized properly, and every piece coming out does not go back. After testing, the gun is
Separate from the machining floor there
of the machine is just as it should be. either given a pass or fail grade. If the gun
are a series of rooms that house the compa-
In the center of this room there is a small fails, it is handed to the gunsmiths in the
ny’s assembly line and shipping area.
station surrounded by clear plastic, de- shipping area to fix and is not shipped out
Once the pieces of the products have been
signed to keep dirt and dust from accumu- until it has been successfully test fired.
finalized they are sent up to an assembly
lating. Inside this room is a computer that line area where each firearm is assembled by
measures the size and dimensions of each hand. Here, Taurus has taken another step
The Customer Service Office
piece that is being produced to ensure that One of the company’s current concerns
toward improving quality control, encour-
they fit together perfectly. If the piece is is improving their customer service. Inside
aging workers to speak up when parts don’t
measured and found to be an incorrect size, an office within their factory they have 18
fit together properly and guns seem out-of-
the green flag is removed from the machine people working full-time to answer phone
spec. This information is then passed back
and the machine is stopped until the pro- calls. While Taurus is still trying to cut
to the machining floor so that the part and
gramming can be corrected and the product down their current call hold times, they
machine can be inspected and fixed where
is being made properly again. have future plans to upgrade their customer
necessary.
This is an important process as it has a service center with the most modern tech-
From here, the gun passes into an airlock
large effect on the company’s quality control. nology and making the process as seamless
that separates the shipping and assembly
Having every piece of the gun being made as possible for customers.
areas. Inside this airlock is a door leading
properly is an important step toward making All the employees in the customer service
to the test range. Once a firearm has passed
sure that the final products work well. department are required to take a training
TAURUS MANUFACTURING INC.

TAURUS: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
course and display a detailed knowledge

of Taurus products. While wait times are
currently long to get on the phone with
someone, Taurus is working to reduce these
times, once on the phone customers will get
the full attention of the employee they are
talking to until the problem is solved to the
customer’s satisfaction.
The Gunsmithing Room

Taurus currently offers a unique life-
time warranty that, while beneficial to the
customers in one aspect, makes their gun-
smithing operations difficult. Above the
machine floor, a room full of gunsmiths
work full time trying to fix guns that have
been sent back in. Sometimes, this means
fixing guns and sourcing parts that Taurus
hasn’t made for years.
Right now, Taurus is emphasizing that all
guns are fully fixed and more before they
are returned to customers. While they are
working to improve their wait times for The metal and plastic compound used in Taurus MIM parts.
firearms getting fixed, the best thing they

can do for their customers at the moment
is ensure that guns are not only fixed, but
fixed above and beyond the expected, prior
to returning them. In the future, as the pro-
cess is streamlined, customers should expect
wait times on their guns to go down.
Metal Injection Molding

Metal Injection Molding, or MIM, has
long been a controversial topic in the fire-
arms industry. While it streamlines pro-
duction, it can create parts of questionable
quality. There are a couple parts of the MIM
process that can make a big difference in
whether or not the MIM parts work well.
The most important thing is that MIM is
not a process that should be used to create
items such as frames or firing pins, as these
are prone to breaking when made from
weaker MIM parts.
The process starts with a metal compound
that is combined with a plastic binding
agent. The composition of this compound
is key in making good MIM parts. Taurus
has their own specialized compound to cre-
ate MIM parts for a variety of companies
A MIM front sight before being broken off of the extra metal-plastic parts.
and uses. This metal-plastic compound
TAURUS MANU
FEATURES
is melted and poured into a mold, it comes

out on the other side of the mold shaped,
but soft and larger than the end part will
be. This piece is broken off of the rest of the
spare plastic-compound pieces that come
out in the mold. The part is then placed Carry On Movement
into high-temperature furnaces, also known Anyone can join carryonmovement.com, regardless of what they carry. While act-
as sintering ovens, which bind the metal, ing as a brand-expansion project for Taurus, the Movement is much more than that.
shrinking and hardening the part. This part Inspired by a true passion for people’s right to defend themselves, it’s meant to spur
of the process is also key to developing good initiative to carry every day and spread the defensive lifestyle.
MIM parts, as furnaces that burn unevenly The website offers gun owners a chance to share what caliber they choose to carry
will result in lower-quality material that is and discuss their thoughts with other firearms owners. It also gives enthusiasts a place
more prone to breakage. to post or share photos and videos that they have either made or found.
Find out more about Taurus at taurususa.com
PH Factor
Those who join the site are encouraged to select their “PH Factor,” which represents
SOME OF TAURUS’ FINEST which caliber they choose to carry in.
1,578 Carry on Movement users carry a 9mm

1,295 Carry on Movement users carry a .45 ACP
779 Carry on Movement users carry a .40 S&W
310 Carry on Movement users carry a .380 ACP
244 Carry on Movement users carry a .357 MAG
203 Carry on Movement users carry a .38 SPL
83 Carry on Movement users carry a .22 LR
Taurus MODEL 22 .22 LR PISTOL WITH Find out more at carryonmovement.com
GOLD ACCENTS & ROSEWOOD GRIPS
Taurus Judge Tracker,

.45/.410 Revolver
Taurus RAGING BULL MODEL 454,

454 CASULL REVOLVER

I carry.
It’s my choice. It’s my right. It’s my Taurus.
carry on
National & World Champion Pistol 9
Shooter, Team Taurus Captain
CarryOnMovement.com/Jessie
Scan to see Jessie in action.
IMPROVE YOUR GAME
DEFENDING YOUR HOME
THE
FULL
PLAN When it comes down to it, defending
your home is a lot more than just hav-
ing a gun, or even a gun and proper
training. It means being ready for any
events that could harm you or your family, especially
natural disasters that could occur at any time. Pre-
paredness should be the ultimate home defense goal.
There are a lot of different ways, and degrees, to pre-
pare your home.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) has a lot of publications available cover-
ing the basics of home preparation. Applying some
common sense to their recommended guidelines can
help you develop an inclusive plan and be as com-
fortable in almost any emergency eventuality.
B Evaluate Your Risk

It’s important to know what disasters your home
is at risk for. Contacting your local authorities and
inquiring about your household’s risks for various
hazards may prove surprising. FEMA suggests in-
quiring about: floods, hurricanes, thunderstorms
and lightning, tornadoes, winter storms and extreme
cold, extreme heat, earthquakes, volcanoes, land-
what the risk levels are for various natural disasters. However, if you move, or
slides and debris flow, tsunamis, fires and wildfires.
if you just have moved, it may be prudent to talk to authorities about what the
Of course, where you are located is going to be
risks are in your new home.
the major factor in what you are at risk for. For ex-
While evaluating your risks, be sure to gain an understanding of any warning
ample, when the GunUp headquarters moved from
systems that may be in place in your community. Some communities will send
Seattle to South Dakota, we greatly reduced our risk
out text messages to keep affected communities up-to-date on emergency sit-
of earthquakes and volcanoes. However, now we are
uations such as power outages. In addition, many television and radio stations
at a much higher risk of having to deal with a severe
participate in the Emergency Alert System, which can address the entire nation
storm in the winter or extreme heat in the summer.
on a very short notice in the case of a national emergency.
For those who have lived in one area for an ex-
tended period of time, it’s probably pretty obvious

THE FULL PLAN
C In Case of Evacuation D Disaster Supply Kit

Evacuations are far more common than You should have a disaster supply kit on hand, to ensure that all your needs will
most people realize. Every year transpor- be met in the case of an emergency. It is possible that you may need to survive on
tation and industrial accidents, fires and your own after a disaster, necessitating that you have your own supply of food,
floods, and approaching hurricanes force water and other supplies. FEMA recommends having enough supplies on hand
thousands of people to evacuate their to keep your family comfortable for up to three days. Many people choose to
homes. In order to keep your family safe supply their family for much longer than this, in case a severe emergency situation
and orderly during evacuation procedures, emerges.
it’s best to be familiar with your emergency When you are putting together your supply kit take your family’s special needs
evacuation route. into account. Provide for pets or food allergies. It’s also a good idea to refill your
In addition, keep a full tank of gas in prescriptions in a very timely manner, so that you have several extra days on hand
your car, especially if there is a chance of before you run out. Having supplies is useless if you’re too sick to use them.
an evacuation. There is a possibility that
gas stations will be closed during emer-
Water
gencies, and a power outage could prevent
FEMA recommends that you store at least one gallon of water per person, per
gas from being pumped. Another thing to
day. Three days would mean three gallons of water per person. Know your own
keep on hand in case of an evacuation is a
needs though, and the climate you are in. If you are someone who drinks a lot of
battery-powered radio. In case of a power
water, or if you live in a dry climate, storing more water may be prudent. Consider
outage, a battery powered radio allows you
that it might be summer when the emergency occurs. Or, here in South Dakota,
to get alerts and follow what is happening
something could happen during the extremely dry winter months.
during the emergency.
Commercially bottled water is the easiest way to stock up in this manner, but it’s
important to keep a close eye on the “Use By” date. Setting a phone reminder to
purchase new water can help you remember to replace it when it’s time.
If you are opting for a different method of water storage, be sure to purchase
food-grade containers. It’s recommended that you use two-liter plastic soft drink
bottles instead of plastic jugs or cardboard containers that may have housed other
food items. Glass containers are also not recommended since they break easily and
are heavy.
If you choose to store water in plastic soda bottles, be sure to clean the bottles
thoroughly and rinse them completely so there is no residual soap. To sanitize the
bottles add a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid chlorine bleach to a
quart of water, swish the solution in the water, and thoroughly rinse out the bottle
with clean water.
Fill up bottles or containers with regular tap water that has been commercially
treated with chlorine. When you are closing the cap, be careful not to contaminate
the inside by touching it. Place a date on the
outside of the container and store it in a dry,
cool place. Be sure to replace water every six
months, unless you are using bottled water and
following the “Use By” date.
In the event of an emergency it may become
necessary to source water. Water can safely be
taken from melted ice cubes, an undamaged wa-
ter heater, or pipes. However, water from radia-
tors, hot water boilers, water beds, toilet bowls,
fish tanks or swimming pools is not-potable.

IMPROVE YOUR GAME
DEFENDING YOUR HOME
Boiling Chlorination Distillation

TREATING The safest method of It’s also possible to use Distilling water will re-
WATER treating water, effective household bleach to kill move not only microbes,
boiling requires you to use microorganisms in water. like the two methods
There are three methods to a large pot or kettle and It’s important to use only above, but heavy metals,
treating water that may be bring the water to a rolling regular household liquid salts and most other chem-
of uncertain quality: boil for one full minute. bleach that contains 5.25 icals. To distill water, fill
It’s important to remem- to 6.0 percent sodium hy- a pot halfway with water
ber that some water will pochlorite, to avoid scent- and tie a cup to the handle
evaporate, and to let the ed bleaches, color safe on the pot’s lid so that the
water cool before drink- bleaches, or bleaches with cup will hang right-side-
ing. added cleaners. The po- up when the lid is upside
To make boiled water tency of bleach diminishes down. Then boil the water
taste better, re-oxygenate over time, so use bleach for at least 20 minutes. The
it by pouring it back and from a new or unopened water that drips from the
forth between two con- bottle. When chlorinat- lid into the cup is distilled,
tainers. This same trick ing water use 16 drops of and safe for drinking.
can be used to improve the bleach per gallon of water,
taste of stored water. stir, and let stand for 30
minutes.
Food
There are a lot of different options available for storing food products. The easiest
is to purchase long term food supply, such as Wise Food Products. These products are
specifically designed to last for up to 25 years, and come in multi-month long supplies. SUPPLY KIT
They are specifically packaged to last a long time, and designed to be palatable, if not Maintenance
downright tasty. Most of maintaining a
If you opt to store your own food, try to avoid foods that will make you thirsty. Opt- disaster supply kit is
ing for salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned food with high liquid content common sense: Keep food
is the way to go. Be sure all staples require no refrigeration, cooking, water or other stored in a cool, dry place.
special preparation. Also, don’t forget to include a can opener. Keep water stored some-
Be sure to dispose of any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or where dark. Throw out
more. While handling food, wash your hands with disinfected water and soap frequently. canned goods that become
Even during emergency situations, it’s important to keep cooking and eating utensils swollen, dented or corrod-
clean and to store food in covered containers. If ed. Change stored supplies
the food has an unusual odor, color or texture dis- every six months, or when
card it. Food poisoning in an emergency situation food or water supplies
is not something you want to deal with. reach their expiration date.
While most commercially canned foods can be Setting an alarm on your
eaten out of the can without warming, if you do phone or calendar is a
find yourself in a situation where cooking is nec- great way to remember to
essary it’s possible to use candle warmers, fondue do this. Update your kit at
pots or a fireplace. Be sure to remove the label, least once a year as your
wash and disinfect, and open the can before heat- families’ needs change.
ing it. Remember that charcoal grills and camp
stoves are for outdoor use only.
PURCHASE WISE FOOD PRODUCTS NOW

GUNUP.COM/SHOP
THE FULL PLAN
DISASTER SUPPLY KIT EMERGENCY CHECK LIST

THIS CHECKLIST SERVES AS AS THE BASIS FOR A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT,
AS SPELLED OUT BY FEMA:
P THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD
P THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF WATER
P PORTABLE, BATTERY-POWERED RADIO OR TELEVISION AND EXTRA BATTERIES
P FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES
P FIRST AID KIT AND MANUAL
P SANITATION AND HYGIENE ITEMS (MOIST TOWELETTES AND TOILET PAPER)
P MATCHES AND WATERPROOF CONTAINER
P WHISTLE
P EXTRA CLOTHING
P KITCHEN ACCESSORIES AND COOKING UTENSILS, INCLUDING A CAN OPENER
P PHOTOCOPIES OF CREDIT AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS
P CASH AND COINS
P SPECIAL NEEDS ITEMS, SUCH AS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, EYE GLASSES,
CONTACT LENS SOLUTIONS AND HEARING AID BATTERIES
P ITEMS FOR INFANTS, SUCH AS A FORMULA, DIAPERS, BOTTLES AND PACIFIERS
P OTHER ITEMS TO MEET YOUR UNIQUE FAMILY NEEDS
IN COLD CLIMATES, IT’S ALSO RECOMMENDED YOU PACK: JACKET OR COAT,

LONG PANTS, LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, STURDY SHOES, HAT, MITTENS, SCARF,
SLEEPING BAG OR WARM BLANKET (PER PERSON).
E Natural Disaster Preparedness Tornadoes

It’s important to take preventative measures to stay safe from natural disasters. Since Tornadoes are known as giant fun-
you already know what you are risk for in your area, it’s time to implement a plan. Natural nel clouds that devastate the Midwest,
hazards are predictable and tend to occur repeatedly in the same area, making them easy to transporting Dorothy to Kansas or
prepare for. bringing together nearly-divorced cou-
ples who are inventing advanced weath-
Floods er alert systems. However, tornadoes are
There are varying types of floods, from those that occur slowly over time to those that not always visible, and they don’t always
develop quickly without any visible sign of rain. It’s especially important to be aware of occur in the nation’s flatlands. While
flooding if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even very some states are at higher risk than oth-
small streams and dry streambeds can flood, and every state is at risk. ers, it’s possible for a tornado to occur
The easiest way to prepare for a flood is to avoid building in a floodplain, but since that’s anywhere. Sometimes tornadoes can
not an option for all of us there are a few other measures that can be taken to mitigate dam- be obscured by rain or low-hanging
age. Elevating the furnace, water heater and electric panel are great steps, as well as installing clouds, and they can develop so rapid-
“check valves” in sewer traps so that flood water doesn’t back up. Constructing barriers can ly that little to no advanced warning is
stop floodwater from entering a building, but if that’s not an option, sealing walls and base- possible.
ments with water-proofing compounds can avoid seepage. If a tornado warning occurs, it’s im-
The other thing to consider is flood insurance. Most homeowners’ insurance policies portant to seek shelter immediately. If
don’t cover flood damage, but it’s possible to get flood insurance in most communities. you are in a structure, retreat to a base-
However, there is a 30-day waiting period before most policies go into effect, so if you are ment, storm cellar or safe room. If there
in a high-risk area it’s something to look into as soon as possible. is no basement, find an interior room
More information on flood preparation can be found at floodsmart.gov on the lowest level of the building; stay

IMPROVE YOUR GAME
DEFENDING YOUR HOME
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE

SUSTAINED STORM
CATEGORY DAMAGE
WINDS (MPH) SURGE
MINIMAL:
UNANCHORED MOBILE
1 74-95 HOMES, VEGETATION 4-5 FT
AND SIGNS.
MODERATE:
ALL MOBILE HOMES,
2 96-110 ROOFS, SMALL CRAFT; 6-8 FT
FLOODING.
EXTENSIVE:
SMALL BUILDINGS;
3 111-130 LOW-LYING ROADS 9-12 FT
CUT OFF.
EXTREME:
TREES DOWN, ROADS
4 131-155 CUT OFF, MOBILE 13-18 FT
HOMES DESTROYED.
CATASTROPHIC:
MORE MOST BUILDINGS GREATER
5 THEN DESTROYED, MAJOR THEN
155 ROADS CUT OFF, 18 FT
HOMES FLOODED.
away from corners, windows, doors and out- If you are in a high risk area there are steps you can take ahead of time to help you
side walls. Get as many walls as possible be- prepare for a hurricane when the warnings start. Investing in permanent storm shut-
tween you and the outside, then seek shelter ters, or keeping 5/8” marine plywood that’s already cut to fit and ready to install, on
under a sturdy table and use your arms to hand to cover windows is a first step. You can also help to reduce roof damage during a
protect your head and neck. severe storm by installing straps or clips to fasten your roof to the frame.
If you are in a vehicle, trailer, mobile Many severe storms will have authorities call for an evacuation, but in the event you
home or outside get to the lowest level of a are unable to evacuate you should stay indoors, close all interior doors and secure or
nearby structure. If this is not a possibility brace external doors and take refuge in a small interior room. It’s entirely possible for
it’s best to lie flat in a nearby ditch, being there to be a lull in the storm without the storm itself being over. The best way to know
aware of the risk of flooding, and cover your what is happening during severe weather is to stay near a weather radio.
head with your hands. Do not get under an
Thunderstorms and Lightning
overpass or bridge, do not try to outrun a
Every single thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning, and according to the Na-
tornado and watch out for flying debris.
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration around 300 people are injured by
Hurricanes lightning every year. Lightning is not the only danger of thunderstorms though; they
A hurricane is a low pressure system that can result in tornadoes, strong winds, and hail and could cause flash flooding. There
forms in the tropics. These tropical cyclones are also dry thunderstorms, prevalent in the western United States, which can produce
are accompanied by thunderstorms near lightning but no rain.
coastal regions, especially in the Atlantic and Keeping your home and yard under good repair is the best preventative measure for
Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes can create winds a thunderstorm. Removing dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall during
exceeding 155 miles per hour, tornado’s, a severe storm is extremely important. FEMA also recommends following the 30/30
coastal storm surges and heavy rainfall, exten- lightning safety rule. The rule states that if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to
sive damage can be seem from coastlines to 30 before hearing thunder, then you should stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after
several hundred miles inland. They are classi- hearing the last clap of thunder.
fied into five categories based on wind speed, If a thunderstorm is likely in your area, it’s a good time to go inside. Lacking a home
central pressure and damage potential. or building, a hard top automobile is the next best thing, and while rubber-soled

THE FULL PLAN
shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning the steel frame of
a hard-topped vehicle will provide increased protection, as long as you’re not
touching the metal.
Inside, be sure to close shutters and windows and avoid showering and bath-
ing, as plumbing can conduct electricity. It’s also a good idea to turn off ap-
pliances and other electrical items that could be damaged in a power surge.
Remember that cordless and cellular phones are much safer to use than corded
telephones.
Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

If you live in a cold region, chances are you already know it. There are a lot
of preventative measures you can take to winterize your home and your life.
Keeping some extra sets of winter clothes in your disaster kit is a good idea, and
keeping your car in prime condition can make or break your winter. It’s also a
good idea to keep an emergency kit in your car, as it’s possible to get trapped
during a blizzard.
A big risk that is often overlooked in snowy regions is overexertion during
snow shoveling. If you have to shovel snow stretch your muscles beforehand,
and be aware of your heart rate and hydration levels. Treat it as if you were exer-
cising, and be especially careful if you are not in great cardiovascular condition
or have not built up a lot of strength in the necessary muscles.
If you find yourself in severe cold weather conditions it helps to conserve fuel
by keeping your residence cooler than normal. You can turn off heat to some
rooms and keep the area you are in at a bearable temperature. Put on layers of
clothing to stay comfortable in the cooler conditions, and watch for signs of
hypothermia and frostbite.
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is most dangerous in the form of heat-related illnesses. These
disorders usually occur because the victim has either overexerted themselves or
been overexposed to the heat. These illnesses can also be induced by stagnant
atmospheric conditions and poor air quality. People living in urban areas are at
a greater risk of effects from a prolonged heat wave, especially since asphalt and
concrete store heat longer and gradually release heat at night, producing higher
nighttime temperatures which are known as the “urban heat island effect.”
If you are in an environment that is at risk for extreme heat, there are pre-
ventative measures to take around the house that could make a heat wave not
only more bearable, but much safer. For example, be careful that air conditions
are installed well and check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation. Tem-
porary window reflectors, which are installed between the windows and the
drapes, can reflect heat back outside. Drapes, awnings and louvers can also be
a big help when placed over windows that receive a large amount of morning
or afternoon sun.
During a heat emergency, keep indoors and stay on the lowest floor away
from the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. It may also help to go to
an air conditioned location such as a mall or shop if you can. Eat light, regular
meals and drink plenty of water. If you must work outside in extreme heat take For more information and detailed reports
on preparing for these disasters and others,
frequent breaks, protect your face and head and wear loose-fitting, lightweight
check out the Are You Ready? Handbook from
and light-colored clothing that cover as much skin as possible. FEMA. Available at fema.gov.

IMPROVE YOUR GAME
Front sight focus

SHOOTER’S DRILL against a blank wall.
Survive the
Shortage
Dry fire drills can keep youR skills THE BLANK WALL DRILL
In your regular firing stance, line your
sharp when ammo is tough to come by sights up on a blank wall or piece of paper,
so that all you can see are the sights
BEFORE YOU DRY FIRE… and there are no distractions. Focusing
UNLOAD YOUR GUN.
closely on the front sight, pull your trigger.
REMOVE ALL AMMUNITION FROM THE AREA SURROUNDING YOU.
The goal is to be able to do so without
UNLOAD YOUR GUN AGAIN.
PLACE A TARGET AGAINST A THICK WALL WITH NOTHING BEHIND IT.
moving the front sight.
UNLOAD YOUR GUN FOR THE THIRD TIME. This drill is especially good for eliminating
CHECK TO SEE WHERE PETS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN RELATION TO WHERE flinch and perfecting your trigger pull.
YOU’LL BE DRY FIRING, BE AWARE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT.
It also gets you in the habit of having a
CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR GUN IS UNLOADED. THEN CHECK AGAIN!
proper sight picture, by focusing on the
How often should I dry fire? front sight instead of a target.
Dry firing is like exercise; it’s best to just make it a part of your routine. Ten minutes a
day, five days a week can make a huge difference in your shooting. It does, however,
require the same discipline as exercise. There are going to be days where you “don’t
feel like it,” and then you have to decide how important your shooting is to you. Those
are the days that make or break a routine.
One easy-to-maintain routine is to dry fire for 15 minutes a day, three days a week and
then do one or two live fire session every week. You have to come up with a dry fire
routine that works with your schedule.
Drawing, Reloads and Par Times

Dry fire is a good opportunity to practice drawing from the holster and performing
reloads, as these don’t require two consecutive shots. It’s important to make sure that
the movement is correct before you start speeding it up. If you’re not familiar with the
proper way to perform a reload or draw from the holster, it’s best to seek professional
training with a respected school before practicing the tasks incorrectly. Lasers
Laser sighting systems are useful in
If you’re already comfortable with the draw and reload movements, dry fire can be
dark defensive situations, but also can
an opportunity to practice performing the actions at a quicker pace. The best way to
be convenient for developing accuracy
determine your par time is to use your shot timer at the range to determine how fast
during dry fire. While they won’t help with
you are currently performing the action, then at home set a par time slightly faster. As
your sight picture like the blank wall drill
you speed up your movements, you can set lower par times and develop new goals.
will, they can really show you how much
you are moving the gun.
Placing the laser on a small point, such
as the screw under the light switch
(make sure it’s a light switch you don’t
like, remember to never point your gun
at anything you’re not willing to shoot),
and then pulling the trigger can display
how much movement there is in your
gun each time you shoot. This will help
A competitor at the IDPA Indoor Nationals
draws from the holster when the timer beeps.
you get a smooth trigger pull and help to
eliminate any flinch.

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IMPROVE YOUR GAME
Maggie Reese shoots the Bianchi Cup.
CALM AND STRONG: Whether you’re shooting for self-defense
SHOOTER’S
or competition, keeping your head cool and
clear is an important part of pulling the trigger.
Another important part of keeping your gun on
target? Upper body strength, which is a key
YOGA
player in recoil control. Take a look at Jerry
Miculek’s forearms sometime and see for
yourself.
Yoga not only provides a calming and

comprehensive full-body workout, but some
of the most basic poses can be great for
developing the arm strength necessary to keep
your gun under control. If they aren’t already
there, consider working these simple activities
into your next workout.

SHOOTER’S YOGA
Downward Facing Dog

Downward facing dog is one of the most popular yoga poses and very simple to execute.
Start on the floor or mat on your hands and knees, with your knees directly below
your hips and your hands slightly ahead of your shoulders. Your palms should be
spread with index fingers parallel or slightly turned out, and your toes should
be tucked under. Exhale and push your hips toward the ceiling, creating an
inverted V-shape, the back should be straight and the front ribs tucked
in. Your legs should be straight, with your heels reaching towards the
floor.
In order to vary this pose up a bit, you can opt to go into three-
legged dog. Keeping your shoulders parallel to the ground,
lift your right leg into the air. Hold here, and then switch
sides and hold the left leg for an equal amount of time.
Plank
The plank position is explained most
basically as the top of a push-up.
Starting in downward facing dog,
inhale and draw your torso forward
so that your arms are perpendicular to
the floor with your shoulders directly
over your wrists. Your torso should be
parallel to the floor.
You can stay in this position for an extended

period of time or, keeping your shoulders above
your wrists, draw your right knee into your chest
and hold. Then switch legs. Alternating this way
provides a good core workout and an arm-
strengthening exercise.
Dolphin CONCLUSION
The dolphin pose is less commonly used than plank or downward facing Each of these poses can be
dog. It’s very similar to downward facing dog, but rather than resting adapted through push-ups or
your weight on your hands, it’s on your forearms. other alterations to be more
difficult. It’s important to
As in downward facing dog, start on the floor on your hands and
remember in the practice of
knees, with your knees directly below your hips. However,
yoga to push yourself without
unlike downward facing dog, your forearms should be on
ever pushing your body beyond
the floor with your shoulders directly above your wrists.
its limits. If something is hurting
Firmly press your palms and forearms into the floor while
you, stop.
curling your toes under and lifting your sit bones to the
ceiling and stretching your heels towards the floor. There are a lot of benefits to be
You can choose to keep your forearms parallel had from the practice of yoga,
to one another or to push your hands strengthening the upper body
together, depending on your preference. and clearing the mind are just
the start.

THE GREATEST GEAR
HOME DEFENSE WHICH AFTERMARKET AR PRODUCTS WOULD YOU

WANT TO ADD TO YOUR TRUSTY RIFLE?
FROM THE 9% A FLASHLIGHT OR LASER, OOO SOMETHING SHINY!
GUNUP
15% AN ERGONOMIC SETUP, STOCK AND PISTOL GRIP.
19% A NEW TRIGGER. THAT’LL TIGHTEN THE SHOT GROUP!
22% A SUPPRESSOR, BECAUSE I AM SNEAKY.
35% AN OPTIC, TO MAGNIFY WHAT I AM SHOOTING AT.
POLLS 11%
12%
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO STORE YOUR
PREFERRED HOME DEFENSE WEAPON?
A RANDOM SPOT IN MY HOUSE.
ALL OF MY WEAPONS ARE LOCKED UP IN MY GUN SAFE.

Everyone has their own opinion.
EVERY WEEK WE ASK GunUp.com 19% IN A DRAWER NEXT TO MY BED.
users TO TELL US THEIRS...
Have a question, an opinion or just need someone to talk to? 25% I HAVE COME UP WITH INGENIOUS WAYS TO CONCEAL.
Let us know at GunUp.com/discuss.
33% EASY ACCESS SAFE NEXT TO MY BED.
FROM THE DISCUSSION BOARD:

YOUR FAVORITE HOME DEFENSE GUN?
“I’M USING A CZ P-01. EVENTUALLY MY WIFE WOULD WHICH MANUFACTURER DO YOU TRUST TO BUILD
LIKE A MOSSBERG 5XX MARINER AND WE WOULD BE A RELIABLE TOOL THAT YOU USE TO PROTECT
USING THAT AS A PRIMARY.” – EDWIN WHAT YOU HOLD VALUABLE?
“OUR HOUSE IS TOO SMALL FOR ANY LONG GUN TO

BE EFFECTIVE SO I HAVE A SIG P250 IN .40 CAL WITH 3% TAURUS – 3%
A 13 ROUND MAGAZINE PLUS ONE IN THE CHAMBER 6% COLT – 6%
AND A SPARE 13 ROUND MAGAZINE.”
8% BERETTA – 8%
– LIGHTHOUSECRUISING
16% OTHER – 16%
“I AM USING A 100 POUND GERMAN SHEPARD. IF THE
SHEPARD FALLS THEN I WILL GO WITH MY GLOCK 18% RUGER – 18%
23.” – MATT70 20% SMITH & WESSON – 20%
“WHEN I LIVED IN AN APARTMENT WITH TWO FEET 30% GLOCK – 30%
OF CONCRETE FOR WALLS I HAD MY TAVOR WITH
ALTERNATING JHP AND FMJ ROUNDS IN THE MAGA-
ZINE. NOW THAT I’M IN A DUPLE AND HAVE
WINDOWS AND WALLS THAT FACE ONTO THE
STREET I USE A 14” FABARM PUMP WITH 00 BUCK IN
WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY SHARP
THE MAGAZINE TUBE AND SLUGS ON THE SHELL
ON YOUR HOME DEFENSE TACTICS?
CARRIER. MY ROOMMATE HAS A 6FT ROMAN SPEAR
HE CALLS HIS ‘PIG STICKER’ AND LOVE TO TELL ME
HOW IT WOULD ‘GET THE JOB DONE.’ I TRY NOT TO 5% OTHER
LAUGH AT HIM TOO MUCH.” – TV-PRESSPASS
12% I PRACTICE STRESS SHOOTING REGULARLY.
“MY PRIMARY IS A MOSSBERG530 SHOTGUN. FIRST 27% I DON’T REALLY DO ANYTHING.
ROUND IS BIRDSHOT FOLLOWED BY 00 BUCK
FOLLOWED BY SLUG.” – DOUGBASS654 I PRACTICE SHOOTING WITH MULTIPLE WEAPONS
56% TO STAY PROFICIENT
LEARN MORE AT
THE GREATEST GEAR
THINK
CONCEALED
CARRY
There is a lot to think about when you
choose to carry concealed, everything
from dealing with public restrooms to
choosing gun safes and ammo types.
For those who carry every day, these
topics are constantly being revisited
and habits are constantly being revised.
Whether we’re just starting to carry or
we’ve been carrying for years there are
questions we can ask ourselves that
can help to make our lives easier and
safer and make the concealed carry
lifestyle that much better.

THINK CONCEALED CARRY
If you need to draw your

gun, is your watch going to
come loose?
Will your bracelet restrict

your forearm muscles
in a way that could be
potentially painful?
Do you need to position

your fingers around the
giant diamond on your
engagement ring?
Watches, Bracelets and Rings
Taking watches, bracelets and rings off at the range is a good idea. They can Could any of your
get caught, come loose, fall off, cause distraction or even pain. While we don’t accessories catch on a
have that option everyday, and it’s not practical to forgo all accessories, paying jacket zipper or belt loop
attention to how you wear your jewelry and how it might affect your firearm during the draw?
handling could save your life one day. Practicing during dry fire with your acces-
sories in place can help you realize any potentially dangerous items that may get
caught or cause other problems on the draw.
If your gun is in a pocket

holster in your bag, how
can you get it out?
How do you need to carry

your purse for a safe,
effective draw?
How can you quickly get

into your backpack in the Purses, Backpacks, Fanny Packs
case of an emergency to
safely retrieve your gun? and Off-the-Body Carry
While off-the-body carry should always be a last resort, as it leaves the gun in
a vulnerable position to be lost or stolen, there are a lot of options available for it
Are the straps on your
and it does make concealing a firearm much easier. Concealed carry purses are
carry item sturdy enough
one of the most popular options for women new to carrying.
that it can’t be easily
If you consider off-the-body carry a necessity, make sure that you have the right
stolen off your shoulders
tools for the job. Guns should always be holstered, most off-the-body carry bags
or waist?
that are specifically designed to carry firearms have a universal built-in holster. If
you’re going to carry in an off-the-body bag and don’t have one designed for the
job, you can use a pocket holster or similar, but ensure that your gun is stored in
a separate compartment of the bag.

THE GREATEST GEAR
THINK CONCEALED CARRY
The Bottom Shelf

One thing to consider, especially if you
are carrying on the beltline, is how that will
affect you if you need to bend forward or
lean forward. For example, if you’re grocery
shopping and need to get an item on the
bottom shelf. Even if you choose to squat
down to grab something, you’re still leaning
forward, which will cause a lot of carry set
ups to print significantly.
You can use a friend or a mirror to practice
at home. Look at how you sit, lean forward
and go through regular motions that you
might use throughout the day. If any severe
Jackets, Sweatshirts Cell Phone, Keys printing occurs, consider how you might
and Outer-Layers and Wallet change the movement to avoid it.
With the weather warming up, there is the We have items that we carry with us on
obvious problem of having to take off your a daily basis. The most common include a
If you keep your back
cover garment, especially if you carry out- cell phone, keys and wallet. While it may not
straighter when squatting
side-the-waistband in winter months. But be difficult to store these around a gun, it
down, does the gun print
what about those cold spring days where may prove more of a problem to store them
less?
you leave your jacket or coat on? around a gun in a way that the gun stays
If your jacket is zipped or buttoned up to concealed while keeping the items in a spot
Can you use another cover
keep the heat in, then be aware of how you that is easy to access. Storing your wallet in
garment during situations
plan to draw with it on. This is especially im- a back pocket is great, until you reach for it
where you might have to be
portant with long coats that won’t allow you and have to pull your shirt up to where your
leaning forward, such as at
to pull the jacket up and reach under for the holster is.
the grocery store?
draw. It’s especially inconvenient to have to wor-
How you choose to layer may affect how ry about these items as they are used so fre-
you choose to carry. Different carry positions quently. If you are having troubles with this, Elevators
you have to decide whether you should re- Elevators pose a unique risk for a con-
will allow easier access to the gun depend-
think where you carry your commonly used cealed carry permit holder. It’s fairly com-
ing on how your outer layers are situated.
items or where you carry your gun. Carrying mon knowledge that the closed environment
For example, if it’s a chilly day and you end
a gun is definitely a lifestyle that needs to means any necessary shots will be loud, but
up wearing a longer coat that is buttoned
be adjusted to, there’s no reason to make it also means you don’t know what’s beyond
or zipped up, pocket or ankle carry options
it more difficult by causing yourself daily in- the sheet metal of the elevator. The other
may be explored.
conveniences. problem is that, if there are innocent by-
standers in the elevator, people get packed
What kind of outer layers in and there’s a lot higher chance of some-
do you have, and how will Do you have any problems one standing behind whoever you’re trying
they affect your draw accessing items you to defend yourself from. There are a lot of
while wearing them? commonly use while things that could go wrong in an elevator,
carrying your firearm? ones that would lead you to need to defend
Are your coats designed for yourself in ways that could put yourself or
concealed carry or pocket Do you have to change other people at risk.
carry? where you carry those
items to accommodate your
How effective is your gun? How would you handle a
draw when you’re wearing confrontation in a crowded
warmer clothes? elevator?

THE GREATEST GEAR
SAFETY
BEING A RESPONSIBLE A big part of being a responsible gun owner is

keeping your guns in a safe place at all times. For
GUN OWNER REQUIRES most gun owners, that means that if a gun is not on
SAFE
their person it’s in a gun safe stored in their home.
There are a wide variety of gun safes available in
different sizes, from different manufacturers, for dif-
ferent purposes. Some gun owners can get away
SOLUTIONS
with just having one safe in their home, and taking
their guns in and out only as they need them to
carry or head to the range. Some gun owners need
a variety of safes to keep guns in quick-access lo-
cations throughout their home.
Understanding the different safes and their dif-
ferent locking mechanisms can be a huge asset
to gun owners who are looking for a responsible
way to store their guns, and them easy to access
in case of an emergency, and for the convenience
of daily use.
SAFE SOLUTIONS
Car Safes
Some gun safes are specifically designed
for use in vehicles. Frequently, these safes
are equipped with a mechanism that attach-
es to the vehicle temporarily. Most of these
safes are specifically designed for pistols,
although some trunk safes provide for long
guns as well.
There are some inherent risks in using car
safes, since there is always a chance that
the car will be vandalized or stolen. This is
one of the primary reasons it’s important
that the safe attaches to the car. If the car
is vandalized, a safe that is not secured may
be taken and tampered with later, where as
a safe secured to the vehicle will be less
likely to be removed.
Car safes are also convenient for the trans-
portability. For long road trips, especially
through states where your firearm needs to
be secured, it is possible to legally transport
the gun and easily remove it from your car
for storage in a hotel room at night.
GunVault MiniVault
Pickup trucks and trunk safes provide for The MiniVault allows you to keep important items, such as your firearm, accessible when
a wider variety of options when storing fire- necessary for an affordable price. It’s available in standard, deluxe and biometric models
arms in the car, but don’t have the same and comes standard with a high-strength security cable to secure the safe in a home, car,
RV, office or hotel. ($159.99, gunvault.com)
convenience of being able to access your
gun from the front or passengers seat.
Bulldog Car Vault

The Bulldog Car Vault is a very affordable option that, while not boast-
ing the same quality as many of its competitors, is an easily conceal-
able safe at a low price. The Bulldog Car Vault includes a mounting
bracket that can be mounted anywhere, and a 3’ security cable that
can be used in lieu of the bracket. ($35.50, bulldogcases.com)
Console Vault Gun Transporter

The Console Vault Gun Transporter is a favorite among law enforce-
ment and government agencies and includes a dedicate space for
cleaning accessories or ammo. It includes a 21” retractable high-se-
curity vinyl-coated cable that can attach and secure to keep valuable
safe. ($209.00, consolevault.com)

THE GREATEST GEAR
SAFETY
Bedside Safes
Generally designed to sit on a night-
stand, bed side safes are great for people
who want to keep a pistol easy to access
and close by for home defense purposes,
but still have it secured. This is especially
useful for families with children, who want
to keep their firearms accessible without
putting them in a position to be tampered
with.
One of the things to look for in a bedside
safe is something that secures beyond
just being a small, accessible safe. It’s
much easier for an entire safe to be taken
when it only stores one or two handguns
GunVault XL Biometric MVB 1000 as many bedside safes do.
The GunVault XL Biometric uses a biometric scanner to provide quick access even in the dark using
fingerprint recognition. The safe uses a high-performance algorithm to achieve speedy identification While many of these safes are designed
of enrolled fingers with a very low false reject rate. ($329.99, gunvault.com) for ease of accessibility, there are other
options for storing home defense guns
that are more accommodating of long
guns and larger firearms collections.
Some people opt to build safes into their
beds, or to keep large quick-access safes
in their rooms for easy access.
Bedside safes are a lifestyle choice and
must be tailored to fit the lifestyle of the
owners. While most people choose to
keep a pistol in a safe on their bedside
Fort Knox SentrySafe Quick table or in the drawer next to their bed,
Personal Pistol Safe Access Pistol Safe there are a wide variety of options out
The Fort Knox Personal Pistol Safe uses a SentrySafe’s Quick Access Pistol Safe uses there depending on what gun owners are
Simplex push-button lock with 1,081 possible a quick-entry backlit electronic lock to provide looking for.
combinations to allow users to preset a com- at-the-ready pistol presentation. This allows
bination for quick access. It comes with pre- for quick access to a firearm in a manner that
drilled holes in the bottom of the safe to allow allows for rapid presentation in a self-defense
for easy mounting. ($249.00, ftknox.com) scenario. ($99.97, amazon.com)
Standing Safes
Standing safes are the most popular form of firearm storage, since they provide room for a wide variety of firearms and accessories
and also have many different storage and organization options.
While standing safes are a far cry from “fast deploy” they are typically extremely secure, bolting to the ground or simply being too
heavy to move without a significant amount of effort. Different sizes can be purchased depending on the size of the gun owner’s col-
lection and varying degrees of security can be found.
Accessories inside the safe vary from handgun hangers that provide more storage room to humidifiers that keep your guns rust free
and lights that allow you to easily see your collection. The safes themselves vary widely in lock type and material. Some are fireproof
and opened with old-style spinning locks while others require fingerprint identification.
Many gun owners have one or more the smaller vaults listed above for quick-access handgun storage and a large standing safe to
store the rest of their collection.

SAFE SOLUTIONS
Desk Safes
Most gun owners carry at the office, but many work from home or prefer to have pro-
tection on hand while working at their desk, in their home office, or elsewhere. For this
reason many companies have developed quick access safes similar to bedside safes.
The primary difference between bedside safes and desk safes is the need for discretion
with a desk safe that may not exist in a bedside safe. Most gun owners don’t want a box
sitting on their desk that advertises “I have a gun in here,” but would prefer to have a
firearm at their side and ready for action when necessary.
Most of the safes bolt under the desk for quick access to the gun while others bolt into
the drawer or under the desk for slower access but a more secured firearm. Like any of
the other safes, selection of a safe should be dependent on the gun owner’s lifestyle and
needs, there is no one size fits all.
TITAN Gun Vault PS Products GunVault SV500

The TITAN Gun Vault stores the firearm in a hol- Mantle Gun Clock The SV 500 provides multiple mounting op-
ster inside the safe, mounting the holster to the The Mantle Gun Clock is not the most secure tions and a digital keypad for quick access. The
safe for comfortable and easy access. The safe location for a handgun or valuable, but is the digital keypad can be overridden with a back-
uses a series of permanently mounted bracket ultimate in discretion. The clock looks and func- up key that is included with the safe, and there
systems to be securely bolted down in any lo- tions like a regular mantle clock, but magneti- is an audio and LED low battery warning that
cation and is opened with a battery-less all-me- cally latches with a hinged front panel for stor- notifies the owner. ($209.99, gunvault.com)
chanical lock system featuring over 2,200 pos- age of firearms or other goods.
sible combinations. ($39.99, amazon.com)
($349.00, titangunvault.com)
Liberty Franklin Series

Liberty’s Franklin gun safe is backed by a 1
hour certified fire rating a 1,200 degrees and
83,000 BTU of fire protection. It comes with
a variety of colors and has a defensive barrier
of up to fourteen 1” diameter locking bolts that
fortify the door. ($1,949, libertysafe.com)
Browning Sporter
The Browning Sporter is rated for 45 minutes
at 1,200 degrees with a 12-Gauge steel body
and 1” thick formed door that is reinforced on
four sides. The safe utilizes a Force Deflector
Locking System that prevents bolt or handle
forces from reaching the lock by using a rotat-
ing cam device. ($1,249.95, gunsafes.com)

THE GREATEST GEAR
THE WE LIKE
M1 CARBINE The M1 Carbine’s light weight, short overall length, and ease of handling make
it easier to use in close quarters than a full-length rifle or shotgun. The longer
sight radius and three points of contact between the shooter and the stock
FOR HOME DEFENSE increase the hit probability when compared to a handgun. The gun’s modest
size and weight, combined with the .30 Carbine cartridge’s famously low re-
coil, makes it an especially good choice for shooters with limited upper body
BY ROB REED strength. Even then, most shooters should be able to successfully fire the car-
bine one-handed if necessary.
O
ne effective, but often-overlooked, choice The manual of arms for the M1 Carbine is simpler then many other long guns.
for home defense is the classic M1 Carbine. To load the shooter inserts a magazine and then pulls back and releases the
This battle-proven rifle provides serious fire- charging handle located on the right side of the bolt. The safety is just in front
power in a light, handy, and easy-to-use of the trigger guard and the magazine release button is located just slightly
package. The M1 Carbine is a traditional military “wood forward of the safety.
and Parkerized steel” semi-automatic rifle most com- Overall, the M1 Carbine has a good record for reliability. As long as the gun is
monly fed from a 15 or 30 round detachable magazine. in good condition, with good springs, and is not run bone-dry, any USGI carbine
The rifle weighs just under six pounds, loaded with 15 should work well.
rounds, and has an overall length of about 36”. The orig- While a standard carbine with wood stock and iron sights is a capable home-de-
inal military .30 Carbine cartridge fires a 110 gr bullet at fense weapon, the careful choice of aftermarket accessories can improve its
about 1,990 fps. In today’s terminology the carbine was performance in that role. These include fixed or folding polymer stocks and rail
developed by the U.S. Army before WWII as a PDW or systems that replace the front handguard. The rails then allow the mounting
“Personal Defense Weapon.” The carbine gave soldiers of a red dot optic, tactical light, or even a laser. Both WWII and modern sling
who didn’t need or couldn’t easily carry a full-power rifle designs are available and a vintage or new design stock pouch can be used to
something less awkward that was still more effective hold two extra 15 round magazines right on the gun.
and easier to use then a handgun. The one historical compliant about the M1 Carbine has always been the stop-
The same characteristics that endeared it to many GI’s ping power of the military FMJ cartridge. Fortunately, several companies now
also work in its favor when used for home defense. make high performance .30 Carbine defensive loads. In general, the .30 Car-
bine can be compared to a .357 Magnum round, only with more energy at short
range due to the longer barrel of the carbine compared to a handgun.

M1 CARBINE: FOR HOME DEFENSE
ACCESSORIES FOR THE M1 CARBINE
Speer Gold Dot Federal

.30 Carbine Power-Shok
The .30 Carbine Speer Gold Dot am- While designed for hunting, the Fed-
munition is marketed as personal eral Power-Shok round supplies a
protection ammunition and is known muzzle velocity of 1900 fps and 967
for its reliability and accuracy. This ft. lbs. of muzzle energy and would be
carbine ammunition uses the popu- sufficient for a home defense round.
lar Gold Dot bullet. 1900 fps muzzle (Find out more at federalpremium.com)
velocity.
US Marine showing a US Coast Guardsmen his (Find out more at speer-ammo.com)
M1 Carbine aboard an USCG ship, Feb 1944
WE DON’T LIKE
The biggest problem with the M1 Carbine is that authentic
USGI carbines haven’t been made since the end of World
Daniel Defense Offset Choate Machine and
War II and many have seem hard use since then. Although Tool M1 Carbine M4
Flashlight Mount
several companies have made reproduction carbines many The Daniel Defense Offset Flashlight
Telescoping Pistol
have a deservedly poor reputation for reliability or even Mount can be used in conjunction Grip Stock
safety. Any potential M1 Carbine owner should stick to ei- with the Ultimak Scout Mount to
Choate makes a telescoping pistol
place a flashlight on the M1 Carbine.
ther a carefully checked out USGI carbine or one of the grip stock for the M-1 that uses a
Having a light to use with a home de-
steel adapter housing to connect the
more recent reproductions by Kahr Arms/Auto Ordnance. fense gun is important, as identifying
M4 stock to the M-1 Military Carbine
Even with USGI carbines there are some issues inherent your target can be difficult in the dark.
pistol grip. This offers a more versatile
(Find out more at danieldefense.com) length of pull that can be altered de-
with the design. The bolt does not lock open on 15 round
pending on the owner’s preferences.
magazines and the manual bolt-open does not reliably stay
(Find out more at riflestock.com)
engaged if the rifle is dropped or jostled. Although both 15
and 30 round magazines are available, most aftermarket 30
round magazines will not feed reliably, and authentic USGI
30 round magazines are very hard to find. All modern JHP
ammo should be tested to make sure it reliably feeds and
functions in any particular gun before trusting it for home
defense.
Cor Bon Ultimak
100 gr DPX Scout Mount
THE VERDICT
Cor-Bon DPX is also sold as a hunt- The Ultimak Scout Mount is available
The M1 Carbine has an important role in history and ing ammunition, and is specifically to fit G.I. Pattern M1 Carbines and
can serve as an excellent self-defense firearm in the designed for deep penetration and Auto Ordnance Carbines. It proved
100% weight retention. They are more rail length while maintaining full
21st Century. The main attributes of light weight and loaded with pure copper Barnes Tri- access to the receiver mechanism,
ease of use make it attractive to many shooters even ple-Shock X Bullets that are 100% and even with optics in place doesn’t
today. The availability of modern accessories and copper and contain no lead. When interfere with case ejection. The Ul-
the round expands, four cutting pet- timake mount works in conjunction
defensive ammunition have given this little rifle new als are created allowing the bullet to with the rear iron sight.
viability. Anyone interested in the M1 Carbine for home penetrate further through bone and (Find out more at ultimak.com)
tissue.
defense should shop around for a nice clean USGI rifle
(Find out more at shopcorbon.com)
or invest in a new Auto Ordnance reproduction.

THE GREATEST GEAR
SHOOTER’S TECH
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Tailgunner Rotary Cannon Exhaust
exhaust systems for gun lovers
There is an undeniable trend in gun-lovers who have an affinity for

things that make an impressive “vroom” sound. Something about
guns and motorcycles seems fitting, maybe a bit stereotypical but
surely not always wrong.
Tailgunner has developed a series of mufflers and exhaust systems
for gun-loving motorcycle riders, and they’re pretty awesome. Not
just for the impressive “vroom” noise that so many of us know and
love, but for their impressive styling.
Their universal fit mufflers are anywhere from 15- to 28-inches long
(Yes, you can get 28” long “Smoke Wagons”) and come in either
silver or black. These use adapters to fit any headpipesize and were
featured on the “Patriot Bike” in Orange County Choppers.
The Harley Davidson GUNSHIPS that Tailgunner makes are also
really awesome. They provide better performance and a louder,
deeper sound but also have fully rotating barrels. They’re an easy
bolt-on installation, and available with or without baffles depending on
how noisy you want to be.
For more information contact Tailgunner Exhaust at

(508) 693-1944 or tailgunnerexhaust.com.

SHOOTER’S TECH
A COOL NEW RIFLE SCOPE

THIS MONTH’S
PHONE APP
Nikon PROSTAFF 5: Call of Duty:

Black Ops Zombies
Press Release Looking for a cool first person shooter game
The new PROSTAFF 5 riflescope features several technology upgrades that on your smart phone? Call of Duty has adapted
will satisfy even the most demanding hunters. Featuring 4-time zoom their console hit and redesigned it specifically
range and a bright new optical system with Fully Multi-coated lenses, for smart phones. They have fan-favorite maps
PROSTAFF 5 riflescopes provide up to 95% light transmission and such as Kino Der Toten, Ascension and a
maximum brightness from dawn to dusk . . . 50-level zombie gauntlet.
With a variety of magnifications and reticles to choose from, there is The game can be played solo, or in a team
a PROSTAFF 5 riflescope for almost any application. The PROSTAFF 5 of up to 4 players through a Wi-Fi connection.
offers spring-loaded instant zero-reset turrets to make field adjustments There is also a “Dead Ops Arcade mode” that
easier than ever before. Just sight-in as usual, then lift the spring-loaded can be unlocked by finding four coins that
adjustment knob, rotate to “zero,” and re-engage. Field adjustments are are hidden throughout the game’s menus.
now as simple as ever. This arcade-style top-down shooter is suited
The long, constant four inches of eye relief of the PROSTAFF 5 helps perfectly for the mobile platforms.
provide a clear field of view and keeps brows safe, even with the heaviest Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombie is available
recoiling cartridges. A quick focus eyepiece ensures that shooters for Android in the Google Play Store or on
iTunes for only $6.99.
can quickly and easily bring the reticle into focus. Positive click reticle
adjustments help get shooters zeroed-in quick and maintain their settings.
All models are waterproof, fogproof and shockproof.
Select models of the PROSTAFF 5 feature an illuminated reticle with
five intensity levels of red or green, giving shooters an extra advantage
during low-light hunting situations. A rheostat dimmer is located on the
side focus knob for easy adjustments.
Like all Nikon riflescopes, the PROSTAFF 5 is optimized for use with Spot
On™ Ballistic Match Technology. The Spot On program provides users
with exact aiming points on the BDC reticle for any load or ammunition at
a specified range. Spot On is free online at nikonhunting.com/spoton but
it can also be purchased for mobile devices, including the iPhone®, iPad®
and Android™ platforms.

WE ARE GUNUP
Thank you for reading the premiere issue of GunUp the Magazine. We hope you enjoyed it. GunUp has been quite
the journey for all of us involved along with our friends and families, from Seattle, Washington to Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, from starting off in Digital then adding Retail and Print. You can read more about our journey on the about
page on GunUp.com.
Gun owners have been through a lot since December 14 from the constant mass media coverage, politicking, price
gouging, and panic buying. We’ve seen retailer stop selling guns, pulling their support, and taking advantage of the
situation. We at GunUp feel your pain and are committed to supporting our customers, subscribers, and readers. Our
prices have remained low and we recently announced the industry’s first 24 hour shipping guarantee and throughout
it all we have put together this amazing first issue. My hat goes off to our very talented managing editor, Shelley
Sargent, and equally talented, creative director, Steve Ruml.
This is only the beginning. Please join us on this journey, your feedback is welcome, and make sure to tell your friends.
Dan Hall
CEO, GunUp.com
Follow Us
/gogunup)
@gunup

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GunUp The Magazine April 2013

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GunUp The Magazine April 2013

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3 DRY FIRE DRILLS: tO SURVIVE THE SHORTAGE

HOME DEFENSE ISSUE

APRIL 2013 GUNUP.COM

PERSONAL PROTECTION FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS

Ruger offers lightweight, compact handguns

380 AUTO 9MM LUGER

©2013 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 020813

4 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

GET THE MOST SUBSCRIBERS AND

GO TO GUNUP.COM/MAGAZINE FOR MORE DETAILS.

IMPROVE YOUR GAME

a technical look at the disasters that

Even when ammo prices are high

34 Calm and Strong:

THE GREATEST GEAR

The concealed carry lifestyle is a

6 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

Receive a free “NRA Bullet Pen”

SAVE $10 ON ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP!

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

For information on reviews or

With Brooke Sevigny of Sevigny

8 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

1 TREAT ALL GUNS AS IF THEY ARE LOADED.

2 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL

3 NEVER POINT A GUN AT ANYTHING YOU’RE

4 ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR TARGET AND

WE BELIEVE IN SAFETY FIRST.

10 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

“I LOVE THE .410 ROUND!

THE FACTS ARSENAL SAIGA SGL-41

FINISH BLACK POLYMER

GRIPS PISTOL GRIP

GUNUP PRICE $899

GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013 11

12 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

ACCESSORIES AND AMMO FOR THE SAIGA SGL-41

Midwest Industries Tapco INTRAFUSE Saiga

Photo Attributed to Rex Features

14 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

JOHN McCLANE’S FAVORITES:

John McClane’s Sidearms

GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013 15

An MP5A3 is also seen, fitted with a scope

16 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

HECKLER & KOCH MP5

What some Tweeters had

“It has to be the MP5 HO HO HO

“The ceramic Glock 7.”

GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013 17

Lockheed Martin F-35B

The Gast Gun

18 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

TAURUS MANUFACTURING INC.

20 GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013

The Machining Floor

GUNUP.COM | APRIL 2013 21

TAURUS MANUFACTURING INC.

course and display a detailed knowledge

The Gunsmithing Room

firearms getting fixed, the best thing they

Metal Injection Molding

is melted and poured into a mold, it comes