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Reader Questions

Carrying and Using the LDK Knife

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Many of you are aware that I designed the Ka-Bar TDI Last Ditch Knife.  I recently received a question from a reader about some design features:   “Greg: I noticed you mentioned you designed the Last Ditch blade for Kabar. I would be interested in an article about the design […]

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews, Reader Questions
knife fighting, knives, LDK, third world travel, travel View Post

Questioning the Effectiveness of the .380 Auto Cartridge

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   You folks really like your .380 semi-automatic pistols.  Two of the top 10 most read articles on my site are about the .380.  Every post I’ve written about this caliber has been consumed voraciously.  Lots of the email questions I get from readers concern the .380 as well.     […]

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
.380, Claude Werner, handgun stopping power View Post

Training Students with Physical Disabilities

  Back in 2019, I got this interesting question from a Facebook reader:   “Greg, have you found any good sources of alternative techniques when overcoming physical disabilities? I have reduced neck mobility and no left scapula control, from a radical neck dissection, Extending the left arm out or up is both difficult and unstable. […]

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
firearms training View Post

Hiker Self-Protection Strategies

Last week, I wrote an article describing an incident I experienced on a local hiking trail.  I encountered a single female hiker on a remote trail.  The woman had a large skinning knife in her hand.  In the article I discussed how I handled the situation and what I might have done to handle a […]

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
ccw, hiking View Post

A “Car Gun” for Riot Defense

*I’ve been teaching out of state for the past two weeks.  In every class I’ve taught, students have expressed concerns about potential upcoming political/election riots.  They are fearful that things will heat up again like they did a few years ago. In every class, I had students asking me about carrying a long gun in […]

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
Center for Security Policy, crowd violence, Marc MacYoung, Michael Bane, riots, Rory Miller, shotguns, vehicle tactics View Post

Seat Belts and Appendix Carry

  I got the following question from a friend on my Facebook page.  He inquired: “I carry appendix IWB, but usually remove it while driving because I’ve always been afraid of the personal damage the seat belt would do going across my gun. I figure I’m more likely to be involved in a car accident […]

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
ccw, Kyle Lamb, vehicle tactics View Post

Federal FliteControl New versus Old

A student recently asked me a question about Federal’s FliteControl (FFC) eight-pellet 00 buck shot loads.  This is the tightest patterning load on the market and is often difficult to obtain.     Over the last few months, several shooters have reported that the new stock eight-pellet load was not patterning as tightly as the […]

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
buckshot, Federal, shotguns View Post

Should I Leave the Scene of a Defensive Shooting?

Written by: Greg Ellifritz Last week, I received the following question from one of my readers:   “I have discussed ‘what to do’ after a successful ‘stop the threat’ shoot. Some have said that they would leave the scene rather than be subjected to the legal hassle, or additional danger, (depending on the circumstances). Please […]

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
Andrew Branca, ccw, law, Legal, Massad Ayoob, shootings View Post

10mm for Self Defense?

Written by Greg Ellifritz     A reader recently wrote to me asking the following question:   “I am considering changing from a Glock .45 to a 10mm and am wondering if the 10mm with 200 grain hard cast would have better stopping power than my 230 grain hardball?”   I get asked about the […]

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
10mm, ammunition, stopping power View Post

Criminal Motivation

  Trying to figure out why a criminal chooses to commit a crime can be a bit tricky at times.   Most crimes have very clear motivations.  The one we see most often is that you simply have something the criminal wants and he thinks he can take that thing (your money, your property, your […]

Posted on July 17, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
John Farnam, police, psychology View Post

Pistol Choice for a Shooting Class

I recently got this question from a reader:   “Here’s a topic I’d love to see hear your opinion on: For someone new to training and looking to get the most out of defensive handgun courses, should I use the smaller pistol that I carry (P365) or larger bedside pistol (P320) that the instructor recommends? […]

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
firearms training View Post

Managing the Unsafe Student in a Firearms Class

A friend and fellow firearms instructor asked me an interesting question a few weeks ago.  I thought that my answer would have a broad appeal for the instructors who read my articles.   Here is the question, with some details redacted/edited to preserve anonymity:   “Hey Greg, I have an instructor question that I would […]

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions, Teaching Tips
firearms training View Post

Should I Provide First Aid to the Attacker I Just Shot?

Written by Greg Ellifritz I had an interesting question posed to me by a student in a recent Systems Collapse Medical Class I taught.  He asked me: “If I have to shoot a criminal in a gunfight, should I provide first aid before the paramedics arrive?”   It’s a good question.  I’m probably going to […]

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
home defense, medical skills, tactical first aid View Post

Ammunition Choices for 9mm Revolvers

Written by- Greg Ellifritz   When I was teaching at the Gunsite Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Roundup last month (sign up for next year), I had a couple students using revolvers chambered in 9mm caliber.  One of the students asked me about best choices for a defensive loads for a 9mm revolver.     Looking […]

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
9mm, ballistics, George Harris, handgun stopping power, revolvers, Ruger View Post

Why Carry a .22?

I recently posted an article discussing the fact that I occasionally carry a Ruger LCP .22 pistol as a defensive carry gun.  I got this email from a long time reader: Greg I know you did a few articles on the Ruger 22 lr in the past. Last I remember you were having trouble finding […]

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
.22, Darryl Bolke, pocket pistols, Ruger, Tim Chandler, William Aprill View Post

The Best Handgun Practice Drill Resources

Written by Greg Ellifritz   I got the following question from a reader.  As I think this answer has a universal appeal, I chose to answer it here so that all of you can benefit as well.  Here’s the question:   “I want to assemble/integrate your suggestions for practice sessions, but I’m overwhelmed by the […]

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Book Reviews, Reader Questions
Ben Stoeger, book reviews, John Daub, Karl Rehn, Mike Seeklander, shooting drills, Todd Green View Post

Body Armor for Armed Citizens

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   People are getting worried.  In response to the recent high-profile mass shootings, lots of legislators are hinting about restricting the sale of body armor to private citizens.  Obviously, that will do nothing to prevent an active killer attack but they feel pressed to “do something.”  With restrictions possibly forthcoming, I’ve […]

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
body armor View Post

What About the 20 Gauge for Home Protection?

  After seeing a  guest post about the need to have a self defense shotgun, several readers asked me questions about the 20 gauge.  Here is one:   “Nice article on the shotgun for defensive use. Good to see the old stand by’s discussed from time to time. Question: what’s the 20 gauge equivalent of […]

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
20 gauge, shotguns View Post

“Shotguns” Without Stocks

I got a question from a reader about short barrelled, stockless “shotguns” that are technically classified as “firearms” allowing them to have shorter barrels than weapons classified as “shotguns.”   They are very popular weapons and have been made in mass quantities by both Mossberg and Remington.     “What are your thoughts on a ‘hipfire’ […]

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
Demonstrated Concepts, Ed Head, Lucky Gunner, Michael Bane, Mossberg, Remington, shotguns View Post

Home Defense Shotgun Questions Answered

A reader from California recently sent me some questions about long gun use for home protection.  Due to his state’s restrictive gun laws, he can’t legally own a “normal” AR-15 and is considering using either a pump shotgun or lever action rifle for home protection.  His questions (edited for clarity)  are below.  I get these […]

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Greg Ellifritz in Reader Questions
Blue Force Gear, Darryl Bolke, Magpul, shotguns, slings, Streamlight, Surefire, Viking Tactics View Post
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