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Gear Reviews

A Historical Look at Appendix Carry

  This is a guest post from my friend Darryl Bolke.  Darryl is currently writing a book about the history of formal firearms training throughout the 20th century.  I’m very excited to read his book when he gets it on the market.  Until then, follow Darryl’s writing at DB’s Shooting Adventures on Facebook.   -Greg […]

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
appendix carry, Dark Star Gear, Darryl Bolke, guest author, holsters, JM Custom Kydex, PHLster, Raven Concealment, Spencer Keepers View Post

Smart Choices

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   The most common questions I get from readers involve how to best protect families and children.  I’m a single dude who has never been married and has no kids.  I’m really not the one to ask those questions.  I’d rather refer those questions to people with more expertise in the […]

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
children, family safety, The Complete Combatant View Post

Best Law Enforcement Fixed Blade Knife

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   I recently received an excellent question from a reader.  It’s a valuable topic so I decided to address it in this public forum rather than simply replying to his email.   “I have been reading your blog for several years and been impressed by the content. If you have some […]

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
Chris Fry, Craig Douglas, knife fighting, knives, police, Shivworks, Tactical Defense Institute View Post

My New Favorite Electronic Hearing Protection

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Most of you collect guns.  Sometimes I feel like I collect hearing protection.     When I started shooting at five years old, no one wore eye and ear protection.  After all, “it was just a .22.”   When I started shooting K-frame revolvers and shotguns more seriously in my […]

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
View Post

Image-Based Decisional Skills

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   My friends Brian and Shelley Hill from The Complete Combatant have recently introduced a new product that I think many of you will find incredibly valuable.  Image Based Decisional Drills comes as a kit which includes: 1 Water resistant carry bag 5 IBDD business cards to pass out 1 Instruction […]

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
FPF Training, John Murphy, The Complete Combatant View Post

Choosing and Equipping Your First AR-15 Rifle

Written by: Greg Ellifritz     Do you own an AR-15?  If not, you should be thinking about buying one before the next pandemic threat or new piece pf gun control legislation makes it more difficult to do so.  You will regret not spending the money now when prices triple in the wake of any […]

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
AR-15, optics, rifles View Post

Do You Need A Muzzle Stand Off Device?

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   I recently saw this addition to the Smith and Wesson 380EZ advertised on the internet.  Take a look at the site.  What do you think?  Is this a useful addition to your .380 pistol?   This invention has three roles.  It is a compensator, reducing recoil and muzzle flip.  It […]

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, Close quarter shooting, retention shooting, Smith and Wesson, weapon retention View Post

A Critical (but often overlooked) Holster Function

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   While reading my news feeds in the past few weeks, I’ve seen accounts of a couple preventable accidental shootings.  I’d really prefer to see that my readers and students learn to better secure their weapons so that people aren’t injured or killed by unintentional gunfire.  Let’s examine these negligent discharges  […]

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews, News and Tactical Advice
ccw, Claude Werner, holsters, negligent discharge, pocket carry, Sherman House View Post

Don’t Dig the Rig- Special Pocket Holster Edition

Written by Greg Ellifritz   When the weather is nice, I like to get out of my police car and do some foot patrols as often as possible. Every day (if calls allow) I’ll do at least one foot patrol around a shopping center, park, or school.   Last week, a school in my patrol […]

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters, pocket carry View Post

Choosing a Buckshot Load for Home Defense

Written by: Greg Ellifritz Although I’m not well known for it in the commercial arena, I really enjoy teaching shotgun classes.  In fact, the first firearms instructor school that I attended was a Benelli shotgun instructor school taught by Phil Singleton (of SAS and HK fame) way back in 1999.  I taught police shotgun classes […]

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
buckshot, home defense, Rangemaster, shotgun, Tom Givens View Post

Don’t Dig The Rig #21

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  Real people carry each of these gun and holster combinations.  Unfortunately, some of […]

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters, Tamara Keel View Post

The Serpa Compendium

Written by: Greg Ellifritz I listened to an excellent podcast yesterday.  The episode was from Civilian Carry Radio, discussing an incident where a heroic female security guard stopped an active killer outside of a dance club. The security guard was an Army veteran and had some military firearms training.  She also passed her state armed […]

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters, Serpa View Post

Don’t Dig the Rig #20

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  Real people carry each of these gun and holster combinations.  Unfortunately, some of […]

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Firearm Reviews, Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters View Post

Don’t Dig the Rig- #19

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  Real people carry each of these gun and holster combinations.  Unfortunately, some of […]

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters View Post

Don’t Dig the Rig #18

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  Real people carry each of these gun and holster combinations.  Unfortunately, some of […]

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, holsters View Post

Don’t Dig the Rig #17

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  Real people carry each of these gun and holster combinations.  Unfortunately, some of […]

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, flashlights, holsters, Kel-Tec View Post

A New Gun Belt

Written by Greg Ellifritz   If you’ve spent any real time carrying a concealed handgun, you will understand the importance of mating your holster with a high quality belt made to carry a gun.  In general, the double thickness leather gun belts or the ultra-stiff nylon belts make it both easier and more comfortable to […]

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw, Graith, gun belts, holsters View Post

Deep Concealment Options for the “Non-Permissive Environment”

Written by: Greg Ellifritz   Last weekend I enjoyed the days off from my police and teaching jobs by going to a couple of concerts.  I really enjoy seeing live music, but I don’t enjoy the “security” ordeals at most live music venues.  One of the venues I attended did patdown searches.  The other used […]

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles, Gear Reviews
ccw View Post

#DontDigTheRig- Part 9

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  All are carried by someone.  Unfortunately, some of the choices are less than […]

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
1911, ccw, Concealed Nation, holsters View Post

#Don’tDigTheRig- Part 8

Written by Greg Ellifritz   Concealed Nation has a regular feature on its website called #DIGTHERIG.  It consists of reader submitted photos about their individual chosen concealed carry weapon and holster choices.   A huge variety of guns and holsters are featured.  All are carried by someone.  Unfortunately, some of the choices are less than […]

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Greg Ellifritz in Gear Reviews
ccw View Post
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