Recommendations
I get asked all the time what I recommend for everything… from guns to holsters to other tools and accessories. Well, here’s the list of things I have personal experience with or have seen first hand and would trust my life to on a regular basis. This information is provided as a guide and should not be taken as legal advice. You are responsible for your own safety, protection and training.
There are others that will be recommended, but I simply don’t have personal experience with them yet. If you don’t see your favorite, check back later because I probably haven’t had a chance to try it out. Also, I have tried to recommend some of the most common brands, calibers and accessories to increase the chance that you will find something on this list that is easily available.
Popular Home Defense & Concealed Carry Calibers
- 380 ACP (usually considered the smallest recommended caliber for self defense)
- 38 Special (again, borderline on the smallest recommended caliber for self defense)
- 357 Magnum
- 9mm
- 40 S&W (probably the most popular caliber for police agencies in the USA)
- 45 ACP
Popular & Reliable Home Defense Pistols
- Glock: 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 34, 35 (the most widely issued brand for US law enforcement)
- Sig Sauer: 220, 225, 226, 228, 229, 239 (
- Heckler & Koch: HK45, HK45C, USP (expensive, but very well made, reliable guns)
- Springfield: XD (quickly gaining popularity among police agencies)
- Smith & Wesson: M&P (quickly gaining popularity among police agencies)
- CZ 75B (one of the most widely issued handgun outside the USA)
- Beretta 92FS (standard issue for the United States military)
Home Defense Revolvers
- Ruger: GP-100 (3 or 4 inch)
- Smith & Wesson: 686 (3 or 4 inch)
Concealed Carry Pistols
- Glock: 19, 23, 26, 27, 30
- Sig Sauer: 228, 229, 230
- Springfield: XD Compact, XD Sub-Compact
- Smith & Wesson: 3913
- Kel-Tec: P3AT
Concealed Carry Revolvers
- Smith & Wesson: Hammerless J Frame in 38 Special
Tactical Shotguns (12 Gauge Only)
- Mossberg: 500 Persuader/Cruiser/Tactical, 590 Special Purpose
- Remington: Any 870 with 18″ barrel, 1100 Tactical 18″ and 22″
Tactical Rifle
- Rock River Arms: LAR-15 Entry Tactical
- Smith & Wesson: M&P15
Leather Holsters
Bianchi
Desantis
Don Hume
Galco
High Noon Holsters
Milt Sparks
Safariland
Polymer Holsters
Blackhawk
Blade-Tech
Safariland
Belts
Beltman
Blackhawk
Galco
Wilderness
Training
LFI
Sig Academy
Vickers Tactical
Gunsite
Thunder Ranch
Care and Maintenance
Powder Solvent: Outer’s Nitro Solvent
Oil: Militec-1, RemOil in Cold Climates, (Never use WD-40)
Grease: TW-25B
Refinishing: CCR Refinishing