Ballistic Gelatin Penetration Test: 9mm vs 5.56

A colleague posed a question: Which is likely to penetrate more, a 9mm full metal jacket bullet fired from a pistol or a 5.56 fired from an AR-15 pistol? Hmmm. . . I had never really thought about it. To find out, I conducted gel penetration tests for both calibers fired into calibrated 10% Clear Ballistics gelatin blocks.

Ballistic gelatin is a testing medium designed to simulate the effects of bullet wounds in animal muscle tissue. Dr Martin Fackler (founder and head of the Letterman Army Institute of Research Wound Ballistics Laboratory) developed an improved ballistic gelatin model that he had scientifically correlated to porcine muscle tissue, which in turn is comparable to human muscle tissue.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) adopted the Army ballistic gelatin model using 10%, (by weight) ordnance gelatin to use as a tissue simulant. The FBI fires a .177 inch steel BB at 590 feet per second (fps) with a 15-fps allowable variance to calibrate their ballistic gelatin. The BB must penetrate 2.9 inches - 3.74 inches. The gelatin must be stored at 40° F until just prior to testing which makes its use on outdoor ranges problematic. The FBI does its testing with the gelatin placed ten feet from the muzzle of the test weapon. For more information see the footnote below.*

For my testing I used Clear Ballistics brand blocks because they are reusable and are not sensitive to temperature changes. I used a Glock 19 for the 9mm and a generic AR-15 pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel (typical AR pistol barrel length) for the 5.56.

I tested the following ammunition:

    -- Lake City 5.56 with the standard 55 grain full metal jacket bullet (FMJ)

    -- Monarch 9mm with a 115 grain full metal jacket bullet

    -- Winchester 9mm 115 grain full metal jacket bullet.

I fired five rounds of each brand from ten feet into bare gelatin. I placed two sixteen-inch blocks end to end because the 9mm FMJ bullet is known for its ability to penetrate.

Every Lake City 5.56 bullet broke apart and generally stopped within twelve inches in the first gelatin block. The Lake City 5.56 bullets were so fractured that it was not possible to recover all the pieces and link them to a particular bullet with one exception. I was able to recover fragments of one bullets that had fractured at the cannelure and it weighed eighteen grains--it had lost 67% of its weight. It appeared that all the fragments from all five bullets were still present in the ballistics gel (in various sizes ranging from almost microscopic to slivers of lead and bullet jacket) with one exception -- a small fragment exited the block at sixteen inches (see circle). The permanent cavities for the 5.56 rounds were two-three inches in diameter and approximately six-seven inches long. The dark areas in the picture represented lead "snow" resulting from bullet fragmentation.**

5.56 rounds

The Monarch 9mm 115 grain rounds penetrated the first block (sixteen inches) and an average of nine inches into the second block for a total penetration of twenty-five inches. The Winchester 9mm 115 grain rounds penetrated the first block (sixteen inches) and an average of eleven inches into the second block for a total penetration of twenty-seven inches. As expected, all recovered 9mm bullets retained 100% of their initial weight. 

9mm Rounds

So, what does this testing tell us? First, do not use 9mm ball ammunition for self-defense unless that is all you have available. There is a plethora of hollow point 9mm ammunition from reputable manufacturers that will do the job better.

The testing also begs the question of 5.56 ammunition over penetration concerns in a home defense role—at least for the 5.56 military ammunition. Since I did not do a barrier test in this process, I am unable to comment on what this round would do after passing through a barrier. I suspect that its penetration after passing through barriers found in a typical house’s construction would not be a great concern.

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* The tissue simulant the FBI uses in its ballistic tests is Kind & Knox or Vyse 250-A ordnance gelatin. A standard FBI protocol ballistic gelatin block for testing ammunition is composed of porcine gelatin mixed at a 10% concentration. This is dissolved in 140º degrees Fahrenheit water and then refrigerated at 40º F for two days. It must pass a strict calibration criteria to be valid as a test medium. The cooled gelatin solidifies and becomes a flexible solid with mechanical properties similar to human muscle tissue. A 10% porcine gelatin block matches living muscle tissue’s low-velocity flow characteristics and has a density like mammalian muscle tissue.

 

While the FBI has the resources to conduct testing with porcine gelatin, most private citizens wishing to test ammunition do not. Ballistic gels made from natural gelatin are typically a somewhat clear yellow brown color and are generally not re-usable. Therefore, most private testing is done with Clear Ballistics gelatin which is 100% synthetic, so it doesn't require any special storage and can be remelted. An additional benefit is that the gelatin is completely transparent and shelf-stable from -10 F to 95 F (-23.3 C to 35 C). Thus, it is much easier to use than the FBI standard gelatin; however, it does not mimic the FBI formula with 100% accuracy. Bullets fired into the Clear Ballistics gelatin often demonstrate a penetration that is approximately 20% greater than a bullet fired into the FBI standard gel. 

 

**  Lead snow is a term derived from the term "Lead Snowstorm" that Dr. DiMaio, M.D. used to describe a high velocity rifle bullet fragmenting and shedding lead fragments when it strikes human tissue or 10% gelatin simulant (pg 79); Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques 2d ed.; Vincent J. M. DiMaio, M.D. © 1999, CRC Press LLC

Bad Shooting Habits

A participant in a recent Steel Challenge match was someone I have known for many years. He has attended several classes and private lessons with me in the past and we had to overcome several extremely bad habits that he had taught himself. Taught himself? Yes, for good or ill every time we perform a task we are training ourselves to perform the task, that way. If we do it correctly, we are practicing performing the task correctly. The reverse is also true if we perform the task incorrectly.

When I first encountered this student, he had the habit of doing several things including:

    -- Regardless of starting position, he would drop his left hand (he is right-handed) completely down to his side when he would draw. Obviously, this is inefficient and slowed his ability to quickly get a proper firing grip.

    -- As he drew the pistol, he would point the muzzle upward as he extended the pistol and leveling only when he reached full extension (instructors often call it fishing or fly casting – the opposite is lowering the pistol when it clears the holster in a scooping or digging motion).

    -- And most concerning, when he finished a string of fire, he pointed the muzzle straight up in the air next to his temple and dropped his left hand to the side once again.

These habits we so ingrained in his subconscious that he found it extremely difficult to break them. In the first class he attended, I finally took him aside and told he that if he did not stop pointing the muzzle straight up that I would have to remove him from class for safety reasons (it was also a violation of the range rules).

The student subsequently took several private lessons and practice sessions from me where we concentrated on breaking these habits. Eventually, with a great deal of time, money, and effort he suppressed the habits and his shooting substantially improved.

Fast forward fifteen months at the Steel Challenge match. As I welcomed the student, I commented that I had not seen him in a while. He remarked that although he had not been participating in any shooting matches, he had still been practicing with his pistol. He was on my squad in the match, and I noticed that two of his three bad habits had returned in full. 

He was once again dropping his left hand completely down to his side and he was pointing the muzzle upward as he extended the pistol during the draw. In his “practice” sessions he had reverted to his bad habits. His previous time, money, and effort had been wasted, and his shooting had suffered accordingly.

Many shooters (such as this student) engage in Mindless Practice. Have you ever observed an athlete, musician, or shooter engage in practice? You'll notice that the activity generally follows a pattern--we simply repeat the same thing over and over. The same tennis serve, the same passage on the violin, the same draw and shoot holes in the target— a routine we execute while our brains are on autopilot and simply coasting through the repetitions. While this might look like practice, it is really nothing more than mindless repetition.

Unfortunately, there are several problems with practicing this way. First, it's a waste of time because very little productive learning takes place. This is why you can "practice" something for hours, days, or weeks, and still not improve very much. Even worse, you are probably digging yourself a hole (as was this student) because this model of practicing strengthens undesirable habits and errors as well. This model also makes it more difficult to correct performance problems later—as you are essentially adding to the amount of future practice you will need to eliminate the undesirable habits and errors. Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect. 

For more information on the correct way to practice see: Deliberate Practice Makes Perfect

https://www.sensibleselfdefenseblog.com/2017/11/deliberate-practice-makes-perfect.html 

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Wednesday Wisdom: 20 May 2026

Medal of Honor: Leslie Allen Bellrichard

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Acting as a fire-team leader with Company C during combat operations Pfc. Bellrichard was with four fellow soldiers in a foxhole on their unit's perimeter when the position came under a massive enemy attack. Following a 30-minute mortar barrage, the enemy launched a strong ground assault. 

Pfc. Bellrichard rose in face of a group of charging enemy soldiers and threw hand grenades into their midst, eliminating several of the foe and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Failing in their initial attack, the enemy repeated the mortar and rocket bombardment of the friendly perimeter, then once again charged against the defenders in a concerted effort to overrun the position. Pfc. Bellrichard resumed throwing hand grenades at the onrushing attackers. As he was about to hurl a grenade, a mortar round exploded just in front of his position, knocking him into the foxhole and causing him to lose his grip on the already armed grenade. Recovering instantly, Pfc. Bellrichard recognized the threat to the lives of his four comrades and threw himself upon the grenade, shielding his companions from the blast that followed.

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Strategic Sciences MFMD: Science Fiction or the New Gold Standard?

One look at the MFMD and it becomes obvious that Strategic Sciences did things differently. While it appears to have come off the set of a Hollywood science-fiction movie, the Multi-Function Muzzle Device (MFMD) is a modular device designed to provide optimal recoil reduction, eliminate flash, and reduce toxic material blown toward the shooter. It supports either bolt-­action or automatic firearms. Of course, it is also an effective sound suppressor.

The MFMD uses four flow paths that spin the gas away from the muzzle in opposing directions. The gas never stops moving since it isn’t trapped, which is one of the reasons why the suppressor is so effective at recoil reduction. The flow paths wrap around and folds over, creating more than 10 feet of flow path in a suppressor that measures only 4 1/2 inches in length. Longer suppressors have even longer flow paths. All that runway allows gas to cool and slow down without stopping.

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Armed Defense Skill Priorities--An Interview with Tom Givens

Most people commit one of these basic self defense errors in the area of mindset or mental preparation, in equipment, and in skills. Not everybody does all three, some people do one, some people do the other, and some people do the third.

The first one is mindset. Even people who carry a gun spend a great deal of time trying to convince themselves that violent crime will never happen to them. I think that is the biggest mistake that people make. It’s not just an assumption, but almost a religious fervor when they say, “I don’t work in bad neighborhoods, I don’t do drugs, I don’t go out late at night, and I don’t do this and I don’t do that, and so this will never happen to me!”

“It will never happen to me” is probably the most dangerous phrase you could ever utter! It sets your mind up for frozen-up inaction when violence does actually come, because you spent so much time, so much mental energy, trying to convince yourself that it won’t happen. When it does then you are stuck in a denial loop where you can do absolutely nothing about it in the time available.

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Access Log 002: What's in the Bag

"Tools do not make you effective. They amplify what you already are. If your tradecraft is sloppy, your tools just help you fail faster and louder."

People love to talk about tools like that is the job. The number of "What's in the bag?" talks in the industry keeps growing, but it is like flavors of ice cream. Like if you just buy the right kit, suddenly you are operating at a high level. That is not how this works. If your mindset is solid, your tools just make things easier, quieter, and more efficient. Tools should be quality and not some cut-your-hand style lock picks like we have seen on those creative business cards. Those are cool, but not something you would necessarily want to use during a professional assessment.

So let us be clear. This is not a complete list of every bypass device out there. It is a list of the tools that we personally go to time and time again to exploit the vulnerabilities we commonly face when conducting a covert entry or red team style assessment.

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Lightweight M1 Thompson – From Auto Ordnance

Some guns are simply iconic. One that wears this title well is the M1 Thompson. Born out of war and carried into American life, it is a design that still intrigues people after more than 100 years. Now, Auto-Ordnance has a take on this classic. The Lightweight M1 Thompson.

By engineering the firearm with a high-strength, lightweight alloy receiver and simulated American Walnut polymer furniture, Auto-Ordnance has achieved a significant weight reduction of approximately five pounds. This makes the new model 34.8% lighter than the traditional steel-and-wood TM1, a design choice that provides the classic look of the “Tommy Gun” with the added benefits of reduced shooter fatigue and a more competitive price point.

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Beretta's 1301 Tactical vs. A300 Ultima Patrol Shotguns

Ever since Beretta launched the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun in 2024 as a less-pricey alternative to the 1301 Tactical, online gun forums and YouTubers have debated whether the 1301 is worth $650 more than the A300. Like any comparison, the answer lies in what features you value most and how capably each shotgun satisfies your intended use. (comment: I personally do not care for the Beretta stock so the 1301 is a clear choice since you can replace it with a MagPul stock).

This article lays out the most consequential mechanical and features differences between these two Berettas. It also compares their ballistic performance on 25-yard targets using Hornady Black and Rio Royal 00 buckshot loads and on 50-yard targets using Hornady American Gunner 1-ounce rifled slugs. 

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U.S. Military’s "Drone Killer" Rifle Cartridges

The U.S. Military’s Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), has designed and developed the Drone Killer Cartridge (DKC). The cost-effective family of ammunition is designed to increase a warfighter’s probability of a hit and kill against drone threats.

DKC is designed for use in rifles, automatic rifles and machine guns, but it disperses a cluster of projectiles upon firing with an effective range far greater than a conventional shotgun’s capabilities. The effect increases probability hits and kills against Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) threats in a way that also minimizes risk of collateral damage from projectiles that don’t impact the target.

The DKC family of loads includes both pelletized and segmented designs. The segmented version includes a one-piece projectile that mechanically self-separates into discrete, spin-stabilized sub-projectiles prior to muzzle exit. Pelletized DKC includes a projectile assembly containing a stack of high-density, spherical buckshot-sized pellets mechanically disbursed at muzzle exit. 

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.338 ARC vs. 8.6 Blackout

There’s a bit of a battle going on between the .338 ARC and the 8.6 Blackout. These cartridges exist due to a requirement from the U.S. Special Operations community whose details are tightly held, but they center around the need for subsonic accuracy and terminal performance at extended ranges. Supersonic performance is considered a bonus.

A key metric of how a subsonic cartridge will perform — especially as the range to the target increases — is the size of the velocity standard deviation (SD). The more deviation between rounds, the more the bullets will string vertically. Subsonic cartridges expected to hit targets at 300 — and maybe even 400 yards — need consistent velocity because the time of flight is so long. Where a deviation of more than 20 feet per second (fps) is no problem for a supersonic cartridge at 400 yards, that same deviation for a subsonic cartridge at 400 yards results in pronounced vertical stringing that’s even visible from the shooting position. A deviation more than 20 fps at 400 yards causes about 2 feet of vertical stringing.

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Do We Really Need These? Ethiopian AKs (GAFAT) Are Coming to The US

Royal Tiger Imports (a US company) has announced that it will start importing AK parts kits… from Ethiopia. I encountered plenty of Ethiopian-made AKs in Somalia and was probably the first gun writer to publish a detailed article about them. I never imagined I’d see those rifles enter the U.S. market — but here we are. Ethiopian AKs are certainly not the best Kalashnikov rifles out there. But they do have a unique and fascinating history, and I am sure the gunsmiths in the US will do a better job putting them together than Ethiopian factory workers. 

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Best Rifle Bipods: How to Pick the Perfect One

Looking for the best rifle bipod? A round up of seven top bipods—covering their features, pros, and cons. From proven favorites like Harris bipod and Atlas bipod and the MDT CYKE POD bipod, this guide will help you find which bipod is right for your setup.

A lot of factors come into play when choosing a bipod. The sheer number of options on the market today can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Rigidity preference, weight, features, attachment type, height, and of course price all matter. I like to start by thinking about how I’m going to use the rifle first, then find the right combination of specs and features before making a decision. Maybe this is a rifle you’ll only use occasionally, and you don’t want to overthink it. But if this is the rifle you’re taking on your once-in-a-lifetime trophy elk hunt, or a PRS gun where a great bipod genuinely matters, let yourself splurge on the one that suits you best.

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How To Clean a Suppressor 

Suppressors, like any tool in the firearms world, are exposed to carbon, lead, and fouling. When it comes to firearms, we know that cleanliness can ensure reliability, but what about suppressors?

Your suppressor should be kept clean for a couple of reasons. Most obviously, you clean your can to ensure it performs at its optimal level. After all, you enjoy all of the noise reduction it provides, so it’s wise to ensure it’s well-maintained. The other reason to clean your suppressor is to make sure all parts and pieces interface correctly with your gun. A clean suppressor outperforms a filthy one any day of the week.

However, first, identify whether your suppressor needs to be cleaned. For example, rifle suppressors chambered in high pressure rounds are less likely to need to be cleaned. The high pressure created by live fire burns out the worst of the debris and carbon.

In fact, many high-pressure rifle cans are fully welded rather than being user serviceable. Usually, a rifle suppressor can be maintained with nothing more than an occasional solvent soak and the thin end of a solvent brush.

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The Delightful Savage 1907: Ten Shots — Quick!

 

“A tenderfoot with a Savage Automatic and the nerve to stand his ground, could have run the worst six-shooter man the West ever knew, right off the range.” Perhaps even more interesting is the fact in the same ad showing Bat brandishing a 1907, the “second” reason for Bat’s assertion is: “The Savage Automatic is quicker and gets in the first shot every time against a revolver. You can fire 10 shots as fast as you can press (not pull) the trigger.” The italics and the “(not pull)” are in the original ad copy. Bat knew the ropes and this is why he eventually died of a heart attack at his desk writing sports copy for a newspaper rather than in the dusty streets of Dodge City.

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Those who suggest the feasibility of a nationwide pistol permit must realize that such a procedure would be un-constitutional according to the Tenth Amendment (assuming anyone still pays any attention to the Tenth Amendment). However, since the Constitution preceding the Bill of Rights makes it clear that states are bound to honor the acts of other states it would seem to follow that a citizen who has a permit to carry in a permit-to-carry state may expect his permit to honored in any other permit-to-carry state. The legal aspects of this issue are not fully understood and one should not expect the gendarme on the beat to be fully apprised of the situation.

Jeff Cooper's Commentaries Vol. 4, No. 3 February, 1996

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Wednesday Wisdom: 13 May 2026

Medal of Honor: Robert Turner Waugh

 

In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May 1944, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on six bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it, and, as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his Thompson submachine gun. He repeated this process on the five remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. On the morning of 14 May 1944, 1st Lt. Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on two enemy pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and killed them.

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 KelTec P17: The Basics

The KelTec P17 is the cheapest trainer-style .22 pistol on the market. But unlike most guns in its price range, it might not be a complete steaming pile of refuse.

We’re taking a detailed look at the P17’s reliability, accuracy, features, and quirks to see whether this lightweight, 17-shot rimfire pistol lives up to the hype. Is it a legitimate bargain, or just another weird KelTec range toy?

Let’s look at what we’ve got here. KelTec released the P17 in 2019. It was notable for having 16-round magazines when almost every other .22 topped out at 10 rounds. But earlier that year, Taurus had released the TX-22, also with 16-round mags, and several other .22 trainers have since come out with similar capacities.

A more distinctive feature might be the weight. It’s only 11.6 ounces empty, 14 and a half fully loaded. That’s lighter than most pocket pistols, despite being closer in size to a compact. It’s got a 3.8-inch barrel and a width of just 9/10 of an inch.

The barrel is threaded and it comes with a thread extender for standard 1/2×28 suppressors. The front sight is a green fiber optic and in the rear we have a black serrated sight adjustable for windage and elevation.

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A Civil Right is a Civil Right -- Even If You

Don't Like It

 

A civil right is a civil right. If “the interests of public safety” outweighs one civil right, then “the interests of public safety” outweighs all civil rights.

I will guarantee you that in every city of 100,000 population or more there are multiple locations responsible for the majority of crime in that city. There are multiple locations responsible for more deaths via drug overdose (“Interests of Public Safety”), and more deaths via drug turf wars than all of O’Keefe’s firearms put together.

I mean, if “the interests of public safety” are worth a 24-hour “minor, temporary inconvenience” suspension of James O’Keefe’s 2nd Amendment civil rights, then surely “the interests of public safety” are worth a 24-hour “minor, temporary inconvenience” suspension of someone’s 4th Amendment civil rights, right?

See how this works? Red Flag laws is a road we do not want to go down. Civil rights are civil rights, and we don’t get to treat one as sacrosanct, and another as inconvenient. If one requires probable cause to be suspended, than they all require probable cause to be suspended.

Speaking of Red Flag Laws – How About this Version

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Red Flag Laws for Congress

Any Congresscritter says, or does, something unConstitutional anyone should be able to file a Red Flag violation and have that politician's powers to write bills, attend sessions of Congress, vote, draw a taxpayer-funded paycheque, live in a mansion in Washington DC, enjoy tax-payer-funded benefits, or anything else tied to the privilege of being a Congresscritter immediately suspended.

There would be a hearing within fourteen days before a judge in their home district, where the Representative or Senator would be given the opportunity to show where in the Constitution what they said, or the law they proposed, or the action they did, was explicitly authorised, and if they can show that, their privileges to all the goodies of being an elected representative of the People would be restored.

If they can't, then they can sit at home for a year and twiddle their thumbs. Not allowed into the Capitol, no drawing a paycheque, no voting, no proposing bills, nothing added to their pension funds, no taxpayer-funded healthcare, zip, zero, NADA to do with being an elected official.

Speaking of how the legal system can screw over firearms owners who have broken no law: There are multiple articles concerning former sailor Tate Adamiak’s case in addition to the one below at the GunWriter website.

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A Retro Python: The Pietta Blacktooth Revolver

The Italian replica firearms business is known for bringing back designs from the Old West and Civil War eras, with some designs going even further back in history. While 70 years may not seem like “history,” that is the time period that Pietta is reaching back into for the inspiration for its Blacktooth revolver.

The .357 Mag.-chambered Blacktooth is a replica of a first-generation Colt Python. The Python was originally introduced in 1955 and quickly became regarded as the world’s premiere double-action revolver. As costs to produce the hand-built revolver became prohibitive, the company discontinued the model in 2005. While they brought out a new version of the Python in 2020, it had updates that distinguished it from the original.

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Tate Adamiak to receive 50 days of ‘Diesel Therapy’ punishment

Federal inmate Patrick “Tate” Adamiak learned Wednesday that he is about to receive 50 days of “Diesel Therapy” prior to his June 25th court hearing.

“I was told to pack up and that I was going to get moved,” he said Wednesday. “It’s Diesel Therapy. This is exactly what I was afraid of.”

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has never treated inmates well. One of the methods they use to mistreat inmates is by driving them around in a prison van for weeks or even months on end, which the inmates and even the guards call “Diesel Therapy.”

It prevents the inmates from contacting their friends, family and the occasional reporter. Most worrisome, the inmates are kept completely out of touch with their defense attorneys. They also miss meals, showers, sleep and are unable to work on their criminal cases.

Adamiak, who is serving a 20-year sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey for crimes he never committed, must appear for a hearing next month in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia. It does not take 50 days to drive from his New Jersey prison to any courtroom in Virginia.

The Armed Attorneys recently did a video discussion concerning Adamiak's case: SCOTUS Watch: 20 Years in Prison for Cut Up Metal

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Competition Selects for What It Rewards

This in-depth article on martial arts discusses how competition affected the evolution and development of martial arts over time. A close parallel are the developments within pistol competitions following the introduction of IPSC, USPSA, IDPA and how they evolved over time and affected equipment design.

Recently, the West Point Combatives Team competed against the Navy Jiu-Jitsu Team under submission-only rules associated with Eddie Bravo.

There were highly skilled fighters on both sides. That should be said up front. The technical level was high, the pace was aggressive, and the athletes were committed to finishing fights. And, for the record, Army won, again. ;-) yeah.

But that’s not the interesting part. What stood out was how both teams fought.

 Across the matches, there was a consistent pattern: aggressive pursuit of submissions, but relatively little emphasis on controlling the opponent. Positions that are traditionally considered dominant in a fight, because they allow you to strike, disengage, or impose damage, were often passed through or abandoned in favor of immediate submission attempts.

From within the rule set, this made sense.

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Knife Maintenance: Simple Tips for Better Performance

Knives are tools. To perform to their full potential, they must be maintained properly. This is particularly true of folding knives, which are, by nature, mechanical devices. Like any other machine, if you want them to function correctly, you need to maintain them well. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and some simple tools, knife maintenance is relatively easy.

One of the most important things you can do to keep any knife functioning well is to keep it clean. Most knives are meant to be used, and that use can often expose them to dirt, adhesives, animal blood, and a variety of other substances. Left in contact with the blade for prolonged periods, these substances can promote corrosion or dry on the blade, making them more difficult to remove. As such, whenever possible, wipe your knife clean as soon as possible after use.

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Mossberg 590R Shotgun Review: 6+1 Capacity with a Rotary Safety

Traditional shotgun safeties never really fit quite right on tactical, pistol-grip scatterguns. That’s why Mossberg gave its tube-fed, pump-action 590R shotguns a helping hand with ambidextrous rotary safeties that are both ergonomic and familiar to anyone who has shot an AR-15 rifle.

However, that’s hardly the only enhancement the company made to its new 590R shotguns. Here’s a closer look at all the improved features, along with our top takeaways, after putting 300 shells through the 590R during live-fire testing.

Quick Summary: Mossberg’s rotary safety makes the 590R much easier to shoot with a vertical pistol grip than similar tactical shotguns. The safety is a bit undersized, but it’s a big improvement, along with upgrades to the action release, stock, and heat shield.

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LeMat Revolver – Before The Judge

The LeMat revolver was invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of France. It was further developed in New Orleans in 1856 by Le Mat, whose manufacturing effort was backed by P. G. T. Beauregard, who became a general in the Confederate States Army. It was originally a pistol caliber cap-and-ball black powder, but featured an unusual secondary 16-to-20-gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot. This unique gun was also known as the “Grape Shot Revolver.” It saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.

Some were made by John Krider of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1859, including the first 250 prototypes. It is estimated that 2,900 were produced in Liège, Belgium, and Paris, France. The European-made pistols were shipped through Birmingham, England. For the collectors out there, they were indeed stamped.

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Beretta’s A300 Ultima Patrol 20-Gauge Revisited

In February 2026 I wrote about Beretta’s then-new A300 Ultima Patrol 20-gauge. I had the opportunity to test fire an A300 Ultima Patrol 20-gauge when a fellow student who also happened to be a Lipsey’s executive brought one of the new 20-Gauge A300s to a class we were both attending. The 20-gauge A300 weights only 6.0 pounds unloaded and the gun’s handiness was immediately apparent. I believe it will be a good choice for a home defense shotgun.

The new A300 has a new stock design with integrated quick detach sling attachments and users can shorten the length of pull to twelve inches. Beretta made additional design changes including an enlarged loading port, a reversible safety, and extended bolt handle. They also added very aggressive, pointed checkering to the stock’s fore end and pistol-grip area. When my local gun store was able to order one, I immediately bought it.

Out of the box, the bolt’s movement seemed extremely gritty, like it had sand in the action. Thinking that perhaps it was not lubricated, I disassembled it to apply lubricant—and—I could not reassemble it. There was clearly something out of spec with the bolt and the gun would not go back together.

I contacted Beretta and sent it off for warranty repair without firing a shot through it. Eight weeks later, Beretta returned the gun with a note that the bolt had a “burr” that their gunsmith had polished out.

With my new Beretta A300 back in hand, I did some pattern tests with three 20 gauge buckshot loads using the supplied improved cylinder choke and a cylinder choke I purchased separately.

I tested the Rio Ammunition Group 20 ga Game Load with nine pellets of #1 buckshot at 1345 feet per second (fps) and the Nobel Sport nine pellet #1 buckshot at 1300 fps. I also tested the Federal premium 20 gauge #2 buckshot loads with the FliteControl® wad at 1,325 fps. I fired five rounds of each manufacturer’s buckshot load at each distance.

At ten yards all loads demonstrated an acceptable pattern (see below) which I define as all pellets landing within an eight-inch circle (remember, even a single pellet can kill). The Rio load’s average pattern size at ten yards was seven inches, the Nobel load was 8.5 inches, and the Federal load was five inches.

At fifteen yards, the Rio load opened to an average of twelve inches, the Nobel load was 11.5 inches. Within normal urban house distances at ten yards and below, the Rio and Nobel loads throw an acceptable pattern. I did not test them beyond fifteen yards—no reason to waste ammunition. At fifteen yards the Federal load’s pattern was seven inches.

I subsequently tested the Federal load at twenty yards and it failed with a pattern of eleven inches. I switched out the improved cylinder choke for the cylinder choke and retested the Federal load at twenty yards and it did marginally better with a ten-inch pattern. I would not use the Federal FliteControl® load much beyond fifteen yards in a home defense scenario.

Every shotgun has its own preferences. As you can see from these results, you must test each load you are considering for home defense shotgun ammunition in your gun. Ideally, shoot five rounds at each distance until you determine the maximum acceptable range for your shotgun using a particular load. With the 20 gauge, I started at ten yards because in the past, I have seen failures at that distance. If you see a failure at a given distance, you do not need to test at greater distances.

Chokes might make a difference, however. With some manufacturers now including a choke system in new shotgun models you may want to try different choke/load combinations. For example, I retested the Nobel load at fifteen yards and it patterned over twenty-four inches with the cylinder choke.

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