Daily Archives: Mar 21, 2026

Carry a .25 if it feels good to you, but never load it. Late Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper's tongue-in-cheek counsel still resonates in discussions on defensive caliber. At the high-stakes game of self-protection, choosing the wrong caliber can be the difference between halting an attack and exposing yourself to...

"Caliber is irrelevant if you get your shot in the correct location." It's a mantra mindlessly repeated at gun stores and online. But in actual lifesaving interactions, the cartridge can decide success almost as much as firearms skill. Contemporary ballistics research, decades-long law enforcement careers, and street-tested defensive interactions...

What distinguishes a cartridge that impresses on paper from one that performs in the field? For hunters, competitive shooters, and rifle shooters, the difference is in consistent accuracy irrespective of rifle platform, weather, or range. Some cartridges are forgiving, predictable, and repeatable, and thus become reliable partners from the...