This new edition of Cooper’s classic Principles of Personal Defense – with a fitting tribute by firearms expert Louis Awerbuck and all-new drawings by renowned illustrator Paul Kirchner – presents his timeless theory of individual defensive behavior clearly, concisely and practically.
All free people who aspire to stay that way should read, study and share the wisdom found within these pages. Considered by many to be one of the greatest books on combat mindset and proper defensive mental conditioning ever written, it deserves a place of honor in every library.
This book was one of the first “gun books” I bought, and some of the thoughts have stayed with me ever sense. Cooper’s discussion of color codes, tactical residential architecture, and the true role of security guards have shaped my thinking as I have grown in the subject.
This is a small book, but it is filled with concepts that any martialist needs to be aware of.
Unfortunately, I was not born soon enough, nor learned about firearms early enough, to have trained under Colonel Cooper. However, I have worked with many people who have and hold certificates from Thunder Ranch.
I do however, read his work and while some of it has been advanced by science, the mindset portions are as valid now as ever.
It’s important to understand the relationship between the personal defense weapon you’re planning on purchasing and the kind of ammunition it uses. This article is about the best guns and ammo for self defense. At at least some general guidelines.
One of the things that often comes up is “stopping power”. What is generally meant by this is the power of the cartridge. Generally speaking larger cartridges and mean bigger bullets (there are exceptions).
However, stopping power shouldn’t be your only consideration when looking for a self defense instrument.
What about recoil, speed, draw time?
These are all important considerations that can either make a concealed carry defense weapon a liability or a huge life-saving asset.
Today we’re going to take a look at some of my personal recommended bullets/guns. I’d advise anyone who is serious about understanding how their gun works to read more about the differences between bullet types.
Fast Effective Fire at Medium Range – Glock 17
You can’t beat a Glock.
When it comes to self defense, draw time and concealability are two important factors. A Glock 17 offers an extremely lightweight design.
While the 9mm bullets aren’t incredibly powerful they offer lowered recoil which allows you to get off multiple shoots without losing accuracy.
I find this to be an incredibly important factor in my concealed carry choice of weapon. If you watch any security footage of a self defense firefight you will notice that you rarely have time to aim with a larger caliber bullet, what matters is speed and first shooter advantage.
The Glock magazine is expanded holding 17 rounds. Cartridge are 116-149 grains which can be upgraded to hollow point for maximum damage upon impact. If you spend your time and read about where to buy ammo you can get bulk prices on 9mm ammo.
Ruger GP 100
Known as a pocket rocket, the Ruger GP 100 is a member of the infamous Magnum family. You won’t get as many shots off with this gun but it packs some serious power.
One of the things that I always mention to new shooters is that the Ruger GP 100, despite its concealability and size is still quite a heavy pistol. One the plus side the heavy frame will stop recoil while on the flip side you won’t be pulling it out as fast.
Cartridge size is like a .357 Magnum with 200 grain bullets and a 6 round capacity. The Ruger 100 also works on an extremely simple mechanism and doesn’t get jammed very easily. Great to clean as well.
Best Personal Defense Shotgun – Mossberg 500
The Mossberg is one of the best priced and most reliable shotguns out there. First off I’d like to mention this is an automatic shotgun not a traditional pump action. This means that the empty shell is automatically throw out of the chamber and autoloaded via the kinetic energy of the gun. With a traditional shotgun you’re the one doing the pumping.
The Mossberg is good in rain, fog and even snow. It’s built for tactical use and made to design the rigors of everyday wear and tear.
For bullets, I would suggest using a slug or buckshot. I’m not a fan of birdshot for self defense. If you’re hunting ducks than sure, however, if someone is breaking into your home while your family is asleep you better believe I’m using a 12-gauge slug.
1911 Colt .45 ACP
Created by Browning over a decade ago when he invented the 1911, the 230-grain bullet is a great choice for personal defense. Considering that you get about eight rounds and less recoil for that caliber, a good shooter should be able to stop an assailant pretty easily.
I’m a big supporter of the 1911 for a couple of reasons. First, is functionality. The 1911 has been used for almost 90 years while sticking true to its original design and manufacturing.
Nothing special or fancy means not much can get caught or malfunction. Second, it’s cheap. 1911 ammo and guns are available almost anywhere and can be purchased for less than $200 at most gun shows.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to personal defense firearms the most important cardinal rule of all is that you MUST be comfortable with whatever weapon you plan on using. I can’t stress this enough.
This means you need to hit the range with your weapon and use it on a regular basis so when push comes to shove you know exactly how to use it.
This is a guest post, I don’t agree that a bow is anywhere close to being the most effective self defense weapon, but in the spirit that people who don’t/can’t own firearms still need self defense tools I am posting it. Besides I still get comments on my video discussing why I don’t like the .410 Judge for a self defense gun.
Archery for home defense…hmmm… you think this is the silliest thing you’ve ever heard?
Let me give you a story:
In 1997, a tale was given of how Claude Gates successfully defends his shop against intruders with only a crossbow. He ordered the burglar to stop, but he refused to, prompting Mr. Gates to fire two shots at him. One of the bolts struck him on the side while the other hit his leg. Mr. Gates was hesitant to acquire a firearm in fear of it being used against him in the heat of the battle. The victim and was arrested!
More such incidents of people using the bow and arrow to defend themselves have been documented, making it clear that archery-based weapons are effective at defending yourself from a physical threat (when in the hands of the right person).
When put on a comparison table with a firearm, the most trusted self-defense weapon by man, archery for self-defense shows a number of benefits that I’ll be discussing with you in a few moments…
Advantages of Home Defense Bow
Portability
One of the things you’ll get to like about using home defense bow is the portability it gives you.
Take for instance the highly efficient takedown bow; it comes in three pieces – middle grip section and two limbs – which you can easily separate by twisting a few lug screws and bam! It becomes extremely portable, unlike most of the home defense options.
You can quickly stash the bag in your bug out bag for easy carry. Plus, it’s incredibly lightweight, adding to its portability.
Versatility
Modern bows have seen tremendous improvements, making them even more suitable for the self-defense task.
Most of the new carbon fiber arrows you’ll get on the market today come with a handy tip that works with a variety of screws in your arrow tips.
This means you’ll have an extensive selection of tips to pick from, from the standard practice tips, small games tips, broad head tips, hook tip, and so much more.
Home Defense Bows Works Silently
When in a self-defense situation, you’d need the convenience of a silent and deadly weapon.
Lucky for you, the bow and arrow makes an ultra-quiet but deadly weapon.
Imagine a scenario where you’re camping in a national forest, and you find yourself under attack in the middle of the night. If you’d just place yourself in a dark corner (where you can easily observe them) with your arrow docked on your bow, the attackers ill have a really hard time telling your exact location.
This will be a huge plus for you, as you’ll have an easy time taking them down, one by one.
Affordability
We’re living in hard economic times. That being said, you’d want to look for an effective self-defense weapon that does not cost you a fortune.
Despite their effectiveness, the bows come with pocket-friendly prices which make them affordable for all, including those on a tight budget.
Besides the bow, the ammunition (arrows) is also cost effective. Once you’ve fully cultivated your archery skills, you’ll find it easy to retrieve all your arrows after making shots and reuse them again and again.
Even better, you can practice making your own bow using readily available materials – like wooden dowels plant shafts, or even the natural found wood.
Legal Limitations
You’ll agree with me when I say the legal restrictions tend to be less strict on bows and arrows than with the guns and bullets.
With this in mind, you’ll enjoy the freedom of using an equally deadly weapon without having to deal with any permits and paperwork.
And the less you have to deal with all this paperwork, the better – particularly when things become messy.
The only (Main) downsides associated with using archery for self-defense:
You’ll need to undergo some intense practice to master archery skills for efficient shooting
The arrows might become a bit cumbersome to pack sometimes.
Powerful Tips To Get The Most Out of Your Home Defense Bow
Know the capabilities and limitations of your weapon.
For instance, the crossbows – the most popular home defense bows – come with different levels of strength.
The higher the power of your crossbow, the harder it might become to pull the string. A 50lb model will be the easiest to pull back as it comes with the least strength; the 150lb models have superior shooting power but will take time and energy to load.
Practice shooting with your bow regularly.
If you buy your home defense bow and keep in your basement, only to retrieve it when intruders come to your home, it might not offer you much help.
An experienced archer knows the importance of regular practicing with their equipment; it keeps them fully prepared to face any attack that comes their way.
Also, you’d want to consider investing in additional accessories, like a drop away arrow rest. They give you a better archery experience.
Use the Home Field Advantage
When under attack, always remember to use the familiarity of your home surroundings to your advantage.
No intruder knows your property more than you do. Exploiting this advantage in your strategy will give you an advantage over any intruder!
Always have a backup weapon.
Although it’s relatively rare, your bow might fail when you’re in the midst of an attack. To prevent such unfortunate incidents, I’d advise you to carry a backup weapon, pepper spray.
Having empty hand combat skills will also be a significant advantage. Know how to kick, throw a punch, escape common holds, and the pressure points. If you’ve already to shoot the intruder and it hasn’t weakened them, try exploiting their wound to your advantage in close range combat.
Know the laws of your region.
Despite the lax laws on archery weapons, some states don’t allow folks to use them.
They consider a bow as a deadly weapon, given its ability to kill a person.
Shooting a person who hasn’t been involved in illegal activity with your bow could lead to serious legal consequences.
Get an Alarm System
Do you have an early means of warning? This could be a home security system or a dog that barks to alert when your home is under attack. This will help you arm yourself in advance as well as secure your family.
Final Thoughts
With your home defense bow, you can easily fight any attackers at your home. As with any other home defense weapon, the effectiveness of your bow will largely depend on the archer (you). With the right strategy execution and preparedness level, you can easily defend your home, business, etc.
The best part about using archery for home defense is that it’s also a hobby that helps relieve stress while increasing your “archery IQ.”
Even if no intruder enters your home in your lifetime, you’ll have enjoyed a fun, inexpensive hobby!
Though we do believe that proper martial arts training is the best way to learn an arsenal of effective self-defense moves, there are some basic moves that you can easily learn without having to spend years of training.
On this post, the team at BookMartialArts.com is sharing 5 self-defense moves that anyone can learn and use to defend themselves during a violent physical attack.
Please note that we highly recommend for you to seek the assistance of an experienced martial artist and/or a professional to demonstrate how you can safely and properly execute these self-defense moves to avoid unwanted harm or injury to yourself or others.
The Wrist Lock
BJJ No Gi Wrist Lock Variations Tutorial. Video credit: Stuart Tomlinson YouTube channel
This straight-forward yet effective technique comes from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and it is a move that anyone regardless of size, age or fitness ability can do. The wrist lock variations comes in handy when an attacker gets hold on your wrist. To execute the simplest form of this move, rather than pulling back, you will need to squat down. Once in this stance, proceed by leaning forward and bending your elbow towards the attacker’s forearm until you free yourself of his grip.
The Eye Gouge
Image credit: Tipsforsurvivalist.com
The thought of gouging someone’s eyes is enough to make most people shudder. However, it is definitely an effective method to free yourself when an attacker gets a hold of you.
There are different ways to execute an eye gouge, however, the simplest way is to aim both of your index and middle fingers towards the attacker’s eyes and poke them hard. You can also opt to use your thumbs for maximum impact.
With the thumb eye gouge, you would need to place your hands on the side of the attacker’s face and press your thumbs as hard as you can into the eyes.
The Stomp Kick
How to Do a Toe Stomp. Video credit: Howcast YouTube channel
Our legs are generally stronger than our arms so kicks may be one of the best ways to easily get away from an attacker. A toe stomp kick is a move that is easiest and most effective to do so.
Start by bringing your knee up and drive your heel down as hard towards your attacker’s instep as fast and as hard as you can. If you kick hard enough, you may just break some bones and severely injure his foot enabling you not only to escape from him but also prevents him from running after you. Ladies, this technique is particularly useful when you are using stilletos or high heels as the heels of your shoe can act as a ‘weapon’ and likely to help in severely injuring the assailant.
The Palm Strike
Image credit: Howcast.com
Instead of the usual punch done with a clenched fist, this technique uses the ‘meaty’ portion of the bottom of your hand – located by your wrist.
This move will do enough harm and confuse your attacker, giving you enough time to flee from him. Plus, hitting with the heel of your palm is less painful (for you) than throwing a punch!
Though the palm strike is particularly effective when aimed straight up towards the attacker’s neck, it can be as effective when used to target the opponent’s head or shoulder.
The Groin Kick
Groin Kick Techniques for Krav Maga. Video credit: Expert Village YouTube Channel
This move is one that is taken out from Krav Maga’s playbook. Also known as the “Art of Staying Alive”, Krav Maga moves are designed with effectiveness and efficiency in mind.
The groin kick, however ‘crass’ it may seem, gets the job done quickly. To carry it out properly, you would need to aim for and kick your attacker’s groin as fast and as hard as you can.
Start by facing your attacker with the leg you’ll be kicking with behind you. Then, proceed to kick out and upwards between the attackers legs with your shin for maximum impact.
I hope these Self-Defense Moves that Anyone Can Learn help you stay safe.
If you want more I linked to a comprehensive article on different types of Martial Arts Training.
By: Lystia Putranto
Lystia is a contributing writer for BookMartialArts.com, the world’s leading martial arts theme travel website. She’s fascinated by all types of martial arts and can’t get enough of martial arts moves both on screen & off.
Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance Volume II is a clear and simple guide to building a semi- or full-auto pistol or a single-shot, falling-block handgun from common materials in the privacy of your home workshop.
In addition to offering many alternative workshop gunsmithing tips, the author explains how each part and section of the gun is made and discusses thoroughly the subjects of heat-treatment and bluing.
I haven’t built any guns more complicated than slam fire shotguns like what is illustrated in the improvised munitions manual or assembling an AR, but this is a fine book with easy to follow instructions.
As long as you don’t make anything fully automatic or bigger than .50 caliber (and stay within all the other insane regulations) of the BATFE making your own guns are legal.
I enjoy thumbing through Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance – between it an Luty’s book on expedient homemade firearms I know that no matter what happens the citizenry of America will always have guns.
I find that books like these (and the publishers willing to print books like these) are becoming more and more rare as our society changes. It is my desire that every prepper household buys books like this to ensure that the information is always present in out society. Ben Franklin would have wanted this also.
It’s important to understand the relationship between the personal defense weapon you’re planning on purchasing and the kind of ammunition it uses. This article is about the best guns and ammo for self defense. At at least some general guidelines.
Though we do believe that proper martial arts training is the best way to learn an arsenal of effective self-defense moves, there are some basic moves that you can easily learn without having to spend years of training.
