Month: March 2018

Glock: America’s Favorite Handgun

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Glock Hangun

Glock has become synonymous with the word ‘handgun.’ Thanks to an abundance of references in countless Hollywood movies and rap lyrics, the popular Austrian firearm has secured its place in pop culture. But that’s not the only place you’ll find the Glock hangun; two-thirds of America’s police departments now carry them.

So, how did an Austrian entrepreneur, with no experience making guns, become one of the most influential names in the United States? In three decades, Glock grew to be one of the most recognizable brands, making it an icon among gun enthusiasts and a target among gun control advocates.

Glock: A Brief History

In 1982, Gaston Glock was an engineer working outside Vienna. He ran a radiator factory and had no experience in the gun-making arena. This inexperience was to his advantage. Having no knowledge of the firearms manufacturing process, he created his own.

Unlike all other models at the time, he built his unique design on a plastic frame and with only 34 components — about half as many as other gun manufacturers. With its lightweight composition and simpler design, the Glock was easy to make and less likely to malfunction.

In less than 10 years, the company was shipping more than 120,000 units per year to the United States. To this day, the brand is owned by the Glock family, and they are very secretive about their process. Rarely do they agree to interviews, and never do they open up their U.S. plant in Smyrna, Georgia to journalists, tourists, or anyone else.

Loyalty of Glock Enthusiasts

Glock has its fair share of followers. Gun enthusiasts around the world love it, and it’s a favorite among law enforcement officers, the FBI, and even famous terrorists and dictators. Military personnel found Saddam Hussein in his hideout in 2003 carrying a Glock.

The brand has a huge presence at trade shows, and no other manufacturer is more influential. With so many law enforcement officers carrying a Glock, it quickly grew to be one of America’s favorites.

Glock’s Image

It’s clear how Glock’s image has grown in the past 30 years. Glamorized by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Jericho Cane in “End of Days” and Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in “The Bourne Ultimatum,” the iconic firearm has taken over the big screen. Add to that the countless name drops of the firearm in beats from rappers including Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and many others.

Filmmakers and prop masters throughout the industry began using Glock because it was different. That was part of the appeal. Different meant exciting, and America caught onto the hype.

Other firearm manufacturers have been trying to catch up to the brand, and while they can match firepower, they’ve never achieved quite the same level of star power.

Glock’s Functional Advantages

Star power aside, the Glock also has many tactical advantages. For one, it is well know for it’s reliability. It rarely misfires or malfunctions. It can outgun many semiautomatic pistols, and it’s simple to shoot. It’s easy to see why law enforcement chose this handgun over any other.

This iconic pistol also fires nearly four times faster than a revolver. When put to the test, a revolver can achieve 18 shots in 22.7 seconds, while it takes the Glock only 5.7 seconds, on average. The beauty is in its simplicity. Even when handled by someone who has never shot a gun before, it hits every target.

With a variety of models to choose from like the Glock 17, Glock 19 Gen 5  and Glock 43, there are handguns for sale for almost everyone. Grab a Gun has one of the most expansive online gun stores with competitive pricing and our Shoot Now, Pay Later gun financing. Make your entry into the gun arena or enhance your existing collection with semi-automatic handguns that fit your unique needs.

A Firearm Made for Self Defense – The Springfield XDS

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We are here to write about the Springfield XDS, but no matter what’s happening in the world, it seems that people are up in arms (pun intended) about gun control, self-defense, and what we can do to protect our families and ourselves. Self-defense is a fine goal, to be sure, and all political discussions aside, the fact is that some people just feel more comfortable knowing they have a firearm to protect themselves at home should they ever need to.

This is the perfect time to discuss what seems to be the ideal firearm for self-defense — the Springfield XDS. Springfield has a long-standing tradition of producing quality firearms at affordable prices. Their steady stream of premium products pleases everyone who uses them.

About the Springfield XDS

Springfield took the XDS’s predecessors, the XD, and the XDM, and unveiled something even hotter. The XD Springfield was versatile and held sixteen rounds, whereas the XDM held nineteen. Both were also difficult to carry around for long periods of time. More rounds added to an already significant carry weight.

The XDS Springfield is slimmer, more compact, and lightweight. Not to mention, it has surprisingly little recoil due to the flexibility of the polymer frame and its shape. The only strike against it is that it doesn’t hold as much ammunition, but we’re talking about self-defense firearms here, not target practice. If you need more than six rounds, you might be in more trouble than the XDS (or any other firearm) can help with.

Variations

The Springfield XDS comes in both 9mm and .45-caliber models. The .45 holds five rounds plus one, but the grip is a bit small and hard to stabilize. However, using an extra-length magazine and a frame-sized sleeve make it much more comfortable.

On the contrary, the 9mm version is sleeker and lighter. It holds seven rounds, and the extended version holds nine. It’s easier to carry than most double-stack 9mm firearms despite how much ammo it holds. With a barrel clocking in at 3.3 inches, it doesn’t bump your hip as you walk.

Disassembly and Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning, you have to dry fire the XDS to take it apart. Not only that, but if you leave the magazine in the frame, you can’t move the disassembly lever. If the lever is in the up position, you can’t reinsert the magazine. You have to completely remove the magazine to disassemble it, adding just one more safety precaution to the operation of the firearm.

Concealment

This pistol is great for almost any carry purpose. It’s lightweight and compact, and it has the capability for expanded ammunition rounds. It has comfort and controllability, and in the realm of single-stack subcompact pistols, it’s a clear leader.

The short grip, thin frame, and flush magazine make the XDS one of the most concealable firearms today. Even with its magazine capacity of seven plus one, it beats out many other top contenders. And when you don’t care to conceal it, you can expand the magazine to nine plus one for a grip that’s more comfortable.

The downside to its compact size and concealability is that you may feel like you have no place to put your pinky if you have large hands. You could lose a little bit of control, but it only takes a bit of getting used to. Some pistols this size feel flimsy or a bit like a toy, but the XDS feels like a real gun comparatively.

Home Defense

The expanded ammunition capabilities are perfect for home defense as well. Even if you don’t plan to conceal the Springfield XDS, you can use it as an effective tool for protecting your home, because you have more versatility of magazines and don’t have to worry about bulk.

Most likely, you don’t conceal firearms on your person at home, so this one is the perfect choice for home use because there are so many different options that are easily accessible and great for rapid use in defense situations.

The Springfield XDS is the perfect self-defense firearm for so many reasons that it might just be our new favorite. You can’t beat the lightweight composition of the frame, making it more comfortable with less recoil. You also won’t find another firearm that’s this concealable with this level of capacity.

If you’re looking for a new conceal carry firearm for self-defense, the Springfield XDS should land at the top of your list, thanks to its comfort and ease of use. Check out cheap guns for sale online at Grab a Gun, the internet’s leading online gun shop.

Understanding the Differences Between Gun Clips and Gun Magazines

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There is often confusion surrounding the difference between gun clips and gun magazines, and while they are related, it’s important to know that they are not the same. The terms are used often in firearms communities, so if you want to sound knowledgeable on the subject, you should review the difference.

In today’s firearms culture, the terms are used almost interchangeably, even though it’s technically incorrect to refer to them as one in the same. Let’s review the meanings of these terms and how they relate to firearms to avoid any confusion.

What Is a Gun Clip?

A gun clip stores ammunition in groups, making it easy to load a magazine. It stores rounds in units anywhere from eight to 15 bullets, so they are ready to insert into a magazine or cylinder of a firearm. Most hold 12, but you can also purchase extended clips that hold 20 or 25.

It makes loading and reloading faster and often allows for more than one round to be loaded at once. While they are made of inexpensive materials and are disposable, you can reuse them, and many people often do.

There are several types of clips including stripper clips, en blocs, and moon or half-moon clips. A stripper clip, also called a charger or charger clip, strips the cartridges off of the clip and into the magazine. It is used to load a magazine but you don’t have to have one for your firearm to work.

In an en bloc clip, both the cartridges and the clip are inserted into a fixed magazine in the rifle. In this case, it is essential to the operation of the firearm that you use a clip. Otherwise, there is nothing to feed the ammunition into the magazine.

Moon and half-moon clips are cylindrical pieces of metal designed to fit into revolvers. Unlike other types of clips, the moon and half-moon clips stay in place during firing and are used to remove the empty cartridge cases.

What Is a Gun Magazine?

A gun magazine is an ammunition storage device that is either fixed or detachable. They feed ammunition into repeating firearms. They move cartridges into position where they are loaded into the chamber for firing. While it is inaccurate, some detachable magazines are often referred to as clips. It is so incredibly common that it can be confusing.

While a magazine can feed ammunition into the chamber without a clip, a clip cannot feed ammunition without first being inserted into a magazine. You don’t need a clip to load a magazine because you can load it easily by hand. In fact, clips are relatively uncommon because most modern firearms don’t use them.

When to Use a Clip

You can use a clip to load a fixed magazine, but honestly, if you’re using modern firearms, you don’t need one. Clips are used for faster loading and reloading, which means they’re used mostly for fixed magazines but can also be used to load detachable magazines in rapid-fire situations.

When to Use a Magazine

Most modern firearms use detachable magazines. You can load these magazines by hand or use a clip. While not all guns use clips, all guns, with the exception of revolvers, have magazines. Unless you’re firing a revolver, you will use a magazine.

Even if a firearm doesn’t have a detachable magazine, it has a fixed (or internal) magazine that you can’t remove, in which case you would use a clip.

Hopefully, now you understand a little bit more about the difference between a clip and a magazine. A clip loads a magazine, while a magazine feeds the ammunition into the chamber for firing.

Grab a Gun sells both clips and magazines and offers affordable prices.  Now that you’re an expert on the differences between magazines and clips, check out our complete online store for all of your firearm needs.

Understanding How AR15 Uppers Work and Why You Need One

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AR-15 upper receivers, more commonly called ” AR-15 uppers,” refer to the upper half of the rifle. The upper contains the key components of the AR-15 rifle. The four main receivers are known as the A1, A2, A3 and A4 upper receiver, respectively. These receivers are named in the same way the military designated their M-4 assault rifles.

Most AR-15 uppers are very similar. And because the uppers don’t contain the rifle’s serial number, they are interchangeable and don’t have to be registered. An upper contains a charging handle, delta ring assembly, gas tube, gas block, dust cover, hand guard, barrel, flash hider, and forward assist.

AR-15 Upper Styles

There are a few design variations, but all uppers have the same parts and function. It goes without saying that you need an AR-15 upper for the rifle to function properly.

The A1 and A2 upper styles have fixed handles on the top. The A2 has a rear sight with elevation and wind adjustments, handy for any landscape or climate. The A3 and A4 styles are sometimes called flat tops. They have accessory rails on top for mounting any scope, sight, or A2 style removable handle.

Forward Assist

In some combat situations, dirt can clog the upper and prevent the bolt from properly closing against the back of the round. The forward assist enables you to jam the bolt into position when this happens. You will likely never have to touch this button, but it’s there if you need it. Some variations of uppers don’t have this button at all.

Charging Handle

The charging handle pulls the bolt carrier group back, releasing the first round into the chamber. You can also lock the bolt in the back position by engaging the bolt catch. It’s also called a cocking handle or bolt handle and results in the hammer or striker moving to the ready position.

T-Marks

Some uppers have t-marks, which are small white location indicators, helping with accessory location and installation. They’re called t-marks because they’re on the top of the Picatinny rail, but they can also have b-marks, l-marks, and r-marks.

Delta Ring Assembly

The delta ring assembly includes the delta ring, barrel nut, weld spring, and barrel snap ring. It serves to secure the barrel to the upper and provides an attachment for the hand guard. If a hand guard requires special assembly, it’s included in the purchase of that particular hand guard.

A free floating hand guard eliminates the need for a delta ring, so a lot of upper accessories depend on each other and must work together to complete the upper assembly.

Hand Guards

Hand guards attach to the upper and serve as a place to hold the rifle. The barrel gets hot as you shoot, and you can’t stabilize the rifle without a comfortable place to hold it. Hand guards come in all shapes and sizes. It should correspond to the length of barrel you’re using. Free-float hand guards attach to the rear of the delta ring and not at the front of the gas block. They improve accuracy by reducing the flex of the barrel.

Gas Tube

A gas tube transports the high-pressure gas from the gas block to the upper receiver and into the gas tube. Gas tubes should work with your choice of hand guard, and, like hand guards, there are many to choose from.

Flash Hider

The flash hider screws onto the threaded muzzle of the barrel, and it does exactly what it sounds like it does — hides the flash, making it more discreet in battle. Without cuts on the bottom, it prevents dust from releasing into the air.

It’s important to understand how an AR-15 uppers function and why it’s necessary. The components of an AR-15 upper allow you to shoot with comfort, ease, and accuracy. You can find all of these accessories and more AR15 parts for sale at grabagun.com.