Product Description

Personal protection is a hot issue in today's changing world. Currently, 42 states have some form of concealed-carry legislation. Now holders of concealed carry permits, law enforcement officers, security personnel and anyone interested in real world defensive tactics can find all the historical, safety and legal information they need in Effective Handgun Defense.

Beginning with an exploration of the history of self-defense handguns, the book gives readers a thorough understanding of how the guns have been used through the years. A detailed discussion of today's most popular concealed carry handguns and holsters follows, aiding readers in selecting the best handgun for their personal needs. Additional chapters cover safety recommendations, fighting calibers, service revolvers, 9mm pistols and the 1911 pistol.

-Discussion of concealed carry handgun selection and use, with thorough explanation of laws and safety precautions -Features a look at handgun holsters -Contains listings of custom pistolsmiths, schools and training academies, and holster manufacturers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #250313 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

Customer Reviews

For Gun Nuts Only!
I buy non-fiction books because I want another's opinion on some subject. I'm experienced with firearms, but I don't know everything about guns. My recomendation that "Effective Handgun Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry" is for gun nuts only is that Frank James addressed the serious gunman. Most people who want a gun for self defense want a simple guideline. Frank James covers gunfighting history--which most would think a waste of time. I liked the history. I gave this book only four stars because I found some of James's prose convulted and confusing. I make grammar and spelling errors, too, but I hope that my editor gets me to clean up my act so that my writing is easy to understand. I thought this book was a good value for me because it is like getting a series of gun magazine articles without all of the advertising fluff periodicals stuff between their pages.

The chapter titled "Carry and Concealment--a brief look at fashion and holsters" alone was worth the cost. Warning--this is not for people who just want to have an expert select the holster system for them. Frank James states his preferences and why he prefers them. He lists most of the alternatives.

Chapters Two and Ten cover the all-important aspects of mind set. Page 32 has a monologue titled "the spirtual side of armed self-defense." I'm biased: I believe that I have to make up my mind before I get into a do-or-die situation as to when and why I'll shoot another human being. I don't think I'll have time to discuss the issue with my assailants, because if I had the time, I wouldn't have to shoot them. Frank James makes the reader think about this question: shoot or no shoot?

Other chapters cover equipment and training and tactics. Frank James preferes revolvers because not all self-defense problems walk about on two legs and revolvers can be chambered for more powerful cartridges than automatic pistols. The author freely admits that all of his defensive encounters were with the four-footed wild, feral, and domestic creatures, and he's glad that he never had to shoot another human. James demands that training be as realistic as possible. "Effective Handgun Defense" is filled with photographs of guns, holsters, and people from the gun world--in essence, a permanent gun magazine.

However, this is not a stand-alone training manual on self-defense with a firearm. The book does address the issues involved with legal concealed firearms carry, but again this is directed at the knowledgable who will get additional information and training from elsewhere. I found "Effective Handgun Defense" a valuable addition to my gun book library, but if I were developing a training program for another, I'd want other guidebooks. There is no index, but there is a bibliography and a list of equipment vendors and schools that will be useful to anyone who will take the time and make the effort to legally carry concealed firearms.

Misleading Title and not much information on Defense.
To read the title of this book you would think that it would cover such things as handgun defense. I'm affraid that although I really wanted to like this book, most of the information pertained only with particular guns that tickled the author's fancy and covered very, very little regarding tactics. Instead, this particular book focused almost exclusively on the gun itself and had little to do with defense, tactics, scenarios or even anacdotes.

The author did have anacdotal evidence to argue why say a .357 Magnum is a great fight stopper but the 9mm is sorely lacking.

His chapter title "Effective Calibers" was almost a flashback of standing in a gunstore while two old guys behind the counter argued over which caliber is more effective than the other.

To sum it up. If you want a book on defense...look elsewhere. Handgun Combatives would be a good start since little of the book actually talks about the "gun" itself but more in terms of it being a tool.

If you want a book that reads like an anectdotal Guns&Ammo magazine complete with opinions based upon bias and legend, this is a must have. Personally, I'd save my money.

Thoughtful, Articulate and Extremely Useful!
EFFECTIVE HANDGUN DEFENSE is a must-buy for any person considering the daily carry of a handgun for self-defense, which has become more and more common as states adopt a "shall-issue" form of permitting.

James brings an objective, learned eye to the many issues involved in carrying guns, and he does so with style and excellent writing.

Frank James is a throwback to the old days of outdoor writing, when the person doing the writing was assumed to live the life of an outdoorsman. James has been a lifelong farmer, hunter, trapper, private investigator--he knows of which he speaks!