Alien Gear Holsters Blog

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering if the upgraded model is worth it? Find out in our Sig P320XCompact review...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering what you should look for in a duty holster? Here are some of the basics...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

The Masada is a fantastic new striker pistol from Israeli Weapons Industries. Find out why you should give it a look in our IWI Masada review...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering if Springfield can really take on the P365? Find out in our Springfield Hellcat review...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

How do you clean your Alien Gear holster? Here's how it's done...

By Jake Smith | Contributing Editor

Prospective gun owners may be wondering a few things when seeking to buy a new weapon: what exactly are universal background checks, which states require them, what sort of background checks are in place now and consequently how are people still getting around background checks and committing crimes?...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Want to get started with wheelguns but don't know where to start with a .38 Special revolver? Here are the 7 best to get into, perfect for CCW and other purposes.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

How do you clean your Alien Gear holster? Here's how it's done...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

10mm vs 9mm...does that 1mm make the round better, or worse? It kind of depends on what you have in mind...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Alien Gear Holsters has two models of mag carrier, the Grip Tuck and Cloak Mag Carriers. Which should you get? Well, that depends...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Some people have asked why not, so we'll tell you.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

That first step towards becoming a daily concealed carrier begins with selecting the right gun. This can be surprisingly difficult for both first time carriers and veteran CCWs alike. Why? Because it's not just a pistol or revolver – it's an investment in security. That's why we're going to discuss several things that can help you make the best call for your first concealed carry handgun...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

If you're thinking of modifying your concealed carry handgun, you might want to hit the pause button before proceeding...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Don't believe the comments section; .380 pistols are definitely viable concealed carry guns. If you can shoot accurately, and carry good ammunition, the .380 Auto is more than adequate.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering which is better between 10mm vs 40? The truth is it kind of depends on what you have in mind...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Looking for safe storage in your car? Read up on car gun safe basics...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Beretta has a striker-fired subcompact...is it any good? Find out in our Beretta APX Carry review...

By James England | Contributing Editor

Outside of every chow hall and firing range in the military there are two things you'll likely see – a barrel and a sign. The barrel is usually half full of sand but the sign is the big thing we all need to pay attention to. It says, “Clear All Weapons Here.” ...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

The standard for concealed carry is the IWB holster, or inside the waistband. These holsters tuck inside the waistband and are easily covered up with a shirt, whether tucked in or not.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

What shooting distance should you practice at? Whichever distance is hard for you.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Learn about Ruger Revolvers, in Alien Gear Holsters' guide to Ruger's wheelguns.

By Travis Pike | Contributing Editor

The Caliber wars were a brutal time, a bloody time, a messy time. The caliber wars were waged across the internet, through the videos of Youtube, on the forums of places like Defensive Carry and AR15.com. Articles proclaiming the new wonder gun in this caliber or that caliber, would have comment sections that devolved into full blown wars. These wars were waged most often by the proponents of 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP, and occasionally the revolver aficionados ...

By Jake Smith | Contributing Editor

The idea behind the first Colt handguns was inspired more by sea spray and carved pine than by metal and gunpowder. Sixteen-year-old Samuel Colt, aboard the swaying deck of Corvo en route to Calcutta, was inspired by the wooden mechanics of the ship and translated that idea, a revolving cylinder repeater for firearms, into whittled pine.

By Sam Hoober | Senior Editor

It is reasonable to assume that time spent at a range, for most people, has them shooting under very ideal conditions. Perhaps they are rested, have a perfect stance, and are barehanded. But winter is coming, and that means more layers on your body, and not only jackets and hats, but gloves too. ...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Bear spray vs gun...which should you carry in the woods? Turns out...it's actually kind of complicated. Both are effective. Read on for more...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Why wear a shoulder holster? Like any holster style, it's a tool - so there's a definite task and user in mind. Read on...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Just for fun, just this one time...Alien Gear Holsters talks about Area 51.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

What should you look for in a chest holster? Read on to learn more about what to shop for...

By James England | Contributing Editor

It's always the goal to be a responsible everyday concealed carrier. In order to do that, there's a couple good habits to pick up. Not only do they all play well together, but they are important to develop the right mindset to react if danger pops up. In this article, we're going over a couple “everyday” tips for those who carry a concealed firearm...

By James England | Contributing Editor

There is a recent, reoccurring article published in the Des Moines Register about how Iowa has no restrictions on issuing concealed carry permits to the visually impaired. It's created a bit of a stir because many people believe that if you can't see the target, you shouldn't be shooting. And they do have a point – it fundamentally violates two of the basic safety principles governing the safe usage of firearms...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering what size of Grip Tuck Universal Holster you should order for your gun? Read on to get a better feel for it...

By James England | Contributing Editor

Most any pistol or revolver can be operated by either hand with sufficient training and practice. However, in this article, we're going over some handguns that rock for lefties...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Why train to shoot center of mass? Is it really a viable tactic? If it has a failure rate, why do people continue to teach and learn to do so? Read on...

By Michael Cambron | Contributing Editor

Let’s start with some basic information about gun sights. More than likely, that new pistol you just purchased comes right off the showroom floor with a standard set of front and rear fixed sights.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Most firearms are said to be drop-safe...but reports of drop fires keep emerging. Just how drop safe ARE they? Read on...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

If you have to shoot in defense of yourself, it is always a good idea to be shooting from cover if at all possible. Obviously, it won't necessarily be in the extremely rare event that you'll ever have to use your gun in defense of your own life or that of others.

By James England | Contributing Editor

Not everyone buys brand new ccw firearms off the rack. Used firearms – like the Glock 26 – can be picked up for hundreds of dollars less than they retailed. While gun manufacturers are always making the “latest and greatest” version of the same old gun they've made since the 80s, often times the older handgun models incorporated better metal alloys or polymer composites...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Negligent firearm discharges happen more often than they should. And very few times do they end without damage to property or person. That's why it's important to understand what a negligent weapons discharge is, what it entails, and how you can always avoid one...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Just how good are Beretta's striker guns? Find out in our Beretta APX Centurion review...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

A best practice for concealed carry practice is to incorporate some reloading drills into your practice routine. On the one hand, it is true that most defensive shootings are concluded very quickly with only a few shots fired, but it is also true that some are not. Therefore, it behooves you to train for both contingencies.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Wondering what the Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact is like? Find out in our Sphinx SDP Compact review...

By James England | Contributing Editor

Better than trying to write an all encompassing piece detailing out the different laws in fifty states alongside court specific statutes – we're running down a list of questions you should ask yourself prior to entering your workplace with a concealed firearm. This is not only for your own safety but also for legal purposes. As was the case recently in Tampa, FL, a bank manager for Wells Fargo was fired for legally carrying a concealed firearm into her workplace. The decision is expected to have its day in Florida courts but the issue still remains: can you conceal carry at work? ...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Alien Gear Holsters has just released the Grip Tuck Universal Holster...but what does it do?

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

What would a person get a chest holster for? Read on...

By Jake Smith | Contributing Editor

Firearms users who prefer a low recoil defensive carry gun may be subject to age restraints, arthritis, bodily injury or low experience. Some just don’t like recoil. No one should feel ashamed of their personal preferences on recoil and though they may feel inhibited by them, there are definitely options to consider and a community that has their back along the way...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Pondering a 10mm pistol? Springfield makes a few, but their entry-level model, the Springfield XDM 4.5, has a lot going for it. Find out more in our Springfield XDM 10mm review...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

With the advent of some pretty wild ammunition designs, some people wonder how effective they might be. RIP Rounds are one particular example. Are they up to the hype? Read on...

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

You've decided you want an upscale 1911 but not quite custom shop; thus, you're trying to decide between a Sig 1911 vs Kimber 1911. Both are known to be great pistols, but which exactly is going to be better?

By James England | Contributing Editor

In this episode, we learn about the most common styles of ammunition used in concealed carry handguns as well as how they compare to each other. This is by no means an exhaustive comparison of ammunition types and we save discussing the role of specialty defensive ammunition for another episode.

By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor

Handgun rounds in the .38 caliber family have always been the most popular, but since some (.38 Special, .380) are a bit weak the most popular are .357 Magnum vs 9mm. Each of these rounds has a long history and pedigree of efficacy in the realm of self-defense, so that both are good carry rounds is not in dispute.