Captain Crunch

The Concealed Handgun Manual, by Chris Bird. Privateer Publications. Fourth Revised Edition, 2004. 459 pages. PB. $21.95. Available at Borders, Amazon, the NRA Store, or the publisher at 1-888-700-4333.

This book is sub-titled "How to Choose, Carry, and Shoot a Gun in Self-Defense". It does just that, and more. Handguns are the focus of this tome; no longarms here.

The author is a crime reporter, residing in San Antonio, Texas, and holds a Texas concealed handgun license. He is also a certified CHL instructor. Throughout the book, he includes accounts of actual self-defense shootings, most of which occurred in Texas. He skillfully uses these stories to illustrate the themes of the book's chapters.

Choosing a handgun (chapter 5) covers stopping power, caliber, revolver versus pistol, DA versus SA, and various handguns currently available from some 21 manufacturers. This is more of an over-view, rather than an in-depth treatment, but the information is presented in such a way as to allow readers to make informed decisions regarding which handgun is best suited for their purpose.

While the author doesn't try to influence choices, he does caution that 1911 and Browning type auto pistols should be carried cocked & locked and for this reason should be carried by serious shooters only. I must agree. He also discusses the pros and cons of several "mouse gun" pistols, but doesn't mention Derringers, a somewhat odd omission. His discussion on magazine capacity was written before the AWB expired, so is out-dated.

Other chapters cover holsters and accessories, victims or survivors, school shootings, staying out of trouble, firearms safety and handling, basic and advanced shooting, winning a gunfight, use of deadly force, shooting schools and academies, and a compilation of State concealed carry laws. This last covers only those States (37 at the time of writing) that have "right to carry" or "shall issue" laws. (After this edition was published, Iowa passed a "shall issue" law).

In my view, two of the more important chapters are Chapter 10, "Winning a Gunfight: Mind-Set and Tactics" and Chapter 11, "Deadly Force: When To Use It and What Happens When You Do". Both chapters include actual case histories that are especially pertinent. These chapters should be thoroughly digested and literally committed to memory by anyone who carries a firearm for self-defense.

As mentioned, the author chose not to decree that "Thou shalt carry this handgun in this caliber", wisely leaving this decision to the individual. He does offer specific, and sound, advice in other areas: be alert, be willing to accept the responsibility that goes with carrying a firearm, be mentally prepared to use that firearm if you have to, know the law, and practice, then practice some more. If you can't make these committments, the author strongly advises that you not carry a firearm. I can't disagree with that.

I recommend this book highly. Novice and expert alike should find this book to be a worthwhile addition to their library.

Attached Images

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__________________


When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling

Terry

Bud White

Good review sounds like a good Book ill look for it sometime soon ..

APachon

Capt Crunch, that was a great review. I will use your format when I put up a review.

~A

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Fave Quotes

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live!!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
Henry Ward Beecher

Captain Crunch

Thanks, guys.

__________________


When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling

Terry

APachon

The review was so good, that I hope you have other books CCW related you can comment on.

~A

__________________
Fave Quotes

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live!!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
Henry Ward Beecher

Captain Crunch

Yep, got a couple. Stay tuned.

__________________


When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling

Terry

APachon

Right on... I look forward to reading them

~A

__________________
Fave Quotes

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live!!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
Henry Ward Beecher

SSKC

i just saw this title at Border's the other day. I thumbed through it and it looked good. I may have to go back and pick it up, based on your review.

Good work Capt. Crunch - keep 'em coming.

SSKC

APachon

What sucks is my Borders and B&N are friggin wicked liberal and do not have such books for the impulse buy. I have to order them and if that is the case I will go to such outfits as Amazon or the like.

~A

__________________
Fave Quotes

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live!!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
Henry Ward Beecher

Cliff

I have this book. The Captain is dead on with his review. Excellent book,and you will gain a lot out of it. This book is really worth buying,reading, and going back to read and to reference again. Thanks Captain Crunch.

Captain Crunch

Many thanks, Cliff.

__________________


When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling

Terry

tex45acp

Captn',

I too have this book and I fully agree with the review. I have since handed it on to another new Texas CHL holder.

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The only thing needed for evil to exist is for good men to stand by and do nothing!!!

DM

Cap'n,
I've got this book also and would like to say "great review".The one thing I really liked about the book was how the stories he used were great reasons to carry a weapon.I loaned the book to a good friend of mine ( a Missouri State Trooper ) who is not a fan of concealed carry in Missouri. I'm really interested to see if the book changes his attitude on the subject.

Gringo

I, too, would agree whole heartedly with the Captain's review of this book. I purchased it shortly before taking my CCW class and found it to be both informative and actually enjoyable to read. Definately worth checking this out.

__________________
"Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice; ammo is cheap, life is expensive."

P95Carry

That in particular Crunch is good stuff for any of us anytime, and all the time!

Thx for your review - heck I wish I had (or made) more reading time - so much to get thru - even my gun rags are way behind!!!

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

oilman

This is a book I keep going back to to re-read. Highly recommended.

falcon1

Good information...thanks!!

Nick

Read that book back in January. It is a great read for all the reasons mentioned above.

It includes so much between the covers, and relates important incidents, such as the story of the woman who lost her parents at Luby's Cafeteria, in Killeen, Texas in 1991.

As many here know, she survived, then went on to successfully champion the 'right to carry' in the Texas state legislature.

__________________
"To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them."
George Mason


"Gun control is a job-safety program for criminals."
John R. Lott

paknheat

I agree, Hands down one of, if not the best book on civilian ccw out ther right now. I have the 3rd edition and have read it twice. I recommended it to a freind to read and it actually helped her in her decision to get her own ccw permit. She was undecided before reading it and as soon as she gets her permit , she is using it to find a school to further her training.

NETim

I picked this up the other day on a lark. I enjoyed it for its clear, sensible and reasoned approach to CCW. I believe it is a very good book for those who may be on the fence about CCW. My wife wanted to read it immediately after I was finished and has liked it thus far. I think the book does an excellent job of explaining the how's and why's of CCW.

I don't think experienced CCW'ers will necessarily get a lot out of it but again if your spouse is "iffy" about the whole thing but still willing to learn, this is an EXCELLENT read for them.

__________________
What we detest most in others is what we fear most in ourselves.