I’m a first-time gun buyer. The gun I’m interested in getting is the Taurus Judge. Is this a good gun for home defense?

-From Hank H.

Answer: The Judge has been around for over 15 years. Most people either love it or hate it.

It has the appeal of a cool factor. It’s a revolver that is capable of shooting both .45 Colt and .410 shotgun shells. A lot of shooters like the Judge for home defense.

Yet, it’s not the most accurate pistol and you have limited shot capacity with any revolver.

Also, unless you are an experienced revolver shooter it might not be the best choice. It’s a heavy and big revolver. It’s not something you would want to carry concealed.

I would check out a Glock 19 before you get the Judge.

 

I just attended a week-long gun training course at my local gun range. It was the first time I had shot a gun in about twenty years. My question is, which eye do you use as your dominant aiming eye when shooting?

-From Milton B.

Answer: A lot of folks claim that shooting with both eyes open, especially at close distance, will give you the most accurate shot.

With that being said, any shooter is going to do what feels most comfortable and comes naturally to them, which often includes closing one eye.

About 80 percent of the world’s population is right-handed. However, about 65-70 percent of the population is right-eye dominant, with about 20-25 percent being left-eye dominant.

I shoot right-handed, but I am left-eye dominant. So, I close my right eye when I shoot, whether I am shooting with my strong hand or weak hand.

My point is, I would try shooting with both eyes open and then with closing each eye. Figure out what is most comfortable for you.

 

I’ve added a VPN to my computer based on your wonderful advice. But, I’m worried that the VPN company is going to track my internet browsing. Is there anything I can do to stop this?

-From Chantel R.

Answer: The best thing to do is to contact the specific VPN you may want to use and ask them for their customer privacy policy.

For example, most VPNs store a minimal amount of personal information.

They only have information to identify you as a user. Some allow you to make payments in Bitcoin if you don’t want them to have any of your financial information.

The other important thing is to ask if they store your browsing history. If so, you may want to consider another VPN provider.

 

A few weeks ago, I obtained a concealed weapon permit. I have a Sig Sauer that I plan to conceal carry. My question is if I should carry the pistol with the safety off so that I can be quicker if I need to use it?

-From Gerry R.

Answer: I don’t recommend carrying a firearm with the safety off. If a gun has a manual safety, you should train to switch the safety off.

You should practice enough to the point that you can switch the safety off as you draw the weapon.

In a self-defense shooting, every second counts and this is why manipulating the safety should be ingrained into your draw. It shouldn’t slow you down at all.

If a weapon has a manual safety, always use it. It’s there for safety, which should be your number one priority.

 

A few years ago, I had a fire in my garage. This is where all my survival gear, guns, and ammo were stored. I’ve slowly been rebuilding my stockpile of thousands of rounds of ammo. How can I protect my ammo from exploding during a fire?

-From Dennis M.

Answer: During a fire, ammo may explode, but without a gun containing the ammo, there’s nothing to direct the pressures created by the cartridge igniting.

The popping noise people hear when ammunition is burning is usually not the bullet flying around, but is the cartridge burning, regardless of what we may have seen in the movies.

So, you’re in a lot less danger than you think you are. In the best-case scenario, you would store ammo in a fireproof safe.

However, if you have a huge stockpile of ammo this may not be feasible. In that case, I would suggest a cool, dry location such as a basement.

 

I live in a big city. Lately, criminals have been pretending to be police officers and knocking on doors to commit home invasions. How can I tell if the police knocking on my door are real police versus criminals?

-From Alan T.

Answer: If you didn’t commit a crime or didn’t ask the police to respond to your house, then they shouldn’t have any reason to knock on your door and you don’t have to open the door to them. (You can just talk to them through the door like you would a delivery person or anyone else.)

Criminals who impersonate cops likely don’t have any information about you and can’t answer questions accurately.

My point is, if you talk to them through the door, you might be able to decide if they are legitimate or not.

Also, remember that you can always call dispatch and ask them if they have an officer who is at your door.