What you need to know about firearm accessories

Over the course of the past several years, I have written extensively about firearms, ammunition, and training. Between the firearm reviews, articles on ammo, etc, at times I wondered if I should start a separate firearms website. But because I feel like self-defense is so primary to prepping, and firearms are a major part of self-defense, I decided to keep all the articles on one website.

And given the current state of not just our nation, but western civilization as a whole, the ability to be able to defend yourself and your family has never been more important. Gun sales in the US are at an all time high as of the time of this article.

That being said, with everything I have written regarding firearms and training, I realized I have not devoted very much to firearm accessories. There is so much more to owning a firearm(s) than just the gun itself.

So I wanted to touch on some items that can enhance your firearms, your knowledge and skill with them, and could someday save your life. With that said, let’s jump in!

Ammo

Obviously, without ammunition, your firearm becomes a “blunt force” weapon. So having plenty of ammo is imperative. Fortunately, this website has plenty of information on ammo. (Check the links below if you have missed them.)

The big question I see preppers ask is “How much ammo should I have?” I’ve seen answers from 1,000 rounds per gun, 1,000 rounds per caliber, etc. But in reality, there is no one right answer. Instead, to answer this question, let me pose a few questions to you.

• How much ammo can you reasonably and safely store?
• How much ammo can you reasonably afford? Don’t break the bank trying to stockpile ammo
• Is the caliber(s) considered common?

When it comes to common calibers, I consider .22, 9mm, 40 cal, 45 APC, 38/357, and .380 as common for handguns. For shotguns, 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and 410 are all common. And for rifles, I consider 5.56/.223, 7.62 x39, 30-06, and .308 as common. But this is just my opinion. I would encourage you to go to a few different gun stores, sporting goods stores, etc, and see which calibers you can easily find at all of these stores. Also, see how many different types of firearms are available in those calibers.

For me, I try to have at least 1,000 rounds per caliber. (With more for long guns.) I have around that amount in shotgun shells, divided between buckshot, birdshot, and slug. For calibers at are not as common and I only have a single firearm in said caliber, I keep around 300-500 rounds. I also have my quality ammo which I store, and my “range” ammo which I use to train with and blast paper targets at the range.

Ultimately, it comes down to how much ammo you feel comfortable with. To help you decide what that amount is, please check out the following links:

• How much ammo in your bug out bag?
• What you need to know about stockpiling ammo
• Threats to your Ammo storage, and what YOU can do about it!

Magazines

I get asked a lot of different questions about magazines. How many magazines should I own? For long guns, are metal or polymer mags better? Does it hurt the magazine springs to keep the magazines loaded?

Well Dear Reader, if you have any of these questions, fear not! I’ll answer them here.

Much like ammo, there is debate among preppers about how many magazines you should own. Much like ammo, for you this should come down to how much can you afford, and how much can you reasonably store/carry?

My personal rule of them is that I like have AT LEAST 3 magazines for every handgun that I own, and AT LEAST 5 magazines for every magazine-fed long gun I have. Some folks may buy more. Ultimately, it is what you feel comfortable with.

As for metal vs polymer magazines, I have both. And I use both. For my ARs and my AKs. I personally have not noticed any real difference, and would encourage you to buy at least one each, and try them for yourselves.

If you have opinions on polymer vs metal magazines, please sure them with us in the comments section below!

As for the life of the magazine spring, let me quote Shooting Illustrated:

Even when kept fully compressed, a magazine spring will retain its energy long past the operational life of the ammunition…When using quality magazines with quality ammunition, stored and maintained properly, you can leave them loaded as long as you want to without any reservation.

Yep, the only time your magazines should be unloaded is when you have a smoking barrel. (Or if you are disassembling them for cleaning.) When the chips are down, an empty magazine is worthless. So keep those babies loaded!

Holsters/Slings

Being able to safely and securely carry your firearms is a must if you ever plan on leaving your house with them. Sure, firearm bags are great when you are headed to the range. But in times of trouble, or even just EDC, you need to look at purchasing a quality holster/sling.

When it comes to holsters there are typically 4 categories:

• Inside-the Waistband (IWB),
• Outside-the-Waistband (OWB),
• pocket holsters,
• appendix carry (ankle holsters, etc)

OWB and IWB are typically belt mounted. (Be sure to have a a quality belt designed to hold the weight of a holster and pistol. This will make carrying a concealed firearm more comfortable and secure.) OWB usually make your pistol easier and faster to draw. However, they can be harder to conceal.

The opposite is usually true of IWB, that being that IWB can sometimes make it more difficult to obtain your shooting grip. However, practice drawing from IWB can mitigate this somewhat.

In addition, IWB will keep the firearm closer to your body. While this can help reduce “imprinting”, it can cause the firearm to rub your skin. This can bring about discomfort. And I promise you, if you aren’t comfortable, you won’t wear it! So find a reliable, yet comfortable holster!

As for rifle slings, I would highly recommend a quality sling. The middle of a life and death situation is not the time to find out that your sling sucks! And once you get a quality sling, train with it. Practice shooting while using it. Shooting without a sling can be different than shooting with one.

I personally like the Magpul MS3® Sling GEN2. I use this as both a 1 point and 2 point sling. And as for with I typically use, I find myself using the 2 point sling more and more. But again, it comes down to personal preference for you.

For more on holsters and carrying EDC, please check out these links:

• EDC Holster Review – Tactical Rig Osborn Holster
• 7 Rules for carrying your EDC Firearm

Optics

I believe fully in training with and being able to shoot with iron sights. But quality optics will make your handgun, rifle, and even shotgun much more effective. From easier target acquisition, to clearer sight picture, to easier follow-up shots, I would say a solid optic is almost a necessity….almost!

When deciding what optic best works for you, decide what the purpose of your firearm will be. Then pick the optic that will best help you accomplish that task. In addition, determine which reticle you need. Is it a Red dot? Crosshairs? Etc.

I would highly recommend getting a durable optic. Many optics, even some high-end ones, are not designed for rough and rugged use. But in an emergency setting, especially those potential life or death situations, your optic could get banged around. This could cause some lower tier optics to not be able to hold zero.

I have written quite a bit on choosing the right optic for you, and I don’t want to completely rehash it here. Instead, I would encourage you to check out this article for more details if you missed it! 6 things to consider when buying an optic

Lights/Lasers

In addition to optics, lights and lasers can improve your shooting and could possibly save your life. Not all gun battles are at high noon. So you need to be prepared for lowlight and no light situations. You are responsible for every round that you fire, and you need to be sure that what you are aiming at is a threat to you and/or your family. Being able to illuminate your target could be the difference in hitting the bad guy vs shooting the neighbors dog!

A bright light can also temporarily blind or disorientate your assailant. My personal favorite is the OLIGHT PL-Mini 2 Valkyrie. This 2 inch by 1.25 inch light (weighing only 2.5 oz) puts on 600 lumens out to 100 meters. It is adjustable to both Picatinny and Glock rails, with a simple “easy on, easy off” lever. It is rechargeable with a USB magnetic charging port located at the bottom of the light. 

If you want to spend a bit more, Crimson Trace makes a light/laser combo well worth the money, the Crimson Trace CMR-205 Rail Master Pro. The ambidextrous Tap-On/Tap-Off controls are very easy to use. It fits most pistols, rifles, and shotguns with M1913 Picatinny or similar Accessory Rail, and is fairly easy to install.

Keep in mind that this light is not rechargeable. It is powered by a CR2 battery, which lasts about 2 hours. So I’d recommend checking it from time to time, and having a back up battery just in case.

I would not say that the lights and lasers are a necessity. But they make identifying and hitting your target a bit easier. So I’d rather have them than not.

Training Aids

I preach about firearms training all the time. Shooting firearms in not like riding a bike. This skill can and will get rusty.

So get out to your range regularly. Practice shooting from several different shooting positions, including standing, kneeling, and prone positions. Vary your course of fire. Try shooting two to the chest and one to the head as quickly as you can. Then try three shots center mass in 2 seconds. Maybe try this at the one foot line and then at the 10 yard line. When you find yourself becoming comfortable with a course of fire, change it to something else. Vary the number of rounds, the amount of time, and the distance to the target.

For more on firearms training, click on these links:

• Firearms Training – It is a MUST!
• 9 firearm training tips to help you survive a deadly encounter
• 5 Problems You’ll Experience as a Handgun Novice

I know that ammo can get expensive, and at times is very hard to find. But there other things you can do to help improve your skill. One thing I recommend is to spend time dry firing. This will help with your sight alignment and your trigger control.

I have a Laserlyte Laser Trainer Cartridge I use at least once a week. These come in most standard handgun calibers, and will work in ANY semi auto pistol in that same caliber. These are great for trigger control and sight alignment practice! It has certainly helped me.

I also found that Splatter targets (click link for details) helped me to more quickly identify where my shots were landing on the target. My boys also loved shooting at them, which encouraged them to come shoot with me more often.

Are there other firearm accessories that might be overlooked or not listed here? Let us know in the comments below.

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