In this week’s mailbag, we cover…
Body armor for everyday wear…
What you must do if your Social Security number is stolen…
VPN for your smartphone – yes or no?…
My personal stance on reloading…
Ammunition recommendation, and what to consider for your gun…
Staying safe while sleeping with your windows open…
Let’s dive in…
Do you recommend a comfortable, everyday body armor that can be worn by civilians?
–David W
Answer: Talk to any police officer and they’ll tell you that wearing body armor everyday is incredibly uncomfortable. It’s hot, sweaty, and burdensome when you’re trying to move around.
But if you really want to try out body armor for yourself, check out a company called Safeguard Clothing. They produce a body armor called CoolMax that sells for around $300.
What should you do if your Social Security # has been stolen?
– Darrell T
Answer: Unfortunately, this is becoming all too common these days. Your Social Security number can be used to commit a vast number of crimes, so it’s a prime target of criminals.
Just know if yours is stolen, it can be a mess to straighten out. And it will take time and effort on your part.
You’ll want to do two things immediately:
Freeze your credit, and file a police report.
Next, report the theft of your Social Security number to the Federal Trade Commission. And contact the Social Security Administration to get a new Social Security number.
Finally, monitor your credit report every month to make sure there are no fraudulent charges.
Should I use a virtual private network (VPN) for my smartphone? And if so, how do I use it?
–Mark D
Answer: I definitely recommend using a VPN on your smartphone. These days smartphones and tablets can be targeted with viruses and hacked just like a computer.
Depending on the type smartphone you have, you can go to the app store and download a VPN app for your phone.
For example, with an IPhone, simply go to the app store and search VPN. You’ll see many reputable companies with VPN apps for your smartphone.
Once you’ve downloaded a VPN, log in anytime you’re using the internet on your phone to keep yourself safe.
Do you reload ammo? If not, why?
–Steven H
Answer: Personally, I’m more confident in the big ammo companies, compared to my own reloaded ammo.
I know people who reload ammo and are very good at it. On the other hand, I have a family member who spent countless hours reloading thousands of rounds, only to find out the powder was a little off and the ammo was unusable.
So if you’re going to reload ammo, you need to know exactly what you’re doing.
There are many factors to deal with when you’re talking about bullet size and weight, types of powder and grains to load, the cartridge and number of times it’s been reloaded, primers, etc.
You can’t just watch a five-minute YouTube video about and think your ammo reloads will be top-notch. Reloading is a skill that takes time and study to master.
Bottom Line: If I’m ever involved in a self-defense situation I want to have complete trust in my ammo.
Big ammo manufacturers have numerous safety inspections in place to help ensure their ammo is as consistent and dependable as possible. This is why quality ammo rarely has any issues.
And it’s why I use manufactured ammo versus reloading my own.
Hi Jason, I recently purchased the Masada 9mm, what type of ammo would you recommend for this firearm?
–Deborah C
Answer: In my opinion, a hollow point bullet is one of the most effective self-defense rounds.
The bullet expands on impact and delivers all its energy into whatever it hits, causing more damage than a regular round and reduces over-penetration.
Another factor to consider when selecting ammo is the weight of the bullet. A lighter bullet travels faster, and typically penetrates more. A heavier bullet travels slower and usually penetrates less.
I would recommend a bullet weight that is somewhere in the middle such as 124 grain to get the best of both worlds.
Some of the ammunition I personally use is Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST. Both of these brands are available in different calibers and I carry them as my self-defense rounds.
I like to leave a couple windows open at night, but then there is only a screen for safety. Any suggestions?
–Carol P
Answer: I don’t recommend sleeping with a window open. It makes it too easy for someone to get inside.
First floor windows can provide criminals easy access into your home. Window screens can be popped out in seconds, or silently cut, so they’re all but worthless as a deterrent.
However, I realize some people depend on open windows for airflow during the warmer months.
So if you must sleep with your window open, think about installing a security grille on the window. These are similar to the bars on windows but they look a little better.
You could also install security screens, which are incredibly strong yet still allow airflow. These security screens are more expensive than the security grilles, but are options you should consider if you’re going to leave your windows open at night.
