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AR-15 Rifles, Pistols & Tactical Gear | Gun Store in Roanoke, TX

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Self Defense

Before we talk gun control, five things worth considering

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Every time there’s a tragedy, the gun control debate starts back up before the facts are even in. I’m Lance Rankin. I own Western Sport, a gun shop in Roanoke, Texas, so you know where I stand, and you can weigh my bias accordingly. But I’d ask anyone, on any side of this, to think through five practical points in the gun control debate before we start restricting people who’ve done nothing wrong.

1. Lock the doors first

It sounds almost too simple, but in incident after incident, the shooter walked in through an unsecured entrance. A propped door, an unlocked side entrance, an unmonitored front office. Controlled access points, decent locks, and monitored entryways aren’t glamorous policy, and nobody gets on cable news for proposing them. They’re also the cheapest, least controversial safety measure available, and we still haven’t finished doing it.

2. Put trained, armed people inside the building

After the major school attacks of the past few decades, law enforcement doctrine changed completely. The old approach was to contain and wait. The new approach is immediate engagement, because every minute an active threat goes unopposed costs lives. That lesson points somewhere uncomfortable for some people: the fastest response comes from someone already inside the building. Whether that’s a school resource officer, trained administrators, or teachers who volunteer and qualify, an armed defender on site beats one who’s four minutes out. Four minutes is an eternity.

3. Look hard at where the money goes

Hardening schools costs real money. Access control, security staff, training, cameras. Then look at what we spend securing buildings and interests overseas, and ask why the school down the street still has a broken lock on the east door. I’m not making a foreign policy argument. I’m making a priorities argument. Protecting kids at home is a direct, measurable investment, and it shouldn’t be the budget line that gets cut first.

4. The first responder is whoever’s already there

We call police and paramedics “first responders,” but that’s not quite accurate. They respond after someone calls them. The actual first responder to any emergency is whoever is standing there when it happens. Usually that’s an ordinary citizen. This isn’t a knock on law enforcement. It’s just arithmetic and geography, and it’s the reason I take my customers’ training questions as seriously as their purchase questions. If you’re thinking about your own household, my home invasion guide is a sober place to start.

5. Don’t handicap the people on scene

Follow the logic through. Police arrive second or third, carrying rifles and handguns with standard capacity magazines, because those are the appropriate tools for stopping a violent threat. If that’s what the second responder needs, it’s hard to argue the actual first responder, the law-abiding citizen already on scene, should be limited to less. Magazine caps and bans on common defensive rifles fall hardest on exactly the person the rest of the system is too far away to help.

Where I land in the gun control debate

I sell firearms for a living and I run background checks all day, every day, so nobody wants dangerous people disarmed more than I do. But most of what gets proposed after a tragedy targets my customers, not the threat. Locked doors, trained defenders on site, honest funding priorities, and an armed, law-abiding public are measures that actually shorten the distance between a threat appearing and a threat being stopped.

If you’ve decided to take responsibility for your own household, do it right: get training, and pick equipment that fits you. The gun control debate will keep going either way; your safety plan does not have to wait on it. My guides on home defense handguns and setting up a home defense AR-15 are honest starting points, and I’m happy to talk it through at the shop. Call 817-393-4000 and ask for Lance.

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Hawaii’s ‘Aloha Spirit’ ruling heads to the Supreme Court

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Lance Rankin here, owner of Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas. The video above is from Washington Gun Law, and it walks through one of the stranger Second Amendment cases in recent memory: the Hawaii Supreme Court’s ruling that the “Aloha Spirit” apparently outweighs the U.S. Constitution. That case, Wilson v. Hawaii, has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Second Amendment Foundation filed an amicus brief that lays out the stakes about as clearly as anyone could. This is my summary of their argument, with credit to Washington Gun Law for the breakdown.

What Hawaii’s court did

On February 7, 2024, the Hawaii Supreme Court held that there is no constitutional right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense. Not a narrow ruling about permits or sensitive places. A flat declaration that the right doesn’t exist outside your home, dressed up with language about the state’s “Aloha Spirit.”

The problem is that the U.S. Supreme Court has already answered this question. Heller and the cases that followed it recognize a right to carry a firearm outside the home for lawful purposes, including self-protection. A state court doesn’t get to disagree with that any more than I get to disagree with the tax code.

The Supremacy Clause argument

The SAF brief rests on the Supremacy Clause, which makes federal law and federal court rulings controlling over state law and state courts. The way it works is simple enough that I explain it to customers at the counter: U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of constitutional rights set a floor. A state can protect rights more generously than the federal minimum if its own constitution allows. Washington State, for instance, gives its residents stronger protection against searches than the Fourth Amendment requires. What a state cannot do is dip below the floor.

Hawaii went below the floor and planted a flag there. If its court had read the right to carry more broadly than federal precedent, nobody would have a case. It read the right out of existence instead, and that’s the whole dispute.

Why this matters outside Hawaii

The SAF argues the Supreme Court should take the case not only for Hawaii’s citizens but to put other defiant lower courts on notice. New York, Illinois, and California have all passed laws that test the edges of Bruen-era precedent, but Hawaii is currently alone in refusing to recognize any public carry right at all. Let one state court get away with ignoring a direct Supreme Court holding and you’ve taught every other one that the precedent is optional. That’s bad for gun owners, and honestly it’s bad for anyone who ever expects a court to follow rules it dislikes.

Where it stands

As of this writing, the petition is in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and we’re waiting to see whether the justices take it, summarily reverse it, or let it sit. Court dockets move slowly and this post will age, so check the current status of Wilson v. Hawaii before you cite it in an argument. And if you want the full legal detail, go watch the Washington Gun Law video and read the SAF brief yourself rather than taking my word for it.

Here in Texas we have it considerably better. If you’re new to carrying, my guides on Texas constitutional carry and the Texas LTC cover what the law actually allows. Know the law where you live and where you travel. It’s part of the job of owning a gun.

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Smith & Wesson Shield Plus Carry Comp Review

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Smith & Wesson’s Shield Plus Carry Comp has been generating buzz since it dropped, and the video below is one of the more honest early range reviews I’ve seen. The shooting and the round count are the reviewer’s, not mine, but I sell Shields regularly here at Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas, so I’ll add a dealer’s perspective. I’m Lance Rankin, owner and gunsmith.

What you’re getting

This is a 4-inch Shield Plus with a single-port compensator, shipping with 10, 12, and 15-round magazines, so you can run a flush mag for deep concealment or the big stick for capacity. The slide is cut for Shield RMS pattern optics, mounting a micro red dot directly with no plates. You also get tritium-front HD sights with a blacked-out rear, aggressive slide serrations, a Performance Center flat-face trigger, and upgraded grip texture.

The number that jumps out is 17 ounces. That’s a comped, optics-ready 15+1 9mm that weighs noticeably less than a Glock 19, priced around $650. On paper it’s one of the strongest value plays in the micro-comp category; the reviewer compares it against SIG’s P365 Spectre Comp, which runs similar features at $1,100 and up.

How it ran

Mostly well, with two caveats worth knowing about. The gun grouped nicely at 7 and 10 yards even shooting fast, the compensator visibly tamed muzzle flip, and there were no failures to fire or eject across the first 200 rounds. The 4-inch barrel also buys a little extra velocity over the 3-inch Shield, which helps hollow points expand the way they’re designed to; pick a good load from my 9mm self-defense ammo guide either way.

Now the caveats. First, the slide repeatedly failed to lock back on empty magazines, across multiple mags. Second, a magazine base plate popped off during a reload. The captive base plate design is better than older Shields, but “better” isn’t the same as “solved.” Neither issue stopped the gun from firing, but both are the kind of thing you want sorted before a pistol rides in a holster for real.

The reviewer also flags a stiff recoil spring. It’s almost certainly there to keep a 17-ounce comped gun controllable, but it makes the slide harder to rack. If you have arthritis or limited hand strength, handle one before buying. That’s true of most micro nines, and it’s half of why I always tell customers to dry-handle a gun at the counter before falling in love with a spec sheet.

My take from the counter

The Shield Plus platform has been a quiet workhorse for years, and the Carry Comp brings the features people actually ask for, comp, optic cut, good trigger, real capacity, at a price the competition can’t touch. The early hiccups in this review are worth watching, and the reviewer plans another 750 rounds before a final verdict, which is exactly the right approach. My standing advice for any new carry gun: run a few hundred rounds of your actual defensive load through it before you trust it, whatever the brand.

Shopping this class of pistol? My Glock 43 vs 43X comparison covers the other side of the aisle, and the best 9mm handguns under $500 roundup has options if $650 stretches the budget. We can order the Shield Plus Carry Comp for pickup here in Roanoke; call 817-393-4000.

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AR-15 vs AK-47: Which Is Better for Home Defense?

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Full disclosure before we start: I’m Lance Rankin, owner and gunsmith at Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas, and AR-15s are my specialty. I build them, repair them, and sell them every week. So yes, I have a horse in this race. I’ll still give the AK its due, because it’s earned it, and then I’ll tell you which one I’d actually keep by the bed.

Two very different design philosophies

Eugene Stoner designed the AR-15 to be light, accurate, and modular: aluminum receivers, polymer furniture, tight tolerances. Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK-47 to run no matter what: stamped steel, wood, and loose tolerances that let it digest mud, sand, and neglect. The old sports car vs pickup truck comparison is a cliche because it’s true. The AR is a precision instrument that rewards care; the AK is a crowbar that happens to shoot.

The cartridges

Spec 7.62x39mm (AK) 5.56x45mm (AR)
Bullet weight ~123 gr ~55-77 gr
Muzzle velocity ~2,350 fps ~3,000+ fps
Muzzle energy ~1,550 ft-lbs ~1,250 ft-lbs
Practical range ~400 yards ~600 yards

The 7.62×39 is the heavier hammer: more energy up close, more of a shove on your shoulder, more of a rainbow trajectory. The 5.56 is light and fast, shoots flat, and with the right loads tends to fragment or tumble when it hits, dumping energy quickly instead of sailing on through. That last part matters a lot in a minute.

Reliability

The AK’s reputation is deserved. Its long-stroke piston vents dirty gas away from the action, and those loose tolerances mean it keeps running filthy. The AR’s direct impingement system blows gas back into the receiver, so carbon builds up where the work happens. Here’s the honest gunsmith’s view, though: a quality modern AR that’s lubricated will run thousands of rounds without a hiccup. The ARs that come across my bench choking are almost always bone dry or bargain-basement builds. The AK forgives neglect; the AR just asks you not to neglect it.

Accuracy and recoil

No contest here. A decent factory AR shoots 1 to 3 MOA and a good one under 1; most AKs live in the 3 to 5 MOA range. Inside a house neither matters much, but the AR’s lighter recoil and flatter muzzle do. Faster, easier follow-up shots, friendlier for new shooters and smaller-framed family members who may also need to run the rifle. The AK’s push is manageable, just more work.

Accessories and ergonomics

Home defense happens in the dark, and a white light on the gun is not optional; you have to identify what you’re pointing at. The AR makes this trivial: rails everywhere, lights and red dots bolt on in minutes, and the controls sit right under your thumb and trigger finger. Mounting the same gear on an AK means aftermarket handguards, side rails, and compromise. It’s gotten better, but it’s still a project instead of a purchase. My home defense optics guide covers what’s worth mounting.

Cost

Funny thing: the old “AKs are cheap” rule died years ago. Import restrictions pushed decent AKs to $600 to $1,000, right on top of good entry-level ARs, and 7.62×39 no longer embarrasses 5.56 on price the way it once did. Budget shouldn’t drive this decision anymore.

The home defense verdict

For most people, the AR-15, and over-penetration is the deciding factor. Every rifle round will go through drywall, but quality 5.56 defensive loads fragment and shed energy much faster through building materials than a 123-grain 7.62×39 bullet does. If you have kids down the hall or neighbors close by, that difference is worth taking seriously. Add the easier accessory mounting, softer recoil, and controls your whole family can learn quickly, and the AR is the better tool for the job. An AK in trained hands will absolutely defend a home; it’s just working harder to do what the AR does naturally.

If you’re starting from zero, my best AR-15 for beginners guide narrows the field, the home defense AR-15 setup post covers ammo and configuration, and if you’d rather build than buy, how to build an AR-15 walks you through it. We do custom AR builds and Cerakote in-house, and I’m always glad to talk you through the choice in person. Call 817-393-4000 or come by the shop in Roanoke.

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Shooting Through Car Windows: Calibers and Glass Performance

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What actually happens when a bullet hits a windshield? The video below runs a proper test: multiple calibers against automotive glass with high-speed cameras catching the results. The testing is theirs, not mine, but I’ve spent enough years around ballistics as a gunsmith to add some context. I’m Lance Rankin, owner of Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas.

Why windshields are weird

Side and rear windows are tempered glass, built to shatter into pellets. Windshields are laminated: layers of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer, curved and raked at an angle. That combination deflects bullets, strips jackets, and sends a cloud of glass along for the ride. Angle matters enormously; a head-on hit behaves nothing like a shot taken across the hood.

What the testing showed

.22LR: The surprise of the video. Fired from a rifle, it punched through the windshield intact, dragging plenty of glass with it. Don’t ever assume a windshield stops even the smallest rounds.

9mm: FMJ made it through but had its jacket shaved off by the glass. The hollow point actually did a bit better, expanding roughly as designed. The bigger takeaway was deflection: the testers note a bullet can wander anywhere from a few inches to nearly a foot for every foot of travel after the glass. Point of aim and point of impact part ways fast.

5.56: M855 green tip, with its steel penetrator, stayed largely intact and tumbled on exit, handling the glass well. The 77-grain OTM broke up more but still delivered a serious impact.

7.62×39: The AK round’s 123-grain bullet fragmented some but had the mass to push through convincingly.

.308: Fired from a SCAR-H, both M80 ball and 168-grain match went through like the glass wasn’t there, shattering it violently and sending fragments downrange at speed.

Shotgun: A rifled slug went straight through with minimal deflection. Buckshot pellets scattered and deflected like handgun rounds. If a shotgun has to defeat a barrier, the slug is the tool.

My takeaways

Three things stand out. First, glass changes everything: bullet construction that performs beautifully in bare gelatin can come apart on a windshield, which is why barrier performance matters when picking defensive ammo. My best 9mm self-defense ammo guide leans toward loads that hold together. Second, the glass itself becomes a projectile; anyone inside a car that’s being shot through is taking fragments regardless of caliber. Third, for a defensive rifle, this testing is another point in favor of 5.56 with quality ammo. It handled the barrier fine, and the capacity and recoil advantages over .308 are real. I dig into rifle choices in my home defense AR-15 setup and 5.56 vs 300 Blackout posts.

Last thing, and it matters: this is ballistics education, not a suggestion. Shooting at or from a vehicle carries enormous legal weight, and self-defense law around cars is unforgiving of bad judgment. Get real training before you ever need any of this, and know your state’s law cold.

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