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I’m willing to bet that many of us, regardless of whether we are male or female, if we love shooting today and grew up exposed to the proper way to handle firearms as a kid, we have a father to thank for introducing us to the sport. Whether it was an early foray into the woods to hunt, a visit...

For today’s concealed carry-minded gunowner, a good holster is as important as the handgun itself, just as a good scope is to a rifle for a big game hunter. But knowing what holster to choose can be mind boggling as there are probably even more holster choices than there are handgun models. Besides finding one that fits your carry gun perfectly, a gunowner needs to determine how they want to wear the firearm, what materials and design they would like the holster to have and even things like how often they plan to carry the firearm and how secure do they need it to be. For most carry practitioners, a firearm carried on the strongside (shooting hand side) of their body, makes the most sense for both comfort and ease of access should they ever need to quickly draw the gun for protection. Inside-the-waistband (IWB) holsters worn inside the top of the pants can be great for maximizing concealment, but lousy for comfort (and style) if you need to wear your pants a size or two larger in order to accommodate the space needed for the handgun. If you’re toting some extra pounds around the midsection, an IWB holster might definitely prove to be not always the most comfortable option, either. Reholstering a firearm into an IWB holster can also be tricky and potentially dangerous if you don’t properly practice it as many people naturally point the gun back into their hip as they attempt to find the opening in which to slide the firearm. Continue reading →

With the new year always comes the announcement of new products and The Mako Group’s collection of companies have a lot to offer shooters in 2016. Just a few of the new offerings from The Make Group brands, FAB Defense, E-Lander Mags, Front Line holsters, RTS Targets and Meprolight include: Meprolight TRU-DOT RDS This new product has great quality and value is an unbeatable combination for anybody, particularly a shooting enthusiast looking to trick out his tactical rifle with a pinpoint accurate red dot sight. The TRU-DOT RDS was developed in Israel and is now available in the states at the ridiculously great low price of $399. Combat quality for a price a working man can afford will make this compact, energy-efficient and rugged red dot a must-have for your tactical rifle. Continue reading →

When it comes to shooting enthusiasts, there is no such thing as the person who has everything. There are certainly plenty of guys and women who have a lot of stuff, including firearms of every caliber, ammo, shooting accessories and more, but everything? Not a chance. That’s why if you are buying for the gun lover in your life, your...

A sling is sometimes left out of the discussion when it comes to essential accessories for your tactical rifle, but you can bet whether your firearm’s purpose is hunting, self-defense, competition or just plain shooting fun, a sling will make your long gun far more functional and comfortable to carry. Fortunately, unlike a traditional rifle that generally is carried with a single-design, two-point attachment sling, fastened toward the rear of the stock and at the front of the forend and must be slung over a shoulder. Tactical firearms give the shooter options. FAB Defense, which offers Israeli Defense Forces slings in three styles, offers this insight on what to consider when choosing the best sling for your rifle and your situation: Continue reading →

Go on any message board or jump into a discussion about what makes the best home defense gun with your buddies the next time you’re at the range and you’re sure to hear a number of opinions. Shotguns—most often pump actions or semi-autos—are a top choice of many practitioners due to the spread of pellets making precise aiming a little less of a concern under duress, as well as a perceived lack of pass through on walls. For others, particularly concealed carry permit holders, the portability and familiarity of the handgun they carry is the way to go even in the home. But as AR-style rifles have become more popular with recreational shooters and collectors, it’s important to note that this most versatile of tactical weapons also makes for an efficient and dependable firearm to use in home defense situations as well. Here are five great reasons ARs make a great choice. Continue reading →

During a training session in Arizona at GPS Defense Sniper School, which originally offered courses in tactical AR shooting and tactical handgun as well, instructors were teaching us the proper hold for an AR in a combative situation. Most of the students in attendance that day were more hunters and traditional bolt-gun guys than semi-auto pros, but everyone was eager to learn more and become better shots. Many of the initial drills involved turning toward a stationary target and firing squared off toward the target as if wearing body armor, crouching and firing three-shot bursts. Many of us continued to want to grip the forend like that of a shotgun, the rifle resting firmly in the upward turned, U-grip of the non-dominant hand. For better control, however, we were taught to reach to the front end of the rail, in effect, pulling the rifle tightly back into the shoulder as we fired. The grip definitely provided better aim stability and firing control, especially when releasing multiple bursts. Continue reading →

Shooting targets is fun. Shooting targets on a course that allows you to move and challenge your abilities mimicking combative scenarios is even more fun. Add a mix of stationary and reactive targets and you have the makings for one heck of a fun day on the range, what’s more, if you have a personal place to shoot such as your own rural piece of property (a friend’s land will work just fine), you can build your own course and create your own challenges. 3-Gun, a timed competition that combines shooting targets at various stages with a handgun, shotgun and a rifle, is one of the fastest growing shooting competitions in America. Recreating some of the action of the sport on a down-sized personal course is easy. Continue reading →

Rapid target acquisition—it can be everything in competition or a defensive situation—and it’s a great idea even when having fun. Even when a person has a high-end firearm and top-quality ammo, it is meaningless if the shooter can’t make his aim line up properly with his target. And this is where the Tru-DOT RDS, red dot reflex sight truly excels. With a crisp, bright aiming point that aligns easily with a target even when the shooter’s hold on the firearm is imperfect, a red dot allows for simple, two eyes-open aiming. Typically, with little to no magnification, they are ideal for both CQB situations and short-range firing on stationary as well as mobile targets. But don’t think of them as a mere short-range option. For the shooter with good vision, they can be quite accurate out to 400 yards according to one former combat veteran I spoke with. Continue reading →

Looking at the unloaded firearms spread neatly in the bed of the pick-up truck that day, I had the shotgun, the .22, two handguns (a 9mm and a .45) and an AR. I immediately discounted the two handguns, they were too much for such small hands and muscles. He had handled the .22 just fine and he had even fired a couple of target loads through the shotgun one previous occasion, but it was still a little much for him. I was going to have him shoot it using a Lead Sled. I didn’t want to risk the recoil beating him up and making him frightened to shoot. It’s important at this stage of teaching a young shooter to keep it fun or you could lose that shooter for life. I looked at the AR. It was lightweight, packs a soft recoil and had an adjustable stock that could be instantly slid in to fit his length of pull. It made perfect sense! Continue reading →