Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Spooktacular Halloween Safety Guide
Happy Halloween! I know a lot of you will be out with your youngsters tonight foraging for candy. Here’s how to do it safely.
NOVEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
The monthly Rangemaster journal. Lots of must-read material here. Opens to PDF.
Post-Auto Accident Procedures — Citizen-Defender
Watch the video and pay attention to the advice John gives us.
When A Mistake Becomes A Tragedy: The Shooting Of Columbus State Professor Erica Anderson
Shooting your roommate is poor form. Unfortunately, too many gun owners fail to properly identify potential threats in situations like this. You’ll also want to read Claude Werner’s thoughts on mistaken identity shootings in Another Mistaken Identity Shooting and Killing.
Fanny pack carry. Glock 43x
Rhett shares some tips for effective fanny pack carry. The pack he is carrying is the Eberlestock Bando Bag. I have one and it works very well.
Handguns: Pack for Success
What kind of gear should you bring with you to gun school?
IS YOUR CARBINE’S ZERO WRONG?
A good summary of the issues involved in AR-15 zeroing.
Revolver Fest 2025 After Action Review
A couple weeks ago I taught at the first annual RevolverFest in South Carolina. Here is Justin’s very thorough review of the event. For some more RevolverFest content, watch What bullet for defensive carry in Snub Nose Revolvers? Gel Testing with Chuck Haggard.
If you like Justin’s writing, you may also enjoy his piece about NPE Carry: The S&W Bodyguard 2.0 vs. J-Frame Revolvers.
Revolver Reliability
While we are on the topic of revolvers, you should read Tam’s thoughts on revolver reliability.
The Failure Drill — What It Is And Why It’s Critical
Most of you think of revolvers as historical artifacts. I think history is very important. Do you know the history and rationale behind one of the most common shooting drills in firearms training? Darryl breaks it down for you in this article.
While on the topic of historical drills, you should also understand the genesis of The Tueller Drill.
Our Gift to You: Best of 2025—In Classic Magazine Format
If you couldn’t tell from the last few links, I really enjoy firearms history. If you are like me, you will treasure the work that the guys from Gun Tales are putting out. Their stories remind me of the days of my youth reading Skeeter Skelton’s articles in the gun magazines instead of doing my math homework. I think the work they produce is well worth the small subscription price. Check out these freebies and then sign up to see the rest of their material.
“Am I Overreacting?” How Women Can Tell If Someone Is Really a Threat
A good discussion about boundaries. Also on the topic of criminal psychology, you might want to read this article about how you walk can change your perceived status as a victim.
What I’m reading…
Nonprofit Security Grant Program
A lot of my readers are on church security teams. Did you know that FEMA provides grants up to $200,000 for church (and other non-profits) infrastructure protection measures? Here is a link to the program.
30-30 and 300 BLK in Ballistic Gel. 100 yards and 30 yards
Gelatin testing comparing the terminal ballistics of the .30-30 in comparison to the .300 Blackout. While we are talking about .30-30 rifles, you may also like Lever-Action Rifle Considerations.
I just took Everytown’s online firearm training course …
Ever wonder what an anti-gun organization’s firearms training curriculum looks like. Here’s an insider report.
POM Pepper Spray Pocket Clip
POM is the brand of pepper spray that I carry with me every day. The canister is small with good ergonomics. The spray is very hot. POM is having a rare 33% off sale on their bulk packs. Buy the 5-pack. You can give your extra canisters to needy friends.
How to Become a Firearms Instructor | Getting Started [2025]
Discussing the many pathways to becoming a solid instructor.
How to Use a Flashlight for Armed Self-Defense
Exactly.
“The problem with low light defensive techniques: they’re based around shooting, not searching. Most gun owners fail to put a significant amount of time and resources into learning how to search in the dark.”
You might also like Jeff’s piece on Civilian Preparedness for Active Shooters.
Optics 101: MILs vs. MOA | Tactical Wire
A simple explanation of a concept that confuses a lot of beginners in the precision rifle shooting world.
ASP Fan Absolutely Dominates Armed Robber
The idea of “waiting your turn” or “malicious compliance” in a violent attack is one of the more difficult topics to teach.
Reported Crime May Be Falling At A Historic Rate In The US
Let’s hope the trend continues.
How to Operate a Pistol’s Manual Thumb Safety
Some basics for those of you new to the world of single action semi-automatic handguns.
Pay Attention to Your Grip – The Armory Life
Mike Boyle’s thought on proper firearms grip.
Baseline + Anomaly = Decision
Establishing a proper baseline for “normal” behavior is one of the most critical component of situational awareness. This podcast covers everything you need to know. We think we know what is “normal” but that really varies depending on location and time of day. I use information like this to establish my standard operating procedures for avoiding criminal victimization in public parking lots. Taking just a few seconds to mentally adjust to the baseline is critically important in order to be able to notice any aberrations.
Deer Processors | National Deer Association
Deer hunting season has begun or will begin soon in many parts of the country. This website shows you where you might be able to find the closest deer meat processing facility so you can eat well after your harvest.
Proper Use of the Police Baton or Nightstick
A 1963 police night stick training video. There are a few old school bone crushing moves there. It’s interesting to note that the instruction was to strike the body’s “most vulnerable targets.” In most modern police baton work, those targets are specifically prohibited. Wonder why cops don’t use their sticks as often as they used to? Because they just aren’t as effective when you are required to strike the suspect in an area that doesn’t cause any damage.
Concealed Carry Training: Why Overconfident Carriers Fail
Some things you should be thinking about and some core competencies you should develop before carrying a concealed handgun.
Motor Learning and Firearms Training: Why Good Reps Matter Most
A discussion about motor learning principles in the context of firearms training and why short-form video content may not be the best way to learn important skill sets.
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