Top Handgun-Carbine Combos
Owning a handgun and rifle chambered for the same cartridge made sense for 1880s cowpokes, and it still does for today’s self-defenders.
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Best Ammo & Guns For The Backwoods
Whether you seek out wild places to hunt or hike, it’s critical to carry a suitable sidearm paired with dependable ammunition when you step off the beaten path.
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Choosing The Right Compact Pistol Load
When it comes to effective defense, what you feed your compact carry pistol is at least as important as the firearm itself. Here’s how to make the right call.
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The 10 Best Concealed Carry Combos For New Shooters
Select a handgun you are comfortable carrying and shooting, and then pair it with the right ammunition for the most effective self-defense.
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The Great 38
It might be overshadowed by faster modern rounds, but the 38 Special remains a heavyweight in the realm of handgun cartridges. Learn why.
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How To Train Versus Simply Shoot
True training differs considerably from recreation. Shooters who want to become more proficient need to use the right ammo and focus on these practices.
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Take Training To The Next Level
Hunter safety and concealed carry classes cover the basics of shooting, but it’s worth spending the extra time and money to continue your firearms education.
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A Closer Look At 380 Auto
One of today’s most popular—and perhaps more controversial—cartridges has a history that stretches back more than 100 years.
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Less-Common Carry
Even the most tried and true carry positions won’t work for all shooters, all the time. We break down some of the more lightly used ones.
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Choose Your Carry Position
There are many options for carrying a handgun, but which one is right for you? Take a deeper look at a few of the most common carry positions and their pros and cons.
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The Lost Art Of Pistol Practice
Don’t make the mistake of believing that spending more money on guns and gear is a substitute for time at the range.
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Managing Recoil
Recoil is a fact of life, but the best shooters learn to manage it effectively. Here’s how.
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How FBI Protocol Testing Changed Ammunition
In the aftermath of a deadly shootout in Miami in 1986, the FBI established a new set of guidelines for bullet performance that continue to impact modern defensive bullet design.
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Why You Should Start Reloading
Handloading lets you tailor rounds to your firearm and keep ammunition in your grasp during market swings, but that’s just the beginning.
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Breaking Bad Habits
From concealed carry to competition and hunting, the small mistakes we make can reduce accuracy and limit performance. Here’s how to diagnose those issues.
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Bonding Benefits
Bonding greatly reduces the odds of jacket and core separation, but what is bonding and why is it important to hunters and defenders?
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Improving Split Times
Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a new shooter, you can take simple steps to reduce split times for faster follow-up shots.
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Motion Management
Don’t let your firearm push you around. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley explains the best ways to keep recoil and wobble in check.
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Rediscover The 9mm Luger
Think you know everything about the cartridge that's defined handgun performance for generations of shooters? Think again. Learn more about how 9mm Luger came to be and why it still rules.
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Best Ammo For PCC Defense
Blending the best qualities of a handgun and rifle, pistol caliber carbines—or PCCs—are growing in popularity for defense and much more. Here’s the best ammo to protect with them.
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Three Basic Self-Defense Drills
Hone your skills with this trio of drills designed to emphasize the basic tenets of armed self-defense.
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See The Light
Mounting a flashlight on your self-defense pistol is a bright idea. Here’s why.
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Don’t Make These 3 Concealed Carry Mistakes
Carrying with a bunch of bad habits is arguably more dangerous than not carrying at all. Avoid these common pitfalls to ensure you’re an asset and not a liability.
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Getting Into Handgun Hunting
Think you’re up to the challenge of hunting with a handgun? Consider these key points to get started.
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Extend Your Range
Armed with better tools, ammunition and knowledge, hunters continue to push the range envelope. If you want to join them, this will get you started.
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The Big 10
The 10mm Auto has your back defending against everything from bad guys to bears. Discover how the legendary cartridge came to be and what it offers today.
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Why You Should Use An Anchor Point On Your AR
Shooting well requires consistent body mechanics. Professional shooter and Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley explains an easy way to ensure you place your non-dominant hand in the exact same spot for every shot.
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Choosing A Pistol Sight
Selecting the right sight system is one of the final components of an effective handgun platform. Let Speer ambassador Jim Gilliland guide your decision.
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The Speed-Accuracy Balancing Act
Shooting most effectively in the real world—whether for competition or defense—isn’t all about accuracy, nor is it just about speed. Speer ambassador and longtime competitive shooter Patrick Kelley crunches the numbers to illustrate the need to balance both of these factors.
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How To Deal With Cross-Dominance
A sizable portion of shooters are cross-dominant. Here’s how they can improve their game—without taping up their glasses.
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Get More From Your Rifle Sling
A rifle sling is an underappreciated tool. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley breaks down the most common sling styles and shares tricks that will make you shoot better with them.
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5 Rifle Maintenance Musts
Keep your favorite hunting rifles ready for any adventure, extend their longevity and boost their performance with these five easy steps.
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What If You Can’t See Your Red Dot?
Red dot optics only work when they’re property aligned with your eye, and newcomers sometimes struggle to find the dot. Professional shooter and Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley shows a fast, easy way to get perfect alignment every time..
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The Carry Gun Story
The physical constraints of concealed carry called for a new solution to defense: Gold Dot Carry Gun. We reveal the origin story behind the ammunition that’s changing protection..
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How To Switch Hands While Shooting
Switching hands is a commonly used skill in practical shooting—but many shooters do it wrong. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley reveals how to do it quickly and with complete control.
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Automatic Classic
It's a legend for a reason. Learn how the 45 Auto came to be and why it’s stood the test of time.
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How To Improve Your Draw
One of the most important aspects of practical shooting is the draw. To teach new shooters the task, Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley starts at the final shooting position and works backwards.
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What Size Pistol Platform?
Fit and feel are essential when choosing any firearm, but they’re especially important when lives are on the line. Here's how to size up pistols for how you shoot and defend.
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Where Should You Zero Your Handgun Optic?
If you’re debating the distance at which to zero your handgun’s optic, just listen to Patrick Kelley. The Speer ambassador reveals the zero that provides the best versatility for practical shooters.
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A New Way To Carry
With the same trusted power as 9mm Luger, yet more magazine capacity, the new 30 Super Carry cartridge is changing the way we defend.
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How To Understand Bore Offset
Where an optic looks and where the attached firearm’s bore is pointing are two different things. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley explains bore offset and how you need to account for it when you shoot at close range.
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Dealing With An Optic Failure
If a mechanical failure, dead batteries or other problem takes your red dot optic out of the game, you need to be prepared. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley demonstrates why practicing for this contingency is so important.
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What Happens When You Shoot With No Sights?
Physically and mentally, a lot goes into shooting a handgun without sights. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley explains the phenomenon and what you can learn from it.
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The 5.7x28mm Comes Of Age
It shoots soft, fast and is anything but ordinary. Learn all about the 5.7x28mm and discover how Speer has broken new ground for the up-and-coming cartridge.
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How To Install A Red Dot Optic
Get started on the right foot with your red dot optic by following these installation tips and tricks from Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley.
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Dog Catchers
Whether you’re managing predator populations or selling hides, loading the right coyote bullet is critical. We reveal the features to look for and specific models that get the job done.
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How To Master Gun Mount
The way you bring a firearm into position goes a long way toward deciding how fast and accurate you’ll shoot. Professional shooter and Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley reverse-engineers two common start positions for better precision.
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Why Clothing Matters
It sounds a little ridiculous, but if you find yourself in a self-defense situation, chances are your attacker will be wearing clothes. We explain why this matters and how it should guide your choice of ammunition.
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How To Choose An Optic For Your Carbine
The optic you choose for your carbine depends a lot on how you intend to use it. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley breaks down his top choices for defense, competition and more.
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Best Ammo For Compact Handguns
The best defense ammo for short-barrel handguns is not the same that you’d use to protect with a full-size. Learn what makes the top loads for compact handguns different and use that knowledge to buy the best ammo for your concealed pistol.
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Your First Pronghorn Hunt
Chasing this uniquely American animal is one of the most rewarding and affordable Western hunts.
Experience It
What Size Red Dot?
You’ll find red dot handgun optics in a wide range of dot size and reticle options, and the variety can be intimidating. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley runs through the differences and explains how to match dot size to your application.
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It All Begins With Bullet Choice
New to handgun reloading? Get started right by choosing the best bullet for the situation.
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Take 30 Super Carry For A Test Drive
Competitive shooter and Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley recently put the 30 Super Carry cartridge up against 9mm Luger in a head-to-head test for speed and handing. See what Kelley—and the stopwatch—had to say.
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Shoot Better Off a Bipod
There are few ways to shoot a rifle better than off a solid bipod. But you can always take it to the next level—just ask Speer ambassador Jim Gilliland.
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Super Carry: When Smaller Is Bigger
Now loaded in Speer Gold Dot ammunition, the new 30 Super Carry cartridge is tangible proof that smaller size can sometimes mean a bigger impact. Professional shooter and Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley crunches the numbers to show where 30 Super Carry holds an edge over other cartridges.
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How To Select The Best Big Game Bullet
Forget caliber or cartridge—bullet construction is the real deciding factor for performance in the field. We reveal the top component bullet designs for deer, elk and bears.
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How To Choose A Varmint Bullet
Whether you target predators or prairie dogs and smaller varmints, you’ll get the performance and precision you need with these projectile picks.
See Them
How To Avoid Bullet Setback
Repeated chambering of the same carry round can have unpleasant consequences. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley discusses how problems can arise and explains the easy way to avoid them.
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Pocket Carry Pointers
Different shooters carry different ways. If you plan to ever pocket carry, it’s important to know how do it right. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley explains the concepts and steps you need to pull it off effectively.
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Choosing The Right Self-Defense Bullet
The debate is over. The ammunition you choose is more important than the caliber.
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Drawing From Concealment
If the ultimate purpose in training is to protect yourself, then you’d better know how to draw from a concealed holster. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley breaks down the process for effective results.
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Make Your Move
Learning to move and shoot simultaneously is critical to surviving a deadly encounter. These drills will get you there.
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Breaking Down The Draw
Drawing a handgun from a holster seems simple, but doing it right requires stringing together several different motions. To build the most efficient draw, Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley starts at the target and works backward.
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Planning For The Worst
Tactics usually get all of the attention, but planning and preparation are what really save lives in home defense situations.
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Transition Work
With enough practice, placing accurate shots starts to become second nature—until you throw in multiple targets. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley reveals how to use your eyes to lead your gun for faster, more precise target transitions.
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Four Steps To Home-Invasion Survival
Sadly, break-ins happen. Our expert reveals his four-part process to prepare and deal with them.
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Moving On
In the real world, shooting from a fixed position is a luxury you don’t always have. Patrick Kelley explains how to use your legs to shoot faster and more accurately on the move.
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At-Home Carry Drills
You don't have to be at the range to work with your handgun and perfect your skills.
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The Write Stuff
Keeping a detailed shooter's journal and planning each shooting session is one of the best ways to reach your full potential.
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Prepare To Protect
Proficiency is only the first step to being able to use a firearm to effectively defend. Next, you need preparation and planning. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley explains how to use visualization to anticipate and be ready for any situation.
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Long Gun Home Defense
The AR-15 platform was born to protect—not to mention hunt, compete, plink and more. But consider this advice before you call on yours to defend your home and family.
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Shooting One-Handed
When shooting a handgun, nothing beats a rock-solid grip with both hands. But sometimes real-world defense, competition or other situations don’t allow that. Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley reveals how to get the most stability, consistency and accuracy while shooting one-handed.
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Real-World Defensive Stances
In a gunfight, there is no one-size-fits-all stance. You need to stay fluid and quick on your feet, and that means going beyond the standard isosceles.
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Shoot Better Without Shooting At All
Speer ambassador Patrick Kelley says the best shooters dry fire their handgun five to 10 times for every live round they send downrange. There’s a reason for this. He runs through the practice of dry fire and explains how to get the most from it.
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Mastering the Rifle Shot
Former sniper Jim Gilliland shares his checklist to rifle shooting mastery.
Learn His Must-Dos
How Often Should I Shoot?
Two experts address a great question that new and even established shooters are tempted to ask.
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Don’t Let Recoil Beat You Down
Firing a single accurate round with a handgun doesn’t require much recoil control. Firing back-to-back shots in fast succession is another matter. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley explains the mechanics of kick and how to manage it to shoot faster and more accurately.
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Rangefinder Rx
A laser rangefinder is a must-have item for the rifle hunter. But what do you do when you press the button and get no readout?
How To Cope
Perfect Practice
Most handgun shooters—especially newcomers—don’t make the most of their range time or ammunition. Two tactical experts share ways to not just shoot, but truly train.
Learn Their Drills
Quick & Dirty Gun Cleaning
Take care of your firearms and they’ll take care of you. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley breaks down the basic steps for cleaning both revolvers and semi-autos after a day at the range.
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Handgun Cartridge Reloading In Six Steps
There are few things more satisfying than acts of self-sufficiency. Crafting your own handgun loads is one of them—and it’s not nearly as complicated as newcomers might think.
Learn The Steps
Your First Trip To The Range
If you’re a new shooter, finding a range—and knowing what to do when you get there—can feel intimidating. But don’t let it get to you. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley walks you through exactly what you need to do to make sure your first trips to the range are safe and fun.
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Match Wits
Competition shooting will give you an edge should you find yourself in a life-or-death gunfight.
Discover How
Train Like You Mean It
Although you shouldn’t depend on target ammunition for protection, the training loads you choose could indirectly mean the difference between life and death in a self-defense situation. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Pat Kelley explains why and provides guidance on choosing the right training round.
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Fast Recovery
Whether you’re carrying a wheelgun or semi-auto, a rapid reload can be a critical component to any self-defense situation. These drills will ensure you’re ready.
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Size Up Your Ammo Selection
One important consideration shooters sometimes miss when selecting defensive ammo is the size of pistol they intend to use. Speer ambassador and professional shooter Patrick Kelley runs through the best options whether you carry a super-subcompact or rely on a full-size platform for home defense.
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Get Out Of A Jam
Whether you’re in a fight for your life or racing against the clock, you need to act when you press the trigger on your magazine-fed handgun and it doesn’t go bang. Be ready to clear any jam with these simple drills.
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The First Four Steps
New to shooting? You’re certainly not alone. We explain four fundamentals you’ll need to master to start your journey.
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What’s The Best Handgun Cartridge For Defense?
We settle the debate on what caliber is best for defense—but the answer will surprise you.
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Speed Zones
When you find yourself in a life-or-death situation, speed matters.
Accelerate Your Game
Metal Heads
Great for training and targets, rounds loaded with full metal jacket and Total Metal Jacket bullets are the bread and butter of shooting sports. But they’re not for everything. We explain where this ammunition should—and should not—be put to use.
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Concealed Revealed
There’s never been more interest in owning a handgun and carrying it concealed. We remove the roadblocks to help newcomers get started right.
Begin The Process
Surviving 2021
Times are uncertain. A former Marine and veteran police officer explains how to use training, awareness and tactical thinking to make it through 2021 and beyond.
How To Do It
Gear Saves Lives
Having the right ammunition and firearm is only half the battle.
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Load Your Own
Making your own ammo is fun, rewarding and will keep some green in your pocket.
Learn The Process
Take A Stand
A self-defense expert shares his seven-step process to survive a dangerous encounter.
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Being A Gunfighter When You Need To Be
Using a gun properly in an unexpected and extremely stressful situation takes lots of practice—and the right mindset. Make sure you’re prepared with advice from a self-defense expert.
Get Ready
When To Make A Change
Stop fighting it. If you’re struggling to find accuracy with your self-defense firearm and the joy of shooting is vanishing, make a change and make it now.
Learn How
When Small Is Powerful
Rimfire and self-defense are generally not said in the same breath. But Speer Gold Dot 22 WMR defies the notion that the two are mutually exclusive.
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Carry Positions
Which concealed-carry position is right for you? This former U.S. Marine and law enforcement veteran provides the guidance you need.
See His Choices
Learning From Misses
If you shoot, you’re going to miss. But don’t accept it. Diagnose the problem and remedy it.
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Grab Life With Both Hands
Self-defense situations happen fast and never in the way you envisioned. Be ready to fight with either hand and up your odds of walking away alive.
How To Do It
Critical Distance
Live life in the “yellow” to keep threats at a distance and manage both space and time in a self-defense situation.
Learn What It Takes
