Friendly and Certified Firearms Training for Women Since 2011

Concealed Carry

Review: Liberty’s 50gr Carry Ammo

I asked a couple of our favorite instructors and friends to test out Liberty Ammunition’s Civil Defense and Ultra-Light 9mm +P rounds and give us the down-and-dirty on it. It’s incredibly lightweight, which makes it attractive for EDC, but how does it perform?

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Gun Choices

Top 10 Handguns for Women in 2022

The most accurate way to determine the best handguns for women is to observe what women are bringing to the range. At the A Girl & A Gun National Conference CELEBRATE 2022, attendees brought 739 handguns to use for training classes ranging from concealed carry to competition. These numbers represent the best handguns preferred and used by women.

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Gun Choices

Red Dot: For the Aging, for the Long-Term, for the Win

Another idea I had to overcome was the idea that students MUST learn to shoot with iron sights first.  But I’ve changed that viewpoint.  I feel it is important to understand how both sighting systems work but if a student wishes to shoot a dot for whatever reason that is their decision.  It is not mine.  Many of my clients are at the point in their life where readers are required and just like me cannot see their front sights.  If a dot makes shooting easier and more enjoyable than I say go for it! As long as they understand that they must still employ proper shooting fundamentals.  For those thinking red dots are a fad; I can say they are here to stay!

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Holsters & Purse Carry

A Closer Look at the Enigma Holster

The Enigma by Phlster has been an almost everyday part of my life for over eleven months now. I will be honest with you, this can be an incredibly frustrating conceal carry tool. But like most good things, it takes time and patience. Here is a list of things I have learned in the months I have been using the Enigma.

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Concealed Carry

Book Report: Concealed Carry Class

I recommend that you read Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools if you carry a gun for self-defense and would like to be more informed as to the many aspects involved with doing so, whether you are just getting started or have been carrying for years, there is much to learn and consider, and this book should be part of your library to guide you on that path. This book is filled with so much content, data, and great information. It’s a book you want on your shelf to be able to pull down and read again and again, and you will always get something more out of it each time you do so.

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Learn to Shoot

A Look at Legal Coverage

For the last decade there have been a significant number of organizations established that provide traditional style insurance or membership programs with access to attorneys

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Being Your Own First Responder

Applying the Tueller Concept

At the 9th Annual A Girl & A Gun National Conference, RISE 2021, instructor Morgan Ballis of Defensive Tactics and Firearms led 48 women through exercises to test Dennis Tueller’s research on the human response time. He set out to test the ability of A Girl & A Gun members to cover 21 feet so that they could relate this information to potential threats. By understanding their own abilities and limitations, the women could determine their own minimum safe distance if faced with a hostile threat. In addition, the women would learn their ability to effectively employ a handgun from a holster while taking into account how quickly a potential threat can reasonably cover an estimated distance. This knowledge would allow them to better articulate their actions if their decisions during a self-defense encounter were ever called into question.

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Gun Choices

Helping Women at the Gun Counter

When a woman consumer approaches your gun counter, be welcoming! She may be an educated consumer or she may be new to firearms – either way, help her have a positive experience.

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Being Your Own First Responder

Review: Left of Bang

In Left of Bang, authors Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley outline the principles of the US Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter program. This program gives soldiers a way to identify and communicate pre-incident indicators. Being able to do this before an attack, or left of bang (as pictured on a linear timeline) can mean life or death in combat. While the authors use the context of combat, they do provide civilian examples at times in the book. At several points I noted how observing villagers in Afghanistan isn’t much different from observing people at the local mall. The framework of this program can definitely apply in many different walks of life.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

Purse Carry Safety

Carrying off-body in a fannypack, handbag, backpack, briefcase, or saddlebag has always been a common solution for men and women. Off-body carry continues to be a popular option and it’s important to know its unique safety considerations.

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Basics of Marksmanship

How to Draw Your Pistol from an Appendix Carry Position

Drawing your pistol from the appendix carry position follows a lot of the same principles of the strong-side holster draw, but there are nuances that are different with this particular carry method. As Tatiana Whitlock explains in the following video, this discussion focuses on the technique of the drawstroke without the additional training considerations of managing cover garments.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

Cold War Concealment’s Fayetteville Chapter Visit

This month, the Fayetteville, NC Chapter was pleased to welcome Clif Messick from Cold War Concealment to our Breakfast and Bullets event to demonstrate his holsters and magazine pouches. Each holster is individually hand crafted for your firearm. Cold War Concealment is an American made product from a veteran owned business, made from the highest quality of USA materials

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Holsters & Purse Carry

Purse Carry Option: Crossbody Carry for a GTM Shoulder Clutch

Although there are a group of vocal concealed carriers who are absolutely against purse carry, I believe this is a perfectly viable option. Most women carry purses on a daily bases and are already used to monitoring their purse constantly. By adding a gun to your purse, you must heighten your awareness of where your purse is at all times making sure your gun is not accessible to unauthorized users. Just like any other carry method, you must practice your draw. Taking these steps into consideration and purchasing a quality conceal carry purse, makes purse carry just another opportunity to protect ourselves on a daily basis.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

A “Girly Girl’s” Take on the Gen II IWB/Pocket Remora Holster

By Barb Miller. This review of the new generation Remora low-profile, no-clip, IWB holster is coming strictly from a female perspective, and I’ve been as open and honest as possible in giving these holsters a fair shake. They are pretty amazing, well made, easy to use, offer comfort, and safety. The magazine holder did its job well and was small enough for me to put in my pocket. There are certainly times when these holsters will absolutely fit the bill!

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Learn to Shoot

6 Defensive Concepts That Competitive Shooting Teaches You

There are pros and cons of competitive shooting sports as they relate to defensive firearms training. The bottom line is that competitive shooting sports will not replace self-defense training. Even though shooting matches can mimic real-life scenarios, time on the shot timer it is not real life and paper targets are not shooting back. However, even in this controlled environment, competitive shooting remains one of the most effective ways to hone your gun handling and marksmanship skills. In order to be effective in a defensive situation involving your firearm, you must be proficient these six fundamental concepts that are strengthened by participation in competitive shooting sports.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

Magneato Magnetic MK-1 Holster Review

By Sandra Kozero. The Magneato holster did a great job at a great price. It kept my pistol safe and where I placed it. The trick is not in the holster, but in the waistband of the pants. I will definitely add the Magneato to my daily holster options and use it when a belt is not available due to my outfit.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

Dene Adams Body Shaping Thigh Holster Shorts Helps You Welcome in Spring

One of those options for carrying under a longer skirt or sundress is the Dene Adams Body Shaping Thigh Holster Shorts. I initially had a few concerns. Would the fabric be heavy and hot, feeling like a girdle? Would the trigger be safely covered in a fabric holster? I’m happy to say I can answer “no” to the first question and “yes” to the second.

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Advocacy

CNN Analyst: Women Carrying Guns Is Not Practical

We invite Mr. Fuentes and his colleagues at CNN to become more familiar with female gun owners, our gun-carrying lifestyle, values, and abilities. Many women come into gun ownership with the primary purpose of protecting themselves. They turn to A Girl & A Gun for information and training.

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Learn to Shoot

Top 10 Tips for Flying with Firearms

The airport security process is a hassle whether you have your firearm or not. TSA agents are there to identify any breaches from intentional weapons to inadvertent mistakes of a forgotten pocket knife or shell casing. They’re just doing their job and you can make the process easier by educating yourself and following these ten tips. A good attitude and a smile goes a long way at the airport. Here are the Top 10 tips for flying with firearms.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

3 Safe Places for Your Self-Defense Pistol

By Tammy Hunter. There are three safe places for your self-defense pistol: (1) in your hand, (2) in your holster, or (3) locked in your safe. Once you’ve made the decision that a handgun will be part of your self-defense plan you must learn new habits and routines to ensure the 24/7 safety and security of that tool.

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Being Your Own First Responder

When Disaster Strikes — And You’re Unarmed

When disaster strikes, it can be very motivating to buying your first gun. We find ourselves vulnerable to Mother Nature, our infrastructure (power, levies, etc.), and the unknown. You may have never considered getting a firearm, but now feel open to the idea. Your story is mine.

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Mindset

How will I know when to use force or deadly force?

The most important question you can ever ask is, how will I know when it is time to use deadly force? If and when you ever find yourself in that moment of truth, here is a checklist that will run through your head. Your fight-or-flight will do a quick inventory of your options and depending on your circumstances will determine your permissible level of force.

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Mindset

Lethal Force Is No Laughing Matter

Part of being a responsible and safe gun owner is understanding how you can hurt your defense by something you might be doing unknowingly and unintentionally. If you ever have to use lethal force to save your life or protect a life of another, your character will be called into question. Your persona on social media will paint a portrait of your character. The memes that are somewhat inappropriate, controversial, or what you think is funny will be used to describe your mindset. Inappropriate signs in your home or bumper stickers on your car will sabotage your defense as you are trying to prove your analytical mindset and your understanding of the law and Use of Force.

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Holsters & Purse Carry

CanCan DoesDoes

Everyone raves about the CanCan Holster, so what could I do except try it? I’ve been thinking about it for a while and just decided

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