Friendly and Certified Firearms Training for Women Since 2011

Guns, Gear, & Ammo

How to Clean Your Pistol with Swab-its

By Michele Makucevich. When it comes to maintaining firearms, Swab-its’ Bore-tips offer improved barrel cleaning and lubrication while the Gun-tips line offers four distinct sizes and lengths of swabs to ensure cleaning and lubrication of the harder to reach areas that are often neglected. Reusable and easy to clean with soap and water or mineral spirits, Swab-its products are more thorough, quicker and easier to use than traditional methods of firearms cleaning and do not leave the residue or lint left behind by patches, mops and cotton swabs. In this article, we will tackle the Semi-Automatic Pistol. To demonstrate, we will be cleaning a Sig Sauer Spartan 1911, a beautiful piece with a stainless steel slide and frame and a custom Oil Rubbed Bronze finish.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

Is it really necessary to own so many guns?

There are many reasons to own a variety of guns. They are a great investment; rarely do they lose value. It is common to have different guns for hunting, recreation, competition and self-defense. There is a certain sense of accomplishment building different caliber rifles, tricking out your shotgun, mastering various handguns, and just having a collection of prized possessions to gaze at. So it is okay to say yes, it is necessary to own so many guns! Invite the person questioning you to the range and let him or her experience it!

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

What is an Over-Used Cartridge?

When manipulating your everyday carry, vehicle, or home-defense firearms, you may unknowingly be damaging your ammunition. Avoid creating an over-used cartridge by paying close attention to how you rotate your ammunition.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

Rotate Your Ammunition and Magazines

If your ammunition is never exposed to extreme fluctuating heat or cold for extended periods of time then you may never have to replace it; however, it is simple to follow this routine and do monthly maintenance of your firearms. If nothing else, this affords you an extra opportunity to inspect your ammunition and your firearms to ensure they are fit for protecting your life should you ever be in the situation to need it.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

4 Components of a Cartridge

There are several different words used to describe ammunition: bullets, shells, projectiles, rounds, shot, slugs, cartridges, munitions, etc. In reality anything can be used as ammunition, whether it be a stone you are throwing or words you are using in an argument. In the world of firearms it is most commonly referred to in the informal context as “ammo.” Many people call them bullets, which to some is like nails on a chalkboard because the correct term for firearms ammunition is “cartridge.”

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Growth Mindset

Documenting Your Training and Practice

If you have to use your gun in self-defense, you will find yourself in a lengthy legal process. How will you demonstrate that you acted appropriately? How will you prove that your decision was based on knowledge, rather than panic or over-reaction? Could you articulately convince a judge or jury of your peers that your actions were justifiable?

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Getting Starting

Understanding Range Commands

The purpose of range commands is to establish clear, concise, and standard methods of range operation in order to make things move efficiently and enhance safety. On a shooting range, in a firearms class, or in competition, commands are just that: commands! They are not suggestions or good ideas – they are words that demand a particular course of action.

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Learn to Shoot

Etiquette on the Range

There are unspoken rules of etiquette within our shooting community that should be observed at the range. Sometimes you don’t find out about them until you have done something wrong and are on the receiving end of some harsh criticism. To save you from having to learn the hard way, here are seven ways you can be a respected shooter the first time – and every time – you walk into the range.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

Ingenuity and Frugality: Money-Saving Cheats

These cheats can add up to hundreds of dollars over the course of a season. If you aren’t a sponsored shooter and are playing on your own dime, or you are just getting started on a limited budget, every little bit helps. This may even be a make-or-break proposition for a mom who is trying to squeeze a new hobby out of an already stretched family budget. The possibilities and savings are endless – if you pay attention and use a little ingenuity.

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Learn to Shoot

You, Yes You: Secure It

As a community of responsible gun owners we say, “YOU! Yes, you! Secure your firearm.” Share safe storage options and educational resources with others.

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Advice for Parents

Shooting While Pregnant or Nursing

Shooting is a perishable skill, so 9 months to 3 years is a long time to go without pressing the trigger. If you shoot reducing lead, noise, and contaminants; or choose safer training options for pregnant and nursing moms.

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Finding Instructors & Classes

How to Find a Firearms Instructor

The first step to learning to shoot a gun is to find a good instructor. Learning correct marksmanship skills and creating good habits from the start will give you a solid foundation for success and confidence at the range. Here is how to find the right firearms instructor.

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Basics of Marksmanship

Gun Safety Rules

When manipulating a firearm, there are four universal safety rules that must ALWAYS be obeyed. When these four rules are followed, accidents can be minimized. Negligent discharges of a firearm can result in death or serious injury when these rules are not followed. Every shooter should know and be able to recite the 4 Rules of Gun Safety.

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Basics of Marksmanship

How to Manage Recoil

Managing recoil is done with your entire body. A proper stance gives you a stable platform so that your gun can function. It is important to keep your weight forward on the balls of your feet. Even while standing practicing with static target shooting, your posture should be forward, aggressive, and ready to move.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

A Look at the New NORM

Our friend Sandi at OffHand Gear has done it again. She’s created a thoughtful, unique, quality shooting product. The new NORM (No Ordinary Range Mat)

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

Making Sense of Pistol Sights

by Jim Majoros, President Viktor’s Legacy Custom Gunsmithing LLC Having the right sights on your handgun is important, and there are many different options from

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Learn to Shoot

Discoveries of an Anti-Gunner: My Conversion to the Other Side

If you had told me years ago that I would be the Executive Director of a national firearms training organization, I would have said you were crazy. I was vehemently anti-gun and a strong supporter of gun control measures. I championed for gun control for a long time, but then I made some discoveries and found that my arguments didn’t make sense. This is my journey.

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Learn to Shoot

The GunBox Handgun Storage

Using RF and biometric entry options, The GunBox allows you to have assurance that your handgun is stored safely but able to be retrieved quickly and most importantly, responsibly.

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Guns, Gear, & Ammo

Budget Shooting

I presented the question, “How do you save money on shooting?” to the San Antonio Chapter of A Girl & A Gun and here are the ideas they came up with.

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Mama Said Use Your Words Part 1

I didn’t know if she wanted money, if she was distracting me and setting me up for a hit. I didn’t care. I didn’t let her talk, I didn’t let her get any closer to me and I changed her plan immediately. At no time did a reach for my gun, I simply stood ready, made eye contact with her, looked her up and down and took notice of her clothes and if she could have a weapon on her. I was ready though.

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