Range Talk: Practical Guns, Gear & Training

Since this is isn't a podcast that I expect a lot of Navy SEALS or Delta Force operators listen to, I’ve tried to steer clear of stuff that you might consider too ‘high speed’ or ‘tactical’ in nature. But even normal shooters can and should borrow elements that those high speed operators practice, especially when it comes to the basics. This week, we’re gonna cover how to most efficiently practice one of those basics.

This is gonna sound weird coming from a gun-oriented podcast, but… I kinda hate gun stores. It’s easy to feel uncomfortable and out of place when shopping for guns and interacting with a store’s staff. With that said, there are some Do’s and Don'ts that can make your experience at your local gun store more pleasant.

This show isn’t sponsored or endorsed by EOTech in any way - I’m sure nobody that works there knows about this podcast at all - but we feel that some recent happenings with EOTech makes for an interesting story and want to dive into it a bit.

There has never been a better time to get into AR-15s (or the AR platform in general). In the US, we have tons of manufacturers of quality firearms and components that span a wide range of prices for every budget. But how much do you really need to spend to get the AR that's right for you, and what goes into those cost differences?

Debates that revolve around civilian gun use often revolve around whether it’s right for someone to use a potentially lethal firearm to defend their home. A common argument is that if you don’t know if someone is looking to hurt anyone or if they're just after some jewelry or a TV, then it’s not ethical to use lethal force. Let's explore that.

"Nobody needs more than 5 rounds to defend themselves unless they're a terrible shot", said no one familiar with defensive firearms use ever. Not only should you bring as much ammo as you can to a gunfight, but you should learn how to get all of those rounds on target in a hurry (because you'll probably be in a hurry if the day comes that you need all those rounds).

There are about a kajillion firearms manufacturers on the market nowadays, but not all of them are created equal. This week's talk covers the brands that you probably shouldn't buy from under any circumstance, for reasons ranging from simple mechanical inferiority to blatantly unsafe products that are going unfixed by these companies.

It's time to bury any chance of sponsorship by a gun manufacturer: you probably only need one rifle to do everything you use rifles for, and there's a really compelling reason to only have one rifle.

Despite having more options than ever, and despite the internet's collective addiction to debating feature and spec differences, the ugly simple truth about choosing a pistol is that it doesn't really matter which brand or model you go with. Let's dig into why before anyone's feelings get hurt too badly.

Your hearing protection, eye protection, and possibly your cover from sunlight and weather are all pretty critical to your shooting. You only get one head and one set of the organs that are plugged into it, so it makes sense to protect all that good stuff as well as you can while you’re doing any outdoor activity, but including and especially shooting at the range.