The Gray Man: Losing the War for Liberty
“Be the gray man” is a piece of advice that has been floating around the tactical/survival community for at least two decades. Twenty years ago I was…
Protecting your Bug Out Guns with the ARK Bag
Over a year before writing this article, I placed some Bug Out Bag EDC (every day carry) essentials into an ARK Bag. The results of our experiment were…
Mossberg 590 Shockwave: Why You Need One
That’s where the Mossberg Shockwave enters. If you’re seeking a compact firearm that packs all the punch of a shotgun, then you’re starting your search…
Why You Need 9MM?
Why 9MM? Well, number one, 9MM is the most widely available center-fire handgun ammunition in the United States of America.
Night Fision Night Switch: What and Why?
I sat down to consider a brand new product, the Night Switch, a Tritium filled selector switch for the AR / M4. Could the Night Switch make things easier?
Building Your Patriot Arsenal: Handguns
Now, obviously, if you’re a smart person, you’ve figured out that the next thing I am going to talk about is handguns, and you would be correct.
Searching for Judas: Dangers of Being in the Gun Business Today
The American gun owner isn’t just on the lookout for a Judas, they’re searching and hoping for friends and allies in this fight.
Building Your Patriot Arsenal: Shotgun
We talked about the AR-15 rifle previously. Now, we’re going to talk about the 12-gauge shotgun. Let’s continue on with our discussion about the Patriot…
Fundamental Four: Items Every Armed Citizen Should Carry
These are the must-have categories of items that fit the bill for being a genuine armed citizen. The Fundamental Four make you harder to kill and more…
Modern Silencers: Quieting the .223 Remington
Whether you call these cans silencers, suppressors, gun mufflers, or sound moderators. They all serve the same purpose, and the majority of Americans…
Readyman Ballistic Armor Plate Test
Readyman recently announced the availability of an NIJ Level III ballistic armor plate insert for briefcase or backpack use. We acquired one to test.
Man Skills: 5 Skills your Son Should Possess
The way we are treating our boys in the 21st Century, they are being feminized, marginalized, and largely overlooked. We will address that very issue…
![[Flash Report] Combat Life Saver: Save a Life](https://www.studentofthegun.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Combat-Life-Saver-Buy-Button-400x250.png)
[Flash Report] Combat Life Saver: Save a Life
The Combat Life Saver kit contains critical trauma gear that can be used to keep a patient alive while awaiting more professional help. There are…
Ranch Cookin’; The Origin
What would I do if I could go anywhere and do anything? I decided that I wanted to work on a ranch for a year. That kind of environment seemed appealing…
The Evolution of Pistol Sights
When my friend Jacob Herman of Night Fision approached me and asked my opinions regarding what kind of pistol sights should be on a gun that would be used for fighting/self-preservation, I naturally had some strong thoughts. For three decades plus I have trained with handguns using fixed (black) iron sights, painted…
Night Fision and SOTG Release Accur8™ Tritium Sights at NRA Annual Meeting
On Saturday, May 5th, 2018, Night Fision and Student of the Gun announced the release of the Accur8™ Tritium sights at the NRA Annual Meetings and…
4 Items Every Armed Citizen Should Carry
“I have my gun. So I’m good.” That was the response one man gave in regards to the question about what kind of gear people with concealed carry permits, or an armed citizen, should carry. Yes, I was standing at the counter of a gun store as you might imagine…
Strength Training and Marksmanship Parallels
Matt Reynolds introduced me to the Starting Strength program as taught by strength training legend, Mark Rippetoe. Matt’s company, Starting Strength Online Coaching is a training and coaching resource that was developed to give everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to get physically strong…
Homeschooling: Is It Really as Difficult as People Say?
Is it REALLY that hard to do? Is making the commitment to control your child’s education as difficult as the “public school support voice” makes it out…
School Shootings: You Can’t Sterilize the World
Why do crazed psycho’s commit school shootings? Why not police departments? Because everyone has a gun in the police station and the psycho would be…
An Artificial Life: the Incremental Loss of the Survival Instinct
Loss of the Survival Instinct. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the “Storm of the Century”, I was dismayed and saddened to hear of people living in desperate conditions without water to drink and food to eat. It seemed almost impossible to me that with more than three days warning that adults were not able to…
![[Listen Louder | SOTG Radio] Gun Bans & New California](https://www.studentofthegun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Listen_Louder_720-721-400x250.png)
[Listen Louder | SOTG Radio] Gun Bans & New California
This week on Student of the Gun Radio, we talked a lot about Gun Bans. In one case the incoming Virginia Governor is attempting to put a Ban on private gun sales, meanwhile in New England, they are demanding that the citizens turn their property in to the state. On the Grad Programs we talked about short barreled…
Church Security: More than Guns
In my youth, Church Security meant locking the doors at night and perhaps installing an alarm system to detect burglars. Today, when we say Church…
Mediocrity: How to Fail and Feel Good About It
Rather than be satisfied with their personal mediocrity and ‘C’ student standing, anonymous contributors take to the Internet forums and comment sections…
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[Flash Report] Go Fast Guns
Professor Paul got a new toy recently, the Echo II trigger system from Fostech Outdoors, and he’s played with it a bit. Now he’s here to tell you about…
![[Flash Report] Springtime for Glock](https://www.studentofthegun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Police_Trade_in_G22-400x250.jpg)
[Flash Report] Springtime for Glock
Professor Paul takes the time to talk about Glock, S&W, and police trade in guns. Very good information for you handgun guys out there…
![[Flash Report] Everyday is Leg Day](https://www.studentofthegun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Everyday_Is_Leg_Day-1-400x250.jpg)
[Flash Report] Everyday is Leg Day
Fight Strong January 2017 Attend “Fight Strong” class at Tactical Response, Camden Tennessee, Met Matt Reynolds for the first time. Learn proper form for barbell lifts and exercises. July 2017 Sit down and evaluate results of the Starting Strength program as taught by Matt Reynolds during the previous January. Summary: Author’s Note: I have coached and taught a number of…
![[Flash Report] 3 Dot Sights Suck, and Everyone Wants Them](https://www.studentofthegun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/3-Dot-Sights-Suck-400x250.jpg)
[Flash Report] 3 Dot Sights Suck, and Everyone Wants Them
Professor Paul has stated in the past that is is Not a fan of 3 Dot sight rigs, and people have asked him Why? So he has decided to write a report on the…
Pro Firearms Trainers are Not “Glock Guys”
The natural progression for gun people is to take the next step and get themselves some form of firearms trainer certificate. They go from being the “gun…
Beretta M9 Threaded Barrel
Beretta M9 Threaded Barrel June 6 2017- Place order from Brownell’s for Silencerco threaded M9 Beretta replacement barrel. June 7 2017- Brownell’s sends confirmation email that order has shipped, provides tracking number. June 14 2017- 0900 Track package, FedEx says it was turned over to USPS and delivered to Michigan. I don’t live in Michigan, so there is a problem. 1030…
.22 Nosler Cartridge
Professor Paul takes the time to tell you good folks about the .22 Nosler Cartridge & how he used it in the field. If you’re a hunter, you wanna read this…
Wilderness Survival Pt. 7: Mindset, Keep Your Head
Whether you live or die as a result of a wilderness survival situation is completely dependent upon your mindset. Are you willing to do anything and…
Black Spider Optics 1-4×24 Riflescope
The new Black Spider Optics variable power riflescope is field tested and reviewed by Paul Markel, host of Student of the Gun.
Wilderness Survival Pt. 6: Field Craft and Repairs
Not every problem you encounter in the field or woods is a matter of life and death. Some issues are simply annoying and bothersome. Take, for instance…
Canik TP9DA 9mm Pistol
The Canik TP9DA 9mm pistol performed admirably during the initial testing and evaluation phase. All manual controls functioned as expected. The gun…
Wilderness Survival Pt. 5: Navigation – Know Where You Are Going
I have a challenge for you. Gather your spouse and kids together outside and ask them individually to point to the North. Ask them which direction the sun rises and in which it sets. Wait for a clear and star-filled night, now ask them all to find the North Star. Basic land navigation or “orienteering” is not rocket surgery. Anyone with the desire can learn to navigate with a map and a compass.
Wilderness Survival Pt. 4: Injury and Blood Loss
While many wilderness survival situations begin with a person or people getting lost, there have been numerous incidents where someone is injured and that injury prevents them from returning to safety.
Wilderness Survival Pt. 3: Exposure and Hypothermia
Let us continue with our wilderness survival discussion. This time we are going to consider the dangers of exposure, exposure to extreme temperatures from both end of the spectrum.
Wilderness Survival Pt. 2: Water
Continuing our series on wilderness survival, no one ever plans to get lost or to be injured and stranded in the woods. Just as we don’t wear our seat belt because we “plan” to be in a crash, and we don’t have a fire extinguisher in our kitchen because we “plan” to have a fire.
Wilderness Survival Pt. 1: Fire
Welcome to the first in a series of short articles dealing with the subject of wilderness survival. Every year thousands upon thousands of Americans step off…
Why Do Firearms Instructors Hate Dry Fire?
“Aside from the movies and TV, dry fire instills more bad habits than any other activity.” Such was the comment of the owner of one of the nation’s top…
My First Gun: 5 Simple Steps to Making your First Gun Purchase a Success
Picking your first gun can be a daunting task. By the time you reach the gun store counter you’ve likely been given more advice from friends and family…
Tactical Masturbation: Top 3 Stupid Human Tricks
Though you may not have put a name on it, we have all witnessed tactical masturbation. Like the more traditional form of self-gratification, tactical…
Safety is Dangerous
“What is the most important thing on the range?” yelled the Navy Firearms Instructor to the group of young sailors amassed in front of him. “Safety!”…
3 Reasons Every Gunfighter Should Learn to Box
“I don’t need to know Karate, I know Ching-Ching.” (mimics racking the slide on a pistol) so said the man standing at the counter in a small gun store many years ago. In my younger days, I spent a great deal of time at gun shops and at gun shows. Sadly, most everyone one who frequented gun stores, at least in my experience, viewed themselves to be a gunfighter.
Voter Fraud: Who will Pick Up the Turd?
“There isn’t a need for you to wait in line anymore. Took care of it for you. Gave you a straight Democratic ticket.” said a North Carolina man via Facebook as he bragged about committing voter fraud.
Open Letter to American Cops: America has Your Back
There were certainly a lot of lessons and takeaways from the 2016 Election, especially for cops. The platform of the liberal Democrat Party was…
Comrade Barry: Preserving His Legacy
Given this desire to focus on the legacy of Comrade Barry, we find it fitting to consider the condition of the United States of America and the world since January 2009…
Gun Control is Mind Control; Everything You’ve been told is a Lie
Professor Paul provides some examples as to why Gun Control is mind control. Gun Control is mind control whereas you must believe in your heart that…
Candy
I was in elementary school when America was in love with disco music, Reggie Jackson, and mood rings. Looking back, it was a great time to be a kid.
Dallas Police Murders: Class Warfare’s Bloody Result
Class Warfare has become genuine warfare and blood is spilling nationwide, not from standard criminal behavior, but as a result of the creation of an entire class of angry victims.
How to Survive your CCW Class Without Being Shot
The question we should ask is, what can we or should we as members of the gun culture do differently in the aftermath of such an incident? Or, are we the clinical definition of insane, doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome?
You are a Rental: How the Govt Sees You
One thing the peasant is never viewed as is an independent citizen imbued with natural and God given and inalienable rights.
Pop Culture Pacifists: Making the World a More Dangerous Place
These people will make statements such as “I could never harm another human being” or “violence only begets violence”. That is very true. If you attempt violence against me or my family, you definitely will beget some violence in return.
Home Invasion: Where Should you Secure your Firearm?
A nanny cam recorded the vicious and brutal attack including the screams of the terrified woman. Her daughter sat frozen in fear as her mother was pummel, choked and slammed around the house.
Confessions of a .40 (Cal) Lover
It was beautiful. I opened the black plastic container and there it was, a Glock 23 chambered in .40 Smith&Wesson. (Glock does not like to advertise for…)
Rapid Tourniquet Use Saves Philadelphia Police Officer
A young Philadelphia, Pennsylvania police officer will live to return to duty after being shot through the upper thigh by a thug trying to steal a…
Liberty is Light
Just as light is a result of the positive application of energy, liberty also requires effort and energy. If a people desire to have individual liberty,…
The Cigar and the Student
Let us consider for a moment the premium hand rolled cigar. For those unenlightened, neither the Black and Mild nor Swisher Sweet Cherry flavored tobacco products are “premium cigars”. A premium cigar is compose of numerous distinct parts.
“There’s Been An Accident!” Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare
“There’s been an accident, we are on the way to the hospital.” Those words heard through the earpiece of a telephone are enough to make any parent’s knees weak and their heart begin to pound in their chest. Although we don’t like to think about it, any time we let our kids out of our sight, let them stay over…
Never Throw the First Punch: the Failed Strategy of Defense
Never throw the first punch and Fire only if fired upon are two pieces of pseudo-tactical advice thrown out so often that people now merely parrot the phrases without ever thinking about what they mean.
Breaking: BATFE set to Expand NFA 1934
Based upon the fact that the NFA gave them the authority to define with is and is not a firearm, what is and is not a destructive device, what is and is not a handgun, shotgun, or long gun, and what is “Any Other Weapon”, more detailed classifications are necessary.
Professor Paul’s Tactical Chili; Eat It
Professor Paul’s Tactical Chili: start early in the morning so it can simmer all day. Minimum 6 to 7 hours is best. You cannot rush something this good.
Gun Owners for Obama, the “Responsible” People are Speaking Up
Cowards, Traitors, and Tories. Being gun owners is not enough. Do I believe that left-wing liberal-minded Obama voters do in fact possess firearms? Of course they do. And, you know what?
Call to Action: Stand Up for the Marine Corps
The Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, an Obama appointee with ties to the Clinton presidency has decided the time to screw with the Marine Corps is now. A January 1, 2016 memo from Mabus to Commandant of the Marine Corps Robert Neller instructed the Corps to begin “gender integration of officer and enlisted training”.
Oregon Militia, Bundy Ranch, BLM and the Long Train of Abuses and Usurpations
The current situation in Oregon, the previous situation at the Bundy Ranch, and future events yet to come, have at the core an ever expanding U.S. Federal Government with an seemingly unquenchable thirst for control over state land.
President Hillary Clinton signs Assault Weapons Ban of 2015
After a whirlwind first quarter as the first female president of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton was joined by congressmen and senators in the oval office for the official signing of H.R. 4269 “The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015”.
Open Letter to James Hatch and the USA Today Editorial Staff, Re: Good Guy with a Gun Myth
Having just finished reading your editorial in the Dec. 11 2015 issue of USA Today (online) entitled “The Good Guy with a Gun Myth” I was obliged to respond. Not a fan of the American Pravda, I became aware via a friend’s social media post.
M85 PAP, the Steel-Cased Solution
If you have been paying attention, and shame on you if you have not, we featured the M85 PAP pistol from Century Arms in the pages of this site last year. The M85 is unique as it uses a Kalashnikov action but chambers the .223 Remington cartridge.
You Cannot “Stand with France” but, Here is What you Can Do.
The fact of the matter is that you cannot truly stand with France, unless you are a member of the French military or law enforcement agency. France is a socialist nation in the even more socialist European Union.
Urban Defense Course; more than just Marksmanship
“Don’t just stand around watching, find some work.” was the advice offered to a dozen students during the Urban Defense Course held at Combat Shooting and Tactics (CSAT) in Nacogdoches, Texas during the long weekend of October 23 to 25.
Stop! Don’t Shoot! Beware of Dangerous Targets
People who use cheap or damaged steel targets soon get to play a little game we call “pluck the jacket pieces out of your skin”. The biggest bullet splash injury I have ever witnessed was about a 3/4 inch cut across a guys forearm, not life-threatening, but not fun either. In that case the injured party was struck by splash from someone else’s shot.
Smashing the Gun Control Argument in 3 Easy Steps
Smashing the Gun Control (human control) argument is so easy that even a Columbia journalism major could do it, if they some how possessed the courage to try. What follows is a simple three step process to addressing the argument for civilian disarmament.
DuraCoat vs. Cerakote: Industry Feud or Deliberate Deception?
Simply put, a company has no real choice but to actively defend itself, regardless of the opinions or feelings of the gun culture.
Uncomfortable Truth, Cold and Timid Souls
Dismiss the “cold and timid souls” and enter the arena. As you are likely aware, Jarrad climbed back into the cage a couple of weeks ago for his first fight in over four years. His budding professional MMA career was interrupted by shoulder surgery and then the agonizing physical rehab that followed.
Deadly Harvest: Reaping the Bloody Fruit of the Class Warfare
The Democrat Party may as well list “Prolonged Class Warfare” as an official policy plank at their convention in 2016. Class warfare, as ugly and dirty as it is, has normally had as its goal the siphoning of votes away from one candidate to another.
WDBJ Roanoke Double-Homicide and the Perfect Victim
If there is a useful takeaway or lesson to be learned from this vicious criminal act, it is this; the Victim State produces vile and verminous monsters like our boy, Excrement. When you fully embrace victimization you abdicate all responsibility for your own actions.
Coach vs. Equipment Manager; Know the Difference
I know what you are thinking, “Paul, understanding the specs of the gear does not mean that you can coach or teach people how to use that gear, especially in a real game where they are keeping score.” Coaching is not about gear, it is about learning skill, maintaining skill, and executing that skill on demand.
Weakness is a Disease and the #1 Plague in America
What fosters this type of behavior? Intellectual laziness or a weakness of the mind. When considering the day to day news stories, the myriad crises facing those who still care about the fate of the United States of America, it is easy to become frustrated and be overcome by a sense of hopelessness.
Being a “Gun Owner” is Not Enough
The implication of the report was that we right-wing, conservative types need to be “inclusive” and recognize that left-wing, Democrat voters are gun owners as well. My response is, as Col. Sherman Potter used to say, “Horse Hockey!”
3 Things Your Concealed Carry Gun Cannot Do
A short video about concealed carry aimed at the gun culture choir would not seem to be all that controversial or difficult to understand, but we are dealing with the Internet here.
Defensive Policing: It’s not what you might think
If he observes criminal activity, he can look the other way or take his time responding until the crime is over. The result is defensive policing. And like defensive medicine, it is on the rise.
3 Methods to Prevent Your Son From Becoming a Pussy
Coddling your sons, attempting to shield them from all that is rough, ugly, and dangerous is the greatest form of child abuse you can inflict. I’m not telling you to name the poor kid “Sue”, but stop treating your sons like fragile little babies.
Hey Gun Culture; Your Priorities Suck and Here is Why
Am I telling you not to argue Weaver vs. Isosceles or Leather vs. Kydex? No, I am not. What I am going to tell you is that the United States of America as founded as a representative republic is in dire peril. It is far beyond time to get our priorities in order.
Did Gaston Glock Invent the Negligent Discharge?
The topic of conversation was, of course, the Austrian Wonder-Nine, the Plastic Fantastic, the hardest working pistol in show business today…the GLOCK 17.
3 Popular Fighting Shotgun Myths: Busted
The shotgun is a tremendous fighting tool surrounded by mythology. You don’t need a doctorate in history to realize that the saga of human conflict is cyclical. Consider the history of modern warfare. One of the most noteworthy instances of the shotgun’s use in combat came from WWI and the infamous Winchester “Trench Guns”.
4 Steps to Carrying a Full-Size Pistol Every Day
You are reading this article because you are either a pistol carrier or are considering carrying a pistol. What I am going to ask you now is to consider what kind of pistol you are carrying or thinking about carrying.
3 Reasons Your Hybrid Holster Failed
“I’d never own one of those things (hybrid holster), they are junk.” so said one self-styled expert at a shooting class I attended this year.
Win a Gun with Brownell’s Edge Program
WELCOME TO SERIOUS VALUE Brownells EDGE is the latest innovation to make your shopping experience with them even easier and more convenient. Place as many orders as you want – standard shipping on all of them is covered by the $49.95 annual membership fee. With FREE shipping*, your membership fee will be paid for with just a few orders. Bought the wrong…
2016 Presidential Campaign: Searching for a Savior
As we look out at the landscape and consider the stable of potential candidates for the highest office in the land, we desperately search for a savior. Not an ecclesiastical savior, no, instead we sort through a short list of politicians and hope upon hope that we can choose one that will be the nation’s savior.
This Week’s AAFU Official Giveaway: Win the Only Banner in Existence!
Once a week, until the end of time, the American Association of Firearms Users will be giving you something for FREE! Whats even better than free?…
Who the Hell is Hunter S. Thompson?
“The guy says his name is Hunter S. Thompson, does that mean anything to you?” To my relief, rather than being annoyed, the promoter exploded in laughter…
Saving Detroit?
Detroit: The Crime Scene The Dodge pickup truck rolled west on Eight Mile Road. Eight Mile road unofficially the line of demarcation. It separates former East Detroit, now East Pointe, from the incorporated war zone know as Detroit, Michigan. At Gratiot Avenue we had to make a “Michigan left turn”. That is we turned right onto Gratiot, merged to the…
Holster or Deathtrap?
In the 1970’s and ’80’s the market for concealed carry holsters was pretty thin, certainly nowhere near what it is today. For other than duty rigs, there…
The Test: Do you have the right stuff to be a “Gun Expert?
Thanks to the Internet, 100,000 self-proclaimed gun experts have arisen in all fields of endeavor. The television news channels trot out a gun expert to…
The Death of the Editor
Before the time of the Internet and self-proclaimed “gun enthusiasts”, we had this vetting process called an Editor. During the age of dead tree…
Top 3 Reasons to Avoid Gun Clips
When I speak of gun clips I am referring to the spring-steel device mounted to a handgun in order to allow it to be “clipped” to clothing in some fashion…
Insider Information about Original S.O.E. Gear from John Willis and Ben “Mookie” Thomas Part 3
This video contains adult language. If you are not an adult, do not watch it. This is part 3 of the John and Mookie series. John tells how he met James Yeager and Mookie decided to set a price point on the Mookie War Yarmulke. If you missed the previous videos, click here for part 1 and click here for…
Insider Information about Original S.O.E Gear from John Willis and Ben “Mookie” Thomas Part 2
John Willis and Ben “Mookie” Thomas sit down and talk about the history behind some of the gear SOE has made. Comedy and education in one video…
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s ‘The Interview’ Still Has Chance but Needs Your Help
I had the opportunity of speaking with a group of very intelligent individuals this past week. We got on the subject of Sony and The Interview. I have seen zero articles cover this information about Sony Pictures Entertainment. It is important information and you will see why.