Crisis Preparedness: An Absolute Minimum Checklist
Innumerable texts and tomes have been devoted to the subject of crisis preparedness and survival. More Americans than ever before are concerned with the immediate future and aware of the dangers that their families will face. In this easy to digest report, our aim is to point out and elaborate the absolute minimum requirements needed to keep your family safe…
Blackhawk Holsters T-Series L2D [Review]
Blackhawk Holsters have been around from some time now and undergone numerous iterations and upgrades. For two decades, Blackhawk has dedicated their products to those who deliberately go into harm’s way; be they US military or law enforcement. Designing rugged and reliable gear for Military and Law Enforcement requires a great deal of research. Americans who carry firearms for personal…
Accur8™ Sights: Everything You Need to Know
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Student of the Gun and Night Fision, the Accur8™ Night Sights are here. We at Student of the Gun are excited to share with you the behind the scenes creative process that lead to the Accur8™ Sights. It all started with a simple question. “If you could make your own sight, what would it…
Body Armor Sucks – Is Your Life Worth It?
If you are one of the tens of thousands of citizens who owns and carries a firearm for personal protection you’ve likely accepted the fact that bad things can, and do, happen to good people. You’ve adjusted your manner of dress and lifestyle to accommodate toting your chosen type of hardware. Carrying a gun every day definitely takes some adjustment.…
Airsoft Training during the Ammo Shortage
The idea of airsoft training or using airsoft pistols for inexpensive practice is not exactly new. I wrote an airgun column for a print firearms magazine for several years and wrote dozens of articles extolling the virtues of using airguns for inexpensive and convenient practice tools. In the year 2020, more citizens bought more ammunition in the United States than…
Getting Ready for Rifle Camp: Gear Checklist
Lot of folks attend shooting schools and weekend training events each year. However, only a small percentage of them will go to Rifle Camp. By Rifle Camp, we mean a dedicated precision rifle training course. The gear list for 1-day Concealed Carry class is pretty simple: gun, ammo, magazines, holster, comfortable clothes, that’s about it. When it comes to training…
Woodburner 101: 3 Things You Need to Know About Heating with Firewood
“We are getting a new woodburner.” my father informed us. Woodburner was the accepted shorthand for a wood burning stove. At the time I was 15-years-old and we were living on a small farm in rural Ohio. We received our electricity from the Co-Op and our water came from a well. When it came to keeping our modest home warm…
ODS1775 AK from Occam Defense [Review]
Building a Better AK? Can you build a better AK? Should you even try? Some in the firearms community would cry “foul” or “sacrilege”. Before you light your torches and sharpen your pitchforks, allow me to remind you that the modern Russian AK is not the one that Mikhail Kalashnikov birthed 80 years ago. The rifles turned out today by…
The Student of the Gun New Handgun Workout
How do you know if your new handgun is reliable? For three decades I have been reviewing firearms for various publications and media outlets. When it comes to testing a new handgun to determine how well it functions, many years ago I developed a routine exercise for evaluating out-of-the-box guns. During this piece I will elaborate on the new handgun…
CrossBreed Holsters Chest Rig [Review]
There are a myriad of holsters on the market today. In a world full of options, it can be difficult to make the right decision on the first try. We love testing new holsters. Even ones that break the current status quo. A chest rig may seem like something only fly fisherman or hunters can appreciate. We found that not…
Chiappa Rhino .357 Magnum [Review]
It was not that long ago that Chiappa Firearms turned the handgun world on its head when it released the Rhino double-action revolver. In case you have not been paying much attention to the wheelgun world, the Rhino is a DA revolver imported from the Italian firearms maker. Today, we’re going to be reviewing it. The Rhino revolvers come in…
The Goldilocks of Handguns | Liberty Letter #068
It’s not too big, it’s not too small, it’s ju~ust right. Also this week, Paul wrote an article on Full30 about Long Range Marksmanship…
GLOCK 48: Simple Goldilocks Perfection [Review]
Unveiled and released at the 2019 SHOT Show, the Glock 48 was the answer to twenty years of begging from the American gun buyer. “I like my G19, I just wish Glock would come out with a slim, single stack version.” That sentiment was echoed for better than a decade. Patience being a virtue and all that jazz, GLOCK, Inc.…
The Road Back: Fighting Solves Everything
When you use the words “fighting solves everything” people often misinterpret what you mean. Fighting is not just about physical altercations…
Generation Fear: Raising Our Children to Live in Fear
“Hey mom, do we use old light bulbs?” the 8-year-old asked on the ride home from school. A bit perplexed, his mother replied. “When the light bulbs get old, they stop working and we replace them. Why do you ask?” The child said, “My teacher told us that old light bulbs waste energy and that hurts the planet.” Are we…
Dumbass Preppers
“We’re putting together a new show about preppers. Can you tell us about your bunker, your bug out vehicle, maybe your stockpiles of food and guns…
Mantis X10 Elite is a Must Buy For Students of the Gun
One of the hardest aspects of training is improving to the next level in the absence of a certified firearms instructor. The Mantis X10 Elite is a product that has hit the market, and hopes to solve that issue. We’ve had it in house for over a month now, and this article is going to cover down on our experiences.…
American Liberty Is Not A Game
It has been said that liberty is the ability to make a choice and freedom is a result of making the right choices. American liberty and the freedom to make choices is codified in the documents used to forge and found this nation. American liberty is serious business and it is certainly not a game. Gun Culture and American Liberty…
White Liberals Killed George Floyd
George Floyd is being pseudo-memorialized by liberals, moderates, and reasonable people all over socialist media. The memorializing is via tweets, memes, and other types of pointless virtue signaling. People who either never heard of or never care one tiny iota about the fate of Justine Damond are screaming for “justice for George”. Where was the justice for Justine Damond when…
Buckshot Pizza Box Challenge
“You can’t miss with a shotgun,” That saying is a myth, and we’re going to prove it to you. Buckshot isn’t a fool proof ammunition.
ShotStop – An Alternative to Ceramic and Steel Plates [Review]
In both Iraq and Afghanistan I dealt with the standard issue ceramic E-SAPI plates. One of the largest cons to this type of armor, outside of cost, is that the plates are actually very weak. Strong in the sense that they can stop a round, but weak in the sense that the plates break very easily. Any impact whatsoever could…
My First Home Defense Shotgun
During March and April, more Americans bought firearms than at any time in recent history. The home defense shotgun was one of the top purchases along with handguns. The reality is that while many homeowners now have pump-action shotguns in their house, few of these folks have real training or experience using them. Relying upon movies and television for our…
Facebook Censors Nazi History
During a time when you might think the free exchange of information is critical, Facebook is censoring Nazi History. For those who say “Facebook is a private company, that can do whatever it likes.” Keep in mind that Zuckerberg and Facebook took taxpayer money, to the tune of $374,168,107 for their “private company”. This short article is not meant to…
3 Things to Do to Stop Worrying
There have always been tense times in our world. War, disease, economic depression, terrorism, etc. have been present for hundreds and thousands of years. The current national crisis in which we find ourselves has peoplke more anxious and worried than during any time in our recent history. What can we do to stop worrying so much? Although you may be…
The Live Read: Critical for Podcasts and On-Demand Radio
What exactly is a “Live Read” and how is it important to modern audio/visual media? How can modern podcasts and on demand radio take advantage of live reads…
Feel the BuRN: The BRN-180 [Review]
“Are you ready to feel the BuRN?” The BRN-180 is the new hotness in black rifles. Based upon the original AR-180 design from Gene Stoner and the Armalite crew, the BRN-180 series from Brownells is setting the black rifle world on fire. We’ve just recently completed our build, and now we finally have our official SOTG review of the BRN-180…
[Guide] Canik Pistols – Rhino Tough
There are guns for fun and guns for fighting. Canik pistols are built for fighting. For the last five years or so I have been working with the modern…
Gunbroker Review – Where Have All The Good Guns Gone?
Whenever a good firearm falls out of production, I regret not already owning. Gunbroker is the solution to all my missing firearm woes.
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
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
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…
[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
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
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
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.