• Gun Manufacturers
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• General Shooting/Gun Related Retailers
• Misc.

Springfield Armory
Makers of 1911's, M1A's (civilian designation for the M14), M1 Garands, M25's, the M1A SOCOM and SOCOM II, and the award winning XD series. Most famous for their 1911's and sponsor for a champion competition shooter that some consider to not be human, Rob Leatham.

You can find anything from the low-end $450 GI .45 to a $3000 Custom 1911. They are probably the number one manufacturer of M1A's today, and their XD series has been awarded the gun of the year award by the NRA.

My all-time favorite weapon out of everything that I've shot is the Springfield Armory MC Operator you see as the background image. I picked it to be my conceal carry piece because I trust it with my life. Since buying it, I've fired thousands of rounds through it and has never had a problem out of the box. It is also VERY accurate and smooth. The finish on this weapon is also almost brand new looking. My friend has a Springfield Armory XD9 and that is the weapon he chooses to conceal carry. And yet another friend is about to get his CCW and he is planning on carrying his Springfield Armory Loaded 1911. Now that says something.

One of my other friends has one of their National Match M1A's. I have very fond memories of firing that rifle. I have yet to experience any malfunctions and it shoots very accurately. At 100 yards with only iron sights, I hit a one-inch target 3 out of 5 shots without using something like a ransom gun vice. That can only mean that the rifle itself is capable of being much more accurate than that.

Springfield-Armory's new EMP line is the world's first short stroke 9mm 1911. I think they say it is the smallest 1911. They took Browning's 1911 design and redesigned it so it is kind of "scaled down" to cycle 9mm specifically. There has been 9mm 1911's in the past, but they were all built on regular 1911 parts and had the long stroke designed for the .45. This is the first one built from the ground up to only take 9mm and functions optimally for that purpose. This results in a much lower recoiling weapon (compared to weight) even compared to the other 9mm 1911's made in the past. It has been receiving rave reviews from every magazine that has reviewed it. It is definitely very interesting.

Their customer service is top notch, if there is anything wrong with a weapon that you purchased from them, give them a call, and if it needs to be sent in, you send it in, they fix it for free, send it back to you for free, and if you send them the receipt of the shipping costs to ship it out, they even reimburse your shipping costs. The operators you speak to are very friendly and helpful. Chances are you won't have a problem, but if you do, know that you won't be frustrated with it.

Rock River Arms
Makers of some great AR15 based weapons. Just ask the DEA! They have every combination of every feature you can think of and it is all made to your order. Kind of like a Burger King of AR15's, well, you can't add cheese to any of the AR15's the offer, but you get the idea. They have regular 5.56mm AR15's to 7.62mm AR10's. All complete rifles you buy from them come with their RRA 2-stage match trigger.

I own one of these rifles myself, and let me tell you, their triggers are smooth like butter. I've shot Bushmasters, Armalites, Colt's, FN's, and out of all of them, the feel of the Rock River Arms cannot be beat. Construction is solid and their prices are incredibly reasonable.

I ordered an AR15 with a midlength floating quad-rail handguard, chrome-lined barrel, Smith Enterprises Vortex flash hider, Ergo Grip, A3 flattop, 6-position collapsible stock, and their oh-so-sweet 2-stage match trigger. It came in a hard case and with one 30-round magazine. The price I paid AFTER the gunshop tacked on their profit was $955. Now if getting all of that from a reputable company for under $1000 isn't a reasonable deal, I don't know what is. You might as well put one together yourself, it will be cheaper, but you won't have the warranty or the trigger unless you buy that separate.

My only gripe is that the case it came with is sectioned off so you can only put the rifle in there if you break it down into its upper receiver and lower receiver groups. You can't use it to keep the rifle while it's put together.

Smith & Wesson
"You gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" One of the most famous quotes attached to a firearm, said by the star Clint Eastwood as Harry "Dirty Harry" Callahan. Of course, the firearm in question is the Smith & Wesson Model 29 chambered for .44 Magnum. Very rarely would you meet someone who does not know about how that movie affected this company. But at least it's not one of those companies that got famous only for their role in a movie (AMT Hardballer comes to mind); this is actually a very good firearms company.

Located in Springfield, Illinois S&W makes everything from revolvers, to semi-automatics, to rifles. The double action triggers in their revolvers are some of the best in the business. Many competition shooters use S&W for this reason.

The latest addition to their line has been their reintroduction to the M&P line. M&P stands for Military and Police, and was a branding that they had on some of their weapons back when S&W was the leading name in government and law enforcement issued weapons. That is no longer true, they have lost that title to gun companies such as Glock as polymer pistols have become the rage as of late. Glock was not the first to make a polymer framed pistol, but through some good marketing strategy and good lobbying, they were able to surpass even the companies that came before them with polymer framed pistols.

Smith & Wesson tried to fire back with their Sigma line, which was basically a glock clone with a better grip. But reliability issues plagued the new pistol, and although it was eventually fixed, the damage to their reputation was already done. And it didn't help that S&W was later sued by Glock for the similarities in design, which resulted in a modification to the Sigma design which included a VERY flawed and sloppy trigger. After that, S&W simply had a bad reputation for their semi-automatics, regardless of their actual quality.

Well, they are trying to make a come-back into the government and law enforcement community with their new M&P line which includes a set of revolvers, AR15 rifles, and a brand new semi-automatic pistol developed just for the new branding. This new pistol doesn't have a single interchangeable part with the Sigma, so no need to worry that it's just the infamous Sigma making a come back. However, the one good thing of the Sigma did have an effect on the design of the M&P, and that is the grip. S&W spent well over $300,000 in ergonomics research and development while developing the grip for the Sigma. They took those findings and did some more research to develop the grip for the new M&P pistol. The result is one of the best grips in the industry. And I wouldn't just say that if it weren’t true. In fact, I was so impressed with the grip I bought one myself.

They have designed a grip that is both as skinny as a 1911's grip (if not skinnier) and more rounded for a more comfortable grip. And not only that, somehow they can fit a double stack magazine into that grip that holds either 17 rounds of 9mm or 15 rounds of .40. And now they have the new .45 ACP with a capacity of 10 rounds. All within a grip that just melts in your hands. The trigger is not the most impressive trigger in the world, but that can be fixed pretty easily. I think they have a real winner on their hands, or better yet, in our hands.

Remington
Here is a company that needs no introduction. They are both a world famous gun manufacturer and manufacturer of ammunition. Their model 870 pump action shotgun is probably the most popular shotgun among law enforcement and government agencies. And then their model 700 bolt-action rifle is the preferred rifle of law enforcement sharpshooters all throughout the country and the choice for a lot of snipers in the military as well.

Their golden saber rounds are self-defense ammo that features jackets made of brass instead of the more common copper. Brass is much harder so having brass jackets result in better weight retention and more uniform expansion upon impacting the flesh of some unlucky bastard. It also retains weight better after penetrating through objects such as car doors or windshields.

There are many advantages to choosing the same weapons government and law enforcement agencies use. The first advantage is the fact that they usually screen candidates and the choice they make is usually the one that performed the best with least malfunctions. So you already know the product you are buying is of good quality. Another is that they are generally not as expensive as some other firearms that are marketed more to the competition market. Firearms marketed for law enforcement are typically very practical and purpose oriented.

Another advantage of this is that the market will be flooded with parts and upgrades made for these weapons so you modify or customize the weapon to your very liking. The reason why these parts are not as readily available for weapons not common with law enforcement or government agencies is because their popularity will fluctuate from year to year, while weapons used by the government will be popular every year. The makers of these parts know that they will always have customers for these parts year after year. For that reason, there is no better choice for a pump action shotgun than a Remington 870 in my opinion, and the Remington 700 is a good choice for a bolt-action rifle, especially the one chambered for .308.

Bushmaster
You can't even think about AR15's without thinking about Bushmaster. They are probably the most popular name brand in AR15's among the civilian market. Colt is pretty big in the area, but I think that is mainly due to the government contracts they hold. There are many different models of Bushmaster AR15's. They cover just about every combination of features you can think of. Their prices are quite a bit higher than Rock River Arms, but a lot of people swear by their quality. They've been around for many years and I can't remember them ever having a bad reputation for anything. So that should say a lot about the company.

One of my good friends has one of their rifles, and just recently put a flash hider on it, but it has served him good for quite some time. The only malfunctions I have ever witnessed with his Bushmaster modular 16 were due to old and bloated magazines. I have yet to see any problems relating to the Bushmaster itself.

Spike's Tactical
I'm not 100% positive, but I believe they do not manufacture their own AR15's but they assemble and customize them to your specifications. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken. They are located in Apopka, Florida and are well known all around Florida and possibly elsewhere in the country as well. They have a very good reputation and sell both complete AR15 rifles, and a boatload of accessories and goodies for them too. They also offer a complete line of logo apparel and they brand their rifles with their own unique logo. They also do custom installations if you send your rifle to them. They are the ones who installed the flash hider on my friend's Bushmaster and they did a great job.

DSA
DSA is most famous for their FAL recreations that they designate SA58's. They are basically the FN FAL design machined using the latest fabrication processes with more modern furniture and options. Most FAL parts will fit into these SA58 and they still use the standard FAL magazines. These things are not your cousin Bubba's squirrel hunting rifles either. The FAL is a 7.62x51mm assault rifle designed for military use and is, or has been, the main battle rifle for over 90 countries worldwide. Many people wonder why the USA never adopted the FN FAL as their main battle rifle back when the 7.62x51mm round was king before the 5.56x45mm round.

Some say the US government was just being loyal to Springfield Armory, the creator of the M14. Springfield Armory back then is not the same Springfield Armory that exists today. The one before was a government sanctioned and funded firearms company that developed weapons specifically for the military. The current Springfield Armory is privately owned and was named in honor of the original. It is like a spiritual successor to the original Springfield Armory that was eventually shut down. Whatever the reason, the FAL is, without a doubt, a very formidable weapon.

DSA is also known for their "gas trap carbine" which was a rethinking of the AR15's gas operation system. Many people wonder what Stoner was thinking when he designed the AR15's gas system. Unlike most gas-operated rifles that have gas pistons that are indirectly or directly connected to the bolt to cycle the rounds, the AR15 has what is known as a direct impingement system. Meaning that a small portion of the gases traveling down the barrel behind the bullet is redirected up a tube and back directly into the bolt in the receiver to "blow" the bolt back to extract the round just fired and then to chamber the next round on its way back forward to the home position.

The reason why this is a baffling design feature is that it gets the bolt VERY dirty very quickly since it's blowing back all of that dirty gases directly into the bolt. Build up in the bolt can cause reliability issues and this is not a good thing in combat. My best guess as to why Stoner decided to go with the direct impingement system (only 3 weapons in the world uses the direct impingement system, the AR15 is one of them), and that is recoil control. The less mass traveling back per shot result in less felt recoil for the operator. Since in a D.I. system, the ONLY thing going back is the bolt, without the added weight of a rod and piston, that should, in theory, result in less recoil. The gas trap system is a redesign of the gas system where there is actually a piston that the gases make contact with that then pushes the bolt to the rear. This prevents any build up in the bolt, and the gas tube and piston are very easy to clean and require less cleaning than the old method.

DSA is not the only company to use this piston system, but I believe they were the first to offer it as a complete rifle and not just an upgrade option or sold separately only as an upper receiver.

Marlin
Maker of some of the most recognizable Cowboy style rifles out there. Also known as one of the best "bush guns" out there, the lever-action rifle can be seen in just about every Western movie made. The lever-action 30-30 is known to be the firearm that has killed more deer than any other type of weapon.

Marlin makes a full line of lever-action rifles ranging through all the calibers and all the different styles. Whether you want one that fires .357 to the massive .45-70. The one set back for lever action rifles has been the way they are loaded, which puts the rounds tip to end. Because of this, they cannot be loaded with pointed bullets because then it becomes a hazard of the tip of the bullet activating the primer of the round in front of it. For this reason, all ammunition typically run through a lever-action rifle had to be round or flat nosed. This, of course, limits long-range accuracy.

But now that has changed. Not too long ago Marlin and Hornady worked together to develop the "Lever-Evolution" bullets that are pointed for aerodynamics, but the tip is made out of a polymer that will NOT activate the primer. Even if a fully loaded rifle is dropped on its end, none of the primers will go off. Marlin, together with Hornady, developed a special lever-action 30-30 just for this new round. It was designed with a longer barrel and other features to take advantage of the potential of this new, more aerodynamic, bullet. So the new lever-action 30-30 is a much more accurate weapon and is designed for shooting longer ranges.

Go check out their line-up.

Winchester
Here is another company that needs no introduction. But this is also a company in trouble. Unlike Remington, they do not have any government contracts anymore for their firearms, and they are in real financial trouble. One of their most famous plants just shut down, responsible for Winchester's most popular firearms of all time, the model 94 and model 70 rifles.

Their "white box" ammo is some of the most widely used ammo not only for its low price but also because it has a very good reputation for being reliable and accurate. I know I use their ammo, a box of 100 9x19mm Winchester White Box ammo costs like $12, lol.

Nighthawk Custom
This 1911 company does not offer any low-end items. All of their 1911's are hand made and custom made to order. They are fairly new into the 1911 market, but have made an explosive entrance. If you want a custom high end 1911, this is a place you should check out.

Ruger
Maker of the most popular plinkers in America. The Ruger 10/22 is probably the most popular semi-automatic .22LR rifle ever sold in America. I think if you ever ask a room full of gun nuts "What is a good .22 rifle to buy?" Everyone would stand up and proudly say: "The Ruger 10/22." Funny thing is, one of the first weapons I ever shot was a Ruger 10/22 and that was probably close to 15 years ago. If you really wanted to, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a Ruger 10/22 for about $179 brand new, haha. Now that's a deal you can't refuse.

Another popular plinker from Ruger is the Ruger Mark III .22 handgun. For the most part, people buy these because .22LR ammo is cheap. Some plan on using the 22/45 version of it to practice shooting comparing it to a 1911, but I've held one, and it feels almost nothing like a 1911. I think if practicing for a 1911 was your purpose, you should probably buy one of the fairly cheap ($250-$350) conversion kits sold by various companies that replace the normal slide and barrel of a real 1911 with one that holds a barrel chambered for .22LR. The feel of holding one of these would be identical to that of a real 1911, because it uses an actual 1911 frame. The weight distribution and balance is more accurate too because the Ruger Mark III 22/45 is very top heavy, especially the bull barrel stainless steel version, since the frame is polymer.

But like I said, the majority of people who buy it is for the fact that you can shoot .22's all day and it won't break the bank. But that's not all Ruger offers. They also sell some pretty awesome revolvers of all calibers. They have a very good reputation with their revolvers, probably almost up there with Smith & Wesson. If I were to buy another revolver, it just might be a Ruger.

Kahr
Their slogan is "Small size, big bite." The reason for this is that they make 9mm, .40, and even a .45 handgun that is the size of most .380 autos. That allows you to conceal one of their weapons almost anywhere very easily and comfortably and still not sacrifice any power. The only problem with that is that the smaller the weapon, the greater the felt recoil is generally the rule. And that is very true with their firearms. Their PM9 9mm is very snappy to shoot and their PM40 .40 is just retarded to have. It recoils so badly it feels like it will jump out of your hand and into your face if you're not careful. I've shot one of the .40 versions and I was trying my best to grip as hard as I can, and it still shifted up my grip about an inch every time I shot the damn thing. They do sell larger handguns and so far they have a very good reputation. As far as reliability goes, their 9mm and their .45 are very solid performers.

Kimber
Another popular maker of 1911's. If there were grades of 1911's, Kimber would fall right in the mid-range grade of 1911's. Something like the GI .45 from Springfield would be a low-end, the Loaded to Operators of Springfield and just about all Kimbers would be mid-range, and then Nighthawk and Springfield's Custom line would be the high-ends. If you don't mind full-length guide rods, Kimber 1911's are pretty nice. They do have some models like the Warrior line that has the regular guide rod since it was meant for military use. Kimber has a very long-standing reputation for making good quality 1911's.

Kimber also offers several other products other than their 1911's. They also sell a .22LR conversion kit for 1911's and then there's their less-lethal (no such thing as non-lethal, that term is a misnomer) pepper spray shooter.

Browning
One of the most well known name in firearms. Browning rifles and shotguns are used by hunters all over America, and for good reason. Browning firearms have had a long standing reputation for quality products. Right now, they carry shotguns, rifles, handguns, fishing reels, bows and arrows, flashlights, gun cases, camping accessories, etc. Basically, they are an outdoorsman's dream come true. Go check out their vast line up at their website.

Wilson Combat
A well known maker of high-end custom 1911's, AR15's, and shotguns. They also carry a great selection of parts and accessories for those weapons. Wilson Combat 1911 magazines are well trusted and is what I carry in my conceal carry 1911 every day. Give their website a look and check out their line-up.

Galco Gunleather
Possibly the most well-known name in gunleather. Makers of high quality leather gun products such as holsters, magazine pouches, and other accessories.

Don Hume Leathergoods
A little cheaper than Galco, but also good quality products. Also offers a full line of holsters, magazine pouches, and other accessories.

Milt Sparks
Popular maker of high quality inside-the-waistband 1911 holsters.

Buy Shooting Supplies
We have a complete selection of shooting supplies for all of your shooting adventures!

CheaperThanDirt.com
Find just about anything you can think of that is firearms or outdoors related. Buy anything from firearm accessories, to ammunition, to compasses, and even firearms themselves now. Their prices are some of the lowest on the internet. If you're a frequent shopper of their site, join their member's club and save even more.

Midway USA
Another site like CheaperThanDirt. It's not better or worse, just different. You'll find some things that you won't find in CTD and then there are some things CTD will have that this place wouldn't. If you have trouble finding anything at CTD, give this site a try, and vice-versa. A little price hunting never hurts either.

44Mag.com
If you ever need magazines or magazine accessories such as new springs or followers, this is the place to go. By far, the lowest prices you will ever find for magazines of all types, but mainly AR15 magazines. They even have the new polymer magazines made by MagPul for a very reasonable price. I would purchase a lot of AR15 mags from them with the magpul followers for around $13-$14 each. And these are brand new, steel or aluminum body quality AR15 magazines. Other websites would sell the same magazine with the regular green follower for about $20.

So if you ever need any magazines, definitely give this place a look first before wasting your money anywhere else.

CDNN
Download their catalogue in pdf to get some of the lowest prices on firearms you will find on the internet. Their prices on their firearms are often cheaper than those you will find in auction places like gunbroker.com or gunsamerica.com. They also sell a lot of firearm accessories for very low prices as well, and their shipping is fairly reasonable if you're ordering a lot since it's a flat rate.

LA Police Gear
This website is probably the number one distributor of 5.11 Tactical's excellent products. But they also carry products from many other great companies like Blackhawk, Surefire, and much more. Check them out for all of your shooting needs. 5.11 Tactical's concealment apparel is an excellent line, but don't buy directly from 5.11 since their website's MSRP is always about $10 more than what LA Police Gear sells them for. So whatever you may need, give LA Police Gear a look first. Their customer service is also second to none. If you ever have a problem, email them, and you will be in contact with a Nicole that will do what she can to help you.

They also very frequently have great specials with their 5.11 Tactical products. They almost always have a free shipping offer if you spend a certain amount. Often times you get a free 5.11 Tactical Trainer's belt if you buy a certain number of pairs of their Tactical pants, which are great pants, and the belt is awesome. Their boots are also some of the most comfortable duty boots you can find. Most of the time when you purchase 5.11 boots from their site, you will get up to 3 pairs of 5.11 socks for free, and the socks are pretty nice since they are moisture wicking, so they have the cooling effect Under Armour has. If you spend over $125 you will get a nice mug for free, and a free cap with much less money than that. Their caps are very attractive as well. Buying their pants almost always mean free knee pad inserts, and some of their shirts will come with free elbow pad inserts.

I tend to browse their site every week or so to check out which specials are on at the moment, and their offers stack. One time, I purchased a few pairs of pants from them and a pair of boots, and I ended up getting a free cap, a free mug, free shipping, 3 free pairs of socks, free knee pad inserts, a free polo shirt, and a free 5.11 Tactical Trainer's Belt. Yah, it was very cool.

Ammo Sites
Here are a few places to buy ammo online:

• The Armory
• CheaperThanDirt.com
• AIM Surplus
• Ammunition To Go
• Ammo Man
• Ammunition Store
• JG Sales

Packing.org
This website focuses on anything to do with concealed carry. You can research laws regarding firearms; they usually have regular updates on the latest developments in that area, generally a very useful site for any gun owner.

NRA
National Rifle Association. The butt of a lot of anti-gun jokes. Anti-gun people tend to portray all members of the NRA to be "Bubba" living in a trailer. "If the richest member of your family just bought a new house, and you have to help take the wheels off, you just might be a redneck." Yes, that accounts for all of us. Wait a minute, I am a member of the NRA, I am a homeowner with a Bachelor's of Science degree. That's strange... I guess stereotypes are not all that accurate all the time, especially if they are started by a group that has a fundamentally negative view on the group they are stereotyping from the beginning. The NRA is the country's largest pro-gun political action group that I know of. We don't all agree with some of the things they support, but in general, their pro-gun actions in politics is a good thing for us gun owners.

Joining them has many benefits. One of them include legal representation if you are ever arrested and put on trial for using your firearm for self defense. It will also give you access to some of their shooting clubs, ranges, and discounts in many things like hotels, car rentals, and other things. But the best thing about membership is that you will help fund an organization that is fighting to keep our rights to own firearms.

Magpul
Makers of popular AR15 accessories and replacement parts. Most well known for their baseplate replacements that make the magazines easier to access and their polymer followers that are virtually tilt proof. Recently they have designed a produced their own magazine, the PMag which is a polymer magazine designed for the AR15. It features a polymer follower and metal spring that were both specifically designed for this new magazine and it is much more durable and reliable than any other popular magazine on the market, including standard GI magazines and even HK's steel AR15 magazines. Other polymer AR15 magazines out there have proven to be unreliable and east to shatter, the PMag has been torture tested by being run over by trucks, buses, and have always worked.

When purchasing it, be sure to purchase the 3rd generation PMag, not the 2nd generation that was manufactured June-2007 and before. The reason for this is that Magpul has issued a recall for them because they have a slight defect in them. However, if you've already bought them, or the place where you purchased the magazines only have these, Magpul will replace them for free. Go to their website for directions on how to determine when it was manufactured and how to get it replaced if need be.

A good place to purchase these mags is 44Mag.com.

Gunbroker Auctions
Ebay is very popular as an online auction site. But their anti-gun stance is very well known as not only do they prohibit sales of firearms, but they also prohibit sales of many firearm parts and accessories. Paypal is associated with ebay and has this same anti-gun stance. Apparently they feel that criminals (a lot of whom do not own computers) are likely to purchase firearms through the internet, lol. Yah, most anti-gun groups lack basic logic, so while it might sound funny to us, it makes complete sense to them. But all is not lost if you are looking for auction sites for gun owners. Gunbroker.com along with GunsAmerica.com are popular gun auction sites you should check while shopping for a firearm.

Like ebay, however, you'll find that a lot of people are dumb enough to bid MORE than the item is actually worth on the market, so sometimes deals are hard to find in these auction sites lately. Back in the day, deals were all over these auction sites, but now they are so popular that they have a lot of idiots who simply bid far too much, now deals are hard to find. But they are still there if you're lucky or you know how to find them. Keep in mind that all firearms need to be shipped to a FFL holder, basically a gunshop, and they will charge you a fee to do so. So when price shopping keep in mind, the shipping costs, taxes, credit card fees (if you're using cc) and transfer charges associated with purchasing a firearm through the internet or any time you purchase a firearm that needs to be shipped.

Guns America Auctions
Like Gunbroker.com, this is another online auction site dedicated to firearms and firearm related parts and accessories.

Defense Review
A site similar to Packing.org in that it is a resource of shooting related material including product reviews, and news regarding new firearms products and services.

Gunsite
Started in 1976 by LtCol. Jeff Cooper, this shooting facility is located in the Arizona desert. It covers about 2000 acres of land and features a long range rifle range, shoot houses, campgrounds, and much more. You can learn about pistols, carbines, rifles, shotguns, just about everything here at Gunsite.

Many people consider Gunsite as one of the best firearms training facilities in the country. I'm sure the fact that it was started by the legendary late LtCol. Jeff Cooper probably has something to do with it. He was known as one of the most knowledgeable people in the firearms industry.

Thunder Ranch
Started in 1993 by a Marine veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam, Clint Smith. Smith is very well known and respected in the firearms community because prior to opening Thunder Ranch, he was head of the Firearms Training Division of a police department and then Dean of instruction for the American Pistol Institute. He then founded International Training Consultants, Inc., which was an active mobile training program which is nationally recognized for innovative programs in Urban Rifle, Shotgun, Precision Rifle, and various handgun formats. After that, he served as Director of Training for Heckler & Koch, Inc. Basically, his credentials speak for themselves.

They provide courses for handgun, rifle, combination, and special courses such as home and vehicle defense and team tactics. Check out their website for more information.

Valhalla Shooting Club
Advertised as the most realistic firearms training you will encounter. Instead of normal shoot houses, he uses buildings that are dressed up with furniture and other things to simulate a real residence. There is also a course in how to take down a hijacker on an airplane, unarmed combat training, and many other things. It also features automated targets that appear to "die" when you hit them. Check out their website for more information.

Front Sight
This is the largest of the gun training schools in the USA. Located in a large piece of land privately owned out in the Nevada Desert, they have facilities and classes for all types of weapons and situations. The guy who started all of this, Dr. Ignatius Piazza, is kind of a nut, he basically wants to start his own city, complete with large communities, an airport, restaurants, and possiblY a courthouse and post office in the near future, lol, just kidding, but who knows. But regardless of his dreams (or his mental state), he does have world-class facilities out there and the instructors he has have great credentials.

He offers unarmed combat courses, edged weapons courses, handgun courses, rifle courses, shotgun courses, repel wall, shoot house, and much more.

10-8
Law enforcement "10" code for "Officers on Duty," 10-8 employs instructors of various backgrounds such as law enforcement, military special operations, firearms industry professionals, and modern mixed martial arts. Alongside their training courses, they also design and retail an arsenal of firearm accessories. They also publish many useful articles on important aspects of firearms training and maintenance. Basically they are a wealth of information that anyone with an interest in defensive or combat use of firearms should check out.