To me, there’s nothing quite as sad as a well-made machine not being used in the role for which it was created. Life’s too short for Corvettes that only sit in climate-controlled garages, beautiful timepieces that won’t ever be strapped to a wrist, or “safe queen” 1911’s that never see trigger time. By the same token, I know far too many people who don’t carry or use the knife they want because they don’t want to muck it up or dull the factory edge. A folding knife makes so many tasks a lot easier. However, do you have the skills…

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When it comes to carry guns, are red dots really that much better than iron sights? I hit the range to find out.Just 13 years ago, when I authored the book, Handgun Training for Personal Protection, I included a chapter on red dot sights, where I wrote, “The future is coming. When it gets here, we will all shoot better and faster.” In some ways, reflex-style red dot sights have come a long way in the past 13 years, and today, many believe a self-defense handgun without one is unsuitable … or even antiquated. I’ve spent a good part of…

Shooting sports are constantly evolving, mostly. While age-old classics like High Power, Trap, Skeet, and F-Class rarely (if ever) change, the world of action shooting sports is constantly on the move. USPSA, PCSL, PRS, 3-Gun, and 2-Gun are pushing a new frontier. The newest evolution comes from FAST, the Firearms Action Shooting Trials. Long stages, lots of shooting, harder-than-average targets, and a whole lot of fun.  2026 is the first year for FAST, and the Retro Rifle FAST match in Buckeye, Arizona, was the first full-size match held with more FAST matches coming later in the year. There are several…

The Brief: A 22-year-old man used a secondary firearm to defend himself during an armed robbery near downtown Des Moines. After a group ambushed the man in his vehicle and a 17-year-old suspect stole his primary handgun, the victim drew a backup weapon and critically wounded the teenager in a shootout. Des Moines Police and the Polk County Attorney’s Office determined the driver acted in lawful self-defense and released him without charges. While the injured suspect remains in critical condition, authorities continue to search for the remaining accomplices involved in the late-night confrontation near Pappajohn Sculpture Park. DES MOINES, IA…