I’ve got a bit of experience between training and competition, though not as much as I’d like. Still, I’ve learned a few things along the way and today we’re talking about some of the key lessons I wish I could go back and make sure I knew back at the beginning.

This is just a quick unedited rant about why I decided to launch a physical fitness test for The Everyday Marksman. In short, 2020 sucked, and 2021 might be worse: maybe it’s time to hold ourselves to some objective standards.

This is a short episode touching on an observation I’ve had lately. Since the biggest rush of gun-buying stuff, this year is new shooters, they haven’t quite learned about all the other stuff they should be aware of. And that leaves an opportunity for enthusiasts like you and me.

This episode is a bit of an audio guide version of my article on selecting AR-15 optics. It’s a bit more off the cuff than usual, and you can probably tell that I get a bit excited about nerding out with this topic.

The principles I outline apply to just about any kind of optic regardless of the rifle, or handgun, that it mounts to. At the core, it’s about understanding the role you are trying to fill and then selecting an appropriate solution within the bounds of your budget.

2020 has been a rough year, and things may only get worse from here. So what, exactly, can we do about that? First, take a breath. Now let’s talk.

Today I’m talking about my concept of the Minimum Capable Carbine. If you’ve been reading for a while, you might recognize this as my suggestion for your first AR-15. In truth, this episode is a chance for me to say things out loud that didn’t come across very well in written format.

Mike Green is a 15 year veteran of Special Operations who began a training company in Northern Virginia as a bit of a side gig. His school has since grown into quite the training operation spanning multiple states and categories of students. One of the things that stood out to me about Green Ops is their motto, “Why Should Your Training Be Less Special?”

The theme of the month is all about balance, so here’s another one to think about. I thought about the elements that should go into decision making regarding everything we do, and I categorized everything into these three: safety, capability, and security.

As gun owners and firearms enthusiasts, we should always be mindful of keeping these things in balance.

Today’s episode has to do with the theme of the month within our community over at The Marksman’s Quarter: finding balance. I thought this was an appropriate topic because I just came off of a month-long break from writing or recording, and wanted to talk a little bit about what led to that hiatus and the things that have been on my mind.

I don’t know why this question has been on my mind lately, but I’ve felt compelled to try and put words to my answer. Why is good marksmanship important? What do we get from learning and practicing it?

I think there’s an assumption within the gun world that everyone already knows that marksmanship is important. But I don’t think most people actually care.