The Gear I Trust Now: Lessons from the Range

by Chris Liles | Jul 16, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, How To, News & Updates, Reviews, Training Classes

When people begin taking firearms training more seriously, one of the first questions they ask is, “What gear do I really need?” The good news is that you don’t need to buy every piece of tactical equipment you see online. The key is investing in...

What Instructors CAN (and CAN’T) See & Do with SC CWP

by Chris Liles | May 7, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, How To, News & Updates

Recent changes to South Carolina’s concealed weapon permit application system have created a wave of questions from students and permit holders alike. The process for new applications, renewals, and replacements has shifted to a more centralized online system,...

FFP vs SFP with Rifle Optics

by Chris Liles | May 7, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, News & Updates, Reviews

What’s up everybody, one of the questions that comes up all the time when people start getting into LPVOs and rifle optics is whether they should go with a First Focal Plane (FFP) or Second Focal Plane (SFP) optic. Like most things in the firearms world, there’s no...

From the Thunder .380 to the BAR-15: Bersa’s Evolution on Display at GOA 2025

by Chris Liles | Mar 15, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, News & Updates, Reviews

At GOA 2025, I had the opportunity to sit down with Raphael from Bersa to talk about some of the company’s latest firearms and the legacy behind the brand. For those who may not know, Bersa has been manufacturing firearms in Argentina since 1958, giving them nearly 70...

Hands-On With the SAR 9 SOCOM Compact

by Chris Liles | Mar 10, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, News & Updates, Reviews

While attending the GOALS event, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the team from SAR USA and get hands-on with one of their standout pistols, the SAR 9 SOCOM Compact. I had the chance to shoot the pistol on the range, and I have to say it immediately...

Appendix Carry for Bigger Guys: Why Fit and Design Actually Matter

by Chris Liles | Feb 1, 2026 | For New Shooters, Gear, How To, News & Updates, Reviews

Finding a comfortable appendix carry holster as a bigger guy can be frustrating. I know that firsthand. For a long time, I tried forcing gear to work that clearly wasn’t designed for my body type. Most appendix holsters I tested constantly dug in, rode too high, or...