Firearms

4 Internal Factors that Affect a Firearm’s Performance

By North America Outdoors / January 15, 2026 /

Want maximum output from your firearm? Follow these tips to ensure your gun is a keeper. A firearm is only as good as its internal components, design and relationship with the cartridge for which it is chambered. There are internal factors that can either make a gun great, or factors that make a gun destined…

5 Reasons Instructors Should Start New Shooters on a .22 LR

By North America Outdoors / January 9, 2026 / Comments Off on 5 Reasons Instructors Should Start New Shooters on a .22 LR

This little cartridge can be one of the most powerful tools for teaching the fundamentals that create safe, confident and successful shooters. As a longtime NRA Instructor, one of the best tools I have found to use with new shooters is a .22 LR. The NRA Training Department encourages instructors to utilize the .22 LR…

3 Ways a Firearms Instructor Can Become a Better Teacher

By North America Outdoors / December 18, 2025 / Comments Off on 3 Ways a Firearms Instructor Can Become a Better Teacher

You can be the best shot in your chosen firearm discipline, but if you are not a good communicator, you may not be an effective teacher. NRA Firearms training courses advise new shooters to seek out the advice of knowledgeable shooters when researching and purchasing their first gun. Gaining knowledge is only possible through education. We have…

3 Great Reads for Firearms Instructors

By North American Outdoors / November 30, 2025 / Comments Off on 3 Great Reads for Firearms Instructors

For the holidays or anytime, these books make great gifts for any hunter, shooter, firearm instructor or trainer. Do you have a firearms instructor in your life? Are you looking for that perfect gift for him or her? Or are you a firearms instructor looking for that gift for yourself that is not only entertaining,…

Two Great Choices for Quick Release Scope Mounts

By North America Outdoors / November 23, 2025 / Comments Off on Two Great Choices for Quick Release Scope Mounts

If you have ever gone into the brush for a quick follow-up shot on game, you understand the importance of this type of mount. Many species of game animals can be hunted throughout North America, ranging from the Gulf of America to the Arctic, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. There are also…

5 Often Misunderstood Common Cartridge Terms

By North America Outdoors / November 23, 2025 / Comments Off on 5 Often Misunderstood Common Cartridge Terms

Whether you are a firearms instructor, competitive shooter or just practicing at the range, it is important to learn and use the correct terminology when referring to firearms, ammunition and their components. It seems that the longer that I teach NRA firearms courses, the more firearms and ammunition vocabulary I am learning. It does not…

My Gun Has an Identity Crisis

By North America Outdoors / November 20, 2025 / Comments Off on My Gun Has an Identity Crisis

Things aren’t always what they seem—even with collectible firearms. Have you ever looked a firearm and said to yourself, “That is such a cool gun!” Chances are that others may think the same thing about that same gun. This is one reason why some older firearms cost more than others. There are several factors that…

4 Rules NRA Instructors Should Follow When Training Students

By North America Outdoors / November 16, 2025 / Comments Off on 4 Rules NRA Instructors Should Follow When Training Students

Don’t stop with the the bare minimum when it comes to safety in the classroom. Go one step further and implement additional rules that apply to your location. All NRA Certified Firearms Instructors must follow rules established by NRA’s Training Department. Instructors can also establish additional rules that might apply to their unique area or…

Deer Season Prep: 4 Things to Take to the Gun Range

By North America Outdoors / November 2, 2025 / Comments Off on Deer Season Prep: 4 Things to Take to the Gun Range

If you are heading to the range, you should have the necessary tools to ensure your rifle is ready for opening day. ** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA’s mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. ** For many of us,…

NRA Firearm Instructors Achieve Success Through Concentration

By North America Outdoors / October 26, 2025 / Comments Off on NRA Firearm Instructors Achieve Success Through Concentration

We all know what it is like trying to complete a project and constantly being interrupted by the phone, co-workers or even our kids. All of us at one time or another have said, “It’s so loud in here, I can’t even hear myself think!” If you have ever said or thought this, your concentration…