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Firearms
If I were to give advice to any new gun owner on purchasing a first firearm and subsequent training, it would be very simple and to the point: Don’t always trust the “experts,” and look to NRA Certified Instructors for accurate information. Some of the “experts” to avoid include internet and social media influencers; workplace watercooler wranglers;…
Semi-automatic pistols are today’s reigning king of self-defense guns. When I teach the NRA Basic and Instructor Pistol Courses, most of my students—of all ages—cringe at the thought of shooting the revolvers I incorporate into the range portion of the class. But many of my students endeavor to become NRA Certified Pistol Instructors, so I must sign off…
The stock is the first thing you notice about a rifle. Here’s why the wood chosen for a particular model firearm is anything but random. Many different types of wood are used in the manufacture of firearm stocks, the most common being American walnut, Turkish walnut, Claro walnut, Birch and Figured. But here’s why the…
With each generation, archaic phrases can seem like a whole new language. If you are from “back in the day,” here’s how to handle the passing of the torch to new—and younger—instructors. There is one thing that we “seasoned” (older) firearms instructors have over younger instructors: experience. We tend to also have a broader contextual…
More than 73,000 members gathered in the country’s fourth most-populous city to celebrate their Second Amendment freedoms. Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the fourth most-populous city hosting the 155th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston April 17-19, 2026 did not disappoint. The NRA show is open to all NRA members and their immediate families…
Now in its 13th year, the NRA Women New Energy Brunch, which highlights NRA’s outreach programs for women, has become a cornerstone event of the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. With women arguably the fastest-growing segment of new gun owners, the NRA New Energy Brunch has become a cornerstone event at the National Rifle Association’s Annual…
Frustrated in their search for next-level instruction on the Big Island, two women journey 3,800 miles to Texas for the gold standard in training. By Heidi Rao One of the greatest things about being an NRA Certified Firearms Instructors is that you meet the greatest people. This is because individuals who specifically look for NRA…
For a fun, safe and successful hunt, it’s best to follow sage advice from the most experienced. Old hunters like our fathers, grandfathers and early pioneer women (who had to keep the kids fed when they were alone) knew how to track and harvest what they needed for their survival. These hunters usually spent more…
As an NRA Certified Instructor, I encounter plenty of new gun owners. Many of them are excited to be in class and on the range, and eager to learn. Others are apprehensive and afraid. Some of these students have the correct equipment and reasonable expectations. Others have been ill-advised on which gun to purchase, and…
A Successful Guide to Introducing New Firearm Owners to Their First Range Experience with Confidence and Success BY HEIDI LYN RAO The sights, sounds, and smells of a gun range may be something that brings comfort to you as a frequent and experienced shooter. To a brand-new shooter, a trip to the gun range may…