Handguns
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…
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…
Understanding handgun terminologies and sizes will help you choose the right gun for you. ** 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. ** Semi-automatic pistols and revolvers have their own terminology when it comes to…
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…
Exceptions include cartridges that have identical size dimensions, bullet weights, and powder charges but have different industry recognized names. Safe shooters know the importance of using the correct ammunition in their firearms. NRA Certified Firearm Instructors are expected to teach the importance of matching the correct ammunition to the firearm in Lesson II of all…
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…
NRA Certified Instructors are ambassadors for the NRA. If you are a student, here are four ways to recognize when your instructor is putting his or her best foot forward. When you visit a gun range, one thing you will notice is there usually is no shortage of firearms instructors. There may be business cards…
Spending my entire adult life in a career introducing people to firearms and hunting and teaching the safe and proper use, storage, and handling of fire- arms, one of the most frequently asked questions is, “What is the best age to introduce my kids to firearms?†The answer, without hesitation, is NOW! As parents, we…
Some of today’s most popular cartridges started out as “wildcats,” but thanks to SAAMI, are now produced as safe, standard and commonly available rounds. One of the first things new gun owners notice when they are looking to purchase their first firearm is the seemingly endless number of caliber options to choose from in the…