Layer by Layer: The Secrets to Staying Warm in the Winter

A man in camouflage gear with a beard.

There’s nothing like cold, wet clothes clinging to your skin to ruin a winter outing. Knowing where and how to wear the proper materials will keep you warm, dry and safe! by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on November 8, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING, GEAR Support NRA Women DONATE Winter can be an exciting time of the year for outdoorsmen…

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3 Rules to Keep Your Firearm Training Class Safe

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Your class, your rules, right? Well, kind of! When you conduct an NRA Firearms Training course, a private lesson or any other type of firearm training, there will always be rules to follow. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on November 6, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, TIPS & TACTICS, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE When you conduct an NRA Firearms Training course, a private lesson…

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What is the Data Stamp Rule – and What Are the Exceptions?

A close up of the trigger on an ar-1 5

Sometimes firearms can safely shoot more than one caliber. Here’s how to tell which ones.   by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on September 20, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, TIPS & TACTICS, TERMINOLOGY, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE Always make certain you have the proper ammunition that can safely be shot out of the firearm you will be using. To correctly match ammunition to…

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Training Students with Service Animals

A couple of people sitting at a table with a dog.

The laws concerning service animals can be open to interpretation, and NRA Firearms Trainers should become educated on the nuances of the topic. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on September 11, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE Firearms instructors meet some very interesting people. Everybody is unique and has their own needs. As instructors, we try…

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Being a Markswoman in a Marksmanship World

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What’s it like to be an active participant in traditionally male-dominated activities like hunting and shooting? This prolific NRA Women contributor offers her insight. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on August 31, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, HUNTING Support NRA Women DONATE I have spent my entire adult life in what has traditionally been a male-dominated world as it relates to firearms.…

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5 Mistakes Firearms Instructors Should Avoid

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Try these tips for what not to do if you are trying to put your best foot forward as a firearm instructor. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on August 9, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, TIPS & TACTICS, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE It should go without saying that firearms instructors must put their students first when conducting shooting classes. Toward this goal,…

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Mentoring: Make Sure Your New Hunter Uses Enough Gun

A rifle in the foreground of an orange sunset.

Using the largest caliber you can effectively shoot increases the chance of game recovery—which is very important when introducing a new hunter to the activity. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on July 18, 2023 NEWS, HUNTING, TIPS & TACTICS Famed author Robert Ruark made the phrase “use enough gun†everyday hunting lexicon in his 1966 book, Use Enough…

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The Real Value in Evaluating Your Firearm Instructor

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If an instructor is good, word spreads fast. If an instructor is not good, word spreads faster. Here’s why your students’ opinions matter. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on July 10, 2023 NEWS, HOW-TO, LIFESTYLE, FIREARMS A good teacher does not have to tell others they are good at what they do; it is reflected in their…

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4 Tips for the Trips that Include Firearms

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Vacation should be a time when we let down our guard, but often it is often when we are most vulnerable. If you plan to vacation with a firearm in tow, pay attention to these important facets. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on June 7, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING, CONCEALED CARRY, FIREARMS We tend to…

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