Welcome!

We Are The Range Report

Whether you've been carrying for thirty years, have just picked up your first pistol last week, or are contemplating buying - you've probably noticed the same thing about firearms information online: there's a flood of it, and a fair amount is wrong, dated, or trying to sell you something you don't need.

The Range Report is meant to be different. Think of it as the kind of conversation you'd have leaning on the counter at your neighborhood gun shop or sitting next to an experienced instructor between relays at the range — straight, practical, and rooted in what actually works.

What This Blog Is

The Range Report covers firearms, defensive tools, and the skills that go with them. That includes pistols, rifles, and shotguns, but it also includes less-lethal options like Byrna launchers, Tasers and pepper spray, knives and trauma kits, and the legal and tactical mindset behind carrying any of them. If it's a tool, or a skill you might reach for to protect yourself or someone you love, it belongs in the conversation.

What it won't be: brand worship, internet bravado, or a feed of recycled press releases. There will be no legal or medical advice - and none of the included information should be taken as such. The goal is information and knowledge you can actually use — at the range, at home, or in the worst few seconds of your life which we all hope will never come.

About the author

With over 40 years as a certified firearms and less-than-lethal trainer, Shac has trained thousands of students to-date, age ranging from 12 to 85 year young, novices to highly experienced, fully capable to shooters with disabilities, tactical to competition shooters, across a variety of firearms types and disciplines. And yes, there are many stories to be shared (I'll keep all personal details confidential of course).

What to Expect Each Week

A new post drops every week. Here's the rotation you can plan on:

Topic of the week. We'll cover a variety of self-defense and firearm related topics, like firearm possession eligibility, open vs. concealed carry, why women shoot better than men (they generally do!), iron sights vs. red dots, home defense optimal tools and much more.

NOTE: your topic ideas is always welcomed! If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in depth (above and beyond Q&A), just SAY SO!

Ask the Instructor. Reader questions answered without hedging. Send in your questions - grip mechanics, holster choices, what to do about a flinch, how to talk to family members who don't shoot, whether that thing you saw on a forum is actually true. Nothing is too basic, and nothing is too advanced. Remember: the only dumb question is the one never asked.

Gear & Range Reviews. Honest takes on firearms, optics, ammo, holsters, lights, and training gear, plus reviews of ranges and training facilities. Reviews come from time behind the gear, not unboxing videos. If something works for me and my students - you'll hear why. If it doesn't, you'll hear that too.

Firearms in the News. When a story hits the headlines — a high-profile case, a piece of legislation, a viral video clip — it usually gets reported by people who don't know the difference between a magazine and a clip. Expect breakdowns that separate the facts from the noise, with attention to what the story actually means for lawful gun owners.

Skills & Tactics. Dry fire drills, range drills, mindset, situational awareness, home defense planning, medical training, and the legal landscape of self-defense. The boring stuff that keeps you alive.

Who This Is For

New shooters who want to learn without being talked down to. Experienced shooters who want to sharpen up. People who don't own a gun yet but are thinking about it. People who own one but never train. Concealed carriers, hunters, competitors, and the curious. Spouses and family members trying to make sense of a household member's hobby — you're welcome here too.

A Few Ground Rules

The Range Report takes the Second Amendment seriously, and it takes responsibility just as seriously. That means an emphasis on safe handling, legal compliance, and clear thinking about when force is and isn't appropriate. Laws vary by state — sometimes wildly and often — so anything written here is general information, not legal advice. When something matters, talk to a lawyer licensed where you live.

Comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Disagreements are fine; we learn from them. What won't fly is personal attacks, threats, or anything that crosses a legal line.

Getting Started

If you're new here, a few places to begin: subscribe so weekly posts land in your inbox, send in a question for the first Ask the Instructor column, and tell a friend who might find this useful.

The range is open. Let's get to work.

Got a question, a gear request, or a story you want covered? Drop it in the comments or send it in. The Range Report runs on reader input.