If you’ve been following the news, COVID-19 has been dominating it. You’re worried, understandably, and are wondering how to get through this without you or your family getting sick – or worse.

Here’s the thing, you can get through it, and it isn’t hard to be prepared in case you need to shelter in place for a couple of weeks. It takes a few simple steps.

The first step is: Don’t panic. This means no freaking out, no selling off your stocks or cashing in your 401(k), no running to your local FFL to stock up on ammo or to get the baddest-looking rifle you can get, and no running for the hills.

Instead, just stay calm, keep a level head, and you’re ahead of the game.

After you have vanquished and banished panic, your next step is to keep clean. Sanitation is one of the biggest factors in limiting the spread of disease, be it COVID-19, the flu, or just a common cold.

Wash your hands, avoid touching things as much as possible (including your face). Have plenty of cleaning supplies on hand: Cleaning sprays, paper towels, toilet paper, and Clorox wipes, among other things.

Also, think about items for personal hygiene: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap.

Food for Sheltering in Place

After making sure you can keep things clean, the next step is to be sure to have plenty of food on hand. Now, on some level, you want stuff that can last.

While there are excellent freeze-dried food options, and you can also buy civilian MREs, both of which are good choices, the most cost-effective approach is to simply get more of the non-perishable food you already are eating.

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If you like canned pasta, get it. A few extra cans of your favorite soup won’t take up too much space, either. Like SPAM (the meat, that is…)? Buy some extra. Your kids like tuna? Get a few extra cans.

Even canned beef, turkey and chicken are excellent sources of protein when you’re sheltering in place.

Don’t forget to stock up on the snacks, too. Also, pick up some drink mixes like Tang, lemonade, or Kool-Aid, just so you can mix it up.

Do not forget coffee or tea for those who can’t get through the day without it.

Non-perishable food will last a while. Plus, when the crisis is over, if you just get extra stuff you normally eat anyhow, you’re not stuck with stuff you won’t eat.

The same is true for the non-human members of your family. Whether it’s a cat, dog, fish, rabbit, or guinea pig, make sure they can get through the crisis with a full stomach.

First Aid and Emergency Kits

Then, look towards getting a good supply of over-the-counter medicine to handle the minor illnesses that will still hit. Have on hand pain relievers, cough drops, cough syrup, and even a first aid kit. This will help you minimize the need to go to spaces where you may be at a greater risk of infection.

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Make sure you have plenty of your prescription medications, too. If you can, get a 90-day supply, and get refills. Again, the same is also true for your pets. Have their medication – prescription or non-prescription.

Power and Communications

After that is done, you will want to keep your communications up. Have your cell phone fully charged, get some portable external batteries, and get some of solar-powered portable chargers.

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A full gas tank in your car can also give you a means to charge cell phones and tablets. Also have plenty of alkaline batteries for flashlights and portable radios.

If you can, get something like a MiFi to be a backup wireless network so that you can watch Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime to occupy your mind. A good wireless connection can also help you keep up with work or keep in touch with family elsewhere in the country.

Water Supply

Then, of course, there is water. Have a good supply of bottled water, one gallon per person per day. For a two-week supply, bottled water can be the best option, especially if you can supplement with things like soda, fruit juice, or Gatorade.

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If the crisis goes longer, you will want to have the means to filter and purify water. A few filters can go a long way, and you can also use bleach.

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The fact is, it is easy to have the supplies to not just get by, but to thrive (in a relative sense), through something like COVID-19. You don’t need to be prepared for a zombie apocalypse – you just need to use a little common sense.

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Recently, I had the opportunity to check out a gun show near me in Virginia.

While the 1,300+ tables offered a plethora of plastic pistols and generic looking AR-15s, I couldn’t help but notice a few diamonds in the rough. These unique firearms probably slip by the casual observer without a second thought, but to a discerning collector they might represent something truly special.

[Read More: This 1970s rifle actually came with a built-in bottle opener]

[Read More: How the FN FAL took on the AK-47]

Let’s take a look…

Easily the most expensive firearm I saw, the US T-48, a licensed copy of the FN FAL, was also probably one of the rarest in attendance at the show. Little do most people know, the US Army tested over 3,000 FALs when considering options for a new light self-loading rifle in the mid-1950s.

Unfortunately, the US-made FAL lost to the dumpster fire that we’ve come to know as the M-14. But a few of them continue to live on today.

In fact, according to the seller no more than eight original T-48s survive in civilian hands, making them a remarkably unique and interesting addition to any collection. The presence of a functioning happy switch only adds to the desirability of this rifle.

Asking price for the US T-48: $100,000.

[Fun Fact: None other than Larry Vickers owns one of the 8 remaining T-48s]

While browsing, I had a nice discussion with an older gentleman sitting behind a table of M-1 Garands.

Resting atop one of his displays was this beautiful target rifle that I learned was a USMC Remington Model 40-X. While the 40-X was built for a number of years, only 2,687 USMC contract guns were made between 1957 and 1958.

Lauded as one of the most accurate target rifles ever produced, this example was adorned with original Redfield Olympic sights.

Asking price for the USMC 40-X: $1,995.

Just before the show closed, I happened across a firearm that truly surprised me: an Afghan Jezail.

Originally built off of captured or copied British actions, the Jezail was the primary Afghan weapon of choice during the First and Second Anglo-Afghan wars, from 1839-1842 and 1878-1880 respectively.

This particular example was around six feet long, very light weight, and had been converted from flintlock to percussion cap ignition sometime during its life.

While I couldn’t tell you whether this is a tourist gun or an actual combat veteran Jezail, it represents a unique and often unknown firearm, and at the very least would serve as an excellent conversation starter.

After talking with the seller, his final price was $150.

And last, but certainly not least, amidst the multitude of machine guns for sale at the show, I saw my unicorn gun: the MG-34.

Familiar to most people in the firearms community, the Maschinengewehr 34 was the first general purpose machine gun ever produced, seeing extensive frontline use in World War II. Due to design complexity, it was eventually phased out of production in favor of the MG-42, but continued serving until the end of the war.

The asking price for this MG-34: $42,000.

There were a few honorable mentions at the show, too. I saw a surprising number of G-43s, Germany’s semi-automatic answer to the US M-1 Garand and Soviet SVT 40.

The seller offering the T-48 also had a Colt Aircrewman. Most of these pistols were actually destroyed by the Airforce, but they would make an excellent addition to any collection — safety be damned.

And finally, a beautifully crafted machine gun with the ergonomics of a wet noodle, the Hotchkiss MkI Portative was missing its detachable stock and tripod. However, it still represents a unique historical stride in the evolution of the machine gun during World War I.

I hope people continue to attend gun shows. Besides being a great way to support your local economy, you might have an interesting conversation and learn something new.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – On a windy December morning a small group of Marines with Weapons Training Battalion shot what might become the most drastic changes to the annual rifle qualification in nearly a century.

After years of feedback from marksmanship experts and operational commands across the Corps asking for a more realistic ― and shorter ― shooting qualification, a new experimental course of fire will be rolled out over the coming months.

If approved by both the community of shooting experts and command all the way to the commandant, the plan is to implement the new annual rifle qualification by 2021.

Weapons Training Battalion officials aim to gather data from 600 Marines across the force to best determine what the thresholds for qualification and the shooting badges of marksman, sharpshooter and expert.

“It will be more challenging,” Col. Howard Hall, commanding officer of Weapons Training Battalion, told Marine Corps Times.

That’s because shooters will be qualifying as they’ll fight.

They’ll wear combat gear, from helmet to body armor and shoot their assigned weapon, whether that’s an M4 or M16 or the M27.

Quick note: Recruit training marksmanship training will not change.

They’ll be drawing one third each from the ground combat element, aviation combat element and logistics combat element. And 7 percent to 10 percent of shooters will be female Marines.

One incentive for volunteering to shoot the new course is that Marines who do the three-day shooting course can take their qualification for their annual score and then forgo the one to two week annual rifle training, Hall said.

New course of fire takeaways:

• No longer slick. Marines will wear combat gear, helmet and body armor to shoot.
• Three days to qualify. One day of snapping in, zeroing, positions and a run through. Days two and three are the same, a prequalification and qualification day.
• Badges remain the same. Scoring thresholds still being determined.
• One target to rule them all. No more bull’s-eye or silhouette-style match targets. A single, exposed enemy target, the same size for all distances.
• This is for the fleet Marine forces. It does not change entry marksmanship training at recruit schools.
• More realistic. Moving targets, box shooting, failure to stop shots and head shots matter.
• No more sitting position. Only standing, kneeling and prone. Barricades positions at short range are up to the shooter.
• No more scoring on the line. Target pullers will mark destroy, neutralize, suppress or miss. Only destroys count.
• Less time. The longest exposure is five rounds at 500 yards for 45 seconds. The shortest is a single round, three second head shot at 25 yards.
• Starting long. Shooters will begin prequalification and qualification from the 500-yard line and work into the 25 yard line.
• Night fire for score. Shooters will be evaluated on the same short bay course, from 100 yards in, at night as they shoot during the day.
• Not just table I. Shooters will be shooting elements of all six tables in the overall course of fire.

In the new course, on day one Marines will run through zeroing the weapon, practicing holds and the shooting short, long and night fire courses, starting from close ranges and moving out to the 500-yard line.

Then on day two, they’ll start shooting from the 500-yard line and work their way in to the 300 yard, 200 yard, 100 yard, 25 yard and 15 yard lines. It’s the way Marines are trained to fight, close with and destroy the enemy; instead of the current method in which they begin at the shorter ranges and work backward.

That’s the entire course of fire, which they’ll repeat for qualification on day three.

Standing, kneeling and prone positions remain, but shooters can now use support. Their magazine, bipod and even rucksack can be used for support, just as it would in battle.

There’s no more sitting position, a holdover from competition match style shooting that informed the early days of Marine Corps marksmanship development.

And there won’t be any prescribed positions for barricade shooting at close ranges. If a shooter wants to stand or kneel or not use the support at all, it’s up to them.

Time might be the biggest factor. Marines now have 10 minutes to get off 10 shots from the 500-yard line.

Technically the actual shooting scenarios remain largely the same, only the course will include elements of all six tables of fire and now only uses one target, instead of the five different targets used by Marines for decades.

No more bull’s-eye-style “Able” or shoulder and head silhouette “Dog” or standing body “B-Modified” targets on the line.

The black-shirted, skull cap, sunglasses and bearded target sporting an AK-47 that Marines have grown to love to shoot will be the only target they’ll see ― from the 500 yard line to close range head shot practice.

That’s because the move is to get away from scoring and marksmanship match-style thinking and having Marines envision the lethality they’ll have to deliver when firing on human targets in combat.

To adjust the target, statistical data gathered from years of research on the lethal zones has been used to outline where on the target a bullet would cause incapacitating damage to the enemy.

There’s no more scoring rings. Marines pulling targets in the butts will simply check whether the round was a either a “destroy,” “neutralize,” “suppress” or “miss.”

Only destroys count for score.

And only the target puller is keeping track. That’s because once the clock starts to tick, the target remains exposed for the shooter to fire.

Instead of Marines firing a single round, waiting for it to be marked, noting where they hit and then adjusting fire when the target comes back up, the Marine will begin shooting once the target appears and fire until they’ve shot the rounds for that iteration.

For example, shooters have five rounds of sustained fire at 500 yards in 45 seconds. They’ll shoot all five and then set up for another iteration of five rounds. That’s the longest exposure and nearly the most rounds they’ll fire in one go.

In the short bay they’ll have to make a single, standing head shot in three seconds.

Just hitting black on a target doesn’t mean its necessarily down.

For example, data shows that people hit in the jaw will return fire, Chief Warrant ocs 4 Gunner Tony Viggiani said. So, that’s not a score if you don’t hit near the center line of the target’s head.

Cpl. Christopher Tankersley, on the range with Marine Corps Times in early December, has shot the experimental ARQ multiple times for the training battalion. The six-year Marine infantry veteran welcomes the changes.

“Our current rifle qualification is outdated, we don’t really use much of it in the Marine Corps outside of the rifle range,” Tankersley said. “Frankly, if someone’s not very good, they can still qual.”

That’s been proven by data that Weapons Training Battalion has gathered as well.

A Marine on the current annual rifle training can qualify without ever hitting black on a target. A Marine can make expert without ever hitting the target from the 500-yard line.

Marines basically return from their annual ranges, away from the unit for two or more weeks, with a score and a badge for promotion.

“Commanders across the fleet will cut out that time for training for their Marines and they will come back only marginally better, if better at all,” Hall said.

Sixty-five percent of Marines who shot the annual range in the past year qualified as expert. The Marine Corps made no scoring changes when it introduced optics to weapons qualification years ago, which resulted in a 5 percent increase in scores.

That doesn’t provide much detail for commanders to know how their Marines are shooting, said Viggiani.

Just like with a Physical Fitness Test or Combat Fitness Test, Marines will have to make minimum scores on each of the components of the annual rifle qualification, long bay, short bay and night fire.

That makes for a more complete shooter.

As director of marksmanship for the Marine Corps at Weapons Training Battalion, Viggiani also said that it will require Marine combat marksmanship coaches and trainers to better tailor their training methods and recognize that teaching Marines to shoot isn’t a one size fits all approach.

As the annual rifle qualification is being further tested, the battalion is making changes to the training courses for coaches and trainers, Hall said.

But, a lot of the work will fall on the unit training managers.

They’ll have more shooting data to look at and be able to see weak spots for their shooters before they head to the three-day range for qualification.

Lance Cpl. Evelyn Alvarez, 19, shot the annual rifle qualification for the first time on the recent Quantico, Virginia, range. She’s an administrative clerk with the training battalion.

She preferred it to the course she’d shot recently in recruit training.

“The difference between recruit training and this ARQ, I feel it’s more realistic, it will prepare every Marine, female or male, for an actual combat scenario,” she said.

Both she and Tankersley said the new adjustment was the reduced time, though all of the shooters were able to get their rounds off in the time limit.

Alvarez said an immediate difference she notice was keeping her gear in position so that she could acquire and fire on the target.

Tankersley advised shooters to give the moving targets more lead time, as they looked smaller and moved faster than the moving targets he’d shot on previous ranges.

Shooters are looking to reach ever greater distances each year. For many it’s pure enjoyment — there’s just something about hitting a steel target at 1,000 yards that brings a smile.

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Others are long-range hunters; still more are competitors.

Precision rifle, long-and extra-long range (ELR) competitions are amongst the fastest-growing shooting sports. Each sector differs with set of needs that can range from a few hundred dollars to well over ten grand. It presents a minefield of options that can drain your bank account in a hurry, so be careful.

In this guide, we’ll help you get started in long-range shooting:

1. What is long range shooting?
2. Accuracy versus precision
3. Best group size
4. Best rifles for long-range fun
5. Best rifles for long-range hunting
6. Best rifles for long-range shooting competition
7. Best rifles for extreme long range
8. Best long-range optics
9. Training tips for long-range shooting

What is long-range shooting?

You would think that’s an easy question.

Starting out as a police sniper decades ago “long range” was 500 yards, reaching out to 1,000 yards was considered all but impossible by most.

Hunting at longer ranges was taboo at best and precision rifle competitions were closed affairs for military and law enforcement. But today, reaching 1,000 yards with production rifles and factory ammunition is pretty easy.

Hunters are reaching well beyond 500 yards on large animals, and even longer on smaller game. Standard AR-style rifles chambered in .223 (5.56mm) or .308 (7.62mm) can reach 500 yards with ease and precision models extend that to 800 consistently.

Calibers like 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor can reach 1,200 -1,500 yards using factory ammunition and solid equipment. Magnums like the 6.5 – 300 PRC will take you to a mile without too much trouble. Jump up to the big magnums (.375-.416 caliber) and you can double that and more with ELR matches starting at 2,000 yards and stretching to 3,000 yards or more.

Given today’s equipment, ammunition, and level of training the sky has really become the limit.

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Accuracy versus precision

Distinguishing between accuracy and precision is critical.

Accuracy is the ability to have your round hit “exactly” where aimed at your preferred range. This is the most critical aspect for hunters, police marksman and in some cases long range competitors.

An accurate rifle will hit exactly where you aim, subsequent rounds may not be in exactly the same place but close enough to hit where necessary. It insures first round hits on game, threats or steel with the ability to follow up as necessary — maintaining hits on steel or within vital areas.

Precision is the ability to place multiple shots into the same spot, or group. Target or precision shooters require this especially when trying to stay on a small target.

Precision is about repeatably. To put it another way, with precision, exactly where the round hits can be less critical than hitting in exactly the same spot each time.

Trying to put 10 rounds in the “X” at 1,000 yards, it needs to be accurate, but precision is paramount. The trick is determining which you need, or if you need both.

And that’s where things get expensive.

Best group size

Most want a rifle to maintain at least 1 Minute of Angle, or MOA, of accuracy.

Simply stated, that’s multiple shots at 100 yards inside an inch, three inches at 300, five at 500, 10 at 1,000 yards and so on.

It is not precisely linear, but that’s the general idea. A “half minute gun” cuts that in half. Shooting 1 MOA you can (theoretically) hit a 12-inch target at 1,200 yards. Not that easy in the real world but you get the idea.

Read More: The GearScout Guide to competition shooting

Most production target or precision rifles will hold 1 MOA, some less. Custom rifles can literally put them in the same hole. Generally the more precise the greater the cost, not always, but generally.

Best rifles for long-range fun

If your goal is to just ring steel, there are lots of choices out there.

Ruger, Mossberg, Sako, Tikka and Remington — pretty much every major manufacturer makes a rifle capable of hitting a 24-inch target to 1,200 yards using .308-based calibers.

Rifles chambered in 6.5mm rule this space in production rifles, with 6.5 Creedmoor being the most popular.

Fast and flat 6mm versions are also gaining popularity with the 6mm Creedmoor, but the 6.5mm offers the greatest variety of factory ammunition.

Every major company has a 6.5CM load for just about any need, Hornady has several.

Most rifles in this class are between $1,200-$1,900 — all are accurate, and some are both accurate and precise.

Best rifles for long-range hunting

Most hunters get one or maybe two shots on game — or at least that’s the plan.

Whether they are in precisely the same spot is less critical than hits in vital areas.

Companies are making tremendously accurate rifles designed for long-range hunting.

The Seekins Precision HAVAC is a 7-ish pound rifle that will out shoot most game at under two grand.

Winchester, Remington, Ruger — all the major companies build a solid rifle for long-range hunting. Step up to the magnums (short or long), and you can humanely take large game at some impressive distances.

Custom hunters will shoot with any rifle out there, it will cost you though. Using a Snowy Mountain Rifles 300 PRC (coming in at over $5,000) I regularly get first round hits centered on a 12-inch steel at over 1,300 yards.

Many professionals are moving to the 6.56PRC given its low recoil and hard hitting rounds, perfect for humanely harvesting game at extended ranges.

For smaller game or varmints the same companies make very light, fast, and flat shooting rifles in several calibers that can accurately and consistently hit small targets at crazy long distances.

Best rifles for long-range competition

Accuracy is key, but precision is the main requirement in long-range competitions.

Want to start out without breaking the bank, then rimfire is the way to go. Ruger makes a precision rimfire that costs less than $500. Most courses are 100 yards or less but your targets are very small.

Some reach out farther, and for those, you can spend as much as a center-fire setup. But you can at least get started without breaking the bank — and so can your kids.

These competitions can be held at local ranges and are just a flat out ton of family fun!

Add some decent optics and that same entry-level precision rifle for ringing steel will get you started in most local precision rifle matches.

Many new shooters start with a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6mm or 6.5mm Creedmoor. Tikka’s Tactical is another great choice along with offerings from Savage, Thomson Center Arms, HS Precision and several more.

Getting into it at this level allows you to see if you really like the sport before you start spending somer real cash. Add a decent scope, bi-pod, maybe a tri-pod setup and a few bags and you are into it a couple grand.

Custom rifles start at twice that for the rifle alone and can reach three times as much. Optics will cost as much — if not more — than the rifle itself, so it can turn into a home mortgage pretty quick.

It’s best to start simple, get a feel, then decide to take the plunge.

Best rifles for extreme long-range shooting

ELR is growing in popularity, but it’s anything but a beginners sport — at least when it comes to equipment.

You are trying to get first round hits at very long range, and that requires not just a special rifle, but special optics, special skills and specialized ammunition.

Generally something like .338 Lapua Magnum is a training cartridge, with .375 Cheytac or similar the most common. Bigger calibers like the .416 are starting to catch on.

In these scenarios, you’re hitting your first target at 2,000 yards or more — and that’s no easy task. Those doing well load their own ammunition, often wildcats, and will spend thousands, maybe tens of thousands of dollars on equipment.

Fun stuff, very challenging, just be prepared for what it entails.

Those doing it find it quite addictive, so take the time to get to a match before you jump in. Everyone in the sport is incredibly helpful, so ask lots of questions before you buy.

Best optics for long-range shooting

Longer ranges require optics and that can cost as much or more than the rifle. But make sure you don’t buy more than you need, unless you can afford it.

Leupold, Bushnell, Nightforce, Trijicon, Vortex and a several others make solid scopes in the $750-$1,200 range that are great — spend $1,500-$2000 and you’ll get into some excellent glass.

Bushnell’s Elite Tactical line is proven and popular, along with the Leupold Mark5 HD scopes.

Steiner’s TX line has great glass and reticles, while Nightforce makes a number of scopes designed specifically for long-range hunting, shooting and competition.

If you get serious, you can spend upwards of $4,000 on some of the latest high-end optics from Nightforce, Leupold, Kahles, Zeiss and Swarovski. You get the best glass, coatings, internals, and construction.

Just make sure you need it — most people won’t see the difference let alone use it. But it’s like driving a Porsche; if you can afford it, why not?

Best ways to train for long-range shooting

The best plan for those just starting out is to get an affordable, solidly performing rifle, an optic they can afford, the minimal accessories needed and spend the rest of their effort and money on training and ammunition.

With the success of the precision-rifle shooting, well-trained, quality instruction is everywhere, so get some.

Start simple with a rifle, pack or bag, sling and a tripod and get the basics down. Then hit a match or two and see what works for you.

Whether its steel at your range, targets at a competition, or game in the field the rifle is just the means, you are the ultimate determining factor for success. The best shooters get hits with anything, the worst shooters miss no matter what they use.

Once you can outshoot your rifle or other equipment then upgrade as needed.

Will you get hooked?

Shooting long range has been my passion for the last couple decades and remains my favorite shooting discipline.

I tried it once and was hooked, but that’s not true for everyone.

Most seem to really love it, or never want to do it again, so take the time to figure out where you fit before you spend hard earned money.

If you do get into it, then start slow, learn to shoot, add equipment as needed and upgrade when it gets you solid hits on something other than your pocket book!

Designed for professional training, this high-end SIG AIR ProForce airsoft pistol is a replica of the U.S. Army issued P320-M17 9mm pistol in look, balance, and handling characteristics and engineered to SIG standards for precision, accuracy, and reliability.

The ProForce M17 features a polymer frame and metal slide with full blow-back action. The proprietary drop magazine holds 21 rounds of 6mm polymer or biodegradable BBs. An adjustable “hop-up” feature creates spin on the BBs for additional stabilization in flight, resulting in increased distance and accuracy.

A picatinny accessory rail allows for quick and easy accessory mounting, comes with an optic cut for the addition of the soon-to-be-released SIG AIR Red Dot Optic, and is available in 12g CO2 cartridge or green gas power options.

ProForce M17 Airsoft Pistol:

Total length: 8.5”

Barrel length: 5.5”

Weight: 2.6 lbs.

Finish: Coyote Tan

Muzzle Velocity using .20g Polymer BBs:

• CO2 – up to 410 fps
• Green Gas – up to 320 fps

Muzzle Energy:

• CO2 – 1.5 joules
• Green Gas – 1 joule

Caliber: 6mm BB

Magazine Capacity: 21

Power Source: CO2 or Green Gas

MSRP: $179.99

The ProForce M17 is available for purchase at the sigsauer.com/store.

“The addition of FLIR products to our Night Vision Operator course will allow SIG SAUER Academy students to experience the latest and some of the most innovative night vision devices, and expand their operational capabilities. This partnership adds significant depth to the course curriculum and allows our students to train with the same equipment in use with Special Forces across the globe,” began Steve “Mato” Matulewicz, Vice President, SIG SAUER, Inc.

The SIG SAUER Academy Night Vision Operator Course is designed for law enforcement and military units to enhance their capabilities and safety with night vision and thermal imagining equipment for critical situations. Taught by experienced Special Forces Operators, students will be introduced to equipment in use with law enforcement and the military while learning tactics to supplement existing methods, procedures, and equipment (such as tactical helmets, ear pro, thermals and lasers, etc.) SOPs.

“The addition of FLIR night vision and thermal technology to the suite of optics offered at SIG SAUER Academy will better equip users with the tactical advantage to not only protect themselves, but complete their mission safely and effectively,” added Jamie Dery, Vice President and General Manager of FLIR’s Outdoor and Tactical Division. “We’re excited to partner with an industry leading brand to better the lives and livelihoods of our customers.”

Founded in 1978, FLIR Systems is a world-leading industrial technology company focused on intelligent sensing solutions for defense, industrial, and commercial applications. FLIR Systems’ vision is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense,” creating technologies to help professionals make more informed decisions that save lives and livelihoods.

The next offering of Night Vision Operator is November 12, 2019 at SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.

Here’s a question for readers: do you just go to the range, or do you ever have the opportunity to participate in force-on-force training?

Various shooting sports offer something for everyone — from your 10 year-old child to the professional athlete. Rimfire matches are popping up everywhere using pistols, carbine conversions, even precision rifles.

Action shooting with pistols, carbines, PCCs and shotguns, occur every week.

Precision rifle events continue to gain popularity and shotgun sports remain strong.

Shooting sports cater to everyone — young, old, professional, hobbyist, good, bad, or just learning. Friendly, open, and designed to encourage new shooters they are the future of firearms use.

So, let’s see what it takes to “get your game on” and join in the fun.

It’s a Gear Race!

This may be the most common criticism of competition shooting, but its only partially true. Every recognized organization has clearly defined divisions. They range from production classes to no limits.

Keep it basic and the cost is manageable. Want to be the next national champion, that will require the latest gear and it can easily become a gear race.

Buts let’s get real, those finishing in the top 10 at your local match or top 25 nationally comprise a minuscule portion of the overall shooting population.

For the rest of us mere mortals, it’s not costly and remains great way to spend a Saturday!

Starting from Scratch

Production divisions require simple factory firearms with little or no modification.

Reliability is key no matter your choice. Nothing kills time like stoppages and malfunctions and time is always a factor.

Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and CZ USA seem the most popular with intro (and even expert) shooters. All have proven reliable, accurate, and easy to run.

Usable sights are the next key, they must be easy to see, rugged and stay in place. Fiber optic sights remain popular and Trijicon makes a great set along with several other companies.

Simple, reliable, with sights you can see is all that’s needed to get started and do well in many production divisions. Same with rifles or PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine) for 2 and 3 gun.

Irons work they just need to be visible, stable, and solidly attached but in most cases you will use an RDS.

Most shotguns have quality sights you can get without breaking the bank including fiber optic. Semi-autos are the norm, but you can certainly play the game with a pump action, especially in the more restrictive division.

Reliability remains the key, and while it may not cost you a fortune it may not be cheap either. Competitions can be the toughest test on a rifle, lots of ammo fired quickly, often in heat, rain and ugly conditions.

The precision rifle world is no different, especially on the rimfire side.

Ruger’s RPR Rimfire retails for $529 but can be found for under $400. You need a decent scope, not the best, that will focus down to 25 yards with some usable magnification — 10-16 power seems to be the norm, though more is fine so long as it will focus at short range.

Targets are close, but very small.

Same with the centerfire precision rifles, several are available in the $1200-$1500.00 range including Ruger, Tikka, Mossberg, and several more. It remains one of the more costly competitions, but it can be done.

Upgrading for Speed

Your next step is probably to a division with no capacity limits that allows for trigger improvements.

Most of my career was spent in the IPSC Limited division. Iron sights, high capacity magazines, and some limitations on gunsmithing.

Starting with your base pistol you can get there with a different trigger, magazine extensions and some tuning.

All the major manufacturers are well supported here, maybe the most well supported of all divisions.

Time is key and that’s where capacity comes in. Reloads take time, and the less time you spend doing anything but shooting the better.

Really into it, step up to an STI or Infinity 2011 based pistol, the choice amongst most top competitors in every division but production.

It will just cost you, and this is where the gear race really starts. Want to win your local matches every week, your state finals, or at the national level cannot do it without some modification. Just don’t feel like you must in order to do well, a reliable gun with basic modifications will outperform more than a few highly tuned machines that fail during the match.

I know, it’s a broken record, but reliability is what it’s all about.

Optics carry divisions are becoming very popular for pistols. Each organization is a bit different, but most are production or limited pistols with a bolt on MRDS (Mini Red Dot Sight).

They really don’t make you shoot faster, but you can aim quickly with practice and accuracy at greater distances is vastly improved. Most every major manufacturer makes a production pistol today that will accept one or multipole MRDS.

Red dots have always been popular on rifles in Multigun competitions. Most matches are inside 100 yards making them ideal. You can add muzzle devices that reduce recoil and muzzle rise.

Capacity restrictions may be lifted allowing drums or other high capacity magazines. Optics can be another upgrade.

Targets at 300-500 yards are not uncommon at large matches making optics a must. Use just the optic, or add an RDS for close work that’s offset at 11:00 or 1:00 o’clock.

The most common optic seems to be 1-6 power, although 1-8 scopes are growing. Optics are less expensive, lighter, and better quality these days, another straight up benefit from competition shooting.

Still, a cheap scope that breaks or shifts zero will cost you a match, and more importantly any fun you were having so think quality for price not cheap. Winning is not critical for everyone, but losing sucks no matter who you are, and nothing is more frustrating than gear that does not work or breaks. Spend what you need to get the most reliable guns, optics, and equipment you can.

Open division is just like it sounds, the sky’s the limit. This is where many of the world class competitors ply their trade although most shoot multiple divisions.

It’s fast with high capacity everything and the latest and most advanced equipment designed specifically to win. Top competitors are separated by one bad shot, or one stoppage, it’s always close. Its where all the gear race comments come from and they are true.

You can certainly play well at local matches, it’s fun, but you will need to spend some money just to get started. It’s not hard to spend 4K on an open pistol, move to 3 gun and it just adds up. Great division, lots of fun, plenty of glory, but not for the faint of heart.

That being said, money spent on equipment will not buy you placement, everyone has the best so it requires the greatest precision, accuracy, and efficiency to win.

Other Competitions

Precision rifle competitions remain popular but require more investment by comparison.

Rimfire (so, .22 caliber) is not too bad to start, but you are going to need a couple grand or more to get started in the centerfire matches.

Match ammunition is a must if you don’t reload. You need an accurate rifle, preferably with factory ammunition support.

Hornady’s match ammunition is plenty accurate, available and reasonably priced, a good reason 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor are so popular.

You can play the game with a .308, but you start behind and will probably never catch up. Cost for ammo is the same these days so why make it harder than you need to.

Buy the best scope you can afford, solid mounts, a decent bi-pod, sling, and a pack or bag. It can be done with a simple 3-day pack, purpose built bags are abundant if not prolific.

Many competitors look like they are carrying their living room furniture, it’s fine but not necessary. Some of the best competitors get it done with a pack, sling, and a tripod.

Spend what’s left on ammunition, training, practice, and regular matches.

Another popular competition is SASS, Single Action Shooting Society or Cowboy Action. These are as much family get-togethers as competitions, although the top levels are incredibly skilled and fast.

Most widely known for dressing up in period clothing and taking a “stage” name it’s quite the event. Pistols are single action, rifles have levers.

Most shotguns have two barrels although lever actions are seen on occasion as well as period pump actions. Ammunition can be modern but there are divisions that require actual black powder. Targets are large by comparison and close, pretty much like it was in the old west!

Take the Jump

These are just the most popular competitions that seem to be growing in popularity. High Power rifle matches remain strong, with the annual Camp Perry match being one of the most prestigious in history.

Going back to 1903 they include service rifles and traditional rifles like the M1 Garand and 1903 Springfield. Modern rifles are used in F class, and axis and allies includes service rifles from all over the world.

You can shoot bench rest, silhouette steel with handgun, action steel, even adventure and endurance races with firearms. Shotgun shooting sports like sporting clays, skeet, and trap remain strong and popular Olympic.

All of them have their own special appeal and draw, each with its purpose, but above all it’s about the fun. Competition is certainly there, but most are all about reaching out to new competitors, enjoying like minds with like interests, and growing the sport.

In most cases you can get away with minor upgrades to your firearms but the farther you move on up the less that’s true. You will reach a point where it’s just less expensive, easier, and better to buy a purpose built gun.

Competition ready pistols are available from most manufacturers, and custom builds are prolific at best. Savage makes one of the best out of the box competition AR’s ever used, along with Caracal, Daniel Defense, Seekins Precision and many others.

Pistol Caliber Carbines are all the rage with dozens to choose from that star simple and can cost as much as a rifle. Benelli, Mossberg and Remington make competition tube fed guns with a few magazine fed customs out there.

At no point in the history of firearms production have there been so many choices.

Bottom Line

Every segment of the firearms market garners some sort of following, but the most open, inclusive, and longest lasting are shooting competitions.

Even urban areas can have indoor competitions. It’s a fantastic way to introduce, train, and keep the interest of the next generation.

For as long as firearms have been used someone has tried to figure out a way to compete with them. Whether to improve hunting skills, duty and self-defense, military applications, or just plain fun there is something for everyone.

What matters is spreading the word to those that follow, and today nothing does that better than the shooting sports.

It was a hand me down from a fellow deputy, a Second Chance vest.

They were the ticket back then, the owner demonstrated his product by shooting himself or getting shot with a .357 Magnum while wearing it, not too smart for sure, but it sold product.

Second Chance saved a bunch of lives back then in an era where body armor was anything but mandatory. Crude by today’s standards, it was heavy, bulky, uncomfortable and hot in the summer but it worked.

Every time I hear an officer complain about today’s vests, I just think back to those days and shake my head.

Well, times have changed and body armor is better than ever.

Contents:

1. Body armor stopping capability
2. Body armor materials
3. Body armor carriers

NIJ / So what does it stop?

The National Institute of Justice has been providing voluntary standards of protection since the 1970s and remains the only proven standard for measuring a materials effectiveness at stopping penetration and reducing blunt trauma injury. If the armor has not proven to meet or exceed these standards (0101.6) don’t buy it.

The process to meet them has changed a bit over the years, mostly in how they are measured and what is considered acceptable. But armor meeting the NIJ standards provides better protection than ever.

Levels include 2A, 2, 3A, 3, and lastly level 4.

Level 2A stops 9mm and 40SW — mostly from shorter barrels (4 inches and under).

Moving to level 2 adds .357 Magnum to the list. Most under garment vests are level 3A adding 44 Magnum and longer barreled pistols. But none of these stop rifle ammunition.

You can reach 2A-3A using soft material that can be worn under or over your clothes. Level 3 requires a trauma plate or hard plates that can stand alone or sit in front of soft body armor.

It is rated to stop up to 7.62mm (.308) soft core ammunition. Level 4 adds steel core (armor piercing) to the equation and requires hard plates made of differing materials — ceramic is still common. Many require 3A soft armor to achieve their rating, but can be “stand alone” plates.

Stand alone plates can have less coverage to meet the standard, and can still be placed in front of soft armor. Many of these plates are covered in a soft armor material designed to stop spalling and contain fragmentation regardless of rating.

Speed Kills!

It’s critically important to note that typical self-defense and practice bullets are considered blunt instruments, and armor is designed to protect you against blunt trauma.

By design, vests spread or dissipate the energy transfer over a broad area; one of the reasons hard plates sit outside the soft material, the plate stops the bullet the armor protects against the trauma.

Soft armor will not stop most “sharps,” including cross bolts, arrows, knives, swords, spears, or similar objects. Some are made with protection against slashing cuts, but the laws of physics remain intact — stopping those things requires hard armor.

All are defeated by velocity (including bullets) without regard to size or caliber. Surpass the velocity threshold of any of these levels and it will penetrate. Multiple hits and the closer to the edges of protection the less effective they can be.

And just like warriors of old, enough blunt trauma can still cause serious injury or death — still better than no protection, but nothing is 100 percent or perfect.

Kevlar, Aramid, and all the rest.

Most soft armor is made of a woven fabric using various materials.

Some of the most common are Kevlar (DuPont) and Twaron (Teijin) and are synthetic fibers that hold up well to moisture and heat with a high strength.

Spectra (Honeywell) and Dynema (DSM) are a refined polyethylene, making them very light weight and strong with approximately 15 times the strength of steel. Manufacturers are constantly trying to increase the strength to weight ratio.

Making a vest super strong is great, but if it’s equally as heavy no one will wear it. Conversely an incredibly light and flexible vest that does not work, or only works on the margins is deadly. Perfecting these products is a constant dance between science, art, utility, function, and to a certain extent, fashion.

Hard armor remains primarily some form of ceramic and or Polyethylene that may be blended with other “proprietary” materials. Trade secrets abound in one of the most competitive markets in the industry, so precise concoctions are top secret.

Steel is still used, it offers less thickness but remains heavy and less capable of protecting against multiple hits. Common plates may withstand several hits but there is a limit as the material breaks up the next round may penetrate.

Nanotechnology and work with next generation fibers is on the rise and looks promising. Often resembling chain-mail, these products look to provide protection against multiple hits. Still in the testing phase, they will most likely see use in combat first, but the industry is constantly improving.

It’s all in the Cover!

The fiber material is anything but rugged, it must be covered for any long term use.

The base material is generally contained in its own permanent cover then inserted in the outer vest. How your internal or external cover is configured will determine things like comfort, usability, and ruggedness.

Vests worn under your uniform are typically contained in fabrics that are smooth, light, and protect against sweat, dirt, and wear — almost athletic. Given today’s long list of state-of-the-art fabrics, the sky’s the limit.

Just remember, it’s just an outer skin. How cool it looks may not translate to comfort, and if it contains substandard armor, it won’t protect you.

Armor worn over your uniform or other clothing can range from simple to complex.

The simplest hold plates and provide attachment for a few pouches. These allow you to wear plates alone or over your existing soft vest giving you the option to only use the plates when needed.

Others have soft armor with plate pockets providing hard and soft in one cover and tend to be heavier. Common in Europe and growing in use here, they may look just like a uniform shirt.

Some prefer outer carry — properly fit, it’s easier on the back transferring much of the weight to the shoulders. Pockets can be fixed, most use some sort of attachment system. MOLLE is still out there along with numerous variations on the same theme, they all carry stuff, just differently.

The most critical aspects are weight, how well it moves and proper fit.

Get a trained professional to measure you and fit you properly. Improperly fit vests are uncomfortable and you won’t wear it.

Sit a ton? Make sure to take that into account. Coverage is critical but only if you will wear it, proper fit makes that possible.

Stiff vests hinder movement and companies are making these carriers lighter, softer, and more comfortable every year. Always a balancing act, it depends on your use.

Having coverage on shoulders, neck, and groin sounds safe, but not if you are a turtle in a shell and cannot move.

Some interface with packs, other kits, and accessories providing more interchangeability for different missions. If you need that get it; if not, a simple vest with the pockets needed will cost less and still provide the same levels of protection.

Just make sure it fits and weighs as little as possible while providing proper coverage.

Final Thoughts

Body armor is currently 50 state legal and available for purchase by most anyone. Federal law prevents those convicted of violent felonies from possessing it.

States can require you to buy it in person, or enhance sentencing when used in a crime. Several companies won’t sell their armor to anyone outside Law Enforcement or the Military, but that is a business decision, not a legal one.

Bottom line, it is legal for law abiding citizens to own and use body armor and highly recommended in many situations.

Just because it is expensive does not mean it works better. It either meets the NIJ standard or not. Cost is mostly in the outer vest, how it fits, what it carries and its construction.

Better, lighter, and more comfortable material will cost more, but will not protect you beyond its NIJ rating.

Don’t assume old vests won’t work because they exceeded some expiration date. I recently tested a 20 year old Safariland Kevlar vest used early in my career and it worked just fine.

But the older it is the greater the risk. This applies to actual body armor, NOT flack vests from the 1970s that weren’t designed to stop bullets in the first place.

Vests worn under clothing are exposed to sweat, chemicals, dirt and the like and can lose effectiveness. Agencies need to replace them regularly.

Vests that have taken fire are one and done! Just because they can take multiple hits does not been they can be used after taking one.

Body armor is a tool that has saved hundreds of lives since its introduction. Costly up front, it is priceless when you need it — kind of like your concealed carry firearm.

Similarly it is a lifestyle, not something that is natural to wear or easy over time. If you wear armor make sure you practice with it using your duty or carry firearms, it takes some getting used to but it just may save your life someday.

Costs range from a few hundred to a few thousand, just keep it to what you need and it will be worth every penny.

The arguments are often fruitless.

Most people have their favorite round, and that’s that.

But for those haven’t gotten emotionally attached to one cartridge yet, let’s talk about 9mm Parabellum and .40 Smith & Wesson.

It’s an often touted myth that the .40 S&W was developed for the FBI because the 9mm failed in the infamous 1986 Miami shootout. However, the standard issue FBI pistol at the time was a .38 Special revolver.

The G-Men used a 158 grain semi-wadcutter hollow point round known as an “FBI load.”

There were 9mm rounds involved in that gunfight. And one supposedly stopped an inch short of the perpetrator’s heart.

But after the Miami shootout, the FBI determined that they should replace their revolvers with semi-automatic pistols. Semi-automatic pistols hold more rounds and are easier to reload.

And, since they were going to replace all the guns anyway, they figured they’d check out some new rounds, too.

The FBI considered the long-standing 9mm in their search for a new standard issue sidearm. However, the FBI also tested hand loaded 10mm ammunition from the special agent in charge of the FBI Firearms Training Unit, John Hall.

After these tests, the FBI decided they wanted something like a 10mm round, with slightly slower muzzle velocities than standard ammunition.

So, they contracted Smith & Wesson to create one. The .40 S&W was the result.

The FBI ended up using the .40 S&W for almost 30 years before adopting the 9mm in 2015.

Both rounds have been used by militaries, other government agencies, and civilian defenders. So, it’s tough to identify a clear winner here. Or is it?

9mm vs .40 S&W

There’s a lot of focus on terminal ballistics and muzzle energy and whatnot.

But, once upon a time, a firearms and defensive tactics instructor at an Ohio police department did a solid analysis of real-world shootings:

• It took an average of 2.45 9mm rounds to achieve incapacitation.
• It took an average of 2.36 .40 S&W rounds to achieve incapacitation.

Some touted this as a great, decisive victory for the .40 S&W. But it wasn’t.

Since you can’t shoot 2.45 or 2.36 bullets, the numbers have to be rounded up to the next whole bullet. Which means everybody (including the .45 shooters) averages 3 shots to achieve incapacitation.

In fact, study author Greg Ellifritz concluded that the difference in wounding capacity between the different handgun rounds was negligible.

And, before you start in on “knockdown power,” knockdown power doesn’t exist in handguns.

But, Newton’s Third Law does exist. And, it means that if a gun fires a bullet with enough energy to knock a person down, the recoil will be strong enough to knock you down when you shoot it.

Equal and opposite reactions and all that.

Use a rifle if you want good terminal performance.

(Just kidding)

There are three key things to consider when picking the best self-defense caliber beyond terminal performance.

Cost

No matter where you go, the common wisdom is that shot placement is more important than what caliber you shoot.

Now, that’s not to say that caliber doesn’t matter at all. Very small rounds may not penetrate the breastplate or other bones.

And, saying that caliber is irrelevant suggests that you could use a BB gun, so long as you hit them in the right place.

Caliber does matter. But, the emphasis on shot placement is a reminder that, if you miss, you’re effectively shooting a zero caliber bullet.

So, shot placement isn’t king. But, firearm proficiency is.

That’s why the cost of your ammunition matters.

9mm costs about 14 cents a round.

.40 S&W costs about 19 cents a round.

That’s only a 5 cent difference. But, it adds up. Over the course of 1000 rounds, you could pay about $80 more for your ammunition if you’re shooting .40.

Regardless of your budget, you’ll get more training reps for your money, and therefore become more proficient with your gun, if you shoot 9mm — helping with that whole shot placement thing.

Recoil

Recoil is a big sticking point with .40 S&W handguns.

Since the .40 S&W is essentially just a short 10mm round, it features higher breach pressure than both 9mm and .45 ACP.

It’s a heavier round. So, .40 S&W has more felt recoil, no matter what.

However, high pressure rounds tend to produce a snappier recoil impulse, which can be uncomfortable for some shooters. It can also be more challenging to shoot with one hand.

Can you improve your shooting skills enough to manage the recoil and shoot .40 S&W really well? Absolutely.

But, if you spent an equal amount of training resources working on shooting the same handgun, chambered in 9mm, you’d probably be faster and more precise with the 9mm in the end. There’s just less recoil energy to absorb and control in a 9mm round.

Additionally, many manufacturers use the same frame on their 9mm and .40 S&W pistols. This causes longevity issues, because the 9mm frame isn’t built to withstand the recoil force of a .40 caliber round.

So, many .40 S&W pistols don’t last as long as their 9mm counterparts.

Magazine Capacity

No matter what you’re doing, having more rounds in the magazine is better.

In the context of self-defense, reloading could be impossible. So, it’s best to reduce the chances that you’re going to need to reload.

9mm always has higher magazine capacity than .40 S&W, provided you’re comparing two guns of the same size. So, in almost any context, a 9mm handgun enables you to perform better than .40 S&W.

Who Wins?

Now, before everyone rushes to defend their .40 caliber darling: there’s really no need to get defensive. The .40 S&W is a perfectly viable self-defense round.

If you have a .40 pistol that you’ve trained extensively with, switching calibers isn’t an urgent need.

It takes training time and money to change your gun. So, if you’re already geared up for shooting .40 S&W, it may be most efficient and economical to stick with it, depending on how much you shoot.

But, if you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you’re considering using a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and get shooting. You’ll save time and money, without compromising defensive performance.

GearScout contributor Jay Chambers is a pro free speech business owner based in Austin, Texas. Having lived through several natural disasters and more than a few man-made ones (hello 2008), he believes that resilience and self-sufficiency are essential in this increasingly unpredictable world. That’s why he started a business! Jay writes over at Minute Man Review.

For American inventor Howard D. Kent, increasing higher operating pressure of ammunition and weapons is the answer.

Improved performance of small arms is a critical need for major militaries. Piercing enemy armor will bring an over-match capability similar to British troops fighting Maasai warriors in East Africa in the late 19th Century —armed with spears and no body armor, charging towards machine guns.

To prove his hypothesis, Kent undertook a series of tests that took into account advanced materials of future body armor, strength of projectiles and commonly-available materials that can complicate penetration.

He presented his findings at a defense industry forum in Fredericksburg, Virginia, early June.

Near peer armor of Russia and China were the main testing subjects for Kent and his colleague, retired Special Forces commander Thomas Beckstrand. Kent noted “pressure to penetrate armor is way-way up.”

Therefore, increasing the energy of penetrators is a solution that works well with improved launch mechanisms.

However, Kent observed projectiles break upon impact, concluding that stronger materials in projectile production is also key.

“Driving it harder and faster is only part of the answer,” he said. Beckstrand and Kent recommend a shift away from brass towards “steel and polymers” which operate better at higher pressures.

Kent is satisfied with his findings. “I never designed a bullet before, but the first one I did fired very nicely against armor.” But he’s cautious about their impact.

He warned of the ease with which enemies can upgrade their armor with readily available materials. Early on in the Iraq War, he went with California Rep. “Duncan Hunter to the Home Depot and made home depot armor.”

We got “two layers of bathroom tile wrapped in Kevlar so I wouldn’t get fragged” and that was “killing the bullet.”

He warned that “we’ve really gotta work on our stuff because If you could stop bullets with a flash light, a flash light? Dear god.”