Trust Your Skills

In the event you need to use your firearms training to protect your life, or the life of another, you NEED to know your skills will work when you need them the most. In this Pro Tip, Tim Damico demonstrate how shooting a fabric garment is not quite the same as shooting a paper or cardboard target, and how you can prepare yourself for the lack of feedback you will get from a fabric garment.

Sharing vacation updates on social media can unwittingly expose you to various risks like burglary, identity theft, or even physical harm by broadcasting your travel plans and location to a wide audience. This USCCA Pro Tip will empower you to make informed decisions about your online activities and personal information sharing.

In an emergency situation, you are your own first responder because no one is going to be coming to save you for at least several minutes. In this Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt is going to walk you through some quick mental exercises you can do every day to keep your observation skills sharp.

In moments of danger, knowing how to leverage cover properly can drastically improve your chances of survival by providing essential protection against incoming gunfire. In this Pro Tip, you will learn techniques you can use to navigate threatening situations with confidence and protect yourself and others effectively.

Road rage scenarios are an all-too-common occurrence on our streets. Knowing how to manage these situations safely can prevent them from spiraling out of control. In this Pro Tip, Gavin Glassenapp will share insight into effective strategies for defusing road rage so you can safeguard yourself and others from potential harm and maintain control of challenging driving situations.

You are revealing your whereabouts through geolocation services in apps and geotagged content on social platforms. In this Pro Tip we will discuss how geolocation services and geotagging work, and steps you can take, right now, to safeguard your privacy and take control of your digital footprint.

Mastering how to hold a flashlight with your non-shooting hand, is critical for individuals who embrace the concealed carry lifestyle. In this Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt will demonstrate two methods that will equip you to better navigate and react effectively, ensuring preparedness for any scenario you may encounter.

Knowing how to correct malfunctions, and prevent them in the first place, are an important firearms skill to learn and practice. In this Pro Tip, Tim Damico we will empower you with hands-on techniques to enhance your firearm handling skills and ensure the proper operation of your firearms.

The stress and uncertainty of being apart from your family members in an emergency situation can be overwhelming. In this Pro Tip you will gain valuable insights to prepare a solid plan for reuniting with loved ones in case of separation.

We must fire accurate shots, because we are responsible for every round we fire. In this Pro Tip, Gavin Glassenapp will explain the principles and factors that affect the balance of speed and precision, allowing you to build your skills and confidence.

A flash sight picture will provide you with accurate shots in the shortest amount of time. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Tim Damico will explain how you can train to acquire that flash sight picture when you need it most.

Many people struggle with how to best utilize their support hand. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Gavin Glasenapp will demonstrate how to best use your support hand to get accurate shots on target and more effective follow-up shots.

When choosing a flashlight for everyday carry, there are many factors to consider. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt explains the difference between lumens and candela, and why brighter isn't always better.

What's the one self-defense tool we always have on us? Our mind. In this Pro-Tip, Justin Peters talks about the importance of mental preparedness no matter where we are headed or what we are carrying.

Are you dressed for success? In this Pro-Tip, Steve Hendricks talks about the importance of selecting your outfit to best survive the fight. From your shoes to your shirt, it pays to know how to dress.

Being a protector requires more than just the knowledge of using a firearm. In this Pro Tip Jack Shepard talks about having an Individual First-Aid Kit (IFAK), what kind he likes and the importance of training with your kit items.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Steve Hendricks demonstrates how kinesthetic alignment can help you to aim quicker and with more precision.

The circumstances of a self-defense incident may dictate that you need to fire without establishing a two-handed firing grip. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Jack Shepard demonstrates a drill that will help you prepare to deliver accurate shots with a one-handed grip.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Justin Peters offers tips to prepare your body for the physical stress of a self-defense incident.

Firearms skills are perishable. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Steve Hendricks explains the two most important elements to focus on when using dry-fire practice to maintain your skillset.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Jack Sheperd explains how ranger bands can be used to enhance your every day carry.

There are multiple types and levels of weapon retention. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Justin Peters explains the differences between them and the importance of choosing the correct retention for each situation.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Steve Hendricks explains how an often overlooked piece of equipment can make a world of difference in your ability to carry your self-defense firearm everyday.

Jack Shepard explains how you can increase the impact of your training time utilizing various inert training objects.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Justin Peters discusses the benefits of carrying a spare magazine as part of your everyday carry.

Trigger control is a critical part of shooting accurately. In this Pro Tip, Steve Hendricks reveals how we can continue to improve when we have mastered our trigger control.

In this USCCA Pro Tip, Mario Herrera discuses the most effective target areas for stopping a lethal imminent threat.

Laws governing the ability to carry a concealed weapon or use that weapon in self defense vary widely. In this USCCA Pro Tip, Tom Grieve explains what he means when he says "check your local listings."

Should you modify your carry gun? In this episode of the USCCA Pro Tip, Steve Washington will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of modifying your carry gun to help you make that decision.

In this Pro Tip, Gavin demonstrates how you can place accurate shots on target with unsighted fire, using kinesthetic alignment.

Being aware of pre-threat indicators will help you to keep yourself safe by being situationally aware. In this Pro Tip, Jessica Koth highlights some signs of a potential attack to watch for while observing your surroundings.

In this Pro Tip, Tom Grieve explains how the legal use of Deadly Force is affected by Duty to Retreat and Stand Your Ground laws.

The SIRT pistoln is a valuable tool for evaluating and improving marksmanship fundamentals. In this ProTip, Steve Fischer explains how the SIRT pistol can improve your trigger press and muzzle management.

When it comes to outfitting an AR-15 with an optic for self-defense, the options are limitless. In this Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt discusses the most important thing to consider when making the choice.

If you have provoked a situation, you may have forfeit your right to self-defense. In this Pro Tip, Tom Grieve explains how provocation can lead to a person losing their legal claim to self-defense.

In this Pro Tip, Jessica explains the importance of having the right first-aid tools and training as part of your personal protection plan.

When the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. In this Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt highlights the importance of varying your tools for self defense.

The legal use of deadly force can be complicated to understand and varies between jurisdictions. In this Pro Tip, Tom Grieve explains the legal use of deadly force and how to begin your mental preparation for the use of force.

In this Pro Tip, Tom Grieve discusses whether or not you can use deadly force to defend your property.

No two ranges are the same. Every range you attend will have a unique set of rules to follow. In this Pro Tip, Mario covers some of the rules to consider in addition to the four universal safety rules.

Gunfights often happen up-close and fast. In this Pro Tip, Kevin Michalowski explains how to prepare to defend yourself by training at probable distances.

Tom Grieve, noted Criminal Defensive Attorney, explains how the duty to retreat can play a roll in a defensive gun use.

In this Pro Tip, Jessica explains multiple strategies for avoiding conflict and deescalating conflict that cannot be avoided.

Holster Selection

Getting off the X will give you a critical advantage in the event of an imminent deadly threat. In this Pro Tip, Gavin explains how to incorporate explosive movement into your threat response to increase your likelihood of success.

Deciding between safely storing your firearms and having them readily available for self-defense can be complicated. In this week’s Pro Tip, Beth Alcazar illustrates the difference between staging and storing a firearm, and how you can find the balance that works best for your situation.

The body cannot go where the mind has not been. In this week’s Pro Tip, Gavin Glasenapp explains how you can use visualization to prepare your mind and body to respond to an Imminent lethal threat.

Dry-fire practice creates the opportunity to concentrate on the fundamentals of shooting, like grip, sight alignment, sight picture and trigger control without the expense of live-fire at a range. Beth Alcazar highlights considerations and processes for safe and effective dry-fire practice at home.

There are many opportunities for buying firearms online. In this week’s Pro Tip Kevin Michalowski demystifies the process and legal requirements for buying a gun through an online vendor.

This week’s Pro Tip is all about cover and concealment. Jessica Koth highlights important distinctions between cover and concealment explaining ways to train to find and utilize cover in the places you visit frequently.

Keeping children safe with, and around, firearms is crucially important. In this week’s Pro Tip, Beth Alcazar highlights some key considerations when deciding if and when to introduce young people to firearms.

In this week's Pro Tip, Gavin Glassenapp explains how keeping both eyes open when using a Red Dot sight will allow you to benefit from the many advantages a Red Dot optic has to offer.

Situational awareness is only useful when paired with conflict avoidance. Kevin Michalowski explains how we can use situational awareness to drive conflict avoidance, avoiding the need to use force to protect ourselves.

If you carry a firearm you should carry a flashlight. In this week's USCCA Pro Tip, Richard Schmidt explains why a flashlight should be a part of your everyday carry (EDC), whether you carry a gun or not. From finding lost items to identifying potential threats in the darkness, a flashlight will be an invaluable addition to your EDC.

Stance is the foundation of shooting, regardless of the type of shooting. In this episode Gavin Glasenapp will walk you through establishing a stable and effective rifle stance.

Foregrip mods are popular add-on accessories for home-defense rifles, but are you using yours correctly? In this video, Richard demonstrates how to use a foregrip to manage AR-15 recoil and improve accuracy.

Red dot optics have been surging in popularity, especially for shooters with diminishing eyesight. In this video, Steve demonstrates a simple training technique to help you “find the dot and shoot your shot.”

Pay attention to the distance the trigger travels between its breaking point and its reset point. When the trigger resets, you may fire again without allowing the trigger to travel all the way forward. Minimizing trigger travel will reduce gun movement and can help improve speed and accuracy.

Nearly ninety percent of people are right-handed, but does your dominant eye match your dominant hand or are you a cross-dominant shooter? Follow Beth’s simple trick to determine which eye is your leading eye.

How should you handle a traffic stop when you are carrying a concealed handgun? Keep calm and follow the officer’s instructions. In some states, you may have a duty to inform the officer that you are lawfully carrying a firearm.

What is the best way to store a handgun in your vehicle? First step: check your state and local laws. Next, buy a high-quality portable gun safe.

In this video, Steve discusses the types of handgun ammunition he chooses for training and for everyday carry. Topics include full metal jacket and jacketed hollow point ammo as well as weight and caliber.

Col. John Boyd developed the OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop to teach pilots about dogfighting (close range aerial fighting). You can deploy the same technique when determining how to escape, evade or engage an attacker.

Do gun-free zone signs carry any legal weight? Like many gun laws, you should check your local listings. Visit USCCA.com/Laws to learn more about specific state and local laws.

Where you sit in a restaurant could make the difference between life and death. Know how you got in, how you can get out, and position yourself to be able to assess danger. Know the best way to escape or, failing that, defend yourself.

The truth is in most situations where you would be forced to use your firearm, your stance is a matter of convenience. In this video, we cover proper form and stance that will build muscle memory and keep you in control of your shots.

As part of your personal protection plan, you need to ensure that you are aware of all exits in any building you enter — because the way you entered the building might not be your only option to escape during an emergency situation. In this video we discuss the importance of this situational awareness and what to look for beyond the clearly marked “exit” doors.

In this video, we review how to properly grip a handgun, keeping in mind critical parts of the gun, and ensuring safety, control and efficacy when using this firearm.

When it comes to acts of self-defense, “reasonability” could be considered subjective. In this video, we boil down the factors that come into play when passing judgment on a person’s reasonability in the court of law to help prepare you to take action as a reasonable person.

Why are eye and ear protection so important? The benefits go beyond obvious injury prevention. We’ll talk about how these important tools work, the considerations you might make when selecting adequately-rated protection, as well as feature options that may even improve your performance at the range.

Have you heard of the R.E.A.P. acronym? In this video we explain what this is and how to use this to make all of the right considerations when selecting the handgun that’s right for you.

In this video, we unpack some practical tips for putting situational awareness into practice, beyond understanding what it means and the color codes used to identify the stages. Sights, sounds and feelings all contribute to awareness of your surroundings and can be used to effectively connect the dots between real-time situations and inform your next steps.

Traveling with a firearm can be overwhelming. Between reciprocity laws and regulations that can vary from airline to airline and airport to airport, there are a lot of considerations you need to make. In this video, we break down some of the most important preparation tips you need to know before you fly with your firearm.