Learn

Plain-language articles on firearm basics, safety and storage, history, collecting, calibers and ammo, gear and careers. Sources are cited on every article.

Beginner basics

• New to Firearms? Where to StartA plain-language path for first-timers: learn the safety rules, take a class, check your state's rules, and pick the right ammunition.

Safety and storage

• Safe Storage at Home: Locks, Lock Boxes and SafesThe main ways to secure firearms and ammunition at home, what each is good for, and where to find your state's storage rules.
• The Universal Rules of Firearm SafetyThe core safety rules taught in nearly every firearms course, what each one means in practice, and why they overlap on purpose.

History

• Springfield Armory: Two Centuries of American Arms MakingHow the first national armory went from a Revolutionary War arsenal to a pioneer of American manufacturing, and how you can visit it today.
• The M1 Garand: The Rifle and the Man Behind ItJohn Garand's path from mill worker to Springfield Armory engineer, and the semi-automatic rifle that served U.S. forces from World War II through Korea.

Collecting

• Collecting Historic Firearms: Curios, Relics, Condition and ProvenanceWhat the federal 'curio or relic' category means, and the basics collectors weigh: originality, condition, documentation and storage.

Calibers and ammo

• Calibers and Cartridges: How to Read Ammunition NamesWhat a cartridge name tells you, why '45 Auto' and '45 ACP' are the same thing, and the one rule that matters most: match the headstamp to the barrel.
• Storing and Handling Ammunition SafelyIndustry guidance on where to keep ammunition, what damages it, when not to fire a round, and why you shouldn't keep re-chambering the same cartridge.

Gear

• Eye and Ear Protection at the RangeWhy gunfire can damage hearing, why NIOSH recommends doubling up on hearing protection, and what to know about eye protection and lead at indoor ranges.

Careers

• Careers in Security, Training and the Firearms IndustryAn overview of common career paths, from security officer to firearms instructor, what the work involves, and the credentials employers look for.

Articles are general information, not legal advice. Firearm laws differ by state and change; see our state law and permit guides and check official sources.