Freestate Training Academy

When it comes to firearms, safety is not just a priority - it’s a responsibility. Whether you’re new to owning a firearm or have years of experience, understanding how to handle, maintain, and store your weapon safely is crucial. Over the years, I’ve found that the best way to build confidence and competence is through structured learning. That’s where online courses come in, offering flexible, comprehensive training that fits into any schedule. Why Firearms Safety Education

Whether you’re just starting out or have been handling firearms for years, improving your shooting skills is always a smart move. The good news? You don’t have to be at the range every day to get better. Thanks to technology and well-structured online resources, you can enhance your shooting skills online from the comfort of your home. In this post, I’ll walk you through some effective strategies and tips that have helped me and many others sharpen our abilities without stepp

As an overview of the basic woodworking tools you would need to begin your own gunstock woodworking customization project, I will be discussing a number of different tools and their uses. Please note that the tools being discussed are just the basics and not a comprehensive list of items you must have to complete your project. For example, a butter knife would not be listed as a basic woodworking tool but if you find a use for it that works well for the project you are workin

There are three major factors to consider when looking to purchase a new rifle or designing a stock and they are the rifle’s purpose, the caliber it fires, and the amount of felt recoil the user gets when using it. Let us begin with the reason the rifle is being purchased. People may buy a rifle for a number of reasons, but I would say the most common would be for hunting, recreational shooting or simply because it looks really cool and will impress others. Hunters want an ac

FX 9mm Simunition provides a highly effective training solution for law enforcement and military personnel. Simunition rounds are designed to mimic the look, feel, and recoil of live ammunition, while incorporating key safety features to facilitate realistic and immersive training scenarios. In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and training applications of FX 9mm Simunition. One of the key advantages of using FX 9mm Simunition is the realism it brings to t

The .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO (commonly referred to as .556) are two popular rifle cartridges. While they appear similar, there are a few key differences between the two: 1. Chamber pressure: The 5.56 cartridge is loaded to a higher pressure than the .223. This means that rifles chambered for 5.56 are designed to handle the higher pressures safely. 2. Chamber dimensions: The chamber dimensions of the 5.56 are slightly different compared to the .223. The 5.56 chamber

Customer brings you a Ruger American that she claims, “isn’t loading properly”. Upon further questioning, you discover that she has no problem loading ammunition into the magazine, but that when she closes the bolt, it doesn’t always grab the next round. The customer has only used one brand of ammunition that she can recall. Safety: 1.How would you safely remove/clear the magazine, chamber, and barrel of ammunition and potential obstructions? The Ruger American uses a detach

To measure the thread pitch on a gun barrel, you will need a few tools: 1. Thread pitch gauge: This is a specialized tool with a set of blades or wires that can accurately measure the distance between threads. 2. Calipers: These are used to measure the diameter of the barrel. Here are the steps to measure the thread pitch on a gun barrel: 1. Ensure that the barrel is clean and free from any debris or obstructions that may affect the accuracy of the measurement. 2. Take your

1. Are there any features that are common to all the firearms in this publication? 2. Choose five features of Henry firearms that are not common to most of the models listed. 3. Describe those features, and state which models exhibit them. The Henry rifle company has been around for a long time and was patented back in 1860. Most of their models use the iconic leaver action to feed, chamber, extract and eject ammunition and have done so since their earliest mo

The Walther PDP  (Performance Duty Pistol) is a striker-fired semi-automatic pistol  designed by Walther Arms  and introduced in 2021  as a replacement and evolution of the popular Walther PPQ series. It’s engineered as a duty-ready, modular 9 mm handgun  with modern features optimized for defense, duty use, concealed carry, and competition shooting. Wikipedia Design & Core Specs Platform & Operation Type:  Semi-automatic, striker-fired, short-recoil operated pistol. Caliber:

What Is a Single-Action-Only Revolver? A single-action-only (SAO) revolver  is a type of revolver that cannot be fired until the hammer is manually cocked by the shooter . In this design, the trigger only performs one function  — releasing the hammer to fire the gun — and does not cock the hammer itself. This means the shooter must thumb back the hammer before each shot. How to Recognize a Single-Action Revolver Visual and loading cues  help identify a single-action revolver:

What Is a Double-Action-Only (DAO) Revolver? A double-action-only revolver  is a revolver that can only be fired by pulling the trigger; there is no single-action mode . In DAO revolvers: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer  on every shot. There is no provision  for manually cocking the hammer before firing. Because the hammer cannot be manually cocked for a lighter single-action shot, DAO revolvers must be fired entirely in double action . Most DAO revolvers are d

The Canik TP9 SF Elite  is a compact, striker-fired 9 mm pistol  designed for everyday carry, concealed carry, and defensive use. It is part of Canik’s TP9 series, a lineup known for combining ergonomics, trigger quality, and value  in a reliable package. Canik Arms+1 Key Role: Concealed carry Personal defense Range and reliability training Specs & Design Platform & Operation Action:  Striker-fired semi-automatic Caliber:  9×19 mm Capacity:  ~ 15 + 1  rounds standard Barrel:

A hammer block safety  and a transfer bar safety  are both passive mechanical safety systems  used primarily in hammer-fired firearms  to prevent accidental discharge if the hammer falls unintentionally (such as from being dropped). While they serve a similar purpose, they work in different mechanical ways . Hammer Block Safety What it is A hammer block safety  is a physical bar or plate  that blocks the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is deliberately p

Customer brings me a Browning Buck Mark that is experiencing a failure to extract. He says he has only tried one type of ammunition since purchasing the pistol. 1. How to make a semi-auto pistol safe before working on it Recommended safe clearing procedure for semi-automatic pistols (like the Browning Buck Mark) : Always point the muzzle in a safe direction  and keep your finger off the trigger. Remove the magazine  first, since leaving it in can allow a round to chamber when

The Kimber KHX Ultra 1911  is a compact 1911-style semi-automatic pistol  designed for carry and performance. It’s part of Kimber’s KHX series, which also includes 5″ (Custom) and 4″ (Pro) versions — with the Ultra being the 3″ barrel variant . Key features include: Chamberings:  Available in 9mm  or .45 ACP . Barrel:  ~3″ stainless steel barrel for compact carry. Frame:  Aluminum frame with KimPro II finish  for corrosion resistance. Sights:  Bright green and red fiber-optic

1. Firearm Finish Evolution — Then vs. Now Historical Methods In the early days of firearms manufacturing, there were only a few common finish methods, such as: Bluing/Browning:  Traditional protective finishes applied via chemical oxidation. Case hardening:  Heat & carbon treatments that produce a mottled color effect. Plating:  Basic metal coatings like nickel or chrome. These finishes were relatively easy to identify because each had a distinct appearance  and there weren’

The Staccato C2  is a compact, double-stack 2011-pattern 9 mm pistol  aimed at defensive carry , professional use , and shooters who want 1911-like single-action performance  in a size that’s still reasonably concealable. It blends classic 1911 controls with modern high-capacity engineering , much like the guns used in high-end competitive and duty circles. Staccato 2011 Platform Type: Single-action-only, hammer-fired 2011 Double-stack magazine (flush ~16 rounds) 3.9″ bull ba

This review is for educational purposes only. Anytime anyone handles firearms, they are required to follow all safety rules and regulations.

Expanded Explanation: SKS Falling / Tilting Breechblock Operation Basic Operating Principle The SKS rifle  uses a gas-operated, short-stroke piston system  combined with a tilting (falling) breechblock  to lock and unlock the action. While this may sound complex, it is actually a mechanically simple and robust design  intended for military reliability. When a cartridge is fired: Propellant gases  are tapped from the barrel near the muzzle. These gases drive a short-stroke gas