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Freestate Training Academy
Freestate-Training-Academy.com is built for shooters who want more than surface-level opinions. With 400+ in-depth reviews, breakdowns, and instructional posts, our content is created and vetted by FreeState instructors and experienced professionals who live this craft every day. Whether you’re new to firearms or a seasoned shooter looking to refine your skills, this library is designed to help you make smarter decisions, train more effectively, and stay informed.


Once specific safety and functions checks have been completed on a firearm, is it ready to be fired?
There may be many reasons for a test fire on a firearm. The first being the customer claims something is not working correctly with their firearm. In this case you may need to test fire to see the actual malfunction they were talking about in order to better understand the issue and find the best way to resolve it. In other cases, a test fire may be part of ensuring a firearm you built yourself actually functions. With an FFL that allows the manufacturing of firearms you can


Sig Sauer P320 Breakdown & Review
The SIG Sauer P320 is a modular, striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol introduced by SIG Sauer in the mid-2010s. It has become widely known for its modularity, trigger system, and adoption by military and law enforcement agencies (notably as the U.S. Army’s M17/M18 service pistol) — marking one of the first major military contracts won by a striker-fired design. Key Specifications (General P320 Platform) Caliber: 9×19 mm Parabellum (most common; other calibers available includ


Identify interesting aftermarket work that can be performed on a 1911 firearm.
Identify interesting aftermarket work that can be performed on a 1911 firearm.


Beretta 92FS Breakdown & Review
The Beretta 92FS is a full-size, 9 mm, semi-automatic pistol originally developed in the 1970s and introduced in the 1980s. It became widely known as the M9 service pistol of the U.S. military (adopted in 1985 and in service through recent years), and has long been respected for its reliability, accuracy, and ergonomics. It is part of the larger 92 series, but “92FS” refers to this specific civilian and law-enforcement model with the Beretta “FS” safety/decocker system. Key S


Identify at least two specialty tools that can be used on the 1911
The two specialty tools used for the 1911 I have chosen for this week’s discussion are the 1911 bench block and the lug fitting kit. While there are other bench blocks on the market advertised as universal, the one specifically designed for work on the 1911 has functions and features only meant for the 1911 platform. An example of this is the groove cut into the block specifically for use with the barrel and lug allowing easy removal and replacement of the pin that connects t


Sig Sauer P365 XL Breakdown & Review
The SIG Sauer P365 XL is a compact, striker-fired, polymer-frame 9 mm pistol designed primarily for everyday concealed carry while offering a balance of capacity, shootability, and features. It’s an extended version of the original P365, with a slightly larger slide and longer barrel, blending concealability with improved handling and sight radius. Key Specifications (P365 XL, Typical) Feature Specification Caliber 9×19 mm Parabellum Action Striker-fired, semi-automatic Barre


A quick breakdown of some of the most important things a firearms business needs to consider.
To avoid the copy and paste of everything we have already covered this semester, I will summarize a few of the topics and discuss how I would approach it and what may or may not be required. To start lets talk about the Firearms Customer. If all your business is was firearms sales then the market has some serious booms and busts. However, opening a gun range along with my FFL to sell and manufacture firearms I keep those customers coming back.


Bersa Thunder 380 Breakdown & Review
The Bersa Thunder .380 Auto (often simply called Bersa .380) is a compact, hammer-fired, semi-automatic pistol chambered in .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol). It was designed in Argentina and imported into the U.S. for many years, often marketed as a budget-friendly defensive pistol with reliable performance and a relatively traditional control layout. The Bersa Thunder in various configurations (e.g., standard, Pro, CC – Concealed Carry) has been a popular choice for self-def


What firearms should your business sell and what services should your business offer?
Explain the specifics of one type of firearms business.


Springfield XD45 ACP Breakdown & Review
The Springfield XD-45 ACP is a polymer-framed, striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol chambered in .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol). Part of Springfield Armory’s XD family (which includes XD, XD-M, and XD-S variants), it is designed primarily for self-defense, duty use, and general shooting. The .45 ACP version blends the bigger-bore cartridge with the modern striker system and safety features that define the XD line. Key Specifications (Typical XD-45 ACP) Feature Specification


What are the requirements for importing the firearms your business wants to import?
What firearms would your business import?


SAR9 semi-automatic Breakdown & Review
The SAR9 is a polimer-frame, striker-fired 9×19 mm pistol imported into the U.S. by SAR USA and manufactured by Sarsilmaz in Turkey. It is available in full-size, compact, and subcompact variants, and has gone through multiple generations (including Gen3 with modern updates). The design is intended as a duty-capable service pistol with features competitive with mainstream polymer striker-fired pistols. Guns & Ammo Technical Snapshot (Typical SAR9 Full-Size) Caliber: 9×19 mm P


Regulations Regarding Trading Firearms for a Firearms Business
Living here in Texas, if one individual wants to trade with another individual you can do so with little to no paperwork involved. Though a bill of sale would be smart, so both individuals have a record of who has their old firearm, to the best of my recollection it is not required. Now in my home state of Maryland it was required that you and the other individual make an appointment with a state police officer who will record the firearms serial number and will then transfer


S&W M&P Shield EZ Breakdown & Review
The S&W M&P Shield EZ is a compact, striker-fired handgun designed specifically for ease of use, ease of operation, and ease of maintenance — especially for shooters who might struggle with heavier slide pulls on traditional semi-autos. It was marketed as a particularly user-friendly carry pistol with features that reduce physical and technical barriers to ownership. Though originally introduced in .380 ACP, a popular variant in 9 mm has since also been offered. The EZ series


Identifying Resources Your Firearms Business Would Need to Appraise Firearms
The way I have always gone about giving someone a price on a firearm, whether one is being bought or sold, is to use the Blue Book of Gun Values. This is a widely known reliable source for firearms of any type. From antiques to the more modern firearms of today, this service has almost everything you are looking for. The Blue Book of Gun Values also makes finding your exact make and model pretty easy. Just type in who makes it and subcategories pop up (Pistol, Revolver, Rifle


Taurus G2C Breakdown & Review
The Taurus G2C is a compact, polymer-frame, striker-fired 9 mm pistol marketed by Taurus. It’s positioned as an affordable, civilian-oriented concealed carry/self-defense handgun that balances size, capacity, and price. It became popular due to its lower cost compared to mainstream brands while still offering features many carriers want. The G2C is part of the broader Taurus G series, with the “C” denoting the compact form factor. Key Specifications (Typical) Feature Specific


Summarize the important bookkeeping a firearms business owner and business manager need to know.
In order to summarize the important bookkeeping basics a business owner and business manager needs to know for running a firearms business you will need to break it down into a few different sections of work. An example of this would be what paperwork is firearm related and what paperwork is not. Breaking down the firearm side of the paperwork, you will need separate books for your acquisitions and dispositions. That just means where you got the firearms and a list of the FFL


Smith & Wesson SD9 Breakdown & Review
The Smith & Wesson SD9 is a compact, striker-fired 9×19 mm semi-automatic pistol that was introduced as part of the SD (Self-Defense) series. It was designed as a concealed carry, personal defense, and duty pistol with a focus on simplicity, reliability, and user safety. The SD9 was later succeeded by the M&P9 series, but it remains a relevant platform in the handgun market and is often chosen for its ergonomics and value. Key Specifications (Typical SD9) Feature Specificatio


Who are your competitors & What would distinguish your firearms business from others?
Who are your competitors from a national perspective?


Zigana PX9 Breakdown & Review
The Zigana PX-9 (manufactured by TİSAŞ in Turkey and imported into the U.S. by companies such as SDS Imports) is a polymer-frame, striker-fired 9 mm pistol designed as an affordable full-size handgun for defensive and range use. It has similarities to Springfield XD-style pistols in many design cues, with modern features like high capacity, accessory rail, and optics-ready slides on recent generations. Common Specifications (Approximate, Gen3 PX-9) Caliber: 9×19 mm Parabellum
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