Freestate Training Academy

Modern life has become inseparable from electricity. Our homes, routines, and even identities orbit around devices that hum quietly in the background — until they stop. When the grid fails, comfort collapses in minutes. The blackout apocalypse isn’t science fiction; it’s the predictable result of our dependence on technology that cannot function without power. What follows isn’t chaos born from monsters or warlords, but from silence — the silence of machines that no longer se

When people talk about survival, they usually imagine stockpiling food, learning to start a fire, or installing a heavy-duty safe. Those are useful actions. But if you really want to maximize your odds in a severe breakdown of normal life—widespread civil unrest, long-term power outages, or any situation where law enforcement and social order are stretched thin—you have to change the way you think about the place you live. The difference that separates a vulnerable household

When a brilliant white flash erupts on the horizon, civilization has already failed you. The sudden burst of light isn’t a transformer explosion or a distant industrial fire — it’s the unmistakable signature of a nuclear detonation. In the seconds that follow, the world pivots from routine to survival. There are no sirens, no government rescue convoys, and no second chances. In that blinding instant, you discover whether your preparation — or lack of it — determines your fate

When disaster strikes, the difference between chaos and control often comes down to preparation. The truth is, emergencies don’t wait for convenient timing. Whether it’s a wildfire racing toward your neighborhood, a chemical spill forcing an evacuation, or a sudden outbreak of civil unrest, every second counts. Having a well-developed bug-out plan isn’t about paranoia—it’s about practicality. It’s a framework that turns panic into purpose when every decision matters....

It is my understanding of this week's discussion prompt that I, the customer, will be choosing a type of wood for a build I am completing and that I will need to explain to “the custom stock maker” Why I believe this choice works for my build. So, If I were to choose a type of wood for my next project it would probably be black walnut. Not only is it still popular in a lot of builds here in America, making it appealing to the buyer, but I chose black walnut for a number of ot

Should you choose maple as your wood when preparing your own wood stock? I believe this comes down to your comfort and experience when working with different types of wood. As I am fairly new to custom woodworking, I would probably use maple as my wood of choice. This is simply because it is easier to work with than other wood types. Having said this, it is still important to check the piece I am starting with because a good wood for gunstocks needs to meet certain criteria t

Knowing the critical measurements when custom making a gun stock is critical to the fitment of the gun to its user and to the overall success of your build. Things like pitch, drop at heel, length of trigger pull and the drop at comb will all make or break your sale when it comes to custom work. So, let us begin at the length of pull. The reading mentions that most American firearms have approximately a 14-inch measurement because this feels good to the average sized male, bu

Seeing as I am just getting started building a new rifle stock and I have a very limited budget and skill level, I may need to think of a few things I can do to save money but still get decent results. The first thing I would hope most people would consider when just starting off is the amount of time and attention to detail necessary to complete this task right. Putting tools and costs aside for the moment, this type of work will take some time and if not done correctly then

To start my hypothetical gunstock project, I need to select a type of wood that is durable and strong but one that still has a tight good-looking grain to it. So, I think I may go with the popular choice of many and use a walnut. I have chosen this because walnut is known for its strength, stability, and attractive grain patterns and there are many types to choose from so this choice still allows me to shop around a bit. Also, walnut can be relatively easy to work with, allow

For the purposes of this conversation, a customer brings in a J.C. Higgins Model 20-gauge shotgun in poor condition with a split in the stock by the grip. This is no good as this is one of the places that needs to be the toughest, especially considering it is a shotgun. My options are to either repair it or replace it and I think we know what option is easier. However, I always leave the choosing to the client so they cannot say I chose the more expensive option so I could ma

Wood Preparation can be the key to a successful project and can mean the difference

Checkering may have different purposes depending on who you are asking. For

Obviously, the preferred material used when making a rifles buttplate can be a matter of opinion. While the maker of the buttplate may like one material because it is easier to use and work with, the other person making a rifles buttplate may like another material because even though it may be harder to work with, they believe it produces a better product. Personally, I like a metal buttplate because of its durability and ease of cleaning but, as I stated before, this can be

For this project I did not create a cradle for the stock for one reason. I am working with a raw piece of wood and not an already shaped stock. Tossing a finished stock into a regular vice can damage the wood and is not recommended. However, because I really do not see myself turning this hunk of wood into a finished product, I am not too worried if the vice leaves a few marks. If I decide to continue practicing hand checkering, then I would absolutely make or purchase a crad

I believe one factor that is contributing to the declining popularity of hand checkering is simply technology. Back when people first started doing this type of work things like laser engravers did not exist. Checkering by hand is subject to mistakes because we are human, and a slip of the wrist can spell disaster while the use of a laser engraver can be as simple as inputting the design and hitting start.

To be 100% honest, I have always thought the shaping and finishing of a stock was

Both pistols are modern concealed-carry guns, but they have different design philosophies, features, capacities, and user-experience characteristics. 1. Core Design & Purpose Smith & Wesson Equalizer Type: Micro-compact 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Action: Internal hammer-fired single action (SA) with grip safety. Intended Role: Everyday concealed carry with easy manipulation and high capacity in a small package. Designed to be easy to rack and soft-shooting , especially

Most gunsmiths in the United States apply for a Federal Firearms License (FFL) under Category 01, which is commonly known as a "Dealer in Firearms." This category, also referred to as the "Dealer FFL," is the most suitable choice for gunsmiths due to several reasons.

The Real Avid Smart-Fit AR-15 Vise Block is a workbench support tool designed to securely hold your AR-15 lower receiver in a bench vise during cleaning, maintenance, assembly/disassembly, and upgrades. Its standout feature is an adjustable expandable design that eliminates the common issue of wobbly, generic vise blocks. Key Features Adjustable Fit: A threaded adjustment mechanism expands the block to custom-fit nearly any MIL-SPEC AR-15 magwell , offering a snug, wobble

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has established a clear definition of a "prohibited person" concerning firearms possession. This designation refers to individuals who are disqualified from owning, purchasing, or possessing firearms under federal law due to specific circumstances. In this article, we will explore the ATF's definition of a prohibited person and the various reasons why someone may fall into this category.