The 411 on Shooting Range Ventilation

Large HVAC ventilation system on rooftop near trees.

Ventilation is one of the most important aspects of an indoor shooting range. However, many misconceptions and contradictory information exist on the topic. As a range owner, it can be difficult to know what information is accurate and what the most important aspects of range ventilation are. Here are a couple common misconceptions debunked: Misconception […]

What Makes a Professional Firearms Instructor?

Instructors and trainees hold guns, stand by targets on a gravel shooting range with trees around.

By Dave Staskievicz Editor’s Note: Action Target has republished this article in its entirety with the permission of the author. Ideas, comments, practices, recommendations, etc. are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of Action Target. There are so many different types of “firearms instructors” that it’s virtually impossible to give a standardized answer […]

Understanding Sight Gears

Spartan Tactical 15th anniversary logo, with laurel wreath, ribbon, and text “Celebrating 15 years of excellence in training, 1995–2010.

By John Krupa III of Spartan Tactical Training Group and Action Target Academy Editor’s Note: The views in this article are the author’s own and don’t necessarily represent those of Action Target, Inc. As a professional trainer, my research and experience have brought me to the conclusion that shooters use sights three different ways when […]

Team Building Concepts: Training Exercises That Will Bring Your Team Together

Group of people sitting outdoors receiving instructions from a trainer.

BY SGT. BRIAN C. SMITH Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in S.W.A.T. magazine in September 1999. The views in this article are the author’s own and don’t necessarily represent those of Action Target, Inc. Over the years, I have trained many police and private security officers in tactical-team operations. I find that the […]

These Girls Wanted a Fighting Chance

People at an outdoor shooting range, aiming pistols at targets, with text “These Girls Wanted a Fighting Chance” by Captain Brian C. Smith.

A good friend, Deputy Gloria Anderson of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department, who is aware of my background in firearms training, expressed on several occasions about several of her female co-workers who were experiencing difficulties in passing their departmental service weapon range qualification. During one of these conversations, when the topic arose, I began to pry into some of the problems the female co-workers were experiencing with their weapons and departmental qualifications. I later determined that it appears the problem of the ladies in mention, may be a fear of their weapon due to lack of familiarization.

Action Target Produces Portable Target Course Book

Firearms instructors and administrators have an obligation to officers and to the public they serve, to do everything possible to ensure their firearms training and qualification programs are all they can be. However, many programs around the country struggle to provide realistic and quality training for their officers and there is often a lack of […]

Dust Collection Technology on the Range

Outdoor shooting range bullet trap with angled steel panels and overhead canopy designed to capture and contain fired rounds.

Action Target has worked closely with Carey’s Heating and Cooling to provide industry-leading ventilation systems that improve the safety of ranges around the country. However, it is sometimes unclear as to why ventilation systems are needed in the first place. For this reason, this week’s Action Target Journal explains why such systems are essential in […]

New Addition to The Action Target Journal

To Our Action Target Journal Readers: We want to thank each of you for making 2011 a great year for Action Target. Over the last 26 years, Action Target has been proud to provide training equipment for the police, for the military, and for the sport shooting industry as a whole. We are thrilled by […]

Shooting Steel Targets (Part 3)

*Note: This is the last segment of our three-part series entitled “Shooting Steel Targets.” Part One was published in September and Part Two was published in early October in the Action Target Journal. Many people are hesitant to shoot on steel targets because of bad experiences they have heard of, been the victim of, or […]