10-Ring Handgun Academy

10/21/2026

Quick Shot: One In The Chamber Or Not?
That question was brought up in a recent class and I'll say it again; Not carrying one in the chamber is like expecting to be able to fasten your seatbelt just before you crash. If you carry a semi-auto pistol, who's to say you'll have a free hand to rack the slide! You could have sustained an injury to your non-dominate hand, you might be helping or carrying a child, adult, or some other important item. Hell, you might be fighting off your attacker with your non-dominate hand while trying to draw your pistol. If you're determined to carry with an empty chamber, at least have a gun with a flat-walled rear sight. That way you can hook the edge of the rear sight on a flat surface or pants pocket to camber a round. There are three "conditions" you can carry your semi-auto pistol in:
*Condition Three: No round in the chamber, Hammer or striker is
not cocked. This requires you to draw and rack the slide before
shooting which requires both hands to be free before you can
fire.
*Condition Two: (for double-action pistols) Round chambered,
safety on, hammer down. This gives you a very long, heavy
trigger-pull on the first shot which affects your accuracy a great
deal.
*Condition One: Chambered round, hammer or striker cocked, safety on. "Locked and cocked", as we say.
You must do what you're most comfortable with, but keep in mind that you will not dictate the first few minutes of an attack.
Keep training!
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared.

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10/04/2026

Quick Shot: Why we use hollow points (HP) instead of round ball ammo (RBA) in our defense fi****ms.
To define the two; hollow points have a hole at the tip of the bullet. The tip has cuts so when the bullet hits som**hing solid, it peels back (or mushrooms) like the pedals of a flower. Round ball ammo is solid at the tip (target ammo).
The four reasons we use HP are:
*Reduce the chance of ricochets-
The edge of the HP tends to catch on objects instead of
bouncing off of them like RBA. The pre-cut
sides tend to make the bullet tumble
after striking an object which also tends to slow it down.
*Prevent over-pe*******on-
You are responsible for every round you fire. If a round goes
through your intended target and then strikes an innocent
bystander, you could be brought up on negligent charges.
12 to 18 inches of pe*******on is the range used by the FBI in
rating defensive am******on.
*Quickly stop criminal encounters-
You want to bring your encounter to a stop as quickly as
possible, which means you want the criminal to stop pulling
the trigger on their fi***rm or swinging the knife they are
holding, as soon as possible. Whatever stops the criminal;
faster is better.
* Hollow points are to some effect, less lethal-
With RBA, it could take six or more rounds to
stop a criminal. Six holes, more bleeding, six chances to miss
your target, when one HP could bring the
encounter to a halt.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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09/02/2026

Quick Shot: Peace, Safety, Force and How They Work Together
We all know some people that do not own guns and do not care to own a gun. I always ask them what they would do if they experienced a home invasion, robbery or assault and the answer is usually, “I’d call the police.” Well, that’s all fine-and-dandy except that the average time it takes for police to arrive (depending on your location) is 12 to 25 minutes. You don’t want to think about what a bad guy could do to your wife or daughter in that 12-25-minute timeframe. The only real question is, what if your life or the lives of your family depended on your using a gun or not? My gunless friends have been bombarded with anti-gun propaganda from every source you can think of. So much so, they are “scared” of guns and treat guns like a hot burner on a stove; they won’t even touch a gun. The truth is, you will not have peace and safety unless you are able and willing to use force. Where in America is crime the worst? Answer: in states that have the most restrictive gun laws. There is crime in all 50 states for sure, but at least in some of these states you have the right and the legal means to defend yourself.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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08/31/2026

QUICK SHOT: Don’t Cheap-Out on the Holster or Spare Magazine Holder:
To review, I have written about saving at least two non-training magazines for carry purposes only. In training, you’re bouncing the mags off concrete, dirt, gravel, mud or God knows what else. They get dirty or the “lips” of the mag can crack making that mag a liability when you need it the most. Keep two that you know are in tip-top shape for carrying. Another concern is keeping the correct orientation of said mag especially if you carry your spare in your pocket, purse or wherever. You want the mag to come out of its place with the cartridges forward and without having to check by moving your eyes off your attacker. Now it’s time to look at how well the retention factor is for both holster and spare carrier.
Broken-in is not the same as broken down or worn out. I love leather and I carry a leather holster and mag carrier, and you must recognize when it’s time to let go and replace one or both when the time comes. My carry holster looks brand new, but my gun is starting to move just a bit, so it’s time to start saving for a replacement in the next few months. I would strongly discourage carrying a gun or extra mag loosely (without a holster of some kind) in your pocket. It may conceal better, but both tend to roll around and if you need either one, who knows which direction they will be oriented in when you grab either one. This is not the time to play “pocket pool” trying to reposition either gun or mag. Mag holders do not allow the mag to “lock-in” like a gun will into a holster, so friction is “King” in retaining your spare mag. Any sign of working its way out or falling out while you’re driving, sitting in a restaurant or using the bathroom means it’s time to look for a replacement. Now there’s an article right there. I can’t imagine the chilling sound of a gun or spare magazine hitting bathroom tile and then bouncing under the stall door into the middle of a crowded bathroom.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

08/09/2026

Long Shot: Safety First!!
When dealing with fi****ms, regardless of the situation, the number-one priority is safety. We drive cars, we handle power tools and such, and when the safety rules are applied to each situation, mistakes are less likely to occur. Many of you know that for the past forty years I was a professional trumpet player before I embarked on a new teaching career in fi****ms safety classes. The most important concept I learned working in either category is how you approach the subject mentally. You get it right in your mind, you will get it right in application. When I had a difficult musical passage to work out, I always began playing it slowly and increase the speed in small increments. You must never try to play a musical passage faster than you can play it perfectly. Never operate your fi***rm any faster than you can control your fi***rm SAFELY. If I were to miss notes in a concert, nobody dies (although I would feel like doing it). Make a mistake with your fi***rm and injury or tragedy is a very real possibility. Slow is good until it becomes a part of your sub-conscious level. Most folks don't train enough to get to this level so I operate under the assumption no one knows what they are doing until they prove otherwise to me. Start with the three rules of safe gun handling....which are.....? (test #1.....I'm still a teacher in my soul). Even though you're in a fight, you still must consider safety. Trigger finger? Muzzle direction? Innocent bystanders?
Lastly, remember that people are watching you so be a good role model. You may influence someone in ways you will never know; so make it the good/safe way.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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08/09/2026

I posted this story a few years ago, but I think it's worth doing again.

TSA Airport Story:
As a professional trumpet player turned fi****ms instructor, I had a crazy experience in a Florida airport. I live in Missouri and a friend hired me to play an Easter gig in south Florida. I travel with three trumpets in a triple case that I always take on the plane. The trumpet bag usually draws a bit of attention at the TSA station, but nothing more than a comment or two. On the trip to Florida, no problem, but on the return trip I put my bag through the x-ray machine and when the bag came out there were three TSA people standing there. I walked up and they asked me if this was my bag and I said “Yes.”, and then they asked me to step to another table. My mind starts to race! This is my big chance because I just know they are going to ask me to play one of the trumpets to make sure they are real. What “airport excerpt” would be the best? The opening to “Pictures At An Exhibition”, Mahler’s Fifth Symphony? The best part is I have a captured audience right here to do my thing. Then my heart sank, they said there was a bullet in my bag………. A BULLET!?? The lady dug the cartridge out and It was a .22 LR cartridge at the very bottom of the padding in the case. To get that far down in the case, that cartridge must have been in there for a very long time. Then this little LEO wanna-be starts interrogating me on if I had ever been charged with a crime, arrested, convicted of a felony, jay-walked or been mean to my mother; the list went on and on. Of course, I answered “No” to all the questions and he obviously didn’t believe me. He took my I.D. and left to check me out and I told him numerous times I didn’t have a criminal record. About 45 minutes later he returned, he gave me my information back like he was giving up his lunch money and reluctantly said he didn’t find anything. They took the cartridge, gave me my trumpet case and sent me on my way. Well, the moral of this story is, stay out of trouble and keep your record clean. It just might come in handy someday.
Marc

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08/02/2026

In Defense of Others:
Have you given any thought to entering a convenience store (or any other type of business) and discover you just walked into the middle of an armed robbery in progress? What’s the first action you would take? Draw your fi***rm? Find cover? Run like hell? Wet yourself? There are a lot of options and if you haven’t thought this through or trained for this scenario, you will probably freeze or worse. Remember, preservation of your life (and your loved ones) is paramount. If you do draw your fi***rm, do you have a clear shot? Is there more than one robber (inside or outside the store)? Is it best for you to exit the store, find cover and wait for the robber to come outside before you confront him or them? Getaway driver? Try not to take cover behind the getaway car. Sometimes you have to realize that people are victims by choice. They chose not to purchase a fi***rm and get training. They chose to outsource their protection to other individuals, security guards or the police; so, they may have to wait until the police arrive before they can be saved. There are difficult choices in this life and the more you prepare, the better your decision-making process will be and the more options you will find. I have made my decision; I hope this article will be the beginning of som**hing that helps you make your decision.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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08/02/2026

QUICK SHOT: The Chambered Round in Your Carry Gun
If you're like me, I unload my carry gun every night and put the round that was in the chamber, back in the magazine. Now ejecting that round over time will scratch, dent and scar the rim of that round until the ejector on your gun might not catch and eject that round when you need it the most. Take your finger and run it along the case rim and see how rough it is. If it is very rough, I would put that round into a box of practice defense rounds to be shot later at the range.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared.

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06/09/2026

Quick Shot: Accurate Shooting vs Effective Shooting.
There is a difference. Accurate shooting is chewing the “X” out of the target and effective shooting is stopping a conflict as soon as possible by inflicting as few immobilizing, but effective, wounds as possible. Shooting an attacker center-mass three times in the same spot (accurate) will not have the same effect as shooting your attacker center-mass three times in three different places (effective). Your target(s) should be anywhere from the pelvic girdle up to, across and just below the shoulders. That is where all of the organs, lungs and major stuff is in your body. A head shot is the last spot to target for the “final solution” because the head is small and way more mobile than center-mass is. But sometimes a head shot is the only thing that will bring the attack to a close and that is why we train in all sorts of scenarios. The weapon your attacker is using will also have a lot to do with where you might want to shoot. Someone attacking you with a knife or fists; (any contact weapon) and time permitting; the pelvic girdle might be the perfect shot placement. Your shots have the chance to be non-lethal shots, and if you break up those bones, your attacker is going down no matter how high on m**h they are. If your attacker has a gun, pelvic girdle shots might bring him down but they will not stop your attacker from shooting, so center-mass would be the better choice. Drawing from concealment needs to be a part of this equation, but will not be a part of this article. I took a “Holster class” earlier this year and I wanted to demonstrate what an accurate shooter I was (showing off) but one of the teachers kept wanting me to go faster to find my “breaking point” where I would start missing the target. I did go faster but not fast enough to mess up my grouping. The “X” was gone on the target with a hole about the size of the palm of your hand left in the middle (what a hot-dog!) with a few holes around the big hole. It was a great class and I learned a lot; and Andre, I promise to go faster!!!
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

06/09/2026

Quick Shots: Carrying a Spare Reload
When it comes to carrying a concealed fi***rm, I’m just glad people do it, much less carry a spare reload. Some folks tell me that they don’t need extra ammo because their semi-auto carries ten to fifteen rounds in one mag. Well, that’s all fine and dandy until you have a mag problem. You get off one or two shots and then your fi***rm quits! That’s a terrible sound when a fi***rm goes “click” when you need it to go “bang”. If you carry and train with a semi-auto, be sure to train with different magazines than you carry. Training mags get bounced off of concrete, gravel, doused in dirt and mud and those tabs on the top can take a beating. You should always keep two or three mags specifically for carrying so you know there is no hidden damage that can cause a failure when you’re fighting for your life. If you carry a revolver (five or six shot), you may want to remember that bad guys tend to travel in packs, and six rounds just might not get the job done. I recommend speed loaders as opposed to speed strips or loose ammo. Your fine motor skills are going to be lost if you are in a self-defense situation and a quick reload is essential. I carry two 6-round speed loaders with me when I carry my revolver. Practice reloading your fi***rm. Time yourself and find that rhythm for a safe and quick reload.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared