shooter at an indoor range shooting at a target

Defense Designed For Every Shooter

Every shooter has different needs and limitations, and it’s Federal’s responsibility as your partner in protection to provide the best ammunition for the guns and cartridges our customers choose. We explain how that guides our Personal Defense load development.

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shooter aiming handgun at a target in an indoor range

How To Take Training Beyond Concealed Carry

A concealed carry class is a great start, but if you want to take your skills further, more training is critical. Firearms instructor and Federal brand ambassador Ava Flanell reveals the classwork and training that matters most.

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Josh Froelich aiming a rifle around a barrel

Boost Speed & Accuracy With This Drill

We all want to shoot faster and more accurately—especially for self-defense. Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn reveals a simple drill that hones your grip, vision and body mechanics to help pick up the pace.

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Josh Froelich standing behind an obstacle outside

The Right Way To Retreat

The best way to survive a deadly encounter is to get out of it altogether. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich shares two drills that will equip you to safely retreat to cover while putting effective rounds downrange.

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Josh holding a rifle with a coupled magazine

5 Must-Haves For A Concealed Carry Pistol

Looking for your first handgun for concealed carry? Shooting instructor and Federal ambassador Ava Flanell walks through the five things you need to consider before pulling the trigger.

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Josh holding a rifle with a coupled magazine

Dual Defense: Why Coupled Magazines Aren’t Just For Competition

They might have been popularized in competitive shooting, but coupled rifle magazines have applications for home defense as well. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich explains why and reveals how to use them.

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Ava Flanell using an app on her phone

Identify Your Shooting Weaknesses And Improve

It’s often difficult to diagnose your own shooting shortcomings. Firearms instructor and Federal brand ambassador Ava Flanell provides tips for identifying problems and suggests ways to address them.

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Josh Froelich standing next to a black barrel

How To Create Space In Self-Defense

Sometimes close is too close. Train for what to do when a threat is right in your bubble with this drill from Federal ambassador Josh Froelich.

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Ava standing in front of a white board

Why Take A Concealed Carry Class?

Federal ambassador and shooting instructor Ava Flanell explains why taking a concealed carry course is a wise idea for any gun owner—even if you don’t intend to carry.

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Josh aiming his handgun while laying on the ground

Defend When You’ve Been Knocked Down

If things go south fast, there’s a good chance you’ll need to draw your pistol and shoot from flat on your back. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich runs through what you need to know and train for.

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Krystal Shooting around a large black barrel

How Barriers Make You Shoot Better

Targets get all the attention, but sometimes the things you don’t shoot improve your skills the most. Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn explains the importance of barriers and no-shoot targets and runs through a drill that incorporates both.

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Pistol and magazine sitting on a table

How To Introduce A New Shooter To Handguns

If someone has never picked up a handgun before, it can be intimidating. Be a better mentor and make a shooter’s first handgun experience stress-free and successful with Federal ambassador and shooting instructor Ava Flanell.

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shot steel target

How Steel Targets Help You Train For Defense

A target is a target, right? Wrong. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich reveals why steel targets paired with a pistol caliber carbine will help you train smarter.

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ammo being loaded into a magazine

Top 5 Takeaways From A Concealed Carry Class

Considering a concealed carry class and want to know what to expect? Shooting instructor and Federal brand ambassador Ava Flanell breaks down the five key things you’ll walk away with at the close of your course.

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Krystal standing behind a few target while aiming a handgun

Switch Up Your Stance

If you’re training for defense or competition, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you only shoot from the same standard stance. Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn explains why and provides guidance on how to mix things up.

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Lookings at a target without looking down the sights

Hit Your Target Without Seeing Your Sights

In a self-defense scenario, you might not always have the opportunity to obtain the perfect sight picture before pulling the trigger. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich shares a drill that uses body mechanics and indexing to put effective rounds on target in these situations.

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Krystal Dunn looking down the scope of a pistol

2 Red Dot Tricks

If you’re making the switch from iron sights to a red dot optic, there are a few things you need to know. Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn explains and shares tricks for flattening your learning curve.

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Ava looking down the sights of a handgun at an indoor range

How To Find A Shooting Class

If you’ve never had formal firearms training or are new to shooting, finding a course can seem daunting. A shooting instructor herself, Federal ambassador Ava Flanell shares tips to make finding the right class easy.

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Jim Gilliland looking down the scope of a rifle

There’s No Such Thing As A Redundant Sight

As more shooters have made the switch to low-power variable optics for their AR platforms, many have ditched backup sights. Big mistake, says Federal ambassador Josh Froelich. He explains why an offset red dot is still an important part of any long-gun system.

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handguns laid on a table

Ava’s Top 6 Handguns

As a firearms instructor and YouTube blogger, Ava Flanell gets to shoot a huge variety of handguns. The Federal ambassador helps narrow down your search for the right handgun with these top 6 picks.

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Krystal holding two dummy rounds

Dummy Rounds For Smarter Shooting

Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn leans on snap caps and dummy rounds to fine tune gun handling skills. Here are two drills that use these training tools.

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Josh Froelich aiming a pistol at a far away target

Why Hundred-Yard Handgun Practice Pays

You’ll never need to make a 100-yard shot with your pistol in a real-world defensive situation, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t train for one. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich demonstrates the shot and explains why it should be part of your training regimen.

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Josh Froelich aiming a pistol

Battle Of The Compact Pistols

Which compact handgun gives you the best blend of power, control, concealability and capacity? Federal ambassador Julie Golob demonstrates all of the above with Smith & Wesson Shield Plus pistols chambered in 9mm Luger and new 30 Super Carry.

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Josh Froelich aiming a pistol

Concealed Carry Training For Cold-Weather Clothing

A change in temperature shouldn’t hinder your ability to protect yourself. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich runs through his clothing considerations and training tips for cold-weather concealed carry.

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Ava Flanell aiming a pistol

5 Top Misconceptions Of New Gun Owners

If you’re new to shooting or have even been around the block, it’s sometimes easy to get the wrong idea. Federal ambassador and shooting instructor Ava Flanell runs through the five most common misconceptions she hears and sets the record straight.

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Krystal Dunn aiming a pistol

2 Great Gun Handling Drills

Federal ambassador Krystal Dunn sees a lot of shooters struggle with gun handling, grip and one-handed shooting. These two drills address all three skills.

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pistol laying on a table along with Federal American Eagle boxes

A Better Way To Choose A Carry Gun

The idea of using a single carry gun for everything is appealing, but given the wide range of applications, it’s seldom the best choice. Instead, select the best carry gun for any situation with this advice from Federal ambassador Josh Froelich.

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pistol cartridges being loaded into a magazine

Low-Round-Count Pistol Drill

When you train, there should be a reason for every trigger press. That’s why Federal ambassador and professional shooter Josh Froelich leans hard on this drill, which works on multiple skills with minimal rounds. Learn how to incorporate it into your next range session.

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Josh Froelich adding 30 Super Carry into a magazine

Why Capacity Is King

Now that modern bullet technology has leveled the terminal performance of most popular carry cartridges, shooters like Josh Froelich believe capacity, concealability and shootability have become the most important factors in which one you choose. The Federal ambassador and professional shooter reveals a new choice that checks every box.

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HST 9mm, HST 30 Super Carry, and 380 Auto HST Micro packaging on a table with a pistol

Julie Golob Puts 30 Super Carry To The Test

Want to see the real-world differences that separate new Federal 30 Super Carry from 380 Auto and 9mm Luger? Champion shooter and Federal ambassador Julie Golob puts all three cartridges in a head-to-head test for recoil and muzzle flip.

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Hydrashok being loaded into a magazine

Smaller Made Better

Federal engineers have harnessed advancements in design, materials and manufacturing to create some of the best 380 Auto and 38 Special +P defensive ammunition ever made.

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Punch 22 LR Packaging on top of Punch 22 LR cartridges

Throwing Punches

Federal’s Punch family is growing, and the new 22 LR version is revolutionizing rimfire self-defense ammunition.

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Josh Froelich simple pistol speed drill

Simple Pistol Speed Drill

Combine movement, cover and a good cadence, and you have the makings of a great drill to help you shoot faster. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich lays out the steps you can follow on your next range day.

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Josh Froelich showing the distance between him and the barrels cover infront of him

Don’t Crowd Your Cover

Whether it’s a wall in a self-defense situation or a barrier in a competition stage, shooters have a tendency to crowd the cover around which they intend to shoot. Big mistake. Federal ambassador Josh Froelich shows why putting some space between you and the cover will help you shoot more effectively.

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Josh Froelich pointing a pistal

One-Hand Draw & Shoot

Real-world self-defense scenarios often require drawing and shooting with one hand. Federal brand ambassador Josh Froelich explains how to make this concept part of your training routine.

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Person loading HST into a pistol

Self-Defense Positions

You don’t get to choose the circumstances of a self-defense situation. That’s why Federal brand ambassador Josh Froelich practices drawing from the three most common start positions.

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Person loading HST into a pistol

Business Casual Carry

When it comes to effective concealed carry, there is no one-size-fits all option. How you carry and the holster you use depends on the clothes you wear, and business casual presents its own unique challenges. This video from BLACKHAWK! spells out what you need to do.

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Person loading HST into a pistol

Does Cartridge Still Matter?

A lot has changed in the century since many of our most popular handgun cartridges hit the scene. Bullet construction has completely changed the classic caliber debates and left shooters with a surprising answer.

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Handgun In Holster

Cover, Concealment & Defense

There’s a big difference between being out of sight and out of danger. We explain how to take this into consideration when planning for defense inside and outside your home.

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Female with Handgun

Getting Started

It can be challenging to determine if personal protection is right for you. Our experts walk you through the decision-making process, share tips and suggestions, and provide additional resources to start your journey.

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person sneaking into a dark house

Expect The Unexpected

A personalized in-home plan is critical to effectively protect yourself and your family—here’s how to develop one.

Develop Your Plan
Special Agent Bill Gray

HST Survival Story

He was attacked without warning and stabbed 14 times in his face, throat and hands. But a survivor’s mindset and Federal Premium HST enabled Special Agent Bill Gray to overcome all odds.

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Hangun and Ammo laid out

Put FMJs In Their Place

The shooting sports run on a steady diet of full metal jacket handgun ammunition. But some shooters make the mistake of using it for protection. We break down why FMJs need to stay at the range.

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Person shooting a handgun

Going Deeper

Hydra-Shok ammunition defined self-defense for a generation—now there’s an all-new version of the proven load, and its performance is tallying up an ever-growing list of awards and recognition among personal protection experts.

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Person shooting a handgun

Ready, Aim, Practice

How we train and practice can make all the difference off the range when it matters most. Champion shooter and Federal ambassador Julie Golob shares her four top steps for keeping your personal protection skills sharp.

Discover These Drills
person loading HST into handgun

Tool Time

Finding the right defensive and training loads is critical for personal protection, and Federal offers a wide range of ammunition tools that will fit your needs and budget.

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Two Women at an Indoor Gun Range

Safety Skills

Whether you’re operating a handgun, shotgun or rifle, responsible firearms ownership and use demands that you carefully and thoughtfully follow the four rules of gun safety.

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Reciprocity Map on Computer Screen

Travel With Complete Confidence

Never second-guess your right to carry with the USCCA’s concealed carry reciprocity and state gun laws map. It’s easy to use and completely free.

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Man shooting pistol at orange target

Top 5 Concealed Carry Mistakes

You’ve taken your state-required training and applied for your concealed carry permit. You’re ready to go, right? Wrong! There’s more to concealed carry than getting a CCW permit and strapping a gun on your hip. Learn the top mistakes newcomers make and how to avoid them.

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Cop Car with Flashing Lights

True Stories of Self-Defense Success

Crime statistics cannot capture the human element of self-defense. Check out these shocking true stories of USCCA Members who were forced into action, and learn the lessons they have to share.

Read Their Stories