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One of the biggest misconceptions we hear from new shooters is that getting better simply means spending more time at the range. More range time certainly helps, but it's only part of the equation. In fact, some of the most productive practice you'll ever do doesn't involve firing a single round. It's called dry fire. If you're new to shooting, dry fire is simply practicing with an unloaded firearm in a safe environment. No ammunition, no recoil, and no noise. It might not so

For a long time, the process seemed pretty straightforward. Walk into a gun shop. Pick a firearm. Buy some ammo. Figure the rest out later. We're seeing that change. More and more first-time gun owners are doing something different, they're learning first. And honestly, we think that's a smart move. If you've never owned a firearm before, how are you supposed to know what fits your hand? What caliber you're comfortable shooting? Whether you even like the pistol everyone onlin

Getting your Maryland Wear & Carry Permit is a great first step. But it is just that, a first step. One thing we see fairly often is people leaving class feeling like they have everything figured out. The truth is, carrying a firearm every day is a skill that develops over time. The permit gives you the legal ability to carry. It doesn't automatically prepare you for the realities of carrying one. Here are a few of the biggest mistakes we see new concealed carriers make. They

Walking into a shooting range for the first time can feel intimidating. A lot of people assume everyone there is highly experienced, overly serious, or waiting to judge the new person who doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing. In reality, that’s usually not the case at all. At The Machine Gun Nest we see first-time shooters every single day. Some come in excited. Some are nervous. Some have never even held a firearm before. That’s normal. And honestly, nobody expects you to