Anyone who has experience with firearms realizes how important training is. Simply owning firearms is insignificant (and irresponsible) if one does not develop skill in using them. And, once expertise is finally achieved, that skill is highly perishable without ongoing training and practice.

Probably the best way to achieve skill at arms is by attending a school taught by a reputable instructor—with reputable being the key word. Firearms training has become a cottage industry over the last decade, and while there are numerous top-quality instructors, there are also many charlatans whose main claim to fame is that they have attended someone else’s school—and they may or may not be teaching the innovator’s doctrine as incipiently conceived.

The first thing to consider when attending is a school is to have a goal of what you want to get out of it. If it’s only learning the basics of marksmanship almost any class will do. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to fight with the weapon the choices become more constricted. Two of the latter, Gunsite’s 556 Carbine and Rangemaster’s Combative Skills courses are showcased in this issue.

Also in this issue is an article giving a few tips on how to create your own shooting range for when you either don’t have the time or the cash to attend formal training. Complimenting the above are five firearm evaluations, and an article on how to make traveling by air a little more hassle free. Of course this is in addition to our usual five columns and seven departments.