Buyer's Guides
Straight answers before you buy. Written by our team, with links to compare every shop's price.
Firearms
How to Buy a Gun Online: FFL Transfers Step by Step
Yes, you can buy a gun online. It ships to a licensed dealer near you, not your door. Here is every step, from picking an FFL to the background check at pickup.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Concealed Carry Pistol: Your First Carry Gun
Size, capacity, recoil, sights, safeties and the holster that makes it all work. A plain guide to picking a first concealed carry pistol you will actually carry.
Read the guideBuying Guns Across State Lines: What Can Ship Where
The federal rules for buying a gun from another state, explained plainly: where it ships, how handguns and long guns differ, and the state rules to check before you order.
Read the guideAmmunition
FMJ vs Hollow Point: Range Ammo vs Self-Defense Ammo
How full metal jacket and hollow point bullets work, why defense loads are built to expand, and how to pick, test and practice with the right ammo for each job.
Read the guideAmmo Cost Per Round: How to Compare Prices and Buy Bulk Smart
Learn the simple math behind ammo cost per round, why shipping changes the answer, and how to decide between boxes and cases, steel and brass, without buying ammo that lets you down.
Read the guideShooting Gear & Parts
AR-15 Upgrades: What to Change First (and What to Check)
The AR-15 upgrades that make the biggest difference first, from optics and lights to triggers and handguards, plus the gas, buffer, headspace and legal checks that keep a build running and legal.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Weapon Light: Lumens, Candela and Mounts
Lumens, candela, mounts, switches and batteries explained in plain terms, so you can pick a weapon light that fits your gun, your holster and the places you would actually use it.
Read the guideGun Cleaning Kit Guide: What You Need and How to Use It
What belongs in a gun cleaning kit, what each tool does, how often to clean, and a simple step by step routine for a semi-auto pistol, an AR and a bolt action rifle.
Read the guideOptics
First vs Second Focal Plane Scopes: Which Should You Buy?
How first and second focal plane reticles behave when you zoom, what that means for holdovers and ranging, and which type fits hunting, long range shooting and general use.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Pistol Red Dot: Footprints, Emitters and Mounts
Footprints, open vs enclosed emitters, dot size, battery access, co-witness sights and mounting. Everything to check before you put a red dot on your handgun.
Read the guideWhat Scope Magnification Do You Need for Hunting?
More magnification is not always better. Match scope power to how far you really shoot and how thick the cover is, then balance field of view, light and weight.
Read the guideHunting
Are Cellular Trail Cameras Worth It? Pros, Cons and Setup
Cellular trail cameras send photos straight to your phone. Here is how they work, what they cost to run, when they are worth it and how to set one up for better results.
Read the guideGround Blind vs Tree Stand: How to Choose
Ground blinds hide movement and keep you comfortable. Tree stands get you above a deer's eye level and scent. Compare both, plus stand types and safety, before you buy.
Read the guide