When you were a kid, do you remember how exciting it was go get a new toy? If you were like most kids, you wanted to immediately rush home and break it out of the packaging; any other responsibilities you might have had could wait. Purchasing a new firearm can bring about some really familiar feelings. Once you’ve done your research, talked to friends, and tested a few different options, all that’s left is to fill out the paperwork and take your new firearm home — or head straight to the range. Over the course of the next few months, you’ll probably make several more range trips to build up that valuable muscle memory for your new firearm. But that’s it, right? Firearms Training Even if it isn’t a requirement in your state, an introductory gun safety course is highly recommended. But, for many, that’s the only formal training they’ll ever receive outside of requirements to get a concealed carry license, which is really a pity. A gun safety class will focus on just that: gun handling and ammunition safety. But there are a wealth of different gun types out there that have different handling requirements. Firearms training is, first and foremost, a great way to learn the ins and outs of different types of guns. You’ll handle a pistol very differently than you would a rifle — obviously — and firearms training can start you off with a solid foundation in terms of stance, grip, and so on for each different type. Sure, your buddy may be able to teach you the basics, but a trained instructor will be able to explain the minutiae. But, even beyond the basics, there is an abundance of different firearms training courses you should consider taking to improve your skills as much as your safety. Some of the most common course offerings include: Home Defense Safety Many firearms owners keep a gun (or a handful of guns) to keep their home and family safe, should the need arise. It’s important that everyone who will be handling a given firearm should be able to comfortably and safely use it, which means regular range time. But shooting in a range with time to get into your stance, fidget with your grip, and take aim is a wholly different experience than using a firearm to defend your home. A home defense firearms safety course will cover the basics of gun safety, including use and storage, but it will also cover things you may not have considered, like firing from cover and speed of gun deployment. It will also get into different considerations depending on the type of gun you keep for home defense. Personal Protection Generally, personal protection firearms courses are boiled down to whatever is required to obtain a concealed carry license. But personal protection goes beyond the basics. It can include both indoor and outdoor training as well as things like low light training, room entry, vehicle-based incidents, and even tactical/emergency medicine training when you go beyond the basic course. The idea is to provide personal protection firearms training that will help you prepare for real-world situations, not just handle your firearm on a range. Ultimately, the aim is to help you react well and be as safe as possible when handling a concealed-carry firearm. Shotgun, Rifle, & Pistol Training As we mentioned above, many firearms training programs will offer courses in each of the different subsets of guns. At the core, each different course will teach things like proper stance and grip when standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone as well as safety and marksmanship fundamentals. With a rifle, it may mean learning to use a fixed iron sight so you have the fundamentals in any instance your other optics don’t work or can’t be used (for whatever reason). We suggest doing individual courses for each of the types of firearms you own as a way to ensure proper handling as well as a way to hone your skills. Firearms training options can also extend into tactical skills as well as the sort of training that will get you started before diving into shooting competitions. These courses can give you the basics and help you grow from there. It’s also a great way to learn to use accessories and grip assistants properly. Before your next course, grab the hand stops, rail scales, and a fixed iron sight to get prepared. Shop RailScales online today!