This week we have another special guest; Buel Collins, owner operator of www.Faktory47.com. Buel will join us to give an update on the company and assure you all that, yes, they are still in business. Mr. Collins sticks with us for the entire public show to discuss other matters.

During our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc we will consider just how it is that we can realize the benefits of having an optic on a handgun or a rifle. Also, we discuss the importance of color choice.

For our Coffee Corner segment from Blackout Coffee Paul and Buel will discuss the new "Book of Five Rings Study Guide" by Nicholas Orr. What can we take from this new work from our friend Nick?

Also, during our SOTG Homeroom from www.SOTGU.com the Professor and Mr. Collins will discuss shooting robots and how we can, and should, make an effort to NOT turn our students into reflexive shooting robots.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Blackout Coffee
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: How do you realize the true benefit of optics?
• Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: Book of Five Rings Study Guide by Nic Orr https://amzn.to/3OqDym7
• SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: Building Shooting Robots – NOT! shoot-on.com

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

During today's show we have Louis Caras as our special guest. Louis just participated in a training class entitled "Fight Like a Girl" and he will share with us what that entailed. Paul and Louis will trade stories about what it is like to be pepper sprayed which leads the Professor, a OC instructor, to discuss the pros and cons of that defensive tool.

For our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc. we will consider the magic circle or the donut of death and how the circle and/or dot reticle can make a difference in both optics that are designed for rifles and pistols.

Also, during this week's Coffee Corner, we have more hippo news. Yes, after decades of half-measures and liberal hand-wringing, the government of Columbia is finally having to make a hard choice regarding the spawn of Pablo Escobar's famous hippos.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Blackout Coffee
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: The Magic Circle, Rifles and Pistols
• Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: Colombia to euthanize dozens of "cocaine hippos" linked to drug lord Pablo Escobar in bid to control population www.cbsnews.com
• SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: Carry Everywhere: Woman Shot After Kidnapping, Slashing Toddler in Omaha Walmart www.shootingnewsweekly.com

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

Most service members have been denied their right to carry privately owned firearms on military bases until now. A landmark memorandum signed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth finally empowers troops to exercise their Second Amendment rights during off-duty hours, transforming military installation policies that treated soldiers like second-class citizens for decades.

In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the profound implications of this policy change. Hear the inside story of how years of bureaucratic mindset have now shifted to favor personal protection for those who voluntarily serve our nation.

We explore the deep-rooted issues of disarmament, officers' elitism, and the dangerous mentality that Army and Marine Corps troops cannot be trusted with firearms, an outdated outlook that still lingers in many ranks. Discover how the Department of Defense's internal culture has historically suppressed the individual's right to self-defense, and how the new memo aims to correct that injustice.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Blackout Coffee
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: Ultimate Load Out www.eotechinc.com
• Coffee Corner - BlackoutCoffee.com
  • TOPIC: Increase retention and recall of what you learn
  • The Pizza Story: Colonel Robert K. Brown, Editor of Soldier of Fortune, and Dave Biggers
• SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: Finally… Hegseth Authorizes Service Members To Carry Firearms on Base www.shootingnewsweekly.com

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

Most firearms trainers emphasize shooting faster, but what if that very rush is what's killing your skills? In this eye-opening episode, Prof. Paul, Jarrad Markel, and Louis Caras crack open the myth that speed alone makes you effective under stress. They reveal that rushing your shot not only leads to bad habits but can directly cause negligent discharges and deadly mistakes.

Discover why mindset, tactical awareness, and deliberate skill-building outweigh mere speed. Learn how the brain perceives time differently in high-pressure moments and why training your body to automate actions is crucial for survival.

The guys break down the hidden dangers of focusing on shot times and how to develop true decision-making 'white space', the mental bandwidth vital for shooting accurately when it counts.

You'll explore practical tactics for retaining knowledge, confronting bad training habits, and using pressure tests, force-on-force drills, and cue-based instruction to elevate your performance. Plus, get an inside look at the latest optics innovations, like the new EOTech EFLX CE, and how to zero your sight for real-world use.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Blackout Coffee
• Louis Caras joins us today!
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: Circle vs Dot?
• Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: New Book Release: Book of Five Rings Study Guide from Nic Orr
• SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: Speed Kills; Think before you shoot shoot-on.com

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

In an engaging interview, industry expert David Biggers discusses firearm innovations, industry trends, and the impact of social media on gun development. Gain insights into the evolution of firearm technology, market dynamics, and the importance of innovation versus tradition.

We have an announcement about the latest book from Nicholas Orr, "Book of Five Rings Study Guide" now available as a pre-order on kindle with a paperback coming soon.

For our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc. this week, we consider optics versus iron sights for your shooting experience. The Professor just reviewed the Beretta ARX 100 with the HWS optic.

During our Coffee Corner, from Blackout Coffee (Code: STUDT20) Paul and Jarrad discuss the western canon in literature. Paul a recommended reading suggestion for you.

This episode features a deep dive into the concepts of virtuosity, enlightenment, and mastery, with insights from Prof Paul and Jarrad Markel. They discuss the importance of deliberate practice, overcoming distractions, and the role of innate talent versus learned skill in achieving excellence.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Blackout Coffee
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: Iron Sights VS HWS recent review of ARX 100 shootingnewsweekly.com
• Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain https://amzn.to/4smDVN4
  • Adventures of Tom Sawyer https://amzn.to/4c1anPd
• Special Guest: Dave Biggers - Talking Guns, where we are now versus where we were
  • Want to hear the Full Interview? Join The Grad Program!

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

A known terrorist attacked a class full of students at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. How the ROTC Cadets responded to that attack is worth noting. What are the lessons we can take away from that event?

During our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc. we have an announcement regarding the release of their new OGL-C. Also, is your handgun fragile?

Professor Paul has another recommending reading suggestion for you during our Coffee Corner from Blackout Coffee. Please use the promo code: STUDT20 to save money and support our show.

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical | Blackout Coffee
• [0:15:52] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: Fragile guns? www.facebook.com/reel/
• [0:32:23] Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: Guns of the Cold War - Read It Now
• [0:41:29] SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: ODU Cadets Fought Back
  • Run Hide Fight - Immorality and failure www.ksat.com

In this episode, Prof. Paul and Jarrad Markel discuss firearm maintenance, training, and the importance of continuous learning in self-defense. They explore topics like ammunition care, mental models, and the value of proper education to become a responsible armed citizen.

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical | Blackout Coffee
• [0:03:31] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: First Round Stoppage: Setback www.shootingnewsweekly.com
• [0:23:16] Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: The Book of Five Rings, Thomas Cleary edition, has The Family Traditions of the Art of War https://amzn.to/4byqjbq
• [0:45:04] SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: Now More Than Ever, It Isn't Too Late to Become an Armed Citizen www.shootingnewsweekly.com
  • Beware the C Student redcircle.com

We welcome a special guest, Jake Dwyer from 1911 Syndicate to discuss unique guns, collecting and some of the history of firearms that led us to where we are today.

During our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc. Professor Paul and Jarrad will consider the various colors of reticle used in modern handgun optics.

For our Coffee Corner this week we will discuss a book that Jarrad brought up during last week's show; "The Power of Full Engagement" and remind you to order some Blackout Coffee and support SOTG.

How important is your first firearms training class? During our SOTG Homeroom, Jarrad and Paul will address the critical importance of the first exposure to a subject and how it lays the foundation.

Wanna hear the FULL Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program today!

TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE

• Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical | Blackout Coffee
• EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com
  • TOPIC: Red Dot Colors: Why Green and Amber?
• SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University
  • TOPIC: The Power of Full Engagement and Musashi's advice http://studentofthegun.com/bookshelf
• Coffee Corner - studentofthegun.com/blackout [Use Code: STUDT20]
  • TOPIC: Why is the first class so important?
• Gun Gaming or Fighting Mindsets with Jake Dwyer from 1911 Syndicate www.1911syndicate.com