After more than a decade of teaching, competing, handloading, testing equipment, and writing more than 1,100 firearms articles, Frank Melloni has learned that real improvement starts with understanding the problem you are trying to solve. Read the key lessons from his conversation with Terry Vaughan, then watch or listen to the full episode of Making Shooters Better.

How do you know whether you're actually improving or simply getting comfortable? Former Marine and current Green Beret Kyle Johnston joins Terry Vaughan to discuss the difference between shooting and purposeful training, why measurable standards matter, and how quickly skills can fade without consistent practice. Read the key takeaways, then watch the full episode of Making Shooters Better.

John and Vicki Farnam join Making Shooters Better to explore the decisions that should happen long before a defensive firearm is ever needed. From observation and avoidance to better instruction, personal responsibility, and training under pressure, this conversation challenges shooters to think beyond marksmanship. Read the highlights, then watch the full episode for decades of practical training insight.

Nearly five decades of firearms instruction have taught Wayne Dobbs that equipment can improve performance, but it cannot replace the fundamentals underneath it. In this episode of Making Shooters Better, Wayne joins Terry Vaughan to discuss grip, pistol-mounted optics, reloads, realistic defensive expectations, situational awareness, and why mental preparation may matter more than anything attached to your firearm. Read the highlights, then watch the full conversation.

Firearms training should evolve with your life. In this episode of Making Shooters Better, Tatiana Whitlock joins Terry Vaughan to explore training in context, why concealed carry can be a family skill, and how shooters can rebuild and adapt after physical changes, setbacks, or time away from training. Read the highlights, then watch the full conversation for Tatiana’s practical approach to becoming a more capable, thoughtful, and adaptable shooter.

What happens before first responders/police arrive during an active shooter attack? Ed Monk joins Making Shooters Better to examine the critical first 30 seconds, the limitations of conventional response plans, and the training, judgment, and shooting accountability required of people who may be in a position to respond. Read the key takeaways, then watch the full conversation for Ed’s detailed perspective.

Elite shooters know that getting faster involves much more than pulling the trigger quickly. Randi Rogers and Gordon Carrell share how efficient movement, deliberate practice, performance data, video analysis, and mental preparation can uncover the small details costing shooters time. Read the key lessons from their conversation, then watch the episode to hear how two champions with very different approaches continue working to improve.

Being accurate with a firearm is valuable, but what happens when the problem requires awareness, communication, movement, judgment, or another skill entirely? Retired police officer and veteran instructor Lou Ann Hamblin joins Making Shooters Better to discuss the broader skills responsible armed citizens should develop, how to identify meaningful training, and why even experienced instructors need to stay curious. Read the highlights, then watch the full conversation.

What makes a use-of-force decision "reasonable" under the law? In this episode of Making Shooters Better, Terry Vaughan speaks with Force Science's Lewis "Von" Kliem about how split-second decisions are judged in court, why perception matters, and what law enforcement officers and responsibly armed citizens should understand before they ever face a violent encounter.

Leaving the military often means leaving behind more than a career—it can mean losing a sense of purpose and community. In this episode, Army veteran and endurance athlete Viviana Morales Kolb shares how firearms training, fitness, and surrounding herself with experienced mentors helped her rebuild confidence, continue serving others, and discover that growth begins by being willing to learn.