Ever wonder what it's like to be one the fittest people in the entire world? Maybe, but have you ever considered what it takes to reach that level, and then transition that status into new endeavors? Well, our own Jeremy Stone visited world-class CrossFitter and Tactical Games National Champion, Jacob Heppner, to find out.

This episode of the podcast airs from an “undisclosed location” in the Pacific Northwest, probably meaning Washington State and likely near some Sasquatch village.

It’s podcast time again, and this month Gun Mag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone sits down with 2-time National Three-Gun Champion Jack Copeland. The podcasts are always fun and informative, and this one is no different. Jeremy and Jack talk about much more than Three-Gun in their hour together. Here’s a brief rundown of their conversation to prime you for the podcast itself. But make certain you give it a listen. These are just the high points. Jack Copeland is a 2-time Three-Gun National Champion. (jack_3gun Instagram) Olympic Gold Medals and National Championships Jack shot his first competitive match at age 14, which, not-so-coincidentally, was the same age he started training with 5-time Olympic Gold Medalist shooter John McNally. Jack has always loved guns and shooting. He had just bought a Glock 17 at a gun show and stopped by McNally’s booth to look at the latter’s upgraded Glock trigger. It came out that McNally offered training and Jack’s Dad made it happen. So, they shot 1,000 rounds every weekend for a year.  Awesome parenting, right there, Mr. Copeland. Jack has competed in many categories, and even joined the US Modified Team at the 2018 Shotgun World Championships in Paris. That’s Paris, France, not Paris, Texas, in case you’re wondering, though the Lone Star version is a nice little town. Jack performed very well, placing 80th in a field of 700, despite getting a “zero” on one stage thanks to an ill-timed squib load. Jack also shot with the Russians and Ukrainians in Paris, and he has some interesting comments on that. Jack’s favorite category, though, is Three-Gun. He says it’s more exciting. “I want to run through a course of fire and have my rifle slung behind me, and my pistol, and carrying my shotgun.” Jeremy, as a newer competitor, acknowledged Jack’s preference, but also notes how he likes the simplicity and structured setup of Steel Challenge matches. A Welcoming Community Jack allows that shooting Three-Gun can be scary at first, but he emphasizes how nice the entire community is, especially compared to what he calls “purist” competition circuits. Not that those circles are complete snobs, but the vibe is different. Jack relates how another competitor once loaned him an $8,000 pistol to shoot a stage when his Glock wouldn’t cycle his reloaded ammo. (jack_3gun Instagram) Jeremy agreed that competitive shooters are very welcoming, citing his first Precision Rifle match, where he says most everyone was excited by his interest in their sport. Similar to Jack’s experience, another shooter offered to let Jeremy use his rifle. Great stuff. Jeremy also talks about the obstacles to entering the sport, saying they are almost always self-inflicted. But that same PRS shooter told him that “There’s always a reason not to start. You can always come up with something that’s gonna stop you. But if you come out here and shoot, people will lend a hand.” Now that he’s established, Jack says he’s very selective about the matches he shoots. He particularly likes Jerry Miculek’s Three-Gun match. He mentions several reasons why, but a big one is that “It’s a great group of people.” Jack says he wishes professional shooting paid better (don’t we all). Jeremy notes that most shooters pay for their own gear and equipment, though some stuff is discounted. “They’re not just handing out rifles to guys who want to shoot,” he says. “Ask me how I know.” The Importance of Quality Training This part of the podcast kicks off when Jeremy says the time and expense of training also keeps people from entering competitive shooting. “But starting and moving somewhere is better than doing nothing.” Jack agrees, saying he believes in training, even if it’s just a small local course. Do what you can and build from there. (jack_3gun Instagram) Jack talks about how he’s worked for several companies, but he always teaches fundamental shooting skills. If you find a course teaching good fundamentals,

GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with an interesting new podcast after a short hiatus. This month, Jeremy takes on long range precision shooting with Adrian from Sidewinder Concepts. Adrian is a former US Army sniper who wrapped up his service in June of 2022. This month, Jeremy talks with Adrian, a former US Army sniper who now runs Sidewinder Concepts. (instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts) Sidewinder Concepts is based near Houston, Texas and the fledgling company is already making waves, even though it’s been mostly word-of-mouth so far. Jeremy heard about Adrian and Sidewinder through Milspec Mojo, who appeared on the podcast last December. Mojo was a recently qualified police sniper, and guess who trained him? That’s right. So, Jeremy decided he needed to talk to Adrian himself. Immediate Positive Results Jeremy spent a day training with Adrian and, though he admits he’s “not a sniper” after that day, he did see good results. Adrian promised Jeremy that he would hit a 1,000-yard target in the first box of ammo. He was as good as his word, as Jeremy rang the steel on the 12th round. “I hit that steel at 1,000 yards, so I felt pretty good the rest of the day,” he noted. “I was like, okay, dial it back to 500…easy.” Adrian says instilling that early confidence is part of the program. “That’s kind of the whole point about why I have guys do that. It’s to build that confidence and show that the equipment works…and essentially get those nerves out, like right out the gate. So, it’s like, ‘I hit the furthest target…then everything else should, in theory, be easy.’” (instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts) Jeremy notes that, even at 1,000 yards, the 6.5 Creedmoor bullet he was shooting was still 200 or so yards from the transonic range. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, transonic refers to the point where a bullet decelerates back through the sound barrier. This deceleration can cause destabilization beginning at about Mach 1.2. But, then again, the bullet might continue on to its target. There are many variables, but the transonic phenomenon is a real thing that can disrupt longer shots. Adrian notes that, within the bullet’s supersonic range, that is before it decelerates, the main adjustment is for wind, once you have the drop numbers figured. In Jeremy’s case, the wind calls involved some guesswork based on the flags near the target, though Adrian expands on that and says he took “more of an educated guess, or a SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess), based on the flag, surrounding vegetation, and the mirage to send the first round. After that, all they had to do was identify the miss, make the correction with the reticle, and re-engage. Technology Helps Jeremy says he was worried about giving Adrian bad data, since accurate adjustments depend on it. But Sidewinder also uses a trigger cam that allows its instructors to see exactly what the shooter is doing, all but ensuring accurate feedback. Adrian says the camera is especially useful when training new shooters who may not know what feedback to give. He says the camera also serves as an “integrity check” for students and for the instructors as they demonstrate teaching points. Finally, the camera tells the instructor whether the students understand their reticles and are using them properly. (instagram.com/sidewinder_concepts) Perceptions and Reality Jeremy says that he “was pretty intimidated by the whole process, and most of that came from my own perception.” He was nervous because he thought he needed a $4,000 to $5,000 dollar rig to shoot long distance successfully. But he only had about $1,500 in his rifle, scope, and everything else. Even at $1,500, it’s technically a “budget rig,” even though that’s big money to many folks. But Jeremy learned that his “budget rig” worked just fine and he didn’t have to break his bank account to go shoot. “No,” Adrian agreed. “There are solid factory options out there.

GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with another entertaining and information-packed Mag Life Podcast. This month, Jeremy sits down with YouTube gun guy and real-life cop, Milspec Mojo. Mojo is widely known as one of the top firearms guys on the internet, especially when it comes to fundamentals. Those fundamentals translate into lightning operations skills, meaning that he’s a good resource to watch if you want to improve your shooting and gun handling. Milspec Mojo is one of the top gun guys on YouTube. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Instagram and Garand Thumb Mojo started off on Instagram, where he is still very active, but his YouTube channel took off when he started working with YouTube icon, Garand Thumb. As he got further into the training aspect of firearms, Mojo found that he has a knack for teaching. He loves training other people and has developed a style in which he and his friends actually train one another, even if he is the impetus behind it all. Jeremy agrees, talking about how much fun he had at his earlier session with Mojo and his team. Mojo says it’s important to train with likeminded people who want to get better. Surround yourself with folks like that and you’ll get better. That leads to the experience of everyone training everyone. Jeremy agrees that most people want that kind of situation. Jeremy observes that not all cops train regularly. Mojo says that it is a problem in the law enforcement community, but he qualifies that by saying he’s not married and doesn’t have kids. If that happens down the road, his priorities may shift. Mojo also says that, while shooting is an important skill for law enforcement officers, other skills are also very important and maybe even more so. He talks about social skills like talking to people and making your point without sounding like a jerk. De-escalation and talking your way out of a gun fight. Defensive tactics and being physically fit are also big. All those together are probably more important for a cop than pulling a trigger, but he also says that pulling the trigger is a skill that cannot be allowed to lapse. Mojo has to pay for most of his extra training himself, as do most other cops. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Much of the less-than-ideal training can be attributed to budgetary factors made worse by the ill-conceived "defund the police" movement. Agencies simply don’t possess the ammo budget to have cops train properly. If they want extra training, they have to pay for it themselves. Jeremy notes that many departments require cops to provide their own patrol rifle if they want to roll with one. Mojo says he is very fortunate that his agency provides them with some great weapons. Back to Training Jeremy returns to his range session and says he enjoyed it because he felt like he learned something and got better. He asks Mojo what he thinks is the best way to know what you’re not good at. He then answers his own question by saying it’s shooting with other people. Mojo agrees and says that shooting on camera helps too. Those things force you to home in on individual skills to learn where you’re lacking. Mojo says you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, meaning you have to accept that you need improvement and be able to accept and learn from constructive criticism. You have to lose your ego to get better. He has hundreds of video hours that he watches, trying to see what he can do better. Mojo Doesn’t Shoot Competitively…Yet Jeremy asks Mojo about shooting competitively, to which Mojo replies that he hasn’t done it seriously. He did shoot a couple of matches, in which he did very well using a stock rifle and a Beretta M9A1 against guys with custom rigs. Mojo says that he probably should compete, despite some law enforcement criticisms that competition is “gaming” and doesn’t translate to the real world. Mojo says he used to buy into that but has changed his mind. He says he constantly games scenarios at work,

In this month's podcast, Jeremy sits down with USPSA Grandmaster Hunter Constantine to discuss his meteoric rise in the sport and what it takes to develop and maintain good shooting skills.

This month, Jeremy had Administrative Results on the podcast to talk about kit, history, and how to be a better man.

Good instructors, training techniques, mentality, first aid training in firearms classes, and more with Brandon Bridge and Daniel Shaw.

Otherwise known as Nine Banger and Possum Puncher, these guys from Average Joes Firearms Training Group join Daniel in today's podcast.

What are the benefits of precision rifle shooting? How do you get started and how do you grow in it? Listen in for these answers and more.

Silencer Shop revolutionized the suppressor purchasing process. How did they do that? Find out the answer to that question, and more!

Today's host is Jeremy Stone. You may recognize him as the guy who does many of the product showcase videos you see on the GunMag Warehouse social accounts. Jeremy is interested in doing some podcasting, so today he's hosting The Mag Life Podcast, with Daniel Shaw as his guest. Listen in as Jeremy and Daniel discuss the Marine Corps, the current political climate, and how to strengthen the Second Amendment community. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/196_Jeremy_Stone_Interviewing_Daniel_Shaw.mp3 Host: Jeremy Stone Guest: Daniel Shaw Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell 0:50 Jeremy starts out by asking Daniel some questions about his military service. The first question is "Why did you go into the Marines, specifically?" Daniel says that he grew up in a religious household and he was allowed to read military books with Christian leanings. He mentions long spells without television when he'd pick up some books. In those military books, he kept seeing Marines pop up who people seemed to really respect. He looked into it more and discovered it's known to be difficult recruit training and the challenge drew him in. Daniel Shaw - Iraq, 2003. Jeremy comments that it probably sucked at the time to have the TV taken away, though it was probably pretty good for him. Daniel says, "Oh yeah, nothing wrong with it. Especially now. It's probably the best thing we could do right now is turn off the news and go outside." 3:25 Next question: "What did you learn in the military that you could not learn in the civilian world?" Daniel asks, "How long is this podcast!" Then he says, "The biggest thing is... how to learn." He reflects on his time in school as a youngster and how he did all the things he was supposed to do and he hated it. Then he got to recruit training and he had to check all the boxes and do what he was told and it was really pretty simple, as long as you give 100 percent and you're not completely dumb. Then he started getting into different fields where he was required to teach and people were really listening to him and paying attention to what he was saying, taking notes like he did when he was a younger Marine. He found out that he really needed to make sure he was getting things right.  So he dove into some research and he didn't even know how to research, so he learned how to research and evaluate information sources. Later on, during his time in the Marine Corps, he started and finished college and then started using what he'd learned. Understanding what the objective is that he needed to learn in order to increase his capabilities allowed him to increase the capabilities of others around him — to make his Marines better warfighters and himself a better leader.  So, he read, researched, and tested a lot — whatever he needed to do to increase his capabilities in any given thing. So now when he runs into something, he studies the details of whatever it is to try to get an edge in any way that he can just through gaining knowledge and understanding.  Jeremy comments on how important it is to put in the effort if you want to get good at something.  As an example, in high school, he didn't like math and didn't think he was good at it. But when he got to college and took an accounting class, his mindset switched. All of a sudden, it was valuable to him. He could see the value behind accounting, he could see the numbers behind it. The difference between the two scenarios is that in high school, he didn't understand the reasons behind the study. So, the information he learned in high school didn't seem as valuable as what he learned in college.  07:13 Was the training the best part of Daniel's service — training other guys to get ready, or something else? Daniel says the best part of his time in the Marine Corps was the exposure to so many different people from different walks of life, from different areas,

Just in time for the big Red Oktober event happening tomorrow at Pro Gun Club in Boulder City, NV, Brian Nelson joins Daniel to talk about the annual Kalash celebration and how Scoring Technologies helps in training and competitions. Brian was the original founder and match director of Red Oktober, put on by Rifle Dynamics He works at Scoring Technologies as a marksmanship subject matter expert for a military program with the goal of making qualifications run more efficiently through the use of electronic scoring. Listen in as Brian explains how this innovative technology is changing the world of training for instructors and students alike. Host: Daniel Shaw Guest: Brian Nelson Introduction/Timeline: Stephanie Kimmell 1:34 Daniel starts out by reminiscing on his time in the Marine Corps, and how some of the guys participated in competitive shooting to augment their training.  2:15 What has the Marine Corps learned from competition shooting? How are they now implementing that into making better warfighters?  Brian explains that if you want to predict lethality, you need to know the exact amount of time it takes for a marine to get a hit. For the first time in over a decade, they've made a major change to the annual rifle qualification range shoot, which used to be a version of service rifle competition with bigger targets. They've changed it now to a different course of fire to get an easier look at the scores. With the technology, it's possible to eliminate human data-entry errors, without expending the extensive effort and time it previously took to get the data He adds that they're also supporting the schools of infantry, on the west and east coast in the new infantry Marine Corps. They previously ran a seven-week course, but now they're doing pilot programs that are 14 weeks. They measure marksmanship with the IMA (Infantry Marksmanship Assessment), which is scored the same as a competitive match — points shot divided by the time it takes to shoot it.  With the new electronic scoring method, the amount of time saved in recording scores to the point that they can be interpreted cannot be overstated. Additionally, it's much harder for people to cheat on their scores. 12:26 Daniel asks, how can a leader in the Marine Corps use this tech to inspire his guys to train more and to find where their deficiencies are? He comments on how there are always competitions among the ranks and Brain says people love incentives. "When you have a bag of Skittles for the guy who has the highest hit factor on one part of the IMA, like, 'Hey, this is the bag of Skittles that the best shooter gets.'" It's amazing to see what people will do for that." 14:26 Daniel notes that Brian is well suited to be a match director, noting that Red Oktober is Brian's baby.  Brian says this years' Red Oktober is going to have some fun marksmanship challenges, which is something that he personally enjoys with a variety of platforms. Also, it's a place for all of the AK fans within the gun industry to connect with each other. He says that pretty much anyone who has anything to do with AKs will be there demoing, and the stages and ambiance are just going to be fun. Brian says he plays through the Call of Duty campaign mode as he designs the courses and stages for the match.  16:23 What is this year's Red Oktober going to be like?  Brian says that the stages are all designed uniquely and differently with new challenges. Some of it is stuff that you won't see anywhere else. You may have to shoot with a stage gun (one that's provided), and Brian considers safety, fairness, and the cool factor in all of this. Also, there will be more than just AKs. They've got a couple of Dragunovs to use on the stage to make a couple of hundred-yard shots. Battlefield Vegas is partnering with them this year and they're bringing a T-62 tank, which won't be stage equipment, though it'll be driving around and there will be a prese...

Daniel and Jimmy discuss the story behind Average Joes Firearms Training Group, encouraging beginners to train, gun culture, and more.

On this week’s episode of The Mag Life Podcast, Daniel is joined by the immensely knowledgeable, Steve Tarani. With decades in the defense, law enforcement, and intelligence communities, Steve is a highly-respected firearm, defensive tactics, bladed weapons, and personal protection instructor. As of late, Tarani has specialized in awareness-based training, having incorporated this into his training classes as well as his books. Together, Daniel and Steve discuss the vital importance of soft skills versus hard skills, situational awareness training, and overcoming fear in a fight. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/193-Steve_Tarani.mp3 Host: Daniel Shaw Guest: Steve Tarani Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh 00:37 What is your profession? Daniel starts off the conversation by asking what Steve’s occupation entails. In a general sense, Steve Tarani would describe himself as a teacher of practical hard and soft skills. Hard skills is defined by talents or abilities that can be measured, often associated with on-the-job training such as programming, bookkeeping, foreign language skills, shooting, and the like. Soft skills by contrast relate more towards universal traits such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and adaptability. Over the decades of his teaching experience, Steve has leaned more toward soft skills as he finds these to be more applicable in day-to-day situations. Although he’s made a career in training others, Steve constantly strives to keep his knowledge and skills up to date. In Steve’s line of work, keeping up with the most current information in tactics and methodologies is essential. “So, I keep one foot in the training world and one foot in the ops world… I really don’t want to be one of those guys ‘Hey twenty years ago when I did this…’ ya know? Times change, people change, tactics change, gear changes. For your information to remain relevant to you, you to have to be in it, I think, day-to-day.” 04:26 Reacting to threats and close protection security The conversation shifts to the topic of close protection security and reacting to unexpected threats. Obviously, bodyguard work differs greatly from normal self-defense tactics. The vast majority of concealed carry shooters would react to a threat by immediately going for their gun and drawing. Steve reveals that in the world of close protection, he was taught that immediately going for the gun is a setup for failure. The time it takes to go for the firearm is ample time for the attacker to shoot at the VIP that you’ve been charged to protect. Instead, Steve was taught to prioritize observing threats in their entirety and to move the client away from danger. He uses the tragic incident of the Titanic as an analogy, saying if one could observe and see icebergs coming from a distance, it would make far more sense to simply avoid a head-on collision with them. In his eyes, the firearm is akin to a “lifeboat” on the Titanic, the last resort option and not a primary one. Processing and reacting to threats fall into three main categories: being proactive, active, and reactive. Taking notes from the book Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life by Jason Riley, Steve explains that the proactive and active phases are how we utilize our soft skills before a dangerous incident occurs or the “bang.” How we react after to the initial encounter with a threat is the reactive phase which forces out the hard skills. For example, soft skills such as using verbal de-escalation or analyzing a situation can avoid a conflict but should it occur anyways, the fighting abilities that come from hard skills come into play. 08:52 Soft skills vs hard skills in your everyday life Daniel asks Steve to explain the use of soft skills versus hard skills in the context of the average armed citizen. Steve believes that everything requires context and that people should a...

Daniel and Top Shot Dustin Ellerman, a popular 2nd Amendment content creator, discuss social media censorship, training, and more.

Daniel and guest Mickey Schuch of Carry Trainer discuss firearms training trends, fighting the ego, predecessors, and why we train.

Daniel and Paul of Grey Man Tactical discuss the company's genesis & latest product offerings. Check out these vehicle seat back MOLLE panels!

Daniel and Steven discuss the virtues of being a warrior, fighting your inner cowardice, becoming a writer, and embracing adversity.

This week’s guest on the Mag Life Podcast is a near superhuman! Erin Blevins is a professional nutritionist, former Crossfit competitor, chef, and fitness expert. Her clients have included ultra-marathoners, MLB players from the Atlanta Braves, Navy SEALs, weight lifters, and even Superman himself, Henry Cavill. She joins our host Daniel Shaw as they discuss the importance of nutrition, healthy dietary habits, body image, and seeking self-improvement. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/188-Erin_Blevins_Eating_with_Intent.mp3 Host: Daniel Shaw Guest: Erin Blevins Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh 4:00 Body image and Refusing to Improve Both Daniel and Erin have taken notice of the “body positivity” movement and by extension, the unwillingness of many Americans to want to do anything to improve their lifestyles or health. In many cases, individuals get defensive the second they are told they’re unhealthy. Daniel notes that much of our current societal conditions encourage this kind of behavior. “I mean, nutrition in itself is a touchy, taboo subject. You say you’re vegan and you get attacked by the other side. You say you’re a carnivore and you get attacked by the vegans. It’s almost like a terrorist mindset, you know? And you say something like ‘Hey I’m worried about you, I think that you’re too heavy.’ Or … ‘I think you should start walking 30 minutes a day.’ And all of a sudden it’s like you’re throwing warfare at someone.” Erin Blevins has dedicated her life to providing the best possible dietary advice for anyone looking to improve their health, physical performance, or body image. Erin believes that at its core, there is nothing wrong with people feeling positive about themselves. However, there comes a point where too much false affirmation can be unhealthy as it simply encourages self-destructive habits (the body positivity movement is instrumental in this). She emphasizes that people can feel good about themselves even as they are in the process of changing their physical being. She admits that despite being a professional fitness and nutrition coach, she is always seeking to improve her abilities and her image. Erin speaks from personal experience as a nutritionist that specific foods and supplements can fundamentally change one’s life for the better. She has witnessed emotional instability and sleeping disorders become alieved from a proper diet. 12:49 Nutrition and Human Performance Daniel observes that much of the education regarding nutrition in the school systems vary greatly from state to state. As such, he asks Erin about her personal experiences in today’s dietary trends, such as the vegan diet. Erin reveals that she had been through several kinds of diets, including going vegan for 10years. While in the first few years, Erin felt incredible about her body, she later started losing energy and felt lethargic. Later, her doctor revealed that her hormones were unbalanced, triglycerides were all over the place, and that she was pre-menopausal. Immediately she knew she had to make changes to her lifestyle. She began to consume animal products and her body leveled out over time. Her main takeaway from these dietary practices was that they taught her to be more cognizant of what she puts into her body, regardless if it was a paleo, vegan, or carnivore diet. Something as simple as reading the ingredients and calorie count on a food label automatically makes a person more aware of what they’re eating. On the whole, Erin does not believe for the most part that people simply inherit bad eating habits. “I don’t believe that obesity is genetic. I think it’s environmental… Your environment will change your outcome, right? So if I’m hanging out with friends that go and drink and eat pizza every night and eat burgers, they don’t train, they don’t do anything physical... I will eventually be a version of that... I’m human,