“I believe that fundamentals never change—but as shooters and instructors, we should never stop evolving and learning.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, we sit down once again with our friend Ben DeWalt from On Sight Firearms Training. We dive deep into the ongoing challenges every shooter faces—grip, sights, and trigger control—and why diagnosing your own problems on the range is so critical. Ben talks through the difference between trends and fundamentals in the firearms world, why optics and weapon lights are here to stay, and shares his candid takes on what needs to die a bloody death in training circles. We also break down the most recent 2A news, from Tennessee’s deadly force expansion to body armor bans and other firearm’s news. And of course, rapid-fire Q&A and some personal stories about moving south, bad travel etiquette, and whether or not we’re really about that running-with-the-bulls life.
Call to Action
1. Join our mailing list: Thegunexperiment.com
2. Subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple or Spotify
3. Follow us on all of our social media: Instagram Youtube
4. Grab some cool TGE merch
6. Ask us anything at AskMikeandKeith@gmail.com
5. Be sure to support the sponsors of the show. They are a big part of making the show possible.
Show Sponsors
- HSM Ammunition – Reliable, accurate, and trusted for training, hunting or self defense. Find them at hsmunnition.com
- Spartan Armor Systems – Comfortable, NIJ certified body armor for those who never want to leave their defense to chance. Visit spartanarmorsystems.com
Key Takeaways
- Fundamentals like grip, sights, and trigger control remain essential regardless of equipment or trends (16:13)
- Quality instruction means ongoing education—for both students and instructors (18:18)
- Trends like putting optics on everything and white lights on home defense guns are positive for the shooting community, while bad terminology around triggers needs to go
- Legal changes around self-defense and firearms laws create confusion but rarely stop bad actors—they mostly impact law-abiding citizens (45:09)
- Testing and vetting instructors is a must, as not all certifications indicate great teaching
- The importance of humility—good trainers demo every skill, and aren’t afraid to admit mistakes (21:01)
- Real-world scenarios (like teaching through stress or odd situations) matter more than just theory
Guest Information
Ben DeWalt
Founder and lead instructor at On Sight Firearms Training. Ben specializes in defensive shooting, safety education, and continuous personal development for shooters of all experience levels.
Find classes and more at: oftllc.us
Keywords
- Firearms training, Defensive shooting, Gun safety, Gun laws, Body armor ban, Fundamentals of marksmanship, Optics on pistols, Self-defense law Tennessee, Firearms instructors, Striker-fired vs DA/SA pistols, Rapid-fire Q&A, 2A news, Second Amendment, Shooting drills, On Sight Firearms Training, HSM Ammunition, Spartan Armor Systems, Concealed carry, Home defense
