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Mark Schneider

Firearms Instructor

Mark Schneider is a Firearms Instructor based in Denver, Colorado. His journey into the world of firearms, novice gunsmithing, shooting, and tactics began nearly two decades ago. Over the course of his career, he has amassed over 18 years of firearms instruction experience and 10 years of security experience, predominantly in the realm of armed uniformed security. Mark holds NRA certifications and has held multiple roles, including NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Inside The Home Protection Instructor, NRA Outside The Home Protection Instructor, NRA Refuse to Be a Victim Instructor, and NRA Chief Range Safety Officer. Mark’s extensive training history includes a wide array of tactical and security courses, encompassing advanced pistol, rifle, and shotgun training, close quarter combat, ambushing tactics, and more.

Certifications & Organizations

  • Colorado Insurance License
  • NRA Certified Instructor
  • MAG 40 Grad and LOSD Grad
  • Licensed as an armed security guard with the City & County of Denver

Favorite Piece of Advice

Take some firearms training classes! Learn how to safely and legally use your firearms.

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Q&A Comments (10)

What's the correct way to hold a revolver?
Hold the revolver with a secure, two-handed grip. Begin by grasping the firearm with your dominant hand and wrapping your thumb around it. Then, with your non-dominant hand, encircle your dominant hand, creating a firm and stable grip. Ensure that your fingers are tightly aligned, leaving no gaps between them. Avoid extending your thumbs forward, as this may lead to inadvertent contact with the rotating cylinder, potentially causing malfunctions. Instead, adopt a technique known as "butterflying" your fingers together. This involves keeping your fingers close and parallel, minimizing the risk of interference with the revolver's moving parts. In summary, grasp the revolver with both hands, ensuring a tight and secure grip while keeping your fingers closely aligned. Avoid extending your thumbs forward to prevent potential malfunctions. This technique enhances control and minimizes the risk of unintentional contact with critical components. For a more comprehensive understanding, consider seeking hands-on instruction from a qualified instructor or referring to instructional videos.
How do I properly clean the metal parts of the gun?
Clean the gun's metal parts with cleaners designed for firearms, adhering to the manual and manufacturer standards. Begin by ensuring the gun is unloaded and disassembling it following the manufacturer's instructions. Apply the designated cleaner to a brush or patch, scrub thoroughly, and use a cleaning rod for the barrel. Wipe off excess cleaner, inspect for wear, and apply a light coat of gun oil as directed. Reassemble the firearm, ensuring proper fit, and perform a function check for smooth operation. Regular maintenance using appropriate cleaners and guidelines ensures reliable performance.
Where can I get a quality shoulder holster?
Acquire a high-quality shoulder holster from the most reputable sources. Avoid inexpensive options like those found at Walmart or Uncle Mike's, which may not offer the necessary durability or customization. Invest in a shoulder holster that is custom-made and precisely fitted for your firearm, ensuring it is designed specifically for the gun model. When using a shoulder holster, ensure that your firearm points downward when holstered, avoiding any risk of inadvertently firing someone with a loaded firearm by pointing it out behind your back.
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Co-authored Articles (12)

How to

Shoot a Revolver

Shooting a revolver is very similar to shooting other types of handguns. If you are new to guns in general or even just revolvers in particular, you should start by training with a professional at a shooting range to lea...

How to

Shoot a Shotgun

Shotguns are used primarily for hunting birds and other small game, as well as for sport in skeet shooting. They come in a variety of sizes and styles. Learning the basics and selecting a gun is covered in this shotgun p...

How to

Load a Black Powder Revolver

Modern black powder revolvers are loaded in the same basic way as their historical counterparts. Before loading the firearm, you need to make sure that the gun is clean and in proper working order. If everything checks o...

How to Install Shotgun Choke Tubes

Interchangeable choke tubes customize the shot spread of your shotgun, allowing you to switch from a wider spread (such as for skeet shooting) to a narrower spread (like for turkey hunting).. 26 January 2024. Switching ...

How to

Maintain a Shotgun

Every time you fire a shotgun, residue collects in its movable parts. This residue buildup can cause gun malfunctions, unreliability and firing unpredictability, the consequences of which can be detrimental and even leth...

How to

Paint Guns

You can easily change the color of any rifle or pistol by painting it in it’s entirety or painting individual pieces. However, it’s important that you have thorough knowledge of the gun first, as you may need to disa...

How to

Wear a Shoulder Holster

A shoulder holster is a comfortable way to carry a gun, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting. Holster rigs allow you to tighten the straps, so they are adaptable to a wide range of body sizes. They feature a gun...

How to

Clear a Building with a Firearm

Clearing or searching a building when someone may be in it (who also may have a weapon) is a very dangerous task, and should not be taken lightly. Police and military have training for such circumstances, but the normal ...

How to

Shoot an Assault Rifle

Semi-automatic rifles can be useful. Whether it's just going hunting, a decoration, or for any other reason, it's always good to learn how to shoot it. Of course, you'll be wondering where you can learn, how you will lea...

Expert-Backed Advice for Safe & Responsible Gun Handling

Best ways to use, store, and maintain firearms safelyBefore handling any type of firearm, there are several golden rules that every gun owner needs to follow at all times. See our list below for expert-backed guidance on...

How to

Load and Fire a Muzzleloader

Firing a flintlock muzzleloader provides an experience to the true weapons connoisseur that no modern, precision-engineered, mass-produced firestick can match. Holding, loading, and shooting this pinnacle of early human ...

How to Use a Cable Gun Lock

Using a cable lock to lock your gun prevents it from being loaded and fired. Plus, it’s an easy, relatively cheap way to keep your guns safe while in storage. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to use a cab...