10-Ring Handgun Academy

06/09/2026

Quick Shot: Accurate Shooting vs Effective Shooting.
There is a difference. Accurate shooting is chewing the “X” out of the target and effective shooting is stopping a conflict as soon as possible by inflicting as few immobilizing, but effective, wounds as possible. Shooting an attacker center-mass three times in the same spot (accurate) will not have the same effect as shooting your attacker center-mass three times in three different places (effective). Your target(s) should be anywhere from the pelvic girdle up to, across and just below the shoulders. That is where all of the organs, lungs and major stuff is in your body. A head shot is the last spot to target for the “final solution” because the head is small and way more mobile than center-mass is. But sometimes a head shot is the only thing that will bring the attack to a close and that is why we train in all sorts of scenarios. The weapon your attacker is using will also have a lot to do with where you might want to shoot. Someone attacking you with a knife or fists; (any contact weapon) and time permitting; the pelvic girdle might be the perfect shot placement. Your shots have the chance to be non-lethal shots, and if you break up those bones, your attacker is going down no matter how high on m**h they are. If your attacker has a gun, pelvic girdle shots might bring him down but they will not stop your attacker from shooting, so center-mass would be the better choice. Drawing from concealment needs to be a part of this equation, but will not be a part of this article. I took a “Holster class” earlier this year and I wanted to demonstrate what an accurate shooter I was (showing off) but one of the teachers kept wanting me to go faster to find my “breaking point” where I would start missing the target. I did go faster but not fast enough to mess up my grouping. The “X” was gone on the target with a hole about the size of the palm of your hand left in the middle (what a hot-dog!) with a few holes around the big hole. It was a great class and I learned a lot; and Andre, I promise to go faster!!!
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

06/09/2026

Quick Shots: Carrying a Spare Reload
When it comes to carrying a concealed firearm, I’m just glad people do it, much less carry a spare reload. Some folks tell me that they don’t need extra ammo because their semi-auto carries ten to fifteen rounds in one mag. Well, that’s all fine and dandy until you have a mag problem. You get off one or two shots and then your firearm quits! That’s a terrible sound when a firearm goes “click” when you need it to go “bang”. If you carry and train with a semi-auto, be sure to train with different magazines than you carry. Training mags get bounced off of concrete, gravel, doused in dirt and mud and those tabs on the top can take a beating. You should always keep two or three mags specifically for carrying so you know there is no hidden damage that can cause a failure when you’re fighting for your life. If you carry a revolver (five or six shot), you may want to remember that bad guys tend to travel in packs, and six rounds just might not get the job done. I recommend speed loaders as opposed to speed strips or loose ammo. Your fine motor skills are going to be lost if you are in a self-defense situation and a quick reload is essential. I carry two 6-round speed loaders with me when I carry my revolver. Practice reloading your firearm. Time yourself and find that rhythm for a safe and quick reload.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

05/01/2026

Quick Shot: Victims By Choice
When someone chooses to depend on their security from outside sources (ie: police, security guards, other people in a crowd, neighbors, etc.) they are what people in self-defense circles describe as potential “victims by choice”. If one makes the decision to delegate their safety onto a third party and not take an active role in the security of their family and/or themselves, then they have set themselves up to be victims without any recourse except submission or worse. A recent article described a fi****ms instructor flying home to Seattle, Washington and was sitting beside a college professor also returning to Seattle. During the course of general conversation professions came up and the professor declared that he wished all guns would be banned and that he would never have one in his house with his wife and three daughters. The fi****ms instructor said, “fair enough”, but then asked this question: “Since you know what it is like when rioters take over your city (referring to the riots of 2020), what would you do if you experienced a home invasion with your family in the house? The professor replied that he would call the police. “OK” said the instructor. “Response times from the police average from 12-17 minutes in most cities, so let’s choose 12 minutes and start the timer”. Then the instructor started describing all the things the invaders would begin doing to his wife and daughters as three minutes crept by…..5 minutes…….7 minutes.....9 minutes and finally 12 minutes had pasted like turtles racing. Then the instructor asked if the professor really wanted to delegate his and his family’s security to a third party? How would he explain that he could do nothing to help or protect them and that their only recourse was to wait until the police arrived before they could be saved? They both sat in silence for a long time and just before the plane landed the professor asked for the instructor’s business card to get more information about what he could do to protect his family. Changing hearts and minds one at a time.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared.

04/29/2026

QUICK SHOT: The Cooper Color Code and Situational Awareness:
The question about Col. Jeff Cooper and the color code came up in my last class, so here it is again.
The awareness code is described by colors:

White-Completely unaware of your surroundings. Wearing and listening to earbuds or earphones, futtsing with your phone, looking down while you are walking, etc.

Yellow-Aware and observing your surroundings. Nothing in particular, just looking at traffic, people and their movements. You can remain in this mode for long periods of time without becoming physically or mentally fatigued.

Orange-Som**hing or someone has piqued your interest. You have recognized a specific threat or have a feeling that som**hing is not right. It could be more sensual than visual, but som**hing is wrong. ALWAYS trust your instincts.

Red-It's GO-TIME!! The fight is on!! Your training is taking over and you are doing whatever it takes to win and survive this attack.
At this point, if you're asking yourself, "What would I do if 'Red' happens to me?", you just lost this encounter. Seek out training, get some ideas on your options when danger finds you. When the world goes sideways is not the time to form a plan.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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03/13/2026

Quick Shot: The Mental Side of Things
As I listen to the news today, I wonder what I would have done if I had been present at Old Dominion or the Jewish Temple in Michigan when things “went south”. I am a retired trumpet player of some 45 years, and I used visualization techniques to help me perform to the best of my abilities, many times. As it happened, authorities at Old Dominion, and I think in Michigan, had recently conducted “active shooter” (AS) scenarios. They had rehearsed what to do and how to do it if an AS situation occurred. Do you perform mental exercises when you go to a restaurant, doctor’s office (where you can’t carry your gun), grocery store, etc.? Do you visualize what you would do if you were caught up in an AS situation? If the mind sees it, the body will have a much better chance of completing the task than if you try “making it up” as you go along. Waiting until you get into trouble is not the time to form a plan. When the “SHTF”, you must react immediately, decisively and without hesitation and never question whether you are doing the right thing or not. Seconds count and training is the key to it all; go get you some.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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03/08/2026

Quick Shot: Winter Concealed Carry Options
I carry a concealed firearm everyday. These last two really cold snaps made me think about how I carry in very cold weather. If you carry concealed, have you ever tried to draw your firearm wearing your winter attire? I'm talking about the whole "sha-bang"; coat, gloves, scarf, stocking cap...etc. If you haven't tried drawing from that setup, I suggest you do. You might find the process looks more like a skit out of Saturday Night Live. Will your trigger finger fit into the trigger guard with gloves on? How many layers of clothing do you have to get through to get to your firearm? If you carry Inside-the-Waistband (ITW) you just added at least one more layer to your draw than if you carry Outside-the-Waistband (OTW). A shoulder holster (SH) might work, but there would still be a zipper or buttons or whatever holding your outer garment together. I bought a jacket that has a built in holster (left or right handed) in the coat. It has accessibility through the outside pocket, an inner zipper or unzipping the jacket and using a cross-draw m**hod. I like the jacket because I can walk around with my hand in my coat pocket (holding my gun) and no one is the wiser. It's not uncommon to have your hands inside your coat pockets, I feel like I'm ready for just about anything and I'm not doing anything that would call attention to myself. I also like the fact that I have a built-in-holster and can carry w/o the fear of my gun falling out of a pocket. Do a check on how you carry in the winter. You might need to make a few changes.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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02/26/2026

QUICK SHOT: Self-Defense is a Choice
You are your own first-responder. God love 'em, but when seconds count the police are minutes away. The US Dept. of Justice shows response times by law enforcement (LE) to aggravated assault crimes is between 6 and 11 minutes. So, you have two choices; submit or fight. Fortunately, you have more than two choices when it comes to weapons for self-defense:
1. Tactical flashlight-one with 400-600 lumens and a strobe. Even in daylight a bright light directly in the eyes will blind someone for a few (precious) seconds. Maybe just long enough for you to move or get away. (No, not the $1.99 ones you get from Worm World).
2. Pepper spray/gel-I prefer the gel because it doesn't disburse on windy days as bad as the spray does. Any time you use this, be prepared to get a load of it yourself. Use it and MOVE quickly.
3. Use the flashlight like a roll of quarters in your fist. The light is made to withstand high impacts, and you may very well need to go hands-on.
4. Your firearm. If this comes into play, be prepared mentally for the aftermath. I hope you have read or taken my CCW class, so you know what to expect after a shooting.

If any of these items are not in your arsenal, you need more training to improve your chances of surviving an aggravated assault.
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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02/25/2026

Home Defense: What do you need?
In a world of puppies and kittens, guns would not be necessary or maybe not even invented. Well guess what, we don’t live in that world. According to the FBI, there were around 7 million property crimes committed in the U.S. plus, around 1 million home invasions. Damn!! Why doesn’t every household own ten guns apiece!! Well, I’m doing my part and I want to share with you what I use for home defense. A very wise man said, “God made man, but Sam C**t made them equal.” ‘Nuff said. I am not a rifle or shotgun guy, so I depend on pistols and revolvers for my “castle doctrine”. One of the most important defensive items in my bedroom is a pair of electronic shooting muffs. Yes, you read that correctly. Can you imagine what the effect would be if you had to shoot a 9mm pistol inside your home, or better yet, inside a hallway without ear protection? So just get a pair (of shooting muffs) and mark that problem off your list.
I keep a 9mm G***k 43X and a .38 spl revolver in my bed stand. The 9mm is for me and the revolver is for my wife. If the world goes sideways, all my wife has to do is grab the revolver and pull the trigger. If nothing happens, pull the trigger again and I’ll bet there will be a loud bang. But she’ll never hear the bang because she will be wearing the muffs. People can use any firearm they want but they must be able to handle the recoil and have good accuracy with said firearm. If a smaller caliber is needed for better accuracy, then you might want to try a .380. This caliber has had some excellent late improvements in its ballistics. If a .22 caliber is the most you can stand then try to move up to the .22 Magnum if possible. .22’s can do a lot of damage, and remember, three hits with a .22 are better than five misses with a .357 Magnum. You have to be the judge concerning recoil and caliber so choose wisely and get the most “bang for your buck”. I carry a G***k 43X and I shoot it almost every time I go to the range. There are no thumb or grip safeties to futz with and I’m comfortable with that. If you’re not, there are many options available to you, so go find that perfect firearm and train, train, train!
Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Prepared

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02/16/2026

Quick Shot: Your Firearm and Traveling
I was traveling to Florida recently and I took my two carry guns, and I carried almost every day I was gone. There are some excellent publications concerning the carry laws in each state, and remember, you are responsible to know the laws. So, if you don't have one of these publications, then get one before you take off. You just might save yourself a lot of grief if you have an encounter with law enforcement.

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01/31/2026

Marc Fulgham-Instructor 573-225-4589
Welcome to the 10-Ring Handgun Academy FB Page. If you're looking for handgun training you've come to the right place. At some point you have made a conscious decision to do som**hing about your personal safety. As with any object, (car, knife, glass bottle, etc.) if misused, a gun can be a danger to everyone. The secret to gun safety is training, so welcome to the gun community and let's get busy with your training and making you safer.

If you don't see a date that works for you, contact Marc and we'll find a date that fits your schedule. (* by the date means students are enrolled.)

Basics of Pistol Shooting: May 15, 23, 27 and 30*, 2026

Concealed Carry: May 15, 17*, 23 and 27, 2026

Refuse To Be A Victim: May16, 2026

Metallic Cartridge Reloading Course: May 29, 2026

Advanced Course: May 14*, 2026 or By Appointment

Basics of Pistol Shooting: $125.00:
This course is designed to develop the basic skills of safely handling, shooting, performing maintenance and selecting a firearm. The NRA rules for safe gun handling and fundamentals of pistol shooting will be referenced throughout the course. Another portion of the class will be dedicated to the “LASERLYTE” gun and target system to assist the student in sight alignment, sight picture and trigger control. The course fee ($125.00) includes all targets, class materials, and the “Basics of Pistol Shooting” guide published by the NRA. First time fi****ms owners, people who haven’t shot a firearm in a long time and those who want a refresher course in safe gun handling are the people for which this course was designed to assist.

Concealed Carry Course: $125.00:
This eight-hour fi****ms safety and training course is required by the State of Missouri to be eligible to apply for a concealed carry fi****ms permit. This course covers the lethal force laws of Missouri, what to do when involved in a shooting (dealing with dispatch and arrival of officers at the scene), what to do when stopped by law enforcement while carrying a concealed firearm, your rights as a fi****ms owner and much more. Cost is $125.00 per person with husband/wife or family discounts available. If you don’t see a workable date on my FB page, contact me and we will set a date that works with your schedule.

Advanced Handgun Course-Level 1: $85.00:
This course is designed to improve your overall shooting and gun handling skills. Most of the drills are timed so you can chart your improvement. This course is divided into sub-levels (Level 1-A, Level 1-B etc.) so you will not do the same drill twice. These drills can be practiced on your own and will make you safer, faster and more accurate. The length of the course is two hours (usually longer) and the cost ($85.00) includes all targets and class materials.

REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM: $60.00 A four-hour course.
Millions Of People Are Victims of Crime Annually- Don’t Be
One Of Them!
Safety experts agree that the single most important step toward ensuring your personal safety is making the conscious decision to Refuse To Be A Victim®. You stand a much better chance of preventing criminal confrontations if you develop a safety plan before you need it. That is why the Refuse To Be A Victim®, a crime prevention seminar, was developed by the National Rifle Association. The seminar teaches easy to understand m**hods you can use to increase awareness and prevent criminal confrontation. In just four hours, you will learn the tools you need to develop your own personal safety strategies, including information about:
The Psychology of Criminal Predators
Home & Cyber Security
Automobile & Travel Security
Personal & Technological Security
Self Defense Devices and Training Options

METALLIC CARTRIDGE RE-LOADING COURSE (HANDGUN ONLY): $130.00