TAKING AIM

The official Aimpoint podcast.For more than 5 decades, Aimpoint has pioneered electric red dot sighting technology used by hunters and competitive shooters around the world. Now, we’re bringing you insights from influential voices in firearms culture. Dive into the 2A lifestyle with hunters, veterans, tactical experts, instructors, law enforcement, and even celebrities. The show is hosted by Richard Nance, a lifelong martial artist and retired Police Sergeant with 25 years of law enforcement experience, including time as a SWAT Team Leader and Defensive Tactics Program Supervisor.

TAKING AIM is a sports podcast hosted by Aimpoint, with 79 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Aimpoint hosts TAKING AIM, a sports show with 79 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  TAKING AIM

  From Pawn Shop Pistol to Pro Shooter: Caleb Quanbeck's Gun Journey

  Sep 15, 202658 min

  In today’s episode of Taking Aim, Rich Nance is joined by Pro BMX rider and drift racer Caleb Quanbeck who breaks down his wild path from racing BMX at age five to building a professional drift program sponsored by Walther, Guiseley, and Silencer Shop. He shares how he got into shooting after buying his first pistol at a pawn shop, why he went all-in on 10,000 rounds a month, and his unfiltered take on red dots, self-defense, and the struggle that made him who he is today. Follow Caleb Quanbeck on Instagram: @calebquanbeck Check out Caleb Quanbeck on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/calebquanbeck Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit Aimpoint.com to learn more: https://www.aimpoint.com/ PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD Video Chapters: (00:00) – From BMX Racing to Freestyle (08:10) – What Is Drifting? Sport Breakdown (16:32) – Landing Walther, Guiseley & Firearm Sponsors (25:07) – Buying His First Gun & Learning to Shoot (33:22) – Building Civilian Arms & Merging Both Worlds (41:56) – Competing, Red Dots vs. Irons (46:52) – California's Gun Laws & Wrap-Up

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  TAKING AIM

  The Truth About Reloading Under Fire (w/ Caleb Giddings)

  Sep 8, 202652 min

  In this episode of the Taking Aim Podcast, host Rich talks with Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus USA, about his winding path through the firearms industry — from Air Force Reserve small arms instructor and Coast Guard Academy collegiate pistol shooter, to blogger-turned-full-time-writer after his star-making appearance on History Channel's Top Shot in 2010. The conversation dives deep into Caleb's specialty as a revolver competitor, tracing how a rough 2011 IDPA World Championship performance pushed him to focus on revolvers as a discipline that forces visual patience and fundamentals, and how that skill transfers directly to shooting semi-autos faster and cleaner. They cover Taurus's revolver lineup (including the factory-optics-ready Toro line and the Executive Grade series), the tactical case for concealed-carry revolvers — especially around entangled gunfights and negligent-discharge resistance — reload technique and gear, and Caleb's own minimalist EDC setup built around a revolver, a fixed blade instead of a spare reload, and pepper spray, closing with where to find his work and the Taurus product family. Follow Caleb on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radicaleb/?hl=en Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit: https://aimpoint.us/ to learn more PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD

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  TAKING AIM

  Red Dot vs. Iron Sights: The Truth About Target Focus (w/ Seth Swerczek)

  Sep 1, 202650 min

  In this episode of the Taking Aim Podcast, host Rich sits down with Seth Swerczek, Marketing Communications Manager at Hornady Ammunition, to trace his path from Marine Corps rifleman to ballistics engineer to marketing lead — and how his hands-on lab background shapes the way he communicates about products today. The conversation ranges from his Nebraska upbringing and lifelong hunting relationship with his father, to the technical realities of a ballistician's day-to-day (propellant troubleshooting, terminal performance testing, and years of Doppler radar data behind Hornady's drag-reduction technology), to the design philosophy behind newer cartridges like the 7 PRC and 6.5 PRC — built to expand what's possible rather than replace proven classics like the 7 Mag. The episode closes on Hornady's Vexis biometric safe, with Seth breaking down the near-infrared vein-recognition technology that unlocks it in roughly 0.3 seconds, fully offline and non-networked for security. Follow Seth on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seth.swerczek/?hl=en Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit: https://aimpoint.us/ to learn more PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open 02:44 – A Day in the Life of a Ballistics Engineer 08:09 – Growing Up Hunting & Time in the Marine Corps 14:26 – Starting the Hornady Podcast 19:05 – Hornady's Bullet Technology (Critical Duty, 9mm Shift) 25:00 – Why New Cartridges Don't Replace the Classics 29:28 – Reading the Wind vs. Calling the Wind 33:24 – How Technology Has Changed Hunting 39:30 – What's New at Hornady (Bullets & Safes) 43:34 – The Vexis Biometric Safe 48:45 – Where to Find Hornady 50:04 – Outro

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  TAKING AIM

  The Red Dot Pioneer: Kelly McCann’s Simple Approach to Faster, More Accurate Shooting

  Aug 25, 20261h 4m

  On today’s episode of Aimpoint’s Taking Aim podcast, Rich Nance sits down with Kelly McCann, a former Marine Corps infantry commander and special operations veteran known for his pioneering work in combatives and firearms training. Kelly breaks down personal security, self-defense, and armed encounters through a “principles over techniques” lens; covering everything from home security and legal use-of-force pitfalls to red dot pistol optics. With a career spanning work with elite units, founding the multimillion-dollar Crucible training company, and media contributions under the alias Jim Grover, McCann’s insights into realistic self-defense, tactical innovation, and mental toughness are sure to inspire and instruct listeners in improving their skills. Follow Kembatvitz at: https://www.instagram.com/kembativz/?hl=en Check out Kembatvitz at: kembativz.com Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit Aimpoint.com to learn more: https://www.aimpoint.com/ PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD Video Chapters: (00:00) Kelly's Background & Personal Security Basics (06:10) Layered Personal Protection: Awareness, Dress & Home Security (08:48) Less-Lethal Tools, Improvised Weapons & Legal Risk (13:45) Cameras, Excessive Force & Fighting Under Pressure (17:10) Training Military vs. Law Enforcement vs. Civilians (21:42) Why "Women's Self-Defense" Is a Myth (28:51) Principle-Based vs. Technique-Based Combatives (40:09) Social Media Critics, State of Combatives & Red Dot Sights (58:38) Idaho Active Shooter Incident & Closing Thoughts

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  TAKING AIM

  Gun Writer Richard Mann on Scout Rifles, Red Dots, & African Safaris

  Aug 18, 202639 min

  In today’s episode of Taking Aim, Rich Nance is joined by Richard Mann, shooting editor at Field and Stream, ammo columnist for American Rifleman, and one of the most prolific gun writers in the industry. Richard breaks down what a true “scout rifle” is, discusses red dot reliability, and why most shooters panic when their dot disappears. He also shares stories from decades of African safaris, from first-shot nerves, gut-shot mistakes, campfire debriefs, and why he keeps going back. More from Richard Mann: https://emptycases.substack.com/ Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit: https://aimpoint.us/ to learn more PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD Video Chapters: (00:00) Richard's Writing Career & Background (02:36) What Is a Scout Rifle? (Cooper's Concept & Controversy) (08:10) Gun Safety, Africa Prep & First Safari Nerves (18:37) Red Dot Sights: Training Mistakes & Reliability (26:07) Red Dots for Hunting & Dangerous Game (31:31) Why Africa Keeps Calling Him Back & Final Thoughts

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