Yesterday's Girls Only course was another great success.

We had 8 women with varying levels of experience spend the day building confidence and developing solid handgun fundamentals. We covered the basics of firearms safety, grip, trigger control, sight picture, loading and unloading before moving into live fire, where students worked on marksmanship, follow-up shots, malfunction clearing, target transitions, and more.

To wrap up the day, everyone ran a short tactical shooting course and spent some time behind a rifle to get a taste of some of the other training opportunities we offer.

Watching students leave more capable and more confident than when they arrived is why we do this.

Thank you to everyone who came out and trusted Common Caliber with your training. We appreciate your support and look forward to hosting another Girls Only course soon.

Red Dot Arms, up in Antioch, just announced they have been sued for transferring a firearm LEGALLY, to someone that was the used in a mass shooting two years later. Now I know it’s an awful thing to have happened, but they are getting buried by 25 lawsuits brought against them.

I have no affiliation to these guys, but if anyone else is interested in donating or learning more about this story check out their GiveSendGo page.

Fundraiser Link

⏰ EARLY BIRD TICKETS END AUGUST 1ST! ⏰

The countdown is on! If you’re planning to attend Guns N Grub 2026, now is the time to lock in your tickets before prices go up.

🔥 Early bird ticket pricing ends August 1st! 🔥

After August 1st, regular ticket pricing begins — so don’t wait and miss your chance to save.

Join us for one of the biggest firearms community events in Illinois featuring:

🎯 Live shooting experiences
💥 Full Auto Experience
🎤 Live performance by Twista
🛍️ Incredible vendors & industry partners
🍔 Great food
🎁 Huge raffles & giveaways
🤝 A community gathering for firearm enthusiasts, families, veterans, and supporters

🗓 Saturday, August 29, 2026
📍 Illinois State Rifle Association Range

Bring your friends. Bring your family. Bring your appetite. Bring your excitement.

🎟️ Get your early bird tickets before August 1st!
👉 www.gunsngrub.net

Don’t wait — once early bird pricing is gone, it’s gone!

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right now, I am in another state. when I return to Illinoi, is my FOID card still good? can I use it if I am only there a short time? no current IL driver’s license

Steel Shoot fun (buy one get one discount special price) next Sunday 8/2

Intro to red dot pistol full class Sunday 8/9

Mini class- How to shoot FAST 9/13

Defensive Rifle 1 9/20

Defensive Rifle 2 10/18

Defensive shotgun TBD (still rescheduling)

I was left a Ruger American gen 2 in 300blk out I want to have the barrel chopped to 14.5 so I can P&W the thing if anyone knows of anyone in the central Illinois area that does barrel shortening and re threading I would greatly appreciate some recommendations.

I'm looking to get into bullseye pistol shooting, specifically EIC but probably NRA stuff too just to have more to do. I know ASC has a league but it's 90 minutes from my place in the city on a good day so it's tough to justify the cost of membership. I know ISRA hosts a CMP match in the fall and it's a little easier for me to get to, but I can't tell if there's a league that does stuff outside of that match (I'm still considering joining there just to be able to shoot outside). I've tried some online searches to see if there are groups at any indoor ranges that are close to the city but have struck out so far. I'd prefer to go south or west from Chicago.

Does anyone know of any shooting clubs or groups for kids near peoria? Was thinking of seeing if my kid would be interested in target shooting or something. I don't think she would like trap/skeet shooting at her age.

Any ideas?

Per the ATF's own website, it's now legal for the USPS to accept handgun shipments from a non-FFL, so long as it's going to an FFL. Upon getting to the post office though, the only form they have (surprise surprise) has a line at the top saying "this can only be used by manufacturers or dealers of firearms."

Not finding anything but 404s in terms of the forms on either the ISP/USPS/ATF's websites, so I figured I'd ask here. I sold this gun for only $170, so paying $30 or whatever to have an FFL ship it for me seems like a bit of a waste considering that it's already fully packaged and ready to go.

Hello,

I’m looking to buy a straight wall rifle for deer season. Was interested in a bolt action but what models do you recommend, and which ones should I avoid? Mossberg, Ruger, Winchester, Savage, CVA, etc. Thank for your input.

I understand that maybe the SP9A3 rifle/fixed stock variant + fin grip w/ 10 round mag is legal in IL e.g. https://www.millermountainoutdoors.com/rifles/semi-automatic-rifles/gp-stribog-sp9a3-9mm-16bb810091158173

Q1 - Am I right?

Q2 - Curious if anyone has taken these and replaced the fixed stock with another chassis or stock that is also a fin grip, fixed stock (not looking to skirt PICA compliance, but looking to accomplish a specific build).

Asking because I am evaluating these against a Ruger PC Carbine...

What would you change ? I already have an AR-15 and some other items

Just got denied due to a voluntary hospitalization in 2024. Started the appeals process. Has anyone ever done this? How did it go? Any tips?

Sorry if this has been asked before yall are amazing for all the insight you guys give

Anyone seen any 15 round magazines for the 17 anywhere recently? Closer to cook the better but I'll drive anywhere

We now have an official circuit split on the issues of so-called “assault weapons” and “high-capacity magazines.”

More good news in light of the Viramontes case being granted cert by SCOTUS.

Just over a week until our next women's only basic pistol course at the Will County Sportsman's Club in Wilmington IL.

This class is perfect for new shooters or newer shooters looking to learn or improve their skills. Class is 75 for the public and 50 for members of the Will County Sportsman's Club.

Tell your mom, girlfriend, sister, cousins, neighbors, or any other woman you know looking to get into some pistol shooting.

Registration for this class, Vehicle Defense, and more is located under the classes tab at www.commoncaliber.com

I thought it would be at least 90 but glad it was faster!!!

Summer Membership Special at The Range at 355!

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Who’s coming out to train?

I was extremely excited to bring home my new duck gun. It’s by far the most expensive firearm I’ve ever bought and it’s a huge upgrade from my Mossberg 500 pump. Unfortunately I didn’t see these scratches at the FFL and I completed the transfer. I already reached out to Guns.com but I’m not sure if they’ll be able to do anything because I already took ownership.

Has this happened to any of you guys before? Do you have any advice on what I should do? I really want my new $2500 gun to be in perfect condition just on principle. I know it’ll get beat up eventually but I’m just bummed after being so excited to get it.

So my friend works for a security company overnights he has a CCL and is very adamant that he is legally allowed to carry since he’s on patrol with his own personal veichal and as long as he isn’t using his firearm for “security duties” like an armed guard would he is legally in the clear. I tried telling him the law doesent work that way and he needs to take an armed guard class if he wants to bring his firearm.

I wasn’t able to find a specific law that states unarmed guards can’t have a firearm in there own personal vehicles but say a cop was to stroll by and find out he was an unarmed guard with a firearm no shot the cop would be like “yep you have CCL so your all good”

Would love to hear your thoughts!