Image courtesy of Le-boulanger The AR-10 is like the AR-15’s older, bigger brother. Chambered in 7.62 NATO, the AR-10 actually spawned the AR-15’s design. Since the two are so closely related, you’d think that they share a lot of similarities. But the AR-10 is actually its own animal, and it takes some specialized knowledge to […]
Once you get into building your own AR-pattern guns, you’ll start to ask yourself some questions. And one of the biggest queries among AR-15 builders is how barrel length can affect a gun’s muzzle velocity. That kind of data can be difficult to acquire if you don’t have a bunch of specialized tools and a […]
Image courtesy of Robert Myers DJI is about as close as it gets to a household name in the drone world. There’s a reason for that. According to some sources, the company controls about 76% of the global consumer drone market. We’ll take a look at this industry monolith in this post. First, we’ll judge […]
Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) offers the following online programs designed to help you reach your goals, no matter where you are in your career. We welcome students from all stages of life, from recent high school graduates to military veterans. SDI equips all students with the skills they need to pursue a career in firearms […]
How Daniel Defense Uses SDI For Their Firearms Training “We were having conversations like ‘this is getting to be a lot.’ A lot of people need to get recertified, do we teach a 1-day class? Do we travel to them? SDI helps us keep up with training when we can’t be there face-to-face.” – Joe […]
It’s perhaps the single best-known day in American military history. D-Day has lived in the annals of American military lore ever since it occurred, standing as a testament to the determination, ingenuity, and guts of the US and its allies. Now, 79 years after June 6th, 1944, we still observe the anniversary of D-Day and […]
“We were having conversations like ‘this is getting to be a lot.’ A lot of people need to get recertified, do we teach a 1-day class? Do we travel to them? SDI helps us keep up with training when we can’t be there face-to-face.” – Joe Marler, Law Enforcement Sales Manager, Daniel Defense Benefits Consistent, […]
“This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” – Tamra Bolton May 29th will mark the 155th year that Memorial Day, formally known as “Decoration Day,” will be […]
The NRA hosted its yearly convention at the Indianapolis Convention Center earlier this month. It’s one of the biggest firearms industry events of the year, and this year’s convention featured products, exhibits, entertainment, and seminars. You know that SDI couldn’t miss such a huge industry event! Here’s our NRA 2023 Annual Meetings & Exhibits roundup. […]
There’s no arguing that shooting your guns is the most fun thing you can do with them. And for many of us, that means heading to the local gun range to send some lead downrange. If you’re new to the world of firearms, the gun range can be a little intimidating. Never fear—we’ve got SDI […]
It’s that time of year—time for the 2023 SDI Firearms Draft. While most of the sporting world anticipated the NFL draft with bated breath, at SDI we’ve spent the last week agonizing over different kinds of picks. Here’s our recap of SDI’s 2023 Firearms Draft. What is the Firearms Draft? The Firearms Draft is the […]
If you’ve ever worked at a gun store (or even bought a gun) since 1968, you should be familiar with Form 4473. The ATF requires all Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders to complete one of these neat little forms every time they transfer a firearm. That means if you’re considering a future in the firearms […]
All images courtesy of Larry Summons Jr. When I sat down with Larry Summons Jr., Thanksgiving had just come and gone mere days before. Yet, certain aspects of this year’s holiday still remained for Summons. The faint smell of homemade mac & cheese, the taste of his one-of-a-kind ginger tea, and the warmth that comes […]
Title IX Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity operated by a recipient that receives federal financial assistance. As an educational institution subject to Title IX, SDI has adopted a Title IX Non-Discrimination & Grievance Process Policy. In accordance with […]
TEMPE, AZ, January 13, 2023 — Sonoran Desert Institute will join an incredible list of more than 2,000 exhibits at the 2023 SHOT Show® at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The SHOT Show is the world’s most comprehensive trade show for professionals involved in shooting sports, hunting, outdoor, law enforcement, and […]
Image courtesy of Waltherppx. When it comes to powerful cowboy guns, two calibers reign supreme. We’re talking, of course, about the 30 30 (aka 30-30) and the 45-70 govt, two of the most popular rounds for lever action rifles. While they may be old-school cartridges, both of these high-powered rounds have plenty of applications in […]
TEMPE, AZ [01/05/23] – Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) joins over 2,500 companies at perhaps the world’s most influential tech event, the Consumer Electronics Show. The Sonoran Desert Institute, which debuted its School of Uncrewed Technology earlier this year, has recently announced its latest addition to its Training Center course catalog: SDI FAA Part 107 […]
Photo courtesy of daveynin If you watch most horror movies, you’ll notice one thing. Most of the time, the main characters aren’t packing heat and if they were, the movie would be pretty short. But what if one of the world’s most recognizable names in firearms actually contributed to a real-life haunting? In fact, there […]
There’s a lot of literature out there on the merits of giving, rather than receiving, during the Christmas season. There is, however, significantly less said about the existential crisis that brews in one’s mind when shopping for someone difficult to buy for. While we can’t give you total relief on that score, here are some […]
*{box-sizing: border-box;} .item{ padding-bottom: 5rem; } .items .item{ flex: 1 0 120px; box-sizing: border-box; background: #e0ddd5; position: relative; color: #171e42; padding: 10px; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; } .content-section { padding: 5rem 0 0; } .bottom { position: absolute; bottom: 10px; } .parenth { font-size: .9rem } @media (max-width: 768px){.items{flex-direction: column;}}@media (min-width: 768px){.col-md-8{-webkit-box-flex: 0 !important; -ms-flex: […]
Get Your SDI Pride Gear Whether you’re an SDI student, graduate, or supporter, you can purchase select Pride Gear to show your support. The sale and fulfillment of SDI Pride Gear orders are handled through our partners at TriStar Trading Co. Click the links below to review and order. $29.50 SDI Cactus Edition Tee $29.50 […]
It’s that time of year again. Black Friday is always one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and 2022 looks to be no different. But how can you navigate through all of the Black Friday morass to find truly good deals? We’ll look at some of the top Black Friday deals on guns, […]
OpticsPlanet Company Description OpticsPlanet.com is the Destination for Gear™ and one of the largest internet retailers in the United States. Founded in 2000, OpticsPlanet has been offering a diverse product selection for those who play, work, and serve with passion, with the best brands in optics, gun parts, ammunition, hunting gear, outdoor and survival gear, […]
[11/09/22] – U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh recognized Sonoran Desert Institute (listed as Trade Training Company, LLC.) as one of the 835 recipients of the 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sonoran Desert Institute earned the Gold award after applying earlier this […]
Photo Courtesy of Paularized on en.wikipedia They’re some of the most powerful handgun calibers known to man. Both the 357 and 44 Magnum have earned their place in the annals of firearms lore as the wheelgun calibers of choice in terms of raw power. But what exactly is the difference between these two Magnum calibers? […]
When it comes to big caliber battle rifles, two calibers come to mind. In one corner, you have the 7.62×51 NATO, also known by the moniker 308. In the other, you have the lesser-known 7.62x54r, sometimes simply called “7.62 x54.” Both of these cartridges feature big bullets with plenty of powder, capable of reaching out […]
[Pictured above: the glorious combo of the 45 ACP and it’s perfect partner, the 1911. Photo courtesy of Jan Hrdonka] There are some handguns that are just iconic. Whether from real-world use or media representations, there are just some guns that the public thinks of when they hear about a certain caliber (and vice-versa). That’s […]
For many of us, we don’t need a day to commemorate 9/11. We’ll always have the memory burned vividly into our minds. But there are 20 year olds today who weren’t even born when 9/11 happened, and this is a day for them. This is a post to commemorate Patriots Day 2022 and explain what […]
* This is the most recent year for which official data is available from the US Department of Education.
It is with great excitement that we announce Michael Thornburg, a veteran of the Marine Corps, as the Student Veteran of the Quarter. Thornburg was nominated by SDI’s Director of Military and Veteran Services for his peer mentorship and community service/campus involvement. It was noted within the nomination that “Michael has volunteered countless hours organizing […]
Grow and scale your business with a custom-made, branded training program with easily accessible online education for your users. Branded Training Center to match your company website with easy online access Site hosting, storage, user administration, content management, and updates are provided by SDI Concept to completion, courses developed to meet learning goals Optional custom […]
100% Online – DEAC Accredited Program Features Building Foundations Orientations for online education so you can hit the ground running on your start date Learn What You Love Work on topics you’re passionate about to become a future industry professional Get Your Hands Dirty Get coursework with hands-on components to drive home what you’re learning […]
100% Distance Education – DEAC Accredited Program Features UAS Fundamentals History and evolution of the uncrewed aerial vehicle Engineering Technology Mechanical design and engineering technology topics UAS Operations Explore project management theory and best practices Drone Mechanics Technical introduction to the subsystems of a UAS About SDI School of Uncrewed Technology Join a growing movement […]
Photo Courtesy of Nightingale Security Many of you reading are probably aware of the use of drones in combat, leisure, and manufacturing. What you might not be aware of is their usefulness in asset protection, law enforcement, and security. I spoke with Valerie Wiehl, an engineer with Nightingale Security to learn more about this new […]
In this author’s opinion, Memorial Day is a day that the populous tends to have a vague idea about. However, it is a day that is rarely understood for its true purpose. To get a clearer picture, let’s start at the beginning. Origin What we know today as Memorial Day was actually called Decoration Day. […]
There are few handguns as polarizing as the 1911. While plenty of die-hard fans exist, there are also countless naysayers who mercilessly mock the handgun with inside jokes like “TwO wORld wArS!!!” But we’re not here to settle any debates about the 1911 today. Instead, we’re going to take a look at cleaning a 1911 […]
Much like a shark, companies in the firearm industry will die if they stop moving. That’s why they’re always under pressure to deliver new products that customers want. That’s the exact situation that well-known classic firearm company Kimber Manufacturing finds themselves in today. And they’re swinging for the fences with their newest gun offering: the […]
Photo Courtesy of Marco Verch Professional Photographer Sometimes, you need to get some specialized tools for a gunsmithing job. And to do that, you need to shop at a store that sells these kinds of tools. You’re not going to be able to buy an AK-47 riveting set at the hardware store, for instance. But […]
Photo Courtesy of Michiel1972 at nl.wikipedia Here we go! If you’ve been following along with our list of gunsmithing tools you can find at the hardware store, you’re in luck. Here’s the fourth entry in our series. We’re going to go in-depth on some more obscure tools that can help you perform a variety of […]
And we’re back! If you’ve been following our series on gunsmithing tools you can find at the hardware store, you’ll know we’ve already covered some significant ground. We’re back for more in this month’s edition with some new tools: hex keys, files, and the almighty dremel tool. Hex Keys/Allen Wrenches It seems like hex keys […]
And we’re back! We’ve previously covered several useful gunsmithing tools that you can find at your local hardware store. Unfortunately, we couldn’t include every tool that we wanted to in that entry. So, we’ve back with part 2 to explore some more gunsmithing tools you can find at the hardware store! Level Levels come in […]
One thing that many newbie gun enthusiasts underestimate is the sheer amount of gear they’re going to accrue. Owning firearms means you need to maintain them, which opens an entire can of worms. While some of these tools are pretty niche, many of them are not. In fact, you can find many simple gunsmithing and […]
Palmetto State Armory Company Description Since its inception, Palmetto State Armory has focused on providing the best quality AR-15 parts and accessories for the best price possible. Following year after year of exponential growth, Palmetto State Armory’s core principle remains the same, and our commitment to freedom before profit remains unwavering. The idea is simple: […]
RSVP Now for the SDI Grads Dinner at NRAAM 2026 Join us for the SDI Grads Dinner during the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston. This special evening is an opportunity to reconnect with the SDI community, meet members of our team, and enjoy a night of conversation, networking, and camaraderie. What: SDI Grad Dinner […]
