Q&A with James Tarr at SHOT Show 2018

James Tarr, co-host of Handguns and Defensive Weapons, sits down with Michael Bane to discuss how he got into writing about shooting, and what has caught his eye at SHOT Show 2018.

Tarr has been working with Guns & Ammo for a decade, but was writing long before that. Tarr got into the business because he loves both writing and shooting. He is a top competitive shooter and has been shooting since the early 1990s. Since then he has worked his way up to the grandmaster rank in the production division.

One trend at SHOT Show 2018 that has caught Tarr's eye is the explosion of tactical optics, specifically small and mini red dot sights. These sights are surprisingly durable, and the battery life is phenomenal. Tarr explains the batteries on these sights used to barely last a season, but now these batteries have tens of thousands of hours of life.

Tarr also speaks on the trend of optics on carry guns. Tarr explains they are perfect for people who might not be able to see their iron sights well. Although, he believes this is a fad, and the optics might be a distraction in a defense situation.