TFB Behind the Gun #141: Cold War Guns & Competition w/ Matt & Dan
Today’s episode is a bit of a scatter, but after listening to it a couple of times, the jist is Cold War guns. Cold War guns are probably some of the most iconic firearms ever to grace media and are also probably a large part of why many of us became gun nerds in the first place. To help me flesh out this fun topic I’ve brought back on Proving Grounds competitors Matt and Dan to talk about not just their thoughts leading up to the competition, but also what some of their favorite firearms from Cold War era movies are and which ones they’d bring with them to a modern Cold War-inspired 2-Gun match if they could. Please welcome Matt and Dan of The Proving Grounds back to the show!
More TFB Behind the Gun Podcast Episodes:
TFB Behind the Gun #134: Pondering the XM7 and the 6.8x51mm w/ Darwin TFB Behind the Gun #133: Soft Goods FAQ w/ Kurt from Blue Alpha Belts TFB Behind the Gun #132: AMMJ Penumbra w/ Marvin, Hop & Brass Facts
TFB Behind the Gun #141: Cold War Guns & Competition w/ Matt & Dan
The Proving Grounds isn’t just another 2-gun competition; it’s a proving ground in every sense of the word. Hosted at The Sawmill Training Complex in South Carolina, this event pushes competitors to their limits, combining technical shooting stages with physical challenges that make you earn every single shot on target. Think of it as part tactical trial, part personal crucible, and all-around gritty fun with a healthy and encouraging competition environment to boot. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a new shooter with something to prove, The Proving Grounds is where skills get sharpened and legends get made and our guests Matt and Dan want you to be there with them.
What’s cool about this competition is how it embraces virtually any type of pistol-rifle combo you can think of. For instance, Matt and Dan thought future competitions could lean into Cold War vibes. If you’re a fan of iconic films like Red Dawn or GoldenEye, you already know that these firearms aren’t just cool movie props; they’re cultural artifacts from a time when geopolitical tension oozed into pop culture and transformed everyday gear into legendary symbols.
The talk of a possible Cold War theme down the road got us all waxing poetic about the guns that hooked us on the hobby in the first place. If you’re the kind of person who dreams about running an East German MPi-KM or a classic FAL while pretending you’re in some secret desert firefight from the 1980s, The Proving Grounds is your playground, and Matt and Dan are here to guide you through it with some of their favorite Cold War era firearms.
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