About Bench & Berm

Why this site exists

Walk into a gun counter or open a gear site for the first time and you get a wall of acronyms. NRR, Z87+, MIL-PRF, AR500. Most gear writing is aimed at people who already shoot a lot. The first-time owner, or the parent taking a teenager to the range for the first time, mostly wants to know three things: what do I actually need, what do the numbers on the box mean, and how do I behave at the range so nobody has to correct me.

Bench & Berm is named after the two fixed points of an outdoor range: the bench, where you set up, load and learn, and the berm, the earth backstop that makes shooting safe. The goal of every page is to get a new shooter from one to the other safely, with the right kit and no embarrassment.

What we cover

• Range basics: your first trip, what to bring and wear, range etiquette and the safety rules.
• Ear protection, with the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) explained from the EPA label up.
• Eye protection that carries the ANSI Z87.1 high-impact mark.
• Range bags and cases, targets and stands, and cleaning kits.
• Gift guides for people shopping for someone new to the range.

We don't recommend firearms or ammunition. This site is about the gear and the know-how around them.

How we work (and what we don't claim)

We haven't put these products on a sound meter or a ballistic test rig, and we say so plainly. Instead we compile each maker's published specs (the EPA-labeled NRR on hearing protection, the Z87+ mark on glasses, capacity and locking features on cases), read the manuals, and score every pick on a published rubric. Standards and safety guidance come from the agencies and organizations behind them: the EPA, OSHA, NIOSH and the CDC, ANSI/ISEA, and the firearm and gear makers themselves. Every source is linked on the page that uses it.

Where a number isn't published, we say so rather than guess. When we get something wrong, we fix it and note the change. Our editorial policy spells out how.

The author: Mike M.

Mike M. is the owner behind Iron Mako Media and runs Bench & Berm hands-on. He built this site for the new shooter he wishes someone had helped: what to buy first, what the numbers on the box mean, and how to act at the range so nobody has to tell you twice.

Every article, guide and ranking on the site carries his byline. More about Mike M.

Who publishes Bench & Berm

Bench & Berm is owned and published by Iron Mako Media. It's an independent site: no gear maker or retailer owns it, and no brand pays to be listed.

How the site makes money

We earn a commission when you buy through some of our links, mostly Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Bench & Berm earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra, and it never decides which product wins. The full details are on our affiliate disclosure page.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections and suggestions are welcome at mike@blackironathletics.com, or use the contact form.