Second Amendment Sports Practical Shooters

Long before Second Amendment Sports was a premier name in the industry, it was a bond between a father and son. Bert Irslinger Sr. (affectionately known as “Doc”) and Bert Jr. were, first and foremost, collectors. From historic military pieces and “cowboy classics” to high-performance modern builds, they spent years traveling the gun show circuit hunting down the finest firearms available.

What started as a shared hobby eventually outgrew the state of Illinois. To streamline the logistics of bringing rare finds home, they applied for their own Federal Firearms License—a move that required opening a modest storefront in a McHenry strip mall.

We started small, intended primarily to handle FFL transfers and house a growing collection. We didn’t have a grand marketing plan; we just had a deep well of expertise and a genuine love for the community.

Word spread fast. The “little shop” was quickly overwhelmed by fellow enthusiasts who valued Doc and Bert’s exacting standards and customer-first philosophy. As the demand for rare inventory and expert advice grew, we realized our community deserved something more than just a retail counter.

To better serve our customers, we took a leap from that original strip mall location to the premier facility we call home today. This expansion wasn’t just about more shelf space—it was about creating a complete experience. We integrated a 14-lane, state-of-the-art indoor shooting range , allowing our customers to move beyond the purchase and focus on tr