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I'm posting a list of trainers and shcools because people are often surprised to learn how many good places there are, and how close they may be to one.
I know I was.
Like many, I thought I had to spend a lot of time and/or money to travel across the country to a school, but that isn't the case. There are excellent trainers all over. I found out there was a deputy Sheriff (now the Sheriff) in the next county who was an instructor at Gunsite, and held classes taught by him and others all year long. It was 30 miles away and I had no idea.
So with hopes of helping others avoid stumbling in the dark like I did, I'll post a list of places that I've heard good things about.
There is a good chance of finding something within reasonable driving distance.
I also know a lot of people have thought about training, but don't know if it's worth their trouble.
It is.
I thought I knew something about shooting until my first class. I learned things in the first 15 minutes on the range that made the whole class worthwhile. You can spend years burning up ammunition and money practicing on your own and not get what you can from a few days of professional instruction. I would think it's the really rare person who didn't get ther money's worth from any quality class.
You don't really have to spend 10 days of vacation and half a mortgage payment to get training.
The "traveling schools" are the most affordable. They set up on someone else's range, so they lack the facilities of the Gunsites and Thunder Ranches, but you still learn the most important things...you just don't get to practice them in a shoothouse. These classes are usually shorter, too- running around three days, and cost from $400 to $500.
You can probably find one within driving distance, and then you are only out the money for the class, some meals, and maybe a couple of nights in a motel.
Add it all up and you are getting some of the best training in exisitence by spending a total of maybe $600-700 and a long weekend, plus ammo.
That's pretty good.
It compares to a new gun.
Assuming you already have a decent gun, which will honestly benefit you most- being a much better shooter or another gun?
Here is a list of schools and trainers that I've heard only good things about (or been to myself).
If I left some out, it's not (necessarily) because they are no good, but because I either have not heard of them, haven't heard much, or have heard a lot of mixed reviews.
I'm listing them in order of the state they are based in. Keep in mind that the traveling schools go all over the place.
I will mark the traveling schools with a (T) and list the states they go to, or have been to in recent years.
Please feel free to add to the list.
AL- Shootrite- Tiger McKee (also teaches for Thunder Ranch)- www.shootrite.org Teaches his own courses, plus hosts some off-site Thunder Ranch classes.
AZ- Gunsite- Buzz Mills (started by Jeff Cooper)- www.gunsite.com
AZ- Morrigan Consulting (T)- Bill Jeans- www.morrigan-consulting.com (I can't find a schedule, but I know he has taught in most regions of the country at various times)
AZ- Trident Concepts (T) - Jeff Gonzales- www.tridentconcepts.com (has taught in AZ, CA, CO, MI, NH, TX, VA, WA, WI, etc)
AZ- Yavapai Firearms Academy (T)- Louis Awerbuck (taught at Gunsite) - www.yfainc.com (has taught in AK, AL, AZ, CA, FL, ID, IN, MI, NC, TN, WV, TX, VA, etc)
CA- ITTS/International Tactical Training Seminars, Inc- Scott Reitz- www.internationaltactical.com
They do their own classes, and host guest intructors like Louis Awerbuck.
CO- Valhalla- Rob Pincus- www.valhallashootingclub.com
CO- DTI/Defense Training International (T) - John Farnam- www.defense-training.com (has taught in GA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NV, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WV, WY, etc)
FL- OPS Inc- Andy Stanford- www.optionsforpersonalsecurity.com
FL- Roger Shooting School- Bill Rogers- www.rogers-shooting-school.com
Former FBI agent who designed a lot of Safariland's holsters. I hear this school is tough.
IL- Midwest Training Group- Bob Houzenga- www.midwesttraininggroup.net
Host several instructors/schools, including Ken Hackathorn, Jim Cirillo, Massad Ayoob/LFI, John Farnam/DTI, etc.
IL- Blackwater North (Formerly "The Site")- www.blackwaterusa.com/training/bwnorth.asp
IN- Boone County Sheriff's Dept (hosts several trainers)- Sheriff Ken Campbell- [email protected]
IN- Sand Burr Gun Ranch (hosts LFI and DTI, and does their own)- Denny Reichard- Ph.(574)223-3316
MA- Smith and Wesson Academy- Barbara Grissom (contact person)- www.smith-wesson.com
MO- Chapman Academy- Ray Chapman- www.chapmanacademy.com
MS- Mid South Institute of Self Defense Shooting (M.I.S.S.) - John Shaw- www.weaponstraining.com
The last I knew, they were jam-packed full with military training, but I haven't checked in a while.
NC- Blackwater USA www.blackwaterusa.com
NH- Lethal Force Institute/LFI (T) - Massad Ayoob- www.ayoob.com (has taught in AZ, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, LA, MI, MN, NH, PA, WA, WI, etc)
NH- Sig Academy- George Harris- www.sigarms.com/EducationTraining/TheAcademy
NY- E.A.G. Tactical (T)- Pat Rogers- www.eagtactical.com He is "the poop" for AR/M4 training. Former Gunsite instructor. (has taught in AZ, CO, IN, MI, MO, TN, VA, WI, etc)
OH- Tactical Defense Institute/TDI- John Benner- www.tdiohio.com
OR- Thunder Ranch- Clint Smith- www.thunderranchinc.com
TN- Cumberland Tactics (T)- Randy Cain- www.guntactics.com (has taught in AZ, FL, GA, MI, NC, NH, PA, TN, etc).
TN- Rangemaster- Tom Givens- www.rangemaster.com
Rangemaster offers training at their range, and trains in other locations like GA, LA, MA, MI, OK, PA, TN, TX, etc.
I know I was.
Like many, I thought I had to spend a lot of time and/or money to travel across the country to a school, but that isn't the case. There are excellent trainers all over. I found out there was a deputy Sheriff (now the Sheriff) in the next county who was an instructor at Gunsite, and held classes taught by him and others all year long. It was 30 miles away and I had no idea.
So with hopes of helping others avoid stumbling in the dark like I did, I'll post a list of places that I've heard good things about.
There is a good chance of finding something within reasonable driving distance.
I also know a lot of people have thought about training, but don't know if it's worth their trouble.
It is.
I thought I knew something about shooting until my first class. I learned things in the first 15 minutes on the range that made the whole class worthwhile. You can spend years burning up ammunition and money practicing on your own and not get what you can from a few days of professional instruction. I would think it's the really rare person who didn't get ther money's worth from any quality class.
You don't really have to spend 10 days of vacation and half a mortgage payment to get training.
The "traveling schools" are the most affordable. They set up on someone else's range, so they lack the facilities of the Gunsites and Thunder Ranches, but you still learn the most important things...you just don't get to practice them in a shoothouse. These classes are usually shorter, too- running around three days, and cost from $400 to $500.
You can probably find one within driving distance, and then you are only out the money for the class, some meals, and maybe a couple of nights in a motel.
Add it all up and you are getting some of the best training in exisitence by spending a total of maybe $600-700 and a long weekend, plus ammo.
That's pretty good.
It compares to a new gun.
Assuming you already have a decent gun, which will honestly benefit you most- being a much better shooter or another gun?
Here is a list of schools and trainers that I've heard only good things about (or been to myself).
If I left some out, it's not (necessarily) because they are no good, but because I either have not heard of them, haven't heard much, or have heard a lot of mixed reviews.
I'm listing them in order of the state they are based in. Keep in mind that the traveling schools go all over the place.
I will mark the traveling schools with a (T) and list the states they go to, or have been to in recent years.
Please feel free to add to the list.
AL- Shootrite- Tiger McKee (also teaches for Thunder Ranch)- www.shootrite.org Teaches his own courses, plus hosts some off-site Thunder Ranch classes.
AZ- Gunsite- Buzz Mills (started by Jeff Cooper)- www.gunsite.com
AZ- Morrigan Consulting (T)- Bill Jeans- www.morrigan-consulting.com (I can't find a schedule, but I know he has taught in most regions of the country at various times)
AZ- Trident Concepts (T) - Jeff Gonzales- www.tridentconcepts.com (has taught in AZ, CA, CO, MI, NH, TX, VA, WA, WI, etc)
AZ- Yavapai Firearms Academy (T)- Louis Awerbuck (taught at Gunsite) - www.yfainc.com (has taught in AK, AL, AZ, CA, FL, ID, IN, MI, NC, TN, WV, TX, VA, etc)
CA- ITTS/International Tactical Training Seminars, Inc- Scott Reitz- www.internationaltactical.com
They do their own classes, and host guest intructors like Louis Awerbuck.
CO- Valhalla- Rob Pincus- www.valhallashootingclub.com
CO- DTI/Defense Training International (T) - John Farnam- www.defense-training.com (has taught in GA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NV, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WV, WY, etc)
FL- OPS Inc- Andy Stanford- www.optionsforpersonalsecurity.com
FL- Roger Shooting School- Bill Rogers- www.rogers-shooting-school.com
Former FBI agent who designed a lot of Safariland's holsters. I hear this school is tough.
IL- Midwest Training Group- Bob Houzenga- www.midwesttraininggroup.net
Host several instructors/schools, including Ken Hackathorn, Jim Cirillo, Massad Ayoob/LFI, John Farnam/DTI, etc.
IL- Blackwater North (Formerly "The Site")- www.blackwaterusa.com/training/bwnorth.asp
IN- Boone County Sheriff's Dept (hosts several trainers)- Sheriff Ken Campbell- [email protected]
IN- Sand Burr Gun Ranch (hosts LFI and DTI, and does their own)- Denny Reichard- Ph.(574)223-3316
MA- Smith and Wesson Academy- Barbara Grissom (contact person)- www.smith-wesson.com
MO- Chapman Academy- Ray Chapman- www.chapmanacademy.com
MS- Mid South Institute of Self Defense Shooting (M.I.S.S.) - John Shaw- www.weaponstraining.com
The last I knew, they were jam-packed full with military training, but I haven't checked in a while.
NC- Blackwater USA www.blackwaterusa.com
NH- Lethal Force Institute/LFI (T) - Massad Ayoob- www.ayoob.com (has taught in AZ, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, LA, MI, MN, NH, PA, WA, WI, etc)
NH- Sig Academy- George Harris- www.sigarms.com/EducationTraining/TheAcademy
NY- E.A.G. Tactical (T)- Pat Rogers- www.eagtactical.com He is "the poop" for AR/M4 training. Former Gunsite instructor. (has taught in AZ, CO, IN, MI, MO, TN, VA, WI, etc)
OH- Tactical Defense Institute/TDI- John Benner- www.tdiohio.com
OR- Thunder Ranch- Clint Smith- www.thunderranchinc.com
TN- Cumberland Tactics (T)- Randy Cain- www.guntactics.com (has taught in AZ, FL, GA, MI, NC, NH, PA, TN, etc).
TN- Rangemaster- Tom Givens- www.rangemaster.com
Rangemaster offers training at their range, and trains in other locations like GA, LA, MA, MI, OK, PA, TN, TX, etc.
