Orange County: Instructor Review & Recommendation Thread

[Doheny]

Now that there's a larger selection of CCW trainers in OC, how's a thread to post reviews of your experience with a given trainer sound? Things that might be helpful to others could be the trainer's name, location of classes, cost, number of rounds shot, etc.

Below is the list of trainers. Who's first?

http://ocsd.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=39679

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[Mauserguy]

I did FTA in July. This is out at Rauhauge's in Norco. The classroom instruction was a little sketchy- they insisted a loaded magazine was a loaded gun under the law and would get you arrested. No kidding.

The range day, however, was excellent, like a mini-Front Sight class. The cost was about $200.00. They will bark orders at you, so if you are a very sensitive metro type, you may not like it, but they were efficient and kept the range safe.

I believe I shot about four hundred rounds, but I qualified with three guns. With fewer guns you will shoot a little less.

I would definately go back to FTA for their range instruction. Their classroom lecture??? I'm not so sure.
Mauserguy

[Citadelgrad87]

Excellent thread, Doheny!

A couple suggestions, if we could get some specifics, like location of activities and if shooting and classroom are near each other, weekend versus weekday, and how tough/back logged to get into a class, cost, and ammo requirements, that would be FANTASTIC.

of course, this is coming from someone looking for instructors right now.

[gschoelles]

I did FTA in July. This is out at Rauhauge's in Norco. The classroom instruction was a little sketchy- they insisted a loaded magazine was a loaded gun under the law and would get you arrested. No kidding.

The range day, however, was excellent, like a mini-Front Sight class. The cost was about $200.00. They will bark orders at you, so if you are a very sensitive metro type, you may not like it, but they were efficient and kept the range safe.

I believe I shot about four hundred rounds, but I qualified with three guns. With fewer guns you will shoot a little less.

I would definately go back to FTA for their range instruction. Their classroom lecture??? I'm not so sure.
Mauserguy

FTA teaches on the safe side, if you want to stretch it against their advice it's all on you. But if you want to shade tree lawyer, you might want to keep it to yourself.....

[Doheny]

FTA teaches on the safe side, if you want to stretch it against their advice it's all on you. But if you want to shade tree lawyer, you might want to keep it to yourself.....

There's nothing wrong with him voicing his opinion on his classroom experience with FTA. Plenty of others have made similar comments about FTA, so it appears to be a trend.

[autoduel]

Sketchy would be information that would put you at risk.
Erring on the safe side, well, it's not like we take all advice at face value anyway.
Other instructors that just hand you a book to take home without classroom instruction is far more "sketch"

[DVSmith]

With respect to legal aspects, some instructors will err on the side of safe harbor. That is to say, they will give you guidance that is least likely in their opinion to put you at risk of legal entanglements. That can be far different from what you might interpret the law to allow. It would be nice if instructors identified these decisions so you understood that was the case. Otherwise some students might interpret the instruction as being inaccurate when it is intended to be how to stay out of trouble in the first place.

[Mauserguy]

I think I touched a nerve.

I won't get into a debate here. Life is too short for that. As I stated, FTA's range program was excellent. Yes, I recomend FTA, but they could improve in the classroom portion.
Mauserguy

[hotrail]

FTA

I did FTA in November. I think it was $179 + $50 for my two other guns, so $229 total. They provide a basic lunch on site. Was not hard to sign up--I only signed up a week or two in advance of the class. Their web site shows what days are available. It was a Saturday/Sunday class. You will spend the full 16 hours there, down to the last minute. Frankly part of the reason I picked them--even though other classes are closer to my home--is I did not want to spend the two days indoors. The outdoor range is much more comfortable. Shot nearly 200 rounds for the first gun and a full 75 on each of the other two, so pretty much a full 350 rounds.

I pretty much agree with Mauserguy's assessment. They did a great job with range safety. There were about 30 students, so there were at least 4 instructors on the firing line to supervise 15 shooters. The lecturer was a good speaker, but most of the day Saturday was spent going through a book of gun laws (but they don't give you the book). I would like to have heard more practical guidance on concealed carry. But overall I think the class was a very good experience, and I would certainly give them a favorable recommendation. I will probably take another of their classes in the future, when time permits.

[jb_haney]

Just wrapped up my training at Fast OC in Orange. Awesome experience with the guys there!

$175 covered everything, including additional firearms qualifications.

8 hours of class, 8 hours on the range at Evans (down the street), broken up unto equal parts each day. Shot about 500 rounds. Qualified with 3 guns.

They are also hosting a 1x month IDPA style shoot at Evans in Orange as well.

Two big thumbs up to Lance, Chris, and the crew!

[TurboChrisB]

I went and took the Utah / AZ / Fl today at South District Training in Santa Ana (Dyer & 55) and couldn't recommend them more. Zero "I know everything" attitude. Good guys and the price is reasonable...they have pricing on their website.

For the CCW classes they use Evans for qualifying.

[Doheny]

Orange County: Instructor Review & Recommendation Thread

/\ is there any shooting in that class or is it all classroom?

[TurboChrisB]

4 hours of classroom for UT/AZ/FL. Those states don't require qualifying. The cards will just say "Handgun" on the back.

[Doheny]

Roger that. Thanks.

[TalkingGuns]

Just wrapped up my training at Fast OC in Orange. Awesome experience with the guys there!



$175 covered everything, including additional firearms qualifications.



8 hours of class, 8 hours on the range at Evans (down the street), broken up unto equal parts each day. Shot about 500 rounds. Qualified with 3 guns.



They are also hosting a 1x month IDPA style shoot at Evans in Orange as well.



Two big thumbs up to Lance, Chris, and the crew!

I second this post. These guys know what they are talking about. I can't say enough good things about these guys. They make the training realistic and practical for real life applications. Also, they know how to joke and have fun. Check them out.


Also, the IDPA shooting they put on is every second and fourth Thursday of the month. Lots of fun too.