Handgun lessons?

[X-NewYawker]

Any of you guys (and gals) pay for a legit handgun instruction course? If yes, which one, and how was the experience -- would you recommend it to a NOOB? To an experienced shooter?

[Glock-matic]

Take a look at gunsite and or frontsight, both are at the top, frontsight might be a bit better, but that is subjective.

[Jeffy]

I've taken the NRA basic handgun course since it was required back at the time. I recommend it to new shooters. The Basic course has two parts, a class lecture and test and then a range part. Typically the instructor will bring a variety of guns in different calibers which is nice as a noob, you don't really know what you want.

[SPE]

This company was recommended in another thread:

http://www.internationaltactical.com/

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=3818243&postcount=21

And some Calgunners have taken training here with positive reviews:

http://www.civilianarmstraining.com/

Here's a review of their shotgun class:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=275127

I've done the basic handgun class with AllSafe Defense. It's a fun, casual half-day class. Good for beginners or relatively new shooters. But I would not describe it as formal or technique oriented. More for getting comfortable with handguns and trying many different kinds of handguns, from .22 to .44 magnum.

http://www.allsafedefense.com/

[HCz]

+1 on International Tactical(Scott Reitz).

I took it after some other small classes here and there and was really satisfied with it. The school and classes seem to be the best for those who want to prepare for gunfights. If you want to focus on competition, I heard Taran Butler or Bruce Gray has good program.

[randy]

Pretty much the best shooter in the area and one of the top shooters in the country is www.taranbutler.com in Simi Valley. If you have basic skills and want to improve them go see him. If you are a complete noob then go to a different class.

If you want to learn good basic handgun skills and some of the legal aspects of owning a firearm then www.internationaltactical.com/ is the place I'd go. There are some schools in OC that have some great reviews but I don't have any first hand knowledge of them.

Another good basic class is www.firearmstraining.com Easy class and you'll have the basics down along with some of the legal aspects too.

[nrvnqsrxk]

You need this:

1) Go to ITTS and train with Scott Reitz for a few classes ($350+), maybe even Magpul Dynamics
2) Take upper tier classes after u git gud (Ken Hackathorn, Larry Vickers, Pat Rogers, Kyle Lamb, Robert Howe)

You'll be wayyy ahead of the game.

[sholling]

I recommend Greg Block's Firearms Training to beginners. Greg makes the majority of his living teaching law enforcement but also puts on dirt cheap classes on the weekends. His facility is out in Burro Canyon which is off the 210.

For the advanced shooter there are a lot of choices but darned few of the local.

[Greg-Dawg]

Yes, both are for noobs and semi-noobs:

-Burbank Fiiring Line: Basic Handgun.

-Greg Block: Basic I, II, Intermediate and Advanced.

All worth it when mastering the fundamentals, which is what I always go back to.

[randy]

Yes, both are for noobs and semi-noobs:

-Burbank Fiiring Line: Basic Handgun.

-Greg Block: Basic I, II, Intermediate and Advanced.

All worth it when mastering the fundamentals, which is what I always go back to.

I forgot about Burt by all means take a basic class from Burt at the Firing Line. He's a great guy with no attitude and knows his stuff.

[ZombieTactics]

Any of you guys (and gals) pay for a legit handgun instruction course? If yes, which one, and how was the experience -- would you recommend it to a NOOB? To an experienced shooter?

I've taken a few courses over the years. Honestly, most handgun instruction is pretty good, or perhaps I've just been lucky. Actually, I did leave one class and demand a refund about 10 minutes in, after the instructor had muzzled the class above a dozen times during his safety demonstration. Thankfully, that company no longer exists, with good reason.

There is a wide difference between schools regarding both quality and philosophy of instruction. Frontsight, Gunsite and Thunder Ranch are all excellent choices for both noobs and experienced shooters, IMHO. I've heard good things about Suarez International and Tactical Response, but they tend to be a little more on the military-focused side of things.

Local NRA instructors do a reasonably good job in most cases, and that's not a bad place to start.

[sholling]

I'll add one more thing. In my opinion there is no reason for a new shooter to drive 300 miles (each way), go to the expense of renting a room, and pay $500-1000 for a class. Master the fundamentals with the help of a local instructor first. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced training from whatever local you like and then once you have the fundamentals mastered is the time to invest in more high buck training.

[FieldsofFire]

Don't know of any in Socal but I would always recommend handgun courses. You can find a class for your skill level, whatever that may be, and you will always be able to learn more and advance your skills. Try to find some that run scenarios and drills so you can see how you perform under stress and different environments. You can work on your marksmanship all you want with a target standing in front of you in a line but that is only one aspect of handling your weapon proficiently.

[tziggs]

I shot my very first gun at Greg Block's beginners handgun class. He's a good teacher with lots of good stories.

[razr]

Training

+1 on Greg Block or T.J. Johnston with Allsafe defense. Great idea no matter what your skill level.