Home Defense training?

[nrakid88]

I am turning 21 in 10 months... And I really want to take a self defense/ home defense class. Something that will let me go through a classroom, talk about the theories and why to do what you do, then go through a shooting gallery, one based on a home environment or something, stuff that copies what happens in real life, and then get practice being attacked by the trainers and using a gun to defend myself. Is there anywhere in california for this kind of training? Is it expensive? Would I be better off reading up on it on some sites and then holding some practices with airsoft guns inside my house with all my other gun buddies?

Thanks for the input guys. I just want to learn and have some exposure to what it'd be like so if it ever happens I don't shoot a family member or forget to call the cops or forget to give verbal warnings etc...

[nemisis1400]

I'd consider front-sight (http://www.frontsight.com/) and their advanced tactical handgun course, but since you're 21 I doubt you want to spend a couple thousand dollars on handgun training all the way in nevada. So here's some advice I've gained about home-defense from various people:
1.you hear a bump in the night, you call the police and hold position with your weapon till the police arrive in about half an hour.
2.police are not obligated to help you, remember that.
3.anything that can kill someone can go thru the walls of your home and kill everyone in the orphanage a block away and set it on fire.
4.the weapon that killed the intruder and saved your life will be taken by the cops and most likely 'lost', so buy a cheap shotgun.
5.do not advertise that you own guns, illegal guns are wanted by crooks everywhere
6. never say anything that can give the impression that you meant to kill the intruder, you say that he shot his gun at you and you shot back in his direction
7.keep a high end safe to keep most of you guns in so that thieves will require a forklift to take your guns, just leave a carry pistol on you everything else in the safe
8.when talking about pistols say "clips" instead of "magazine", that helps in giving the impression of not knowing about anything involving firearms
9.get a security system
10.get a dog
11.you will be scared ****-less when the above 2 makes noise at 3am(usually) so really be aware of your **** poor aim
12.i am a lurker in this forum so take my advise with a grain of salt, hopefully you will not need this list. In a home-defense situation my *** will be at the end of the hallway with a beat-up $300 bolt-action with the bayonet fixed(later to be a mossberg 590 with m9 bayonet) and lying on top of a laundry basket.

[randy]

How are your basic gun handling, safety in a loosly controlled environment, and marksmanship skills?

If you aren't very confident with those then that is your first step. Walk before you run. If people around you are ok with your safety skills, you can do the different types of mag changes and group not pattern then there is a good chance you are ready to move forward.

Buy good gear for whatever firearm you are going to train with.
Almost any class you take you are going to start at the entry level class and proceed from there.

If I were starting out I'd get the cheap certs from Front Sight and attend one of their 4 day classes. Then I'd come home and practice then I'd take all the classes I could from ITTS. Do a google on them.

[SDI]

This is exactly what the NRA course "Personal Protection in the Home" is all about. See more here http://southwestsds.com/ppith.html

[Doheny]

I hear these guys have good classes: http://www.ftatv.com/pistol


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[heycorey]

I'd consider front-sight (http://www.frontsight.com/) and their advanced tactical handgun course, but since you're 21 I doubt you want to spend a couple thousand dollars on handgun training all the way in nevada.

What's your life worth? Spend a couple thousand dollars in Nevada on some training. And I hear they've got some place called Las Vegas nearby; a kind of a low-key, laid-back, out-of-the-way [insert-your-own-favorite-hyphenated-phrase-here] rest-stop where you can recuperate after all that hard training ... and maybe even get your money back.

Seriously, if you hear of a great place to train, money shouldn't be an overriding factor in your decision-making process. Though you can probably find some basic training local to you that would be a good place to start for much less than FrontSight.

4.the weapon that killed the intruder and saved your life will be taken by the cops and most likely 'lost', so buy a cheap shotgun.

What's your life worth? Buy a firearm that won't jam or otherwise fail while you're using it to save your life. On the other hand, shotguns are a good choice for home defense and they're relatively cheap. I prefer the Mossberg 590.

On the other other hand, regardless of what firearm you buy, assume it will fail at exactly the moment you need it ... and train, train, train yourself on how to clear any malfunction that may occur.

6. never say anything that can give the impression that you meant to kill the intruder, you say that he shot his gun at you and you shot back in his direction

I'm not a lawyer, but if you're involved in a shooting, I'm pretty sure the only thing you should say is, "I thought he was trying to kill me. I was in fear for my life. I need to speak to my lawyer before I say anything more."

I'm betting that if someone breaks into your house while you're there and you shoot them, your immediate recollection of the facts may be clouded by a heightened sense of fear/panic. You may say something that is neither accurate or appropriate. You have the right to remain silent ...

9.get a security system
10.get a dog
11.you will be scared ****-less when the above 2 makes noise at 3am(usually) so really be aware of your **** poor aim

Dogs make nice pets. If you buy a gun, learn how to properly use it and then train consistently with it. Be your own security system.

/just my own .02