Anyone take any advanced pistol courses?

[jcouto20]

Going to the range is better than nothing, sure, but it's not realistic training. Especially when most ranges prohibit rapid fire or even double-taps. I'm not going to shoot at an armed intruder once every three seconds. So I'm interested in finding a place where I can spend a day/weekend with an instructor practicing useful stuff. Double taps, triple taps, rapid target acquisition, multiple/moving targets, etc. I'm not looking to become a navy seal here, just want the highest chance for success in the event of an armed intruder or active shooter scenario. Has anyone (civilians) taken courses like this? Where? Do you recommend them?

Oh, and do ANY of these places allow you to "qualify" for the advanced course without having to pay a couple hundred bucks to first take a Basic Course? I'd hate to pay that kind of money to go over what I have already been doing for the last 23 years.

Thanks.

[SuperSet]

I'd say that unless you're already regularly shooting some type of competition, you would benefit from a 'Basic' pistol course. Anyone that's taken enough courses can tell you that this statement from Tigerswan is true:

There is no such thing as "advanced tactical skills" - there is only perfect execution of the fundamentals under stress.

[orangeusa]

They handle new shooters well. Learn to load 600 rounds quickly though.
And if you are uncomfortable with anything, tell them.

A good place has egos checked at the door. I enjoyed the 2 classes I took. Made me much more comfortable with pistol in any situation. You will love it.

.

[PolishMike]

Any "advanced" instructor worth their salt will make you take their "basic" class first.

The fundamentals are the most important. The "advanced" classes are just implementations of the fundamentals in different situations.

[sigstroker]

Join IDPA or USPSA. You will be required to take their intro course at minimal cost that covers those things you mentioned.

I took a course from Matt McLearn a few months before he won the World Championship in the 90's. There was a major match in the area that traveling pros shoot, and he held his course the day before the big match started.

[Gryff]

Join IDPA or USPSA. You will be required to take their intro course at minimal cost that covers those things you mentioned

Competitive shooting is fantastic for honing your weapon mechanics, but note that it is poor "tactical" training. If you want training on clearing a room in your home, or drawing and shooting for less-than-ideal positions/conditions, you can look at places like Academi, Thunder Ranch and Gunsite. If you want to start out with the basics of defensive pistol use at a lower cost, you should look at Front Sight, although there is good and bad to the way they teach.

[Ronin2]

Any "advanced" instructor worth their salt will make you take their "basic" class first.

The fundamentals are the most important. The "advanced" classes are just implementations of the fundamentals in different situations.

^^^^This! And professional instructor will make you take thier basic class where they can confirm you are not a "soup sandwich" and to make sure your basic manipulations skills are up to their standards. In fact the better schools will make ou take a skills qualification test / evaluation at the end of every class to see if you have properly absorbed the material before allowing you to move on to more difficult / complex training.

I personally would never attend a school that lets you "audit" you way into advanced classes.

Where are you located? You may want to look at:

Max Joseph at Direct Action Group who teaches at Burro Canyon in Azuza: www.dag-usa.com

Note: where ever you go, the most important consideration are the instructor's backgrounds. LOOK at their bio's/ resume's when making a choice.

Scott Reitz at International Tactical teaching at Angeles Range: https://internationaltactical.com/index.html

[tanks]

...Has anyone (civilians) taken courses like this? Where? Do you recommend them?

Oh, and do ANY of these places allow you to "qualify" for the advanced course without having to pay a couple hundred bucks to first take a Basic Course? I'd hate to pay that kind of money to go over what I have already been doing for the last 23 years.

Thanks.

Try http://aegisacademy.com/training/ (web site is being updated so it might be a day or so).

They are located at Pala. They have a skill test prior to taking any of their courses if you feel you are good enough so you feel you don't need to take earlier courses.

[Best sale]

Not sure where you are located, but if you are in the bay area, Mike Pannone is having a Pistol Class at Richmond soon. You will come back with a total different look at life & training in general.
Good luck.

[Ronin2]

Join IDPA or USPSA. You will be required to take their intro course at minimal cost that covers those things you mentioned.

What course are you taking about? I am an IDPA member and I wasnt requred to take any "course" on joining...???

I took a course from Matt McLearn a few months before he won the World Championship in the 90's. There was a major match in the area that traveling pros shoot, and he held his course the day before the big match started.

Tactical shooting and competition shooting are two very different things. If you want learn to compete, learn from a competition shooter. If you want to be prepared to "fight" with your weapon, take a class from a current or former "military /LE INSTRUCTOR", which is different from taking a class from a current or former member of the military or LE...

[emtmark]

Always recommend gray ops in sac


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[jcouto20]

Thanks

Thanks for the information everyone. I am in the bay area, so close to here is a plus. I will look into the places recommended. I agree that good fundamentals are essential, and I do see how a good instructor would want to be sure he's getting someone with good fundamentals, I just really don't want to spend a day learning stuff like "Here's the trigger, here's the hammer, don't point the gun at people, etc." They real newbie stuff is what I was talking about."

And yes, what I am really looking for is training to "fight" with my pistol. Actual life or death, it's you or him kind of stuff that will kick in instinctively when you're freaked out and it's the middle of the night and someone's in your house. Not competition shooting. Thanks everyone.

[JustEd]

Going to the range is better than nothing, sure, but it's not realistic training. Especially when most ranges prohibit rapid fire or even double-taps. I'm not going to shoot at an armed intruder once every three seconds. So I'm interested in finding a place where I can spend a day/weekend with an instructor practicing useful stuff. Double taps, triple taps, rapid target acquisition, multiple/moving targets, etc. I'm not looking to become a navy seal here, just want the highest chance for success in the event of an armed intruder or active shooter scenario. Has anyone (civilians) taken courses like this? Where? Do you recommend them?

Oh, and do ANY of these places allow you to "qualify" for the advanced course without having to pay a couple hundred bucks to first take a Basic Course? I'd hate to pay that kind of money to go over what I have already been doing for the last 23 years.

Thanks.

Where do you live?

[jcouto20]

Where do you live?

In the Bay Area.

[sigstroker]

What course are you taking about? I am an IDPA member and I wasnt requred to take any "course" on joining...???

USPA does

Tactical shooting and competition shooting are two very different things. If you want learn to compete, learn from a competition shooter. If you want to be prepared to "fight" with your weapon, take a class from a current or former "military /LE INSTRUCTOR", which is different from taking a class from a current or former member of the military or LE...

So what? He asked about drawing from holster practice, shooting on the move, and double taps. He can practice that as a USPSA member.

BTW, plenty of those badass "military /LE INSTRUCTOR" people that you worship get trained by Jerry Barnhart, IPSC shooter.