If the training was free, would you go?

[hoc9sw]

I would participate. I would possibly be a distraction, as I am a cancer guy and not all days are bad, many are worse. I have to evaluate the facilities (in more ways than one).

But my training is Army 1960's basic and 1970's intro for judicial officers who could go a lifetime without removing a weapon from the holster (there was always a Deputy there to discourage problems). Not quite what they put guys through these days.

I keep looking for good SD training at a price I can afford, but courses are booked solid. My LGS / range is booked solid into December.

(Mind you I am looking for classes that focus on modern-day CCW and SD concepts as opposed to basic shooting skills.)

 

[feralmerril]

I was a guard in California long before the state board of consumer affairs required guard and gun cards. I think that came out about in the 1970`s. I started out with Lockheed in 1965 and also had a couple armed guard jobs before that, Universal movie studio`s etc. Lockheed had a pistol range in Burbank, and we had one captain who had been I think on the marine pistol team that ran it. Lockheed saw to it that we practiced before the state mandated it to be a guard or carry for any permit. The state came out with certain regulations for both our guard and gun cards at the same time and Lockheed was about the first company to make us get the state blessed training. We had to requal once a year. I suppose it still must be the same. Through the years I qualified with quite a few different instructors, some at the sheriffs range at Mira Loma, Edwards AFB, "The Gunshop" in Lancaster, Receda, Burbank and probley elsewhere. Some instructors were easy, some very through etc. Actually it could get boring with a few but they were so dedicated that those were the ones I would like to train my wife or GF. I remember once at Edwards it seemed to be like a 115 degrees and the instructor went on and on with little details and I seen a heavy woman that I didnt know collapse over a fence like a rug with a heat stroke! The trouble with most requals were usually new guards from many other little outfits that maybe were shooting for their first time were mixed with some of us that had shot forever. My tip for any instructor would be to try to get the newby`s in one class together and not have them shoot with vets.

 

[klausinak]

It costs the student time. I think that most people won't go at all unless they feel that they need the course, or at least that it is useful. I think that you are pitching to the crowd that needs the course, but doesn't know it. I'd be surprised if you get many takers even without charge, and I'll bet that almost every one of those would have taken the course if there were a small charge.

^^This is my take as well. I would attend, providing it didn't interfere with.... (insert your "whatever" here). If I'm paying for it, (even a very nominal fee like $10 plus my ammo), I'd be more inclined to actually attend. A free course would get my attention, but I would probably end up doing something else that day.

 

[NeoBuckeye]

Depending on the topics covered, I would be interested in a free class at gun club. Usually I learn something, or will help re-enforce what I already know.
How long would the class be, and what day of the week and time would also be a factor. So 8 am on a Wednesday morning would most likely have a different crowd than a class at 10 AM on a Saturday.
So if the topic was along the lines of "intro to firearms" or "ideas to think about before deciding to carry", may lead to interesting discussions.
The spin off would be new people would be exposed to the club and possibly become members.
If the club has, or can partner with a local gun shop, could provide the different types of firearms used for discussion. This would be a plug for the shop, and could lead to future sales.

 

[arjay]

Take all the fear mongering with a huge grain of salt.We aren't going to hell in a handbasket.I remember variations of this stuff in the 60s,the 70s and the 80s.People can be motivated by fear to buy into all sorts of nonsense and to spend lots of money.Look for the motivation and the source on the things you hear and read. [emoji1]

 

[Rastoff]

I'm glad you joined in the discussion Harry Cline.

So, you feel your reality dictates the need. I understand and applaud your efforts to find out as much as you can before jumping into a gun purchase. Too many don't put in the effort.

I don't know where you live, but you are welcome to come to any of the classes I offer completely free of charge. Black River is my website. In fact, I usually offer a student's money back if they feel they haven't learned anything in one of my classes. As I've said, my goal is to help shooters and promote gun enthusiasm, not hype.

I'm not sure how to give people confidence in my ability unless they come to the class. It can be tough to find quality instruction. One thing I can tell you is that the NRA Basic Pistol Course is really good if taught the way the NRA intends. Alas, many instructors don't teach the full class and the reputation of the NRA has suffered because of it.


When I get this introductory class set up, there are a few subjects I consider mandatory. So, it will include these at a minimum:
Gun Safety
What makes a gun safe?
Marksmanship: Learning the three secrets- Sight Alignment, Sight Picture and Trigger Control


There are many other aspects of and about guns. I could literally spend many hours teaching all these aspects. The free class is not intended to make people experts. It's just an introduction and some fine points.

If you're in the area, I'd love to talk with you.

 

[NeoBuckeye]

Rastoff, there are few different ways you could go with the free training.
If the scope of the training is along the lines of the "first shots" program, ( introducing new shooters to the hobby) that would be one angle. Your take could be "learn about, and shoot a firearm" covering safety, different types and calibers. Maybe a 4 to 5 hour class, just to get students feet wet. Then offer an expanded class such as the NRA basic pistol. At this point, stundents will be comfortable if they like your delivery and knowledge.
Along the same lines, I was searching for a dog trainer. I was looking for a trainer familiar with the breed I have and the behaviors. I looked for references, read alot of reviews and the trainers mindset of dog training. After ruling out several I did not agree with on how to train ( You are the master and the dog must always submit) The trainer I selected actually has the same breed I have.
The deal was the first on hour session was free, and if you liked what you learned and how it was conveyed, there was a discount for the next 4 sessions if you purchased the "package". During the trainer interview, the specific scope of training needs were covered.
I realized the one on one dog training is different then an open to the public class. However, the spin off is future business as a trainer with a student or students that have specific "next level" needs and goals.
Just providing food for thought.

 

[Smoke]

This has come up a few times. I'm an instructor, but my goal is not to make a bunch of money. Rather I want to see people do well with the firearms they own.

There are a lot who don't feel they need training. There are those who don't think they have the money or can't afford it. So, would you go if it were free?

My experience with training (over 13 years as a professional and many more as an extra duty) shows that if people don't pay for it, they don't value it. Thus, the training doesn't sink is as well if it's free. Even so, I've considered running a seminar at my local gun club. I would do it completely free of charge.

Would you go? Or is is a waste of my time?

All of the training I've been allowed to participate was at no cost to me (It wasn't free). I go every time it's offered.

I can't speak for anyone else but I appreciate the Hell out of it and I always make sure to show up early and stay late to help the guy set up and break down. It's not much but if it's all I can do to show my appreciation I'll do it.

This weekend I get to do a two day class on shoot/no shoot drills/ Shooting and moving as a pair or a team of three/ and steel shooting (Not going to lie I have no idea what that is). but I think the idea is you aren't shooting at a target that's square to you

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

I would be more worried about other people not taking it so serious...

Except one aspect is that cost of ammo is actually skin in the game.

Enough? I don't know.

It's an interesting idea.

 

[Protected One]

This weekend I get to do a two day class on shoot/no shoot drills/ Shooting and moving as a pair or a team of three/ and steel shooting (Not going to lie I have no idea what that is). but I think the idea is you aren't shooting at a target that's square to you

Steel targets

 

[Smoke]

Steel targets

What's the point? it makes noise when you hit it?

I saw the instructor setting up some steel targets last time we had a class and they were offset to the firing line that's why I thought that was the key variable

 

[Protected One]

They don't get destroyed during the execise, requiring downtime to replace them with new ones. Paper does.

 

[handejector]

Folks,
Don't make us clean up threads wrecked by trolls.
Just report them.
We don't feed trolls here.

Troll Genocide

 

[Rastoff]

Well, I guess I got caught then. I didn't see the posts by [name left out purposefully] as a troll post. I thought his responses to me were OK and not intended to incite angst.


For the record, all of you are welcome to come to any of my training classes. If you feel you didn't learn anything or it wasn't worth what you paid, I'll give you the money back. If you don't have the money, come anyway. I'd rather help people learn than to leave them out just because they don't have a few dollars.

HOWEVER, don't come to class with a Rolex on your wrist claiming you don't have enough money for the class.

 

[cballman]

I would be glad to take your class. Just a few states awayand the same reason I havent taken one close is that there is not enough hours in the weekend to take a class. I have been trying to take a class to help me shoot better but there is way to much going on right now. Either a free class or a paid one is out of the question right now.

 

[Smoke]

This weekend I get to do a two day class on shoot/no shoot drills/ Shooting and moving as a pair or a team of three/ and steel shooting (Not going to lie I have no idea what that is). but I think the idea is you aren't shooting at a target that's square to you

Ok I did the first half of the training this evening. We covered basics such as presentation and malfunction drills for an hour or so and worked on moving from point A to point B in the church using cover and concealment( the nice part of that is they could actually point at various features of the church and point out which were and were not cover) then they told us what tomorrow is going to be.

We will be working on shooting from cover, moving from cover to cover while engaging the target, Shoot/ No Shoot drills and they are going to set up the range such that if we don't shoot carefully we could shoot through our target and hit a "Noncombatant" target right behind it and we are going to have some reactive targets that will apparently go down if we shoot them.

Still don't know why we're using steel targets not that it makes a difference but they really stressed the steel targets like it makes a major difference

 

[Trons]

I'd like formal training, but as a father of 4, the price is the problem. I'd love to get free (or inexpensive) training and I'd value it very much.

 

[EugeneNine]

there is a guy near me who does something similar. He's a member of a conservation club and an instructor. He'll do classes at the club every so often where the cost is a donation to the club rather than paying him a set fee.

 

[Lightfoot4]

I've considered classes before, but while I could probably manage to afford them, I'm in enough debt that I just can't justify spending the money. So if I had a free course available I'd definitely go. I've been to free hunting courses before and loved them.

And I don't think people would value them less just because they are free. I've been to plenty of expensive work related courses that I thought were a complete waste of money. If you have a passion for something, and you do it right, people will value it. I've got a couple of hobbies that I share on the Internet. I'm always getting emails from folks wanting advice and help, even willing to pay me for it. But because it's my passion, and I like sharing, I do it all for free.

 

[WR Moore]

I saw an item here about possibly involving 'big box stores' in participation. While I'm not sure of whoever posted thats definition of BBS, I'd expect that would be a failure. If that went anywhere near the corporate ladder, they'd flee the potential liability so fast they wouldn't leave a shadow.

Having said that, they might, maybe, agree to post a leaflet advertising your classes.