Have You Sought Professional Training?

[DHernandez]

The market is saturated with “high speed” instructors with heavily fluffed resumes and lots of gear. I’ve been in federal LE over 30 years and been an FI as a collateral for 27. I’ve been fortunate to attend many levels of training and I can tell you almost none of it would apply to real-world civilian scenarios. For folks who aren’t shooting/training monthly- these advanced skills are a waste. Cool to see and learn, but sometimes the best shooters and/or best tier 1 guys aren’t the best instructors and there is a disconnect between high level tactical shooting methods and how most civilians train/practice. It’s commonly said to save your money from the class and buy more ammo to shoot. There is truth in that, but really learning and mastering the basics from the grip to the draw to the presentation, sight alignment, target acquisition, support hand, trigger squeeze etc is what you need. Dry fire exercises, reload drills, dime drills etc will do wonders for your speed, confidence and survivability in a life threatening situation.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Ive done a couple of handgun safety classes with my son and an Appleseed pistol event with him and had some one on one with an instructor on handling my .45pcc. Good training is always beneficial.

 

[Onomea]

Yes. I've had several multi-day, professionally taught handgun classes over the years. I find I enjoy the training, and appreciate the boost in skills and self-confidence it leads to.

Should take training courses more often.

I notice the trainers themselves will often list the many training courses they have taken as students with other trainers.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Yes, but not in recent years because of my age and health.

Same here but I did a find four hour refresher.

Basic CCW with drawing from pocket and drawing from holster from concealment. The best reminder was shoot and move (getting off the X) shoot and move, shoot and move.

 

[pantannojack]

USMC basic course, 1968. Mandatory Colorado Hunter Safety Course, multiple CCW courses. NRA High Power Rifle participation...

"This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine..."

 

[tjg63]

This was touched on in another topic in this section, so I’ll ask:

Have you sought professional training in defensive firearms use? And I don’t mean whatever requirement your state may have. I mean something you had to take of your own accord.
Likewise for LE and Mil, the same thing. Not job-required, but taken on your own dime.

Simply out of curiosity.

I’ll start. Yes.

Yes.
Professional training and practice are important. Training is more than just hitting a stationary paper target.
1. Understanding of the law
2. Knowing when you legally can draw your weapon for defense as the last resort
3. Knowing how to avoid or de-escalate or escape
4. The list goes on and on
Training is not cheap, but the cost of a mistake is significantly higher.

 

[Mike LaNier]

Someone wrote, "I didn't know how much I didn't know!" True, that. I've been fortunate enough to be able to attend Clint Smith's Thunder Ranch for classes in defensive pistol, revolver, and other classes. Outstanding instruction, and great training. Expensive? Sure.
Worth it? Every cent. Professional classes like Thunder Ranch, Gunsite, Ayoob classes, etc. are a great investment, but may well be a life saver for sure, noting clearly the legal implications of using a firearm. Highly recommended!

 

[BillyKframe]

The last training I had, just before COVID, was a basic hand gun safety, carry and shooting class paid for by my church (for all members men & women). The County Sheriff let us use their range and he came buy to visit. In the 2000s I took a Tactical Pistol Course by Rob Garrett in GA and it was the Jeff Cooper method. My most useful firearms training to this day was the free training (monetarily anyway) provided by our Uncle Sam.

 

[jasonfreeland]

Yes, but I need to do more. The next thing I need to take is a holster use class. Drawing from concealment is not as straightforward as it might seem and I would like to learn how to do it safely and effectively.

 

[mckenney99]

Since I retired I have tried to take at least 1 shooting class a year, sometimes I can't find something I'm interested in, within my budget or within a reasonable distance, sometimes I'm able to afford and schedule more than 1 a year. Not all of the classes are handgun related. I've taken Subgun/PCC, Shotgun, Revolver and Semi-auto classes. Most proper training offers something that translates into all firearms types. I also attempt to take some sort of "Trauma Treatment", "Stop The Bleed" or other "First Aid" type class every 5 years or so.

 

[Tazman11]

Gunsight graduate here. I was back last spring for a day at the range. That experience taught me two things. First, I was the only shooter with a 1912. Second, I’m too old for intensive square training. Maybe the two are related.

 

[Charbroil1859]

Outside of the training I've received through the military and working in law enforcement; no. I practice a lot in my free time and shoot better than 99% of my co-workers, but I do think I've hit a wall with my personal training.

Although I decided this year if I want to improve my shooting ability I should seek 3rd party training in my free time. I'm in the process of seeking out shooting schools in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to attend. I know Thunder Ranch is located in southern Oregon but their classes are insanely expensive, but I may consider biting the bullet and attending one due to how well reviewed they are.

 

[jasonfreeland]

Since I retired I have tried to take at least 1 shooting class a year, sometimes I can't find something I'm interested in, within my budget or within a reasonable distance, sometimes I'm able to afford and schedule more than 1 a year. Not all of the classes are handgun related. I've taken Subgun/PCC, Shotgun, Revolver and Semi-auto classes. Most proper training offers something that translates into all firearms types. I also attempt to take some sort of "Trauma Treatment", "Stop The Bleed" or other "First Aid" type class every 5 years or so.

I'm a medical professional with years of experience and I recently took a stop the bleed course. You know why? I won't have a fully equipped trauma bay with me, wherever I go. I needed to brush up on how to do it with resources limited to what I can carry with me. Everyone who shoots, should definitely take the course and they ought to teach it in high school.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie, being a nurse, keeps a trauma bag in her car with compression bandages, super glue, hemostats and a tournequet.

 

[RevV67]

About 10 years ago I took an class offered by an NRA instructor (not sure is it was an actual NRA course) on Home Defense Shotgun.
Learned a lot.

More recently I've done a couple one-on-one sessions with the NRA instructor at my current local range.

I also read a couple shooting, tactics, etc. books every year.
Right now I'm reading Dick Fairburn's Building a Better Gunfighter. It has a lot of useful information.

Gunsight, Thunder Ranch, etc. are outside my budget.

 

[Chuck Edwards]

Gunsight, Thunder Ranch, etc. are outside my budget.

Gunsite and Thunder Ranch are the best-known and among the most expensive places out there. Look for courses that are one- and two-day blocks. They'll be considerably less expensive and will go through less ammo.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Due to job assignments I've been to a number of advanced combat pistol (revolver) courses. Then spent 18 years teaching in the police academy. The only course on "my own dime" was a Glock Armourer Course.

Being an advanced geezer I'm considering the Revolver Fest this October, to see where I stand. Those revolvers still give me that warm fuzzy feeling. Bottom feeders, not so much.

 

[buckyjames1]

Absolutely go to other instructor led training.

1. As an instructor, you cannot become stagnant and you also must be a student.
I attend 2-3 various courses a year and gain something each and every time.

2. The basics don't change much (sight picture/alignment, trigger control, recoil management, ect.) but the philosophies and explanations of why and how do. Gear evolves, guns evolve, TTPs/SOPs evolve.

3. If you think you've mastered something, either you truly haven't or, move on to another aspect of shooting. "Be running water".

4. The days of "WEAVER STANCE" is the only way, have long gone. The days of "I am an NRA Instructor and have been since 1980" won't cut it. As instructors, we owe it to the clientele to be as knowledgeable as possible and that is done by reading books, taking classes,
getting better trained, but most importantly seeking further knowledge.

 

[Dave Haynes]

I started pistol competition in the early 70s when it was just beginning. It was "Practical Pistol" in those days. My close friend the late great Prentiss Monson, Sonoma County Sheriff Deputy and later Rangemaster for the dept, and I had been back from VN for a few years and we had access to all of the police ranges in the vicinity. It was all 1911s and Roy's Leathergoods pancakes. I did very well when I'd enter a meet, but I wasn't a joiner in those days. Training was fun and it was revealing to see master pistol shooters lose matches by not following the match protocol. Showed that thinking was just as important as shooting. Prent had about as cool a passing as imaginable. On the firing line, prone, shooting his 1903 and the lights went out...If ya gotta go, that's not bad...

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I just got a email from Thunder Ranch and they have put out the 2026 Calendar. I posted the link below.
Thunder Ranch 2026