Who do you Trust for Training?

[parallax]

Front sight.... the whole forum kicking rocks at me right now...LOL.... and they went out of business...
Oregon firearms academy ... went out of business
Thunder ranch.....traintr.com/
defensivefirearmsinstruction.org/

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Thought of you the other day Andy.
View attachment 2075828

Nice to be thought of...
Thank you
Andy

 

[dangerranger60]

It would depend on what I needed help with.
If I wanted to better my time on a match course, I would be looking for someone from the competition world.
If I needed help concealing my gun, I probably would not be looking at door kickers or competition gamers.
If I were just needing lessons in safe handling, range Etiquette, and fitting in the guy who teaches the NRA handbook might be OK.
DR

 

[ar addict]

About 20 years ago, took 2 classes from MK Tactical. It was a small class of around 20 people. They had a couple of guys watching from behind you.
That would help correct mistakes, grip, draw, ect. It was good training because I just thought I knew everything.
Have taken numerous classes form @Cerberus Group from Steve and his guest trainers. I have learned so much from Steve, Morgan, and Dusty. Every class I take from them I learn something new. Maybe I'm a slow learner or they just keep getting better. Either way that is who I recommend.

 

[Certaindeaf]

You really should only trust yourself for training. After someone shows you how to not blow your dick off it's up to you to master and perfect the craft with hard work and dedication.

 

[titsonritz]

You really should only trust yourself for training. After someone shows you how to not blow your dick off it's up to you to master and perfect the craft with hard work and dedication.

Oh I don't about that, every top trainer I know continues to take training from others trainers and usually lots of it.

Training is not an event, it is a ongoing journey.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Oh I don't about that, every top trainer I know continues to take training from others trainers and usually lots of it.

Training is not an event, it is a ongoing journey.

Yes, trainers/shooters are going to shoot with one another and what I said is that professional training is essentially an event(s), the same as any other curriculum.

 

[Jcon268]

A weekend in Chicago.

If that's too far to travel, you might consider the border of Portland and Gresham.

 

[Jcon268]

Thunder Ranch was always great, but it's become a little 'tactic-cool' since Mr Smith has stepped back. Much more tattoos, swat guys, night vision and beards.
Used to have a pretty diverse group of instructors, but not so much anymore...

Let us know how you really feel about another guys outward appearance

 

[Lilhigbee]

If that's too far to travel, you might consider the border of Portland and Gresham.

That area and a number of others offer something you won't find at any other facility; a two-way range with live-fire exercises!!

 

[Jcon268]

That area and a number of others offer something you won't find at any other facility; a two-way range with live-fire exercises!!

Yep, if I drive about 5 minutes away from my house on a weekend after midnight I could catch a glimpse of some live fire training!
Edit: there never appears to be any instructors on location, oddly.

 

[boattail]

I have had a bunch of training with my department. Am I skilled? No, but I can hold my own within my physical limits. The departments training taught me to think under pressure. That is the key to the kingdom.

 

[Old Dog]

If you're a civilian, steer away from courses by guys whose sole experience is only from the GWOT, Iraq and Afghanistan. Humping the Hindu Kush or kicking in doors in Fallujah has zero to do with what you need to know.

If you're a civilian, steer away from courses by guys who just retired from a twenty- or thirty-year career in a metropolitan police department or a country sheriff's office in a highly populous county.

Firearms Academy of Seattle, Thunder Ranch, Gunsite are all good because of the mix of instructors and none have agendas. A good combination of teaching shooting skills coupled with the laws pertaining to self-defense are what most citizens need. Not learning how houses were cleared in Ramadi or how to respond to an alarm from a commercial building in Seattle.

 

[shooter777]

Front sight.... the whole forum kicking rocks at me right now...LOL.... and they went out of business...
Oregon firearms academy ... went out of business
Thunder ranch.....traintr.com/
defensivefirearmsinstruction.org/

Front Sight was my first exposure to professional training. I thought it was excellent. FS was a bargain. I paid 200 bucks for lifetime classes. I took 6 or 7. Mainly handgun but a couple shotgun courses.
besides the hokey marketing by Dr. Pizza, it was an excellent school and facility.
I've since taken a bunch of courses from top tier instructors and gained a bunch of knowledge but it's an expensive game. 5-600 hundo for a two day class plus ammo and lodging/ logistics. It's tough to spend 1100/weekend for me.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Thunder Ranch was always great, but it's become a little 'tactic-cool' since Mr Smith has stepped back. Much more tattoos, swat guys, night vision and beards.
Used to have a pretty diverse group of instructors, but not so much anymore...

I've attended various training schools over the years. Did an LFI course decades ago where the instructor was a grumpy old retired U.S. Marshall who politely insulted everyone and shouted like a Marine drill instructor. Was a good course but guy was a bit full of himself, although he was pretty entertaining. These days I see a lot of the Bro-Structors who do similar but to me it can come across as really douchey. They may be really good at what they do, but it can often come across as overcompensation and gets in the way of the training. Maybe I'm just too old but as an example the Taran Tactical videos are a big turnoff for me. But then again so are multi-color Glock parts and big cuts in the slide to somehow improve them since obviously the Austrian engineers don't know what they're doing (am I showing my true colors yet?).

The moral of the story is finding something that fits for you. As an example, I thought the Sniper Central course was great. Lots of great instruction without any bravado or posturing. I'm a boomer and just want to pay my cash and learn.

 

[titsonritz]

If you're a civilian, steer away from courses by guys whose sole experience is only from the GWOT, Iraq and Afghanistan. Humping the Hindu Kush or kicking in doors in Fallujah has zero to do with what you need to know.

If you're a civilian, steer away from courses by guys who just retired from a twenty- or thirty-year career in a metropolitan police department or a country sheriff's office in a highly populous county.

Having learned much from both types, I respectfully disagree.

 

[Old Dog]

Having learned much from both types, I respectfully disagree.

I get it. I should have qualified my statement.

There are certainly exceptions. I'd happily take any training from John "Shrek" McPhee. And I once worked for a department with a sergeant, 40 years in the department, who'd been an original SWAT marksman/spotter (sniper), but never once had to draw his gun on duty -- and he was an awesome instructor, patient with incredible attention to detail, just a phenomenal teacher.

My last department's worst instructor was former infantry and had seen massive combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was all ego, all bluster, his sole claim to fame was all the hajis he'd smoked. No patience, not very smart, loved to tell his war stories, though.

My point was (and still is) that having engaged in lethal force incidents while in the military or working in law enforcement does not automatically render one an "expert" in the use of lethal force nor training non-mil/LE citizens in the use of handguns, rifles or the legal aspects of armed confrontation.

 

[thecal714]

I've been recommended Core Vision Training. Hoping they refresh their calendar soon, as Federal Way isn't as hard to get to as some classes I've seen in WA.

 

[nlb21703]

Recommendations for best route in obtaining cc license?

 

[teflon6string]

Recommendations for best route in obtaining cc license?

I haven't done it recently so will let others here recommend more current resources.

In addition to your Oregon chit, my (unsolicited) recommendation is to look into a Utah permit too. Why? Because if (for instance) you drive over to Vantucky for supper, your Oregon CC permit is no good there. But the Utah, which is easy to get, is good in a few dozen states including Washington. Cheap and easy. You'll find the facts on this website.

States that Honor the Utah Permit(s) | DPS – Criminal Identification (BCI)

States that Honor the Utah Permit(s)

bci.utah.gov