No! For the Firearm Safety and Fundamentals course I provide loaners for those who are not yet firearm owners. In fact I strongly encourage getting training like this, and then trying a variety of firearms before you purchase your first gun. I provide suitable firearms, ammunition and safety gear for you to use. If you already own a firearm and want to train with it, that's great just let me know!
If you need a loaner to qualify for the Concealed Carry Permit Course please contact me and we can discuss a loaner.
My proven curriculum makes for a genuinely fun crawl-walk-run progression, at your speed; your comfort and enjoyment are paramount. After learning all the fundamentals on replica guns, you'll learn to manipulate easy entry-level firearms with no ammunition present in a completely safe manner before we ever set foot on the range. We'll practice loading and unloading, grip, stance and trigger control, handing firearms between people, and addressing malfunctions... all in the classroom. Once everyone is comfortable, we'll transition to the range where I will fire each firearm first to show you what to expect. I promise, you'll be surprised at how fun it is!
For the Fundamentals course I will provide everything you need! Both snap caps (dummy inert rounds) and training ammunition are part of the class.
Concealed Carry students will provide your own firearm and a minimum of 75 rounds of ammunition. The shooting qualification is a 50-round course of fire, and you may warm up before attempting the qualification.
One thing that differentiates my training is that I offer only small classes. This allows us to focus both on safety and on individualized instruction. In general classes at my home are capped at four participants, and classes that use the private classroom in Lyons will be a maximum of 8 people, who will shoot in flights limited to 4 shooters at a time. Your safety and mine are paramount at all times. I can engage additional RSOs for larger groups, please contact me to discuss.
I believe that carrying a firearm as an armed citizen is a significant responsibility. While others may process permits quickly and in volume with large classes, I believe that armed citizens have a duty to be both competent with their weapon and to have good judgement and self-control. They have a duty to be an asset to their communities, to their loved ones and to the innocent that they may be called on to defend. Accordingly the training I provide exceeds the minimum standards and this requirement, similar to my limits on class size, reflects my integrity and values.
Additionally, competence with using a weapon is different than learning the nuanced laws, ethics, and consequences of actually using a firearm defensively. Each deserves specific consideration and training: it is not reasonable to take a shooter from brand-new to being truly prepared to be an armed citizen in one class.
If you own a firearm and wish to bring it, it must be cased and unloaded. Let me know in advance you're bringing your gun and if you need assistance in making the weapon safe! This video series called "Make it safe" is available to assist new owners. Do not bring ammunition of any kind into the classroom.
For class: Bring a pen or pencil for note taking and any refreshments you need. The Fundamentals class includes a bound book with all the information we cover. Bring a snack or lunch to eat during the break before we go to the live fire portion of the class. The St Vrain Market in Lyons has a great deli and can make you a sandwich/soup/salad to go, and is directly on the road to the classroom and the range.
No intoxicants including cannabis may be used at any time before or during class or live-fire.
For the live-fire portion: Wear closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothing, and be prepared for sun and weather as the range is outdoors. Avoid clothes with loose or low necklines or wide collars, which could catch hot flying casings against your skin. For safety, every participant must wear "eyes and ears": safety goggles or glasses and ear muffs and/or ear plugs. If you do not have access to safety glasses and ear protection I can provide loaners. It's also a good idea (though not required) to wear a hat with a front brim such as a baseball hat, and gather long hair into a ponytail or braid.
Each participant will need to complete a waiver before we begin class.
The live-fire portion is conducted on my private outdoor range near Lyons. No other shooters will be present so we can focus completely on your training free of distractions.
You will learn to "field strip" firearms preparatory to cleaning, but performing cleaning is outside the scope of the intro classes due to time constraints. If you wish we can add a hands-on cleaning of any firearm if time and equipment permit, or a full section on cleaning and maintenance can be arranged as well. Just let me know!