Aced the Safety Class - now what?

gr8fulson · January 21, 2002, 06:04 PM

Gang,
I need the best possible training follow-up to basic safety course. Want to attend SIG Academy in VA but I live in CA.

What & where do you all recommend for total personal MOR? If I need to be primary thru the door, then I want to be better than the gang bangers that showed up at my safety class.

David Park · January 22, 2002, 01:28 AM

SIGARMS Academy is in New Hampshire, if that's what you meant. There are other very good schools closer to you, such as Gunsite in Arizona, but you'll still have to travel. I can't think of any schools off the top of my head in CA. Traveling isn't too big of a deal, since most classes last several days and you'll need a hotel room anyway.

The other option is to wait for trainers to visit your area. I took LFI I when Mas Ayoob came to Richmond, VA. Local ranges and gun rights groups should be able to give you a heads-up when trainers are having a class nearby.

Training isn't cheap, but it's worth saving the money. I'd rather have one gun and a few Thunder Ranch courses than a dozen guns.

stick · January 22, 2002, 12:01 PM

Sounds like you took the BFSC. I assume you are looking at "tactical" not competition based course. Depending on your travel radius and training budget here are a few CA accessible schools/instructors:

Frontsight (~Las Vegas, NV)
Gunsite (Arizona)
ISI (Piru, CA) run by Dalton and/or Fowler

Several of the travelling instructors make CA swings (check their websites for schedule info)
Farnam
Awerbuck
Andy Staford from OPS
Mas Ayoob from LFI

If you are a fairly new shooter look into the NRA courses such as basic pistol and personal protection. They go beyond the BFSC, good incremental instruction and are probably offered near you.

ISI and the travelling teams tend to offer 1-2 day courses usually on the weekends. The permanent schools have a variety of courses, expect 2-5 day course offerings.

The list is far from complete but it's a start.

Quartus · January 23, 2002, 05:57 AM

A traveling class may be headed to a city near you!

(If you happen to live near the right place.)

Check out http://www.defense-training.com/sched/schedform.html

and look for the Basic/Intermediate class. Great stuff for a reasonable price. Substitute for a week at Gunsite? No, but a whale of a lot cheaper and only kills a weekend. You will learn good skills. This is not a marksmanship class, it's a tactics class. Depending on the facilities available, you may get an in-building room clearing exercise. Fun stuff, but serious.

A write up of my experience at the class is at http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=73360

gr8fulson · January 23, 2002, 01:01 PM

really appreciate all the great advice guys - thanks!!

January 21, 2002, 06:04 PM	#1
gr8fulson Junior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 8	Aced the Safety Class - now what? Gang, I need the best possible training follow-up to basic safety course. Want to attend SIG Academy in VA but I live in CA. What & where do you all recommend for total personal MOR? If I need to be primary thru the door, then I want to be better than the gang bangers that showed up at my safety class.

January 22, 2002, 01:28 AM	#2
David Park Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 1,224	SIGARMS Academy is in New Hampshire, if that's what you meant. There are other very good schools closer to you, such as Gunsite in Arizona, but you'll still have to travel. I can't think of any schools off the top of my head in CA. Traveling isn't too big of a deal, since most classes last several days and you'll need a hotel room anyway. The other option is to wait for trainers to visit your area. I took LFI I when Mas Ayoob came to Richmond, VA. Local ranges and gun rights groups should be able to give you a heads-up when trainers are having a class nearby. Training isn't cheap, but it's worth saving the money. I'd rather have one gun and a few Thunder Ranch courses than a dozen guns. __________________ Libertarian for Bush '04

January 23, 2002, 05:57 AM	#4
Quartus Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,823	A traveling class may be headed to a city near you! (If you happen to live near the right place.) Check out http://www.defense-training.com/sched/schedform.html and look for the Basic/Intermediate class. Great stuff for a reasonable price. Substitute for a week at Gunsite? No, but a whale of a lot cheaper and only kills a weekend. You will learn good skills. This is not a marksmanship class, it's a tactics class. Depending on the facilities available, you may get an in-building room clearing exercise. Fun stuff, but serious. A write up of my experience at the class is at http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=73360 __________________ . Better to know what you don't know than to think you know what you don't know.

January 23, 2002, 01:01 PM	#5
gr8fulson Junior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 8	Thanks! really appreciate all the great advice guys - thanks!!

January 22, 2002, 12:01 PM	#3
stick Member Join Date: September 6, 2001 Posts: 90	Sounds like you took the BFSC. I assume you are looking at "tactical" not competition based course. Depending on your travel radius and training budget here are a few CA accessible schools/instructors: Frontsight (~Las Vegas, NV) Gunsite (Arizona) ISI (Piru, CA) run by Dalton and/or Fowler Several of the travelling instructors make CA swings (check their websites for schedule info) Farnam Awerbuck Andy Staford from OPS Mas Ayoob from LFI If you are a fairly new shooter look into the NRA courses such as basic pistol and personal protection. They go beyond the BFSC, good incremental instruction and are probably offered near you. ISI and the travelling teams tend to offer 1-2 day courses usually on the weekends. The permanent schools have a variety of courses, expect 2-5 day course offerings. The list is far from complete but it's a start.