Went to the class in Sawmill South Carolina and it was over 95 degrees and humid, and despite the environment, I learned so much about the fundamentals of modern carbine. John was extremely thorough and receptive during the indoor lecture portion of the class. Challenging us to adapt our weapons to appropriately match our abilities to the given application. The outdoor session was excellent: consisting of learning about zeros, basic presentation, movement skills with drills that build upon the fundamentals that are taught throughout the class. I highly encourage anyone who wants to hone in their knowledge and skills about using the modern day carbine.
This class is great and somehow feels like 2 to 3 days of info but in a 1 day. Even though its lower round count, i felt like i got more out of this than other classes where you just effecticvley "attend a range event". The smaller class size is really nice because you actually have someone who can help correct you. 100% worth it
This class and instructor are a refreshing change from much of the firearms training I see advertised. No over-hyped marketing, no lengthy speeches about how you should think the staff are cool. Just solid instruction with plenty of "why did I never think of that before?" moments.
For new shooters, don't stress if some of it seems complicated at first. John is very thorough, and can break complex ideas down into simple, manageable steps. You'll get plenty of practice and corrections if something seems off. I know some people get stressed by that, but relax, no one is going to be rude about it. I was impressed how quickly he realized how different students responded to criticisms and adjusted.
Experienced shooters: expect to learn something, no matter how good you think you are. We all have bad habits, or gaps in our knowledge, and those are much easier to address from an outside view. Leave your ego at the door and engage in even the most basic parts.
There's a theme throughout the class of "Think about what you're doing, and why you're doing it." This applies from the simplest rules of gun safety to the drills you'll do later on.
It doesn't really matter what you bring to shoot, either. Is it your first rifle, and you couldn't afford something fancy? Great, bring it, training is a better investment than an expensive trigger. Do you have too many guns to remember all of them? Bring the weird one that you don't practice with much. The skills will transfer.
John is an awesome teacher, both professional and skilled at emotional intelligence (an underrated trait in good firearms instructors!). He spends an appropriate amount of time in the classroom and on the range, and doesn't teach new shooters that skill comes from rounds fired, but shots understood.
Going slower with lower round counts built a LOT of confidence for my wife, who has experience with carbines and pistols but never had a class. It allowed criticism of fundamentals without the noise and adrenaline rush that comes with longer strings of fire, and building well on foundation he gives in the course. I have been shooting all my life, and seriously for about 12 years and I still had things to learn myself.
John, thanks for creating a safe, productive learning environment and for making myself and my wife excited to hit the range again soon! We value you and your skillset!
With every skyscraper, it has a strongly established foundation. John breaks down the principles of gun safety and the thorough steps to take before and after each shot, both physically and mentally. He meticulously chooses verbiage to elucidate every step so it is more memorable and applicable. His illustrations on the white board are scary hyper-realistic! The class is great for new shooters and the experienced. John might look like a frightening bear, but dude has great patience to make sure that the class understands the material and in a safe manner.
By the end of the class, you're not going to be 360 no-scoping or hitting sub moa groupings at 100yds on one foot, but the foundation is laid out for the shooter to continue on developing their skills. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and would love to take another in the future!
Have a mindset to continuously improve? This class will be a HUGE bang for your buck.