I signed up for the Beginner Rifle Safety Course at Bay Area Firearms Training in Burlingame and had a great experience. Booking was super easy, and I was even able to get in the next day. Scott walked us through the basics at the shop. From there, we went to the range, where Scott gave us hands-on instruction on how to safely shoot and reload. The entire experience was extremely informative, and I'd recommend Scott and Bay Area Firearms Training to anyone looking to learn more at any level. He also gave me valuable insight as I considered purchasing my first firearm. After I made my purchase, Scott invited me back to help teach me how to safely and confidently use it. Absolutely recommend! read more

Scott seemed very knowledgeable. I definitely learned a lot in my 3-4ish hours as first timer! Note: The gun range is another 30min drive (in Santa Clara) and (I feel like) the ammunition would have been loads cheaper if purchased from the gun range rather than at "Bay Area Firearms". read more

Recently took the Beginner Pistol & Safety Course and it was great! I called & booked it a week in advance. I grew up with a brother thatʻs a competitive shooter, but I wanted to take an official pistol shooting course from someone that was not my sibling. It was a slow day, so I was the only student & turned out to be an awesome private lesson! Scott created a friendly and comfortable environment for me to learn. 45 mins video on the responsibility that comes with carrying a firearm & the need for proper training and legal knowledge. Our trip to Reedʻs Indoor Range in Santa Clara, so that took up an hour out of the 3 hour class. I learned about bad habits that I had to correct and Iʻm excited to take more courses from Bay Area Firearms. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - First time pistol shooting lesson - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

I had a terrible experience with the way this company is run--avoid them at all costs! From my experience in taking a novice shooting class with my girlfriend, here are all the reasons you should somewhere else that is more reputable: 1. The Total Cost is Much, Much Higher Than the Website Implies - $879 for 2 People Some of the prices on the website are old, which I'm fine with, but the full cost is just glossed over. Here's a breakdown of the total cost for two people, with all the hidden costs we paid: - Class instruction - $499 - Safety Equipment - $160 for two pairs of ear protection and one pair of glasses (I was wearing glasses already so I didn't need one). Most companies loan this to you for free. - Ammunition - $60 for two boxes - Range Fees & Targets - $160. This is a separate fee you have to pay the range. Total Cost for training Two People - $879 When you shop around for a class, ask explicitly what they provide, what they don't, and how much those additional items will cost. 2. The Weapons are Too Powerful for Beginners (You're likely to be in pain afterwards) Rather than train you on a beginner weapon like .22, they only offer Glock 17's and 19's. These are 9mm weapons-used by professionals in the military and in law enforcement. Beginner lessons I've taken in the past at places like Jackson Arms start you off with small caliber weapons while you work on your form, and then move you up. I'm a middle-aged, six-foot-tall man, I my elbow was in pain for months afterward from the lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) I got from using these weapons. My girlfriend, who is only 5 ft. 2in. couldn't finish. The other woman in the class struggled as well. Unless you're a very big, strong, young man, don't take this class. 3. They Don't Have Their Own Facility, So You'll Spend Alot of Time in Your Car The classroom training takes place in a creepy back room of diving school in Burlingame. Once that part is done, everyone has to drive all the way to Reed's Indoor Shooting Range in Santa Clara--about 30 miles. Reed's has instructors too, so avoid all these hassles. 4. They Don't Pick Up the Phone I had many questions before I signed up, so I called them. I got a text response, but the person responded wouldn't talk on the phone, which I should have picked up on as a huge red flag. Some of my questions were answered, some weren't. Buyer beware. Don't waste your time and money on this place and find a more reputable company. I'd like to append my review with a comment sent directly to me via Yelp from the owner: April 8, 2026 Scott J. She called us at the last second requesting only private instruction which is higher than the regular price, ammo has gone up like everything else since the war started. We cannot control that. Your girlfriend stated she enjoyed it. So who is lying here. We accommodated you both treated you very well we assigned you a great instructor with solid 5 star rating. Its so sad that you behave like a child. Don't get married no one wants anyone like you. You have zero people skills. You're pathetic you wouldn't last 5 mins in the military. Nothing you lied about on yelp mattered. We gave you great instruction. You're totally out of line. read more

Had to try them out and would recommend them all the way! Scott treated me with nothing but respect and concern. He had Clark be our instructor and he taught us so much that I didn't realize I would need and don't know. Try them out to make sure you have not only the information needed to be a firearm holder but how to use it for everyday interaction that could happen. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

Scott is a commendable individual, a veteran with extensive experience and numerous anecdotes. I completed four classes within approximately one week. The total cost was slightly over $900, which encompassed all classes, range fees, ammunition, ear protection, and safety glasses. I gained a great deal from these courses, and most importantly, the instruction was unhurried and thoroughly elucidated. Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed the learning process. read more

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Josh here, owner of Trivalleydrones.com Come here if you want to get educated on shooting a real gun and a great instructor for home defense. I took the Hand gun & home defense training. Scott has many years in exp with firearms in many of its industries taht come with it. Upon learning this, I followed with an open mind, and let him run his course. He explained everything thoroughly. Scott took me in near closing time, and was not in a rush to kick me out, a very humble patient business owner and genuine soul. On the first day we went through understanding each part of the gun, and what it does. We watched some videos and followed along while Scott was correcting what we needed to correct as far as posture and getting comfortable with gun in hand. Also learned how to clear a chamber first with training bullets. After, we practiced reloading/speed loading, really working the muscle memory. We also went through many tactics on home defense, how to approach a situation when someone is breaking into your home. exactly what to do so the law is in your favor if you had no choice but to take the intruder out. Once we finished, we broke down the gun, and learned how to complete maintenance on the gun to keep it running smoothly. Scott also provided all safety equipment. new stuff not used and abused gear. fresh brand new gear, that you now own. All was concluded within 1-2 hours. We then scheduled to come back and go live on the range, Scott mentioned the closest range was in SantaClara not far. We drove down to the range, and Scott got us signed in. From there, we trained shooting at different paces, and different situations. Scott was focused and never took his eyes off the student he was training. Everyone got their focused time with Scott, truly felt like a 1:1 and not a group setting when its your turn to shoot. Seriously, a gem and great people to have incase you had any questions about shooting. read more

I just finished my 3 gun Pistol Rifle , Shotgun these folks are total professionals they took their time with me after using their guns now I know exactly what to buy Im coming back to try to retrieve my license to work exposed as a Arm security guard or something also for your CCW that you're very confident in his training I also will be bringing my daughters to attend the classes thanks to Clark and the team there read more

Scott is a great guy who takes training seriously. If you want warm and fuzzy look elsewhere, If you want top notch training this is the place. I look forward to many more Classes with Bay Area Firearms. Thanks Scott! read more

$370 went down the drain. An initial advertised 4 hour class was only for 1 hour 1:1 .. Then, was sold ammunition at 3x market price and 3x market price for a headphone (that is now broken). Then, had to pay range fees for the person carrying the gun and me ... On top had to drive 30 miles to go to the range. None of this was stated in the class other than range fees to be paid. After a very poor instruction and outrageous ammunition prices, I still paid for the ammunition and ear phone, thinking maybe a practical class of 1 hour would be worth it. When i went to the range, i was given 1 firearm and handed over multiple magazines and said "just fire". We finished in 30 mins and out and i learnt nothing ... I kept asking "what am i am doing wrong?" ... No answer. Actually, the instructor who taught me for the 1st hour was not even there. Please do not go here and save your money! Save your money and do not even go there. Much better options out there at more affordable prices, yet quality education. read more

I took Bay Area Firearms "Full Length Pistol Certification" course on March 8th 2025 with a friend. There were 2 other participants in the class whom I did not know beforehand. All of us were beginners with near-zero firearms experience. My impression is that this "class" was as close to a scam as a class can possibly be, without actually being a scam. The class I took is listed here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/bayareafirearms/items/290236/calendar/2025/03/?flow=531785&full-items=yes&back=https://bayareafirearms.com/ After signing waivers and paperwork, we were handed off from the original instructor Scott to another instructor Andy who was a retired cop from Hong Kong. Andy spoke in a thick accent, and everyone had trouble understanding him. There was none of the basic introduction I would have expected: no basic safety rules, no "here's what to expect today", no "here are the parts of the firearm", etc. Instead, we were handed 9mm Glocks and immediately told to load them with blanks. To his credit, Andy clearly knew how to handle a weapon, but he was really bad at explaining it to anyone else. After about 30 minutes of this rather painful basic "introduction", we were charged another $228 to buy ear protection and ammunition. I was aware that ammo and range fees were not included in the $254 class, but at no point before class did anyone say how much these fees would actually be, or that we would be buying (not renting) ear protection. On the class listing it says range fees will be $20-$40, and nothing else. AFTER we made the purchase, we were then told to drive for almost an hour from Burlingame to the actual shooting range at Field Sport Park in San Jose, in our own cars. At no point was this ever disclosed up front. The actual shooting at Field Sports Park was the best part of this class. But I honestly learned more from watching other instructors teach their own students, or getting tips from my friend (who had more experience than I did) than from Andy, who mumbled, and was nearly impossible to hear or understand with all the shooting going on, through our $80 ear protection. My own shooting improved over the course of the 2 hours that we were at the range. But VERY SLOWLY. You'd think that in a beginner class, costing almost as much as a new Glock, each student would have their own weapon to fire. Instead we took turns, sharing one piece among 4 students. After going through approx. 100 shots, we drove home. No certificate of any kind was provided. Instead, Andy told us to call Scott at the shop and take a test later. I have not done this yet, but after reading other reviews, I do not have any faith that any certificate provided, would actually be worth anything. I'm sure Andy, Scott, and Harold are experienced and knowledgeable. Andy was clearly a nice and well meaning guy, but a very poor communicator. However, the non-disclosure of the fees, and the fact that we had to drive an hour to a shooting range, were dealbreakers for me. If any of this had been disclosed up front, my review would be very different. My opinion of this class was clearly shared by the other three participants in my class. Maybe we just got unlucky, but I do not understand how this establishment maintains nearly a 4-star rating on Yelp. There is vast room for improvement here. If you are a beginner looking for basic firearms training, I cannot reccommend more highly that you look elsewhere. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

Overall it was a pretty good experience! Both instructors were helpful and insightful. I took the full length pistol course to get my FSC. The class was only 3 students (including me) so there was a lot of individual correction and support when needed. I went in with very little prior knowledge or experience with a handgun and left the range (100 rounds later) feeling more comfortable and accomplished than I expected to. After getting home from the range, I noticed a typo on my FSC card. Two numbers got flipped in my DL #. I sent an email that evening and by the next morning I picked up my corrected card. Another benefit of working with a small business that's involved with their clients. My only reasons for the star deduction is price and driving distance transparency. The course description only mentions that you'll have to pay your own range and ammo fees, which is standard. It would have been helpful to have an estimate of how much additional $ I should anticipate spending (ammo, range time, possible PPE purchases, etc). Fortunately, my rough estimate for additional spending wasn't that much lower than what I actually paid. But, as a course designed for beginners with possibly no background knowledge, it would be a helpful addition in the course details. It also wasn't in the description (that I saw) that we would be going to a range in Santa Clara. It would have been helpful to know that we'd be going elsewhere ahead of time, to account for gas and travel time after the course was over. I'm glad I took this course and I look forward to going back to the range soon!! read more

Stay far away from these people. Very unethical business practice. They require you to take their fire arms safety course before taking the test, even for renewals. I understand them high encouraging it but making it requirement before taking the FSC test is unlawful. read more

Great training!!! Trainers were Attentive, knowledgeable and patient. There's parking in front of the office. Training hours are flexible. read more

Was a very informative class. The instructor was patient in helping me. We also went to a firing range and practiced. I heard instructor teaches some law enforcement also. The students all got along really well. It was a good class and I would do it again. read more

The instructor was very knowledgable. He gave an informative lesson and was patient while instructing me. We had much practice also at the firing range. It was overall a good experience and I would go back again. read more

Very Impressed!!! I had a private intro to rifle class yesterday with Harold. He is extremely knowledgeable and obviously loves his job. Within a few hours I went from never shooting my rifle to nailing the target at 100 yards. I am looking forward to another session. read more

I found Harold and Scott to be really knowledgeable and willing to help make sure everyone was learning how to be safe. If I was confused or stuck, Harold did not make a fuss about showing me again or working with me to make sure I could grasp the concepts he was explaining and put them into practice. read more

Just finished my 3 gun: Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun. Bay Area Firearms are total professionals, with excellent customer service. They took there time with me after using there guns. Now I know exactly what to buy! Thanks guys. read more

Scott was great! I walked in and within minutes I was loading and under loading a Glock. He didn't waste time; We did drills on safety for 30 minutes, then how to hold the Glock. It was the real deal here. No BS! read more

My cousin and I took the Full Length Pistol Certification Class with Walid/Rocky on October 7th, 2025. Scott was the person in contact for scheduling/rescheduling. It was an easy process and meaningful experience that helped with our pistol shooting! Overall, Scott maintained a clear line of communication via email and text messaging. Walid went through safety, gun handling, and aiming. Since we had prior experience shooting, Walid verified our gun safety and expedited the class into one-on-one coaching. He improved our trigger control, our sight aiming considering our left-eye dominance, and our stance/posture. We worked on 5-15 yard shooting, and with Walid's coaching, we were able to close our groupings to about baseball-size! read more

It was a great experience with instructors Harold and Rick ! They taught me very patiently. I learned a lot from them within 2hours. If you are interested in shooting or you are a beginner,you got go looking for them, you will get everything you need to know professionally read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

Scott and his team are exceptional shooting range instructors with expertise and professionalism. Their extensive knowledge of firearms, safety protocols, and shooting techniques creates a highly educational and enjoyable experience for participants at any skill level. I had a great time with my father at the shooting range, it was such a good bonding experience! During the session, I realized I had discovered a new passion - an excellent way to unwind and let off some steam in a safe, structured environment. I highly recommend taking a course to anyone looking to improve their shooting skills or simply enjoy a top-quality experience at the range! Blow off some steam (literally.) :) read more

I've previously taken a handgun safety class with this group. This time I took the two gun shoot - pistol and rifle. I own my own handgun and shoot at the range regularly. The handgun class section was a safety refresher but also went through some new tactical drills to practice. At the range, I got some stance adjustments, and tactical drills - speed reloading, strong hand and weak hand shooting. The rifle shoot was an introduction for me. I was expecting to shoot an AR-15 but shot a 9 mm rifle. It was a good introduction to the mechanics of a rifle. But will look to find a more in-depth class and shoot for an AR-15. read more

Harold and Scott are good instructors！Amazing experience for learning gun shooting with them.

Clark Bowdry was informative and gave relatable instructions. At the range he also walked us through correcting aim issues so that we were able to have a successful learning experience. read more

Very patient, clearly guided through all the parts, handling, and safety. Good advice on how to improve in practice at the range. Highly recommend. read more

Overall had a good experience shooting the Glock 17 and a 9mm AR-15 for the first time but think they should be more up front with hidden costs and rules for new shooters. The course was already expensive-$310 and you are essentially forced to buy earpro, eyepro, and two boxes of ammo ($30 each) which comes out to $120. Then range fees which were $40, making the cost near $500. Ammo and range fees are mentioned on the website but should give an estimate of how much these extras cost because a newer shooter has no idea. Earpro and eyepro was not mentioned and website should say you have to buy new from them. They had plenty of used headsets on the rack and would it really have been a burden to let us use them for an hour? Also, it's not mentioned anywhere on the website that we'd only be able to shoot a "real" 5.56 AR on certain days, so we were stuck with the 9mm. The overall course was good and the instructor Harold was friendly and helpful. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

If you're going in for CCW. Go elsewhere. They're not certified to provide a NRA OR USSCA NUMBER. Without this, your application is worthless. Pay the money elsewhere that is certified and credible. Here they give you basic training and not what you paid for. Updated review by the way. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

Great and accurate training, Most recommended. Any questions they can answer. I found the process very satisfying. All staff are awesome and very helpful. I will be going again for more training. read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Trainer and myself - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

I took a rifle class here and had a terrible experience -- not because of the instructor, but because of how Scott Jackson, the shop owner, runs his business. The instructor was actually great and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, he's just the middle man caught in a setup that's clearly designed to squeeze money out of you at every step. I showed up for the class at 9am -- no one else was there. Scott, who I had been communicating with, was nowhere to be found. I got about 15 minutes of basic rifle instruction, and then was suddenly told we'd head to the range hours later. No clear timeline, no contact info, no preparation. I was just told to meet at the range at 11:30. At the range, the staff had no idea who I was, who I was supposed to be training with, or what was going on. I waited around awkwardly, and the instructor finally arrived 20 minutes late. He then told me to lie and say we were friends using his gun -- which felt shady and unprofessional. On top of that, Scott pressured me into buying cheap ear muffs and safety glasses I didn't need -- for $40 and $20. I already had my own, but he insisted. When I later asked if I could return the gear or at least trade it for ammo, he said yes -- then ghosted me completely. I ended up spending over $300 on this class, plus my own ammo, and was left feeling ripped off and misled. The place is disorganized, the shop is a mess, and it's clear the priority is getting your money, not providing value. Do yourself a favor -- find a more honest and professionally run training course. This one's not it. read more

I have taken a few classes with these guys and I learn a lot each time. I appreciate the attention to detail, my position, technique and identifying areas for improvement. My questions were answered and I left feeling more confident. read more

I booked a long range rifle lesson via phone. Was supposed to be a private lesson. Paid for it. Showed up and they didn't prep for it. Ended up shooting some 9mm AR at some indoor range with concurrent pistol lesson. Had to pay for range fee, drive down to San Jose, premium on ammo. Over $400 and ended up shooting at 25 yards on an AR. Lol. Waste of money and time. Total scam. read more

Scott was attentive and friendly. Taught us and let us shoot all 3 of his guns over the course of a few sessions. Would definitely recommend if you want to be exposed to a variety of guns and want to learn from an expert. read more

Scott and Harold are the best Good teaching skills great guys to learn From especially been doing this for long time You know they have the experience And the equipment to get you set up And going at no time Thank you Scott and Harold read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Paid for classes, due to the owners incompetence this company was unable to fulfill their end. When I asked for a refund, the owner then threatened to shoot me. I called my bank and was immediately refunded. The owner then harassed me and threatened me for a few weeks via email and phone. read more

Caution you to read other lower rated reviews before deciding to go here. Signed up for Full Pistol Certification crs as recommended by Scott, who txt'd me while I was browsing on their website. No other business has done this, in my experience. It's an aggressive tactic. Scott honored the discount I asked about and charged me $200 instead of $235. However, he made his money back and more when he charged me $123+ for ear protection, eye protection & 100 rounds of ammo. When I got home, I looked up these items online and found that they cost $30 total (taxes included). He upcharged me by $93. As mentioned by other reviews, the range is a drive away..in my case..it was a 45 min drive d/t traffic. I paid another $42+ there for lane fee despite spending 20 min shooting, which felt rushed. I was the last student to shoot. Overall, I won't do business w/ them again. read more

Harold is a real professional and an excellent trainer. It was a pleasure learning about gun use and safety with him. He also was great guiding me at the shooting range while I was shooting at the target. Highly recommend this business if you want to learn self defense. read more

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Neg reviews on google are legit. These guys here are completely unprofessional and grouchy. Find somewhere better cuz this place aint it. (Read the owner's responses to others on google reviews) Edit to response by owner: tell yourself to be nice to others with the way you respond to reviews on google bro practice what you attempt to preach read more

Bay Area Firearms Training Group - The owner taking the L to the lobby - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Burlingame, California

As a new firearm owner/handgun owner I was a little nervous coming in for my first class here, but Harold was a great instructor and incredibly patient. I would recommend coming here if you are a first time owner read more