Great class, excellent instructor. I took the conceal carry class for Illinois. Chris our…read moreinstructor; was very patient with us and answered every question clearly and succinctly. I have been shooting for over twenty years and he was able to correct some of my bad habits and teach us new safety techniques. All the course work is taught in a very professional yet accessible manner. Chris was very respectful regarding various levels of familiarity with firearms and shared his informed opinion with us in bite size pieces of information. I was impressed at how quickly he could spot deficiencies in technique and the ease with which he was able to correct them on the spot. The theoretical part of the course was less exciting, but Chris made it very clear how it relates to every day use and gave several examples each time a clarifying question was asked. This was by far the best experience I have had with a firearms instructor and I have sent my friends to the course who all had the identical perfect experience.

Terrance (TK) was patient and thorough. Very professional and safety conscious!read more

I've had the pleasure to be certified for CCW Illinois by Terreance Holley and his crew at T.K…read moreDefense Training just recently. Terreance's knowledge for the pistol instruction, law education and range safety is very strong and I would highly recommend utilizing T.K Defense for your pistol qualification / certification needs.

Dennis (Dub) is experienced, knowledgeable, thorough in covering important and pertinent…read moreinformation, passionate about all things firearm-related, patient- especially with beginners, enthusiastic to share and help, and very generous with his time! He is very supportive and wants his students to be successful!

These guys were awesome!! I was not sure what I was getting into but Dub and Barry were great guys…read moreand explained everything. They were fun to talk to and answered all my questions. For those that are thinking about the class, do it! You won't be disappointed. Thanks again guys!!

I recently completed my CCL course at Lightning Defense Academy, and I can say without hesitation…read morethat this is the best firearms training academy in Northern Illinois. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional, educational, and deeply meaningful to me. My instructor, Erin, is nothing short of outstanding. Her intelligence, professionalism, patience, and strong character set the tone for the entire class. She created a supportive, welcoming classroom environment where every question was encouraged and answered with clear, precise instruction. Erin truly takes the time to ensure her students understand not only how to safely handle a firearm, but also the laws, responsibilities, and mindset required of a concealed carry license holder. Her trust in me as a student, the time she invested, and her belief in my ability to succeed meant more to me than words can fully express. She is an incredible female instructor who absolutely rocks this class and blew it out of the park on every level. The class itself was fun, informative, and well-paced, with a great group size that allowed for individual attention. The agility test and range qualification were run smoothly and professionally, and the written test at the end of the course was extremely helpful in reinforcing everything we learned. I walked away feeling confident, informed, and prepared. The owner, John, is an amazing instructor and an even better human being. Despite running a busy family business and teaching instructor-level classes, he took time to step into our classroom and share invaluable, real-world knowledge that every CCL holder should hear. His guidance on the range is something you truly need to experience firsthand. He is patient, highly knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in the success and safety of every student. Lightning Defense Academy is also home to an incredible pro shop located in the same building. It is a family-run business, with John and his son working behind the counter and going above and beyond to help. They patiently answered my questions, guided me toward the proper holster for my needs, and made the purchasing process comfortable and educational. The selection of firearms and accessories is outstanding, with one of the largest selections of new and used firearms I've seen, along with hands-down the best-priced ammunition in McHenry County. What truly sets Lightning Defense Academy apart is their commitment to the community. They offer free classes for women taught by Erin, free CPR and first aid classes, and many additional opportunities to continue learning and growing as a responsible firearm owner. Passing this class meant the world to me. Being trusted, taught, and guided by such a knowledgeable and caring team opened my eyes to the seriousness, responsibility, and legal understanding required of a CCL holder. Lightning Defense Academy doesn't just teach you how to pass a class--they teach you how to carry with confidence, responsibility, and respect for the law. Located off Route 14 in Crystal Lake, Lightning Defense Academy is a true platinum gem. If you are considering obtaining your CCL or furthering your firearms education, do not miss the opportunity to train with John, Erin, and their outstanding team. I recommend Lightning Defense Academy without hesitation as the absolute best in Northern Illinois.

My wife and I took class with Erin she did an awesome job and made us feel very comfortable and…read moresafe!

Mike is extremely professional and knowledgable. He knows it all - and CCW training will be…read morescheduled very soon. I had my 2.5 hour Private Lesson [classroom and range time] and couldn't have been more pleased with the session. My stance, grip and trigger control habits have been re-established and are now where they should be. The next skill set I plan on working with Mike are Dry Fire techniques and some more range time. By the way, his blog and website are filled with tons of great information, so check those out.

The weekend Alpha Koncepts concealed carry class was extremely well taught. Thomas is truly an…read moreexpert in his field. He presented the curriculum in a way that made the class flow naturally and kept everyone engaged. He made the material interesting by sharing real-life experiences from both his students and his own life. He also has a great sense of humor, which made the long weekend enjoyable. Thomas thoroughly prepared us with the knowledge necessary to legally conceal and carry in Illinois. He did an excellent job getting us ready for the shooting qualification, including proper holster draws and safe firearm handling. I hadn't shot a firearm in years, and my wife had never shot one before -- yet we both passed. As long as you follow directions and prioritize safety at both the range and in the classroom, anyone can succeed. I researched multiple concealed carry classes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, and Alpha Koncepts was by far the highest rated. Thomas has been teaching concealed carry classes since it became legal in Illinois, and his experience shows. If you're serious about taking a concealed carry class, I highly recommend Alpha Koncepts. Thomas is not only a great instructor, but a genuinely great person as well.

I took my CCL class it was really good Thomas is really…read moregood instructor he explained alot about this stuff he trained me really good and i felt comfortable in his class he gave all the information i really needed

I was fortunate to receive NRA Basic Shotgun Training from Guns n Such. Eric was my instructor. He…read morewas knowledgeable, considerate and provided the right level of training I needed to begin my wing-shooting journey. Great all round experience.

They have been at their new location almost a year now. Everytime I go in I ask if the range is…read moreopen and they come up with something like oh their just finishing it up this week. Doubt it will ever be open. Bring back CYArmory

I just took my exam at this testing center and it was pretty nice! Here are some things to note if…read moreyoure planning on taking an exam here too: the good :) - the proctors in the morning were super kind. another student and I were freaking out because the door would not open but we knocked on the window and someone came to let us in. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON ENTERING THE BUILDING. dont be like me, it was a very stressful way to start my morning - the facility is very clean. there was no construction nearby so it was nice and quiet. - I got dropped off for my exam because I was nervous about parking, but there is PLENTY. Parking is not right in front of the building though so make sure you plan ahead - the lady helping us sign in was very kind and calm. she was very patient as nervous students were having trouble with the extensive check in policy - the lockers are spacious! of course, limit what you bring to the testing center, but I brought a tote and lunch box -- both fit comfortably - the bathrooms were very close to the testing center so 10 minute breaks were plenty of time to go and come back - there is a water dispenser in the testing room by the lockers. you should ideally bring your own food/water, but don't freak out if you forget! - watches are not allowing in the testing room but FEAR NOT, there is a clock on the wall to make sure you keep track of your break times the bad :( - there was a ticking noise in the ceiling during my exam that would come and go // it was pretty distracting without any noise-cancelling equipment - the earplugs provided by the testing center are foam cylinders that are not very comfortable. might want to ask if you can bring your own that are more tapered for comfort - noise-cancelling headphones are provided by the exam but they were very tight on my head and gave me ear pain - THE COMPUTERS ARE SO WIDE. All the letters are so wide and you can see the pixels of every word and image on the screen. This took some time getting used to in the beginning of the exam so beware! lil fun fact: during one of the breaks, one of the proctors was telling me that there are no 13's in the room. no 13 desk, no 13 locker, no 13 waiting card. superstitious or not, it is a nice touch

PROS: 1) Staff at the Buffalo Grove location were very kind…read moreand helpful, which made an inherently stressful day much easier. I was so pleasantly surprised, especially having read mixed Yelp reviews of Pearson test center staff at various locations. Seriously, give those folks at the Buffalo Grove testing center a raise for customer relations (though a couple of procedural improvements should be implemented, as noted below). 2) Site is easy to get to and has plenty of free parking. So much easier than having to take public transit into downtown Chicago or deal with city traffic and city parking. 3) Building and test center were very clean and comfortable. 4) I passed my test, so hurray for that. CONS: 1) I had to ask before staff told me that I could get my test results same day. Then when I asked about my score after the test, the guy monitoring the room said results were supposed to have displayed on screen. Only after I told him that they hadn't did he offer to look up my score and tell me that (*surprise*) he could even give me a hard copy printout of my results. If I hadn't inquired I don't think test center staff were going to volunteer this, and I would've walked out without knowing it was available. Big procedural oversight. For tests where scores and/or hard copies of results are available immediately, all examinees should be told up front that this will be provided. To be clear, I think the staff were well-intentioned and that this was an inadvertent oversight, but something this important should be standard operating procedure. 2) Beware when taking notes: They give you a plastic sheet to take notes w/a special marker. You can have extra sheets, but they don't automatically tell you that you'll be forced to give up your first sheet if you ask for a second one. If I hadn't asked for a second sheet up front, the guy monitoring the room wouldn't have warned me of this policy and I wouldn't have been able to plan accordingly. That would have been awful, if I'd run out of space and had to choose between giving up a whole page of notes or not being able to take any additional notes. Again, I think the test proctor meant well, he just didn't realize that this was a potentially important thing to tell people. 3) Computer display was AWFUL. Monitor was very wide, and the test displayed in very small text across the full width of the monitor so I had to squint and physically turn my head side to side to read each question. So much eye strain, I got a terrible headache part way through which made it much harder to concentrate. Staff at the test center told me that not all exams display that way, and suggested I complain to the company that makes the test. I could, but I think Pearson should really take care of that. It's their job to provide a reasonable testing environment, and for a $700 testing fee, one would think they could (and should) ensure an easily readable computer display.