I had the absolute best time in Gary's Beginner's Handgun & LTC combo class! We went over gun safety, gun laws, etc and Gary was very thorough and was sure to answer everyone's questions. He told stories to make the classroom time flyby and I was entertained the whole day. The gun range was a blast. I've never really liked guns and have always been scared of them so I went in super nervous, having only shot a gun a handful of times. By the end of the hour at the gun range, I felt so much more comfortable around guns, understanding how they operate, and more confident with my ability to handle one. I felt safe around Gary and the other students because he was so adamant about safety first. I would recommend this class to anyone! read more

See all

If you have been thinking about becoming a gun owner, please get training first and also your License to Carry training from Gary. He's been in the business for years and knows what he's doing and can be extremely helpful to you with training, and also can make sure that you select the perfect gun. My situation was really unique because he needed to teach me how to shoot with my non-dominant hand due to damage to my dominant hand. I know he was thinking, "This is going to be mighty interesting!" It was. Gary's patience helped me accomplish the mission at hand. It wasn't easy for me, and it was painful (for us both). But Gary hung in there with me with such a great attitude that I am forever grateful and recommend him to anyone who wants to learn Texas gun laws throughly, with a comical twist, and who wants to pass their LTC test and the range test. Get some rest the night before & be ready for a long day of excitement. Gary makes sure that you don't leave his class without knowing when & where you should carry your gun and there are many reminders to NEVER point a gun at anyone to play around. Gary's great personality and patience is just what you need. He is available for one-on-one or classroom instruction, by appointment. I plan to return for more range training from the best. Give him a call. read more

Defender CHL - Practicing at the range with Gary. - Firearm Training Near Me - Katy, Texas

Gary, I really enjoyed your online course and qualifying with you. I appreciate the extra time that you devoted to email and phone questions. I'll be sending my wife over for your "In-Person" class. Thanks! read more

I just completed this class and the ink is not even dry yet on my certificate. I learned so much from Gary and the environment was definitely comfortable and inviting. Gary made you feel comfortable and relaxed regardless of your level of experience and no question was a dumb question. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and plan to continue to keep in touch and do business with Gary. It was by far one of the best learning experiences I have had in a very long time. Gary's knowledge, patience and expertise definitely put a lot of my concerns and fears to rest. I walked out the class feeling more confident about the safety and proper use of my firearm. read more

I only give 5/5 if I am blown away, no pun intended here, by the experience, so don't take the four starts as some indication that you're better off somewhere else. If you need a license to carry a firearm in Texas come to this man. By the way, it is just a license to carry, period; there is no distinction between open carry and concealed as far as licenses go in Texas (and for very good reason when you logically think about it). For this type of training, where a cross section of our dear American society shows up, you need an intimate, mom and pop, let me sit you down and slowly explain things, kind of atmosphere. The old man does a good job; and no offense to him for calling him old...I forgot his name, but it is what it is. The old man breaks things down like you'd expect someone older to. Sometimes, he gets frustrated, sometimes he gets stuck in a rut and can't quite get why you can't get what he is telling you. However, that's the beauty of an intimate environment in a nice conference room in someone's house; it's more comfortable. As a previous gun user, I took the refresher course on gun use plus the legal class. I am glad I did because the refresher was great and so was the range time after. Look, you're not going to get President Obama teaching this kind of thing, with great oratorial and interpersonal skills. Let's keep that real. For the price, he does just fine. The only issue I had was that he spent a little too much time trying to sell insurance for your firearm and legal insurance. Not a bad idea, and after learning so much about weapons, I want the insurance products he mentioned. BUT, again, he's no corporate polished type...and usually, you don't do that period, even if you think the grandkids ought to buy it. Maybe you mention it briefly, but that's it...he got stuck for a few minutes in a rut about the bloody insurance and the legal this and that service. So, like I said, after reading reviews of other places, with instructors that sounded like they had some social autism issues, I went with him and highly recommend him. It's just going to feel mom and pop like, which is why I picked him. read more

Just finished my beginners combo and chl course with Gary Pierce. I am brand new to guns, no previous knowledge and or even touched or held a gun. The beginner combo class is perfect for people like me, with little experience. He taught me about gun safety, how to hold the gun, stances, and how to aim. After about three hours you will get to shoot a real loaded gun at the range. The first set is practice and the second set, use for passing the chl. The afternoon was spent on chl, state laws and federal laws. Although it is boring but necessary, Gary will get you the knowledge you need to pass. He tells great stories and real life scenarios. You learn when to use your gun and most importantly think and be safe using your gun. Highly recommended, I would do this over again if I had to! read more

Loved my experience! Gary is very knowledgable and very patient with you. I was afraid of shooting a gun, loading it, unloading, everything that had to do with a gun,you name it. With Gary I felt really good, really calm and comfortable! I definitely recommend him without a doubt!!! read more

Defender CHL - Firearm Training Near Me - Katy, Texas

Very knowledge instructor. Learned a lot from Mr Gary Pierce. Thank you so much for the help...

There are dirt cheap LTC/CHL classes out there. If you're reading reviews, you're probably asking yourself why you should go with Defender instead of the bargain basement deal of the week. Hopefully this review convinces you that Gary is worth the money. I took the beginner LTC class with my wife. It's immediately obvious that Gary loves what he does, and he has a LOT of experience. To me, that's worth far more than saving a few bucks with an instructor that only knows enough to teach the class. We asked a variety of questions, and Gary was quick to answer all of them. I felt like we could pick practically any topic and he could talk for hours about it. When we went to the range, Gary was quick to notice and correct bad shooting form. He immediately noticed "new shooter" mistakes, and corrected them. He roamed the lanes and would spend time with each of us (as needed) to correct bad form. I received valuable feedback that really improved my accuracy, before it was time to take the official test. I don't know if he offers it, but I have no doubt that an hour of private lessons with Gary would really improve a new shooter's accuracy. If you're new to guns, Gary does an excellent job getting you comfortable before you go to the range. If you're concerned, don't be. From what I saw in the beginners class, he will give you the attention you need to qualify. In my opinion, this is a huge reason to use Defender for your LTC. Everyone in our class passed, because he spent a little time with everyone at the range, but spent the most time with those that really needed it. This tells me he's a good instructor that will prioritize the worst to the best, so everyone does well. Back in the classroom, he livened up the dry Texas DPS material with the occasional video or personal story. Look, you're paying for his expertise. If you have a question related to guns or the Texas LTC regulations, he'll be able to give you an immediate and detailed answer. You only have to take this class once every 10 years. You might as well pay a professional to entertain you and answer all your questions. Defender was a little more expensive compared to others, but it was worth every penny. read more

Only place I could find that offers a combined beginner's gun class/ CHL licence. The class is taught from his house. He has a whole classroom setup. I had never touched a gun before this class. I will be recommending this place to others. read more

Defender CHL - Firearm Training Near Me - Katy, Texas

I really enjoyed this class. I took it today. It was very useful and the instructor is very knowledgeable and super friendly. The price is good, too. I thought the class would be extremely boring but I was certainly not bored. I would highly recommend this course. Thanks Gary! read more

I'm new to Texas and previously held a CHL in my old state of Pennsylvania. In that state, you just had to pass a background check and pay your money (which is way cheaper than TX!) and you walked out of the courthouse with your license in hand the same day. I was dreading shooting and sitting through a class, but Gary made my day very worthwhile. We went through the shooting portion quickly and the class was incredibly informative! Gary is so friendly and knowledgeable, and he was sure to make the class fun and enjoyable. Definitely recommend!!! read more

Gary is a true professional, very respectful, knowledgeable and great instructor with solid and extensive experience. Hands down the best choice for CHL training. read more

My wife wanted her CHL but had only had a few sessions with a handgun with me as the instructor so I went to defender and signed up for the basic handgun and CHL course. I had my Michigan CHL but decided to attend the same classes so we would be on the same page when going to the range the course was put on very professionally classroom was very comfortable course material was covered completely and hand gun handling in the classroom has safety stress more than anything. When going to the hand gun range again safety was priority and when we left I had learned a few things and I felt confident that my wife had attended a professional competent safe CHL course I was very impressed read more

Me and my wife took the combo Intro & LTC/CHL classes together. I have already had prior experience with firearms, but I found the class to still be very informative whether you are completely new or have been shooting for years. Even though the classroom time lasted more than half the day, Gary presented in the information in a way that kept everyone's attention. The classes are held inside his house which he has set up as a classroom with tables/chairs. Later on in the day, we all went over to Top Gun shooting range for the proficiency shooting test which went smoothly. I highly recommend taking this course if you are new to firearms, or a new Texas resident needing their LTC/CHL as the classroom material is very informative and detailed on texas gun laws. read more

I had never fired a handgun before today. I took the beginner / CHL course today. The instruction was very good. All my questions were answered and I feel I have a good understanding of the laws concerning guns and carrying them. I am also very comfortable holding and firing a handgun. Gary did a great job keeping the classroom part interesting. The time flew by. I also felt he was patient teaching me about holding and handling a handgun. And on the firing line he was awesome. I highly recommend Defender CHL if you want to get your CHL, learn to shoot a handgun (properly), or simply to learn the laws around carrying handguns. read more

I attended the full Beginner's course and CHL class and had a blast. Gary gave everyone individual attention and was extremely knowledgeable. He was a kind and funny person and I enjoyed all the stories he told during class. He even recommended supplementary things to have as a CHL holder which was helpful. I absolutely recommend him for your CHL class instructor! read more

It's been over 30yrs since I fired a gun, and I wanted some "basic gun instructions" before obtaining my LTC/CHL. Gary (and another LTC/CHL organization) were recommended to me for possible classes. After researching the two and a couple of others regarding curriculum, the cost and the availability/flexibility with my schedule, I decided to go with Gary. I enrolled in his "Private Beginners Combo Class". I was and am 100% satisfied with my total experience. Not only is Gary very knowledgeable on guns, gives concise instructions and training, but he is also knowledgeable of gun regulations/laws and gun organizations. Gary is very personable as an instructor, and big on Gun Wisdom & Gun Safety. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND "DEFENDER CHL"! read more

Took the beginners/LTC combo class on July 6. Unless you are highly knowledgeable about handgun use, I strongly suggest this combo class. Gary is more than qualified to teach the basics of handling and shooting a handgun. There is never a stupid question and he answers them all very professionally. In addition, he makes it fun! After finishing the beginners class, you'll be ready to take the shooting portion of the LTC requirement. Then, back to the classroom for what I thought would be a very dry classroom session covering the laws and other issues required for the written LTC exam. Boy was I wrong! This session was highly informative and fun! Gary related real life instances that pertained to the course material. I highly recommend Defender CHL if you are interested in obtaining you LTC! read more

I am a housewife who had never shot a handgun before yesterday's class with Mr. Gary Pierce, TX DPS Certified Instructor. Gary made safety a priority, made me feel at ease, and much more knowledgable and comfortable in handling and shooting a handgun. I highly recommend Defender CHL and Beginner Handgun Class. read more

If you are going to have to go through 8 hrs of classes and sessions, might as well do it with a good group and a great instructor. I learned a lot more than just about shooting, Gary highlights the important issues on law and responsibility, in addition we will bring outside presenters that will open your eyes towards the consequences and the way to minimize them from having a CHL and using a gun even when justified. Comfortable setting and well paced. read more