Trained with Scott and Frank, and had an absolute blast (pun intended)…read more Highlights and notes: - excellent pacing and smaller classes make it easy for people of all experience levels to have a good time. - instructors are very nice and helpful, providing constructive feedback on body position, trigger work, movement, staying relaxed, etc. - the range is not covered, so sunscreen is recommended, and you'll have to help clean up brass afterwards, so I'd suggest bringing gloves as well. - Water is provided, but pack extra drinks for hotter days. You'll be shooting outdoors for 6hrs straight with minimal breaks, so be sure to fuel up appropriately with a BYO lunch and snacks as needed. In summary: if you're looking to take your shooting skills to the next level, I highly recommend these guys - I had an excellent time and will definitely be back!

So found Loudoun Tactical through Facebook Ads in 2021 and was always interested in taking a class,…read morebut felt insecure as I never had any real training other than friends giving me tips and advice. My wife surprised me with a Red Dot pistol course as an early Christmas Present in November of 2021. Now, I looked them up, saw a sketch Reddit thread, but it was already paid for and gave them a shot. I approached the class as the newest shooter and definitely insecure about my ability. Every one looked experienced and based on early conversations, the other classmates had taken classes before with them. Our instructors was Andy, the founder and one of his principal instructors, Scott. They were intimidating but friendly. Started off with a classroom session learning about Red Dot optics on pistols and it was very informative. As we moved into the actual shooting portion, I was full of nerves and insecurity. Judging on the first drill, I was out of my league in terms of skill compared to the other students. But to my surprise, Scott and Andy were really encouraging and supportive. My insecurities began to fade away and I started to feel more confident in my ability. Lots of positive feedback and encouragement throughout the day. From when I started to when I ended the day, my shooting was night and day difference. Lots of positive feedback and criticism to help me improve. At the end of the day, I had such a blast and great time. So great that I signed up for a rifle 1 course and last weekend, the rifle and pistol 1 course. I have learned so much, had fun, and become a better shooter. Andy and his Cadre have been nothing but supportive, fun and informative. Im already planning to take more courses and improve my shooting more. They really make it fun and engaging and ensure you learn. They're extremely patient with students trying to learn and boost your ego with a lot of positive reinforcement. I have absolutely no regrets about any of my three experiences and have planned more courses in the future. If you're on the fence, do it. If you read the reddit review, ignore it! You will not be disappointed with your experience from beginning to end.

I did my basic pistol course today. At first, I was a bit concerned that Burx might not have the…read moreexperience to provide good training. I was wrong, he is an excellent instructor. He is enthusiastic about the subject, clear in his delivery, and works hard to adapt the material to the background of the student. Turns out that he is also a very personable guy, which makes the training easier. Burx introduces a wide array of guns to you, and you get to shoot any or all of them. This is really very, very helpful in trying to figure out what kind of gun would work for you in any specific situation. I'd say that if you are contemplating a gun purchase, get trained by Burx first so that you can make an informed decision. If you are relatively new to firearms, or want to improve your marksmanship, Burx is also the right guy to go to. He told me things about seemingly basic stuff such as how to hold the guns properly, which other people seem to ignore. The difference between getting basics like this right, and not getting them right are huge. For example, the guy in the next lane had immense problems getting any kind of grouping on targets at any distance because his grip was wrong.

Jim Nida is an outstanding instructor hands-down. My wife, daughter and I attended his training,…read morewhich he adjusted to meet our busy schedules, and provided some the most professional yet personable training I've personally have ever participated in. His course is set within the NRA standards and he used his extensive law enforcement background to provide a very grounded approach to handgun orientation, safety, and firing. He dealt with three very different levels of experience within the same class and made it enjoyable and educational at the same time. He is patient and thoughtful with all his students and made both my wife and daughter feel totally at ease; no pressure, no games, no judgment. I would highly recommend him to anyone of any skill level seeking CCW accredited training or for more advanced skills; which we all agreed we will be calling him for soon. A great experience for all levels of proficiency; beginner to advance.

When I signed up for the First Steps class at Handgun Academy Va, I was a complete novice to…read morehandguns -- didn't know how to shoot, load, handle, or store a handgun. After just 2 hours in the classroom, I felt confident and prepared to head to the range with the instructor and try out what I had learned. Jim Nida is professional and clearly experienced at what he does, and makes an excellent instructor, especially for beginners. I received a certificate from attending his course that will allow me to apply for my Virginia concealed carry permit. I will be back to take more lessons from him on more specific skills (of my choosing, which is even better!). I will be recommending Handgun Academy Va to everyone I know, and anyone who is interesting in learning how to shoot. As a woman, it's important that I can feel protected, and thanks to Jim I feel like I can defend myself and handle weapons accurately and safely.

While I am a member of IWLA's ARL-FFX chapter, I gotta say that the NRA HQ Shooting range is not a…read morebad place for me to shoot now and then. Especially since the pistol and rifle ranges at my club are outdoors, it's convenient to come here when it's super windy or super rainy. You don't have to be an NRA member to shoot here, but you do get a discount. Also, there are no gun rentals at this range -- if you wanna shoot, bring your own firearms. They also have range rules on what ammo you can shoot, and they will check your ammo before they assign you a range. Thankfully, they have ammo for sale if your ammo isn't shootable at the range, and/or you forgot your ammo. If it's your first time coming to the range, you will be required to take a range safety test (if you're an average shooter with common sense, it's nearly impossible to fail unless you're intentionally trying to fail). Once you pass, you get a range card that you have to pay for, but once you buy it, you never have to pay again (unless you misplace it). Also, ladies: I recommend coming out on Thursday night! Not only do you get a discount on your range reservation, but you also get a free range card on your first visit! All in all, the NRA HQ range is great. As long as you follow the rules, it is not a bad place to shoot.

I want to give a huge shoutout to the staff at the National Rifle Association. I thought I had lost…read moremy wallet while I was there, and without me even having to ask, one of the gentlemen immediately went back and reviewed the security footage to help figure out where I may have left it. The entire staff genuinely helped look for it and treated the situation like it mattered to them too. What really amazed me was that a few days later, I actually received a follow-up phone call asking if I had found my wallet. That kind of customer service is almost unheard of these days. Sadly, true customer service feels lost nowadays, so when a company goes above and beyond like this, it deserves to be recognized. Thank you to everyone there for your kindness, professionalism, and willingness to help. It truly meant a lot.

I came to Drew with zero experience, a desire to pick up skills as quickly as possible, and a…read moredifficult schedule. He is an absolutely amazing teacher--gun expertise is a given (he has it across the board), but patience and flexibility aren't--and he has those as well, in spades. In a matter of weeks I went from not being able to hold a gun (and being pretty frightened on the range) to developing solid fundamentals and leaving with much greater comfort with both the gun itself and the range. He is the best teacher for beginners (and probably fo more advanced shooters as well); I would highly recommend him to anyone, especially for private instruction!

Let's start by explaining that before going to the range with Drew I had an unnatural fear of guns…read more Drew was so patient and was able to put me at ease. Drew stressed safety and respect for the firearms and the rules of the range. In the end a I was able to shoot a few 9mm and a few rifles. All my fear is conquered and I can't wait to do it again!

I recently completed three Green Ops pistol courses: Advanced Application of Pistol Fundamentals,…read moreDefensive Pistol 1, and Defensive Pistol 2, and they were outstanding. The instructors deliver exceptional training at a very fair value. Every instructor I worked with was extremely competent and clearly brought deep experience from law enforcement, military shooting, and competition backgrounds. Across the three courses I had a mix of returning and new instructors, which meant I benefited from multiple perspectives, different teaching styles, and constant constructive feedback throughout the training. One thing that really stood out was the student-to-instructor ratio, which never exceeded roughly 5-6 students per instructor. That meant everyone received real coaching and corrections instead of just standing on the line burning ammo. The learning environment was excellent. There were no egos among the instructors or students, which is honestly rare in the firearms training world. The instructors were down to earth, approachable, and connected well with the class, which made the training both productive and genuinely enjoyable. Spending full days on the range can be a grind, but these guys made it fun. They also did a great job of accommodating different skill levels without slowing the class down or rushing anyone. The training simply flowed in a way that kept everyone progressing. The facilities were more than adequate for the course material and allowed the instructors to run drills safely and effectively. I've spent 27 years in the military and now work in executive protection, and I've trained with a lot of different instructors and organizations over the years. Green Ops is absolutely among the best. If you're serious about improving your pistol skills, these classes are worth traveling for.

I can not say enough good things. I took Defensive carbine 1 and 2. Matt, lead instructor and his…read moreassistants were amazing. Very humble yet confident. Safe learning environment with an emphasis to pushing learners skill and confidence to next level. I now want my boys to go through his class before they commit to any military academy. Thank you Green ops. Looking forward to next class soon. Jonas Retired Fire Captain

At this point, it's hard to call what's going on anything other than a complete shit show. What…read moreshould be a smoothly run operation has turned into constant confusion, mismanagement, and frustration for everyone involved. There's no clear communication, no accountability, and no sense that anyone at the top actually has control of what's happening day to day. Mistakes keep stacking up, problems go unresolved, and instead of fixing the root issues, everything feels reactive and sloppy. People are left guessing, cleaning up messes that shouldn't exist in the first place, and dealing with unnecessary stress because leadership refuses to adapt or acknowledge how bad things have gotten. When the same problems keep repeating, that's not bad luck that's bad management. Running something like this requires energy, organization, and the ability to evolve. Right now, none of that is showing. The result is a mess that reflects poorly on everyone involved and wastes time, money, and patience. At some point, self-awareness matters. If you're no longer able or willing to run things competently, the responsible move isn't to dig in harder it's to step aside. Honestly, it might be time to seriously consider retiring and letting someone else take over who actually has the drive, clarity, and capability to run things properly. Because what's happening now isn't sustainable, and pretending everything is fine just makes the collapse louder and more embarrassing when it finally hits.

It's too popular now. Good luck with parking, and having any room. I always feel safest at a gun…read moreshow. They have some good vendors, but I've only purchased one pistol from here. Haggle like you mean business! Otherwise I find better deals at stores. Nice folks who run this, but I'm not enamored by a vendor or two selling authentic Nazi Germany merchandise. It's creepy. On a positive note, the gent who sends WW2 rifles is amazing. I forgot his name, but all you have to say is "World War 2 firearms." The man is an expert, yet humble and easy going. These crowds are large, although everyone is polite and respectful. Go for the experience, but be wary of pricing.

My wife and I took this course together, and it was an awesome experience. Mark brought great…read moreenergy, made the class fun, and kept everyone engaged the entire time. He's very knowledgeable but explains everything in a way that's easy to understand, no matter your experience level. You can tell he cares about people actually learning--not just getting through the class. We both walked away feeling confident and well-informed. Highly recommend

I took the 1-day "Renewal Course for DC Concealed Pistol License and/or Maryland Wear and Carry" in…read moreJuly 2026. I took the full 2- day course for the initial permits 2 years prior. My comments apply to both. Mark Briley (Capital Defense Instruction LLC) and George Lyon (DC Learn to Shoot) did an outstanding job with their tag-team style of instruction. From the beginning, the Capital Defense website for course registration was easy to navigate, and the various classes are offered regularly, making the entire sign-up process a breeze. The classroom instruction was excellent, with both instructors able to offer insights and tips based on their vast personal knowledge and experience. Both were able to deliver a common sense approach to self-defense, going beyond just the required curricula and legal aspects and explain in plain language how to think about various self-defense scenarios. The live-fire range test was equally satisfying, with a flexible scheduling process and Mark providing helpful insights, tips, and encouragement during the actual live fire. I plan to return for my required renewal training in the future.