::::This is a second review from me, regarding a separate business function than my previous…read morereview:::: Artifex effectively does guns. They effectively teach guns + drills. They also effectively do guns + personal protection methods. But: DID. YOU. KNOW. They have such a deep and rich knowledge base that there is basically no situation that deals with personal- or self-defense they cannot handle. I'll explain. I reached out to Ben for an 'at-home, security picture review'. Ben forwarded my request over to BigTony. I met with BigTony over the weekend. The task was to develop my own personal self-defense plan for my home, and close any massive gaps that I may not be aware of. Tony was willing to meet, on my schedule, and even worked effectively with a last minute location change. No flaws, no frustration, no worries - just BigTony being BigTony. We have a new house; with a new neighborhood, and unfamiliar neighbors, routes, and routines. My deepest held concerns were the recent uptick in OC county crime, the warning signs, and developing new habits and patterns with my new home. Tony had it covered: Physical security. Advanced warning signs. Training to complete in the meantime, while enacting other preventative measures. People to call for updated OSINT. Home defense ballistics. Right down to gun safes, learning 'battle rhythm' before, during and after a home invasion across multiple scenarios, and with his help, I was able to view the impacts of my decisions through the eyes of the very adversary I am preparing against, as well as the from the first responders perspective, that eventually will arrive to close the scene. His thoughtful review, theoretical approaches to posturing (ex: 'grey-man' vs 'gun-guy'), etc... I could not think of any more approaches or variables I could throw at him. Once it was all said and done, we agreed to a post-implementation tag-up, to see the progress made, and/or take in any specifics that may have been overlooked. All on his own time. Bottom Line: it was incredibly relieving to have the TTPs I had already put in place verified, my concerns validated and decision and actions taken confirmed as 'adequate' for my surroundings/situation/circumstances. From the top to the bottom of my personal security stance, Tony answered literally every question I had. Not one gun was fired. No targets pasted. An incredible 'thinking man's approach' to surviving and thriving when the adrenaline is rushing, and seconds feel like hours. This meeting changed the game. I cannot recommend going through a thought-exercise like this enough. Rounds down range would never have gotten me the answers I received from this incredible team. Thank you BigTony. I am a proud monthly-dues member. If you are not yet, You are sorely missing out on providing the 'whole of security' approach to your family, neighborhood, and community. They are multi-faceted, well-rounded, highly experienced, seasoned professionals whose guidance you will have wanted in your kit-bag well before your "sunshine and rainbows: day turns to "hell-in-a-handcart" in a flash. Tony, Ben, and crew: THANK YOU!!

This place is fantastic. I recently did my renewal here, Dave was the instructor and it was way…read morebetter than the place I went to before. The class was all on Zoom, which was very convenient and informative. The range practice was outdoors which was also much more realistic than an indoor range for true training.

This place is amazing! I can't say enough good things about ShootSoCal Firearms. The level of…read morecustomer service, communication and overall quality that you find here is honestly very elusive in this industry. Dave, the owner, is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to actually help you without any pressure or attitude. If you've ever been to other firearm stores, you probably know what I mean. Many places can come off like they have a superiority complex, like you're supposed to already know everything. That's not the case here at all. At ShootSoCal, you can ask any question and they'll walk you through it without making you feel uncomfortable. That alone goes a long way and keeps me coming back. I've purchased items from them, had builds done and even had custom work completed and every single time the result has been the same: top-tier service and excellent results. They're consistent, professional, and genuinely care about their customers. I recommend them to everyone I know. If you're looking for a place that treats you right and delivers quality work, this is it.

I used ShootSoCal as the FFL for my purchases from Palmetto State Armory. The staff was patient and…read morediligent in explaining the process to me (this was my first firearm purchase online), as well as all the charges necessary to take possession of my PSA purchase, including background check, transfer fees etc. (sidenote: aside from the background check--which I don't object to btw--it's quite a racket Sacramento's politicians have got going -- this particular comment is aimed at them, not the folks at ShootSoCal). Small shop, but good selection of equipment, from AR parts to carry bags, oil/maintenance kits etc. Also, staff gave me some practical advice about anodizing the steel barrel I had purchased (for getting a different color on it), getting a gun locker and outdoor ranges within a 45 minute drive. Lastly, I was offered assistance to assemble my firearm, but didn't need it since I'd been studying how to do that while waiting to take delivery. Bottomline: I'd use ShootSoCal as an FFL again.

My partner and I attended an introductory lesson with Coach Taylor. Neither one of us has ever…read morefired a live firearm, but we wanted to have the background knowledge to do so with confidence when we finally do visit an actual range. The training we received last week was excellent! From knowing how to hold the "gun" and clear it from the holster properly to knowing (more importantly) when and how to shoot at someone who is a threat, we were both amazed at what we experienced. In particular, I greatly appreciated Taylor's honest, straightforward 'lectures' about what could go wrong if you're not careful or too over-eager when wielding a firearm. My partner and I are seriously considering joining UDT during the summer when our work schedules lighten up. The various firearms training sessions and martial arts options they offer are definitely a plus.

There is a reason this place has 5 stars . I've been coming for the last couple of months and love…read moreevery course I have taken! I highly recommend it !

I was interested in learning proper firearms etiquette, and had an opportunity to do so at Evan's…read moreGun World. I attended their intro to handguns class, covering the basics of safety and proper form, and getting in some introductory shooting experience. John, our instructor, was very engaging and great at commanding attention when needed and building up the class's confidence. Afterward, I took them up on their 'newbie' offer of free range time and rental after class. Kevin signed me up for a lane, let me rent a couple of handgun models I researched previously, and critiqued my targets, giving some general feedback and advice. He also pointed me toward a couple other models that are known to be more friendly to left-handed shooters that I can test out in the future. Great place; a little on the older and smaller sides, but staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and attentive. I get the feeling that as I 'shop around' for my go-to range there's a strong chance I will gravitate back here, since these guys are passionate about what they do, and seem to want to inspire that passion in others. Definitely will make it a point to stop by again.

I've wanted to hit Evans Gun World for a while after hearing good things from friends, so a buddy…read moreand I finally dropped in on a Saturday afternoon. As expected for a weekend, there was a wait, but since we were off for the day, we didn't mind hanging out on the folding chairs in the retail section for 30 minutes. The staff is awesome--super friendly and easy to talk to--and the check-in was painless. While waiting, I noticed their optics prices are actually lower than most other shops in OC. I'll definitely be back when I'm ready to pick up another Holosun. The only real downside is their range rule: you have to reload your magazines at the shooting stall, not the back table. Because the space is tight, I couldn't reload while my friend was shooting. We ended up spending half our time just loading mags, which really cut into our actual trigger time. It's a solid spot and less expensive than other local ranges, so I'd come back alone, but I'll probably skip the "buddy trips" here since the reload rule makes it hard for two people to get their money's worth.

Upon entering the shop, it was very clean, modern and inviting. I was greeted by all the employees…read moreand they were all friendly and inviting. They had a large selection of firearms stocked in their showroom. The range was very sleek and clean as well. It was very well ventilated and the lighting ambience was a nice touch with the ability to control the lighting in your lane. Iron Mike's range is the most technologically packed range I've been to. The amount of features included in each lane is state of the art which is worth the range fee if you're utilizing them all. For a planned visit that was only supposed to be an hour or so turned out to be 4 hours well spent with a couple of friends! Iron Mike's will be my go-to range and all firearms needs now! Thanks to Khoi and Mike for the amazing experience!

Iron Mike's is the premiere shooting range in OC. Walking in makes you feel like you're in a John…read moreWick movie. The lanes are the most technological I've ever used and are packed with PRACTICAL features (target camera and target "rush" mode just to name my favorites). Khoi was super inviting and made me feel welcomed from the moment I stepped into the range. This was by far the best indoor range experience I have had in my many years of shooting.

I just finished taking the NRA PERSONAL PROTECTION OUTSIDE OF THE HOME - INSTRUCTOR CLASS at…read moreALLSAFE. This is the premier CCW training curriculum. TJ is a wealth of knowledge and helped developed this course for the NRA, so we are getting training from the source. The most valuable part of this class was everything was taught from concealment and TJ made sure to give us the tools to teach these skills safely so our students can win a fight. The one surprising skill was learning how to teach concealment from a purse. This was eye opening. If you want the best use ALLSAFE.

My girlfriend and I attended a firearms basic class with TJ on 04/08/26 at Ft3 Tactical in Stanton…read moreTJ was our classroom instructor He covered pretty much everything you basically need to know about gun safety, and handling Once that was completed, we went down to the range and got to shoot several different guns This allowed us to select the ones that we felt most comfortable with The class is great, TJ was great as well All the instructors on the range were very patient and very helpful and the experience was awesome I think everyone that's a citizen of the United States should attend a class such as this Gun safety is super important, but the really important thing is that we know that guns don't kill people that people kill people Thanks, TJ!

Love this place and the people...straight and sharp!! Plus they'll do an excellent job cleaning any…read moreand all guns. With a smile even!! .... and cleaning guns sucks.

Kyle is very knowledgeable on the AR platform, he was extensive and complete in his evaluation of…read moremy AR10 that was having a feed issue. He is very fair in his price and highly recommend him for any need.

Chris was a patient instructor with a lot of great, real-life experience. I walked away with a new…read morerespect for the weapon. Absolutely recommend this course for hand gun safety. The facility could make some improvements. The smell of cat urine and litter was grossly overwhelming. At least 3 people (including me) had allergic reactions. The restrooms were dirty and it looked like someone had an accident ON the toilet seat in both restrooms.

Lance is the best instructor you can go to. NRA certified, Marine, excellent teacher.read more

Brett is awesome! He put together a fun outing for my son in law and family. That all had a great…read moretime and couldn't say enough about how much fun was had by all!

Apex Defensive Strategies is the real deal. I've personally trained with Brett, and his classes are…read moresome of the most professional, organized, and safety-focused I've ever attended. He goes way beyond basic stand-and-shoot drills and really pushes students to think, move, and shoot with purpose. In the more advanced pistol sessions I attended, we worked on movement, using cover correctly, engaging multiple targets, and tightening up fundamentals under pressure. In the home defense shotgun course, I learned how to maneuver the shotgun in tighter spaces, use optics effectively, and handle different target distances with much more control and confidence. What really sets Apex apart is the way Brett explains the "why" behind every drill, tailors feedback to each shooter, and maintains a serious but respectful environment. You can tell he cares about building safe, responsible, and capable shooters. If you're looking for legitimate defensive training in Orange County, I highly recommend Apex Defensive Strategies!

This place is so fun for cookie decorating! I think I have done 3 classes. My Yelp turned…read morepersonal friend Shawna introduced me to this and I have had so much fun going for the classes. The instructor goes over everything on screen so you can watch before you move forward with each step. I always think its going to be hard but honestly its just so fun and who cares if your cookies turn out perfect or not. Mine never do but I am always impressed with how well I actually do. Classes are $50 per person and are worth the memories you make. Plus the cookies are SO good!

Grunderfully Delicious is always a ton of fun…read more My wife had been turned on to this place by a friend of hers and always came home with adorably decorated cookies. I had joined her awhile back and despite having difficulties of my own, I had fun and the cookies are delicious. After the first experience I have returned on numerous other occasions and do feel I have progressed a bit with my decorating skills but all in all its about the fun. The cookies are always well themed and we enjoy eating these for several days afterward. It really doesn't matter what the end product looks like as long as you have fun creating your masterpiece. As Frank on Everybody Loves Raymond would say, the stomach knows not ugly and these are delicious no matter the result. I will definitely return again soon for more of these classes and highly recommend checking them out for something different, fun and challenging