BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER. Introductory firearm training course with the best instructors I could ask for. The time flew by. I shot up my cardboard victim & an instructor even wrote my name on him so I could take him home with me. You know, as my kind of trophy. My victim sits behind my desktop computer to remind me of my successful head shot. This was in September so I forgot everyone's' name I had such an amazing time. Whether you're a hardcore gun owner by the hundreds or if you don't even know how to hold one, you should come here for all purposes. Highly highly highly recommend read more

Rob was kind enough to make time for a private lesson, on a very rainy day, with my brother and myself after he had been training out of town for days. It was an excellent introduction to rifles for us in a unique learning environment (fog and rain) and the highlight of my time in Santa Barbara. Thanks for making the time for us Rob we hope to see you again for more one day. read more

Paratus Training - Firearm Training Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a great experience with Rob Holcombe with Paratus Training. As a family of three going for beginner's handgun training, we felt very fortunate to have such a highly qualified instructor--his extensive certifications and expertise were clear from the start. He was thorough in covering not only the basics of firearms but also emphasized safety and the right mindset before any practice. Rob took the time to answer all our questions, and his personable approach made the 3-hour session both engaging and enjoyable. We all felt comfortable and confident thanks to his calm and patient teaching style. Highly recommend to anyone looking to build a solid foundation in firearm safety and use! read more

Had an amazing experience with my two son's (15 & 18) with Rob at Paratus Training. Rob was great with my kids teaching them all about gun safety, how to handle and respect a firearm. He got deep into how to hold, stance and correct posture. This isn't like the Vegas experience where you walk up and they hand you a hot one to unload. I feel like after our first beginner course with Rob my boys know their way around a firearm and have a whole new respect. We all had a ton of fun and got to hit some targets at distance with the AR15 to end the day. Looking forward to coming back out and learn more! A+ experience! read more

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Rob and the whole team at Paratus was extremely helpful throughout the whole day of the fundamental handgun training. They offered cold beverages and snacks, kept everyone entertained and were very friendly accommodating throughout the entire session. I had never shot my gun before and I'm glad I chose to go to this session to learn the basics of how to use my firearm correctly. I highly recommend Paratus, (there is usually no cell service though so make sure you settle anything before you go up the mountain.) read more

Paratus Training - Firearm Training Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The CCW class that Paratus offers is far superior to anything else offered locally.  All instruction is on the range, actually manipulating your firearm. This course emphasizes safety first and foremost, while progressively practicing more and more complex maneuvers. The student is working off the X, just like they will be in the real world.  You'll be putting in time learning new skills no matter how long you've been shooting because instructors are constantly adding to their own knowledge and skills at the best national schools. Ammo may be available for purchase if needed, but be prepared for a high round count and to work on the range under any weather conditions. read more

Having just completed a 2 day training course with Paratus Training and with lead firearms instructor Rob Holcombe, I can %100 guarantee you will be completely satisfied. Mr. Holcombe is a highly skilled shooter and more importantly an excellent instructor. His complete knowledge of his trade and his gift of enthusiastically communicating it to his students makes his course fun and safe. Happy shooting! read more

Brought a bachelor party of 11 guys out to the range and had a great time. Rob was the instructor and did a great job of keeping us safe while having a ton of fun. The gun club is great, and all the guys in our group left happy. One thing to note, Rob was a bit late, and we were on a bit of a time crunch, but when we arrived, he jumped right in, made no excuses, and compensated us at the end. I'd absolutely recommend making a visit! read more

I had a tremendous experience with Ron and his team. For a novice, he really took the time to make sure I understood everything and there was a huge focus on safety. I've already signed up for two more of his courses and look forward to learning more. He has a gift of being very easy to understand, approachable with just about any kind of question and not going to fast and leaving anyone behind. read more

Came here last weekend for a bachelor party and it was super fun. Not only did the llace have lots of options and constant action for us, the service was impeccable. Rob was extremely knowledgeable, while be extremely attentive and cool. Unlike other places I've gone, he made everyone in our group feel comfortable shooting, while still making it fun and very entertaining. He's clearly passionate (in the best way possible) about what he does and making sure you have the best time possible. I mean, the guy let three or four people borrow his own jackets because some of us didn't plan for how cold it would be. That should tell you everything you need to know. read more

Ideas for a Bachelor Party in Santa Barbara? Let me tell you what, Clay shooting with Rob was the highlight of our trip. We had a 2 hour session with Rob at the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and didn't have a single complaint. Rob was an excellent instructor teaching a bunch noobs how to hit clays with some beautiful shotguns. He was patient when he needed to be but was also new how to get us all amped up to hit some clays. After making sure we got a handle of the safety issues when handling weapons, he had us competing in various games to get our competitive juices going. By the end of the day we firing away! Rob is very easy to work with and the attitude that he brings to the table is really made the experience that much better. Our Bachelor had an awesome time. And he didn't overcharge us either. Hats off to Rob for a great experience. You will not be disappointed. read more

Paratus Training - Fun times - Firearm Training Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Brought a bachelor party out to the range for a shooting session with Rob. The experience in itself to head up to the range for a training with Rob made the entire weekend to Santa Barbara worthwhile and exceeded expectations. Everything from my initial communication with Rob to day of instruction, safety overview, etiquette, form, drills, rotation was professional and everyone that participated had an excellent time. Rob was an excellent instructor and was patient, charismatic and extremely knowledgeable. We all had a ton of fun and would go back in a second. By the end of the session the entire group found their groove thanks to Rob. He brought his A game and we really appreciate it. If you are looking for a unique outdoors experience in Santa Barbara this won't disappoint. Thank you again Rob! Legend! read more

Rob is the shit! He hooked us up on hooked us up on hooked us up!!! Had a blast shooting with him with 6 other dudes!!! Had plenty of guns to choose from, plenty of ammo, different targets, everything!!!! You need to stop what you are doing and shoot guns with this dude!!! Best experience of my life!! read more

Paratus Training - Bolt action rifle - Firearm Training Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

After reading all the positive reviews here, I was excited to have Rob host my bachelor party. Unfortunately, the party never happened. After planning for a few months to get everyone on site, we arrived to the shooting range on time. There was no sign of Rob. We called and left a few messages, but still nothing. We checked the other shooting range and asked the people there if they knew Rob. Three people said he's usually late, and that the same thing happened to a different group a week or so prior. We were worried about this kind of reputation, but we kept waiting anyway. An hour later and there was still no sign. We decided to leave. We called one more time, frustrated that we'd have to figure out a new plan. After all, this was a special weekend with guests coming in from out of town. Rob ultimately got in contact with us an hour and a half after our scheduled start time. He explained he'd been dealing with a family emergency all night. He was extremely apologetic and stressed how awful he felt about the entire experience. He even offered to comp a future session. We believed him, and appreciated his concerns and his efforts to make things right. Unfortunately, we couldn't take him up on his offers because my groomsmen live out of town and were only available that day. We were simply out of luck. Look, this was a bad situation for everyone, and we sincerely hope everything's okay with Rob. Family emergencies are awful, and I completely understand the complications they can bring. What was frustrating to us was the lack of communication. Had we received a text, call, or email during the night or the morning of, we could've started looking for another plan early. Instead we simply felt abandoned. We had to wait nearly until nearly half the day had passed before we could begin rescheduling. read more

Excellent introduction to firearms, ongoing from there. Rob Holcombe is the best there is, superb crew too.

Rob and his buddy Trent were super professional today in assisting us with our bachelor party group. We were given a game plan to highlight the schedule of the day and he made every effort to make it an enjoyable time, which it was one hundred times over. We split our group among Trent and Rob and received safety and firing training in handguns and shotguns. These guys were very thorough and safety was number one on their list. We got to shoot steel targets and clay birds. After a day of fun and shooting, we realized how much these gents had spoiled us. This was an awesome way to kick off our weekend and I wish I could give them 6 stars. read more

Paratus Training - PARATUS! WOO! - Firearm Training Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Extremely professional, safety oriented, and very welcoming to new shooters. The Paratus team is very knowledgeable and friendly helping all levels of shooters- from beginner to advanced. If you want to improve your shooting skills- this is the place. read more

Got interested in firearms, so I decided to take a firearms training course. Best decision was to choose Paratus Training. Rob is a very knowledgable instructor and made my time at the range extremely enjoyable. He has helped me become more comfortable with safely handling a gun and has taught me so much about shooting. He's very patient, the classes run smoothly, and we get a lot of things done. Definitely always coming back to take his classes. read more

Look no further. Rob and his his team are BY FAR the best you can get for any party type outing. We did a bachelor party for 10 guys and he put together an amazing package. He was transparent with ALL costs. We were able to shoot our desired guns for a good amount of time. He also threw in a couple extras free of charge. His own personal side arm. Customer service is huge in my opinion. We had originally planned for a three hour event shooting x,y,and z. We were unable to shoot all the guns in the three hour time so without a flinch he added on an extra hour FREE OF CHARGE. He is a man of his word and also very friendly and fun. Me and my buddies still talk about him and his funny one liners. Kid you not the bachelor had so much fun after the whole weekend, he cried. True story. I thank Rob and his team for helping to make that happen. Rob also owns a surf rental company in the area. He offered us a deal on that too, sadly we were short on time. Rob is the man. I will definitely book with him again. read more

Professional, friendly, safety- and service-minded. Excellent training for adults as well as teens.

We had 7 guys for a bachelor party and everyone had a blast! Rob is a fantastic instructor. He was engaging, entertaining and experienced. The trap shooting was fun challenge and he orchestrated a number of games which made it fun and competitive. It was perfect for our group and 3 hours flew bye. We are definitely going back. read more

For a company event, we had about 30 men and women from across the nation shooting trap and skeet at Winchester Canyon Gun Club. Rob was an excellent instructor and Range Master. He anticipated a chilly afternoon on the top of the mountain, so he brought a duffel bag full of jackets and sweatshirts and every single one got used. That is excellent customer service. In such a large group there was a range of experience, from the seasoned shooter to the beginner. Rob led the 'introduction to shotguns' class for about half the group and the rest were at different stations with Rob's other staff. I spent most of the time in the group with Kevin and he was also great. Rob provided a wide range of shotguns so that the participants could try different models, sizes and styles. Every single one was in top condition and there were no problems with this equipment. Rob wanted to keep us safe, keep us comfortable and keep us shooting targets. He and his staff exceeded expectations on all three counts. Our group is excited to have another day with Rob at our next event. As a local, I am planning on using Rob for some of his other training. read more

Came with a bachelor party group. Rob was real cool. Made things fun while making sure we were doing things the right and safe way. Informal yet informative. He had us "busting clay" in no time. Rob provided six 12 gauge shotguns: two Remingtons and four Mossbergs, as well as two 20 gauges. Played some games to keep it lively and competitive; even mentioned he could accommodate different kinds of competitions depending on the guns we want to shoot. If you're looking for an ourtdoorsy activity with a bunch of friends in the Santa Barbara area, I highly recommend giving Rob a call. As our group wasn't from the area he even gave us ideas for the remainder of the trip: where to go, what to see. Rob made our experience AWESOME! read more

Rob brought in a team of ALERT (Active Shooter Response) educators who trained us in emergency medical procedures that can easily (unfortunately) be experienced at any time/place today. We learned how to quickly treat and stabilize not only ourselves but others. Simultaneously, we worked with firearms, both handgun and rifle (carbine) and practiced those emergency medical procedures under the threat of an active shooter. In the form of ground school, and a long day of range time to tie it all together, the students came away with what one can easily suggest are essential skills in today's world. The medical training is up to date with the very latest real-world lessons learned from Afghanistan combat. Coupled with dealing with an active shooter, this is a program that ordinarily would be presented to law enforcement personnel exclusively, but in this way, provides an effective force-multiplying effect by civilians to augment local law enforcement personnel. The application of this training program cannot be overstated. The more the public is exposed to this, the better for the public. This is not a class for novices around firearms. A more than basic understanding of firearms is paramount to success in this program. While it does not emphasize firearms handling so much as it does the medical aspects of first response, the two work effectively together within the design of this course. read more

Me and three buddies purchased 2 hours of clay shooting with Rob. We were all experienced target shooters, but, had not had a lot of clay or trap time. First, Rob was great setting up our time in the afternoon after the range closed, so, we had no distractions and could enjoy our shooting time. From the time we showed up Rob showed a great and infectious passion for shooting and outdoor sporting in general. Initially he went over some basic skills then threw a couple of rounds and critiqued each of us, which, I think for all of us was very helpful. In no time we were hitting the clays consistently. Rob kept it fun by having us play 'games' like Annie Oakley and buddy backup. We had so much fun were planning our next outing that night. We all want to have Rob give us some instruction on 3-gun and/or action pistol shooting next. If you want to get excellent firearms instruction look no further than Rob. read more

In addition to the great times available for groups wanting to enjoy a session of trap shooting, Rob offers extremely high quality, expert, one on one instruction in handgun, rifle and shotgun safety, care, and, of course, shooting, starting with the fundamentals. As an aspiring hunter who for a variety of reasons, including ethics, wants to be sure that I am knowledgeable, safe and competent when I do go into the field, I have had two extremely valuable sessions with Rob, and intend to continue working with him to improve my skills and technique. Rob is not only an excellent and extremely knowledgeable teacher, he is also a great guy, who makes even the most challenging topic a lot of fun. read more

Semper Paratus ("Always Ready") - perhaps most widely known as the motto for the US Coast Guard. Just a tid-bit of information, but for a more in-depth analysis of why the training course is named so, I'd recommend asking Rob. The training course deserves every bit of the five stars available on Yelp. Rob has some serious knowledge about firearm handling and safety. The weather was amazing (along with gorgeous Santa Barbara scenery) when my buddy and I were there for the day, so we lucked out in that regard. The course starts off at a good pace and covers most everything one should know about safely handling different types of firearms. We trained mostly with .22lr because we felt that was the ideal caliber to begin training with, and ended the day with our choice of some novelty weapons (i.e. not .22lr), and they were not a disappointment to shoot (i.e. tons o' unforgettable fun). Rob also taught us about different shooting positions (e.g. kneeling, sitting, prone) and let us try out some metal targets and paper targets at a bunch of different distances. All in all - I would absolutely recommend this course to anybody that has the time in Santa Barbara. Go try! -I used to want semi-auto rifles (e.g. AK, AR), shotguns, and pistols, but after taking the course, I'm all for bolt-action now hahaha. read more

My girlfriend and I signed up for beginner shooting lessons with Rob (I should say complete novice - never even handled a weapon before today!). Best money I've spent, hands down. We had a great experience. Rob is incredibly knowledgeable, made sure we had all the important safety and fundamentals nailed down and that we employed them every time we handled a weapon, and got us shooting right away! He completely over-delivered. He excels at creating a no-pressure environment, where he can correct you and instill confidence at the same time. I would highly recommend up for some basic handgun & rifle training if you're new to shooting like we are. We will be back for more, because now we know we've just scratched the surface. Thank you Rob! Awesome day! read more

What can I say, Rob is the best. I don't think two hours is enough with this guy, because it is a lot of fun to shoot with him.

My friend and I had our first shooting training experience with Rob from Paratus Training and words cannot describe how incredibly satisfied we are. As well as being very accommodating and flexible, he is an outstanding human being and every minute with him was our pleasure. It was worth every penny, and he provided more than what we paid for. I haven't recommended anything this highly, but I implore anyone looking to have a shooting experience to choose Rob and Paratus Training. read more

Rob and Paratus Training were awesome! For a bachelor party with 6 other guys, we paid for 3 hours on hand guns, rifles, shotguns, and an AR-15. It was so awesome that it lasted 5 hours!- and he didn't charge us for the overtime. Rob was patient and had great attention to detail. I highly, highly recommend this! read more

My wife and I took a class at Winchester Canyon with Robb and Trevor, and were impressed with how patient, friendly and knowledgeable the instructors were. If you're a noob, you'll be made to feel welcome, and you'll find that these guys genuinely want you to have a good time while developing sound safety skills and comfort with firearms. Highly recommended. read more

Rob is an incredible instructor. Been working with him when he was doing surf lessons at A Frame, and now on tactical pistol and carbine. So professional, wise, and adaptable to many learning styles. Keeps it safe, focused, and fun... Highly recommended for the casual shooter/social event or to elevate your firearms safety and knowledge. read more

Rob was awesome for my bachelor party too. A few of us had never shot guns before and Rob had us all hitting clays in no time. Super fun to be around, very safe but didn't overdo it, highly recommended. read more

Rob is the man! We shot six different guns with group of 7 pplz. He is the best instructor and funny! Highly recommend!!!!!

Me and my friend made an appointment with Rob for 2+ hours of trap shooting. Rob made it very easy by going through the safety and basics of shotgun.His teaching skills are amazing and we completely enjoyed our first time trap shooting experience. Definitely, 2+ hours is not enough with Rob, because he makes it fun and keeps you engaged. I had never used a shotgun before and my first time experience with the Remington 1100 was good. The prices were affordable and I definitely recommend Rob to my friends!!! read more

I surprised my wife with a pistol shooting lesson from Rob and it was great. She was pretty hesitant at first but got into it as things went along. Not only did we feel totally safe the whole time, it was awesome to shoot a variety of hand guns like revolvers and 9mm glock. Would highly recommend for anyone, including total novices like us. read more