Recently took the Beginner Pistol & Safety Course and it was great! I called & booked it a week in…read moreadvance. I grew up with a brother thatʻs a competitive shooter, but I wanted to take an official pistol shooting course from someone that was not my sibling. It was a slow day, so I was the only student & turned out to be an awesome private lesson! Scott created a friendly and comfortable environment for me to learn. 45 mins video on the responsibility that comes with carrying a firearm & the need for proper training and legal knowledge. Our trip to Reedʻs Indoor Range in Santa Clara, so that took up an hour out of the 3 hour class. I learned about bad habits that I had to correct and Iʻm excited to take more courses from Bay Area Firearms.

I had a terrible experience with the way this company is run--avoid them at all costs! From my…read moreexperience in taking a novice shooting class with my girlfriend, here are all the reasons you should somewhere else that is more reputable: 1. The Total Cost is Much, Much Higher Than the Website Implies - $879 for 2 People Some of the prices on the website are old, which I'm fine with, but the full cost is just glossed over. Here's a breakdown of the total cost for two people, with all the hidden costs we paid: - Class instruction - $499 - Safety Equipment - $160 for two pairs of ear protection and one pair of glasses (I was wearing glasses already so I didn't need one). Most companies loan this to you for free. - Ammunition - $60 for two boxes - Range Fees & Targets - $160. This is a separate fee you have to pay the range. Total Cost for training Two People - $879 When you shop around for a class, ask explicitly what they provide, what they don't, and how much those additional items will cost. 2. The Weapons are Too Powerful for Beginners (You're likely to be in pain afterwards) Rather than train you on a beginner weapon like .22, they only offer Glock 17's and 19's. These are 9mm weapons-used by professionals in the military and in law enforcement. Beginner lessons I've taken in the past at places like Jackson Arms start you off with small caliber weapons while you work on your form, and then move you up. I'm a middle-aged, six-foot-tall man, I my elbow was in pain for months afterward from the lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) I got from using these weapons. My girlfriend, who is only 5 ft. 2in. couldn't finish. The other woman in the class struggled as well. Unless you're a very big, strong, young man, don't take this class. 3. They Don't Have Their Own Facility, So You'll Spend Alot of Time in Your Car The classroom training takes place in a creepy back room of diving school in Burlingame. Once that part is done, everyone has to drive all the way to Reed's Indoor Shooting Range in Santa Clara--about 30 miles. Reed's has instructors too, so avoid all these hassles. 4. They Don't Pick Up the Phone I had many questions before I signed up, so I called them. I got a text response, but the person responded wouldn't talk on the phone, which I should have picked up on as a huge red flag. Some of my questions were answered, some weren't. Buyer beware. Don't waste your time and money on this place and find a more reputable company. I'd like to append my review with a comment sent directly to me via Yelp from the owner: April 8, 2026 Scott J. She called us at the last second requesting only private instruction which is higher than the regular price, ammo has gone up like everything else since the war started. We cannot control that. Your girlfriend stated she enjoyed it. So who is lying here. We accommodated you both treated you very well we assigned you a great instructor with solid 5 star rating. Its so sad that you behave like a child. Don't get married no one wants anyone like you. You have zero people skills. You're pathetic you wouldn't last 5 mins in the military. Nothing you lied about on yelp mattered. We gave you great instruction. You're totally out of line.

I've taken the pistol course in the past and yesterday I took my first rifle class. I have been…read moreimpressed with the whole experience. These courses are well thought out and perfect for people who want to take their shooting skills to the next level. The environment is great for the first time shooter and is taught in a safe and controlled environment. Both Nick and Ephraim work well together and it is refreshing to see how Nick holds Ephraim in such high regard. I will be looking forward to more classes in the future.

User friendly website & courses. Very nice and professional when teaching / at range. Definitely…read morerecommend to anyone looking to sharpen their skills!

Mike, the owner of Threat Spectrum Inc., demonstrated self defense techniques in a comfortable…read moreenvironment that helped to not make it overwhelming. Each movement was clear and concise making for an easy learning experience. He had medical and self defense supplies with him at all times for any unforeseen occurrence.

From the owner: Threat Spectrum's services division works with government, commercial and civilian clients seeking…read moreto protect high value assets, be they facilities or human resources. Martial arts and weapons skills are taught in group classes and private lessons. Security consulting services can include site surveys of private residences, commercial offices, and digital networks for target hardening and disaster preparedness. Armed security guard services are available with several weeks notice, but our rates are not very competitive due to overqualification; guarding people, rather than places, is bodyguarding, and that costs more because it requires a much broader skill set, is more dangerous, and the client consequences are higher.

Absolutely top-tier FFL shop. From the second you walk in, you're treated like family. Warm,…read morewelcoming, and genuinely happy to help. The staff behind the counter are incredibly knowledgeable and more importantly, they're actual shooters with real experience. You can tell right away these guys live the lifestyle and know their gear inside and out, not just random internet keyboard warriors pretending to know what they're talking about. They take the time to answer questions, give honest advice, and make sure you leave confident in your purchase. No pressure, no ego, just solid people who care about their customers and the shooting community. Rare to find a shop with this level of professionalism and authenticity these days. Easily one of the best FFL experiences I've had. Highly recommend supporting this place. I've been coming back since they opened and the service has stayed consistent

Great experience coming to Manzano's. My friend pointed out they had some availability here so I…read morecalled to check on the part and went to make the purchase same day. My firearms license expired so I was able to take the test again on the spot. It was a quick and easy process. The staff was friendly and helpful. They provided me with all the paperwork and details. Fast forward 10 days, picked up my item, no problems. Easy and carefree. Great selection of firearms all around. The staff is very knowledgable. Definitely will be back in the future.

Took a familiarization of guns course with Rick.I didn't know a lot about guns & was curious.It was…read morea great class very informative thorough & fun.Rick is very knowledgeable & kept the class flowing.He took his time to explain each weapon then we got to test them out in a safe manner to get a good feel for them & rick walked around to answer all questions & demo them too.if you had trouble he would be hands on which is in my opinion necessary. Took my wife who didn't feel like going & does not like guns & she had a great time & feels she has a better understanding about guns,gun safety & how they work.We are going to take a few more classes with Rick to learn to shoot.Thank you Rick for a fun day & helping us be more knowledgeable & less intimidated about handling guns.

*DISCLOSURE* I am a competitor to STM…read more STM is one of the VERY few companies that I refer people to when I can't take on a particular client or don't have any openings for new employees. It's rare in this industry to find a company with respectable management, leaders, and employees. Even being a competitor, Larry has been a pleasure to work with and I know his company is top notch. If I were looking to hire security, STM would be my first stop.

Great Place to work!…read more Strategic Threat Management offers a great deal of experience in the security professional field and will train anyone willing to put in a meaningful days worth of effort into their work, and will reward you with plentiful training. If you are someone looking to become a professional security guard, STM has everything that you need, all you need to do is apply! As a current employee of STM, I see first hand the dedication STM puts into their employees to ensure that we are equipped, ready, and able to carry out our job duties and ensure the safety of the people and materials we are assigned to, wherever we are posted.

As a first-timer that only got the level one guard card class for now, my experience was pretty…read morestraightforward and neutral since I arrived early and on a Saturday. When I was scheduling, it said that there was like 25 spots open so I jumped in on it. When you actually get there though on a Saturday, there's actually a decent amount of students. There will be a line to get checked in. There is a lot of parking and a 7-Eleven across the street if you get hungry during one of the couple of breaks that they give you during the class. Everything was extremely efficient from my point of view. They were able to condense 8 hours of material into around four to five. I mean, level 1 is extremely common sense as some say, but I did learn some things about the do's and don'ts about being a security guard. Not a lot of people had questions so it went by pretty quick. The test itself is pretty easy so as long as you're taking notes on important things and pay attention to the practice questions. I'm looking forward to my level two and three guard card classes and will update my review accordingly

Unable to attend due to some major life events, so I can't speak on the class itself any other…read morereviews on here can speak to the class itself. However, beware of their strict policy canceling six days in advance cost me 100% of my money. I'm sure they have their reasons for the policie existence but it feels a bit dishonorable to take 100% of my money for doing nothing.