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

I was visiting from out of town (Oakland, CA) and stopped in to shoot. It was a weekend afternoon,…read moreso there was a bit of a wait. All in all, it was worth the wait. The staff were welcoming and friendly. It sounded like they made special accommodations for myself and some other shooters, by opening up the "tactical" range, since there were no members shooting at that time. That was awesome, because it got me on the range sooner. I also brought with me a new firearm - Canik Mete MC9LS with a new optic. I forgot my regular range bag with my tools; however, the range staff allowed me to use one of their tools to adjust my new optic. I don't know how the targets move on the regular range, but on the tactical range, you can push buttons to automatically set the targets at a specified distance, move the targets manually back and forth, and automatically have the target return. Best of all, the prices were very reasonable. $20 per lane and $0.50 targets - WAAAAAY better than prices in the Bay Area. If I were a resident of the area, I'd definitely become a member. (I overheard one of the staff members informing another customer of the benefits and price.). Top Notch outfit in my opinion.

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.

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.

Came in for a transfer. Small shop we waited for the one customer ahead of us to take care of his…read moretransaction. Service was quick and efficient. Our paperwork was checked and we were given the forms to fill out. We were finished in about 15 minutes. Came back more than 10 days later and picked up the completed transfer. Reasonable prices, no hassle and a short wait. I'll take any future transfers here from now on.

::::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.

My names Diego I recently completed my CCW training with Orville Write, and I highly recommend him…read moreas an instructor. He was extremely helpful, kind, and interactive throughout the entire class. He made sure everyone understood the material and took the time to answer questions without making anyone feel rushed. One of the best parts of the class was Orville's sense of humor. He kept the training engaging, entertaining, and easy to follow while still covering all the important information. His professionalism, knowledge, and friendly attitude made for a great learning experience. If you're looking for a CCW instructor who is knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely cares about his students, I would highly recommend Orville Write.

Orville is a true professional. He was able to get me signed up the day before for my 16-hour…read moreweekend CCW course, which I really appreciated. He explained everything clearly, used real-life scenarios, and made the information easy to understand. I highly recommend Orville to anyone needing their CCW course -- top-notch instructor and a smooth, stress-free experience.

First and foremost, excellent customer service and very knowledgeable; that's always important…read more I came in with what I thought was a damaged gun, but Dave took a look and immediately fixed the problem. They have everything you need, they'll treat you right and I'll definitely be back.

My wife got a new sig p365 rose to use on duty as a LEO. Put an optic on it and needed suppressor…read moreheight sights. I attempted to do myself and broke the front sight. Took it to shoot socal. They were amazing. AJ and his team took care of her gun completely. The other shop down the street wouldn't even touch it being it's a sig. Won't go back over there. Shoot socal is the only place to go now. Thanks AJ and shoot SoCal. Great customer service.

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!

Took my first mini match with them about a week ago and had been meaning to leave a review. Laurie…read morewas super helpful and accomodating! I plan to take another mini match with them next month as the next couple months are super busy. If anyone is on the fence about taking any of their classes - don't think twice. You will be glad you did!

Shout out for those 2 ladies! Amazing instructors! They know exactly how to safely and efficiently…read moreteach a group class! They are also very good shooters who will not hesitate to demo for their students. Proud of you ladies!! Keep the good work and I highly recommend your class!