Bertrand is one awesome, no nonsense guy. First, he was great with the communication via email. The class was a full 5 hours and nothing less! He used every minute to teach me the basic fundamental of what I needed to know. He knows his subject and he is very experienced. He got me in a private class in a hurry since I needed the certificate. Thanks man!! I'd definitely refer him to friends and relatives. His class is a must do! He is worth every penny and more (your safety and the people around you when it comes to using firearms). read more

I took the BPS class with my three daughters. Bertrand was extremely knowledgeable and very patient with us. The course was all about safety, which made me feel much better since I had no prior experience with guns. We all enjoyed our class. Thank you Bertrand! read more

I took the BPS (Basic Pistol Shooting) course with Bertrand, who was recommended to me by friends that had taken courses with him before. Bertrand is extremely knowledgeable and meticulous in his lessons, with safety always at the forefront of everything he teaches. You'll likely walk out with newfound confidence and competency about using firearms, I certainly did. The BPS course was broken up into 4 parts - a self-paced online course, an in-person classroom session, 2 hour private range practice time, and 1 hour gun cleaning session (sometimes the gun cleaning is done at the range, though that'll depending on timing). Detailed information about each section will be provided once you sign up for the course. The classroom session was a group session, and it went almost 6 hours for our class (you basically go over everything that was taught in the online course, and then do some dry-firing exercises). The range time was great because it was a private coaching session, and usually done at non-public hours at the range, so there are no other distractions. One caveat - Bertrand is a bit of a drill sergeant, and while this approach may work for some people, others might prefer a softer touch. That being said, he does make sure you walk out with a wealth of knowledge and is extremely passionate about teaching. I had previously tried shooting once before, and I was taught next to nothing compared to what I learned through this course. An excellent surprise bonus to this course was how well I was able to shoot in our range session, and I definitely give kudos to Bertrand for his excellent course and training. He offers a wide variety of courses and is super responsive. If you're looking to safely learn how to use a firearm, SFE is the way to go. read more

Took the Basic Pistol online and in person class. Bertrand was very efficient and knowledgeable. Be sure to study. The in person course was a good mix of experienced and new shooters. The range training was awesome, very focused on your specific needs. read more

Bertrand did an exceptional job training my husband and I for the BPS class. His emphasis on safety throughout the course was exceptional. We definitely will continue to take more course with him. read more

OMG!!! Bertrand gets ALL the stars and then some! Responsive - CHECK Thorough - CHECK Detailed - CHECK Patient - CHECK Knowledgable - CHECK Safety Safety Safety - CHECK CHECK CHECK If there is something I missed then it's me not him because he is an all encompassing GREAT instructor and I HIGHLY recommend you take his class (any class) ASAP. You will not be disappointed. I literally just completed Basics of Pistol Shooting a few hours ago and am already shopping for my next class. THANK YOU BERTRAND!!!! read more

If you're looking to learn firearm safety, look no further. Bertrand is extremely knowledgeable and professional in his field. He runs a no-nonsense class aimed at one-and-only-one goal: to drill into you the importance and necessity of firearm safety. With both classroom study, and field practice, you will have the chance to learn firearm basics, detailed safety protocols, as well as get some time to go to the range to practice said safety skills during some target practice. Whether you're a newbie or seasoned, Bertrand can help you improve your firearm safety skills. His teaching style is precise and serious, exactly what is needed when teaching safety, so be ready to think and answer critically. Great instructor and individual, definitely learned a lot, highly recommend if you're even slightly contemplating. Thanks Bertrand! read more

I found Safe Firearm Education from YELP and read all the good reviews in here, so I registered myself for the BPS Curriculum (Online and in-person), Bertrand was easy to communicate with over the email, he's a prompt responder. Once I finished BPS I had to go for an in person BPS II @ SFE location. Bertrand puts a lot of emphasis on how to safely handle a firearm, because any one can pick up a pistol and shoot but having proper knowledge about Safety, is of paramount importance. Bertrand, took a lot of time explaining the dynamics associated with pistol and revolver, I gained a lot of knowledge from this in-person class. Earlier today, we had a 1 on 1 time @ the shooting range where I shot like 150 rounds of .22 LR and 30 rounds of 9 mm. Overall, I'm very pleased that I took this class to re-gain my confidence on how to safely handle a firearm. read more

Bertrand did an exceptional job in both training courses I took with him. He was able to quickly improve my marksmanship within just a few minutes of working at the range and his emphasis on safety throughout the courses was perfect. I've taken a bunch of firearms training over the years and I'd easily rank Bertrand as one of my absolute favorite instructors. read more

My wife and I took the Basic Pistol II class and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were both very inexperienced with fire arms and feel that we received great instruction during the class Bertrand it is a great instructor . We highly recommend this class. We are looking forward to doing additional training with him. read more

Bertrand is a very patient instructor. His emphasis is on safety which he drills a lot on his students. One leaves with a sense of confidence after taking his course. read more

Excellent class by Mr. Bertrand Blanc. He is incredibly knowledgeable and imparts easy to understand instruction to his students. Our class ran the gamut from experienced firearm users to beginners, and he catered the practical portion of the class individually. I walked out of the classes feeling confident that I can safely handle a firearm. I will be back for more classes. Also, Mr. Blanc is very responsive to questions on e-mail. The classes were well organized, well taught and exceedingly valuable. I highly recommend Mr. Blanc to anyone seeking firearm instruction. read more

I am very happy that I have found this BPS class! Absolutely impressed with immaculate organization on all the levels: a very good online course, which is 8 hours and provides a solid theoretical foundation, and 2 practical range sessions with Bertrand which were absolutely stunning! Bertrand is a super knowledgeable, good and patient instructor, very attentive to all the details and questions. He taught all the best practices on safety and safe handgun handling. He also explained every error and provided solutions on how to improve. I highly recommend this NRA course and Bertrand as its best instructor! The money spent on this course is absolutely and totally worth it! More than grateful to Bertrand! read more

I needed a CA FSC. I asked for an FSC test quote via Yelp. Bertrand responded within a few minutes and was able to administer a test the same day for $25. I studied and passed. After the test, I received my FSC. Bertrand was very professional and easy to work with. I would absolutely recommend SFE and Bertrand to anyone looking to get their CA FSC. read more

Bertrand was truly a great instructor and range officer and I'm happy that I found his course on Yelp. Safety was stressed throughout the course and he involved all of the attendees in every aspect of the course. I feel much more comfortable about firearms thanks to Bertrand. I highly recommend his Safe Firearms Education course. read more

Bertrand Blanc is very knowledgeable and he puts safety before anything else. His attention to details is extremely helpful for a novice shooter like myself. Everything was explained very well and the training and preparations in the classroom was essential for a successful outcome at the range. I highly recommend this course, especially Bertrand, if you want to learn about gun safety as well as how to handle and operate a firearm safely. A+ rating! read more

I had my 2 hour private range crash course yesterday and had a blast, getting to shoot my brand new Kimber 1911 (and shooting a real gun) the very first time while breaking it in - and boy do I tell you, shooting requires a lot more skills and psychology than it looks in the movies. Bertrand, who seemed very experienced and knowledgable at his craft, taught me all the safety protocols that are crucial, as well as the mental tricks that help my marksmanship. Two thumbs up to Bertrand for firearms education. read more

I just finished my range session for the Basic Pistol Shooting and felt Bertrand was very thorough and made me feel very confident with handling and using a firearm. He explained everything very well regarding safety and was very attentive during the range session to help correct marksmanship. I highly recommend him for anyone and look forward to taking more classes with him once I practice for a few months! read more

A group of us signed up for the BPS I / BPS II courses and for me having no experience with a firearm found these courses to be extremely informative. Bertrand keeps the course fun, informative, and with a serious tone reiterating the importance of safety. After taking these initial courses I feel more confident around firearms and will be looking to take courses in the future with Bertrand. read more

Truly the best experience for firearms education, advices, training. Bertrand is extremely knowledgeable regarding firearms, firearms safety and security. Most important, as a first gun owner with no prior experience I was a little intimidated and lost looking for the right place to learn and practice. I made the right choice ! Bertrand will make you feel comfortable without any judgments and will take the time to make sure everything is understood. His knowledge is really valuable and I feel I was learning a lot and it was clear and well detailed. The way his business is conducted is extremely professional. From start to end everything is covered, every question is answered in a very fast time also. In my experience it was exactly what I needed to feel confident and to actually give me the motivation to keep learning and acquiring new more skills. Looking forward to continue my training and education with Bertrand. read more

Mr. Bertrand Blanc was a most competent trainer and also fun to work with. One important thing he drilled into everyone when it comes to firearm safety was to never cut corners, and that's exactly how he ran the course. I felt I was in good hands right from the start. read more

Bertrand is an amazing instructor. As an individual gravely concerned about gun violence, I was delighted to learn from a teacher who has a passion for safety and the tremendous responsibility a person bears when they own or handle a firearm. Put in simple terms: This course, taught in the way Bertrand teaches it, should be mandatory for gun ownership. Students don't just learn how to use a firearm or how to shoot better. They learn how to not do all the stupid things that careless or ignorant people do. If you want to support the 2nd amendment but also believe that gun control is necessary, then this is the way to do it: education and training. Thank you for a great experience. read more

Bertrand was very knowledgeable on the material for the CCW renewal. He was also very thorough and took extra time to refresh me on some marksmanship techniques that I'd lost over the years. The realistic scenarios and one on one instruction was very helpful. Bertrand is an instructor for a host of NRA, BSIS, FSC and other classes. Give him a shout for any of your safety training needs. read more

I took the Taser Pulse and BPS (Basic Pistol Shooting) part 1 and 2 courses with Bertrand. He is very professional, ethical, safe, and practical. I don't have kids, but would totally trust my kids with his teaching skills. Safety is his #1. He is very prompt, easy to communicate with, easy going and knows a lot more than just an instructor. He is a master, sorry if wrong term, at a range in the Bay Area--and performs his duties there PROPERLY unlike other places, which I rather not name. He was very informative even though I took the Taser Pulse class first, he answered my questions about firearms. He was so helpful in my first class, I was easily inclined to take his firearm class as well. I think people are careless for not taking a pistol class from a professional like him a "NRA Training Counselor, DoJ FSC Instructor, Taser Civilian Instructor, Glock Armorer". My weakness at the range before taking his class was expecting the loud bang before and while pulling the trigger, which would reduce my accuracy. I didn't have time to take his class, so I went straight to the range. I know, stupid and contradicts myself, but I was a very busy person and wanted to have an idea what certain firearm models and makes felt like before I purchase in the future. During my BPS part 2 class, he completely changed the way I shoot. I could have not learned this from someone else. He was my Yoda. I did very well after that epiphany and my accuracy exceeded others immediately. People will permanently hurt or kill others if they don't know how to properly use a gun. Safety and aiming are very important. Remember, if you use your gun in public and don't understand safety, you will hurt somebody. If you shoot in public and miss your target, you will hurt whatever is behind your target. Please, take his class or at least a pistol/firearm class. I definitely refer and recommend him to everyone. read more

Just wrapped up the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting class with Betrand and have nothing but great things to say about the experience. The class was very informative and helpful in gaining competency around a firearm. The classroom session drilled all the basics and fundamental knowledge, as well as handling and operating the 3 main classes of pistols. The range session gave us live experience to shoot for marksmanship and experience with more than one caliber. All in all, a great experience and looking forward to taking another course with Bertrand in the future! read more

Apparently, I am the first one to undertake Bertrand's Full AR-15 Platform class and I am glad I reached out to him. I have had a forgettable experience with https://bayareafirearms.com (Details for another time). I was very apprehensive about reaching out to other institutions for trainings but I exchanged some emails with Bertrand and was immediately impressed with his professional response. Pros: 1. Professional engagement: a) Keynote/PPT + white board presentation for the class room experience. b) Hands-on assembly + cleaning exercise. c) Comprehensive hands-on range session. There are no shortcuts with Bertrand. We have had more stoppages than usual due to lot of misfires, stove pipes, double feed, but blessing in disguise as by the end of it, I could clear it all by myself. d) Very Knowledgeable and engaging instructor, has very good understating of CA laws. e) He went an extra mile to list out great references for building AR-15 and that is exactly what I would be doing. Cons: I dont really have anything negative to state as my experience was fantastic. But if I have to; 1. For bench rest position, please don't provide wooden blocks, they are slippery. 2. May include more curriculum on Long gun safes (but we can/should do our own research ;-)). Just for the first timer though. I highly recommend him and thank him for introducing me to AR-15 Platform. read more

When it comes to Firearms Safety, Instructor Blanc is the best. He is friendly but will straighten up you up to ensure you and people around you will be safe when handling firearms. I had great fun at his classes and have learned a lot from him. I'm looking forward to attend further trainings courses from him. Recommended. read more

Bertrand Blanc was my instructor for NRA Basic Pistol Part II, and I would highly recommend his class. Bertrand is patient, knowledgeable and goes above and beyond the course requirements. He also gives each person a lot of one-on-one attention to make sure each student masters the material. I had never fired a handgun before this class. But Bertrand put a big emphasis on both safety and shooting technique, so I felt confident my first time at the range and had a lot of success. I've competed in other sports at a Nationals/Olympic Trials level, and I think Bertrand did a top-notch job of coaching me while shooting. He was able to quickly figure out my shooting faults and help me correct them. He also helped me feel challenged, but still successful. Many thanks, Bertrand, for this excellent course! ** Since I first wrote this review, I have also taken NRA Basic Rifle with Bertrand, which was also an excellent class! read more

I recently took Bertrand's class and I can say without question, that I walked away a more safety savvy person, more confident and accurate shooter. I definitely recommend to anyone regardless if they are experienced or new to firearms. read more

Wow. I took the Basic Pistol Shooting course with Bertrand and the layers of learning in the process were just what was needed for a beginner like me--online, classroom, range. I still can't quite believe the results. When I say I was a beginner, I'd never picked up a gun before. After Bertrand's masterful instruction, I can shoot a 9mm and hit a target pretty far away--what?? Bertrand is extremely professional, knowledgeable, an expert on California gun laws and an evangalist for safe gun practices. In the case of my class during the pandemic this summer, he had to personally be flexible and do a lot of accomodating in order to offer the class when the County's Covid-19 safety requirements changed from one day to the next. Throughout, he was excellent at emailing those of us in the class to keep us fully informed of schedule changes and the latest rulings from the County. In person, his feedback is focussed and direct. I noticed one reviewer called him "a bit of a drill sergeant" LOL...yeah, I can see that, but it works for me. You know exactly what he needs from you, what he is observing in your shooting, adjustments you need to make, etc., and the feedback is gold. Truly, having him work with me 1:1 at the range for 2 hours was remarkable. Even though it was 103 degrees and the pistols got to feeling heavy since I'm not used to holding an isosceles position, he was incredibly patient. His focus and excellent coaching kept me enthusiastic and hitting the targets. The class was solid+++ and, excuse the pun, but the range was a blast!! I recommend you check out Bertrand at Safe Firearms Education. You'll have a blast, too! read more

For beginner like me , i truly enjoyed the class . It was lots of fun at safe environment with loads of information and learnings. Thanks to the instructor Mr blanc who was always available to answer all questions patiently . read more

Bertrand is a fine teacher of firearms, in the classroom and on the range. Above all, he makes it clear, moment by moment, that safety is paramount. But also Bertrand teaches good form: a beautiful, efficient thing that delivers great results. Getting started at the range under Bertrand's guidance was fun and interesting. read more

It was an excellent class! Bertrand is a gifted teacher!! Good communication skills both during the class and between class sessions!!! His focus on SAFETY was most appreciated!!!! read more

Even though this isn't the biggest range in the Bay Area, it has that cozy, warm feeling of being welcome. Staff is extremely friendly and is willing to help out in any way they can. Bertrand is an amazing instructor and if you're thinking about either starting to shoot or improving your shooting skills, you should go talk to him. read more

Really glad I took this course! Bertrand is the best. Learned basic pistol shooting fundamentals and more, in a small class setting, with individual attention; lots of fun, too. read more

WOW! Bertrand is amazing, what a great instructor. I was so impressed at his training skills and he got me out of a bad habit and it was easy to learn from him. If you want any level of training I highly recommend Bertrand. He is really patient and has a way of asking questions to make you think. Also has a way of explaining the principals to teach. Great leader and stresses safety. I am looking at his schedule to enroll in another of his classes. read more

For a fire arm instructor look no further. The reviews that people left here helped me decide to take the course Basics of Pistol Shooting class with Bertrand. I had no prior experience with guns and the subject felt intimidating. He is meticulous, I was able to tell from his first email to me, it was very detailed about all the aspects of the class, payment, what kind of bullets to purchase, when, safety equipment and online course. More of these emails followed and they were similarly detailed. I passed the online course which benefited me a lot then we met for the class in person with few more people and practiced dry run without munition. His at most focus was on safety, how to hold the gun, position and how to build your skills, which I needed most. He is detailed, careful, knowledgeable and has passion for it and that is what makes it valuable. At the end of the course I went to the range with him and fired many shots which I never done before. With his help I have a lot more confidence to continue to improve my skills. read more

I'm so glad that I found and took the Basic Pistol course with Safe Firearms. Bertrand is a great instructor and makes sure he spends as much time as needed for us to internalize the training. This course is very thorough. He is also very responsive with email which is much appreciated. read more

Very professional and factual based. I highly recommend Bertrand as he is incredibly knowledgeable of most aspects of firearms and all aspects of safety. I will be going back to him again! read more

Bertrand was an amazing instructor...so thorough and dedicated to making sure that we were confident and well prepared for the range. At the range, I was surprised at the extra time that Bertrand gave. He really is an excellent instructor! read more