Victor was fantastic to work with. He was incredibly flexible and accommodating, and managed to make our very tight timeframe work without any issues. He brought a great variety of handguns and supplied everything we needed for the experience. What stood out most was how well he adapted his instruction to the different skill levels in our group, making everyone feel comfortable and engaged. Super friendly guy and overall a great experience. Strongly recommend! read more

Great classes, venues, and instructors. I've done a carbine and a pistol course and both were a lot of fun and definitely upped my skills. I plan to attend many more! read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - Firearm Training Near Me

This was my first time training with Vic. I took the rough terrain scoped carbine course level III. The course was amazing! Vic is an awesome instructor and explains techniques very well. He's super cool too. The course he made is both really challenging and fun and you can tell he took his time and worked hard making it. I would recommend anyone to train with Sierra Element and I will be back for his next carbine class for sure! read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - Firearm Training Near Me

I recently took the urban close precision course with Vic. Can't say enough good things. Great class to take no matter what level you are at. Vic will help guide and educate you in becoming a better and more confident marksman. I will be taking the mountain ops class next. read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - Firearm Training Near Me

Really cool and fun place to learn weapons tactics and proper mechanics on firearm manipulation. I found that everyone involved with Sierra Element has a no BS attitude but at the same time, they don't make you feel like a $hit head when you make a mistake. My accuracy has improved 10x every time I've taken their classes by the end of the course. Highly recommend taking a course with Vic and his company if you're serious about becoming a competent shooter. Thanks Vic!! read more

Had an amazing class with Vic and John that I can't thank enough for sharing their knowledge! Starting from the building blocks they broke down the movements and helped us understand where to make our corrections. An outstanding class that by the end I had gained that confidence thanks to this team and I look forward to getting out to more! read more

I'm so happy we found Vic at Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training. Vic helped my husband and I set up a really unique and special gender reveal during COVID. My husband was dead set on blowing something up for our reveal (safely of course) and Vic came highly recommend. Thank goodness he was there to help. What we had ordered was totally insufficient; so on the fly he made great suggestions and was able to improv the perfect solution. After a brief firearms training he made us feel safe, comfortable, qualified. My husband we as able to hit the target in one shot! Cannot recommend him enough. Would absolutely return for more intensive training. Thank you Vic! read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - It's a girl! - Firearm Training Near Me

I came in knowing very little about handguns and personal firearm safety. I left feeling confident about my ability to handle a weapon and had great fun training. My instructor Victor, was patient and thorough with a wealth of knowledge to share. Highly recommend this outfit for all levels of training. read more

I brought a small group of guys to Victor's Urban Shooting class. I myself have been taking classes with Sierra Element for years. The new guys could not believe how awesome the class was. Class size of 12 students only. Prefect size for fast moving structured instruction. More then enough pistol and rifle shooting. Every time I have taken courses new drills are presented. read more

Met this instructor team via Stunts Unlimited. I appreciate that they broke us up into groups based on current skill level to maximize our time on the range. For film, we need practice moving and firing. It was safety first and skills, skills, skills. I love when instructors check in, provide feedback and ask for feedback. Not only do I highly recommend them, I can't wait to take it to the next level. read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - Extra - Firearm Training Near Me

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Sierra Element is one of my favorite firearms training companies in Southern California. Victor and his staff are law enforcement with military backgrounds. No matter what your experience level, Sierra element offers a variety of training courses from beginner to advanced. I booked a private training session with a few friends and we all had so much fun shooting and learning. We all left wanting to come back and train again. read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - One of the beginner pistol training courses over at Sierra element. - Firearm Training Near Me

I took a private pistol lesson with Victor Lopez . I was very apprehensive about going but he made me feel comfortable & motivated. He explained all of the safety rules as well as marksmanship. The lesson lasted 3 hours & cost $300. The price was well worth although it may seem high. By the 2 1/2 hr mark, I was able to clear malfunctions & hit targets 25 yards away. I sent my dad to also get training with Victor & he was extremely pleased & impressed with Victors professionalism. I would highly recommend private lessons from Victor for beginners. You will leave with more confidence and the ability to participate in one of their courses! read more

As a beginner, they were the perfect class to help me learn to shoot. Great teachers, super nice student. A fun and informative day. I will definitely take more classes with them read more

Dwayne is a great instructor. Had a one on one lesson with him. Very professional and all around great experience. Will definitely sign up for more courses. read more

I've been shooting for 20 plus years and am in LE. Over the last couple of years I've taken several of Victor's classes (Glock specific course, shotgun course, knife fighting, and others). I've never been let down! Victor's experience in LE and in the Military has made these some of the best courses I've been to. He has great instructors and is very professional. I've never been disappointed. I've even invited some friends from work to come to his classes which they thought was fantastic as well. Weather in LE or just wanting some great training, his courses are great. I've taken many fantastic courses over the years both in LE and on the civilian side and Sierra Element is definitely top notch. I'm going to take additional courses towards the end of this year because they are courses that other training companies just don't offer. Victor truly does offer quite and array of courses that suits the needs of whatever your looking for. I'm exited to take the knife fighting course again and a couple of other pistol and rifle courses with him. If your in the LA area, definitely check out their training. You won't be disappointed and will continue to go. I live in the IE so going to his classes are kind of far. I hope that he starts to expand and offer some courses out at Prado in the near future. It's the only thing that keeps me from taking more courses with him. Other than that, check is courses out. Also, anytime I've needed a questions answered regarding firearms, gear, companies to use, Victor always has the answer. You can always PM him on Instagram or text him and he will always get back to you. He's a great guy and the company is great to train with! Hope this information helps you. He's the only training group I've trained with in the LA area. read more

There are other firearms training schools, and then there's Sierra Element. Victor and Dwayne are both exceptionally good teachers, with decades of military and active PD experience between them. Their classes range from the foundational to the advanced-exotic (shooting in the dark, shooting from moving cars, close-quarters pistol fighting, and on and on - far beyond my skill level). I've taken their foundational pistol course several times. Competition-level shooters do, too. I'm already looking forward to the next class. read more

I had the opportunity to take the Combat Pistol with Guest Instructor Royce Gracie on June 3rd and it was an Excellent class. We spent a few hours with empty hand defense by Royce Gracie and then went into the handgun portion. The instructors focused on safety first for the entire class and slowly raised the tempo as they became comfortable with the course attendees. I've attended many courses around the country but it was my first time attending a Sierra Element course, so I really appreciated their attention to safety. By the end of the day, we were shooting and moving as well as shooting from non-standard shooting platforms...one I had never used before! It was a good course and I will be attending other Sierra Element courses in the future. read more

Sierra Element is hands down the best firearms training organization available. The instructors are the finest mentors around. And each one has decades of Real World, Combat, and Law Enforcement experience. They are all still active in their respective fields and bring only the latest and up to date perspectives on weapons and self protection. There is no question. If you need to learn a skill set or brush up on your current skills, call Sierra Element! Accept no other! read more

20 yrs in law enforcement and 20 yrs in the marines. This kind of experience, dedication, and attention to detail bleeds into every aspect of the training I received from Vic and Sierra element. His wealth of knowledge is ridiculous. His guest instructors are world class. Couldn't recommend this training more. You can never train enough so thankfully these guys have so many different classes from scoped carbine to hand to hand. I'll be at the pistol tune up in June. Can't wait. read more

To date I've taken a few classes with SE from Low Light classes to Rifles classes and each class I feel like I left with an abundance of new knowledge, that can help out in a potential real world scenario or to hone in on your existing skills. SE has some of the best instructors in the business with an amazing amount on knowledge to share with each and every student. The SE instructors push you to do better and become the best shooter you can be. I'd absolutely recommend taking one of the SE classes, they are not only informative but fun. read more

Sierra Element Tactical Firearms Training - Firearm Training Near Me

I have taken at least 6 shooting classes with Vic Lopez of Sierra Element. He is a STA Platoon Marine Gunnery Sergeant. As a former Marine myself, I can say that the training Gunny Lopez has been helping me with insofar as CQB, and with distance shooting with my Barrett 416 is superior. I have been getting top notch training that is far superior to basic USMC "snapping in." The various weapons Vic and the crew at Sierra Element have helped me master are the SCAR 17S, various piston and direct impingement AR15's, various 1911 handguns, the Glock 19, 34, and 21, the Polish Tantal AK74, the Hungarian AKMS Sidefolder, the Romanian, Russian and Polish AKMS 47 versions, the VZ58 Czech semi auto rebuild, and various other historical rifles, including those from Germany, era 1938-1945. Vic and crew are 100% patriotic, apple pie eating Americans and I would recommend anyone, especially vulnerable women to train with these gentlemen. They are not hard asses, and will definitely go the extra mile for you. The shooting facilities, including Whiskey Ranch are simply the best California has to offer, and I know this first hand, being an avid firearms and weapons safety expert and enthusiast. Semper Fi Vic and crew. Oooooohra! read more

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Just gonna say one thing Awesome I just gave to my son as a gift a 2 hs how to shot , we never had any experience before , and was great for both of us , we went of to the safety first and the to the tactical shutting , was a great experience , great instructors ,ale me and my son very satisfied ,I deep recommend. ...... Thanks read more

I participated in the first ever AK Rifle 1 course and left feeling good about what I had learned that day. Victor was very amicable, as were his associates, and together they made for an experience that equally balanced fun with learning. Their professionalism shows with a sharp eye for safety and constant verbal enforcement to make sure every student not only follows the rules but also practices the correct mindset required of citizens bearing firearms. At the end of the day, it's about having fun, and this was the most fun I've had at the range in a long time! read more

Great learning experience and quality instructors I was contemplating buying my first firearm but I was unfamiliar with the firearms world. I came across Sierra Element courses through a friend at my gym. I decided to take the basic handgun course. This was the best decision I made prior to purchasing my first firearm. Victor Lopez was my instructor and he made me confident in my decision to own a firearm but also gave me a wealth of knowledge and education in our 5 hour session. I came into this course with zero experience with guns other than a couple fired shots in the desert. The class was a great mix of new-comers and experienced marksman. The class setting is friendly and starts with introductions and educational touch points. This leads into a very hands on learning experience. We learned a lot about firearms safety, handling, situations, guidelines, sights, and so much more. There was a lot of practice with targets, learning to hold a hand gun properly, loading mags, reloading, clearing jams, sight pitcher, and a whole lot more. The staff was great and very helpful. Victor also helped me with my first purchase. I am very pleased with my experience and gun purchase. I feel very comfortable having a gun in my house. After taking the basic handgun course, I am very interested in expanding my firearms experience. Sierra Element offers many courses for all levels. read more

I've taken many classes from Sierra Element and Private instruction from Vic. The classes are Professionally run and safety is always maintained. Both Pistol and Rifle classes are great, the instructors are always watching and adjusting you to improve your performance. Unlike a lot of other companies Vic doesn't go to big on the class sizes so he maintains control and the ability to focus individually on students. Great friendships have been made at his classes as well, Vic's attitude fosters a camaraderie in the students and between the instructors as well. Whenever you can, sign up for a class and learn something! read more

I have been shooting hand guns for 29 years. I currently shoot a 40 caliber Glock. The exercises and drills that Vic ran us through were innovative and focused on improving fundamentals. He adapted to our skill levels as our shooting improved. By the end of the day not only did my shooting improve but my confidence and pistol manipulations. I look forward to running through Vic's classes again. His tremendous patience and knowledge made the class enjoyable. read more

I enrolled in a private long range precision rifle class with Victor this past week, and was also fortunate to have co-instruction by Mark. Both of the guys were super nice and full of knowledge. Always happy to answer questions with genuine interest and respect. Instruction was organized and clear, with the only thing getting in the way being my own bad habits...(doh forgot to chamber check...be back after a thousand yards lol). By the end of my session, Victor had me hitting steel at 600 yards which was the extent of the range we were at. Seriously had a great time and learned how to do things right. Now its just up to me to practice the pearls of wisdom Victor and Mark have taught me. Definitely money well spent. read more

Victor is a great guy. Easy to communicate with and very accommodating. Highly recommended!

Being somewhat familiar with guns taking a refresher course in basic shooting class was just what i needed. The instructors at Sierra elements went over the basics, the fundamentals of shooting: the drawing, target acquiring and the advancement to speed and accuracy. After a day of repetitive drills, I left with renewed confidence and familiarity of my weapon. I appreciated thw instructor's knowledge and infinite patience. Thank you. I recommend sierra elements to the women who want to be empowered and to not be intimidated by guns. read more

Great way to spend a Saturday! The instructors are straight forward with directions patient and friendly. They take safety seriously and will not hesitate to tell you if you are not sticking to the instructions. We had a mixed group of some who had never held a gun to experienced gun owners. They took care of everyone. Making sure the novices learned the basics and the experienced people were engaged and learning. We all had a really great time. I would come back for a course any day. read more

Been an LEO for 13 years now and I'm always seeking out extra training aside from what my department offers. After having now taking a couple of classes with Sierra Element, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Truth is there's a lot of yahoos out there claiming to be "instructors" having "expertise" or what not. It's tough to sift through all the nonsense. But these guys are no nonsense and will teach you every other from the fundamentals of marksmanship, basic weapons handling, to more advanced courses. I've seen terrible instructors. And I've seen good ones. You can't go wrong with these guys. read more

Sierra Element provides outstanding tactical firearms instruction at a very competitive rate. Victor is an excellent instructor with real-world experience to draw from -- something that many other instructors can't claim. Sierra Element offers a great variety of classes that I have not seen offered anywhere else: Tactical Tracking, Street Survival CCW, Counter Custody. All great stuff that goes well beyond the normal pistol/ rifle courses offered elsewhere. Whether you're an experienced shooter or you just bought your first striker fire pistol, you will always walk away from Victor's classes a better shooter. Highly recommended! read more

I have received training numerous times by Victor Lopez. He retired after 20 years from the USMC where he was a scout sniper and is now a current Police Officer with 20 years of experience. The knowledge he attained from these careers and the extra training he puts himself through has allowed him to be a great instructor. I highly recommend Sierra Element... read more

I've trained with Victor in many environments on a number of different platforms. I can say that his expertise and skill have improved my marksmanship and competence, without a doubt. He and his team of instructors, all seasoned veterans with military and law enforcement experience, can give you the necessary tools you need to safely handle firearms and improve your accuracy. In today's world you owe yourself, and the people you care about, proficiency. Beginners and advanced students alike can find all they need at Sierra Element to achieve that goal. Keep up the good work. read more

I highly recommend Sierra Element for all your training needs. I have taken several classes with this company and the instructors are very knowledgeable. The instructors bring life experience from deployments overseas as well as law enforcement. Each class offers new techniques that have contributed to improving my shooting. This past weekend alone my shooting experience was incorporated with world class jujitsu from UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie. The knowledge and experiences I have gained from this class has improved my shooting to another level. Remember always go with an open mind. read more

Victor Lopez of Sierra Element is one the most knowledgeable and professional tactical instructor I've had the pleasure to train with. I spent 10 years in the Marine Corps with multiple deployments and never learned nearly as much as I did from Sierra Element about different weapons platforms and how to employ them. If your looking for safety, professionalism and cutting edge training tactics, Sierra Element and Victor Lopez are the only place you you need to look. I will definitely be going back for more training! read more

The owner and instructor is very knowledgeable. Great group of instructors and hands down some of the best shooting training I have received. Their Designated Marksman course is top notch and no holds bar above the rest. Not just your typical duochbag tacticool instructor. He is just a cool guy and Very engaging group of dudes with tons of knowledge. Highly Recommended for law enforcement. Thanks for all the training Vick. read more

Joe D.... Trained with Victor n Dwayne. Back to basic with my 45, I K ow now what to do on my own... These are great instructors, anybody who like to shoot and wants some great training. Then these are your guys to be with... No joke.. I have been in other classes with both of them, and information is worth the time.... Thanks again guys will be in touch n in another class read more

I have taken quite a few firearms courses and I'd have to say my experience with Victor and his fellow instructors were by far one of the best! They were knowledgeable, passionate about teaching, and they made sure I left a far better shooter than when I came. They were amazing with building and sharpening strong shooting fundamentals. Great school! read more