I've done a few classes with Dave now. And although I am not, and probably never will be, a "gun…read moreperson," I can say I do now feel more comfortable around them. I used to hate it when my husband would get his gun out to practice with his fake bullets or clean it or something, but now I'll do a couple of practices with him. The last class we had, the shooting workshop, was probably the best. It was a private range, and I shot an orange, which was so cool. I highly recommend this workshop. So now, while I wouldn't say I'd be "excited" about a day at the range, I'll at least go in somewhat knowing what I'm doing and have some fun, which is a huge difference from a few months ago, when I wouldn't even go at all. As an instructor and human, Dave is patient, kind, and funny. This kind of class can be intense- a firearms instructor needs to walk a fine line between being supportive and encouraging, but also making sure people know what they're doing so they don't hurt themselves. Dave is able to balance that well. He knows when to explain, when to show, and when to let the student try it out. He also seems to know when he can encourage a student a bit more to reach the next level of skill and when to back off. He definitely knows guns, but he knows people, too! Good combination in a firearms instructor.

I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Dave Selmo at Left of Center Gun School. He is truly…read morean exceptional teacher. I came in feeling quite nervous and unsure of myself, but Dave immediately made me feel comfortable. He was incredibly patient, encouraging, observant, and positive throughout the entire session. He has a real gift for teaching and for understanding what a student is actually doing rather than simply giving generic instructions. Very quickly, he identified that I was anticipating the shot when pulling the trigger. He gave me a simple technique to break that habit. The difference was almost immediate. Within minutes, I went from shots scattered around the target to consistently hitting the bull's-eye. I was amazed! What I appreciated most was how encouraging Dave was. He made the entire experience fun, relaxed, and motivating, while still being very focused on helping me improve. He also has a wonderful ability to recognize when a student is doing something right and build confidence from there. Dave is knowledgeable, insightful, kind, and genuinely passionate about teaching. I left the session feeling much more confident and, most importantly, excited to keep learning. I highly recommend Dave to anyone looking for individualized instruction. He is a fantastic teacher, and I feel very fortunate to have found him!

It's over a year later and I am now a regular. Taking the classes has been a significant part of my…read morepost-fire healing journey. Being outdoors in the mountains, with a great group of people, learning such an interesting and unique skill always turns my frown upside down. After every single class I feel grateful. I've made friends, we laugh all day long, I absolutely adore the instructors and my shooting pals. The classes have brought some joy back into my life. Love you, gun fam! Huge thanks to Dutch and his amazing team for their knowledge, patience, and all around fun energy! Highly recommend! 1000/10!

Dutch is the owner and trainer of Live Fire Learning. He has an extensive background as a…read morecompetitive shooter, an armorer in movies and TV, and is a frequent guest on news programs talking about gun safety. The classes are small because individual attention is important to him. Dutch teaches in a calm, kind, and patient manner helping both people who have never handled a gun and those returning for refreshers and more training. This is not a macho gun nut class. Safety and knowledge are the best tools when handling firearms and Dutch goes the extra mile. The class begins with a classroom session where gun handling safety and laws are covered. He demystifies guns by careful explanation of how they work, their mechanics and the different types of ammo and some simple laser gun instruction on how to aim. Then its on to the range, right outside the classroom. His assistants operate in the same manner as Dutch; non-judgmental and patient. Range operations are conducted in a very safe manner. The best part about Pistol Foundations is that he provides about 8 different guns that each person has a chance to shoot. For those who have not bought a firearm yet, this is very helpful.This is my second class with Dutch and the classes are highly recommended.

Can't say enough about Peggy and the training we have received. My daughter and I are new to…read moreshooting and Peggy's firm, but friendly manner is serving us well. Every class we become more confident in our abilities. Learning gun safety and basics, and then proceeding through target practice, the 9mm beginner and a second 9 mm class and next the intermediate class is empowering. Having a private lesson with us two and our instruction is perfect as she can tailor the progression to suit us individually. Also Peggy is a certified NRA instructor and as such knows her subject and the correct way to approach firearms training.

CALLING ALL LADIES!…read more I have been wanting to get Firearm Certified for a while and have been wanting to train, but most gun stores & instructors are male centered and male catered. It can be intimidating to do things that are of a dangerous nature while training with men. I found that out while training to ride motorcycles. Often times (especially lately) people want to avoid the idea that men & women have different needs & ways in which they learn, but for me personally i cannot ignore this fact, & I really didn't want a "tough guy" approach to my Firearm journey as an abuse survivor. Not that there's anything wrong with the fellas, but for my comfort, I really wanted a ladies' approach to the world of self-defense shooting and after a long search... I found the absolute QUEEN of the shooting range! Peggy Grangetto has changed my life with her Ladies Only gun training. She is a firearms EXPERT with many certifications and is extraordinarily knowledgeable and gentle with her teaching style. In the beginners course, you will learn all the basics in a safe, ego neutral environment where you can be comfortable. Half classroom, half gun range. I took her Ladies Only Beginner course and was able to take the test to get certified to purchase & own a Firearm, as well as spend a few hours shooting a .22 caliber pistol (let her know in advance if you want to take the certification test). Her classes are held at the Beautiful Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall. Check out their Yelp as well if you're already experienced or are looking for a range in the SCV! Yesterday was my follow-up class, which was the Intermediate Ladies only Pistol course. This was an all gun range day with a 9MM pistol, myself, another student & Peggy. I'm learning BODY TRUST and focus, which is soooooo important to being effective in stopping an attack from an assailant while using a gun. If you are a woman seeking to train with firearms, and an want the feminine ego neutral approach, then you need Peggy. You will NOT regret the decision to take your power back. I'm so happy and empowered you guys. Beyond 5 stars! *Please note, Peggy doesn't ONLY teach women. All genders are welcome to her training, however the ladies only classes are SPECIFICALLY for women.

This place is awesome and I have had a great time coming here regularly. I would like to point out…read morethat I took a lesson with Keith to an understanding on proper shooting technique and i could not recommend him enough for anyone interested in learning to shoot properly or improve your skillset. Make sure to read AND understand the rules before coming by, for everyone's safety!

The guys behind the desk are super friendly. I shoot my gun here. Clean, good lighting, more space…read morethan others and good ventilation. I prefer bringing people with me here.

First Time and Excellent Experience…read more This was our first time taking a firearm course, and we came as a group of four wanting to learn the basics and, most importantly, how to handle firearms safely and responsibly. From the moment we arrived, we felt that safety was the top priority. The setting was amazing, the location was great, and the entire experience was extremely well organized. Doug and Paula were fantastic instructors. They paid incredible attention to detail and were very patient throughout the entire course. They explained everything clearly, including proper handling, safety procedures, and how to keep everyone around us safe. They took the time to walk us through every step, answered all of our questions, and never made us feel rushed or uncomfortable asking for clarification. By the time we left, we felt much more knowledgeable and confident about the fundamentals of safe firearm handling. We couldn't have asked for a better experience for our first course. Doug and Paula were professional, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely focused on making sure everyone was safe. Highly recommend them to anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of firearm safety and responsible handling.

My father and I joined the handgun training with Bernard and had a great experience. His level of…read moreexpertise and attention to detail really stood out. He was patient, professional, and took the time to explain everything clearly while making sure we understood what we were doing and why. We both walked away feeling more knowledgeable and confident. I would definitely recommend Bernard and ADE for hands-on firearms training.

Dreaded having to take time out from work for the 16-hour California CCW course assuming it would…read morebe a beginners shooting curriculum. NOPE. Lucked out a got a great instructor too - thanks Daniel! Learned about California laws, some you'll definitely not know or understand when carrying in CA, and also a 2-hour segment on FirstAid with guest speaker Isaac. Another great instructor. The practical live shooting portion is pretty boring if you're a reasonable avid shooter. All the other portions were interesting and informative which surprised me. Daniel has a gift for teaching and kept the class interactive with his witty presentation style. Highly recommend this school vs. others.

Daniel's course more than just complies with legal check boxes. You learn alot in a good…read moreenvironment. He keeps you entertained and engaged. He invites questions. I usually do research but selected his course randomly and got lucky.

I lost my cousin due to gun violence, so at very young age Guns had left a very negative…read moreimpression on me. In my adulthood, I respected them; but wasn't quite sure I ever wanted to touch one. Sadly, the reality is the world we live in now is a dog eat dog world. - I want to be able to protect myself sufficiently and confidently. Showing up to Gun class in the middle of no where with no prior gun experience with no cell service and alone, sounds like the perfect Saturday! Hahaha - And it was. Thankfully Darren and his two guys, were fabulous instructors! Good energy and lots of knowledge, not to mention super helpful and will lend a helping hand gladly to help build your confidence holding a gun... loading your gun or magazine. These guys give good instruction, than it's up to you to practice them right, inevitably; because Perfect practice makes for PERFECT. Thanks so much gentlemen, I will be returning to sharpen the skills I was shown today and break in my SIG P220 and Smith & Wesson Shield.

I took my first firearm training class with Darren at 5 Arrows.. ....prior to this I've had zero…read moreexperience with firearms....I am so pleased with the way Darren taught me everything from the safe handling and cleaning to actually firing a pistol accurately. I highly endorse 5 Arrows Tactical for your firearm training needs.

Course taken: Beginner Pistol Training Course…read more Summary: 2-day course. First day was in the office where topics were covered via PowerPoint presentation and Pete allowed us to do dry firing with airsoft guns. Second day was at the range for about 1.5hr where he taught us safe operation (i.e. grip, stance, aiming, accuracy, loading, unloading). Special remarks: Pete's dedication to gun safety and safe gun operation is apparent in the way he teaches. He is passionate about safety and an enthusiastic teacher which made the class fun. One of his most valuable strengths is that he was able to teach in a way that I could understand. (Side note: I am afraid of guns but took this class to combat that fear!) Pete was able to keep the class engaged, provided constructive feedback, and attention to detail. With his guidance and support, I was able to see a significant improvement in my grouping and decrease my fear of guns overall. Also, I made new friends in the class :) **I will be returning for other classes. Definitely recommend.

Pete was an amazing instructor honestly I've taken a few courses before but I learned more from him…read morethan I've learned from anyone before. He's polite, helpful, and supportive and he really helped me learn very helpful safe handling and technique. Honestly the value of the class was very worth it for the knowledge I gained and the practice and training I received. I would definitely recommend this business if you are looking to learn real life applications of your training and not just read a book.

These guys helped me when another gunsmith caused my extractor to become seized due to a flood of…read moreloctite. They were super helpful with knocking it out within the hour and free of charge! They also reinstalled the optic for me! First time asking them for their gunsmith services and they knocked it out the park! I feel terrible as I didn't catch the gunsmiths name but they will always have my business!!

The guys at Guns LA are amazing. Awesome selection, great if you're a collector. They always have…read moresomething unique in stock. I purchase all my guns through them, they're very cooperative and helpful when it comes to helping with questions and logistics with current CA rules. If I need work done, or I'm making a purchase I trust them with my hard earned cash (and firearms) thanks a ton guys! Easiest 5 star rating ever. (Someone buy the $10,000,000 hi point)

This is not the place for you if you're looking for supportive teachers who want you to learn. Pay…read moreattention to the other 1-2 star reviews; they all have to do with how unwelcoming the staff is here. I've taken nine classes here and John Fisher has been rude and condescending at every one of his classes - consisting talking down to students and creating a negative learning environment. He may be an expert and good at his craft, but an expert does not make a good teacher. Would not recommend this place to others.

Community Woodshop LA has solid equipment and the physical space itself is fine. But my experience…read morewith Scott Stevens completely ruined it. I constantly felt pressured to take extra classes that I didn't need. It felt less like guidance and more like being pushed to spend more money which is something a scamming business would do. The communication was uncomfortable, and interactions often felt confrontational because of his attitude instead of being supportive. Instead of feeling encouraged to grow, I felt like I was walking on eggshells.