Took the instructors class this past week, Out of all the classes I've taken over the past several…read moreyears, this had to be one of the best training classes I've ever taken. And the NRA class counselor was the best! Thank you Carl Hirt for your expertise in instruction and your patience, you made this class a very enjoyable experience!!! Eric Bryant

Excellent instruction and excellent facilities. The instructors are highly knowledgeable and take…read morethe time to help students get the most out each class. I would recommend Hirt Defensive Solutions for ANYONE in the area.

I want to thank you for the professionalism, organization, and commitment you demonstrated…read morethroughout the training weekend. I left with a strong appreciation for the quality of instruction and the level of care you put into the student experience. * The training stayed extremely well organized. You maintained a clear structure from start to finish, which kept everyone focused and confident in what came next. * The Program of Instruction (POI) was excellent. The flow made sense, the objectives were clear, and each block of instruction built naturally into the next. It felt intentional rather than improvised. * You minimized downtime. Transitions between drills happened quickly, and the pace kept students engaged without feeling rushed. * You demonstrated safety consistently throughout the training. Both physical safety and weapons safety were emphasized. You reminded students to hydrate, monitor their physical condition, and maintain muzzle awareness at all times. That constant reinforcement built trust and professionalism. * Cadre availability on Friday made a strong impression by making yourselves accessible, answered questions, and set the tone for a productive weekend. * Craig followed up on Monday to check on us. That personal call showed genuine investment in the students and reinforced the professionalism of the program. * The student‑to‑cadre ratio was excellent. We received individualized attention, immediate corrections, and real‑time coaching that would not have been possible with a larger group. * The pizza after training was a great touch. It created a relaxed environment to decompress, talk through the day, and build rapport. * The drinks on the firing line were greatly appreciated. Having cold drinks available kept everyone hydrated and helped maintain performance and safety.

TL;DR: This is an amazing firearms training center with outstanding, humble, friendly, and highly…read morequalified instructors. I can't recommend them enough - I bought the lifetime membership! I traveled from Colorado to Alabama to take this two-day shotgun course. Admittedly, I was a little hesitant at first to put such faith in an organization I had no first-hand knowledge of; there was a lot of unknown to me for such an investment. After I purchased the course (which included a Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Semi-Automatic shortgun and other freebies ($1,149 MSRP; $1049.99 on Cabelas https://www.cabelas.com/p/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-semi-auto-shotgun), I also purchased their lifetime membership which was offered at a very discounted rate after the 2-day course/shotgun purchase. More risk. Lastly, I was hesitant about a semi-auto shotgun (vice a pump) for my primary home defense weapon. After firing this weapon for 2 days, I am convinced it is extremely reliable (and potentially faster and definitely less complicated in a high-stress defense situation) and have been made a "believer." It's replacing my Mossberg 590A1 as my primary home defense piece. Our primary instructors were Carter, Steven, and Ammon. Carter, the lead instructor, immediately set a friendly, humble tone for the class of 12 students, all of whom (in our class's case) were fairly veteran gun owners. Every person there was also kind, humble, and a pleasure to be around. While I believe that most people are genuinely friendly, I also believe that when the tone is properly set, as Carter did, that friendliness is brought to the forefront. Great start. I also learned the qualifications of the instructors (https://patriottrainingcenter.com/about-us/). They are all very impressive with many recognized industry qualifications. The book that comes with the course is spiral-bound and 120 pages. It is an AWESOME reference, both during and after the course. We had about 2 hours of instruction and went to the range. SAFETY IS AN ABSOLUTELY TOP PRIORITY HERE. I never felt concerned, even once. These gentlemen know how to run a range, bar none. The training was fun, engaging, exciting, and challenging. I learned so much. They'll tell you at the beginning that it's "drinking from a firehose," but honestly it felt like a great pace to me. Lunch breaks were an hour, and felt generous time-wise, especially if you bring a lunch - there is a microwave and paper plates, bowls, and plastic utensils available (my experience there). For the course, Patriot Training Center sells the ammo package for $280. If you bring your own, HIGHLY recommend you purchase low-recoil buckshot and slugs (~1300 FPM, **NOT** the 1600 FPM full-power ammo!!). They recommend 00 Buck for home defense. Regardless of which ammo you personally choose for home defense, I recommend bringing THAT ammo to test against the targets - we saw a HUGE difference in shot patterns and spread from the "cheap" to the "quality" ammo (they recommend 2 3/4" Federal FliteControl (LE13300) #00 Buck **8-pellet** (not 9-pellet!!), or Hornsby Versatite Black #00 8-pellet shells. In my case, I did not know this ahead of time and had the 1600 FPM buckshot and slugs. Fortunately, the Beretta A300 is a gas-recoil shotgun which reduces recoil about 40% (per their website). FWIW, I was not sore at all after firing about 180-200 shells over 2 days (all birdshot the first day; birdshot, buckshot, and slugs the second day). Not to humble brag (lol), but I am in pretty decent shape - YMMV, so get the low-recoil stuff. As I said before, I also bought their "lifetime membership," which allows you to go back for their other courses, to include 2-day rifle and shotgun, 2- and 4-day pistol (both with and without red dot), and their 2-day active shooter response course. You can attend as many of these courses as your time allows, and as many times as you want. We had a guy in our class who had attended 10+ times already. Amazing, amazing value if you take advantage of it. To sum up, I couldn't be happier with my purchase: great instructors (as human beings), great instruction, great range, and a great experience. Highly recommend!!

Best firearm training class in all of Metro Atlanta. They have private to group classes from…read morebeginner to advanced and will help with all you firearm needs. Many locations to fit your gun training needs.

From the owner: Serving the greater Atlanta area, our firearms training academy offers a variety of courses to fit…read moreyour needs. We have beginner handgun classes as well as advanced firearms training courses for those looking to take their skills to the next level. We offer pistol training, rifle training, and gun training. Our firearms classes are taught by experienced instructors who have a passion for firearms tactical training. Call today to discuss our upcoming classes and how to register!

I have been shooting for almost 40 years and have never taken a real lesson. I decided to take the…read morebeginner course because I might have bad habits. At the end of the day I had dramatically increased proper technique, speed and accuracy. Thanks!

I can not recommend Rob and Ironclad enough. I enrolled in the beginner course to finally conquer…read moremy irrational fear of handguns, and walked out with knowledge that gave me the power over that fear. No question is a bad question in this class. Each layer of this hands-on class builds upon the other, and I wrapped up the class jonesing for more time on the range to sharpen my skills. Enrolling in the concealed carry and progressive classes next.

I felt very safe learning to shoot with Mr. Thompson. He was very patient and knowledgeable- he…read moreeven helped me choose the right gun to purchase for my age and hand strength. I thought I'd feel out of place being a woman but I was totally comfortable. Highly recommend especially for people like me who don't know a lot about guns but want to be trained to handle them safely and shoot accurately.

We recently moved to NC from FLA and needed to get our concealed firearms permits here. We attended…read moreDavid's training course in February. It was important for us to know the legal differences between FLA and NC as it pertains to concealed firearms. We were impressed with David's background, and experience, knowledge and professionalism. The real life scenarios using Nerf guns was also beneficial, and fun! We were glad to see that it was and all day class and that it covered legal issues, basic pistol knowledge, and required a written test and actual range qualification. We found the class very interesting and extremely beneficial and thoroughly enjoyed it! We highly recommend David's class to anyone looking for a GREAT concealed firearms course!