I had an outstanding experience learning from Ricky. His ability to make complex concepts…read moreapproachable while keeping the training engaging really stood out. After completing my first three-hour course, I was confident enough to immediately sign up my entire family for additional training with him. Since our goal is to responsibly own a firearm at home, it's important that everyone understands proper handling and safety--and Ricky delivers exactly that. His guidance on the range is especially valuable; having a highly experienced veteran by your side, giving real-time direction, makes a huge difference--especially if you're new to firearms. I've now trained with Ricky twice, and each session has been both educational and enjoyable. Beyond the technical skills, there's a real sense of confidence that comes from learning in such a structured and professional environment. If you're serious about learning firearm safety and handling the right way, I highly recommend training with Ricky.

I've been taking classes with James "Rick" Sanders since 2023! I wouldn't even think about going…read moreanywhere else for any CCW courses or any other firearms training. A USMC veteran who has vast experience and knowledge. Get your training from Splitz Second Shooting, you will be extremely happy you did!

I can't say enough good things about Patrick Russ and his CCW course. Patrick is extremely…read moreknowledgeable, professional, and clearly cares about making sure his students actually understand the material--not just pass the class. He does an excellent job explaining both the legal side and the practical, real-world considerations of carrying, and he takes the time to answer every question thoroughly. Nothing felt rushed, and no question was brushed off. You can tell he has real experience and knows how to teach in a clear, approachable way. The course was well organized, informative, and engaging from start to finish. Patrick creates a comfortable learning environment while still emphasizing safety and responsibility, which I really appreciated. If you're looking for a CCW instructor who is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in his students, I highly recommend Patrick Russ. I'd absolutely take another course from him and would recommend him without hesitation.

All of the employees here are so patient and nice. They really want to help the customer not just…read moremake a sale.

Great educational course. Affordable and informative to help you navigate through the California…read moreprocess. Worth taking to be a safer and proficient

My first weapon instructional class. There were two 8 hour days of training to complete the CCW…read morecertification. Bill and Tamara were the instructors and both were great. I couldn't believe how much I learned in these classes. I was the "newbie" in the classes and others were far more experienced. Both instructors gave me extra attention and other students gave me some advice too. Very comfortable environment. I can highly recommend Mclaren Defense if you need CCW certification training.

Took my initial CCW initial class with instructor Paul in 2024 & was approved with Permitium within…read more30 days. The class was a state compliant course & was focused on firearms safety. Fast forward to 2026, and 712 days has gone by and I had to renew. My instructor was Alisha Curtin; who was amazing. She knew how to converse and keep the class engaged! Sign up, you will not be disappointed . 8 hours went by quickly.

Great experience!! I took the Ccw class with Alisha today and she was a great teacher, she gave me…read morea few tips and it improved my shooting instantly. Before today I never thought about any classes besides the requirements but I look forward to signing up in the future.

Great range, clean, friendly and they have everything you need. I took safety course also and…read moreeveryone was helpful and knowledgeable. It is worth coming back to my ccw course and to get my range time in. I also saw they have a great selection to choose from.

Came here with a big group and the staff had no problem accommodating us. At one point I got my…read moreflag stuck way down in the chamber and the staff quickly stepped in, handled it like pros. The range itself isn't the prettiest, but it makes up for it with a wide variety of services and solid support. Definitely a reliable spot if you're looking for a place to shoot with friends or just get some practice in. Very affordable and no membership required.

These guys are top notch…read more I had a blast working with these guys. It's simple calm instruction with some great people. You will learn the ins and outs of CQB in the classroom then get to deploy those movements on the "live fire" part of the building. Speaking of the building they have the perfect one. The old Escondido police station makes for the perfect venue. It's got elements of several environments. The fact that it's partly broken down (but safe) adds to the ambiance of the place. And the instructors are nice and knowledgeable. Dave, the lead instructor, has loads of real world experience that he has off loaded into his staff. Matt was the one who worked with our crew for the day. He was able to teach us how to conquer the rooms and be effective. You could tell he knew what he was talking about! All in all, it's a place we will return to!!!

Warfighter Academy has taken over the old Escondido Police HQ and is turning it in to a school…read morefocusing on the next level of weapons training. This academy is a new concept in firearm and security training. This facility IS NOT a shooting range. The instructors here teach people of all walks of life and skills the next level in firearms handling. You can target shoot most anywhere but Warfighter will teach you what to do if confronted with an armed person. The techniques and tactics that are taught here are something that had been previously available only to top level military and special forces personnel. They have classes for everyone from stay at home moms to experienced military. I believe you will be able to buy and attend single classes or multiple thru a membership program. Classes will range in skill level and difficulty and you can progress from one class to the next by completing each lower level. They will teach everything from basic firearms handling and techniques to low light, no light and urban warfare training. I was able to attend one of their pilot classes recently and had a great time. The class I attended was almost half women which is awesome. The instructors are all former military combat veterans or law enforcement. They all have experience in their respective fields and have all been taught by the best in the world when it comes to firearms handling and tactics. The class consisted of part classroom instruction and part hands on using tactical/military style paintball guns. The hands on portion is video taped to allow you to review what you learned with the instructors then improve from there. The point of the classes is to improve your chances of winning a gunfight in most any situation. The class selection, amenitiies and products offered will increase as they get going. When I attended there was still some amount of re-modeling going on, but look for big things very soon. I am excited to come back here for another class soon!

My husband and I had the pleasure of joining Peter for our CCW renewal course. He was absolutely…read moreAmazing!! He spoke to us from start to finish with genuine attention and care. Peter never once made me feel dumb or as if I was going to fail, and unfortunately I've encountered instructors that seemed to enjoy "knowing" more than their students! This team operates so much differently and this made a huge difference in my training. I have already started spreading the word! Thank you again for sharing all your expertise we will see you at our next re-qual!

Outstanding CCW Training - Highly Recommend!…read more I took the CCW Initial course for Riverside County with Force Defense Firearms Training, and it was by far the best firearms training experience I've had. I previously completed a CCW course for my OC permit through a different provider, and Force Defense absolutely blows them out of the water. Michael and Pete are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and bring years of real-world experience to the table. Their ability to teach in a clear, approachable way while maintaining a strong focus on safety is what sets them apart. One thing I really appreciated was the instructor-to-student ratio--it makes a huge difference when it comes to safety and personalized instruction. You never feel rushed or like you're just a number. The entire course is well-paced, detailed, and intentional. You can tell they care about each student walking away confident, informed, and responsible. If you're looking for high-quality CCW training with instructors who take the time to do it right, I highly recommend Force Defense. I'll definitely be coming back for future training.

If you are a novice interested in learning about responsible use of self-defense on any level -…read moreIvan is your guy. As novices with minimal experience, my friend & I were seeking fundamentals + hands-on + overall education/update on ever-changing legal landscape here in CA if/when deciding pursue CCW. It's SO confusing! That said, learning about what responsible ownership looks like here in California was a top priority. We learned SO MUCH. In addition to learning the basics, ie. attitude for owning and operating a handgun safely, we got MANY rounds of practice, and in an outdoor setting (Ivan is a member of Rainbow shooting range), HUGE bonus - lots of fresh air, sunshine & no distractions (and no STINK ... if you've been to certain local indoor ranges here in N SD County, you know what I'm talking about!) While it took me a hot minute to get used to keeping my finger off the trigger, with practice and Ivan's "firm encouragement" by the end of our training, felt totally natural. Not two ways about it, Ivan's a strickler for safety, but that's exactly what we wanted. He's extremely thorough, covered everything including range etiquette, using sights, shooting from the holster, safely/quickly loading/unloading, how to clean (even offered to show me how to clean my shot gun, which I brought along to our training). He also educated us on CA laws & NRA certifications. Literally, everything we asked for, and then some. If you're a beginner, I strongly recommend personal vs. group/class training for something as important as this. Since just two of us with one instructor, we could move rapidly through the course work & interact real-time, asking questions as they came up vs. sharing time/attention among others in a group who may have slowed the pace and/or required extra attention. Especially if time is an issue for you, being able to learn so much in an accelerated format is such an advantage. For just slightly more than the cost of group/class training ... you get SO MUCH more with personal instruction. And in my opinion, for THIS kind of training ... you DON'T want to cut corners. Ivan is a confident, knowledgeable, very thorough instructor. I highly recommend him & plan to continue training with him while here visiting CA.

Prior to my appointment with Ivan, I had very little exposure/experience with firearms. I was…read moreexcited to gain more knowledge and experience, but also nervous as I'm generally an anxious person. In short: I cannot speak more highly of the experience that I had with Ivan at the range!! We made our appointment to visit a local range where I needed to read a safety binder and take a test prior to shooting. Ivan patiently waited while I read the manual thoroughly -- he didn't make me feel rushed nor did he pressure me to hurry through it. This was impactful because I am the kind of person that reads manuals and safety material cause I want to know the ins and outs; I don't like to use "I didn't know" as an excuse. Having the freedom to thoroughly read the materials really set the tone for the rest of the day. Before we stepped onto the floor, Ivan made sure to explain the what would be going on in a way that made things crystal clear for me as well as instilling me with a great deal of confidence. Not only that, but he reminded me that I could stop to ask questions any time or ask for further clarification. The entire experience from start to finish was top notch! We went through several rounds with a handgun then moved onto the rifle. The shooting experience itself was exhilarating and educational all thanks to Ivan! I walked away feeling empowered, confident, and with a new-found reverence for the sport. Cannot recommend Ivan and his services enough!