perdurabo93
Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2006
- Messages
- 121
Ive been considering taking a Defensive/Tactical Pistol course for quite some time and I'm doing my best to do my homework on what would be the best option for me. What I'm looking for a good defensive pistol course. I shoot pretty well but I feel I need more practically minded applied training to maximize that skill. What I don't need a beginners class on concealed carry pistol... I want solid tactical handgun training for full size high capacity sidearms.
In the past, I was considering taking the 3-day "Tactical Handgun" from Thunder Ranch since I already live in Central Texas, but now that Thunder Ranch has moved to Oregon, its a lot less convenient and a lot more expensive to take a course there... however Ive heard very very good things about Clint Smith and his teaching style. Taking a class from Clint would be ideal but I don't want to have to book a whole year in advance or pay an inflated price for it.
Another option would be the Gunsite 5-day "250 Defensive Pistol" course. A little closer to me than Oregon, but still pretty crazy expensive. I'm not sure what kind of reputation Gunsite has in these post-Jeff Cooper days but I imagine its nowhere near the quality it used to be... or is it?
Then theres Front Sight academy. Ive heard mixed reviews about this place. Many say they have good instruction and like the 4-day Defensive Pistol class, but I hear the Front Sight people try very hard to upsell you into buying property in their "community" or becoming a dues paying member or some such drink-the-koolaid wackiness.
Ive tried to find more local instruction and I found a place called Tac Pro up near Dallas that offers a relatively inexpensive 3-day Primary Defensive Handgun course. The course description is very thorough and looks quite good but their class schedule for 2007 is not published. These folks are also a total unknown to me and I dont know anyone who has taken a course from them.
What other sorts of considerations should I take into account for a defensive pistol course? If anyone has had any experience, suggestions or recommendations for the above training institutions, or knows of other good training options, I would be very interested in anything you have to offer.
In the past, I was considering taking the 3-day "Tactical Handgun" from Thunder Ranch since I already live in Central Texas, but now that Thunder Ranch has moved to Oregon, its a lot less convenient and a lot more expensive to take a course there... however Ive heard very very good things about Clint Smith and his teaching style. Taking a class from Clint would be ideal but I don't want to have to book a whole year in advance or pay an inflated price for it.
Another option would be the Gunsite 5-day "250 Defensive Pistol" course. A little closer to me than Oregon, but still pretty crazy expensive. I'm not sure what kind of reputation Gunsite has in these post-Jeff Cooper days but I imagine its nowhere near the quality it used to be... or is it?
Then theres Front Sight academy. Ive heard mixed reviews about this place. Many say they have good instruction and like the 4-day Defensive Pistol class, but I hear the Front Sight people try very hard to upsell you into buying property in their "community" or becoming a dues paying member or some such drink-the-koolaid wackiness.
Ive tried to find more local instruction and I found a place called Tac Pro up near Dallas that offers a relatively inexpensive 3-day Primary Defensive Handgun course. The course description is very thorough and looks quite good but their class schedule for 2007 is not published. These folks are also a total unknown to me and I dont know anyone who has taken a course from them.
What other sorts of considerations should I take into account for a defensive pistol course? If anyone has had any experience, suggestions or recommendations for the above training institutions, or knows of other good training options, I would be very interested in anything you have to offer.