Great instruction for beginners and experienced shooters alike. Classes are well paced, with thorough time spent on safe weapon handling, 1-on-1 weapon system manipulation practice and 1-on-1 live fire practice. Bonus points for some friendly competition with the instructor at the range. read more

The instructors were very informative and helpful. I really enjoyed the course. I would highly recommend using their services!

Took my renewal with BAT in San Leandro. Very professional, friendly, helpful. Gregg, Dennis and Norman were absolutely great! Highly recommend! read more

My husband and I took Pistol 1 & 2 course couple of weeks ago. Our instructors Norman, Chris, and Dennis were very helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. They explained everything really well for everyone to understand (regardless of experience). Chris was very patient and encouraging during while at the range. He did a great job putting everyone at ease and correcting people in a way that was productive but no one felt embarrassed or stupid. That is a great skill for any instructor to have. He also stayed longer to let me shoot with couple of his guns that I was not familiar with. Thank you so much. Dennis was the one coordinating the schedule when I signed up. He was very responsive and very accommodating. For example, when I asked if I could go to an earlier class, he remembered and called me when they had a cancellation). I will 100% recommend this course, and will definitely take other courses with them. read more

Great group of guys, respectful, and very smooth, organized process getting my CCW courses with them. Gregg and Dennis provided great background and class instruction, likely due to their PD and EP background. Chris and Marlon watched us fire, and gave instinctual critique on improving our form with noticeable improvement by the end. Would highly recommend read more

Bay Area Tactical - Shooting time! - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

Norman was my instructor and he was amazing. He's very knowledgeable and was able to catch some of inconsistency with shooting. Gave me pointers and trigger control, and grip/hand placement. I would 100% recommend to anyone who wants to learn or start firearms training. read more

Did a renewal CCW class with them. Super smooth and great staff. Will def use them again.

At first, I was a little nervous and uncomfortable, but your instructors quickly put me at ease I am 100% satisfied and happy with the instructions. I got they fix my faults and help me relax I would recommend your training course to anyone. Thank you again for bettering me as a shooter and for the safety most of all points that you helped me with. read more

I reached out to Dennis after my wife and daughter experienced a targeting road rage episode, expressing a need for both to receive fire arms training. Beginning with the literally immediate response to my email through the extremely caring and consultative approach to developing a training program, I can affirm few companies operate with a similar level of professionalism and organization. My wife and daughter, despite never handling a weapon before, emerged from the first session with a comprehensive knowledge of technique, safety, and follow-up options to continue learning and development. I can't comment on other potentially similar organizations, but I can state I would refer anyone to BAT without pause. read more

Excellent firearm training. Completed concealed carry and also the concealed carry recertification. You get great shoot time on the range and they'll help and guide you to become a better shooter with the knowledge required. Will be back! read more

I passed my CCW range test with BAT's help in San Leandro last year. The courses are very well organized and quite beneficial as well. The instructor called out my trigger pull problem very quickly and I am so glad to see the improvements. read more

These guys are fantastic! They helped me to get through my CCW training. And been there for me every single step of the way. If you're a beginner Or Need training for your CCW Hands down this is the best place for you! read more

Been to few different shooting classes in the Bay Area. BAT instructors definitely are one of the best. They are not just friendly but their schedules are friendly too. Will come back for more classes in the future. read more

Beyond the knowledge transfer, the vibes at BAT were immaculate. I applied for my CCW initial in 2023 in San Mateo County and was searching for a vendor to complete my qualifications. For context, I am an active USPSA A-class Carry Optics competitive shooter--my member number is A128082 for verification--and a martial arts instructor of 15 years. In an informal setting, I've practiced and trained with a variety of LEOs, first responders, and military personnel, from South Bay agencies to the Sacramento area. Lastly, I placed 8th out of 115 shooters in a CCW-specific competition and 2nd in my division. This isn't a flex, just context for my experience. I was recommended to BAT by a close family friend and best man who also shoots competitively and got his CCW through Alameda County. He reassured me that BAT was simply meeting its deliverables regarding the CCW process, although he did express that there were some conflicting ideologies. However, he also said he would do business with BAT again, purely because of the positive vibe and communal environment they created. My Class Experience My first introductory class was with Norman Ho. He spoke with an attractive charisma that made the class content easy to absorb. Norman was also very good at explaining certain laws and policies with a strong but unbiased point of view. This was important to me because, often, instructors will claim a concept is the "end-all" solution. For example, if instructors say "slow is fast," I'll tell them they are mistaken, as times and how we fight have changed. Slow is slow, and fast is fast. I don't know when anyone won a fight with a slow punch. Good news: BAT and its instructors didn't say or express anything like that. My first shooting instructor was Chris. He is awesome, plain and simple. Things started off a bit intense when he instructed an incompetent student to lock back their slide as a safety protocol, and they simply couldn't do it. Chris made it very clear that this was an important function to know as a gun owner--and more importantly, as a CCW holder. I 100% agree and was glad he did that. Once he learned about my experience, he acknowledged it and expressed that he didn't need to give me as much attention. While I appreciated that, I also told him that I was a student first and foremost and was still there to learn, which he also appreciated. He's a great teacher, very adamant in his teachings, and very funny. My next instructor was Greg. While Chris was amazing, I was glad to work with another instructor for variety. Greg is a former LEO from Detroit who worked in executive protection, and he has seen some things! He was also the instructor who gave me the online PowerPoint, which I'm sure wasn't easy, but he still made it interesting. When we did our first grouping of five shots on a 7-yard target, I essentially did a regular Bill Drill in a six-inch circle. Greg exclaimed, "Wow, you know something, don't you?" It was a nice, lighthearted joke. I gave him context on my experience but still told him I was a student first and foremost. He appreciated that, and I appreciated his acknowledgment. We passed the qualification, and we continued to converse and exchange knowledge. Why BAT Stands Out What made me want to stick around with BAT was the cool environment and attractive energy. I just wanted to talk shop and shoot more. Just like other gun enthusiasts, we enjoyed sharing what gear we run, what holsters we rock, and our optics preferences. It was great! The important part about this overall experience is that they didn't downplay my shooting experience as a competitive shooter; they embraced it. That's huge to me because, in the world of tactics among civilians and LEOs, implementing competitive shooting in their practice is inevitably beneficial. The only downside was that Greg challenged me to keep shooting faster, haha. My final thought: I am confident that I will continue to give BAT my business and refer my network for as long as I can carry. read more

Bay Area Tactical - Passed with flying colors - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

The team at B.A.T., during my CCW requalification, exemplified professionalism and experience which provided ease of training and qualification. Bay Area Tactical is my trainer of choice now and for the future. Thank you, Kirk read more

My experience here was life changing. I had never held or shot a gun in my life. I went her for my CCW cert. The instructors took their time training me and others. They didn't judge and I passed. Not without some dedication and training! read more

I want to give a huge thank you to Dennis, Greg, and Norman for the outstanding job they did during my CCW training. They are extremely kind, professional, and efficient--truly seasoned firearms instructors. The CCW program is well-structured and split into three parts: two in-person class/range sessions and one Zoom class. During both the classroom and Zoom portions, they clearly explained the laws, responsibilities, and real-world considerations that come with carrying a concealed weapon. On the range, we went through drills that genuinely helped me smooth out some of my shooting issues. They shared tips and insights I've never come across on YouTube--practical, actionable advice that made a noticeable difference in my technique. I'm very grateful to the entire Bay Area Tactical team and extremely glad I chose them for my CCW class. I highly recommend their program, and I'll definitely be returning for my renewals. read more

Bay Area Tactical - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

Took a training course and these guys were great! Professional, safe, educational, and a pleasure to be around. I had a blast. I will certainly be back for more courses with BAT. read more

10/10 great instructors no questions was a stupid question they answered everything you needed to know with no hesitation. Great at teaching on how to hold your fire arm and how to engage your fire arm on a self defense level. read more

Bay Area Tactical has the best instructors for firearm safety and handling. I highly recommend them.

Took the 16-Hour CCW initial course to satisfy the requirement for Hayward PD. I have taken quite a few tactical and defensive courses from a wide variety of trainers in the SF Bay Area & Northern California, probably around 25+ courses in the last 10 years. The general consensus from many training groups / clubs is that CCW classes must cater to wide range of skill levels and gun owners, which often limits the content to being pretty mediocre. The majority of participant's first experience drawing from concealment or shooting under any type of pressure will be this class. BAT does a great job job of understanding that but also incorporating some intermediate drills/skills for experienced shooters. Understanding that limitation, the overall experience was great and probably the best CCW course in the greater Bay Area. BAT would my first choice if they are an approved trainer for your county or city. Logistics: The course was broken down into 3 parts. One in-person classroom and range day followed by a virtual Zoom lecture on a separate weekday. The third part was in-person and pretty much all range time ending with the qual. Paperwork to submit to the PD was competed and distributed quickly. BAT gave me everything I needed for the final submission within a day of completing the course. Instructors: Instructors were all good, made good use of time and had great info. Many instructors were retired PD which is always value added. Gregg was particularly helpful and insightful, both in the classroom(s) and while shooting on the range. Overall a very positive experience and am looking forward to training with BAT again in the near future, especially the other courses held at their ranch. read more

Amazing and everything went well. I took the course for CCW. Norman was great, everything went smoothly. It was straight forward, sign in, class room section, range, practice, zoom meet and qualifying. They also offer Utah CCW. Learned a lot in 1 day, trust your reflexes and you will do great. Saw a lot of smiling faces, might go back for more training later on. Over all great experience! read more

Bay Area Tactical Training Group was solid from beginning to end. The instructors really knew their stuff and made sure I was fully prepared to pass my CCW. I felt comfortable the whole time and you can tell their training is legit. The team treated me like family, which I really appreciated. The best part was getting to train at a private location, run some cool drills, and fed us a good meal! Huge thank you to the whole team. I'd recommend them to anyone who wants real training with good people. read more

I am a SM County CCW holder looking to re-certify with the mandated 8 hr training course. I didn't expect much from the range portion of the course (I figured it would be point, shoot and leave) but I was mistaken. I arrived at the San Leandro range a little early and got to meet the BATS team. Super nice and relaxed and it was good to know they were on top of what each CCW jurisdiction was looking for as they all seem to be slightly different. They separated me out with the other renewal people and we went out to the range. Chris was our instructor. This guy was impressive ( and I'm not easily impressed). Ex Marine, great way of approach. I mean we got to do lots of stuff not normally allowed unsupervised at a range like rapid firing and holster draw. And the tips and situational stuff were spot on. He helped me improve immensely. I enjoyed myself so much I will be contacting BATS soon to attend other courses. If you do this training make sure you bring plenty of ammunition (I went through 400 rounds). On the other side, Dennis handled the admin tasks well and walked me through the PW to get my requirements filed. The 4 hour verbal instruction was done competently through the zoom meeting process which worked out great. To finish up, I hope these guys are still doing business when it's time to recertify again. And if you're looking to get your CCW or recertify yourself, I would look no further than these guys. read more

Bay Area Tactical - My final exam... - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

I've grown up with firearms, but never owned one until recently. I've been going to a few ranges just to have fun, but I noticed I wasn't doing too well with regards to actually hitting within the target... So I looked these folks up and had a course called "Pistol 1" It was taught in class and on the range. Great team. of folks who know a lot about firearms. It was taught at the San Leandro Rifle and Pistol Range by several instructors. The first hour is learning about gun safety and rules. This is great for an absolute newbie or someone that just wants a refresher. The 2nd half was in the range where they have you try out different handguns. They teach you proper grip techniques, proper iron sight targeting and basics of the guns you will possibly purchase or be using in the future. The class was well worth it to me and I'm also going to do the CCW with them as it is also offered by BAT. Overall, great course for beginners and I'm looking forward to taking more courses with them! Highly recommend if you own a firearm and need some tips, or if you are new to firearms and want to learn about your options, safety rules, and some California specific regulations. read more

Addendum: took the Pistol 3 class last weekend, and it was every bit as good--maybe even better--than the Pistol 2 class. Superb instructors, with a particular tip of the hat to Ed. HIGHLY recommended! read more

Just completed my firearm training at BAT. Holly cow! What a great experience Going to a firearm training plus qualification at the end, you gotta be a little anxious and nervous, but these guys made it fun for me. Dennis and Norman, on the management and administrative side, are so friendly, knowledgeable and responsive, from registering the classes, moving time around, welcoming you and following up on details. Top notch!!! For the training, love the instructors I had (Ed and Chris) and Matt (for the Zoom session). They are professional and skillful instructors. They teach practical skills; they correct your mistakes, yet they are able to find ways to make you relaxed. I had a great time there with these guys. And I hope someday in the future I can see them again at their Livermore range to go to some other classes they offer read more

Bay Area Tactical is incredible. Firstly, the instructors are great. They're all super nice, friendly, and informative. They make sure that you walk out being proficient with a firearm and understanding the nuance of how the legal part works. I took Pistol 1, Pistol 2, and their CCW Course. All 3 different instructors. What I love about it, is that the 3 instructors have slightly different training styles, and you can choose with what works for you. For example, training with one eye open vs both eyes open. While YouTube is a good learning resource, there's only so much you can learn there that can only be taught be an instructor. BAT will fill in the gaps and quickly fix any undesirable habits. My advice is to ask a lot of questions and be engaging. read more

BAT is hands down top tier training in the Bay Area. Dennis was accommodating with time sensitive materials and Norman was knowledgeable with hands on training and his experience. Best place to get CCW certificate. Would recommend, will be taking future classes. read more

Bay Area Tactical - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Absolutely amazing experience with the Intro Rifle 1 class. Chris was an inspiring and engaging teacher! Had a blast for the couple hours we were shooting, and will absolutely be going back for more classes. read more

I took Pistol 1 with Dennis. Very positive experience. Information is clear, succinct and to the point with reinforcement anecdotes coming from a huge amount of experience. Their classes are small for a reason: plenty of time to ask questions and dig down into concerns/issues/conversation. Our time on the gun range was equally excellent. I have never fire or handled a weapon. The patience and professional demeanor of the range instructors was superb. Straight shooting [no pun intended] gentleman who genuinely want to teach gun safety. I was nervous, to say the least. And if you're a jumpy person, the noise level [even with noise canceling headphones] is pretty nerve-wracking. These guys made me feel very safe and there was no "tude" from them about my anxiety. In fact, they went out of their way to address it and mitigate. I had a good time, by the way! read more

If you're looking for a top-tier CCW gun and safety course, Bay Area Tactical Group is the place to go! From start to finish, my experience was nothing short of amazing. One of the things that stood out the most was how personable and accommodating the team is. The brothers handling the administrative side are extremely helpful and truly work with you to find the right time to complete the course--communication is key! They are not here just to take your money and pass or fail you. Instead, they are genuinely invested in making sure you're properly educated and prepared to carry safely. I also want to give a huge shoutout to Chris, the instructor--this guy is dope! He has a natural way of making learning fun while ensuring you fully understand the concepts. It's so much easier to learn when you're laughing and engaged rather than feeling overwhelmed. Now, let me be real--I didn't qualify the first time I tested. But instead of feeling discouraged, the admin team encouraged me to retest the following week, assuring me I could do it. I honestly didn't think I was ready, but I trusted the process. Chris helped me identify why I didn't pass the first time--it wasn't my shooting ability, it was my mindset. I was too tense and needed to relax. Throughout my prep, I gradually became more comfortable, and before I knew it, Chris told me it was time to test again. With the adjustments I made, he was confident I would pass--and he was right. Boom, I passed! I was shooting to qualify for Alameda County CCW, which is known to be one of the most challenging counties to pass, and Bay Area Tactical Group ensured I was fully prepared. If you want to complete your CCW with a team that genuinely cares about your success and safety, this is the place to go. I can't recommend them enough! read more

This is THE spot, they are knowledgeable, patient, friendly and will make sure you have the skills you need to pass your CCW qualification. I took the 16hr CCW course and definitely am a better shooter, I plan on taking one of their advance courses next. read more

Dennis was wonderful getting me into the class and then laying out the requriements and also doing the practical in person "book" part of the teaching. His brother Norman was great - hands on got me dialed in and really improved my performance to get me ready for the qualification. James was wonderful also he further refined and gave me a different perspective and then helped prep me for the qualification which I passed with flying colors because of the guidance. would recommend, not like most instructors - who may not be so friendly. read more

Great guys and very knowledgeable. Could not recommend them enough. Helped with my ccw and all the laws that were a part of Contra Costa count read more

Training was superb! Matt Carroll my instructor was not only very competent but inspiring, entertaining and hilarious. He is former law enforcement and ex military and gave very practical advice. Dennis who manages at a high level is wonderful. Very patient. If you have the option to take the class at the "Ranch" do that for sure! read more

Decided to take the whole family for the Pistol 1 course. The instructors were all very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Great information on safety and fundamentals. It's a bargain to get 4 hours of instruction, shooting, Ammo and one-on-one coaching. Will be back for other courses. They delivered everything they promise. read more

Bay Area Tactical - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Took the CCW class with Dennis and Norm. Instructors were excellent and qualifications went well. They provided expert guidance and were very knowledgeable about the whole process. Would definitely take more training from them in the future. read more

Bay Area Tactical - Indoor range up to 25 yards - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

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My journey with BAT group is early and I'm really impressed so far. Took a pistol 1, workshop, and a pistol 3 on there Livermore ranch. Great experiences across the board and learned a ton more than I expected. Both instructors I met with (brandon and evan) were class, knew their stuff, and instructed really well. I'm planning on taking more classes. read more

I'm a big believer in the mantra "knowledge is power." With all the scary news on active shooters and controversial gun control debates lately, I decided to arm myself with a hands-on knowledge of pistols - on America's birthday weekend. The Pistol Safety 1 class was quite basic but it definitely met my fundamental desire to feel in control around glocks and ammo. I was able to grill the instructors and get hands on experience with loading a magazine, unloading, and firing a few rounds with proper stance at the gun range. I may not ever want to own a gun, but at least I'm able to confidently discharge and dismantle one now. I'm looking forward to taking a more advanced course in the future to continue building myself up! read more

Bay Area Tactical - Inside the classroom - Firearm Training Near Me - San Carlos, California

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