I began my journey to become a firearms instructor in July of 2025. My search for a reputable…read moretraining counselor lead me to TJ. All I can say is what a blessing. I have taken his Basic Pistol Instructor's Course, Refuse to Be A Victim Instructor's Course, Personal Protection Inside the Home Student and Instructor Courses, and his Personal Protection Outside The Home Student Course. After taking each course, it became evident TJ cares about his students. He makes every effort to ensure his students are prepared for real world scenarios and does not provide a passing rubber stamp simply because you paid for his class. Every certificate he issues is earned, not given. As a retired LEO, I was surprised to be put through new drills. He pushed me to become a better marksman. I am eager to take future classes from TJ, and I am so glad I stumbled across him. If you are seeking firearms training, TJ is the man.

I just finished taking the NRA PERSONAL PROTECTION OUTSIDE OF THE HOME - INSTRUCTOR CLASS at…read moreALLSAFE. This is the premier CCW training curriculum. TJ is a wealth of knowledge and helped developed this course for the NRA, so we are getting training from the source. The most valuable part of this class was everything was taught from concealment and TJ made sure to give us the tools to teach these skills safely so our students can win a fight. The one surprising skill was learning how to teach concealment from a purse. This was eye opening. If you want the best use ALLSAFE.

Chris was a patient instructor with a lot of great, real-life experience. I walked away with a new…read morerespect for the weapon. Absolutely recommend this course for hand gun safety. The facility could make some improvements. The smell of cat urine and litter was grossly overwhelming. At least 3 people (including me) had allergic reactions. The restrooms were dirty and it looked like someone had an accident ON the toilet seat in both restrooms.

Lance is the best instructor you can go to. NRA certified, Marine, excellent teacher.read more

I was interested in learning proper firearms etiquette, and had an opportunity to do so at Evan's…read moreGun World. I attended their intro to handguns class, covering the basics of safety and proper form, and getting in some introductory shooting experience. John, our instructor, was very engaging and great at commanding attention when needed and building up the class's confidence. Afterward, I took them up on their 'newbie' offer of free range time and rental after class. Kevin signed me up for a lane, let me rent a couple of handgun models I researched previously, and critiqued my targets, giving some general feedback and advice. He also pointed me toward a couple other models that are known to be more friendly to left-handed shooters that I can test out in the future. Great place; a little on the older and smaller sides, but staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and attentive. I get the feeling that as I 'shop around' for my go-to range there's a strong chance I will gravitate back here, since these guys are passionate about what they do, and seem to want to inspire that passion in others. Definitely will make it a point to stop by again.

I've wanted to hit Evans Gun World for a while after hearing good things from friends, so a buddy…read moreand I finally dropped in on a Saturday afternoon. As expected for a weekend, there was a wait, but since we were off for the day, we didn't mind hanging out on the folding chairs in the retail section for 30 minutes. The staff is awesome--super friendly and easy to talk to--and the check-in was painless. While waiting, I noticed their optics prices are actually lower than most other shops in OC. I'll definitely be back when I'm ready to pick up another Holosun. The only real downside is their range rule: you have to reload your magazines at the shooting stall, not the back table. Because the space is tight, I couldn't reload while my friend was shooting. We ended up spending half our time just loading mags, which really cut into our actual trigger time. It's a solid spot and less expensive than other local ranges, so I'd come back alone, but I'll probably skip the "buddy trips" here since the reload rule makes it hard for two people to get their money's worth.

Love this place and the people...straight and sharp!! Plus they'll do an excellent job cleaning any…read moreand all guns. With a smile even!! .... and cleaning guns sucks.

Kyle is very knowledgeable on the AR platform, he was extensive and complete in his evaluation of…read moremy AR10 that was having a feed issue. He is very fair in his price and highly recommend him for any need.

::::This is a second review from me, regarding a separate business function than my previous…read morereview:::: Artifex effectively does guns. They effectively teach guns + drills. They also effectively do guns + personal protection methods. But: DID. YOU. KNOW. They have such a deep and rich knowledge base that there is basically no situation that deals with personal- or self-defense they cannot handle. I'll explain. I reached out to Ben for an 'at-home, security picture review'. Ben forwarded my request over to BigTony. I met with BigTony over the weekend. The task was to develop my own personal self-defense plan for my home, and close any massive gaps that I may not be aware of. Tony was willing to meet, on my schedule, and even worked effectively with a last minute location change. No flaws, no frustration, no worries - just BigTony being BigTony. We have a new house; with a new neighborhood, and unfamiliar neighbors, routes, and routines. My deepest held concerns were the recent uptick in OC county crime, the warning signs, and developing new habits and patterns with my new home. Tony had it covered: Physical security. Advanced warning signs. Training to complete in the meantime, while enacting other preventative measures. People to call for updated OSINT. Home defense ballistics. Right down to gun safes, learning 'battle rhythm' before, during and after a home invasion across multiple scenarios, and with his help, I was able to view the impacts of my decisions through the eyes of the very adversary I am preparing against, as well as the from the first responders perspective, that eventually will arrive to close the scene. His thoughtful review, theoretical approaches to posturing (ex: 'grey-man' vs 'gun-guy'), etc... I could not think of any more approaches or variables I could throw at him. Once it was all said and done, we agreed to a post-implementation tag-up, to see the progress made, and/or take in any specifics that may have been overlooked. All on his own time. Bottom Line: it was incredibly relieving to have the TTPs I had already put in place verified, my concerns validated and decision and actions taken confirmed as 'adequate' for my surroundings/situation/circumstances. From the top to the bottom of my personal security stance, Tony answered literally every question I had. Not one gun was fired. No targets pasted. An incredible 'thinking man's approach' to surviving and thriving when the adrenaline is rushing, and seconds feel like hours. This meeting changed the game. I cannot recommend going through a thought-exercise like this enough. Rounds down range would never have gotten me the answers I received from this incredible team. Thank you BigTony. I am a proud monthly-dues member. If you are not yet, You are sorely missing out on providing the 'whole of security' approach to your family, neighborhood, and community. They are multi-faceted, well-rounded, highly experienced, seasoned professionals whose guidance you will have wanted in your kit-bag well before your "sunshine and rainbows: day turns to "hell-in-a-handcart" in a flash. Tony, Ben, and crew: THANK YOU!!

This place is fantastic. I recently did my renewal here, Dave was the instructor and it was way…read morebetter than the place I went to before. The class was all on Zoom, which was very convenient and informative. The range practice was outdoors which was also much more realistic than an indoor range for true training.

Easy processing, clear instruction, smooth program all the way. Includes 30 days of range practice…read moretime, too. Highly recommended.

Orville is a true professional. He was able to get me signed up the day before for my 16-hour…read moreweekend CCW course, which I really appreciated. He explained everything clearly, used real-life scenarios, and made the information easy to understand. I highly recommend Orville to anyone needing their CCW course -- top-notch instructor and a smooth, stress-free experience.

This place is amazing! I can't say enough good things about ShootSoCal Firearms. The level of…read morecustomer service, communication and overall quality that you find here is honestly very elusive in this industry. Dave, the owner, is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to actually help you without any pressure or attitude. If you've ever been to other firearm stores, you probably know what I mean. Many places can come off like they have a superiority complex, like you're supposed to already know everything. That's not the case here at all. At ShootSoCal, you can ask any question and they'll walk you through it without making you feel uncomfortable. That alone goes a long way and keeps me coming back. I've purchased items from them, had builds done and even had custom work completed and every single time the result has been the same: top-tier service and excellent results. They're consistent, professional, and genuinely care about their customers. I recommend them to everyone I know. If you're looking for a place that treats you right and delivers quality work, this is it.

I used ShootSoCal as the FFL for my purchases from Palmetto State Armory. The staff was patient and…read morediligent in explaining the process to me (this was my first firearm purchase online), as well as all the charges necessary to take possession of my PSA purchase, including background check, transfer fees etc. (sidenote: aside from the background check--which I don't object to btw--it's quite a racket Sacramento's politicians have got going -- this particular comment is aimed at them, not the folks at ShootSoCal). Small shop, but good selection of equipment, from AR parts to carry bags, oil/maintenance kits etc. Also, staff gave me some practical advice about anodizing the steel barrel I had purchased (for getting a different color on it), getting a gun locker and outdoor ranges within a 45 minute drive. Lastly, I was offered assistance to assemble my firearm, but didn't need it since I'd been studying how to do that while waiting to take delivery. Bottomline: I'd use ShootSoCal as an FFL again.

Brett is awesome! He put together a fun outing for my son in law and family. That all had a great…read moretime and couldn't say enough about how much fun was had by all!

Apex Defensive Strategies is the real deal. I've personally trained with Brett, and his classes are…read moresome of the most professional, organized, and safety-focused I've ever attended. He goes way beyond basic stand-and-shoot drills and really pushes students to think, move, and shoot with purpose. In the more advanced pistol sessions I attended, we worked on movement, using cover correctly, engaging multiple targets, and tightening up fundamentals under pressure. In the home defense shotgun course, I learned how to maneuver the shotgun in tighter spaces, use optics effectively, and handle different target distances with much more control and confidence. What really sets Apex apart is the way Brett explains the "why" behind every drill, tailors feedback to each shooter, and maintains a serious but respectful environment. You can tell he cares about building safe, responsible, and capable shooters. If you're looking for legitimate defensive training in Orange County, I highly recommend Apex Defensive Strategies!

Took my first mini match with them about a week ago and had been meaning to leave a review. Laurie…read morewas super helpful and accomodating! I plan to take another mini match with them next month as the next couple months are super busy. If anyone is on the fence about taking any of their classes - don't think twice. You will be glad you did!

Shout out for those 2 ladies! Amazing instructors! They know exactly how to safely and efficiently…read moreteach a group class! They are also very good shooters who will not hesitate to demo for their students. Proud of you ladies!! Keep the good work and I highly recommend your class!

I would often drive by this place, and this place intrigued me so I decided to walk in here today…read moreas I was searching for a DMV kiosk at the local Ralph's. I saw a sign that says to use the back door as an entrance. I was a bit cautious and then I saw these two chihuahua dogs. One of them had a cute little security dog uniform on. There's even little couches for them. I went in and looked around in amazement. I met with Steve, and he told me that the dogs are just part of security and not to worry about them. The dogs aren't vicious, and one of them allowed me to pet them. Steve and I talked about several weapons, and Steve was incredibly knowledgeable on weapons and the laws in the U.S. I told Steve that I have a history of suicidal ideation as an autistic woman, so a gun is probably not the best option for me. He agreed.

Great place to find some cool consignment, off roster pieces. Always friendly and easy to deal…read morewith. Fair pricing and always fresh items.