Jim Nida is an outstanding instructor hands-down. My wife, daughter and I attended his training,…read morewhich he adjusted to meet our busy schedules, and provided some the most professional yet personable training I've personally have ever participated in. His course is set within the NRA standards and he used his extensive law enforcement background to provide a very grounded approach to handgun orientation, safety, and firing. He dealt with three very different levels of experience within the same class and made it enjoyable and educational at the same time. He is patient and thoughtful with all his students and made both my wife and daughter feel totally at ease; no pressure, no games, no judgment. I would highly recommend him to anyone of any skill level seeking CCW accredited training or for more advanced skills; which we all agreed we will be calling him for soon. A great experience for all levels of proficiency; beginner to advance.

When I signed up for the First Steps class at Handgun Academy Va, I was a complete novice to…read morehandguns -- didn't know how to shoot, load, handle, or store a handgun. After just 2 hours in the classroom, I felt confident and prepared to head to the range with the instructor and try out what I had learned. Jim Nida is professional and clearly experienced at what he does, and makes an excellent instructor, especially for beginners. I received a certificate from attending his course that will allow me to apply for my Virginia concealed carry permit. I will be back to take more lessons from him on more specific skills (of my choosing, which is even better!). I will be recommending Handgun Academy Va to everyone I know, and anyone who is interesting in learning how to shoot. As a woman, it's important that I can feel protected, and thanks to Jim I feel like I can defend myself and handle weapons accurately and safely.

I attended the TSS Combat Pistol Course as an observer and am looking forward to participating next…read moretime as a student. I've taken weapons training before by other service providers and can say with the utmost certainty that the time invested with each student, one on one sidebar instruction, professionalism, and overall course management by TSS instructors is top tier. These guys are committed to making sure you achieve your personal and course objectives so that you walk away with the confidence of being a much better shooter.

Update: Attended the Combat Rifle Course today...wow! Another great course and looking forward to…read moremore! Great instructor and great company to do business with! If you're not training with TSS, you're missing out.

I am in contact with Joe regarding firearm training.. just speaking with him gives me confidence…read morethat I am learning from someone that knows their craft well . The 1-1 tutoring offer at such a reasonable price is definitely added value. Eric

My husband and I are new to owning firearms. We weren't able to coordinate getting to one of Joe's…read moregroup classes so he offered to come to our house to teach the class. Our heads are going to explode but wow did he cover everything and then some. By the time he left we were well informed, had handled multiple firearms, felt confident in our abilities, felt like family, and knew he was there for us going forward. What a great guy!!

Update- I just did a range session! Loved it and SoLo let me shoot his rifle. I'm planning a "shoot…read moren sip" with my girlfriends soon.

I took a concealed carry class and was completely satisfied. The actual classroom was a little…read moredifficult to find as it is not well marked but the class was fine.

My wife and I took this course together, and it was an awesome experience. Mark brought great…read moreenergy, made the class fun, and kept everyone engaged the entire time. He's very knowledgeable but explains everything in a way that's easy to understand, no matter your experience level. You can tell he cares about people actually learning--not just getting through the class. We both walked away feeling confident and well-informed. Highly recommend

I took the 1-day "Renewal Course for DC Concealed Pistol License and/or Maryland Wear and Carry" in…read moreJuly 2026. I took the full 2- day course for the initial permits 2 years prior. My comments apply to both. Mark Briley (Capital Defense Instruction LLC) and George Lyon (DC Learn to Shoot) did an outstanding job with their tag-team style of instruction. From the beginning, the Capital Defense website for course registration was easy to navigate, and the various classes are offered regularly, making the entire sign-up process a breeze. The classroom instruction was excellent, with both instructors able to offer insights and tips based on their vast personal knowledge and experience. Both were able to deliver a common sense approach to self-defense, going beyond just the required curricula and legal aspects and explain in plain language how to think about various self-defense scenarios. The live-fire range test was equally satisfying, with a flexible scheduling process and Mark providing helpful insights, tips, and encouragement during the actual live fire. I plan to return for my required renewal training in the future.

Well organized and competent instruction. I would definitely recommend Black Alpha Tacticalread more

Great place! Expert Instructors, knowledgeable and patient. I learned a lot here and try to go…read moreoften to practice. Referred family and friends and everyone loves this place and the Instructors.

I just took Paramount Tactical Solution's Defensive Handgun I & II this past weekend with my son…read moreand his friend. I have taken medical courses through Paramount in the past, which were great, so I came to these courses with very high expectations. Gary and his staff of experienced professional instructors met and exceeded my expectations in every way! They truly are phenomenal instructors who obviously have years of not only operational experience, but years of training experience. They are able to watch you shoot and find those very small things you aren't doing properly and show you how to fix those things. I've been shooting for years and have a military background. On a flat range I am a pretty good shooter. The amount I leveled up from this past weekend is truly remarkable. My son who attended with me is starting a police academy in the beginning of the year and had almost no experience going into the training at Paramount. The instructors took the time to give him the instruction to give him an awesome base upon which to build. They had him shooting very accurately and with confidence by the end of the weekend. I couldn't recommend Paramount Tactical Solutions enough to anyone who is looking to become a better shooter or learn medical. I will definitely be returning to Paramount Tactical Solutions for more training in the future!

This is the place to come train at. Whether a new shooter or an experienced pro their training and…read moreindividual attention is like no other place I have ever been!

Experience went very well. A five star over all rating. Training, available training at numerous…read moredifferent times. The legacy firearms is number one in my book. Thank you for the experience.

Desmond & Clyde were great teachers! They were both very professional throughout the entire process…read moreas well as being knowledgeable and helpful! I highly recommend this class to everyone who would like to apply for their conceal carry. Thank you.

I had an excellent experience!! My instructor Roderick Hunnicutt was so patient with me as I am a…read morebeginner. He is very experienced and conveyed the important information so well. I really enjoyed the time spent at the shooting range trying out what I had learned. I highly recommend this company!

I call twice and it was no answer, then I tried to stop by at office OMG what a sad looking…read morefacility. I wonder if they are real or this is just a joke to bring hopes for someone who is really in need of serious training. Clark Brothers here I come !!!

Excellent Pistol Instructor Class (NRA). Tighe was very knowledgeable and perceptive, tailoring the…read moreinformation to our class/ student requirements. I was especially impressed with his explanations on NRA standards and expectations. Coming from a law enforcement background, it was helpful to hear the NRA approach/reasonings behind their training and certification standards.

Pistol Instructor Class. First class with Tighe and he is great. Out of the gate, it is clear he…read moreis knowledgeable in the subject matter. Very personable, down to earth and relates to all of the candidates no matter the age, life experience, socio economic, etc. He is a veteran and relays experience and makes it relevant. Small class setting which allows for individual attention. Tighe is very constructive and patient in assessing candidates teaching methods, styles, etc. as well as individual shooting techniques. This class was flat out fun and informative and enjoyable. I will likely be taking additional classed at NOVA Marksmanship Academy.