If you live in Central Texas and own a firearm you have no excuse not to train with Mike. If you had told me a month ago I could receive advanced, one-on-one, personalized firearms instruction on a private range from a 15 year veteran of the US Special Forces for the same price as a cookie cutter "Defensive Pistol" course, I wouldn't have believed it. After three days of training with Mike from Cold Bore Tactical, I can enthusiastically say that not only is it possible, but that I'm now trying to clear my schedule to sign up for more. I already had my LTC, and I shoot at the range about once a week. I wanted to bridge the gap between paper targets and real-world situations, and was about to sign up for one of those group classes before I found Mike. I wasn't sure exactly what skills I should focus on so I sent him a message through his site with my background and how many hours of training I could afford at the rate posted on his site. Within 48 hours, Mike fleshed out a completely customized three-day training plan that covered everything from holster draw technique, malfunctions, flash sight picture, multi-target engagement, manipulation from inside a vehicle (making use of my own car), low-light engagement, flashlight / one handed use, threat identification, effective cover utilization, shooting while moving, and all of the skills in between. It was professionally laid out, down to the specific round count for each day and exercise. The range we used was totally isolated from distractions, and we were the only ones there. I was nervous that a one-on-one training session with someone of Mike's caliber might be intimidating, but the exact opposite was true. From the start Mike was attentive, friendly, and open to any questions I had. Mike always made safety a priority and at no time through our entire three days did I feel unsafe in any way. From what I saw of his temperament, I think Mike could just as effectively teach military recruits (which he has) as he could my sixty year old aunt who has never touched a gun in her life. Mike's competency of the material goes far beyond what I could imagine. In some areas I doubt it's even possible to know the things he does without the experience he has. Throughout our training, he made sure to explain not just the how but also the why of every skill we covered. He often offered his thoughts on recent adaptations to techniques being taught elsewhere, and why he would or would not recommend them based on experience. Several times, I found myself asking theoretical questions out of curiosity and got a glimpse of just how thoroughly Mike knows his stuff. I felt like a Drivers Ed student who had Dale Earnhardt answering my questions about how to drive. I pray that no one reading this ever needs to use their firearm in self defense. If you ever do need to protect yourself or your loved ones though, the fact that you own a handgun, passed the LTC test, and can hit paper at a range might not be enough. If you don't yet have an LTC, Mike offers a course that combines the legal part with an actual hands-on training session at the range. I didn't take Mike's course myself but it sounds like a great option for anyone who wants an LTC who is not yet comfortable with their firearm, since most LTC courses offload actual instruction (past the legal info) into another course entirely. If like me you have an LTC and would like to increase your confidence, schedule a day with Mike. He'll straighten out your fundamentals and fill any gaps left by your range training. If you can afford it, schedule a multi-day training - you won't regret it. I can't speak for highly trained individuals or LEO, but I can't imagine there are many more qualified instructors around. We Texans are truly blessed to have someone of Mike's caliber available for personal training. I already told him his prices are too low, so you might want to sign up soon before he takes my advice and raises them. read more

If you want to learn it properly, go to Mike! I am new to Texas and new to firearms. After being on the range a couple of times I was bitten by the bug and knew I was on my way to becoming an enthusiast. I wanted to learn the critical safety rules, basic shooting fundamentals, and what is required to be a responsible gun owner, and I wanted to learn from the best. I also wanted a professional instructor who I can train and skill build with on an on-going basis. I researched heavily and found Mike. Mike is an exceptional professional instructor with outstanding communication skills. He's patient, approachable, easy to talk to -- and just a really nice guy! Mike took me to purchase my first pistol to ensure it would fit my hands properly and that I'd feel comfortable using it. Choosing the right gun matters! I spent a full day at the private range completing the NRA basic pistol course with him. It is an excellent foundational course. Mike sets a high bar and instilled confidence in me, the best part was seeing how much I improved over the course of the day. Next up for me with Mike is shot gun and rifle basics, followed by a variety of other tactical and practical shooting classes and closed quarter combat. If you want the best, go to Mike. De Oppresso Liber. read more

just finished up a weekend ltc class with mr. mike shaeper of cold bore tactical. i'd wanted more than the basic ltc classes that were available, so was happy to find that mike offered one on one instruction and additional coaching. my expectations for the class, based on the information on mr. schaeper's website, along with other yelp reviews, were high. those expectations were far exceeded by my experience of the class itself. mike is extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and patient. the material in the class is very well presented, and i always felt comfortable asking for clarification on anything that i didn't understand. the real gold of my experience though, was the personal coaching i received. mr schaeper was able to make corrections to my form and technique that were extremely helpful in improving my shot placement, and in helping me to feel confident in my ability to use a handgun to defend myself, should the need arise. mike offers a tremendous service at a very reasonable price. i cannot recommend his ltc class enough, and look forward to training with him again in the future. paul m. read more

My husband and I took the basic firearms safety course from Mike this last weekend. I was expecting a stern, military type of person and was a little apprensive about what to expect. Mike turned out to be the most personable, professional instructor we could have hoped for! I felt completely safe with the environment and he slowed things down enough for me to understand them. He welcomed questions from me (which actually put us behind schedule because I had so many) but he was always courteous and patient with me and answered anything that I threw at him. I can't say enough good things about him and his style! Both my husband and I got alot out of his course and I felt much more at ease after about the first five minutes. I would defnitely endorse Mike as an instructor but definitely as a ladies instructor because never once did I feel like I was the dunce of the class. We will deinfintely be taking more courses from Mike and have him along as a shooting coach for us in the future. Kathleen read more

I took the Defensive Shotgun course with Michael Schaeper and it was great. He is extremely knowledgeable, a very good teacher, and an excellent source of practical information. We did a lot of classroom work directly related to using a shotgun to defend your home, such as how to set up your home so that a crook goes somewhere else, and developing a plan about what to do in your home with its particular layout to keep you and your family and the neighbors safe if someone is in your house. On the range he was very helpful providing tips on how to improve utilization of your weapon for both speed and accuracy. Mike sent me a yearly email about a charity event recently and I went to his new site. It had a button to post a Yelp review. I forgot that I had already posted a Yelp review. His course was so great that I decided after 2 years to post a Yelp review. That's why there are two reviews from me. Comparing the first and second you can see the things that stuck in my mind after two years. read more

I have attended a number of firearms schools and had a number of instructors over the years. I shot competively and consider myself quite knowledgable in this area. Gunsite is probably the best school I have attended primarily due to the quality instructors. Mike is at least as good as the Gunsite instructors. As an ex-Beret instructor he really knows his stuff. He has an undeniable military bent which I personally liked. While he has a commanding presence, he does NOT have a chip on his shoulder. Mike is very down to Earth and secure in himself -- he is willing to admit things he's doesn't know. For him, it's all about the students -- not his ego. The class I took (home protection) was truly awesome. Mike (probably due to his years as a military instructor) starts with fundamentals and tends NOT to use a lot of firearms jargon or assume students know more than they do. He would be an awesome instructor no matter your level because of his ability to adjust to the student. read more

If you're going to learn something new, learn from the best teacher you can find so you can learn correctly the first time around. Mike Schaeper is the best! He's been in the military and knows what he's teaching you. He's a very good teacher. Didn't mind answering all my questions. I had never even picked up a gun when I took his beginner's course. By the time the course was over, I knew all about my gun, how to take it apart, clean it, the correct stance to take for shooting, and it was a lot of fun for me to go to the range with him and learn to shoot. Mike was very patient with me, always encouraged me, let me know I was doing well, gave me motivation when I needed it. Most of all, I appreciated his understanding of my lack of knowledge in guns. Very patient, and with a good sense of humor. I really enjoyed the class and look forward to taking other classes with him. Would not consider going to anyone else! read more

My wife and I just attended MSG Ret Michael Schaeper's CHL class over 2 days. We have both previously attended CHL classes and had CHL licenses before. Mike is by far the best instructor for both teaching the required information and instructing you how to shoot (and how NOT to) that either of us have ever had. He does NOT have an inflated ego about his obvious skills, and he is very secure in his knowledge and is able to concentrate on his student's needs. Mike starts with fundamentals and explains the reason for everything you're doing. He is extremely safety conscious in a laid back way that doesn't seem abrasive. He is an awesome instructor that adjusts to the students level and makes a student feel relaxed and able to retain their training. He also has smaller classes and offers additional training after the class requirements have been met at no additional charge for that day. read more

I attended a 4 day defensive handgun class at Front Sight in Pahrump, NV about 5 years back. I recently decided to get licensed to carry in Texas and felt I needed a refresher course. Several of us from our church decided to take a private 1 day defensive handgun course with Mike Schaeper at Cold Bore Tactical. At Front Sight we shot 600 rounds between group class sessions. At Cold Bore we shot 385 rounds in about 4 1/2 hours. Of course we had training on safety and laws and what it takes to win the fight, but most beneficial to me was a good grip, a good stance and repeatable processes. I am far more accurate now and comfortable drawing from a concealed holster and hitting a fist sized target repeatedly. I learned more from Mike in one day than I learned in Nevada over 4 days! Thorough, high quality training. I highly recommend Cold Bore Tactical. RICK read more

I recently completed the methods of concealed carry and employment and I have to say it was the best money I have ever spent. To gain skill and confidence with conceal carry is extremely important and Mike has to the most knowledgeable instructors I've met. He comes with the background and pedigree of SF and you can tell in how tactical minded the course and instruction are laid out. The material for the classroom and on the range tie so well together that the day flew by. Mike worked with my skill level and taught the fundamentals - grip, stance, draw, presentation, perceive and engage. His coaching style is excellent - he understands how the brain learns and the best methods to help you retain and recall so that muscle memory begins to take over. I am actually amazed at how much I learned in such a short period of time. read more

Back in 2015 I took the LTC course. On day one, I was the only student. and the following day I was joined by another man. I spent 19 hours with Mr Schaeper and unlearned a great many things I thought I knew. I had taken the course before but the personal instruction proved vastly superior to the class. The skills I learned left me a far better shooter. I now feel much more confident about carrying. The whole point is to protect yourself & loved ones in a critical situation and to survive. As a professional soldier, his body of experience is hard for a civilian like me to imagine. His course is born of reality. The man is a total gentleman. Down to earth, patient, a good communicator and a natural teacher. You are not going to find a better instructor. read more

It is with great pride that I present my personal recommendation for MSG Ret Michael Schaeper to be your firearms instructor. I wanted someone with a military background to instruct my wife. I have been shooting for years and had considered myself an expert. Not only did Mike teach my wife far more than I ever could have, but I found myself taking his course as well. Although he is quite serious about safety, He has a way of easing the tension and helping one to relax. He treated us with the up-most respect and courtesy. As a former Special Forces instructor, Mike has a vast knowledge for firearms and instruction. He was an absolute joy to work with and would be an asset to any skill level student. Mike has my highest recommendation. read more

Mike at Cold Bore Tactical is an exceptional and patient instructor who creates a fun and stress-free learning environment. I have taken 3 courses so far and leave each one more confident and prepared. Mike strongly emphasizes safety and proper handling and builds strong fundamentals from there, including strong knowledge of the law and real-life situational awareness. I never felt that he was rushed for time or bored with the basics and he was present and engaged the entire time. He even laughed at some of my bad jokes. He is exactly the type of calm individual you want teaching this material - perfect for everyone from the experienced to those who have never handled a firearm before. Thanks again Mike! read more

A friend and I took the Texas CHL class offered by Mike Schaeper this past weekend. I have to say that it was a great class. Mike made sure we knew the laws and that we qualified properly. But one of things I really liked was that we also got a couple of additional hours of practice to get better with the pistol. Mike really took his time with us and made sure we got comfortable with the weapon, and knew how to use it under varying conditions and with malfunctions, etc... I Highly recommend this class. I have shot some before but my friend had only shot once before, and when we were done, we both felt a lot more confident in our ability, and can now go practice correct technique. read more

Mike is an absolutely amazing teacher. My wife and I did our LTC course over the last couple of days. I've got some (ancient) military training but my wife had no experience whatsoever, and he was really methodical and structured in his training so we both went from relatively novices to passing the LTC on our first try. I really like the "vignettes" provided as it gave some real life examples of some of the situations you might find yourself in where you have a split second to make a decision, and how to approach them. Could not be happier and I'm sure we'll take some follow up training with Mike even though what he provided was a really solid foundation. read more

Mike is a phenomenal instructor with a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and patience to explain concepts to people of all skill levels. I have taken a few courses with Mike, and I learn something new every time. I also appreciate Mike's down to earth perspective on what gear will give you the best bang for the buck (ha ha). It's easy to get caught up in the latest "tactical" fads, but Mike is able to share some real world perspective on what works and what really matters. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mike to anyone, and I look forward to sharpening my skills with more classes over time. read more

I just took his Personal Protection in the Home course last week. I had been looking for a class like this close to me and someone gave me one of his brochures. It was the most comprehensive class I've ever taken. I learned proper grip, stance and targeting techniques. I learned what to do if my weapon malfunctions. I feel so much more prepared to protect myself and my family should the unthinkable happen. Mr Schaeper is an excellent and patient instructor and made sure I understood every lesson before we moved on to the next. I will definitely take more classes from him. read more

Took our LTC course with Mike for the past 2 days. As a former Army officer I saw immediate value in Mike's background as a retired Special Forces Operator. His experience brought clarity to the DPS material, but his skill and teaching ability learned over a career serving our nation helped him identify issues with my technique and make corrections resulting in my best targets since I was on active duty. I would and will recommend Mike to everyone I know. read more

Mike is bar none a hell of an instructor. No matter your skill level, he will help you and make you better. His experience is very apparent in his methodology and this transfers to the students. The couples CHL class was a very comfortable learning environment and is worth every penny and more. You are doing an injustice to yourself in taking any other class. Awesome job Mike! Drew read more