Bertrand is one awesome, no nonsense guy. First, he was great with the communication via email…read more The class was a full 5 hours and nothing less! He used every minute to teach me the basic fundamental of what I needed to know. He knows his subject and he is very experienced. He got me in a private class in a hurry since I needed the certificate. Thanks man!! I'd definitely refer him to friends and relatives. His class is a must do! He is worth every penny and more (your safety and the people around you when it comes to using firearms).

I took the BPS class with my three daughters. Bertrand was extremely knowledgeable and very patient…read morewith us. The course was all about safety, which made me feel much better since I had no prior experience with guns. We all enjoyed our class. Thank you Bertrand!

The ASP firearm training was excellent. The instructors were knowledgeable, professional, and…read morecreated a welcoming learning environment. As a female participant, I especially appreciated the respect, encouragement, and professionalism shown throughout the course. I felt comfortable asking questions and was treated with the same level of support and respect as everyone else. The hands on training was valuable, and I left feeling more confident in my knowledge and skills. I highly recommend this training to anyone looking for high-quality firearm instruction.

I had such a great experience with ASP Firearm Training. My instructor was extremely patient,…read moreprofessional, and knowledgeable--I learned so much in just a short period of time. The CCW training was especially valuable. It was very informative, with clear explanations and practical tips on how to be a responsible and confident concealed carry permit holder. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to train with this company. If you want to get quality firearm and CCW training in San Jose, I highly recommend ASP Firearm Training!

Clay Disneyland is the best way to describe this place now that it is under new ownership (RIP Tom…read moreEbert founder of Coyote Valley Clays). The facility caters to new and experienced shooters on a beautifully maintained world class shooting facility. The facility offers Trap, Skeet, and of course sporting clays. The pro shop offers FFL transfers, cold beverages for sale, and swag (T-shirts, hats, pins, stickers etc.) to show off your school spirit. The staff is extremely helpful and they have BBQ on the weekends! A+ facility!

Fun place!! People who work here love their jobs and are very helpful. You won't be disappointed.read more

I took Defensive 2 with Dick and had a great experience. The amount of attention he pays to each…read moreshooter and the individualized instruction he provides was extremely helpful. His military experience really shows in the way he teaches and explains things. This isn't my first course with Bay Area Tactical. I previously took Defensive 1 with Matt, along with another course before that, and Matt was also a great instructor. BAT consistently does a great job finding experienced, professional instructors who really know what they're doing. The BAT team is also a great group of guys who run a solid program. I've had a great experience every time I've trained with them and will definitely be taking more courses with BAT in the future.

I had the pleasure of attending a defensive pistol class this past weekend, and overall, it was an…read moreexcellent experience. The range is well-kept, nicely put together, and it's clear that the staff genuinely cares about the quality of training they provide. The range is located up in the hills, so be prepared for a little adventure on the way up! If you're attending during the summer, definitely bring plenty of water because it can get pretty hot. The instructor I was assigned to was Dick. I'll be honest--I was a little intimidated at first. Dick is a decorated veteran with experience as a Special Forces assault/sniper, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. As the class went on, though, I quickly realized he was a really cool guy and, most importantly, extremely patient with the students. Dick did a great job breaking down different shooting fundamentals and techniques and making sure everyone understood what we were working on. We went through multiple exercises and spent plenty of time actually training. There was very little downtime--we were pretty much straight to business and putting in the work. The staff at BAT also deserves some recognition. They provided lunch and soft drinks, kept everyone hydrated throughout the day, and made sure the students were doing well throughout the training. Those little things make a difference during a long day on the range. Whether you're a novice, intermediate, or experienced shooter, I'd highly recommend checking these guys out. They have a wide variety of instructors with backgrounds in military, law enforcement, and civilian training, so there's something for everyone. This was my first class with BAT, but it definitely won't be my last. I'll be looking into more of Dick's training classes in the future. Thank you again to BAT, Dick, Dennis, and Norm, for a great experience! If you're serious about improving your skills, check them out and get to work. These are perishable skills--keep practicing!

Wayne is a very funny and pleasant person to be around with. He's an excellent teacher.read more

Wayne was an amazing instructor, my first. So chill, yet so knowledgeable. Just a great guy to be…read morearound. RIP Wayne

Robert and Matt are some of the best shooting instructors that I've had the pleasure of training…read morewith. They were professional, patient, and their attention to detail is second to none. If you're looking for a premiere firearms instruction company then Silicon valley Tactical is the choice.

Rob always provides a safe place to learn and practice all firearm skills. His courses are dynamic…read moreand interactive. He is knowledgeable on anything related to firearms. Highly recommended.

I don't write many 2-star reviews, but I think this experience warrants it. I took the firearm…read moresafety class with Brian, and unfortunately I can't recommend it. Brian was unprofessional, rude, and had a habit of belittling students. He made the learning environment uncomfortable by embarrassing people rather than constructively correcting them. While I understand that it's not an instructor's job to be friendly or to "hold our hands," there's a difference between being direct and being outright disrespectful--and Brian crossed that line. In terms of content, the class was heavily skewed toward theoretical discussions, such as legal frameworks for self-defense and broad topics on conflict and society. While some of this information was interesting and well-explained, it dominated the day, leaving little time for actual hands-on firearm training. The balance between theory and practical instruction was way off. Additionally, while Brian welcomed questions, he often responded by making students feel stupid instead of providing clear, direct answers. This approach, combined with his condescending attitude, discouraged people from asking questions at all. A firearms class should foster confidence and competence--not intimidation. I gave it 1 extra star because instructor Spencer was amazing. Overall, I did not gain much practical, in-depth knowledge about firearms or safety. If you're looking for a class that prioritizes hands-on training and a professional learning environment, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

While I do think Brian had knowledge to share, the way he goes about sharing it was fairly off…read moreputting. He prides himself in using a "Socratic method" of teaching by responding to students' questions with another question. Even if he considers himself some sort of philosopher I would personally appreciated it if a simple question from a student such as "how does this work?" could be addressed more directly instead of being answered with "how do YOU think it works?" Simply said, it would have been a more efficient and pleasant experience for everyone if he could just put his narcissism and fragile ego aside. All in all, I have some gratitude towards Monarch because I did learn something over the course of my time there. However, since then I've moved away and sought training elsewhere I've realized that there are many training centers and instructors out there that are much much better, both in teaching methodologies and credentials, especially you're willing to leave California.

Manzano Tactical: The Efficiency Course That Gets You HOOKED!…read more I initially joined Manzano Tactical just to enjoy my range days, but their Rifle Efficiency Course on September 27th completely changed the game--I'm now hooked on competition and eagerly look forward to participating in the member pistol matches and 2-Gun matches they host with the club! This course is a must-do if you are serious about improving. The course description holds true: they immediately incorporate fundamentals with serious movement and variable challenges. We spent the day pushing our limits with demanding standards, striving for those "Demigod gold standards" while shooting both handguns and rifles. The training gave me a clear, honest assessment of my current abilities and showed me exactly where my weaknesses lie. What truly set this apart was the personalized instruction from the lead instructor, Kyle. He is a master at identifying specific struggles, even managing to see and correct my flaws while I was on the move. Kyle carved out time to help solidify those exact skill sets. I walked away learning to shoot efficiently, mastering reloads and weapon manipulation on the move, fixing frustrating ammo misfeeds under pressure, and achieving seriously fast target acquisition with my optics. They even provided insightful feedback on flaws in my equipment setup! The course was fun, incredibly safe, and, by the end of the day, I had gained massive confidence in my skills. If you want to move past casual shooting and get a clear, detailed path to mastery, book this course. Highly recommended!

Kyle and the guys at Manzano legit brought 2A to the bay…read more Gun shops have always seemed intimidating, but all the staff over at Manzano are extremly knowledgeable and happy to answer all sorts of questions. They aren't salesman, they are shooters trying to help, regardless of our skill levels. I was luckily enough to take their Pistol Match Efficiency class, Jake put together a solid class with an abundant amount of information and drills to get introduced to shooting at a pace that was productive in learning. Being a member has its perks too where we can really try to better our skills in a variety of ways. Rapid fire, holster work, and even comp days. With more than competitive pricing, the ability to source things that aren't available in the shop to get products we want, Safety is also a top priority. Kyle and the team educate and demonstrate how to be efficient with firearms.