I took the D and G license classes almost back to back. I was thankful that Forte Defense could…read moreaccommodate my schedule. The same NRA trained instructor handled both classes and made some of the "boring" parts less so. What really stood out for me was qualifying on the range the last day. The instructor was all business. No grab ass, no excuses. Safety first. If you don't cut it, you don't make it. That being said, the instructor goes above and beyond to help you make up any short comings. Well worth the money and time.

From the owner: Training, Firearm sales, Combat fitness, gear, bags and packs, range dates, G Courses, G Course…read moreRenewals.

If you are looking for a one stop shop to improve your readiness then look no further! Elbert will…read morehelp guide and mentor you in all the essentials in both firearms and medical response alike. He is a man who's craft is his hobby and throughly enjoys spreading knowledge of his craft onto others. FALST offers something for everyone , both beginners and advanced persons alike. FALST also donates 10% of its profits to the Disabled American Veterans foundation. Veterans also get 10% discount on all FALST courses. If you are like me and want to get some good refresher training on what the military taught you from people who can relate, or you are just getting started in your search for readiness FALST is the best around.

Ladies Night is a total steal! The guys were super helpful. I was nervous because Im new to hand…read moreguns and just not learning how to shoot. I made a bunch of lame mistales but the guys were very polite and helpful. Ladies night is every first and second wednesday but unfortuntely I need to buy myself one so I dont have to find someone to come with me every time but I will be back!

I've gone here for the shooting range several times now and it has been a great experience. The…read morestaff are friendly and professional. They do a good job in making sure everyone is following safety procedures while at the gun range. To use a lane at the range is about $20 and you can bring your own ammo or purchase it at the store. I also went to the beginner's gun course that this store offers for $99. It was a good introduction to handguns and goes over the basics on how to fire a gun. They also offer concealed carry classes as well as others.

Great instruction to satisfy the Florida requirements for the CCW. We also wanted our teenage…read moredaughter to learn some basic firearm safety rules and to receive basic marksmanship training. Did the course as a family and we all had a blast! We all learned something new after taking the class. Jon is incredibly patient with novices and very passionate and knowledgeable about teaching gun safety, marksmanship and explaining all the various options when it comes to purchasing a personal weapon and ammo. Highly recommend The Compassionate Gunner if you are looking to get your ccw or want to improve your marksmanship skills.

From the owner: My introduction to firearms began at Summer Camp, at the age of twelve shooting .22 rifles and won…read morea spot on the Camp Rifle Team. Since then, I've spent immeasurable amounts of time handling, discussing, training and shooting firearms of all kinds. I have a very diverse background, I served our country honorably in the United States Army, and have worked in Customer Relations, Law Enforcement/Security, Construction Management, Marine and Aviation industries. However, firearms have always been my Passion. One day, while purchasing a firearm, I overhear a family trying to purchase their first firearm. The husband & wife asking the clerk questions, their pre-teen daughter bouncing around excitedly with the prospect of the newest family acquisition. The clerk was being patient with each new question but was becoming exhausted. I had Compassion for both parties. I realized then; people might need a Compassionate Gunner to help educate and guide them through the journey of firearm ownership.

Long story short, my boyfriend moved to Maryland for work and I just started living by myself for…read morethe first time. My parents were both very worried about me living alone, so I thought a class like this would put their minds at ease as well as my own. Well the class was even better than I thought! Not only did we learn how to be more cautious of our surroundings, but Martin also taught us some moves that even little 5'2" me could use to take somebody down. After the class, I felt empowered! I feel like now I am better prepared and more aware of what is going on around me. I am an avid Yelper and I completely support and agree with everything this company is teaching. I urge everyone to take this class!

My 18 year old daughter and I attended the C.O.B.R.A. Ladies Night self defense course. This far…read moreexceeded our expectations. It was both fun and exciting. Martin takes the time to role play the real-life situations with us. We feel empowered now that we have practiced the skills that he shared. Every mother and daughter should do this!

Great place to shoot! I always enjoy my time there. The staff is friendly and very helpful…read more I just wish they had more lanes or availability for 9mm caliber firearms.

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. This was our first visit to Saltwater Shooting…read moreClub, and it will absolutely be our last once we burn through the "range credit" they forced on us. We checked in to shoot our handguns for an hour. We were told it's first-come, first-served. No problem. There were only two groups ahead of us. But when our turn finally came after a 20-minute wait, a group of massive guys cut the line and demanded they go next. Unsurprisingly, it's a bit intimidating to argue with a group of large, aggressive men holding firearms. When I went to the shed to ask the staff for assistance in enforcing their own "first-come, first-served" rule, the kid in the booth completely blew me off and told me to "just work it out." A few minutes later, another bay opened up. Once again, another group cut right in front of us. When I asked the employee for help a second time, he gave me a completely useless response, claiming "James knows the order." When I asked where James was? "Oh, he's not here." They literally told us to just keep waiting in line while letting everyone walk all over us. The staff here is the rudest, most useless group of people of any business around. They completely ignored our safety and comfort, allowed other customers to intimidate my wife, and treated us like second-class citizens. To top it all off, when we demanded our money back to leave this circus, they refused a refund and would only give us Range Credit. They are literally holding our money hostage, forcing us to come back one more time. This place is only 5 miles from my house, and I would still happily drive 30 miles out of my way to Jacksonville just to avoid this trash dynamic. They have zero management, zero control over their safety or lines, and sub-zero customer service. Do not recommend to anyone.

Great gunsmiths. Quick turn around, reasonable price, friendly. They sell guns too. No experience…read morebut reviews have been favorable

Always a delight to deal with this shop! I regularly go in to check out the latest in firearms…read moreupdates and transfers. The staff is really friendly and eager to help with any of your gun needs! Really good people to work with!

I was looking for a Firearm Safety Class and one of the 1st Courses I came across was Family First…read moreDefense. Once i registered for the class, I immediately received information. During class day, the learning content was easily available and understood. During range time, the 2 instructions were very clear and safe on each details ensuring the safety of the students, themselves and the range. I will soon book a next level course training. 10/10

I've been training with Mike and Tyler for years. They are, hands down, the best trainers in the…read morearea. They provide practical, up-to-date information from the basics up to advanced defensive skills. They both have extensive training and experience and tailor the courses to the individual's needs. Whether you are going for your CCW or wanting to get more advanced training, I highly recommend them. Hollye Merton Gainesville, FL

This company has turned predatory…read more I recommended this company to a friend, as I previously took a very good class there. My opinion has changed. Yes it is during the coronavirus. Yes things are right. But they essentially provided an online course with the cost of 100$ and a separate affadavit required to get the necessary licensing, and told my friend to go elsewhere to have someone else sign the form. No instructor in their right mind is going to sign a form on someone else's training. This is a money gouging play, and the details are not well provided, and it should not be allowed to stand.

I had the opportunity to speak with the owner D. She took the time to explain the process for…read moregetting my conceal carry permit and reassured me I was not as dumb as I felt going through the process in FL.

Great customer service! Very knowledgeable! Very easy transaction! I also had to return a purchase…read moreand they refunded me. No arguments at all.

I purchased a Sig Sauer P320 chambered in 45 caliber. Great firearm at a great price.read more