A fine orator once boldly proclaimed, "And I keep a baby glock, I ain't fightin' with no random…read more Period!" Ok, ok. It's just a City Girl lyric. And no, I don't plan to walk around with a gun in my purse (Maryland state gun laws prohibit that anyway), but I have been wanting to learn how to properly use a gun and to get my handgun license. I had only been to the gun range once and I remember not being fully prepared to handle the recoil. I found Prolific Operations through Instagram and realized it is a Black-owned business, led by two men with more than a decade each of firearms experience. I emailed a few questions that I had about what the class covers and COVID-related safety protocols and received really prompt (and reassuring!) responses. Registration was very simple and the class started promptly the day of. There were several bottles of hand sanitizer, everyone stayed spaced out, and the instructional guns were disinfected between students. The class was super informative and safety rules were constantly reinforced. We all drove to a gun range about 15 minutes away where we were able to use the knowledge we obtained in the classroom. Even as a petite woman with long acrylic nails, I was confident in holding and firing the gun because of how well we were taught to hold the gun. I highly recommend Prolific Operations if you want to obtain your HQL and familiarize yourself with how to properly operate a firearm. They are professional, great instructors, and still manage to be safe during this pandemic. Besides, the world is crazy and it's important to be able to protect yourself and know what you're doing!

Great class! Very proffessional and detailed training. The instructors all knew key details the…read morestudents had about hand guns (laws, use and transporation of weapons). The time at the gun range was very helpful and gave me experience with guns.

I appreciate the supportive confidence the woman-owned shop offers. The knowledgeable staff…read moreprovides guidance and training opportunities that fit all levels of experience. I highly recommend this small business also because of their advocacy in Annapolis for OUR 2nd amendment rights.

Today was supposed to be an enjoyable first experience at the shooting range for us. It was my…read morefriend's birthday, and we were all looking forward to having a good time. Up until we reached the Gun Range counter, every staff member we interacted with had been welcoming, respectful, and genuinely pleasant. Unfortunately, that changed the moment we spoke with the employee at the Gun Range counter -- the one with ginger-colored hair. When he asked whether it was our first time shooting, I answered honestly that it was my first time. My husband also mentioned that our friends would be arriving shortly and that one of them, who teaches Senior MilitaryTactical Fire Arm Instructor for 19 years would be helping us. Instead of responding professionally, the employee made an unnecessary and disrespectful comment. He said, first, that it was "freaking awesome," but then immediately followed it with, "people in the military are the worst shooters we've ever encountered." Our friends haven't even arrived yet. That statement alone was aggravating, unprofessional, and completely out of line. He didn't even see or talk to our friend before making that judgment. It was insulting not only to our friend's service but to anyone who has served. His tone and attitude were dismissive and condescending from that point forward. It is completely unacceptable for a man who has risked his life in service to this country to be spoken about or to be belittled in such a manner. He then turned to me and said he was "honestly concerned" that this was my first time shooting -- speaking to me as if I were a child rather than an adult customer. I already struggle with confidence, and his approach was unnecessary, rude, and completely inappropriate for someone working in a customer-facing environment. Instead of making me feel safe, informed, or supported, he made me feel judged and talked down to. When I entered the gun range, the same employee who had already made unnecessary comments about it being my first time shooting continued to behave unprofessionally. He stood there staring at me and making a face that was clearly judgmental and unwelcome. His demeanor made me extremely uncomfortable. I ended up firing only one round before deciding to leave because the environment he created did not feel respectful, supportive, or appropriate for a first‑time shooter. What makes this even more disappointing is that my husband was planning to take classes there and buy his guns. After this interaction, it's clear that this employee needs to be addressed. His attitude, his comments, and the way he speaks to customers are unacceptable. He needs to be reminded of what professionalism looks like and how to treat people with basic respect. I would also like to note our interaction with the second gentleman who approached the counter. He was very polite and spoke to us in a respectful, reassuring manner. When I mentioned that the previous employee's behavior had made me feel nervous, he responded by saying, "Oh yeah, he's a ginger -- he's just like that. He's not as bad as he seems." Although he was kind in his approach, his attempt to excuse the earlier unprofessional behavior was inappropriate and did not address the underlying concern. Since I am aware that your facility has a history of reviewing camera footage to justify an employee's behavior, I want to clarify what was occurring at that moment. After the employee's inappropriate comment, my husband was simply trying to talk to me and lighten the mood because he could see that I was uncomfortable and upset. His intention was to reassure me, not to escalate the situation. He was simply trying to calm me down and reminded me not to let an employee's overinflated ego interfere with my ability to enjoy the experience. I would find any response that deflects accountability for your employees actions is unacceptable and disrespectful to our Men and Women of our Military.

This was very good learned a lot his a very good instructor and make sure you understand before he…read moremoves on. His clothing line is the best made of good quality material and perfect for when you are doing your concealed carry. Thanks again Terry

Terry is absolutely amazing to train with. I felt way more confident in handling and firing my…read moreweapon. Terry made sure of that! If you are looking for a knowledgeable and experienced trainer, I recommend contacting Terry to get started! You will not be disappointed!

Had a great time learning about gun safety here! Highly recommend! John was entertaining and…read moreengaged with us the whole time!

If something makes you uncomfortable or you lack a skill, i believe you should step into it and…read morelearn as much as you can. My husband and I took our HQL certification class with Master Arms & Tactical. It was fun and relatable! Instructors are very informative and take time to answer questions. Plus, they are super patient! The class held a mix of students from every background and skill level, which made it feel super inclusive. They walk you through the MD Gun Laws. They teach you what firearms are and aren't. There is a practical session to just get familiar with holding a gun if you haven't done that before. They instruct you on the mechanics of shooting, with stance, sight, breath and firing. Then you get to shoot a hand gun. It is inside the classroom with a crayon shot...which was nice because it wasn't too loud. They must be pretty good because I hit the target square on my first try!...and I've never fired a handgun before! I would recommend Master Arms & Tactical if you need your HQL class or if you are just trying to understand something you don't have a skill in!

Excellent course, the instructors were great as well. They really care about the knowledge and…read moreshowed us the proper ways to handle fire arms.

Very informative, educational, and engaging teaching. I've been in multiple classes that they offer…read moreand each time I've enjoyed myself and learned something. I've been around things that go pew for a few years and still came out learning something and improving. Jon and his team are retired/active law enforcement, so you're getting wisdom from those who use it. I strongly recommend you go to them for your educational needs regarding things that go pew.

I agree. I used Andrew's services over 5 years ago and he was fantastic! Very professional,…read moreeducational and personable. Will utilize his services soon.

Amazing teacher & team. Very professional & friendly. Left the class with a lot more knowledge that…read morebefore.

Chris was an amazing instructor. Someone who is very knowledgeable about his field. In this class…read moreyou'll learn what it takes to buy, own, and be responsible with a handgun. I also purchased a handgun from him and it was like getting custom fitting for football equipment! 11/10 recommend!

Competative pricing, small classes and excellent instruction with an emphasize on gun safety. I was…read morevery pleased with the class. Chris, the instructor was excellent. He was very easy to talk to and really seemed to care about every student. Snacks and drinks were provided during the four hour class. A few days after the class I texted Chris with a few questions. He got right back to me with the answers I needed. He was very helpful and is very knowledgeable about Maryland's gun laws. I would highly recommend this class to anyone wanting their HQL.

I'm active duty and these guys are 100% LEGIT you'll learn exclusive things that nobody else will…read moreteach you 1000% recommend!

Let me start by pointing out that I'm in Gaithersburg, which is in Montgomery County…read more I had been meaning to get my HQL for several months but I wanted to do the appropriate research beforehand. I noticed that there were many programs in my vicinity but the prices varied and it seemed as though they were just doing the HQL course as a side hustle. When I came across John's site and his videos, I just got a great vibe that he was a stand up guy and is truly in it to instruct and focus on the important thing: SAFETY! I had reached out to a local company and it took them over a week to get back in touch with me. I was very impressed with the quick response I received from Susan at Fortress Training. I was also somewhat overwhelmed knowing that there were multiple "stops" to make to finally apply for the permit. It really put my mind at ease knowing that everything I needed to do could be taken care of at one place and all at the same time. I took a 9am Saturday morning course in Ellicott City at a local establishment. It was about a 45 minute drive but it was absolutely worth the drive. The course was a lot of fun and everyone I interacted with from Fortress Training had a great sense of humor, so it calmed my nerves (having never fired a handgun before). John introduced himself at the beginning and stuck around for the first half but Dean was our "official" instructor. Both of them had a wealth of knowledge and offered up advice if anyone asked. I really liked that they gave an in depth explanation of MD gun laws, so we left with some excellent and practical information. They were very patient with each student that had questions and their honesty was appreciated. It was also nice to know that they weren't trying to sell me anything. They had several options for things they offered ie small fee for filling out the HQL permit for us, fingerprinting on site (which has to be done before applying for the permit regardless) but you could tell that they didn't NEED our money. I just wish everybody conducted their business this way. Susan was extremely organized and was sharp as a tack with all the forms and paperwork. It was a totally streamlined process and I'm glad I didn't have to run around town putting together everything needed just to be able to apply for the permit. I look forward to taking another course in the future. These guys are the way to go, especially since they're locals and have been around for a while.