Dave, Jordan (both of them), Mike... all incredible instructors. They're all highly focused on safety. They're motivational, supportive but also push you out of your comfort zone. Handgun 1, 2 - foundational. I wish everyone who owned a firearm would take these. And from them. Handgun 3 - FUN. DYNAMIC. FUN. Little intense. But only enough to make it interesting. Scott the owner is so funny. All are a wealth of knowledge and skill. Will be taking more classes for sure! Highly recommend them. read more

Spent a very educational and eye-opening weekend with ITTS' new class, Tactical Concepts. This course filled a critical gap in my firearms proficiency - bridging the space between pure marksmanship and real-world application. The class provided structure, guidelines, and valuable considerations on when to use lethal force, how to apply it effectively, and how to do so while minimizing collateral risks and maximizing the chances of prevailing in court (especially important here in California). Most importantly, it emphasized how to carry yourself in a way that reduces the likelihood of ever needing to deploy lethal force in the first place. For context, I have a competitive shooting background and am confident in my ability to put accurate rounds on target quickly - both in a square-range and more dynamic settings. My weakness? Applying that skill in real-world situations. Marksmanship is just one side of the coin. Tactics - the knowledge of how and when to employ that marksmanship - is the other. This class helped tie those two sides together, showing how to maximize survivability during an incident and in the post-incident aftermath involving law enforcement, prosecutors, jurors, and the inevitable Monday-morning quarterbacks. Looking forward to ITTS creating Tactical Concepts 2 and 3... Highly recommend for anyone who wants to take their skills beyond just hitting the target. read more

International Tactical Training Seminars - going the distance with handguns - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Sylmar, California

He's just the number one expert in the country on fire arms and Gun safety. Have been going to this company for more than five or six years. And I feel safe handling a firearm. My wife as well absolute best experience. read more

International Tactical Training Seminars - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Sylmar, California

Well organized class. Great for new shooters (beginning classes) to advanced shooters. There is something for everyone's level of shooting. I took the introduction to Red dot and can't wait for the intermediate red dot in April. All the instructors were very professional, especially Alex who didn't have to go out of his way to remount my red dot. You guys are awesome. Unfortunately, we didn't take a class picture so I don't have a picture for this review.... read more

I completed Handgun 1-4 and my CCW qualification at ITTS and could not be more impressed. From start to finish the program was extremely professional , the curriculum is well-structured, the range and equipment are top-notch, and safety is treated as the highest priority. Special shout-out to Uncle Scotty, Jordan Weiss, Jordan Lee, Alex, and Joe Cupo , every one of them is an outstanding instructor. They bring real, practical qualifications and experience to the range, communicate clearly, and offer patient, actionable feedback. Because of their coaching I gained a much deeper understanding of the pistol: fundamentals, marksmanship, draw and presentation, and decision-making under stress. My accuracy and confidence have improved dramatically. If you're serious about learning safely and effectively , whether you're a beginner or looking to advance your skills , ITTS is the place to go. I'll definitely be returning for more courses and recommending ITTS to more friends and family. read more

Took a second class and registered for my 3rd. Brett always picks up the phone and helps out. The classes are safe and the diversity of qualified supervisors makes them unique and fun. Highly recommend them. read more

I attended ITTS's Handgun 1 training recently and it was a life-changing experience for the better. Before this training, I'd never shot or owned a gun, and you could say that demographically I'm not someone you would typically expect to do either. However, I've been wanting to better understand my way around guns (I grew up around my dad's) and to potentially own one down the line for home and self defense, including to help take care of my family, so I set out to find a training class to set a solid foundation. During my research into a local handgun training course, I came across one review after another raving about ITTS, so I booked a class with them. I have to admit I was a bit reluctant showing up to the range to shoot, but within minutes after I arrived and actually met people--including other classmates--I realized I was in the right place. Every single person involved with ITTS was consummately professional, friendly, thoughtful, and experienced. Jordan (Weiss) was our Handgun 1 instructor and I cannot speak highly enough about him as a teacher and a person. I was reminded during this training that, to be a good teacher, not only must you have subject-matter experience (which everyone at ITTS does), but you also have to be good at TEACHING. That is, you have to have some solid pedagogy--a basic understanding of what helps people to learn, especially with an activity that is inherently dangerous and intimidating and even a little fear-inducing, especially to a newcomer like me. Jordan's communication ability--his cadence, clarity, and organized way of speaking--was perfect. Every lesson he taught landed for me, not only in terms of me gaining new information but also in terms of my beginning to feel in my body what shooting was going to be like and to internalize various actions and approaches to maximize safety, control, and constant situational awareness. By the time I took my actual first shots, it didn't feel as foreign to me as before I started the class. And by the end of the day of shooting, I already had far more confidence than I came in with--and way more than I'd expected to actually have. (And, uh, shooting is kind of fun it turns out, at least in a controlled and safe environment.) Huge shout out all the RSOs who helped us out during the day. And a huge thanks to Brett and Uncle Scott, whom I'm grateful to have learned from, and who have created a really important training program through ITTS that is probably benefitting our community in ways we can't even fully quantify. I've already pre-paid credits for the remaining three handgun trainings and have scheduled my Handgun 2 class. I'm definitely looking forward to learning more from ITTS. read more

Recently supplemented Handgun 1 and 2 with a 3 hour private lesson. Wanted to do the lesson to stay on schedule for completion of Handgun 1-4 before the end of the year. ITTS accommodated at the last minute with the private. The instructor was thorough, encouraging and paid attention to the smallest details. Everything came together for me. Definitely a fan. read more

I just completed ITTS Handgun Masters after working through multiple courses, and the experience got better with each class. ITTS puts safety first, always, and pairs that with structured, no-nonsense coaching that actually moves you forward. My marksmanship has improved consistently because the instructors balance firmness with real guidance. "Uncle Scottie" is a national treasure: every story he tells is relevant and instantly applicable. Jordan, Alex, Phil - every instructor I met felt handpicked and deeply invested in the craft. You can tell they're there because they want to teach. The private range at Angeles Shooting Range is the perfect environment to learn well and safely. If I could make one request, it would be more single-day classes--I'd likely train weekly. Bottom line: whether you're brand-new or advanced, ITTS is the place to sharpen skill and become a truly responsible gun owner. read more

I waited a little to write a review, until I had completed a number of classes with different ITTS instructors, and other schools. ITTS has done nothing special for me to write this (and in reverse I have given them a lot of $) so I am not otherwise biased, and purely just looking to help people evaluate the important choice of firearms trainer. Every single gun school I have been to (including ITTS) weaves commentary into their programs like 'in the gun world, people just want to look cool on Instagram, and most schools teach questionable curricula.' Every school thinks they are the exception. In my direct experience, ITTS is the one that actually is. ITTS is by FAR the most professional, practical, and instructional of every class I have attended. The reasons are fairly simple, but also somewhat hard to accurately describe without being there, so I will do my best: Let's start with #1: I feel by FAR the most safe in an ITTS program. They have absolute control over the 'classroom' so to speak, and do by FAR the best job making safety simple, routine, and ever-present. At *every* other schools' class I attended, I felt at least at one point I was being i) rushed by the instructor; ii) dangerously exposed to others' safety / skill deficit; iii) watching just-established rules get glossed over or ignored; iv) unsure of what to be doing with my weapon and/or myself due to unclear/inconsistent communication. That NEVER happens at ITTS. There are a lot of enumerable reasons why (from culture, to how they handle commands and instruction, to how they staff the range) that I won't get into here, but I will say: their system works. While this is true for anyone who values their own (and others') safety, I would suggest that for anyone who has an unusual fear of guns, yet still wants to learn, *UNQUESTIONABLY* this is the program to do it in. You will be by FAR the most guided and protected (from both yourself AND others). On to #2: the general badassery, real-world experience, and culture of the team and students is excellent. You can tell ITTS only deploys instructors who i) actually enjoy being there; ii) have both a coaching AND learner's mindset, and iii) have practical application of gunfighting. Highly specialized police, military; most members of staff have 'in policy' shootings in the real world. Knowing you're learning from someone who has applied deadly force beyond the 'classroom' and knows the realities of stress and real-world environments, is invaluable. Finally, they tend to cultivate a great student culture: I have met a lot of really interesting, thoughtful, down-to-earth people at these classes. #3: Their facility is an absolute joy to practice in. It is up in the mountains. Beautiful, sunny, large, and full of inventive equipment. Paper targets, metal targets, long-range, hostage rack, moving targets, varying heights and angles. It's a really nice place to spend a day, and they have the kind of equipment you can't find, to help you train scenarios that are otherwise difficult to replicate. #4: Instruction. I would say many other non-ITTS "schools" are really more like 'group shooting drills,' where you get a little pointers / wisdom, and then a lot of just repetitive drilling. ITTS does drilling/reps, but there is a LOT of coaching along the way. Practice shooting, then reflect on difficulties, things that didn't feel smooth, bottlenecks, then learn techniques and perspectives on how to work through certain issues and develop a better gunfighting system. Always woven together with real-world experience (e.g. instructor offering: 'I/my partner had a suspect who was doing XYZ, and so we had to respond with ABC, which had outcome DEF'). You always leave feeling like you've been bettered in some way, beyond just having increased your round count. I really do not have a lot of 'constructive' feedback on ITTS. They are on the more expensive side, but I believe actually better value than most: multiple, highly-trained staff, extremely knowledgeable range safety officers, low(ish) student:teacher ratio, good use of technology, and the classes themselves are almost all multiple, full-days of instruction. My only other comment is, in part due to the safety / instructional culture (see #4), certain classes can feel they move somewhat 'slowly' - you definitely do equal amounts of shooting and reflecting / discussing. But after doing classes at other schools that are just 'shoot shoot shoot' drill-after-drill, I am realizing I can do a lot of the drilling-type volume work on my own, and the real benefit of ITTS is the instructional value / discussion that happens on the range. In summary, I really think ITTS does something different, and are worthy of their rep. I hope this helps, as I only found ITTS through a random internet review, so thought I'd give back. By the way: because I know he's 'new,' and that ITTS owners read these reviews: Tom Z is a great addition, and a much beloved instructor. read more

I got the chance to take one of their newest course offerings this past weekend called Tactical Concepts. Great dynamic curriculum, learned a lot and it's fun. I highly recommend this for mid level and advanced shooters and any CCW holders. Lots of real world scenarios, dealing with active shooters, people with mental health issues and domestic disputes. This is more of capstone course that brings shooting mechanics, decision making and post incident response training together. Highly recommend, that you take this as part of you continuing education. This a good class to take in the summer since one of the two days is spent in doors in air conditioning working simulator and doing the more academic parts in the comfort of classroom instead of on the range the 2nd day. read more

Logging into yelp is a pain, but I enjoyed the Handgun 1 course enough to submit. This organization is run by absolute professionals who are thematically safe and informative to new shooters. The course was 2 days with day 1 being zoom-style classroom and day 2 being on the range. The staff are all ridiculously qualified with a breadth of experience that is difficult to match. These guys certainly build confidence and interest in new shooters and old. Also dude, you practice holster drills here with hot weapons. Where tf else can you do that as a Joe Shmoe Angelino? read more

Have done a number of group classes on various weapon systems, as well as private lessons. This place never lets down and I can't recommend it highly enough. It should seriously be state law to come through this course as others I've taken just don't stack up to the level of professionalism and care that these instructors put into their time with you. I am safety obsessed as I'm sure many others are, and I love that they are as well. As good as they are at everything else, I'd say this is their number one attribute.... They never drop the ball, even on an exhaustive day 2 after lunch in 105 degree heat when everyone is prone to error. I've had Scotty and Jordan for classes and private lessons. Very different styles. Both incredibly valuable / awesome and worthwhile to experience the difference and soak up the education. First time I showed up and it wasn't Scotty or Jordan, I was worried the instructor wouldn't measure up. Nonsense. Dave - different style - but equally attentive, supportive and safety conscious. Took another course with him as well. Pushed me hard, but not to an unsafe place. I'd absolutely sign up for any course if I knew Dave was instructing. And I just took a class with Tom. Again, new for me. Same concern simply because I hadn't had him (thought my luck would run out), but that was immediately stamped out by his ability to meet every student where they were in their experience, make very effective individual adjustments, and therefore safely push the group as a whole to much more challenging places than expected. I can't imagine how hard it is for these guys to stay on point in the way they do. I'd book anything with Tom again in a hot second. I'll continue to book more classes, as I've never left this place less than thrilled (even if gassed as hell). read more

I found all the instructors to be very friendly and wise and cautious to what the are teaching

Comparable or better than the finest Dept training I have received. They give it to you straight, don't sugar coat when pointing out your flaws but do so in a professional manner. That's how it should be if you are serious about improving. Brandon excels at his craft and is vested in teaching his students. He truly gave our class all he had, energy and knowledge wise. Can't ask for more as a student. read more

Great instruction and attention to safety. Only 4 stars as one of the instructors talked way too much about how Glock was the only gun anyone should get. Rather obscene and forced product promotion. Don't train here if you don't have a Glock. read more

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Amazing instruction on the safe use and fundamentals of firearms and tactics. My son and I recently attended a training and walked away with valuable knowledge. The instructors were outstanding. I'd highly recommend any course through ITTS. read more

Uncle Scotty is the best of the best! Shot gun 1 training completed this past weekend was awesome! All my expectations were met regarding the safe handling of my particular shot gun. I learned so much and walked away confident regarding the accuracy of my shot gun plus the priceless knowledge that I can now handle it safely. The entire training experience was great! Uncle Scotty is extremely patient and keeps classroom lectures lighthearted and very insightful. The minute you step into the firing range you gotta "switch on" and that's where you truly benefit from uncle Scotty's years of experience. The shot gun is awesome once you learn to properly handle it. Kudos to Day 2 instructor Dave. The firing drills were challenging and proved to be an eye opener regarding the functionality of my equipment. Instructor Dave thoroughly explained safe loading and unloading techniques, the concept of "BEEFSS", and effectiveness of different shot gun ammo. I especially appreciated that Instructor Dave was very engaging with the class and didn't come off as a know it all. A very cool calm and collect kinda of guy. I look forward to completing Shot gun 2. read more

I trained here for almost 2 years prior to and during the pandemic, and it's one of the happiest memories of my life. I absolutely loved it - the experience, the professionalism, the sense of growing confidence, and most of all the crew - Uncle Scotty, Jordan & all of the guys. I took just about every course and would still be repeating them if I still lived in California! I can't express enough gratitude for my training. It made me an infinitely more confident and secure person. Love you guys! - Jason / Kabuki read more

I took their Handgun I course with two friends who were new to shooting. The course is built around building a foundation of knowledge and safe practice so when you leave you are comfortable enough to safely handle, manipulate and fire a handgun. I've taken a couple similar courses but this one was by far the most thorough. The staff was really the high point. Everyone was super friendly and concerned with the students having a great experience but not at the risk of safety. There were 20 students of vastly different experience including many that had never touched a weapon. They took their time explaining first and then walked the class through the steps in a way everyone felt personally attended to. This is a fantastic course for anyone with a new firearm. read more

The Handgun 1 training was amazing. I truly can not speak highly enough about it. The instructors are knowledgable, safe, and friendly. I really appreciated the care, attention, and strict safety standards that made training both extremely effective and fun. Every gun owner should take their courses! read more

My Father and I just took Defensive Handgun 1 this past weekend and it was nothing short of fantastic. Day 1 was a very informative and interesting lecture of use of force, when applicable/not applicable, weapons safety, etc. Day 2 consisted of a very direct safety briefing and lecture on proper stance, trigger press, sight alignment and the like. After a few minutes of being on the range, it is very, very apparent how critical the safety measures are taken here. There are NO chances taken and the ITTS staff are extremely attentive and direct. There were about 23 of us, so roughly one staff member per 6 students, which allowed each student to get individual attention to better their technique. With a few tips of advice and the lecture beforehand, both my Father and I were shooting the best we ever had with a handgun...and this was about 20 mins into live fire on the range. We covered so much material in one day that this review would be essay length, so I'll keep it concise. If you have any hesitance to take this class, simply do it. Not only was it informative, but the whole crew at ITTS are friendly, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable. All this made for an exceptional experience, one that was echoed by the students one after another. I seriously cannot recommend ITTS enough. 10/10. Thank you Scott, Brett, Jordan, Dave, Mike, and the entire ITTS crew for an incredible class! read more

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Really enjoyed this class, the instructors were very professional knowledgeable, and eager to help students learn. Looking forward to going back to take more classes. read more

I can't recommend this outfit highly enough. I just completed Level 2 Defensive handguns with them this weekend and only have good things to say. They are extremely safety oriented, which you want in a firearms instructor. They've been in business over 30 years and have had 0 safety incidents, and after several days at the range with these folks I'm beginning to understand why. They're all professionals with their craft, former or current military or police, and they are extremely focused on the students all day long ensure there are no safety incidents. The drills are tight and controlled, and feeling like they've got a good handle on everything makes it much easier to focus on marksmanship and everything else you're at the range for. Dan talked me through a malfunction and was calm, level headed. Dave was locked in all day and shared several very useful anecdotes from his experience on SWAT. Alex offered several useful suggestions for my form throughout the day, ensuring that I kept strictly to whatever part of the draw I was in. There are reasons for all the guidance, and all the instructors really care about you learning. If you're interested in learning about firearms or getting to the next level, ITTS is the place to go. read more

I can't recommend them enough. Instructors are thorough, patient, kind, and safe. The instruction is so thorough and meticulous, but simple enough to understand. They will push your limits, but they don't make you feel like you are inadequate. Signed up for my next class as soon as my first course was finished. read more

Such an awesome experience. We shot at so many different ranges and from different stances. I definitely feel like a better shooter! read more

If you're like me, you came here to figure out if they are worth the money. Obviously there are hundreds (probably thousands?) of other options for firearms training courses in the Southern California area. In short, the answer is yes, ITTS is absolutely worth the coin. They aren't the cheapest, and they aren't the priciest. Just start here. I have no problem paying a higher premium for superior products and/or services. But sometimes, when trying to verify whether or not the premium of a service is justified by it's quality, it can be more difficult to do, when compared to performing research on a physical product. Although I was already familiar with firearms, and have been shooting for years, Handgun I (prerequisite for all courses) offered plenty of excellent fundamental knowledge and practices that build the foundation for safely operating and manipulating weapons systems. And it was a ton of fun. Dave, Scott, Joe and Mike are awesome guys. Something to consider; just buy the package(s). I say this for two reasons. 1: You're going to have a ton of fun and want to go back for more. And considering that you're here, doing your due diligence, that would imply you are taking this training thing seriously. While Handgun I was fun and all, check out the descriptions of II, III and Advanced. Those other courses contain the knowledge and skills you are looking to acquire. Just go for it. 2: You save money by purchasing the package. Consider me the guinea pig on this one. I spent $X,XXX before ever receiving anything. Two days after attending Handgun I, I called them back and spent another $XXX. I am 100% confident that ITTS will continue to provide services that justify their pricing. This is coming from a guy that will research a $7 toothbrush for three days, prior to purchasing. read more

Just finished the Sniper I course this past weekend. I've been trying to find a course that offers solid training to improve in long distance shooting. My primary application is hunting. The staff here are great. We covered a multitude of topics from the basic/fundamentals of bolt guns to positional shooting and ultimately shooting out to distance. Prior to this class, the furthest I've ever shot was at 600 yards (steel target). With their training and instruction, I was able to hit a 963 yard target on the first shot. I highly recommended ITTS if you want to expand your knowledge and capabilities in long distance shooting. read more

Absolutely the best training I have ever been to. I have been around firearms my whole life, and I thought I knew how to fire my weapons, but this place really goes to show how much we extra we need to do to be even better. I have been through all the Handgun Courses from Handgun 1 to Advance Handgun, and each step up is just another way to humbly tell you that this a lot more to learn about this art form. Everything from the lectures to on the pistol is outsatanding. Can't wait go back and take even more classes. read more

Defensive Handgun 1 - this was my first gun training course and I can say in all honesty that I feel much more confident after this course than i have in all my years of loosely being around guns. Learning from very experienced professionals, learning the safety and legal scenarios was an added bonus on top of all the fundamental training and basics! read more

I took Handgun 1 and came away with so much knowledge. I am definitely moving forward with other courses.

My husband and I took the handgun I class, and it was absolutely awesome! They are so knowledgeable, and make sure that safety is the #1 priority. I left day 2 feeling so confident. My shooting abilities improved immensely by the end of the day. I will be going back to finish all the handgun courses! Highly recommend. Thanks Scottie, Jordan, JR, and the rest of the team! read more

Where do I start? Everything about my experiences at ITT have been positive. The staff are first rate, I love all of Uncle Scotty's jokes. Everyone there at every class I've attended( four in total) made sure I felt Dave accepted and comfortable. I did have to buy a 12pack, but that was completely on me. I look forward to continued training sessions with the folks at ITT. All shooters from novice to experienced have something they can learn working with these folks. I look forward to resuming my training next year. read more

All of the positive reviews are absolutely true. As a complete novice to firearms, I knew that I needed expert instruction with the utter devotion to safety that ITTS mandates and provides. Brett's Saturday Handgun 1 lecture course was excellent! She was comprehensive and practical regarding both the use of deadly force as well as what one should do to be protected and legally compliant as a gun owner. I truly appreciated the personal referrals for safes and insurance. The Sunday Range course was utterly incredible! The instructors definitely drove home the elements of working with firearms safely. Uncle Scotty is hysterical, but he is also dogmatic about safety and learning systematically. Brett and Scott's son Jordan was my instructor for the day. He is a smart, funny and engaging instructor. Yes, I took longer than everyone else to get things down. But I'm not a quitter, and practice will become muscle memory and make me better. The master's class graduates who had become RSO's and RTO's were gentle, helpful and honestly funny in helping me. I wish I could remember all of their names, because they helped me to learn a new skill when what comes naturally to your body is not natural to shooting. The concept of dry practice is huge. I truly see why when after clearing the gun, and dry firing several times, my later shots improved tremendously. Kevin, thank you for that on the metal targets. I look forward to the complete Handgun series that I've purchased as well as other classes. I'm a huge fan. Also, you meet really fun people in class and on the range. Everyone is pulling for everyone else. There were advanced shooters taking another seminar who were super friendly and welcoming to a newbie. Scott Reitz's book goes through all material presented in class, and it's both fascinating and practical. Thank you ITTS. I look forward to practicing and seeing you and some of my fellow students in Handgun 2 soon! read more

Just completed Defensive Handgun 1 and I have to say it was absolutely fantastic. All of the instructors were patient, understanding and above all made sure that everyone was very clear on what the objective was. They'd answer the "dumbest" questions with clear and concise instructions and would physically demonstrate the reasoning behind it. I went from barely hitting paper at 10 yards to hitting steel at 50 yards in less than an hour. They made everyone feel comfortable and safe around the firearms, and safety was clearly the highest priority. Our class ranged from Mr. Marine Recon (21 year old who wore all tactical gear) to a 60+ widower who had never fired a gun before and by the end, everyone was comfortable and accurate with their pistols. Other than a couple of "off-color" jokes, everything was very welcoming to everyone of all political beliefs. I very much look forward to taking more classes and learning all I can from an amazing team. Also seeing Uncle Scotty hit a 475 yard pistol shot is something you have to see in person. read more

International Tactical Training Seminars - Students lining up for the 50 yard steel shot. We all hit it. - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Sylmar, California

My wife and I took the Handgun 1 course over the weekend and it was fantastic. The training was thorough and efficient and by the end of the day and after many rounds we all became proficient firearm operators. The instructors are from SWAT and they are top notch. Thank you ITT, we will be back for Handgun 2 and hopefully more! Best. read more

Love this place. Been training with them since I was 16. You can't get better trainers when it comes to safety and competence. They also have a wide range of classes and each one of them is super fulfilling and I feel like I've improved. read more

Tried to give them my business. They wouldn't respond to my emails. Always shocked how people underestimate simple things like decent customer service. A simple response like "we'll get back to you within 72 hours" goes a super long way. Guess I will look for another tactical training place that has the available dates I'm looking for. read more

Awesome class. Professional, fun, informative. Staff is highly trained (not some weekend warrior gunstore salesman type). Skills taught are real world. Definitely worth the money, especially if it helps save your life. If you own a handgun (even if you have experience) or intend to buy one, this class is a must. Definitely will continue with remaining handgun courses. Love the stories Uncle Scottie has... Keep up the good work! Thanks read more