I had never shot a pistol before and was a little nervous signing up for a course. I called Nagy at NOVA Marksmanship and explained my lack of experience with firearms and my desire to learn how to operate and fire a weapon safely. He was extremely encouraging and told me that they welcome all skill levels. I also had recently moved to DC and don't possess a car, Nagy told me that wouldn't be an issue and offered to pick me up at the Vienna Metro stop and drive me to his class and then to the range. After a brief phone conversation he made me feel extremely comfortable so I signed up later that evening with a friend. He set all this up with less than 24 hours notice. The next day he picked a friend and I up at the Vienna Metro right on time. He brought us to his office where we met his business partner Tighe Smith. The office was a very professional setting, which I appreciated. In the next two hours Nagy and Tighe walked us through a variety of aspects from safety considerations, to proper loading, important aspects of firing and how to clear a jam and clean a weapon. They were very patient and answered all of my questions (of which there were many). They even gave us coffee! After 2 hours in the classroom we moved to the range where we fired .22 and .9 caliber rounds. Nagy was very encouraging and professional and even with just an hour of practice I felt comfortable handling a firearm. On top of his outstanding teaching, Nagy is a genuinely nice guy. He was very friendly and eager to make sure that we were comfortable and enjoying our experience. He also has a wealth of experience. His partner Tighe was outstanding as well. If you're on the fence about signing up definitely give Nagy and I'm sure he'd be happy to talk. Sign up- I have no doubt you'll enjoy your experience. read more

Taking the NRA FIRST Steps Shotgun Orientation course from instructor Nagy was a great experience. I wanted to take a training course before purchasing my first shotgun. I did research for several days looking for a course and an instructor. I'm glad I found instructor Nagy. First of all, I was very surprised that he didn't cancel the course just because I was the only one who signed up for it. Second of all, I was even more surprised that he was flexible enough to come to my residence to teach the course. This saved me a 60 mile one way trip to the original training location and ensured that I would be able to make it to the shooting range for the shooting portion of the course on the same day. This was a tremendous help for me because of my schedule. It would have been tough for me to reschedule the shooting portion of the course during this time of year. This course exceeded my expectations. Instructor Nagy is extremely knowledgeable and has a passion for teaching others about firearms and firearms safety. I learned a lot during this course and feel more comfortable with handling and purchasing a shotgun. When we arrived at the range, I was able to apply everything I just learned in the classroom portion of the course with no issues or worries. I highly recommend Nagy for an instructor. read more

I took the NRA FIRST Steps Rifle Orientation class taught by Nagy Soliman. It was listed on the NRA website. After registering, it turned out I'd need to take the class on a different day. Nagy was nice about it and let me switch. The class itself was excellent. Nagy is a great teacher. The first part of the class was about gun safety. He had a good presentation and materials. Instead of giving a dry lecture he involved the class, which was extremely helpful. I learned about gun safety instead of just being told about it. As a nervous first-time gun user this was as important to me, if not more so, than the instruction we got about rifles. We did get good instructions about those, though: different kinds (including ammunition), how they work, how to handle and shoot them from various positions, and how to maintain them. Lots of hands-on instruction. At the firing range Nagy was great, too. I had some trouble with the gun and he was very patient helping me. He gave good instructions about shooting accuracy. This was such a good class. I can't praise Nagy enough. Aside from an array of NRA classes, they have one-on-one marksmanship classes at a very good price. read more

4 May 14 NoVA I was looking for an introductory long-gun course for my 17-year old daughter. I taught her the bare minimum to safely get rounds off and on paper, but I wanted her to learn the fundamentals in more structured setting with folks who teach firearm skills and safety for a living. I found this with Mr. Nagy Soliman and Mr. Tighe of NOVA Marksmanship Academy, Inc. and their NRA affiliated FIRST Steps Rifle Orientation course (3-hours). Nagy was my daughter's primary instructor and he was very personable, professional and knowledgeable (as was Mr. Tighe!) Like another reviewer indicated, it seemed like Nagy was able to tailor the course specifically for my daughter's needs and capabilities. Nagy was very knowledgeable, articulate and patient. The session at the indoor range was great fun! It was conducted safely and Nagy showed real interest and enthusiasm in seeing my daughter improve her skill set. My daughter was beaming each time the target came back and she saw the results. She left the range with some swagger and great big smile! Thanks! Dave D. P.S. I highly recommend NOVA Marksmanship Academy; I will be a repeat customer. read more

A 5 star rating isn't justice! NOVA Marksmanship Academy, Inc., needs a 12star rating. Never before in my life have I shot a pistol, let alone, clean and disarm one. Taking this course was one of the best decisions in my life and not to mention it was a blast (no pun intended). Nagy is one of the best instructors and I am very pleased with how professional and patient he was (awesome military stories) and let's not forget their low competitive rates in the area. After the writing portion was done; we went to a local shooting range. Again, never before in my life have I shot a gun, so I was a bit nervous. Nagy walked me through the steps and gave me the confidence I needed. Before I knew it, I was changing magazines like a pro. Basically: Would I go back? YES!!! I'm pretty excited to take FIRST Steps Rifle Orientation this weekend (first time with a rifle, this should be interesting). Would I recommend to others? Yes! Why are you still reading this? Go to their website and register. Trust me, you won't regret it! read more

I highly recommend NOVA Marksmanship Academy's Nagy and Tighe. I enrolled my son in a First Steps pistol course through the NRA and was immediately contacted by Nagy. Nagy took the time to find out more about my son and why I had signed him up for the course. My son is preparing for a proficiency test that involves marksmanship skills with the pistol, and he had never had the opportunity to fire a pistol before. I wanted to take him to a firing range, but felt having expert instruction on the safe use of a pistol would be ideal since it has been more than ten years since I handled a firearm. Since my son is under the age of 21, I took the course with him Safety was the foundation of the course of instruction provided by Nagy and Tighe. They thoroughly covered the course material, then escorted us to the range to continue with the practical aspects of safely using a pistol. This was a great experience and I am considering having my wife and other kids take courses or clinics via the NOVA Marksmanship Academy. read more

My wife and I are relative novices when it comes to firearms. We recently purchased a 9mm pistol and signed up for the first steps course with the Academy. Nagy and his colleague, Tyghe, spent over two hours explaining the fundamentals of gun ownership and use. They provided an excellent manual and other materials and used a variety of visual aids during the class (powerpoint, videos, posters). Their explanations were clear and they were very patient and answered all of our questions. We then spent over an hour at Sharpshooters where they continued the one-on-one education while we practiced shooting. My wife was having some difficulty with the 9mm so they recommended she try a .38 revolver which was ideal for her situation. Overall, we felt the class was well worth the investment and would highly recommend the Acadamy for their professionalism and personal attention. After we get more practice under our belt, we definitely plan to sign up for more instruction with Nagy and Tyghe. read more

Nova Marksmanship Academy is AMAZING! I had never shot a gun before, and I was basically scared of guns prior to taking this class. My instructor Nagy was extremely patient and helpful. The course itself was very informative, and I learned not just how to hold and shoot a gun, but how the gun works, and how to load, unload, dismantle and clean it. By the time we got to the range, I was excited to try out my new skills. Again, Nagy was extremely helpful in showing me what to do to correct my grip and aim on the gun. I shot so well that some of the people working at the range said they were impressed. Nova Marksmanship Academy has totally changed the way I think about firearms. They are extremely professional, have a ton of experience, and are gladly willing to work with all skill levels. Because of Nagy, I went from being too nervous to even handle a gun, to being a confident and skilled shooter. I give them a 10 star rating! read more

I was incredibly happy with my experience with Nova Marksmanship Academy and Tighe. I took an instructor course with him and was extremely pleased with the entire experience. I've had a lot of bad experiences with firearm courses and I was worried about sitting through a 2 day course. Tighe erased those concerns and offered an exceptional experience. Safety was a top priority at all times. It was clear that Tighe was an experienced teacher, knew the material, was confident enough to handle unique questions and situations, and knew how to keep the course on track and interesting. In a world where I feel there are few instructors that cover all these bases I was happy to find Nova Marksmanship Academy. Without a doubt I would recommend NMA to new students, I would come back for additional courses and certifications for myself and I would look forward to it. Use them! read more

2014-07-19 - This was my second NRA course (NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting Course -10 hours) and my second course with Nova Marksmanship Academy and Nagy Soliman (the instructor). Nagy is a very good instructor and the small class size made it feel like he was teaching the class just to me. The class covered the NRA outline and Nagy fully answered all of my questions. The time at the range (Clark Brothers Gun Range - Warrenton VA.) was very personalized and one-on-one. A second instructor from the Nova Marksmanship Academy, Tighe Smith, joined us and they both worked with me until I hitting more clays than I was missing. As with my first review, I can honestly say that my experience echoes the many positive reviews they have earned. I would not hesitate to recommend them to family and friends. I look forward to taking more classes from them. Highly recommended. read more

I'm an experienced marksman and decided to expand my horizons to the shotgun disciplne. Although I have plenty of experience with other firearms (rifle, pistol) I knew I needed an entry level course in the shotgun. I found NOVA Marksmanship Academy on the NRA instructors page, had a couple of conversations with Nagy, and knew I found the right course and instructor. The course (NRA First Steps shotgun) covered everything I needed to know in detail I asked. Nagy is a very patient instructor and his genuine interest in teaching and firearms. He is very student-focused and will tailor the course to your needs. The range time was effective and demonstrably increased my knowledge and skills with my shotgun. I really enjoyed the class, and am lucky to have found Nagy as an instructor. Highly recommend! read more

I have completed training with NOVA Marksmanship Academy and it is OUTSTANDING. They deliver quality training at National standard levels. The instructor is honest, respectful, skilled and highly knowledgeable. I would sign up for additional training without hesitation. Myself I have 30 years global technical training experience so I know a first class trainer when I see one. Our instructor 'Tighe' has a dedication to the training programs and level of professionalism you will find hard to match in this area. Course materials exceeded expectations and the quality of equipment used for demonstration was perfect. Timekeeping was spot on without feeling rushed or pressured. Total participant involvement ensured all were actively engaged in the course and everyone learnt new methods and skills. read more

This was not only my first NRA course but the first time I have held or shot a firearm. Thanks to Nagy and TY, the instructors, the four of us participating received excellent training and practice at the range. The shooting range was a continuation of the class with their guidance and instruction. Nagy and Ty are detailed instructors, always keeping in mind the basic principles of firearm safety. I highly recommend them and the NOVA Marksmanship Academy to anyone who is interested in learning about firearms or increasing their existing proficiency with firearms. The atmosphere of the class was friendly and professional. The high level of experience of both our instructors was evident. If you are a beginner like me or advanced, this is the class for you. Marge G. read more

I'm not a gun guy, but my uncle passed away and left me with a Winchester rifle and I wanted to shoot it. I had no idea what I was doing so I started looking around for some kind of basic course so I wouldn't kill myself. I took Nagy's "NRA First Steps Rifle Orientation" course and it was exactly what I was looking for. Nagy knows his stuff and is very professional. Above all, he's an excellent teacher. He was not patronizing or condescending in any way, and answered all my questions completely and with sincerity. He almost deserves a 5-star rating, but I'm a tough bastard and rarely give 5 stars unless something is absolutely perfect (which is rare). Otherwise, I highly recommend Nagy's courses. If I ever feel the need to do more, I will definitely use him. read more

I had basically no experience with firearms; I wanted to not only be comfortable handling and shooting, but also want to be confident enough to conceal carry. After only a few hours, I feel quite comfortable with my Glock. He showed be the essentials of safety, how to handle, shoot, take it apart, clean it, and put it back together. I even learned how to handle misfires, which I hadn't even considered. Shooting at the range topped it off... putting everything I learned in the classroom training to the test. I learned more than I ever imagined in such a short period of time, it was SO worth the time and money spent. I would recommend NOVA Marksmanship, and specifically Nagy Soliman to anyone who wants to feel comfortable and confident with their firearms. read more

I would highly recommend NOVA to any friends or family. Tighe had a lesson plan but was very open to questions, and provided many anecdotal stories and videos to keep the classroom interesting. They also give you all of the classroom materials to take home with you which is great for reference. The range time was just as valuable. My wife and I have been around guns our whole lives, but we haven't spent much time in ranges or shops; the range time demystified that environment and made us feel much more comfortable. Tighe also helped with our shooting mechanics and our groupings improved throughout the day. Regardless of experience level, I'd highly recommend NOVA Marksmanship Academy. read more

I never leave 5 star reviews. But this class earned it. I learned a lot, met some great people, and had fun doing it. I took the pistol instructor course from Tighe. It was my second ever class and I was nervous about being the odd man out in a class full of veterans of various military / law enforcement and other elite shooting backgrounds. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, Tighe did a great job of using the coach / student method to get us all engaged with the material and each other. I had a great time and highly recommend this academy to anyone who is interested in learning more about firearms, regardless of your level of experience. read more

This is not my first NRA course, but my first course with Nova Marksmanship, I found Nagy the instructor not only very professional but also friendly and funny, he field the NRA course with a lot of details and examples from his own military background , the session at the fire range was more like a clinique were Nagy Soliman patiently correct my firing position and grip, finally about the pricing, those NRA courses range in prices for the same course and different providers will offer different deals , I found NOVA Marksmanship prices the best among those prices, their deals cover also the rang time and targets, it's highly recommended . read more

I'm typically not a review writer, however after attending Tighe's NRA Pistol Instructor Course I felt many kudos was appropriate. I have been to course where it drags and I couldn't wait for the breaks to come and the class to end. This was not the case with Tighe. He kept the class moving, on task and informative. He is a knowledgeable, patient, and entertaining instructor who takes pride in his work. I cannot recommend Tighe highly enough and will be keeping touch in the future. If you're not sure, just go, you will not be disappointed. Tighe, if you're reading this, consider this a 1 Star review brother. read more