When writing reviews, one has to figure out how to best engage the audience and provide information that is critical and helpful to the readers looking for certain services. When I read a review, I look for the expertise and credibility of the reviewer to help me assess if the reviewer even know what they are talking about. When someone tries pizza for the first time, and says it is the best pizza ever, one has to take into account that they have only tried it once. Now, if they have been connoisseurs of pizza over time, and have a degree in pizzaology, their review becomes more relevant. I'm not saying my opinion is more relevant than anyone else's, I just saying it may help folks decide whether to eat a pizza or not. That being said, let me tell you about my experiences at that little pizza joint known as Raven Firearms Training (RFT). First let's talk about the location and facilities; Some of the finest country left in America; beautiful scenery and honest, hard working Americans that really leave you with the desire to move there and be a part of it all. The ranges are a unique combination of old west facades, hunting cabins and open training ranges that will excite most firearms enthusiasts. Add a heavy sprinkling of AR-500 steel targets and you can almost hear the ringing of steel as rounds go down range. So what about the Chefs? Jake and Crystal have been masters of arms for most of their adult lives and Jake was probably born with a silver rifle in his hands. Both are retired Marines (if there is such a thing) and have seen a few of the exotic locations a career in expeditionary military has to offer. They have firsthand experience in what works and what doesn't. Jake's expertise is finding that "happy spot" between rigorous military training and couch commando and developing training courses that cater to a wide variety of clientele, from first time shooters to law enforcement firearms instructors. Crystal's expertise is in developing curriculum for students, working with first time woman shooters, and keeping Jake's enthusiasm in check so as not to scare of customers. Between the two of them, they have probably attended most of the shooting schools available to the public and a few that aren't available to the public. They are both excellent instructors that can handle any class or student. Both are extremely enthusiastic about their craft but are easily approachable and respectful to all their students. Alright, what makes their pizza better than anyone else's? The secret is relevance. The training they provide is relevant to the real world threats that exist today. Some firearms training schools train to a standard of being able to put a bullet into a target at a certain distance within a certain amount of time. Some train to hit so many targets out of so many. Some teach to no standards. Well, RFT teaches to the real world threat. That includes a bit of everything above (except the no standard) along with scenarios designed to get the student to think about reactions, shot placement, ammunition management, movement to cover, etc, etc. I don't want to give away all their secrets, but after a few days of training with RFT, you will walk away with more training and knowledge than some police officers and military professionals. How big is their pizza? RFT specializes in individual, small, medium, and large pies. They pride themselves on one-on-one training and hosting factory sponsored firearms shoots and training days for law enforcement firearms instructors. How about variety? Besides their standard classes that are listed on their websites, RFT is able to work with people to improve their skills without making a whole course out of it. Some special courses are offered based on the desires of the students and all their curriculum is reviewed to ensure it is current and relevant. Some of their scenarios involve reacting to threats from a restaurant table, from a car, lying on your back, lying on your side, low light, no light, etc. If you have a need, they have a plan. Ask about the Mogadishu Special, one of my favorites, not for the faint of heart. Bottom line, I have trained in a variety of places and share a similar background to the folks at RFT, and for my dollars, there isn't a better place to go than RFT. For the cost of an average "professional course," somewhere else, you could get the same or better training with some of the nicest folks in the industry and a mini vacation in New Hampshire and still keep some of your money. read more

Raven Firearms Training - Firearm Training Near Me - Woodstock, New Hampshire

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I can't recommend Raven Firearms Training highly enough. I went with my wife, mother, brother, cousin, and a buddy, novices all. Jake and Crystal showed us the ropes, starting with a briefing on the types of weapons we'd be using, moving on to best practices regarding safe handling and muzzle direction awareness. If there is one facet of the Pelletiers' approach to firearms instruction that stands out, it's their total commitment to safety. They are very aware of what their students are doing and how they're doing it, which, as a newbie, put me completely at ease. These two are pro's pros. All that said, for all their seriousness, they share a great sense of humor and they make the entire process a blast (no pun intended). We engaged in a wide variety of shooting exercises that, while emphasizing the very basics of gun handling and marksmanship, never descended into tedium. They are also super helpful above and beyond: when my wife's Ruger .22 started jamming, Crystal put it through its paces, testing it with magazines of her own. They agreed to contact Ruger and handle the return for factory servicing on our behalf. I swear, I feel like I've made friends for life, and I truly hope that's the case. Seriously, I cannot wait to go shooting with them again and I know my family feels the same way. read more

My wife recently did the shotgun training course for some upcoming remote field work. She had never seen a gun before, let alone shot one, so was very nervous. Jake did an amazing job of gently teaching her gun safety, and how to shoot safely. She now feels confident, prepared, and relieved. We would highly recommend Raven Firearms to anyone! read more