When writing reviews, one has to figure out how to best engage the audience and provide information…read morethat 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.

I can't recommend Raven Firearms Training highly enough…read more 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.

If you're anywhere on the North Shore and looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable gun shop, do…read moreyourself a favor and stop by CSGI Firearms. I've been a customer since they first opened, and the experience has been consistently outstanding. The entire team is incredibly knowledgeable--not just about firearms, but also Massachusetts laws, surrounding ranges, and any questions you might have as a new or experienced shooter. They go out of their way to make sure everything they do is completely Massachusetts law compliant, and they genuinely care about educating their customers. Whether it's explaining the LTC process or talking through your Second Amendment rights, they always take the time to make sure you understand everything clearly. One thing that really stands out is their inventory and customer service. Most of the time they have exactly what you're looking for in stock, and if they don't, they're quick to find a solution and get it ordered with a very reasonable turnaround time. They make the process easy and transparent. The shop itself is welcoming and comfortable. Even if you walk in just to ask questions and don't end up buying anything that day, they still make sure you leave with knowledge and confidence. There's never any pressure--just a genuine willingness to help whenever you're ready. Chris, the owner, deserves special recognition. He's a stand-up guy, a former service member, a family man, and just an all-around good human being. You can tell he truly cares about his customers and the community he's building around the shop. And sometimes you'll even be greeted by the beautiful Belgian Malinois who is incredibly sweet--but also clearly well-trained for protection! I'm genuinely grateful to have such an amazing shop nearby for anything we might need. I recommend CSGI to everyone I know. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!

Great store! The owner Chris is super friendly and will help you with any questions you have about…read morefirearms. Great selection of guns and ammo! I highly recommend this little gem for all gun owners.

Top notch defensive strategy company. Definitely recommend this company for certification training…read moreand instructor qualifications. Bob is a great instructor and trainer. Very helpful both in and out of the classroom. Certainly helpful on the range. This business has a huge variety of training that is certainly affordable compared to other companies that try to offer similar.

I went to the Bad ass Diva's pistol class today. In the past I have gone to 2 women on target…read moreclasses, and still did not feel comfortable holding a firearm. Bob & Bob were great instructors. They were very informative, and made sure everyone understood the material. 5 hours of the class was in Manchester in the classroom setting, but the time flew by! There was so much information! The next 2 hours were at an outdoor shooting range where we took what we learned in the classroom to the range. The instructors were there with us the whole time instructing us for the correct way to hold the gun, stance, etc. Again- I highly recommend them to anyone that wants to learn more about guns. Great job I will be back for more classes!!

My brother in law and I were looking for some places to learn more advanced pistol trainings. After…read morevisiting a gun show a few months ago I ran into Mike Briggs at one of his booths. After a brief conversation I took his info and a few weeks later I emailed him. Best decision I could have made. Mind you his place is in NH and I'm coming from the South Shore of Mass and I'm sure there's a few places like NET that are closer for me however the drive was worth it. Mike is professional and safety oriented while making it fun as well. I'm a decent shooter and I thought I knew some stuff but I realized fast that I have a long way to go to say the least. Lol. Already can't wait to drive up there again for my next with him. Great guy great class. If you get the chance and want to learn the correct way to shoot in a safe and fun environment then Mike is the way to go. Honestly I'm seriously impressed with the class. I know I can speak for my brother in law also as he is looking forward to coming up again. Thanks Mike see you soon!

I came across Safety Academy USA and after looking for a Women's Handgun & Self defense Class. I…read morewas thoroughly impressed with all the training that they had to offer. Their firearm safety course is extremely reasonable in price and is conveniently located in Beverly at the Cummings Center. Our instructors were Mike Pelonzi and Cory Daras. Mike has had several years under his belt in law enforcement experience and training. Cory Daras is a trained nurse, nurse educator and a Marine Veteran. She brings her passion for caring for others to a personalized gun safety course. Both Mike and Cory, with their sense of humor, delivered an exceptional firearm safety class. Mike and Cory are extremely passionate about firearm safety, public safety and very knowledgeable about past and current gun laws. Cory ensures that after you take her class you walk out with insight on personal safety, and situational awareness options to protect yourself and loved ones from potential threats. Mike and Cory's class was by far the best firearm safety training I have ever received. I look forward to going back to them for future firearms training as well as first aid and CPR training that the academy also provides. If you choose Safety Academy USA you will not be disappointed!

So recently moving from California to Massachusetts, I was searching for a place to take a firearms…read moresafety course. I came across Safety Academy USA and after looking at their website I was thoroughly impressed with all the training that they had to offer. Their firearm safety course is extremely reasonable in price and is conveniently located in Beverly at the Cummings Center. Our instructor was Mike Pelonzi. Mike has had several and I mean several years under his belt in law enforcement experience and training. Mike, along with his wicked sense of humor, delivered an exceptional firearm safety class. Mike is extremely passionate about firearm safety, public safety and very knowledgeable about past and current gun laws. Mike ensures that after you take his class you walk out with insight on gun safety, gun laws and other non lethal options to protect yourself and loved ones from potential threats. I've had many forms of firearm safety training back in California and Mike's class was by far the best firearm safety training I have ever received. I look forward to going back to Mike for future firearms training as well as first aid and CPR training that his academy also provides. If you choose Safety Academy USA you will not be disappointed!

Short Version: An outstanding experience from start to…read morefinish! Ken Hoyt, owner and instructor extraordinaire, far surpassed my expectations. Not only was Ken professional, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable about everything having to do with handguns in New Hampshire, he also managed to teach me in a single day how to identify and safely handle, load, unload, and clean a variety of handguns carefully and competently. In addition to correcting decades of misinformation I'd absorbed from movies and media, he taught me everything I never knew there was to know about kinds of gun actions, types of ammunition, things to consider when purchasing firearms, how to select firearms appropriate to your intended uses, protocols at firing ranges, state and local laws... the list goes on. Basically, by the end of the course, he had taken me from a complete novice to a person confident in basic skills who is now eager to keep learning and improving her firearm skills. Highest possible recommendation! Longer version: From the first email I sent during his off-season, Ken responded promptly and promised to contact me when he re-opened in the spring... and he did, helping me select and schedule exactly the kind of instruction I needed to feel safe handling firearms. I took his private "Basics of Pistol Shooting" one day course and it was worth far more than the $200 I paid. Ken made the hours of classroom instruction fly by with his conversational yet cogent style, his humor, and his enthusiasm. He covered all of the NRA's required content and provided additional information specific to New Hampshire's firearm laws and gun culture. He happily answered every one of my questions as we went, adjusted his pace when I requested we review certain topics, and even let me practice the hands-on portions as many times as I wanted until I felt confident and comfortable handling the classroom guns. As a teacher myself, I especially appreciated the clarity of his approach as he balanced instruction, repetition, and hands-on practice in ways tailored for my particular interests and goals. I am someone whose entire previous gun knowledge came from the James Bond movies I watched as a kid. So it is a testament to the care Ken took in ensuring that I'd understood and retained the required content that at the end of the class, I aced the written exam. Those learning-intense hours in the classroom led to the most exhilarating new experience I've had in a long time: a visit to the firing range to shoot an actual gun. Ken took me to a local outdoor range (for you non-enthusiasts of the outdoors, there were plenty of black flies but also a very clean port-a-potty!). As we got set up, he pointed out each of the rules and guidelines about firing range protocol and safe gun-handling we'd covered in the classroom before having me review the techniques we'd practiced for aiming and firing-- stance, breath control, siting the target correctly, trigger control, recoil and follow through. He then took the time to be sure that my ear and eye protective gear were secure and that I felt prepared to apply all I'd learned that day. After some words of encouragement, he let me take my shot (haha) at meeting the marksmanship requirements to complete the course. After my first few shots, he offered incredibly helpful, specific feedback. I adjusted accordingly, and within a few magazines and respectably few misses, I'd hit the necessary targets to pass the course... and to discover a new favorite pastime that I look forward to pursuing, hopefully with more help from Ken! Whatever your goal is in looking for a class and instructor for basic handguns, look no further than the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting course offered by Ken Hoyt and Ridgetop Training.

Ridgetop Training is great! I knew nothing about guns and was so afraid of them and after the…read moreclass and target practice, I felt so much better! Ken is so patient and knowledgeable and the class was so thorough. I'm so glad that I took this class thank you Ken!

Great Gun Shop, very Knowledgable about everything they sell, Customer Service and Customer…read moreSatisfaction is first priority. Even if you don't make a Purchase on that first visit you are still Guaranteed to walk into a Friendly Atmosphere always ready to answer any Questions you might have. great Prices!!! Always a Pleasure doing Business at Merrimack Firearms Merrimack NH. I've Never had a bad experience there and will continue to be a Valued Customer!! You Won't Be Disappointed!!!!!

I have not even been there yet but if their service is anything like the quick response I got to an…read moreinquiry that I had, I will be a very satisfied customer. Being a newbie to NH, I had several questions about gun ownership. Tim addressed my queries instantly. I contacted a number of stores. None responded other than Merrimack Firearms. Planning a shopping trip for Saturday. Expecting the same excellent service.

My husband and I never get the chance to spend time or do anything without our baby. We found a…read moresitter tonight and we're excited to go shooting. We walked in at 705 started doing the intake form. we were never told a thing when we walked in and started the forms. Until after my husband started walking away from the intake kiosk we were suddenly told "we're not taking any more shooters tonight because we'll be closing down the range in about 20 mins." If it says it's open til 8, then stay open til 8. If not- SPECIFY THAT ITS 730. You don't understand how important little breaks of freedom are to new parents. Update your hours online or stop with the false advertising.

My first & possibly only time getting to go here since I'm moving and after looking for a new place…read moresince Bob's closed, this place did not disappoint! Joseph Rufiange and his team-personable, professional & likable I have met in a long time! Not gun snobs or know-it-all's like I've experienced with other places that shall remain nameless! The facility is quite spacious and very clean and the atmosphere is great! Up-to-date lanes and plenty of room to just enjoy yourself! Hope to get there again some other day in the future! Joe and team - don't ever change!!!

If you are looking for top-notch defensive training, look no further. They have a wide variety of…read moreclasses/courses for every ability. It's definitely worth your time!

I took my first class from Critical Defense Institute in 2017 after meeting Rob, the owner, on the…read morerange during a competition. The training I have received from Rob and his staff is amazing; their level of training an expertise is what everyone needs to be become proficient in the art of self-defense, both empty hand and firearms. Most recently, I took a rifle class, and it was nothing less than spectacular, even though it rained the entire day!

What a pleasure it was to work with Janith! My husband and I planned our wedding in less than a…read moremonth (!) and I literally called up Janith (found her here on Yelp) the WEEK of my wedding and she agreed to do my alterations last minute. She did a wonderful job for a great price...in just a few days! I would highly recommend her for wedding dress alterations!

Jan did an incredible job with my wedding gown. She is always kind and patient, and really listens…read moreto what her customers are saying. She is generous with giving her professional advice but always deferred to what I wanted my dress to look like. She cut down a bra I purchased to fit under my dress and adding lace along the bust to narrow the v-neck, as well as the usual hemming and bustling. Her prices were right in line with what I expected for alterations and my dress was stunning when she was done. She is a pleasure to work with and I would recommend her to anyone looking to alter a gown.