I just finished taking the NRA PERSONAL PROTECTION OUTSIDE OF THE HOME - INSTRUCTOR CLASS at…read moreALLSAFE. This is the premier CCW training curriculum. TJ is a wealth of knowledge and helped developed this course for the NRA, so we are getting training from the source. The most valuable part of this class was everything was taught from concealment and TJ made sure to give us the tools to teach these skills safely so our students can win a fight. The one surprising skill was learning how to teach concealment from a purse. This was eye opening. If you want the best use ALLSAFE.

I have been training with TJ since 2017 and take the advanced courses every month and keep going…read moreback for more. TJ, Trish, John and his crew are top notch pros. The courses of fire are always unique, demanding, and real world based techniques you can't practice most anywhere else. My abilities have improved tremendously.

A fantastic experience…read more Walked in not knowing what to expect but could not be happier with the result. Lance and his team are genuinely amazing people. Real, caring and professional. I had the pleasure of spending the better part of the day with Chris. His instruction is top notch. Didn't waiver on any subject and always included real world examples to truly ingrain the information. We got to the range and he showed his prowess as a instructor, but also as a marksman. As intimidating as it was to be in the presence of such an experienced shooter, he always made me feel comfortable in my inexperience. I honestly walked away feeling lucky that day. Overall, this is one of the best life experiences I've ever had. I can't wait to sign up for another course at FAST OC. Thank you Lance, Chris and to the rest of your team for your commitment to excellence and customer service.

I'm reading the reviews and wonder how these people got through to anyone. I initally got my CCW…read moreand several renewals there, however last year I left v/m's and never got a call back. To renew I had to drive (in rush hour traffic a major headache) to a location on Beach Blvd. 10 mi. from home to get re-certified. FAST OC is only half the distance. Can anyone tell me what phone number they called and if they rec'd a call back? Also, the calendar I saw online was dated 2023 and there was nothing current. Help!!!

I was visiting from out of town (Oakland, CA) and stopped in to shoot. It was a weekend afternoon,…read moreso there was a bit of a wait. All in all, it was worth the wait. The staff were welcoming and friendly. It sounded like they made special accommodations for myself and some other shooters, by opening up the "tactical" range, since there were no members shooting at that time. That was awesome, because it got me on the range sooner. I also brought with me a new firearm - Canik Mete MC9LS with a new optic. I forgot my regular range bag with my tools; however, the range staff allowed me to use one of their tools to adjust my new optic. I don't know how the targets move on the regular range, but on the tactical range, you can push buttons to automatically set the targets at a specified distance, move the targets manually back and forth, and automatically have the target return. Best of all, the prices were very reasonable. $20 per lane and $0.50 targets - WAAAAAY better than prices in the Bay Area. If I were a resident of the area, I'd definitely become a member. (I overheard one of the staff members informing another customer of the benefits and price.). Top Notch outfit in my opinion.

I was interested in learning proper firearms etiquette, and had an opportunity to do so at Evan's…read moreGun World. I attended their intro to handguns class, covering the basics of safety and proper form, and getting in some introductory shooting experience. John, our instructor, was very engaging and great at commanding attention when needed and building up the class's confidence. Afterward, I took them up on their 'newbie' offer of free range time and rental after class. Kevin signed me up for a lane, let me rent a couple of handgun models I researched previously, and critiqued my targets, giving some general feedback and advice. He also pointed me toward a couple other models that are known to be more friendly to left-handed shooters that I can test out in the future. Great place; a little on the older and smaller sides, but staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and attentive. I get the feeling that as I 'shop around' for my go-to range there's a strong chance I will gravitate back here, since these guys are passionate about what they do, and seem to want to inspire that passion in others. Definitely will make it a point to stop by again.

Kyle is very knowledgeable on the AR platform, he was extensive and complete in his evaluation of…read moremy AR10 that was having a feed issue. He is very fair in his price and highly recommend him for any need.

Amazing experiencing with gunsmithing at this shop! Had to get a slide stop fitted for my Atlas…read moreAthena which required careful filing and a divot/dimple at the back, which were taken care of precisely and within a timely manner. Took it to the range and it ran flawlessly. Would recommend.

::::This is a second review from me, regarding a separate business function than my previous…read morereview:::: Artifex effectively does guns. They effectively teach guns + drills. They also effectively do guns + personal protection methods. But: DID. YOU. KNOW. They have such a deep and rich knowledge base that there is basically no situation that deals with personal- or self-defense they cannot handle. I'll explain. I reached out to Ben for an 'at-home, security picture review'. Ben forwarded my request over to BigTony. I met with BigTony over the weekend. The task was to develop my own personal self-defense plan for my home, and close any massive gaps that I may not be aware of. Tony was willing to meet, on my schedule, and even worked effectively with a last minute location change. No flaws, no frustration, no worries - just BigTony being BigTony. We have a new house; with a new neighborhood, and unfamiliar neighbors, routes, and routines. My deepest held concerns were the recent uptick in OC county crime, the warning signs, and developing new habits and patterns with my new home. Tony had it covered: Physical security. Advanced warning signs. Training to complete in the meantime, while enacting other preventative measures. People to call for updated OSINT. Home defense ballistics. Right down to gun safes, learning 'battle rhythm' before, during and after a home invasion across multiple scenarios, and with his help, I was able to view the impacts of my decisions through the eyes of the very adversary I am preparing against, as well as the from the first responders perspective, that eventually will arrive to close the scene. His thoughtful review, theoretical approaches to posturing (ex: 'grey-man' vs 'gun-guy'), etc... I could not think of any more approaches or variables I could throw at him. Once it was all said and done, we agreed to a post-implementation tag-up, to see the progress made, and/or take in any specifics that may have been overlooked. All on his own time. Bottom Line: it was incredibly relieving to have the TTPs I had already put in place verified, my concerns validated and decision and actions taken confirmed as 'adequate' for my surroundings/situation/circumstances. From the top to the bottom of my personal security stance, Tony answered literally every question I had. Not one gun was fired. No targets pasted. An incredible 'thinking man's approach' to surviving and thriving when the adrenaline is rushing, and seconds feel like hours. This meeting changed the game. I cannot recommend going through a thought-exercise like this enough. Rounds down range would never have gotten me the answers I received from this incredible team. Thank you BigTony. I am a proud monthly-dues member. If you are not yet, You are sorely missing out on providing the 'whole of security' approach to your family, neighborhood, and community. They are multi-faceted, well-rounded, highly experienced, seasoned professionals whose guidance you will have wanted in your kit-bag well before your "sunshine and rainbows: day turns to "hell-in-a-handcart" in a flash. Tony, Ben, and crew: THANK YOU!!

This place is fantastic. I recently did my renewal here, Dave was the instructor and it was way…read morebetter than the place I went to before. The class was all on Zoom, which was very convenient and informative. The range practice was outdoors which was also much more realistic than an indoor range for true training.

Orville is a true professional. He was able to get me signed up the day before for my 16-hour…read moreweekend CCW course, which I really appreciated. He explained everything clearly, used real-life scenarios, and made the information easy to understand. I highly recommend Orville to anyone needing their CCW course -- top-notch instructor and a smooth, stress-free experience.

Orville is a true professional, teaches you everything you should know and more. Will definitely…read moretake his class again.

Dave's The Boss. Tough as nails, but he'll give you conversation…read more 10 out of 10 would recommend this place. Handled my consignment as well as firearm & accessory purchases, definitely worth stopping by and doing business with them.

(Posting conversation for full transparency) Buddy already…read morehad a kind of bad experience here where they forgot to install a part back on his firearm. We ended up coming here to do a PPT since it was in the middle for both of us. Finished everything and on the way home got a call there was a small error on the paperwork , luckily they were able to fix it on their end. Fast forward to this last experience, Took my 2.0 in for a port/window and Cerakote job. Was given 2-3 week time frame. Messaged them 2 weeks in to get an update and see if it was possibly ready. Responses I got made me feel unsure what was going on but just let it be and decided to wait for them to follow up for my pick up. 7 weeks passed by and I had not received any update or heard from them so I decided to send a text. Turns out my gun had been ready. Went to pick it up, and they gave it back to me completely disassembled (springs, cover plate, etc.) with the parts in a bag. I Asked if they don't put it back together since I brought it all put together and they had taken it apart. Employee said a gun smith just came in so he can ask them. Other employee at front asked which gun it was then said he would do it because gunsmith doesn't work on that. Began to work on it then said he realized it was my order and mentioned how there was something with the Cerakote being super thick and that a part wasn't sitting right and ended up having to take it to the back. Brings it back out together which is when I saw how the screw wasn't sitting flush and looked like maybe it was stripped. He took it to the back again and fixed it. (I noticed the sights were also scuffed up a bit but didn't even want to bother with it at that point) Only reason I'm doing 2 stars is because I liked the cerakote and port/window job. (Yelp won't let me organize the order of the images so I numbered the order on the picture)

Brett is awesome! He put together a fun outing for my son in law and family. That all had a great…read moretime and couldn't say enough about how much fun was had by all!

Apex Defensive Strategies is the real deal. I've personally trained with Brett, and his classes are…read moresome of the most professional, organized, and safety-focused I've ever attended. He goes way beyond basic stand-and-shoot drills and really pushes students to think, move, and shoot with purpose. In the more advanced pistol sessions I attended, we worked on movement, using cover correctly, engaging multiple targets, and tightening up fundamentals under pressure. In the home defense shotgun course, I learned how to maneuver the shotgun in tighter spaces, use optics effectively, and handle different target distances with much more control and confidence. What really sets Apex apart is the way Brett explains the "why" behind every drill, tailors feedback to each shooter, and maintains a serious but respectful environment. You can tell he cares about building safe, responsible, and capable shooters. If you're looking for legitimate defensive training in Orange County, I highly recommend Apex Defensive Strategies!

I had an incredible experience with Forza. Their class was very educational and I learned a lot of…read morevaluable, priceless information. Their customer service leading up to the class was exceptional. They communicated quickly, were very responsive and extremely thorough. Essentially their communications with me ensured that I was 100% onboarded BEFORE my class date. They were amazing with their process and curriculum. Now let me get to my favorite part and that is their instructors. Gina (the owner) was skilled, personable, a great communicator but most importantly extremely nice, a true professional and a pleasure to work with. Of course she has an unbelievable personal knowledge base when it comes to firearm training and safety and her communication style ensures it transfers well to her students. In life people do business with people they like so Gina & Laurie (our other fantastic instructor) excelled in this aspect. It's extremely easy for me to recommend Forza Defense Training and I do so with confidence. They made a long day into a fun, educational, rewarding, exceptional experience. I have already referred my wife and son to them for a private lesson as they are new to firearms ownership as well as numerous others. Forza Defense Training will get every refferal I know who is looking for training, lessons or working fir their CCW! When it comes to firearms training it's important to work with the best, there's no room for cutting corners and Gina & Laurie are true professionals. Gina is an absolute gem and so is her counterpart Laurie. I will never seek any other firearms training solution. Forza Defense Training is an absolute WINNER!!

I recently got my OC CCW training and certification completed with Forza Defense. GIna and Laurie…read morewere great professionals to work with. They are patient, attentive and very knowledgeable on preparing, training and completing training with firearms. I qualified with them and they also guided me through the application process with OC Sheriff for my CCW. This was my second CCW organization for training and they are hands down the BEST I've worked with.

I inherited a batch of firearms from my dad when he passed away along with a bunch of very old…read moreammo. These were all firearms he acquired prior to 1970 and none of them where ever registered because back in those days, California wasn't run by insane anti-amendment control freaks . . . but I digress. As much as I wanted to keep them, I felt that I wasn't going to really use them much and since they were old and dad and I never did an intra-familial transfer before he passed away, I called Jeff McCabe at California Gun Services. I could not legally sell these firearms on my own so having Jeff's services available was a perfect solution: I could transfer ownership to him legally and he could then dispose of them as he saw fit and I made a little cash. Problem solved! Jeff came out to the house and he patiently looked up and researched each firearm. That was super insightful. We completed the necessary DOJ forms and he discretely took the firearms to his van. It's a big plus that his logo does not mention the word "guns" so no nosey neighbors would catch on why he was there. Jeff also took all of this old military ammo dad had plus just some civilian stuff that wasn't in the greatest shape and would properly dispose of it all. Jeff is a true professional and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation: you inherit some firearms and don't know what to do with them. Well I will tell you what to do: YOU CALL JEFF!

Always a pleasure doing business with CGS. Jeff really knows…read morehis stuff and gets the job done quickly. Thanks for another great transfer!