I had an amazing experience with McClaren Defense, especially with Malcolm as the instructor today…read more(May 9, 2026). His teaching style was engaging, never boring, and full of funny jokes that kept the class interested and involved the entire time. He made the environment feel comfortable while still taking the material seriously. What really stood out was how thorough the class was when it came to safety tips and firearm laws. Malcolm did an excellent job explaining everything clearly and carefully, making sure we understood not just how to handle a firearm, but how to do so safely and responsibly. The attention given to safety techniques and legal guidelines made me feel much more informed and confident. Malcolm also asked hypothetical questions that made you think....I liked that part. It had been a long time since I had shot a gun, and I'm much more used to shooting rifles than pistols. Malcolm personally took the time to help me with pistol handling tips that improved both my safety techniques and my accuracy. He was incredibly patient, understanding, and kind throughout the process. He never made me feel embarrassed or judged, and that meant a lot to me as someone getting comfortable with pistols again. I highly recommend McClaren Defense, and Malcolm especially. He is a fantastic instructor, and honestly, his father should give him a raise so he can finally get the Sig Sauer on his wishlist ;)

Great educational course. Affordable and informative to help you navigate through the California…read moreprocess. Worth taking to be a safer and proficient

Great range, clean, friendly and they have everything you need. I took safety course also and…read moreeveryone was helpful and knowledgeable. It is worth coming back to my ccw course and to get my range time in. I also saw they have a great selection to choose from.

Smells ! To much lead , needs a new facelift a much needed remodel will go a long wayread more

Phil is the man, I feel like this should be mandatory for…read moreCcw to be honest. You go through so many simulations in so many different things that can happen so that you can prepare. Phil is efficient super good guy. Great at communicating nothing but great review for this gentleman. I'm definitely gonna be bringing my daughters to come and train so that they can prepare for their Ccw's. Thanks, Phil.

One of the coolest things I've ever done... An absolute necessity for anybody who wants to carry a…read moreweapon. I will go back again for more training.

I can't say enough good things about Patrick Russ and his CCW course. Patrick is extremely…read moreknowledgeable, professional, and clearly cares about making sure his students actually understand the material--not just pass the class. He does an excellent job explaining both the legal side and the practical, real-world considerations of carrying, and he takes the time to answer every question thoroughly. Nothing felt rushed, and no question was brushed off. You can tell he has real experience and knows how to teach in a clear, approachable way. The course was well organized, informative, and engaging from start to finish. Patrick creates a comfortable learning environment while still emphasizing safety and responsibility, which I really appreciated. If you're looking for a CCW instructor who is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in his students, I highly recommend Patrick Russ. I'd absolutely take another course from him and would recommend him without hesitation.

I want to start by saying that I genuinely don't like writing negative reviews, especially not…read morewithin the firearms community, an industry I respect and have been part of for years. But after my third disappointing experience at North County Shooting Center, something needs to be said. As an experienced shooter, I came in with a reasonable request -- simply to use a tool for a minor fix I was fully capable of doing myself. Instead of any assistance, I was met with poor customer service, a dismissive attitude, and unprofessional staff behavior. The response I received felt smug and unhelpful, which is the exact opposite of what a well-run range should offer. What's even more frustrating is that this isn't an isolated incident. This range consistently shows a lack of support for customers, even those who clearly know what they're doing. Meanwhile, Poway Weapons & Gear continues to provide excellent service, respectful staff, and real customer care -- a night-and-day difference. Because of this ongoing pattern, I won't be returning, and I'll make sure other shooters know not to waste their time or money here. Places like this need to hear when their customer experience is pushing people away.

If you are a novice interested in learning about responsible use of self-defense on any level -…read moreIvan is your guy. As novices with minimal experience, my friend & I were seeking fundamentals + hands-on + overall education/update on ever-changing legal landscape here in CA if/when deciding pursue CCW. It's SO confusing! That said, learning about what responsible ownership looks like here in California was a top priority. We learned SO MUCH. In addition to learning the basics, ie. attitude for owning and operating a handgun safely, we got MANY rounds of practice, and in an outdoor setting (Ivan is a member of Rainbow shooting range), HUGE bonus - lots of fresh air, sunshine & no distractions (and no STINK ... if you've been to certain local indoor ranges here in N SD County, you know what I'm talking about!) While it took me a hot minute to get used to keeping my finger off the trigger, with practice and Ivan's "firm encouragement" by the end of our training, felt totally natural. Not two ways about it, Ivan's a strickler for safety, but that's exactly what we wanted. He's extremely thorough, covered everything including range etiquette, using sights, shooting from the holster, safely/quickly loading/unloading, how to clean (even offered to show me how to clean my shot gun, which I brought along to our training). He also educated us on CA laws & NRA certifications. Literally, everything we asked for, and then some. If you're a beginner, I strongly recommend personal vs. group/class training for something as important as this. Since just two of us with one instructor, we could move rapidly through the course work & interact real-time, asking questions as they came up vs. sharing time/attention among others in a group who may have slowed the pace and/or required extra attention. Especially if time is an issue for you, being able to learn so much in an accelerated format is such an advantage. For just slightly more than the cost of group/class training ... you get SO MUCH more with personal instruction. And in my opinion, for THIS kind of training ... you DON'T want to cut corners. Ivan is a confident, knowledgeable, very thorough instructor. I highly recommend him & plan to continue training with him while here visiting CA.

Prior to my appointment with Ivan, I had very little exposure/experience with firearms. I was…read moreexcited to gain more knowledge and experience, but also nervous as I'm generally an anxious person. In short: I cannot speak more highly of the experience that I had with Ivan at the range!! We made our appointment to visit a local range where I needed to read a safety binder and take a test prior to shooting. Ivan patiently waited while I read the manual thoroughly -- he didn't make me feel rushed nor did he pressure me to hurry through it. This was impactful because I am the kind of person that reads manuals and safety material cause I want to know the ins and outs; I don't like to use "I didn't know" as an excuse. Having the freedom to thoroughly read the materials really set the tone for the rest of the day. Before we stepped onto the floor, Ivan made sure to explain the what would be going on in a way that made things crystal clear for me as well as instilling me with a great deal of confidence. Not only that, but he reminded me that I could stop to ask questions any time or ask for further clarification. The entire experience from start to finish was top notch! We went through several rounds with a handgun then moved onto the rifle. The shooting experience itself was exhilarating and educational all thanks to Ivan! I walked away feeling empowered, confident, and with a new-found reverence for the sport. Cannot recommend Ivan and his services enough!

Upon entry for the first time, it felt clean and organized, with a nice layout. I followed…read morerecommendation from a friend and was not disappointed. Steven was great; very helpful, went above and beyond if you ask me and just all around a good guy. In general, staff is awesome and seems knowledgable. I'm already passing along recommendations to friends, similar to what brought me in to the shop initially. This place needs to stick around for a long while.

Very knowledgeable and stand up people working at Gunther's. Thanks for all the good information…read moreyou provided while there.

rude staff lady behind the counter, times don't match online, they don't call back when messages…read moreare left. I do not recommend coming here for a live scan. They are not helpful.

I recently completed a state required renewal course for my permit and it was a terrific…read moreexperience. Phil, Reid and Alaina work as a team to keep all aspects of the eight hour class interesting, informative, and applicable to real-world situations. The day started in the classroom with some familiarization, paperwork, and a few runs through the simulator next door at Shore Shot. This gets everyone loosened up, and I think they use this brief session to check out your basic gun-handling skills - safety is always in the forefront. Before long we headed to the range for the live fire evaluation. At every opportunity the four rules of firearm safety are repeated and modeled. The live fire evaluation is conducted in exact sequence with the SDSO course of fire, but handled in a low-stress way that makes success attainable. Once back in the classroom the information is delivered in a way that keeps everyone involved, and its interactive, and while all of the content is delivered it never feels like you're stuck in some boring traffic school type environment. Sessions with the simulator are interspersed with the classroom sessions. This provides an opportunity to stand up, strap up, and work through de-escalation tactics, shoot/no-shoot situations, multiple threats, and even a vicious dog scenario. The emphasis throughout the day is not on right or wrong answers, but safety and a sincere focus on learning and applying the lessons of the course. Whether you are interested in an intro to firearms class, initial ccw class, ccw renewal class, or any of the other self-defense and security classes they offer, I don't think you'll find a better learning environment than Nanpor.

An excellent place to learn Krav Maga and all sorts of self defense. The trainers are very well…read moreskilled and made all of us feel comfortable with guns. You'd learn a lot even from the very first class.

I have been searching for Krav Maga classes that I have been missing since I moved to San Diego…read morefrom Chicago a couple years ago. In my search, I have gone to a few trial classes around the area but could not find the same intensity, the aggression, skills, and the same workout that I was used to getting in Chicago. I was about to give up on my search until one day I stumbled across Caliber 3 on one of my random Sunday morning searches and thought that I would check it out. I was immediately impressed with their facility, none that I am used to, not your typical neighborhood hole in the wall gym. The entire staff is extremely friendly and helpful. I could tell that they were passionate about teaching and everything that they do as they were walking me through the facility as well as giving me a history on Caliber 3, originating from Israel and how they wanted to bring their knowledge to the U.S. The instructors are the real deal, all first hand skills and teachings from former IDF. They are great teachers, accommodating to anyone that wants to learn. May you be young or old, nerd or athlete, beginner or advanced, first timer or Bruce Lee. Don't be intimidated to try, you will not regret it. You will get the workout and learn practical self-defense all at the same time. "Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try"

I went in to get a background check for a job . The service…read morewas fast and courteous . I will continue to do my background checks here .

First time there and was treated very well. Had all my…read morequestions answered and I'll be back again.

I love this lab, if you shoot a lot of film I cannot recommend it enough! It's run by a family,…read moreboth of them are great people and very down to earth. The also have a super fast turnaround time, usually same day or first thing the next morning. The quality of my scans was much better than what I was getting at the large lab I was going to beforehand, and I get them much faster. I recently brought in 4 rolls and only paid around $45 for scanning and development of all of them! You cannot get this pricing and quality anywhere else. I highly recommend using their services and supporting their business!

Awesome service and turnaround time! I got my scans back the same day I dropped off the roll! Scans…read morelook great and drop off is super simple