I began my journey to become a firearms instructor in July of 2025. My search for a reputable…read moretraining counselor lead me to TJ. All I can say is what a blessing. I have taken his Basic Pistol Instructor's Course, Refuse to Be A Victim Instructor's Course, Personal Protection Inside the Home Student and Instructor Courses, and his Personal Protection Outside The Home Student Course. After taking each course, it became evident TJ cares about his students. He makes every effort to ensure his students are prepared for real world scenarios and does not provide a passing rubber stamp simply because you paid for his class. Every certificate he issues is earned, not given. As a retired LEO, I was surprised to be put through new drills. He pushed me to become a better marksman. I am eager to take future classes from TJ, and I am so glad I stumbled across him. If you are seeking firearms training, TJ is the man.

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.

Chris was a patient instructor with a lot of great, real-life experience. I walked away with a new…read morerespect for the weapon. Absolutely recommend this course for hand gun safety. The facility could make some improvements. The smell of cat urine and litter was grossly overwhelming. At least 3 people (including me) had allergic reactions. The restrooms were dirty and it looked like someone had an accident ON the toilet seat in both restrooms.

Lance is the best instructor you can go to. NRA certified, Marine, excellent teacher.read more

Friendly and helpful staff. Membership is affordable. Lanes are pretty standard. Not much to…read morecomplain about.

I've wanted to hit Evans Gun World for a while after hearing good things from friends, so a buddy…read moreand I finally dropped in on a Saturday afternoon. As expected for a weekend, there was a wait, but since we were off for the day, we didn't mind hanging out on the folding chairs in the retail section for 30 minutes. The staff is awesome--super friendly and easy to talk to--and the check-in was painless. While waiting, I noticed their optics prices are actually lower than most other shops in OC. I'll definitely be back when I'm ready to pick up another Holosun. The only real downside is their range rule: you have to reload your magazines at the shooting stall, not the back table. Because the space is tight, I couldn't reload while my friend was shooting. We ended up spending half our time just loading mags, which really cut into our actual trigger time. It's a solid spot and less expensive than other local ranges, so I'd come back alone, but I'll probably skip the "buddy trips" here since the reload rule makes it hard for two people to get their money's worth.

Love this place and the people...straight and sharp!! Plus they'll do an excellent job cleaning any…read moreand all guns. With a smile even!! .... and cleaning guns sucks.

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.

::::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 Wright is a great instruction. Clear and direct with some dad jokes thrown into the mix…read more I used his service for my CA 16hr CCW Training. Fair pricing and honest man. Day one is at the Elks Lodge in Santa Ana. It's a long day but it's what's required in CA. Day two starts at Evan's range in Orange, then back at the lodge for the second half of the day. If you're looking for CCW Training or renewal, I would highly recommend him.

This place is amazing! I can't say enough good things about ShootSoCal Firearms. The level of…read morecustomer service, communication and overall quality that you find here is honestly very elusive in this industry. Dave, the owner, is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to actually help you without any pressure or attitude. If you've ever been to other firearm stores, you probably know what I mean. Many places can come off like they have a superiority complex, like you're supposed to already know everything. That's not the case here at all. At ShootSoCal, you can ask any question and they'll walk you through it without making you feel uncomfortable. That alone goes a long way and keeps me coming back. I've purchased items from them, had builds done and even had custom work completed and every single time the result has been the same: top-tier service and excellent results. They're consistent, professional, and genuinely care about their customers. I recommend them to everyone I know. If you're looking for a place that treats you right and delivers quality work, this is it.

I used ShootSoCal as the FFL for my purchases from Palmetto State Armory. The staff was patient and…read morediligent in explaining the process to me (this was my first firearm purchase online), as well as all the charges necessary to take possession of my PSA purchase, including background check, transfer fees etc. (sidenote: aside from the background check--which I don't object to btw--it's quite a racket Sacramento's politicians have got going -- this particular comment is aimed at them, not the folks at ShootSoCal). Small shop, but good selection of equipment, from AR parts to carry bags, oil/maintenance kits etc. Also, staff gave me some practical advice about anodizing the steel barrel I had purchased (for getting a different color on it), getting a gun locker and outdoor ranges within a 45 minute drive. Lastly, I was offered assistance to assemble my firearm, but didn't need it since I'd been studying how to do that while waiting to take delivery. Bottomline: I'd use ShootSoCal as an FFL again.

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!

The approved list for CCW training courses for Orange County is long, but APEX was the one that I…read morewas recommended by my OCSD interviewer. Trent is an excellent instructor, expert in firearm training, defensive strategies and rules of deadly force. I took my initial and 1st renewal classes with Apex and Trent, unfortunately due to timing I had to take my 2nd renewal with another company but Apex will always be my first choice. I highly recommend Apex Defensive Strategies for your LA and OC CCW needs.

Took my first mini match with them about a week ago and had been meaning to leave a review. Laurie…read morewas super helpful and accomodating! I plan to take another mini match with them next month as the next couple months are super busy. If anyone is on the fence about taking any of their classes - don't think twice. You will be glad you did!

Shout out for those 2 ladies! Amazing instructors! They know exactly how to safely and efficiently…read moreteach a group class! They are also very good shooters who will not hesitate to demo for their students. Proud of you ladies!! Keep the good work and I highly recommend your class!

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

California Gun Services is amazing. Jeff is the best in the business! He was able to give me…read moreestimates on the value of certain single action colts.