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Thread: Florida and/or Southern Georgia Handgun Training

  1. #1

    Florida and/or Southern Georgia Handgun Training

    I am interested in planning out a training road map that involves various levels of handgun training over the next two years. With a limited budget, I would rather focus my dollars on the training/ammo and not airfare/hotels. Because of this, I am limited to schools/trainers in Florida and maybe southern Georgia at max range.

    I did a quick search on the forums here for handgun training and have a few options but I don't know if those people are just more web savvy or are good schools.

    I was hoping those of you in FL or who have trained here could recommend some good schools/trainers to look into once this Covid-19 lock down ends. I am primarily focused on home defense and other situational defense training, not necessarily competitive shooting; though I am sure some of those classes would also make me a better marksman overall.

    I see events come through periodically and will also look at those.

    Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!

  2. #2

    Oops

    Sorry I had too many tabs open as I was searching the forums prior to posting. I thought I was posting this in the Regional Training forum and now I don't see a way to delete it and move it over there. Sorry if I put this in the wrong place.

  3. #3
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Welcome to p-f. What is your previous training background and experience? Where in FL are you located?

    I completed a two day Combative Pistol Course with Mr. Tom Givens of Rangemaster at a range in Ruskin FL in March.

    https://rangemaster.com/training/combative-pistol/

    I highly recommend the course for anyone just getting started in defensive pistol use. It is not for the absolute beginner; if you have any questions about the prerequisites to make the most out of the class, you can always ask.

  4. #4
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Mr. Lee Weems is located in Georgia, and although I have not trained with him, I have been in a class where he was the assistant instructor.

    I would take one of his classes without hesitation. Mr. Weems operates First Person Safety:

    https://firstpersonsafety.com/

  5. #5
    As @RJ stated, I am in GA. I'm up in the Athens area, but I have done classes in the Macon and Americus area, and I am trying to work out more stuff in the southern part of the state, particularly the Valdosta area.

    Modern Outdoor Adventures in Tifton is hosting some classes. (Check their Facebook page for events)

    the Southeastern Training Group is in Alma.

    Also, check here for some course announcements.
    I had an ER nurse in a class. I noticed she kept taking all head shots. Her response when asked why, "'I've seen too many people who have been shot in the chest putting up a fight in the ER." Point taken.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by RJ View Post
    What is your previous training background and experience? Where in FL are you located?
    My experience has been:
    - Rifle / bow hunting growing up in PA
    - Target shooting in PA with some of my father/grandfather's handguns for fun with them
    - Very limited firearms training in the military (I joked about my training or rather lack of in Navy boot camp)
    - Handgun work on local ranges here just working on things I have picked up on the internet.
    - CCW safety course

    I am in the Tampa Bay area

    Thanks for the information guys, I really appreciate the info

  7. #7
    I'm also in the greater Tampa Bay area. I would highly suggest Varg Freeborn https://www.violenceofmind.com/ who is up in central Florida. While his 2020 schedule isn't posted, he typically does private instruction which I've found to be very helpful, especially with pistol.

    Marc Pezella https://www.advanceddefensiveconcepts.com/ is a bit further south in Sarasota but also does private instruction. He tends to stay local but is a great option as well.

    I have also trained with Kyle Defoor https://defoor-proformance-shooting.myshopify.com/ and Bill Rapier https://www.amtacshooting.com/. They are more "big-name" instructors so their classes are more expensive, but they are also very informative and worthwhile. Kyle will typically come to Ancient City in St. Augustine and Bill is usually at Core Shooting Solutions (I think it's Altus now?) up in Baker, FL. Both sell out way in advance, so it'w worth watching their websites and social media to see if any openings come up.

    Let me know if I can help with any more info.

  8. #8
    You might be interested in joining GALEFI.

  9. #9
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnnyL View Post
    My experience has been:
    - Rifle / bow hunting growing up in PA
    - Target shooting in PA with some of my father/grandfather's handguns for fun with them
    - Very limited firearms training in the military (I joked about my training or rather lack of in Navy boot camp)
    - Handgun work on local ranges here just working on things I have picked up on the internet.
    - CCW safety course

    I am in the Tampa Bay area

    Thanks for the information guys, I really appreciate the info
    Well cool. I live not far from Tampa Airport.

    You mentioned competitive shooting in passing, perhaps not as a primary interest, but: in case you did want to try it, the Wyoming Antelope Club in Pinellas County offers a monthly "Introduction to Action Pistol" course for around $20, on Saturdays. It takes approximately a morning, and consists of a couple good hours of instruction/classroom work followed by an outdoor session involving two shooting stage experiences, somewhat like a real match. (This class is USPSA focused, but the basic premise is shooting under pressure.) You can bring your current gun and holster; the whole experience is very well run and safe. With the CV situation and all I am not sure of the current schedule but the web site is below if you want to follow up:

    https://www.pinellasoutdoorshootingrange.com/

    I hope you hang around. p-f is a good place for both experienced and inexperienced shooters; I am much more of the latter, but I've learned quite a lot here. Good luck!

  10. #10
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Step by Step Gun Training is another local option, perhaps, but a bit further south of Tampa:

    https://stepbystepguntraining.com/

    I have taken a class with Jeff, he is a good guy.

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