North Texas Training for the young guy

[snipekon]

Is there anyone out there that has a legitimate training facility around the DFW area? I'm not lookin to drive 190 miles south! I've been wanting to check out TDSA, but I'd be a little bit gun shy being a newbie. I'd rather have some training before I headed out there.

My biggest issue here: I'm 20. Therefore I don't have a handgun! So there goes 100% of the training courses I've seen. Granted what experience I do have shooting handguns wouldn't be sufficient enough for those training courses anyways.

[Turnkey11]

You should look into taking a concealed carry course even though you cannot apply for the permit until your next birthday. Most of the shops with ranges around here have guns you can rent for their courses.

[thopkins22]

Jim Smith is one of the very best rifle instructors in the world, and has an awesome facility in your backyard. Not necessarily internet famous if you're into that kind of thing. Want to learn to shoot a rifle using proven techniques and no BS? He should be on your shortlist.

http://www.spartantactical.com/

A slightly longer drive will take you to CSAT and Paul Howe, also one of the very best teaching proven real world techniques...and once again not particularly e-famous.

http://www.combatshootingandtactics.com/

Also, when reading course descriptions for carbine courses that mention handgun training, pay attention to the actual description and find some AAR's. Chances are that it's a very small portion of the course covering transitions and not much else. Most of the time it won't matter a great deal if you don't have one. Nobody is going to laugh at you nor anything like that. Just make sure that it's not pistol for training day one and carbine for two or something similar.

Longer drives open up your options quite a bit, MAST, Rifles Only, and plenty of traveling shows to participate in around the state.

ETA: Don't show up at either thinking your particularly special or that something isn't right because XYZ said online or in a video that it should be done a different way. Both guys I listed are truly top notch and welcoming of civilians in their courses, but the focus is on different guys doing different jobs. It's your first course, act like it, soak up information, and be safe.

[sgtjosh]

http://www.northtexasrifleprecision.com/

[rudy99]

http://www.northtexasrifleprecision.com/

I would say NTRP is a better option for developing long range shooting skills than for a tactical rifle type of course.

I've taken a rifle class at CSAT and a pistol class at TDSA. Both classes were money well spent. I believe TDSA also has rifle classes (you have to call or email for the schedule, as the website is horrible). TDSA classes will be concentrated on fundamentals, while CSAT will be fundamentals and basic tactics (IMO).

[snipekon]

I noticed something interesting about the Jim and Paul websites. They both have a picture of them with their gear at a range.

http://www.spartantactical.com/index.html
&
http://panteaoproductions.com/instructors/paul-howe

But they are standing in almost the exact same spot!? WTF?
Is that a military base or something?

Thanks for that info. I might look into that Spartan Tactical since ARMY has come up in my todo list recently.


You should look into taking a concealed carry course even though you cannot apply for the permit until your next birthday. Most of the shops with ranges around here have guns you can rent for their courses.

I talked to the CHL Instructor at my preferred indoor gun range, and he pretty much gave me a blank "are you an idiot" stare. Then proceeded to say "You can't buy a pistol till your 21 ya know" Guess I'll try somewhere else.

[thopkins22]

I noticed something interesting about the Jim and Paul websites. They both have a picture of them with their gear at a range.

http://www.spartantactical.com/index.html
&
http://panteaoproductions.com/instructors/paul-howe

But they are standing in almost the exact same spot!? WTF?
Is that a military base or something?

Paul Howe and Jim Smith served in the same unit at the same time...generally referred to(at least on the internet) as Delta or CAG. They both fought in the Battle of Mogadishu amongst other places...think Black Hawk Down. So when photos were happening it's not surprising that lots of folks had their pictures taken in the same place.

So yeah, same place in Somalia.

[snipekon]

Paul Howe and Jim Smith served in the same unit at the same time...generally referred to(at least on the internet) as Delta or CAG. They both fought in the Battle of Mogadishu amongst other places...think Black Hawk Down. So when photos were happening it's not surprising that lots of folks had their pictures taken in the same place.

So yeah, same place in Somalia.


Gotcha. Makes sense. Yeah I asked around about Jim Smith and he has a very good rep! So I have no doubt of his quiet achievements. I will be making an effort take take his classes, if not both of them.