charger arms
Ask Me About My Cocker Spaniels
First let me start by thanking TDSA for donating the training certificate to the Boomer Shooter site. I was the lucky fart that won the class. I am attaching my review of the class. I would have had the same impression whether I paid for this training or won it. Training was top notch and I have work to do. I have several personal goals and This class has given me some important skills needed to reach them. I won't get my name on one of them Big Checks next week, but if I apply what I learned I will be come the competitor and shooter I want to be.
Here is my review.
TDSA Advanced Combat Pistol Level 1
I have recently completed the TDSA ACP 1 and I am very happy with the training I received. I have been using and carrying a handgun now for over 11 years and I wish I would have had a this course when I started. A little of my background first: I was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Kansas for 7.5 (2002-2010) years and have been getting serious about competitive shooting for the last 3. I have also been a firearms dealer for 6+ years. This was not my first time handling a sidearm. I was wondering if I would gain anything by attending this training since it was a “Level 1†class. Upon the recommendation of a 3 Gun Nation Pro Shooter who had taken this same course, I brought my 17 year old son who has been shooting USPSA and 3 Gun matches with me. I knew it would benefit him since I don’t have the skill set to be a patience teacher and I am not at the level I need to be confident in my abilities to teach.
When I arrived at the class, I could tell there was a big mix of shooters and some that I would have called “people who own gunsâ€. I was wondering how this would affect the rest of the class and if it would affect my learning. It did not, but more on that later.
The class started off right where it needed to with a prayer and safety brief. Marshall, Travis and Jeremy covered every bit of safety and range etiquette that needed to be covered. They were not going to compromise my safety or theirs.
Due to an Oklahoman Monsoon, we did not get to put rounds down range at the start of the class for a “pre-testâ€. Instead we worked on dry fire and trigger manipulations. We focused on gripping the weapon correctly, sight alignment, and other mechanics crucial to being a better shooter. I think that this may have actually benefited the class. During the pretest, you could tell which students needed the most work, and I was thinking it was going to be a long weekend for some of them. But the Instructors never once let a shooter know they “sucked†or mocked them behind their back. Then we started sending rounds at the target, practicing the TDSA Trigger manipulation cycle. Again, I only witnessed positive coaching from the instructors. They keep the class light and enjoyable. I would watch over the faces of the students after they had their chances to shoot under individual instruction. Not one of the students faces showed frustration or shame when they finished shooting. You could see students getting better. Class was scheduled to end at 1700hrs (5PM for day shift folks) but we kept shooting. Marshall knew we came to shoot and he knew we needed to shoot. Never once did we feel rushed for him to make it home in time to watch “Wheel of Fortune†We left the range Saturday night at 1930hrs, cold, wet, and happy. More over, I knew that I was getting better and my shooting had improved. I still had a long way to go, but I was getting better. More importantly, the other students were improving exponentially. Even those that I was concerned about at the beginning were getting better.
Sunday’s class started on time and we refreshed what we had learned that day. Everybody showed back up for day 2. I can’t say that about some of the other classes I have taken with more “trained†students. Watching over the students, I could see the “people who owned guns†were transforming. They were becoming shooters. My son was closing the gap between our shooting abilities. Daddy needs to step up his game.
On Sunday, we worked on drawing from a holster, shooting multiple targets and even 50+ yards shots. The day when smoothly and we wrapped up the class with a post-test. Watching the class shoot their post-test I was impressed. They had taken a mix of students and turned them into more proficient shooters. One lady stood out more on her improvement than any other to me. The first day on the pre-test, she would have better luck throwing the pistol at the target and hitting it than shooting the at it. At her post-test, she flat smoked it. She had over 50% improvement in time and over 50% improvement in hits on target! I would not want to be a jackal staring down the muzzle of her gun. She, as well as the rest of the class, now has a great foundation of shooting to continue to build upon. Again, instruction was supposed to end at 1700, we finished around 1900 hrs again. Not because the instructors wanted us to burn up as much ammo as possible, but because they wanted us to get the best instruction for our dollars. And we did. My son when from an ammo waster to someone who can hit what he wants and has great potential. The rest of the class, I would not hesitate having anyone of them be my side in a firefight. I can’t say that about some of the guys I served with as a Reserve Deputy and that includes some of the commissioned deputies.
I can now recommend this class to anyone who wants to get better. If you have a wife, daughter or female family member that you can’t “get to shoot goodâ€, pay for them to attend this class. They will advance past you in a weekend. I don’t care if you consider yourself a shooter (like I did before I attended) or are a complete novice this class is for you. Take this class you will not be disappointed.
I will be back training with TDSA
Here is my review.
TDSA Advanced Combat Pistol Level 1
I have recently completed the TDSA ACP 1 and I am very happy with the training I received. I have been using and carrying a handgun now for over 11 years and I wish I would have had a this course when I started. A little of my background first: I was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Kansas for 7.5 (2002-2010) years and have been getting serious about competitive shooting for the last 3. I have also been a firearms dealer for 6+ years. This was not my first time handling a sidearm. I was wondering if I would gain anything by attending this training since it was a “Level 1†class. Upon the recommendation of a 3 Gun Nation Pro Shooter who had taken this same course, I brought my 17 year old son who has been shooting USPSA and 3 Gun matches with me. I knew it would benefit him since I don’t have the skill set to be a patience teacher and I am not at the level I need to be confident in my abilities to teach.
When I arrived at the class, I could tell there was a big mix of shooters and some that I would have called “people who own gunsâ€. I was wondering how this would affect the rest of the class and if it would affect my learning. It did not, but more on that later.
The class started off right where it needed to with a prayer and safety brief. Marshall, Travis and Jeremy covered every bit of safety and range etiquette that needed to be covered. They were not going to compromise my safety or theirs.
Due to an Oklahoman Monsoon, we did not get to put rounds down range at the start of the class for a “pre-testâ€. Instead we worked on dry fire and trigger manipulations. We focused on gripping the weapon correctly, sight alignment, and other mechanics crucial to being a better shooter. I think that this may have actually benefited the class. During the pretest, you could tell which students needed the most work, and I was thinking it was going to be a long weekend for some of them. But the Instructors never once let a shooter know they “sucked†or mocked them behind their back. Then we started sending rounds at the target, practicing the TDSA Trigger manipulation cycle. Again, I only witnessed positive coaching from the instructors. They keep the class light and enjoyable. I would watch over the faces of the students after they had their chances to shoot under individual instruction. Not one of the students faces showed frustration or shame when they finished shooting. You could see students getting better. Class was scheduled to end at 1700hrs (5PM for day shift folks) but we kept shooting. Marshall knew we came to shoot and he knew we needed to shoot. Never once did we feel rushed for him to make it home in time to watch “Wheel of Fortune†We left the range Saturday night at 1930hrs, cold, wet, and happy. More over, I knew that I was getting better and my shooting had improved. I still had a long way to go, but I was getting better. More importantly, the other students were improving exponentially. Even those that I was concerned about at the beginning were getting better.
Sunday’s class started on time and we refreshed what we had learned that day. Everybody showed back up for day 2. I can’t say that about some of the other classes I have taken with more “trained†students. Watching over the students, I could see the “people who owned guns†were transforming. They were becoming shooters. My son was closing the gap between our shooting abilities. Daddy needs to step up his game.
On Sunday, we worked on drawing from a holster, shooting multiple targets and even 50+ yards shots. The day when smoothly and we wrapped up the class with a post-test. Watching the class shoot their post-test I was impressed. They had taken a mix of students and turned them into more proficient shooters. One lady stood out more on her improvement than any other to me. The first day on the pre-test, she would have better luck throwing the pistol at the target and hitting it than shooting the at it. At her post-test, she flat smoked it. She had over 50% improvement in time and over 50% improvement in hits on target! I would not want to be a jackal staring down the muzzle of her gun. She, as well as the rest of the class, now has a great foundation of shooting to continue to build upon. Again, instruction was supposed to end at 1700, we finished around 1900 hrs again. Not because the instructors wanted us to burn up as much ammo as possible, but because they wanted us to get the best instruction for our dollars. And we did. My son when from an ammo waster to someone who can hit what he wants and has great potential. The rest of the class, I would not hesitate having anyone of them be my side in a firefight. I can’t say that about some of the guys I served with as a Reserve Deputy and that includes some of the commissioned deputies.
I can now recommend this class to anyone who wants to get better. If you have a wife, daughter or female family member that you can’t “get to shoot goodâ€, pay for them to attend this class. They will advance past you in a weekend. I don’t care if you consider yourself a shooter (like I did before I attended) or are a complete novice this class is for you. Take this class you will not be disappointed.
I will be back training with TDSA
