Any self defense handgun training courses?

[BerksCountyDave]

Anyone know of any within an hour or so of Berks? Everything I'm finding seems to be out towards Pittsburgh. Thanks.

[dgg9]

Plenty of training in Harrisburg -- how close it that?

Tom Givens next month; Insights regularly.

[BerksCountyDave]

Harrisburg is doable. Any links to any further info?

[wwhite72082]

I'm told Scott from Muhlenburg Area Shooting Association does a Self Defense Outside the home class and Margaret from MASA (Muhlenburg Area Shooting Association) does one for Self Defense inside the home.

The only stipulation that I'm aware of is that you are very familiar with your weapon. If they do not feel they you are comfortable enough with your gun of choice they will not instruct you until you are ready.

They are a couple, so one number will work for both classes

Margaret (Marti) Belcastro
NRA Certified Instructor
Phone: 610-670-6727


-Walt

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by BerksCountyDave

Harrisburg is doable. Any links to any further info?

Tom Givens gets there about once a year (coming in March):

http://www.rangemaster.com/

Also:

http://www.insightstraining.com/us/

(specifically: http://www.insightstraining.com/us/d...tSched2008.pdf )

And:

http://www.f-r-i.com/

They all use this facility. The range website will tell you of other training, plus they do IDPA:

http://www.westshoresportsmen.org/

[BullfrogKen]

West Shore Sportsmen's Association, just south of Harrisburg, is probably the best club around for those looking to use a firearm for practical purposes. We have an Indoor Range, 7 pistol pits, and 2 shoothouses. We operate as a hot range, allowing the shooter to draw from the holster, and do not have silly restrictions on magazine capacity or rapid fire activities.


Tom Givens and his crew from Rangemaster will be here in March.

Insights Training is out about 4 times a year to offer live fire classes at WSSA.

Steve Silverman of F-R-I lives locally in Dover. He travels across the country offering training, but WSSA is his home range. He offers classes here 4 times a year.


WSSA is also an IDPA club. Matches are the first Sunday of the month, practices are every Thursday evening.


Additionally, WSSA is the home of the National Tactical Invitational (known as the NTI http://www.teddytactical.com/). All the trainers I've mentioned are associated with the annual event, either having attended multiple years as Practitioners or actually working the event. Steve is an NTI Team Member. The NTI is approaching its 20th anniversary, and is considered across the globe as the pinnacle event for students of the craft. It tests the Practitioner's defensive shooting skills in both live fire exercises and role-playing scenarios using Simunitions.

Every third Saturday of the month the NTI Team meets at 9am for Study Group. Study Group is a time for the Team and any other Practitioners to get together and study the practice of walking about society armed. The morning consists of a lecture topic, and the afternoon has both live fire practical application exercises and Force on Force/Role-playing scenarios.

Any good citizen is invited to train with us during Study Group Day. There are only a few rules we ask you follow:
1. - No boorish behavior
2. - No stupid gun handling
3. - No sniveling

Additionally we ask that you become a member of WSSA. For you Dave, you can join as a Guest Member, a $40 annual membership.


Dave, with all WSSA has to offer you don't have to travel to Pittsburgh to get good training. Frankly, I don't think better training exists anywhere. Guys travel from as far as NY State and the Pentagon to train with the NTI Study Group. John Farnam has been attending the NTI since #1. We have a gentleman who travels out from Pottstown every week for IDPA practices, too. You're welcome to join us and see if we offer what you're looking for.


Ken O'Donnell
WSSA President
http://www.westshoresportsmen.org/