Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
What makes Guncraft courses different from other training?
Our courses are designed to develop your skills to a very high level more quickly than other training schools, and have fun while doing it. We accomplish these goals through the use of a hands-on training curriculum, optimized to accelerate the learning process by continually reinforcing previous lessons. When delivered by our highly-trained and professional instructors, this curriculum gives you the ability to become very proficient in a relatively short amount of time.
Will the class be like a boot camp?
Not at all. Our training environment is positive and encouraging, and our instructors will always treat you with the utmost respect. The family-friendly atmosphere is great for men and women of all ages.
Which class should I take?
Generally, we recommend taking the Defensive series of whichever type of firearm you primarily keep for self-defense. If you're not sure where to start or don't have a gun yet, we recommend starting with Defensive Handgun.
Do I have to take all four days of a Defensive class?
No, you can take just the first two days if you wish.
Must I take the second half of a Defensive class on the weekend immediately following the first half?
No. It's recommended that you take the two halves subsequently for maximum information retention, but you can take the second half of your course any time after completing the first session.
How much time is spent in the classroom vs. on the range?
The class is spent almost entirely on the range. There are a few lessons where you will be sitting for 20 to 30 minutes, but other than that, you will be participating in the hands-on exercises and lessons throughout the class.
I've been shooting for years. Am I really going to learn anything from a Defensive course?
Absolutely. One of the most common comments we get from our students is "There is so much more to learn than I thought." Even if you're an experienced shooter, we very likely have something new to show you, and we most certainly will help you improve the speed, accuracy, and consistency of your shooting in a Defensive Firearm Course.
I want to jump into one of your more advanced classes. Why do you require me to take the Defensive course first?
We train to higher standards than most other firearms schools, including law enforcement and military. As such, many students would be unprepared for the level of shooting they are expected to perform during the more advanced courses. Therefore, we require students to begin with our first course to ensure that everyone is familiar with our range procedures and training standards. We use a skills test at the end of every course to assess each student's readiness for more advanced training.
Note that we will accept equivalent training from other major firearms schools as sufficient to meet the prerequisites for our Defensive II courses.
How old do you have to be to attend the course?
As a general rule, children must be at least 12 years old to attend the course. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Anyone under 18 will also require a parental consent form.
If I take a course again, will it be the same as last time?
While we are always looking at ways to improve our courses, the fundamental content and style of the course will remain the same. You can expect to be taught the same set of skills by an equally professional training team, every time.
How many instructors will be teaching the course?
Each class has a minimum of one instructor for every five students in the course.
Our courses are designed to develop your skills to a very high level more quickly than other training schools, and have fun while doing it. We accomplish these goals through the use of a hands-on training curriculum, optimized to accelerate the learning process by continually reinforcing previous lessons. When delivered by our highly-trained and professional instructors, this curriculum gives you the ability to become very proficient in a relatively short amount of time.
Will the class be like a boot camp?
Not at all. Our training environment is positive and encouraging, and our instructors will always treat you with the utmost respect. The family-friendly atmosphere is great for men and women of all ages.
Which class should I take?
Generally, we recommend taking the Defensive series of whichever type of firearm you primarily keep for self-defense. If you're not sure where to start or don't have a gun yet, we recommend starting with Defensive Handgun.
Do I have to take all four days of a Defensive class?
No, you can take just the first two days if you wish.
Must I take the second half of a Defensive class on the weekend immediately following the first half?
No. It's recommended that you take the two halves subsequently for maximum information retention, but you can take the second half of your course any time after completing the first session.
How much time is spent in the classroom vs. on the range?
The class is spent almost entirely on the range. There are a few lessons where you will be sitting for 20 to 30 minutes, but other than that, you will be participating in the hands-on exercises and lessons throughout the class.
I've been shooting for years. Am I really going to learn anything from a Defensive course?
Absolutely. One of the most common comments we get from our students is "There is so much more to learn than I thought." Even if you're an experienced shooter, we very likely have something new to show you, and we most certainly will help you improve the speed, accuracy, and consistency of your shooting in a Defensive Firearm Course.
I want to jump into one of your more advanced classes. Why do you require me to take the Defensive course first?
We train to higher standards than most other firearms schools, including law enforcement and military. As such, many students would be unprepared for the level of shooting they are expected to perform during the more advanced courses. Therefore, we require students to begin with our first course to ensure that everyone is familiar with our range procedures and training standards. We use a skills test at the end of every course to assess each student's readiness for more advanced training.
Note that we will accept equivalent training from other major firearms schools as sufficient to meet the prerequisites for our Defensive II courses.
How old do you have to be to attend the course?
As a general rule, children must be at least 12 years old to attend the course. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Anyone under 18 will also require a parental consent form.
If I take a course again, will it be the same as last time?
While we are always looking at ways to improve our courses, the fundamental content and style of the course will remain the same. You can expect to be taught the same set of skills by an equally professional training team, every time.
How many instructors will be teaching the course?
Each class has a minimum of one instructor for every five students in the course.
Registration
How far in advance to I have to register for a class?
Generally, you'll need to register two weeks in advance to guarantee a spot in the course. Course space is very limited within two weeks of the course date. However, if we have space, you can register up until 48 hours prior to the class.
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
A $50 non-refundable deposit is included in course fees. Cancellations made at least 7 days in advance will receive a refund of all course fees, minus the $50 deposit. No refunds will be made for cancellations made less than 7 days in advance.
You may reschedule a course and apply course fees paid to a future class. Full credit is applied to the future class when the rescheduling is done more than 7 days in advance. Rescheduling less than 7 days in advance will incur a $50 service charge. Background check fees are non-refundable.
We may cancel classes with fewer than 5 students enrolled. In such a case, you will have the option to apply paid course fees to a future class, or receive a full refund.
Do you offer group or family rates?
We certainly do! Generally speaking, you can receive a bigger discount for every five people that you bring in your group. We also offer special rates for families, and discounts for children who attend with their parents. Contact us with the details of your group, and we will get you the best price possible.
Generally, you'll need to register two weeks in advance to guarantee a spot in the course. Course space is very limited within two weeks of the course date. However, if we have space, you can register up until 48 hours prior to the class.
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
A $50 non-refundable deposit is included in course fees. Cancellations made at least 7 days in advance will receive a refund of all course fees, minus the $50 deposit. No refunds will be made for cancellations made less than 7 days in advance.
You may reschedule a course and apply course fees paid to a future class. Full credit is applied to the future class when the rescheduling is done more than 7 days in advance. Rescheduling less than 7 days in advance will incur a $50 service charge. Background check fees are non-refundable.
We may cancel classes with fewer than 5 students enrolled. In such a case, you will have the option to apply paid course fees to a future class, or receive a full refund.
Do you offer group or family rates?
We certainly do! Generally speaking, you can receive a bigger discount for every five people that you bring in your group. We also offer special rates for families, and discounts for children who attend with their parents. Contact us with the details of your group, and we will get you the best price possible.
Equipment
What kind of gun should I bring?
As a general rule, we will train you with whatever gun you have, as long as it meets our minimum safety requirements. (For more information on those requirements, see our equipment page.)
If you are wondering what kind of handgun to get, we generally recommend a Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P. We also recommend training with a full-size weapon to begin with. If you have a smaller carry weapon, train with this weapon after you have mastered the fundamentals with a full-sized weapon.
The AR-15 is by far the most popular choice for our rifle classes and will serve you well. For a shotgun course, we recommended any Benelli or Beretta shotgun, a Remington 1100 or 870, or Mossberg 590.
Do you rent guns?
Yes, we have M&P handguns in 9MM , AR-15 rifles, and Remington 870 shotguns available for rent. If you would like to rent one, you can reserve one on our sign-up page, and we will bring it to your class.
Can I bring a .22LR gun to my course?
Although we don't recommend a .22-caliber gun as a defensive weapon, if you wish to bring such a weapon to your course, we will train you with it (providing it meets all our other standard requirements). However, understand that you will be ineligible for a medal rating on the skill test at the end of your course.
As a general rule, we will train you with whatever gun you have, as long as it meets our minimum safety requirements. (For more information on those requirements, see our equipment page.)
If you are wondering what kind of handgun to get, we generally recommend a Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P. We also recommend training with a full-size weapon to begin with. If you have a smaller carry weapon, train with this weapon after you have mastered the fundamentals with a full-sized weapon.
The AR-15 is by far the most popular choice for our rifle classes and will serve you well. For a shotgun course, we recommended any Benelli or Beretta shotgun, a Remington 1100 or 870, or Mossberg 590.
Do you rent guns?
Yes, we have M&P handguns in 9MM , AR-15 rifles, and Remington 870 shotguns available for rent. If you would like to rent one, you can reserve one on our sign-up page, and we will bring it to your class.
Can I bring a .22LR gun to my course?
Although we don't recommend a .22-caliber gun as a defensive weapon, if you wish to bring such a weapon to your course, we will train you with it (providing it meets all our other standard requirements). However, understand that you will be ineligible for a medal rating on the skill test at the end of your course.