Customer Reviews
Solid training overall.
Excellent course. The guys have a really good pace with the class and give you plenty of time to practice.
Since this was the first course I took with GBRS, I wasn’t sure what to expect, just like with anything new. Especially with firearms training, there can be many variables between the instruction, the range, and the participants. The group that brought GBRS in was Flintlock Training, and they did a good job acting as a go-between and handling logistics, including answering logistical questions beforehand. Well done to them. I certainly would take one of their local courses.
We had Joe, DJ, JD, and of course, Manny from GBRS. Not knowing these guys other than seeing some videos—videos that influenced my decision to take the course—I had no idea what to expect. JD managed on-scene logistics and helped with instruction, but Joe and JD are the main instructors. Unquestionably, they are all extremely nice, professional, non-egotistical people. The drills were well thought out, and while many of these drills have been around for a while, the way they were layered to lead to a specific goal was very effective. The drills aimed to achieve a particular outcome, and they were designed accordingly. Joe did most of the explaining of the drills, with good back-and-forth exchanges with DJ about the drills and important points to remember while performing them. I felt the feedback was spot-on during the drills, focusing on making us mechanically sound—feet, hips, shoulders, back, etc. Joe handles the broad strokes, while DJ focuses on the finer details and equipment. Joe and DJ were clearly thrilled to see their instruction help a shooter improve. This “Knowledge Transfer” concept is truly what they are all about. We worked with pistols all the 1st day and rifles the second, with a good mixture of drills on transitioning.
The group was mostly law enforcement, with a few ex-military members now civilians (Me) mixed in. The camaraderie within the group was very good. I heard someone describe the vibe as being friendly, with no egos, just funny banter, ribbing, and pushing each other to improve with each round or drill. Most of the participants were very good shooters—some were exceptional—safety-conscious and took good care of their gear.
When the instructors shot the drill, it was impressive. You might expect that, given their pedigree and backgrounds, but witnessing their accuracy, smooth motion, and confident handling of their weapons in person was somewhat mind-blowing. I’ve shot with, worked with, and operated alongside some excellent shooters, but these guys were on a different level. Joe and DJ’s ability to communicate their experiences and skills through instruction and answer questions about what I was doing right or wrong helped me improve significantly. I made progress in various areas: grip, hip and shoulder alignment, head positioning during aiming, maintaining peripheral vision, heel-to-toe movement, adjusting my arm position with my rifle, and smoothing my motions. I walked away from the course with a renewed confidence in my abilities and a ton of stuff I need to work on and know how to work on them. Overall, the experience was like hanging out with a bunch of friends, shooting, laughing, and getting better hour by hour.
Up here in the Northeast (probably worldwide), it is rare to find instruction of this professional weapons training of this quality, which is why I jumped on it. I am afraid it will be harder and harder to get into their classes because they are that good. If you have the opportunity, it is well worth the money and time to take one of their classes. If I am lucky enough to get in another, I certainly will. Thank you, GBRS – I hope to train with you again.
