Most people that are reading this right now would acknowledge that there is tremendous value in seeking professional training whether it is for carbines, handguns, low light, first aid, and other skills that are relevant to you as a reader of this blog. In spite of this, many of you will never seek out professional training.
If you have been taken professional training before, what keeps you from doing it more often? If you have never taken a professional training course, what has prevented you from doing so? Is there something that instructors could do to make it easier for you to train with them?
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The two biggest challenges are location and obviously cost. It seems there’s few classes that push up into Central Wisconsin, and it’s hard to scrounge up the cash required for a couple thousand rounds, lodging, gas, and the class fee for lots of people.
the overwhelming obstacle that prevents most people from participating in firearms training classes, is cost. Time and distance are negotiable, fixed costs are not. Interestingly enough, I have done some estimations on total cost of involvement, on a couple high profile classes, and it will cost me more in ammunition expense, than it will in tuition, with travel expense being the next highest cost.
Here’s what former Gunsite instructor Larry Mudgett has to say on the subject:
http://www.marksmanshipmatters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=72
As the others have said, cost is the number one reason. Tuition is not the issue.
Ammunition is probably the single biggest expense and it keeps going up every day. Lodging and travel expenses are also through the roof right now.
The cost for just myself to take a 2 or 3 day course is about equivalent of a vacation for a family of four, neither of which I can afford.
well i’ll say it since no one else will. i have trained professionally with the military and law enforcement and what i’m seeing from alot of the stuff being put out now seems rather gimicky. some of the modified shooting positions seems more along the lines of 3 gun than real gunfighting…alot of the gymnastics i’ve seen being done —jumping on hoods and firing—doing situps with rifles and shooting at targets…i mean really? if i can get a class that teaches bar bones, put bullets on target, mindset, evolving street tactics of criminals, handling yourself in flash mobs and stuff like that then someone will get my dollars. as long as its being tailored to mythical ninja fighting or a 3 gun match then i’ll just use what i already know and train like i’ve been taught. standard military/law enforcement cqb.
I only recently took my first professionally taught tactical carbine course. Initially my difficulty was finding instructors in my area. But as it turned out after I asked around at my “hometown forum” on ar15.com there were several in the middle and north Georgia area. My instructor was both military and LE, currently Air Marshal, so no gimmicky stuff there. Now my problem is affording the class cost(as I prepared for election season with a stash of ammo to avoid the rush and jacked up prices).
So, initially it was finding a reputable one, but mitigated by asking around the forums and now it’s just up front cost.
That said, invaluable experience if for no other reason than to verify the quality of your gear, setup, and firearm.
The thing that most hinders me is that fact of cost. As currently I dont have a job My cash flow would not allow me to attend any type of training. If there is anyone out there that needs a Certified Law Enforcement Armorer. Please give me a shout. I really need a job Thanks everybody.
Definitely the cost in ammo as others have said. The cost of the tuition for the class isn’t the big issue for me, but the 1000- 1500rounds of ammo is the killer.
Sol I laughed out loud when I read your “—jumping on hoods and firing—doing situps with rifles and shooting at targets…” comment. Brother that is some madness for sure. Like the man said, ammo will continue to go up along with fuel. Ammo, travel, tuition…none of it is inexpensive especially when the majority of us have to make tougher decisions about expenditures than we had to 4-6 years ago.
Just like most folks… cost and distance are the biggest hills to climb for us… the gals and I are planning on some training this spring and it will run about $2,500 for the three of us for a three day course, ammunition, and travel…
One the other hand, I’m also looking at bring in a good instructor to our home range (literally, our range at home) and that will likely be $600 to $1,000 plus ammo for a day of training with a a very low instructor to pupil ratio…
Dann in Ohio
PS: It must be a bad day, your CAPTCHA code for this comment was SHTF…