4-Day Practical Rifle

How many times have you taken this course?

This was my first rifle course. Every other course I've taken has been for handgun. I've taken the 4-Day Defensive Handgun, the 2-Day Hand Gun Skill Builder, and the Advanced Tactical Handgun courses. This was my first time really shooting a rifle, so it was all new to me./p>

What were your reasons for taking this specific course?

I used to be anti-gun. I didn't think people should have them. But, several years ago, because of my job, I was traveling to places like Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Latin America; I wanted to learn about self-protection. In some cases, it probably would have been wise for me to have a gun. So, I started to learn about guns and really liked it. With good training, I took to handgun shooting quickly and pretty good at it. I just wanted to expand my knowledge and skill level a little more by taking this course.

General Comments

There were 58 people in the course with 4 – 6 instructors, so it was a larger class. Selfishly, I would have liked for it to have been a smaller class, so that I could have gotten more one on one time with the instructors and asked more questions as a beginner.

What I really liked about the course is the efficiency of the instructors and the curriculum. I usually like the pace at which they teach, but this time I just would have liked to spend a little more time on specific material. For example, we shot in prone at 400 yards. I hadn't ever done anything like that, so for me, I may as well have been shooting from here to Australia. It seemed like an impossible distance. We only shot from there 5 times. By the fifth shot, I was just starting to figure what the position was. However, they are there to teach a group and not an individual.

The pace of the class is good enough for a beginner to at least get a taste for it. There is no way I could say that I have a high level of skill with a rifle having finished the four-day course. I now have at least a good understanding, and I know what to do to work on some things and what I need to practice. When I walked into that class, I wasn't exactly sure how to shoot a rifle. I guess it was a good thing, so that they could teach me the right way. A beginner can keep up with the class, but it was also challenging enough to the more advanced students. The way that Front Sight paces their curriculum is another thing I really like about their courses.

On the second or third day, we had a thunderstorm roll in. We were all out on the line in prone position, and it started hailing and raining on us while we shot. It was a cool experience!

I bought the book on the course from Front Sight, and it was extremely helpful. Being a beginner, it has helped to be able to check the booklet and make sure I'm still doing everything correctly.

Did you go through the shoot house? What were your thoughts about it?

Yes, and it was amazing! I wish I would have been able to go through it another time. I've gone through the simulators before with handguns. Knowing what the format is going to be, you can kind of prepare yourself and plan. Then, when you're in the moment, you lose track of what you planned and end up shooting the wrong target or forgetting something. The simulators are a very good learning experience, especially for beginners. Bottom line, the canyon is awesome.

How would you improve this course?

Again, for me, I would have liked to have a smaller class or more instructors, so that I could spend more time with the instructors asking my beginner's questions. That's really all I could say that I would change. I was really happy with the course, and I enjoyed it.

What you do differently next time you go to Front Sight?

The Travel Guide that Gun Training Central provides is very helpful in preparing for a trip to Front Sight, even for a person who has been there several times. On this trip, I had my nephews come to Front Sight for the kids courses, so the manual was helpful for me. Unfortunately, I over packed to be prepared but still ended up buying all kinds of stuff from the Pro Shop. In the end, the most important thing is to protect yourself against the weather and the sun.

Would you suggest this course to others?

Absolutely, and I already have.

How did you get there?

Via air. My family flew from Michigan, and we all met in Las Vegas.

Where did you stay?

I rented a house in Pahrump, as there were 6 of us, and we're all family. That made things a lot easier than staying in a hotel. Being able to wash our laundry, make our own dinners, and pack our lunches was very convenient. If you can, I would definitely recommend renting a house and sharing it with your friends.

Did you go with family or friends? If so, what did they think about the course?

They all enjoyed the courses they took. Everyone but the two kids took the handgun course, and the kids took the kid courses. It was a different experience for the kids, as they hadn't ever done anything like that. They got to learn about desert survival, and my nephew got to shoot guns and was excited about that. There were good times had by all! We had one unexpected graduate in the handgun course. She was surprised, and we were thrilled that she did.