New to firearms - Where can I get instruction?

**heyitsblue** · August 20th, 2010, 02:55 PM

Hello all -

So I'm relatively new to pistol shooting & I really enjoy it so far. I have no formal training but I'd like to change that. I feel I need an all encompassing safety/shooting technique course(s). I'd like to work my way up to practical/tactical courses.

I'm sure there's an answer to the following question on this board & I'll be searching, but any advice in the meantime will be appreciated.

Where can I go for solid instruction in the Greater Pittsburgh area that will teach me using my own equipment (9mm)?

Should I immediately invest in a .22? (I see a lot of courses that are .22 only)

Thanks in advance.

**Big Dog** · August 20th, 2010, 02:59 PM

Here you go ..........

Tony is a great instructor!

http://forum.pafoa.org/training-cour...un-clinic.html

**R.Thompson** · August 20th, 2010, 04:16 PM

The FIRE Institute is a great place to get trained - a number of people I know and trust have been trained by them, and I took their Laws Regarding Deadly Force in PA course earlier this year (which I heartily recommend if you are considering using a firearm for protection either just at home, or carrying) http://www.fireinstitute.org/fire_us...adly_force.htm

Most of the FIRE Institute courses take place at PMSC (nestled between North Versailles and Monroeville), and it's a great place for all things sportsman. For your shooting needs they do many NRA courses in-house, host external trainers (e.g. FIRE), there's an indoor range, pistol steel, rifle range, a number of IPSC/USPSA bays and trap/skeet fields. There's also indoor BB/airgun and archery, and an outside archery range.

You should also check out the monthly PAFOA group shoots that take place at PMSC (this is the write up of the last one http://forum.pafoa.org/shoots-range-...hoot-41-a.html. These take place on the 2nd Sunday of the month. The next one I believe is on the 12th September.

If I've forgotten anything I'm sure someone else will chime in!

**orionz06** · August 20th, 2010, 06:03 PM

PM sent...

**LittleRedToyota** · August 20th, 2010, 06:40 PM

as mentioned above, the FIRE institute.

the one-day handgun course linked to above is one of their courses. tony is a great instructor. the other local instructor, peteg, is also a great instructor. and they bring in world class instructors (like randy cain who is here putting on "handgun II" this weekend which a couple of use PAFOAers are taking).

i would suggest starting with the one day course posted above. and then planning to take randy's "handgun 101" or giles stock's "basic tactical pistol" (both 3 days) course next summer. we are extremely lucky to have FIRE bringing in world class instructors and charging very reasonable prices for the courses. normally, you have to travel and pay more for courses.