train with confidence
Train with Experienced Handgun Instructors
Don’t just to go the range and shoot, learn and practice proper techniques to become successful!
Not sure how to train?
Whether you’re:
- nervous to go to range by yourself
- wanting to get better at shooting
- looking to get next level better
…we get it. This is why we’re here to help.
At Armed2Defend, this range training is for all levels of shooters. The instructor works at your level for improvement!
Ready to register?
select your Your session
not sure yet? let’s dive a little deeper.
Hi there, we're
Armed2Defend.
We're certified instructors who want to help you improve your shooting skills.
Since 2010, we’ve trained around 25,000 in our Ohio concealed carry courses. We’ve also trained over 700 NRA and USCCA Certified Instructors and have earned nearly 1000 5-star reviews on Google, plus over 460 Facebook recommendations from our graduates. Additionally, we’ve won the Angie’s List Super Service Award since 2013.
But, here’s what matters way, way more to us: These accomplishments mean nothing if we fail to serve you. That’s why, for each student we teach, the world turns off for a window of time, and we zero in hard on how we can help you practically learn how to build shooting confidence and skill.
We can't wait to meet you!
The goal isn't to just Go Shooting
You want to be trained
Good news-shooting is fun but we desire more. Here’s what you can expect instead:
Super-practical training.
Everyone's relationship to guns is different. We meet you where you are, steer clear of fancy terms, and teach like teachers (not drill sergeants).
We want you to walk away with more than just training — we want you to leave with unwavering confidence, no matter how you felt before.
Safe and informative range time.
Our instructors are very patient and have lots of experience working with new and experienced shooters.
During your time on the range, the instructor will walk you through the steps and make sure you feel comfortable handling, loading, and shooting a gun.
To insure range safety, our instructors work directly with each shooter. You'll feel confident about safety on our range.
What to expect at this range training?
Relax and enjoy the training! We’ll be sure that your experience is safe and effective.
WHAT TO BRING?
We'll need to use your ID for check-in.
If you have a gun, bring it unloaded and in a closed bag, box, or case. Please don't remove it until directed by the instructor.
Ammo for your gun. At a minimum you'll shoot 20 shots but you can shoot more.
If you don't own a gun yet, you can rent a 22 lr caliber pistol and ammo for the training for $10.
Eye and ear protection or you can borrow ours for free.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Arrive and park at our range in Canal Winchester, OH. The full address will be given after you register. It is on private property and no visiting outside of scheduled sessions is allowed.
We'll start check-in around 20 minutes or so before the start of the session. You're welcome to come into the range building when you're ready.
CHECK-IN
We'll take a photo of your ID (driver's license or state ID).
You'll fill out a release waiver.
WE'LL GET STARTED ON TIME
Please be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early so that we can complete check-in and get started on time.
INTRODUCTION
We'll start each session with a brief introduction.
Most sessions will have an USCCA representative to discuss what happens after you act in self-defense and to answer your questions about self-defense aftermaths.
Then we'll do a range brief to go through the range rules and expectations before shooting.
SHOOTING
Once the instruction begins, depending on the number of participants, you might be in the first or second batch of students to work with the instructors. If you are in the second group, be sure to watch the instruction and tips the instructors are giving while waiting. You'll probably get some of the same tips and instruction when it's your turn.
After you're finished working with the instructor you can either continue to shoot more or leave.
At the end of the scheduled range time, the range will shut down and the session will end.
You might still be wondering...
No, this is range training to build proper and safe techniques.
If you want to get your license, you can see our upcoming classes on this page.
Our range is on private property in Canal Winchester, Ohio (20 minutes southeast of Columbus, Ohio). Our range is covered but mostly open air. We have heaters or fans depending on the temperature, but you’ll want to dress for the weather. We also have lights.
We have range safety equipment that you can borrow for free. These include eye protection and ear protection. We require side shields for glasses to protect from casing that fly sideways.
For a restroom, we have a port-a-pot at the range, but we’re only here for the 2 hours.
Nope!
In fact if you DON’T have a gun yet, we strongly encourage you to wait until after taking the training to purchase one.
I don’t have a handgun:
You can rent a 22 lr caliber pistol and ammo for $10. You can make this payment when you sign up for a session.
Pistol Samper: Don’t know what gun to buy yet? An optional add on to our range training is the opportunity to test fire 15 different concealed carry handguns. The $50 fee to do this also includes the ammunition. This is done in addition to your standard range training. But we’ll have it all done within the 2 hours of range training. This is an awesome value, it would cost more than $50 just to rent one gun at a local range. After you shoot the 15 guns you’ll know what gun you want to buy. This is important because it will be the gun you like to shoot, not the gun someone says you should buy. You also make notes when shooting so that you’ll remember which guns you liked and didn’t like. You can read more about it here. You don’t have to pre-purchase it, you can buy it at the training.
I have a handgun:
If you have a gun, we strongly encourage you to bring it. The training will be much more meaningful to you if you get trained on what you own. You’ll need to provide ammo for the training as well. Typically it is around 20-50 shots for the range training. You can bring ammo or purchase it at the class. We don’t have casing or bullet restrictions on our range. But we want to keep it to standard handguns and not AR style pistols.
To bring your own gun, be sure that it is unloaded, including having your magazines unloaded. And keep it in a closed box, bag, or case. Just something to safely store it so that it isn’t out. You can bring it into the range but don’t take it out of the case until the instructor specifically asks you to take it out. For the safety of everyone in the class, handling a gun without instruction is a quick way to get dismissed from the class.
Nothing!
In fact, we see lots of students week in and week out who have never touched a gun before.
We start at the beginner level. There is no prior knowledge you need to be successful. You are coming to class to have us TEACH you. So don’t try to prepare and learn it all before.
Actually, we find that often the complete newbies are better shooters than people who have some experience!! They are fresh canvases and they soak up the new knowledge. Sometimes experienced shooters have bad habits that are hard to break.
We will teach you everything you need to know. You will walk away with so much knowledge and a new sense of confidence about handling and shooting handguns!
If you haven’t completed a basic course yet, then we highly recommend that first. The classroom portion of the course will cover more details on safety, laws, and shooting techniques then we’ll be able to teach just on the range. You can see our class here.
Anyone 18 or older can take our training course. However, please understand that you must be 21 possess and transport a handgun.
*Please note: Anyone under 21 would not be legally able to transport a gun to class. This is no problem at all. They can rent one of our .22’s. Or if a friend or family member 21+ is also attending the class that day, they can transport a gun for the underage person.
We do require full payment ahead of time. There is a lot that goes into training day preparation on our end. We prepare paperwork specific to each student and hire instructors to assist.
The billing information doesn’t have to registering student for the online transactions. So if you can give the cash to a friend or family member and use their card for the billing section that works just fine.
Please note that we do not have a storefront location for doing in person transactions. We are unable to arrange for in person payments before class.
We choose not to train pregnant women on our range because of the potential for hearing damage to the baby and the exposure to toxic substances (lead) that are an unavoidable part of shooting.
If you feel that you must complete this training, we’ll require a doctor’s note. We’ll keep a copy of it for our records.
Have another question?
Let's talk about it.
Protection is everything.
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The guide includes 5 answers for the concealed carry test.