Northwest & Midwest Firearms Training, Firearms Classes in Illinois, Iowa and Idaho

Courses

Illinois and Idaho Handgun & Firearms Training Course Descriptions

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 Intro to Defensive Rifle and Carbine

Time to bond with your AR or whatever rifle you happen to have.  This one-day class takes the new or novice rifle shooter to new levels of safety, proficiency, and knowledge of the rifle for close quarters, home defense, and accuracy work out to 50+ yards.  Students train on standing, kneeling and prone positions, shooting from cover, home defense with a rifle, and rapid deployment in close-quarters.  Malfunction-clearing, speed reloads, and sighting-offset are also addressed.  Red dot sights are allowed, iron sights are fine.  Pistol caliber carbines are also ok.  A sling is required for the class.  No prerequisite required.

 Tactical/CQB Defensive Rifle

Two-day course takes beginners and intermediate shooters to advanced level. This is geared toward the environment that most of us live in, suburban and semi-rural, or home defense. Centerfire semi-automatic rifles, or pistol-caliber carbines only.  Slings are mandatory. Red dot type sights are allowed and BUIS are advisable.   600 rounds of rifle ammo and 100 rounds pistol.  At least two rifle mags and two pistol mags.  Holster, mag pouches etc.  Firing will be from short range (50 yards to nearly muzzle contact.) Covering the following topics and skill sets:

  • Proper terminology of various parts, field stripping and cleaning.
  • Discussion of rifle zeroing options and benefits of add on accoutrements (optics, lights etc)
  • Positional shooting: standing, sitting, kneeling, prone and cover positions
  • One-hand only wounded officer firing and reload techniques
  • Speed reloading and high speed firing
  • Mirror image firing and proper transition
  • Dealing with offset at various ranges.
  • Malfunction clearing and transitioning to handgun.

No prerequisite required.

MTG Intro to Defensive Pistol

This intensive one-day program introduces the new or novice shooter to combat handgun training.  Included in the program are firearms safety issues, marksmanship basics, various shooting positions, speed reloads, drawing from a holster, and more.  This is designed for the shooter who has never had formal firearms training or would like to review the fundamentals.  Emphasis is placed on trigger control, sight alignment, accuracy, and safety.  300 rounds.  No prerequisite required.

MAG-40, Massad Ayoob

This is an intense, four-day, 40-hour immersion course in the “rules of engagement” for armed law-abiding private citizens.  The course emphasizes legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition and mind-set, and the management of the social and psychological aftermath of having to use lethal force in defense of self or others.  Also covered is preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing your exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered.  Range work will include instruction in the use of the defensive handgun under extreme stress. Drawing from concealment, two-handed stances, shooting from cover, one-handed stances with either hand, speed reloading, and more are taught with an overall emphasis on fast, accurate shot placement. The course will culminate with a written examination covering the classroom topics and a police-style handgun qualification course.  No prerequisite.

MAG-80: Massad Ayoob

An intensive study of defensive firearms that teaches extreme speed for hits, and includes shooting at greater distances, and management of such contingencies as weak hand draws, one-hand only reloads and malfunction clearing if wounded, etc. Students receive several hours of hands-on training in handgun disarming, and in countering attempts by an attacker to disarm them. Shooting while moving, and use of long guns for defense, are among the areas covered. Round count: 500 handgun, 100 long gun.

Prerequisites: MAG-20/Classroom plus MAG-20/Live Fire; MAG-40 or LFI-I.

MTG Combat Pistol / MAG 20R (qualifies for Massad Ayoob’s MAG 40 range work)

This two-day immersion class covers the fundamentals of shooting and quickly moves into more advanced skills.  Ideal for new shooters and novices. Firearms Instructors take these techniques back to their students.  All techniques are proven to work under the pressure and stress of the “fight or flight” adrenal dump that occurs during a lethal confrontation.  Safety, marksmanship, trigger control, fundamentals of stance and grip, close quarters skills, proper draw from a holster, speed reloads, and one-hand techniques are just some of the topics covered.  No prerequisite required.  500 rounds.

 MTG Advanced Handgun Skills

Designed by Bob Houzenga and Andy Kemp as an addition to Massad Ayoob’s LFI curriculum and originally taught as LFI Advanced Handgun Skills, this two-day course is fast paced and demanding, focusing on high speed drills designed to build the optimum blend of speed and accuracy. Ideal for the advanced shooter who wishes to hone and fine-tune his techniques. Novice shooters move up to the next skill level. Emphasis on individual diagnostics and the subtle nuances used by six-time National Champion, Bob Houzenga.  From fast and furious, up close shooting, to accuracy work at 25 yards, this program offers students of any skill level, an opportunity to take their skills to the next level.  Recoil management for super-fast follow up shots, rapid first shots from the holster, swift engagement of multiple targets, strong and weak hand techniques, “catching the link”, and shooting “out of the notch” are just some of the topics covered. Many students find their speed doubles or triples with better accuracy.  1500 rounds required.  Prior formal instruction is a pre-requisite.

 Mastering the Revolver

Run a revolver as fast as any semi-auto. Learn the secrets of fast, smooth manipulation of a double action trigger pull and quick reloads. Whether the revolver is your main defense gun or the backup in your pocket, these skills are essential. Mastering The Revolver is for all those interested in a return to traditional values. This one-day class is designed to teach the budding wheelgunner several techniques that maximize the revolver’s potential. A strong revolver shooter becomes a better semi-auto shooter. This is a class that improves your trigger control and recoil management regardless of the type of gun you generally use. If you have a revolver as a back-up gun this is a “must have class”. An essential class for instructors who may have revolver shooters in their courses. Learn at least five different reloading methods and why the revolver is still the weapon of choice from behind cover. Subtle nuances and the lost secrets of running the revolver at hyper-speed are all explored. Students will need a quality revolver, holster, at least three speed loaders, and 500 rounds. No Prerequisite.

MTG Low Light/Flashlight Handgun Skills (Night Shoot)

Own the Night!! Most defensive shootings take place in low-light, or no light. This is an opportunity to train for the real world. There are a number of circumstances where we may find ourselves in a dimly lit environment. The MTG Night Shoot provides the training and techniques needed to react under these adverse conditions. Students will learn and drill on a variety of modern flashlight techniques, studying the advantages and disadvantages of each. Also included in the program are sighted methods in varying lighting conditions such as ambient light, backlit targets, front-lit targets, and intermittent light. This is an advanced course teaching advanced skills. Students should have prior formal training and be well grounded in safety and range procedure. 300 rounds required.
 

MTG Advanced Tactical Pistol

The ideal follow up to Advanced Handgun Skills.  Designed for the advanced student, this program addresses the tactical matters and concerns that accompany defensive shooting along with very advanced skill sets.  Some of the topics covered include: one hand reloads, Tactics in and around vehicles, moving targets, weak hand draw from a strong side holster, engaging from cover, close quarters issues, prioritizing targets, when to draw and when to disarm, intro to weapon retention and disarms, and much more.  Class also includes a night shoot where student will learn several different flashlight techniques and low –light shooting skills.  Scenario testing is used to reinforce learned concepts.  Students should already be well grounded in firearms safety and marksmanship.  Prior formal training is a prerequisite.  800 rounds required.

 Massad Ayoob Use of Force Classroom (MAG20-Rules of Engagement for the Armed Citizen)

Taught personally by famed author, police captain, firearms instructor and expert witness, Massad Ayoob.  A two-day, 20-hour immersion course in rules of engagement for armed law-abiding private citizens, emphasizing legal and tactical issues.  This is a course in “when” to shoot, covering the parameters that must be met to justify the use of force and how to deal with the resulting legal, physiological, and psychological ramifications.  Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers…threat recognition and mind-set…management of social and psychological aftermath after having had to use lethal force in defense of self or others…and preparation for minimizing legal repercussions.  Building an “Affirmative Defense” for the courtroom.  Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered. No Prerequisite.

Ken Hackathorn’s Advanced Tactical Pistol

Two full days starting with a focus on accuracy and trigger control exercises to build and improve marksmanship skills and then rapid presentations from both the holster and the ready positions. Emergency reloads, turns & pivots, and shooting while moving are all covered.  Day 1 includes night shooting, working on all these skills in low light and/or no light conditions, plus flashlight techniques.  Ken also covers tactical movement, working with concealment garments, engaging multiple targets, strong and weak hand shooting, point shooting, and plenty of testing and evaluation diagnostics and drills designed to take shooters to the next level.  Prior formal training is a prerequisite.  700 rounds required.

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