Frontsight Training

[David]

Serious question: Does Front Sight continually add new classes that are significantly different from each other? I can't imagine taking the same class over again. Not because it wouldn't still be a good experience, but because I'd rather take the same level class at another school, from someone with a new take on the same material.

I've been to most of the big schools, and had great experiences at all of them. Whenever Front Sight has been discussed, the instructors and students who have attended or taught at Front Sight have been universal in their opinion: The training is good, the facility is first-class, and if you can ignore the marketing crap, it will be worth the cost. They have also all said the lifetime membership isn't worth it unless you'll go a lot, and my personal opinion is that I'd rather go to a dozen different schools once than the same school a dozen times, even if the cost is higher.

The reason I won't go to Front Sight has more to do with Piazza himself, not the school. The school is reportedly a great value. Maybe take one class there first before committing to more? I guess that's what I'd do if I were thinking about the lifetime deal.

[Jon M. Abel]

On that thought, for the cost of going to a lot of the "Mountains", "Mohamad " could stay home and do several classes. Sealed Mindset, Combat Focus Shooting, Fierce Training, MN Firearms Training...

[selurcspi]

Serious question: Does Front Sight continually add new classes that are significantly different from each other? I can't imagine taking the same class over again. Not because it wouldn't still be a good experience, but because I'd rather take the same level class at another school, from someone with a new take on the same material.

I've been to most of the big schools, and had great experiences at all of them. Whenever Front Sight has been discussed, the instructors and students who have attended or taught at Front Sight have been universal in their opinion: The training is good, the facility is first-class, and if you can ignore the marketing crap, it will be worth the cost. They have also all said the lifetime membership isn't worth it unless you'll go a lot, and my personal opinion is that I'd rather go to a dozen different schools once than the same school a dozen times, even if the cost is higher.

The reason I won't go to Front Sight has more to do with Piazza himself, not the school. The school is reportedly a great value. Maybe take one class there first before committing to more? I guess that's what I'd do if I were thinking about the lifetime deal.

David,

To answer your question, here is the course list for Frontsight, there's quite a lot to try and some you may want to repeat or skip depending on your desires. http://www.frontsight.com/Courses.asp
In my opinion, just a once each through about half of the courses makes the life membership worthwhile.

[David]

That's a pretty lengthy list! It would definitely take a while to get through it, so I see your point, assuming those classes build off of each other and don't overlap a lot (2-day vs. 4-day, for example). It's a much larger curriculum than I've seen at any other school.

The little ad at the top of the page illustrates why I can't stand Piazza though. "Millionaire patriot wants you armed and trained!" with a smiley picture of The Man, as if him being a "millionaire" has anything to do with anything. Jeez, can't he just cut all that used-car salesman stuff out? His facility would be the better for it.

[Jon M. Abel]

Don't forget the travel and lodging expense every time you go. Talked with someone who has been there twice and also took other training. "It was good, fun," but some of what they teach does not apply to every day people under situations you could plausible find yourself in. The always looking at your gun to verify malfunctions is hokie as well. What if it is low light or dark, that never happens. Jeff Cooper methodolgy, mostly solid, watch videos from south west musem of gun fighting.
I may go see for myself since I know several people with certifactes at discount prices and I have not been to Vegas for awhile.

[chinakay]

some of what they teach does not apply to every day people under situations you could plausible find yourself in.

Are you serious? How do you know what situation you might find yourself in? If you are certain some particular scenario will never happen to you, feel free to ignore what they are putting so much effort into teaching you.

"Verify malfunctions"? What does that mean? If you don't want to learn how to clear several different types of malfunction under stress, by all means skip that part of the training as well.

But you're right about the dark. It never gets dark on the planet you live on.

[FreedomV]

I have been to Frontsight twice for the 4 day defensive handgun class. First with a revolver and then with an XD. Excellent class. The second time I brought 2 friends and they were both very impressed. I look forward to going back to take the Rifle course as soon as I can set up the time to drive and not put up with TSA. The only courses that I have seen that are 100X better value are the local Appleseed shoots which are Rifle only. The Appleseed program is well run by a great group of volunteers. I am a FS lifetime member and would recommend going on one of the 100$ or less trials if possible- unless you can find someone with 800$ challenge memberships to share. Smile. The training days are 12 hour and one 16hour if you go to the night shoot- and that was great!
Time to look for more Venison.

[Pinnacle]

Don't forget the travel and lodging expense every time you go. Talked with someone who has been there twice and also took other training. "It was good, fun," but some of what they teach does not apply to every day people under situations you could plausible find yourself in. The always looking at your gun to verify malfunctions is hokie as well. What if it is low light or dark, that never happens. Jeff Cooper methodolgy, mostly solid, watch videos from south west musem of gun fighting.
I may go see for myself since I know several people with certifactes at discount prices and I have not been to Vegas for awhile.

personal attack deleted.......warned

There is NOTHING wrong with Front Sights teaching methodology as a matter of fact it is the best that I have seen for people that are just learning to skilled hands....

[Jon M. Abel]

some of what they teach does not apply to every day people under situations you could plausible find yourself in.

Are you serious? How do you know what situation you might find yourself in? If you are certain some particular scenario will never happen to you, feel free to ignore what they are putting so much effort into teaching you.

"Verify malfunctions"? What does that mean? If you don't want to learn how to clear several different types of malfunction under stress, by all means skip that part of the training as well.

But you're right about the dark. It never gets dark on the planet you live on.

Take the whole quote please The

always looking at your gun

to verify malfunctions. If you study and understand, as much as we can, about the bodies natural reaction during a dynamic critical incident, "extreme stress adrenaline dump" our eyes can make things seem like they are moving in slow motion. If you are looking at your hands, which are moving as fast as they can with only gross motor skills available, our brain will be say "speed up why are you moving so slow" and you WILL fumble malfunctions. If you can clap your hands with out looking at them you can do malfunction drills, with proper knowledge and skills, with out looking at the gun. Efficiency is then gained

[Pinnacle]

The natural reaction is NOT to look - examine - and react. It is to flee.

Visual training and a solid methodology is the only way to TRAIN people how to FIGHT the natural reaction to a critical stress situation - which is to FLEE.

[UnaStamus]

In my travels for LE and GOV shooting matches and training with other instructors, I've heard a lot of negative things about FrontSight. Granted, they're all specific to a couple recurrent areas of the institute and not the company as a whole. This obviously contradicts what some here are sharing. I do have some issues with the institute that I will not share right now, but suffice it to say that they are legitimate and based on information provided by former instructors (and no, I'm not talking about the one Piazza sued).
Granted, it's always a good mentality to understand that Some Training is better than No Training at all. If you have never had any formal training, or are a novice, it's supposed to be "acceptable training". Conversely, I have been informed that if you're more of an intermediate to advanced shooter, it would be worth your time to consider more specialized training venues.
My point is this: Make sure for yourself that you will like the training before you make a commitment to take multiple courses. Taking a course prior to buying a membership would be advisable.

[b727capt]

I attended a four day handgun course with my wife in the fall. Both my wife and I thought the training was excellent. She was and still is very sceptical about the marketing. I look at it from the basic fact that we received excellent training in the use of a handgun for four days for only $89/each. I think the course is slightly more valueable for a "beginner". Lets face it spending 4 long days with your gun is going to make you much more comfortable with it, than going to the range once a week for an hour. I would consider myself an avid handgunner and I learned a great deal also. I like many other post would not recommend buying a membership straight out. Take advantage of some of the introductory certificates and try it for yourself. I recently purchased a lifetime membership, because I plan on attending more of the rifle and shotgun courses. I decided if this is a ponzi scheme and it blows up some day, I wasn't willing to pay more for a membership, than I would for one excellent training course. If it doesn't then future courses are just a bonus. All you sceptics who haven't been there and just like to complain, give it a try, it is excellent training.

Happy Shooting!

[macphisto]

I've seen the lifetime memberships sell for between $250 and $100,000. How much was yours?

[b727capt]

Under $1000.

[macphisto]

Driving out to day three of Defensive Handgun at Front Sight. This place is AWESOME. The naysayers (I was one of them) simply don't know what they don't know. More later, perhaps.