Advanced Pistol Marksmanship

The one or two-day Advanced Pistol Marksmanship course is for a shooter who wants to become faster and more accurate for defensive or competitive shooting. This course places a heavy emphasis on process oriented technical marksmanship to solve various marksmanship challenges. The goal of this course is to take the shooter through a series of logically organized problems, and equip the shooter with the ability to solve them. This has been described as a very mentally challenging course that pays a dividend in overall technical skills.

This is an advanced level course, and is offered in a one-day or two-day format (eight hours or 16 hours).

Course Objectives

All course objectives will be achieved with a strong emphasis on safety.

  • Understanding “visual patience” and applying it to technical marksmanship.
  • Cultivating the ability to drive the gun aggressively.
  • Understanding technical marksmanship concepts and how to apply them to the tactical/defensive and practical competition world.
  • Understanding value based training drills.
  • Understanding process oriented marksmanship versus results oriented.

Required Equipment

Programs held at SIG SAUER Academy include free loan of firearms, holsters, safety glasses and hearing protection at the Epping, N.H. location.

  • Pistol in one of the following calibers: 9MM, .40S&W, .357 SIG, or .45 ACP
  • A minimum 25 dummy rounds specific to your pistol.
  • Kydex belt or paddle holster
  • A minimum of four magazines (a few more if single stack)
  • Some safe means to carry magazines, on your person, to recharge your firearm twice times (e.g. two magazine carriers/pouches)
  • Wraparound eye protection
  • Hearing protection (electronic hearing protection is recommended)
  • Weather and temperature appropriate attire
  • Jeans, BDUs, or canvas type pants are recommended
  • Gloves, socks, boots, Under Armor, rain coat, etc.
  • Cleaning and maintenance supplies for daily pistol maintenance
  • 600-800 rounds of appropriate caliber ammunition per day

Prerequisites

This is not a basic class. At minimum, students should have taken a basic handgun safety course and have experience with their firearm and gear. We expect students to have experience shooting on a line in a safe manner, including loading, reloading and drawing/shooting from the holster. Shooters with IDPA, USPSA, NRA Action Pistol, 3-Gun, law enforcement and military experience meet the program prerequisites.

What to Bring

First, review the general overview of What to Bring to a Pistol Class.

For this specific class, you’ll also need to bring:

  • Handgun
  • Kydex, outside-the-waistband holster.
  • About 600 – 800 rounds of ammunition per day.
  • At least 25 dummy rounds.
  • At least four magazines for your pistol.
  • At least two magazine carriers.

Course Fees

Course fees vary depending on location and are subject to change. The fees will be listed for classes when the dates are announced.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding course fees, group rates or law enforcement exclusive programs.

Schedule

Classes listed are not in date order. If none are listed, we do not have any on the schedule at this time.

Sorry, no classes on the schedule at this time.

Student Testimonials

The instructors are top notch

I’ve really enjoyed the classes I attended with OpSpec training. I’ve taken several over the past few years with multiple instructors and have always found value in the content and what I learned. The instructors are top notch, the material is focused and the day is always fun. I’ll certainly be back for more.

Chris H
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Richmond, Calif. - April 2021

Thank you all, may I have another?

Awesome class, great instructors and instruction. Learned so much during this class. I took marksmanship class at SIG Sauer Academy, your class was far superior. Bruce and Harold knocked the cover off. Thank you all, may I have another?

Frank E.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Richmond, Calif. - April 2021

Some very good drills

I would recommend this class to someone who wants to improve their pistol marksmanship. Some very good drills which were shown to us during our class. Definitely will practice those drills at my own range.

Alex M.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy, June 2019

The class will be what you need

This class covered the underlying details of trigger reset and recoil management quite well. It will be a good class if you wish to improve in IDPA and/or steel plate.

The class will be what you need and not necessarily what you had wanted!

Michael M.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy, June 2019

Hands down, I left the class as a better shooter

As a LEO firearms instructor, this course offered a change of pace that I needed, being a student again. While the course title states that it is an advanced class, it offers a much needed return to the basics, which can be applied in any scenario. After all, an advanced technique is the proper application of a basic technique. Hands down, I left the class as a better shooter.

Jason F.
Active LEO, Former Military, Instructor
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - Sept. 2018

Highly recommend this course to others in my department

Advanced Pistol Marksmanship took the way I look at training and practice to the next level. I loved the way Jerry and Harold complimented each other – different styles, both saying the same thing, but differently, really allowed points to be driven home. I would highly recommend this course to others in my department.

John B.
Active LEO, Former Military, Instructor
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - Sept. 2018

I definitely left the class a better shooter

Great class that concentrated on the basics… the fundamentals. These skills can be overlooked, but are key to becoming a better and more consistent shooter. I definitely left the class a better shooter with a better mindset.

While some students may find that all the dry fire drills are long when they’d rather be shooting with live ammo, those dry fire drills were key to developing the skills I wanted during the class and giving me practical skills to apply after.

Instructors were excellent with great attitudes that made the class enjoyable while still dealing with a serious and sober subject.

Ray C.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - June 2018

Just enough pressure to motivate you

Bruce and his team (Steve, Harold and Doug) were outstanding instructors. The class was exceptional. I now have the information and tools I need to improve my trigger control in a way I never have before. The pace was great and the drills were excellent. Just enough pressure to motivate you while also providing encouragement.

Steven L.
Former Military
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - June 2018

Enjoyed the reload drills with increasing time pressure

Very safe and well run class. Very good instructor to student information provided in a professional and helpful manner.

Would like to see a bit more drills involving movement in a class such as this. Movement introduces lots of important variables that impact the shooters accuracy and gun handling, so this would be a nice addition.

Enjoyed the reload drills with increasing time pressure. Greatly enhanced my confidence in doing well executed magazine changes under pressure either in competition or in a real-life shooting situation.

All the instructors were best in class and provided great advice and clear information. Questions were always welcomed and answered fully.

P.F.
Former Military
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - June 2018

Instructors are excellent

The OpSpec Training instructors are excellent. It was a real treat to learn once again from the master: Bruce Gray, along with Doug, Steve, and Harold.

Anonymous
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - June 2018

Perfect balance

Perfect balance of speed and accuracy emphasis.

Bob C.
Former Military
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
SIG Sauer Academy - June 2018

The singular best pistol class I’ve ever taken

The singular best pistol class I’ve ever taken. The process oriented, rather than results orientated focus ended up making a huge difference in my ability to deliver tight groups on target quickly.

Bill T.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Valencia, Calif. - April 2017

Exactly what I needed…

I have taken a few firearms instruction courses in the past. I now wish I had never taken them and had only taken Jerry’s courses. I have a lot of bad habits that I need to break in order to truly improve as a shooter. Jerry gave me knowledge on exactly what I needed to complete my skills on a daily basis. I very much look forward to taking more of his classes in the near future.

Michael P.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Valencia, Calif. - April 2017

Perfect follow on to Practical Fundamentals

Excellent class. Perfect follow on to Practical Fundamentals I took over a year ago. Time between classes gave me enough time to absorb and incorporate PF techniques, allowing me to concentrate on APM material. Instructors Jerry and Ray were excellent, giving accurate and timely feedback. Appreciate their organizational skills to keep schedule, approachability, and good sense of humor.

Mike V.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Richmond, Calif. - Nov. 2016

Helps you realize how much better you can become

It is amazing what difference a day makes!. You start off in the morning shooting so-so, and by the afternoon you are (almost) an expert. No matter how much you think you know, taking the class helps you realize how much better you can become.

Steve D.
Advanced Pistol Marksmanship
Richmond, Calif. - Nov. 2016