Testimonials

This is a summary of a lot of e-mails we have received over the years. We don't show negative comments, because we haven't had any!

2012/13 Feedback:

Hey guys,I just wanted to thank you for that great training class yesterday. E. and I both really enjoyed the instruction. All the instructors were very professional and impressive. I know I will be back for classes in the future (as soon as the wife lets me spend some money). The competitive shooting class sparked an interest for me, as well as some of the advanced tactics/defense stuff. We are interested in getting a membership to the range, I think I’m leaning towards silver at this point. If we’re always shooting together one membership should allow us both access right? (yes) I think I would probably be out there more often, she says she doesn’t think she’d want to go shooting without me. Also, I have one more question. I really enjoyed shooting the Glock 19, and the 26 when we were trying out CCW guns, and I was wondering if either of you could recommend a good place to purchase gen4 versions of those guns? Again, thanks for everything and hope to be back training with you soon. S.M.

Hello Charlie,

I just wanted to write and thank you all again for a fantastic Basic II class on March 30. The chief instructor was Fred and he was an excellent teacher. The assistant instructor was Mike and he was terrific and so very helpful. I already had my concealed carry permit but felt that I wanted more training and more practice with an experienced instructor. This class allowed me to gain much more confidence using a holster and my firearm. There is really nothing as beneficial as working with an instructor who is a police officer, who can see what a student is doing and then correct mistakes or give advice on how to utilize the firearm, holster and ammo with better skill. Carrying is a very serious responsibility, and to me, the more training, the better. The teacher to student ratio was terrific and every student got plenty of individual attention. In addition I always felt safe and it was always clear that safety was the #1 priority. Thank you so much and you can bet I will be back to take more classes with you all.

My husband and I are both hoping you’ll offer the home defense class soon and we want to be the first to sign up! (We did and she was!)

Regards,

A.T. Tallahassee FL

Talon Staff,

We benefited greatly from the 8-hour course. Could not get any appointment for carry permit applications until April 15, but will go that day. In the meantime we have purchased a Smith & Wesson and a Glock19 and will need to begin practicing. When will the range be ready? Had no idea how expensive ammo is. (We can't help that.... ;) )

Thanks, C.C.

Talon Staff,

Charlie/JD,

We attend the class on March 30 and really enjoyed it! We talk about it all the time and go over various scenarios together! Thanks for making it fun and at the same time very educational.
I have recommend this course to several people.We hope to attend more soon!

Thank you, B.T.

Charlie,

My wife, T, and I took Talon’s Basic Handgun – CCW on Saturday, February 9. John Rasmussen was the chief instructor, and the class was fantastic. We are still talking about it as well as practicing things we learned.....

C.C.

Hi John,

My family was out Sat. for the basic class you taught and I just wanted to say THANK YOU! It was an amazing class, all the instructors were amazing. Personally, I have always had a large fear of handguns, it brought me great comfort to have Carmen in the class with us and as a part of the entire day as her experience helped to give me the confidence that this was something I could do! Also, thank you for your kindness on the range. I knew going into the class the range portion may very well could have been an area I could not do. Both you and Carmen made the day for me and again I thank you so very much!

My husband & I were chatting about setting up private range lessons. I feel I could use a little more hands on at the range before making any purchase. How would we go about setting this up? What you all do on duty and off duty (as trainers) is amazing! THANK YOU!

J.N.

Talon Staff:

I just wanted to let you and your team know how much I appreciated the class. The scenario that I was in really got me. I knew the things that could happen and that do happen. In my scenario John came up behind me with a gun in my back. I knew it was not real before we started but suddenly it felt real. I reacted as I was supposed to, John said. I shot him right in the heart, three times. After that I cried. Just a lot of emotions came over me. Anger that someone could or would make me do that to them. Fear of someone hurting me or my kids or husband. Happy that I reacted properly and that I shot him right where I intended. I have a close relative that was raped in a warehouse like building like we were in. Just brought that to my mind as well. I am so thankful that you offer this class. I have been recommending it to anyone that I talk to.
I also appreciate the offer to come shoot the other guns. I decided to try many in the stores to see how the grips felt. The only one that was comfortable and felt just right was the P238. Now I will practice regularly but will be prepared if I need to be. Thanks again to you and your staff. God bless!

R.S.

Talon Staff:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I fully enjoyed the training, all of it. There was a lot of information to absorb, shooting the Glock was truly a joy, the scenerios were excellent, and again, I am sorry I hurt you, very, very sorry. (We weren't actually hurt). I already have my conceal carry, but felt the "mindset" was missing from my training. This is a very serious and important choice I have made and feel as if I could use all the training I can get. Talon's course filled that gap perfectly and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is even slightly interested in owning or carrying a gun. I am highly anticipating the opening of the shooting range and my husband and I will be one of the first to join. Thanks again to all the staff who trained in and out of the classroom today. I felt the team spirit amongst them for Talon Training, a rare and appreciated quality for a student to have in a classroom. Their expert experience with handguns, shooting and in all areas instilled the confidence needed to go forward with this choice to carry concealed and move forward with further training offered.

C.L.

Charlie & JD,
I wanted to send thank you for making the class today so interesting
and informative. Thank you for being willing to go the extra mile to
make it a success. I'll certainly be coming out for more training.
Thanks again, BH
Sgt. Charlie Strickland,

I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the class. We all feel like we gained a lot of knowledge and are eager to take some advanced classes. I guess you learned not to walk up behind M! J I’d feel pretty safe going anywhere with you or M that’s for sure. Thank you again for everything and I look forward to other classes!

Thank You, DL, Accountant
January 15th, 2011 Basic Concealed Carry Class:

Hi Charlie,

I took your intro class on 1/15 and was very impressed with the whole experience. So thanks!! I look forward to taking more classes from you guys. Base in this experience I decided to purchase a Sig P238 w/ a Crimson Trace Laserguard, but I am finding it really difficult to find a ICW holster to fit this configuration. Does Talon offer a solution for this? Or can you recommend anything?
JPB, Analyst

(We do and we advised him of such.)
June 2010 Tactical Carbine Class:
Gentlemen,
I want to express my appreciation for the instruction I received from the TacCar1 class. I was able to get out to the range yesterday morning for the first time since May's class. After putting in some time with my XD45, I moved to the AR (which was my main reason for going to the range). I was able to group shots at 50 yards using the breathing and trigger control (heard the seer reset every single shot) and knowing how to use the iron sights. While these are the basics, the basics are what I needed. I then moved to 100 yards and was able to get on paper quickly knowing how to adjust my point of aim (100 yards was guess work at best previous to yesterday.) Ended up with some nice groups in quick order. Again, this may seem basic to you, but I was not raised in a household with guns. I've only owned the XD for two years, the AR for little more than a year. I now have the confidence to use these tools for both enjoyment and defense thanks to the training you provide. Thanks cannot begin to express the appreciation I have for the training and services you provide.
H.
February 13th, 2010 Basic Concealed Carry Class:
Charlie,
Thanks so much for the info.. K and I really enjoyed class and are definitely interested in more classes.. I dont want to be a "sheep" and do want to be a sheep dog and when you made the analogy of protecting my children and being around for them, it made me more convinced that I want to be confident and ready for the WOLVES...Although I am for gun rights, actually carrying and using a gun has been iffy to me until now.. I never want to be a victim and I know if I was a victim of a violet crime (i.e. rape), I would NEVER be the same person and that makes me want to prevent that at all costs.
So..... thanks again and you guys were great.. I am sure it is hard for you to understand women/people who just really question if they could "pull the trigger: For me, I just try to be positive and want everyone to be happy and things be happy, etc. but I know in real life, there are always predators.. I DO know that but its easy sometimes to feel as if it will never happen to you.
Anyways, have a great Day and enjoy your family.
PM.
Hi Charlie,
I attended your most recent Basic Firearms Safety Class on 2/13. I think the class was excellent and was time well spent. It's obvious that you and your colleagues take your jobs very seriously and it shows in your commitment.
Thanks & have a good day!
DM, local businessman

Charlie, I really enjoyed the class. I have recomended your company to all my friends and co workers at *****************. The Scenario training was so realistic and the feedback afterwards was worth the money alone. I can't thank you guys enough.
Thanks again,
SL, Nurse

February 6th, 2010 Private Concealed Carry Class:

Charlie and JD,

We thank you both! You have been included in our conversations the whole week – with enormous gratitude. Your ears should be burning! J. and E. and I have already visited the License office which was made so easy by you, completed our applications, and are watching the mail for our licenses. Even more importantly, our kids and grandkids are now so much more observant. We feel they are many times safer because of your instruction. We have yet more family we must get to your class in the future, and at some point we might want a refresher course for us all, if y’all would consider such a thing!

Every time we tell folks about our wonderful experience, they express their interest also, so we will definitely keep in touch. Thank you for an extraordinarily professional and beneficial day. And a fun day, too!

SL
November 14th, 2009 Basic Concealed Carry Class:

Charlie,

Thanks to you, JD and John for a great class. I feel a lot more confident with my gun and look forward to recommending Talon to people.

Thanks Again,

VJ
November 12th, Home Defense Class:

Charlie,

R. and I really enjoyed the Home Defense class we took with John last week-end. John has a great talent for helping us civilians put threat situations in perspective. Since starting your classes both of us have gone out and purchases new guns and feel much safer in our environments. Thanks.
G.
September 19th, 2009 - Basic Concealed Carry Class:
Charlie,
Thanks for the great information and I hope to take another class in the future. I have already recommended the class to 3 others I spoke with Saturday night who were interested.
J.A.
Charlie,

Had a great time but more importantly l learned a lot. Dollar for dollar you provide a great product. Certainly plan to take more of your classes, any skills we are trying to develop need repetitive effort. Pse thank the rest of your team for their hard work and patience.

Keep safe... G.
Guys,

Thank you all for a great experience! I will definitely recommend to friends, also I know that my husband has been waiting for an opportunity to take the class. I learned a lot and really feel more comfortable. You, JD, Clay, and Morgan are wonderful instructors. Thank you for putting this class on!

I may be emailing you all with questions in the future and possibly see you in the future for classes as well.

Take care & God Bless, NC

Hi, Charlie,

I just wanted to thank you, JD, Clay and Morgan for the great firearms safety class. All the instructors were professional and extremely knowledgeable. I learned some very important aspects of carrying a concealed weapon and the personal responsibility associated with it. I look forward to taking another class from the Talon Training Group.

Thank you again. RB
August 8th, 2009 Basic Concealed Carry Class:
Dear Talon Instructors:

I want to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent instruction that I received at your August 8, 2009 Firearms Safety Class!

The classroom instruction was very enlightening and clearly reinforced safety and the lawful use of firearms. The hands-on familiarization with a variety of pistols and revolvers was also very informative.

I had thought that I was fairly proficient with firearms, up until we continued our instruction at the range, and subsequently, practiced real life defensive scenarios. After all, I am the son of a former employee of, and competitive shooter for, the former Winchester Firearms Company. My brothers and I received firearms training as we were growing up, and we also were competitive shooters.

I very quickly found out how little I knew about the use of a firearm in self-defense! What an eye opener! Your live fire drills at the range had little to do with my previous competitive experience. Self-defense, I learned, is very close and personal! The repetition of those live fire drills, and the personal attention you provided was invaluable.

Last, but surely not the least, were the scenarios that we practiced after we left the range. Each one of those scenarios forced the students, time and time again, to assess a potentially dangerous situation, and to make a correct decision on how to respond. For me, the scenarios really brought home the significance of the statement, concerning the use of deadly force for lawful self-defense, posted on the Division of Licensing web site: ?A License to Carry a Concealed Weapon is not a License to use it.? http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/self_defense.html

I strongly urge anyone that is interested in self-defense to experience the Talon Training program! It is a no nonsense, essential experience, taught by experienced law enforcement officers, that know how the ?bad guys? think and act.

Thank You Talon Training Group!

David G. Kuhn, Ph.D.(name printed with Dr. Kuhn's permission)

Retired Professor
May 2nd, 2009 Basic Concealed Carry Class:
Great Training and I learned soooo much. Also, bought the Taser and some pepper spray. I realy felt you get so much for your money with your group.
Dr. J.O.
Retired Professor
I knew nothing about guns before this class. I learned so
much more than I expected! It's obvious that all of Talon's
instructors are deeply committed to sharing what they know:
how to defend yourself in a variety of ways and in a variety
of scenarios. I had never shot a gun and the class allowed
me to shoot a variety of firearms at the range--another huge
plus. The instructors were kind, patient and completely
professional. I couldn't recommend this class more!
All my best & hats off to everyone at Talon!
-- M.F.

April 4th, 2009 Basic Concealed Carry Class
Thanks for the training. Your crew was very professional and I also
thought the course was quite educational and worthwhile. By the way, my
handgun is a Kahr PM40.
PT

March 26th, 2009 Advanced Scenario Based Training

I attended the advanced class on Saturday 3-28-09. It was very eye opening. I really enjoyed it. John and JD did a great job making it feel real. The house clearing showed me how easy you can die if you make one small mistake. I didn't fully clear a room upstairs and continued. If it had been real life I would have lost my life. Scary stuff. I am also interested in your moving target steel plate class. I would also like to see if ya'll could do some training with me on handgun retention. Also, can you guys get Spyderco knives? Thanks for your time and the top-notch training.

SC

March 20th, 2009 Internet order feedback.

Based upon the information you provided me yesterday was able to purchase a Smith&Wesson Model M&P 15X for a few hundred dollars less than retail. My gun shop had been waiting on their S&W shipment for several months and were able to obtain three which arrived yesterday evening. Anxious to get out and shoot at my local range. Thanks again for your advice.

March 7th, 2009 Basis Concealed Carry Class:

I took the Talon class today and I have to say it was an amazing class. The guys really know what they are doing and it was a great overall experience. We were able to shoot many different models of handgun and I personally learned a lot about what I like and what I don't about certain models. I would reccomend the class to anyone and will probably follow up with a more advanced class in the future.

A.M.
February 4th, 2009 Basic Concealed Carry Class:

I took the Talon class in Feb. and highly recommend it...it was a full day but worth it....plan on following up with the advanced class.
The opportunity was there to shoot a range of pistols, and there was a wealth of info provided...good folks!

January 24th, 2009 Advanced Class:
Charlie and JD,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Advanced Class. The classes have really given me a new level of confidence. I know that if I am ever in the situation to need my gun, I will, and God help the other guy. Life threatening situations are not the time to learn as you go.
Thank you guys for taking the time to pass along your years of experience. I will make sure to let every person I know that has a gun, wants a gun or just wants to be confident when they get out of their car at night to sign up! If you ever have someone asking for a reference, tell them to give me a call.

January 10th, 2009 Class:

"Charlie and JD,

I wanted to take the time to thank both of you for the Firearm Safety Training Class on Saturday. The class was to the point, very informative and drives home the responsibilities of making the decision to carry a concealed weapon. The role play segment was especially eye opening and provides great exposure to potential encounters, thankfully in a staged environment. My daughter, who held and fired a handgun for the first time at your class, gained valuable insight into how to protect herself. Keep up the good work and I’m sure you will see us at future sessions as time permits.

Thanks – J.B., Retired Engineer/Soldier"
"Dear Charlie -
Thank you again for such a wonderful class on Saturday.
I was wondering how the Glock 26 is compared to the Glock 19 I shot?
Also - where can I get the Man Purse your assistant carried? (Adding it to the site asap....Charlie)
Thanks!
B, PHD Student"

"Thanks again for making such an excellent class available to the general public. I learned a lot of valuable information today and hope to be able to take some of your advanced classes in the future. You both have an excellent teaching style, and it was great to have a fellow lefty as an instructor! Take care,

P.B."

"Thank you for an excellent training experience. It was leaps and bounds beyond “firearm safety.” You made me think about issues related to personal safety and self defense in a very different light. The role playing scenarios alone were worth the cost of the class. We have signed up for the advance class and look forward to it.
P.S. Attorney and Wife"
December 13th, 2008 Class:
"Charlie & J. D.,
Just wanted to express my appreciation for the training you presented today that my daughter and I attended.

The training was to the point, as advertised, did not use a bunch of needless, nonsensical information, and seemed to hone in on what needed to be said. The field exercise was very valuable for the novice and the experienced hand alike. Your training and information not only was exactly what I felt my daughter needed, but was very informative to me. After a total of 20 years of active duty in the military and 11 years in the ready reserves, and many years hunting with shotguns and high powered rifles (Winchester Model 70 .243), I have had more than an equal share of time on the range and in actual live fire scenarios. Unfortunately, it has been over 25 years since I have fired on a range; I say all of this to let you know that I used to know my way around weapons, but my skills (or what's left of them) needed practice. I also learned quite a few things today.

We thank you both and of course Morgan for your efforts, considerations and kindness.

J.B.'
"Thanks for the class. I enjoyed it and I'm telling all my friends about it..... Thanks for all the help.
R.P., Local Store Manager"