[anotherinkling]

I've been shooting for awhile now but have never had any formal handgun instruction. Anyone know of a good place near Chicago?

[DJW]

deleted

[illini52]

I've not attended any classes here, but I called Maxon Guns in Des Plaines and they said they have some classes. Also try Gat Guns in Dundee. If they don't offer the classes, I'm sure they know somewhere/someone who does.

[anotherinkling]

Hm. I've been to Maxon 3 or 4 times. Didn't realize they had classes. I'll have to check that out. GAT's a good spot, too. Bit of a drive but a first-rate range. I'd be curious to hear testimonials from anyone who's taken classes at either place.

[phorvick]

Perhaps not what you meant by training, but I will be at multiple locations in IL in the next two weeks doing the Utah CCW class. GAT is one of the locations (August 27 and 28). (PM or e-mail me if you want the other locations.)

The NRA also has instructors in IL that do classes. Here is a list of some coming up:

desplaines - Saturday, August 12, 2006, 1224 rand road, $350
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Basic Rifle


DESPLAINES - Saturday, August 19, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $350
PETER J. O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Personal Protection


DESPLAINES - Saturday, August 26, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $275
PETER J. O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Home Firearm Safety


DESPLAINES - Sunday, August 27, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $375
PETER J. O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Range Safety Officer


DESPLAINES - Saturday, September 16, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $250
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Personal Protection


DESPLAINES - Saturday, September 23, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $275
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Home Firearm Safety


DESPLAINES - Sunday, September 24, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $350
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Basic Rifle


DESPLAINES - Saturday, September 30, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $350
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Basic Pistol


DESPLAINES - Saturday, October 07, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $250
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Personal Protection


DESPLAINES - Saturday, October 21, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $275
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Home Firearm Safety


DESPLAINES - Sunday, October 22, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $350
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Basic Rifle


DESPLAINES - Saturday, October 28, 2006, 1224 RAND ROAD, $350
PETER O'MALLEY, 773 497 8543. , go911eagle@aol.com
Class types: Basic Pistol


Hoffman Estates - Saturday, August 19, 2006, 2549 W. Golf Rd., $575
Brian Kapnick, 630-205-1369. , brian@kapnick.net
Class types: Basic Pistol, Personal Protection, Home Firearm Safety, Instructor Training


Hoffman Estates - Saturday, September 23, 2006, 2549 W. Golf Rd., $575
Brian Kapnick, 630-205-1369. , brian@kapnick.net
Class types: Basic Pistol, Personal Protection, Home Firearm Safety, Instructor Training


Morris - Sunday, August 13, 2006, Erienna Hunt Club, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Shotgun


Morris - Sunday, September 24, 2006, Erienna Hunt Club, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Shotgun


Morris - Sunday, October 08, 2006, Erienna Hunt Club, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Shotgun


Plainfield - Saturday, August 19, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, September 16, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, September 30, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, October 14, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, October 28, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, November 11, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Plainfield - Saturday, December 09, 2006, Mega Sports, $95
Kent Peacock, 815-545-4872. , courses@firearmsafetytraining.com
Class types: First Steps Pistol


Rockford - Saturday, September 09, 2006, Pine TreePistol Club, $75
Greg Adrian, 815 547 9626. , gadrian3261@gmail.com
Class types: Basic Pistol


Rockford - Monday, October 02, 2006, Pine TreePistol Club, $75
Greg Adrian, 815 547 9626. , gadrian3261@gmail.com
Class types: Basic Pistol


Rockford - Saturday, November 04, 2006, Pine TreePistol Club, $75
Greg Adrian, 815 547 9626. , gadrian3261@gmail.com
Class types: Basic Pistol

[Bix]

Sort of depends on the level of instruction you are looking for and how far you are willing to drive :)

Assuming you are looking for high level, defensive-oriented instruction:

Some of the best shooting instructors in the country travel to Bloomington every year to do classes with Midwest Training Group. I've done a number of classes with these guys, and the instruction is first rate. Bloomington is about 2.5 hours south of the city.

http://www.midwesttraininggroup.net

Traveling about 3 hours in the other direction from the city will get you classes with the LFI staff instructors at Firearms Training Associates, LLC. I've done several LFI classes with these guys, and they are also excellent instructors.

http://www.firearmstrng.com/index.html

Turning East of the city, a 2.5 hour drive will get you to Boone County, IN, where Sheriff Ken Campbell hosts an impressive array of instructors every year, in addition to running several offsite Gunsite classes (Ken is a staff instructor at Gunsite). I'm doing my second class in Boone County later this month. Again, highly recommended. Ken does not maintain a webpage, but he can be contacted here: Kcampbell@co.boone.in.us

I also keep track of John Farnam's schedule every year. He ran classes in Michigan and Indiana this year that were a reasonable drive from the Chicagoland area. I managed to get out for a class in Coldwater, MI in April.

http://www.defense-training.com

Tactical Response just ran a fighting pistol class in Indianapolis last weekend and they've done at least one class in Illinois in the past. I can also recommend these guys without hesitiation.

http://www.tacticalresponse.com

These are just some of the folks that I have personal experience with. There are several other options in the area, including The Site, Team Spartan, etc. However, I have not yet trained with them. Any of the above options will provide you with excellent initial formal handgun instruction.

[GoRon]

Midwest Guns in Lyons (http://www.midwestguns.com/) offers basic classes in pistol safety and self defense.

The instructer is a retired Chicago LEO and is very pro concealed carry for Illinois.

He also runs the practical pistol shoots twice a month that are open to those who take his classes (or already have some training).

[anotherinkling]

Thanks, GoRon. That looks just right. I want training for myself, but I also have a couple newbies in my shooting group who could use something pretty basic. This would seem to fit the bit very well.

[Bix]

I'm sorry I didn't think of this:o

Ron's right - Manfre is a well-qualified instructor who is closer to home and more economical than the ones I suggested.

[BigCheese]

If you are interested in NRA bullseye pistol shooting (.22 rf and centerfire), contact the Tri County pistol league. There are teams at a number of locations in the greater Chicago area. The league shoots from September thru April.
(I'm with Northwest Gun Club).

Here is the league website http://tricountypistol.org

[Longbow]

http://www.shoot-at-the-site.com/

I used to live in N. Illinois and ' know cops and security folks who speaks highly of the training they get from The Site. Some of their instructors are former Navy SEALS with actual credentials to show.