20+ year instructors and/or RSO's

[Trustin]

I'm not looking for the "it's not easy" discussions, NOTHING worth doing is easy and I'm prepared to give it my all.

I am a life-long shooter (since 3), son of an IPSC grandmaster (who was RSO/instructor in military) and recently a Range Safety Officer (i secured a job on a range) I was meant to shoot and help proliferate the shooting sport.

My question(s) is; how "worth it" is becoming an NRA/CCW/Private Instructor? do you make enough to support a mid-size family? Is there down-time in your weekly schedule? can you make time for a get away easily? how much money do you put back in to training aids/classroom rental fees and other expenses? Still have money for toys? Would you call it a high stress job? anything you would change about how the job works?

Getting trained is not an issue, my workplace provides classes to the public and employees can attend free. there are many licenses i could posses and an overwhelmed reservation schedule of people looking to be trained, so finding work is no issue. especially not when i move back to montana

all responses are appreciated! even if you haven't been doing it for 20 years, it is still nice to know what i can expect as the FNG.

 

[Pat-inCO]

You are kidding? Right?

Suppoprt yourself and a family doing RSO and Instructor? I'm lucky if a class I teach only costs me $25 or $30.

Make money? Well, I suppose you could go to work for LFI, Front Sight, etc.

 

[Rembrandt]

Been an NRA Instructor for nearly 20 years....Hunter Education instructor for even longer. Never made any money, did it for the good of the sport and to help youngsters get into shooting. To make money at it you'd need to be in a big urban market.

 

[EShell]

+3
I'm a CRSO and there's never really been any money in it.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I do it strictly for the good of it. I ask for nothing in return. I can't see any money in the making.

 

[Trustin]

i agree that it's more about teaching, just wanted to know if it was possible to spread my love full time or just in the off time thanks for the quick responses. I hope to be posting a lot on here in the future. i'll see you all in the intranetz.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I can't see being able to make any money at it. Some guys I know have been able to supplement other incomes with money from private instruction, especially in the competitive wingshooting sports (trap, sporting clays, etc.) mostly as a way of funding their own competitive shooting. But I've never known anyone who could make enough at it to support himself, let alone a family.

I teach handgun now with a group of guys who also do it strictly for the love of teaching and to give something back to the shooting world. We cover expenses, but that's about it.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

do you make enough to support a mid-size family?

Yeah, right. I don't make enough money doing it to support gasoline for a mid-sized car...

 

[Jeff White]

There are several tier 1 instructors who make a living instructing and writing. If you have the name recognition and the credentials to get government contracts you can do ok.

If not, you really can't support yourself instructing. The cost and availability of ammunition, the cost of gasoline or other modes of travel and the cost of lodging has really cut into the business. Even the tier 1 instructors are feeling the pinch.

Shooting classes are a hobby to most people. Out of the entire shooting community there are very few people who will ever take a class. Then you have to look at the number of those shooters who are interested in taking a class that can afford the time and money it costs.

Even teaching at a police academy you might work one or two weeks out of ten on the range.

I don't want to discourage you, but it's a hard way to make a living. Most people, no matter how good they are, can't support themselves in the business. There just isn't enough business.

Jeff

 

[Bailey Boat]

Over the past 20 or so years that I've been doing the RSO and instructor gig I have made MILLIONS in personal satisfaction and acquaintances. The thought that I can pass along something that I love as much as I do shooting and teaching others to do so is worth more than mere currency.

The "shooting farms" that charge an arm and a leg to attend are about the only place I know of where money actually comes into play. There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money from a shooting hobby, but I stand as much chance as wanting to be a gigalo...........

Do it for the fun, self satisfaction and goodness to your fellow man and God will reward you down the line.........

 

[Trustin]

I'm on board with all of you. i wasn't seeking to be a profiteer, just wondering if i could sustain life with love for the sport

 

[Frank Ettin]

...nothing wrong with wanting to make money from a shooting hobby, but I stand as much chance as wanting to be a gigalo....

I've made about the same amount teaching shooting as I have being a gigolo (nothing). But I've had a good deal more shooting students then customers as a gigolo (a bunch compared with absolutely none). I guess, therefore, I've been much more successful as a shooting coach than as a gigolo -- but neither pursuit has put so much as a slice of bread on the table.

 

[earplug]

I'm not a instuctor,but I compete is several none NRA events.
The NRA has a lock on many state level certifications that don't have many people competing.
Kind of like buggy whip managment compared to open gun class in USPSA or steel shooting.
The NRA talks about citizens shooting games, but most are law enforcement or military games.
When the NRA supports a somthing that does not involve the military or law enforcment, I will be more then happy to bite.