Shooting Instruction

All classes are conducted in a hands-on interactive fashion. The following classes are currently available for individuals, groups and families:

North Carolina Concealed Carry

This is the course required in order to apply for a NC Concealed Carry Handgun Permit. The course is a minimum of 8 hours [state mandated] plus range time. The course covers safe gun handling, proper shooting technique and legal aspects of concealed carry including use of deadly force. Each student must attend the entire 8 hours and pass an exam on the material covered as well as qualify on the range. The student should be prepared to fire 40 rounds of ammunition.
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South Carolina Concealed Carry

This is the required class in order to apply for a South Carolina Concealed Carry Permit. The class is a minimum of 8 hours in length [state mandated] and requires each student to pass a written examination on the material covered as well as qualify with live fire on the range. Course of fire is 50 rounds. The class covers safe gun handling, handgun fundamentals, nomenclature, ammunition, etc., as well as legal aspects of concealed carry in South Carolina including the justified use of deadly force.
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Basic Pistol

This is an 8 hour course [including live fire exercises] that provides the student with background, safety training, pistol types and nomenclature, ammunition knowledge, aiming, shooting positions and techniques training to develop safe and successful pistol shooting.
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Basic Rifle

This is an 8 hour course [including live fire exercises] that provides the student with background, safety training, rifle types and nomenclature, ammunition knowledge, aiming, shooting positions and techniques training to develop safe and successful rifle shooting.
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Basic Shotgun

This is an 8 hour course [including live fire exercises] that provides the student with background, safety training, shotgun types and nomenclature, ammunition knowledge, aiming, shooting positions and techniques training to develop safe and successful shotgun shooting at moving targets.
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First Steps Pistol Orientation

This is a 3 hour course [including live fire exercises] similar to the Basic Pistol. It is a short course that deals with a basic pistol type including nomenclature, safe gun handling, ammunition knowledge, grip, stance and culminates with live fire exercises on the range.
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First Steps Rifle Orientation

This is a 3 hour course [including live fire exercises] similar to the Basic Rifle. It is a short course that deals with a basic rifle type including nomenclature, safe gun handling, ammunition knowledge, grip, stance and culminates with live fire exercises on the range.
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First Steps Shotgun Orientation

This is a 3 hour course [including live fire exercises] similar to the Basic Shotgun. It is a short course that deals with a basic shotgun type including nomenclature, safe gun handling, ammunition knowledge, grip, stance and culminates with live fire exercises on the range.
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Refuse To Be A Victim

This is a 4 hour seminar designed to inform participants of pro-active strategies that may be employed as a means of personal safety and crime prevention. This is a non-firearm, non-weapon seminar geared toward helping participants avoid becoming victims of crime.
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Personal Protection In The Home

This is an 8 hour course designed to teach the basic skills, knowledge and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a firearm for protection of self and family and to provide information on the law-abiding citizen’s right to self defense. The course involves both classroom and range time and the student should expect to fire approximately 100 round of ammunition. The shooting exercises in this course are of a tactical defensive nature and the student should have basic handgun knowledge and skills.
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Home Firearm Safety

This is a 4 hour course [including safe gun handling exercises] that deals with firearm types, safe gun handling, gun storage and general gun safety in the home. This is a non-shooting course.
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Deadly Force

This is a class that runs 1 to 1 ½ hours which thoroughly covers the use of Deadly Force and North Carolina Laws as they pertain to the use of Deadly Force. This class covers all elements of deadly force and is designed for both Concealed Carry Permit Holders and Non-Concealed Carry Permit Holders. The class provides an opportunity for students to have all their questions and/or concerns addressed during the class.
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TacFor (Tactical Force on Force)

This is a series of simulated live fire exercises in which participants will be placed in real world scenarios in order to develop skills in defensive handgun confrontations. These exercises are designed to train the student when to deploy and/or use a defensive handgun, decision making, judgment, movement for shot angle, shoot/no shoot scenarios as well as using verbal commands and other techniques to defuse a potential confrontation. The exercises are structured to create as much as possible lifelike situations and/or confrontations. In each scenario, participants [including by-standers] role play the scenario to its conclusion. This is not your kids airsoft “games”.

These exercises are conducted utilizing high quality airsoft training guns. Face and eye protection are provided to each participant as well as the airsoft guns, charging gas, simulated ammunition, etc. This training is provided in a completely safe environment and anyone in the range during these exercises is required to wear face and eye protection. No Live firearms are permitted in the range during these exercises. Participants should wear fairly heavy clothing including long pants, long sleeves and closed shoes. It is recommended that participants wear lightweight gloves as well.
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Tactical Shotgun

This is a four hour course designed to teach advanced skills essential to the effective use of a shotgun for protection, primarily in the home environment. It will also provide information relative to the legal aspects of deadly force and justified self defense as it applies to North Carolina law.

The course involves both classroom and range time. Range exercises involve tactical defensive use of a shotgun on a combat course. Students should be prepared to fire approximately 25 rounds during tactical exercises. Students should have basic shotgun knowledge and safe gun handling skills. This is a Acumen Arms certificate course.
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Advanced Tactical Handgun

This is a follow-on class for tactical handgun students. It also provides information on the legal aspects of deadly force and justified self-defense as related to North Carolina law. The class involves both classroom and range time [majority]. The range exercises involve tactical defensive use of a handgun in a wide variety of shooting exercises designed to teach shoot/no shoot situations, target discrimination, movement, cover & concealment, tactical reload as well as scanning, threat assessment, etc.

Students should be prepared to fire approximately 130 rounds during the training. This is an Acumen Arms certificate course.
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Advanced Tactical Shotgun

This is a follow on class to the Tactical Shotgun class. It involves more advanced shooting exercises than the Tactical Shotgun class and also involves transition from shotgun to handgun during the range exercises. Students should be prepared to fire up to 40 rounds with the shotgun and approximately 40 rounds with a handgun. This is an Acumen Arms certificate course.
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Close Quarter Combatives

This is an advanced tactical defense class that is offered 2-3 times per year. It is taught by three instructors: Bob Plyler, Chief Instructor, Acumen Arms, Jonathan Plyler, Adjunct Instructor for Acumen Arms, Instructor, Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Academy and David Plyler, Adjunct Instructor for Acumen Arms, Police Detective and former Paramedic. It is a six hour class which is almost totally hands-on and in the range. Primary focus of this training is:

Empty Hand Defense, Empty Hand Transition To Weapon, Weapon Retention, Force On Force, Close Quarter Combat Shooting, Live Fire On A Combat Course

The students will also receive information on shot placement, wound channels, etc.

Students will participate in Force On Force Simulated Live Fire as well as Live Fire exercises. Each student should be prepared to fire from holstered or other carry position. This class is limited to 20 students and pre-registration with paid deposit is required. First 20 students registered with deposit will be entered in the class. This is an Acumen Arms Certificate course.
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Women's Self-Defense/Awareness

This is a class to teach women basic situational awareness, what to look for and be aware of in your environment; whether at home, at work, driving, shopping, etc.

We will also teach basic hands on survival skills to be used in a defensive encounter. These include simple break away and distraction techniques, etc. to enable you to get away from an assailant. This is NOT a martial arts class and you do not need prior martial arts experience. This is a non-firearms class.
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