Chris Schaefer

Pistol Essentials — Core Handgun Proficiency. A structured approach to safe, confident handgun skills. Built for new shooters and for self-taught shooters who want stronger fundamentals. No prior formal training required.

By the end of this class you will be able to: safely load, unload and handle your handgun, including slide-lock procedures; build a consistent grip that manages recoil; aim with purpose (sight alignment vs. sight picture, irons or red dot); clear common handgun malfunctions with confidence; work through a safe, step-by-step draw process; practice safe bench shooting and gun handling; build consistency with live-fire reps; and take home dry-fire drills to keep improving between classes.

Who this class is for: graduates of Pistol 101 and beginning shooters, new handgun owners who want more confidence, shooters looking to clean up their fundamentals, and anyone building the skills to carry concealed.

This is a live-fire class held outdoors. Bring your own modern, reliable handgun, 250 rounds of factory ammunition, 2-3 magazines, a strong-side holster if you plan to draw, eye and ear protection, closed-toe shoes and a baseball hat. Class size is limited to 20 students. Next step after this class: Next Level Pistol.

Training is led by Chris Schaefer, a retired law-enforcement officer and certified firearms instructor (NRA, USCCA, Tactical Hyve). Questions? Call or text 208-704-2355.

Pistol 101 — Handgun Fundamentals & Safety. A simple, stress-free introduction to safe pistol handling. No live fire, no pressure, no experience needed. Firearms are provided; you do not need to own a gun to attend.

This classroom course is built for complete beginners: people who have never touched a firearm, are nervous or unsure around guns, are thinking about buying their first gun, or learned from YouTube or friends and want proper training before their first range trip.

What you'll learn: firearm safety and the four rules, practiced until they're second nature; pistol anatomy and function (how semi-autos and revolvers actually work); condition assessment, so you know whether a firearm is loaded or clear every time; loading and unloading procedures, hands-on under strict safety protocols; safe storage basics; and a firearm selection guide covering caliber, size, fit, and what to avoid.

Includes hands-on practice with real, unloaded firearms, a take-home firearm selection guide, and Q&A with individual practice time. No ammunition is allowed in the classroom. Students must be 18 or older, or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Class size limited to 20. Next step after this class: Pistol Essentials.

Taught by Chris Schaefer, retired law-enforcement officer and certified firearms instructor (NRA, USCCA, Tactical Hyve). Questions? Call or text 208-704-2355.

Next Level Pistol — Performance Refinement for Serious Shooters. Shoot faster. Shoot cleaner. Shoot with control.

A practical, pistol-focused course for shooters who want to refine the skills that actually drive performance. Most classes teach techniques; this one teaches why they work. We break down the principles behind modern shooting performance, drawn from years of law-enforcement experience and training with instructors across multiple disciplines, and you apply them through structured drills built to improve execution, not just understanding.

Who it's for: shooters who already train, shooters whose progress has plateaued, and shooters who want measurable improvement. You should already be able to safely load and unload, draw and holster, clear basic malfunctions, lock the slide to the rear, and maintain muzzle and trigger discipline. Not there yet? Start with Pistol 101 or Pistol Essentials first.

What you'll learn: stance optimization, grip structure for recoil control, sight alignment and sight picture, trigger press under speed, natural point of aim (sights aligned by feel), recoil management principles, center hold vs. combat hold, and multiple-target engagements.

Live fire, dry fire, and lecture, all outdoors. Bring 400–500 rounds. Class size limited to 18. Next step after this class: Pistol Mastery.

Taught by Chris Schaefer, retired law-enforcement officer and certified firearms instructor (NRA, USCCA, Tactical Hyve; advanced programs with Tactical Performance Center). Every drill has a purpose and every correction gets explained: Diagnose. Correct. Perform. Questions? Call or text 208-704-2355.

$149 early-registration price is good through November 21; after that the class is $169.

Idaho Enhanced Concealed Carry. This is the USCCA Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals course, taught by a USCCA Certified Instructor, and it meets the training requirement for the Idaho Enhanced Concealed Weapons License.

Five modules in one day: introduction and the legal use of force; building your personal protection plan; defensive shooting fundamentals; violent encounters and their aftermath; and Idaho firearm law, with a certified law-enforcement officer presenting the Idaho-specific legal instruction. The day finishes with a live-fire qualification on the range at Fernan Rod & Gun Club.

Who it's for: anyone applying for the Idaho Enhanced permit, new concealed carriers who want a real plan rather than just a permit, and experienced gun owners who want current, accurate Idaho use-of-force law. You are your family's first line of defense; this class gives you the knowledge and the mindset to act responsibly.

Bring a modern, reliable handgun, roughly 100 rounds of factory ammunition for the qualification, a holster, and eye and ear protection. Idaho Enhanced permit applicants must be 21 or older. Seats limited.

Taught by Chris Schaefer, retired law-enforcement officer and USCCA Certified Instructor (also NRA and Tactical Hyve certified). Questions? Call or text 208-704-2355.

Real-World CCW Scenarios is an 8-hour force-on-force course where you make real decisions under real pressure. Using non-lethal training pistols and protective equipment, you work through live role-player scenarios drawn from actual Pacific Northwest use-of-force incidents: a targeted home intrusion, a robbery that opens as a panhandle, a coffee-shop robbery with the exit blocked, a disturbed person with no clear weapon, an assault on another customer, and the aftermath of a defensive shooting.

Every scenario is video-recorded and followed by a structured debrief tied to the specific moments where you decided, hesitated, moved, or didn't. You'll learn the OODA Loop and the Fight Hierarchy, how movement, distance, and barriers buy decision time, and how to recognize when drawing is the wrong answer.

Who it's for: concealed carriers who have completed a fundamentals class (Pistol Essentials or an Enhanced CCW course) and want to find out what they would actually do. No live fire. Make Ready provides the training pistols and protective gear. Class size is limited to 12 so everyone gets multiple reps.

Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants; bring your everyday-carry holster and belt, water, lunch, and something to take notes with.

Taught by Chris Schaefer, retired law-enforcement officer and certified firearms instructor (NRA, USCCA, Tactical Hyve). Questions? Call or text 208-704-2355.