Having second thoughts about going to LAV's class

I am having a hard time justifying spending $450 plus hotel/gas/food...

I am not a cop or in the military and the cheap part of me is trying to talk me out of going. Realistically what will I walk away with after this class? I'm sure it will be fun and I love shooting, but $600 for a weekend seems a bit steep.

It may save your life....

Don't go then, it opens up a slot for someone who wants to improve or refine their shooting ability, and leaves you with cash in pocket to buy more ammo, food, preps or whatnot.


You can always go to a class later when you're ready to commit. It's not worth you or the instructors time if the back of your head is full of "should I really be here" type thoughts.

I have yet to take any professional training. I do not have the money to do so nor the time off from work but I have seen a whole bunch of classes that cost a whole lot more and are taught by people with no background.

If I had the money and was able to go I would do it in a heartbeat.

My vote is go

If I do go I will be in it 100% I won't go and not be all about it. One reason this class is a good opportunity for me is because 2 other people I know are going. That will help because we will split gas and hotel.

I just hope the new "WPA" wolf isn't complete garbage. I will be forced to run it if I decide to go since I can't afford good ammo right now. My BCM has ate everything else so far so maybe it will run alright.

You won't regret it, it is money well spent. You will learn how and why to train, more for me knowing how and what I needed to work on when I go to the range, and not just trying to hit bulls-eyes from a bench, but how to use the tools in a manner that will give you real big edge against anyone who may want to harm you or your family. Training w/ Larry has made me far better w/ a pistol, carbine, and AK, than I ever was before. There are also some other things to consider as well, by actually training w/ Larry, I have gained so much hands on knowledge that will always stay with me, the fundamentals of shooting, situational awareness, and the proper mindset to live through a near death experience.

A good analogy for your delema, would be the guy who has a very expensive Ferrari and wants to race it, but doesn't want to learn how to drive the car faster than the speed limit.................................

Anyways, the knowledge that you take away from the class will stay with you for a lifetime. ( makes the $450 + seem like pocket change )

have fun !

I would be willing to bet that if you go, after the class you will say to yourself one of two things:

"Man, I wish I didn't wait this long to go to a class."

Or

"I wonder if anyone else is going to have a class closer to home?"


This reminds me, I haven't been to a class in a while!

I've only taken two classes before. I've gotta say they were very informative and a hell of alot of fun! Currently saving up some money to take some more. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.

Do it. You'll learn a lot and have a lot of fun. LAV is a solid instructor.

Is it a pistol class or a rifle class?

Then the course is entertainment for you. Only you can decide if $600 is too much for your weekend entertainment budget.

Because ordinary citizens don't need to know how to defend themselves?

OP: get your head on straight and go. Doesn't sound like you have ever done a 2 day carbine course. It will be an eye opener to all the stuff you never knew you were doing wrong and the first step in the right direction.

Of course they do. But there are more realistic and applicable courses of instruction for "ordinary citizens" than a carbine course.

Once you have mastered your physical fitness, unarmed combatives and handguns skills. Then a carbine class may have some value.

If you examine what situations "ordinary citizens" realistically use carbines for self defense, you will find its pretty far outside the scope of the industry standard carbine class.

I have mastered my physical fitness and will venture to say I will probably be in better shape than anyone there. Only thing I have done remotely similar to this is an IPDA ar15 shoot and it was a blast...but was also much cheaper.

Training classes are a whole new animal. You will learn from one of the greatest weapon instructors of our time the proper way to run a firearm which will make you faster and more confident. If you don't care about that, then don't waste your money and don't fill up a slot in the class that should be taken by someone who has a desire to learn. If you go in with a closed mind and negative attitude, you will be screwing over all the other students. I, for one, take training classes at least once or twice a year, to the tune of about 1k a shot. I think of them as vacation from work, where my cell phone doesn't work, I get to focus on shooting all day, and I get to learn from men who have experience and knowledge that could save my life one day.

Doc

Have you taken a pistol course? If your looking for justification a pistol course would be a lot more realistic/practical self defense wise.

If I were in your shoes I would take the class, but with the understanding that it most likely be just for fun, or save the money and take a advance pistol course at a latter date (assuming you have taken a basic course).

We are doing the pistol and carbine that weekend. However, it appears Larry may not be there. If that is the case the other guys going said they will not go unless Larry is teaching.

Its not a LV class if LV is not there.

Scratch that I am a dumbass... Looked on my pc when I got home and realized I was looking at an advertisement for last year. It was so close to the top of the training course forum I didn't even look to see what year.

Literally any trigger time is helping improve the basic skillset of shooting, doing it with a guy like LAV more so. A Handgun course might be better focused, but that's not to say a carbine course has no value.

Now you have more reason to keep looking at other courses, especially if you can find one that's closer to home, or somehow more affordable.

Although I think folks should get training, I would suggest your first course be a handgun course.

We are doing basic hand gun saturday and basic carbine on sunday.

Do yourself a favor and take basic handgun with your ccw gear.

Larry does not head a training group....he teaches his own classes. If Larry can't make it, the class gets cancelled.

...and in those days you'll get an excellent foundation on both weapons that you wouldn't have had otherwise. It's a shortcut to success.

OK, here's my opinion, FWIW:

If you do not have the extra discretionary income available, then don't go. Unlike some of the previous posts, your life will likely not depend on the skills you would be honing at this class.

Pay off all of your bills, credit card principal, fully fund your 401k & IRA, kid's college fund (if applicable), etc. Then, if you still have $600 burning a hole in your pocket, consider it.

I'd start with handgun training. As a regular Joe-Citizen/non-LEO (and hell... even as an LEO) you're much more likely to need skills with a handgun in a self-defense situation. It's also the mostly likely weapon to be in your possession if something goes haywire.

The scenarios where you'd need a rifle are FAR fewer.

This. You MIGHT need the skills you'd pick up at a class. Might need them very badly, in fact, but the odds are against it. You WILL need to have your finances in order, 100% guaranteed.

Do yourself a favor and take a notebook. If you go, in a year you won't remember all the drills. There is nothing earth shattering to be learned in most training classes. The biggest benefit is that you get to see different styles and concepts that might work better than what you are doing now. Every now and then you might have a "why didn't I think of that moment." One other thing is that you get to see how you compare to other shooters in skill/speed. I have been to quite a few classes including a couple of Vickers. You will definitely learn something, whether ot not you will learn $600 worth is up to you.

Wisdom, very well said.

just enjoy it.

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.