At Tactical Advantage, we offer you a variety of courses to help you operate your firearm safely. See the below courses for details and keep an eye on our calendar for course dates and times.
Courses
> Introduction to Handguns: Taking Your First Shots
> Minnesota Permit to Carry & Minnesota Permit to Carry Renewal
> Home Defense: Shotgun Workshop
> National Permit to Carry: LEOSA
> Personal Defense: Less Lethal
> Handgun: Accelerated Fundamentals
> Handgun Basics: Find The Right Fit
> We offer additional special courses, contact us for details.
We’re proud of the instructors and staff on our team. They’re a highly trained, dedicated group of individuals who want to keep our community safe and educate you on the proper use of firearms. We know you’ll enjoy learning from them!
When taking one of our courses or just visiting the indoor range for a few rounds, follow all posted range rules and ask the Range Safety Officer or team members if you have any questions or concerns.
If you’re interested in a course discount, every membership at Tactical Advantage comes with 50% off of your first course, along with other perks.
Registration & Cancellation
Pre-registration and full payment is required for all courses.
No refunds for cancellations within two-weeks of class date. Cancellations within two-weeks of class date or No-Show for class will result in forfeiture of registration in total, no class transfer will be allowed.
Various age limitations for specific classes.
PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING A FIREARM MAY NOT ENROLL.
Introduction to Handguns: Taking Your First Shots
This is at least a 2.5 – 3 hour course where students will learn about the different types of handguns and function as well as practical storage, handling and practicing techniques that you can put to use in your home and at the range. Our focus is always on personal safety. Students will be taught firearm safety rules, primary causes of firearm accidents, handgun components, handgun cleaning basics and safe storage options. Whether you are considering a possible future purchase, or you already have firearms in your home; you need to be comfortable and knowledgeable in order to be safe.
At the end of class, you’ll fire 20 rounds from a .22 caliber pistol at our range. Students are encouraged to provide their own ear and eye protection.
Students 12-17 years of age must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian in the same class.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$60 plus tax
Equipment needed:
None
Handguns: The Next Step
This class is the natural progression after having taken Introduction to Handgun. Return to Tactical Advantage for The Next Step. During this class, firearm safety will be stressed and fundamentals will be reviewed. We will spend some time in the classroom and then time training with various live fire drills on the range during the second half of class. Firearm and ammunition are included. Ear and eye protection will be provided but students are encouraged to bring their own.
Open to students who have previously attended any one of our classes. Individuals with very little to no handgun or firearms experience are strongly encouraged to take our Introduction to Handgun class first.
Students must be at least 18 years of age. (Individual exceptions may be allowed by Range Management with prior approval.)
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$75 plus tax
Equipment needed:
None. Personal Protection Equipment (eye/ear) if owned.
Introduction to League
The students will learn about the structure of league, shooting fundamentals, transitional shooting, scoring targets and more. We will spend some time in the classroom and then hit the range for some practical experience. Students will need at least 100 rounds of ammunition each week, firearm, two magazines and eye/ear protection. League is open to a variety of calibers, sights, optics and ages. Participants 12-17 years of age must be in the same class as registered guardian. Discounted rentals are available if needed. Must register in advance as class size will be limited to allow for personal instruction on the range.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$30 each session, plus tax
Equipment needed:
Firearm, at least 100 rounds of ammunition, two-10 round magazines and ear/eye protection
Minnesota Permit to Carry
Minnesota Permit to Carry Renewal
This is at least a 4-hour course involving classroom and range time. Students will be taught basic defensive handgun skills/tactics, mindset and attitude necessary in order to defend themselves or the life of another from a violent confrontation. Our class also teaches the student safe gun handling skills and the use of force, including deadly force as it pertains to self-defense in Minnesota, as well as other aspects of firearms and the law. Tactical Advantage has developed this curriculum and has been approved as meeting the requirements of the Minnesota Personal Protection Act of 2005. (Permit to Carry a Pistol in Minnesota) Individuals must be 21 years of age to obtain a MN Permit to Carry.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$105 for classroom and lecture materials and range time.
Equipment Needed:
Quality center fire handgun (can be rented for $15+cost of ammunition)
Minimum 50 rounds of ammunition
Eye protection
Ear protection
Prerequisite:
A person attending our permit to carry class shall have a good working knowledge of their firearm and have shooting experience. The basics of shooting and pistol fundamentals is required. The qualification is a test. No single action revolvers allowed. Revolvers shall be fired from the double action mode. Lasers as well as .22 caliber/rim fired handguns are prohibited during the qualification test.
Permit Test:
5 rounds at 10′ – two-handed – 10 seconds
5 rounds at 10′ – strong hand – 10 seconds
5 rounds at 10′ – support hand – 10 seconds
5 rounds at 21′ – two-handed – 15 seconds
5 rounds at 21′ – two-handed – 15 seconds
A score of 80% is required to pass.
Handgun RDS (Red-Dot Sight)
Easily the largest advancement of the last several decades in the handgun practical shooting world, the handgun Red Dot Sight has gained dominance over other sighting systems, with the majority of modern defensive handguns being made with RDS compatibility
This 1-day class, designed for a maximum of 500 rounds fired in addition to a dry-fire component, will assist the shooter who already has solid fundamentals to adopt the markedly different techniques and aspects of the optic. We will help you overcome common struggles and avoid misconceptions while also challenging and refining the shooter who has now spent several thousand rounds with an RDS.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$309 for classroom, lecture materials and range time.
Equipment Needed:
Quality center fire handgun with RDS mounted
Minimum 500 rounds of ammunition
Eye protection / Ear protection
Appropriate belt / holster/ two magazines
Prerequisite:
A person attending this class shall have a good working knowledge of their firearm and have shooting experience. The basics of shooting and pistol fundamentals is required. This is NOT a class for the novice level shooter. An acceptable level of capability is to deliver a shot to center of mass at 10 yards from the holster in 3 seconds…..on demand, with no “warmup”. Only shooters who are accustomed to drawing from the holster on the clock should consider taking this class; this is imperative to maintain the safety of all present.
Home Defense: Shotgun Workshop
If you’ve ever thought about what you might do in a home defense situation and determined that your hunting or inherited shotgun from Grandpa would be what you relied on in time of need…..then this class is for you!!
In this class we will review: shotgun fundamentals, safety rules and nomenclature. We will discuss ammunition options, shot patterns, additional equipment and home defense tactics. Students will learn about the unique factors involved when deploying a shotgun inside the home, and we will help you prepare that trusted shotgun for the day (or night) that you hope never comes.
Bring your shotgun, 00 buckshot ammo (12, 20, 410 gauge/9 to 21 pellets) and related equipment, as well as your hearing and eye protection for range time. We will have 12 gauge buckshot available for purchase at class time if needed, but other calibers will not be available. (no birdshot or slugs allowed for this class)
Students must be at least 18 years of age.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee: $80.00 plus tax
Equipment Needed:
Shotgun in good working condition, appropriate ammunition, hearing/eye protection
Intro to AR-15
In this class we will review fundamentals, safety rules and AR nomenclature. We will discuss additional AR accessories and gear as well as firearms and the law as it pertains to home defense. Our range time will primarily be spent working on the fundamentals of AR shooting. This is just the first of several AR classes we will offer to build up your essential skills of rifle shooting.
Bring your own firearm and related equipment, 50 rounds of ammunition, as well as your hearing and eye protection for range time. We will have .223/5.56 ammunition available for purchase at class time if needed, but other calibers may not be available.
Students must be at least 18 years of age.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee: $80.00 plus tax
Equipment Needed:
AR-15, PCC or AK variance in good working condition, appropriate ammunition, hearing/eye protection.
Tactical Handgun: The Series
This series of three classes involves both classroom and range time. Students MUST attend the classes in order.
The series starts with Building the Draw. In this class, students will learn the five step process to building an effective and efficient draw. This skill set is as important as the fundamentals of marksmanship. If the time arises that you need to deploy your firearm to defend yourself or someone else, this process needs to be effective and efficient. If this skill set isn’t practiced or practiced correctly, you are leaving your life to chance.
Second in the series is Emergency Reloads/Malfunctions. In this class, students will review the five step process to building an effective and efficient draw as well as learn about emergency reloads and immediate action drills (clearing soft malfunctions) along with clearing hard malfunctions. Hard malfunctions such as a double feed or failure to extract can be the most difficult to clear, especially under stress.
The series finishes with a Live Fire class. In this class all the skills learned in the previous two classes will be put to use in a live fire setting.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee: varies per session
Equipment Needed (will vary for each class):
Building the Draw: good quality belt, we will provide all other equipment for the first class.
Emergency Reloads/Malfunctions: good quality belt, personal conceal/carry holster (must be able to re-holster your firearm with one hand), spare magazine, magazine carrier/pouch, conceal and carry handgun
Live Fire: All equipment from class #2 plus eye and ear protection, 50 rounds of ammunition
National Permit to Carry: Federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) A.K.A HR 218
This class is for honorably retired or separated law enforcement officers who would like to obtain a federal permit to carry a firearm as permitted by law. Photographic identification issued by the agency from which you retired or separated from service as a law enforcement officer is required.
*This class is held on a quarterly basis – check calendar for exact dates.
Course Fee:
$45
Equipment Needed:
Personal conceal and carry handgun
Minimum 50 rounds of ammunition
Two magazines
Eye protection
Ear protection
Refuse To Be A Victim
The Refuse To Be A Victim workshop was developed by the NRA as a crime prevention seminar. The seminar aims to teach students easy-to-understand methods you can use to increase awareness and prevent criminal confrontation. In four hours, you will learn about tools you can use to develop your own personal safety strategy, including information about: the psychology of criminal predators, home & cyber security, automobile & travel security, personal & technological security, self-defense devices & training options, and more!
Safety experts agree that you stand a much better chance of preventing criminal confrontations if you develop a safety plan before you need it and our goal is to help you get started with this process.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$55
Equipment Needed:
None
Personal Defense: Less Lethal
This Tactical Advantage personal defense class is for those who are looking for less lethal options when you cannot or simply don’t want to carry a firearm. We will focus on different options to provide you and your family with personal defense and peace of mind in those situations. A sampling of products discussed during class will include Byrna, Pepperball, Sabre, Taser and various impact weapons. We will present on multiple options as well as the advantages, disadvantages and legalities of each. We will also be demonstrating various options to allow some hands-on participation for class participants.
Find course dates and times here.
Course Fee:
$60
Equipment Needed:
None
Handgun: Accelerated Fundamentals
This class is designed for those students who have learned the fundamentals of shooting and firearms safety and are wondering, “What next? How do I get better?” We get asked this often from new shooters and designed this class with you in mind. If you have taken our Intro To Handgun and Next Steps classes, or have the equivalent skill set, then this class may be for you! We will do a basic review of firearm safety and shooting fundamentals, and then move into explanation and demonstration of different training drills that can be practiced at home and at the range to improve your skills. With these drills, you can monitor your progress and shooting proficiency with the goal of improving your accuracy and/or speed with each shooting session.
Course fee: $75 plus tax.
Equipment Needed: ear/eye protection, 100 rounds of ammunition, functioning/safe handgun, 2 magazines
Handgun Cleaning
This class is designed for those just getting started with firearm ownership and how to maintain their handgun. It is highly recommended that firearm owners read the owners manual for their firearm to learn the unique features and operation of their particular model. In this class, we will give an overview of how to takedown your firearm (general field strip) and clean the various parts as well as point out specific wear points and what to look for. Upon registration, students need to state the firearm they will be bringing to class (one per student), no black powder firearms allowed.
Course fee: $60 plus tax.
Equipment Needed: eye protection, functioning/safe handgun, minimal cleaning kit to include: CLP, cotton swabs, cleaning patches, nylon or brass bore brush, (cleaning kits will be available for sale to those who may need them)
Handgun Basics: Find The Right Fit
Learn about the various types of handguns on the market and about the process involved in making your first purchase including the required permit(s). Bring your questions about the process and receive real answers. Receive detailed explanation about the differences between pistols and revolvers, as well as the multiple trigger actions available. We will discuss and demonstrate the differences with students having the ability to test fire various models at the conclusion of class.
Course fee: $60 plus tax.
Equipment Needed: none – Students may chose to provide their own ear/eye protection, but we will provide if needed.