Front Sight was one of the best-known civilian firearms schools of the 2000s. This entry from After Action.net’s Front Sight series summarizes how the school described its own mission when After Action.net trained there in 2006.
School overview
- Founder and director: Dr. Ignatius Piazza
- Founded: April 1996, with ten students in a two-day defensive handgun course on leased land near Bakersfield, California
- Campus: later moved to a 550-acre site in Pahrump, Nevada, near Las Vegas
- Courses: handgun, shotgun, rifle and submachine gun, plus martial arts, edged and contact weapons, mental awareness, defensive driving and youth safety
The school’s stated approach
- Teach the most proven real-world techniques in the most efficient way, with positive reinforcement and friendly correction instead of boot camp or drill sergeant attitudes.
- Serve students from first-time gun owners to those training toward a master level.
- By its own account, Front Sight trained more students each year than any other civilian school in the country, built largely on word-of-mouth referrals.
Notes
- Statements here are the school’s own description from 2006, not independent findings. The school later went through bankruptcy proceedings; check its current status before planning a visit.
- The experience of actually training there is in the rest of the series: First Time at Front Sight, Front Sight Training, Training Courses, Training Facilities and Training Lectures.
Takeaways
- A school’s philosophy shows in how it treats beginners. Look for positive coaching, not intimidation.
- See How to Choose a Training Class for what else to check before you book.
Originally published on After Action.net on November 28, 2006. Rebuilt from the archived page; the original photos were not preserved. See every class in the Training Log, or share your own training experience.
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