- Home
- The Range
- Hours/Contact Us
- The Public-Visitors
- Memberships
- Members Only Information
- Local Instructors at Ares
- Concealed Permit Classes
- Upcoming Classes Info
- Info for Instructors
- Ares Arms Gun Rentals
- Events and Calendar
- Photo Gallery
- Hotels-Dining-Airports
- Gun Stores-Gear-Discounts
- Charities We Support
- Shooting Clubs/2A Groups
Firearms Training and Florida Concealed Carry Classes
Ares Firearms Training - Where it all started!
Trae Johnson started Ares Firearms Training over a decade ago by teaching Concealed Carry Permit Classes and firearms lessons. Now, Trae is a certified NRA Training Counselor. Trae would let family, friends, and students come out and shoot on the weekends. His wife, Julie, joined him as a NRA Certified Instructor almost 10 years ago. Over the years the range has continued to grow. Now Trae and Julie manage the family owned and operated family friendly training facility.
Now we are able to offer Gun Trials and Gun Experiences! Trae will let you shoot a variety of guns, whether it's trying concealed carry guns before you buy or full-auto machine guns and a .50 cal Barrett!
Instructors From All Over
We offer Instructors a place to train and teach their skills. Instructors and students come from other states and countries to train at Ares Training Facility in Leesburg, FL. We offer a separate area for training classes of all different disciplines. Whether you want to feel more confident drawing from a concealment holster, or you want to be ready if you are ever faced with an active shooter situation, we have an instructor and a class for you.
Local Instructors
We have local instructors that have chosen to make Ares Training Facility their home range because they love it so much. You might see them at our special events, competitions, and as Range Safety Officers when they aren't instructing.
If you are an instructor and looking for a range that is training friendly, check out our page for instructors.
We have a separate range just for instructors to offer larger vigorous classes, or pocket berms for smaller classes and private lessons.
Suppressed Fest 2023
Hearing Protection Optional!
Regular Range Operations will be CLOSED for event. Ticketed guests only.
Visiting Instructors & upcoming classes
Project Appleseed Marksmanship Classes
History. Heritage. Marksmanship.
At Project Appleseed™, we’re dedicated to keeping these timeless values alive. We promote civic responsibility through the teaching of colonial history and the American tradition of rifle marksmanship. Even after all of these years, there is much to be learned from our forefathers’ examples of perseverance, commitment, and civic virtue. With a full calendar of shooting clinics and events, Project Appleseed is here to make sure these timeless principles live on for generations to come.
Our events are typically two-day programs that teach the rifle marksmanship skills that were once commonly practiced in America. Our Instructors put in nearly 200 hours of training so they can teach the skills that will one day allow a Rifleman to be accurate out to 500 yards. This distance is known as the traditional “Rifleman’s Quarter Mile” and has been part of America’s marksmanship repertoire since our country’s earliest days.
During breaks, we’ll tell you the true story of the earliest days of our nation, including the detailed events of April 19, 1775. You may be surprised by what you hear.
Whether you’ve never fired a rifle before or you’re already a competitive shooter, no one who comes to a Project Appleseed event ever leaves the same. The new skills, history, and friendships are inspiring and life-changing.
March 18-19, 2023
May 20-21, 2023
Sept 9-10, 2023
Dec. 9-10, 2023
Onsight Firearms Training
Pistol Skill Builder
(with our own Sasquatch Tactical)
$200
October 13, 2023
https://oftllc.us/event/pistol-skill-builder-30/
Defensive Pistol, Cover and Concealment, Close Quarters Skills
$200
October 14, 2023
https://oftllc.us/event/defensive-pistol-cover-concealment-close-quarter-skills/
Defensive Pistol Accuracy & Accountability
January 13, 2024
Survival Carbine
January 14, 2024
More details to come and click the link below to visit Onsight's website.
Rogue Methods
Rogue Methods offers simplified and effective training designed to increase your knowledge, capabilities and sustained survivability.
When Rogue Methods visits Ares they offer classes such as Low Profile Pistol, Low Profile Carbine, and Close Contact Gunfighter.
Dates of Upcoming Classes:
February 10-11, 2024
October 5-6, 2024
More details to come and click link below to visit Rogue Methods' website.
Rune Nation
Ian, with Rune Nation, believes that words need to mean something instead of being used just for filler. Noise. You're getting a two-way street of conversation. Discourse. Which in turn blooms into growth of the self.
Upcoming Class Dates:
February 24-25, 2024
Click the link below to visit Rune Nation's website.
Tremis Dynamics
Dynamic Pistol 2 Day Class
This is an intermediate-level class designed to break the static range mindset. Gunfights are a dynamic experience. Training for one should be done that way as well. We will emphasize a lot of movement, lots and lots of movement. In addition, we will be reviewing fundamental shooting skills, drawing, shooting with either hand, multiple targets, and more in a variety of drills that stress realism and will challenge your decision-making. You will learn techniques for using your gun from contact distance out to 30+ yards, ground fighting, post-fight actions, and a little bit of stress inoculation in order to gain the confidence and mindset to not only survive but thrive with the use of your pistol.
September 22-23, 2023
https://tremisdynamics.com/collections/classes/products/dynamic-pistol?variant=42305888616623
Click link below to visit Tremis Dynamics' website.
Teknical Methodz
June, July and August classes are posted online.
Click link below to visit Teknical Methodz website for more information and to sign up for classes.
Sasquatch Tactical
JUNE 24 PISTOL 1
9AM-5PM
JUNE 25 WOMAN’S DEFENSIVE PISTOL
10AM-3PM
AUG 26 PISTOL 1
9AM-5PM
AUG 27 CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT
10AM-3 PM
SEPT 23 PISTOL 1
9AM -5 PM
SEPT 24 EVERYDAY CARRY FUNDAMENTALS
10 AM-3 PM
Combat Art Training
Classes are posted until the end of the year on the website.
Click link below to see schedule.
Local Instructors that Teach at Ares
These instructors teach primarily at Ares Training Facility
These instructors each operate their own businesses independent of each other and the range. They choose to be at Ares so they can teach the dynamic expert level of training they can’t offer anywhere else local. Other ranges just aren’t conducive to training like moving while shooting or holster work.
I highly recommend any of the instructors that come to Ares to teach. I recommend visiting their websites and talking to them before choosing one. They all teach different classes and techniques, and have different personalities. Their prices are probably different too.
US Women's Shooting Academy
Sarah Williamson is our Lead Instructor with decades of shooting and teaching experience. She is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, Certified Range Safety Officer, and certified to teach "Refuse To Be a Victim", an award winning NRA program. Sarah is a competition shooter in speed pistol, Precision Rifle Series (PRS), Rim fire and Bullseye. Sarah is constantly training to improve her shooting skills. Friends and family ask why she trains so hard.
"I don't train for the probability of an attack. I train for the possibility. Statistically, it is very unlikely that I will ever need to defend myself or others. But, just in case I ever face an armed assailant looking for an unfair fight, I intend to give him an unfair fight.
It is understood that when seconds matter, the Police are minutes away. In a self-defense situation, when my life may be on the line, I am the first defender. The Police will respond shortly to make sure the matter is under control and begin their investigation." - Sarah Williamson
Sasquatch Tactical
Aaron “Sasquatch” Hilderbrandt is a retired Cavalry Scout in the United States Army with multiple combat deployments.
During his decorated military career, Aaron discovered and honed a passion for the importance of gun safety and proficiency. That passion fueled the motivation to create Sasquatch Tactical, a firearms training & certification service. Sasquatch Tactical works with beginner shooters to advanced tacticians.
352-630-5271
Teknical Methodz
Joel “Tek” Martinez is a certified instructor offering CCW classes and multi-level courses for new and experienced concealed carry shooters. Classes include, but are not limited to, drawing from holster and target acquisition, carbine fundamentals, rifle to pistol transition, and moving and shooting courses.
Private and group classes available. For bookings, contact Joel through any of the details provided. You can also follow Joel on Instagram at @teknicalmethodz
Se Habla Español.
Joel Martinez
NRA certified instructor I Teknical Methodz
718-877-7546
teknicalmethodz@gmail.com
Instagram: @teknicalmethodz
Paladin Response
We focus on developing our client’s ability to utilize critical thinking under stress in tandem with body mechanics and fundamentals of marksmanship and firearms handling. With customized communication plans tailored to the specific training needs of our clients, we are able to translate content into language that is easily understood and minimize roadblocks to learning. John Eynouf was a Ranger qualified paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has served as a Protective Security Specialists (PSS) member and Vehicle Commander assigned to the Quick Reaction Force team on Task Order 9 in Kabul, Afghanistan for two years.
407-216-6440
Combat Art Training
YouTube link. Combat Art Training, offers gunfight oriented training for new shooters, experienced shooters, and those who carry guns professionally. Private training and regularly scheduled classes available. Subscribe to their YouTube channel to get to know Combat Art Training.
Reptilian Response
Reptilian Response is a Veteran owned and operated Training and Services Organization dedicated to building awareness, readiness, and preparedness in our communities. Reptilian Response is a labor of love for Peter 'Florida Leadslinger' Roman, with over a decade of LE and Military training experience working around the globe, Peter has taken his experiences and passion for security operations, firearms technology, and defensive tactics back to his community in hopes to continue to serve by creating responsibly armed Americans capable of being their own first responders, defending their loved ones, and preserving life. If we fail to prepare, we prepare to fail and when the time comes we will not rise to the occasion, but default to our lowest level of training. "Train to React, React to Defend"
Force 4 Training - John Gardner
We offer a variety of courses designed to meet the needs of our students whether they are military personnel, law enforcement, advanced or beginning shooters. We are a group of highly-trained, prior law enforcement, military operators, and security personnel with extensive applicable life experiences. Our philosophy follows in line with the Combat Triad. This includes having the mindset for self-defense, being able to confidently and effectively use your equipment, and utilize appropriate tactics. These three provide you with the best opportunity for self-defense in a survival situation.
Training Solutions
Mike Jackson offers classes covering Concealed Weapon License, Rifle and Pistol drills, New Firearms Owners Workshop, Kids Firearms Safety , Firearms Cleaning and Maintenance, Defensive Carbine, and Defensive Pistol.
912-275-0510
US Minders Security Services and Training
U.S. Minders is a company that specializes in offering commercial, residential, and personal security in Florida. Our company was founded by Jan Lagerquist, a state-certified firearm instructor and seasoned consultant in the field of security. We take pride in strictly following a code that drives our team to work with the highest degree of integrity.
Jan Lagerquist is a highly sought-after security consultant all throughout the Southeast. He gained a solid reputation in the industry upon serving the U.S. Navy for five years wherein he spent most of his time in the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf. In addition to that, he also worked in the Executive Protection community for more than 15 years.
Ronin Tactical Solutions
Since our founding, Ronin Tactical Solutions has had the opportunity to help countless students acquire foundational skills, develop new techniques and confidently move forward in their learning journey. Our main goal is and always will be to teach real self defense for real world attacks and to make sure every student is proficient in every aspect of combat.
Cover Your 6
NRA Counselor teaches NRA
Instructor & RSO Certification Classes
Cover your 6 shooting provides firearms training that is designed to deliver a knowledge-based understanding of the core shooting fundamentals and principles. We teach advanced techniques that all levels of shooters can adapt to. Students will learn how to become safer and more proficient while staying Efficient, Accurate, and Consistent. We do our best to offer classes on a regular basis throughout the month and we also offer the ability to book private training sessions. We are based out of Orlando, FL, but travel nation wide to provide quality training.