Thank you for a wonderful class yesterday. It was a genuine pleasure meeting Jake. He is unquestionably a very accomplished, high-level instructor who has many years of practical and competitive shooting experience and teaching skills. He has obviously trained with the very best of the best, and he himself is quite obviously the very best of the best.
Jake quickly assesses the skill level of the student, and tailors his training for that student so that at the end of training, the student is a better shooter and has a myriad of techniques that, with practice, will ensure that the student becomes a better more accurate shooter. He is obviously well focused on all aspects of shooting including the most important aspect, safety.
My only regret is that I did not get to meet Crystal. We exchanged numerous e- mails prior to the class, she was always excellent in her accuracy and communication skills and it was always a pleasure to communicate with her. All in all, after looking at all qualities of your training, it is very clear to me that the north country is very lucky to have such high level training readily available that is provided at a very low price by outstanding, talented and skillful individuals.
I will not hesitate to recommend you folks to anyone looking for training.
Best Regards, Wayne R. Urso
When preparing for Master Firearms Instructor certification I wanted to some "advanced" coaching, I chose Jake and Crystal at Raven. Their massive experience, technical knowledge and excellent coaching methods are second to none, anywhere. As an experienced firearms instructor I will continue to visit Raven to learn and enjoy the experience these great guys provide, I highly recommend that you do too.
I can’t recommend Raven Firearms Training highly enough. I went with my wife, mother, brother, cousin, and a buddy, novices all.
Jake and Crystal showed us the ropes, starting with a briefing on the types of weapons we’d be using, moving on to best practices regarding safe handling and muzzle direction awareness. If there is one facet of the Pelletiers’ approach to firearms instruction that stands out, it’s their total commitment to safety. They are very aware of what their students are doing and how they’re doing it, which, as a newbie, put me completely at ease. These two are pro’s pros.
All that said, for all their seriousness, they share a great sense of humor and they make the entire process a blast (no pun intended). We engaged in a wide variety of shooting exercises that, while emphasizing the very basics of gun handling and marksmanship, never descended into tedium.
They are also super helpful above and beyond: when my wife’s Ruger .22 started jamming, Crystal put it through its paces, testing it with magazines of her own. They agreed to contact Ruger and handle the return for factory servicing on our behalf.
I swear, I feel like I’ve made friends for life, and I truly hope that’s the case.
Seriously, I cannot wait to go shooting with them again and I know my family feels the same way.
Just got home from taking the Women's Intro to Handguns course. I loved it. As someone who has no experience around guns Crystal could not have made my sister and I feel more comfortable and secure. I have found a new hobby and will probably be taking more courses soon I hope.
I went to the Women's Intro To Handguns Training yesterday. It was fantastic! I can't wait to go back! Crystal and the rest of the instructors are patient and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful experience! Thanks!
I highly recommend the women's intro to handguns class for any female with minimal to no experience with handguns! Crystal is an excellent instructor with knowledge and professionalism that makes you feel empowered and educated when it comes to handgun use. I no longer feel uncomfortable with guns and have a good working knowledge of pistols, it was a good working environment and open to questions.
Great Introduction to Handguns class! so grateful there is a class for a person like myself who has never been comfortable around firearms. Instructor was clear and patient and provided instruction that helped build my confidence. Thanks for everything! I learned so much today!
HIGHLY recommend. I took a private 4 hour Self Defense Skills A class with Crystal today. She has a fantastic gift for teaching- I had some training issues that she identified and helped me to work towards fixing and she did it with the perfect balance of encouragement and straight talk. Having just finished the Basic Handgun Skills class with Sig Sauer Academy I expected to train with Raven in between SS classes, but after today Raven will become my main school. I felt I got even more out of her 4 hour class than I did in an 8 hour class with SS and I learned a lot in that class as well so it is saying a lot. Very impressed and can't wait for my next class.
If anyone seeks to truly understand what it takes to properly protect oneself and one’s family, I strongly recommend training with Jake Pelletier. I was honored to have him as a partner in a class, and witnessed his abilities firsthand alongside one of the best instructors around.
I met Jake Pelletier in the cleaning room at the Sig Sauer Academy and we enjoyed quality discussions. I was intrigued by his philosophy and felt a need to “try out” this instructor. I was struck with how Jake began the instruction: disassembling and cleaning the weapon – at that time an AR. He was insistent one commence an introduction to the weapon by cleaning the weapon. What better way?
Later that day, Jake conducted drills and I was mesmerized by his veritable ambidexterity with a rifle; seemingly instinctual, yet he articulated the how and why being ambidextrous with any weapon system is vital.
There are many well-qualified instructors, yet at Raven they live it, day-in and day-out.
Crystal at Raven Firearms Training set up a 1 on 1 pistol class for my 13 year old daughter this week. I can't say enough about how accommodating, professional and safe Crystal was with arranging and conducting the class. Her down to earth approach and friendly personality made us feel very comfortable. Crystal knows her subject matter thoroughly and presents it in manageable steps. It was obvious she was gauging my daughter's progress and would only advance when she felt that "all the building blocks were in a row". There was a large selection of pistols and revolvers to try out. This would help someone in deciding what direction to go if purchasing a handgun, as well as expanding one's knowledge of what is available to modern shooters. The range facilities were clean and well maintained. Even the picnic tables adorned with military olive drab paint and RFT logo were spiffy and clean. Nice touch!
When finances allow, I will be back for some instruction myself. Hopefully I will get a chance to meet Jake. Crystal and Jake have put together a quality product. We are very fortunate to have instruction of this caliber (pun intended) available to us here in the North Country. The low rates they charge make it affordable for the average person. If anybody is thinking about taking a firearms safety/skills course, this is the place. You will not regret the investment.
As former U.S. Marines, I want to thank Jake and Crystal for their service to our Country. This is one business that local communities will be happy to support. Keep up the great work.
Great day at the range today! "If it ain't raining, we ain't training", was the mindset of today's evolution. As a OIF veteran and veteran police officer, I highly recommend Raven Firearms Training as I have been able to sharpen my skills and learn new skills. "Si vis pacem para bellum", RLTW!
I registered for the intro class because I wanted to learn how to use a gun and feel safe around them. I learned more in one class than I could have imagined. The class was small and personal which made everyone able to describe what they were looking to get out of the class. Crystal (our instructor) was knowledgeable, professional and patient with us (no such thing as a stupid question kind of patient). I was able to shoot several different types of guns which allowed me to know which ones I felt most comfortable with and would want to purchase in the future. If you are looking for a course that starts from scratch go to the Intro Course at Raven Firearms Training. I can tell you that I will be taking many of the other courses that they offer.
My training experience was great! Crystal was the ultimate professional. Extremely patient, made me feel comfortable despite my lack of knowledge and experience. Well worth it!!!! Raven firearm rocks! thanks.
Had a great experience. Highly recommend.
Learned a lot and really enjoyed the Women's Handgun course on May 4th!
Thank you for the wonderful one-on-one handgun training yesterday. What a productive and informative session! You obviously have a tremendously high level of expertise and experience with handguns and with instructional methods. Even though I have handled firearms in the past I was not comfortable with my handgun abilities. Your teaching style and patience improved my skills and confidence a lot. I really appreciate the emphasis on safety, too! I am looking forward to bringing my daughters for your training in the future. Many thanks again.
I am a woman 71 years old. Never fired a firearm before. In fact I was very afraid of them. Crystal and Jake were so ultimately professional and so extremely patient they made me comfortable despite my lack of knowledge and inexperience. Safety was always top priority. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn about gun safety and to become more comfortable around them. This is so very important for women of all ages. Thank you Crystal and Jake
Raven Firearms Training is, in a word, excellent. I went into the intro to handgun class with no background knowledge. I am amazed at all that I was able to learn in the span of a four hours. Crystal was knowledgeable, patient, and thorough in her presentation of the material. Safety was stressed. All the instructors were extremely helpful in the shooting part of the course. I came away feeling confident in the basic skills I learned, with a desire to learn more. The level of expertise of these instructors was evident. I highly recommend Raven Firearms Training!