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AR15.COM
5/21/2025 7:14:30 PM EDT
Do any of you OG California guys remember a firearms training group/class from the 1990's where you got a pistol as part of going to the course? I was just talking with an old LEO buddy of mine about reputable firearms training courses and I seem to recall that there was one from back then that was in Southern California. I used to see their ads in gun magazines, but I can't for the life of me remember which one it was. My buddy seemed to think it was Front Sight.

If I remember correctly, the pistol was paid for with the fee for the class. You trained with the pistol in class and then at the end of the course, it would be shipped to an FFL where ever you lived.

Anyone recall if this was ever an actual thing?
"This would have never happened at Black Mesa"

“So shines a good deed in a weary world”
5/27/2025 11:26:29 PM EDT
[#1]
Front Sight has always been in NV. Best handgun training I'd gone through. Well above what the academy provided back in the 80's. Too bad they went into chapter 11. Our memberships became worthless after that...  
5/28/2025 12:20:53 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Blowout:
Front Sight has always been in NV. Best handgun training I'd gone through. Well above what the academy provided back in the 80's. Too bad they went into chapter 11. Our memberships became worthless after that...  
View Quote


I have an old LEO buddy that had a membership with them before they went into Chapter 11. I have done a little more digging and found an old ad from their company. I'm not sure when this deal was offered, but it was the one that I was originally thinking of:

Front Sight Pistol Training Deal
"This would have never happened at Black Mesa"

“So shines a good deed in a weary world”
5/28/2025 12:44:26 AM EDT
[#3]
You might be thinking of the old Leather Slap Competitions that guys like Cooper and Weaver participated in and developed the ""modern method" of handgun fighting.  

My folks had a cabin in Big Bear and I remember folks taking about the competitions.  I didn't understand much of the talk but none of the locals really gave it much attention.
"Go low, go slow and preferrably in the dark", the old Sarge.

"Every man needs at least one good rifle and know how to use it," Dad.
7/30/2025 10:27:44 PM EDT
[#4]
I went to 5 or 6 classes at Front Sight over the years. As noted, they were eventually sold due to bankruptcy.

Reopened as Prarie Fire. I don’t have any info on that org, but recently learned they have now “rebranded” (sold again? Or something else?) as Staccato Vegas. Presumably associated with Staccato firearms.
8/21/2025 1:16:35 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Blowout:
Front Sight has always been in NV. Best handgun training I'd gone through. Well above what the academy provided back in the 80's. Too bad they went into chapter 11. Our memberships became worthless after that...  
View Quote


They weren't always in Pahrump. They started with classes in SoCal and then moved to Pahrump.
12/13/2025 3:09:03 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote History
Originally Posted By GarrettJ:
I went to 5 or 6 classes at Front Sight over the years. As noted, they were eventually sold due to bankruptcy.

Reopened as Prarie Fire. I don't have any info on that org, but recently learned they have now "rebranded" (sold again? Or something else?) as Staccato Vegas. Presumably associated with Staccato firearms.
View Quote
Did realize Prariefire was defunked already... that was a short run.  My antivirus SW blocks a lot of the content in the Staccato website.
12/13/2025 3:11:01 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Originally Posted By cmeyer001:
They weren't always in Pahrump. They started with classes in SoCal and then moved to Pahrump.
View Quote
Didn't realize that. Recall where the training was located in SoCal?
1/5/2026 10:33:22 AM EDT
[#8]
Front Sight.  When we (the wife and I) signed up, it was around 2003 and was in Pahrump, NV.  Choice of pistol was either a 1911 (Springfield) or Glock, and we went with the 1911 option.

Paid off the fees over a year, and when it came time to take the course, the 1911 had turned into an XD45.  I didn't mind so much, but the wife hated hers.

I had heard over the years (mainly through ARFcom) that the guy running it back then was kind of sleazy.  I don't remember his name, but in my mind he kinda looked like Borat.
On Wednesdays we wear steel.
7/13/2026 5:57:49 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Blowout:
Didn't realize that. Recall where the training was located in SoCal?
View Quote


When Chuck Taylor owned it, I believed it was in the Bakersfield area. I remembered that it was in the desert area.
9/9/2026 8:11:41 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Sixtigers:

I had heard over the years (mainly through ARFcom) that the guy running it back then was kind of sleazy.  I don't remember his name, but in my mind he kinda looked like Borat.
View Quote


Ignatius "Nate" Piazza.

I shot some promo videos for them back in 2004-05 when they were trying to sell lots for a community development project.
Took some free courses. Pretty good training.

He was also involved in Scientology and rumor was he was a bit of a scammer.
Not sure if true, but they ran a good training facility back then.
9/17/2026 6:50:10 PM EDT
[#11]
It was AWESOME, I went north of 20 times and had a great time each time. I was sad to see it go, but Staccato Vegas has REALLY redone it. Way better classes, nicer clubhouse, it's very good. No unlimited though :(

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