Your unfiltered source for Front Sight related news.

4-Day Practical Rifle

Front Sight Course Review

Ryan L.

Editor's Note: This is a review for the 4 Day Practical Rifle Course class offered at Front Sight.
  • 4 Day Practical Rifle

  • Student: Ryan L.
  • Occupation: Sr. Network Engineer
  • Weapon: AR-15
  • Rounds Fired: 480 rounds
  • Number Course Taken: 5 times
  • Student Rating: 9/10
  • Course: Front Sight
How many times have you taken this course?

This was my first time taking the Practical Rifle Course. I have previously taken handgun and shotgun courses.

What were your reasons for taking this specific course?

I believe if you own a firearm, you need to be able to operate it in a safe manner.  I wanted to learn the safety and handling of the AR-15 weapon system so I am more comfortable owning one.

General Comments

I liked the structure of the course. We started off with basic safety and handling instruction and then each lesson just kept building on the previous.

It rained the first 2 days but we were still able to continue. There were a couple moments when it got really cold and became uncomfortable, but the majority of the time it was fine.

Our head instructor, Jamie, kept the course entertaining and he did a great job of moving the course along. He also did an excellent job in explaining the topics.

All the support staff also was very helpful. They pointed out many of my bad habits and made the necessary corrections. They answered all of my questions that I had.

As the course moved along, I became more and more comfortable with the AR-15 weapon system. My goal of being able to handle this platform safely was achieved by the end the class.

Did you go through the shoot house? What were your thoughts about it?

We went through the M-16 canyon and it was fun. It was a great learning experience.  When the extra stress was introduced, some basic fundamentals were thrown out the window. 

Do you have any tips for first-time students of this course?

Ask a lot of questions on any topics you don’t fully understand.  Take your time through the drills, dont rush.

How would you improve this course?

I have no complaints about this course.  I thought it was run perfectly.

Would you suggest this course to others?

Yes, anyone who ones a rifle of some sort and those who is considering of owning one should definitely take this course.

Did you go with family or friends? If so, what did they think about the course?

I went with my girlfriend and she loved the course. Because of the course, she loves her AR-15 more now. She is very comfortable in handling her gun now and is confident if she needs to clear any type of malfunctions.

How did you get there?

We drove from San Diego, California.

Where did you stay?

We stayed at the Saddle West in Pahrump.

Did you go with family or friends? If so, what did they think about the course?

We brought our own ammo which we had purchased online.

What did you do for your lunches?

We purchased our lunches at the lunch truck the first two days.  For the last 2, we purchased some food at the local grocery stores and just brought it in a cooler.

Any Dinner suggestions?

Mama’s Kitchen and Ohjah.

What other courses are you planning to take in the future?

2 day Rifle Skill Builder, 4 day Tactical Shotgun, 2 day Handgun Skill Builder