Mesa, AZ · Beginner handgun training
Basic Handgun class
for first-time shooters.
Learn to shoot safely and confidently with NRA-certified instructors: grip, stance, sight alignment and trigger control, then your first 50 rounds downrange with one-on-one coaching.
Reserve your seatSee course details
$95
2-hour class
5:45 PM
Wednesday evenings
Up to 6
Students per class
50
Rounds of coached live fire
The course
Course details
One 2-hour beginner class: classroom fundamentals, dry-fire practice, then live fire on our indoor range with one-on-one coaching.
Classroom + range · No prerequisite
Basic Handgun
$95
2 hours · Wednesdays 5:45 PM
The right first step for new shooters and new gun owners. We start with safety and fundamentals in the classroom, practice with an empty firearm, then put it all together on the range.
- Firearm safety rules and range etiquette
- Grip, stance, sight alignment and trigger control
- Dry-fire practice before live fire
- 50 rounds of live fire with one-on-one coaching
- No experience or firearm needed
Why start here
Learn to shoot right the first time
The 2-hour Basic Handgun class at Guns 2 Ammo in Mesa costs $95 and runs Wednesday evenings at 5:45 PM.
Most bad habits (a flinch, a death grip, a jerked trigger) start on day one without a coach. Basic Handgun teaches the fundamentals before those habits set in, in a small class where an instructor is right beside you on the line.
Whether you just bought your first handgun, are thinking about buying one, or want to rebuild your basics before a CCW class, this is the place to start in the East Valley.
Safety from minute one
Every student learns the universal firearm safety rules and our range rules before touching a firearm, so you stay comfortable and in control the whole time.
One-on-one on the line
Classes are capped at six students, and live fire is coached one-on-one by an NRA-certified instructor who corrects your grip, stance and trigger press in real time.
Nothing to buy first
We provide the handgun, and eye and ear protection are available at check-in. Shoot before you buy and leave knowing what fits your hand.
A path to carrying
Basic Handgun is the natural first step before our Arizona CCW class and Defensive Pistol course, so you build skills in the right order.
The curriculum
What the class covers
Two hours, built for beginners: patient, hands-on and judgment-free. Every student leaves with the same six fundamentals covered:
Firearm safety rules
The universal safety rules, safe muzzle direction, and how to handle a handgun around other people at home and on the range.
Handgun types and ammunition
Semi-automatics vs. revolvers, how they work, and matching the right ammunition to your firearm.
Grip and stance
A firm, consistent grip and a balanced stance that tame recoil and make every shot more repeatable.
Sight alignment and trigger control
Lining up the sights and pressing the trigger smoothly: the two skills that decide where your shots land.
Loading, unloading and malfunctions
Safely loading and unloading, and clearing the common malfunctions you might run into.
Live fire: 50 rounds
Put it all together on our indoor range, with an instructor coaching you one-on-one through your first 50 rounds.
After class
Your next steps after Basic Handgun
Basic Handgun gives you the foundation. Here is how students keep building, from your seat in our Mesa classroom to a confident shooter:
01
Practice on our range
Book a lane and put the fundamentals to work while they are fresh. Walk-ins are welcome.
02
Rent before you buy
Try different handguns from our rental counter to find the one that fits you before you buy.
03
Join as a member
Members always shoot free and save 10% on every course.
04
Get your Arizona CCW
Our 4-hour CCW class handles your DPS paperwork and fingerprints in class.
05
Level up: Defensive Pistol
Stress-fire drills, multiple targets and low-light skills for confident carriers.
Who's teaching
Your instructors
Every Basic Handgun class at Guns 2 Ammo is taught by NRA-certified instructors who teach this material weekly, not occasionally. Safety-first, question-friendly, and zero ego. Students drive in from Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and across the East Valley for a reason.
Nicholas Steigert
Lead firearms instructor
Over a decade of firearms training and real-world operational experience, including multiple combat deployments with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. Direct but approachable, Nicholas builds confident, capable shooters from first-timers to advanced students.
NRA certifiedUSMC 3/7 veteran
Alan Olson
Firearms instructor
Retired Mesa Police Department firearms instructor with multiple decades of experience training new and seasoned shooters. Calm, professional, and grounded in real-world law-enforcement accountability.
NRA certifiedRet. Mesa PD instructor
Common questions
Basic Handgun FAQ
The class is $95 ($85.50 for members) and runs 2 hours, Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:45 PM.
Yes. Basic Handgun is built for complete beginners. We start with safety in the classroom and only move to the range once you are comfortable, with an instructor beside you the whole time.
A valid government-issued photo ID, closed-toe shoes and a high-neck shirt (hot brass policy). Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in, and no alcohol before class.
No. We provide the handgun, and eye and ear protection are available at check-in. If you own a handgun and want to train with it, just ask us.
Up to six. Live fire is coached one-on-one, so you get personal attention. Prefer a completely private lesson? See our private instruction.
Most students move on to our Arizona CCW class, then Defensive Pistol. Practicing on our range between classes helps the fundamentals stick.
Basic Handgun registration
Reserve your Basic Handgun seat
Wednesday classes are booked on our class calendar. For a group booking or a question about dates, send a request below and our team will confirm by phone or email, usually within one business day. Guns 2 Ammo · 6030 E Main St, Suite 103, Mesa, AZ 85205.
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