Bristlecone Shooting has made firearms education a core focus. We believe safety, firearms familiarity, and skills improvement are paramount for anyone looking to participate in the shooting sports or incorporate firearms in to their personal and home defense strategy. Bristlecone has created a non-intimidating environment and employs only certified instructors to teach the wide variety of classes they offer. The facility has two training classrooms that include state-of-the-art virtual training simulators and enough seating to comfortably accommodate up to 70 students.
From group classes and private training sessions, to free seminars and non-firearms classes, our calendar is full of educational opportunities that will fit any goal (look for classes specifically for women, youth and seniors).
Below you’ll find detailed class descriptions, but you may also contact us to learn more.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made in writing (info@bristleconeshooitng.com) or by phone at 303.985.0989.
Student substitutions can be made at any time.
Cancellations received more than 72 hours prior to the class – students will be eligible for a full refund or may transfer (moving the participant(s) to another class within a three-month period).
Cancellations received within the 24 to 72-hour window prior to the class – students will not be eligible for a refund, but will be eligible for a one-time class transfer (moving the participant(s) to another class within a three-month period), for $25 rescheduling fee.
Cancellations received less than 24 hours prior to the class or failure to attend the class -students will not receive a refund, nor will they be eligible for a class transfer. This includes weather-related, last minute cancellations.
Students should understand that instructors and range time are reserved predicated upon class participation. Bristlecone reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes at any time. If classes are canceled or rescheduled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, you are entitled to a full refund. If a class is canceled you will be notified via the email address you provided during registration. Please make sure we have up to date contact information prior to attending the course. Bristlecone is not responsible for any travel fees or expenses incurred related to your registration if a class is cancelled.
This Comprehensive Safety Course is designed to give you a solid foundation on which to build as you explore the practical side of handguns. Whether you have never held a gun before, or have done some shooting and want to refine your basic skills, this class will help you start strong and gain confidence in your ability to handle a firearm safely. You will learn: Firearms Safety Rules, Pistol Actions, Ammunition Nomenclature, How to Load and Clear a Pistol, How to Select and Store your Pistol and much more. Classroom and Live Fire Range.
Pre-requisites: None
Recommended equipment:
- Handgun
- 50 Rounds of ammunition
- Hearing and Eye protection
If you don’t have the recommended equipment, we offer equipment rental onsite. Ammunition must be purchased separately. Minimum number of students (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled/ rescheduled.
4 Hours $125
The Fundamentals of Home Defense Handgun Course is designed to educate the student about the handguns that are best for personal defense and how to use them efficiently in the context of a home defense scenario. Although this class was designed with those new to firearms in mind, anyone with handgun experience who wants more specific information on handguns in home defense scenarios is welcome to attend. During this 6 hour course, students will be introduced to various home defense handgun options and learn the fundamentals of defensive shooting through classroom and live fire range time. Home defense tactics, safe storage and staging, as well as appropriate law enforcement response and incident aftermath will be covered. Students will have the opportunity to test their skills in the context of a staged home defense scenario on the range at the end of class.
Pre-requisites: None
Recommended equipment:
- Defensive Handgun (modern striker fire preferred)
- 100 Rounds of ammunition
- Hearing and Eye protection
- Range appropriate clothing (No shorts or open toed shoes). Equipment rental package available for $10. This includes a handgun and magazines. Minimum number of students (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled / rescheduled.
If you don’t have the recommended equipment, we offer equipment rental onsite. Ammunition must be purchased separately. Minimum number of students (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled/ rescheduled.
6-7 Hours $150
After completing this course, you will exceed all of the State of Colorado’s requirements to apply for a CCW Permit. This course is designed to educate students about the firearms best for concealed carry, how to carry them safely and securely, and how to use them efficiently in the context of a dynamic critical incident. This six hour course introduces new shooters to some of the core basics of the Defensive Focus® Shooting program, as well as aspects of handgun ownership and other basic information geared towards the new handgun owner. Firearm safety, holster selection, as well as alternate force options, interacting with law enforcement and the aftermath of an incident. 3 hours classroom, 3 hours on the range – including drill and scenario based training in the live fire environment.
Pre-requisites: None
Required equipment:
- Medium size semi auto pistol (pistols can be rented from Bristlecone, or students may bring their own)
- Minimum of 100 rounds of ammunition
- Eye and ear protection
- Pen and paper for notes.
If you don’t have the recommended equipment, we offer equipment rental onsite. Ammunition must be purchased separately. Minimum number of students (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled/ rescheduled.
6 Hours $135
What our students say:
“I originally signed up for the Women’s Only CCW class but was offered the opportunity to sign up for the pilot class for the CCW Reality-Based training. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this class, however it exceeded any expectations I had. Not only was it educational, but it was fun and taught by a great team of instructors.
The class was great for shooters with all levels of experience. Being a novice shooter, I was apprehensive at first. However, the class was far from intimidating, and the instructors ensured that everyone was comfortable. The Reality-Based training allowed for me to help reinforce the theories learned in class.
I encourage women who are looking for a great class to learn how to shoot and want to obtain their CCW to sign up for this class. I took Women’s Intro to Pistol before this class and I recommend that class too. Thank you Bristlecone for your awesome instructors!
Darla H.”
- Defensive handgun
- 3 magazines
- Appropriate strong side holster
- Magazine carrier
- 400 rounds of ammunition
- Sturdy belt
- Eye and ear protection. Attire for this course is range appropriate clothing. (Please, no shorts, no open toed shoes).
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Tired of training on a static range? Check out what Bristlecone is doing to incorporate cutting edge Scenario Based Training techniques to bring you the best possible training opportunities in the Denver Metro area.
Bristlecone Scenario Based Training and the Bristlecone Shoot House
What is Scenario Based Training?
Scenario Based Training is the latest firearms training technique available at the civilian level. Emotionally charged and realistic scenarios are used to test and evaluate how students deal with rapid information processing and decision making with a firearm under stress. At Bristlecone, we use Simunitions (need trademark symbol)-converted live firearms and corresponding ammunition, protective gear, holsters and other environment specific aids to give students a safe and realistic experience. Students will get a practical sense of their response to concealed carry situations when their adrenalin is high and they are required to call upon their previous training to respond.
What is a Shoot House?
The Bristlecone Shoot House is a 360 (degree sign) environment designed specifically for Scenario Based Training with realistic live Simunition firearms and ammunition. It gives students an opportunity to hone their skills in a venue that approaches real world conditions. The Bristlecone Shoot House has moveable walls, furniture and appliances that can be arranged to create a number of scenarios for students to participate in.
In addition to the Shoot House environment, our Scenario Based Training also incorporates our Ti Virtual Simulator. The Ti Virtual Simulator is a state of the art training tool in which realistic scenarios are presented to the student to test and evaluate their responses and reactions in a digital environment.
With the Scenario Based Training in the Shoot House and in the Ti Virtual Simulator, the students are debriefed directly following each scenario, giving them an opportunity to discuss their responses and reactions with the instructor while the experience is still top of mind.
We are incorporating Scenario Based Training and the Shoot House in to some of our CCW classes, as well as offering scenario only classes. Take a look at training our calendar here for upcoming training opportunities.
What our students say:
“I was part of the reality based training scenario day in early February, 2017 and can honestly say that anyone who carries a gun for personal protection NEEDS to take this class. The class is exactly what is says, you are placed in any number of situations where you need to react as you would in a real world situation. The situations we were placed in definitely got the pulse beating a bit quicker and the adrenaline pumping and you are guaranteed to forget you are in a training scenario. Everything needed to find out how you react when push comes to shove.”
– February 2017 Student
“I originally signed up for the Women’s Only CCW class but was offered the opportunity to sign up for the pilot class for the CCW Reality-Based training. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this class, however it exceeded any expectations I had. Not only was it educational, but it was fun and taught by a great team of instructors.
The class was great for shooters with all levels of experience. Being a novice shooter, I was apprehensive at first. However, the class was far from intimidating, and the instructors ensured that everyone was comfortable. The Reality-Based training allowed for me to help reinforce the theories learned in class.
I encourage women who are looking for a great class to learn how to shoot and want to obtain their CCW to sign up for this class. I took Women’s Intro to Pistol before this class and I recommend that class too. Thank you Bristlecone for your awesome instructors!”
– 2016 Student
So you’ve got your CCW permit. What now? This course is a great next step that will teach you practical skills that every permit holder should have. Learn different practice philosophies, what you can expect from different common malfunctions, cleaning and maintenance schedules, gear considerations and more in the classroom, and then spend some time on the range learning and practicing practical drills that you can take with you beyond this course. These are all perishable skills. Make sure that you are equipped with the knowledge of how to continue your practice and be a safe, responsible and effective CCW holder.
Required equipment: Handgun (semi-automatic preferred), strong side outside the waistband holster, sturdy belt, 150 rounds ammunition, range appropriate clothing.
4 Hours $135
FOR ADVANCED SHOOTERS. Most gun encounters happen at night. This course explores what is needed to shoot in low light/no light situations, using available light or a hand held flashlight. You will have the opportunity to experience shooting with a light system mounted on your weapon during the class if you come prepared with an accessory rail. You will also learn alternative shooting positions, shooting at a distance, how to use a flashlight/ cover of darkness to optimal advantage, and various types of flashlight holds.
Pre-requisites: CCW Class
Equipment Requirements:
- Semi-automatic pistol
- 3 magazines
- 100 rounds of ammunition
- Strong side holster
- Hand held flashlight
- Eye/ear protection
- Knee pads are highly recommended. Minimum number of students (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled/rescheduled.
Home and Family Firearms Seminar $75 per family (up to a family of 4, $25 each additional family member). The seminar begins with a discussion about the risks and dangers that firearms present and how those risks can be mitigated. We will discuss purchasing your first firearm, home defense firearms and training, cleaning and responsible firearm storage. This course will also address friends with guns, toy guns and what youth should do if they find a gun.
Minimum number of families (3) required to run the class or it may be canceled/ rescheduled.
Alessandro Padovani of Safer Faster Defense teaches several hand to hand, women only and knife defense classes at Bristlecone. He teaches basic, efficient skills that are easy to master and recall under stress, as well as addresses the psychology behind attackers and how to be better prepared. Appropriate for all skills levels.
Pre-requisites: None
Recommended Equipment: None
Our very knowledgeable and certified instructors can take you anywhere you want to go. From basic marksmanship, gun handling and maintenance to extreme drills or even building your own AR. Our Private Instruction is completely customizable.
1 person, 1 hour $100 2 people, 1 hour $125 3 people, 1 hour $150
Casualty Care is based on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) that has been in use for over a decade. This course is designed for anyone who shoots, from Law Enforcement to weekend recreational shooters. No medical certification, experience or licensure required.
Topics:
- TCCC History
- Preventable Combat Death
- Tourniquets
- Hemostatic Agents
- Chest Seals
- Equipment for your IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit)
- Hands On with Simulators
4 hours $80
One of the most exciting training features in our facility! Are you looking to take your marksmanship skills to the next level? Or are you curious about the shooting sports and want to experience shooting a real gun, but in a non live-fire setting? Our system can accommodate a wide variety of scenarios and sport shooting levels.
These classes are offered as a public service in conjunction with Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Please visit their website for more details and a list of scheduled classes. http://cpw.state.co.us/
Go to our Training Calendar for Schedules and Registration
