Talonrange

Talon Range & Training was founded in 2008 by Charlie Strickland and JD Johnson, both 25+ year veterans of the Leon County Sheriff's Office. What started as firearms training for civilians has grown into one of the region's most complete shooting facilities. The company now operates two major ranges and trains more than 100,000 people in firearms safety and personal protection.

"Our mission is to provide a safe and professional environment to train civilians and law enforcement officers with the best possible curriculum for personal and professional protection."

The Tallahassee location features:

• •7 individual handgun ranges for dedicated pistol work
• •12 mixed pistol/rifle ranges for versatile training
• •7 competition ranges for serious shooters
• •100-yard and 400-yard rifle ranges with multiple stations
• •3 steel reactive ranges for dynamic training
• •Trap, skeet, and archery (20/30/40/50 yard ranges)

Members total over 2,500 annually, with more than 1 million visits since opening in July 2013.

Talon Range of Dothan (372 Co. Rd. 560, Midland City, Alabama) operates as a dedicated competition and private shooting facility:

• •400-yard rifle range with 10 shooting stations
• •100-yard rifle range with paper and steel
• •4 reactionary steel pistol bays
• •Dozen+ paper pistol/rifle bays
• •Large private covered bays with dedicated parking
• •Gun rentals available daily
• •Full pro-shop with ammunition and accessories

Talon Tactical Outfitters (301 Commerce Blvd) handles retail and gunsmithing:

Talon's instructors are active or retired law enforcement with decades of tactical experience. Classes focus on mental and physical preparation for real-world encounters, not just credentials.

What they teach: - Concealed carry certification (at least 2 classes monthly) - Advanced tactical courses - Active shooter response - Force-on-force scenarios - Defensive tactics and marksmanship - Competitive shooting (USPSA certified) - Hunting and archery instruction - Talon Defender Series (advanced multi-level training)

Small instructor-to-student ratios ensure you get actual attention. They can host classes at your business location if needed.

• •Leadership includes competitive shooters, SWAT operators, snipers, and specialized trainers:

• •Charlie Strickland (CEO/Co-owner): 25 years law enforcement, SWAT sniper (8 years), certified NRA carbine instructor, archery/hunter safety instructor
• •JD Johnson (COO/Co-owner): 25+ years law enforcement, reactive steel specialist, certified archery/hunter safety instructor
• •John Rasmussen (Co-owner): Competitive shooter, 2010 Florida State USPSA Champion, 16th nationally that year, helicopter pilot
• •Avery Tubbs (Training Coordinator): 24 years military/law enforcement, Army physical security specialist, FWC Captain
• •Additional certified instructors: Former TPD lead firearms instructor, Marine Corps sniper, 40+ year law enforcement veteran, bomb squad commander, and others

Every instructor is CJSTC and/or NRA certified in firearms, defensive tactics, or specialized disciplines like Taser training and archery.

They built the range because it didn't exist. In 2012, when they started construction, there wasn't a well-managed, safe public range in the area. That mission—creating a professional environment for civilians and law enforcement—still drives everything.

• •Real training, not paper credentials. Their instructors write the curriculum and teach from decades of actual tactical experience. You're not learning from an instructor manual; you're learning from people who've used these skills professionally.