Top Notch Trainers

Top Notch Trainers operates from two Southern Maryland locations—Prince Frederick in Calvert County and Hollywood in St. Mary's County—specifically to serve shooters across the region. The operation is veteran-owned, and they back that up with discounted rates for veterans and a dedicated Veterans Class.

Their handgun lineup covers beginners through advanced shooters:

• •NRA Basic Pistol Shooting ($125) — The gateway course. Eight hours minimum combining classroom and range time. Covers revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, safety fundamentals, shooting positions, and pistol maintenance. Completes Maryland HQL requirements.
• •Advanced Pistol Optics: Mastery of the Red Dot — For shooters ready to move beyond iron sights.
• •NRA CCW Course — Concealed carry instruction aligned with Maryland requirements.
• •MD Wear and Carry Renewal — Keep your permit current.
• •Pistol 150 — Intermediate skill building.
• •Conceal Purse Carry — Specialized training for carry method preferences.
• •Personal Protection Inside The Home — Self-defense focused on residential scenarios.

Rifle Training: - NRA Basic Rifle Shooting ($250 for 2-day course) — Fundamentals for new and experienced shooters. - Home Defense AR Rifle ($150) — Designed for AR-15 owners and modern carbine shooters. One 8-hour day covering zeroing, shooting positions, close-quarter drills, and home defense engagement scenarios. Participants bring their own rifle (300 rounds recommended), magazines, sling, and eye/ear protection. - Long Range Rifle — Coming soon.

Shotgun Training: - NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting — Shotgun fundamentals and safety. - Home Defense Shotgun Class — Purpose-built for defensive shotgun use.

"Safety is our utmost priority, and we maintain rigorous safety standards throughout the entire course."

Top Notch doesn't limit instruction to conventional firearms:

• •Taser Classes — Non-lethal self-defense tool training.
• •Force on Force Simunitions Training — Reality-based scenario work.
• •UTM Low Light Pistol Shooting — Training rounds for low-light defensive scenarios.
• •Concealed Permit Holder Training with UTM — Practical permit-holder skill development.
• •Hourly Training — One-on-one or small group instruction.

Top Notch offers NRA Instructor Level Courses for those wanting to certify and teach.

• •Adjustable Pacing — Classes are tailored to participant experience levels. A beginner in the NRA Basic Pistol course gets the same instruction as someone with prior shooting experience, just paced appropriately.

• •Hands-On Philosophy — You're not sitting in a classroom all day. Instruction is classroom-plus-range, with actual trigger time and skill development.

• •Veteran Benefits — Special discounted rates for military. They run a dedicated Veterans Class.

• •Two Locations — Whether you're in Prince Frederick (Calvert County) or Hollywood (St. Mary's County), there's a Top Notch location nearby.

• •Family Community Approach — They emphasize that "when you train with TNT, you're not just a student; you're part of our family."

Recent reviews highlight instructor quality and professionalism:

"My husband and I took the NRA BASIC PISTOL SHOOTING COURSE taught by Jason Mooney at Top Notch Trainers and loved it. I had never even held a gun before and Jason was able to teach me to qualify as a level 3 shooter. He was the perfect trainer—knowledgeable, able to answer all questions, very patient." — Debbie N. (Google Reviews)

"Top Notch is exactly who they are. I was very impressed by their devotion to us students as well as the highly professional attitude they exhibited." — John C. (Google Reviews)

Classes fill from their event calendar. Call (904) 718-4088 or book online. Most courses require you to bring your own firearm, ammunition (typically 300+ rounds), magazines, and hearing/eye protection. They provide detailed packing lists for each course.

Whether you're a complete beginner, a gun owner wanting to actually use what's in your safe, or a shooter chasing advanced skills, Top Notch Trainers treats training as serious business—not a side project.