Pacwest Defense

Pacwest Defense operates out of Vancouver, Washington, with instructors also available in Clackamas and Sherwood, Oregon. The operation centers on one philosophy: solid foundation first. That means no one moves fast, and everyone gets the skills locked in before advancing.

"Lisa is very knowledgeable and an excellent instructor...The range time was extremely helpful, lots of time spent one on one and she never made us feel rushed or uneasy." — Lowell F., Woodland, WA

Pacwest breaks training into clear paths so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

Starting from zero. These classes assume nothing:

• •Gun Safety ($100, 2 hours, classroom only) — Safe handling, storage, loading/unloading, cleaning, ammunition basics, and how to manage kids and guns in the home. Uses inert training pistols and laser targets, no live fire.
• •Introduction to Handgun ($150, 4 hours, Vancouver) — For new owners or anyone getting back after years away. Covers safety rules, fundamentals, grip, stance, sight alignment. Half classroom with PowerPoint and inert drills, half live fire on the range. Bring your own gun or rent one ($25).
• •Intermediate Handgun ($200, 4 hours) — Goes beyond basics into accuracy, speed, malfunction clearing, single-handed shooting. Prerequisites: you need to be solid on fundamentals first. Intro to Handgun is recommended.

These classes assume you can shoot. They're built for people ready to carry or defend:

• •Concealed Carry Permit Class ($125) — Covers legal requirements for Oregon, Utah, and Arizona CHL. Course completion gives you a certificate, passport photo, and fingerprint cards (for UT/AZ). Washington version also covers WA-1639 requirements. Note: Passing class doesn't guarantee permit approval—your county sheriff runs a background check.
• •Concealed Carry 101 — "How-To" for people who have a permit but aren't comfortable carrying daily yet.
• •Holster Draw Workshop (by request, private/small groups) — Focused entirely on drawing from your specific holster. How to draw smoothly, manage your cover garment, and get back on target.
• •Defensive Handgun 1 — Legal aspects of self-defense, holster draw, cover garments, reholstering technique.
• •Defensive Handgun 2 — Draws from cover/barricades, shooting from kneeling or seated positions, one-handed work.
• •Defensive Handgun 3 — Tests your actual limits. Uses visual stimuli and 3-D humanoid targets with clothing. Pressure scenarios so you see how you really perform.

• •Try Before You Buy — Fire up to three different guns before dropping money on one.
• •Holster Show and Tell (by request) — Touch and try dozens of holsters before buying. Hands-on so you don't end up hating what you spent on.
• •Private Lessons ($100/hour plus range fees of $5–$18/person) — One-on-one with an instructor to address your specific weak points. Available in Vancouver, Clackamas, or Sherwood. First sessions usually mix discussion and dry fire; follow-ups are mostly live shooting.
• •A Girl & A Gun — Ladies-only meetup twice monthly. Social and shooting combined.

Pacwest has six instructors on staff: Lisa Stiers (Lead Instructor/CEO), Terry Marles, Brian Snook, and Ken Ewing as Lead Instructors, plus Michiko Walton and Melissa Nelson as Assistant Instructors.

For live fire classes, bring: - Baseball hat (or any cap) - Eye protection (required) - Hearing protection (electronic preferred, passive acceptable) - Unloaded handgun in a case - 75+ rounds of ammunition - Jacket/sweater for weather

Loaner firearms and ammo are available with 24-hour advance notice—additional fee applies.

Pacwest's tagline is "Empowerment Through Education." The rep they've built comes from students who walk out as knowledgeable gun owners. Classes are engaging and hands-on. No rushing, no judgment on beginner questions. You work at the pace that makes sense for you.

• •Phone: (360)334-7009
• •Email: [email protected]
• •Location: Vancouver, WA (with Sherwood, OR and Clackamas, OR options for private lessons)

Book online or call to schedule. Range fees (paid directly to the range) are separate from class fees and vary by location.