Salt Lake Firearms Training

Salt Lake Firearms Training operates on a model that's rare in the industry: Clint Simon averages just 1.8 students per class. That means personalized instruction where you master one skill before moving to the next—no one gets left behind, no one gets bored waiting for slower shooters to catch up.

Classes run by appointment only, Sunday through Wednesday. (Clint works as a Range Master at Bountiful Lions Club Thursday-Saturday, so those days aren't available.) Most sessions are half-day classes, though they typically run 2.5 to 6 hours depending on student needs and fatigue level.

Every class covers the fundamentals:

• •Safe gun handling – The three rules: muzzle awareness, trigger finger awareness, action open and unloaded
• •Operation – How to load, unload, and manipulate your specific firearm
• •Marksmanship – Sights aligned on target, automatic aiming, shooting with both eyes open
• •Self-defense skills – Situational awareness, de-escalation, less-lethal options, and when/how to deploy lethal force responsibly

Training drills include dry-fire exercises you can practice at home to build muscle memory without ammunition costs.

These are taught on the shooting range—not in a classroom. You'll shoot several different firearms to get a feel for what you might buy, then cover Utah gun laws, fingerprinting, photos, and application completion. Classes follow the Mandatory Minimum Training Curriculum for Concealed Firearm Permit Instructors.

Price: $100 per person, $200 minimum per class. That means two students cost the same as one, which is why small classes make sense here.

Most classes are held at Bountiful Lions Club Shooting Range—outdoor range with a roof over the firing line. Clint prefers outdoor ranges because indoor facilities get too loud to communicate clearly, plus they often have one-hour time limits when busy.

For advanced long-distance and carbine work, classes move to the desert west of Salt Lake City (about 1.25 hours out, near the old Pony Express route). That location allows movement drills, multiple-target practice, and shooting to 1000 yards. GPS coordinates provided—phone apps don't work reliably for this location.

Clint has taught classes up to 300 miles from Salt Lake City.

Starting September 1, 2022:

• •One or two shooters: $200 per half-day class
• •Each additional shooter: $100
• •Advanced/long-distance classes: Add $25 gasoline expense

Range fees, ammunition, and use of Clint's firearms are included. You're welcome to bring your own gun to practice with—that's actually encouraged so you get familiar with what you'll carry.

Clint Simon has 50+ years of shooting sports experience and has been teaching professionally for 17+ years. He's certified as a Range Master and mandatory-minimum curriculum instructor. He emphasizes responsible gun ownership over speed or flashy techniques, with a focus on avoiding confrontations, de-escalation, and the legal/ethical realities of self-defense.

This isn't competition shooting training, law enforcement training, or military training—it's practical citizen self-defense training for real-world situations.

Clint Simon - Phone: 801-599-1574 - Email: [email protected] - Website: www.utahshootouts.com (now redirects to training, no longer hosts competitions) - Classes: Appointment only, Sun-Wed

"If you pass the background check, you'll get your permit. But I'm more interested in you being skilled in handling that gun safely and being able to hit your target." – Clint Simon

Clint maintains a comprehensive free study guide on his website covering firearm safety, marksmanship principles, self-defense strategy, and Utah law. He encourages students to read it before class (to prime your brain) and after class (to reinforce learning). It's also useful for anyone wanting to understand firearms basics, regardless of whether you take a class.