Defensive Handgun - Hoffmann Marksmanship Training

Instructor Steve Hoffmann brings legitimate credentials: Marine Corps Force Recon, 10 years as a Long Beach Police Officer, and service as Lead Firearms and Tactics Instructor for the Federal Air Marshal Service's Los Angeles Field Office. He's also worked diplomatic protection details and federal counterterrorism roles. This isn't a gun store employee who got NRA certified—it's someone who actually trained shooters for a living in high-threat environments.

Hoffmann Marksmanship Training operates out of Vancouver, WA as their home office. For actual instruction, they use:

• •WMGC (Woodland Marksmanship) - East of Woodland, WA
• •Evergreen Sportsmans Club - Olympia, WA

They'll also travel to any legal location you provide (additional fees apply for distance).

• •Private Lessons require a pre-training consultation. You schedule a call with Steve, discuss your shooting background, goals, and any specific concerns. Then he designs a training plan around you. This is how most classes are structured.

• •Group Events (Skill Builder, Home Defense, Gunfighter classes) don't require an interview—just register through their calendar.

Their standard Handgun Fundamentals class is 7 hours split across 2 days:

• •Day 1: 4 hours - Safety fundamentals and shooting basics
• •Day 2: 3 hours (about 1 week later) - Review, reinforce, then progress to actual gunfighting techniques

Typical range classes are 1-2 hours. You walk out slightly better than you came in. Hoffmann's approach: you leave Day 2 actually prepared to defend yourself.

• •Want just the first day? You can take a single 4-hour session covering safety and fundamentals.

• •Example: 3 people in Handgun Fundamentals = $50 + $50 + $25 = $75/hour total

Group classes get cheaper per person. For example, 3 people in a Defensive Handgun course would pay $150/hour combined ($100 + $100 + $50).

This is their loyalty program for people actually committed to ongoing training.

Benefits:

• •No annual fee (they waive it so memberships don't just become subscriptions)
• •10% compounding discount per class attended—every class increases your discount by 10%, stacking indefinitely
• •Access to a private "Harbor Site" with prescreened training videos, documents, and equipment advice
• •Your membership fee is credited toward your next class (as long as you train at least once per year, it's free)

More training = lower prices. Their philosophy: proper self-defense requires constant practice. After one class, you get 10% off. After two, 20% off. It keeps compounding.

Once you hit a 60% discount, you need to either bring new students to HMT or stay at the 50% rate (they need to cover costs). But if you keep recruiting: you can eventually train for free and keep climbing the discount ladder.

"We understand that to be properly prepared to use a firearm in self-defense, you need constant training. The more you train with us, we reward you with lower prices to make it easier to simply keep training."

• •HMT does NOT train with concealed carry holsters. Live ammo + concealment carries = too dangerous. When they train with holsters, they're strong-side duty or competition rigs only.

If you need concealed carry specific training, they'll design an adapted class that teaches proper CCW technique while meeting their safety standards.

• •Don't have a gun yet? Perfect. In Handgun Fundamentals, they bring multiple handguns for you to train with so you can figure out what actually works for you before spending $500-1000. This prevents the mistake of buying on a gun counter salesman's advice.

Yes, it's possible. They adapt Handgun Fundamentals for kids with proper parent/guardian waivers and ensure safety comes first. The goal is teaching respect for firearms along with skills.

Steve also recommends specific dry practice tools on their site:

• •DryFireMag - Magazine-based dummy round system. Works with MantisX. Limited to Glocks and Sig P320s. Small, portable. Shortcoming: Requires strict safety protocols to avoid mixing with live magazines.

• •Private lessons: Schedule consultation call → fill 3 waivers → pay invoice → dates booked
• •Group events: Register through calendar → fill 3 waivers → pay through scheduler
• •Class tuition is non-refundable but transferable with 72 hours notice
• •If instructor cancels: Move to another date or get full refund
• •You must be 18+ (or accompanied by guardian with waivers signed)
• •Safety is non-negotiable: Unsafe behavior results in removal with no refund

Payment required at registration. No refunds on tuition. You can transfer to another class with 72 hours notice. If the instructor cancels, full refund or reschedule option.

• •Privacy Note: Direct phone and email are restricted—contact through their website to get access once you schedule a consultation.