Welcome to Emerald Coast Defensive Shooters

Please see our Calendar for our NEW SCHEDULE!

EMERALD COAST DEFENSIVE SHOOTERS conducts Defensive Action Pistol and 3-Gun Practices, Clinics and Special Events at the Siuslaw Rod & Gun Club Pistol Range located in beautiful Florence, Oregon.

Every 3rd Weekend of the month, our Defensive Action Pistol Clinic is held on Sunday between 9:00am until all scenarios have been shot. This event is designed to be non-competitive and non-scoring. You will be presented with possible real life defensive situations requiring real problem solving. These scenarios will be challenging as well as fun!

This event is a perfect way to practice your skills safely in a relaxed and safe atmosphere.

Open to both club members and the general public
Sign-ins start on the pistol range at 8:30 am.
Live fire shooting begins at 9 am and may last until 3:00 pm, depending on group size and scenario/stage design.
The event fee is $5.00 No Club membership is required!
Picnic Lunch available for contribution of $6.

We also have Defensive Firearms Skill Building Practices on 3rd Saturday 8am-4pm (rain or shine) to practice basic to intermediate firearms skills building exercises. From 8am till Noon we offer a New Shooter Orientation and Shooter Evaluation where the new shooter will be taught the safety protocols, range commands, and techniques for handling loaded firearms in our Defensive Firearms Training for safe, smooth transition into our program. We break for lunch, then continue with further Skills Building Practice from 1-4pm. Please contact us for details.

Also, we have other Special Training Activities such as Introduction to Defensive Pistol, a variety of NRA Student and Instructor Certification Courses in Basic Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection Inside and Outside the Home, or All Women Pistol or Seniors Only Classes for your Concealed Carry Permit. The Emerald Coast Defensive Shooters have a number of trained, highly experienced and nationally certified NRA Instructors and Range Safety Officers who conduct additional training and coaching under the standards and experience of the instructor staff of Sentinel Firearms Training for those wishing to continue to build their defensive skill sets.

Our Program Director, Wally Shoults, provides leadership of ongoing training in Beginning and Intermediate Defensive Skill Sets in Pistol, Shotgun and Rifle. Please check our Events Calendar for dates.

Range Safety
For those who have never participated in this kind of “Action Pistol” event before, there is a “New Shooter” Safety Orientation to learn safety protocols and range commands. This is a prerequisite to shooting in the any of our activities.

Siuslaw Rod & Gun Club is a HOT Range!

A HOT Range is one where concealed, loaded guns may be carried, but it must be declared upon arrival at the range.
All guns must be fully unloaded under the direct supervision of a Range Safety Officer during check-in for the event.
The event requires a COLD Range for safety reasons. A cold range is one where all guns remain unloaded in the holster until given the command to 'Load and Make Ready' by a Range Safety Officer of competent authority.

Equipment

You will need a Safe-to-Operate Handgun. Guns must be safety inspected by an Event Range Officer upon sign-in.
A Holster that fully covers the trigger and trigger guard.
Extra Magazines or Revolver Speed Loaders.
Magazine or Speed Loader Pouches to hold your reloading ammo.
A Belt sturdy enough to comfortably carry your handgun and spare ammo throughout the day.
Minimum of 100 rounds of ammunition.

Becoming a Staff Member or Range Safety Officer of Emerald Coast Defensive Shooters

For those who may be interested in our organizations activities and wish to become a Staff Member an “Introduction to Defensive Pistol” orientation and Live Fire Clinic is a prerequisite for safety reasons.

At that “Introduction to Defensive Pistol” orientation you will be taught the safety protocols, range commands, and techniques for handling loaded firearms in an Action Pistol program. This is done so your transition into the program is smooth, safe and seamless. Once the candidate successfully completes that course a brief probationary period must also be successfully concluded to reach full certification.

To become an NRA Range Safety Officer the candidate must attend and pass an NRA RSO training program to receive that certification. There is an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer on staff that provides this class.

Training Curriculum

The curriculum is based on teaching NRA Basics in safe gun handling, knowledge of firearms and ammunition, components and nomenclature of firearms, and shooting and marksmanship techniques.
Bulls eye marksmanship skills development for those wishing to learn to shoot that method.
Beginning defensive shooting techniques with various types of firearms, e.g., pistol, shotgun and rifle.
Intermediate techniques and skills building for those interested in progressing into more defensive skills sets, personal protection and logical and legal mind set development.
Entry level and intermediate skills development for those wishing to advance to action pistol competition events.
In spite of rumors to the contrary, our programs are not designed nor intended for anything but basic to intermediate level skills building. Those desiring other, more tactical, military type high speed programs should look elsewhere. There are other, highly experienced, professional schools available.

Participation

These shoots are for anyone who is interested in action sport shooting events and personal-protection, regardless of gender or age.   Some restrictions may apply to minors under the age of 21 pursuant to federal law. Contact us for clarification.

For our more seasoned citizens we try to keep it, what we jokingly call, geezer friendly.   Some of our staff are a little gray in the face too, so none of the scenarios will place any hardship upon an individual shooter. Safety and health are paramount.

For more experienced shooters there will be some challenging scenarios.   These stages are optional, as are all the stage scenarios.

For the less experienced shooter there are opportunities to observe many techniques in gun handling by watching more experienced shooters in action.

The Range Safety Officers/Instructors and Coaches will assist the New Shooter in refining their techniques and skills for a more enjoyable experience. Concepts are shared so Shooters may understand the “Why” of different methods.   Stage scenarios are critiqued so Shooters may better understand “Better Approaches” to problem solving.

For those interested, there may be two gun optional stages, which may include rifle or shotgun to pistol transition.

Observers and Guests

For those wishing to learning more about our organization close up, you’re welcome to attend any of our sessions as our guest. Standard safety equipment, e.g., eye and ear protection, is required at all times while on the range.

Disclaimer: Our programs are not designed nor intended for anything other than basic to intermediate skills building. Those desiring other, more tactical, police or military type high speed programs should look elsewhere. There are several other schools who teach those programs. Emerald Coast Defensive Shooters is not in that business. All Information presented on this Web site is collected, maintained, and provided for the convenience of the viewer. While every effort is made to keep such information accurate and up-to-date, Emerald Defensive Shooters do not claim any degree of accuracy or certify the authenticity of information displayed, and that originates from third parties. Under no circumstances shall Emerald Coast Defensive Shooters be liable for any actions taken or omissions made from reliance on any information contained herein or any training obtained from whatever source nor shall they be liable for any other consequences from any such reliance.