Rochester Personal Defense
At Rochester Personal Defense, we cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters – real training. No flashy gimmicks, just practical skills that prepare you for the unexpected.
Expert Firearms Training for private citizens and Law enforcement since 2005
Professional Trainers
Our team of certified and professional instructors are passionate about teaching and have a wealth of knowledge to share.
Competitive Pricing
We provide realistic self defense training to the community at competitive prices.
Advanced Training
We offer advanced shooting courses in addition to beginner level courses.
About Us
We have the most professional and experienced team of instructors in the area
Our expert instructors have years of experience and have taught thousands of individuals including civilians and law enforcement. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced shooter, our classes are designed to help you improve your skills and feel confident in your ability to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Training
Course Menu
Select a topic below to see the list of courses we offer
Reviews
What our clients say about us
Attended the 18hr concealed carry course, and couldn't have asked for a better experience. Instructor Mike was very knowledgeable and kept the course interesting and engaging. I highly recommend this class whether you have experience with firearms, or never held a pistol before. They are welcoming and put you at ease well before you ever get to the range.
Mike is an amazing instructor. He truly made me feel comfortable and helped ease my nerves. I recommend him and will be telling friends to attend the class. I’m excited to attend future classes and expand on my current knowledge.
I recently completed the 18-hour NY State Concealed Carry Training Course, and I can't recommend it enough! Mike made the long class fun and easy to understand by using real-life examples that kept everyone involved. Politics were left out of the class and the focus was on safety and responsibility.The second day was hands-on, with four instructors on-site, ensuring a safe teacher-to-student ratio. Questions were always welcomed and they did an excellent job debunking common myths and misconceptions. The amount of valuable information packed into this course is incredible!Whether you're considering applying for a permit or already have one but never took this course, you need to. It’s an eye-opener and a must for anyone serious about responsible concealed carry. Highly recommend!
This class was extremely informative & easy to understand. Kudos to the instructor Mike, & the staff for their patience. Mike provided a laid back atmosphere that felt comfortable to ask questions without feeling out of place. I recommend this class to all upcoming & present permit holders.
I couldn't recommend Rochester Personal Defense enough. The professionalism, knowledge and passion are truly visible in their work. If you want to make personal saftey your priority I would highly encourage anyone at any level to explore their classes.
Awesome course. The instructor Mike made the two days worth every moment. I'm going to sign up for other classes. When u leave this class you will know understand alot about the do and don't about concealed pistol carry. And last Mike will make the class laugh hard about all the jokes.
Excellent class. As Matt said, I wish it wasn’t mandated, but it probably should be mandatory. I learned a lot, and I think the rest of the class did too. It was a real judgment free zone for newbies, and a safe place for stupid questions. Which is the best kind of safe place for me.
Dave and Matt presented a very educational and fun training class. They are extremely competent instructors who did a great job presenting the course and shared their experiences with our class. I definitely recommend them to anyone interested in taking firearms courses. I fully plan on taking more courses at Rochester Personal Defense!
Just wanted to say thank you for all the knowledge and support you gave me Dave Jenkins made this class nowhere near boring. Also I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you letting my son join the class to get educated on what seems to be the thing that he is most interested in! Firearms and safety!!! Just so you know the weapons are pellets and the cardboard one is a M4-A1 he made me with a glue gun !
Class was engaging and informative.Even though this course is now required to obtain your permit, I think it is a great and necessary resource for anyone interested in carrying a pistol.The classes were structured well to keep the information from feeling too dry and gave way to helpful dialogue. Mike brought character and perspective to the class that made the course that much more enjoyable. If you’re looking to complete your NYS mandated course, I recommend taking it here to actually learn something.
Excellent course very knowledgeable.Information given and excellent Instructors.
A great class -- very thorough coverage of all safety topics. But also a good interactive job of getting students to think about the legal aspects of firing a weapon. For a novice -- this was excellent. They built a lot of confidence and kindness into the class. So if you are not an experienced gun person, this is fantastic. Great instructors with a good sense of humor and a lot of patience.
First time there for the 18 hour NY Concealed Carry Course. The training provided was outstanding! I will be looking into their facility for my training in the future. Highly recommend! Thank you!
The class was very informative. I learned a lot. I had never held a firearm until the training. Mike was very patient with me. Much appreciated. I would definitely recommend this Rochester Personal Defense course.
My instructor Mike was very detailed, passionate and honest. His experience made a world of a difference.
A very knowledgeable class, that teaches allot of basic stuff that you'll need to know to get your CCW permit. Light hearted humor. And wonderful staff that makes teaching you the proper way their main goal.
Very informative information and great professional insight from Mike and crew!!Looking forward to returning!
Instructors were great and made the 2 day pistol permit course easy to digest. If you have a chance to take a class from instructor Dana take it. Solid professional trainers and still makes it fun.
Dana led a great class! There was SO much information to cover, but we did, and he kept it interesting and upbeat for the whole 2 days!
The class was very informative! It was great having the 2 days split into 2 different weekends! Our main instructor was Jim Santos, and he was absolutely wonderful! The other instructors were also great and helped us. I loved how he gave personal experiences that related to what we were talking about. He also had the class participate during the PowerPoint portion of the class! I will definitely be telling others to take the course! Absolutely worth it!
Absolutely amazing experience here for the 18hr NYS Concealed Carry Training Course!!! Our class instructors were Mike & Butch. They did such a great job making 100% sure that all of us in the class left feeling a lot more knowledgeable, safe & comfortable when it comes to understanding, handling & responsibilities of owning a handgun. Seriously, if you're still reading my review just make the decision to go with Rochester Personal Defense. I did research on places beforehand as well & I definitely don't regret choosing this company.
I had an amazing experience during the Pistol Permit course held in Savona, NY! From the moment I walked in, our instructor Dana was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Dana made the whole process smooth, ensuring we understood each aspect taught. I felt comfortable throughout the entire course. The experience was top-notch. I will definitely return to Rochester Personal Defense for more exceptional training.
I can't recommend RPD enough. Course material was written and laid out really well. Dana was a great instructorSuper informative and engaging. Wendy was really helpful during the range practice. Dave was fun and encouraging. All were a plethora of knowledge. I highly recommend these guys.
Absolutely great experience with Rochester Personal Defense! Mike and the rest of the crew made everyone feel comfortable and confident. Most of the time was going over a slide show, however Mike did an excellent job keeping everyone engaged and the shooting range was the best part. 100% recommend for anyone, whether you’re new to firearms or in law enforcement! Thank you to all the instructors!
Just do it!!! Dave and Wendy are incredible instructors with more knowledge and skill than other instructors I have worked with. I'm a novice shooter and I felt that I improved tenfold just after two days with these folks. This course was designed for more experienced shooters but I did not feel that I did not belong. I received expert advice and ran through all of the drills that were presented. BTW, I was the oldest(67 yo) and I would take this course every week if I could!
