Artifex Firearms Training

I would highly recommend Ben and his OC CCW class to anyone who is looking for top notch training locally in Southern California. I had been previously CCW trained out of state, and needed to qualify on the range for a couple of new guns I had purchased. Ben ran a great class, the range training was excellent in all respects. I was able to brush up on skills previously learned and learn some new skills from Ben. When it come to firearms, I don’t think you can ever train to much, and continuous learning has to be a part of being a responsibly armed American. Ben made it safety first, fun, and I was able to improve my skills and learn some new ones that could save my life or my loved one’s life some day if heaven forbid I ever have to draw my gun in a defensive life or death situation.

My husband and I were referred by a friend. We are new (less than 6 months) gun enthusiasts, and with the huge increase in crime in our area, we wanted more than the typical gun safety class. Ben and Daniel delivered big time.
Small class instruction, great price, and fun!!!
They HAMMER on safety… especially in «think quick» situations.
I highly recommend Artifex.

I’ve had the pleasure of taking a couple classes through Artifex? All were extremely fun and informative. Today I took the CCW course. If your goal is to be confident in your ability to properly address any situation that arises while carrying then Artifex should be your only option. From the legal and practical aspects of the CCW to the more difficult questions of how your life may change if you are required to use lethal force to protect yourself or someone you love, Ben’s class will prepare you to be thoughtful, competent and confident while carrying. There is no substitute for proper and well informed training particularly when there could be so much at stake. He is a great resource on everything from holsters and carry guns to recent events or carrying in other states. I give Artifex my highest recommendation.

What an awesome experience my girlfriends and I had at this training class !!! Ben and his partner were a great pair teaching and training us on the safety and application of using a firearm correctly !!!

Fantastic day on the range!
The instructor clearly knew what he was talking about, I will be recommending him to all my friends!

Pretty awesome, all around! Definitely recommend. I had a bit of initial nerves around learning to shoot but the guys at Artifex made sure we covered firearms safety thoroughly, before learning all about the handguns we were going to use, and then how to shoot them properly. The time came to move from the classroom to the range and we were safely taken through a progressive «live fire» experience. By the end of the day the whole class (men and women) was all smiles and I cant wait for my next class!

Best firearms training out there. I have participated in several pistol and rifle shoots, including his ladies training and CCW class and Ben is the best in the business! Very thorough and super entertaining courses. This guy knows what he is doing! Ben did a custom build AR for me and just purchased my first concealed carry weapon. I couldn’t be more happy with the pricing and service. Artifex takes it to the next level!

I have been employed in Law Enforcement and security for over 44 years. I completed the CCW training and found it educational and fun. Ben our instructor is a first class trainer with a ton of experience and training. I learned things for the first time. He made our day comfortable and educational. I plan on returning and taking more classes at Artifex. I also will bring my children to do the same. A GREAT EXPERIENCE !
Mike Amanek

I was skeptical at first as to how my training was going to go… But after my class, I won’t be going anywhere else for my firearms training. Ben makes things educational as well as fun. Very relaxed environment, while at the same time extremely safe. Customer for life! Already recommended Artifex to all of my friends that have the same interests as mine.

Just completed a range day training with my unit. It was simply outstanding all around.
Ben and Mike are obvious SMEs, very professional, maintain high safety standards, and have a great attitude and sense of humor. Highly recommended!

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
I was able to spend a day learning about firearm safety/​training both in a classroom discussion setting and through hands-​on experience. Artifex does an amazing job of making the required CCW safety education both engaging and enjoyable through the discussion and simulation of hypothetical scenarios.
They help every firearm owner, regardless of experience, understand the benefits and the responsibilities of carrying a weapon.
I both recommend Artifex and Ben as the only choice for firearms training, I look forward to taking future classes and building upon the knowledge I’ve gained.

I did a basic firearms training with Ben and was incredibly happy with my experience. Ben has immense experience and knowledge but was able to break it down for a novice shooter. The real world applications and safety procedures you will learn are priceless! I can not wait to take the advanced pistol course.

I was recommended to Artifex by my co-​worker, saying they had a solid CCW training class. We both took the Accelerated course and had a blast. We both gained a lot of knowledge and skills needed in the real world. Ben has plenty of real world experience that translates well in the CCW course. We are already planning to take a couple more of their courses.

My wife and I recently took a beginners course with Artifex and we had such an incredible time learning how to safely and properly operate a handgun.
We had decided to purchase a firearm for our home and we both had very little experience handling a weapon, which made my wife feel little uneasy with the purchase. After taking Ben’s course, we now feel very safe and confident having a firearm in our home!
The trainers made the course fun, informative, and added a competitive element to the training to push us to perform better. We really enjoyed the speed shooting to test our reaction time!
Thanks for a great course!

Excellent training and instructions plus calm demeanor = success for beginner handgun lessons!
Lessons: Private beginner handgun training for two people (duration — 2 hours).
Cost: Great value for private lessons with everything included — handguns (Glock 17 — 9 mm and M&P .22 caliber), noise protection and ammo. Not the lowest price for lessons but do you bargain for something so valuable and can create such a positive experience?
Location: Prado Olympic Shooting Park in China — Good outdoor range. Nice drive to the facility.
I purchased lessons for myself and someone who was afraid of guns.
Class lessons were given in a casual and very informative manner. He treated you with respect and as a professional. I have had previous handgun lessons and this was the best experience.
Ben transformed my friend into a more confident shooter. She was very anxious and uneasy from the sound of rifle fire in the next station. Ben recognized her reaction and helped to calm her down by giving her ear protection during the class portion. She didn’t even want to pull the trigger the first time. At the end of class, she was able to fire and hit center mass with eight consecutive shots at four targets with confidence and ease. What a transformation!
Ben provided a great experience for both of us and even provided some very basic tactical instruction. You can’t get that from indoor lessons or for beginner classes.
I plan on taking additional classes from Ben. He is a likable person, professional, calm, and very informative. For a potentially stressful situation for newcomers, his demeanor and approach made learning extremely easy. I have even recommended two people to contact him for classes.

I took the CCW course from Ben and just took another class with him today. Ben is a great guy, knows his stuff, and is super down-​to-​earth. (I’ve taken other firearms courses and have found that there is a certain element of insularity and snobbishness). You don’t get that with Ben. Highly recommend.

Ben’s is just about the MOST qualified person to train you in firearm safety and instruction. Whether you have never shot a gun in your life or are an advance shooter, he has something for you.

My girlfriend bought a private lesson with Ben for me as my Christmas present. Neither of us have had much experience handling firearms, but Ben was great in communicating how to safely handle and properly shoot guns.
Ben had two Glock 17s ready for both of us, but my girlfriend had trouble holding the Glock 17 because of her tiny fetus hands. Luckily, Ben had a little Sig P238 ready, and it was a much better fit. After a short but effective oral lesson, we hit the range and went through properly shooting and aiming as well as some point and shoot drills. My girlfriend was terrified initially, but Ben was able to calm her nerves with his expertise in firearms and calm demeanor. After the awesome and fun lesson, she’s open to me buying a gun, and I’m happy to be looking for a new gun!
Also, Ben is this tall, pretty good looking Ex-​British special forces guy, so it makes for a good story to say you learned how to shoot from a bamf.

I just completed the accelerated CCW training two weeks ago with Ben. I was very pleased with the course. Ben is very knowledgeable and experienced. He also has a good sense of humor and is very patient as an instructor. Safety was always the prime consideration.
The first part of the course was spent in a classroom setting covering gun operation and safety, fundamentals of shooting, legal aspects of concealed carry, etc., and a final written test. The last [approximately] 3 hours were spent on the range, practicing proper techniques and fundamentals on drawing from the holster, and performing shooting exercises under various scenarios.
Ben ran this course very efficiently; there was no wasted time. For lunch, we ordered out pizza and Ben continued teaching through lunch. The three hours of range time was one exercise/​drill right after another. Ben had drills and exercises that he planned for the course, and arranged and ordered events with that goal in mind. Obviously, a one-​day course cannot make one a seasoned veteran, but I felt very satisfied that I got my money’s worth from this course. It was very thorough.
Having never carried a concealed weapon previously, and having never even fired a single shot by drawing from a holster, one of the big concerns for me was wondering how safe it would be to walk around with a holstered striker-​fired handgun with no manual thumb safety with a round chambered. So, for me, probably the biggest takeaway from this course, and also somewhat surprising, is that the range training provided in this course produced a level of confidence where I felt secure, and even comfortable, in my ability to be able to do that SAFELY. It wasn’t a casual comfortableness, but it was based on an understanding that if I follow the proper techniques, including safety rules, I can be confident in my ability to safely control the firearm. I was surprised at the increased level of confidence in myself this course provided.
I highly recommend Artifex Consulting Corp.‘s accelerated CCW course.
~ Tom

I didn’t grow up around firearms and have always been intimidated around them. I decided a few months ago that it was time I took a basic firearms safety type of course to become more familiar and comfortable around guns. So I decided to enroll in a the basic firearms course from Artifex.
The instructors, Ben and Daniel, were extremely knowledgeable, professional, thorough, and also entertaining. The class lasted about 4 hours with about 45 minutes of classroom instruction and the rest of the time in the field shooting. The class size was only 5 so it allowed the instructors to spend a lot of individual time per student. We covered everything from basic safety, accuracy, misfires, scenarios, and we had so much fun!
My comfort level around firearms has increased exponentially to the point I am now in the market to purchase a few firearms of my own. I plan on taking more of the Artifex classes soon and am thankful to have found Artifex. I will be sending my wife and others in my network to take their classes for sure.
Thank you Ben!
Brian

I completed the one day accelerated private CCW course with Ben from Artifex yesterday. It was outstanding. I chose the private course because I consider myself an amateur and the one on one with an experienced teacher with a high skill-​set would be beneficial to me. It was. Ben is an excellent teacher. Made sure I understood the penal codes, how to transport a gun ect… in the classroom portion. During the range portion we covered everything from the basics to more advanced techniques. A good portion was focused on safety and how to clear the 3 different types of common jams. I learned more in one day than I have in the several years I’ve been shooting. I would highly recommend Ben and Artifex. Thanks Ben. Good stuff!

This past Sunday, 9/​20, I took Ben’s new Academy class. This session was awesome to say the least.
Ben’s #1 focus during his courses is safety. He understands and preaches the importance of safely operating a firearm and safely shooting while others are present.
His knowledge of firearms isn’t from sitting behind a computer on youtube and reading people’s forum posts — his knowledge comes from real world experience.
The guy is a pro and it’s no wonder various state, local and federal agencies train with him.
I gave him 5 stars and would give him more if allowed.
I also give him two thumbs up and If I had a third thumb, he’d get three thumbs up!
Will definitely be taking future courses with Artifex.

My husband and I did a private executive CCW course with Ben Smith and loved it! He was very informative and made us very comfortable. We started at home with theory and written test then we went to the range in Chino. He ran a bunch of different scenarios that were very real and useful! I will definitely like to train with him more and am interested in the other classes he offers! He has a women’s only class and I’m going to try to get my girlfriends to do the class with me! My husband and I will likely do a follow up CCW class with him! Hands down he best class I’ve taken and am glad we did a private! We didn’t have to worry about other people and his attention was solely on us! It was great!!!

I had another educational session with Ben. Everything i needed to know about the law regarding CCW and regulations. Top notch info and i’m going back for firearms classes and drills. i’ve never gotten this much attention and education at any gun store. he makes it painless to get equipment and training all in one session. great value and without reservation i highly recommend his services.

I took the accelerated CCW course with Ben as the instructor. I was extremely impressed with his professional demeanor, his patience, his course flexibility and most importantly his skill level. I thought I had a pretty solid foundation with regards to firearms. He gave great advice, assisted me in improving my sight picture and proved overwhelmingly worthy of coming back for more courses. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Highest recommendation.

I waited for months to receive my conditional approval for my CCW permit, once I got it I needed to go to training quickly. Ben Smith’s company accomplished all I needed in a safe, productive, learning way. I was very impressed with Ben. His experience was very apparent and interesting. And it’s obvious he’s a good shot and knows the best ways to handle the weapons. I would highly recommend his classes to anyone looking for a professional who can teach you what you need to know in order to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Absolutely great CCW Course. Ben is very knowledgeable about laws and regulations as well as realistic firearms training. I cannot recommend enough. If you take this course it is well worth every penny spent.

Ben is a top notch Firearms Instructor that knows his stuff! He is one of the few instructors I have worked with that is very good at teaching and helping you improve your skills. Whether you are just getting into firearms or are an experienced shooter you will walk away with more knowledge and skills. Not to mention he is a super nice guy with a great personality!

Ben was awesome! I would highly recommend him to anyone, he is an excellent instructor, very patient and made everyone feel safe.

My wife and I took Ben’s CCW course over Easter weekend! First part of the day we covered the course work and in the afternoon headed to the range. The classroom information was excellent and Ben answered all of our questions. We covered things from gun safety, penal codes, self defense, types of holsters, and more.
At the range Ben helped us with improving our shooting and we covered handling a gun safely. It is amazing how just a couple changes to your shooting technique can make such a difference. Our confidence level kept getting better throughout the day.
Ben is very patient with both men and women… This is a plus!
AS soon as Ben posts an AR class, I’ll be signing up for that one as well.
Thanks Ben!!!
J&D

I took my CCW class over at Artifex. Ben was very accommodating to my schedule. I was able to take the class on the weekday. I took the advanced CCW class as I have experience with the basics fundamentals of the firearm. Therefore, we were able to breeze through the introductory portion and get into the laws regarding CCW.
After discussing the laws, we went to the range. Since the class size was small with advanced shooters, we were able to perform more CCW orientated shooting. We did some holster work with the timer, shooting while moving, and other drills besides stationary shooting. Ben was able to cater to the class and challenge us to know what we need to work on. Overall, I would recommend his class.

I recently took the accelerated 1 day CCW course from Ben, and I’ve gotta say he knows his stuff. From the law side of the CCW responsibilities, Ben shined the light on how important it is to make the absolute right decisions in as many scenarios as both Ben and the class could think up. With smaller class sizes, 1 on 1 was such an advantage.
When we got to the range, we then saw Ben’s experience. He put us through real-​life shooting scenarios where drawing our firearm from concealed to shoot a targets with varying difficulties along with clearing class I, II, III malfunctions to set the stage with as much realism as one could get at the range. By increasing the difficulty and the stress level, we were pushing to our limits as far as target acquisition and neutralizing the threats. Things like Tactical magazine reloading, re-​acquiring dropped mags while covering the threat and the surroundings, shooting while advancing and retreating and close quarters targets added to the realism. By the end of the day at the range, I felt that my «base» training level, the level at which my body will return to in the «fight» mode, was raised immensely.
Thank you Ben. I’ll be returning for continued training.

I took my CCW training course from Ben and was very impressed. Ben was extremely organized with the presentation material and addressed all of my questions to my satisfaction. There is the classroom portion of the training as well as the range-​work. Both aspects were done very professionally.
I grew up in the South so I have been around guns all of my life. However, there were many lessons I took away from Ben’s training that made me a better person in regards to guns. What Ben did well in my opinion, was recognize my strong and weak points and address them within the time constraints of the class. I came away from this CCW with a MUCH higher confidence in the handling of my firearm related to concealed-​carry.
Ben offers additional training and I am absolutely going to be taking additional training from Ben even if it is just for the observed and (training) reps.
I highly recommend Ben and Artifex to anyone considering firearm training for CCW or other purposes.

I took an introduction course with Ben and it was a great experience. I wanted to learn basic techniques, and his patience and instruction made my experience safe, fun and enjoyable. Since my training with Ben I feel much more comfortable while handling a gun — and his knowledge of guns and his background really helped enhance the entire experience. He is both personable and professional — he helps you understand how to use a gun, not only effectively, but also safely. I would recommend Ben to anyone who wants to build their skill and confidence while shooting.

I take «credibility» to heart, so I do not recall the last time that I had vouched for anyone about anything. However, I was compelled to register for a Unilocal account just so that I could provide my feedback about Ben Smith… so yeah, he is THAT good.
Prior to meeting Ben, I had taken a ladies pistol introductory training class, and although I felt that the trainers were knowledgeable and did a good job of instilling in all of us the critical importance of safety during the training, it was a bit daunting for me, as a first-​timer. I had never held a gun before, let alone fire one off. The instructors were so experienced, that although they were great drill sergeant-​types, I don’t think they could’ve possibly recalled what it feels like to shoot off a round for the first time ever, to remember to relate to the incredible wave of empowerment, awe, and even fear that goes through a person’s mind when they realize the gravity of possible consequences ejected from the weapon in their hands. That is where Ben differs.
Ben is not only highly technical and tactical; he is also extremely cognitive in his approach. He understands the need to build confidence in his trainee’s skill set, and to furthermore, help them understand why and how firearms function, not just how to do the deed. Afterall, let’s face it… anybody could pull a trigger, but Ben crafts your mind and skill so that your mental state is as stable as your trigger finger so that you don’t make mistakes.
If you’re a beginner, Ben will ensure that you feel comfortable every step of the way, mentally and technically. If you’re someone who is more advanced and want to simply hone your skills, Ben will challenge you and take your skill to higher levels of accuracy, confidence, and strength. He furthermore makes it fun and rewarding by varying his program to suit your needs, so it never feels like boot camp.
As a person, Ben is extremely personable despite his extensive formal education, training, and real-​world experiences, which is a welcomed rarity. With his refined approach, Ben practically makes firearms training an art. If you have the opportunity to train with Ben, do it. It would be one of the best investments you’ve ever made in yourself.

My husband was raised with guns so he’s always felt comfortable with them. We’ve been married for 40 years and have always had firearms in our home. I was paranoid about even touching a gun, so they stayed locked up and out of sight. My husband tried to teach me how to handle a handgun on several occasions, even though the guns had no ammunition in them, my heart raced and my hands shook when trying to pick one up. Needless to say, I never progressed to the step of firing a loaded pistol.
After hearing about Ben’s firearms training courses, I got together with a friend from work and we signed up to take Ben’s class together. As a retired teacher, I appreciate Ben’s skills as an instructor, he’s highly qualified and knowledgeable on the subjects of handling a gun safely and firing one. Ben is patient, he gives instruction that is easy to follow and he teaches at his student’s pace; we never once felt rushed. Step by step he lead us through the course (we signed up for private lessons, it was just the two of us in his course). Ben stresses safety, which for me, has always been the major issue when it came to handling a gun. By the time we moved to the gun range I felt secure and confident that I could check to see whether a pistol is loaded or unloaded, I was comfortable loading and unloading the gun by myself, I knew how to properly and safely handle it and I knew the proper shooting stance and how to pull the trigger and I was confident that I could handle a gun and not shoot myself, or unintentionally, shoot anyone else. I can hardly begin to express what a huge accomplishment that was for me; Ben helped me overcome what had been a major fear in my life. I am proud to say that I am now confident handling and firing our handgun, and I love hearing my husband tell everyone how the range-​master at the gun range stopped to watch me shoot and commented to my husband about my accuracy; he couldn’t believe it when my husband told him that it was my first time ever firing a gun.

My entire family took part in a personal safety, self defense, and firearms class. The presentation was professionally done and also fun. I left with the training and knowledge that I previously lacked. I feel more confident and am aware of my surroundings and definitely more safety conscious.

Ben is an excellent instructor and definitely knows his stuff. He puts everyone at ease and also makes the learning experience fun and above all safe! Before my first lesson I was terrified of guns but after training with Ben I can handle a pistol with ease and feel much more comfortable.
Ben has also provided training for my 86 year old grandmother! He showed her how to safely handle and use a gun she had received decades ago and had never touched. He was incredibly patient and went at her pace. Now she feels much safer living alone knowing she can protect herself if she is ever in immediate danger.
After the way he looked after my grandmother I would give him 10 stars if I could!