Return To Where the Professionals Train

It had been a long time since we had been to the SIG Sauer Academy.  Going on five or six years it seems.  Too long I guess.  Bruce and I rolled into the Academy on Thursday to check things out prior to the class we were teaching on Friday.  The first thing that struck us was the fact so much had changed in that time.  The Pro Shop was the big addition we noticed immediately.  In this day and age of going into gun shops and seeing bare shelves, it was really nice to go in and see the walls lined with Evil Black Rifles.  Did my heart good, actually.  We checked in and found out that we were going to be teaching on range three, and drove back to check it out.  We chatted to some familiar faces from a SIG centric Federal agency to find out that the SIG Academy was basically their home range.  Interesting, I thought.

It was clear things have changed at the Academy.  There were many new range additions, and new facilities since our last visit.  Range 3 was spacious, and we didn’t mind the piles of recent snow.  (NOTE-  If ANYONE comes across that ground hog who supposedly told us that we’re going to have an early spring, I will pay the bounty for his head.  The snow and cold temperatures were the literal polar opposite of spring).

Day One began in Class Room three.  We were a bit cramped for a full class, but it was clean and modern.  The SIG Academy range staff were helpful, and made it clear that “if you need it, let us know, we’ll get it”.  From teaching around the country at a lot of places, you can’t put into words how helpful that was.

On day three, we moved to the indoor range.  I ran into MSW’s own Scott Ballard on Day Three, who was teaching a rifle class in the next classroom over.  Had only the chance to say “Hey” but it was good seeing him as always.  Day three in the indoor range was a blast.  Not only do you have the chance to punch paper targets, but they also have steel set up for use on the indoor range.  (plus it wasn’t in the 30’s with a north wind at 35mph which was helpful).

My hat is off to Adam Painchaud, Director of the SIG Sauer Academy.  Adam is an all around great guy and he and his team have a first rate, world class facility.

If you get the chance to train at the SIG Sauer Academy, jump on it. They have a modern facility, backed by a talented instruction staff, and a Pro Shop that is out of this world.  The Academy is a 30 minute drive from the Manchester, NH airport, which is not as busy as Logan Airport, and I’d venture to say less of a hassle than Logan when it comes to transporting guns in and out.

For professionals, by professionals.  Thanks to Adam and Scott!