You mean specifically the NRA courses? Or just training courses in general?
To the above posts, I can add two variables:For the NRA Basic Pistol class, I start students with .357 revolvers and ammunition that I have loaded to exceedingly low levels. That way, new shooters don't have to deal with recoil and heavy muzzle blast while trying to learn fundamentals. Semi-auto ammunition cannot be loaded to real low levels.
- Range fees can vary substantially, and
- Some instructors (I am one) include guns and ammunition.
Ammunition, as we all know so well, is not cheap, and I could price the Basic Pistol class down a fair amount if I did not supply the guns and ammo. However, students would end up paying more, as they would have to buy their own.
For what it's worth.
Great points!! And I really like your approach!!
To the above posts, I can add two variables:
For the NRA Basic Pistol class, I start students with .357 revolvers and ammunition that I have loaded to exceedingly low levels. That way, new shooters don't have to deal with recoil and heavy muzzle blast while trying to learn fundamentals. Semi-auto ammunition cannot be loaded to real low levels.
- Range fees can vary substantially, and
- Some instructors (I am one) include guns and ammunition.
Ammunition, as we all know so well, is not cheap, and I could price the Basic Pistol class down a fair amount if I did not supply the guns and ammo. However, students would end up paying more, as they would have to buy their own.
For what it's worth.
I also include guns and ammunition, and we have a dedicated classroom. All of our students shoot AT LEAST 4 different models of today's most popular handguns in DEFENSE calibers, not just .22lr. The students may also use their own guns, but we require them to also shoot ours so they are well rounded upon course completion. While they are all NRA courses, it's not really an apples to apples comparison. The objectives covered should all be the same, but as NIFT pointed out the costs vary because of facilities, equipment used, and market.
Insurance is another thing. Some instructors don't have it. There are plenty of instructors out there that teach in their (or your!) back yard. I have yet to find an instructor policy that covers me wherever I go without a $150 rider for each additional range beyond the 2 allowed in the policy. God forbid anything bad happen without an insurance policy in place. If somebody offers to come to you because you have a "range" in your back yard, make sure they are insured!
As instructors we all have to decide what our time and experience are worth. Some instructors brag of teaching for 30 years. But if that person only teaches a few courses a year their experience is not even close to those of us who teach several courses a month.
Last but not least, some business strategies call for being a "low cost leader". Their courses/facilities meet the MINIMUM objectives. Then there are those that strive for excellence and continually purchase new equipment and improve facilities for the best educational experience possible. (For example $25 wall posters -vs- $700 projector with various multi-media presentations) I hope this helps.
The biggest difference is we charge less because it's our passion/hobby not our livelihood, in fact I'm almost sure we lose money. I do it because it directly impacts people's opinions of firearms and the 2nd Amendment -- it's my "grass roots" effort. And the club gets a few members a year and a good impression on the community.
As far as I can tell we have the same expenses, except the range fees, that all the other instructors have; the instructors have insurance, the club has insurance, the instructors use their personal firearms and provide all the ammo. We usually have time for everyone to shoot 4-6 different firearms in any type or caliber they want. One instrucutor brings out his .500 Mag and lets anyone who wants to pull the trigger a couple times.
If I had to hazard a guess there's probably $8,000 - $10,000 worth of pistols for the students to choose from at one of our classes. We keep class size to 8 or less and are usually 1-to-1 on the firing line, four at a time, and never more than 1-to-2 if a couple of the instructors can't make it. We shut down the range for our classes and don't have to yell over the gunfire in the next bay.
We reimburse ourselves for class materials and ammo (but not gas or wear and tear on the guns) and give the rest to the club. And because we only have 3-4 pistol classes per summer, that pretty much just covers the insurance for the instructors.
Several times a year people can't make a scheduled class or want a one-on-one or a "couples" class. Same price. Except the club gets the $5 "guest fee" and I get to pay for my gas.
Yes, we have the $25 wall posters, but we also use a projector - paid for out of my own pocket - to present most of the materials, we have nice tables in the classroom and comfortable chairs. Every time we have a class we get comments: "How do you guys do this for $40?"
We also do youth rifle classes and rifle shooting merit badge for Boy Scouts from time to time. Last year we had 17 Sea Cadets. This year we're having ~16 scouts and are making plans for the Sea Cadets again. All at little ($5) to no cost for the kids, but an FoNRA grant paid for rifles, ammo and materials.
So just because I'm teaching ~6 classes a year doesn't mean the students aren't getting a quality class or getting sub-standard equipment.
I will say this... if I were charging for my time I wouldn't do it for less than $200 in my pocket per class after expenses. It takes a lot of work and preparation.
The biggest difference is we charge less because it's our passion/hobby not our livelihood, in fact I'm almost sure we lose money. I do it because it directly impacts people's opinions of firearms and the 2nd Amendment -- it's my "grass roots" effort. And the club gets a few members a year and a good impression on the community.
As far as I can tell we have the same expenses, except the range fees, that all the other instructors have; the instructors have insurance, the club has insurance, the instructors use their personal firearms and provide all the ammo. We usually have time for everyone to shoot 4-6 different firearms in any type or caliber they want. One instrucutor brings out his .500 Mag and lets anyone who wants to pull the trigger a couple times.
If I had to hazard a guess there's probably $8,000 - $10,000 worth of pistols for the students to choose from at one of our classes. We keep class size to 8 or less and are usually 1-to-1 on the firing line, four at a time, and never more than 1-to-2 if a couple of the instructors can't make it. We shut down the range for our classes and don't have to yell over the gunfire in the next bay.
We reimburse ourselves for class materials and ammo (but not gas or wear and tear on the guns) and give the rest to the club. And because we only have 3-4 pistol classes per summer, that pretty much just covers the insurance for the instructors.
Several times a year people can't make a scheduled class or want a one-on-one or a "couples" class. Same price. Except the club gets the $5 "guest fee" and I get to pay for my gas.
Yes, we have the $25 wall posters, but we also use a projector - paid for out of my own pocket - to present most of the materials, we have nice tables in the classroom and comfortable chairs. Every time we have a class we get comments: "How do you guys do this for $40?"
We also do youth rifle classes and rifle shooting merit badge for Boy Scouts from time to time. Last year we had 17 Sea Cadets. This year we're having ~16 scouts and are making plans for the Sea Cadets again. All at little ($5) to no cost for the kids, but an FoNRA grant paid for rifles, ammo and materials.
So just because I'm teaching ~6 classes a year doesn't mean the students aren't getting a quality class or getting sub-standard equipment.
I will say this... if I were charging for my time I wouldn't do it for less than $200 in my pocket per class after expenses. It takes a lot of work and preparation.