Classes

SAO Shooter’s Academy – Enroll Now!

SAO is not just a gun shop and shooting range. We are also committed to fully outfitting the shooter with firearms training and instruction and are staffed to do so. We are currently in the process of expanding our curriculum and now offer three popular classes as well as personalized training:

Curriculum

Concealed Weapons Permit

Taught by Fernandina Beach PD Captain Jim Norman, this is a class for shooters with some handgun experience. You get ninety minutes of classroom instruction, and one half hour in the range for only $55.00. You get a certificate that you can then take to the Agriculture Department in Jacksonvile where they will take your picture, fingerprint you and submit your Carry Permit Application. You pay $117 to the state and will have your permit within two weeks. Click here for class availability and to reserve your seat.

NRA First Steps – Basic Pistol Orientation

Taught by NRA Certified Instructor, David Phipps, this class is for beginning shooters. Included are two hours of hands-on classroom instruction on handgun function and safety, two hours in the range firing a variety of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in various calibers, and this class fulfills the Florida Concealed Weapons Permit requirements. All for just $99.99. Click here for class availability and to reserve your seat.

NRA First Steps – Basic Rifle Orientation

This class offers a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and operation of three rifle action types: bolt action, lever action and semi-automatic. You will learn all about these platforms including safe gun handling, parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, cleaning and storage. This course is approximately four hours long and includes classroom and range time. Everything is included and you will shoot an AR15 as well as a lever action and bolt action rifle in our climate controlled indoor range. This is a great class for the teens and “tweens” just getting into hunting and the shooting sports. Cost per student = $99.99

Customized Personal Training

For those seeking more in-depth training or a fully private experience, we provide personalized programs to fit your needs. The cost is $60 per hour with a minimum of two hours. Such training typically includes both classroom and range time.

Ladies Only Classes

If you put together a group of three or more ladies for personal training or basic pistol orientation, we will do our best to accomodate your schedule. If it’s a group for personal training, we will charge $50 per hour instead of $60. Ladies Only Basic Pistol Oriention classes will be charged at $99.99 per student and will take between three and four hours.

Please stop in or give us a call at 904-849-7593 for details, available dates and to reserve your seat.

Schedule of Classes and Events (Click Here)



Our Instructors:

Jim Norman

Jim Norman

Jim Norman is a nineteen year veteran of the Fernandina Beach Police Department reaching the rank of Captain in 2006.

Jim earned his Firearms Instructor certificate in 1993 and has been the Department’s lead instructor since 1999. In the time since becoming a firearms instructor Jim has gone on to become certified to instruct in Tactical Rifle and Select-Fire Weapons (Full-Auto), Taser and Less Lethal Munitions. He is also the SWAT Team Commander for FBPD.

Jim is a Glock Certified Advanced Armorer and AR-15 Armorer for Armalite, Rock River, and SABRE Defense. Jim is currently an adjunct instructor for the Florida State College/Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Academy as well as a firearms instructor for the FSC/JSO firearms training facility.

In his spare time Jim builds custom rifles and performs firearms refinishing.

Chad Lee also teaches the SAO Concealed Weapons Permit Qualification Class. Chad started his career in law enforcement in 1996 in Brunswick, Ga. He has since moved to Fernandina Beach, Fl. He is currently working for the Fernandina Beach Police Department and has since 2001. Chad is currently a patrol sergeant. He is a Police Department trainer and also teaches recruits at the Florida State College of Jacksonville. Chad hold certificates of instruction in multiple facets in law enforcement including:

    Glock armorer
    Glock advanced armorer
    CMS firearms instructor
    CMS general instructor
    CMS vehicle operations instructor
    NRA patrol rifle instructor
    NRA select fire rifle instructor
    CMS defensive tactics instructor
    Weapons systems AR 15/16 armorer
    Glock G-18 select fire workshop
    Basic police sniper
    Chemical munitions, less-lethal, Flash Band, and Aerosol
    M26 and X26 Taser instructor
    Has also taken and taught Urban Rifle

David Phipps Head Shot

David C. Phipps III

David C. Phipps II began shooting at a very young age and has been a gun enthusiast ever since. His career in the firearms industry began when he was 18 years old when he took a job with Gander Mountain. Because Gander did not have a gunsmith, in addition to his sales responsibilities, he had the opportunity to perform some gunsmithing including sight exchanges, Glock and Sig Sauer trigger jobs and tuning, gun cleanings, aftermarket parts installation on AR15s, Remington 870’s, 500 series Mossbergs, Glocks, Sigs, Springfield XD’s, 1911’s and more. This and subsequent professional experience, as well as his personal interest in firearms of all kinds, has resulted in David acquiring a vast knowledge base of the industry and its wide array of products.

David acquired the following instructor certification through the National Rifle Association in 2010:

    NRA certified Basic Pistol Instructor
    NRA certified Basic Rifle Instructor
    NRA certified Basic Shotgun Instructor
    NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer
    NRA certified Home Firearm Safety Instructor


David has been with SAO for more than 2 years where he is our Class 3 Manager and is in charge of ordering, stocking and selling AOW’s, suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and machine guns. Has been teaching NRA classes and providing private, customized firearms instruction at Second Amendment Outfitters since January 1, 2012.

David is also a Florida-certified Firefighter with training in HAZMAT awareness, CPR, Emergency Vehicle Operation and wildland firefighting.

Dan Beach, Firearms Instructor at SAO

Daniel Beach

Daniel Beach’s experience with firearms began at a very young age and he has pursued his interest and become a NRA Certified Firearms Instructor after graduating from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. At Second Amendment Outfitters, Dan teaches basic shooting and firearms safety courses while also managing the shipping and gunsmithing departments of the company. Dan also delivers personal protection courses for those individuals that wish to sharpen their defensive pistol shooting skills in environments both inside and outside of their homes and assists with delivering instructor credentials to those who wish to become NRA Certified Instructors themselves.

Dan’s holds the following NRA certifications:

    NRA Certified Home Firearms Safety Instructor
    NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
    NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
    NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor
    NRA Certified Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor
    NRA Certified Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor

Dan hopes to develop a career in law enforcement and is actively seeking full-time employment with several agencies.