Defensive Instruction
So you’ve decided to carry a firearm or stage one in your home for protection. Great! But you’re not done. You’re really just getting started.
Our defensive instruction isn’t about getting you into that last available seat on the Blackhawk or winning your next internet gunfight. It is giving you a simple set of tools that you can put into action under stress before something bad happens to you or your family.
Professional firearms training will improve your performance with every gun you ever touch, that’s where we come in.
Using the Systematic Approach to Training, we provide you with information and help you build the skills necessary to defend yourself and protect your loved ones, all based on current, proven techniques
to deal with violent criminal actors.
We focus on marksmanship, situational awareness, proper mindset, and safe gun handling.
We offer private individual and group firearms instruction for pistol, carbine, and shotgun.
“I’m really glad that Ashton is striking out on his own in the training world because he is a great instructor. Ashton has been an assistant instructor in several classes I was a student in. He was more than just another pair of eyes and ears on the range. He took over demonstrations and lecture at times, offering great insight and techniques. During exercises, he was observing students and offering pointers and corrections while keeping an eye on safety. The classes I were in covered defensive handgun, shotgun, and AK and AR carbines, so Ashton can competently teach many disciplines. I look forward to taking classes from Ashton in the future at 360 Performance Shooting.”
“I have attended approximately five open enrollment courses that featured Ashton as a instructor as well as one semi-private lesson with him. I have found him to be a very technically-proficient instructor as well as a shooter who is always willing to demonstrate personally a drill he is teaching as well as someone who is willing to discuss and answer the “why” a given technique he is teaching or advocating is better than some other alternative. Safety and serious learning have always been a focus during these experiences, but his teaching style allows for these goals to be met while still having an enjoyable experience in a non-confrontational environment. I have also always appreciated his approach and attitude that shooting proficiency and the development of a defensive mindset is a continual learning and improvement process rather than something that is some sort of a means to an end and, no matter how proficiently an individual drill or skill was performed, there is usually always something additional to be learned or done that could represent an incremental improvement in this “process.” I would highly recommend considering him as an instructor.”
Take care,
Chris.
“After taking my first Low Speed High Drag class in my hometown I decided it was time to go see them in Pennsylvania. I only knew Jay Cunningham as he was the one that came out to teach on Long Island.
When my buddy Nick and I went out to Beaver Falls I discovered Jay also had Ashton Ray teaching with him and I didn’t know what to expect.
Ashton not only turned out to be extremely detailed in his instruction but also was a perfect counter balance to Jay’s approach.
Ashton is very well read and backs all of his words with a dose of reality and a pound of research. He also is as accessible as an instructor can be and will take the time to pull you aside and break down any performance problems you are having, piece by piece until the desired goal is attained.
3 years later I joined Jay and Ashton for an invite only 3 day class this time with friends Nick and Rob. This class is really where Ashton shined. There were classroom style lectures that he spoke about complex scenarios of different levels and it was apparent he spent many hours studying up and being taught himself and was passing it on.
He also showed me his true self not only during class but also afterward at a restaurant and finally via reaching out to share book reading suggestions and firearm suggestions as well.
Ashton mentioned that his reason for not only carrying but dedicating his life to bettering his knowledge and skills is his children and wife. This particular element gained my respect as he made it obvious he is an Everyman, down to earth gentleman with a big heart he isn’t afraid to show and share with his students. His reaching out and taking time to talk and make suggestions and talk, solidified my opinion of him as a real solid guy and super in depth, knowledgeable and capable instructor.”
Competitive Instruction
Are you new to competitive shooting sports? Have you hit a plateau and need help breaking through?
Our competitive shooter coaching is truly an individualized service. We custom design and implement a systematic strategy for each competitor based on their current skill level and desired performance goal. An experienced coach will help you gain speed, accuracy, and efficiency. We will also provide a performance plan for each shooter.
From beginner to expert, if you want to improve, we can get you there.
New Shooters
Face it, shooting is fun. Shooting is far more enjoyable when you are hitting bulls eyes!
We provide firearm familiarization and training on shooting fundamentals for those who just want to learn to shoot in a comfortable, stress free, environment. We will teach you how to use firearms safely and enjoyably!
You don’t need to be an internet commando, we aren’t Drill Instructors! Come get your learn on.
Pricing:
Range instruction live fire: (minimum 2hrs)
- $50/hr One on one
- $75/hr Bring a friend
- $100/hr Bring 2 friends
We will travel to your range, travel time greater than 60 min for a nominal charge.
Groups of more than 3 please contact us for a personalized quote.
Seminars
My family and I decided to take the Personal and Home Defense Seminar in order to become better equipped at handling unexpected situations. We were beyond pleased with the information Ashton provided as has the ability to relate to a wide audience range causing each person to take home valuable life changing information. He can assess the knowledge level of his class and meet the desired need. He is conscientious of his clients and will make certain they receive top notch service. We plan to utilize Ashton’s vast knowledge on the range as well and would recommend him to anyone who wishes to become better equipped to deal with unexpected situational events or simply to improve ones current skill set.
Beth P.
Our seminar training is safe, comfortable, and family friendly (16 and older) training that happens off of the range. We can come to you in the comfort of your home, your office or any suitable location. We tailor the seminar curriculum to your needs.
Popular topics include:
• Home or small business defense
• How to navigate your home or business while armed if necessary
• Low light techniques
• Developing a family or employee emergency plan
• Gun safety, storage, and purchasing advice
• Less than lethal defense options
• Street Smarts
• Fundamentals of Personal Security
3hr seminar up to 8 people: $350
6hr seminar up to 8 people: $600
Travel time greater than 60 min for a nominal charge.
For group sizes greater than 8 please contact us for a personalized quote
Law Enforcement Instruction
“I have personally and professional know Ashton Ray for several years, first meeting him during an NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor course. Attending several of Ashton’s firearms course, I have improved firearms skills and fundamentals through his instruction. I have an extensive background with firearms, serving on several deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Army Infantry and currently working overseas in diplomatic protection. It is difficult to find an instructor who is knowledgeable and frankly, not full of crap and ego. Ashton is the real deal, an experienced instructor who can take his knowledge and present it in a way in which students can absorb. Even with myself being a seasoned shooter, Ashton was able to help me progress my shooting ability to the next level. Most importantly Ashton was able to take the course material and make it fun, shooting becomes more of a chore in my profession. I would recommend to anyone, regardless of their firearms experience or lack of it, to take some shooting courses with Ashton. You will improve on your shooting fundamentals as well as civilian tactical knowledge to be able to handle a weapon in real life scenario. Lastly Ashton was able to establish a safe environment for conducting firearms training with safe and practical drills, instructor oversight and hands on coaching, one-on-one mentorship with more technical drills, risk mitigation and range safeguards, and medical emergency procedures. I have seen too many instructors lacking in these range safety protocols. Ashton Ray is an accomplished and experienced firearms instructor and I would recommend him to any level of shooter who wants to improve.”
Jonathan R.
I first met Ashton during a private training class. Though he was not the primary instructor, he added value to every training scenario in the class. The methods he used to describe techniques or rationale used to justify why he did things the way he did seemed to resonate with me. He is quite good at explaining the “why” in technical terms as well as able to put things into other terms that everyone can relate to. Making the knowledge-bridge between something people are comfortable with to things they aren’t can be difficult. Ashton does a fantastic job of this. It was during that private class that I decided if I had the opportunity to take more classes with Ashton, I should. The next class was a more advanced pistol class. The planning and techniques taught in the class were outstanding. As with all classes, not everyone came in with the same skill level. Ashton did a great job of determining the offsets and moving forward in a safe and efficient manner. With Ashton being able to adjust on the fly, it shows a very advanced knowledge and comfort of the material. That is a theme I have noticed through all his instruction. One of the last classes I took with Ashton, was probably the most physically demanding firearms class I have taken to date. Though the students were run ragged a few times, the points of stress were still safety, accuracy and confidence. Being able to still perform when you’re being pushed physically is important in numerous situations. If you are looking to start out with firearms or eek out the very best performance you can, Ashton can help. I have noticed my own skill levels incrementally increase with each instruction block, adding more tools to the toolbox and refining some of the existing skills. Ashton has really helped me improve my ability to shoot and manipulate firearms. I could take the same class multiple times and get something new out of it each time. That is the mark of a great class lead by a quality instructor. One of the other things I like about Ashton is he continuously strives to better himself as well. He continues to train with other top level instructors. “Sometimes a teacher, always a student.” It’s an extremely good mindset to have when dealing in realms that constantly change and evolve over time. I also like that he doesn’t just wait to learn new techniques or content from others, he tries to think though his own teachings and see if they can be improved. This is reminiscent of a cyclic method I was taught in the corporate world, “Plan, Do, Check, Act”. Always striving to make things better and more efficient. Ashton does this well. Ashton has helped me become a more confident, skilled shooter. If you are the type of person that conceal carries everywhere you legally can, it is of the utmost importance to be confident and competent in your skills not just for yourself but for those around you. Invest the time and make yourself a better firearms handler. I have continually been impressed with the level of instruction from Ashton, it has always been well worth my time to attend his classes. I will continue to take classes with Ashton as often as I can and I hope Ashton can continue to teach for many years to come.
Ben C.
Our firearms training for Law Enforcement Officers is all about preparing officers to respond to immediate lethal attacks by one or more threats. We focus on fostering the will to win and survival
mindset while getting accurate hits quickly.
Gun handling is the hallmark of an armed professional. Low light techniques, advanced malfunction clearance techniques, threat discrimination, problem solving as well as fundamental marksmanship are but a few of the areas in which we can help you or your department improve.
We also provide instruction to Departmental Firearms Instructors to help them meet their continuing training requirements.