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Firearms Training in Denver, Colorado

Concealed carry permits, the state firearms safety course, and private instruction for Denver residents.

We teach in Parker and Aurora, both a straightforward drive from anywhere in Denver, and a large share of our students make that trip rather than train inside the city.

Denver is the one place in Colorado that does this differently

Everywhere else in the state, you apply to your county sheriff. Denver is a combined city and county, and its permit applications go through the Denver Police Department instead.

  • Applications are handled by Denver Police, 1331 Cherokee Street
  • You must schedule an appointment, and payment is taken to reserve it — you cannot simply turn up
  • A sheriff still holds final issuing authority under state law; Denver Police run the process

Because appointments have to be booked and paid for, get your training certificate before you schedule. Turning up to a paid appointment without it wastes the slot and the fee.

Confirm the current process with the Denver Police Department before you apply.

Classes we teach for Denver students

  • Basics of Pistol Shooting — Colorado CCW · 8 hours · $150. Satisfies the state training requirement for your permit.
  • CCW Renewal Refresher · 2 hours · $94.99. Law updates, live fire and the written exam.
  • Colorado Firearms Safety Course (SB25-003) · 4 hours $125, 12 hours $249. Required before you can buy a specified semiautomatic firearm.
  • Rifle, shotgun and self-defense · $125 each.
  • Private instruction · $450. One-on-one, built around what you actually need.

Why Denver residents drive out to train

We are training only. Not a range, not a gun shop — nobody is moving you toward a purchase at the end of the day.

Classes stay small. In a city the size of Denver it is easy to end up in a room of thirty people watching slides. That is not what this is.

Your instructor

John Rader — teaching since 1993, more than 30,000 students.

  • Douglas County Verified Firearms Instructor #25037 — Colorado instructors are verified by one county and that verification is good statewide, so this certificate is accepted by every issuing authority in Colorado
  • NRA Certified Instructor #167433046
  • United States Marine Corps — ten years infantry, honorably discharged as a Sergeant, and a Primary Marksmanship Instructor
  • Law Enforcement — twenty-five years, Sergeant

Book a class

Reserve a seat → No charge up front. I set the date once enough people are on the list, then email everyone at once.

Proudly serving the Denver Metro area and all of Colorado
Classes in Parker and Aurora  ·  Monday–Saturday, 9–5
720-464-SHOT (7468)  ·  info@coloradotactics.com

Call and tell us what you need and we will point you to the right class — or tell you that you do not need one.

Also serving Aurora, Parker, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Castle Rock.

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