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INTRODUCTION TO FIREARMS

$175 | 2 HOURS | Includes FSC | 3rd Weekend of the Month, 4th Saturday

This 2 hour class is designed for new shooters, first time buyers, or anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of firearms. Learn from our DOJ certified staff:

  • How firearms work: handguns, rifles, and shotguns
  • Types of ammo
  • Safe firearm handling
  • Laws regarding transportation and storage
  • Leave with your Firearm Safety Certificate, needed for making firearm purchases in CA. FSC requires valid CA ID and 18 years of age

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GUN CLEANING AND TUNE-UP

$100 | 2 HOURS | Includes Cleaning Kit | 1st and 2nd Saturday of the Month

Not all firearms disassemble the same way. Bring your own handgun or long gun and work one-on-one with our gunsmith on the proper disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly process for your specific firearm. Learn:

  • Correct disassembly and reassembly sequence for your firearm
  • How to remove fouling and buildup from critical surfaces
  • Proper lubrication technique for moving parts
  • What to inspect for early signs of wear or damage
  • Take home a full cleaning kit, included in your price

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DRAW FROM HOLSTER CLASS

$250 | 2 HOURS | Live Fire | Twice a Month, Select Weekends

Speed is worthless without safety and accuracy behind it. Join our instructor at the Livermore Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club for a small, live-fire class limited to six shooters. Learn:

  • Safe, smooth technique for drawing from your holster
  • Proper grip and how to clear the holster
  • Presenting the firearm on target with accuracy
  • Muzzle discipline and trigger finger control
  • Bring your own eye and ear protection, or rent it from the range

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BOOK YOUR CLASS

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Firearm Education Built on Safe Handling Principles

Everything you need to know before your first class

East Bay Firearms offers structured firearm training designed for individuals purchasing their first gun, building foundational knowledge about proper maintenance and storage, or sharpening their handling skills at the range. The classes focus on handling procedures, legal requirements, cleaning techniques that prevent long-term reliability issues, and safe, accurate use of a holster. First-time buyer and gun cleaning sessions are capped at sixteen participants, and the live-fire Holster Class is capped at six, so every student gets direct instruction and hands-on practice.

The training addresses three core needs: understanding what firearm ownership requires before purchase, maintaining equipment once you own it, and building the handling skills to carry and draw safely. First-time buyer courses include California firearm safety card certification, covering state regulations and handling fundamentals. Gun cleaning sessions are hands-on, one-on-one instruction on the firearm you bring in, covering disassembly, inspection, and reassembly processes that extend the working life of your firearm and prevent common malfunctions caused by residue buildup or improper lubrication. The Holster Class takes you to the range for live-fire coaching on drawing from your holster safely and accurately.

Schedule a class based on the training format that matches your current ownership stage and available weekend time.

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What Each Training Format Covers

The first-time gun buyer class runs two hours and includes the written examination required for California's Firearm Safety Certificate, which must be obtained before taking possession of a purchased firearm. The course walks through safe handling protocols, storage requirements under state law, and the mechanics of how different action types function. You leave with the certification needed to complete a purchase and the baseline knowledge to handle your firearm without creating unsafe conditions.

Gun cleaning classes are built around the firearm you bring with you. You'll work directly with our gunsmith through the correct disassembly sequence for your specific handgun or long gun, learning what to inspect during cleaning and how to identify wear or damage that affects function. You'll practice removing fouling from barrel surfaces, applying lubricant to moving parts without over-application, and reassembling components in the correct order, and you'll leave with a full cleaning kit included in your price. Instructors explain what happens when cleaning is neglected: failures to eject, accuracy degradation, and accelerated wear on internal mechanisms.

The Holster Class is a two-hour, live-fire course held at the Livermore Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club, focused on drawing from your holster safely and accurately. You'll practice grip, clearing the holster, and presenting on target, while instructors coach muzzle discipline and trigger finger control. Bring your own eye and ear protection, or rent it from the range.

First-time buyer and gun cleaning classes are limited to sixteen participants, and the Holster Class to six, to maintain direct access to instructors during hands-on portions. Sessions follow a structured curriculum, but instructors address individual questions about specific firearm models or ownership situations as they arise during the course.

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Questions About Training and Class Enrollment

Course schedules and seat availability change monthly, and certain sessions fill quickly due to the participant caps and weekend timing that works for most schedules.

  • What does the first-time buyer class include? The two-hour course covers California firearm safety laws, safe handling procedures, and storage requirements, and includes the Firearm Safety Certificate exam required by the state before you can purchase a firearm. The $175 fee covers instruction and the certification card.
  • When are first-time buyer classes offered? Classes run on the third weekend of every month, with sessions at 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. An additional Saturday session is offered on the fourth week of the month from 11am-1pm only. All sessions cover the same curriculum and certification.
  • How does the gun cleaning class work? Bring your own handgun or long gun and work one-on-one with our gunsmith on proper disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly. The two-hour session includes a cleaning kit to take home. Classes are held on the first and second Saturday of each month from 11am-1pm. The $100 fee includes the kit.
  • What does the Holster Class cover? This two-hour, live-fire class teaches you to draw from your holster safely and accurately. You'll work on grip, clearing the holster, and presenting the firearm on target, with instructor coaching on muzzle discipline and trigger finger control. The fee is $250 per person.
  • When and where is the Holster Class held? The Holster Class runs on select weekends, twice a month. Each class day has two separate sessions, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, and the dates appear in the booking calendar. It is held at the Livermore Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club, not at our store.
  • Why are class sizes limited? The sixteen-person cap on first-time buyer and gun cleaning classes, and the six-person cap on the Holster Class, allow instructors to provide individual guidance during hands-on portions, answer specific questions about different firearm models, and ensure each participant completes practice exercises correctly before moving to the next topic.
  • What should I bring to a training class? Arrive on time for the scheduled session. First-time buyer classes provide all materials needed for instruction and the safety certificate exam. Gun cleaning classes require you to bring your own handgun or long gun; the cleaning kit itself is provided and yours to keep. For the Holster Class, bring your own eye and ear protection, or rent it from the range when you arrive.


East Bay Firearms schedules classes monthly based on demand and instructor availability, with first-time buyer sessions concentrated on third and fourth weekends to accommodate purchasers completing the certification requirement. Review current class dates and reserve your seat through the booking system, noting that sessions fill to each class's participant maximum and are not expanded beyond that capacity.

Disclaimer: Cancellations made at least 48 hours before your scheduled class will receive a full refund with no questions asked. Cancellations made inside that 48 hour window will receive 50% store credit that can be put toward a future class. No shows are not eligible for a refund or credit of any kind. If your plans change, you're always welcome to transfer your registration to a different date, time, or even another person, and there's no deadline for making that kind of transfer as long as it happens before your original class begins. First-time buyer classes include the Firearm Safety Certificate exam administered under California Department of Justice guidelines, and passing the exam is required to receive the certificate. Gun cleaning classes are instructional only; participants bring their own firearm for cleaning, and no live fire or ammunition is used in the first-time buyer or gun cleaning courses. The Holster Class includes live fire at the Livermore Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club, and participants must follow all range safety rules and instructor direction at all times. All training is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice regarding firearm ownership, storage, or use.