Learn to Defend & Protect with Shotgun Classes

 💥 Essential Shotgun: Home Defense Specialty Class 💥 

Essential Shotgun is a shotgun class that teaches civilians to handle a shotgun with confidence and precision in real-world home defense situations. This class focuses on mastering loading, shooting, and movement under pressure, emphasizing control, accuracy, and effective use of the shotgun as a close-quarters defensive tool. Students learn practical skills that transform the shotgun from a simple firearm into a decisive force multiplier. 

✅ You prefer a class environment built around mentorship, camaraderie, approachable instructors, and continuous improvement rather than ego or intimidation. 

✅ You own a shotgun and want to use it effectively for home defense or close-quarters scenarios.
✅ You want to improve loading speed, recoil control, and target accuracy under pressure.
✅ You’re looking to practice practical movement and shooting positions for real-world situations.
✅ You want to understand the legal considerations of defensive shotgun use.
✅ You’re ready to transform your shotgun skills from range practice to fight-ready capability.
✅ You want a structured, professional course that emphasizes safety, fundamentals, and tactical confidence.

NO PREREQUISITES!

📅 Sunday, March 8, 2026

📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026

📅 Saturday, December 12, 2026
🕗 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

📍 Mountain Top Gun & Archery Range, 11564 Harrison Ferry Rd, McMinnville, TN

👉 Seats are limited — lock in your spot today!

Home Defense Specialty Class

The Essential Shotgun course is designed for shooters who want to use their shotgun effectively in home defense and close-quarters scenarios. Students will learn proper stance, grip, sight alignment, and recoil control while practicing loading, ammo management, and deployment under realistic conditions. Every exercise is focused on turning raw power into controllable, repeatable results.

Beyond the basics, the class covers legalities of defensive force and safe operation, ensuring participants understand both the tactical and responsible aspects of using a shotgun in defense. Through dynamic drills and movement exercises, students develop the ability to engage targets accurately and decisively, gaining confidence to act swiftly and safely in high-pressure situations.

TOPICS COVERED

• All Patriot Training live fire classes have a thorough safety briefing and medical plan. 
• Proper sight picture
• Sight alignment
• Proper grip on the gun
• Good fighting stance
• Recoil control
• Legalities of defensive force 
• Marksmanship
• Safety
• Ammo management
• Loading the shotgun
• Keeping the shotgun loaded
• Staging and deploying the shotgun
• Shooting positions and variations
• Moving exercises 

FAQ

• All PATRIOT TRAINING Class pricing includes any applicable range access charges - no surprise "gotcha" fees! 

GUNS & GEAR

• Safe, functional shotgun... 
  • 12-Ga PREFERRED 
  • 20-Ga OK
  • We caution against other Gauges, because of ammo scarcity
  • Pump action and semi-auto preferred.
  • Make sure to take the plug out of the tube! 
• Some means to carry extra ammo on the shotgun. (Shell Sleeve / holder)
  • Side saddle or buttstock cuff attachment.  
• 150 rounds birdshot ammunition - same brand, same type.  
• 15 rounds buckshot.  Suggested loads:
  • Federal Flite Control 8-pellet
  • Federal Flite Control 9-pellet
  • Hornady TAP Low recoil
  • Hornady Black 8-pellet
  • Hornady Critical Defense
  • Winchester Ranger
  • Speer Lawman
• If you wear prescription lenses / glasses - BRING THEM!  
• Notepad & pen 
• Eye protection & ear protection. 
• WATER! 
• A towel or shemagh to cover the shotgun with - it will be on a table in the sun and can get hot to the touch! 
• Bring Food - there is no place nearby from which to buy lunch / snacks.
• Shotgun ammo belt or ammo pouch optional - highly recommended! 
• A shotgun sling is strictly optional - we will NOT be using it. 
• Sunscreen, bug spray, etc.
• Lawn chair
• Medical Kit / IFAK optional. 

DO NOT BRING

• DO NOT bring a shotgun with a pistol grip and no stock.  
  • Pistol grip + stock (like an AR) is OK! 
• DO NOT bring steel shot. It presents risk of bounce-back. 
• DO NOT bring hand-loaded ammunition. Bring quality factory brass cased ammo. 
• Bullpup shotguns tend not to do well in this class. 
• Shotguns with barrels longer than 22" tend not to do well in this class. 
• Box magazine fed shotguns tend not to do well in this class. 

LOCATION

This class will be held at Mountain Top Gun & Archery.

11564 Harrison Ferry Rd., McMinnville, TN 37110 

STANDBY

Most Patriot Training classes sell out quickly. However, we frequently have participants who have schedule changes, and cannot make the class they bought for whatever reason. Therefore, we offer a "STANDBY" list. Of course, this does not guarantee you a spot. However, most classes get one or two reschedules - usually the last week right before class. 

IF this class sells out, email us and we will put you on standby for the class at no charge. Of course, if a spot opens up, then you will need to act quickly to buy that spot! 

REFUND / RESCHEDULE / TRANSFER POLICY

REFUNDS

Patriot Training does NOT offer Refunds. 

* Tuition sale is final and is a commitment to train with Patriot Training at the date and time scheduled.

* Tuition paid guarantees your spot in class. Patriot Training does not overbook. 

* Your payment secures a spot in a specific class, and nothing more. Patriot Training cannot and does not guarantee individual performance or results. Therefore, failure to pass a course (such as a carry permit evaluation) does not qualify for a refund.  

* Patriot Training does not offer refunds, reschedules, or transfers to students who fail to show up for class. If you decide not to attend, that’s your decision. 

* This policy is firm and there will be no exceptions.

* Due to safety concerns, all Sig P320 variants are prohibited from use in class. No refunds will be issued based on this policy. 

Why? 

- Because if you decide the day before class that you don't like the weather forecast (or insert whatever excuse here), we will not have time to sell that spot to a serious participant that has been turned away. 

Limited Exceptions:

• More than 30 days prior to class, with written notice: Patriot Training may consider a partial refund, contingent upon being able to reopen and fill the vacated class slot with another paying student. If the vacated slot is not filled, no refund will be issued. Approved refunds will be subject to a processing fee ($50 for most classes). 
• Emergency situations may be handled on a case-by-case basis. 
• Examples of legitimate emergencies may include major medical emergencies, serious injury, family tragedy, or similar unforeseen events beyond the student’s control. 
• Work scheduling conflicts, poor planning, bad hair days, imperfect weather forecasts, or similar will not qualify as emergencies.

RESCHEDULE

Patriot Training classes cannot be rescheduled. 

LIMITED TRANSFERS

Can't make the class and want to transfer (give/sell) your spot to someone else?

If you want to transfer, sell, or give your seat to someone else, that’s entirely up to you and is fine by us. 

You must notify us no later than Thursday, 6:00 pm, prior.  

If that person cannot make it, the same no refund policy applies. 

CANCELLATIONS

In the unlikely event Patriot Training is forced to cancel a class, refunds and reschedules will be offered.