Great River Firearms Training

Why Great River Firearms Training?

Our Motto

Safety First, Security Always

Real World Experience

Matt Courtney

President

Great River Firearms Training

LLC.

Est. 2013

My firearm and firearms instructor experience comes from a duck blind on the Mississippi River at an early age with my Dad. In 1991 I enlisted in the Marine Corps where I was a rifle/pistol marksmanship coach, Pacific Division Match Shooter and Range Safety Officer.

I have conducted, organized and been responsible for combat shotgun familiarization courses, squad and platoon sized live fire assault courses, numerous rifle and pistol qualification courses. I also carried out waterborne live fire training with the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher and M240G machine gun from the Riverine Assault Craft during operations in the United States and Panama.

With help from a couple other senior Sergeants we developed a 3 gun fire and maneuver course that members of our battalion completed in advance of deploying to Iraq in 2004. In that course of fire Marines engaged targets from 100 yards or more with their rifle while moving down range conducting reloads, transitioning to a shotgun and finally to a pistol at point blank range. This course of fire was similar to one I completed in Thailand during one of my four overseas deployments. I also was given the opportunity introduce a similar live fire course to law enforcement officers while volunteering my time during a local LEO Sniper Week.

During my time in the Marines I was a Marine Security Guard at a Naval Nuclear Weapons Storage depot, infantryman, Riverine Assault Craft Captain, Marine Scout Sniper and a Combat Veteran of Iraq.

My weapons qualifications included the M1911 .45cal and M9 9mm, M-16A2 and A4, M203 grenade launcher, M82A1A SASR aka Barrett .50 cal and the M40A1 Sniper Rifle.

I am also a licensed Florida non-resident Concealed Carry holder and an avid yet not always successful hunter…

What I’m saying is I like to keep you awake and have some fun/interesting conversations!

I offer training for shooters that own AR-15’s, SKS and AK styled firearms.

Since 2013 we have offered or expanded to include;

- NRA Basic Pistol Course

- Illinois Concealed Carry Training

- NRA Personnel Protection Inside The Home

- NRA Personnel Protection Outside The Home

- NRA Defensive Handgun

Great River Firearms Training

2022 - UPDATED 23DECEMBER2021

Concealed Carry Schedule

CCL Classroom Range and Renewal

Month.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday

January 18th, 19th, 20th and 22nd

February American Legion Post 37

15th, 16th, 17th and 19th

March 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th

April 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th

May 10th, 11th, 12th, and 14th

June 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 25th

September 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th

October 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th

November 29th, 30th DEC1st and 3rd

New for 2022

Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) Enthusiast

AR, AK, SKS, bolt guns

AND

Defensive Handgun (DHG)

January 26th-MSR

March 12th-DHG

April 9th MSR/DHG

May 14th MSR/DHG

June 25th MRS/DHG

Sept 17th MSR/DHS

October 8th MSR/DHG

Looking for a private course, one-on-one

or time at the range?

CALL

(217)617-2608

Opportunities

Concealed Carry Certification for Illinois, Missouri and Iowa residents.

All Illinois residents that want to apply for a concealed carry permit must take at least 8 hours of in person, hands on firearms training to include a live fire qualification. Most residents will need the full 16 hour course. We highly recommend that anyone wishing to apply for the permit contact us and see what preexisting training you have may be applied towards the mandatory 16 hours.

Preexisting training such as military service with an Honorable Discharge, Illinois Hunter Safety Certification, 8 hours of NRA Basic Pistol Course to name just a few.

Home Defense and Personal Protection

We can tailor a course to meet your training needs in a one-on-one or group format.

Renewal and Refresher Courses

Illinois CCL Permit holders will need to renew every 5 years with 3 hours of classroom and range time.

Buy a new gun, want to shoot one of ours call us and let us cover the basic's with you.