Course Testmonials

It was fascinating to find out what Mark "Nobby" Knowles has been up to in his life. Is he superhuman?! Both myself (non military) and my son who has just joined the Army benefitted considerably from Mark's instruction and guidance. There was a significant improvement in our marksmanship skills as the day proceeded.

This is one of many courses i've attended with Mark and even though the courses have been challenging i've enjoyed the time learning from Mark immensely and always learning something new on the weapon systems, its amazing what you can learn when taught properly by Mark and i'm already booking my next course.

Highly recommend Nobby for learning or improving your marksmanship skills. Incredibly experienced, and a great mentor.

I would highly recommend the training Mark provides. at STS. By the end of the course you will know the chosen weapons system inside out and back to front. Mark has a relaxed personality which will help you feel at ease, and a professional approach which will ensure you get the absolute most from your training time.

I attended my second course with STS today, and yet again I had a n incredible time!! Anyone looking for a huge variety of firearms training, this is the place to go. ‘Nobby’s’ professionalism, knowledge and instructing skills are second to none. I will definitely be using STS for further training and future requirements. Thank you again for all your support.

Thank you so much for your time and patience Mark. Your course was an extraordinary experience for me both mentally and physically. I knew I needed to learn from a professional and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. I really am grateful to you for identifying and navigating me throughout the two days so I could attain some personal achievements. I honestly didn’t expect to make it to the range! Thank you again for two extremely professional, safe, confidence building and very memorable days. I have the bruises and aching body as a short term reminder and hope to return for more training in the future.

5 stars An excellent day thank you so much. The commitment to safety was evidently paramount, allowing us to build confidence as we stripped, loaded and fired an incredible set of weapons. Nobby's career introduction was fascinating, and showed we were in superbly experienced hands. His narrative through the day built our knowledge, entertained us and contributed to the excellent experience - we would love to return!

The course was a brilliant experience. It made me understand the weapons and the art of shooting in a correct and safe way. The most important thing that this course showed me is how much I need to practice, waking me up to reality . Of course I will look forward for more experiences like this in the future!

Zoe and I attended a bespoke Bolt Action Rifles course in awareness and competency so we could potentially hire a rifle in Greenland. Mark is calm, truly knowledgable and highly experienced. Learning can be uncomfortable at times and I was certainly stretched during the day. But I got further clarity and insight on what I need to do and realise if we do intend going to Greenland then more skills training, embedding, Normal Safety Procedures, and target accurately is needed.

I found the course to be very insightful, you could tell that the instructor had high standards when it came to handling and safely using the firearm, truly demonstrating the vast experience and professionalism he holds in this field. Truly an experience I'll remember for years to come.

Excellent insights and rigorous training are provided by Nobby on this course, delivered in a friendly and calm manner - it’s not difficult to see why he was such an asset to the units with which he served. Highly recommended.

I loved every second of this course Mark has immense knowledge and I learned so much.

What a fantastic day we had, doing the special forces experience. It was fascinating listening to Nobbys story, what a life he has lived! We both enjoyed the time spent on the range, everything we did was well explained, and has left us wanting to return for more. A very professional, safe and well run day, if anyone is thinking of booking, just do it. Highly recommended.

Huge thanks to Mark for the past couple of days!! I have learnt a huge amount from a guy whose knowledge is seemingly endless. The whole course was conducted in a highly professional, yet relaxed manner. I would most certainly recommend STS without hesitation.

I recently took the SF firearms experience course and was thoroughly impressed! The instructor was knowledgeable, patient, and emphasized safety above all else. The hands-on practice was invaluable, helping me build confidence and competence with the firearms. Highly recommended.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable and authentic firearms training experience, the Special Forces Firearms Experience with Nobby at Shooting Training Solutions is exactly what you need. It’s not just a course—it’s an opportunity to learn from a true master of the craft. Nobby, the instructor, is a legend in his own right. With an extraordinary 33-year career in the Special Forces, his depth of knowledge and experience is second to none. This isn’t someone who’s just read about tactics or weapon systems; Nobby has lived it, breathed it, and excelled at it in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. He shares stories and lessons from his career with an authenticity that you simply can’t find anywhere else. What makes Nobby stand out isn’t just his expertise—it’s his personality. He’s got a wicked sense of humour that keeps the day upbeat and enjoyable. His ability to blend sharp, professional insights with lighthearted banter makes the experience as entertaining as it is educational. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have prior shooting experience, Nobby’s approachable style ensures you’ll feel comfortable, safe, and confident throughout. The course itself is superbly organised and packed with practical, hands-on learning. Nobby’s meticulous attention to detail and focus on safety, combined with his ability to adapt to individual skill levels, means you’ll leave feeling like you’ve gained real, usable knowledge and improved technique.

Thanks for an amazing day Nobby! Booked for a group of 8, over two days, and we all really enjoyed the days. Mark has a lifetime of experience and knowledge and is a great instructor - ensuring safety, and sharing his knowledge in a fun and engaging way. Highly recommend to anyone!

I completed a day of Pistol Firearms training with Mark and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Mark was a fantastic teacher, who tailored the course specifically to my level, whilst making it fun & enjoyable. Mark has an incredible amount of Military & firearms knowledge, so you’re guaranteed to finish the course knowing a lot more then you did when you started!

Great experience, easily understood details of the arms that were used, was worth every penny thanks.

HI Mark, Lee and I learned about the rifles not only on engineering aspect but also on basic shooting. Safety is the main concern for everything related to firearms , it was very important that you helped us understand the safety before letting us operate the guns. The stories of all you experiences and how you get there are fascinating and meaningful. :) Hope we can have another courses soon. Festive best wishes.

Firstly, I want to commend Mark for his service to this country- what an awe inspiring man! I took the Bespoke Firearms course with Mark, where he took me through The Marksmanship Principles and he provided me with a very thorough step by step on how to handle and respect rifles. I had no previous experience with handling any firearms and by the end of the course I was able to disassemble, and then reassemble an AK47 and M16! The safety protocols were drilled into me- as this is paramount when handling any firearm. Respect the weapon and the power behind it! I would highly recommend this course to anyone who would like to gain confidence in handling a firearm. Mark has over 40 years of experience and his expertise shined through with our 121 training. I am looking to do another course at some point in the New Year! Thank you Nobby for your patience with me and for being an absolute hero!

My husband and I booked this one day course for my birthday treat and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. In the morning session, Mark gave us a rundown of his military background and various assignments, including an impressive 11medals awarded to him by the end of his 33year active career in the marines, SAS and SBS, including a stint in the Australian SAS, and protection service here in the UK. It was enthralling to listen to, and we felt quite honoured to be in the care of such an experienced veteran for this my first time in handling weapons. Teaching of correct handling and positioning were then explained and a test to discover if we were left or right eye dominant. After lunch, in the afternoon, Mark talked us through the safety aspects and then taught us how to disassemble and reassemble the first weapons we used. We used 5 different weapons, including one with a scope like a sniper, practicing the safety and checking procedures, loading, unloading, before firing on the range. Mark was extremely patient with me on learning the different parts and how to hold the weapon. He readjusted our positions and gave tips on breathing and was close by at all times. I was amazed at the end of the day to be able to hit the target and bullseye at that! Absolutely thrilled! Marks humour, relaxed manner and obvious skills made for a very interesting and informative day, we will definitely be rebooking for a follow on course! Thanks so much Mark, see you next year!

Had a great time, Nobby is a very interesting and experienced instructer, I am a x South African who did 2 years conscription army back in the 80's. I came away from this course with a very profound conclusion. If in my 2 years training I had in the SADF if I had just this one day course it would have made all the difference, I learnt more in the few hours shooting with Nobby than I had with all the army time at the army shooting range , considering this was only an introduction course that sums up how great and enjoyable the course is, I highly recomend the course.

I recently completed a two-day weapons handling and shooting course with Nobby and it was outstanding. The training was thorough, professional, and tailored specifically to my skill level and goals. Nobby’s expertise and attention to safety created an ideal learning environment, and his instruction was clear and highly effective. It was fantastic to put all the theory and drills into action on the shooting range, where I think we were pleasantly surprised 😁 This course was exactly what I needed, and it was an honor to have it delived by such a professional and highly quailfied gentleman. Thanks Nobby 🙏

Great course, very informative. I always appreciate Nobby’s training and feedback. I can see a marked improvement in my skill set every time I attend a course with him. 10/10