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DM
Spent two days with Mark (Nobby) training on several weapon systems in November 2023. Mark was both professional and patient in his training, giving me a good overview of how such weapon systems are used in practice. As a developing author the experience is invaluable to my writing. Many thanks Nobby maybe see you again next year. DM
Bespoke Firearms Course 2nd November 2023
Alex Dawson
My son and I had a fantastic day learning how to safely handle various weapon systems including the AK74, M4 and Heckler and Koch G3 rifles, in the morning, before putting into practice what we had learnt on the range in the afternoon. The pace and delivery of the instruction was just right for a father and son duo . We enjoyed listening to Mark recount some fascinating, exciting and moving stories from his over 30 year career in the Royal Marines and the SBS. He explains things "as they are" without glamorising or diminishing the impact of conflict whilst also impressing on his students the importance of firearms safety and the reasons for acquiring a baseline in firearms competence; a world away from action movies or XBOX "Call of Duty". Marks calm coaching style helped my son visibly grow in confidence as the day progressed and by the end he was able to apply the marksmanship principals effectively and handle a variety of weapons safety and proficiently on the range. He achievied groupings from the prone position and shots on target from the standing position. An excellent introduction to firearms and shooting; not many 13 year olds can say their first instruction in firearms came from a former UKSF cheif instructor !
Bespoke Firearms Course 28th October 2023
Dave Digger
Want to do something worthwhile ? Attend this course and test your skill set. Its clear, concise, informative and very enjoyable. Go in with the intent to learn and finish with a sense of achievement. The instructors intro video could be called condensed but gives you the knowledge of his immense wealth of experience. You are in good hands, to guide and correct for those faltering moments. So all in all , go spend some of your hard earned cash. Get some purpose and excellent training.
Bespoke Firearms Course 23rd October 2023
Joe
Mark was extremely knowledgeable and helped you understand the reasons behind what we were doing while patiently teaching at your pace. Lots learned while having a great time! I would highly recommend training with Mark
Bespoke Firearms Course 5th October 2023
Mica
I have really enjoyed the course I have developed new skills and progressed really well thanks to the instructors patience and consideration to my way of learning. Fantastic!
Bespoke Firearms Course 29th August 2023
Matt D
Thank you Mark for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative few days! As a civilian I've always had an interest in firearms and I was looking for thorough training from the best I could find. I certainly wasn't disappointed! There was so much to learn and understand. When I struggled to understand a concept you were patient and found new ways to explain things to me. I am so glad I chose to come to Shooting Training Solutions, your teaching was detailed and you wouldn't compromise on safety or allow shortcuts before advancing the training, thoroughly professional. I will absolutely be back for more in future and would highly recommend you and your courses to anyone at any level of firearms experience. I consider myself extremely lucky to have got my training from you, thanks again! Matt
Bespoke Firearms Course 22nd August 2023
Lawrence Lado
Good morning, Just a quick message to say thank you for the in depth and intense training over the weekend 19/20 August '23 in relation to Firearms Competency. As always the training was of the highest quality and the tuition was always very pertinent for practical application in weapon familiarisation and weapon firing. Your explanation of the weapon's inner workings really gave me confidence and knowledge in why all the necessary drills are in place. I feel a great sense of achievement in attaining Competency in both the Kalashnikov and M16/M4 weapon systems. Your courses cannot be recommended highly enough for both beginners and experienced operators! Many thanks and I look forward to the next round of training!
Firearms Competency Certification Course 19th August 2023
George Brierley
A really enjoyable day thanks to Mark. Great to hear about all of his experiences and made us feel like we were in safe hands on the range as he really knows his stuff. Would recommend to anyone with any level of firearms experience.
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Tommy Roe
Was a very enjoyable day and had a lot of fun. Mark was a great instructor and teacher and it was really interesting to hear about his experiences in the special forces. Would highly recommend to others.
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Ethan Wragg
I was extremely delighted with my experience at STS. Hearing about Mark's experience in the military was very interesting and helped to demonstrate his intricate knowledge of weapons and weapon safety, which was very reassuring. The shooting was also very enjoyable, as we got to go at a suitable pace and Mark was always patient with us and helping to improve our confidence using the weapons.
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Sam Hesketh Fatchen
The course was fantastic. The starting talk, while long, was really interesting and gave an insight into the real-world side of the special forces, and got you in the right mindset. Moving onto the actual training itself, learning the procedures before moving onto live firing gave insight into the actual handling and meant there were fewer mistakes later on, not to mention every time myself or someone else made a minor handling error we'd be immediately corrected, which made the course feel robustly safe. I only have good things to say about the experience, it perfectly blended safety, professionalism, learning, and the coolness of firing a weapon. Overall, I feel a lot more knowledgeable and confident in handling firearms both on and off the range, but I also know just how important following proper procedure is.
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Harkeerat Birdee
No complaints or issues at all. Very thorough and in depth first look at shooting. Definitely appreciated the life stories and the training in gun control. I doubt I'd have as serious or detailed of an explanation and first training session in the US as I did here. Went in knowing very little and came out with more understanding and respect of the process, guns and safety. I thought it was very good that we had guidance throughout the entire shooting session and that we weren't entirely doing the difficult parts by ourselves. There was definitely a lot to remember so the guidance throughout was very much appreciated. Thanks very much!
Bespoke Firearms Course 17th August 2023
Jack Sivyer
Thanks Mark for the firearms course. It was really interesting hearing your story and I took something away from every aspect of the day. I particularly enjoyed taking apart / reassembling the weapons as I feel it was a bit of a lightbulb moment in understanding their operation.
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Edward Priestley
Mark “Nobby” Knowles might be one of the most interesting people I have ever met; the wealth of experience and knowledge he has is truly incredible, and shines through on this course. Throughout the day, in spite of doing a very dangerous activity I felt I developed enough skill over the course of the day to operate safely whilst under his guidance. All in all, a great experience, both mentally and physically
Special Forces Firearms Experience 17th August 2023
Mark Adams
Absolutely brilliant would recommend this course. Mark look after me and Sheldon he was patient helpful and great teacher. Thanks for a great day cheers mate
Bespoke Firearms Course 15th August 2023
Will
Thoroughly enjoyable day. Mark was an excellent instructor who kept us entertained throughout. Having never handled a firearm before, we felt safe under his supervision and we learned a lot about how to operate a variety of weapons with plenty of hands on experience. Mark has a very interesting career with over 30 years experience and was more than happy to share stories and advice from his time in the Special Forces as well. Highly recommend
Bespoke Firearms Course 10th August 2023
Owen Wildboar
I went along expecting just simply a shooting day however I was happily surprised when the day also included looking at the inner works of different firearms and training on how to improve our shooting ability. I also thoroughly enjoyed the presentation looking at our instructors career. It was brilliant to get advice on leadership, team work and self-discipline from the perspective of someone with such experience. It ended up being an enjoyable and fascinating day which I would absolutely recommend others taking part in.
Bespoke Firearms Course 10th August 2023
Aidan Reidy
HI Nobby. It was great meeting you and thanks for a great day.
Bespoke Firearms Course 10th August 2023
Sales
The training was outstanding. A perfect way to build foundations with a focus on safety. Mark has an incredible amount of experience both as an operator and a trainer. He not only explains what to do, he explains why it should be done, giving the student a greater depth of understanding. I can’t recommend STS enough.
Bespoke Firearms Course 5th August 2023
Milena Veronica Kavka
The Bespoke Firearms Training Course was an absolutely exceptional experience. It provided me with a comprehensive understanding of rifles and their operations. The instructor, Mark, demonstrated an impressive level of expertise (it came as no surprise given Mark's extensive background as a military man for the British Royal Marines and Special Forces, having completed four tours in Afghanistan and numerous other deployments). He explained the rationale behind everything in a clear and organised manner. The course was well-structured and included both theoretical presentations and practical shooting exercises. The course stood out for its impeccable organisation and delivery. The theoretical portion was highly informative, covering every aspect of rifle functionality. Mark's presentations were engaging and kept me fully immersed in the subject. As a novice without prior experience with rifles, I was grateful for the thorough theoretical training. It equipped me with the confidence necessary to transition into the practical shooting component. The solid foundation laid during conceptual learning proved invaluable. The course was intense in a satisfying way, I had to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. We covered an extensive range of topics and had ample time for practical application. The emphasis on real-world scenarios allowed for a deeper understanding of the concepts taught. Without a doubt, this course has been immensely beneficial to me. Its value far exceeded my expectations, and I am so glad I invested in this training opportunity. Mark has truly created a remarkable programme, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I would highly rate and recommend the course. It was well-organised, informative, and provided me with a better insight into firearms. I will be returning for further training as I feel I still have a lot to learn. Overall, it was an incredible experience. Congratulations to Mark for creating such an amazing course:)
Bespoke Firearms Course 3rd August 2023
Jonathan
This was my 2nd time. Learned a great deal, in part because I practiced practiced practiced nearly every day since the first one back in April. Mark is outstanding as an instructor, and I'll be back for more next year.
Bespoke Firearms Course 1st August 2023
Richard Urbanski
Words fail me. Not enough adjectives to describe the day. Absolutely brilliant will have to do. An entertaining introduction to the day and the course content was spot on. To handle and strip guns was an amazing experience for me. The live shooting range was the best part of the day. Mark was very thorough, obviously safety conscious and very patient. His professionalism was evident. A thoroughly enjoyable day. I will be going back.
Bespoke Firearms Course 16th June 2023
Pete V
Another fab course that built on the previous skills, principles and knowledge learnt. We were able to put into practice everything that was learnt and drilled in the classroom on to the range with successful outcomes. I was able to take away more useful hints and tips that I can continue to develop over the summer. Thank you very much Mark.; I shall return soon for more tuition.
Bespoke Firearms Course 22nd April 2023
AL
It was a pleasure working with Nobby over the two day course. Having never handled a firearm before, he has made me feel safe and confident on the weapon system drills and I am looking forward to developing my foundational skills set further. This course always, always puts safety first. Clear briefings and practical demonstrations to help show why each of part of the process is important and to drive home understanding and operational safety at all times. If care about your training and you want professional one to one training, this is the place to be. Thank you Nobby.
Bespoke Firearms Course 17th April 2023
Jonathan
It's hard to convey in a few words how much I have gained from this. Mark is a rarity, someone who is at the absolute top of his game and is, at the same time, more than willing and able to pass his knowledge on.
Bespoke Firearms Course 14th April 2023
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