Do I need to have my own firearm to take a class?

No. PMA has firearms that we use to train beginners as well as firearms available for more seasoned professionals to rent.

Do I need eye & Ear protection?

YES. If you do not have your own eye & ear protection we can provide it to you for an additional fee.

If I wear glasses, do I need additional protection?

No. If you have polycarbonate prescription lenses you do not need additional lenses. However, it is encouraged to have lenses that wrap around your eyes for better protection.

Can i bring my own firearm and ammunition?

YES. Although we ask to inspect your firearm prior to allowing you to use it for a beginner’s class. We do not allow any armor piercing rounds. We do not allow steel core, hp, or jhp ammo on steel targets.

How old do participants need to be?

We will work with students as young as 8 with an accompanying parent. Participants 16-18yrs old need both a student and parent waiver.

Will you advise on firearm purchases and sales?

YES. A portion of any class or lesson on the range is spent speaking about the ergonomics, intended use, and overall fit and features that you are looking for in your next firearm. Whether that is working to find the perfect grip, feel, size, sight, length of pull, accessory, etc., we will work with you to invest wisely.

Who are the Instructors?

When we first opened Purple Mountain Armory we were very aware of the number of firearm instructors in the area and the level of both skill and professionalism that many of them have. To stand out, we knew we needed to put together a program designed by the best in the business. To achieve this goal we brought in Charles ‘Chuck’ Belz. Chuch shares PMA’s passion for education in the world of firearms and partnered with us to develop and implement a World Class Firearm Safety Program. Meet the team.

Mike is a life long educator that has been coaching and teaching one sport or another since the age of 12. Starting early with firearms, Mike enjoyed his six shooters and long range rifle competitions. While long range shooting was always his favorite, Mike’s desire to get up to speed on the modern pistol, defensive shooting, and the finer points of working with young students and firearms helped Mike design and develop the safety program currently in place. While Mike enjoyed his early career in corporate, owning his own childcare centers was always his passion, and his life, for the last 20yrs. Mike is a certified USCCA Instructor and novice competitive shooter whose enthusiasm to share information drives the ‘above & beyond’ mentality that insures each class far exceeds the participants expectations as well as any state requirements.

Chuck is a distinquished firearms competitor as well as a graduate from MANY of the nation’s premier law enforcement and marksmanship schools. A former law enforcement officer with extensive experience in high-risk, high-threat environments, he holds a master class rating in USPSA (Stock Revolver) and is a seven-time world shoot off champion, among many other achievements. Despite these achievements, Chuck’s humble teaching style and willingness to work with even the most novice participant set him apart during our conversations. He brings a personable, practical teaching style that resonates with students, allowing them to grow quickly and confidently as they progress through a tailored curriculum built over decades in the industry.

Melissa is the newest addition to the Instructor team with a little over a year of training under her belt. As someone new to the sport, she dove in as she expects to be nothing short of the best. Her drive to give ladies an option to be trained by other females is what drives her to continue her journey to become the best female firearm safety instructor around. Melissa recently completed her USCCA Instructor training and is now teaching female only courses to Maryland and Pennslyvania residents.