Common questions
Anything not covered here, just ask — that's what we're for.
When do firearms training classes start at Firearms Express?+
Classes run on Thursday evenings, with selected Sunday sessions, at our classroom at 70 East Main Street, Suite B1, Sussex, NJ 07461. Open dates are
posted online, where you pick a date, reserve your seat and pay in full — classes cap at six students, so seats go quickly. If the date you want is not posted yet, call
(973) 534-8437, email
Info@Firearms-Express.com, or stop in and we will tell you the moment it goes up.
How many students are in each firearms class?+
Group classes — Beginner Handgun, CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals, Home Defense, Real Estate Agent Safety, and Police Academy Handgun Prep — cap at six students. Know Your Firearm is a private one-on-one session, and Laser Practice is booked individually. Small classes mean you get corrected in real time rather than sitting at the back of a room.
What is dry fire laser training, and does it actually work?+
Dry fire means practicing with no live round in the gun. We fit a laser cartridge where a bullet would go, so pressing the trigger sends a harmless laser instead — and the target shows you exactly where your shot would have landed. The fundamentals are the same whether the gun sends a round or a laser, and seeing every shot instantly is what makes people improve quickly. It doesn't reproduce recoil, so it's the way to build and sharpen your fundamentals before and between live-range trips — not a replacement for the range. We'll always tell you when it's time to get to a range.
Do I need a New Jersey firearms permit to take a class?+
No permit is required to attend our classroom classes (Beginner Handgun, CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals, Home Defense, Real Estate Agent Safety, or Police Academy Handgun Prep) — no firearm is purchased and no live ammunition is used in the classroom. If you're bringing your own handgun for Know Your Firearm or Laser Practice, you must be legally entitled to possess and transport it under New Jersey law, cased and unloaded.
How long are the classes?+
It depends on the class — each one is sized to its material, from a 20-minute laser practice session up to the multi-hour concealed carry qualification. We keep them focused and hands-on so the material actually sticks, and we build a ladder from Beginner Handgun to CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals to the CCW Qualification so you can progress at your own pace.
Can I take just the safety class without learning to shoot?+
Yes. Beginner Handgun involves no live fire and stands on its own. It's built for people living with a firearm that isn't theirs, people who inherited one, and parents whose children spend time where firearms are present. Many students take Beginner Handgun and stop there, which is completely fine.
What should I bring to a class?+
For Beginner Handgun, Home Defense, and Police Academy Handgun Prep — nothing. We provide everything you'll need and no experience is required. For CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals, Know Your Firearm, and Laser Practice, bring your own handgun (and your holster for CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals, if you have one), cased and unloaded, and leave your ammunition at home or in the car. No live ammunition is permitted in the classroom, and every firearm is inspected before it is accepted. We have laser cartridges in 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 S&W and .45 ACP only, which limits Laser Practice alone — that is laser time on your own firearm. CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals takes any caliber because it is holster work, and Know Your Firearm takes any caliber because we supply a firearm we can run for the laser portion.
What's the difference between CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals and the CCW Qualification?+
They're two different classes. CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals is the class that gets you ready — dry holster and draw-from-concealment work on the laser, built on the USCCA curriculum — so you can walk into the live qualification prepared to pass. It's $125 and caps at six students. The CCW Qualification is the actual New Jersey Permit-to-Carry qualification: classroom use-of-force plus a live-fire CCARE range qualification that produces your SP-182 certificate, taught and certified by a USCCA Certified Pistol Instructor. It's $220. Not already comfortable drawing from a holster? Take CCW Prep first, then qualify.
What gun and holster do I need for CCW Prep / Holster Fundamentals?+
Bring your own handgun and a holster that fits it if you have them — if you don't, we'll help you choose a proper setup. Every holster is checked against New Jersey's legal holster standard (it must securely hold the handgun, keep it in a consistent position, and keep the trigger covered), and we work strong-side holsters worn inside or outside the waistband. No experience is required and there's no prerequisite.
Do you offer gift certificates for training?+
We sell gift cards in store that can be used toward training as well as retail purchases. Ask at the counter or call
(973) 534-8437.
Can I get a refund, or reschedule my class?+
Class bookings are non-refundable, but we're happy to move you to a different date. Call
(973) 534-8437 or email
Info@Firearms-Express.com at least 48 hours before your class and we'll move you to the next available session.
