ARCATA SHOOTING RANGE FIELD GUIDE
On the Edge of Precision: Taking Defensive Shotgun Skill Builder II in Arcata
A four-hour, advanced shotgun course at the Redwood Gun Club that pushes range distance, alternative positions, cover work and stress-inoculation drills — this guide explains what to expect and how to arrive ready.
On the Edge of Precision: Taking Defensive Shotgun Skill Builder II in Arcata.
Defensive Shotgun Skill Builder II is an intensive, advanced follow-up to the foundational class, designed to elevate accuracy and speed through high-volume shotgun drills, longer-range slug work and practical cover-based exercises at the Redwood Gun Club near Arcata.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Slugs and Buckshot at Range
This class moves students beyond close-range work: you’ll engage steel AR550 silhouette targets from 7–25 yards with buckshot and step out to 35 and 50 yards to shoot slugs, emphasizing accuracy at increasing distances.
Alternative Shooting Positions
Instruction covers non-standard shooting positions — prone, kneeling, sitting, squatting and more — so you learn to deliver accurate fire from unconventional stances and adapt to real-world engagements.
Cover, Concealment and Stress Drills
Students will practice shooting from behind the Bigfoot Tactical Training Wall and run controlled stress-inoculation drills and Bigfoot Steel Challenges to sharpen decision-making under pressure.
What the day feels like
What the four hours feel like
The course is concentrated and practical: high-volume live-fire sequences alternate with position work, cover-focused exercises and paced stress drills so shooters typically see measurable improvement in speed and accuracy within the class timeframe.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this class is built for — and who should wait.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a four-hour training block, typically run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Redwood Gun Club; classes are available daily subject to instructor and club schedules.
Bring a pump or semi-auto shotgun, a shotgun sling (single-, two- or three-point), gun belt, extra shell holders or side saddles, a dump pouch, eye protection, electronic hearing protection if you have it (electronic hearing protection will be provided if you don’t), water and lunch.
This is high-volume live fire: bring 40 slugs and 150 buckshot (no reloads; ammo will be inspected to ensure it is new). Pump-shotgun owners may substitute up to 75 rounds of birdshot toward the buckshot total.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Do I need to have taken Defensive Shotgun Skill Builder 1 (DSSB1) first?
Yes — DSSB1 is a prerequisite for Defensive Shotgun Skill Builder II.
How long is the class and when does it run?
The class duration is four hours and typically runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Redwood Gun Club.
How much ammunition should I bring?
Bring 40 slugs and 150 buckshot; no reloads are permitted and ammo will be inspected to ensure it is new. If you use a pump shotgun, you may substitute up to 75 rounds of birdshot toward the buckshot requirement.
Will hearing and eye protection be provided?
Electronic hearing protection will be provided if you don’t have any; you should still bring your own eye protection and, if possible, your preferred hearing protection.
Where do I meet the instructor and how do I contact the operator with questions?
Meet at the Redwood Gun Club in Manila; for questions contact Bigfoot Firearms Training at [email protected] or call (844)-926-6566.
What types of drills and targets will we use?
The course includes high-volume drills on steel AR550 silhouette targets at close and mid ranges, slug work at longer distances, alternative-position shooting, cover/concealment work with the Bigfoot Tactical Training Wall, stress-inoculation drills and Bigfoot Steel Challenges.