Making South Carolina a Safer Place, One Armed Citizen at a Time

We are committed to helping locals find a suitable gun and learn the best way to handle firearms and respond to various situations.

Who We Are

A & J Firearms and Training is a firearm training facility in Darlington, S.C. helping our clients since 2015 with gun purchases and gear that fit their personal unique needs and teach how to become skilled and responsible armed citizens. No matter your purpose for acquiring a firearm, our staff is here to provide you with diverse options and guide you as you choose one that suits you best.

Our Philosophy

At A & J Firearms and Training, our goal is to make South Carolina a better and safer place for everyone. By signing up for our training courses, you are taking the first step in becoming responsible for your safety and the safety of the people around you.

Armed citizens bear great responsibility due to the power of life or death that comes with owning and carrying firearms. This is a responsibility that we take seriously. Therefore, we will help you become a competent and responsible gun owner by teaching you how to use and handle your firearm and equipping you with a working legal knowledge of when you can and cannot use it.

In the field, it is often said that “You will not rise to the occasion; you will default to your training.” The more proficient and comfortable you are with your firearm, the more likely you will prevail in situations requiring you to terminate an immediate and deadly threat to yourself or a loved one. We are honored to impart the knowledge and skills we have gained over the years to empower you to become an armed citizen who contributes to the safety of South Carolina.

We believe that carrying a firearm should be a fundamental right of all law-abiding citizens of the United States. In line with this belief, we only charge expenses for our training courses.

Training Class
John Pecca holding a gun

John Pecca

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Palmetto State Constables, Inc., Training Officer
  • National Rifle Association, Certified Basic Pistol Instructor
  • Defense Training International, Staff Instructor

TACTICAL FIREARMS TRAINING

Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training

  • Active Shooter Training

American Tactical Shooting Association

  • National Tactical Invitational XX

Mid-Atlantic Tactical Conference

  • Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting (Rob Pincus, I.C.E. Training)
  • Advanced Pistol Skills (Tom Givens, Rangemaster)
  • Managing Unknown Contacts (Craig Douglas aka Southnarc)
  • Edged Weapon Defense (Ryan Mayfield)
  • AK Skills (Paul Gomez, Tactical Response)
  • Carbine Combatives (Chris Fry, Multidisciplinary Training Systems)

Palmetto Tactical Advantage

  • Officer Survival Course
  • Combat Pistol Course

JOHN FARNAM DEFENSE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL

  • Advanced Combatives
  • Scenario-Based Defensive Handgun
  • Advanced Defensive Handgun
  • Extreme Handgun
  • Urban Rifle
  • 3-Gun Shooting
  • Counter Ambush
  • Armed Response to a Terrorist Attack

STEVE COOPER PALADIN TRAINING

  • Basic Defensive Handgun
  • Basic Defensive Carbine
  • Intermediate Defensive Handgun, Carbine, and Shotgun
  • Advanced Defensive Carbine

TOM GIVENS RANGEMASTER

  • Combative Pistol I
  • Combative Pistol II
  • Defensive Shotgun
  • Firearms Instructor Development and Certification
  • Intensive Pistol Skills

GABE SUAREZ SUAREZ INTERNATIONAL

  • Advanced Close Range Gunfighting
  • Advanced Rifle Gunfighting
  • Zero to Five Feet Pistol Gunfighting
  • Advanced Kalashnikov Rifle Gunfighting
  • High-Risk Operator – Close Quarters Battle

TOM SOTIS AMOK!

  • In-Fight Accessing
  • Knife to Knife Combat

Matt Wentzel

  • 2018 Oak Grove technology low light pistol/rifle course
  • 2017 FLETC Tactical medic course
  • 2010 NC BLET top shot
  • 2017 SCCJA Top shot
  • 2019 Graduated FLETC Distinguished Expert Firearms Award
  • 2016 Weapons System Training Council AR15 Armour Certification
  • Wake Tech Combined Gun Skills 2014 16 hours
  • Glock Armour
  • Wake Tech Enhanced Pistol Skills 2013
  • 2007 Vickers Tactical Basic Pistol
  • 2008 Grey Group Training Two Day Carbine/Pistol 20 hours
  • 2011,2012,2013,2014 Hope Mill PD Combat Pistol Course
  • 2010 Positive Maneuvers That work Knife Defense
  • 2014 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)
  • 2015 Fayetteville Tech Patrol Rifle Course
  • 2011 Patrol Rifle Course Hope Mills PD
  • 2015 Fayetteville Tech NC General Instructor Course
Matt Wentzel holding a gun
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