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
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.


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
