Shooters from Weymouth to Plymouth face the same fork in the road every time they decide to level up: join a scheduled group class or book something more focused. At JM Instruction, LLC in Holbrook, we run both styles of firearms training in Massachusetts because not every student learns—or improves—at the same pace.

Group classes are still the fastest, most affordable way for most people to satisfy the Massachusetts LTC and Basic Firearms Safety Certificate requirement. A typical Saturday or Sunday session puts 10–15 students through a full day of classroom work and live-fire qualification. You leave with the state-approved certificate in hand, a solid grasp of Massachusetts firearms laws, safe storage rules, marksmanship fundamentals, and use-of-force guidelines. Thousands of South Shore residents have started their journey this way, and the peer environment often makes the material stick better—someone else always asks the question you were afraid to voice.

That said, once the certificate is signed, many shooters realize the real work is just beginning. This is where private and small-group training take over.

We offer one-on-one or small group classes for those who prefer a more private setting, and every single private session includes live-fire shooting (no exceptions). Whether it’s just you and the instructor or you bring two to five friends or family members, the entire block is built around your goals, your gear, and your current skill level. All private classes include a shooting lesson on a private range bay, so you’re guaranteed trigger time the same day.

The results speak louder than any sales pitch. A student who finishes a group LTC class usually shoots respectable 8- to 12-inch groups at 7–10 yards—safe, legal, and responsible. Come back for three or four private sessions and those same shooters are routinely cutting groups in half while running the drill two to three seconds faster. The difference? Every single shot gets immediate feedback. Trigger slap at the break? Fixed on the next string. Support-hand thumb riding the slide stop? Corrected before the next magazine is loaded. You simply can’t buy that kind of microscope attention in a fifteen-person bay.

Firearms training in Massachusetts has unique demands: strict storage laws, cold-weather carry considerations, and licensing interviews that can turn on how well you articulate “disparity of force.” Private sessions let us drill well beyond the minimum standard. Want to pass the Massachusetts State Police retired-officer qualification on your first try? We’ll run you through it cold, score it, then rebuild every weak point until you’re smoking it. Need to draw from an appendix holster under a North Face puffy at 10 p.m. in a Braintree parking lot? We set up the exact scenario with Simunition or airsoft and run it until muscle memory takes over.

Winter on the South Shore only widens the gap. When outdoor ranges ice over and group classes start canceling, private students keep training. We move into the heated indoor bay in Holbrook, flip on the weapon lights, and work failing-flashlight techniques or one-handed malfunction clears while the nor’easter rages outside. Progress never hits pause.

A growing number of our students actually blend both formats for maximum effect:

• Knock out the Massachusetts Basic Firearms Safety or LTC group class first (one weekend, certificate earned).
• Follow up with monthly or bi-weekly one-on-one or small private group sessions to sharpen speed, accuracy, and real-world carry skills.
• Bring the spouse, sibling, or two coworkers and split the private block—same focused coaching, lower per-person cost.

Here’s the quick decision matrix most shooters end up using:

Group Classes Are Perfect If

• You need the Massachusetts LTC or Basic Firearms Safety Certificate now
• You enjoy learning alongside other new shooters
• Budget is the deciding factor
• Steady, structured progress fits your style

One-on-One or Small Private Classes Win If

• You already have the basics and want dramatic improvement fast
• You carry daily and need clothing/position-specific training
• You compete, hunt, or plan to test for advanced permits
• Your work schedule only allows short, high-intensity blocks
• You learn fastest when every rep is watched and corrected in real time

Both roads work. One just gets you further, faster.

Looking for firearms training in Massachusetts that actually matches where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow? Whether it’s a proven group class to get legal or a private one-on-one/small-group session built 100 % around you (always with live-fire shooting included), we’ve got the lane ready in Holbrook.

Click here to book your class today!