Todays class was AMAZING!!! I had no previous knowledge of how to shoot a gun. However, Mr. Ricky did such a great job teaching me about the gun and how to properly shoot the gun. He was very patient and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone.

Exceptional training. Took the military online course and it was amazing. I was very comfortable with the information that Eli provided and the mannerisms in which he made the information relevant and understandable. He displayed the attitude and demeanor of a consummate professional throughout the entirety of the training.

I could not have had a more positive experience. As someone who is new to firearms, Ricky was extremely informative and thorough. The pace of the training was tailored to my comfort level. Thank you Ricky for an amazing experience and the look forward to taking my cwp class this weekend.

I highly recommend taking the learn to shoot and cwp classes at Defenders Firearms. The instructors are very knowledgeable and make you feel comfortable with how to properly handle firearms. I will definitely be taking more classes with them in the future. I must say it was an awesome and pleasant experience.

I really enjoyed the class. The instructors are very Knowledgeable and I really felt at ease with learning the firearm techniques. I would take another class with these folks. Maggie, Elias, and Ricky where wonderful. I had a great day of training today. Thank you for making me feel better around firearms.

Very professional, understanding, compassionate! They take the time to make sure you understand everything! Best experience by far! I would definitely recommend them!!!

Can’t say enough about how thorough the instruction was at Defender. Went for my CWP course and left knowing I was given all the necessary information to be successful and safe while carrying. Highly recommend!

Excellent instructors that are very nice and willing to answer any questions you may have. While also taking the time to make sure that you understand all the information that is being put out in the course.

Excellent CWP class! Eli was very knowledgeable, made sure we knew what we were supposed to do and were prepared to obtain a CWP. I’ve also transferred several firearms through them and had excellent service each time. Highly recommend!

Great experience. I had never shot a gun before Ricky took us through the Learn To Shoot class. He was great. Todays CWP class was great. Eli is a good instructor. Very knowledgeable. His personality is great which makes the class fun plus informative. Plus hes ex military. Appreciate his service!!

Very professional environment and knowledgeable instructor. Went to the CWP Class today and really learned a lot. Mr. Eli is a great instructor and I felt very comfortable the whole time. I will definantly be taking more classes here. Highly recommend this establishment.

Great class and even better instructor. Elias is very knowledgeable and genuinely cared about each person in his class. He took the time to learn our names and a little bit about each person. I would recommend him and his co-workers to anyone looking to learn.

Maggie was Excellent.She answered all my questions.Told me about all the different types ofServices you can receive at defender.Excellent Customer ServiceI would Highly Recommend thisEstablishment.M.Holmes

I really enjoyed the classes, both the Learn to Shoot and CWP, our instructor Eli made it engaging and enjoyable while still being Informative. I highly recommend this class to anyone! ~Isabella

I took Elis CWP course and had a fantastic experience. Eli is very knowledgeable and a great instructor. I highly recommend him.

I truly enjoyed these classes with Eli .. all of the employees were so nice .. they made me so comfortable .. I feel like I know way more than I already knew and I look forward to taking more classes in the near future .. thank you all again 💕 Ashley

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND defender!!! The cwp class was very easy! I took the online class from the comfort of my own home and that was a big PLUS!!! Went to the range the instructor was amazing and knows he’s stuff!!! I will be referring defender to family friends and more! Thanks for the great experience!!!

Great preparation course. Ricky was very knowledgeable and patient.I would highly recommend this course with Defender CWP.Thank you Ricky for a great course.Elias, your course was outstanding and throughly enjoyed, you are a great instructor.

Very professional and knowledgeable. Gave great explanations and demonstrations for the class. Very good

I highly recommend. Great experience as this was my first time. I am now more comfortable handling a firearm and knowing the laws. The instructor Eli, is very informative, has a sense of humor, professional, very confident in his teachings and much more. I will be signing up for the other classes they offer!

I had a good experience taking classes at Defender Firearms & Training. Eli and the whole staff are fantastic! I took a ladies only “Learn to Shoot” course as a refresher prior to my CWP course. I love the ladies only options offered. That was a huge proponent for me choosing Defender. The prices were also reasonable.*The only negative was that at the time of my CWP course it was required to purchase their ammo and shoot their weapon. Not a big deal, except the ammo - .22 LR was $32 for 50 rounds. That’s a large price hike IMO, but I understand businesses need to make a profit.It’s my understanding that they have since updated their website to include this information/added cost.Regardless, I still think it was worth the trek (I’m in NE Columbia). The Defender team are very down to earth and provide a very comfortable learning atmosphere.There is also a nice little cafe next door to grab a bite during your course break.

Loved this place. Everyone was so nice. They made you feel welcome and did a great job with the class

Went in to get my CWP and our instructor was Eli. He was very thorough and knowledgeable. He made sure we understood everything before leaving. He also made time go by fast by keeping the class interesting. I highly recommend Eli for CWP training and other trainings as well. Thank you Eli..🙂

Great place to obtain your CWP. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the instructor was cool and professional. If you’re looking for a comfortable atmosphere to take a CWP class (in person or online), go with Defenders! It’s worth every dollar, glad I chose them.

Very informative class, it was straight to the point of what we need to know. The instructor was very knowledgeable about the material he was teaching and taught the material! he didnt add in his personal thoughts, or feelings, he just taught from the book what was required learning to obtain a CWP license for South Carolina. he keep the class lively and interesting. Would definitely recommend this location and instructor Charles to anyone needing to take the class.

Mother & Daughter Duo!!!I would recommend Defender Firearms to all my family & friends 👍 Maggie was so helpful in explaining the whole process and our instructor Keith was amazing, his knowledge and patience has totally given my daughter and myself the confidence we needed to use our firearms.

I loved how this CWP class was split into two sections; an online portion and then the live portion at the range. The instructors were very engaging and patient with each person there. I also am very appreciative of one of the instructors reiterating to me the importance of stance for future reference. I definitely recommend this class to anyone trying to become certified.

Very well done cwp course! Definitely recommend it!

Look no further, Defender Firearms & Training provides top level instructions on how to be a safe firearms owner. The training is designed for everyone, rather this is your first time touching a weapon or if you are a seasoned veteran. My daughter and I took the learn to shoot and CWP class and it was the best experience, instructors were knowledgeable and made us feel welcomed. Eli, you have assembled an awesome team!

The instructor kept the classroom portion interesting, and really got to know the students. He was kind, knowledgeable, and professional. Only reason it’s not 5 stars: in the confirmation email, it said if you bring brass cased ammo and your firearm, you wouldn’t have to pay a rental fee or pay for ammo. While in class, the whole class was told that we had to shoot a communal .22 and pay $30 additional for 50 rounds of .22 to shoot. It said nothing of the sorts in the email. He said he plans to include this information in the future, to his credit, but it still caught me off guard. Overall, I still recommend Eli for your CWP class as he is a great instructor who is attentive to help you pass.

They are very knowledgeable and professional and teach a great SC CWP course. Highly recommend...

I took the CWP Training course and I really learned a lot. The staff was kind and professional. Our teacher Eli was very knowledgeable about gun laws and knew how to explain it so even newbies understood what was being taught. I plan to take some other courses as well. Id recommend them to anyone interested in expanding your knowledge on firearms and gun safety.

I’m so happy I found Defenders. As a newbie with no previous firearm experience I was intimidated at the thought of even walking into a gun store or range. Maggie was immediately welcoming and happy to answer my questions. Eli is an excellent instructor who gave me the confidence to not only handle a gun on the range but actually enjoy the experience! Everyone in the shop was friendly and professional. I’m hooked now and can’t wait to return!

Great experience at Defender Firearms & Training. They were very accommodating for our training class. The Palmetto Cafe they run next door has amazing food, with great service. Will be returning to Defender and referring others here as well.

Elias was great. He was very patient and answered every question our group asked. It was a laid back, interactive learning experience. Would highly recommend Defender to anyone. They offer more than just concealed carry classes. Check out their website for details.

The instructor was very informative and made sure the material was understood. It was a very laid back atmosphere and I would recommend this class to.anyone looking to get their cwp.

Eli was an amazing instructor! Even the online class was a hit. Very fast, but also very efficient! I have told others about the class.

Very Informational and entertaining class. Mr. Elias is a great instructor! Probably the best training class Ive ever taken. Highly recommend !!

They were very welcoming fun and relaxed environment. Elias made sure you had the knowledge to be pass and be prepared for what could happen in the world. They encourage questions so you don’t leave with any unanswered. Also they have an amazing cafe next to them there’s wraps were great.

Mr. Eli Lykes, provided a good detailed training. He got to the point, didnt waist time and I felt I learned something.

I highly recommend this establishment for CWP, being prior military I connected with mr Elias immediately, the class had good Information to offer and when you had a question Mr Elias had an answer, would definitely recommend!

It was a pleasant experience with great prices. Elias & his team go above and beyond to find what you need if it is not currently in the store. The cafe next door is great, they even cater to large crowds.

Excellent class!! Eli is very patient, knowledgeable and encouraging- most of all practicing SAFETY at ALL times!! Initially, I was VERY afraid of even the thought of handling a firearm. After taking the ladys class I feel a lot more confident. The instruction portion is very detailed! Anyone who has a fear of firearms should take this class. Thank you guys for a pleasant experience!!! DW

Very welcoming and informative staff. I’m in discussions with my wife for her to take CWP course too. Wife is proudly serving as an active duty member. Highly encourage all to take training courses. Will visit store again in near future. Thank you, Hooyah!

My wife and I did a CWP class. They were very professional and made the process easy. I would highly recommend their services.Ed

I didnt grow up around guns but it has been a long standing personal goal to learn to safely and effectively handle a firearm for personal protection and the safety of my loved ones. I felt very welcomed into a class of diverse individuals. I took the handgun safety class and the CWP class as a discounted bundle. I was happily surprised at the diversity of people who were attending these classes. Women from different age groups, business professionals, and everyday joes like myself from lots of different backgrounds. Eli, our instructor, was phenomenal. He was clearly very experienced in walking a newbie through the fundamentals of gun ownership. He was patient and kind and thorough. I felt like I was in capable hands and at the end of each class I felt like I had learned and understood and could actually use the tremendous amount of information that we learned through the two sessions. He took someone (me) who knew zero about gun ownership on day 1 and had never fired a pistol to someone who shot a 100% on their CWP qualification at the end of the course. The complicated documentation requirements were all handled by the staff at Defender and all I had to do was schedule my fingerprinting appointment through a weblink that Defender sent me in an email. They have all the essentials available onsite and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Defender Firearms and Training will be my first choice for not just gear, but also advice in the future. I would recommend them to anyone who is new to the gun ownership and wants to learn to safely and effectively handle a firearm.

It was a GREAT experience. Staff were professional, friendly and helpful. They really enjoy what they do. POSITIVE ENERGY. I highly recommend this business .

I love the flexibility. The online option was very beneficial. Chuck did a great job facilitating the CWP course.I also took the Learn to Shoot class with Rick and he was very thorough and did a great job demonstrating and explaining how to use guns. I felt really prepared after completing Learn to Shoot.

My experience was great everyone was super humble and professional highly recommend !!!

The class was amazing and the instructor was entertaining. He made the materials easy to understand the right and wrong ways of how to carry your weapons. Definitely would recommend this class to anyone who would like to attain there CWP.

Taking the CWP class was absolutely great!! I left feeling confident and knowledgeable. Eli was a great instructor! He made sure you understood all of the information and that you were well trained! Maggie was so nice and pleasant as well! I highly recommend Defender!

This class was fun and engaging. Eli keeps it interesting and answers every single question with care and concern. Our group thoroughly enjoyed our time and we will definitely be referring our friends here! Thank you Eli and your amazing team for all of your help.

Very professional team. Definitely felt my money was well spent at this CWP training class. I would recommend it to anyone looking to take a class.

Great time! The Gun safety was 3 hours including the range and time flew by. And the next day I took the CWP (5-6 hrs) and it also flew by. It was so much fun. Eli is a great teacher, knowledgeable with a great energy and vibe. I will be back for some of the other classes and my boyfriend bought a gun he had his eye on! And also other great accessories. This place is awesome and everyone who works there is super nice, helpful, and professional. Best day I’ve had in a while! Thank you ✨🌟✨

I did my CWP through Defender and it was a great experience. The How to Shoot class really increased my confidence. Mr Smith was my instructor and he was great. Maggie is their Business Mgr and she is great too.

I did my class online. The instructor was knowledgeable and the information was easy to follow. I gave 4 out of 5 ⭐️ because there was some scheduling issues.

The CWP classroom event we attended was very good. Covered a lot of information in the time frame of the class. Eli ran the class and the qualifying. If your looking for your CWP this is the place to goBob F.

Took the CWP class. Elias is an exceptional teacher and instructor. I highly recommend Defender to anyone looking for weapons training

Teaching a group is NOT always easy! Adding on ALL women who are STILL BEGINNERS requires time, patience and KNOWLEDGE! This man was ALL OF THE ABOVE! Very professional too! If you are looking to learn then I highly recommend you check them out!! Ask for Eli!!!

Id been putting off getting my CWP for quite some time and decided on Defender Firearms for my required training. The instructor, Eli, was very knowledgeable and personable. Plus, there was sufficient space for social distancing which is comforting in group gatherings. Great experience all around!

I completed my CWP class Saturday and was very pleased with all of it. Eli, our instructor was very informative and It was obvious how much Eli enjoyed teaching us. I was nervous when I arrived for my class and Maggie was my first contact. She put me at ease right away. I had called Maggie several times during the week before my class and she was very pleasant and made me feel that it was ok to call as much as needed. Mike was very friendly and professional also. I can’t say enough about these three people that made me feel at ease and Eli was a great instructor. I recommend this company for CWP classes and any other classes they offer . They also sell products and the prices are reasonable. 😊

Eli was excellent! The class was informative but still entertaining. The testing was quick and professional. I would definitely recommend Defender Firearms CWP course to anyone in the Lexington area. We are from the upstate but will certainly look at other courses next time we’re in town!

Top notch class. My schedule made it hard to find somewhere to attend in person. The CPWe made it flexible and easy to fit into my schedule.My only regret is I couldn’t be there in person. The class was fun, entertaining, informative and had a light atmosphere.Strongly recommend

I took the in person CWP class and was very pleased with the overall experience. Elias made sure that we received all important information regarding the laws and safety in a fun, personable learning environment. Thank you Eli and your amazing team for all you do.

The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Overall I had an excellent experience. A++++

The CWP class was great! Eli was thorough and I came away with a lot of great information. After the class I feel much more confident carrying my firearm. I would highly recommend the team at Defender Firearms. And as an added bonus it is veteran owned!

Eli is awesome. Very very knowledgeable

My boyfriend and I came to this business to get our CWP. Charles McCurry was a great firearm instructor. The eight hour class went by like a breeze. He kept us well informed and made it very interesting. My boyfriend and I both scored 100s on the test. If you pay attention there is no reason why you should not pass this course. Thank you Charles for a wonderful experience and the new knowledge gained.

I took the Learn to Shoot class and the CWP class at Defender. Eli is an awesome instructor! I’ve always been somewhat uncomfortable around guns, but after these two classes, I feel extremely prepared for gun ownership. Signing my 16 year old up for the Learn to Shoot class soon and I’ll be back as well for the gun cleaning class. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DEFENDER FIREARMS & TRAINING!!

Class was GREAT, and very informative. Going to the range for my very first time was EXCITING. I was totally surprised at how easy it was and even more surprised at how well I did for a first timer. Scored a 76! Classroom time with the instructor Mr. E. Lykes gave all necessary information needed to pass the test. Thanks Defender!

I’ve always had anxiety and fear when it came to guns. This class not only provided me with a level of understanding but it provided me with comfort of how to properly handle a gun. While I was still nervous, being properly trained and informed by Elias made a huge difference in my level of comfort! I highly recommend this class and instructor.

I had a wonderful experience at Defender Firearms & Training. I feel confident about using a firearm and protecting myself and others if needed.

I thought the class was first rate. The instructor was very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommend to anyone.

The class was very informative The instructors were very knowledgeable and the learn to shoot class helpful. I would definitely recommend.

Defender Firearms and Training has some of the best trainers in Lexington County. I took the online CWP class and was very impressed with how knowledgeable Eli was about the gun laws and gun safety. I would highly recommend his company for your services!

Great class, very informative. Would recommend it to anyone.

Elias was to the point and easy to work with.Having prior experience, the classroom content was just right. Great place! I’d recommend.

Defenders is awesome. They helped me pick out a fire arm I can use with ease. The class was very informative . The instructor made learning to use my fire arm easy. We had an hour of instruction and an hour at the range. There was enough helping at the range you could get individual instruction when needed. I Highly recommend this course.

Extremely knowledgeable staff. Elias is a wonderful instructor! He answered every question I asked and he made the class fun and enjoyable with his humor he added.

Elias was a great presenter! He made the entire presentation engaging and answered all the questions my class had. He is very knowledgeable on the subject and it showed. The range portion was run quickly and effectively. Wouldnt have wanted to get my CWP course done anywhere else!!

Recently completed the learn to shoot class as well as CWP course. Everyone at the store was excellent. Eli, the instructor/owner is very knowledgeable and patient with first timers. Thanks for a great experience. I will definitely return for some additional courses they offer.

I could write a paragraph or two on why this location and instructor is by far, by my experience, the best around. But Ill leave it at this,.. Defender Firearms gives professional and friendly support for the higher education of firearm safety and training. Not only, but also makes the learning process of obtaining your CWP a breeze. You will not be embarrassed or belittled. You will consider taking on additional classes and training programs whether or not you possess the abilities or not due to Defender firearms atmosphere . You wont regret.:To Defender firearms team and shop:Thank you for the excellent learning and training experience. And thank you for being YOU. God Bless America. 🇺🇸

Highly recommended. I took the Learn to Shoot class with Eli. Very detailed/oriented and patient. Next day, took and pass the CWP course with Chuck (who was also fabulous) & passed with flying colors.

My husband and I took a cwp class and a learn to shoot class and both were great and very informative. Eli and Rick are both great instructors.

Took the CWP class at Defenders in Columbia and the Instructor Elias was awesome. He is a great teacher who shared a lot of information and kept the class alive with laughter. I was going into the class thinking how am I going to stay awake? But he kept it flowing with ease. Great instructor! I recommend if your interested in getting a CWP go through Defenders and sign up with Elias.

Eli was absolutely incredible. He is kind, knowledgeable, and respectful. As many places are booked solid for CWP classes, he has openings and I highly recommend taking advantage of his class and experience!

Awesome training! Great & knowledgeable team! If you dont know anything about guns they are awesome at helping you without making you feel stupid. If youre a gun enthusiast then youll love it too!!

My wife and I were very pleased with the CWP class - thorough, on topic, and entertaining. We did a Saturday all in one. If I had to do it over again, I would have done the classroom portion via Zoom Saturday morning -- which is available -- and then driven over for the range component.

This was a well planned, well presented course. Eli, our instructor took the time to clear up any questions and confusion we had before moving on. I really enjoyed his teaching style.Even though the entire course is 6 hours long, it was broken up enough to keep me involved (and alert).You need to know how to shoot beforehand, so take their Learn to Shoot course so you can Ace it when you go qualify on the Range.Im going to gift this course to my Son in law for Christmas. Hes gonna love it.

Took the online military and police class. The instructor was very knowledgeable on the state laws and general firearm knowledge.

Amazing CWP class!!! Eli is very funny and makes you feel 100% comfortable. He answers everyones questions. He really cares about educating his students. The staff is knowledgeable and super friendly. I highly recommend this place!!! Thank you again for such a great class!

Eli is awesome! He is extremely professional and knowledgeable! I highly recommend Defender for any of your training needs.

A friend of mine and I took our CWP class here today with Eli and he was amazing. He was very informative and answered every question everyone had. He also kept it interesting so we didn’t get bored. The other employees that were there were just as amazing. They were very nice and extremely helpful when people needed things. I would definitely recommend going here.

Great convenient option to complete the 3 hour classroom portion of the SC CWP requirement. I was able to attend the class remotely from home and complete the test online. I scored 98/100. Now I need to simply schedule the range portion of the test and get my fingerprints recorded in SC.

Class was taught by well qualified, trained, and experienced Instructors. The material taught was thorough, detailed and very informative. I am looking forward to taking their level one course.I completed the Level one course in January 2021. I enjoyed this training very much, it made me aware of the adrenaline factor after running through dry and live firing senerios. The main concern being safe at all times. Second having correct sight alignment for target acquisition. Third correct hand grip at all times from drawing and holstering the weapon. Lastly controlling your pace because of adrenaline.I realize you can not prepare for every situation in life but through education and training l hope to be better prepared to make the right decisions when facing unusual circumstances.I look forward to further education and training in Level two.

Very Professional, I highly recommend! I will be sending family and friends!

I enjoyed the class! The instructor was great. He was very informative and made the class interesting-set my mind at ease. Maggie was very pleasant when we spoke on the phone and provided detail information of the experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed the class. The instructor was well versed in the material. He was very personable - remembered everyone’s name. He answered all of our questions - no matter how silly. He was very patient. You can tell that he lives what he does.

I recommend this place to anyone looking to get certified for your CWP.Elias and Maggie made to process very easy and the class was taught on a very basic level. The range instructors were really helpful. I was also impressed with the prices on their guns and accessories they carry.

Great training classes offered here! Very knowledgeable and helpful! The staff are great!