About Down Range Firearm Training
Confidence Begins With Preparation.
Down Range Firearm Training was founded on a simple belief: responsible firearm ownership is built through real education, not rushed certification. We help everyday citizens across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania become safe, confident, and genuinely prepared.
Our Founder
Meet Gordon Chase — Owner & Founder
Gordon Chase founded Down Range Firearm Training after seeing how many firearm owners were being certified without ever being truly prepared. He set out to build a training program that treats safety and responsibility as the foundation of every class — not an afterthought squeezed in before a signature.
Today, Down Range trains students across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, guided by a single standard: every student should leave more capable, more disciplined, and more confident than when they arrived.
Our Philosophy
Training Over Shortcuts
We reject the idea that a quick class and a signed form are enough to make someone a responsible firearm owner. A certificate proves attendance — it doesn’t prove readiness. That’s why every Down Range course is built around repetition, hands-on practice, and genuine understanding of both the law and the responsibility that comes with carrying.
We would rather take the time to train someone properly than rush them through a program that leaves gaps in their knowledge or confidence. Discipline built slowly lasts. Shortcuts don’t.
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Safety
Non-negotiable at every step of every class.
Confidence
Built through repetition, not shortcuts.
Discipline
The foundation of responsible firearm ownership.
Responsibility
Understanding the weight of every decision made.
Readiness
Prepared for real situations, not just a test.