[ThrillSeeker]

I attended 1 Day Armorer's Class in North Miami Beach today. The Instructor was Jim Greene of Glock Professional, Inc. He did a great job f presenting the materials and teaching us how Glock handguns work, what problems they can have, and how to fix them.


The class was informative and very clearly explained. We detail stripped the handgun at least 10 times during the class.


Jim would explain each phase until everyone agreed that they understood it. The exam was two parts; full detail strip of handgun, it's rebuilt and function test. The second part was the written, if you paid attention the test was passable as all the material on it was covered several times in the class.


A good way to spend a day, you get value for the price. All you pass get Glock Tool, Orange Slide Cover, and Manual with current addendum.
.
.

.
.

[bustedknee]

I took the class recently.

Maybe it is because I was a technician for 35 years and find it easy to grasp mechanical tasks but I feel $150 is a little spendy to learn how to clean my gun.

If you are in my neighborhood, I'll show you how for 5 bucks then I'll watch you practice on your own gun until your fingers bleed.

BTW, the cop to my right could not reassemble his pistol at the end of the day, but he still passed.

[DannyR]

Hmmmm,

For $150.00 you only get:

1. 7 hour class plus exam time
2. lunch
3. Armorer's manual, Glock tool, orange half cover plate and Glock pen.
4. Ability to order parts directly from Glock, at a discount, for 3 years.
5. Opportunity to buy two new Glocks at LEO price, which for a G17 is $398.20.

Of course it's worth $150.00, every penny of it.

[Theskip]

I will also vouch for the armorer's course. I took it with Jim Greene as well, fantastic instructor!

This course is perfect for the beginning glock collector. If you join GSSF you get 1 LE priced pistol per year...take the armorer's course and you get two more LE priced pistols...the savings on the pistols alone pay for the class.

People diss the class left and right, but honestly, when your butt is on the butchers's block, you're certified to maintain and repair Glock pistols.

[SF1911]

Originally Posted by Theskip

I will also vouch for the armorer's course. I took it with Jim Greene as well, fantastic instructor!

This course is perfect for the beginning glock collector. If you join GSSF you get 1 LE priced pistol per year...take the armorer's course and you get two more LE priced pistols...the savings on the pistols alone pay for the class.

People diss the class left and right, but honestly, when your butt is on the butchers's block, you're certified to maintain and repair Glock pistols.

I took the class and from Jim Greene in September. I don't remember hearing anything about 2 LE priced pistols for armorers. Please, fill me in on this deal. I could always use a few more Glocks.

[Theskip]

Find your "Armorer's Manual U.S. Addendum" and turn to page 15. All the information your require is there.

The language set out in the manual speaks directly about LEO's ordering firearms. The language applies to us too, but the paperwork hasn't been updated because Glock only recently changed the attendance requirements to allow GSSF members to take the course.

If you want a smooth transaction with zero BS, call B&H gun rack in Merritt Island. I live about an hour from there and couldn't say anything bad about their service. They participate in the GSSF purchase program and as long as you tell them that you're A. GSSF, and B. an Armorer, they'll be happy to help you out. All you need to do is bring your GSSF ID card and they'll take care of you. I know it's kind of a haul for you, but...trust me it will be worth it.

I paid $430 OTD for a G17 RTF2 there. Bill is easy to work with.

[SF1911]

Thanks for the info Theskip. As you can imagine, I am absolutely giddy right now.
- Is this 2 per calendar year, 12 month period, fiscal year...?
- Can we get 2 at the same time or do we need to tame ourselves and get one at a time (including the GSSF coupon gun)?

As for B&H, I had some bad luck with them before. Also, the drive is a tad over 2 hours each way.

[DEJ/FL]

Originally Posted by SF1911

Thanks for the info Theskip. As you can imagine, I am absolutely giddy right now.
- Is this 2 per calendar year, 12 month period, fiscal year...? Two per Armorers course and one per year for the membership!
- Can we get 2 at the same time or do we need to tame ourselves and get one at a time (including the GSSF coupon gun)? You can purchase two if there are no local laws preventing it.

As for B&H, I had some bad luck with them before. Also, the drive is a tad over 2 hours each way.

Dan

[ThrillSeeker]

I was in the hospital and could not comment till now.

The course was good, it confirmed a lot of what I knew. It got me factory certified as a lot of other folks have done in the past.

Inexpensive as compared to my professional CEU requirements. With 28 Certificatins in 3 fields I spent a lot of time yearly keeping up to date with the requirements.

I know one of the LEOs did not pass, I graded his exam and had to sign it as such. While he could take down and build very quickly he missed 6 questions (less than 80 score). When I go by his office I will see if he got a certificate. I provide support services to his agency and see him regularly. They said it would they 4-6 weeks for our certificates to arrive.

All in all, the class is very good to attend it explained the real methods and factory thoughs on the care of your handgun.

I believe it is a valuble class as several of the other members have stated.

[Theskip]

Originally Posted by SF1911

Thanks for the info Theskip. As you can imagine, I am absolutely giddy right now.
- Is this 2 per calendar year, 12 month period, fiscal year...?
- Can we get 2 at the same time or do we need to tame ourselves and get one at a time (including the GSSF coupon gun)?

As for B&H, I had some bad luck with them before. Also, the drive is a tad over 2 hours each way.

The paperwork does not clarify if this is a yearly promotion, I suspect not, but I have not contacted Glock about this. You might try emailing your instructor about it, he could provide you with the answer.

I would not order two pistols at once. Word on the intarwebs is that there's a federal statute that says if you purchase two pistols of any kind within one week from the same FFL, you need to fill out a special form and your information gets sent to the BATFE for "investigation".

Not like I've got anything to hide....but I'd rather not be on the "to be investigated" list.

The GSSF coupon is totally separate from the individual officer's order program so you shouldn't be penalized for purchasing more than one LE firearm per year in that fashion.

If I were you, I'd have one FFL do all of this work so that you don't have to explain your situation to other FFL's. Go in and say you're an armorer, acquire a pistol, have them say "ok you have one left on your armorer's allowance", and then get the other one whenever. Same goes for your GSSF purchase certificate.

Trust me, I have my other armorer's pistol allowance AND a GSSF certificate sitting in front of me...my G17 RTF2 needs some company..but I'm lacking $900 to blow on two playmates.

[glockess56]

What state are you from Theskip? I've bought two pistols before with no trouble. I actually bought them both on the same day, at the same place, together. I even asked if there was some waiting period and was told no. Maybe in Ohio we don't have the things to deal with that other states have. These guns weren't with any certificates or anything, but I still purchased them.

[VOLGRAD]

I took the AC earlier this week in Smyrna. I had the same question about us regular GSSF members and how many guns we could purchase per year ... in addition to the 1 from our regular GSSF membership.

I followed-up with Alan Ramsey, Director of Training with Glock Professional, via e-mail. The following is his response.

As a GSSF member, you can purchase 1 pistol at the discount “blue label” price per 12 months.

As an armorer, you are entitled to purchase up to 2 more pistols per year.

So, in total we are allowed 3 guns per year at LE pricing as a GSSF member who also holds an Armorer's Certificate.

O ya ... one more thing ...

One distinction ------- you need to order the Armorer’s pistols through our GA factory.

The form is in the AC manual and/or addendum, I can't recall which, and it is labeled for Individual Officer Purchase ... but still use that form. Contact Glock Inc. for specifics on how to proceed or just follow the destructions on the form. Basically, you complete the form and send it along with a copy of your AC, and a copy of your dealers FFL along with your payment. The gun will be shipped to your FFL for pick-up. You can also go through a regular LE dealer as with your GSSF coupon.

[glockess56]

How long does it take to get the certificate? I emailed the Glock training department requesting a certificate and the email I received back asked if I didn't get one in my Glock Armorer's Manual. Well, when I took the class in Columbus, Ohio, in March of 2009, we still had the old manuals, around seven years old. There was no certificate for a gun purchase in the old manuals, and that's what I told the training division as I wanted them to send me one. I have heard nothing more from them and I was wondering how long I should wait for a certificate for a gun purchase? I know the competition division is very busy and I thought maybe the training division is very busy at as well, so I was thinking it would take a long time to get a certificate. How long should I wait for the amorer's gun purchase certificate? It's been about two months, now. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[Theskip]

I'm from Central Florida.

There is no such thing as an armorer's purchase certificate. I'm not sure what the protocol was when I went to go purchase my pistol, but either way...I got it.

I'm glad we have some hard information on what the armorer's program is all about concerning GSSF members. Now I can make an order directly with Glock when I'd like to purchase my next pistol. The only issue I have with that is paying a transfer fee. I got my G17 for $430 OTD and I'm afraid that it's going to cost more to get my next pistol if I order it directly from Glock because my local FFL has a rather high transfer fee. I will do some research into it to determine how I will go about ordering my next pistol.

[bustedknee]

Originally Posted by Theskip

... Now I can make an order directly with Glock when I'd like to purchase my next pistol. The only issue I have with that is paying a transfer fee. I got my G17 for $430 OTD and I'm afraid that it's going to cost more to get my next pistol if I order it directly from Glock because my local FFL has a rather high transfer fee....

From what I'm seeing here a lot of folks are joining the GSSF and going to the AC just for the "cheap" guns.

If they would quit buying from the shyster gun dealers and shop around for the normal markup we woulld all be better off.

Lets see -- $400 for the Glock, $150 for the AC, $35 to join the club and $35 for the tranfer fee is $620!

Wait a minute. that still beats the heck out of Cabelas.

And...I keep forgetting about the free Glock ink pen.

[DannyR]

Bustedknee,

Your math is accurate but your logic is incorrect. As a GSSF member you may purchase 1 Glock per year at LE Price. As an Armorer, you may purchase 2 per year for the three years your certificate is in effect. That's 9 Glocks at LE Price just for being a member of GSSF for 3 years and taking the armorer's class.

Most GSSF'ers are taking the class for the experience and the ability to purchase parts directly from Glock and at a discount.

[ThrillSeeker]

I took my page 15 from the Glock Addendum to my LE Dealer and got both of my handguns immediately. In Florida if you have a CWP you can take them with you as son as you pay.

I am waiting for Armorer Certificate to arrive. They did not ask many questions as it turns out one of the guys in the class was one of their newer employees. Also I have been buying there for years and grew up with the founder's kids who run the place today.

$ 35 for GSSF
$150 for AC Class
$185

$1650 normally for 3 handguns

$1200 for 3

$265 Savings first year alone

With 3 year membership and the purchase of 9 handguns

$1105 savings You can buy a lot of ammo for that.

[bustedknee]

Originally Posted by DannyR

Bustedknee,

Your math is accurate but your logic is incorrect. As a GSSF member you may purchase 1 Glock per year at LE Price. As an Armorer, you may purchase 2 per year for the three years your certificate is in effect. That's 9 Glocks at LE Price just for being a member of GSSF for 3 years and taking the armorer's class.

Most GSSF'ers are taking the class for the experience and the ability to purchase parts directly from Glock and at a discount.

I took the class for the experience as well.

I noticed something that others may have discovered.
When the class is full of cops and the instructor is a cop also -- there is not even a flicker of a sense of humor in the room.
We need more GSSFers in the next class I attend!

Oh, By the way, they are Glocks, how many parts will I need? In 12 years and 2 Glocks I have only needed one part, a spring, I dropped it and lost it.

I'm still waiting for something official to tell me I can purchase even one pistol.

[DannyR]

If you received the old, 2002 Armorer's Manual in class, just contact the training department. If you received the new manual, it is in the addendum booklet. Armorer's pistols must be ordered through Glock and shipped to your FFL.

My instructor, former LEO Jim Greene, has a fine sense of humor and prestented a delightful program.