Dark Storm Retail Gun Store and Range New York — Local services in Town of Islip

I just completed Dark Storm’s new course that responsible firearms owners now have to take as part of New York State’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act. Glenn and the rest of the DSI staff must have spent countless numbers of hours putting this curriculum together. Having completed the course, it appears to me that the 16-hours of classroom training meets or exceed the 12 different sections required by The NY State Police. The 2-hours of Live Fire training they provided also appears to either meet or exceed the 11 different sections that are required by the State. I had Rob and Anthony as my instructors for the 16-hours of classroom training that took place over a Saturday and Sunday. These guys are phenomenal and highly qualified instructors who are NRA and USCCA certified, not to mention the law enforcement and real-world experiences that further add to Dark Storm’s qualifications to be able to offer this extremely comprehensive CCW course. The course materials and the PowerPoint presentations were professionally done. Having already read through the requirements of this course on the NY State Police website, I already prepared myself for having to listen to pages and pages of the Penal Codes that must be read aloud during the course as if I’m not just a student, but possibly an attorney. I was pleasantly surprised how Dark Storm spread these sections out over the entire 16-hours making the “Reading Of The Gospels” much more bearable. As far as the 2-hour Live Fire section . . . Chris was the lead Range Safety Officer along with Anthony. These guys were all about Safety, Safety, and more Safety while we were on the range. They repeated the range commands and the drill instructions multiple times. There was plenty of dry-fire practice and live-fire practice while drawing from a holster. Even though there were students with various skill levels in my class, even the most experienced students said they benefited from Chris and Anthony’s expertise. It was almost like we all just received private lessons. By the time I reached the qualification portion of the 2-hour class, I was very confident in my firearm safety and marksmanship abilities. You get what you pay for folks. I try and make it a point to train at DSI at least twice a month, and I am always seeing both current a former Law Enforcement Officers down there as well. This is totally my opinion, but if I’m going to have to pay for an unconstitutional 18-hour course, I’m betting that Dark Storm has utilized it’s network of law enforcement resources to offer a course that will be recognized by the licensing agents in our region. My concern was . . . What if I sign up for this Concealed Carry Improvement Act training with someone else, and the licensing agent decides they don’t recognize the Certificate Of Training? This was money well spent, and I highly recommend you take the course...

I recently completed the 18-hour concealed carry pistol (CCP or CCW) course required by New York State, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. This comprehensive course exceeded all my expectations and left me both well-informed and confident in my abilities.

The course is a perfect blend of 16 hours of classroom instruction and 2 hours of live fire training. The classroom portion, held in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment, was incredibly informative. It was evident from day one that the experienced NRA and USCCA certified instructors were not only knowledgeable but also passionate about teaching. They provided thorough insights into the USCCA curriculum and ensured that all New York State Police and DCJS requirements were met.

One of the most impressive aspects of the course was how the instructors made complex legal information accessible and engaging. They covered the new laws meticulously, emphasizing the importance of understanding and preserving our rights. Their ability to break down and explain intricate concepts made the classroom sessions both enjoyable and invaluable.

The highlight, however, was the 2-hour live fire training in the state-of-the-art, heated range. There truly is no substitute for live fire training, and this portion of the course did not disappoint. The hands-on experience, guided by the experienced instructors, was incredibly beneficial. The instructors were patient, offering personalized feedback and valuable tips that significantly improved my technique and confidence.

The combination of classroom and live fire training ensured that I left the course feeling fully equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry safely and responsibly. The practical application of the laws and techniques discussed in the classroom solidified my understanding and abilities.

This course is an absolute must for anyone seeking a new concealed carry license or renewing an existing one in New York State. The talented and knowledgeable instructors make the experience truly invaluable. You will leave not only well-versed in the new laws but also with the practical skills essential for safe carrying. This course is a testament to the importance of quality training, and I am incredibly grateful for the experience.

Pete has put together an incredible team. Glenn Schaefer and Robert Kerr deliver an experience that will far exceed not only the requirements under the new law but shatter your expectations with an engaging and wonderful experience. The range crew was stellar too. Thank you all for a great course...

I just finished taking the concealed carry class this week and it was great! Glenn Schaefer and Rob Kerr were great instructors. Joe DeTurra was a great help on the range qualification, as well as a great employee in general. As for the course itself, it’s a USCCA certified course, so you know it’s legit. No sure you can say that about the other courses out there. These guys have a wealth of experience and knowledge. They cover everything in the book, no skipping, and that’s a good thing. Plus, they give you the real deal advice. They take this very seriously while having a great time teaching it because better, safer shooters benefits everyone. I am 100% a more educated and safer shooter after taking this course. Plus, Glenn personally helped me on the range. Yes, it’s live fire and they will have you shoot way more to qualify than other courses. I had my best shooting the night of the qualification, and I have them to thank for it. If you want to take a CCW course, take it at DSI 💯. As a side note, my second firearm was a DS-15 purchased at DSI. Is it Gucci? No. Is it quality? Absolutely. I’ve had it since 2021 and have had zero problems with it. I love that gun. Accurate. Reliable. Fun. The facility and the range are bright, clean, up-to-date, and spacious. It’s visually appealing and makes you want to be there. It’s my preferred range to train at and finally got myself a membership. I highly recommend a membership if you want to be a shooter and not just a firearm owner. Go and go often. Keep your skills sharp and a membership will save you a ton of money. If you see any reviews that say the staff talks down to you, nonsense… unless you go there and do stupid $H!T, which unfortunately people do all too often. Handling deadly weapons is not the time to be lax or careless and they have to be on their toes all of the time, so if you do something that you shouldn’t, their going to let you know and be very direct and blunt about it. Glenn has given me a hard time several times over the past few years, and I’m still here giving him praise, so I guess I appreciated it because I’m a more responsible owner and shooter as a result. I guess the answer to that would be not to go to DSI if you’re overly sensitive, but then again, you probably shouldn’t own a firearm if you are because the kick of your .22 LR will bruise your ego and...