u/CommonCaliber

As our summer schedule winds down with our second session of Vehicle Defense, we're ironing out our fall and early winter training calendar.

Currently, we have:

• Advanced CCL Tactics – September 6th

• Defensive Rifle – Early October

• Defensive Pistol – Late October

Is there a type of training you've been looking for that you haven't seen us offer? Was there a past class you wanted to attend but couldn't make the date? Let us know.

We still have room in the second session of Vehicle Defense on the 30th for those who are interested and we will also have a booth out at Guns N' Grub the day before on the 29th. We'll have some optics, gear, and a few "garage sale" items looking for a new home.

You can sign up for classes at www.commoncaliber.com and get tickets for Guns N' Grub at www.gunsngrub.net. Use code "secondchance" for a discount on tickets.

COMING SEPTEMBER 6: ADVANCED CCL TACTICS

As instructors, we see far too many people that have left CCL classes with barely a basic understanding of their handgun and little practical shooting experience beyond qualification. The #1 group we see struggle? Renewals. Many received substandard initial training and unknowingly reinforced those bad habits on their own time.

Advanced CCL Tactics is designed to fix that and build you a new base.

Students will work on drawing from concealment, firearm retention, emergency manipulations, fundamentals, shot placement, and accountability before combining those skills in practical drills and scenarios.

September 6, 2026 9AM at the ISRA.

Loaners, equipment, and ammunition are available with advanced notice.

Register now at www.commoncaliber.com

Our first Vehicle Defense session was yesterday, and it was a fantastic time.

Students learned a variety of concepts related to gunfights in and around vehicles and completed more than a dozen drills and scenarios based on real-life events. Throughout the day, students were challenged to shoot from difficult and unconventional positions while being held to strict accuracy standards.

The course also incorporated shooting and reloading on the move, engaging multiple threats, and working around barriers, obstacles, and other vehicles.

Thank you to everyone who came out and trained with us!

If you missed this one, don't worry. We have another Vehicle Defense session coming up on August 30th, but spots are limited. Get signed up while there's still room.

For any of you who may be interested, I'm hosting an Illinois Armed Security Firearms Training class on the 15th and 16th of August.

This isn't one of our typical firearms classes since it's geared toward meeting the requirements to work as an armed security officer, but it's a good opportunity to pick up some side income if that's something you're interested in. As an added benefit, holding a valid Illinois Firearms Control Card also exempts you from PICA for what that may be worth to you.

If you're interested or have questions, send me a message. This class isnt listed on our site so I'd have to send you the link.

And before anyone points it out, yes, I know the guy in the picture doesn't have a magazine in his pistol. The image isn't mine. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a stock photo of a security guard who doesn't look like an absolute soup sandwich.

Just over a week until our first Vehicle Defense class at the ISRA in Bonfield IL. These courses are going to be small so thay everyone has a chance to really absorb the concepts we will be teaching.

There is a little room in the 8/9 class and the 8/30 is pretty much wide open. This class is going to be a great time and we hope to see some of you out there.

Yesterday's Girls Only course was another great success.

We had 8 women with varying levels of experience spend the day building confidence and developing solid handgun fundamentals. We covered the basics of firearms safety, grip, trigger control, sight picture, loading and unloading before moving into live fire, where students worked on marksmanship, follow-up shots, malfunction clearing, target transitions, and more.

To wrap up the day, everyone ran a short tactical shooting course and spent some time behind a rifle to get a taste of some of the other training opportunities we offer.

Watching students leave more capable and more confident than when they arrived is why we do this.

Thank you to everyone who came out and trusted Common Caliber with your training. We appreciate your support and look forward to hosting another Girls Only course soon.

Just over a week until our next women's only basic pistol course at the Will County Sportsman's Club in Wilmington IL.

This class is perfect for new shooters or newer shooters looking to learn or improve their skills. Class is 75 for the public and 50 for members of the Will County Sportsman's Club.

Tell your mom, girlfriend, sister, cousins, neighbors, or any other woman you know looking to get into some pistol shooting.

Registration for this class, Vehicle Defense, and more is located under the classes tab at www.commoncaliber.com

Yesterday's Basic Rifle course at the Will County Sportsman's Club was a great time.

We gave new shooters what I'd call a sampler platter of rifle shooting. Students started on .22 bolt actions from the bench to build solid fundamentals before stepping up to larger calibers. From there we moved into lever actions and finally semi automatic rifles, shooting from the bench, supported positions, and standing.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Common Caliber class if we didn't push things a little further. Once everyone was comfortable with the basics, we introduced a few tactical drills pulled from our more advanced courses like Defensive Rifle, giving students a taste of what comes next.

We appreciate everyone who came out and trusted Common Caliber with your training. Seeing new shooters build confidence and leave with a stronger skill set is what it's all about.

If you missed this one, don't worry. Our Girls Only Pistol class is coming up on July 26, and our new Vehicle Defense course kicks off on August 9. We hope to see you there.

We still have space available in our upcoming Basic Rifle and Women's Only Pistol classes. Both classes will be held at the Will County Sportsman's Club in Wilmington, IL.

Anyone who signs up this week and mentions this post will receive the club member price, saving you $25 off the regular registration.

Our Intro to Rifle class covers the fundamentals of bolt action, lever action, and semi automatic rifles. Whether you've never touched a rifle before or just want to build a stronger foundation, this class is designed to get you started with safe gun handling and solid fundamentals.

Our Women's Only Pistol class is built specifically for new/newer shooters. We'll cover handgun fundamentals before moving into introductory defensive drills that help build confidence and practical skills in a comfortable learning environment.

As always, loaner firearms are available at no cost, and ammunition is provided at dealer cost. If you've been thinking about getting started, this is a great opportunity to do it.

Advanced Pistol & Rifle was a hell of a time yesterday. We had a full class of students who came out ready to work, successfully combining their handgun and rifle skills while pushing themselves through uncomfortable, stressful, and challenging drills.

Throughout the day, students learned to transition from rifle to pistol, overcome unexpected stoppages under stress, engage multiple threats, negotiate cover from unconventional and difficult positions, and much more.

Every student performed exceptionally well, even when placed into scenarios they had never encountered before. As the day progressed, you could watch confidence grow as they worked through increasingly complex problems until the solutions became second nature.

A special thank you to Ben from Titan Tactical for coming out, assisting with instruction, and helping make the day a success. We always appreciate the opportunity to work alongside other knowledgeable instructors who share our passion for developing capable, responsible shooters.

At Common Caliber, we believe quality firearms training shouldn't be gatekept, hidden behind enormous tuition costs, or reserved only for people with a certain job title. We built this company around the idea that everyday men and women deserve access to high quality training so they can be prepared for anything.

Thank you to everyone who trusted us with your training this weekend. Keep practicing, keep learning, and we'll see you on the range.