Rifle Lessons and Classes
The Griffin & Howe Shooting Academy offers tailored rifle instruction to all ability levels, whether you’re a complete beginner, a seasoned hunter or competition shooter. As the oldest shooting school in the USA, with the longest rifle range in the state at 900 yards, Griffin & Howe is the perfect place to help you achieve your marksmanship potential.
Our state of the art facilities are open 7 days a week from 9am – 5pm for private instruction as well as small group lessons for up to 4 students per instructor. Please note we are not an open range, access to the range is by instruction only.
Each lesson is tailored towards your desired goals and our staff will structure your training around our unique range of facilities, to give you the skills you need in a safe and fun environment. Whether you’re a beginner taking your first shots, aiming to improve your shooting technique, need to dial in a scope or analyze ballistic data charts, choose the right caliber for your hunt and more – our expert instructors thrive on sharing their knowledge and skills with you.
Classes
Precision Rifle Level 1
This is a class for those interested in starting a path down precision rifle sports. Starting in the classroom and moving on to a live fire session, we focus on the basics of precision shooting, the rifle system, and system setup. This program is designed to instill confidence, efficiency and safety awareness – whether you’re a hunter, enthusiast, or hoping to participate in competitions.
While not a class for beginners, this is a great place to start for those who have their own rifle but want to learn about different types of rifles and accessories, bore sighting and zeroing, gathering ballistic data and general basics of marksmanship.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
Precision Rifle Level 2
Our Precision Rifle Level 2 course builds on developing the skills and knowledge acquired in Precision Rifle Level 1. There is still a strong focus on the basics, but with a deeper dive into rifle optics, wind calling, ballistics and data variations. You’ll also learn how to read terrain and how to utilize non-standard shooting positions such as barricades and tripods.
As you gain confidence in your abilities, you will be challenged to make more decisions and dissect the outcome. This will allow you to achieve a greater understanding of your ability and push your skill development to the next level.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
Rifle Scope Setup, Zero and Data Collection
This half-day class is designed to provide students with the knowledge of safe handling, rifle fit and eye relief, general operation and nomenclature, data collection, and the ability to zero their rifles out to 100 yards. The class is suitable for complete beginners all the way through to experienced shooters looking to sight in a new rifle and obtain rifle data in order to engage targets at varying distances.
Beginning in the classroom, we’ll go through how to fit the rifle to the shooter by adjusting length of pull and comb height, leveling the scope, and learning about eye relief and eye dominancy. We’ll also review general rifle equipment and usage, range safety, techniques for data collection and boresighting, before heading out to the practical section of the class.
Once at the range, we’ll show you how to zero your rifle at 100 yards, how to use and collect data from a chronograph, and how to use that data to calculate DOPE (Data On Previous Engagement) when shooting at varying distances. We’ll then engage a range of targets out to and including 900 yards, to confirm if the data obtained was correct and how to make adjustments as necessary.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
Rifle Shooting Fundamentals
This beginner’s half day course is designed to give students a thorough understanding and practical application of the seven shooting fundamentals, providing a strong platform and systematic methods for future progression. Our goal is to teach you how to become a better marksman in a friendly and professional environment that puts new and novice shooters at ease, making you comfortable whilst also giving you the best possible learning environment.
This class will begin with a classroom review of the seven fundamentals; natural point of aim, grip, sight picture, sight alignment, breathing, trigger control, and follow-through. Each topic will be thoroughly reviewed to give students an understanding of how to apply them in practice.
Moving to the rifle range, students will be shown how to zero their rifle before engaging a range of targets out to and including 900 yards, utilizing the seven fundamentals to build a solid base for technique and accuracy.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
MOA and MILS
Are you ready to take your long-range shooting to the next level? This class is a deep dive into MOA (Minute of Angle) and MIL (Milliradian) aiming systems, allowing you to make precise adjustments and corrections at extended distances.
Starting in the classroom, students will learn the fundamental differences between MOA and MIL, as well as the relationship between the two and the calculations and formulas required for both. We’ll also explore various reticle designs and their functionalities, discover the locations of MOA and MIL markings on your scope’s reticle and distinguish between MOA and MIL adjustments on your scope turrets.
Out on the range, we’ll make sure your rifle is zeroed before engaging a range of targets out to and including 900 yards, and review the information covered in the classroom through practical application.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
Reading Trace
This class is designed to teach students how to see the vapor trail of bullet trajectory through a spotting scope. We’ll review a series of videos in the classroom to demonstrate examples of trace, explore different types of spotting scopes, and demonstrate the optimal setup procedures and positions for spotting scopes in order to effectively capture trace variations from different viewing locations.
From there we’ll take you out to the range and ensure your rifle is precisely zeroed before moving on to trace reading. Students will take turns engaging long-distance targets and observing bullet trace through spotting scopes, providing feedback in order to correct for shot placement.
Designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, this course will allow you to sharpen your long-range accuracy by learning how to use spotting scopes to effectively analyze trace and correct inaccuracies in target engagement.
Visit our event calendar to see available dates and sign up.
Private Lessons
Beginners
For those who have never shot before, our goal is to introduce you to the initial aspects of shooting, give you confidence in the safe handling of your firearm, and encourage skill development through the teaching of shooting fundamentals.
Our staff will talk through the objectives of your lesson to make sure we cover the content you desire, whether it’s just to have a fun day learning new skills with friends, introducing you to the fundamentals of handling your firearm for defensive use, or to gain experience before going on a hunt. All lessons and courses have a strong emphasis on safely handing firearms.
Griffin & Howe rifles are available to rent from our Shooting Academy, or you can bring your own.
Tailored Lessons
For experienced shooters, we offer private lessons tailored to the knowledge and skills you are looking to improve – whether you just want the opportunity to shoot at longer distances and get familiar with your gear, need to practice your marksmanship, or if you’re looking for particular advice or assistance with your setup.
Our instructors can show you how to use and dial in your scope, how to correct for drop, how to set zero, check and establish data sheets, set up ballistic computers, work on various shooting positions, and much more.
Our Facilities
Long Range Shooting
Did you know our training center offers the longest rifle range in New Jersey? Our grounds are specifically designed for long range shooting for up to 900 yards, with various steel target presentations set up between 100 and 900 yards to give clients the ultimate opportunity to shoot distances unavailable elsewhere.
The range has a variety of target presentations, including many custom made life-size big game animal targets, with MGM steel plates for vital zones.
Driven Game
We also have a 150 ft lateral dual moving target built in collaboration with Action Targets for practicing driven game shooting such as moving boar, with three elevated shooting blinds.
Covered Range
Our covered shooting range allows lessons to take place every season, no matter the weather. The facilities are designed with acoustic panels in the walls, ceilings and flooring to help deaden sound, a fully heated classroom, shooting benches for both left and right handed shooters, and open stalls for shooting prone and with the use of shooting sticks.
Events
Did you know we host private, corporate and charity events on site? If you’re tired of the same old team-building or fundraising events, we offer a range of packages that also include options for shotgun, handgun and archery. Our team will go through the basics of safety and training with each guest, before a fun steel challenge competition to engage all shooters.
Make your corporate event one of a kind with an experience at the Griffin & Howe Shooting Academy.
Services
We specialize in outfitting hunters with the right equipment. Our Showroom is conveniently located on the same property as our training center, where you can shop for new equipment or apparel. We carry a range of Sitka clothing, optics, and accessories such as range finders, weather meter spectrums, tripods, shooting bags and more.
The Showroom is open 7 days a week from 9am – 5pm.
With an incomparable heritage for building bespoke sporting guns, our gunsmiths can offer you a custom build tailored to your exact specifications. Whether you prefer the elegance of the classic sporter, the contour of the All-American or the practicality of the Highlander, we can build the perfect rifle for you.
If you’ve identified an issue with your firearm or having accuracy issues when shooting, we can help identify and diagnose issues. Our gunsmithing department offers action blueprinting, rebarreling, bedding solutions and tuner installations.
We also offer a wide range of other gunsmithing services – from custom stocks, installing scope mounts, stock or metal restoration, and general maintenance and cleaning.
Every shooter is unique and no two setups are the same. With almost 100 years of rifle building and outfitting knowledge, we can help you get your process and gear personally dialed in at our 900 yard shooting range.
Starting with the rifle, we’ll identify the best options for your needs, whether you’re a precision rifle competitive shooter or aspiring big game hunter. Some of the variants to consider are size, caliber, weight, barrel length, barrel twist and barrel material, as well as stock material and construction.
Then we move to optics. A medium-power scope with a custom turret is a great option for big game, but not what you want for dangerous game on the African savannah. Our instructors can help you assess your usage, goals and capabilities and pair you with the best optic type and mounting system. Scope ring selection is also a critical part of effective eye alignment, consistent cheek weld and efficient target acquisition.
Finally, we can outfit you with the best ammunition and accessories; from Sig Sauer Ballistics Range Finders to Kestrel Ballistics Weather Meter spectrums, plus a variety of tripods, bipods, slings and shooting bags. A good sling is an integral part of a successful and user-friendly setup, with sling swivel placement, barrel band, sling material and length adjustment all tailored to your preferences.
Pricing:
Please note our lesson pricing is per hour, not per student. Each lesson can have up to four attendees.
Rifle Instruction – $200 per hour (2 hour minimum)
10 Hour Lesson Package – $1,800 (package discount of $180 per hour)
There is an additional charge for all ammunition. Rentals are available for $37.50 per lesson.
Dress code: we kindly request no t-shirts, blue jeans or open-toed shoes please.
Contact
To find out more about what we have to offer or to book a lesson, contact us on 973-398-2670 or email bookings@griffinhowe.com. Please note we do not accept walk ins; lessons are by appointment and must be booked in advance. Our dress code is golf attire, no blue jeans or t-shirts please.
