At The Carry Guy Firearms Shooting Academy, we believe your training deserves more than convenience—it deserves excellence. Whether you're taking your very first handgun class or advancing your defensive skills, every course is built on one mission:

Developing responsible citizens through preparation, training, and the preservation of innocent life.

Every lesson is designed to build confidence, improve judgment, and prepare you to make sound decisions when it matters most.

Learn from Lead Instructor Curtis R. Harwell, who has spent more than three decades teaching responsible firearms ownership, concealed carry, and defensive handgun skills. Experience matters—and so does learning from someone who has dedicated a lifetime to helping others prepare.

Train in a professional outdoor classroom designed to provide a safe, comfortable, and realistic learning environment. Our private range allows students to focus on learning without the distractions often found at crowded public facilities.

We intentionally keep most classes small so every student receives individual coaching, personalized feedback, and plenty of hands-on instruction. You're never just another face in the crowd.

Curtis Harwell was selected by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to provide FREE South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) classes for Orangeburg County. That distinction reflects a commitment to professionalism, responsibility, and quality instruction.

Our students routinely drive one, two, and sometimes several hours because they understand one simple truth:

When your life may depend on your training, quality is worth the drive.

People don't travel here because we're close.

They travel here because training matters.

Every class begins and ends with one priority:

Safety.

We teach more than marksmanship. We teach mindset, responsibility, sound judgment, and the skills necessary to safely own, carry, and use a firearm. Our goal isn't simply to help you become a better shooter—it's to help you become a more responsible and prepared citizen.

When you train with The Carry Guy, you're not just attending another firearms class. You're investing in knowledge, confidence, and practical skills that can last a lifetime.

Our commitment is simple:

Train with purpose.

Carry with confidence.

Live responsibly.

Reserve your seat today and discover why students from across South Carolina and throughout the United States choose The Carry Guy Firearms Shooting Academy for professional firearms training.

🔴 RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY

Whether you are handling a firearm for the first time, preparing to carry responsibly, or advancing your defensive skills, The Carry Guy offers professional instruction designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence.

Every course is built around four priorities:

Safety • Knowledge • Skill • Attitude

Our FREE South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit class provides the required instruction, written testing, and shooting qualification needed to apply for a South Carolina CWP. Students learn safe firearm handling, current South Carolina laws, self-defense principles, concealed carry responsibilities, ammunition basics, malfunctions, maintenance, holster selection, and concealment techniques.

Class Length: Approximately 6–8 hours
Class Cost: $0.00
Best For: South Carolina residents and qualifying property owners seeking their CWP

🔴 RESERVE YOUR FREE CWP SEAT

The Basic Handgun Course is designed for new shooters, returning shooters, and anyone who wants to strengthen the fundamentals.

Students receive professional instruction in firearm safety, handgun operation, loading and unloading, grip, stance, sight alignment, trigger control, recoil management, and safe live-fire practice. You do not need prior experience to begin.

Course Length: 2 hours
Course Cost: $100
Best For: New gun owners, first-time shooters, and students seeking greater confidence

🔴 START WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS

Intermediate Handgun Training is for students who understand the fundamentals and are ready to improve accuracy, control, speed, and confidence. The course focuses on refining grip, trigger control, recoil recovery, target transitions, presentation, follow-up shots, and practical shooting performance. This is where basic knowledge begins becoming dependable skill.

Course Length: 2 hours
Course Cost: $100
Best For: Shooters who have completed basic training or already understand safe handgun fundamentals

🔴 DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS

Advanced Defensive Handgun Training moves beyond static target shooting and introduces students to the judgment, movement, and decision-making required in a defensive situation. Training may include defensive presentation, movement, use of cover, multiple threats, one-handed shooting, malfunction response, and practical decision-making under controlled pressure. This course is not about shooting faster simply for the sake of speed. It is about learning to act safely, responsibly, and effectively when the situation demands it.

Course Length: 2 hours
Course Cost: $100
Best For: Experienced and properly trained shooters ready for defensive application

🔴 ADVANCE YOUR DEFENSIVE TRAINING

Our women’s firearms training is designed to provide a comfortable, respectful, and encouraging environment for women at every experience level. Students learn firearm safety, handgun operation, shooting fundamentals, concealed carry considerations, personal protection principles, and practical confidence-building skills. The course is structured to answer questions, remove uncertainty, and help every student progress without pressure or intimidation.

Best For: First-time shooters, women considering firearm ownership, and experienced shooters seeking focused instruction

🔴 EXPLORE WOMEN’S TRAINING

Private lessons provide focused, one-on-one or small-group instruction tailored to your experience, goals, firearm, and learning pace.

Whether you are purchasing your first handgun, struggling with accuracy, preparing to carry, rebuilding confidence, or developing advanced skills, your training is designed specifically for you. Private instruction allows more time for individual coaching, questions, correction, and repetition.

Available For: Individuals, couples, families, and small private groups
Best For: Students who prefer personalized instruction or need help with a specific skill

🔴 SCHEDULE PRIVATE TRAINING

Not sure where to begin? Start with the course that matches your current level—not the level you hope to reach. Strong defensive skills are built on strong fundamentals.

Choose your course, reserve your seat, and take the next step toward becoming a safer, more knowledgeable, and more confident firearm owner.

🔴 VIEW ALL COURSES

🔴 RESERVE YOUR TRAINING

Curtis R. Harwell
Founder & Lead Instructor

• 35+ Years of Professional Instruction 
• SLED Selected CWP Instructor 
• NRA Certified Firearms Instructor 
• Students from Across South Carolina & the United States 
• Committed to Safety • Knowledge • Skill • Attitude MEET CURTIS

For more than 35 years, Curtis R. Harwell has dedicated his career to helping responsible citizens become safer, more knowledgeable, and more confident firearm owners. His passion has never been simply teaching people how to shoot—it has always been about preparing them to make sound decisions when it matters most.

As the founder of The Carry Guy Firearms Shooting Academy, Curtis has trained students from across South Carolina and throughout the United States, earning a reputation for professional instruction, personal attention, and an unwavering commitment to safety.

His selection by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to provide FREE South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) classes for Orangeburg County reflects the trust placed in his experience and professionalism.

Every class is built around a simple philosophy:

Preparation is a decision you make long before the day you need it.

Whether you're purchasing your first handgun, pursuing your concealed weapons permit, or refining advanced defensive skills, Curtis is committed to helping you develop the judgment, confidence, and practical abilities needed to carry responsibly.

Because when your life—or the life of someone you love—depends on your decisions, there is no substitute for quality training.

When you train with me, you won't be treated like just another number in a classroom.

You'll receive professional instruction, honest guidance, personal coaching, and the respect every responsible student deserves.

My mission is simple:

To develop responsible citizens through preparation, training, and the preservation of innocent life.

That mission guides every class I teach.

Join the hundreds of responsible citizens who have chosen The Carry Guy to help prepare them for one of life's greatest responsibilities.

Curtis R. Harwell
Founder & Lead Instructor

• 35+ Years of Professional Instruction 
• SLED Selected CWP Instructor 
• NRA Certified Firearms Instructor 
• Students from Across South Carolina & the United States 
• Committed to Safety • Knowledge • Skill • Attitude

🔴 RESERVE YOUR TRAINING

ARE YOU READY?™

YOUR PREPARATION STARTS HERE.

START YOUR TRAINING

View courses, upcoming dates, and available seats.

SEE • DECIDE • SURVIVE.