NRA Certified Pistol Instructor & Range Safety Officer
Helping Good People Become Safe, Skilled & Confident Gun Owners
I'm Bill Harris — an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer in Montclair, NJ. Whether it's your very first handgun or years you'd like to sharpen, we'll move at your pace. You won't be rushed or judged.
Your instructor
Hi, I'm Bill Harris.
I'm an engineer and business owner in Montclair, New Jersey. I started out with more questions than answers myself, and helping other people get comfortable turned into something I genuinely love doing.
As an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer, I teach the way I'd want to be taught. You'll always hear why grip, sight alignment, and trigger control work the way they do — and we'll move at your pace, not mine.
More about my backgroundThe My Range Buddy Promise
Every student deserves to be treated with patience, respect, and professionalism.
You'll never be rushed, embarrassed, or pressured. Whether you're purchasing your first firearm or refining years of experience, every lesson is tailored to your goals, your pace, and your comfort level.
My mission is simple: help you become a safer, more confident, and more responsible gun owner.
What every lesson is built on
Safety First
Every lesson begins and ends with safe firearm handling. Nothing happens on the line until the fundamentals are second nature.
Personalized Instruction
No cookie-cutter classes. Every student learns differently, so every lesson plan is built around your goals and your pace.
Engineering Approach
Concepts are explained clearly, so you understand why a technique works — not just what to copy.
Professionalism
Respectful, patient, and supportive. No intimidation, no rushing, no ego.
Confidence Through Competence
You leave every session with practical skills you can use immediately — and the confidence that comes with them.
Where You're Comfortable
Sessions at Cherry Ridge, an indoor range in Belleville, a private club, or your own range — whatever suits you best.
Instruction
Lessons organized around your goals
Rather than a catalog of course titles, instruction is shaped around what you actually want to accomplish.
First Handgun Experience
A calm, patient introduction for someone who has never handled a firearm.
Firearm Selection Consultation
Unbiased help choosing a handgun that actually fits your hand, purpose, and budget.
Private Range Coaching
One-on-one coaching on the line with immediate, constructive feedback.
Private Coaching for Responsible Carry
Defensive pistol skills and safe-handling work for people who carry responsibly. Not a state qualification course.
Skill Improvement Sessions
For experienced owners who want to diagnose and correct what's holding them back.
Home Defense Planning
Thoughtful, practical planning around storage, access, and responsible decision-making.
Women's Private Instruction
A private, judgment-free setting with instruction tailored to your goals.
Senior Firearm Confidence Training
Unhurried lessons with attention to grip strength, recoil management, and comfort.
Dry Fire Coaching
Safe, structured at-home practice that builds real skill between range visits.
Family Firearm Safety Consultation
Household safety, secure storage, and age-appropriate conversations with children.
Who I help
Everyone starts somewhere different.
Coaching is shaped around who you are and what you're hoping to walk away with. Here's what that usually looks like.
First-Time Gun Owners
You've never held a firearm, or only once. We start with the basics, and nothing happens until you say you're ready. We'll move at your pace.
Women
A private, judgment-free lesson. We'll find a firearm that actually fits your hands, and work on grip and recoil in a way that makes sense for you.
Couples
Learn together without one person getting left behind. I coach you both individually, so neither of you spends the day feeling rushed.
Professionals
Limited time and a preference for straight answers. We'll make the most of a couple of focused hours and skip the filler.
Seniors
No hurry, ever. We work around grip strength, vision, and comfort, and start with mild recoil until you tell me you'd like more.
Experienced Shooters Looking to Improve
You've plateaued and you know it. We'll find what's actually causing the misses and fix it one thing at a time.
Why students choose My Range Buddy
Patient Coaching
Nobody gets rushed. We move on when you're ready, not before.
Engineering Mindset
You'll always hear why a technique works, not just what to copy.
Safety First
Safe handling is a habit we build from the first minute, every session.
One-on-One Instruction
Private lessons or a group of two. Never a crowded classroom.
Professional Business Experience
Clear communication, on time, and organized — the way you'd expect from any professional.
Confidence Through Competence
You leave with real skills, and the calm that comes with actually having them.
No surprises
What your first lesson looks like
Most people are a little nervous before the first one. Here's exactly how the day goes, start to finish, so nothing catches you off guard.
- 1
We meet
We meet at the range, shake hands, and get you settled. No paperwork surprises — forms are sent ahead of time.
- 2
We talk first
Before anything else, we sit down and talk about what brought you here, what worries you, and what you'd like to walk away with.
- 3
Safety
The rules that matter, explained plainly — why each one exists and how they show up in everything we do that day.
- 4
Handling unloaded firearms
You'll hold and work with unloaded firearms until grip, stance, and loading feel natural in your hands.
- 5
Dry practice
Sight alignment and trigger control with no ammunition involved. This is where most of the real learning happens.
- 6
Range time
Your first live shots, one at a time, with me right beside you. We go as slowly as you want.
- 7
Review
We look at your targets together and talk honestly about what went well and what to work on.
- 8
Next steps
You leave with a short, specific practice plan — and no pressure to book anything else.
Bill walking a new student through safe handling before the first shot
Photo coming soon
How we'll work together
A conversation first
We talk before you ever hold a firearm — your experience, your goals, and anything you're unsure about.
A plan built for you
I put together a lesson plan around what you want to accomplish and how you learn best.
Time on the range
Structured, unhurried coaching with clear explanations and feedback as you go.
A path forward
You leave with specific practice steps so progress continues after the lesson ends.
Where we train
A range that fits your comfort level.
Most lessons take place at Cherry Ridge, operated by ANJRPC, where I'm a member. For a short indoor introduction with no membership required, Bullethole in Belleville is an easy first step. If you belong to a club — or there's a range you'd like to try — we can plan around it.
See range session detailsFrom the range
A look at real range days.
Real photos from the line — me, my shooting buddies, and the ranges we train at. No stock imagery, no staged scenes.
Bill coaching a student from behind the firing line
Photo coming soon
Bill reviewing firearm safety with a new student
Photo coming soon
Bill and students at the end of a range day (with permission)
Photo coming soon
Frequently asked questions
I've never touched a firearm. Is that a problem?
Not at all — first-time shooters are who this was built for. We start with safety, handling, and stance, and we don't move to the line until you feel ready.
Do I need to own a firearm?
No. Firearms are provided for your lesson. You purchase your own ammunition — from the range when available, or bring your own lawfully acquired factory ammunition (we'll discuss acceptable brands and types beforehand). If you're considering a purchase, a selection consultation can help you choose well.
What do I need to bring?
Eye and ear protection are required and are available for purchase at most ranges if you don't own them. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes and a shirt without a low neckline are recommended.
Can my spouse or family member join?
Yes. Sessions are one-on-one or a group of two, so instruction stays personal. Couples and parent-and-adult-child pairs are common.
Are these NRA courses?
No. These are private lessons taught by an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer. They are not NRA-approved courses and are not sponsored or administered by the NRA.
How do I get started?
Send a short message describing what you'd like to accomplish. We'll set up a no-pressure consultation and go from there.
Let's talk about your goals.
Every student starts with a simple, no-pressure conversation. Tell me where you are today and what you'd like to be able to do — we'll build the plan from there.