Firearms Training for Allen, TX Residents
If you live in Allen and you are looking for a Texas License to Carry class or a calm, beginner-friendly place to learn to shoot, McKinney Firearms Training has been teaching Collin County residents for more than a decade, and Allen has always been one of our steadiest sources of students. You will see a number of them quoted below. This page covers what training here looks like, what Allen students have said about it, and the questions we hear most often from Allen residents.
Allen sits right between Plano and McKinney, which makes it one of the closest cities to our private outdoor range near Lake Lavon. For most Allen students the drive is short and easy, and the setting at the end of it is quiet, open country rather than a loud indoor bay. (There are also cows on the property.)
May 6, 2023: A Reminder That Crime Can Happen Anywhere
Allen is a quiet, well-kept suburb, the kind of place people move to precisely because it feels safe. That is part of why the afternoon of May 6, 2023 shocked so many people across North Texas. A gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets, the outdoor shopping center along US-75, killing eight people and wounding seven others before he was stopped.
He was stopped quickly because one Allen police officer happened to be nearby on an unrelated call. When he heard the shots, he pulled his rifle from his vehicle, ran across the parking lot toward the gunfire — several hundred yards, alone — found the gunman, and ended the attack roughly two minutes after it began. Allen's police chief later said the community would be forever grateful for what that officer did, and released body-camera footage of his run. (KTVU / FOX)
Our phone started ringing that same afternoon, and it kept ringing for weeks. Most of the people who called were not looking for a fight and were not planning to become anyone's bodyguard. They were Allen parents, retirees, and professionals who had simply realized that "it doesn't happen here" was no longer a reason to stay unprepared.
That is the right way to think about it. We are not interested in scaring anyone into a class. The odds that any one person will ever face a situation like that are small. But the officer's response that day is a good illustration of what preparation actually means: he did not have time to think through what to do. He had already been trained, he had his equipment where he could reach it, and he acted. Training for ordinary citizens follows the same principle, on a much more personal scale:
- Safe handling becomes automatic, so a firearm in your home or on your hip is never a hazard to you or your family
- You understand Texas use-of-force law before you ever need it — when you may act, when you may not, and what follows either way
- You think about awareness and avoidance first. Most good outcomes come from leaving early, not from drawing a gun
- You make an informed decision about whether owning or carrying a firearm is right for you at all. Some students decide it is not, and that is a perfectly good outcome of a class
Our thoughts remain with the families of the eight people who lost their lives that day, and with everyone in Allen who was there.
Permitless Carry and Why Training Still Matters
Texas has allowed permitless (constitutional) carry since September 1, 2021, so most adults 21 and over no longer need a license to carry a handgun. That has not made training optional in any practical sense: removing the legal requirement did not remove the need to know how to safely handle, store, and, if it ever comes to it, use a firearm.
The Texas LTC also still has real value under permitless carry: it is honored through reciprocity in 37 other states, it lets you skip background-check delays when buying from a dealer, and license holders have demonstrated both training and a clean record. We cover this in more detail on our FAQ page.
One caution if you are shopping online: some companies sell "concealed carry permits" that are actually non-resident licenses from other states, issued with no live-fire requirement at all. A Texas LTC requires an in-person shooting proficiency test. If a class does not include one, it is not producing a Texas license.
What Training Here Looks Like
Allen students who compared options before choosing us tend to mention the same few things:
- Small classes with real individual attention, rather than a crowded classroom at a busy retail range
- One trip, not two. The LTC classroom module is done online on your own schedule, and the range qualification is handled in a single visit
- An instructor who teaches, not one who reads slides — real-world examples, and time for every question
- A quiet outdoor range that is far easier on true beginners than a noisy indoor bay
- The chance to try several handguns before you buy one, so your first purchase is the right one
Our promotional video walks through the training options we offer:
What Allen Students Are Saying
These reviews are from students who identified their city as Allen on our reviews page:
"What I appreciate most are the diagnostic tools you provided. Instead of just guessing what I did wrong when a shot misses, I can actually identify the issue and use what I learned in your session to improve with practice."
– Lee R., Allen
"He also let us get a feel for several different handguns, so I left with a good idea of what I wanted to purchase as my first firearm. Would recommend for anyone, but particularly for females this is a great course."
– Wilhelmina W., Allen
"Once we showed up at his serene location, the wife and I were even more impressed. It is such a relaxed environment, which really helps to eliminate any apprehension or anxiety one may have."
– Joel G., Allen
"The classes are small so you get their full attention. Highly Recommended."
– Pat J., Allen
"I've talked to some of my friends who said their instructor basically read off a sheet, making for a very boring class... If you're looking for firearms training for a little brush-up, a first time shooter, or to get your License to Carry, I highly recommend McKinney Firearms Training."
– Stan J., Allen
Read all 212+ student reviews →
Training Options for Allen Residents
- Learn to Shoot - for absolute beginners, or anyone who wants a solid foundation before an LTC proficiency test
- Texas LTC Class - online classroom plus in-person range qualification, handled as one continuous process
- Defensive Shooting - for students who know the fundamentals and want practical self-defense skills
- Ladies Gun Training - our beginner classes typically run 80%+ women
- Defensive Shotgun - home-defense-focused shotgun instruction
- Church Security Team Training
- Choosing a Pistol - guidance if you do not yet own a firearm
Frequently Asked Questions - Allen Students
How far is the range from Allen?
Our private outdoor range is in Collin County near Lake Lavon, a short drive east of Allen. Allen is one of the closest cities we serve. We do not publish the exact address on the website; full directions are sent once you register.
I have never handled a gun, but recent events made me want to learn. Where should I start?
Start with Learn to Shoot. It is built for people who have never touched a firearm: safety and handling come first, before any shooting, and you get to try several handguns. Many of our Allen students began exactly this way. There is no pressure to buy a gun or to carry one afterward.
Do I still need an LTC if Texas has permitless carry?
Legally, no. But the LTC is honored in 37 other states, can help you skip background-check delays when purchasing a firearm, and the class covers Texas use-of-force law in depth — knowledge every person who carries should have, licensed or not.
Is the range indoor or outdoor?
Outdoor, on 55 acres. It is quieter and less intimidating than an indoor range for most first-time shooters, though we occasionally have to work around the weather.
I have never shot a gun. Can I go straight to the LTC class?
No. The LTC class assumes basic proficiency. Take Learn to Shoot first; most students who do are well prepared for the LTC proficiency test afterward.
What does training cost?
Learn to Shoot is $90 for a 2.5-hour session (add $30 if you need to rent a handgun with ammo). The LTC class is $90 for the combined online classroom plus range qualification, or $45 for proficiency testing only if you have completed the online portion elsewhere.
Is there a minimum age?
14 for public pistol classes, accompanied by an adult. Younger students are often better served by a private family class, which we also offer.
Service Area: Communities Near Allen
Along with Allen, we regularly train students from these nearby communities, which do not have a dedicated page of their own:
- Fairview, TX
- Lucas, TX
- Parker, TX
- Lowry Crossing, TX
- St. Paul, TX
- Wylie, TX
- Murphy, TX
(McKinney is covered throughout the rest of this site as our home base, and Plano, Frisco, and Princeton each have their own pages.) If you are in one of the communities above, everything on this page applies to you too — get in touch and we will get you scheduled.
