Frequently Asked Questions
Live-fire structured for moving and shooting!
Get the questions you have answered. If you feel like we didn’t touch on something, feel free to contact us today!
Traveling For Training?
Lodging in Shady Valley, TN (ATAC location)
Shady Valley is a small unincorporated Appalachian town that is surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest. The lodging below is just down the road from the ATAC. Shady Valley has one general store and the Raceway Restaurant named for the Bristol Motor Speedway in the area.
ATAC Cabin:
3 bedroom, 1 bath, full kitchen and living room, internet provided. The cabin is 1 mile from the ATAC range. $149.00 per night
The Shady House
https://www.vrbo.com/4081171ha
Shady Lane Farm Homestead
https://www.vrbo.com/Shady-Valley-Hotels-Shady-Lane-Farm-Homestead–Newly-Remodeled-Ranch-Style-Home
Scott Hill Cabin
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14746518
Lodging in Damascus, VA (11 miles from ATAC)
The closest town to Shady Valley, TN is Damascus, VA only 11 miles down the road from ATAC. The drive from Damascus, VA to Shady Valley, TN follows the winding mountain stream called Beaver Dam creek taking you through Backbone Rock. Damascus, VA offers a variety of houses and cabins to rent as well as other attractions like the Creeper Trail. Damascus is a hikers and mountain bikers paradise.
Things to do in Damascus, VA
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g57658-Activities-Damascus_Virginia.html
Cabin/ House Rentals in Damascus, VA
View Rentals
Lodging in Abingdon, VA (25 miles from ATAC)
If you would rather stay in a nice hotel in an area providing every modern convenience the City of Abingdon, VA is only 25 miles from Shady Valley, TN.
Things to do in Abingdon, VA
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g30220-Activities-Abingdon_Virginia.html
Hotels in Abingdon, VA
https://hotelguides.com/virginia/abingdon-va-hotels.html
Flying in from out of State? (32 miles from ATAC)
If you are flying in from out of state the Tricities Airport code is TRI. The Tricities Airport in Blountville, TN is a short 32 miles from ATAC (Shady Valley, TN). Unlike other firearms training companies, you don’t have the inconvenience of flying with your firearms and equipment because we provide everything!
Tricities TN Airport (TRI)
Enterprise Car Rental from Tricities Airport
Budget Car Rental from Tricities Airport
https://www.budget.com/en/locations/us/tn/blountville/tri
Alamo Car Rental from Tricities Airport
https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental/locations/us/trit71-tri-city-blountville-arp.html
Destination Information (the greater area around ATAC)
More FAQs
Do I need a valid concealed carry permit and drivers license to take a course?
For our safety, as well as our guests’ safety, a valid Concealed Carry Permit and Drivers License is required to be presented upon the day of training. If you do not have a Concealed Carry Permit we will run a background check free of charge
What are the age restrictions?
Should I bring food and beverages?
What should I wear?
Dress as if you are going to work out, or work in the yard. Be comfortable, not fashionable; you may sweat a little, you may get a little dirty.
Recommended Clothing:
- A short sleeve or long sleeve t-shirt that tucks into your pants so that you can draw from the holster without any impediment.
- Loose-fitting pants with belt loops are highly recommended.
- Comfortable sneakers, boots or appropriate footwear for hiking and walking over outdoor terrain. Closed toe footwear required.
- We provide ballistic eye protection, you are more than welcome to use your own.
What shouldn't I wear?
- A tank top, low cut top, top with an open midriff, sleeveless top, etc. This is for your comfort and safety.
- Shorts, skin tight jeans or pants.
- High heels, spike heels or an other shoes you would not wear for hiking.
- Tiny sunglasses that do not cover your eyes. Again, this is for your safety.
What happens if someone is not following instructions?
If at any time a guest demonstrates unsafe behavior, they will be counseled. Counseling may consist of a verbal warning or removal of ammunition with allowance to dry fire through the remainder of your training. If a guest fails to respond to a verbal warning, they will be escorted off the range.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
How much time will the course take?
All of our Courses require 8 hours of training. Training is from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST
What does it mean that your courses are designed for women and couples?
We offer a different curriculum for women. The women’s curriculum is designed to match her psychological strengths such as multitasking, procedurally driven and a unemotional mindset towards firearms. And her desire to feel safe in public.
Our curriculum for men is unique considering our adult learning model the 4 – C’s (Comfortable atmosphere to enhance Comprehension to build Confidence to achieve Capability). And his desire to protect his family.
For the couple that desires private firearms training we create the most exciting date like atmosphere in which you and your spouse will leave with the capability to use firearms together as a team.
Can guests bring their own firearms?
The short answer is YES.
- Your firearm must be a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol or rifle.
- Your firearms must have a factory threaded barrel 1/28th thread.
- Your firearm must cycle our ammunition which is subsonic – CCI Suppressor.
- You will need 10 magazines.
- Your firearms is required to have a silencer, use one of ours or bring your own.
Is there secure parking at the range?
Yes, we have a dedicated and secure parking lot on the range. You will only be a short walk from your vehicle at all times in the event you need to access your vehicle during the training.
Is it practical to have an inexperienced shooter on a 360 range?
A new firearm owner with a concealed carry permit experiences a real world 360-degree range every day (i.e. carrying in the public). Can you image an individual that carries a firearm in public, but only trains on a one directional flat range with paper targets? A.T.A.C. is a basic course, which means that everything is calibrated to SLOW and deliberate movements. Considering the Crawl, Walk, Run methodology.
A.T.A.C. is exclusively CRAWL.
Just Over Yonder!
Shady Valley, TN
Located in Shady Valley, TN, the range is a repurposed century old Appalachian Tobacco Farm. It has a climate-controlled classroom with CLEAN women’s and men’s bathrooms. A small break area with a kitchenette is provided for our guests. With the exception of one range, all our courses are covered from the elements. Most firearm training courses can be a miserable experience dealing with rain, heat and insects. We specifically designed A.T.A.C. to be as comfortable as possible mitigating those environmental distractions.