Firearm Competency Training in South Africa

From Behind the Brand to Behind the Training: My Firearm Competency Journey

Working as the Marketing Manager at AKRA Precision Optics, firearms, riflescopes, red dots and shooting terminology are part of my everyday world.

But knowing how to market a riflescope and actually understanding the firearm underneath it are two very different things. 😅

And, as it turns out, there was quite a lot I still had to learn.

I Grew Up Around Hunting. But Did I Really Understand Firearms?

My dad hunted, so firearms and hunting were never completely foreign to me. He always made me part of the journey.

At 19, I shot my first springbok in the Karoo, and at 23, we went kudu hunting in the Bushveld. Both are memories I still treasure.

Looking back now, though, I realise how little I actually understood about the firearm I was handling.

I knew the basics. I knew what I needed to do. But understanding why things work the way they do, how the firearm functions, how to handle it correctly and what the legal responsibilities are? That was a different story.

I also definitely didn’t imagine that years later I’d be working for a South African rifle scope and optics company.

Life has a funny little plot twist now and then.

Going through firearm competency training has made me realise how much proper education changes the experience. The more you understand the firearm in your hands, the more you respect it, the process and the responsibility that comes with it.

And strangely enough, it also makes the whole thing much more interesting.

Then Our CEO Had an Idea...

When Adriaan, CEO of AKRA Precision Optics, asked that our entire team become competent in firearm handling, my husband and I jumped at the opportunity.

I expected it to be something I needed to tick off a list.

Plot twist number two: I actually really enjoyed it.

My husband possibly enjoyed it a little too much.

He disappeared head-first into the YouTube rabbit hole of firearm training videos, handgun mechanics, safety videos and everything else the algorithm could throw at him. By the time we started working through the material, he barely had to study because he already understood so much of the process.

And that was probably the biggest lesson for both of us: when you understand what is happening mechanically and legally, you're not simply memorising information for a test.

It starts making sense.

What My Firearm Competency Training Covered

My training with Limpopo Firearms Academy included:

• Knowledge of the Firearms Control Act
• Handgun
• Shotgun
• Self-loading rifle/carbine
• Manually operated rifle

A huge thank you goes to Lelanie at Limpopo Firearms Academy, who places a strong emphasis on correct, responsible and legal firearm training.

Her approach is very much rooted in #FaithOverFear, and I really appreciated that the training wasn’t simply about passing a test. It was about understanding what you're doing and why you're doing it.

The One Part I Still Have to Wait For

There is one small complication. I’m currently pregnant. 🤰

That means my live-fire practical assessment is going to have to wait a little longer.

Because of the extremely high noise levels involved with live firearm use, I’m following medical guidance and postponing the shooting portion until after pregnancy. Ear protection works wonderfully for my ears, but unfortunately nobody has invented industrial ear defenders for a pregnant belly yet.

So, patience it is.

It was also something I hadn’t really considered before going through the process, and it may be useful for other women planning firearm competency training during pregnancy to discuss the practical shooting portion with their healthcare provider beforehand.

And Then We Started Shopping...

Of course, once we started learning more about firearms, curiosity did what curiosity does.

It escalated. 😂

We visited local firearm stores, did a lot of research into handguns for home and self-defence, watched more videos than I care to count, compared options and eventually found ourselves at Irene Arms, where their team helped guide us through the process.

We eventually settled on the GLOCK 45 Gen 5.

For our needs, it simply felt right.

We don't plan on carrying it as an everyday carry firearm, so compact size wasn't our main consideration. We were looking specifically at a handgun for household defence, and for us the grip, general handling, manageable recoil and optic-ready platform made the GLOCK 45 Gen 5 the best fit for what we wanted.

And yes, working at an optics company may have made the optic-ready part slightly more exciting than it is for the average person. 👀

A Different Perspective Behind the AKRA Brand

Going through this process has given me a completely different appreciation for the industry I work in.

When we talk about riflescopes, dot optics, hunting optics and shooting equipment at AKRA, it is easy to focus purely on the product.

But the optic is only one part of the bigger picture.

Understanding the firearm, safe handling, South African firearm legislation and responsible ownership gives much better context to everything around it.

For me, firearm competency has been less about simply getting a certificate and much more about becoming properly educated about something that has been around me for years.

And apparently enjoying it far more than expected.

Now I just need to wait patiently for my practical.

Then, hopefully, we'll see a few of you on the range soon.

Well... if you're anywhere near Hoedspruit, of course. 😉