Your Training HQ
We’re glad you’re here. Our courses are designed to provide safe, practical, and responsible firearms training for law-abiding citizens of all experience levels. Whether you’re new to firearms or seeking to sharpen existing skills, our instruction emphasizes safety, sound judgment, and real-world application.
Each course is led by experienced instructors who are committed to creating a professional, respectful learning environment where students can build confidence through competence.
Connect with us to hear from us about upcoming courses, specials, sales, events and more!
Meet The Instructor
Robert Haxton brings over 20 years of experience in the United States Army as a military policeman, where he trained U.S. Soldiers, foreign military personnel, and law enforcement officers on a wide range of firearms, including crew-served weapons. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Instructor Trainers Course and has a deep background in developing repeatable, practical skills.
Following his military service, Robert spent 9 years with the Eldridge Police Department as a patrol officer and lead firearms instructor. He is a graduate of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), completing both the Firearms Instructor and Rifle Instructor courses.
Robert is also NRA Instructor Certified (2026) and a graduate of the Sonoran Desert Institute Gunsmithing School (2025). He has further honed his skills through advanced training with Northern Red Training, Tap Rack Tactical, and Dynamic Shooting Systems, covering rifle, pistol, shotgun, and AK-47 platforms.
Committed to teaching practical, hands-on skills, Robert focuses on helping students develop confidence, competence, and lasting self-reliance in their firearms training.
Course Descriptions
Defensive Pistol Course
Build confidence, competence, and safe firearm handling skills in our Defensive Pistol Course. This comprehensive training is designed for new shooters and those seeking to strengthen their fundamentals through structured instruction and hands-on range time.
Students will learn the Four Universal Rules of Firearm Safety, basic pistol operation, marksmanship fundamentals, and proper firearm manipulation. The course includes instruction on loading and unloading, malfunction clearance, drawing from the holster, positional shooting, and target engagement from multiple distances and positions.
Legal considerations are also covered, with an overview of Iowa use-of-force laws, including reasonable force, deadly force, and no duty to retreat.
Extensive live-fire drills reinforce skills such as accuracy, consistency, movement, and one-handed shooting. Training concludes with a comprehensive evaluation drill to assess skill development.
Course Length: Approximately 8-9 hours
Recommended Ammunition: 600 rounds
Required Equipment: Serviceable semi-automatic pistol, at least three magazines, eye and ear protection
This course provides a solid foundation for safe, responsible, and effective pistol use—on and off the range.
Open to both men and women — all skill levels welcome.
Defensive Rifle Course
The Defensive Rifle Course at Riverbend Tactical Solutions is designed to build confident, capable, and responsible rifle shooters through a structured blend of classroom instruction and hands-on range training. This course focuses on the safe and effective operation of the AR-series rifle, emphasizing repeatable fundamentals, practical manipulation skills, and sound decision-making.
Students will begin with a comprehensive safety and range orientation, including the Four Universal Rules of Firearm Safety and long-gun–specific considerations. Legal considerations are also covered include an overview of Iowa use-of-force laws, including reasonable force, deadly force, and no duty to retreat.
On the range, students will learn proper rifle setup, gear selection, and maintenance before progressing into marksmanship fundamentals such as position, breath control, trigger press, and sight alignment. Instruction includes zeroing procedures, positional shooting (prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing), and effective use of cover and concealment.
The course places strong emphasis on rifle manipulation, including loading and unloading, reloads, malfunction recognition and clearance, target transitions, and rifle-to-pistol transitions. Students will apply these skills through structured drills designed to reinforce accuracy, efficiency, and safe weapon handling under realistic conditions.
Training concludes with performance-based drills that evaluate marksmanship and positional shooting, followed by a course recap and after-action review.
Course Length: Approximately 8-9 hours
Ammunition Requirement:
- 400 rounds rifle
- 50 rounds pistol
This course is ideal for new and developing rifle owners seeking a solid foundation in safe, effective, and responsible AR-style rifle use.
Build confidence and competence with your rifle—safe, practical training for beginners.