Information
Our Mission
Palmetto State Armory and its Firearms Training Team are dedicated to providing the highest level of professional firearms instruction in various disciplines. Lessons that are taught come from our highly valued team of instructors. The knowledge that is shared from the PSA Firearms Training Team come from individuals who have gained their knowledge and experience (combat veterans) in various branches of the United States Military, Law Enforcement, Special Operations and Civilian competition experience. Many of these instructors carry accreditation from the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). Whether you are new to the world of firearms, a seasoned competitor, or someone in between, we provide programs in all of our indoor and outdoor facilities that can best be able to fit your needs. Although firearms training provides various avenues of fulfillment, our primary focus will always be the safety of our students. We sincerely hope that through the newly acquired skills and knowledge that our students’ receive and gain, their confidence will continue to grow.
Chad Branham
Range Director
After finishing four years of baseball at Anderson University, Chad Branham began working for the Columbia Police Department in 2003. He began working the entertainment district shortly before joining the SWAT Team in 2005. Chad eventually spent eleven years on the SWAT Team as a team leader and nine years as a sniper. Chad’s SWAT element routinely served over fifty forced entry warrants every year. Chad then began to receive advanced training certifications from the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Basic SWAT, Advanced Hostage Rescue, and Executive and Dignitary Protection. Chad also has been certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Precision Rifle and Patrol Rifle Instructor. Chad joined Palmetto State Armory in 2016.
Greg Flerx Jr
Greenville, Columbia
Greg Flerx Jr. has been an avid shooter for 30+ years. He is a certified pistol instructor through the National Rifle Association (NRA), South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Bureau of Criminal Identificaton (BCI) for the State of Utah. He is a certified (NRA) Chief Range Safety Officer (CRSO) and International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) safety officer (SO). Greg is a certified gunsmith and has been involved in competitive shooting sports for 10+ years. He is an Expert class shooter in (IDPA). He teaches basic firearms safety classes, fundamentals of shooting, and Concealed Weapons Permit classes.
Bobby McDuffie
Ridgeland, Summerville, Charleston
Bobby McDuffie is a retired law enforcement officer, having served 27 years with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department and Sumter City Police Department. Bobby worked in Patrol, Narcotics, and Investigations throughout his career. While working in law enforcement Bobby earned teaching certifications through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Pistol, Select Fire Rifle, and Shotgun. After retiring from Law Enforcement Bobby’s continued education yielded teaching certifications from the NRA in Basic Pistol and Chief Range Safety Officer, as well as a certification from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division in Concealed Weapons . Bobby is also an accredited armorer for Glock pistols and Remington Shotguns. Bobby teaches CWP for Palmetto State Armory in Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, and our Ridgeland locations.
Jeff Piner
Lake Norman, North Carolina
Jeff has been a firearms enthusiast and armed professional his entire adult life. He has over 20 years of combined law enforcement/military experience. Jeff is a graduate of the Connecticut Police Academy where he maintained the rating of Revolver and Pistol Master during his tenure. While in the US Army he served in the Military Police where he attended Special Reaction Team and Tactical Response Team Schools. He later became a Combat Medic with 2/19 Special Forces Group where he served three combat tours with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff’s interest with firearms led him to become a NRA Handgun Instructor, NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA RSO, Glock Instructor, Sig Sauer Instructor, NC Concealed Carry Instructor, SC Concealed Carry Instructor and Simunitions Instructor. Jeff is passionate about teaching with the goal of passing on his knowledge and experience, while in return gaining further knowledge and experience to better serve the shooting community.
Steve Brown
Myrtle Beach
Steve Brown is a Master at Arms veteran of the United States Navy and a retired Frederick, Maryland police officer having well over 40 years of combined experience in the use of firearms. Steve performed duties as a K9 handler, an undercover narcotics agent and a SWAT Operator/Sniper as a police officer and is a certified instructor in police academics, defensive tactics, and firearms. Steve is an NRA firearms instructor and SLED CWP instructor.
