Ohio Range Day 2025: Brotherhood, Training, and Unforgettable Moments

Every September, a community of dedicated shooters, instructors, and industry leaders gathers in Garrettsville, Ohio, for something more than a training event; it’s a tradition.

Ohio Range Day 2025 was no exception. Over three days, participants pushed their limits, learned from some of the world's best instructors, and built lasting connections forged through shared purpose, grit, and humility.

This year’s event reminded everyone why Ohio Range Day has become one of the most respected training gatherings in the country, because it’s not about status or social media. It’s about showing up ready to learn, contribute, and grow alongside others who take their craft seriously.

A Weekend of Learning and Brotherhood

From sunrise to well past sunset, attendees immersed themselves in over 16 hours of instruction, covering a wide range of topics, including advanced carbine and pistol training, low-light tactics, night vision, long-range shooting, and problem-solving under pressure.

The weekend blended structured skill development with collaboration, where students and instructors exchanged lessons, tested gear, and ran drills that pushed boundaries.

Each training block challenged participants physically and mentally, building confidence through discipline and repetition. But what set ORD apart wasn’t just the curriculum; it was the camaraderie that emerged between every training class, competition, and every shared meal.

The People Who Made It Happen

Events like Ohio Range Day don’t just happen; they’re built by a collective of professionals who believe in raising the standard.

Instructors

This year’s lineup featured some of the most respected names in the industry, including Achilles Heel Tactical with Rick Crawley and Paul Costa, Ridgeline Defense, Rogue Methods, Velox Training Group, Joel Park Training, Vortex Edge, Gateway Defense, Guild Solutions, Kinetic Consulting, Spectrain Firearms, Hunter Freeland Shooting, and Khimaira Strategy and Tactics — who traveled all the way from France to be part of the event.

Across every bay, instructors ran focused training blocks covering pistol and carbine manipulation, positional shooting, low-light and night-vision work, and scenario-driven problem-solving. But beyond drills and reps, they shared lessons forged through years of experience, emphasizing mindset, safety, and decision-making under pressure.

That combination of expertise, humility, and professionalism created an environment where learning felt natural, engaging, and deeply rewarding for every attendee.

Sponsors: The Backbone of Ohio Range Day

Behind every successful Ohio Range Day stands a powerful network of brands, innovators, and industry leaders who make the experience possible.

This year’s sponsors showcased some of the most trusted names in the firearms and tactical industry. Their presence turned each bay, booth, and firing line into an opportunity for attendees to learn, test, and connect directly with the equipment and companies that shape our community.

Host Sponsors

The Host Sponsors represent the cornerstone of Ohio Range Day’s success. These companies went above and beyond to support the event’s mission and provide the resources needed to make the weekend possible:

Live-Fire Sponsors

The Live-Fire Sponsors brought the energy to the firing line, providing equipment, ammunition, and technical innovation that made the live demos and drills possible.

Retail Sponsors

The Retail Sponsors brought variety, craftsmanship, and creativity, showcasing everything from tactical apparel and gear to blades, hydration, and handcrafted accessories.

A Community Effort

Every sponsor played a part in making Ohio Range Day 2025 a success. Whether by supplying critical range gear, running live-fire demos, or simply showing up to support the shooters and instructors in attendance, their contributions helped make this event one of the most professional and purpose-driven training experiences in the country.

Supporting a Greater Mission: The Sentinel Foundation

Every year, Ohio Range Day brings together shooters, instructors, and brands committed to raising the standard of firearms training. However, in 2025, that mission expanded beyond its original scope.

This year’s event proudly partnered with the Sentinel Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending the exploitation of underage children across the world. While the cause is not new, Sentinel’s approach is, combining advanced technology, intelligence gathering, and direct collaboration with law enforcement to hunt down and dismantle child-trafficking networks that prey on society’s most vulnerable.

“We dedicated the mag dump to Sentinel Foundation’s mission to stop child exploitation and end human trafficking,”. “They’ve been instrumental in helping set up this event, and I can’t thank them enough.” - Rick Crawley

During the live-streamed mag dump, donations poured in from attendees and virtual viewers alike, each contribution going directly toward rescue operations, after-care initiatives, and disaster-relief missions coordinated by Sentinel’s operational teams. Recent deployments have supported relief efforts in North Carolina and Texas, where their field experience proved invaluable in high-stress environments.

Ryan Patete, Sentinel Foundation’s Director of Law Enforcement, echoed the shared purpose that united both organizations:

“The biggest thing is this — we’re here to bring awareness, raise funds, and connect this incredible shooting community to something that truly matters. Every round fired tonight represents another step toward protecting children who can’t defend themselves.”

By dedicating part of Ohio Range Day to Sentinel Foundation’s cause, Achilles Heel Tactical reminded everyone that real strength isn’t just measured by speed or accuracy; it’s defined by the willingness to stand up for those who can’t fight back.

To learn more or to contribute directly to the mission, visit Sentinel Foundation.

Moments That Defined ORD 2025

It’s tough to capture the atmosphere of Ohio Range Day unless you were there — the smell of burnt powder, the sound of steel hits, the laughter between relays, and the countless “lightbulb moments” when students connected the dots.

Some standout highlights from this year included:

• Full-day training rotations with multiple vetted instructors

• The Mag Dump

• Live-fire sponsor bays with hands-on gear trials

• Competitions that tested marksmanship and stress management

• Shared meals that turned strangers into friends

And thanks to professional photo and video coverage, those memories will live on long after the event.

Thank You & Looking Ahead to 2026

To everyone who made Ohio Range Day 2025 possible, the instructors, sponsors, media crew, caterers, and every single attendee who prioritized this event, thank you.

You showed up, trained hard, stayed humble, and made this year one to remember.

Your dedication continues to shape what Ohio Range Day stands for: community, professionalism, and progression.

While ORD 2025 has been wrapped up, its impact on the community will last throughout the year.

If you’re ready to take your training to the next level, stay tuned for announcements about Ohio Range Day 2026. Applications are open!

You’ll find everything you need on the official Ohio Range Day page.

Until then, keep training, stay sharp, and never stop learning.