Howdy! Welcome to my place!
You might be wondering "who in the blazes is JV Training Accessories?". Well, I wonder the same thing some times, but thats not important right now, and nothing that a healthy dose of coffee can't fix. Lets just stick to the facts to start with:
Who? The JV are my initials, John Vlieger. I've spent most of the past decade competing in the practical shooting sports and absolutely love it. The majority of my time is spent in Open Division of USPSA, but I dabble in Carry Optics and Single Stack as well. I've achieved the rank of Grand Master in Open, Limited, Single Stack, and Carry Optics divisions. I've won many state and sectional championships, 5 area championships, and I've been on the podium at nationals a few times. I've worked at places like Shooters Connection Inc and Mark 7 Reloading since 2017
What? I started JVTA to bring an idea to life, and now I'm here! What started as an idea in my head as I walked my dog has come to life in the form of JVTA. I want to manufacture innovative parts and accessories for the 2A, USPSA, IPSC, IPDA, 3-Gun, and sportsman market. My first product is my Dry Weight Magazine Insert meant to make your dry fire practice more realistic. It replaces the spring and follower of your magazine with a rubbery insert filled with lead weight making your dry fire session as realistic as possible.
When? I started development of my insert in June of 2024 and shipped the first ones in late July the same year. I had to learn the basics of CAD, 3D printing, and all the rest. Gotta keep learning and doing!
Where? I'm based out of Northern Kentucky, just north of Lexington on some acres. Its very, very green here.
Why? "Nothing changes if nothing changes". I needed some change in my life to give me some purpose, something to drive towards. Turns out that starting a business can fill that void. It tends to replace it with other things, but at least I'm not bored!
Long story short, I'm a shooter who wants to make stuff for shooters. I've spent most of the last 7 years working in the 2A space and I want to see if grow, prosper, and welcome new shooters from all walks of life. I want to innovate, customize, and create.
Long story long, see my bio below!
About John Vlieger
Shooting Career
John began competitive shooting in 2013, a relatively short time in the firearms industry, but he has accomplished what the majority of shooters never will. After ten seasons of competing, John has officially earned the title of Single Stack National Champion in USPSA. This title is a huge milestone for him and his shooting career.
John is a five-time USPSA Area Champion and a four-division USPSA Grandmaster. In 2022, John placed 10th in Thailand at the IPSC Handgun World Shoot against some of the best shooters in the world. These accolades take years of practice, hundreds of thousands of rounds, and hours upon hours of dry fire practice. John has also competed in shooting sports such as IDPA, 3 Gun, and Steel Challenge and has shot over 300 matches in the last decade.
When he’s not training, working, or competing, John also instructs practical shooting courses, emphasizing movement and positioning for shooters looking to improve their skills beyond the gun.
Military Veteran
John Vlieger is, first and foremost, a United States veteran who served ten years in the US Army serving primarily in the airborne artillery. John served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-2008, and 2009-2010. He was then deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011-2012.
Industry Expert
John worked at Shooters Connection from 2017 to 2021 and Mark 7 Reloading from 2021 to present. His experience competing at a high level has allowed him to successfully work with companies and share his decade worth of knowledge. This experience has inspired John to start up JV Training Accessories. His product is one any shooter, and any skill level, can use to enhance their dry fire practice. By adding real weight to the magazine The Dry Weight Magazine Insert does just that. These inserts replicate the same weight and balance as a fully loaded magazine, providing "as real as it gets" dry fire practice. These weighted magazine inserts also eliminate the need for dummy rounds, making practice sessions safer and more convenient.
What separates the best shooters in the world from the rest is not their natural shooting talent or their live-fire range sessions alone. It is their dedication and discipline to routinely dry firing day in and day out. It is the time they spend when no one is watching to be able to perform when the timer goes off. This is just the start of JV Training Accessories, with more to come from John to help the average shooter level up.
Q&A with John Vlieger
Q. After accomplishing a decade-long dream of becoming a National Champion, what's next for John Vlieger?
A. The 2024 Open Nationals are a few weeks away, so while I might have had a few days' break, I’m now back to training with my open gun. I’m looking forward to the IPSC World Shoot 2025 in South Africa. Professionally, I’m looking forward to growing my business.
Q. What is your dry fire routine, and how has it inspired you to create JV Training Accessories?
A. My dry fire routine is three to five times a week for about 20 to 30 minutes. I don’t do heavy dry fire, but I am consistent with regular drills, especially during the season leading up to Nationals. Reloads are the number one thing you can work on in dry fire that translates 100% to live fire. Reloading is a hand motion you don’t usually do in your day-to-day life, so repetition is key. I created JV Training Accessories to replicate as closely as possible what weighted magazines feel like when performing a reload. Reloads can make or break a top finish, specifically in the single stack division.
Q. From your perspective, what truly sets the shooters at the top of Practiscore apart from the midpack?
A. The separation is dedication. We are single-minded about getting better. To have a long, successful shooting career, you must constantly dedicate yourself to improving. The top shooters continue to stick with their goals and dedication to achieving them.
Q. What is one piece of advice you would give yourself in 2013 when it came to shooting and competing that might have saved you time, money, and effort to advance?
A. Dry fire more. I would tell 2013 me to dry fire more rather than live firing so much. I spent a lot of money on shooting and making improvements, but dry fire is free. The way you dry fire is just as important as doing it consistently. I created JV Training Accessories to enhance dry fire to the point of replicating what you will need to do in a match environment. My inserts are worth more than their weight in ammunition, that is for certain.
Focus on the dry fire, make notes on what you suck at in a match, and work on that, which is usually movement and reloads for people. Most people can hit steel or paper accurately, but when they try to put it together with moving and doing something else they fall on their face. You have to be able to do all of it and perform when it’s time.