Qualification course + target

[Don 73]

As promised, I got a copy of our course of fire for qualification. I also found a pic of our targets since we don't use a standard B-27 or related target for qualification.

The one we use can be found by searching *OPOTA targets* on google and it is the OPOTA-RQT2 target. It is scored like this: A hit in the light gray is a +1, a hit in the dark gray area is a 0 and a hit in the white is a -1. Minimum qualifying score is 20 out of 25. Here is the target (and NO, the large circles at the bottom are not gigantic, misplaced testicles, they are *supposed* to be the hip joints :P )

[Don 73]

Ok, so here is the course of fire:

Stage 1: (5 seconds) 4 feet

From secured holster (unless stated otherwise)
On the signal to fire, take one (1) flanking step, draw and fire 3 rounds from the close quarters retention position (similar to 'high-ready') into the chest.

Stage 2: (6 seconds) 9 feet

On signal to fire, take one (1) flanking step, draw, firing 2 rounds to chest, 1 round to head (in case suspect wearing body armor)

Stage 3A: (8 seconds) 12 feet

On signal to fire, one (1) flanking step, draw and fire 4 rounds to chest - strong hand only. Remain at high ready w/pistol in dominant hand until commanded to transfer pistol to non-dominant hand.

3B: (7 seconds) 12 feet

Same as 3A, but with non-dominant hand. reload if needed & reholster

Stage 4: (12 seconds) 20 feet

**Prep pistol with 1 round in chamber, 2 rounds in magazine & reholster**

On signal, take a flanking step, fire 3 rounds to chest, upon slide locking back, take a flanking step in opposite direction and reload. Then fire 3 additional rounds into chest

Stage 5: (8 seconds) 30 feet

On signal, flanking step while drawing and firing 3 rounds into chest.

Stage 6: (8 seconds) 50 feet

On signal, fire 2 rounds into center mass. Holster


I personally think this is an easy course, but then I've been shooting handguns since I was 7 years old and helping my dad when he qualified his officers when I was a teenager. The flanking step may sound a bit odd, but it's to try and break people of being in the habit of being a stationary target during a gunfight.

[Rastoff]

Thanks for this post.

Personally, I don't see the flanking steps as odd, but necessary. It helps in two ways. First it moves you out of the line of attack. Second it helps to break the paralysis that most have when confronted with aggression.

I think the times are generous, but not ridiculous. I like the target too. I believe that as long as you stay in the light grey, you'll have disabling hits and that's the goal, right? Actually, I would say that this qualification is set up for success. That helps improve confidence in the officers which in turn makes them better in the field.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I missed the previous thread, what is this qualification for? Ivan

[TJ1225]

Thanks for sharing this, moving to concealment/cover will keep you alive. I like the target also.

[Don 73]

Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher

I missed the previous thread, what is this qualification for? Ivan

Annual PD qualification

[walkin' trails]

Interesting way of scoring. If fact, I really like the idea of deducting points for misses. My employer decided to design a new qual course with quicker times and lots of movement. They managed to forget the simple lateral side step, however.

[Kentucky Dave]

Interesting. That seems like a decent qualification round for LEOs.

The PC 832 Arrest and Firearms Course (PC 832 Course) is the minimum training standard for California peace officers. I took this course as an option during getting my Administration of Justice degree. I also was considering a job as an armed probation office at the time. (two levels in CA; armed and not)

I was the old man of the class, having gone back to college later in life. Most of the class was young ranch & farm boys from rural Northern California who were planning on getting guard jobs at the jail or up at Pelican Bay.

The shooting portion had us at 3 yds, basic torso life size black/white target. 30 seconds from "go" to fire 6 rounds from hip, reload fire 6 more.

Move to 5 yds: 30 seconds from "go" to fire 6 rounds from shoulder height, but point w/o aiming/ reload repeat.

Move to 7 yds: 45 seconds from "go" to fire 6, reload & 6, aimed.

36 rounds on target with a 70% A zone required IF I remember the scoring correctly. I might be off, it's been a while.

The assisting instructor was an ex-San Jose training officer who was then an AJ professor at the school and we'd become friends during my time there. As the farm boys were heading back inside from their scattershot looking targets, I asked him if I could run it back to front, but without the clock stopping.

28 seconds in total, still with a qualifying score, although not as good as the slo-mo round.

[Rastoff]

Wow, Dave, do you know if that's still the requirement for CA? 30 seconds to shoot 12 rounds is stupid slow. 45 seconds to shoot 12 is just embarrassing.

[Don 73]

Originally Posted by Kentucky Dave

Interesting. That seems like a decent qualification round for LEOs.


The shooting portion had us at 3 yds, basic torso life size black/white target. 30 seconds from "go" to fire 6 rounds from hip, reload fire 6 more.

We no longer shoot 'hip shots,' instead it's from a high ready/retention position, basically take your gun from a full-length point position to a close to the chest position and firing from there.

[Kentucky Dave]

Originally Posted by Rastoff

Wow, Dave, do you know if that's still the requirement for CA? 30 seconds to shoot 12 rounds is stupid slow. 45 seconds to shoot 12 is just embarrassing.

45 seconds to shoot 12 is just embarrassing

No kidding!! My professor buddy & I had a couple chuckles over that, prior to him letting me run the entire course without a stop in 28 seconds.

The course of fire Don started with seems much more reasonable.

This above (my post) is NOT what I'd expect a LEO to qualify with. I am sure that the Academy has more stringent requirements and the individual local PD's (mostly) probably do, too.

This class is a requirement for jobs which have an arrest component, non-sworn armed guards, prison guards, county jailers, probation officers, etc.

The sworn peace officers (i.e., CHP, Deputy Sheriff, Police Officer) in California have more stringent requirements. Not having gone through the academy I don't know what the POST standards are in schooling and local agencies would have their own requirements.

Any CHP Officers out there who'd care to share what the annual/semi-annual firearms qualification parameters are? I'd suspect that the CHP might be more stringent that most police departments, but I don't know.