Gun Class

[panhandle]

Any of you guys new to carrying taking any defensive hand gun classes? I'm not talking about classes for your carry permit, but ones geared toward self defense. I took one two weeks ago and I'm taking class II monday. Class I focused on a lot of drawing from retention, shooting from the hip, mag. changes, shooting from behind barriers and some other things. Being that I just recently, about a year, started carrying, I learned a number of things that I believe will help me if I ever have to defend myself or someone else. plus we all had a good time. I highly reccommend any one new to carrying to check with your local range and see if they offer any of these classes. Their also geared for the ladies!

 

[manyguns]

Getting involved in IDPA will give you a lot of experience handling you handgun under timer stress. You are required to hand the gun safely and only hits count. When you see how good some of the people are it should provide motivation to spend time on your draw & dry snapping to develop your grip & trigger finger. One of the biggest issues for new self defense gun owners is lack of quality time on the gun.

 

[NZshooter]

good classes from competent instructors can be eye-opening... sometimes you don't know what you don't know

I just wish there were more (or at least any local) geared towards revolvers

 

[Silver Dollar]

I'm very much in favor of continuing gun education past the initial carry class. My problem is that no one in my area is giving them at this time. The guy who owns our local shooting range is putting together some defensive classes but hasn't finalized them yet. In the meantime, I do as much reading and video viewing as possible until I can get to a valid hands on class.

 

[tlay]

Try contacting the NRA for instructors in your area. There are many types of classes you can take. And if you are up for it you can take an instructors class and help us out!

 

[sipowicz]

Youtube has some good training videos also...here's one on the ready position....our dept. used to teach low ready but now has moved to the into the chest high ready like in this video...

Pistol Ready Positions by Gomez-Training.com - YouTube

 

[LenS]

I'm an NRA Instructor who teaches mostly the NRA Personal Protection courses (In the Home and Outside the Home).

They are eye-openers, as we spend much of the time discussing how not to be a victim, awareness, anticipated effects of being involved in a SD confrontation and what to expect (and how to handle) from a police response to the use of deadly force. There are many range drills as well, but the above is what differentiates it from IDPA/USPSA/etc.

Everyone serious about CCW should look into these courses.

Why they aren't prevalent? Tons of NRA Instructors go after the low hanging fruit (new shooters) teaching only the basics. Few Instructors teaching these "higher end" courses. Most people don't want to invest the time and money to take the courses above what is required to get their CCW permit.

 

[robertrwalsh]

A good hands-on training class beyond minimum requirements is very valuable. Not cheap, but then again your life isn't either. I STRONGLY recommend some sort of ongoing competition to keep your skills. I prefer IDPA as it is in the ballpark of reality, though it is a game and it has rules.

 

[BaaBaa]

I'm trying to!

I'd love to take classes but they are few and far between locally. One place, 75 miles away, has one class a month and is now booked up totally until October. Another has one class every other month or so and while they are not totally booked so far the last 2 classes were both right in the middle of lambing and no way were we able to leave the farm to attend. That place doesn't make their schedule until the month before so I call them every month to see which clases they will have. We'll get to some eventually but I sure wish it was sooner rather than later.

Just found out that there is an IDPA match fairly close to us this coming weekend and know someone who shoots there. We are going to try to attend and see about joining but not sure if they'll even let me in with just a revolver

 

[TStick]

I'd love to take classes but they are few and far between locally. One place, 75 miles away, has one class a month and is now booked up totally until October. Another has one class every other month or so and while they are not totally booked so far the last 2 classes were both right in the middle of lambing and no way were we able to leave the farm to attend. That place doesn't make their schedule until the month before so I call them every month to see which clases they will have. We'll get to some eventually but I sure wish it was sooner rather than later.

Just found out that there is an IDPA match fairly close to us this coming weekend and know someone who shoots there. We are going to try to attend and see about joining but not sure if they'll even let me in with just a revolver

What do you mean by "just a revolver" ?

If you have a holster and a couple of quick reloaders, not only will they let you in, you may do pretty well Even if you don't do well, you will be introduced to thinking while shooting, which is an invaluable tool.

IDPA guys are quick to embrace new shooters, and will generally overlook minor (as in not gross safety) requirement details for first timers. Call the guy that shoots there and then call one of the range officers; tell them what you have and what you want to do, and I am sure they will give you a thumbs up or down. It would not be unheard of for one of them to offer to let you borrow whatever you were lacking for the meet.

I consider additional gun training to be my vacation time.

 

[tlay]

I think a guy by the name of Jerry Miculek "only" shoots a revolver. I have heard his does o.k.

 

[BaaBaa]

OK I'll look into it more. Supposedly there is an event coming up this month but it doesn't show up on the IDPA web site. I'll call and see if it's really going on.

 

[timn8er]

I've taken a couple of general pistol skill classes since obtaining my CCL. I enjoyed them & got a lot out of them. We were shooting from a draw, but in stages, so there wasn't a whole lot of defensive technique taught. The range that I go to will not allow you to shoot from a draw, which I understand, but it does make it difficult to practice this function. I do practice this at home, but I would like to be able to practice this with actual firing to get the muscle memory thing happening.

 

[OldDominion]

I have taken several classes with Insights Training out of Washington State. They do classes around the country, you may find they have some near you. A lot of emphasis is put on dealing with the aftermath, as well as how to recognize and avoid trouble as well as how to win. I also recommend the "folding knife" course too. That was a real eye opener.