NRA Basic Class with Indy Pistol Training 3-23-14
Had a great time on Sunday assisting Indy Pistol Training with a NRA Basic Pistol Class at Shelby F.O.P. Lodge 84 in Shelbyville. We had 5 women and 2 men in attendance.
Experience ranged from never owning or touching a firearm to 40 plus years of hunting experience. Weather was chilly and in the 30, but partly sunny. It stayed dry so the weather was bearable. All the students improved in some way during the class.
We start with classroom and incorporate hands-on practice after each section to allow the student to make a connection with the information provided. Trigger pull, stance and follow through improve with practice and improvement is typically seen in short order in class. We have in the past and continue to have dedicated students who attend our classes. They listen to instruction and are all typically willing to try something new. We greatly appreciate this as this is the key to learning.
We end the day with live fire as a way to allow the students to incorporate everything they have learned. It is always fulfilling as an instructor to see the students put to use on the range what they have learned throughout the day, Sunday was no exception. Groups started as large as the 7 ring and shrunk to golf ball or quarter size groups by the end of the range time.
Three participants brought their own pistols to the class, a Taurus 738 in .380, Smith & Wesson Corp. Bodyguard in .380 and a Ruger SR22 in .22 LR. The pistols all survived the class without an issues. Students were able to quickly determine some advantages and disadvantages of their choice of pistols during the dry fire and live fire portions of the class. What often seems like the perfect pistol at the gun shop can quickly turn in a questionable decision on the range and in practical use. Poor sights are found to be easily lost on the target or dark backgrounds, trigger pulls are found to be excessive and rough, safeties are found to be hard to disengage and size is often found to be a disadvantage when shot vs. carried. This is why we recommend students bring their pistols to class so they can determine these issues at class instead of at the worst possible time.
Some downfalls of a pistol can be corrected by something as simple as painting a front sight with a paint pen or modifying a technique. Other downfalls can only be corrected by selecting a different pistol, this is where a class environment is helpful. Indy Pistol Training and myself try to have various makes and sizes of firearms on hand during classes to give students an opportunity to try something new without the financial involvement of purchasing a new firearm. Often those who shoot good with a smaller pistol find they shoot far better with a full size pistol. More often than not, students learn that shooting a 9mm, 40 or even 45 is far easier than a small .380. This often gives them the knowledge and experience to choose a more capable pistol in the future.
Every class we run into the issue of assisting female students find the best way to carry a firearm. Sadly females have few options for carrying concealed on their person that does not interfere with their body structure or cause printing issues with clothing design. One option we gladly recommend is the Nickel and Lace holster. This holster is currently one of the best options for women to carry concealed. This option allows for woman to carry concealed with today's fashion and is designed to fit woman. Purse carry is another option and I often recommend Bold and Courageous Woman as their purses are made specifically for carrying a firearm. For any firearm carried in a purse, bag, off person or stored in a console the trigger should always be covered to stop items from entering the trigger guard. The best option is the VG2 by Raven Concealment Systems. This allows the trigger to be protected, but can be quickly removed during the draw stroke.
I want to thank all of our students for their dedication to their own personal safety, wiliness to learn and for helping to support the Second Amendment. A knowledgeable gun owner is a safer gun owner.
Experience ranged from never owning or touching a firearm to 40 plus years of hunting experience. Weather was chilly and in the 30, but partly sunny. It stayed dry so the weather was bearable. All the students improved in some way during the class.
We start with classroom and incorporate hands-on practice after each section to allow the student to make a connection with the information provided. Trigger pull, stance and follow through improve with practice and improvement is typically seen in short order in class. We have in the past and continue to have dedicated students who attend our classes. They listen to instruction and are all typically willing to try something new. We greatly appreciate this as this is the key to learning.
We end the day with live fire as a way to allow the students to incorporate everything they have learned. It is always fulfilling as an instructor to see the students put to use on the range what they have learned throughout the day, Sunday was no exception. Groups started as large as the 7 ring and shrunk to golf ball or quarter size groups by the end of the range time.
Three participants brought their own pistols to the class, a Taurus 738 in .380, Smith & Wesson Corp. Bodyguard in .380 and a Ruger SR22 in .22 LR. The pistols all survived the class without an issues. Students were able to quickly determine some advantages and disadvantages of their choice of pistols during the dry fire and live fire portions of the class. What often seems like the perfect pistol at the gun shop can quickly turn in a questionable decision on the range and in practical use. Poor sights are found to be easily lost on the target or dark backgrounds, trigger pulls are found to be excessive and rough, safeties are found to be hard to disengage and size is often found to be a disadvantage when shot vs. carried. This is why we recommend students bring their pistols to class so they can determine these issues at class instead of at the worst possible time.
Some downfalls of a pistol can be corrected by something as simple as painting a front sight with a paint pen or modifying a technique. Other downfalls can only be corrected by selecting a different pistol, this is where a class environment is helpful. Indy Pistol Training and myself try to have various makes and sizes of firearms on hand during classes to give students an opportunity to try something new without the financial involvement of purchasing a new firearm. Often those who shoot good with a smaller pistol find they shoot far better with a full size pistol. More often than not, students learn that shooting a 9mm, 40 or even 45 is far easier than a small .380. This often gives them the knowledge and experience to choose a more capable pistol in the future.
Every class we run into the issue of assisting female students find the best way to carry a firearm. Sadly females have few options for carrying concealed on their person that does not interfere with their body structure or cause printing issues with clothing design. One option we gladly recommend is the Nickel and Lace holster. This holster is currently one of the best options for women to carry concealed. This option allows for woman to carry concealed with today's fashion and is designed to fit woman. Purse carry is another option and I often recommend Bold and Courageous Woman as their purses are made specifically for carrying a firearm. For any firearm carried in a purse, bag, off person or stored in a console the trigger should always be covered to stop items from entering the trigger guard. The best option is the VG2 by Raven Concealment Systems. This allows the trigger to be protected, but can be quickly removed during the draw stroke.
I want to thank all of our students for their dedication to their own personal safety, wiliness to learn and for helping to support the Second Amendment. A knowledgeable gun owner is a safer gun owner.
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