Observations during my CHL exam

CHL exam

True confession time -I got a new SW 686 with a 4 inch barrel in March. Soon after I joined the local range. To qualify as a member you needed to hit the 8 x 11 paper target at 12 feet. I had never shot a hand gun at a target but figured anyone could. I missed my first 3 shots when the instructor asked if he could take a shot. He hit a bulls eye. Very calmly he said just put the red dot in the middle of the |_| shaped sight. No one had ever told me that. I shot 5 shots right close to the center. I've been improving every time I shoot. While slightly embarrased the instructor was very professional. Last week I met him at the club. I recalled the day and thanked him for his professionalism. I showed him my targets from that day and he congratulated on my improvement and I thanked him again.
 
I took the class back in January. We had one guy bring in some sort of tight semicustom 1911, unsure of the brand. He had not broken it in, and it malfunctioned several times, which led to the instructor informing us to make sure that our handguns were broken-in before carrying them out in the street.

The other notable event was a man in a wheelchair who shot his neighbor's target instead of his own.

Handguns brought to the class were all over the map. I had a Colt Series 70, one guy had a Colt Gold Cup, several Glocks and XDs, Bersa .380s, and a Hi-Point which choked several times. One guy had a Ruger P95 that he said he had never fired and his ammo was a mix of brands loose in a zip-loc bag.
 
My FL CWP class was pretty short. I think only 1hr while we discussed the statutes as best as non-lawyers can, covered the 4 main rules of handgun safety and a few other things (cant remember now). Our firing portion was more of a handling and familiarity check. We shot all of 25 rounds. 10 at 3y (5 with both hands, 5 strong) then 15 at 7y (5 with both, 5 with strong and weak).

Everyone "passed" but some had targets that resembled shotgun patterns. Little older lady next to me blamed the .22 revolver she was using for her sawn-off shotgun sized group and stated she was too used to her .357.

Heres what I took the class with:
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And heres the results:
CWPclasstarget.jpg
 
My class wasn't boring to me at all. The instructor kept me interested, and I learned some good info. She also had to reiterate some shooting fundamentals to me. Being in the Marines, I learned how to shoot rifles/machine guns, but not pistols. She taught me the push/pull method which I had learned before, but for some reason, wasn't applying. Worked wonders for me. I brought my Double Eagle in .45 and was worried about it's reliability. I was testing out numerous hollow point rounds in the weeks leading up to it, and wasn't having good luck. Would get at least one failure to feed per magazine. It shot 230gr FMJ flawlessly. Even the rapid, and I mean RAPID fire portion. It was either the DE or the Dan Wesson 6", as that was all I had at the time.

I was also even told that I did better than most of the class on one of the segments by my fellow classmates. It was a bit where we shot a smiley face in to a paper circle, lol.

I now alternate carrying the DE and a Ruger SP101. I keep the DE loaded with Corbon Powerballs, which cures the problem with open-nose HP's that the gun has.
 
had coffee and talked for a few.. We them moved to the LR with our coffee and watched several boring videos. That Ky require you watch and discuss. Refilled the coffee cups and moved to covered patio and loaded mags . Firing line was just off patio in his back yard. We each shot the 21 required rounds at 7 yds. 11 hit anywhere and you pass. No score other than hits Oh please spread out , makes easy to count.
Refilled the coffee and sat on patio and cleaned our pistols. The took the open book test. All of us passed . After that we spent rest of afternoon shooting and drinking coffee
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How were the groups; spread out by choice or by coffee?
 
Probably limp-wristing it. Current Sigmas don't have reliability issues and probably never did, just bad PR.
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Sigmas never had reliability issues? Ok, sure. I guess the glock koolaid of limpwristing has worked its way to the sigma too.
 
At the range I go to, along with their rules of:
1. No rapid fire.
2. No prone or kneeling.
3. No holstering weapons.
4. No fun ever.

...they have 2 range officers on the line at all times and when there is a ceasefire for whatever reason, they will shout it into their microphones and they each have a remote to activate spinning red lights on the top of the lanes which have "Cease Fire" written all around them.

I think it only responsible that ranges have both audible and visual cues to indicate a ceasefire. I personally pay more attention to the visual indications, as it seems there is always another shooter with a 30-06 and 1000 rounds to burn 2 lanes down from me.
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I know of that which you speak. Fortunately or Unfortunately, it's one of the only games in town if you don't want to join a private club.

A Sigma and a High-Point to qualify with ??!!

Some people just aren't very smart.
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Right. Because people of limited means and/or experience are to be denied their right to defend themselves.

Might want to get off your high horse before you fall on your ass and break your skull.

-In other news, I'm glad I'm an Indiana resident. We don't have any REQUIRED classes in order to get our LTCH...but do have to pass both local and state background checks.

-J-
 
-In other news, I'm glad I'm an Indiana resident. We don't have any REQUIRED classes in order to get our LTCH...but do have to pass both local and state background checks.
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Amen J.

I've lived in Indiana my whole life. When I got my permit at 21, I was a student at Indiana University and had to pass my Federal and Local background check; THEN have a form faxed over to the IUPD so that they could check their records through the IUPD and IU Residential Programs and Services registry to look for "Red Flags" as they put it, and I had to physically be at the department twice during the process.. Once they cleared me, it was on... but it is a real hassel if you are a student as well.

I'm not exactly against the idea that people should be formally trained with firearms before carrying them... but it is a slippery slope when you begin REQUIRING people to register, train, and submit in order to exercise a right. Because once we start down that path, there's really a load of things politicians would love for us to have to do before carrying a loaded weapon.

So far, I'm well-trained and comfortable in a state where just not being a criminal, and patience is all it takes to get a license to carry.

~LT
 
Here in wyoming, it's nice. For your CCW, you need a safety/Shooting class. Unless you can show you had training. E.g. hunter's safety course. Fortunately for me, I'm military. That's good enough for them. 85% of every family has at least one gun. We carry open and concealed. Crime is low, because we WILL SHOOT CRIMINALS. Criminals cross the border and commit crimes in Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah.

As for our range. The one I belong to is private, but anyone is welcome to join. It's $75 for a year's membership. (We use the money for keeping the place functional). It's an outdoor range. 8 lanes; a separate 22 range with knockdown/popup targets, and a 500 yard long range. NO RANGE NAZIS (officers). Electronic key cards so you can get in any time day or night. We use common sense and don't shoot each other.
 
My range is the same,,,

Each member goes through a Range Officer orientation class,,,
After you pass the background check you get the gate combination.

Sun-up to sun-down, seven days a week, the range is available.

NO RANGE NAZIS (officers).
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Ours is the same way,,,
We are all range officers.

There is always the one person who is "safer" than anyone else,,,
We usually ignore them and go about our merry way,,,
22 years and not one person injured in any way.

Now I've done it,,,
I have tempted the fates,,,
I'm gonna lose a toe next outing.

Seriously though,,,
I love going to my range,,,
The people are laid back but safe.

I am very grateful for my good fortune.
 
As for our range. The one I belong to is private, but anyone is welcome to join. It's $75 for a year's membership. (We use the money for keeping the place functional). It's an outdoor range. 8 lanes; a separate 22 range with knockdown/popup targets, and a 500 yard long range. NO RANGE NAZIS (officers). Electronic key cards so you can get in any time day or night. We use common sense and don't shoot each other.
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Same here. I pay 75 bucks for access to a 50 yard pistol range with about 12 lanes and a 350 yard rifle range. We also have trap tournaments and have a real nice setup for that. Indoor heated/cooled bathrooms in the clubhouse. A stocked pond to fish in and a nice spot to camp if you want. We can shoot 24/7 except when they are having cowboy action shooting(third sat of every month). Its cool to go out and set up the targets and shoot at night. Gives practice with night sights and tac lights, etc. Not to mention the muzzle flash is intoxicating.
 
From East Tennessee...

---Great instructor.... detective for 38 years.... very pro 2A. He even suggested we should all also invest in a good knife that could be opened with 1 hand.

---Started class at 9:00..... going home at 13:00

---Good stuff in class....... good 1/2" thick bound booklet instructor provided with lots of laws and stuff......

---Q & A session was very entertaining. 1 young lady asked about waiting for a BG to come in your home before shooting. I loved the instructor's answer.

He asked her if she had a nice home. She said yes she was very proud of it. He asked her why she would want to mess up her nice floors with some dirtbag's blood.

He suggested she just follow the guidelines we had been discussing before using deadly force then call the cops. ( I know this scenario is not kosher in all states.... but it is in mine.)

----The shooting (48 rds) was kind of a joke for anyone that's ever fired more than a few rounds from a handgun.
I actually drew a smiley face on the head section of the sillouette targets we were shooting at 3 yds. ((Taurus PT100 .40 SS)

After about 30 rds in the head section only out to 15 yds I got to thinking the instructor might be thinking I was a smarta__. (He probably was right if he did.)

Anyway I put the last 18 in the chest in a sort of heart shaped design....... after all I really do love to shoot.

---In 3 weeks I received my HCP.
 
I've lived in Indiana my whole life. When I got my permit at 21, I was a student at Indiana University and had to pass my Federal and Local background check; THEN have a form faxed over to the IUPD so that they could check their records through the IUPD and IU Residential Programs and Services registry to look for "Red Flags" as they put it, and I had to physically be at the department twice during the process.. Once they cleared me, it was on... but it is a real hassel if you are a student as well.

I'm not exactly against the idea that people should be formally trained with firearms before carrying them... but it is a slippery slope when you begin REQUIRING people to register, train, and submit in order to exercise a right
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What you had to go through wasn't/isn't Kosher with me. Were you living in University housing at the time? Otherwise, how would they have known that you were an IU student?

As to your second paragraph: Exactly. In MY opinion, there are too many people who are ready and willing to submit themselves to unconstitutional regulations of their Natural Rights.

Do we have to go through any kind of training class in order to Speak Freely? What about a training class in order to practice a religion...or not to practice a religion? Do we have to get governmental approval in order to be free from illegal search and seizure? What about special training in order to have a jury trial?

Conversely, do they force people to take training classes before they buy and own screwdrivers? What about baseball bats? Tire irons? Crow bars? Pocket knives? Kitchen knives? Box cutter? "Every day" items like the above few are used in crimes every single day. And probably many times more than firearms.

See how this works, people? We, as Americans, would think it entirely laughable, asinine, and wholly unconstitutional if there were governmental hoops/regulations/training that we were FORCED to go through in order to exercise any other RIGHT. It's sad that too many folks are eager to roll over and submit to them instead of banding together and changing things.

*Please note that at no time have I said that any kind of training is a bad idea. But when the government FORCES you before they "allow" you to exercise a Constitutional right...what does that say about your Government?
 
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Great post.

Freedom has its costs, but IMO they are worth paying.
If that means gasp! untrained persons wish to own and wear a firearm, I say grand. Then pursuing training is wise.

Personal responsibility is currently politically incorrect, ay?
 
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