NRA Basic Pistol Course

 Description

The Basic Pistol course with Best Handgun Training is an eight hour course. Students will get the Basics of Pistol Shooting  and receive an extensive lesson in safety, gun handling, the various types of pistols, the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship, various pistol firing positions, several practical exercises on the firing range, cleaning, storage, and a summary of pistol sports and activities.

Course Introduction

The NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course introduces students to the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for owning and using a pistol safely. Through this course, the students will learn about pistol parts and operation, ammunition, gun safety, pistol shooting fundamentals, and pistol shooting activities. The Basic Pistol Course will also help prepare the student for participation in other NRA courses.

Lesson I - Pistol Knowledge and Safe Gun Handling   

A.     Responsibilities and Safe Gun Handling  

B.     Types of Pistol Actions 

C.     Revolver nomenclature demonstration and exercise 

D.     Semi-Automatic Pistol nomenclature demonstration and exercise 

E.     Operating Revolvers and Semi-Automatic Pistols 

F.     Rules for Safe Gun Handling  

G.    Causes of firearm accidents 

H.    Storage of firearms 

I.      Practical Exercise – Safe Gun Handling & Gun operating procedures 

Lesson II - Ammunition  

A.     Components of a cartridge 

B.     Rim-fire and center-fire cartridges 

C.     Firing sequence of a cartridge 

D.     Cartridge designation and identification 

E.     Storage of ammunition 

F.     Cartridge Malfunctions – misfire, hangfire, squib load 

Lesson III - Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting 

  A.    Aiming 

    1. Sight Alignment 

    2. Sight Picture 

  B.    Hold Control 

    1. Grip 

    2. Arc of Movement 

  C.    Breath Control 

  D.    Trigger Control 

  E.    Follow-Through 

  F.    Demonstrations and practical exercise 

Lesson IV - At the Range - Preparation 

    A.     Range Safety Briefing 
    B.    Introduction of Range Safety Officers, staff and other personnel 
    C.    Range layout and limits 
    D.    General safety rules 
    E.    General range safety rules 
    F.    Hygiene guidelines 
    G.    Site specific range rules 
    H.    Range Commands 
     I.     Load 
    J.     Commence Firing 
    K.    Cease Firing 
    L.     Firearm problems 

Lesson V – Firing the First Shots 

A.     Range Safety Rules and Range Safety Briefing  

B.     Demonstration of the Benchrest Position 

C.     Align the position with the target 

D.     Practice the position dry-fire at the target 

E.     Live fire single- shot exercise (10 times) at 15 feet 

F.     Evaluation of Shooting Practice 

G.    Live fire five-shot exercise (2 times) at 15 feet 

H.    Evaluation of Shooting Practice 

I.      Demonstration of the Two-Handed Standing Shooting Position 

J.     Align the position with the target 

K.     Practice the position dry-fire at the target 

L.     Live fire single-shot exercise (10 times) at 15 feet 

M.    Evaluation of Shooting Practice 

N.    Live fire five-shot exercise (2 times) at 15 feet 

O.    Evaluation of Shooting Practice 

Lesson VI - Scoring Targets, Selecting and Maintaining a Pistol 

A.   Scoring of Targets 

B.   Factors in pistol selection 

C.   Cleaning and caring of the pistol 

 1. Cleaning equipment, best practices and procedures 

 2. Cleaning - Practical Exercise 

 3. Repairs only by the factory or experienced gunsmith 

Lesson VII – Continued Opportunities for Skill Development  

A.   Keep up on your shooting skills – Go to the Range  

B.   Join the NRA if you are not a member – benefits of membership 

C.   Keep current on local and national NRA news and events 

D.   Winchester/NRA Pistol Marksmanship Qualification Program 

E.   NRA Training Opportunities and programs 

F.   Competitive Shooting 

G.  NRA Clubs 

Prerequisites

The are no prerequisites for taking this course, and the course and material is accessible to appropriately supervised mature children.

Course Completion

The Best Handgun Training Instructors provide feedback on the live-fire exercise and issue a  certificate upon successful completion of the course. To view the current Basic Pistol schedule of courses, click here 

If you would like to schedule a private instruction in a Basic Pistol Course, send an email or call Best Handgun Training at (916) 295-8489.

After viewing the class schedules, click the back button on your web browser to return to Best Handgun Training.

This Basic Pistol course is approximately 8 hours long.

The cost of this Basic Pistol course is $200.00 per person and includes all lesson materials (pistol, ammunition, targets, hearing and eye protection) and certificate.  $15 range fee due in cash on the day of class.