Defensive Pistol Skill Builder (8 Hours)

Overview

This new defensive pistol course is designed for armed professional and responsible citizen students wishing to build upon pistol fundamentals that were introduced during the 100 series of courses. A baseline assessment will be followed by a series of drills designed to improve and refine students' skills, focusing on manipulations, accuracy, and speed. This course concludes with a final evaluation of the same fundamental skill sets that, combined with instructor feedback, will highlight areas of growth and improvement. Students will leave with individualized goals for future training.

Experience Requirements

Students must have completed Handgun 104* or equivalent to attend this class. Students who wish to take this course while using a concealed holster must have completed Ultimate Concealed Carry or equivalent to attend this class.

*Students who successfully completed the 2-day course 'Handgun 104: Introduction to Defensive Handgun Skills' prior to February 2024 will have fulfilled the prerequisites necessary to enroll in any courses that require successful completion of either the 1-day 'Handgun 104: Advanced Handgun Skills' or the 1-day 'Introduction to Defensive Handgun Skills' course.

Course Outline

• Evaluate and refine draws from the holster working toward a 1.5 second or better first shot.
• Evaluate and refine trigger manipulations.
• Practice applying communication strategies when engaging a target from the low and high ready positions.
• Recall how to use cover based on the Principles of Cover.
• Evaluate and refine slide lock reloads while using cover. 
• Demonstrate refined techniques of move, stop, shoot and shooting on the move.
• Refine target to target transitions.
• Apply lessons learned to improve score on a post Defensive Skills Assessment.

Equipment List

• Clothing suitable for training in any weather (pants must have belt loops)
• Sturdy belt at least 1.5" wide
• Outside the waistband holster or inside the waistband holster that secures the firearm during dynamic movement.
• Footwear suitable for rapid movement and turning
• Hydration system
• Wraparound eyewear with polycarbonate lenses or non-shattering prescription
• Electronic hearing protection, earmuffs, or earplugs

Tuition includes free loan of firearms, holsters, safety glasses and hearing protection at the Epping, NH, New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Colorado Springs, CO locations.

Ammo

• Lead core ammunition to be used on steel only
• No green/brown tip, armor piercing, or surrogate rounds to be used on steel at any time
• Recommended round count:
  • Pistol Count: 500