CHL Class Experience

[Bill's Unlimited]

My wife and I took the class yesterday in the Houston area.

Instructor was good, kept the class focused and associated the material well with the students and current (and past) events. Spent the morning reviewing the documents and some law, concealment, and then handgun safety prior to going to qualifying course. The afternoon was spent reviewing the document / law followed by written (multiple choice and true / false) test. Very long day, but in my opinion if you pay attention there should be no reason you shouldn't be able to pass the course.

The instructor bragged on my wife's shooting telling some of the guys she was putting them to shame!

Now my rant, you should have know this was coming...

I was taken back by the number of people when showing handgun proficiency in the classroom were not able to completely operate (mostly decocking or hand placement) their weapon. Also couldn't believe people had to rent a gun or had NEVER shot a handgun before! These observations directly translated to the hands on qualification where some targets looked like they were sprayed by a shotgun followed by the instructor repeating safety concerns on repeat offenders! One guy (never shot before and was renting a hand gun) was told he needed all his shots to score at the 15 yard distance to qualify, somehow he did. I think maybe the 175 out of 250 is a little lax.

Oh yea, then you had a couple of women who had to comment on everything with their personal opinion on the subject.

I feel better knowing my wife and I have qualified but also realize how many less safe than I would like to see other licensed carries may be out there! It is a scary world out there, be careful my friends!

[krisw]

Just because they had to rent a handgun, doesn't mean they lacked proficiency or familiarity. Maybe all they owned were revolvers and wanted the SA on their card.

I and a lot of people agree the shooting isn't really a great test. I'm pretty sure the state is more concerned with getting people qualified and knowledgable with the laws.

[Bill's Unlimited]

Krisw - Respectively read the above again - "One guy (never shot before and was renting a hand gun) was told he needed all his shots to score at the 15 yard distance to qualify, somehow he did."

I understand the SA versus NSA but this was not the case for this guy. That guy was not proficient or familiar and raised his hand when the instructor asked who had never shot a handgun before... However, there were others that did not know what the decocker was for or how to operate it on the weapon they brought to the class. For more than one student the instructor had to educate them on what that lever was for on their weapon. How do they own something that they do not know how to operate? Or, how did someone loan them a weapon and not explain how to operate it? This is gun ownership responsibility.

Maybe there should be a prerequisite gun safety certification...

[ColinR]

When I qualified a few years back there was an older gentleman that shook so bad the instructor stood behind him, put his arms around him, and held on to the pistol with him to keep him from dropping it. I could not believe my eyes. Yes he passed.

[Tuffbroadhead]

Yes....CHL classes SCARE me....

Safety is a MAJOR concern...

But happy about people arming themselves

[TX_Kevin]

We all take gun safety for granted. I was watching on the TV (showing the range before we entered) (not for the CHL) a lady that when she hit the last round and the slide locked back, she'd turn the gun around and look at the bang end of it. It took the range officer a minute to see it, but he ran after her and pointed fingers at her. She never stopped. Every time. If I were to her left shooting I'd have had to step back and ask that she be removed. That chick was dangerous.

In our CHL class my wife's little Bersa 380 would jam on the 5th round - every time. But she was safe with it, cleared it, loaded again, and finished each time.

[rg2]

buff the throat of the barrel & it should stop jamming on ya..

[30-30]

Our class was mostly 20 or 30 something males but there were three or four women there as well. One was a 50ish year old renewal with a big 38 revolver, and she got nearly all of her shots in the ten ring. She put all the military guys to shame!

[Silent Assassin]

I remember a while back when I took mine. I stayed back and decided to be the last group to shoot. Most of them look so awkward with their pistol. Handling it very awkwardly and not knowing what to do with slider, or where press to cock it forward. Pointing in the wrong direction!

There was father and son using Glock. I can tell it was brand new with case, if I remember correctly. They both struggled with their Glock cause it would jam continuously. At 3,5,7,15 yards. The instructor had to tell others to hold up so he can help this fellow out with his jammed pistol.

I was nervous about shooting cause that morning, I found out my front sight was loose!

I told the instructor about it. At that time, I didn't see any screw inside the thread, assuming it fell out. I mean, it was loose real bad. I was praying that I get thru this and pass my proficiency. Every time front sight moved, I would move it back to middle as much as I could. Last two shot at 15 yard hit 9. I got 248/250! It was unbelievable! I was so glad it was over.

I went to my gun shop and they said the screw was still inside but not loc-tited. The guy tighten it up for me. Learned my lesson. Give yourself a time to be sure your pistol is in working condition before you go out and shoot for proficient test.

[krisw]

Also couldn't believe people had to rent a gun or had NEVER shot a handgun before!

I was referring to the part in italics. I was unsure if the one guy was the only one renting a gun or if there were others.

Krisw - Respectively read the above again - "One guy (never shot before and was renting a hand gun) was told he needed all his shots to score at the 15 yard distance to qualify, somehow he did."

How bad was he shooting to need all his shots at 15 to qualify

[iamntxhunter]

Bottom line is they coudl keep a hand gun or a long gun in their house or in the vehicle. They may not represent what all is good about CHL but then again they were commited enough to go to the class and try. I am sure there are some that we look at with a crooked eyebrow but they are commited enought to attend the class and with that I trust that their intentions are good. The alrernative is we know nothing about them and they are just out there with no training at all.

Its not a perfect world.

[TexaRican]

Every class has "that guy" or "that girl" that needs to share their personal story on all issues. Then there are the ones that need to be teacher's pet and ask questions on EVERY subject. Hopefully you don't get in the class with the pipe-smoking baby boomer yankee wearing the photographer's pocket vest and canvas fedora who thinks he should be teaching the course.

Yeah, my class had all of those. Sure glad I only have to do renewal next time

[Bill's Unlimited]

I wasn't in that guys group that needed points, but based on the comment of don't aim at the head I presume he was shooting a little high. Maybe inducing a recoil upward....


Fortunately I didn't have the guy who thinks he should BR teaching the class. I might have found done humor in that when I assume the instructor would have promptly shut that him down...

Interesting to see I'm not alone in some of these observations.

[TexasDon]

At least they are trying to learn, maybe someone more knowledgeable at the class should offer some range time and help to others. Can't hurt to help.
I find it interesting that someone had trouble with Glock jamming. Never had an issue with any of mine with any ammo

[Ricky T]

Congrats on your new license, Bill. Carry safe!