Posted: 10/20/2011 9:18:19 PM EDT
| I'm taking the CCW class on Saturday. Any words of wisdom or suggestions? |
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Pay attention, listen, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
AND PLEASE BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR HANDGUN PRIOR TO TAKING THE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I took mine, myself and two others out of 17 qualified shooting on the first round. Hell, several folks didn't even show up with a handgun and rented one from the range.  A big majority of the class brought in brand new handguns they have never fired. The instructor only passed 10 out 17.
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Pay attention, listen, and don't be afraid to ask questions. AND PLEASE BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR HANDGUN PRIOR TO TAKING THE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I took mine, myself and two others out of 17 qualified shooting on the first round. Hell, several folks didn't even show up with a handgun and rented one from the range. A big majority of the class brought in brand new handguns they have never fired. The instructor only passed 10 out 17.
This. Don't be the guy who's never handled a firearm before the CC class. The one I attended had at least 3 people that needed a basic firearms safety course before attending the CC class. They were told none too politely, if they were seen once more violating any safety rules during the range portion they would be told to leave. The course I attended had you on the range to do your live fire portion of the class at 07:00, then to the classroom. |
Taking my Basic Course on Sat also. I already have my CCW (class is not required in MS). However we now have an Enhanced Endorsement if you voluntarily take a NRA basic course. This basically allows you to carry anywhere but LE offices, jails, "Places of nuisance" (read titty bar), and court rooms while court is session. Well worth the effort if you ask me. 
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Things are different in different areas I guess.
The NRA basic pistol that we teach for the CT pistol permit is a very basic course, taught from the standpoint that the student need not know anything coming in. Show up on time with a full nights sleep As said=pay attention. Turn off your cell phone Don't point the gun at other students,yourself or the instructor (this sounds like a joke,but I am deadly serious!) All that cool stuff you learned from TV ,movies and video games? realise that it is mostly BS and don't try any of it or ask stupid questions about it Relax . anything that you need to know to pass the course will be taught to you Anybody of mediocre physical ability that pays attention is going to pass, this is not rocket science |
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Thank you for your words of wisdom ;)
I shoul be ok on the shooting part. I've been going to te range every couple of weeks for the last few months. I ran through the shooting part of the CCW class last week with both my revolver and automatic. I scored 97 with both. The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Its amazing that people show up to these things never having fired their gun, let alone showing up without a gun. I'd be really embarrassed if I failed the shooting course because I never practiced. I'm interested how the reciprocity will work with other states. I go to Mississippi a few times a year to visit family. So no class is required to carry in MS?. |
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Thank you for your words of wisdom ;) I shoul be ok on the shooting part. I've been going to te range every couple of weeks for the last few months. I ran through the shooting part of the CCW class last week with both my revolver and automatic. I scored 97 with both. The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Its amazing that people show up to these things never having fired their gun, let alone showing up without a gun. I'd be really embarrassed if I failed the shooting course because I never practiced. I'm interested how the reciprocity will work with other states. I go to Mississippi a few times a year to visit family. So no class is required to carry in MS?. No, not for the standard permit. Fill out the form and pay the money, if the background check is ok, they shall issue in 45 days. However, MS does not issue non resident permits. The new law recently went to effect to allow for the enhanced permit with the NRA basic handgun course. MS has reciprocity with about half the states. Naturally, TN is one of them. ETA: Hats off to Nolo Contendre. After the law was passed the Dept of Public Safety (Highway Patrol) drug their feet and wanted 16 hours of training. Thanks, in large part to Nolo and some friends of his, they were forced to obey the law as the Legislature and the Governor intended it. |
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Quoted: Thank you for your words of wisdom ;) I shoul be ok on the shooting part. I've been going to te range every couple of weeks for the last few months. I ran through the shooting part of the CCW class last week with both my revolver and automatic. I scored 97 with both. The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Its amazing that people show up to these things never having fired their gun, let alone showing up without a gun. I'd be really embarrassed if I failed the shooting course because I never practiced. I'm interested how the reciprocity will work with other states. I go to Mississippi a few times a year to visit family. So no class is required to carry in MS?. Are you going to Range USA by any chance? Great place I go to whenever I am in the area. |
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When the instructor gets into his personal anecdotes and/or opinions, just smile, give an occasional nod of approval and don't argue with him. It will be over soon if you do not interrupt. Hopefully your instructor won't be this guy but I'm not betting on it.
Posting from a state with constitutional carry! 
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Thank you for your words of wisdom ;) I shoul be ok on the shooting part. I've been going to te range every couple of weeks for the last few months. I ran through the shooting part of the CCW class last week with both my revolver and automatic. I scored 97 with both. The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Its amazing that people show up to these things never having fired their gun, let alone showing up without a gun. I'd be really embarrassed if I failed the shooting course because I never practiced. I'm interested how the reciprocity will work with other states. I go to Mississippi a few times a year to visit family. So no class is required to carry in MS?. Are you going to Range USA by any chance? Great place I go to whenever I am in the area. No. I found a local guy (Tupelo area) who is retired Secret Service and DHS, NRA certified and approved by the state (One of the HPs sticking points. See my edit to my last post. |
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Thank you for your words of wisdom ;) I shoul be ok on the shooting part. I've been going to te range every couple of weeks for the last few months. I ran through the shooting part of the CCW class last week with both my revolver and automatic. I scored 97 with both. The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Its amazing that people show up to these things never having fired their gun, let alone showing up without a gun. I'd be really embarrassed if I failed the shooting course because I never practiced. I'm interested how the reciprocity will work with other states. I go to Mississippi a few times a year to visit family. So no class is required to carry in MS?. Are you going to Range USA by any chance? Great place I go to whenever I am in the area. No. I found a local guy (Tupelo area) who is retired Secret Service and DHS, NRA certified and approved by the state (One of the HPs sticking points. See my edit to my last post. See this for more info on what went down with Nolo Nolo kicks ass |
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pay attention to the people around you
its the only way me and two other buddies kept our sanity. we had the "scenario" man who instead of different stuff had the same basic scenario covered 87 different ways the bicycle man who carried a flare gun on his bike for protection the army guy.....ohh man classic tough guy could kill you with his finger 50 different ways he knew it all and tried teaching the class, yep instructor had to correct everything this guy spit out. ohh and the elderly couple carrying this neat antique wood toolbox/case could pass for any old couple out getting morning coffee that case was a custom job built by him to carry their glocks that couple shot a matching group both targets had just one big ragged hole.... impressed the hell out everybody in the class |
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Follow instructions, ask questions, and have fun. <––––-Been through Kansas and MO classes. I went through the class in MO about 6 or 7 years ago. I took an 8 hour class on a Sunday. About 6.5 hours of that was watching NRA videos. Most of it was extremely boring. About 20 minutes was lecture about when you can use lethal force (shooting, of course) and what to do/what will happen in the immediate aftermath. The rest of the time was spent shooting/waiting to shoot. I was told I needed to have a revolver and an automatic. All they had me do was load and unload the revolver. I had to load and unload the automatic then I fired it for qualification. They stopped me after 7 rounds and said that I qualified. I waited for them to finish up my paperwork and went home. If I remember right we had to take a multiple choice test. It was open book and pretty much followed the videos word for word. Overall it was an extremely boring day. Everything I needed to know and do could have been done in an hour. It was actually a big disappointment and a huge let down. I didn't feel like I got my $125 worth. I certainly hope your experience is different than mine. Good luck and, if possible, have fun. |
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Quoted: Don't sleep through it, but don't stress over it either. Pay attention, ask questions if you have any and do what they ask of you. Relax, learn, and have a good time. Parts of it will likely be very very boring if you are familiar with firearms, expect that. Good decision to start carrying. You'll do fine. |
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Class was a piece of cake. I got a 92% on the test - I should have gotten a 100% - but missed two questions.
I tied for the best shooting score - 99% twice - I qualified with both my revolver, Ruger LCR .38 special, and my automatic, Ruger LCP 380 auto. - I'll embed photos shortly. Tennessee requires a class followed by a written test reviewing the material followed by a shooting test: 2 rounds at 3 yards 12 rounds at 7 yards 6 right handed at 3 yards 6 left handed at 3 yards 12 at 15 yards 12 at 3 yards I should get my certificate by Tuesday and then I'll have to be finger-printed. Then I submit the certificate, finger prints, and copy of birth certificate/passport to my local DMV for processing. Hopefully I'll have my permit by the end of the year - crossing my fingers. Instructor said 30-60 days. I really expected the class to be more intensive regarding theorectical situations in which I may have to employ "deadly force" to "neutralize a threat". We did cover pull over situations and how to prepare for police should I be involved in an incident. However, it really seemed to me that it glossed over this and focused more on hammering home the point that we shouldn't combine drugs and alcohol with firearms. I think a third of the class was focused on this - including a Tennessee Highway Patrol produced video - which the instructor said was an improvement over the older video.
I felt the course really came across a bit too basic. That being said I'm glad it's over and look forward to getting my permit. Just this evening I had to park in the back of a restaurant in an unlit parking area and was wishing I had my Ruger LCP with me. |
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The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. end quote
Also in TN and have never heard of that. When I got mine you qualified with whatever you wanted and are allowed to carry whatever you want/ |
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Here are my 2 targets from class: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6271493286_e53234151d.jpg Ruger LCR - .38 Special http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6270967495_d64e91ebe5.jpg Ruger LCP - 380 Auto You probably shot better than 90% of the LEO in your area
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Follow instructions, ask questions, and have fun. <––––-Been through Kansas and MO classes. I went through the class in MO about 6 or 7 years ago. I took an 8 hour class on a Sunday. About 6.5 hours of that was watching NRA videos. Most of it was extremely boring. About 20 minutes was lecture about when you can use lethal force (shooting, of course) and what to do/what will happen in the immediate aftermath. The rest of the time was spent shooting/waiting to shoot. I was told I needed to have a revolver and an automatic. All they had me do was load and unload the revolver. I had to load and unload the automatic then I fired it for qualification. They stopped me after 7 rounds and said that I qualified. I waited for them to finish up my paperwork and went home. If I remember right we had to take a multiple choice test. It was open book and pretty much followed the videos word for word. Overall it was an extremely boring day. Everything I needed to know and do could have been done in an hour. It was actually a big disappointment and a huge let down. I didn't feel like I got my $125 worth. I certainly hope your experience is different than mine. Good luck and, if possible, have fun. I took my class with out very own Duke_Nukem who was a prosecutor or DA or something of the sort for a local MO county. It was very interesting. Here's what you think you're saying and here's what they're hearing kind of thing. Never watched a single video and we had a gun swinger party on the range when all was said and done. 
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The instructor has encouraged me to qualify with both so that I'll have the certifications for both in case I'm ever involved in an incident. Also in TN and have never heard of that. When I got mine you qualified with whatever you wanted and are allowed to carry whatever you want/ That is correct. In TN you can qualify with any gun and carry any gun of your choosing. However the instructor, a retired police chief, said that attorneys have a way of twisting facts, meaning they could imply that one wasn't qualified to use a revolver since they only qualified with an automatic when said person took the course. It's not required but he recommended it. He's the father of a friend of mine so I totally respect his opinion. |
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What are the qualifications to be an instructor for CCW classes? Differ by state? Seems like all I've seen have some form of NRA certification, but there's a good chance that's coincidence. I'm certain the require,ents differ by state. I know that my instructor has an NRA certification. He also mentioned something about the state having to re-certify the range each year as well. It's a very cool place - outdoors with covered shooting area. They host a number of shooting competitions each year. It's located just north of Columbia TN which is about 45 minutes south of Nashville. $5 for non members and $1 for members. |