Posted: 10/20/2009 6:49:28 AM EDT
I know this has been discussed sometime recent since I remember seeing it , tried a search but nothing to specific to the actuall course. Was wondering if anyone has taken there General Defensive Handgun course and what you thought of it? I feel I meet there Pre-req's for the class since I feel I am competent and I do know my pistols and I have a tendency to hit what I aim at with out the spray and prey method. I am interested in the class to help me become a better marksman and also to help me out in learning some skills that will help when carrying. It would be nice to have the formal training not to mention it might help me get a Oregon CCW ( what ever its called these days ). Also planing on taking the Utah CCW class to open up some more state to carry in .
I figure if the first class goes well, I would be interested in taking some more. Damn this could get expensive .
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Quoted:
I know this has been discussed sometime recent since I remember seeing it , tried a search but nothing to specific to the actuall course. Was wondering if anyone has taken there General Defensive Handgun course and what you thought of it? I feel I meet there Pre-req's for the class since I feel I am competent and I do know my pistols and I have a tendency to hit what I aim at with out the spray and prey method. I am interested in the class to help me become a better marksman and also to help me out in learning some skills that will help when carrying. It would be nice to have the formal training not to mention it might help me get a Oregon CCW ( what ever its called these days). Also planing on taking the Utah CCW class to open up some more state to carry in.
I figure if the first class goes well, I would be interested in taking some more. Damn this could get expensive[img]http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif[/img]. And addictive. I've heard good things about insights. JoshAR, dropship, and a few others here have taken classes there. Maybe they'll chime in. Go do it if you get the chance. You won't regret it. |
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I took their General Defensive Handgun course in September and it was worth every cent.
Our instructor was a LEO and member of his department's SWAT team so he brought a lot of real world experience to the class. Be sure to check their website to see who is teaching the class so you can assess if that individual is someone you can learn from. Our class covered drawing and holstering techniques, tactical reloads, trigger control, shooting stance, indexing and more. Double taps were covered and trigger manipulation to maximize speed without sacrificing accuracy. Expect to burn through around 500 rounds for this class. There is also class room discussion on good to carry, gear to stay away from, ballistics, legalities of using deadly force in WA and touches on carrying flashlights, folding knives and pepper spray. There are just a few of the highlights. Like I said before, definitely worth the money. One thing I wish I would have known before taking the class is the shooting range gets really hot! Anything more than a t shirt and you'll be sweating your body weight off in the first few hours like I did. Trust me, it's hot as hell. And bring an ammo pouch you can hook on your belt because you will be reloading all the time and you don't want to be running back and forth to get ammo from your gear bag. And if you show up with a 1911 you will be called a macho, red blooded, fast driving American and will be ridiculed endlessly for shooting 45 ACP.
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Quoted:
I took their General Defensive Handgun course in September and it was worth every cent. Our instructor was a LEO and member of his department's SWAT team so he brought a lot of real world experience to the class. Be sure to check their website to see who is teaching the class so you can assess if that individual is someone you can learn from. Our class covered drawing and holstering techniques, tactical reloads, trigger control, shooting stance, indexing and more. Double taps were covered and trigger manipulation to maximize speed without sacrificing accuracy. Expect to burn through around 500 rounds for this class. There is also class room discussion on good to carry, gear to stay away from, ballistics, legalities of using deadly force in WA and touches on carrying flashlights, folding knives and pepper spray. There are just a few of the highlights. Like I said before, definitely worth the money. One thing I wish I would have known before taking the class is the shooting range gets really hot! Anything more than a t shirt and you'll be sweating your body weight off in the first few hours like I did. Trust me, it's hot as hell. And bring an ammo pouch you can hook on your belt because you will be reloading all the time and you don't want to be running back and forth to get ammo from your gear bag. And if you show up with a 1911 you will be called a macho, red blooded, fast driving American and will be ridiculed endlessly for shooting 45 ACP. You know the only damn rigid holsters(there requirement) I got are for a 1911 . I was planing on taking the LW Champion since it has now moved into the #1 spot for my CCW when I am at home , with the XD9SC as my away from home carry piece.
Thanks for sharing your experiance with the class, I am a pretty good sized guy so anything more then a cut off tee is my normal wear. I will also see if I can figure out how to attatch some Molle Emdom 6o4 pistol pouches to my regular belt so I have lots of mags available, either that or I can try out my new low drag high speed battle belt .
I am about %100 on going for it with the only hold back being the date I want to attend and I also need to call them to see if they will allow the kind of ammo I want to use, its a FMJ but its brass colored and doesnt appear to be copper jacketed. Thanks again for the info, if you have anything else you remember that might help out please let me know. I am sure others that are on the fence about going would appreciate the push in the right direction also  .
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The class is at the Issaquah Police Department and there is free parking all around the building. The range is on the basement level just past the holding cells.
I was told the officers don't like to see open carrying in the lobby but when you get downstairs to the range area it's not a problem. It takes about 10 minutes to fill out the paperwork the first day of class so plan accordingly and you'll need to have your CCP with you when you turn in your paperwork. You need to have your own ear and eye protection and at least 3 mags. Bring loose change for the snack bin. Bottled water is free but if you need anything with sugar you'll be paying 50 for mountain dew and skittles. I wish I would've known this the first day. 
Each class is different based on the instructor. I hope you get as good a one as I did. Looking forward to hearing how your class goes. |
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From my archived post from last year, from a shooting noobs perspective
I finally got around to getting some formal training. I signed up for Insight's General Defensive Handgun, I was a little worried that I would be in over my head skill-wise.
The class is actually very basic, and gives a solid foundation for beginners, and works to correct wrong habits of beginners and so-called veterens alike. There were 7 people in the class and two instructors. I think more people would have been too many for the size of the facility, but I have no complaints. They cover legalities and other information in a detailed course syllabus/brochure sort of thing, and the class is around 2 thirds range time, 1 third classroom time. They cover basic groups, basic two shot groups, 2 on 1 and 1 on 2 drills, building on the concepts they teach and later incorporating basic movement, drawing from concealment, and shouting commands. We practiced reloads, stoppage drills, and doublefeed clears. At the end we did Farnum(sp) drills for a while. I got to do 2 timed drills, my first was 14.27, and my second was 13.30, I was very happy with my results! Very fun, very informative weekend. I know I learned alot, and it was fun watching my groups tighten as the weekend passed! (oh, and Stans BBQ in issaquack is very tasty!) ETA- Gear. In the class I ran a g17 in a blackhawk serpa OWB paddle. No problems whatsoever. Also in the class were bare bones springfield 1911, g19, walther P99, Sig p228, A couple .40 glocks, and a SW M&P(want!). I think I fired ~400-500 rds of ammunition, there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to fire more. The website says 600 rds minimum, however. A mag holster is very important. A double would have been ideal. You definately need minimum two magazines, the more the better. Especially with the 1911, the guy needed to reload many times and could have used more mags. Lots of fun I want to do it again! |