CHL Course of Fire

[TGIF]

Howdy,

I found a copy of the CHL Course of Fire on a web site but need some clarification. When it says "shoot 1 shot every 2sec 5 times", is that literally Bang 1001,1002, Bang 1001, 1002....or just 5 shots within 10sec?

Thanks,

[RHenriksen]

I've always heard it as 10 second to get your 5 shots off. I've never heard of an instructor caring if you only need 2 seconds for all 5 rounds, assuming you're actually hitting the target.

[Teamless]

or just 5 shots within 10sec?

While there is a curriculum to follow by the DPS, your instructor will advise you prior to each course of fire, what you will fire, how often, etc.
Some say "on the whistle shoot 3 shots", or 1 shot per whistle, etc.

[RoyGBiv]

or just 5 shots within 10sec?

While there is a curriculum to follow by the DPS, your instructor will advise you prior to each course of fire, what you will fire, how often, etc.
Some say "on the whistle shoot 3 shots", or 1 shot per whistle, etc.

This...
Making sure you listen to the instructors directions was actually more difficult (not very, but more..) than actually hitting the target.

... You should really not sweat the proficiency test.. If you have had some minimal practice and can reliably hit the center of mass on a (rather large) target just a few feet away (across your bedroom, basically), you will not have any trouble with the proficiency. It's 40 shots from relatively close range... then 10 shots from about 20 feet (IIRC). If you hit ~85% of the close up shots, you can miss ALL of the last 10 and still pass... Two people in my most recent class were literally shaking on the firing line and neither one had any trouble passing...

Take a deep breath... Go to the range a few times... Take a basic handgun class..

[rmr1923]

or just 5 shots within 10sec?

While there is a curriculum to follow by the DPS, your instructor will advise you prior to each course of fire, what you will fire, how often, etc.
Some say "on the whistle shoot 3 shots", or 1 shot per whistle, etc.

This...
Making sure you listen to the instructors directions was actually more difficult (not very, but more..) than actually hitting the target.

... You should really not sweat the proficiency test.. If you have had some minimal practice and can reliably hit the center of mass on a (rather large) target just a few feet away (across your bedroom, basically), you will not have any trouble with the proficiency. It's 40 shots from relatively close range... then 10 shots from about 20 feet (IIRC). If you hit ~85% of the close up shots, you can miss ALL of the last 10 and still pass... Two people in my most recent class were literally shaking on the firing line and neither one had any trouble passing...

Take a deep breath... Go to the range a few times... Take a basic handgun class..

i took the course in december and IIRC, we took 20 shots at 9 feet, 20 shots at 21 feet, and 10 shots at 45 feet.

to the OP, the shooting test is fairly simple, just be sure to follow your instructor's commands, you don't have to remember the sequence of how many shots in what time frame and all of that. they'll tell you each time, and you just focus on hitting the (fairly large) 5 point area. like RoyGBiv said, you can score enough points to pass the test before the final 10 shots at 45 feet, so don't sweat it.

[WildBill]

I would like to add a couple of suggestions:

1) If you have purchased a new firearm for the CHL course, take it the range and shoot it prior to taking the class. Nothing is more frustrating for the instructor and students than to have a student with a malfunctioning firearm.

2) If you haven't purchased a firearm for the CHL course, don't go out and buy one just for your proficiency test. Make arrangements with the instruction before the class to rent or borrow one. These handguns will be in good working order, and you will find out if it is comfortable for you to shoot.

[ELB]

Howdy,

I found a copy of the CHL Course of Fire on a web site but need some clarification. When it says "shoot 1 shot every 2sec 5 times", is that literally Bang 1001,1002, Bang 1001, 1002....or just 5 shots within 10sec?

Thanks,

Here is a link to the course of fire for CHL proficiency test specfied in the Texas Administrative Code (i.e. the rules adopted by the DPS to implement law, in this case, the CHL statutes). I presume this is the "official" course of fire.

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/rea ... ch=6&rl=11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Skimming over it quickly, it does not specify any "cadence" to how the shots are delivered, just " N shots in n seconds," or "n seconds allowed for each N shots."

[RoyGBiv]

i took the course in december and IIRC, we took 20 shots at 9 feet, 20 shots at 21 feet, and 10 shots at 45 feet.

Correct... My numbers were off by some..
Again.. Most folks, I would expect, would be able to score enough points to "Pass" with just the 3 and 7 yard shots..
And... 10 seconds to make 5 shots may sound like a short time, but, it's an eternity... Don't rush.
And.. and.. ... My instructor managed the timing and course of fire like this..
Instructor: "When I say go, you need to take one shot and you have 2 seconds to do it. We'll do this 5 times.. Ready?"

CHL SHOOTING TEST
3 yards, 20 rounds

* 1 shot, 2 seconds, 5 times
* 2 shots, 3 seconds, 5 times
* 5 shots, 10 seconds, 1 time

7 yards, 20 rounds

* 5 shots, 10 seconds, 1 time
* 2 shots, 4 seconds, 1 time
* 3 shots, 6 seconds, 1 time
* 1 shot, 3 seconds, 5 times
* 5 shots, 15 seconds, 1 time

15 yards, 10 rounds

* 2 shots, 6 seconds, 1 time
* 3 shots, 9 seconds, 1 time
* 5 shots, 15 seconds, 1 time

[firefighter3217]

Howdy,

I found a copy of the CHL Course of Fire on a web site but need some clarification. When it says "shoot 1 shot every 2sec 5 times", is that literally Bang 1001,1002, Bang 1001, 1002....or just 5 shots within 10sec?

Thanks,

My instructor said we just had to have the shots off before time was up; however, he counted out loud for us to help timing... the 2 other guys in the class didn't realize how long 10 seconds really is to get 5 shots off... being a gun nut and avid shooter, I realized it was a lot of time, but welcomed the out-loud counting and followed it just to improve my score... I was so mad-- I got all excited on the last shot that I was going to get a perfect score, then threw one into the 7 ring... (insert string of curse words here!!!)

[sjfcontrol]

just to answer the original question-- it's not "one shot every two seconds five times", it's "one shot IN two seconds, five times. The instructor will say "Ready? -- FIRE!", you'll then have two seconds to take the shot. The instructor will then do it again with "Ready? -- FIRE!" and you'll have another two seconds for the second round, etc. If the instruction is "5 rounds in ten seconds", then the instructor will say "Ready? -- FIRE!" and you'll then have 10 seconds to take the 5 shots.

Exact wording, or whether the instructor uses a whistle or whatnot is up to the individual instructor. The instructor will also inform you when, and how many rounds to load before each round of firing.

The course of fire is:

At three yards (9 feet)
1 shot in 2 seconds, 5 times
2 shots in 3 seconds, 5 times
5 shots in 10 seconds, once

At seven yards (21 feet)
5 shots in 10 seconds, once
1 shot in 3 seconds, 5 times
2 shots in 4 seconds, once
3 shots in 6 seconds, once
5 shots in 15 seconds, once

At 15 yards (45 feet)
2 shots in 6 seconds, once
3 shots in 9 seconds, once
5 shots in 15 seconds, once

[TGIF]

Thanks for the quick responses. I have the same "list" several of you posted with each phase of the course and the shots within that phase. My wife and I are taking the class at the end of the month and she just wanted to know what to expect ahead of time. Sounds like it basically depends on the instructors interpretation of and instructions for the CoF. I took my wife to the range last night and let her have at it with a little .22 since she hasn't shot a gun in some 20 yrs. I was impressed with her precision...consistently a little high and left but decent groups out to about 8 or 9 yds. Moved her on out to about 45 ft (max for CHL CoF) and she still kept them within about a 8-10 inch group (high and left). After about 75 rounds she took a turn with the 380 at about 5 yds and put them in about a 3-4 inch group but low and left. Finally she did about the same with 9mm as with 380. Turned on the laser on the 9mm for fun and she shot the bulls-eye out of the target. All in all, I was pretty impressed with her ability to put the rounds down range and am confident she will do fine in the class.

Thanks again

[MasterOfNone]

just to answer the original question-- it's not "one shot every two seconds five times", it's "one shot IN two seconds, five times. The instructor will say "Ready? -- FIRE!", you'll then have two seconds to take the shot. The instructor will then do it again with "Ready? -- FIRE!" and you'll have another two seconds for the second round, etc.

I give 2 seconds to get off a single shot. Then I give 2 seconds to get off a single shot. Then ... you get it. At the DPS range, the target turns to face you for 2 seconds then turns away, 5 times.

Same thing with the "2 shots in 3 seconds, 5 times." I give 3 seconds to get off 2 shots. I do that 5 times.

Sounds like it basically depends on the instructors interpretation of and instructions for the CoF.

That is NOT correct. The instructor may use different commands or give different instructions, but the course of fire must be same.

[rescuetech]

or just 5 shots within 10sec?

While there is a curriculum to follow by the DPS, your instructor will advise you prior to each course of fire, what you will fire, how often, etc.
Some say "on the whistle shoot 3 shots", or 1 shot per whistle, etc.

This...
Making sure you listen to the instructors directions was actually more difficult (not very, but more..) than actually hitting the target.

... You should really not sweat the proficiency test.. If you have had some minimal practice and can reliably hit the center of mass on a (rather large) target just a few feet away (across your bedroom, basically), you will not have any trouble with the proficiency. It's 40 shots from relatively close range... then 10 shots from about 20 feet (IIRC). If you hit ~85% of the close up shots, you can miss ALL of the last 10 and still pass... Two people in my most recent class were literally shaking on the firing line and neither one had any trouble passing...

Take a deep breath... Go to the range a few times... Take a basic handgun class..

I don't know if the image will show up or not, but the guy next to me that put a stray on my target (next to the left ear) passed. Don't sweat it.

***note*** this was a practice target done before class***

[Matt Fleming]

In Austin, CHL Instructors shoot on turning targets. The shooting test has never changed since 1995. The "string of fire" is dictated by the presentation of the target. You see an "edge" and then the face is presented for a specified time based upon where you are in the course of fire. The 1-Shot exercise at 3 yards provides for a 2 second presentation, 5 times. The 1-Shot exercise at 7 yards is a 3 second presentation, 5 times. Most ranges do not have turning targets, so the instructor must develop a method for the shooter to pause between "target presentations". Most instructors ask shooters to lower the gun slightly, approximately 20 degrees, between each string of fire: 1 shot, 2 shots, 3 shots or 5 shots.

[Greybeard]

Our little range was built with the testing in mind. Rows of lights above target carriers at 3, 7 and 15 yards. Special set of switches for instructor allows targets to be lit up for x number of seconds. Much easier than yelling or blowing a whistle.

Quote: "I don't know if the image will show up or not, but the guy next to me that put a stray on my target".

Don't feel lonesome. During revolver qualification, a lady INSTRUCTOR did such on my target at last renewal school. At 7 yards even. Multiple times.