Range Qualification

[ezypikns]

Just remember to relax, breathe(!), and listen to the instructor.

Excellent advice. And also......slow down. You have several seconds to get off each shot string. Plenty of time to acquire a decent sight picture.

[Tejasmed]

I went through a CHL class yesterday. Passed the written test. Was washed out of the firing line.
Problem was it was a huge class and a lot of rush. There were always 15 on the firing line.
The instructor was very not clear as to what to expect on the firing line.
Since most of us did not have weapons that held 10 rounds, he changed up the firing order.
I am 73 and do not hear well below 50 hz and with the very low voice of the instructor, I could not understand at any time what he was saying when the ear protection was on.
He did not explain that on each shot he would yell out fire. The voice could not be heard other than cease fire.
At least he did offer to run me through the range again during the week and said he would stand behind me.
I found the matter very humiliating, and I was extremely embarrassed.

Unless you are of good hearing, and have been properly and thoroughly explained to as the process, try to pick a smaller class and a range that uses the high pitch bull horns, plus make it clear what the pattern of firing will be.

By the way...granted it was close...but the first 6 shots I got off were all in the X.

[Crossfire]

Tejasmed - I hate to hear how poorly you were treated in your class.

First - there is no 10 round requirement. In the DPS prescribed course of fire, you load 4, 5, or 6 rounds - never 10.

Also, the course of fire should have been thoroughly explained to you before shooting began.

You did not say where you are located, but, if you are close to Ft Worth, I will gladly qualify you on the range and issue your CHL-100 for the range qualification. One on one - no embarassment.

[Keith B]

Tejasmed - I hate to hear how poorly you were treated in your class.

First - there is no 10 round requirement. In the DPS prescribed course of fire, you load 4, 5, or 6 rounds - never 10.

Also, the course of fire should have been thoroughly explained to you before shooting began.

You did not say where you are located, but, if you are close to Ft Worth, I will gladly qualify you on the range and issue your CHL-100 for the range qualification. One on one - no embarassment.

And the new bull horn we use on the range is plenty loud and clear, even for us that are hard of hearing and are wearing ear protection.

[jsenner]

Tejasmed - I hate to hear how poorly you were treated in your class.

First - there is no 10 round requirement. In the DPS prescribed course of fire, you load 4, 5, or 6 rounds - never 10.

Also, the course of fire should have been thoroughly explained to you before shooting began.

You did not say where you are located, but, if you are close to Ft Worth, I will gladly qualify you on the range and issue your CHL-100 for the range qualification. One on one - no embarassment.

Ditto here if you are in the austin area. Happy to qualify you one on one.

[clarionite]

Same here for Boerne/San Antonio Area.

[recaffeination]

Nice bump and a good reminder for those of us with hearing, vision, or other physical challenges.

[koconcept]

Here is my target from my chl class on jan 12 at crossfire. it was cold i came unprepared as I did not bring a jacket and I used their rental glock.




I dont shoot as often as I should and I got this while shivering and using a gun I never fired before so I think you can pass. Like crossfire said earlier the most nerve racking part is uneperianced people in the class.

[croc870]

I'll be happy to qualify you without cost as well- on the other side of DFW, in Garland.

[Tejasmed]

Thank you all for the encouraging remarks.

I have had some practice with the new 9mm Shield, but think I will get a round of practice in on Tue morning.

Then will face the test once again on the Tactical Arms range in Houston on Wed morning.

The Tactical Arms is an indoor range. Very clean and hi tech.
My regular range out at Bush Park is out door. I think the best or longest distance out there is only 15 yds, for pistol, but that should get me in better shape for the long distance. They have the 10 yd also.
Take what I can get for right now.

Will let you know how things went.

Regards,
Tejasmed Sugar Land, TX

[chandler583]

I took my course at Champion Firearms. It's a little farther, but Mike does a really good job a explaining what's expected, during the test he uses a PA speaker system in the range, and it's indoors.

[Tejasmed]

I wish to thank all that replied concerning my passing the range test recently.
I went back to the range on that following Wednesday and the instructor took me in with the renewals on the range that morning. This time, he put me in the center lane and made sure I understood each firing order and how many to load each time. I had no trouble qualifying with a fairly high score. I am thankful that the instructor took the patience with me.

As one of you did mention, we sometimes forget that others are wandering into a situation that is totally foreign to them. While you have repeated a process over and over, the new person has to learn it on the spot.
Then there is the other matter...do you have some sort of handicap? In my case...those rock bands I played lights under in the late 60's did a real number on frequencies under 50Hz. With the ear muffs on it sounded like Bill Cosby's bus station skit.

Interesting that part of the written test section was a lot about communication. When teaching, you have to have communication...and you have to have feedback that the person being taught has understood before you continue on to the next step. In a large class that often is not possible.

I would like to mention that Fox News was present that first day because they were interviewing a school principal that had teachers and their bus drivers with them taking the class that day. On the following Wed, that second class had a similar number (25) of teachers and their staff with them once again... I was really impressed with the way some of those gals could shoot. Fox News is going back in with and interview with a Texas Senator, and Ted Nuget to the same gun range and will have a sequence soon.
By the way...9mm is so scarce here that that range did not have any...a few people had to borrow their Glocks and shoot 40 cal to qualify.
Once again...thanks to all.
Tejasmed

[Keith B]

Congratulations on passing!

Then there is the other matter...do you have some sort of handicap? In my case...those rock bands I played lights under in the late 60's did a real number on frequencies under 50Hz. With the ear muffs on it sounded like Bill Cosby's bus station skit.

Buy yourself a good set of electronic muffs. I have these http://www.amazon.com/3M-Tactical-Heari ... ical+sport" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and they do great at amplifying sounds. Switching out the sound is so quick that you don't even know if happened.

[Bitterclinger]

I had no problems with the accuracy aspect; scored a solid 250. The instructor could have docked me points because when another shooter jumped the "fire" command I pulled a reflex shot a split second before he said, "fire." It was like: Instructor: "Ready." Other shooter: "BANG." Me:"BANG." Instructor: "Fire."

I think he let me slide because I was helping post targets and pick brass.