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Got my instructor course packet for the upcoming Aug 1-4 class. Really looking forward to it!

One interesting thing was the approved ammo list for the range portion. I expected the no reloads rule. Half expected the no aluminum case ammo rule. But what really surpirsed me was that there was a short list of manufacturers which were approved:

BLOUNT, INC. C.C.I./SPEER
HORNADY MFG. CO.
FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO./AMERICAN EAGLE
OLIN/WINCHESTER
REMINGTON ARMS CO./UMC
FIOCCHI OF AMERICA, INC.
ACCURATE/ULTRA MAX
4W AMMUNITION
BLACK HILLS
PMC

Kind of a bummer since all of the 38 special ammo I had didn't qualify (HSM).There's a lot of makers conspicuously absent: HSM, Privi Partizan, Monarch, Double Tap, Cor Bon, Mag Tech, Aguila, etc. Dollars to donuts there are at least a few that show up with ammo that doesn't quailfy.

I'm going to try to remember to write up an after action report afterwards.


There's also a requirement that the hearing protection be over the ear so no plugs. Bet some people get tripped up by that as well.

They will check your ammo and ear protection before they let you shoot..They will also brief everyone in time for them to be ready..

Don't forget your hat, shooting glasses, shirt with a collar, long pants and sturdy shoes. They aren't joking about all those too.

Glad you mentioned the hat. Since they require a hat AND over the ear muffs, how do you work that? I'm assuming if you're wearing a ball cap, you wear the muffs so that the top goes over the top/outside of the hat. Would think that it would be uncomfortable since the little button on the top would be digging into the top of your head.

I ordered a new set of electronic muffs which should be delivered today. Will have to try that out with my hat and see what I can work out.

punkndisorderly wrote:Glad you mentioned the hat. Since they require a hat AND over the ear muffs, how do you work that? I'm assuming if you're wearing a ball cap, you wear the muffs so that the top goes over the top/outside of the hat. Would think that it would be uncomfortable since the little button on the top would be digging into the top of your head.

I ordered a new set of electronic muffs which should be delivered today. Will have to try that out with my hat and see what I can work out.

Don't over-think it, or you'll become like the centipede when asked which foot goes in front of which, and suddenly couldn't walk!

Hope Dan Walker is no longer chief instructor there. Took my course in 1999 and he failed me for having 51 bullet holes in my target,and made me leave the range (using revolver). The LEO 3 persons down only had 49 holes in his target ( at the closest range). HE OVERRULED the other instructors, who agreed with me. Said the LEO passes because he is an LEO. NO recourse at the time. He said if I had use a larger caliber, I might have been passed, and then he laughed about it. Found out he flunks at least one participant each session, regardless. Never retook the course..

Reloader wrote:Hope Dan Walker is no longer chief instructor there. Took my course in 1999 and he failed me for having 51 bullet holes in my target,and made me leave the range (using revolver). The LEO 3 persons down only had 49 holes in his target ( at the closest range). HE OVERRULED the other instructors, who agreed with me. Said the LEO passes because he is an LEO. NO recourse at the time. He said if I had use a larger caliber, I might have been passed, and then laughed about it. Found out he flunks at least one participant each session, regardless. Never retook the course..

I don't think so. The chief instructor there (last summer) was Sgt. Stuart Bamsch. He struck me as a really cool guy, and very much into the CHL program. I can't imagine him failing anybody out of spite. Lots of things have changed since 1999 -- except possibly in the legal department.

What else was in the packet?

Course schedule, map to range, list of required equipment,and a few other pages I can't recall.

punkndisorderly wrote:There's a lot of makers conspicuously absent: HSM, Privi Partizan, Monarch, Double Tap, Cor Bon, Mag Tech, Aguila, etc. Dollars to donuts there are at least a few that show up with ammo that doesn't quailfy.

There's also a requirement that the hearing protection be over the ear so no plugs. Bet some people get tripped up by that as well.

I just did the class a few weeks ago. The ammo requirements for SAAMI manufactured ammo was made clear both with the letter and in the first day of class. It's basically a requirement of the range. No one had a problem with it. Pretty much everything at Walmart works.

Same with hearing protection. You get better protection with over the ears so that's their minimum. Keep in mind your range safety officers will be wearing bulletproof vests. They take safety seriously!

sjfcontrol wrote:

Reloader wrote:Hope Dan Walker is no longer chief instructor there. Took my course in 1999 and he failed me for having 51 bullet holes in my target,and made me leave the range (using revolver). The LEO 3 persons down only had 49 holes in his target ( at the closest range). HE OVERRULED the other instructors, who agreed with me. Said the LEO passes because he is an LEO. NO recourse at the time. He said if I had use a larger caliber, I might have been passed, and then laughed about it. Found out he flunks at least one participant each session, regardless. Never retook the course..

I don't think so. The chief instructor there (last summer) was Sgt. Stuart Bamsch. He struck me as a really cool guy, and very much into the CHL program. I can't imagine him failing anybody out of spite. Lots of things have changed since 1999 -- except possibly in the legal department.

It is now Sgt Bamsch. Your assessment is correct. He is pro CHL and it was a great week. Except for legal which I felt was rewriting the law.

sjfcontrol wrote:
I don't think so. The chief instructor there (last summer) was Sgt. Stuart Bamsch. He struck me as a really cool guy, and very much into the CHL program. I can't imagine him failing anybody out of spite. Lots of things have changed since 1999 -- except possibly in the legal department.

Bamsch was running the show back in April, he did a good job and seemed very sincere about having a good CHL program. Really impressed with him (and the rest of the troopers too)