Police Handgun Training

Hey everyone,

I have an interview for the PD soon and Im hoping like hell I get the job. Ive been preparing for years and one of the things Ive been working on has been my handgun skills. I own rifles and shotguns, but I try to shoot handguns once a month since I dont own any. I usually use a SIG 228 (?) in 9mm, a Glock 17 and 19 in 9mm, and a beretta in 9mm. I also use a glock in 40 S&W. I try to focus on the SIG and GLOCK because most departments use those weapons.

I go to the range and get the standard PD qualifying target. I usually shoot 2 mags at 7 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards and 20 yards.

I scored all 5's at 7 yards, most dead center. Is there any reading or techniques I should try for fast shooting and longer distance shots? Also, what stances are appropriate for the academy. I usually stand with one foot in front of the other at an angle to make my body a smaller target. Then I practice just standing there with legs a bit wider than my shoulders, arms extended, both hands on the gun.

Anything I should do differently? Any help would be appreciated.

If you are going to the acadamy you are probably better off with your normal practice regime. Instructors have their prefered methods and they will quickly have you using them. Good luck and God be with you.
Jim

Dito to what Jmusic said. If you develop any bad habits you will spend a lot of your firearms training unlearning them. Be teachable.

Hey everyone,

I have an interview for the PD soon and Im hoping like hell I get the job. Ive been preparing for years and one of the things Ive been working on has been my handgun skills. I own rifles and shotguns, but I try to shoot handguns once a month since I dont own any. I usually use a SIG 228 (?) in 9mm, a Glock 17 and 19 in 9mm, and a beretta in 9mm. I also use a glock in 40 S&W. I try to focus on the SIG and GLOCK because most departments use those weapons.

I go to the range and get the standard PD qualifying target. I usually shoot 2 mags at 7 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards and 20 yards.

I scored all 5's at 7 yards, most dead center. Is there any reading or techniques I should try for fast shooting and longer distance shots? Also, what stances are appropriate for the academy. I usually stand with one foot in front of the other at an angle to make my body a smaller target. Then I practice just standing there with legs a bit wider than my shoulders, arms extended, both hands on the gun.

Anything I should do differently? Any help would be appreciated.

Well, first off, the academy training for handguns will be remedial in nature to anyone with any type of advanced (i.e. Thunder Ranch, Tac Pro) training etc. The academy will train you what you need to know, don't learn bad habits before you learn their bad habits....it'll make things easier on you.

Also, as an aside, I don't think I would mention how often you practice shooting guns during your interview process unless you are asked about weapons, even then keep your answer short and focused. Don't talk about your "collection", skills, etc. I've sat through enough interviews to know that talking about guns generally never helps, but can certainly hurt.

just a small note i noticed, the stance where you blade your body is called the weaver stance, and the one where you stand with your legs further apart is probably the isoscles stance. I wasn't sure if you knew their names, but its really good that you are proficient in both.

thanks for the replies. yea, i didnt know what the stances were called.

and alduro, I didnt intend on talking about my guns during the interview. Of course unless they asked. It could go like this...

BI - "So do you own guns"

me- "only military style ones with large calibers. OH OH OH, and the tactical shotgun, and the other small caliber gun that folds in half. "

That will surely get me the job :D

If you shoot once a month like you say you do you are shooting more than 75% of the LEO's out there. Don't worry about technique right now just keep practicing how it is comfortable. For many many years most law enforcement agencys where using the Weaver stance but many are now teaching point shooting as well. I have been trained in Weaver, Isosceles, and point shooting and honestly beleive it is good to have formal training in all 3. Depending on situation you might need to use any of the 3 to fit the tactical problem you are faced with.

Good Luck

One thing I can tell you to work on. This is what nearly dropped half our class. Learn to shoot under stress. Do jumping jacks, run in place, what ever it takes to get your heartrate up. Then do your course of fire.

In my academy class, about 20% of the people had never fired a handgun, and half of them had never fired a firearm of any kind. The qualification course was not too challenging. We only had 1 person drop out from training. His decision, but the instructors were relieved. They were just about ready to toss him because of safety violations.

In my interview, firearms came up. All I said was that I always qualified expert in the military with rifles and full auto weapons, I told them I was familiar with handguns, but never fired one for qual. I dropped the subject at that. The last thing a Chief wants is to worry about that new guy he hired being too quick on the trigger.

When I went to police acacemy back in the 70's, I had never shot a 38 spec revolver before. I scored 248 out of 250 ( the nut job next to me shot my target). But, I am a very good shot with either hand. That is one thing you should practice, shooting with your weak hand.........chris3