CCW Holders: How much training have you had?

[Hkmp5sd]

Military training and NRA Certified Instructor prior to obtaining CCW.

 

[joe_security]

I just bought a like new but old, used model 65 S&W that shoots almost into one hole at 25 feet. It will never be anything but a home defense gun since we dont have CCW in this backword state ! I passed the illinois armed guard course, 2 days classroom followed by 50 shots with the .38 revolver (used my snubby) and 50 with 9mm P226 at half the distance of the range. What a joke, 40 hour certificate issued !

 

[GBExpat]

The point of all this? Well, I'm curious: If you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, how much training have you had?

For several years in the '70s & '80s I was licensed to carry concealed in VA when I lived in VaBeach and later in Richmond.

All that was required in VaB was a letter from my immediate supervisor.

All that was required in Henrico County (where it was relatively tough to get a CCW at the time) was the kind recommendation of one of Henrico County's Finest with whom I had the pleasure of working for some years.

Proof of those prior VA CCWs was all that was required to get the VA CCW that I have had for many years, now.

While I have grown up with firearms my whole life, I have never had any formal training with either long- or handguns.

 

[Ltlabner]

Had 12 hours of instruction as mandated by Ohio for CCW. The instructor was great, the crap he was mandated to teach was totally worthless. The real lesson I got out of that class was (1) I HAD to get real training (2) I didn't know squat about firearms even after having shot handguns all my life.

Reciently completed Handgun I, II and III at TDI in Ohio. 3 day intensive class on tactical handling of a weapon in self-defence. TDI is highly reccommended. http://www.tdiohio.com/ That is training I took on my own accord, not because it was mandated.

Trying to arrange to take another class there later this year. Would like to take at least 2 per year depending on time and budget restraints.

 

[SAWBONES]

The provision of the Second Amendment has no requirement for "training".

Of course training is desirable, the more the better, but it must never become mandatory in order for ones' Second Amendment rights to hold force.

 

[dmazur]

I've had -

Navy small arms (Marksmanship ribbons in both rifle and pistol)
City of Olympia PD range safety training
IDPA classification match

I'd like to go to something like Gunsite or Front Sight to improve my skills, and find out where I need improvement.

With very little data to use, I'd rank myself somewhere between dangerous amateur and expert.

 

[Pat-inCO]

You have the right to carry, you have the responsibility not to if you are incompetent with a firearm.

BRAVO!

Very well said.

With rights, comes responsibilities!

if it is my right to keep and bear arms, then it is my responsibility to equip myself to do so safely and responsibly. Just like any other right that I am free to exercise, I should be accountable if I am negligent. So it should be my responsibility and duty to do it right, and to train my children to do so, etc.

BINGO!

 

[chris in va]

About as much training as I can find around here. Basic CC class, Home Defense class (a real joke) and a 'level II' defensive pistol, which basically had us shooting around some plywood set up.

So really I can't say as I feel very well trained except for all the range time the past 3-4 years.

 

[DirksterG30]

In PA, you don't need any training to get a permit, which is as it should be (actually, I shouldn't need a permit either).

I have taken an NRA handgun safety course, a class called Defensive Handgun Fundamentals and an NRA Personal Protection in the Home class. Other than that, I try to get to the range at least once a month, and I'm saving up for additional courses.

 

[HuntAndFish]

- NRA Basic Pistol
- Az CCW course
- Mo CCW course
- Every other Year, or when I can, 3 day pistol course by national known instructor
- Yearly 1 day pistol course by local POST certified instructor
- Various other pistol classes as time/money permit.

I also shoot at the range once a week. I don't really think it is necessary to do it this much. It's just fun to learn and a good way to meet people.

ETA: Plus all that stuff about responsibility. That was good too.

 

[Yellowfin]

--Been around, owned, and handled firearms since around age 7.
--Practice at least once or twice a month since owning a sidearm, which is about 12x as much as a substantial percentage of LEO's
--Read a decent bit of Jeff Cooper's writings.

No formal training but that's more than most can say that doesn't involve forking out $$ to other people. You may think somehow I'm at a disadvantage, but I'm no less safe to carry than anyone else you can find. I don't need to impress anyone with credentials.

 

[Cannonball888]

I think I took the Sally Struthers Home Correspondence Course.

 

[Pilot]

I had to take a course to get my CCW in Colorado. I liked the course, so I took an advanced course. When I belonged to a range when I lived in PA, I voluntarily took a course the range offered so I could be a range officer. So all in all I've taken three gun courses. I think its a good ideas to get recurrent training.

Most of the CCW courses have good legal info as well as teaching how NOT to put yourself in a position to need to use a gun as well as decision making training. Learning to shoot a gun and learning the judgment when and where to use a gun are two entirely different things.

 

[torrejon224]

Over thirty years including two combat tours in Vietnam and 22 as a LEO. I still go thru a minimum of 500 rounds weekly and firearms training is not an area to be complacent with!

 

[sidheshooter]

Some, not enough...

WA is a shall-issue state, and I'm not really certified in anything.

That said, I have procured some decent training in days past: Multiple S.A.F.E. classes (level 1 and 2, shotgun, kubotan, retention) as well as Ayoob/L.F.I. (ahem, top score in class on both the qualification course and the written; the former done with a 4-inch K frame against a field of auto shooters, if I do say so myself...)

I also have a bit of other tac training (practical shooting club, various knife seminars, defensive tactics training and the like) that I feel is highly pertinant with regard to both more options AND hanging on to my piece when the fan gets dirty.

I'd sure like to take a few more formal "name" courses, however; not only could I really use a refresher (and more skills), but I find them to be a total gas.
-MM

 

[sailortoo]

Well, I first just had fun shooting - .22 revolver, .45 SAA Long Colt, .25/.35 Model 94 Winchester (1898 - my dads deer rifle, still have that one!). Then qualified in the USCG at El Toro Marine Base, as Expert Pistol, Expert Rifle (no thanks to any training there). Used my 214 Discharge papers to get a Washington State CCW, then renewed it after 5 years, then the New Mexico CCW. Washington was a no-required training state if you had military service, and now all you need is $60, a drivers license from anywhere, and fingerprints. The NM license is a whole different story. A two day legal and competency effort, plus a "refresher" course after two years. I have also taken a professional "tactical defensive pistol" 16 hour course, just because I learned enough in the required CCW course to show me how much I didn't know. I don't know if mandatory training is a good thing for all, or not, but it was good for me, and I sure was not any stranger to shooting.
sailortoo

 

[UnknownSailor]

Thunder Ranch: Texas x 1
Gunsite x 2 (250, 223)
EAG carbine x 1
Firearm Academy of Seattle x 1 (FAS 2)
10-8 shotgun x 1

Next month: 10-8 carbine/pistol with Larry Vickers

Washington State does not have any training requirements, but I have taken it upon myself to get that training, in small part so I have something to point to in court should the unfortunate day arrive that I have to use my firearm to defend myself or those around me. Mostly so I have a better chance of surviving the encounter.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I am not sure of the original quesiton if it pertains to CCW only, CCW and handguns, or firearms overall. I'll just list CCW and handguns...

Handgun Safety, Def Handgun1 and Def Handgun 2 - Collin County Gun Range
2 CHL classes
3 CHL101 classes (local instructor)
Def Handgun 1 and 2, H.I.T. - Thunder Ranch
Advanced Combatives - Rangemaster
Def Pistol - Ken Hackathorn

Finally got tired of the rules of public and even membership ranges and built my own range for practice and training.

Then there has been a myriad of carbine, shotgun, and long range rifle, and armorers classes.

 

[doc2rn]

I was trained by Spec Ops operators, the idea of a handgun as an offensive weapon didnt originate with them but man can they teach. I learned what they taught and carried it on to the rest of the fleet where it proved very valuable and probably saved my life over the next 4 years. So hands on training 4 yrs, practice every week since.

 

[Bailey Guns]

Military: Weapons familiarization in basic training, AF Combat Arms Instructor 4 years, AF Security Forces 4 years.

LE: Academy training, Range Safety Officer Training, FBI Firearms Instructor School, Urban Rifle Course, Urban Rifle Instructor, TR Advanced Pistol and Advanced Team Tactics courses, plus add in all "routine" firearms training that went with being LE for 15 years.

Civilian: Farnum's basic course, NRA Instructor Course, some IDPA, uncounted hours of recreational shooting and informal self-directed training.

I've also taught the CCW classes in CO for 8 years.

 

[michiganfan]

about 5 courses.

 

[sailortoo]

An impressive array of voluntary, self financed training displayed on this thread - it does show the discipline and desire to "do better" that so many gunnies have. And that "airplane pictures" by Unknown Sailor is beautifully done - thanks.
sailortoo

 

[raveneap]

Lots in 30 years as a LEO.