I took the NRA Home Safety course yesterday.

[Warhawk83]

I took the class to qualify for concealed carry in my state. The instructor was a 70 year old former marine. The man has one son who is LE,one a Marine,and another was a Marine who was KIA. Salty old fellow,no bull**** zone, it was quite enjoyable.

The class itself was as boring as it gets because I've been around firearms since I was a kid. I know the working parts of each type of firearm,proper safety precautions,etc. In no way did I need this course other than to qualify for the permit.

The range portion was great. I brought my Glock 27 and my wife brought her 92FS. First, he had us shoot from10 yards with his old S&W revolver.It was a 6 shooter .38sp with what looked to be a 4-5'' barrel. I actually shot extremely well with this gun, with no prior revolver experience. Next he had us shoot his Witness Tanfoglio, nice gun, but I didn't do as well with it.

I then moved to the glock 27 and did pretty well, better than the Witness, still not as good as the revolver.

The most enjoyable portion of the range exercises was rapid fire from about 5 yards. I only used my glock for this and all the shots were within about 3''. He mademe feel great when he said "Can you tell me what's wrong with that target?" I said " Well,sir that shot is a little low". He said "Not a damn thing is wrong with it! Especially that quickly!"

He was impressed with the shooting skill of both of us and said that I had a lot of potential.

 

[kanook]

In no way did I need this course other than to qualify for the permit.

But then you say this

First, he had us shoot from10 yards with his old S&W revolver.It was a 6 shooter .38sp with what looked to be a 4-5'' barrel. I actually shot extremely well with this gun, with no prior revolver experience.

So you did learn something.

The course also reminded you of what you currently know.

 

[Warhawk83]

This is true, a revolver is on the list of guns to buy. It is, however,a very long list.

I forgot to mention,he had a nice collection of knives and handguns. I got to handle a Luger for the first time yesterday, been drooling over those for a while, Springfield Trophy Match 1911,Italian WW2 pistol, even had a FNH 5.7.
He had MANY more than I can't recall the names of.

Hell, his wife sent us home with homemade blackberry wine and we got invited back to shoot and BBQ. It was a great time.

 

[huntsman]

First, he had us shoot from10 yards with his old S&W revolver.It was a 6 shooter .38sp with what looked to be a 4-5'' barrel. I actually shot extremely well with this gun, with no prior revolver experience. Next he had us shoot his Witness Tanfoglio, nice gun, but I didn't do as well with it.

Why??you had your own gun right?

 

[Warhawk83]

Well, in my state you qualify for pistol, revolver,or both. I'm guessing that most people don't own both. Also judging from how you perform with his gun he can judge what you're doing wrong more effectively. He could just like people using his guns,I don't know.

I didn't mind, I always like getting experience with different guns.

Yeah,had my own gun,Glock 27.Wife brought her Beretta92FS.

 

[huntsman]

Do you have to qualify with the gun you intend to carry?

I get the trying different guns thing, I thought you meant he made you fire his guns first.

 

[Warhawk83]

He said he usually teaches people with his own guns, I thought it was a bit odd but I told him I was bringing my own as well.

He told me to bring ammo, maybe he wants people to bring ammo for his guns so he can reload the cases.

 

[devildog32713]

How often do they have these classes? I want to take one just to satisfy Mother. Age requirement?

 

[Warhawk83]

Well, classes are held periodically with large groups.Most instructors will schedule just you, my class was just me and my wife. I have no idea if there is an age requirement for the class,you have to be 21 for the permit and to buy a handgun from a dealer. At 18 you can buy a gun from a private individual.

 

[sig228]

Want a Good Laugh?

Take a close look at the front cover of the spiral bound Home Firearms Safety Course book that you got from the course. It looks like the lady is smugly cleaning her gun while the guy in the background is dead in his easychair. Just the style of the lady's hair tells you that cover hasn't been updated since the 1960's.

I'm very pro NRA (and a certified NRA instructor), but they really need to update their materials. The last time I checked, the NRA Rifle Course didn't have a single photo of an AR-15.

 

[Drail]

+1 When I went through the instructor's course they had us cross out entire pages in the book we were to use for teaching because it was so outdated. My favorite was a photo showing the "correct" way to do a cup and saucer hold on a handgun. They need to rewrite the book and take some new photographs.

 

[Comanche180]

I took that class a few years ago with the girlfriend. I didn't need it, I already had my permit but wanted to keep her company. It was almost a joke. The instructor was very uninteresting and read the whole book. The shooting portion was only 5 rounds per student. We all got our certificates though.