Tips from a CCW instructor

[melliw]

I just have to vent a little because jeez....

I am a CCW Qualification instructor for Los Angeles County and have a list of things people can do to make the test go better. Since i am limited to 3500 words, i will just list a few here:

Shoot the gun a few times before you bring it to the CCW Qualification. You need to know that it works. You would be amazed at how many people show up with a gun they have never fired before. People have multiple malfunctions in SA pistols and dont know what to do.

Provide maintenance to the gun you are going to qual with. This may solve some of the issues with guns that don't work. A little oil on the slide goes a long way with reliability.

Practice shooting the course if you cannot find the time to put in some work at the range practicing this perishable skill. It's like people woke up and thought the CCW permit was a good idea without looking into being a responsible gun owner. Fundamentals? What are those?

Rant over....carry on.

[DaveInOroValley]

Minimum 500 rounds before relying on any weapon.

[9Cal_OC]

Noted.

Sadly the people that your rant is aimed at will likely not read it. Those are the people that are on CGs for the MP or need to ask a general question about buying/transferring etc.

The ones that are interested in shooting and doing well on a CCW qual likely have practiced with that firearm and have some idea.

Alas, if they cannot qualify with that gun, either allow them to return for a requal or only allow them to list the ones they qualify with. Your signature holds weight in that they are able to adequately handle that firearm.

[res2580]

wow. sounds like lots of new gun owners getting ccw.

[not-fishing]

wow. sounds like lots of new gun owners getting ccw.

LA didn't give out CCWs for a long time.

[L84CABO]

I've been through my initial class and 3 renewals now. NOTHING surprises me. I've had people in my class that had never fired a gun before.

[G-forceJunkie]

I can't believe you actually have to tell people to practice to hit a 16" x 24" target 70% of the time, slowfire, at 3,5,and 7 yards. Or that people actually fail.

[tomrkba]

Minimum 500 rounds before relying on any weapon.

Naaaahhhh, two class minimum (4 days total) plus practice sessions that includes some practice with different defensive loads. This will easily pass 500 rounds, but the important part is the eight contiguous hours of use per day.

[tomrkba]

I can't believe you actually have to tell people to practice to hit a 16" x 24" target 70% of the time, slowfire, at 3,5,and 7 yards. Or that people actually fail.

Went to class with FPF Training a few years ago. An older lady showed up with a SIG P226. She had purchased it the day before and was a victim of gun store upselling. She could not even pull the DA trigger! John Murphy got her set up with a loaner S&W Shield (it fit her best of the loaner inventory) and she did just fine.

[geedavell]

Went to class with FPF Training a few years ago. An older lady showed up with a SIG P226. She had purchased it the day before and was a victim of gun store upselling. She could not even pull the DA trigger! John Murphy got her set up with a loaner S&W Shield (it fit her best of the loaner inventory) and she did just fine.

They let her qualify with a gun that was not hers and she was not going to carry??

[melliw]

I can't believe you actually have to tell people to practice to hit a 16" x 24" target 70% of the time, slowfire, at 3,5,and 7 yards. Or that people actually fail.

I get people who don't know how to aim, or cannot load the magazine, or don't know how, or have defective equipment, or medical conditions......the list goes on.

Had a guy with a 1911 with 1 magazine....it only held 1 round.

Had a guy with Parkinsons really bad...

[Mute]

Yes. I've seen people show up to class with hang tags still on the gun. They literally opened the box for the first time since their purchase right then and there in the class.

[MrBones]

Same folks who couldn't believe they had to wait ten days before they could pick up the gun.

[L84CABO]

Same folks who couldn't believe they had to wait ten days before they could pick up the gun.

The ones that couldn't believe you couldn't order a gun off the internet and have it delivered to your door...because they heard some idiot on the internet say it.

[riderr]

Yes. I've seen people show up to class with hang tags still on the gun. They literally opened the box for the first time since their purchase right then and there in the class.

Same experience here. Someone had no idea how to fieldstrip the gun, another one couldn't load the mag, etc. However, the majority of the class were quite seasoned gun owners.