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NCFUBAR
Senior MemberPosts: 4,324 Senior Member
CHP Class Thoughts

I have mentioned I was dumb and let my CHP lapse so I had to take the class. Recently I did and had a good classroom instructor but I was not so impressed by the range quals. What are yours takes guys?
The classroom was for two dozen students and was handled by the one instructor teaching and his wife handling the admin side. Both did a good job and nothing I'd say needed to be really addressed.
Now we move to the range. There we had the instructor and one RO to assist and his wife back behind the line handling the admin ... 3 people for 24 students. To qualify for a CHP he required landing 7 out of 10 rounds in a 10" circle at 3, 5 & 7 yards. Yes, it sounds simple but there where at least 3 new shooters who had never fired a gun and 3 more who might have picked up a gun but had no clue. One woman had brought her 21 year old son for his birthday and was in a panic. She asked me for help and I took maybe 15 minutes to work with her on a simple grip and stance plus crude sight alignment. She was very easy to deal with and listened so when she walked up she had no problems. I wish that could be said for many others. After all 24 ran through the first round 5 or 6 had to reshoot (which they were charge again to do). There was little to no prep for their reshoot and at least 2 women had failed their first reshoot. They paid AGAIN for a 2nd reshoot, it was now dusk and they were getting real nervous. I was getting a little pissed at the reshoot charge and the from what I saw not really working on grip and stance. I got my certificate and left with them still on the range.
I am not clear on what is REQUIRED under the CHP course but I would have thought at least suggest any student know they needed a basic knowledge because that is not covered in the course. Or at least have someone who could work with the newer shooters. It was not my class and I probably pissed off the instructor simply by working with that woman but damn ... between class fees, gun rentals (they rented .22lr handguns and ammo to those who didn't have one for $30!) and reshoots I would guess he made $2500 for one day's work. Is it just me or did this guy drop the ball?
The classroom was for two dozen students and was handled by the one instructor teaching and his wife handling the admin side. Both did a good job and nothing I'd say needed to be really addressed.
Now we move to the range. There we had the instructor and one RO to assist and his wife back behind the line handling the admin ... 3 people for 24 students. To qualify for a CHP he required landing 7 out of 10 rounds in a 10" circle at 3, 5 & 7 yards. Yes, it sounds simple but there where at least 3 new shooters who had never fired a gun and 3 more who might have picked up a gun but had no clue. One woman had brought her 21 year old son for his birthday and was in a panic. She asked me for help and I took maybe 15 minutes to work with her on a simple grip and stance plus crude sight alignment. She was very easy to deal with and listened so when she walked up she had no problems. I wish that could be said for many others. After all 24 ran through the first round 5 or 6 had to reshoot (which they were charge again to do). There was little to no prep for their reshoot and at least 2 women had failed their first reshoot. They paid AGAIN for a 2nd reshoot, it was now dusk and they were getting real nervous. I was getting a little pissed at the reshoot charge and the from what I saw not really working on grip and stance. I got my certificate and left with them still on the range.
I am not clear on what is REQUIRED under the CHP course but I would have thought at least suggest any student know they needed a basic knowledge because that is not covered in the course. Or at least have someone who could work with the newer shooters. It was not my class and I probably pissed off the instructor simply by working with that woman but damn ... between class fees, gun rentals (they rented .22lr handguns and ammo to those who didn't have one for $30!) and reshoots I would guess he made $2500 for one day's work. Is it just me or did this guy drop the ball?
“The further a society drifts from truth ... the more it will hate those who speak it."
- George Orwell
- George Orwell
Replies
- George Orwell
One younger gal was digging a garden in front of her target on the 5 yard line.
One older gent with an older GI 1911 was bleeding all over himself and the line after the first two shots.
They had to pull one guy off the line for numerous safety violations including turning completely around and sweeping everyone with a locked and loaded pistol.
They had 3 coaches surrounding hin as he had the line all to himself after everyone else was finished.
But at the end of the day everybody passed, I believe.........kinda a scary thought.
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There were two women there who had never shot a gun, and they rented them both Bersa .380's, which of course they ended up buying. But the range instruction was pretty good. We took 100 rounds and shot the course once for practice and once for real. The RO's left alone those that obviously knew what they were doing, and worked with the newbies, about 5 people. We shot sets of 5, in 5 seconds, loading on command and laying the gun down, pointed down range, until commanded to pick them up, immediately followed by the target being flipped to face us. Most of this was 7 yards or under, with only 5 shots at 15 yards.
The two ladies hit nothing at 15 yards, but still scored well enough to pass, so all in all, the instruction was decent, and safety was taught and enforced well. I think they probably signed the worst of them up for more training.
It just bothers me some people will look at making a buck first and quite a few students get the short end. Wambli is right in that the class is not suppose to teach handling or marksmanship it is suppose to verify the person can do the things safely. It is the students ultimately who are responsible for building and refining their skills ... just would be nice if one of the first people these new gun owners meet would be a better ambassador to gun ownership and responsibility.
- George Orwell
I was speaking with the owner of a new range and store and said he should offer a First Steps class with every sale of a firearm at half price or such. He thought is was great idea but I have yet to hear he has implemented it. I do know there is an instructor in western NC who offers a package deal on his First Steps and CHP class and is slammed with business because of it. Those out for the almighty dollar are hurting many new shooters just the same as some LGS a-holes do when they don't care what they sell to a newbie as long as the money is green.
- George Orwell
Sounds like he's definitely in it for the money. If there's some sight the state sponsors you can go to and evaluate this instructor, you need to do so. Maybe the state didn't consider price gouging when they set this all up, but it's a real problem or can be. The state should set some standards. You know it's not costing them any $30 per person for reshooting. If he's saying it's for targets, he's full of it. And he knows full well that after someone has made the sizable investment to take the course, they're not going to walk off without a reshoot or two. If it's me I would say $5 per reshoot just for my time and covering the targets. $30 is just plain BS! Unless he's furnishing ammo for all that. But here in Texas you BYOA. Like I said, in my mind this guy is doing this strictly for the money, but what's bad about that is he's price gouging too.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I think most states, who do not have Constitutional Carry, have at least a couple of crappy CHP laws.
- George Orwell
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Licensing/Concealed-Weapon-License/Acceptable-Training-Documentation
$25 for the FWC courses.
http://myfwc.com/hunting/safety-education/courses/
Boom. You're done. Seems the state figures if you want to learn about how the legalities, methods, etc.... it's on you.
FIFY compared to NC ... Florida doing it through a STATE agency is so much smarter for uniformity unlike what 100 different CLEOs do here.
- George Orwell
Every time I see this I have to grin....it's like folks believe that everyone in the military is a trained trigger puller....ignoring the fact that a high percentage of the military never sees a weapon after qualifying in basic training other than an infrequent re-qualification or familiarization. I (and I'm sure every other vet) encountered a lot of people in the military that had no business being within 10 feet of a firearm...unless there was a locked arms room door between them and it...
You are a adult. It is up to you to get training if you need it. Here is your permit.
I've observed quite a few folks who do training at local gun shows and ranges. Not impressed.
I also realize I'm a bit different: if I'm going to do something like that I'll take the time to research what's required of me legally and not rely on someone else to tell me all I need to know.
Ed Zachary. The TX class is pretty basic. Just making sure you aren't a complete window licker, and know which end the bullet comes out of
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
Its worked for at least 50 years, maybe longer.
The Washington method, too. (for now, anyway)
Jerry
And don't even get me started on what you have to go through to do something on your own house or property! Here in California, you're supposed to get a permit to replace a water heater. Nobody ever does, but you're supposed to. Build a deck, get a permit. Re-roof, get a permit. Put up a shed, get a permit. And the crooked little county building department makes it utter HELL.
They just could not qualify, I got these problem students and I worked really hard as did they, non of my students failed to qualify, it was not an easy pass by any means and I enjoyed every minute of it as it made me a decent Instructor, I benefitted from it.
I had many female LE students and a sterling reputation as an Instructor, it shocked and humbled me as word spread, I had FLE students too !
I had students excelled to become competitive shooters and I was proud to say; the student has become the master !
I loved working as a shooting Instructor, how can they pay you for having so much fun was my question, lol.