Basic Handgun I Class Review (lengthy)

[bdam1]

As I posted a couple weeks ago, I signed up for CCWI's Basic Handgun I class to review what I "thought" I knew about handgun usage and handling and to be humbled about what I didn't.
I took the Basic Handgun I class(Self Defense Firearms Training - Be Safe, Be Confident, Get Trained!) on Sunday 5/4 and wanted to share my thoughts.
These are my own observations and opinions. Cavet emptor.
It's lenghty, but I hope, offers "newbies" some info to the experience, should they be curious.

My goals:

• Review my basic knowledge and handling as a prerequisite for the Intermediate and Advanced classes.
  
• Get up-to-date with General CA handgun laws
  
• Train on a new platform (1911 SA) after 20+ years of using 9mm DA (Sig, Glock)

The Day:
Sunday bloomed overcast. I was a little apprehensive about the time to drive from Coastal OC to Burro Canyon. No worries. There is little or no traffic from here to Azusa @ 7-8 am Sunday mourings. I made the trip to the range in about 55 minutes and that's with a gas stop!
The Sun broke as I entered the drive up the San Gabriel Canyon. The drive up the San Gabriel Canyon is really pretty that time of the morning and having never been up there, the view of the mountains, reservoir and dam are worth it just for the drive alone. Similar to Ortega Hwy. in OC.

The Range:
I arrived prior to the suggested 8:15am check-in time at the range office. I was intent to check-in at the office promptly and followed the signs to the office. What I missed was the big sign further up the hill saying Self Defense Firearms Training - Be Safe, Be Confident, Get Trained!, where CCWI's classes check in separately. So much for the observational skills portion of the class.
The Range is pretty large, having distinct areas for public handgun, rifle and trap shooting. In addition, there are several private range areas being used by individual parties, LEO's, etc. CCWI's training takes place at one of these. Today, we are using range 3A. A long, wide range flanked by berms on three sides and a beautiful, high ridge as a backdrop.
Since all the ranges are being used by various needs, the bangs throughout the day range from pings to booms, slow cadence to fast-as-possible. The natural reaction to flinch goes way quickly!

The Class:
The class is held in a roomy structure next to our assigned range. I meet CCWI, who contrary to legend, was not waving a pitchfork nor did he have horns. We conclude the financial portion of our agreement and a part of me is relieved to not owe him money any longer!
The lovely Female Instructor is there and adds a softer side to the arrangement. I have to remind myself she has forgot more about shooting knowledge than I will possess...and she is armed.

The classroom is filled....all demographics are represented. Apparently Handgun knowledge and safety knows no boundaries. Gender either. There are 6 women in class. Several alumni are present, anxious to do it all over again. I am the only one who brought his own ammo. All others have a large coffee can at their feet filled with ammo for the day.

CCWI comes in, introduces himself and begins with his long list of credentials. There is no doubt, we are being trained by the real deal.

We start with a primer (no pun intended) of handgun basics. What they are, how they work, what they will do, what we will learn and things we will do. There is little fluff of knowledge here. It is the stuff people need to know and what they have come for. The instruction is kept lively with CCWI's stories and humor. Serious info, but not too serious as to not be fun.

The Shooting:
As we concluded our first portion of the classroom instruction, we moved to the range. It's a bright and beautiful day. We are introduced to the other RO's, also members of this forum. Gun mats are laid out across the stations in front of standard silhouette's. Eye and ear protection, ditto. The silhouette's are further marked with red and green dots at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Most folks are opting to use the classroom supplies weapons, over half are using revolvers. The rest 9mm. Only three of us are using our own handguns.
Range safety and handling are explained and then explained again, then once more for good measure. Shooting begins at the 3 yard distance with basic sight alignment and target acquisition. The RO's are attentive and watchful, keeping each student aware of his weapons direction and handling. Stance and shooting position is corrected.
Each shooting round is 6 rounds, regardless of platform, keeping everyone on the same rhythm. CCWI's load, ready and fire commands are clear and enhanced by a portable sound system. "Reload 6 rounds, make your weapon ready, fire one (or two or three) round at the green (or red) dot, FIRE"
This is, at first, a little like having CCWI's critical eye, right behind you the whole time, but you get used to it.
We run through the drills, slow gaining accuracy, speed, confidence. I'm using my Kimber Tac Custom II, the only .45 there. My green dot disappears quickly, I move to the number 9 on the target, then the 7. My concern about the new 1911 platform quickly dissolves, my RO (Chuck) now teases me to make perfect squares.
We move to 7 yards, repeat, then to 10 yards, repeat. Move to the red dot, repeat. I have nice squares all over the place! Can you say fun?

CCWI's cadence continues to ring out. Then the targets are reset to plain rectangles on the targets, representing the vidal organs. Double tabs and triple taps follow. Where else can you do this? My hands are getting black from powder residue. I'm falling in love with the Kimber Sig Arms who?

Now, being a member of this board, I had read about the dreaded pause. The one where CCWI calls "Reload 6 rounds, make your weapon ready, fire two (or three) rounds at the target.....(pause... no FIRE command), so I knew it was in the play book. Forewarned IS NOT forearmed! I fell for it late in the program, as did all except one shooter. Humility ensues .

Needless to say, perky ears from all shooters followed the rest of the day!

Shooting continued until I heard that saddest of sounds from my fellow classmates "Hey...I've only got 4 rounds left in my coffee can". We were at the end..but we finished on double-taps at three left-to-right targets. Does it get any better? (OK...so we did have to pick by brass, but who's complaining?)
My worst moment? Having a hot 9mm casing from the shooter to my left go down my shirt and hoping around while keeping my weapon pointed down range. The RO's were ready to tackle me should I veer from this position!

Lunch and Conclusion:
We took our packed lunches (PBJ and a banana) in the classroom, with CCWI going over the legal and responsiblity portions of handgun ownership. Some of the CalCCW peanut gallery dropped by (nice to meet you guys!), with the option for those wanting HSC's to test.

CCWI also talked about his forum, who we are, what we do and what we don't do and the swiftness of erasing folks who troll for GC's!

All in all a great way to spend a Sunday. My goals were all met.

• I was re-introduced to a safe, accessible training program
• I got familiar and comfortable with a new shooting platform
• Increased my continuing knowledge
• I even learned a few things I didn't know (doggie thru the window...who knew?)

Overall, I would recommend this class to your friends and family looking from a starting point and introduction to our world and hobby.

Thanks to CCWI, FI and all the others for a good day and to my fellow forum members for the opportunity to post this experience.

[AMS MIKE]

Originally Posted by bdam1

My worst moment? Having a hot 9mm caseing from the shooter to my left go down my shirt and hoping around while keeping my weapon pointed down range. The RO's were ready to tackle me should I vere from this position!

I took basic handgun class a few months ago. I was the one trying to make my brass land down the shirt of the person next to me. I managed to shoot my target and toss my hot .45 brass down a pair of brass catchers as well. Its not easy either to make the brass fly in an organized fashion I am sure she will chime in soon

And it was nice to meet you as well. Its a great class and i will take it again probably every year as a refresher. I really need to get my butt to CCWI's intermediate class and then advanced class.

Anyone who takes CCWI's class is in good hands. CCWI, Female Instructor and the RO's really make the class that more enjoyable.

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by AMS MIKE

I took basic handgun class a few months ago. I was the one trying to make my brass land down the shirt of the person next to me. I managed to shoot my target and toss my hot .45 brass down a pair of brass catchers as well. Its not easy either to make the brass fly in an organized fashion I am sure she will chime in soon

And it was nice to meet you as well. Its a great class and i will take it again probably every year as a refresher. I really need to get my butt to CCWI's intermediate class and then advanced class.

Anyone who takes CCWI's class is in good hands. CCWI, Female Instructor and the RO's really make the class that more enjoyable.

HA, HA, HA!!! Don't think that you're going to get away with blaming ME for your 'shooting to the left' issue that day...although, I will admit, your brass was landing quite on target - I started the day with my hoodie unzipped, and ended with it up to my chin!

it WAS a great class & a great day - I'm in for Intermediate whenever you all are ready - this time I don't even have to borrow your gun!

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by Trinity

HA, HA, HA!!! Don't think that you're going to get away with blaming ME for your 'shooting to the left' issue that day...although, I will admit, your brass was landing quite on target - I started the day with my hoodie unzipped, and ended with it up to my chin!

it WAS a great class & a great day - I'm in for Intermediate whenever you all are ready - this time I don't even have to borrow your gun!

I'm booked for the intermediate July 13th. C'mon out, watch me embarrass myself!

[CCWInstructor]

A lot of forum members will be on the range when you take your next class this week. I'll make sure you met as many as possible.

Thank You very much for your kind words. I'm still not giving you my CDP though.

[GunSlut]

I just spell checked you whole post. You type as bad as CCWI. I know your not him because he told me about your "Gun Slut" comment. TOO FUNNY!

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by GunSlut

I just spell checked you whole post. You type as bad as CCWI. I know your not him because he told me about your "Gun Slut" comment. TOO FUNNY!

NObudy tipes aS baad As CCW1!

[FiringLion]

Originally Posted by bdam1

Now, being a member of this board, I had read about the dreaded pause. The one where CCWI calls "Reload 6 rounds, make your weapon ready, fire two (or three) rounds at the target.....(pause... no FIRE command), so I knew it was in the play book. Forewarned IS NOT forearmed! I fell for it late in the program, as did all except one shooter. Humility ensues .

Needless to say, perky ears from all shooters followed the rest of the day!

All you said goes for me too - I was the oversized lion in the middle - except there were two of us who were listening, me and the guy next to me. We looked at each other with a "are we right, or are we dead?" kind of look, then concluded "maybe both."

But hey, if I did well it was due to CCWI's excellent instruction. He kept me awake and alert the entire time, and the other instructors gave quality performances too.

And that little pause in commands reenforced the whole point of taking the class: reading a book and talk are great, but educated is not the same as trained!

That, and a little humility keeps you paying attention...

Basic Handgun 2 class is in two weeks: see you there!

[spc]

Great report. The training offered by CCWI and FI (and associates) is the best. There is much to say about training where everyone has fun and the leasrning is sincere.

spc

[naganthunter]

Awesome review. It sounds like CCWI's reputation here is well deserved, and based on your detailed review the price for the class is a real bargain.

Once I can get a kitchen pass from the wife, I'll be signing up for that very class.

[OCRancher]

I have taken basic and intermediate from CCWI and I never regretted the time or money that went toward these opportunities.

Funny you mention the dog in the window. I recently visited with a friend who lives up near Bass Lake. He is a retired FD arson investigator who had full peace officer creds for that job. That means he still has his service revolvers and badge. One afternoon, we get to discussing guns (what else) and he brings out his back up .38, a Charter Arms Police Special, one of his issue guns from the 1960's!

My friend then hands it to me using the dog in the window method. I laugh and hold it the same way while drooling over it. Wife, of course, has no idea why we are laughing, even after I explained it to her. Anyhow, nice to see my friend got proper training on how to handle a revolver, years ago, and even nicer to see CCWI teaching this important safety method to this day, no matter how old it is. Old methods don't mean they are outdated!

[RomanDad]

---[Note to self- Must do this!]

[FiringLion]

FiringLion sez:

"Woof!"

[bdam1]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

A lot of forum members will be on the range when you take your next class this week. I'll make sure you met as many as possible.

Thank You very much for your kind words. I'm still not giving you my CDP though.

Awww...and I thought I was being soooo subtle!

[bdam1]

Originally Posted by GunSlut

I just spell checked you whole post. You type as bad as CCWI. I know your not him because he told me about your "Gun Slut" comment. TOO FUNNY!

Apparently the "Gun Slut" moniker is desired by many, but owned by few. I was just making sure I was giving credit where it was due!