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Although I was the only guy to get perfect on both written and shooting...it is very easy. Others got perfect on them as well. Even one guy who looked like he was limp wristing and throwing rounds all over the target still passed easily because of the scoring system. I think it's meant more to test safety and somewhat proficiency with your weapon rather than a real accuracy test. Of course during an encounter it's best to hit where you mean, but to the state I think they just want to know you can at least hit the guy to minimize chances of hitting friendly targets nearby....

Bummer about the pictures...but would rather shell out the extra cash than have the application get delayed. :(

I assume an electronic photo can't be uploaded to their site or sent along with the packet? I didn't get mine taken at the class....should have insisted on that I guess.

Would a digital photo printed on glossy paper be sufficient? Or should it really be a passport style photo developed somewhere professional?

Well, before I mail out my packet, figured I would ask you gents this question: Do I have everything?

I've filled out application online. Taken FAST fingerprints, they also took my photo electronically. So according to this checklist:

Below is your checklist of required supporting documentation:
-2 fingerprint cards or fingerprints submitted using FAST
-Photo holder
-2 Signed Photo
-CHL-100 Training Form

Do I need the photo holder and 2 signed photos still? Or just the training form? And should I send a printed copy of the email with my application number on it? (Barcode)

Last minute thoughts....Thanks for any help!

10 hour class done today...guess it's time to wait after I mail in the forms tomorrow! Hope processing times aren't unreasonable...

Nice! I suppose subjects of another species is acceptable. :)

I'm also waiting on a MTAC holster and belt, until then I only have a leather OWB holster and no gun belt. The gun is quite top heavy, but I'm hoping the former rig or belt will take care of this. In general I feel very safe with the P7 design as well as a firearm in general.

Thanks for all the help, as an update I've filled out my app and gotten digital fingerprints. Next up this weekend is the class...then the wait.

During the wait my P7 will be a safe queen, but considering I don't have a safe or any other guns in it....lets just say the queen has a small and less prized kingdom to rule over.

Tamie wrote:Cost estimates: low (high) excluding government taxes and fees

Used revolver: $200 ($300)
Pocket holster: $10 ($20)
Speed strips: $5 ($10)
SD ammo: $20 ($30)

Total: $235 ($360)

Spread over a year: $4.50/week ($7/week)

Government taxes and fees, plus the government required training, can double that. That's a very good reason to lobby for lower Texas fees, or get a license from a state with more reasonable costs.

Not to specifically disagree, just to point out that I'm not claiming the amount I've spent is the lowest...just that it was somewhat unexpected. As you say, about another $250 should be added to that price too...so when you get down to it, what looked like $200 even to most people ends up being around $500.

Another point, for others reading the thread, I've already went the route of a $30 holster to see if it was adequate and could upgrade later. Maybe it's just my body type, but it just doesn't fit at all. I'd probably end up with a couple hundred $ worth of cheapo holsters before I found the right one, in which case I'd rather just buy close to the top end again. For me this is a case of, having the handgun but not carrying it because the supporting equipment isn't right vs. spending more money but having the pistol with me everyday.

I think of what I bought equates more to the Lexus class in the handgun world. Not the cheapest, but pretty solid quality. There's always a custom 1911 or many other guns out there for well over $1k that equates more to the Ferrari example. Anyway, I hope someone got some amusement or insight out of my CHL path. :)

Thanks for all the advice, my primary concern now is the CHL. :)

I guess I don't need things to be cheaper, in general as mentioned at the end of my post, I think just about any dollar amount is worth it, and would have easily spent $10,000. It's just the deceptive quality I was pointing out. I knew people collected lots of firearms, however I wasn't planned to do that, and I just don't think I would. However I do see more than just 1 gun as being very useful and usable.

The MDE is about the only thing on the list I haven't purchased yet (and CHL things). I see them on Gunbroker for $375 + shipping which puts most at $400. Although I might get the MDE or a NAA Guardian .380...both are the same price there. These are both new, I suppose prices have just dropped a lot recently.

I looked at the CTAC and a few other holsters (most others seem to require close to 6mo wait!), but I feel like I would rather buy the best quality and not have to sell it and buy again later on which ends up being more costly in the long run. I hate the feeling when I buy something I thought was "adequate" or "good enough" because to me it never is and I quickly upgrade.

Thanks! Good to know it isn't all that complex.

However I must admit that carrying a weapon is a much more expensive undertaking than I initially estimated. The reasons are many fold, but in case anyone else is interested, I estimated something like: Handgun + state fee (figured around same as driver's license) + a bit extra. Actuality is something like:

1) Handgun
2) Handgun
3) Sell one of the above, then repeat to another handgun
4) Holster (repeat as above, but many more times)
5) Belt
6) ~$240 for all fees for actual CHL (which should have been done FIRST btw as per the long wait...giving me now nothing to do while waiting for the card)
7) SD Ammo
8) Target ammo and range fees on a somewhat regular basis
9) Cleaning equipment (I started from zero...dad has all his stuff that I usually used when I hunted with him...no reason until now to have my own)

Have I forgotten anything? Just to throw out a figure, my first estimate was based on a Bersa 380, and was about $300 + lets say another $100 in my mind for CHL and extra things. It now turned out to be:

1) $300 (bersa)
2) $650 (H&K P7 PSP)
3) -$240 (bersa selling...if I can)
+$400 (Micro Desert Eagle...for pocket carry when needed)
4) $145 (TT Gunleather)
5) $90 (TT Gunbelt)
6) $240
7) $45 (.380 and 9mm...20 rounds each)
8) estimated about $40 per month (range fees and 50 rounds per month...not sure what this will actually be)
9) $80 (surprising to me, but included a bit of trial and error, and I'm not sure I'm done yet)

Total: $1710 + $40 per month for the forseeable future (not to mention some extra for the yet unforseeable expenses)

Now, I don't consider myself a cheap person, or that my life isn't worth some arbitrary dollar amount...all I'm saying, is that I didn't expect it. Now this is also the legal and best way as per my research, meaning I could sacrifice and just use inferior weapons, ammo, carry methods, or mess with legality to cut costs substantially. But when people say they can't afford to carry, I really see where they are coming from. And yes, I'm sure there are legal and arguable good ways to cut a bit of cost, but when each thing is a few dollars more to get a lot more quality...I usually went for the quality.

Hope I didn't offend anyone here, or suggest that we are all a bit short-sighted. Usually I make a huge spreadsheet for any under taking to estimate all these costs, but for some weird reason, in this case I thought it was just too easy to need such a thing...guess I was wrong. :)

Can anyone give me a quick list of the basic steps that is now needed for a CHL? My guess based on reading is something like this:

1) Fill out electronic application here: https://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/txapp/txdps/chl/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2) Go somewhere? (L-1 or some place like that?) to get electronic fingerprinting done.
3) Take class

I would assume it could vary a bit, but would that be the recommended order to do everything for fastest and most efficient processing of the CHL application to get the card back quickest? And just for reference each step should cost about: (1) $130 (2) $10 (3) $100 ..... so $240 total?

I've been wanting to start this process, but to be honest it seems looking for the gun, holster and SD ammo is so much easier and more fun. :) If even confusing in it's own way...

Thanks for any help, and I apologize if it's been asked before, I see the sticky about the electronic application, but it didn't really answer my entire question, although maybe I read it incorrectly or not completely.