Using a Revolver for the CHL Proficiency

[jamcgowan]

Can a DA/SA revolver be shot in Single Action only for the CHL proficiency? I was told at one time that the first shot in each drill had to be in DA and subsequent shots could be in either DA or SA only.

I haven't been able to find anything in the regs about this.

TIA

[dogflight]

To the best of my knowledge, nothing in the regs mandates how a firearm is to be manipulated during the Texas Concealed Handgun License
Proficiency Demonstration Course of Fire.

[jamcgowan]

To the best of my knowledge, nothing in the regs mandates how a firearm is to be manipulated during the Texas Concealed Handgun License
Proficiency Demonstration Course of Fire.

That's kind of my understanding too, however, I was told by another CHL instructor what I indicated above (immediately after he shot his course in Austin) and then told by an employee with Texas Department of Criminal Justice that their qualifications required DA on all shots with at DA/SA revolver. He insisted that that was true for the CHL proficiency too.

TIA

[tacticool]

Did the TDCJ employee cite the law or was he just blowing smoke up your nether region?

There may be a house rule in the instructor class requiring trigger-cocking but nobody has ever shown me anything in the law or administrative code that requires CHL applicants to refrain from thumb-cocking. In fact, I know somebody who qualified with a Ruger Blackhawk.

[sjfcontrol]

There are no requirements defined regarding DA/SA. DPS tries to convince you that you should shoot double action at the instructors class, but it is not a requirement.

Nothing in the admin rules, either.

[jamcgowan]

Thanks...

I was just hoping that if anyone had heard of such, they would be able to point us to the actual rule...

[tbrown]

My classes they always shoot single action starting from slide lock.

Do you start with an open cylinder for revolvers?

I know the CHL proficiency test has generous time limits but that sounds like an unnecessary complication, especially for CHL applicants who may be nervous enough already if it's their first time shooting on the clock.

[Setxjeff]

My Wife shot a 249/250 on her CHL test with a Taurus 85 3" 5 shot revolver. She shot single action 90% of the time but had plenty of time for the test

[n5wd]

In my instructor class (early this spring) the DPS said that if we wanted to shoot single-action, we had to wait until the time started to cock the pistol. I shot my S&W 586 almost completely single-action that way and had no problem completing all of the shots except for once when I apparently set the first-bullet in the string of 5 loaded, under the hammer when I loaded it. Of course, on my fifth shot it went "CLICK" instead of BANG, so I just double-actioned another shot once I realized what had happened, it went BANG the second time, and the targets turned right after that.

As far as I know, though, there is no rule, law, or common mandate that says you can't shoot a proficiency course single action, but... I would caution students that if they're doing this FOR REAL, then they might want to consider pulling the trigger first, instead of reaching up to cock the gun. Saves a little bit of time that way!

[V-Tach]

There is no regulation or rule concerning shooting a double action revolver in SA mode.

[switch]

DPS strongly encourages carrying in DA mode, and NOT cocking (SA) in self-defense situations.

There is no requirement DA vs SA during proficiency.

OTOH, if you plan on using DA for self-defense, you need to practice DA. Not smart to always shoot SA at the range if you plan to defend yourself DA.

If you have an pistol w/a de-cocker, you might need to shoot the first round DA. :( OTOH, you can legally cock it - after the target turns.

[kg5ie]

In my instructor class (early this spring) the DPS said that if we wanted to shoot single-action, we had to wait until the time started to cock the pistol. I shot my S&W 586 almost completely single-action that way and had no problem completing all of the shots except for once when I apparently set the first-bullet in the string of 5 loaded, under the hammer when I loaded it. Of course, on my fifth shot it went "CLICK" instead of BANG, so I just double-actioned another shot once I realized what had happened, it went BANG the second time, and the targets turned right after that.

As far as I know, though, there is no rule, law, or common mandate that says you can't shoot a proficiency course single action, but... I would caution students that if they're doing this FOR REAL, then they might want to consider pulling the trigger first, instead of reaching up to cock the gun. Saves a little bit of time that way!

They told me the same thing. I shot single action.....waiting to cock at target turn.

[troglodyte]

There was a guy in my instructor's class that shot a SA hogleg. There was some light-hearted ribbing before the qualification but nobody was laughing when it was over I didn't catch his score but he passed without issue. One other thing I remember about the gentleman is he looked the part.

[skeathley]

There was a candidate in my instructor class who qualified with an SAO revolver; they said nothing about it.

[kjolly]

I the Instructors revolver qualification I shot SA and the DPS officer monitoring the test had no problems with it. Shooting SA is much more accurate than fighting a long heavy trigger pull.