Take your time on your CHL Profciency Test

[ezypikns]

I just completed my renewal class today, and I think there's lots of folks who get their license and just plain don't shoot again. Many of the targets in todays class looked as if they'd been hit with a shotgun. And not a very tightly patterned shotgun either. The other thing I noticed is that people were really hurrying their shots. You really have plenty of time to aim when taking your proficiency test. Slow down a bit and you'll really score much better.

[KC5AV]

You're right. There is plenty of time. It just doesn't sound like there is.

[HighVelocity]

Did you have anyone in the class that shot their neighbors target? (I have seen this happen)

[drw]

Someone shot the target next to my wife when she took her qualification. They wondered who it was, but I doubt it was her as she scored a 247 I believe. Pretty unlikely.

When I qualified, I took my sweet time with my shots. In most stretches, I was the last person in the room who was still shooting, and I scored a 250/250! (wanting to brag!)

[SCone]

They wouldn't give us our scores, just pass or fail. Didn't matter to me, every hit was in the 8 and had one FTF (quick rack and all was better, replaced spring in the clip and no problems since)

[bryang]

They didn't give us a score, either...just pass or fail. They said that was all that was needed, however, I did notice that I was usually last in my line still firing. It kind of bothered me until... I saw their targets!!! I like the OP that liken it unto a shotgun blast.

But, seriously, I can not understand anyone carrying a firearm and not practice with it. That's a little scary, you know?
I try to get out to the range at least once a week...besides I enjoy shooting!

-geo

[BigBlueDodge]

But, seriously, I can not understand anyone carrying a firearm and not practice with it. That's a little scary, you know?

Actually, I think you will find that MOST people buy stuff and don't take the time to learn how to fully use it. Let me ask this

1. How many hear know how to use every feature on his/her cell phone. My father in law has been using Cell Phones for years, and he still doesn't even know how to enter in a contact or check his text message (or even know what a text message is).
2. How many licensed drivers, feel like they could stop right now, walk right into a DPS and pass the written part of a drivers license test.
3. How many here, now how to fully use all of the features of their TV/VCR/DVD players ?

The problem is that guns are amazingly simple to use. Most people know that you chamber a round, point the gun, pull the trigger and it goes bang. Given that most occurances I've read about happn in 3-7 yards, there isn't alot of accuracy needed. What i'm more worried about are the people who get their CHL, and never read the pamphlet containing laws after their class. Those are the people that scare me.

[smyrna]

...When I qualified, I took my sweet time with my shots. In most stretches, I was the last person in the room who was still shooting, and I scored a 250/250! (wanting to brag!)

In the class that I took, we had a few people whose shooting skills were questionable at best. By and large though, most were decent shooters. But, we had a few like drw. In fact, the instructor had to rely on subtracting from 50 shots fired to "find" all the holes in some targets and arrive at a numerical score (one big ragged hole with a few scattered flyers).

With that said, the instructor encouraged the good shooters to NOT score a perfect score. He said that if he ever ended up in court, he could honestly say that the person in question was not a perfect shot. Not sure if that would help in a defense or not but that's sure what he said.

[Excaliber]

The problem is that guns are amazingly simple to use. Most people know that you chamber a round, point the gun, pull the trigger and it goes bang. Given that most occurances I've read about happn in 3-7 yards, there isn't alot of accuracy needed.

Discharging a firearm under range conditions is simple enough - but lots of folks struggle with it. Try watching the firing line action from the store area for a while to see what I mean. Then remember that these folks are facing straight ahead paper images that won't hurt them instead of folks trying to kill them in a dynamically moving 360 degree threat environment.

Using a firearm competently, lawfully, and effectively in the vicious crucible of a close up lethal encounter requires a lot more than the ability to make it go "bang" on the range. It requires highly perishable skills which require major committed effort to acquire and constant work to maintain.

Folks who pass the course, buy a gun, load it and carry it without advancing their incident management and firearms skills are doing the equivalent of buying a piano, taking one music lesson, and considering themselves ready to play in a symphony orchestra.

[TexasComputerDude]

Actually, I think you will find that MOST people buy stuff and don't take the time to learn how to fully use it. Let me ask this

1. How many hear know how to use every feature on his/her cell phone. My father in law has been using Cell Phones for years, and he still doesn't even know how to enter in a contact or check his text message (or even know what a text message is).
2. How many licensed drivers, feel like they could stop right now, walk right into a DPS and pass the written part of a drivers license test.
3. How many here, now how to fully use all of the features of their TV/VCR/DVD players ?

umm... look no further than the texascomputerdude!

[Liberty]

With that said, the instructor encouraged the good shooters to NOT score a perfect score. He said that if he ever ended up in court, he could honestly say that the person in question was not a perfect shot. Not sure if that would help in a defense or not but that's sure what he said.

Where in the world did he come up with line of malarkey? You can bet that that was one instructor that doesn't visit this forum. The instructor only has to record pass or fail so where would an opposing lawyer find out the score? I can understand where being known to be a lousy shot could get one in trouble with the lawyers.

Am I in trouble for winning amarksman competitions in the past? or scoring expert in the Army? How about a stray shot hitting the wrong person in defencive shooting and no record of ever going to the range.

Being good is not a bad thing.

[KC5AV]

...When I qualified, I took my sweet time with my shots. In most stretches, I was the last person in the room who was still shooting, and I scored a 250/250! (wanting to brag!)

In the class that I took, we had a few people whose shooting skills were questionable at best. By and large though, most were decent shooters. But, we had a few like drw. In fact, the instructor had to rely on subtracting from 50 shots fired to "find" all the holes in some targets and arrive at a numerical score (one big ragged hole with a few scattered flyers).

With that said, the instructor encouraged the good shooters to NOT score a perfect score. He said that if he ever ended up in court, he could honestly say that the person in question was not a perfect shot. Not sure if that would help in a defense or not but that's sure what he said.

Where did you take the class? My instructor said the same thing.

[smyrna]

Where in the world did he come up with line of malarkey? You can bet that that was one instructor that doesn't visit this forum. The instructor only has to record pass or fail so where would an opposing lawyer find out the score? I can understand where being known to be a lousy shot could get one in trouble with the lawyers.

Am I in trouble for winning amarksman competitions in the past? or scoring expert in the Army? How about a stray shot hitting the wrong person in defencive shooting and no record of ever going to the range.

Being good is not a bad thing.

I have no idea! I'm just repeating what the guy said in class. My thoughts are "a good shoot" is "a good shoot" when it comes to self defense regardless of a person's ability.

Where did you take the class? My instructor said the same thing.

Let's just say we are practically neighbors and chances are we have both been down James Marshall Road.

[bdickens]

With that said, the instructor encouraged the good shooters to NOT score a perfect score. He said that if he ever ended up in court, he could honestly say that the person in question was not a perfect shot. Not sure if that would help in a defense or not but that's sure what he said.

A justified shooting is justified shooting and an unjustified one is unjustified. If anything, having greater skill could only help you in the case of allegations of recklessness.

[smyrna]

With that said, the instructor encouraged the good shooters to NOT score a perfect score. He said that if he ever ended up in court, he could honestly say that the person in question was not a perfect shot. Not sure if that would help in a defense or not but that's sure what he said.

A justified shooting is justified shooting and an unjustified one is unjustified. If anything, having greater skill could only help you in the case of allegations of recklessness.

Once again, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm merely repeating what the guy said.

I would say his class was for the most part what I expected and he only said a couple of things like that that my "waste filter" caught and I had to examine for what it was.

The sad thing is, I called three other places before I committed to a CHL class and based on my conversations with the three others I can assure you that I would have needed hip waders to attend their classes if you catch my drift. There is something about firearms that brings out the bravado and tall tales in some people and I avoid those folks like I avoid some car salemen.