TexasCHLforum.com

So, a coworker and his wife purchased handguns for Christmas - he a 9mm and she a .32. As part of the purchase, the business included their CHL classes at no additional charge. They were told, however, that she could not use the .32 for her proficiency qualification, that it had to be .380 or larger. The coworker and I were discussing this, and I went online and pulled up CHL-16 from the Texas DPS website, where it indicates that the handgun must be .32 or larger. This weekend, when they took their class, the instructor told them that the law had recently been changed to .380 minimum.

Did the law change, and the on-line CHL-16 hasn't been updated yet? Or is this the instructor's (or maybe the business') personal policy? I don't know the instructor's name, but coworker says he's a retired Fort Worth PD officer.

I don't own, carry or expect to ever have a .32, just wondering if the coworker was being given incorrect information.

as far as I know it has not been changed it is still 32cal at the minimum. I don't remember seeing any laws passed since the last legilative session 2 years ago, and since the session is every 2 years last year wouldn't work as a time frame as the state legislature wan't in session to change the law

According to CHL-16 dated October 2012, it's still says .32 caliber.

Instrcutor is wrong and trying to cover their mistake by stating 'law recenly changed'. It's still .32 caliber.

G26ster wrote:According to CHL-16 dated October 2012, it's still says .32 caliber.

Yep, that's the version that I was reading. No dice for the coworker's wife, though....

Keith B wrote:Instrcutor is wrong and trying to cover their mistake by stating 'law recenly changed'. It's still .32 caliber.

Correct.

Another issue is that a 32 is not actually 32 caliber.

Could it be confusion over instructors having to qualify with at least. 38's.

Generally, I'm amazed at how little your average counter jockey knows. Not to mention the xrap you hear from customers in shops and at gun shows.

n5wmk wrote:

G26ster wrote:According to CHL-16 dated October 2012, it's still says .32 caliber.

Yep, that's the version that I was reading. No dice for the coworker's wife, though....

so File a complaint with DPS for the instructor teaching incorrect information and requiring something the state has not mandated

Instructor is wrong. 32 caliber is good to go. I will say though that I have heard of two instructors that wouldn't allow .32 acp or .380acp for qualifying. They said it wasn't enough gun so they wouldn't allow it. Silly but I guess they can refuse, not sure? I will agree that .32 acp and .380acp are bug rounds but the requirements by law are .32 or larger to qualify. So if you primary carry a .32acp or .380acp that is your business and I don't think these instructors should really be giving chl applicants a problem with it imo.

Edit: I took my renewal a month ago and the instructor said .32 or larger but as a combat vet he whole heartily recommend 9mm or better and preferred .45acp if able to handle and conceal. He basically bashed the .32 and .380 and even said the 9mm was a horrible choice if not using modern hollow point ammo. Go figure.

If they're determined to use the .32 the easy answer is pay for a class from another instructor instead of taking the freebie. Plus from what I saw before the cupboards were bare, 9mm ammo is cheaper anyway.

tbrown wrote:If they're determined to use the .32 the easy answer is pay for a class from another instructor instead of taking the freebie. Plus from what I saw before the cupboards were bare, 9mm ammo is cheaper anyway.

Instead of using a inacurate , underpowered .32 for the shooting test, why not use a 9mm? You can always switch back to carrying the .32 when your life is depending on it.

The instructor wants to make a little money by renting a gun to take the test.
Go ahead rent a 9mm or whatever he has then turn him in to the DPS after the class

Well, the co-worker and his wife both qualified on Saturday. She borrowed her father's Sig 9mm. So all is good, I just found the refusal to let her use her .32 to be interesting.

According to page 17, CHL-16 handbook, GC 411.188 Handgun Proficiency Requirement, minimum caliber is .32!