One Day Hand Gun Clinic [NOW SOLD OUT THIS DATE]

[PeteG]

There will be a session of the F.I.R.E. Institute "One Day Hand Gun" on Sunday, April 21. (Note: Tony Ferrazzoli is also holding one of these on Saturday, March 16.)

There is a policy change regarding the kinds of guns that will be permitted in this course. Hand guns of any caliber are allowed. However, sub-compact autos and "snubby" revolvers are not allowed. These guns are very difficult to shoot well, even for experienced shooters, and make very poor training vehicles. There is only so much an instructor can do to compensate for these problems, and it makes for a bad first training experience.

The full course announcement is set forth below.

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ONE-DAY HANDGUN CLINIC
Introduction to Handgun Basics

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
PITCAIRN-MONROEVILLE SPORTSMAN’S CLUB

Typically, a novice shooter will turn to friends or relatives for instruction in the use of firearms. However, as is the case with learning to drive a car, family members are not usually the best choice. Neither family nor friends are usually experienced teachers, and their knowledge of the subject might not be that much greater than your own. This course is designed to provide a good alternative. It is for people who have no prior formal instruction in the safe handling and use of handguns. Topics include:

Gun Handling and Marksmanship: Safe loading and unloading, correct stance and grip and basic marksmanship techniques are taught. These include proper sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger manipulation. We will endeavor to demystify these essentially mechanical processes.

Firearms Safety: Students will be exposed to four universally accepted rules of gun safety, which if followed scrupulously, will prevent unintended discharges and will comply with the civil standard of care for the handling of firearms.

Shooting Drills: A course of fire has been developed to permit a novice shooter to gain experience and a better understanding of the concepts introduced in the program. We believe a novice shooter will find this challenging and educational.

Equipment: The instructors will explain how to select a handgun, holster and ammunition, so your equipment fits your hands, matches your body type and is consistent with your life style. Students will have the opportunity to examine and try out several different types of handguns. PLEASE NOTE THE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BELOW.

Cost: $60.00, plus a $10 range fee for those not a member of the host club. This includes targets, range supplies and handouts. Students will provide their own firearm, ammo., personal gear and meals.

Course format: 9am – 5pm. Lecture (approximately 2 hrs.), and live-fire exercises (approximately 5 hrs.). Each student will need a minimum of 150 rounds of ammunition.

Instructor(s): The instructors and staff are FIRE Institute volunteers who have collectively accrued several thousand hours of formal training from experienced, professional firearms instructors. In addition to their personal firearms training, each of the course staff have attended firearms instructor schools run by the NRA and/or professional instructors, including Giles Stock (Rangemaster, Gunsite Training Academy Jim Crews (Marksman’s Enterprise) and Pat Rogers (EAG). These instructors are selected for their patience, clarity and even temperament.

Class size: Enrollment will be limited to EIGHT students.

Location: Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsman’s Club, 505 Mosside Blvd. (Rt. 48) N. Versailles. Meet at the main clubhouse/indoor range at 8:45 a.m. We begin at 9:00 a.m.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites. However, course participants must be at least 18 years of age and proof of no criminal history is required. Please visit our website for credentialing documentation or contact us via the options listed below.

Deadlines for Enrollment: Applications must be received two weeks prior to the first day of class. After that time (two weeks before the first day of class) your tuition payment becomes non-refundable, unless the course is for some reason cancelled.

There is certain equipment that is REQUIRED in every course. YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

Hand gun - any caliber. However, the weapon itself must have a barrel at least 3.5 inches long, and the grip (stocks) must be such that all fingers rest on the grip and no fingers curl under the grip. Semi-automatics that use magazines that extend the grip are acceptable. “Snub-nosed” revolvers and subcompact “pocket guns” are not acceptable. If you have any questions, contact the course administrator listed below.

 Ear protection and Eye protection.
 Cap or hat with baseball-style bill. This is to prevent ejected brass from another shooter's pistol from falling between your eyewear and your eye, burning you. It is important gear.
 A STURDY belt and holster, worn on pants that have BELT LOOPS (rather than an elastic waist band). The belt must be strong enough to keep the holster in place. The holster MUST NOT HAVE A FLAP, COVER or THUMB STRAP, and be sufficiently rigid it stays open when the firearm is withdrawn from it, so one can re-holster the gun with one hand. Reaching around with the support hand to open one’s holster while re-holstering is dangerous.
 At least THREE magazines or TWO speed loaders. WITH MAGAZINE HOLSTERS OR SPEED-LOADER CARRIERS, designed to be worn on the aforementioned sturdy belt.
 100 Rounds of "Ball" Ammunition. We recommend students use one brand of ammunition throughout the course. Different brands and loads of ammunition can significantly affect the "zero" of your firearm. We also suggest students avoid the very cheapest ammunition and reloads. While "match grade" ammunition would be a waste of money, your investment in this course does justify the use of reasonably consistent ammunition. No incendiary, tracer, armor piercing, or other exotic ammunition is permitted.

There is other equipment that is not required, but which we know from experience will enhance your experience of the course. We therefore recommend you bring the following:

 Soft drinks or water to drink while on the range. There is no water on the range itself, and the Clubhouse is too far to run back and forth. No alcohol of any kind is to be consumed within eight hours of the start of any course session or at any time during the course.
 Rain gear. The course proceeds rain or shine. (The February course will be indoors if weather is too cold or wet.)

Please note:
 Transport your handgun to the range UNLOADED.
 Wear substantial shoes and "work clothes", denim jeans or fatigues.
 If you have specific questions, you should contact Peter Georgiades – (412) 370-9500.

To Contact Us:
 E-mail: tony@fireinstitute.org
 Website: www.fireinstitute.org
 Subscribe to PGH-training@yahoogroups.com for information and announcements about this and other firearms training opportunities.

Administrator for this course: Peter Georgiades (412) 370-9500.

“Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like buying a piano and thinking you are a musician”

--- LTC Jeff Cooper (USMC Ret.)

[PeteG]

Holy cow! We are already down to two available slots!

If you can't make this one, we working on adding another course in May, and one in June. We will announce here when dates are settled.

PeteG

[PeteG]

Anthony Ferrazzoli will be running another session of this course on Sunday April 28. The courses for March 16 and April 21 are full. We will also put on on in June (May being filled up with other courses).

We appreciate everyone's patience with these scheduling issues. The course is (thankfully) being well received, and we will see to it there is room for everyone who wants the course. We are also trying to alternate Saturday courses with Sunday courses, to accommodate differing schedules.

[Emptymag]

I was about to add a word of encouragement for those considering the course, but it seems you're doing OK without any help.



I attended this clinic a few years ago and highly recommend it.
(there, I did it anyway)

[PeteG]

I was about to add a word of encouragement for those considering the course, but it seems you're doing OK without any help.



I attended this clinic a few years ago and highly recommend it.
(there, I did it anyway)

We can always use all the help we can get. We rely entirely upon word-of-mouth for our advertising, and people often wait to see what other average folks (who are not on anybody's payroll) have to say about a course.

[PeteG]

This course is now full.

Tony has one on April 27. (Note: It was previously for April 28, but there was some sort of scheduling conflict with the ranges.)

We are also going to schedule one in June, but the date is not yet set. We will post that as a separate course announcement.