One Day Handgun

Firearms Instruction Research and Education

One Day Handgun Clinic

Introduction To Handgun Basics

Course Dates
April 27, 2008* Sunday 9am - 5pm	June 29, 2008 Sunday 9am - 5pm
August 24, 2008 Sunday 9am - 5pm	September 21, 2008 Sunday 9am - 5pm

*Please note: The April 27th date is reserved for couples only
(husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend)
If you'd like to attend this class and don't have a significant other, you are welcome to enroll with a friend
Class size is limited to 12 students (six couples)

Location
Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsmen's Club
Click here for Directions

Assemble at the Combination Building
Click here for a map of the PMSC grounds

This course is designed for people who have no prior formal instruction in the safe handling and use of handguns. It will be held at the Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsmen's Club, 25 minutes east of Pittsburgh in North Versailles Township. Topics to be covered include:

Safety: Students will be exposed to four universally accepted rules of gun safety which, if followed scrupulously, will prevent unintended discharges.

Gun Handling and Shooting: Safe loading and unloading, correct stance and grip and basic marksmanship techniques are taught. These include proper sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger manipulation.

Shooting Drills: A course of fire has been developed to permit a novice shooter to gain experience with the concepts introduced in the program. We believe a beginning 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 hand and your individual needs. This will include a review of currently available handguns, holsters and ammunition. Students will have the opportunity to examine and try out several different types of handguns.

Cost $45.00: This includes range fees, targets, range supplies and handouts. Students to provide their own firearm, ammunition, personal gear and lunch. There are no discounts applicable to this course.

Course format: Lecture approximately 2 hours and live-fire exercises approximately 5 hours.

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 professional instructors, including Jim Crews (Marksman's Enterprise) and Giles Stock (Rangemaster, Gunsite Academy).

Class size: Enrollment will be limited to ten students.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites other than the minimum age limit of 18 years old. Proof of no criminal history is required. Please read through our Credentialing documentation and download an Enrollment form.

Deadlines for Enrollment: Applications must be received at least two weeks prior to the first day of class. If there are not at least six students enrolled two weeks before the class date, the class will be cancelled, you will be notified, and all tuition will be promptly refunded. Within 30 days of the class date tuition payment becomes non-refundable.

There is certain equipment which is REQUIRED in every course. One may not proceed in the course without the following:

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.
Firearm. Please ensure it has been cleaned and lubricated per the manufacturers recommendations. If you're handgun is equipped with adjustable sights please ensure it has been zeroed. If you do not own a handgun please read this for a recommendation or call Tony at 412.310.7838 to discuss.
A good quality holster. The holster should be of an open top design, worn on the strong side (a.k.a. firing side) hip. No shoulder holsters, cross-draw holsters or pocket holsters are allowed. The holster must be of such a type that re-holstering can be accomplished with one hand. Note that many holsters of soft, nylon construction will often collapse after the the weapon is withdrawn requiring two hands to re-holster (one to hold the gun and the other to expand the top of the holster). Please call Tony at 412.310.7838 if you have any questions or are in need of guidance.
At least three magazines or speed loaders. We prefer you have three, in case one malfunctions during the course.
A belt mounted magazine pouch worn on the support side (a.k.a. weak side). BDU pockets do not work well.
150 rounds of ammunition. We recommend students use one brand of ammunition throughout the course. Different brands and loads of ammunition can significantly affect the point of impact 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 down on the range. There is no water on the range itself, and the Club house 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.
Back-up handgun. A second handgun is also a good idea, if you own or can borrow one. Firearms do break, and we cannot stop the course to make repairs. Even if we had time, parts may not be available, and many repairs cannot be accomplished in the field.

Please note:

Wear substantial shoes and "work clothes", denim jeans or fatigues.
Please transport your handgun to the range in UNLOADED condition.
Please e-mail tony@fireinstitute.org or call 412.310.7838 if you have any questions.

"Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician"
------ Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

This course is sponsored by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute,
a Penna. nonprofit corporation.
Training is provided as a public service.
All students must be 18 years or older. Proof of no criminal history is required.