How was your CCW/CHL instructor?

theqbn:

I think all your concerns are absolutely valid. Not that I have cornered the market on the only/best way to teach a CCW class but I'll tell you how mine goes. As I'm an Ohio instructor, I too have to stick to the 12 hour mandate. However, while the Ohio law dictates a minimum of 2 hours range time, there's nothing that disallows more than that. So we try to spend as much time on the firing line as possible. Another difference is that for the first day (we usually split the class into two six-hour days) we shoot only .22s. We supply the guns and we supply all the ammo you want. We do this so that everyone is on the same page, newbies and 'pros' alike. There's not much noise or recoil so we can work on trigger control, sight alignment, &c.

The second day we allow you to bring whatever you want. We've seen everything from .17 and .22 mouse guns up to full-house .44 Mag. We have buckets of reloaded ammo on hand; I've never heard anyone say they didn't get enough trigger time.

I keep saying 'we.' That's because my father-in-law and I almost always teach together. That way there's more interaction, a lower student-to-teacher ratio, and a safer firing line. We limit class size to about twelve or so. If I'm doing private classes or teaching solo, no more than eight. I teach private lessons to people in their own homes because it helps with spouse participation.

Finally, unless I'm doing private lessons with a small group, I limit the class fee to $75. I'm not trying to get rich, I just want as many educated people out there carrying as possible. I see that as my responsibility. If I limit that number by charging too much, I've failed as an instructor before I've even started.

Part of the NRA curriculum is a page that allows anonymous feedback from the students. We encourage them to outline in minute detail any issues they had with the course. If we can't take constructive criticism we don't belong behind a podium. Period. That goes for anyone in any industry and CCW instructors should know that.

My $.02

-'bridge

I honestly wouldn't mind the roadtrip if it were a one day class. But two days I don't think I could really do.

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We've done the 1-day classes in the past. Unless it's for a special purpose it can be brutal, especially if there's only one instructor, newbie students, or both.

However, I could definitely see my way clear to do a 1-day class for you guys (did I mention meals are included and I used to have a restaurant? :angel.

All that being said, I'd much rather you guys jumped through whatever less-than-ideal hoops you have to in order to just get your CCW asap. As much as I'd love to be the one who gets your business, I'm much more interested in you getting your licenses so you can protect yourselves and your families. Just bite whatever bullets you have to.

The deep dark secret is this: since the State of Ohio endorses the NRA Basic Pistol course, that's pretty much what you're going to get regardless of where you go and how much you pay. After that, additional training is up to you. I do offer some advanced CCW classes but there's no Masters Degree in Shoot-ology so a lot of CCW training is DIY.

Get your license. Read all you can. Filter what you read. Don't buy into anyone's hype of themselves or some organization that pays them. I personally admire Clint Smith and his DVDs, while expensive, are totally worth it. Clint Smith doesn't know me from Adam, by the way. But everything I've heard him say so far makes sense.

Get some instruction. Get some more ammo. Make sure your training is always Recent, Relevant, and Realistic.

Whether it's dry fire, airsoft, range time, study, draws and presentation, whatever... commit to doing something every day that improves your CCW skills.

Good Luck!

-'b