2-Day Handgun Skill Builder

What were your reasons for taking this specific course?

I wanted to receive a Distinguished Graduate on the skills test. However, because I brought a brand new gun with me, that didn't work out. I didn't know guns needed to be broken in and I wasn't used to the way that this gun shot compared to the Glock 17 I used previously. The slide and buttons were very stiff; and by the time I took the skills test, my thumbs were too sore to release the magazine. The instructors noticed this, so they tried to help by letting me use a Glock 19 that had been broken in for the test. My shooting miraculously improved using the borrowed Glock 19.

General Comments:

I had thought that because this course was a skill builder that we would have gotten a lot more personal attention to help "build your skills". I didn't realize that the class was going to be so large. There were about 40 students and only 3 instructors. I chose to attend on one of the few weekend skill builder dates, not knowing how crowded it was going to be. On the first day, the instructor went over all of the basics. I haven't ever taken a 2-Day Defensive Handgun Course, but it essentially felt like that, except the instruction was much more brief and compact. After that, things picked up, and we did a lot of shooting. The main difference I noticed on this course was that there were turning targets. Even though the instructor told us that it was the same amount of time, it felt faster to me. Also, concealment wasn't required until the second day, which gave us time to get used to the turning targets before we had to contend with concealment, as well.

How would you improve this course?

I would probably just go to a midweek course next time, so that I will get more personal attention. I think that they should add more weekend skill builders to their schedule to help alleviate the burden on this one. I heard some people complaining that this was the last weekend skill builder scheduled for 2012, and they had to go to this one or not be able to attend one at all. Basically, I would either add more weekends or add more instructors to this course.

Do you have any tips for first-time students of this course?

Take a gun that you are comfortable with and that is broken in.

Would you suggest this course to others?

Yes, I would.

How did you get there?

I drove from Los Angeles, CA.

Where did you stay?

Best Western

How did you handle the ammo situation?

Stockpile Defense

Do you have any dinner suggestions?

I ate at Wulfy's in Pahrump. I really like their Black and Bleu Burger, which was a bleu cheese burger with bacon.

What other courses do you plan on taking in the future?

2-Day Edged Weapons

What other classes have you taken at Front Sight?

4-Day Defensive Handgun
4-Night Defensive Handgun
2-Day Empty Hand Defense
2-Day Select Fire M-16