Just what the title says. Granted, most of you merely needed a CCW class for certification- not necessarily instruction. But if there were obvious short-comings in your certification classes please share them; this is an effort to continuously improve what students are receiving.
Best regards,
-'bridge
Okay:
Redhat: thanks so much for your input.
So far, everything on that list will be taught; low-light training is the most recent addition to the class material and it’s gotten good reviews so far.
A hurdle I’ve had a hard time clearing is holster work; often students have sub-par holsters or no holster at all. Without requiring specific makes and models it makes it difficult as you can well imagine. I do have a handful of holsters including some of the “universal” (which “universally suck”) holsters so people at least have something to work with. I’d appreciate anyone with suggestions on this particular topic as well.
-'b
Here is my .02 worth.
How to unholster your firearm while keeping the holster in your pants.
How to rapidly reload if necessary.
How to swivel your eyes to keep yourself out of danger and avoid it instead of confronting it.
When and where you can expect danger and how to recognize it.
What is the minimal round count you should carry.
How many times do you squeeze the trigger before it is to much.Like is 15 rounds of Hollow point to the chest to much. Or not enough.
Maybe even a day at a local range to help facilitate what was learned.
Local laws on what I can do and cant do to a person.
My class consisted of a few hours of ass time. Now don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the class and learned a few things but most of it I already knew. Maybe I just need to go take a Magpul class the next time there in my area.
Our CCW instructor literally had a trunk full of kydex holsters to fit most common makes/models if you had a need to borrow one. I don’t see how that’s feasible though?
Talking about a class teaching CCW or the bare minimal class that is the mandatory to get certified for CCW? I suppose this should be one in the same but the certification course I had to do was really a Handgun: 101 class with showing of types of handguns, storage, ammunition overview, safety, cleaning, legal overview of CC (laws relating to conceal carry), legal aftermath of a shooting, what to do during a confrontation (which largely is just the mentioning of yelling “stop, I’ve called the police, I have a gun, I will shoot” or something like that, geared more for home invasion), different things to skim the surface with a mere 50 rounds live fire with safety out the ass, something like 6 at 9 yards, 6 at 15, 6 at 21, 5 around barrier strong arm, 5 around barrier weak, 6 from picking gun off stool/loading mag/going next to barrier/yelling the “stop” line/shooting, don’t remember the exacts of the rest but there was one with advancing targets, and couple others. Lot of things like carrying a light were not held and even mocked by instructors, Taurus Judge was triumphed as some super weapon, and other aspects could easily be removed.
For a comprehensive CC course I would like to see holster/carrying methods and selection, drawing/drills for it, more live fire at targets in general as well as greater variety of drills, going over printing and how to avoid it, and basically just about everything basic about CC that is needed to be effective in any scenario its used and not a class to be a slightly better gun layman.
Kind of brings up the question of whether certification should teach the lowest entry into handguns or should it be how to effectively conceal carry and require certain level of pre exhisting knowledge. There are obviously classes that do teach how to conceal carry and require a CHL for entry (in other words certification has been passed).
I think if you make it more thorough, many will complain that it is too restrictive.
In the state of Kentucky, I wish the shooting standards were a bit more strict. 11/20 rounds into a man size silhouette at 7 yards. At least some par times, reloads and draws. But that’s just me
What to do with your pistol when you take a shit in a public bathroom with stalls.
Oh wait, he DID teach us that! 
Post defensive shooting guidelines.
@BCmJUnKie… so what’s his/your SOP for a deucey? I seriously considered making business cards that read “Are you about to get mugged from behind?” And leaving them on the tops of urinals…
In Ohio, the CCW course is merely the NRA Basic Pistol: heavy on safety and conventional flat-range target shooting. About a single page is dedicated to the defensive aspect. As an instructor, I feel like I’m doing students a tremendous disservice by saying “there, you passed NRA Basic Pistol; you’re good to carry a gun.” But that’s what a lot of instructors do.
I keep class sizes small, no more than six or I get an extra instructor to help. I teach the NRA material but I also offer pretty much everything already mentioned. Barriers, reloads, malfunction drills, moving targets, drawing from concealment, discussions on legal issues, role-play, ammunition selection, low-light… you get the idea.
One idea I’m toying with, instead of just reading the material on ammunition, I thought of giving the students each the opportunity to make a reloaded round themselves -under very(!) careful supervision- and shoot it. Thoughts? More trouble than it’s worth?
But I’ve got two things working against me: a) I have to make sure I give the NRA materiel its due diligence and b) I constantly hear “you charge X-dollars for your classes?? I can go to such-and-such instructor and he only charges 1/2, 1/3, 1/128th that price!” Well… um… yeah. I bet he does.
I don’t consider myself a fantastic shooter. I think I’m a decent teacher. I tell them these are things I’ve learned… they’re “a” way to do it, not “the” way. But even with good response from students and good word of mouth, it’s been tough filling classes regularly. But I like doing it and that’s worth a lot.
-'b
His method is after your pants are around knees or shins, you use the inside of your pants/boxers, as a “Table” if you will.
You simply set your piece on your “table” and take care of business.
I dont #2 in public restrooms generally so I have never used this “Stall table” method.
Are you serious about the cards?
If I found one of those I would
Another item I think I’m going to add this weekend is a booklet of standard drills -how to set them up and shoot them- for each student to take home. I can burn several hours just running them through repetitive drills over and over but I think sending them home with instructions is the better way and it means more time for other things.
BCmJUnKie… I’m serious. I plan on printing 100 or so of those with my next batch. Urinals and CCW don’t mix in my opinion.
Well thats pretty cool. I have carried for years. I would definately take one of your classes.
I have driven from Colorado to Florida and vice versa about 7 or 8 times.
Im always by myself and restrooms or gas stations is kind of a must.
I never feel uncomfortable, but I keep my eyes peeled.
It would be nice to hear your method on public restrooms and cross country driving while CCW’ing
Like you said, eyes peeled. Always alert. I avoid the urinals -you’re just too compromised- and head to the handicap stall or whichever stall is down on the end. I’m guessing if someone’s standing in front of it after passing a handful of empty ones, something’s up. Sometimes I stand up facing the commode, if it’s an extra sketchy location I stand up facing the door. Highly tactical technique, not for novices… If I have to undo my belt, I usually set my gun on the paper dispenser if it’s close or simply clamp it under my support armpit. The ‘table’ technique you describe is new to me but has it’s merits. Maybe I’m too paranoid, maybe I’ve seen Zombieland one too many times. Maybe I’m a closet mall-ninja. Oh well, it works for me.
We don’t have to take a CCW class in PA but both clubs I belong to teach them. One has an entire night dedicated to legal issues which I think is of major importance. They bring in a lawyer that specializes in it as well as a representative from local LE.
I think it’s all about going to a good school and putting in the time. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for in most cases.
This is the nice thing about using a ranger vest to conceal. I unholster and put it in the vest pocket regardless of business. I pee in stalls so that ain’t a problem.
Never had a problem with urinals and retention with AIWB. Never take my weapon out of the holster for urinal nor toilet.