Prime Development Inc Firearms Training

NRA FIRST Steps Pistol

Prime Development Inc
Safety and Firearms Education

Welcome!

Prime Development Inc. www.discountguns.us 1
05/17/12

Preliminaries
 Introductions
 Registration
 Orientation Goal:
To provide beginning shooters with an
introduction to the knowledge, skills, and
attitude necessary to own and use a
specific pistol model safely.

05/17/12

Preliminaries
 Facilities.
 Do you have any firearms with you?
 Do you have any live ammunition with
you?
 Handbooks, brochures and other
materials.

05/17/12

Schedule
 10am Lesson I
11am Lesson II
Noon Lesson III
1:30pm Lesson IV
 Even asking questions, done by 2pm
 Ten minute break between lessons if
we have the time.
 Shooting portion is in Lesson III
05/17/12


Safety and Firearms Education

Lesson I
Introduction to Pistol Safety,
Parts and Operation

05/17/12

Lesson I: Pistol Safety, Parts,
and Operation
 As a result of this lesson, you will be
able to:
– State the goal of the NRA FIRST Steps
Pistol Orientation.
– Name the three fundamental NRA rules of
safe gun handling and demonstrate them
with a specific pistol model.

05/17/12

Lesson I: Pistol Safety, Parts,
and Operation, cont.
 As a result of this lesson, you will also
be able to:
– Name the three major components of a
pistol and describe their functions.
– Safely demonstrate loading and unloading
procedures for a specific pistol model with
training ammunition.

05/17/12

Pistol Safety
 What do you think is our primary
concern when handling firearms?

Safety is always the primary
concern when handling
firearms.

05/17/12

Pistol Safety, cont.
 What do you think are the major
causes of gun accidents?

IGNORANCE
CARELESSNESS

05/17/12

Pistol Safety, cont.
 NRA Rules of Safe Gun Handling
(the blue brochure, first fold-out)

 Please read the rules aloud…

05/17/12

#1: ALWAYS keep the gun
pointed in a safe direction
 What do you think is meant by a “safe
direction”?
 Term: safe direction
 Term: muzzle
If the gun were to discharge, it
would not cause injury or
damage.

05/17/12

#2: ALWAYS keep your finger
off the trigger until ready to
shoot
 If your finger is kept off the trigger,
where should it be?
 Term: trigger
 Term: trigger guard
 Term: frame
The finger should rest outside
the trigger guard or along the
side of the gun (on the frame).
05/17/12

#3: Always keep the gun
unloaded until ready to use
 How do you know whether or not a gun
is unloaded?
 Term: magazine
 Term: action
 Term: chamber
Check that a gun is unloaded
by removing the magazine,
opening the action, and
inspecting the chamber.
05/17/12

Safe Pistol Handling
Practical Exercise
 How do you hand a firearm to another
person?

05/17/12

Pistol Parts: Major Components
 Turn to Page 1 of the handbook.
 Term: frame
– Backbone of the pistol to which the other parts
are attached
 Term: barrel
– Metal tube through which the bullet passes on the
way to the target
 Term: action
– Group of moving parts used to load, fire, and
unload the pistol

05/17/12

Revolver: Frame Parts
 Grip panels
 Backstrap
 Trigger guard
 Rear sight

05/17/12

Revolver: Barrel Parts
 Bore
 Rifling (Handbook Page 2)
 Muzzle
 Front sight

05/17/12

Revolver: Action Parts
 Trigger
 Hammer
 Cylinder
 Chamber
 Cylinder release latch
 Loading Gate (on single actions)
 Ejector
 Ejector rod
05/17/12

Semi-Automatic: Frame Parts

 (Manual) safety
 Slide stop (sometimes “slide lock”)
 Decocking lever
 Grip panels
 Backstrap (with tang at the top)
 Trigger guard

05/17/12

Semi-Automatic: Barrel Parts

 Bore
 Chamber
 Rifling (Handbook Page 2)
 Muzzle

05/17/12

Semi-Automatic: Action Parts
 Hammer
 Slide
– Front Sight
– Rear Sight
– Ejection port
 Magazine (in the magazine well)
 Magazine release
 Trigger
05/17/12

Pistol Parts Review
 What are all the parts on the frame of
your gun?
 What are all the parts on the barrel of
your gun?
 What are all the parts on the action of
your gun?

05/17/12

Pistol Operation
 Besides “firing,” there are four basic
operations of most pistols:
– Loading
– Cocking
– Uncocking
– Unloading

05/17/12

Revolver Loading
 Keep the gun in a safe direction, with
your finger off the trigger…
 Load cartridges into the cylinder, with
the muzzle downward.
 Close the cylinder (or loading gate on
single actions).
 Turn the cylinder to index it, if it is not
locked.
05/17/12

Semi-Automatic Loading
 Load cartridges into the magazine.
 Firmly insert the magazine into the
magazine well.
 Cycle the slide to chamber a cartridge.
– Pull the slide to the rear.
– Release the slide, don’t “ride” it forward.
05/17/12

Pistol Cocking
 Place the hammer under spring
tension to prepare it to fire
 Semi-automatics: cycling the slide may
cock the hammer
 Decockers must be disengaged to
cock the hammer
05/17/12

Pistol Decocking
 Relax the hammer’s spring tension so
it is not in a position to fire the gun.
 Term: trigger bar (revolver)
 Term: decocker (semi-automatic)
 Some guns should not or cannot be
decocked.
05/17/12

Revolver Unloading
 Release the cylinder and swing it out.
 Turn the gun so the chamber mouths
are facing downward.
 Briskly operate the ejector rod.
 Check by sight and feel that all
chambers are empty.
05/17/12

Semi-Automatic Unloading
 Press the magazine release, and
remove the magazine.
 Cycle the slide.
 Lock the slide open.
 Check by sight and feel that the
chamber is empty.
05/17/12

Pistol Operation Practical
Exercise
 What are the three rules of safe gun
handling?
 Demonstrate the correct loading,
cocking, uncocking, and unloading
procedures for your pistol.

05/17/12

Lesson I Summary
 What is the goal of the FIRST Steps
Pistol Orientation?
 What are the NRA’s three rules for
safe gun handling?
 What are the three major components
of a pistol and what are their functions?

05/17/12

Lesson I Summary
 How do you load and unload your
pistol?
 What are your questions?
 Take a break until 11am! We’ll
continue with more lecture on
ammunition and the fundamentals of
pistol shooting.

05/17/12

Safety and Firearms
Education

Lesson II
Introduction to Ammunition
and the Fundamentals
of Pistol Shooting
05/17/12

Lesson II: Ammunition
 As a result of the first part of this
lesson, you will be able to:
– Identify the three items you need to check
to determine the proper ammunition for
your pistol.
– Identify the three major types of cartridge
malfunctions, and how to respond to
them.

05/17/12

Lesson II: Fundamentals of
Pistol Shooting
 As a result of the second part of this
lesson, you will also be able to:
– Determine your dominant eye.
– Explain the six fundamentals of pistol
shooting.
– Demonstrate the six fundamentals from
the benchrest position.

05/17/12

Pistol Ammunition
 In the blue brochure, read the rule:
“Use only the correct ammunition for
your gun.”
 How do you know what type of
ammunition should be used for a
particular gun?
– Most firearms have the ammunition type
stamped on the gun itself (often on the
barrel).

05/17/12

Pistol Ammunition, cont.
 How do you know whether the
ammunition you have is the correct
type for your gun?
– Ammunition type is identified on the box
and sometimes on the base of the
cartridge as well.

05/17/12

 What three items should be checked to
be sure that you are using the correct
ammunition for your gun?
– The barrel of the gun
– The box of ammunition
– The base of the cartridge

05/17/12

 Be aware that certain ammunition with
different designations may be
compatible with certain guns.
 .357 Magnum and .38 Special
 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger, 9x19
 Refer to your owner’s manual!

05/17/12

Cartridge Malfunctions
 Term: misfire
– A failure of the cartridge to fire after the
primer has been struck by the firing pin.
 Term: hangfire
– A perceptible delay in the ignition of a
cartridge after the primer has been struck
by the firing pin.

05/17/12

Cartridge Malfunctions, cont.

 If the cartridge fails to fire immediately,
what should you do?
– You don’t know if it’s a hangfire or a
misfire:
 Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction;
 Wait 30 seconds;
 Then unload safely.

05/17/12

 Term: squib load
– Development of less than normal pressure
or velocity after ignition of the cartridge.
 What may indicate that a squib load
may have been fired?
– Unusual recoil or noise.

05/17/12


 What action should be taken if a squib
load is suspected?
– Stop firing immediately.
– Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction,
and your finger off the trigger.
– Unload the gun.
– Determine if a bullet is lodged in the barrel
with a cleaning rod.

05/17/12

Determining the Dominant Eye

 Each individual has a dominant eye,
which should be used to aim the pistol.
 How many participants are cross-
dominant?
 Try to use your dominant eye, but in
general use the hand and eye that’s
most comfortable.

05/17/12

Fundamentals of Pistol
Shooting
 What does the word “fundamental”
mean?
– Basic
– Essential
 Fundamentals are the essential
elements of performing a skill.
 In the case of shooting, the skill is
“firing a shot.”
05/17/12

Fundamentals of Pistol
Shooting, cont.
 In brief, the fundamentals of pistol
shooting are:
– Position
– Grip
– Breath Control
– Sight Alignment
– Trigger Control
– Follow-Through
05/17/12

Position
 What do we mean by “position?”
– Position refers to the way you hold your
body when firing a shot
 We will cover two positions in this
course:
– Two-handed standing position

05/17/12

Position, cont.
 A position should be comfortable,
balanced, relaxed, and properly
aligned with the target.
– Sit behind the bench or table facing the
target.
– Both arms extended fully in front.
– Wrists are supports by sandbags.
– The head is erect.

05/17/12

Grip
 What do we mean by “grip?”
– The grip is the manner by which the pistol
is grasped and held.
 Keeping the gun pointed in a safe
direction, and finger off the trigger, use
the non-shooting hand to place the
pistol in the shooting hand.

05/17/12

Grip, cont.
 Fit the web of the hand as high as
possible on the backstrap or tang.
 Align the gun with the wrist and
forearm.
 Grip the pistol with the base of the
thumb and lower three fingers of the
shooting hand.
 Pressure of the grip is directed straight
towards the rear.
05/17/12

Grip, cont.
 Hold the pistol firmly, but without
undue shaking.
 Always keep your finger off the trigger
until ready to shoot. The finger should
lie along the side of the frame.
 The thumb should lie along the other
side of the frame, not behind the slide
of the gun.

05/17/12

Grip, cont.
 Place the heel of the non-shooting
hand against the heel of the shooting
hand.
 Firmly wrap the fingers of the non-
shooting hand around the fingers of
the shooting hand.

05/17/12

Grip, cont.
 You should grip the pistol the same
way each time you hold the pistol.
 Your grip on the pistol should not
change as you fire the shot.

05/17/12

Breath Control
 Why do you think breath control is important
in shooting?
– In order to minimize body movement while
shooting, the breath cycle must be interrupted.
 Before each shot, take a breath, and let it
halfway out so you are comfortable.
 Generally the breath should be held no more
than six to eight seconds. Rest if you get
tired!

05/17/12

Sight Alignment
 What two parts of the gun are used for
aiming?
– The front and rear sights.
 The top of the front sight should be even
with the top of the rear sight.

05/17/12

Sight Alignment
 There should be an equal amount of
space around the front sight post in the
notch of the rear sight.
 The eye can only focus on one distance
at a time. It cannot keep the front sight,
rear sight, and the target in focus
simultaneously.

05/17/12

Sight Alignment, cont.
 The shooter must focus on the front
sight.
– The front sight should be sharp and clear.
– The rear sight and the target should be
blurred.
 Sight picture is obtained by achieving
proper sight alignment and then putting
those aligned sights into the proper
relationship with the target.
05/17/12

 There will always be some movement
of the aligned sights relative to the
target.
 Movement can be minimized but not
eliminated.
 Misalignment of the sights introduces
error that increases at distance.
 Try to keep both eyes open when
shooting.
05/17/12

 Sight adjustments can be made on
some guns. Move the rear sight in the
direction you want your shots to
appear on the target.

 Optical and electronic sights eliminate
the need to align a front and rear sight.

05/17/12

Trigger Control
 What is the function of the trigger?
– When squeezed, the trigger activates the
hammer and fires the gun.
 The index finger is placed with the
trigger halfway between the tip of the
finger and the first joint.
 The trigger is squeezed in a smooth,
continuous manner directly to the rear,
while maintaining sight alignment.
05/17/12

Trigger Control, cont.
 While squeezing the trigger, each shot
should come as a surprise.
 Trigger squeeze and sight alignment
must be done simultaneously while
minimizing gun movement.
 Try using training ammunition and dry
fire practice to improve your trigger
control.

05/17/12

Follow-Through
 How is follow-through important in
sports like tennis and golf?
– In golf and tennis, it is the continuation of
a motion after the golf club or tennis
racket has hit the ball.
 Follow-through means continuing to do
everything that was being done at the
time the shot was fired.

05/17/12

Follow-Through, cont.
 Follow-through prevents unnecessary
movement of the barrel before the
bullet exits.
 With focus on the front sight and good
follow-through a shooter should be
able to “call the shot” and identify its
location on the target.

05/17/12

Fundamentals Review
 Which are the two most important
fundamentals?
– Sight Alignment
– Trigger Control
 The other fundamentals help to
minimize disturbance of sight
alignment and trigger control.

05/17/12

Lesson II Summary
 What three items do you need to check
to determine the proper ammunition for
your pistol?
 Define the three major types of
cartridge malfunctions and the actions
required when they occur.
 How do you determine your dominant
eye?

05/17/12

Lesson II Summary
 Explain the six fundamentals of pistol
shooting.
 Describe the benchrest position.
 Take a break until noon! We’ll pick up
with pistol shooting from the benchrest
and two-handed standing positions.

05/17/12


Safety and Firearms
Education

Lesson III
Introduction to Pistol Shooting
from the Benchrest and
Two-Handed Standing Positions
05/17/12

Lesson III: Pistol Shooting

 After completing this lesson, you
should be able to:
– Explain the three range commands, the
procedures to be followed if one has a
problem with a firearm or drops
ammunition, and any applicable range
rules for the facility being used.

05/17/12

Lesson III: Pistol Shooting
should also be able to:
– Discuss and explain the eight NRA safety
rules to be followed when shooting and
storing a pistol.
– Safely shoot a target from the benchrest
position using the six fundamentals.
– Safely shoot a target from the two-handed
standing position if time allows.

05/17/12

Range Safety;
Shooting Facility Orientation
 Range layout
– Indoor shooting range with shooting lanes.
– Shooters will be paired up and will shoot
in “relays”.
 Range personnel
– There will be several instructors and
coaches to help shooters.
– The facility also has Range Officers.
05/17/12

Range Commands

 “Load”
– Keep the gun in a safe direction, with your
finger off the trigger…
– Shooters may load their guns only after
this command has been given.
– Revolvers: load the cylinder and close it
– Semi-automatics: place the loaded
magazine into the gun and close the slide.

05/17/12

Range Commands, cont.

 “Commence firing”
– When this command is given, you may fire
at your target when you are ready.
– You are not required to begin
immediately.

05/17/12


 “Cease firing”
– Stop shooting immediately.
– Await further instructions from the Range
Officer, coach, or instructor.
Anyone may call for a cease fire if
they see an unsafe condition.
05/17/12

 “Unload”
– Revolvers:
 Open the cylinder
 Eject the casings and cartridges
– Semi-automatics:
 Remove magazine
 Lock open the slide

05/17/12


 “Bench the gun”
– Revolvers: put the gun on the bench with
the cylinder open
– Semi-automatics: put the gun on the
bench with the slide back and the ejection
port up so the chamber is visible.

05/17/12

Problem with your gun?

 Raise your hand for assistance.

05/17/12

Drop some ammunition?

 Raise your hand for assistance.

05/17/12

Range Procedures Review

 What do the “load” and “commence firing”
commands mean?
 What does the “cease firing” command
mean?
 Who may call for a cease fire?
 What do the “unload” and “bench your gun”
commands mean?
 What do you do when you have a problem
with your gun or drop ammunition?

05/17/12

Rules for Safe Shooting

 What are the three rules for safe gun
handling again?
 Add these rules for using and storing a
gun:
– Know your target and what is beyond.
– Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
– Know how to use the gun safely.

05/17/12

Rules for Safe Shooting, cont.

 More rules for using and storing…
– Use only the correct ammunition for your
gun.
– Wear hearing and eye protection as
appropriate.
– Never use alcohol or drugs before or while
shooting.

05/17/12

Rules for Safe Shooting, cont.

 More rules for using and storing…
– Store guns so they are not accessible to
unauthorized persons
– Be aware that certain types of guns and
many shooting situations require
additional safety precautions.

05/17/12

Shooting from a New Position

 We will use an eight step method to
learn a new position:
2. Study the position.
3. Practice the position without a pistol.
4. Practice the position with a pistol.
5. Align the position with a target.

05/17/12

Shooting from a New Position,
cont.
1. Dry fire at the target using the six
fundamentals of pistol shooting:
– Position
– Grip
– Breath control
– Sight alignment
– Trigger control
– Follow-through
05/17/12

Shooting from a New Position,
cont.
1. Live fire exercise
– Single-shot exercise
– Shoot a five shot “group.”
2. Assess your group, and adjust sights
(if applicable) or technique if a problem
is identified.
3. Continue to shoot groups and assess.

05/17/12

Benchrest Position

– Best position for people who have never
shot a gun before because it minimizes
body movement.
– Both arms straight out in front.
– Wrists rest on sandbags.
– Feet flat on the floor.
– Head is erect.
05/17/12

Two-handed Standing Position

– Best position to start learning standing
positions.
– Feet shoulder-width apart.
– Hips and shoulders square to the target.
– Arms straight out and head erect, same
as benchrest (another name for position is
“Isosceles”).

05/17/12

Any questions?

Let’s go
shoot!
Are you comfortable with
what you know?

05/17/12

Lesson III Summary

 Explain the three range commands,
the procedures to be followed if one
has a problem with a firearm or drops
ammunition, and any applicable range
rules for the facility being used.
 What are the eight NRA safety rules to
be followed when shooting and storing
a pistol?

05/17/12

Lesson III Summary

 You have all safely shot a target from
the benchrest and two-handed
standing positions.
 Take a break until 1:30pm. We’ll pick
up with pistol cleaning, storage, and
further training opportunities.

05/17/12


Safety and Firearms
Education

Lesson IV
Introduction to Pistol Cleaning
Storage, and Training Opportunities

05/17/12

Lesson IV: Pistol Cleaning,
Storage, Training Opportunities
should be able to:
– Identify the seven materials needed to
clean a pistol
– Outline the three safety guidelines to be
followed when cleaning a pistol.
– Explain and demonstrate how to clean a
pistol safely.

05/17/12

Storage, Training, cont.
– Name the NRA rule for safe firearm
storage, and discuss options for applying
this rule when storing a pistol.
– Discuss the three hygienic guidelines
following exposure to airborne particulate
lead and cleaning solvent residue.

05/17/12

Storage, Training, cont.
– Discuss the benefits of receiving
additional pistol training through the NRA
Basic Firearm Training Program.

05/17/12

Pistol Cleaning

 Remember the rule “Be sure the gun is
safe to operate”?
 Regular gun cleaning and proper
storage is an important part of the
upkeep of your pistol.
 A gun should be cleaned after every
shooting session.

05/17/12

Pistol Cleaning Materials
 Cloth patches
 Cleaning rod
 Soft cloth
 Cleaning rod attachments (tips,
brushes)
 Small brush
 Bore cleaner
 Gun oil

05/17/12

Pistol Cleaning Safety

 Ammunition must not be present in the
area.
 The gun must be unloaded.
 The action must be open.

05/17/12

Pistol Cleaning Exercise

1. Attach brush to cleaning rod and apply
bore cleaner to brush
2. Run brush through bore 8-10 times.
3. Run wet patch (solvent) through bore.
4. Run dry patch through bore.
5. If the patch comes out dirty, repeat the
above four steps until it comes out
clean.
05/17/12

Pistol Cleaning Exercise, cont.

1. Run lightly oiled patch through bore.
2. Repeat the above steps for every
chamber of a revolver.
3. Use small brush and solvent to clean
other parts of the gun.
4. Wipe entire pistol with lightly oiled
cloth.

05/17/12

Some Notes on Hygiene
 Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking,
applying makeup, or otherwise placing
your hands or fingers in near your mouth
or nose while on the range or cleaning
your gun.
 After leaving the range or cleaning a
gun, wash your hands and face
thoroughly (with cold water) before
placing your hands or fingers near your
mouth or nose.
05/17/12

Some Notes on Hygiene, cont.

 Change and wash clothing after a
shooting or gun cleaning session so
that exposure to airborne particulate
lead or solvent residue may be further
minimized.
 Even if you were only present and did
not shoot, you should follow these
guidelines.

05/17/12

Storing a Pistol

 Remember the rule “Store guns so
they are not accessible to
unauthorized persons”?
 There is no universal solution for
storage as each individual’s situation is
unique.

05/17/12

Some Storage Options
 Trigger Locks
 Action Locks
 Padlocks
 Lockboxes
 Safes

05/17/12

Additional Pistol Shooting

 It is to your advantage to continue
practicing your pistol shooting skills.
 The NRA offers additional training:
– NRA Basic Pistol Course
– NRA Personal Protection Course
– http://www.discountguns.us
 NWSAFE offers these courses from
time to time.
05/17/12

Additional Pistol Shooting,
cont.
 The NRA offers a Pistol Qualification
program that is self-administered with
progressively more challenging goals:
– Handgun qualification
 Oriented towards defensive shooting skills.
 Starts with a paper plate at 15 feet.
– Pistol qualification
 Oriented towards the competitive sport shooter.
 Ends with participation in a Bullseye match, with a
minimum score.

05/17/12

The National Rifle Association

 You have been provided a guide to the
benefits of membership in the NRA.
 Members supported the development
of the course you just took.
 The NRA is the largest international
firearms training organization in the
world, in both its public and police
organizations.

05/17/12

Other Opportunities

 The are many opportunities to formally,
and informally, compete with others
which helps you improve your skills.

05/17/12

Lesson IV Summary

 What are the seven materials needed
to clean a pistol?
 What three safety guidelines must be
followed when cleaning a pistol?
 What three hygienic guidelines should
be followed after exposure to airborne
particulate lead or cleaning solvent
residue?

05/17/12

Lesson IV Summary, cont.

 What is the NRA rule for safe storage
of a gun?
 What additional training and practice
opportunities are available from the
NRA?
 What are your comments about this
orientation?
05/17/12


Safety and Firearms
Education

Thank you!
Be safe out there with your new
pistol knowledge, skills, and attitude

05/17/12

Prime Development Inc Firearms Training

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to Prime Development Inc Firearms Training

Prime Development Inc Firearms Training