This document provides an orientation for new pistol shooters, covering safety rules, pistol parts, shooting fundamentals, ammunition, cleaning procedures, storage, and next steps. The orientation includes 4 lessons: an introduction to safety, parts, and operation; shooting fundamentals and ammunition; a practical range exercise; and cleaning, storage, and additional training. Throughout, it emphasizes safe and responsible firearm handling.

1. Prime Development Inc
NO AMMUNITION
in the classroom!
Firearms UNLOADED
Action OPEN
On the table in front of you
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2. FIRST Steps Orientation
(Pistol)
Welcome & Registration
Firearms
Instruction,
Responsibili
ty &
Safety
Training
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3. Lesson 1
• SAFETY
• Pistol Parts & Nomenclature
• Pistol Operation
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4. NRA Gun Safety Rules
q Always keep the gun pointed in a safe
direction
q Always keep your finger off the trigger until you
are ready to shoot.
q Always keep the gun unloaded until you’re
ready to use it.
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5. Lesson 1
Pistol Parts…Revolvers
• Frame
– Grip panels qAction
– Back strap
•Trigger
– Trigger guard •Hammer
– Rear sight •Cylinder
•Chamber
• Barrel •Cylinder release
– latch
Bore
•(Loading gate)
– Rifling
•(Ejector rod)
– Muzzle
– Front sight
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6. Lesson 1
Pistol Parts…Semi-automatics
• Frame qAction
 Safety Hammer
 Slide lock Slide
 (De-cocker) Sights
 Grip panels Ejection port
 Back strap Magazine
 Trigger guard Magazine release
Trigger
• Barrel
 Bore
 Chamber
 Rifling
 Muzzle
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7. Lesson 1
Pistol Operation
• Loading
–Cocking
• Uncocking
–Unloading
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8. Review
Lesson 1 – Safety, Parts & Operation
• Safety Rules
• Pistol Parts
• Pistol Operation
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9. Lesson 2
• Ammunition Considerations
• Shooting Fundamentals
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10. Ammunition
Make sure you have the correct ammunition!
• Box
• Cartridge case
• Barrel or slide
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11. Ammunition
Potential ammunition malfunctions
• Misfire
• Hangfire
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12. Ammunition
Potential ammunition malfunctions
Squib load
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13. Shooting Fundamentals
Physical Characteristics
• Dominant eye?
• Shooting hand?
• The opposite
strengths problem
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14. Shooting Fundamentals
The Six Fundamentals
1. Position
2. Grip (fit)
3. Sight Alignment
4. Breath Control
5. Trigger Squeeze
6. Follow Through
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15. Shooting Fundamentals
1. Position
- Consistency
- Balance
- Support
- NPA (Natural Point
of Aim)
- Comfort
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16. Shooting Fundamentals
2. Grip
- “V” high on the
backstrap
- Lower three fingers
wrap & hold
- Thumb & middle
finger touch
-Wrap the four fingers of weak hand
around lower three fingers of the strong
hand
-- Thumbs on the same side of the pistol
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17. Shooting Fundamentals
3. Sight Alignment
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18. Shooting Fundamentals
3. Sight Alignment
• Target, front sight and
rear sight aligned
• “Six o’clock” hold, or
“center of mass” hold
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19. Shooting Fundamentals
3. Sight Alignment
Focus is on the… front sight
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20. Shooting Fundamentals
4. Breath Control
Body movement affects the shot
- So… quiet yourself
Breathing requires muscle movement
- So… shoot between breaths
Breathe out part way, hold, and shoot.
Don’t hold your breath too long or muscle tremors
will create movement and disrupt the shot.
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21. Shooting Fundamentals
5. Trigger Squeeze
Don’t use the “P” word!!!
Gradually increasing pressure until the
mechanism releases
SURPRISE yourself when the gun shoots
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22. Shooting Fundamentals
The Six Fundamentals
1. Position
2. Grip (fit)
3. Sight Alignment
4. Breath Control
5. Trigger Squeeze
6. Follow Through
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23. Review
Lesson 2 - Ammunition & Fundamentals
• Proper Ammo
• Malfunctions
• Hand/eye choice
• Fundamentals
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24. Lesson 3
Practical Exercise on the Range
Safety rules
Range commands
Learning a position
Common problems
Shoot the exercise
Review & critique
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25. NRA Gun Safety Rules
q Always keep the gun pointed in a safe
direction
q Always keep your finger off the trigger until you
are ready to shoot.
q Always keep the gun unloaded until you’re
ready to use it.
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26. Other Safety Rules
Be sure the gun is safe to operate
Know how to use the gun safely
Use only the correct ammunition
Know your target and what is beyond it
Wear hearing and eye protection
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized
persons
*** Other rules may apply!
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27. Introduction to Shooting
Range Commands & Procedures
“Load” or “Load xx rounds”
“Commence Firing”
“Cease Firing”
Problem?
Malfunction?
Dropped ammo?
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28. Introduction to Shooting
Learning a Position
• Study the position
• Practice without a pistol
• Practice with an
unloaded pistol
• Test the position by live
firing
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29. Introduction to Shooting
At the Firing Point
TAKE YOUR TIME. KEEP
YOUR COOL.
• Focus on safety and the
shooting fundamentals.
• Strive for consistent shot
groups.
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30. Introduction to Shooting
Common Problems
• Flinching—anticipating
the shot
• Jerking—
uneven trigger pull
• Fatigue—
man, this is work!
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31. Review
Lesson 3 - Practical Exercise on the Range
• Bench rest Position
• One Round Exercise
• 5/6/10 Round Exercise
• Two-handed Standing Position
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32. Lesson 4
Now that you can shoot…
Cleaning
Storage
Next Steps
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33. Pistol Cleaning
Safety Guidelines
• Ammunition must not be present in the
area
• The gun must be unloaded
• The action must be open
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34. Pistol Care & Cleaning
Purpose of Cleaning
• Remove powder residue
• Remove rust & crud
• Protect the pistol from rust, corrosion and wear
• Make sure pistol is correctly assembled and functions
properly
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35. Pistol Cleaning
Materials Needed
• Soft cloth
• Cleaning rod
• Cleaning rod attachments
• Cloth patches
• Small brush
• Bore cleaner
• Gun oil
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36. Pistol Cleaning
Procedures
1. Field strip (take down
into major parts
groups) for cleaning
(Your firearm’s manual
tells you how far to go)
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37. Pistol Cleaning
Procedures
2. Wet down bore with a wet patch
3. Brush major parts (wet?) and wipe off powder
residue with cloth
4. Brush bore with a wet brush
5. Clean bore with dry patches until they come out
clean
6. Wipe parts clean and lightly lubricate including bore
(one patch, light oil)
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38. Pistol Cleaning
Procedures
7. Reassemble and check function
Are all parts correctly installed—nothing left over?
Do all features work, especially safeties?
Does it operate in single & double action?
Does it operate with a magazine removed?
8. Store with springs relaxed, I.e. hammer down, trigger
released, etc.
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39. Health and Hygiene Considerations
• Avoid eating, drinking or smoking while shooting
or cleaning firearms
• After shooting and cleaning firearms wash hands
and face before eating or drinking.
• Change clothes and shower after a shooting
session
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40. Pistol Storage
NRA Rule: Store guns so they are not accessible to
unauthorized persons
1. LOCK IT UP!
- Lockable gun case or rug
- Trigger lock
- Any lockable box
2. Separate guns from
ammunition
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41. Pistol Storage
NRA Rule: Store guns so they are not accessible to
unauthorized persons
Lock Box
Safe
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42. Next Steps
How to keep what you’ve learned:
Practice, practice, practice.
Use big close targets, don’t lose
bullets
First practice skills you’re weak in.
Accuracy first, then speed!
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43. Next Steps
Additional Training
• NRA Basic Pistol
Shooting Course
• NRA Personal Protection
Course
• Competitive shooting
(IPSC, IDPA, SASS, etc.)
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