What’s next? How to prepare for your next class
Well, you’ve done it – you’ve taken your first firearms training class, and now you’re wondering what to do next. You probably have a notebook full of notes, pictures of your targets, a bunch of answered questions, and some new questions – so what now?
There are a lot of things to consider after your first class –
1. Is the firearm I’ve chosen right for me? This comes up a lot – I recently spent an evening going over how to buy a firearm with a friend of the wife’s. I showed her several options, told her what to look for, and warned her about some of the pitfalls that can be encountered when buying a firearm, particularly as a woman. She went to the local gun shop, and lo and behold, they tried to sell her exactly what I warned her about – a tiny little handgun.
Now this happens more than you’d think – I see people show up to class with tiny little handguns that are hard to shoot, and harder to learn on. Guns that are hard to manipulate, and harder to shoot accurately. If you’ve discovered that your super compact hideaway gun doesn’t work for you, don’t perpetuate failure – trade it in on something else. The opposite of this is true as well – if it’s too big for you, downsize. The lesson here is that one size does not fit all, and don’t be afraid to go back and try again. You’re going to be much more successful with a tool that fits your body and your needs.
2. Does my gear work for me? This is just as important – if your gear setup is awkward and hard to use, well great, you’ve discovered that, and now you can fix it.
A mistake new shooters often make is thinking that once they’ve bought their first gun, they’re done – they get the cheapest gear they can to support it, and move on. Now, while that $19.99 Uncle Mike’s nylon holster may have seemed like a good idea at the time, you’ve probably discovered in practice that it wasn’t the greatest choice. Your first class is not only meant to educate you in the proper use of a firearm, it’s also meant for you to test out your gear. The last thing you want to do is cheap out on holsters, mag pouches, and magazines. A great beginner setup can be purchased from a company like Blade-Tech, where you can order a quality holster and mag pouches for well under $100, and still have an effective and safe method of storing and carrying your handgun.
3. Did I understand everything that we went over? Your first class can be a lot like trying to get a drink from a firehouse – it’s a lot of information, and you might not get it all. You can refer to your notes, but sometimes things that made sense at the time don’t necessarily make sense a week or two later. Take some time to go over your notes, and if you don’t understand something, contact your trainer. I, for one, have no problems answering questions from former students via email, whether they’re new questions, or clarifying things we went over in class. I teach because I enjoy helping people master a new skill, and I’ll go out of my way to help people out after a class to further that end. The only bad question is one you don’t ask, so don’t be afraid to ask.
4. I took a class – I’m an expert now, right? Uh, no – we try our best to give you the tools you need to become a better shooter, but like most things in life, it takes practice. Take those tools home with you, and practice them. Dry fire practice and live-fire practice are essential to you becoming a better shooter – use those tools you learned, and always go to the range with a plan to improve your skills.
That first class was pretty exciting, right? Now’s the time to page through the course catalog and decide on your next class – we’re all students, and we should try to keep learning our entire life. The question now is – what should I do to get ready for my next class?
1. Decide what your objectives are: As your progress in your training, you’ll find that classes become more specialized, with content different from “just learning to shoot”. It’s important that you decide what you’re interested in, and then pick a class that furthers those interests – if you want to become more confident carrying a concealed handgun, the last thing you need is a shotgun class – right? Make a list of your objectives (become more confident carrying a handgun, become more proficient with a shotgun, etc.), and then review the course offerings and see what matches your needs best.
2. Practice Practice Practice: Make sure you show up to your class with a firm grasp of the basics. We always start each day with the same foundation drills – because repetition helps cement basics – and if you show up with a firm grasp of the basics, that’s more time that can be spent on learning and practicing new concepts. It’s always a good idea a few days before your class to head to the range and review what you learned at your previous class.
3. Show up prepared: Take a long, hard look at that equipment list – if it says bring 3 magazines, bring 3 magazines. Make sure you’ve applied any lessons learned about your gear – if something needs modified or replaced, make sure you’ve done that. If you have any questions, make sure to write them down so you can present them at an appropriate time. Double check your firearm, and make sure it’s ready to go – confirm zero on your carbine, make sure everything’s lubed, and if possible, bring a backup gun, in case you have an unexpected failure. You’re paying for our time, so make the most of it, and be as ready as you can. Personally, I hate to see a student miss valuable live-fire time because of something that could have been dealt with before they left the house.
4. Be prepared to fail: I might have been able to word that better, but the bottom line is that there will always be someone better than you. The whole reason that you’ve come to class is to learn, and part of learning is failing – the good news is that this is where you want to experience these failures. So don’t get frustrated that the guy standing next to you is more successful than you – if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that most of the time “better” is merely another way of saying “more experienced”. Show up with a good attitude and a desire to learn, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Taking your first class is a big step, and choosing to continue is another one – make sure you’re prepared so that you can get the most out of the experience. Hope to see you on the range,
-- Kirk