what is the nra basic pistol course

by Dr. Caroline Ruecker MD 5 min read

See more

What is the basic pistol course?

and attitude necessary for owning and using a pistol safely. Through this course, the students will learn about pi stol parts and operation, a mmunition, gun safety, pistol shooting fundamentals, and pistol shooting activ ities. The Basic Pistol Course will also help prepare the student for part icipation in other NRA courses. In order to uphold the NRA’s adherence to safety, and to maintain standardization among all NRA courses, adhere to the following guidelines when conducting the NRA Basic Pistol Course.

What is the NRA pistol marking program?

This program is designed to support the course content and will help the students get started in a shooting program. Emphasize that it is a fun and challenging way for students to demonstrate the skills they have acquired in the Basic Pistol Shooting Course, and also serves as an incentive to further enhance those skills.

How many shooters should be on the firing line for the NRA?

If this is not possible, the ratio on the firing line should not exceed two shooters for every NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.

What level of shooting do you need to be to get a pistol certificate?

Groups do not have to be consecutive. Students must qualify at the Level 1: Red level to earn a Basic Pistol Course Completion certificate. Once the student accomplishes the Level 1: Red level, instructors are encouraged to offer them the opportunity to qualify for the Level 2: White, Level 3: Blue, and Instructor level endorsements on their certificates.

How to join the NRA?

To join NRA today, or for additional information about membership, call 1-800-NRA-3888. Your membership dues can be charged to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

What training aids are used as representation of a firearm?

IMPORTANT NOTE:All training aids to be used as representation of a firearm (e.g.: Blue guns, Laser training devices, Air Soft, Air guns, toy guns, etc.), MUST be treated in the same fashion and with the same safety rules as firearms AT ALL TIMES. Infractions against this rule will be treated exactly the same as infractions using firearms in the same manner.

How many shots can you shoot at level 4?

For Level 4, use the NRA Instructor Training Qualification Target.  Have the student shoot 20 shots from 45 feet.  If they are able to place 16 of the 20 shots within a six inch group, the student would earn the level 4 endorsement.  Each endorsement is something they would be proud to share with their friends and family.

What is the NRA pistol shooting course?

Phase II of the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course reinforces and applies the skills students have already learned in the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting e-learning. Instructors are responsible for effectively reviewing safety rules and procedures, while also coaching and assisting students as they handle pistols for the first time in a classroom and range setting. Ultimately, students will become more comfortable and familiar with pistols in order to achieve certification. The Basic Pistol Course will also help prepare the student for participation in other NRA courses.

How to conduct a basic pistol shooting course?

The key to conducting a successful Basic Pistol Shooting Course is to be well organized and know the subject. To maintain national standards for this program, the NRA has developed lesson plans for you. Prepare for the class by reviewing this lesson plan and ensuring that all materials are prepped for use. Each lesson plan provides the:

What is phase 2 of the NRA?

Phase II of the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course reinforces and applies the skills students have already learned in the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting e-learning. Instructors are responsible for effectively reviewing safety rules and procedures, while also coaching and assisting students as they handle pistols for the first time in a classroom and range setting. Ultimately, students will become more comfortable and familiar with pistols in order to achieve certification. The Basic Pistol Course will also help prepare the student for participation in other NRA courses.

How many shots can an NRA instructor shoot?

For the instructor level, use the NRA Instructor Training Qualification Target. Have the student shoot 20 shots from 45 feet. If they are able to place 16 of the 20 shots within a six inch group, the student would earn the instructor level endorsement. Each endorsement is something they would be proud to share with their friends and family.

How many shooters should be on the firing line for the NRA?

If this is not possible, the ratio on the firing line should not exceed two shooters for every NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.

What is phase 2 of the shooting certification?

In Phase II, instructors are responsible for determining whether students have successfully completed each exercise. In this course, students must complete the exercises provided and meet the shooting qualification in order to achieve certification. Use the Performance Requirements Checklist provided (see Appendix E) to sign off on each exercise as the student demonstrates proficiency. (You are authorized to make photocopies of the Performance Requirements Checklist and Shooting Targets as needed.)

How to join the NRA?

To join NRA today, or for additional information about membership, call 1-800-NRA-3888. Your membership dues can be charged to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

What is the NRA shooting course?

The NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting course is objective‐based .  This course has been designed to allow for maximum flexibility in scheduling.  The exercise times listed are typical times and your actual experience may vary. Instructors teaching this course for the first time, those mentoring new instructors, or those who do not have the support of an experienced instructor team should factor in additional time.  It is better to plan a longer course and finish early than to run overtime or cut a lesson short.  With experience gained by teaching from these lesson plans, you will soon be able to plan an entire course accurately and adhere more closely to your schedule.

How to prepare for a NRA class?

Prepare for the class by reviewing this lesson plan and ensuring that all materials are prepped for use. Combined with the information found in the NRA Trainer’s Guide (“Planning and Conducting Your NRA Course”), the material presented in this course outline will put you on the road to success.  The learning objectives are your road map‐‐use them.

How to join the NRA?

To join NRA today, or for additional information about membership, call 1-800-NRA-3888. Your membership dues can be charged to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

How to teach gun safety?

During every lesson, constantly emphasize in words and by your own actions that a gun must always be kept pointed in a safe direction.  Be certain that students observe this rule at all times, especially whenever students handle guns, as in dry‐fire, live‐fire and gun cleaning exercises.  Safety must be your foremost concern; therefore, you must personally observe all of the gun safety rules at all times, and monitor your students carefully to ensure that they are also observing these rules.  Instructors must lead by example. Whenever you pick up a pistol, either for demonstration purposes or to hand it to a student, always be sure to keep it pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, remove the magazine (if any), open the action, and visually and physically check the chamber(s) to be sure that no live round remains in the gun.  Use each such occasion as an opportunity to reinforce your students’ gun safety training by having a student verify the unloaded condition of the pistol.  Be sure that each student also performs this sequence of steps each time he or she picks up a pistol.  Ensure that the student observes all of the safe gun handling rules (such as “ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction”) while he or she inspects the chamber(s) to verify that the pistol is empty.

How many shooters should be on the firing line for NRA?

If this is not possible, the ratio on the firing line should not exceed two shooters for every NRA Certified Pistol Instructor. Whenever possible, use the coach/pupil method, with one student coaching the shooter on the line through the proper technique.  This promotes student learning and provides an extra pair of eyes on the shooting line for greater safety.

How many shots can you shoot at level 4?

For Level 4, use the NRA Instructor Training Qualification Target.  Have the student shoot 20 shots from 45 feet.  If they are able to place 16 of the 20 shots within a six inch group, the student would earn the Level 4 endorsement.  Each endorsement is something they would be proud to share with their friends and family.

Where is the NRA training facility?

If you have any questions about the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course, please contact: NRA Training Department 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030 (703) 267‐1500

image