Move Beyond Basic Marksmanship and Develop Defensive Handgun Skills

The NRA Defensive Pistol course is designed for shooters who have already developed fundamental handgun skills and are ready to progress into defensive pistol training.

This is not an introductory handgun course. Students build upon existing firearm safety, gun-handling and marksmanship skills while learning techniques specifically designed for the defensive use of a handgun.

The course is focused on developing the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to use a pistol ethically, responsibly and with confidence.

What You Will Learn

• Responsible and ethical use of a pistol for personal protection
• Applying firearm safety rules to defensive pistol handling
• Mental awareness and development of a defensive mindset
• Techniques for avoiding potentially life-threatening confrontations
• Psychological and physiological effects of a high-stress encounter
• Principles of handgun concealment
• Safely presenting the pistol from the holster
• Presenting the pistol from concealment
• Flash sight picture and rapid engagement
• Use of cover and concealment
• Emergency and speed reloads
• Clearing common pistol stoppages
• Immediate-action drills
• Engaging targets at varying distances
• Moving off the line of attack
• Scanning and assessing
• NRA Defensive Pistol Qualification

From Fundamentals to Defensive Application

Defensive handgun training requires more than standing on a firing line and shooting at a stationary target. Throughout this course, students progressively develop their skills through dry-fire and live-fire exercises.

Students learn to safely present the handgun, engage targets from multiple distances, perform reloads, clear common stoppages, move off the line of attack, and incorporate cover and concealment when appropriate. The emphasis throughout the course is on safe, deliberate and responsible defensive handgun handling.

Prerequisites

Students attending NRA Defensive Pistol should already possess safe firearm-handling skills and be comfortable operating their handgun.

• Safely load and unload their handgun
• Demonstrate proper muzzle and trigger-finger discipline
• Establish a proper grip and shooting position
• Operate the controls of their firearm
• Demonstrate basic handgun marksmanship

NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting or equivalent training and experience is strongly recommended.

Students who are new to handguns should complete a basic pistol course before registering for NRA Defensive Pistol.

Required Equipment

• A reliable handgun appropriate for defensive use
• Quality strong-side hip holster that completely covers the trigger and trigger guard
• Quality belt capable of securely supporting the handgun and holster
• At least two spare magazines or speed loaders
• Appropriate magazine or speed-loader pouches
• 200 rounds of quality practice ammunition
• Clothing suitable for the course exercises
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection - electronic hearing protection recommended

All firearms, holsters and related equipment are subject to instructor inspection before being used during the course.

Live-Fire Training

Students progress through live-fire exercises at multiple distances while developing the ability to safely apply handgun skills in a defensive context. Exercises include presenting the pistol from concealment, multiple-shot engagements, movement, emergency reloads and immediate-action drills.

Accuracy remains a priority throughout the course. Students are expected to demonstrate safe gun handling and consistent hits before progressing through increasingly challenging exercises.

NRA Defensive Pistol Qualification

The course concludes with the NRA Defensive Pistol Qualification. The qualification consists of 34 rounds and incorporates:

• Shooting from concealment
• Engagements from 3, 5, 7 and 10 yards
• Timed shooting exercises
• Speed reloads
• Immediate-action drills

Students must successfully demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and shooting proficiency to earn the NRA Defensive Pistol Certificate.

Who Should Take This Course?

• Graduates of NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting
• Experienced handgun owners ready to move beyond basic marksmanship
• Individuals who keep or carry a handgun for personal protection
• Shooters seeking structured defensive handgun training
• Students who want to become safer, more capable and more confident with their handgun

Train Beyond the Basics. Develop the Skills. Build the Confidence. Be Prepared.