Pistol 101 — 2-Hour Skill-Progression

Course length: 2 hours
Class size: Maximum 6 students per instructor (recommended)
Prerequisite: Must be legally permitted to possess/use firearms in your jurisdiction; bring government ID. Basic, concise safety review required — no prior shooting experience necessary.

Course emphasis

Safety brief followed immediately by a tightly structured skill-progression: dry-fire fundamentals, progressive live-fire drills, instant performance feedback, and a brief assessment. This is designed for new shooters who want fast, practical improvement rather than long classroom theory.

Learning objectives

By the end of the 2-hour clinic students will be able to:

Complete a concise Safety/Condition Check and follow basic range commands reliably.
Demonstrate proper grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger press in dry-fire.
Transition those dry-fire fundamentals into live-fire under supervision.
Progress through a series of drills that build accuracy, speed, and recoil management.
Recognize and safely clear common malfunctions.
Perform a short live-fire performance drill showing measurable improvement from start to finish.

Safety Brief (first 10–15 minutes)

A focused review covering:

The four universal rules (brief and demonstrated).
How to perform a Chamber/Condition Check (semi-auto and revolver).
Range commands and immediate actions.
This is intentionally compact so the majority of time is spent practicing skills.

2-Hour Typical Agenda (timed)

00:00–00:10 — Quick check-in & condensed safety briefing (10 min)
00:10–00:25 — Dry-fire fundamentals & demonstration: grip, stance, sights, trigger press, follow-through (15 min)
00:25–00:35 — Dry-fire practice with immediate coaching (10 min)
00:35–00:50 — Live-fire baseline: slow fire for accuracy (15 min) — establish starting point
00:50–01:20 — Progressive live-fire drills (30 min) — controlled pairs, timed single shots, varying distances (each drill increases complexity)
01:20–01:30 — Basic malfunction recognition & safe resolution (10 min) — practice with instructor demonstration only
01:30–01:45 — Performance drill / mini-qualification (15 min) — measure improvement, focus on repeatability
01:45–02:00 — Debrief, individualized tips, practice plan and next steps (15 min)

Skill progression (drills & goals)

Dry-fire: consistent sight picture and a smooth, surprise trigger press.
Slow live-fire: place single, accurate shots at target — build confidence.
Controlled pairs: two deliberate shots focusing on recoil control and reset.
Timed strings: develop speed with acceptable accuracy (par time windows).
Distance/target transitions: increase visual and positional complexity as time allows.

Suggested equipment & ammo

Pistol you are familiar with (or rental) and 75–150 rounds recommended depending on drill pacing and range policies.
Magazine(s) recommended to minimize reload time.
Eye & hearing protection, closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothes.
Government ID.

Safety & instructor notes

Safety is always enforced; the briefing is brief but non-negotiable. Any unsafe behavior results in removal.
Small student-to-instructor ratio ensures personalized coaching and rapid correction.
This clinic is not a substitute for comprehensive fundamentals or defensive training — it’s a focused skills session to accelerate competence and prepare you for the Pistol 102 course.