Pistol Essentials — Core Handgun Proficiency

A structured approach to safe, confident handgun skills.

No prior formal training required. Built for new shooters and for self-taught shooters who want stronger fundamentals.

⚠️ This is a live-fire class. You must bring your own handgun, 250 rounds of factory ammunition, and eye and ear protection. Full gear list below.

“This class helped me understand what I was doing and why. I left feeling confident and safe with my pistol.”
— Former Student

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🎯 By the end of this class, you will be able to:

Safely load, unload and handle your handgun, including slide-lock procedures
Build a consistent grip that manages recoil, using leverage and friction to control muzzle rise
Aim with purpose — sight alignment versus sight picture, irons or red dot, and when to focus on the sights versus the target
Clear common handgun malfunctions with confidence
Work through a safe, structured, step-by-step draw process
Practice safe bench shooting and gun handling
Build consistency with live-fire reps
Take home dry-fire drills to keep improving between classes

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📌 Course Overview

Pistol Essentials is a structured handgun course for shooters with little to no formal training, and for self-taught shooters who want to rebuild from the ground up. It focuses on how and why a pistol works the way it does in your hands — not rigid techniques, gimmicks or shortcuts. The principles carry across different pistols, environments and shooting styles, so you leave with a foundation you can keep building on.

The class stands on its own as a complete fundamentals course. It also pairs naturally with Pistol 101 if you want a slower-paced, safety-focused introduction before or after. Wherever you are starting from, the pace is built to meet you there.

🔍 Who This Class Is For

Graduates of Pistol 101 and beginning shooters
New handgun owners who want more confidence
Shooters looking to clean up their fundamentals
Anyone building the skills to carry concealed
Anyone ready to move beyond basic safety into proficiency

🧰 What to Bring

Handgun — modern, reliable and serviceable
250 rounds of factory ammunition
2–3 magazines (minimum)
Strong-side holster, if you plan to draw
Eye and ear protection
Closed-toe shoes
Baseball hat
Note-taking materials (recommended)

Register Now — Limited to 20 Students

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any prior experience? No prior formal training is required. This class is built for new shooters and for self-taught shooters. If you have never handled a firearm at all, we encourage you to take Pistol 101 first — you will retain far more from this class.

Will there be live fire? Yes. The class combines live fire, dry fire and lecture, all outdoors.

What if I'm nervous about guns? That is exactly who this class is for. Chris's teaching style is calm, patient and judgment-free.

What type of gun can I bring? Any modern, reliable, serviceable handgun.

What's the next step after this class? Next Level Pistol — 400 rounds over 8 hours, designed to show you your potential.

Ready to Build Real Proficiency?

Class size is limited to 20 students. Bring your handgun, 250 rounds and eye and ear protection — the full gear list is above.

Questions before registering? Call or text Chris at 208-704-2355.

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About Make Ready Training Company. Training is led by Chris Schaefer, a retired law-enforcement officer and certified firearms instructor with extensive experience teaching new shooters. Chris holds certifications from the NRA, USCCA and Tactical Hyve, and has completed advanced programs with Tactical Performance Center (TPC). His teaching style is calm, supportive and easy to follow.

🔁 Cancellation & Refund Policy

More than 14 days before the class start date: full refund.
Between 14 and 5 days before the class start date: credit toward a future Make Ready course, no refund.
Within 5 days of the class start date, or a no-show: no refund or credit.

If you are unsure whether this class is right for you, or you hit an emergency, call or text (208) 704-2355 before registering and we will do our best to help.