Creating a CCW-training-friendly public gun range

[Librarian]

A variant on the 'where can I go train' issue.

If I understand the issues correctly, it seems that 'ordinary' practice facilities generally disallow
* drawing from a holster
* use of multiple targets
* movement while firing
and some other things that seem to be helpful are also often restricted -rapid fire, human-shaped targets, etc.

Classes seem to address the safety issues by having lots of supervision, and small numbers of students/users.

Suppose a person takes a class or six, and learns the appropriate skills. At some point, more classes might be fun, but practice of the skills is what will give that muscle-memory - and one might hope practice would be less expensive!

So, my question is, what is necessary to safely allow individual practice of CCW skills? How does one build, staff, and organize a facility that would allow a suitably screened customer to practice skills which often are thought too dangerous, outside the class 'controlled environment'? Can it be done at all?

 

[sidheshooter]

I am very fortunate that the training facility closest to me offers free retakes of any class once you've passed it the first time. You'd think they'd be clogged up with people retaking, but most can't/don't take the time off to take advantage of the situation. I can usually get into a retake class when I have the time, myself.

They also have a new class coming up that is just 4 hours of reviewing manipulation drills (strong and weak hand only malf drils with instructor loaded dummy rounds in mags, one handed reloading, both sides, etc) and moving/flip targets.

Unfortunately, I didn't get off my duff in time for that one; I'm 2 out on the wait list. If a couple cancels, then I can take those 4 hours of practice for just the cost of ammo, too.

 

[Ric_in_OR]

Look for a range with Action Ranges (Cowboy, IDPA, IPSC, 3-gun, iCORE, etc.)

 

[TonyDedo]

+1 for action shooting, especially IDPA. It's a competition designed around enhancing CCW skills, and already has the structure to do so in a safe, controlled manner.

Otherwise, the challenges are as follows:

#1, you need to shut down the entire range and operate one shooter at a time, with the other participants back and off the firing line.

#2, you need an action pit or a range where you can engage targets at a wider degree of angle.

#3, you need an experienced safety officer to write and enforce safety rules during the training.

You can see this all done at any action shooting match.

Really, the challenge is finding a range to use, and then go from there. I belong to a private club which has a dozen or more action pits - so long as the club isn't hosting a match, there's always one available. So long as you follow the range rules (don't violate the 180 degree boundary, all shots into the berm, use proper targets and generally be safe) you can set up shop and train all you want, however you want. The club also hosts various organized action shooting events, whether it's IDPA, steel challenge, or bowling pin shoots.

The other thing you can do is practice drawing, aiming and dry firing from the comfort of your own home. Be safe, triple check to be sure you're unloaded, and then dry fire as much as you can. Great practice.

 

[beatledog7]

It truly is a conundrum that we push CCW holders to get effective training (but not making it mandatory, mind you) yet fall way short in providing venues for effective training.

I'm an NRA pistol instructor, but I've got no formal, specific CCW/SD training. I rely on my military training and experience and what I've picked informally from other instructors. Most of us have no place to practice tactics/techniques. The two ranges closest to me don't even allow drawing from a holster, but given that they're essentially public ranges with no real supervision of shooters, I get that.

There is a huge demand for effective training, but there are even bigger barriers to entry in the defensive firearms training field. The owners and managers of existing training venues play a role in keeping barriers in place, just as in any industry. But artificial, non-market, government-erected barriers are also in place, and they intentionally difficult to overcome.

I believe there are plenty of good instructors, many of whom are good not because they have years of competition, military, or LE experience, but because they know what people need to know, and they know how to teach what they know. Prospective students are looking for instructors who have won some championships, have worked for many years in armed security, or have been involved in several firefights. It seems presumed, but is often far from true, that these people can effectively teach what they know. Given that, lots of good instructors who have no "reputation" and therefore no marketable credibility can't get students and can't hire venues.

Until we dissolve these barriers, the shortage of training will persist.

 

[Sam1911]

We address that issue by having multiple deep pistol pits or bays so shooters can generally have a well-bounded and backstopped area for themselves or their group to train in without endangering anyone else, and additionally by having a core, organized, group that meets once a week to do exactly that kind of training (as well as putting on and running the club's IDPA matches once a month).

I know of one club over near Philadelphia that has a very extensive set of qualification tests each member must pass to be allowed to use the ranges in different ways. Each different safety/skill set carries its own certification (shooting from the bench, shooting while moving, drawing from a holster, rifle range, practical rifle, wingshooting shotgun, static shotgunning, standing to pee in the clubhouse bathroom, and so forth).

We've seen no credible need to go to that extreme at our club, but some of our facilities and activities are off-limits without group supervision. Two activities, use of full-auto and use of the shoot-houses (outside of organized matches), do require a simple certification.


...

On a second reading, it appears you're asking about doing this as a commercial venture. I'm not sure how you could divest yourself of liability for that kind of risk with general "off the street" customers. In all cases I know of, this is handled through membership in an organized shooting club where the persons engaging in that activity are not customers, but invested members of the club itself (or guests under supervision). AND/OR is exercised under a shooting match format like IDPA or (kind of, at least) USPSA. That does a lot of the pre-screening task for you and takes much of the liability for dangerous behavior off the shoulders of the facility owner.