Please call or email me if you have any questions or concerns after reading this page.

Location of the NRA Basic Pistol Class

The location of this class is The Dallas Security Academy facility at 4131 S. Buckner. For a map, click on the “Location” link just above this paragraph.

Parking should not be a problem at the new location. Just come in through the (open) gate on the northeast side of the facility, and park near the back where the range is.

Arrival Time

Please arrive at 8:15 a.m. for check-in. I plan to be there a little earlier than that to set up and go out to the front to guide folks in.

Classroom Attire

Dress comfy, in layers; the A/C unit tends to be either too warm or too cold, or alternating between both. The outside weather has cooled off, so that is less of a problem than it was in the summer.

Range Appropriate Attire

The range is smaller than the one I have been using before, but it is air-conditioned, and will be reasonably comfortable. We will be spending at least a couple of hours in the range (with some breaks). You might want to bring some shooting gloves. Or maybe some thin cotton utility gloves.

Make sure your shirt or blouse buttons up high enough to prevent hot brass from going down your front. If you have an open-neck shirt/blouse, bring a crew-neck T-shirt to wear in the range, either over, under, or instead of, the shirt/blouse. Or wear a scarf, or whatever it takes to keep hot brass out of your shirt. Wear CLOSED-TOED shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, etc, which expose any part of the foot are not allowed in the range (ok for the classroom). Hot brass hurts your feet, too!

The range provides eye and ear protection, but if you have your own, it’s probably in better shape. If you wear glasses, that is considered adequate eye protection, but additional safety glasses may prevent your glasses from getting scratched by berm backsplash or flying brass. Bring a brimmed hat to wear in the range (baseball cap recommended, but any hat or visor that has a brim over the forehead will do). It helps keep hot brass from getting behind your eye protection or in your hair.

Please bear in mind that the range procedures are primarily for safety. Your 100% cooperation is vital.

Handguns, Ammo

You do not have to bring your own handgun to this class, but we encourage you to bring it if you have one, both for NRA training and CHL range test. If you bring your own, you will receive individualized training on your make and model — including how to properly clean it. You will also need to bring your own ammunition (50 rounds for the CHL test plus a box or two for the NRA portion of the class). Be SURE(!!!!) you bring the correct caliber of ammo for your gun.

If you bring your own, bring it UNLOADED in a case, and leave it in your car until range time, even if you have a current CHL (this is a requirement of the range owner, and NRA rules). If you are being dropped off (or riding a motorcycle or any vehicle without a trunk) and unable to leave your handgun in a car, bring it to me and I will keep it in my custody.

If you plan to take the CHL range test, please note the following: Minimum caliber allowed for CHL qualification is a .32. The range berm is adequate for a .357 magnum or .45, but please do NOT bring any caliber of handgun larger than a .45. If all you have is a 50-cal hand-cannon, please leave it at home.

Please do NOT bring reloaded ammunition. The ammunition shortage has passed (for now, at least), so you should be able to obtain factory-new ammo at relatively reasonable prices.

Whether or not you bring your own handgun, you will get to shoot several different types and calibers of handgun during this course. We will supply ammo for our handguns, which is already covered in your course fee.

Lunch, snacks

I will supply bottled water and a light lunch (sandwiches & chips) so that you don’t have to go hunting for a place to eat, and so that we can take maximum advantage of the time we have there.

You are welcome (encouraged!) to bring your own drinks and snacks to consume in class. I haven’t been to that facility for a while, but I don’t recall seeing any vending machines there. I ask that you carefully clean up afterward. The range doesn’t have any coffee, so if you are a coffee drinker, you will probably want to stop at your favorite coffee shop on the way to class. Or bring a thermos.

I think that covers everything. If not, give me a call or email. Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to meeting all of you on this weekend.

–Howard