Course Information
The Intro to Handguns course is a 6-8 hour basic level training course with classroom and range instruction. This course is ideal for anyone new to handguns, and/or anyone considering purchasing their first new gun. Starting with a heavy emphasis on safety and practicality, we cover a lot more than “just the basics” in this course.
** SUMMER HOURS: Friday 4pm to 6pm in Classroom. Sat 7am to 2pm on the range. **
COST:
$85.00
PREREQUISITES:
none.
NOTES:
Students will need: Eye and Hearing protection, handgun (semi-auto or revolver), 100 rounds of training ammunition, note-taking material, plenty of water & snacks for the range, and weather appropriate attire.
Rental Handguns are available upon coordinated request – let us know if you’re planning to rent when you register! Email training@dbackshootingsports.com to coordinate rentals, or with questions.
Must be lawfully allowed to train with firearms.
What this course covers
- Intro to Safety
- Universal Safe Gun Handling Rules
- Components of Handguns (Revolvers and Semis)
- Features and Functions
- Components and Types of Ammunition
- Terms and definitions
- Maintenance and Cleaning
- Disassembly, Inspection and re-assembly of handguns
- Safe Storage of Firearms
- Intro to Fundamentals of Marksmanship (classroom)
- Grip, Stance and Aiming
- Relocate to the Private Range
- Range Safety and Safe Gun Handling on the Range
- Fundamentals of Marksmanship
- Loading and Unloading
- Live-Fire shooting drills, Slow-fire for Accuracy (100 Rounds Minimum)
- Course Completion, Summary
Required Gear:
Note-taking material
Eye / Hearing Protection
Handgun: Revolver or Semi-Automatic of .22 LR caliber or greater.
(No single-action “cowboy” guns)
Spare magazines, speed strips (for revolvers) and/or speed loaders
A minimum of 100 rounds of target ammunition
Water, snacks/ag lunch, and sunscreen as appropriate
Weather appropriate attire for the private outdoor range (no sandals or open-toed footwear)
Rental Guns and Gear available upon coordinated request.
Our Instructors
Director of Training – Michael Maurer has been a member of the Tucson shooting community since 2015, starting as a student at Diamondback Training Center. His passion for firearms drew him to the practical shooting sports where he found his love for competitive pistol shooting. Mike is a Master class Carry Optics shooter in the International Defensive Pistol Association and regularly travels for competition and training events. He has studied under national trainers to include Drew Estell, JJ Racaza, Scott Jedlinski, Fabio Spinella, Gabe White, Nick Young, Tim Herron, AJ Zito, Ernest Langdon, and Rick Crawley. Mike’s passion for sport shooting drives him to constantly train and seek new ways to improve his skills. He brings that passion to his instruction as well, blending his patient, calm demeanor to help students bridge the gap between their current skills and their goals as shooters.
E-mail: training@dbackshootingsports.com
-TCCC certified
-NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun instructor and RSO
-Awards: GWT Turbo Pin #43, AHT Man Card #141
A US Army 82nd Airborne Reconnaissance Infantryman, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran (2008-2009), I also spend as much time as possible outside hunting and fishing. Having countless hours training with multiple weapon platforms from crew served weapons to pistols, and having trained military, law enforcement, and civilians. We are constantly updating our training curriculum, making Diamondback an ideal training environment for individuals from every walk of life.
-NRA Certifications: Refuse to be A Victim Instructor, Range Safety Officer, Pistol Instructor, Rifle Instructor, Shotgun Instructor, Inside and Outside the Home Personal Protection Instructor
-Arizona Department of Public Safety, Unarmed and Armed Security Guard Instructor
-California POST Instructor
-Sabre Red OC Spray Instructor
-ASP Baton, Handcuffing, and Flashlight Tactics Instructor
-CPR Certified
