The NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course introduces you to the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for owning and using a pistol safely. This course is required by most states to be able to apply for your pistol permit.
Through this course, you will learn about pistol parts and operation, ammunition, gun safety, pistol
shooting fundamentals, and pistol shooting activities.
What does the course cover/how is it structured?
The course is broken down into 4 classroom lessons and one live fire exercise.
- Pistol Knowledge and Safe Gun Handling
- Ammunition Knowledge and the Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
- Shooting Positions and Shooting Qualifications
- Scoring Targets, and Selecting and Maintaining Your Pistol
- Continued Opportunities for Skill Development
To earn your certificate of completion, you must pass a multiple choice/true or false test comprised of 50 questions with a score of 90% or higher as well as demonstrate competency during the live fire exercise.
How long does the course take?
The entire course (if completed in one day) can take up to 8 hours. The actual course length may vary, as the time required for each lesson will vary because of class size, facilities, student experience and comprehension level.