Which Weapon For HCP Class

[Guest RemedyCNC]

I am going to take the HCP class after the first of the year. I am going to try to convince my wife to take it with me. She is adventurous and likes to try new things. To my knowledge, she has never fired a handgun in her life.

Here is my question. I have both a .40 and a 9mm. Which would you suggest for her to use for the class due to her never using a handgun before? I am hesitant to use the 9mm since ammo is scarce and .40 seems to be abundant.

Also, if we attend together, are we allowed to share a weapon?

All input is appreciated.

[56FordGuy]

Ideally, a .22 would be good. The range where you take the shooting portion of the course will probably have one available, at least to rent.

[Garufa]

Depending on where you take the class, sometimes guns are provided, and they are often .22's. Might want to check on that.

[Guest Muttling]

Yes you can share weapons.

She has to qualify on whatever weapon she shoots. It can be a .22. Qualifying is pretty easy, but if she's never shot before....she needs to put in some range time on whatever weapon she wants to carry.

[Currently]

Use a .22 as they are easy to handle. And inexpensive to practice with.

I scored a hundred on both written and the qualifying shoot.

My Buckmark feels and handles like my 1911.

Forget about going there with the biggest, baddest gun.

All they want to see is if you can shoot what you aim at various ranges.

HINT: Shoot at the target head for the close range session and keep the body mass for the distance session.

Don't try to shoot tight groups, if the bullet is in the black, it counts.

I had a couple of idiots in my class that shot 3 inch groups and barely passed as the bullet holes were not distinct and could not be counted.

Edited December 6, 2009 by Currently

[Loon160T]

I'd recommend borrowing or renting a 22 as well.

My wife borrowed a friend's Ruger Mark II and out shot me in qualifying (I used my XD(m) 40). It was her first time using the pistol also.

[Parrothead]

I'd recommend borrowing or renting a 22 as well.

My wife borrowed a friend's Ruger Mark II and out shot me in qualifying (I used my XD(m) 40). It was her first time using the pistol also.

agreed.....if you can shoot a BB gun you can pass with a .22

[DWARREN123]

Try her with both and see which she likes and then practice a lot until the class.

[tntnixon]

I am going to take the HCP class after the first of the year. I am going to try to convince my wife to take it with me. She is adventurous and likes to try new things. To my knowledge, she has never fired a handgun in her life.

Here is my question. I have both a .40 and a 9mm. Which would you suggest for her to use for the class due to her never using a handgun before? I am hesitant to use the 9mm since ammo is scarce and .40 seems to be abundant.

Also, if we attend together, are we allowed to share a weapon?

All input is appreciated.

I'm not quite sure why everyone is suggesting the .22 except that they are easy to shoot. The whole purpose of the HCP class is to make sure you're gonna be safe with a weapon. Unless she will carry a .22, I would have her use whatever weapon she is likely to carry.

When you have a 16 year old child who wants his/her DL, you take them out in a real car and teach them how to drive before you take them to the Department of Safety. You don't take them over totally unprepared and let them drive a go-kart because it's easier. I feel the same way about the HCP.

Take her to the range and have her try (rent) several weapons in real self defense calibers, and actually teach her how to shoot until she is good enough to pass the live fire section. If you're not good enough, you need the practice yourself.

The dirty little secret of taking your woman to the range for the first time is it's very sexy to both you and her. Just something about gunpowder....

[Guest grimel]

Use a .22 as they are easy to handle. And inexpensive to practice with.

I scored a hundred on both written and the qualifying shoot.

My Buckmark feels and handles like my 1911.

Forget about going there with the biggest, baddest gun.

All they want to see is if you can shoot what you aim at various ranges.

HINT: Shoot at the target head for the close range session and keep the body mass for the distance session.

Don't try to shoot tight groups, if the bullet is in the black, it counts.

I had a couple of idiots in my class that shot 3 inch groups and barely passed as the bullet holes were not distinct and could not be counted.

Sounds more like an idiot instructor.

OP, as has been previously stated, have her use a 22. If that isn't an option, 9mm. If this is going to be one of her first few attempts with a handgun, the least noise and recoil the better. It would be really nice for her if she had just a little shooting instruction and experience BEFORE the HCP class.

[Guest grimel]

I'm not quite sure why everyone is suggesting the .22 except that they are easy to shoot. The whole purpose of the HCP class is to make sure you're gonna be safe with a weapon. Unless she will carry a .22, I would have her use whatever weapon she is likely to carry.

When you have a 16 year old child who wants his/her DL, you take them out in a real car and teach them how to drive before you take them to the Department of Safety. You don't take them over totally unprepared and let them drive a go-kart because it's easier. I feel the same way about the HCP.

Because it is her FIRST experience with a handgun. You also don't take a 16yr old and start them out with a Z-6 Vette. Besides, the car/gun comparison fails on many levels:

1) a 22 is MUCH MUCH cheaper than a 9/40/45/38 to shoot, thus, much more practice can be had.

2) a 22 has a MUCH MUCH MUCH softer recoil - again allows much more practice

3) a 22 is MUCH quieter that a 9/40/45/38 making a flinch much less likely to develop

As you said HCP class is to "make sure they are safe." That can be done just as well with a 22 as a 44mag. How safe you are doesn't depend on the size of the hole in the barrel. Actually, the HCP class is to cover the law (mostly) and ensure that to some limited degree the person can hit their target. Other than lip service safe gun handling is marginally involved as there are no real tests beyond cold square range rules.

[tntnixon]

Because it is her FIRST experience with a handgun. You also don't take a 16yr old and start them out with a Z-6 Vette.

I guess you missed the point of my post. The point is that the HCP class shouldn't be the first experience with a handgun. You should get experience before taking the class.

Like you said, you wouldn't give kid a vette as a first driving experience. But you also wouldn't have them drive the Pinto for the test and then hand them the keys to the Vette right after. I doubt that the day she gets her HCP she's gonna put a .22 in her purse. She will probably put a 9mm or a .38sp revolver in it, so learn to use that weapon. 9mm's and .38's are not vettes, closer to Honda Civics.

[Currently]

Sounds more like an idiot instructor.

OP, as has been previously stated, have her use a 22. If that isn't an option, 9mm. If this is going to be one of her first few attempts with a handgun, the least noise and recoil the better. It would be really nice for her if she had just a little shooting instruction and experience BEFORE the HCP class.

Actually the instructor repeated several times not to shoot tight groups. Each hole has to be counted separately. If you have two holes touching each other and it is obvious, they will count for two shots. If you punch a hole out the center, how does one prove how many shots did it?

As usual, some people didn't listen, their bolls were much bigger than their ears. Even if it was stated several times, they did it anyways.

Kind of like this place, reading comprehension suffers at times when emotions and testosterone kicks in.

I am as guilty of it as the next person, no one is perfect but there are a lot of people that believe they are ...

[Hotshot]

I guess you missed the point of my post. The point is that the HCP class shouldn't be the first experience with a handgun. You should get experience before taking the class.

Like you said, you wouldn't give kid a vette as a first driving experience. But you also wouldn't have them drive the Pinto for the test and then hand them the keys to the Vette right after. I doubt that the day she gets her HCP she's gonna put a .22 in her purse. She will probably put a 9mm or a .38sp revolver in it, so learn to use that weapon. 9mm's and .38's are not vettes, closer to Honda Civics.

Sadly, for many people, the HCP class is the first and only time they shoot a handgun.

[Guest redbarron06]

Have her go out and rent a few guns, shoot them and when you find one she likes get it for her and let her qualify with that. .22 is ok for teaching but one of the worst choices for carrying. Let her qualify with the wepon she is likley to carry. She does not need to get used to shooting a 22 and then have to figure out the differences between a 22 and a 9 when it counts. If she really likes to shooting and the larger calibers dont bother her, then both of you should qualify with both guns. Having a qualification on record with the gun you are carrying is only going to look good if you ever have to use it. The classes i have been to only charge a few extra dollars to shoot a 2nd or even 3rd gun.

[Guest RemedyCNC]

Thanks for all the replies. I seriously doubt she will ever carry on a regular basis. My idea of taking her with me was to have yet another thing to do together and to make her feel a bit safer when she is home alone. Thanks again for all the input. I will check into renting a .22 for the class.

[Guest grimel]

Actually the instructor repeated several times not to shoot tight groups. Each hole has to be counted separately. If you have two holes touching each other and it is obvious, they will count for two shots. If you punch a hole out the center, how does one prove how many shots did it?

You engage that thing between the ears. One big hole the size of a fist in the 10 ring with 1 or 2 in the 9 ring and it should be beyond obvious where the shots went. The more shots fired, the bigger the hole will get especially with range changes and multiple reloads.

At worst take the area of the hole and divide it by the area of the rounds being used, then multiply by 1.3.

[Guest HexHead]

HINT: Shoot at the target head for the close range session and keep the body mass for the distance session.

Don't try to shoot tight groups, if the bullet is in the black, it counts.

I had a couple of idiots in my class that shot 3 inch groups and barely passed as the bullet holes were not distinct and could not be counted.

Why on the hint? Like you said, as long as it's on the silhouette, it's good.

Who cares if the holes can't be counted. If the center of the target is "shot out" and there's no holes off the silhouette, it's pretty well given they can shoot well enough. Besides, I don't think they need to count the hits, just subtract the misses.

Edited December 6, 2009 by HexHead

[bubbiesdad]

Use a .22 as they are easy to handle. And inexpensive to practice with.

I scored a hundred on both written and the qualifying shoot.

My Buckmark feels and handles like my 1911.

Forget about going there with the biggest, baddest gun.

All they want to see is if you can shoot what you aim at various ranges.

HINT: Shoot at the target head for the close range session and keep the body mass for the distance session.

Don't try to shoot tight groups, if the bullet is in the black, it counts.

I had a couple of idiots in my class that shot 3 inch groups and barely passed as the bullet holes were not distinct and could not be counted.

Head shots are a definite no no.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Who cares if the holes can't be counted. If the center of the target is "shot out" and there's no holes off the silhouette, it's pretty well given they can shoot well enough. Besides, I don't think they need to count the hits, just subtract the misses.

[Guest grimel]

Head shots are a definite no no.

Says who?

[bubbiesdad]

Says who?

Phantom6?

[trblmkr13]

You engage that thing between the ears. One big hole the size of a fist in the 10 ring with 1 or 2 in the 9 ring and it should be beyond obvious where the shots went. The more shots fired, the bigger the hole will get especially with range changes and multiple reloads.

At worst take the area of the hole and divide it by the area of the rounds being used, then multiply by 1.3.

+1 if there is a large hole in the 10 ring that's a good thing

[Guest grimel]

Phantom6?

For the shoot or in use? If it's what's there it's what's there. If you have a failure to stop, it's on the immediate action list. Don't take what he said out of context.

[eapking]

I am going to take the HCP class after the first of the year. I am going to try to convince my wife to take it with me. She is adventurous and likes to try new things. To my knowledge, she has never fired a handgun in her life.

Here is my question. I have both a .40 and a 9mm. Which would you suggest for her to use for the class due to her never using a handgun before? I am hesitant to use the 9mm since ammo is scarce and .40 seems to be abundant.

Also, if we attend together, are we allowed to share a weapon?

All input is appreciated.

Let her qualify with the 9mm. The less recoil will help the case of nerves she'll likely have. Doesn't mean that's what she has to carry once she gets the permit.