I'm scheduled for my HCP class

[Camaro_nut2001]

Well folks I finally found a HCP class!! I am so excited lol. I found a class a week or so ago but it was going to be with 5 or more people. I told the instructor I was going to try to find a one person class but would let him know three days before his class started if I was going to attend his or had found the one on one. Well, just got the news that I will be doing the one person class and just called him to let him know. He is a very nice feller and thanked me for keeping my word about letting him know. I could have done the larger class but due to my walking ability I was afraid I would hold the complete class up when we went to the range and I didn't want to do that. I will be doing this class by myself and broken up into two 4 hour classes on two different days. It's a little more costly but I don't want to make other people have to suffer and wait on me lagging behind. I have been carrying without a permit for several years. When I got myself to where I could get around a little better with my cane, I was riding a scooter, I started looking for a class close to me. Where I will be taking it is about a 35min. drive away. Please keep ya'lls fingers crossed that I pass, lol. I'm so happy I had to let ya'll know as this is an awesome community.

 

Ohh, almost forgot, what do ya'll think I should use for my range test? I am a pretty good shot with all my guns but I don't know how many rounds I will be firing nor do I know at what distance. I have every caliber except for a .44mag and a S&W 500. I was carrying my Kel-Tec 9mm but switched to my Taurus .380. Do ya'll think I'd be better off with my Walther .22 or maybe my Bersa .40 or just stick with the .380 I carry? That little Kel-Tec 9mm has a good amount of recoil and I don't want my hands to get tired at the end and start shooting crappy. I am going to practice, with the one I decide to take, every day, as long as the weather is good, before the test. I'm scheduled for the 8th and the 10th of October.

[DWARREN123]

22lr or .380 would be my  choice with the info you have stated.

[smithra89]

I would just take the .22lr. No doubt you would pass with it and it would just be fun shooting. Good Luck!

[Mike.357]

Stevie Wonder could pass the shooting test.  Use whatever you have the most ammo for or whatever you can replace 48 rounds with.

[Joe357]

You will need 50 rounds of ammo and will be firing from 3, 5 and 7 yards. Use the gun you shoot on a regular bases and you will do just fine.

[NextExit]

You would also find that with a larger group, the classroom gets held up by the one person asking a series of "what if" questions. :squint:

[luvmyberetta]

You'll need 50 rounds for the test. I always suggest using the pistol you plan to use for SD carry, but you can use any pistol or caliber you prefer. Since my Beretta .45 acp was going to be my main carry pistol, that's what I used for my shooting test. I got my permit 3 1/2 years ago & we had to shoot 49 rounds at 5, 7, 9, (10 rounds each) & 15 yards (19 rounds), but I'm not sure if there's a certain mandatory distance or if it's set by the individual instructor. Just relax & enjoy it & you'll do fine. It's nothing to sweat over.

[Luke E.]

 Like others have said, 50rds is what the class calls for. The size of the target and scoring HAS changed in the last year or two though. You used to shoot at one of the full sized silhouette targets and as long as you kept them on paper you were good to go. Now the targets are silhouettes  but they are maybe half the size and all have to be on paper. You start off with 100 points and and you get penalized 1 point if you hit paper outside of the scoring circles and penalized 2 points for missing all together. My wife scored a 98 because she he had her fire double taps off handed and my sister scored a 98 as well. My sister had only shot a few times in her life before taking the class so if she can do it i'd say you're good to go. (she ended up being a REALLY good shot though). I think you have to score an 80 or better to pass the class. Good luck.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Thank ya'll for all the information. I'm going to mark off the listed yards with some marker paint and do some shooting tomorrow with all but two of my handguns. Which ever I'm the most accurate with will be the one I practice with and use as I've got 150 to 200 rounds for each caliber. If the test required much more than 50rds. then I would worry about my hands wearing out from recoil and affecting shot placement. I have been doing some reading on the laws of firearm carry and have found out already that some of the things I've heard over the years are not true. This forum has some very very valuable information. Thanks again for all your advice and help.

[JayC]

Technically the range test is 48 or more rounds per TDOS regulation...  Most instructors have you shoot 50 because ammo comes in 50 round boxes and it's just wrong to leave 2 rounds left in an otherwise empty box.  And it has the added benefit to making the math easier on the scoring of the test....  even though virtually everybody passes the range test anyhow.

 

My guess is very few instructors would throw a fit over only using 48 rounds if you asked nicely and were a good shot.

[hipower]

You'll do fine. You are already ahead of most of the people seen in most classes.

[felinesNfreedom]

Don't over think it. Like Mike said Stevie Wonder could pass the test.

[McGarrett]

I'm sure you will do just fine. Use the .22 if you have ammo for it. It sounds like you are more familiar with handguns than 90% of the people that were in the HCP class I took.

[chances R]

You will need 50 rounds of ammo and will be firing from 3, 5 and 7 yards. Use the gun you shoot on a regular bases and you will do just fine.

THIS ^

Test requires a passing score of 70%. I have had a couple of students fail. They did fine when they repeated the course. Case of nerves. The test is simple however, and I don't care which gun you use. Plenty of folks use a .22, just as many use .45s. Most use 9mm, I guess because of popularity.

[Camaro_nut2001]

You'll do fine. You are already ahead of most of the people seen in most classes.

Thank you feller.

[Camaro_nut2001]

First off, thank ya'll for your advise and support. It does make me feel better when I read the words of me doing just fine, lol. I just got in from the dentist so after I eat I am going to take the 4-wheeler down to the back and do some shooting. I will let ya'll know what I decide to take the test with in a day or two. I don't have a whole lot of study/practice time as I do the first 4hrs. starting at 10:00am on Oct. 8th. I am assuming I will do the range test last. If that's true then I will have all day on Oct.9th to practice. I finish the last 4hrs. on Oct. 10th starting at 10:00am.

[peejman]

If it requires more than 10 minutes of study and/or practice, you're doing something wrong.

[suspiciousmind]

I took the range test, went to the dmv and got my prints two weeks ago. I called and they said background checks are 3 weeks behind schedule. FYI.

Also, there was a lady on her third range test as the instructor refused to pass her because she was a terrible shot.

[Camaro_nut2001]

If it requires more than 10 minutes of study and/or practice, you're doing something wrong.

It's that simple huh? I'm pretty confident I can pass the range test I just don't know about the paper test. I don't know what they will ask me therefore I'm trying to learn the laws, do's and don'ts of carrying etc etc. Edited September 30, 2014 by Camaro_nut2001

[Camaro_nut2001]

I took the range test, went to the dmv and got my prints two weeks ago. I called and they said background checks are 3 weeks behind schedule. FYI.

Also, there was a lady on her third range test as the instructor refused to pass her because she was a terrible shot.

Well, that's not the best news lol but it is what it is. I've been carrying everyday, just about everywhere I go for the last few years so I guess 3-6wks. waiting time isn't going to bother me to bad. I went down to the back this afternoon and did some shooting at the posted 3, 5 and 7 yards. I am pretty confident I will pass the range test with any gun I own. I was thinking it was going to be harder, at longer distances and smaller targets or something. A feller never really knows how he will do until he is doing it for real. The lady might be very nervous, maybe pulling the gun instead of just the trigger when she shoots or the instructor may not care for the lady and not devoting any time to helping her shoot better, I don't know. There are a lot of single women out there today that have nobody to teach them about firearms. I do wish you the best of luck on getting your permit as fast as possible and congratulations on passing the HCP class.

[chances R]

The HCP class is NOT a shooting class.  One is suppose to know how to shoot and properly operate their firearm before they come to class.  With that said, I always have students which have never fired a handgun before.  I enjoy teaching, especially new shooters, but some folks may be more of a challenge than others.  I do go over the fundamentals of shooting and really anyone that pays attention and can follow simple instruction should be able to clean the target at 3 and 5 yds.  That automatically gives you more than enough of a passing score regardless of what you do at 7 yds.

[Camaro_nut2001]

The HCP class is NOT a shooting class.  One is suppose to know how to shoot and properly operate their firearm before they come to class.  With that said, I always have students which have never fired a handgun before.  I enjoy teaching, especially new shooters, but some folks may be more of a challenge than others.  I do go over the fundamentals of shooting and really anyone that pays attention and can follow simple instruction should be able to clean the target at 3 and 5 yds.  That automatically gives you more than enough of a passing score regardless of what you do at 7 yds.

Very well said. Thank you and it's good to hear you are one to help the less knowledgeable.

[peejman]

It's that simple huh? I'm pretty confident I can pass the range test I just don't know about the paper test. I don't know what they will ask me therefore I'm trying to learn the laws, do's and don'ts of carrying etc etc.

 

 

Yes.  If you're awake and semi-coherent, you'll do fine.  While going through the material, the instructors certainly wouldn't do anything silly like say loudly and repeatedly "THIS IS A TEST QUESTION.  YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS."

[Just2Honor]

Might want to verify that you can use a 22. My instructor wouldn't allow it. I now know the regs don't say you can't use a 22 but his logic may be good His thought was hardly anyone carries a 22 so you should not qualify with it.

[Luke E.]

Most instructors will tell you when they say something that is going to be on the test, allow you to make notes of that and have it out during the test. If someone fails the classroom portion they have no business owning a firearm. A friend of mine instructs HCP classes and says that he has NEVER had anyone fail in the classroom portion and i'd say he has had into the thousands of folks come through his classroom. Nothing to it, IMO the whole thing is nothing more than a formality and a way to have a record of those carrying a gun.