Safety is the primary goal-Remember when handling or storing any firearm
conscientious attention to these rules will prevent most, if not all, gun accidents.
Be aware that ignorance and carelessness lead to accidents in all walks of life, including
the handling of firearms.

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction-
If the gun should discharge, it should not harm any person or
destroy any valuable property. Careful attention to muzzle direction
is key to safely handling a firearm. When carrying a firearm from place to place,

the best way to control the muzzle is to keep it in your view. Be aware of what

objects can stop a bullet, and what ones cannot. In NRA courses, and on shooting

ranges, the instructor or range officer will explain and point out the safe

directions available.

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot-
Under normal conditions guns do not discharge unless the trigger is
pulled. When holding or manipulating a gun, hold the grip firmly and place
the trigger finger along the frame or receiver, not inside the trigger
guard.

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use-
Guns cannot be discharged unless they are loaded with live
ammunition. There are many uses of guns that permit them to be
loaded, but such firearms must always be under your control.

Guns not in use, but not stored, should have the action locked open
so that anyone may inspect the chamber and magazine for live
ammunition. When handing a gun to another person, lock open the action (if
possible) and check the chamber and magazine by sight and feel to
ensure that no live ammunition is present. The person receiving the
gun should also check.

Home Firearm Safety

Description

The NRA Home Firearm Safety Course is the basic NRA pistol course I recommend
to anyone unfamiliar with guns or who needs to learn gun terminology.

In this four hour course students will get the NRA’s Home
Firearm Safety handbook, pamphlets on safety and terminology
and lessons on the rules of safe gun handling, identifying and
unloading various firearms, ammunition, cleaning, and
storage. Students will also get hands-on experience with the most
common types of handguns, rifles, and shotguns.

NRA Pistol Course Goal

To teach the basic knowledge and skills and to
explain the attitude necessary for the safe handling and storage of
guns in the home.
NRA
Home Firearm Safety Course Lesson Plans

NRA Pistol Course Lessons

1. Rules for Safe Gun Handling
2. Identifying and Unloading Different Firearms
3. Practical Exercises in Safe Gun Handling
4. Types of Ammunition; Cleaning and Storage of Firearms

NRA Pistol Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for taking this course and the material
can be understood by mature people of all ages.

NRA Pistol Course Completion

Students will receive feedback on the practical exercises and a
course completion certificate.

 

Basic Pistol

NRA Pistol Course Description

A pistol, or handgun, is a firearm designed to be fired while being
held in one hand. While such firearms are small and compact, they can
be the hardest to learn.

The Basic NRA pistol course can be as short as ten hours. In it
students will get the NRA’s The Basics of Pistol Shooting
handbook and intensive lessons in safety, gun handling, the various types of pistols, the fundamentals
of pistol marksmanship, various pistol firing positions, several
practical exercises on the firing range, cleaning, storage, and a
summary of pistol sports and activities.

NRA Pistol Course Goal

To teach the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude
for owning and using a pistol safely.

NRA
Basic Pistol Shooting Course Lesson Plans

NRA Pistol Course Lessons

1. Pistol Knowledge and Safe Gun Handling
2. Ammunition Knowledge and Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
3. Firing the First Shots (includes cleaning and storage)
4. Two-handed and One-handed Standing Shooting Positions
5. Pistol Sports and Activities

NRA Pistol Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for taking this course and the material
is accessible to appropriately supervise mature children.

NRA Pistol Course Completion

Students will receive feedback on the live-fire exercise and a
course certificate upon successful completion of the lessons. Students
will receive a Basic Practical rocker upon successful
demonstration of firing a qualifying group. There is a
short written test on the lesson material at the end of the
course.

 

FIRST Steps Pistol

NRA Pistol Course Description

FIRST stands for Firearm Instruction, Responsibility, and
Safety Training, a program the NRA developed to meet the need
for a firearms orientation program for new gun purchasers. This FIRST
Steps program is a basic NRA pistol course abbreviated to the most fundamental
shooting skills, and the specifics of a particular model of
pistol.

This NRA pistol course, because of its narrow focus, can be completed as
quickly as three hours. Students will get the NRA’s The
Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook and quick practical
lessons on the safe use, cleaning, and storage of their pistol. The
practical exercise covers a single pistol shooting position. As the
number of participants or pistol types present increases, the course
will take proportionally longer.

NRA Pistol Course Goal

To provide beginning shooters with an introduction
to the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to own and use a
specific pistol model safely.
NRA
FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation Lesson Plans

NRA Pistol Course Lessons

1. Introduction to Pistol Safety, Parts, and Operation
2. Introduction to Ammunition and the Fundamentals of Pistol
   Shooting
3. Introduction to Pistol Shooting from the Benchrest Position
4. Introduction to Pistol Cleaning, Storage, and Training
   Opportunities

NRA Pistol Course Prerequisites

The are no prerequisites for taking this course, and the material
is accessible to appropriately supervise mature children.

NRA Pistol Course Completion

Students will receive feedback on the live-fire exercise and a
course certificate upon successful completion of the lessons. Students
will receive a Basic Practical rocker upon successful
demonstration of firing a qualifying group.