CHL/LEO:
How difficult is it to score a 100 on the qualification? What is involved in the qualification, i.e., how many shots at what distances, strong/weak hand, is time a factor, shoot from drawing or low ready, etc.?
David G.
I've posted it below. The 25 yard portion of the qual is what pretty well wipes everyone out from making a hundred. If people would practice it on a regular basis throughout the year they wouldn't have a problem.
Every year at qualifications we have people show up that have not had their guns out of their holster since the previous years qualification. Quite a few of them can't even complete the qual course because their weapons seize up due to a lack of maintenance (gun is dry - no oil). Twenty years ago we used to have inspections during detail where your Sgt would check your weapon and holster but not anymore. Most Sgts today wouldn't even know what to inspect if they were told to do it.
As screwed up as this part of our firearms training is we have one of the best Patrol Rifle courses of any LE agency in the US. It's totally voluntary - no one is forced to carry a Patrol Rifle - you have to want to. It is a very strict, no nonsense class run by some very good instructors. It's a one week course and if you show up late, complain, have an attitude, etc. - then you're kicked out. One guy was complaining about the rainy weather and having to lay in the mud - he was told to hit the door and don't come back.
If you cross fire onto another target you're out. If you can't shoot a decent size group by day three you're out. If you don't make it to the 5 AM night fire portion of the class on time - you're out. On the final day of qualification if you have one shot out of the silhouette - you're gone. Lot's of pressure during the entire course and they actually try to get you to "ring the bell" per se and quit if you're not up to it. After that you have to shoot a qualification every month and every six months you have to go through additional range and classroom training. Fail either of those and you're out of the program. They are very serious about the Patrol Rifle Training.
They know that one bad shooting with a Patrol Rifle and that could very well end the program for everyone in the department. I wish they did the same with all of our firearms training but we would probably loose so many officers that it would be politically unacceptable - especially since we're already short about 800 officers as it is.
Dallas Police Department Firearms Training Center
Standard Pistol Qualification Course - Rev 8-27-96
Minimum Passing Score - Primary and Secondary Weapons: 80%
On a “hot range,� after the initial command to load is given it is the officer’s responsibility to keep their weapon loaded. Ensure that your weapon is loaded prior to holstering at the end of each stage of fire. You may not unholster to load your weapon. There are no alibis. The qualification course is a series of five stages that test basic marksmanship skills. Officers will not receive credit for rounds improperly fired. Rounds cannot be made up. All shots will be fired on the DPD Model TQ15 paper target.
1. Drill - Holster
Distance - 25 Yard line
5 Rounds
1 target turn
Time - 15 seconds
Shooter is positioned to the rear of the barricade at the 25-yard line. Shooters may use either side of the barricade and may use the barricade for support. When the targets face, the shooter draws from a snapped holster and fires 5 rounds at their target. When the target edges, the shooter must fix their weapon the way they want it and holster.
2. Drill - Holster
Distance - 15 Yard Line
5 Rounds
1 target turn
Time - 10 Seconds
Shooter is positioned at the front edge of the sidewalk at the 15-yard line. When the targets face, the shooter will draw from a snapped holster and fire 5 rounds into their target. When the target edges, the shooter must fix their weapon the way they want it and holster.
3. Drill - Challenge
Distance - 7 Yard Line
15 Rounds
3 target turns
Time/Turn - 8 seconds
Shooter is positioned at the front edge of the sidewalk at the 7-yard line. When the targets face, the shooter will draw from a snapped holster and fire 5 rounds into their target. When the targets edge the shooter will fix their weapon the way they want it and remain at scan. Repeat two more times. Once complete the shooter will fix their weapon the way they want it and holster.
4. Drill - One-Handed
Distance - 3 Yard Line
10 Rounds
2 target turns
Time/Turn - 8 seconds
Shooter is positioned at the 3-yard line. When the targets face, the shooter will draw from a snapped holster and fire 5 rounds into their target using their strong hand only. When the targets edge, shooter must decock strong hand only. The shooter will fix their weapon the way they want it then transfer their weapon to the off-hand. The shooter will assume an off-hand only scan position. When the targets face the shooter will 5 rounds into their target using the off hand only. When the targets edge, the shooter will decock using the off-hand only then transfer the weapon to the strong hand. The shooter will fix the weapon the way they want it and holster.
5. Drill - Time Reload
Distance - 7 Yard Line
15 Rounds
1 target turn
Time - 25 seconds
Semi-Automatic: Load 4 rounds in a magazine and place that magazine in your weapon (4+1 in chamber makes 5). Load the other two magazines with 5 rounds each and place them in closed magazine pouches.
Revolver: The weapon is loaded with six rounds. Load your two speed-loaders with six rounds each and place them in a closed carrier.
Shooter is positioned at the 7-yard line. When the targets face, the shooter draws from a snapped holster and fires 5 rounds at their target, completes a combat load and fires 5 rounds at their target, completes a combat load and fires 5 rounds at their target. Saved rounds cannot be fired during this stage or any other stage.
The tower officer will instruct the shooters to visually and physically check their weapons for empty, lock the slide back on semi-automatics and holster an empty weapon with no magazine in the weapon.