5 Day Pistol Course - Lesson 1

Type: Dry Practice (No live ammunition)

Time: 1 hour

Venue: Title: Basic Pistol Course- Lesson 1

Weapon Training Classroom

Students: 12

Student Equipment: 

12 X Pistols

36 X Pistol magazines

10 X dummy pistol rounds per student

Instructor Equipment:

1 X Pistol

3 X Pistol magazine

10 X dummy pistol rounds

Assistant Instructors (AI'S): 2 (Names)

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Prior to arrival of students:

- Write lesson title on board.

- Set up classroom chairs.

- Layout 1 X pistol, 3 x magazines and 10 dummy rounds under each chair if students are not providing their own.

- Safety check all weapons.

- Inspect all magazines, no live rounds/ensure working.

- If used, load/check PowerPoint.

On arrival of students:

- Safety declaration, check no live rounds.

- Seat.

CONDUCT OF LESSON

This lesson, Pistol - Lesson 1, teaches nomenclature, characteristics and accessories, the cycle of operation and its magazines. I am the primary instructor (if first time with students, give name and background) and I will be assisted by (introduce the assistant instructors).

Introduction

EXPLAIN- Pistol users must know the parts, both external and internal, and the correct names for parts that make up the weapon before they can train on the weapon. The parts of the weapon form group's, each group working together function the weapon, and this will be explained and demonstrated as we progress. All weapon handling will be conducted in a safe manner.

Objective

EXPLAIN- At the conclusion of this lesson, you will know the external and internal nomenclature of the pistol, how it functions and the types, capacity and parts of typical magazines used with the weapon. You will also understand and be able to demonstrate safe handling of the weapon.

No Review

External Nomenclature

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Have students follow along with their own weapons)- There are many different types of semi-automatic pistol available each having features specific to that particular platform. Not all weapons have all of the features mentioned below.

Pick up your weapons from under your chairs. As I point out and name the parts of the weapon, follow along on your weapon. From the front of the weapon moving backwards:

• Slide Assembly on the majority of fully/semi-automatic pistols is the upper part that reciprocates with recoil during the gun's operating cycle. It serves as the bolt carrier group and partly as the receiver, and generally houses the firing pin/striker, the extractor and frequently also the barrel, and provides a mounting platform for iron and optical sights. It is used to cock the weapon and place a round in the chamber ready for firing.
• Frame is the lower part that serves as the grip, magazine and trigger mechanism housing, magazine and slide release mechanism, ejector, manual safety catch and auxiliary equipment attachment points.
• Muzzle is the end of the barrel from which the round will exit once fired.
• Rifled Barrel of varying lengths depending on classification of the pistol – sub-compact, compact or full size. A groove cut into the inside of the barrel is known as the rifling and turns the bullet as it moves down the barrel aiding accuracy. Barrels can have threads on the end to accommodate suppressors.
• Front Sight Assembly which consists of a front sight post that can be moved left and right for adjustment. The height of the blade can be changed if necessary if used in conjunction with a red dot sight or suppressor.
• Ejection Opening where fired cases are ejected.
• Loaded Chamber indicator is a safety device on semi-automatic handguns designed to alert the operator that a round is in the chamber.
• Red Dot of varying types made by a multitude of different manufacturers all providing a highly visible colored aiming mark.
• Standard Rear Sight. A U shaped type of sight through which the front sight can be seen.
• Safety catch is a firer operated two position switch. The UP position prevents the weapon from firing. The DOWN position allows firing one round each time the trigger is pulled.
• Decocking lever is a mechanical device designed to safely de-cock the pistol without having to pull the trigger. The lever is intended to prevent a cocked gun from firing a bullet by prohibiting the hammer from striking the firing pin.
• Hammer is used to strike the percussion cap/primer, or a separate firing pin/striker, to ignite the propellant and fire a projectile.
• Slide release/locking lever allows the slide to be locked in its rearward position or resume its forward position after being locked to the rear.
• Take down lever performs the function of locking/unlocking the frame and the slide together.
• Grip safety prevents the firing of the pistol until the grip is correctly held disengaging the safety mechanism.
• Magazine housing, where the magazine is seated in the rifle.
• Magazine Release button/lever allowing the magazine to disengage from the magazine housing when pressed.
• Trigger. Allows weapon to be fired. Double or single action.
• Trigger Guard to protect the trigger.

Some weapon are ambidextrous by design and permit the changing of magazine release catches from one side to the other. Grip size can also be changed on some weapon platforms.

Ask if any questions

Point to a part and ask students to name the part/correct as needed

Internal Nomenclature

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Conduct a safety check and disassemble the pistol)- Having conducted a safety check prior to disassembling the weapon, I will now disassemble and identify the internal parts.

• Recoil rod and spring
• Ejector
• Rails

It is not necessary to strip the weapon down any further than shown for normal cleaning.

Ask if any questions

Point to a part and ask students to name the part/correct as needed

Functioning and the Cycle of Operation

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE- The Cycle of Operation or how the weapons functioning is important for the user to know as malfunctions within the cycle often mirror this sequence. This understanding correlates directly with the ability of the user to fix a malfunction, something which is vital in a combat. The cycle assumes the weapon is loaded and ready to fire. The firer presses the trigger and the cycle begins. I will point out parts as I explain:

• Firing. The trigger is pulled releasing the hammer, which hits the firing pin, striking the cartridge primer which ignites the powder in the bullet casing. The rapidly expanding gases push the bullet out down the barrel. In a striker fired weapon, pulling the trigger deactivates the inbuilt safety mechanisms to allow the striker to move forward like a firing pin igniting the cartridge.
• Unlocking. As pressure in the mechanism caused by the firing of the round increase, it reaches a point at which it overcomes the pressure of the recoil spring forcing the barrel and slide to the rear. As they move rearward the barrel drops it disengages from the slide allowing it to go through its full motion to the rear.
• Extracting. As the slide travels rearward, the rim of the expended cartridge case is grasped by the claw on the extractor on one side. With this, the case is pulled from the chamber.
• Ejecting. Once the case is extracted and clears the chamber, it makes contact on the opposite side with the ejector. This causes the forceful departure of the case via the ejection opening.
• Cocking. The slide moving to the rear, cocks the hammer or resets the striker.
• Feeding. As the slide moves rearward clearing the magazine housing, it allows the magazine spring to push a new round into the path of the slide. After moving fully to the rear and compressing the recoil spring, the slide is pushed forward by the releasing spring. As it does so it strips a fresh cartridge from the feed lips of the magazine.
• Chambering. After stripping a fresh cartridge, the slide continues forward pushing the cartridge up the feed ramps and into the chamber engaging with the extractor.
• Locking. The pressure of the recoil spring pushes the slide completely forward. As the slide reengages with the barrel causing it to rotate back into its original position locking the slide and barrel together via the locking ribs in preparation for further firing.

When the last round in the magazine is fired, the slide will automatically lock to the rear. With experience, this is often felt by the firer who instantly recognizes the weapon magazine is empty.

Ask if any questions

Ask students questions about the Cycle of Operation

Types of Magazines, Magazine Parts and Magazine Filling

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use magazines of different capacities and demonstrate single stack vs double stack magazines)- There are many different types of magazines available for the semi-automatic pistol ranging in size and capacity. Most magazines are made up of four or five basic parts and nomenclature depends upon the manufacturer. In general, the parts consist of the following:

• Magazine box.
• Follower.
• Spring.
• Floorplate.

In some cases, a Base Plate which fits over the Floorplate. Not all magazines are made to be disassembled by the user.

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use dummy rounds and empty magazines)- Magazines have a front and back and rounds are inserted into the magazine with the bullet facing the front. This is the front of the magazine and the rounds are inserted with the bullet facing front. Each round is pushed down until it is seated and the rear of the round is flush against the rear of the magazine. Count your rounds as you load the magazine to ensure they are fully loaded or with the required amount for training. If loading for duty or combat, load the number of rounds the magazine is engineered to hold regardless of the environment.

Ask if any questions

IMITATE & PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Have students practice loading magazines with dummy rounds.)

Accessories

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- There are numerous accessories available for the pistol.

• Flashlights fit onto mounting rails underneath the frame and provide illumination in low light conditions.
• Lasers can be collocated with a flashlight or fit into other areas of the pistol like the grip. Lasers provide an alternate sighting mechanism.
• Optic sights are mounted on the slide and provide an alternate sighting system.
• Suppressors screw onto the end of a threaded barrel and provide some noise reduction.

Safe Handling

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- When handling any weapon, firearms users should handle the weapon confidently and safely with complete control of the weapon. Positive control of the pistol is as follows:

• Shooting hand (right hand for right-handed individuals) takes a firm grip of the pistol grip.
• Non shooting hand can be used to assist the strong hand in gripping the pistol grip if required but is not mandatory.
• Muzzle is pointing in a safe direction. A safe direction is one in which there would be no loss of life or injury to persons if the firearm were to discharge. Most training environments require the muzzle to be pointed down.
• Finger is off the trigger, laying along the frame pointing forward and the safety catch, if fitted, is on Safe.

The user can maintain positive control of the weapon in this manner even when moving around.

IMITATE & PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Have students practice safe handling with the weapon with instructors correcting as necessary.)

Final practice, if any

Ask if any questions

Ask the students questions for final confirmation

Summary

EXPLAIN- Knowing the parts of the pistol and how it works is a prerequisite to learning everything else needed to be proficient with the weapon. Demonstrating positive control of your weapon indicates confidence and knowledge. Being proficient with your weapon maybe the difference between living or dying. Remember, individual parts of the weapon form groups and the groups working together function the weapon. But it all starts and ends with the shooter.

Look Forward

EXPLAIN- Your next lesson is Lesson 2 which covers safety, disassembly, cleaning, maintenance, reassembly and function check of the pistol.

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