Type: Dry Practice (No live ammunition)
Time: 1 hour
Venue: Title: Basic Pistol Course- Lesson 2
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 2, teaches safety, disassembly, cleaning, maintenance, reassembly and function checks for the pistol. 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- Firearms users must handle firearms safely so as not to endanger themselves or others needlessly. There are general firearms safety rules and there are specific firearms safety rules known as the cardinal safety rules. The weapon safety check, along with religious observance of the safety rules, would prevent every negligent discharge of a firearm.
Objective
EXPLAIN- At the conclusion of this lesson, you will know firearms safety, specifically the firearms cardinal safety rules, know how and when to conduct a safety check of the weapon, disassemble, clean, maintain and re-assemble and perform a function check of your pistol.
Review
EXPLAIN- The previous lesson, Lesson 1, covered nomenclature, characteristics and accessories, cycle of operation and magazines. As I come around, name the part of the weapon I point out.
Here are some questions for you:
What is the first step in the cycle of operation?
Why is it important to know the cycle of operation?
General Safety Rules
EXPLAIN- Safety is everyone's obligation. All individuals handling firearms, and around others handling firearms, have a direct responsibility to ensure safety protocols are followed strictly. The following general safety rules are standard practice:
- Range and classroom discipline will be enforced. Firearms ranges and classroom are potentially dangerous environments and no horse play or other distractions are allowed.
- All firearms and ancillary equipment must be serviceable and safe to use and it is a user responsibility to ensure. Firearms instructors are responsible for double checking students under their instruction have serviceable and safe equipment.
- No individual can be permitted to participate in firearms training under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs.
- Ammunition must be safe and, especially if using reloaded ammunition, must be checked by qualified instructors.
- When not in use, firearms will be stored securely, unloaded and inaccessible to unauthorized persons.
- Hearing and eye protection is mandatory during all live fire firearms training. Protection must be of a type which meets acceptable standards established by the instructor.
Cardinal Safety Rules
EXPLAIN- The Cardinal Safety Rules are strictly enforced at all times by all competent firearms users. There is no room for compromise with the Cardinal Safety Rules. The Cardinal Safety Rules must be learned, understood fully and applied always. The Cardinal Safety rules are:
- Always maintain muzzle discipline. Never allow your muzzle to point at someone or something unintentionally. Never point your muzzle at someone in jest. Always be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing and keep it pointed in a safe direction until you decide otherwise. A safe direction is a direction where negligently discharging a round will not hit a person or inflict serious damage.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you have identified your target and made the decision to fire.
- Be sure of your target and what is around and behind it. There may be innocent people around when involved in a shooting and care must be taken not to inadvertently hit them.
- Assume every firearm you handle is loaded and perform a safety check first. Never take someone else's word a firearm is unloaded.
Ask if any questions
Ask students to state the Cardinal Safety Rules one-by-one
The Pistol Safety Check
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- As referenced above, the Safety Check is an inherent part of firearms safety and should be the first, hands on action learned by new firearms users. The Safety Check is not a drill and should be conducted deliberately with attention to the actions being performed. The Safety Check for the pistol is as follows:
- Point the weapon in a safe direction keeping your finger off the trigger.
- Place the safety catch in the safe position if it has one.
- Physically check for a magazine fitted to the weapon (you may be performing check at night).
- If a magazine is fitted, press the magazine release and remove it. Put it away.
- Firmly grasp the slide and vigorously pull to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the slide to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Pull and hold the slide to the rear while engaging the slide locking lever. The Slide will now be held to the rear allowing physical inspection of the chamber and magazine housing.
- Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.
- When satisfied the chamber is empty, disengage the slide locking lever or pull the slide to the rear allowing the slide to go forward.
- Point the pistol in a safe direction and pull the trigger.
- The weapon is now considered safe and empty.
In most training environments, this is the end of the Safety Check for the pistol
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (If necessary)- Left-handed shooters perform the same actions but will use the right hand to reach over and under in order to reach the required parts of the weapon.
IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the Safety Check again and have the students slowly imitate each step of the Safety Check in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use a dummy round in the chamber of a pistol and have students see and feel the round in the chamber.)- If there is a round in the chamber, this is what it looks and feels like. If, after performing the Safety Check to this point, you still have something in the chamber, repeat the following steps:
- Firmly grasp the slide and vigorously pull to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the slide to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Pull and hold the slide to the rear while engaging the slide locking lever. The Slide will now be held to the rear allowing physical inspection of the chamber and magazine housing.
- Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.
If there is still something in the chamber, leave the slide to the rear and seek qualified assistance. If in a combat or emergency situation, use a tool or fingers to remove the round or spent case. We will cover disassembly next.
Ask if any questions
Disassembly
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- Before disassembling any weapon for cleaning, the first action is to conduct a Safety Check.
- Maintaining positive control of the weapon, point the weapon in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger.
- Place the safety catch in the safe position if it has one.
- Physically check for a magazine fitted to the weapon (you may be performing check at night).
- If a magazine is fitted, press the magazine release and remove it. Put it away.
- Firmly grasp the slide and vigorously pull to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the slide to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Pull and hold the slide to the rear while engaging the slide locking lever. The Slide will now be held to the rear allowing physical inspection of the chamber and magazine housing.
- Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.
- When satisfied the chamber is empty, disengage the slide locking lever or pull the slide to the rear allowing the slide to go forward. The weapon is now considered safe and empty.
We can now disassemble the pistol according to the following steps. Be sure to place the parts down in order, especially at night:
- Pull the slide to the rear far enough to activate the takedown lever.
- Keeping hold of the slide, allow it to return gently forward until spring tension has been relieved.
- Activating the trigger if necessary, push the slide forward off the rails separating the slide from the frame.
- Turn the slide upside down. Note the location and fitment of the recoil spring and barrel into the slide and each other. Place a thumb at the rear of the recoil rod and spring. Push towards the muzzle compressing the spring enough that the assembly can be removed from the slide. Set it down.
- Take hold of the back end of the barrel. Lift it and slide it to the rear free of the slide. Set it down.
- Set the slide down next to the other components.
As stated in Lesson 1, disassembling the pistol to this point all that is required for cleaning.
Ask if any questions
Cleaning & User Maintenance
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- It is not necessary to clean your pistol after every firing with correct lubrication sufficing in many instances. However, periodic cleaning to ensure reliable function is recommended. Clean all parts using a hard brass wire brush, correctly sized patches and cloth. Dry all parts with a clean, dry cloth. Pay particular attention to the following areas:
- With a bore brush or chamber brush soaked in a bore cleaner, clean the inside and outside of the barrel ensuring the feed ramp and locking ribs are free from carbon build up.
- Pull the barrel through with a bore snake or correctly sized patches until the patch shows clear.
- Brush the inside of the slide with a brush and solvent making sure to remove all debris from the rail recesses and face of the breach. Check and remove any carbon build up from the extractor and the firing pin/striker hole.
- On the frame, use a brush and solvent to remove any debris from the rails, magazine housing and mechanism at the rear of the frame (hammer, sear, built in safety mechanisms).
- Once all the carbon and debris has been removed, wipe down all components with a clean dry cloth.
- If the weapon will not be fired for a while, lightly oil the inside of the barrel using a clean patch.
- Lightly oil the outside of the barrel where it engages with the slide (around the muzzle if it is a ramped barrel, the locking ribs).
- Lightly oil the rails on top of the frame
The cleaning process is an excellent time to check the pistol for excessive wear and tear or damage.
Ask if any questions
Assembly
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- Reassemble the pistol in reverse order to the disassembly steps as follows:
- Insert the barrel back into the slide and correctly locate the locking ribs into the recesses on the slide.
- Pick up and place the correct end of the recoil spring and rod assembly into its recess in the slide. With a thumb behind the rear most end, compress the spring and locate the rear end into place.
- Pick up the correctly assembled slide and place it onto the frame ensuring the rails correctly line up with the recesses on the slide. Push the slide all the way onto the frame.
- Once the slide is in position, firmly pull it to the rear just enough to activate the takedown lever and secure the fitment of frame to slide.
- You are now ready to perform the function check.
Ask if any questions
IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the disassembly and assembly again and have the students slowly imitate each step-in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)
Function Check
EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- The function check is performed to ensure the weapon is operating properly and no mistakes were made while reassembling the weapon. The steps verify the weapon is working as intended:
- Cock the weapon
- If the weapon has a manual safety, place it on safe.
- Pull the trigger.
- The gun should not fire.
The Safety catch is working.
- Place the safety catch on fire.
- Pull the trigger and keep it depressed.
- The gun should fire.
- Holding the trigger, cock the weapon.
- Release the trigger. The trigger and sear reset with an audible click.
- Pull the trigger. The gun will fire.
If you experience anything else, there may be a problem with the weapons functioning. Disassemble the weapon and ensure correct assembly. If the problem persists, have it checked by a qualified armorer.
Ask if any questions
IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the Function Check again and have the students slowly imitate each step-in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)
Final practice, if any
Ask if any questions
Ask the students questions for final confirmation
Summary
EXPLAIN- Safety is non-negotiable. It is everyone's responsibility. Knowing and, more importantly, obeying the Cardinal Safety Rules at all times is the way to avoid tragic mistakes. A functioning weapon is second only to expertise in using it. Cleaning and maintaining your weapon are vital to keeping it functioning. To clean it you must know how to take it apart and put it back together.
Look Forward
EXPLAIN- Your next lesson is Lesson 3 which covers Equipment placement and the Fundamentals of Shooting.