Advanced Concealed Carry Techniques
In our experience, the vast majority of those persons attending Arizona Concealed Carry training do not possess the basic marksmanship and gun handling skills necessary to use their firearm in self defense should the need arise.
The AZ DPS curriculum for an AZ CCW permit is really not designed to provide those skills. The course objectives are designed to familiarize students with basic firearms safety, the laws in Arizona relating to the use of force, where a person is allowed to legally carry a firearm in Arizona and help them develop an understanding of some basic information relating to marksmanship and gun handling.
But, bottom line, it is not a course in how to actually use a firearm for self defense!
In general, students attending a Arizona CCW course do not leave that course with any more shooting skill than they came with. At Armed Personal Defense, we believe that students need more training than the DPS course provides if they intend to carry a firearm for self defense.
To address this need, Doug Little, Founder of Armed Personal Defense developed the Advanced Concealed Carry curriculum for those student who want to develop their skills with a handgun, enabling them to defend themselves or their loved ones in a true life-threatening emergency.
After a review of firearms safety rules and safe gun handing in the range environment we do a basic gear check. We look at your concealed carry mode as a total system. This will help you understand any issues or shortcomings you may have with your gear.
The morning range session begins with a review of the six fundamentals of marksmanship. We will review:
• Proper grip
• Basic shooting stances (Isosceles and Weaver)
• Body alignment with the target including a discussion of ‘Natural Point of Aim’.
• Proper sight alignment and sight picture
• Breath control
• Proper trigger manipulation including trigger reset
• Follow through after the shot
Marksmanship fundamentals are followed by a series of shooting drills designed to evaluate and improve your pistol marksmanship. Each student receives a great deal of coaching to help them improve their shotmaking ability.
After completion of the basic marksmanship drills, we address a variety of gun handling skills. We teach you the proper technique for proactive and reactive reloads and how to recognize and fix common pistol malfunctions. Drills are introduced that reinforce these new gun handling skills until they become automatic for each student.
While it is impossible to cover all the details of the course here, the objective is to provide instruction on how to handle situations that might be encountered in the real world.
Some of the other course topics covered in both discussion and live-fire drills include:
• Situational awareness and attack prediction
• Drawing from concealment and basic weapon retention
• Failure to Stop
• Instinctive target acquisition and aiming
• Development of a “win at all costs” mindset
• Use of cover and concealment
• Alternative shooting positions
• Shooting on the move
Most students are amazed at the amount of progress they are able to make in such a short period of time. They universally report that they are much more comfortable and feel a greater confidence with their firearms at the end of the day
The Advanced Concealed Carry course runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is held on Saturdays and Sundays. We typically schedule at least one course per month.
All participants must be at least 21 years of age and need to have completely the Arizona CCW permit course. We want you to have a good basic understanding of firearms safety prior to attending the course.
Required equipment includes:
• Your firearm (any caliber, any type)
• A quality hip holster for your firearm
• A minimum of two spare magazines or speed loaders
• Eye and ear protection
• Appropriate range attire (billed hat or cap, long pants, comfortable shoes or boots)
• A sturdy belt capable of supporting your holster and firearm
• 250 rounds of factory target ammunition (no reloaded ammo is permitted)
Recommended optional equipment includes:
• Magazine carrier
• Knee pads
Please DO NOT BRING the following:
• Single action revolvers
• Belly bands or fanny packs
• Shoulder holsters or small of back holsters
• Pocket guns
While we believe that there are many worthwhile uses for these firearms and carry modes, they are not appropriate for this particular course for either operational or safety reasons.
Register for the Advanced Concealed Carry Techniques Course Now!
