1st day with permit OC'ed right away

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Just got my permit from troop G yesterday, picked up my guns that have been sitting at the gun shop for months & oc'ed to a few different stores & while taking a long walk with the dog. I had my loaded springfield 1911 in a speed scabbard & it went great.....no looks or comments. Carry on everyone!

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Excellent! Welcome to the movement, I wish you the same good fortune I have been having in OCing around CT so far.

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That's awesome. I finally took the plunge yesterday and OC'd for the first time. Couple of looksbut it seemed like people for the most part minded their own business.

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That's Great. I too have had ZERO problems. Now that you have your permit and firearms, it would be a good time to get training that includes safe handling and more importantly...drawing from a holster.Retention techniques would be another class that would be very helpful too.

Good Luck and have fun.

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I'm planning on taking every class available in the area. Just looking for the best instructor.

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Fireman,
Since you're in Bridgeport I'd check out the following classes at Bridgeport Shooting Range

Fundamentals of shooting (not a bad class, and a pre-req)
Defensive Pistol 1, 2
Firearms laws

I haven't taken DP3 yet but plan to and they also have a retention class as well as low light.

The classes are fun but also challenging the instructors are top notch too.

Good luck with the training, it's good for comfort and skill with your carry pistol.

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GoldCoaster wrote:

Fireman,
Since you're in Bridgeport I'd check out the following classes at Bridgeport Shooting Range

Fundamentals of shooting (not a bad class, and a pre-req)
Defensive Pistol 1, 2
Firearms laws

I haven't taken DP3 yet but plan to and they also have a retention class as well as low light.

The classes are fun but also challenging the instructors are top notch too.

Good luck with the training, it's good for comfort and skill with your carry pistol.

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I can attest to those classes being very good and somewhat necessary if you choose to carry. Be careful when jumping into the deep end of the pool, you'll want good swimming skills so you can enjoy the water.

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I'll be sure to check it out, thank you.

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It might be a bit hectic there tomorrow because they are having a benefit shoot to help defray some costs to a member who got in a bad M/C accident. I have a very busy day tomorrow but I'm gonna try and swing by and make a donation and buy some raffle tickets at least.

They are all good people at the range, Paul the owner has years of LE and private security experience and teaches the laws class, you will want to take that class as it gives you some real life hints at where your mind should be at in a self defense or potential self defense situation.

The stuff I learned in the DP classes you don't read about you learn while doing and hopefully committing to memory. They are huge on safety (which I don't bring up as a surprise kind of thing, but if they weren't I wouldn't go there).

Oh and if you have kids they teach a FREE child firearm safety class along with some range time with a bolt action 22. My son took it (he likes to shoot anyway) and enjoyed it and put the certificate on his wall along with his targets.

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Yeah, i know about chris, he's a dispatcher. i thought the benefit shoot was saturday?

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GoldCoaster wrote:

Oh and if you have kids they teach a FREE child firearm safety class along with some range time with a bolt action 22. My son took it (he likes to shoot anyway) and enjoyed it and put the certificate on his wall along with his targets.

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How old do they have to be?

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ctfireman wrote:

Yeah, i know about chris, he's a dispatcher. i thought the benefit shoot was saturday?

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Crap you are right! I went to the carnival tonight and it re-wired my brain to think it was Friday.

The benefit shoot is on SATURDAY - sorry for the brain fart.

As for age limits on the class. I think the youngest they had was 5 or so. My son was 9 when he took it.

It's basic Eddie Eagle stuff complete with a video and some handouts they can color if they want.

They have some little Savage arms bolt action 22 rifles for the kids to shoot and each kid has their own instructor so it's very hands-on and closely controlled.

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I do have to add the benefit of training, it is a necessity.
I have also taken many of Paul's classes, and I still take with me daily much material he taught me from years past.
He's been teaching for a long time and has a great way about him.
I highly recommend him and his classes.

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When I sign off on people who have taken my NRA class to get their pistol permit I remind them that they do NOT have the skills to carry outside the home yet.

To reinforce that, I mention that they have not received any instruction in:
1) choosing a holster
2) drawing from a holster
3) shooting from retention
4) point shooting
5) shooting one handed (if the other hand is holding a flashlight)
6) shooting in low light (90%+ of all defensive uses of a handgun occur at night)

In addition to the additional training I STRONGLY recommend you find some local IDPA style shooting in your area. Nothing like a little pressure to flush out flaws in your skills.

I hope this helps.

Don

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Right, a little pressure in a safe and controlled environment with people who can watch you (and you watch them) - easier to learn from other people's mistakes - is a huge benefit and on top of that, a whole lot of fun.

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One other thing about going to an IDPA type event.

Don't worry about not knowing anything. Seriously, as long as you can draw from a holster safely, thats where the initial instruction comes in, people will go out of their way to help you and make you feel comfortable.

I remember the first high power match I ever did. It was at Blue Trail, I had no clue, but brought what I thought I was supposed to bring.

A group of guys from Quaker Hill had me squadded with them then they instructed me throughout the entire match.

One guy even loaned me a shooting jacket and a genuine select fire M14 to shoot.

So just go. Leave your ego at home and bring enthusiasm and a desire to learn.

Oh yeah, and bring a gun, ammo, eyes, ears, a baseball cap and at least 5 mags.