Texas CHL Home Study Course | Denton County Sports Association

As of June 22, 2008 the DCSA "CHL Home Study +P" class as described at the very bottom of this page is being at least temporarily replaced with the "101" and CHL classes at Flower Mound Community Activity Center (CAC). Please contact the CAC at 972-874-PARK to register or Lonnie Ward at dcsa1996@yahoo.com if those classes or schedules do not work for you.

Handgun Safety, Operation and Marksmanship 101

The objective of this course is for novice or inexperienced students to obtain the initial knowledge, skills and attitude to safely and responsibly own and operate a revolver or semi-automatic pistol.

For students with aspirations to obtain the Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL), this "101" class can be taken at the before or after the CHL "Classroom Training" at the CAC.

Students will be welcome to bring their own handguns and ammunition to a subsequently scheduled session at Denton County Sports Association (DCSA) private indoor training facility (409 Copper Canyon Road; 7 miles northeast of the CAC). Eye and ear protection are included in the DCSA pricing above.

The subsequent fee to DCSA of $81.88 per student includes eye and ear protection, initial membership and range use fee and an approximately 90-minute/100-round shooting session with instructor (and no more than one other student shooting at the same time). Students who, for whatever reason, desire to complete their 1 1/2 hour shooting session with no other student present will have opportunity to schedule same for an additional $60.00.

"101 Class" students may bring their own handgun (of virtually any caliber) and (factory only) ammunition to the range session at DCSA only or will have the option of renting a 9mm Glock Model 19 or Kahr Model K-9 semi-automatic and purchasing ammunition at DCSA ($30 total including 100 rounds). If needed, 22 or 38 caliber revolvers and appropriate ammo can be made available.

Based upon mutual student/instructor discretion at the time, there may be an option for the last 50 rounds of this session to include the DPS CHL course "Demonstration of Proficiency". Note: This Texas CHL "shooting qualification" requires a minimum of 32 caliber. Students who test with a revolver will be issued a license to carry only revolvers (of any caliber). Students who test with a semi-automatic will be issued a license good for either a semi-automatic pistol or a revolver.

This page was set up in early 2001 to describe the development of a new course option at DCSA. The "target market" is busy individuals who plan to eventually obtain a Texas Concealed Handgun License, but have "not got around to it" and/or have not yet developed a "comfortable confidence" in individual handgun knowledge, skills and/or attitude.

This course is a comparatively comprehensive "hybrid format" that combines many features of other courses and private training - at a more affordable price.

5. A 5-day rental of "Concealed Carry Tips, Techniques & Secrets of the Pros" VHS tape.

Texas law stipulates that the CHL Course shall be a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 15 hours. Therefore, students who choose this option should do so with the understanding that, although portions of the above may be integrated in some CHL courses, none of the time above (voluntarily spent at home) is to be considered applicable to the CHL course hours.

Preferably after their "home study", students enrolled in this "CHL Homestudy +P" option are welcome to take the approximate 10-hour "classroom section" of a scheduled course at DCSA (included in pricing below) or make arrangements to do so privately (not included in pricing below).

Thereafter, the "+P" portion of this course title is short for "personal or private", whichever the student prefers. At a time mutually convenient to the student(s) and instructor, an additional appointment requiring approximately 3 hours will be scheduled for the student(s) to:

6. Complete DCSA 1-hour safety orientation and a brief written test (based upon material in NRA Basic Pistol book).

7. Obtain individual gun handling and marksmanship coaching in classroom and range with paper plates as initial targets for roughly the first 50 rounds.

8. 50-round "practice runs" on various sized B-27 silhouette targets, then the actual 50-round CHL "demonstration of proficiency" (DPS' legal lingo for "shooting test") on the standard size B-27 target.

9. Completion of "pass or fail" scoring requirements and instructor's signature on DPS' "Certificate of Training" (Form TR-100).

Students should bring (or plan to purchase at DCSA) at least 150 rounds of factory target ammunition (no reloads) for this option.

The cost of this option is $251.88 per student with a maximum of 2 students in +P range session. (Per fee schedule page, this consists of $30 plus $1.88 tax plus $220 on which tax is not required.)

Payment schedule: $111.88 upon registration for "home study" portion, $70 on date of classroom portion with scheduled group and $70 on date of range session.

DCSA pricing above includes $31.88 Initial Use/Orientation fee (if not paid previously) plus $220 for the items listed on this page plus all other inclusions shown on scheduled course "CHL" page. Couples from the same household (husband and wife) can take only one copy of items 1 thru 3 above for a combined cost of $483.76.

9mm semi-automatic handguns and/or 150 rounds of 9mm ammo are available with this option at $45 per student. If student brings his/her own handgun (and instruction manual) and so desires, disassembly and cleaning is often possible at conclusion of the shooting session at $45 per hour + cleaning supplies.

In the (highly unlikely) event that a student does not qualify with at least a 70% score on the 50-round "demonstration of proficiency", additional practice sessions and up to two more attempts on DPS silhouette target may be arranged with instructor at $45 per hour.

Since the DCSA safety orientation is typically included in the first 1 hour of this option, CHL "Home Study +P" students who have completed the orientation can arrive 1 hour later than other CHL students. (And are sometimes are given an opportunity to go to range and shoot a little more while others are watching excerpts from the video tape in item 5.)

In some instances, "home study" students can do the 1-hour DCSA orientation with the rest of a scheduled CHL class (and plan on at least 2, possibly 3 intense hours on site later for completion of items 7 through 9).

In other instances, "home study" students complete the 1-hour orientation in conjunction with the first hour of a hunter ed. class, pick up and complete the home study in items 1 through 5, then schedule with instructor a minimum of 2, possibly 3, intense hours on site either before or after the CHL classroom day for completion of items 7 through 9.

This "CHL Homestudy +P" option has evolved as a common approach for busy individuals (or couples) who might otherwise be looking to try and schedule both a First Steps Class and a CHL class, either with a group or privately. This option differs primarily in that it (1) includes a rather comprehensive voluntary "Home Study" section, (2) a subsequent short written test (more difficult than DPS test), and (3) more individualized scheduling, training and range time (firing just over twice as many rounds as the other two courses combined).

While geared primarily for novices, this "Phase I and II" option may also be of interest to some experienced shooters who recognize the tremendous responsibility inherent with carrying a firearm - and who would like a little more than just the "bare bones" 10-hour minimum requirements set forth by the Texas CHL law.

If questions or concerns with this option, please contact instructor Lonnie Ward at Metro 940-241-2376 or dcsa1996@yahoo.com.