Texas CHL Home Study Course | Denton County Sports Association

This option is geared primarily for beginner students who can make time to attend a 1-hour DCSA orientation then study at home prior to attending a personalized 3-hour session of "hands on" work in the classroom and range (4 hours if a couple completing together). Such students are welcome to complete the 1-hour DCSA orientation in advance or during the first hour of their "CHL classroom" day.

The objective of this "lesson plan" is to provide beginning shooters with an introduction to the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to own and operate a semi-automatic handgun safely. It is geared for busy students to have some scheduling options and obtain a considerable amount of "Phase I" knowledge in a relatively short period of time. (The hours spent at home are voluntary and can not be applied to the hours required for the Concealed Handgun License training.)

Recommended Step 1 is to read all applicable pages on this web site, noting that the primary difference between this and the "Handguns 101" class is (a) the advance inclusion of the NRA Pistol book (to study and keep), (b) short term loan of the 1-hour "Women's Guide" DVD pictured below (as substitutes for a 4-hour classroom session) and (c) special time allocated at the end of a private 3-hour "hands on" session for disassembly and cleaning of student's gun or DCSA training pistol(s).

Recommended Step 2 is to come out during a scheduled "Open House/Orientation Period" to register, pick up the "home study" material and complete one of the scheduled 1-hour orientations. "Home Study" students are encouraged to bring their calendar for discussion during the "Open House" period or at least have in mind some dates and times that would be desirable for at the 3-hour personalized session (after approx. 3 hours at home reading the book and watching the video).

Recommended Step 3 is completion of the 3-hour personalized session. (Although, it is also OK to do the CHL classroom day first.)

The pricing below is based upon students bringing their own handgun and 100 rounds of factory (target) ammunition. It also includes, if desired, a set aside of time at the end of the session for instruction on cleaning and lubricating the student's gun.

Pricing for this "CHL Home Study +P" option is $251.88 for one student, $483.76 for a couple. These totals include the $31.88 orientation fee for each as well as a scheduled CHL classroom segment with others on a separate day.

Or, with advance notice, students will have the option of renting and trying any one or all four of the "work horse" training handguns pictured below. Pricing for this class is $50 for 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition and use of one, two, three or four of the guns pictured below.

Kahr K-9

Springfield XD-9-M (interchangeable back straps, ambidextrous magazine release)

Glock 19

Smith & Wesson M&P Compact (interchangeable back straps, ambidextrous slide latch)

In either case, eye and ear protection are available in the range at no additional cost.

As much as the first hour the session will be conducted in the training room, working with the operation of the specific gun using "dummy rounds" and on fundamentals such as stance, grip, sight picture, etc.

Once inside the range, the first 50 rounds will be fired on various types of targets, with coaching as applicable for focus on safety, gun manipulations and the fundamentals of handgun marksmanship.

Depending upon circumstances and mutual agreement of student and instructor, the next 50 rounds will be used for the student's first attempt with the CHL "demonstration of proficiency" (fancy term for pass or fail "shooting test", which is not all that tough, particularly for people who've had professional training.)

While geared primarily for novices, this 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" requirements set forth by the Texas CHL law.

Students taking this course should understand that the 4 semi-automatic training guns in the photos above are utilized for just that - training - and may or may not be appropriate "carry" guns for some. Students who have completed this course may want to schedule another session in the future to try out some smaller, lighter guns (with more inherent recoil) such as those below and/ or as described on "Rentals" page.

About the Instructor: Lonnie Ward is the primary range officer and trainer at Denton County Sports Association, Inc. He has been certified in the Texas Department of Public Safety CHL instructor program since the inception of the law in 1995. He is also a National Rifle Association Range Safety Officer and certified instructor in Home Firearms Safety, Rifle, Pistol and Personal Protection. Mr. Ward is a 26-year resident of Flower Mound, the proud father of two graduates of Marcus High School and the 17'th inductee into Texas Parks and Wildlife's Hunter Education Hall of Fame. When not out of the area enjoying the great outdoors, he can be reached at dcsa1996@yahoo.com.