A scheduled class of this type is set for Friday, Sept. 10  from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. (with 90-minute shooting session on a subsequent day). If interest, contact Lonnie promptly at the address below.

Private 101 and CHL classes are available on weekdays/evenings for groups, couples or individuals. If interest, please read at least the rest of this page, then e-mail Lonnie at dcsa1996@yahoo.com with preferred time(s) and date(s). 

The class as described on this page (formerly "Semi-Automatic Handguns 101") is available at DCSA on a privately scheduled basis. These private (approximately 6 hours with 1 or 2 students) "101" classes can be scheduled for a flat fee of $200.00 plus $31.88 per student for 1 or 2 students. Students will have the option of completing another 9 hours of scheduled Concealed Handgun License "Classroom Training" at DCSA at cost of $90 before or after this "101" class. 

The primary 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.

The first hour of the class is DCSA's generic safety orientation. Thereafter, the focus shifts to types of handgun ammunition, parts, operation and the fundamentals of marksmanship. The last segment of the "classroom session" includes individual "hands on" work with student's gun and special inert training rounds or other handguns as pictured below.

The fees above includes an approximate 4 1/2 hour classroom segment (including 1-hour safety orientation), eye and ear protection, initial membership and range use fee and a subsequent 90-minute/100-round shooting session on multiple targets - with no more than one other student shooting at the same time (and a bulletproof partition between).

Students may bring their own handgun (of virtually any caliber) and (factory) ammunition. (Winchester 100-round "Value Pack" at Wal-Mart is often the best buy in at least .380 and 9mm.)

Or, students will have the option of renting/trying one, two, three or all four of the following four semi-automatics pistols for a total of $50, including 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition. (The first 50 rounds are typically used during training and student's personal evaluation of which gun "feels" the best, then the last 50 rounds are used in the "shooting test" with the most favored gun of the four.) A .22 Beretta Neos (picture not currently available) semi-automatic pistol is also available before transitioning to one of the 9mm guns.

Clockwise, in sequence pictured below: 

Kahr Lady 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) 

If needed, particularly by those who may want to focus on a revolver, 22 or 38 caliber training revolvers and appropriate ammo can also be made available (ammo pricing varies greatly). 

Pictured below and available for training: 

Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman .22 Revolver with 6" barrel.

Smith & Wesson Model 637 (.38 Special) with Crimson Trace Model 305 Laser Grip.

Pictured below: Ruger SP-101 with 3" barrel, Smith & Wesson 340PD with Crimson Trace laser grip, Smith & Wesson 36, North American Arms 22 Mini-Mag.

Based upon *mutual student/instructor discretion at the time, there will be an option for the last 50 rounds of the 100-round shooting 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. Past experience indicates that most students (for license versatility) want to focus initially on a semi-automatic handgun, sometimes scheduling another private session to actually take the DPS shooting test with a semi-automatic and/or to return get some "hands on" work with a revolver.

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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.

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Optional book (available in advance or at class): $15.93

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