Pistol Level 1: Instructor Katie

1. Welcome & Purpose

• Who’s this for? First-time shooters, new gun owners, or anyone wanting to understand pistols.

• What we’ll cover:

•  Safety Rules

•  How Pistols Work

•  Shooting Fundamentals

• Responsible Ownership
  
  

2. The 4 Firearm Safety Rules (Non-Negotiable!)

1. Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.

2. Never point it at anything you’re not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you’ve made the decision to shoot.

4. Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

3. How a Semi-Auto Pistol Works

• Load magazine ➡️ Insert magazine ➡️ Rack slide ➡️ Ready to fire

• After firing, the slide cycles:

1. Ejects spent casing

2. Loads next round

4. How to Safely Handle a Pistol

 Grip: Firm handshake with your dominant hand, support hand wraps around.
Stance: Athletic, balanced, knees slightly bent.
Sight Alignment: Line up front sight between rear sights (equal height, equal light).
Sight Picture: Focus on front sight, align with target.
Trigger Control: Smooth, steady press—no jerking!
Follow Through: Keep sights aligned through the shot and after.

5. Loading & Unloading (Dry Practice First!)

 How to safely load a magazine
How to rack the slide
How to safely unload (remove mag, rack slide, lock slide, inspect chamber)

6. Common Malfunctions & How to Fix Them (Intro Only)

1. Failure to Fire

2. Failure to Eject (Stovepipe)

3. Failure to Feed
   ➡️ Tap, Rack, Ready drill intro

7. Range Etiquette & Safety

• Always listen to the Range Officer.

• Muzzle awareness at all times.

• Keep firearms unloaded and actions open when not on the line.

Wrap-Up / Q&A