RECOMMENDED EDUCATION / TRAINING PATH
The Villages Straight Shooters Club offers Education and Training Opportunities
Whether You are Experienced or Have Never Touched a Gun.
Whether You are Experienced or Have Never Touched a Gun.
The most important step you can take after joining the club is to make your reservation for a New Members Orientation Seminar, conducted every other month. Click HERE to learn more.
This Education / Training Path page is provided to help those members who are inexperienced or have not been active for some time. Ladies, please remember about 27% of our membership is women and they are proportionally active as the men. Ladies are in attendance at nearly all Straight Shooters Events.
The Villages Straight Shooters Club's major priorities are Gun Safety, Firearms Education, and Marksmanship. Consistent with those priorities the Club has and intends to provide basic and ongoing formal education opportunities for members and individuals in the Villages community.
The club is also proactive in providing many related education opportunities at Member Meetings, Educational Seminars, and on the Range.
All education classes are taught by NRA Certified instructors and are offered at substantially lower prices than the comparable public course.
Questions? Send email to getting.started@vssclub.org
The Villages Straight Shooters Club's major priorities are Gun Safety, Firearms Education, and Marksmanship. Consistent with those priorities the Club has and intends to provide basic and ongoing formal education opportunities for members and individuals in the Villages community.
The club is also proactive in providing many related education opportunities at Member Meetings, Educational Seminars, and on the Range.
All education classes are taught by NRA Certified instructors and are offered at substantially lower prices than the comparable public course.
Questions? Send email to getting.started@vssclub.org
Basic Pistol Shooting Class - Step 1
While providing a sound education on the use of handguns, both revolvers and semi-auto pistols, the emphasis in the class is on safety and shooting fundamentals.
The class is suitable for individuals totally new to firearms, but also is a great refresher course for those who may be experienced but may not have handled a gun recently. Also, anyone desiring to eventually apply for a Conceal Weapon and Firearm License is required to complete this NRA class, or equivalent, to qualify. Click HERE to learn more and to make your reservation.
While providing a sound education on the use of handguns, both revolvers and semi-auto pistols, the emphasis in the class is on safety and shooting fundamentals.
The class is suitable for individuals totally new to firearms, but also is a great refresher course for those who may be experienced but may not have handled a gun recently. Also, anyone desiring to eventually apply for a Conceal Weapon and Firearm License is required to complete this NRA class, or equivalent, to qualify. Click HERE to learn more and to make your reservation.
Purchase Your Gun - Step 2
First you must decide on the gun's role. Your selection of your first gun will be task-specific. A range gun is great for fun and skills building. A home defense gun will be a large gun with stopping power and large magazine capacity. If you intend to eventually conceal carry your selection will become more dependent upon concealability.
If possible, shoot a rental or loaner gun before you buy it. A great way to try before you buy is offered by the Straight Shooters Club. Just join us on an Excursion to Shooters World or Reload Range where rental guns are free. These ranges have many of the popular handguns available to try. Plus, a NRA Certified Instructor member will go on each of these Excursions to help. Click HERE to view Shooters World rental guns list. Click HERE for Reload Range rental guns list. Glock, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, and Sig Sauer are among the top manufactures with a wide selection from which to choose.
It's reasonable for your first purchase to be a high quality range gun such as a Smith & Wesson Victory or a Ruger Mark IV Hunter of Target. It will be accurate, easy to rack, have little recoil, and be economical to shoot. It is a common practice to add a red dot sight.
After you become comfortable and reasonably proficient with your range gun, you will be better prepared to consider buying your home defense or concealed carry gun. Plus you will need the gun you plan to use for self-defense for future training classes and range skill builder exercises. Green lasers are recommended for home defense and carry guns. Lasers can be added to most semi-automatics by the manufacturer or installed after the purchase.
First you must decide on the gun's role. Your selection of your first gun will be task-specific. A range gun is great for fun and skills building. A home defense gun will be a large gun with stopping power and large magazine capacity. If you intend to eventually conceal carry your selection will become more dependent upon concealability.
If possible, shoot a rental or loaner gun before you buy it. A great way to try before you buy is offered by the Straight Shooters Club. Just join us on an Excursion to Shooters World or Reload Range where rental guns are free. These ranges have many of the popular handguns available to try. Plus, a NRA Certified Instructor member will go on each of these Excursions to help. Click HERE to view Shooters World rental guns list. Click HERE for Reload Range rental guns list. Glock, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, and Sig Sauer are among the top manufactures with a wide selection from which to choose.
It's reasonable for your first purchase to be a high quality range gun such as a Smith & Wesson Victory or a Ruger Mark IV Hunter of Target. It will be accurate, easy to rack, have little recoil, and be economical to shoot. It is a common practice to add a red dot sight.
After you become comfortable and reasonably proficient with your range gun, you will be better prepared to consider buying your home defense or concealed carry gun. Plus you will need the gun you plan to use for self-defense for future training classes and range skill builder exercises. Green lasers are recommended for home defense and carry guns. Lasers can be added to most semi-automatics by the manufacturer or installed after the purchase.
Participate in the Beginners Club Shoot - Step 3
The 3rd Friday at 8 a.m. is for beginners only. These shoots are designed for beginners, those still feeling very insecure over shooting their gun, or those who have not shot in many years. Instead of the normal one Instructor and one Range Safety Officer (RSO), there will be 3 Instructors and 2 RSO's. Bring your gun and ammo. We will be there to help you get started. Click HERE to sign up.
The 3rd Friday at 8 a.m. is for beginners only. These shoots are designed for beginners, those still feeling very insecure over shooting their gun, or those who have not shot in many years. Instead of the normal one Instructor and one Range Safety Officer (RSO), there will be 3 Instructors and 2 RSO's. Bring your gun and ammo. We will be there to help you get started. Click HERE to sign up.
Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program - Step 4
Whether you have just purchased your first pistol, or are a seasoned shooter, the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program has something for everyone. The NRA Basic Pistol and Defensive Pistol Qualification Courses provide the perfect self-paced shooting activity to help develop your skills and reward your achievements.
In summary, participants will be able to earn Discipline Patches, rockers, pins, and certificates of achievement for completing established set courses of fire for each rating within a specific discipline.
Whether you have just purchased your first pistol, or are a seasoned shooter, the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program has something for everyone. The NRA Basic Pistol and Defensive Pistol Qualification Courses provide the perfect self-paced shooting activity to help develop your skills and reward your achievements.
In summary, participants will be able to earn Discipline Patches, rockers, pins, and certificates of achievement for completing established set courses of fire for each rating within a specific discipline.
Purchase Your Self Defense Gun (If you have not already) - Step 5
After you become comfortable and reasonably proficient with your range gun, you will be better prepared to consider buying your home defense or concealed carry gun. Plus you will need the gun you plan to use for self-defense for future training classes and range skill builder exercises. Green lasers are recommended for home defense and carry guns. Laser can be added to most semi-automatics by the manufacturer or installed after the purchase. View videos - Click HERE
After you become comfortable and reasonably proficient with your range gun, you will be better prepared to consider buying your home defense or concealed carry gun. Plus you will need the gun you plan to use for self-defense for future training classes and range skill builder exercises. Green lasers are recommended for home defense and carry guns. Laser can be added to most semi-automatics by the manufacturer or installed after the purchase. View videos - Click HERE
Participate in Club Shoots with your Self Defense Handgun - Step 6
Now it is time to develop confidence with your self defense pistol. It will have a bigger kick and will be noisier than your range gun. With time you will improve your marksmanship and likely learn to enjoy shooting it.
Did you know every Villages Straight Shooters shooting event is staffed with a fellow member NRA Certified Instructor to help you get started or get back into shooting. Whether for recreation, sport or self defense, we are here to help you.
Click HERE to sign up for a Club Shoots - Emeralda Range. Click HERE to sign up for a 4th Friday Shoot at OSA
Now it is time to develop confidence with your self defense pistol. It will have a bigger kick and will be noisier than your range gun. With time you will improve your marksmanship and likely learn to enjoy shooting it.
Did you know every Villages Straight Shooters shooting event is staffed with a fellow member NRA Certified Instructor to help you get started or get back into shooting. Whether for recreation, sport or self defense, we are here to help you.
Click HERE to sign up for a Club Shoots - Emeralda Range. Click HERE to sign up for a 4th Friday Shoot at OSA
Personal Security in the Home Course - Step 7
- Completed the Basic Pistol Safety Class?
- Do You Own a Home Defense Gun?
- Developed Good Marksmanship?
- Can You Handle Your Gun?