Jesse Mathewson |1

LIBERTY TACTICAL TRAINING

Jesse Mathewson 2010-2012

BHSU 101
Basic Handgun Safety and Understanding
This is an 8 hour course with approximately 2 hours of actual shooting time, it is the first
day of a comprehensive two day course designed to teach the novice shooter how to shoot
like a professional, and these results are not guaranteed. However, if the student follows the
recommended approaches they will likely notice an extreme improvement and become
more confident in their abilities.
Jesse Mathewson
jesse.mathewson@hotmail.com
(520) 249-8495 (Mountain Standard Time)

Classroom Practices
Discussions on the following subjects are not tolerated during class; this is a class for learning to utilize
the firearm as a defensive tool.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Politics
Religion
Personal life
Caliber or firearm type (outside of general effectiveness and good practice)

This class is meant to assist you in becoming a positive member of the shooting community. My sole
goal as your instructor is to help you all understand the benefits and responsibilities of owning a firearm
and learning how to carry one safely, and successfully.
Times are included as guidelines and may not be exactly adhered to depending on changes that may
need to occur.

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Equipment Necessary
1. Handgun (functioning handgun semiautomatic, or revolver)
2. Sufficient holster for the handgun, no shoulder holsters or backwards canted holsters per range
insurance
3. 3 Magazines will be a benefit; however, for those who utilize a revolver, at least two additional
speed loaders and 2 magazines are a minimum requirement.
4. Magazine retention devices, belt clips, belt pouches and more may be brought but are not
required.
5. 100 rounds of ammunition specific to the handgun you have brought
6. LUNCH
7. Plenty of Water! (2 +gallons a day)
8. Sun lotion (recommended 45 SPF or higher)
9. Foldup chair (umbrella may be desired for personal comfort)
10. Hat with a brim or bill is required.
11. Eye protection, sunglasses/ shooting glasses
12. Ear protection (foam inserts, over ear protection)
13. NO OPEN TOED FOOTWEAR
Ask for additional requirements as decided prior to class

Feedback
Positive meaningful feedback will be provided on a regular, individual basis to each person, each
instructor has been selected for their ability to shoot and communicate that knowledge and experience
to others in a meaningful way. There is never a benefit in making derogatory remarks or approaches
when training. Our goal as instructors is to assist each student in becoming better acquainted with the
proper use of a firearm and the benefits of understanding the proper approach to utilizing a firearm for
defense.

Course Description
The Basic Handgun Safety and Understanding course is specifically designed to introduce individuals
with little to no experience in handgun use. Throughout the course emphasis will be placed on safety,
safe handling and safe direction. This course is the First Step of a Two Day course to the rest of your life
as an armed individual.

Course Topics and Objectives

First segment: Introduction to the firearm.

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For the first segments NO LOADED FIREARMS will be permitted on the

range- this is FOR your safety and that of those around you, until the
abilities of each individual are understood and assessed by the
qualified and professional staff. Each individual will be asked to leave
live ammunition in their vehicles or in a locked/sealed ammunition
container in a location designated for this purpose.
1. Safety Rules -5 minutes, student verbal participation encouraged. (These will be repeated
throughout the day at regular intervals, each student is responsible for themselves and their
surroundings, NEVER hesitate to alert others to potentially dangerous behaviors.)
a. Loaded or not, keep the finger OFF the trigger
b. Loaded or not, always ensure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction

If you forget rule one, but remember rule two, there will be no injury or property damage.
If you forget rule two, but remember rule one, there will be no injury or property damage.
2. Dominate hand check
a. What is dominate hand, the dominate hand is the hand that manipulates the trigger
b. Support hand is the hand that supports the firearm, draws magazines and clears
concealment garment
3. Understanding your firearm -30 minutes,
a. Field strip/cleaning
b. Safe handling, unloading etc.
4. Hand out short guide on various holster types and benefits of each WITH information on
obtaining these
5. Magazine/loading safety - 15 minutes,
a. How to load show best methods for women, men, smaller persons etc.
b. What are best ways to load
c. Best approaches to magazine/round retention

Short break, water, bathrooms, smoke and review if necessary.

Second Segment: Proper hold, Draws, Stances, Reloads and Sights
1. How to hold the firearm
a. Dominate hand should be firmly seated with the webbing of the hand tight under the curve
at the top of the grip
b. The meat of the palm should be towards the back of the grip, it is important to maintain as
much skin on grip contact as possible

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c. The bottom three fingers should wrap tightly under the trigger guard firmly touching the
bottom of the trigger guard and clasping the grip
d. The trigger or index finger (otherwise known as the safety) should be laying along the frame
above the trigger guard, a slight crook in this finger allows stronger retention
e. The thumb can be either pointed up or alongside the opposite lower side of the frame from
the index finger. This is up to the individual though some firearms are known for their desire
to eat your thumb if it is too high.
f. The support hand should be placed with the meat of the hand in the gap between the finger
tips and the meat of your dominate hand on the opposite side of the grip.
g. Wrap all four fingers around the front and underneath the trigger guard again firmly placing
them against the underside of the trigger guard and wrapped over the three fingers from
the dominate hand
h. The alternate thumb should be underneath the dominate hands thumb, it is important to
not cross these digits as this will not aid in a firm platform
i. Utilizing a crushed grip or a very firm grip one may assume that this grip will in fact
provide a strong platform for shooting and doing so accurately.
2. Drawing the firearm
a. Proper carry for each individual
b. Draw from CCW carry,
I.
support hand grasps clothing over firearm and pulls up
II.
dominate, gun hand, placed firmly over butt of pistol
III.
strong, solid, seated grasp
IV.
Ensure finger is OUTSIDE and above the trigger guard alongside the frame, either
straight or slightly crooked.
V.
Draw straight out of the holster
VI.
Rotate the barrel slightly forward and point in the direction of the target with your
hands close to body
VII.
Meet the dominate hand with the support hand and complete the grip as you
extend the firearm towards the target
VIII.
If you are in a solid stance you will find a solid draw allows you to be aiming at the
target regardless of sights at this time
c. Draw from open carry
I.
Place dominate hand on firearm,
II.
Strong, solid, seated grasp
III.
Mimic steps IV-VII above
d. Practice draw
I.
Practice drawing from current holster AFTER visually checking and verbally agreeing
on empty state of firearm
II.
A minimum of 10 cold reps, (cold means NO AMMUNITION in or near the firearm)
e. Additional holsters addressed as necessary depending on mode of carry
3. Stances 30 minutes

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a. verify students strong side/eye (dominate hand/ eye)
b. Show the three main holds and stances (explain this is not set in stone and should adjust to
each individual- during this phase INCORPORATE crush grip and proper grip techniques into
instruction on holds.)
c. Isosceles Hold Triangle arms in front of body fully extended weight may be neutral or even
back, Modern Iso Hold weight shifts more aggressively forward using instructors show why
weight distribution is important
d. Weaver stance Both elbows bent, pistol (dominant) hand pushes forward with firearm
while support arm pulls back creating tension theoretically allowing better shooting, body is
at a 45 to the target, Modified Weaver simply locks the dominant hand/arm straight out.
e. Offhand, Bullseye One hand, strong hand, facing sideways to target arm extended
4. Sight acquisition, usage and understanding 20 minutes
a. Explain what the sights are and using the students firearms allows them to discover this for
themselves.
b. Show them stress fire indexing, focused on target, handgun comes up into stance/grip
viewing the front sight not the full picture. Within 15 yards this is a reasonably solid
approach to shooting under pressure.
c. Show each proper sighting techniques for less stress based shooting, 6 oclock hold, center
hold etc.
d. Show proper trigger management- gentle, slow and steady squeeze straight back into the
frame until the firing pin is released- DRY FIRE practice for FIVE MINUTES!
e. Ensure they understand that their firearm should be properly sighted in before use

LUNCH BREAK- 40 minutes, review as necessary with students.

Third Segment: Review of basic safety, stances and more (30 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Review, ask questions start loading magazines

DO NOT load revolvers yet
MAGAZINES loaded with rounds BUT NOT in the firearm
Ear protection,
Eye protection
Short break, smoke, water, bathroom

Final Segment: SHOOTING (60 minutes)

1. Final safety check, insert/place hearing protection on, eye protection on and check your holster
2. Place the cleared and UNLOADED firearm in your holster while facing downrange
3. Place the loaded magazines in your pockets, magazine carriers of choice/ THREE 5 round
magazines 4. Advance upon instructors command to the 3 yard line and hold for instruction

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5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.

a. Upon hearing the command to MAKE READY assume the most comfortable stance WITH
firearm still unloaded and holstered
b. LOAD a magazine upon hearing the command, LOAD keep finger off the trigger, and
maintain stance
c. Upon hearing the command to FIRE gently squeeze the trigger depressing until the firing pin
is released and the firearm discharges- fire 5 rounds into the designated center of the target
DO NOT PLACE the firearm back in your holster yet, have the person next to you verify clear,
have an instructor double check and clear than replace the firearm in its holster.
Remain at the 3 yard line
a. Upon hearing the command to MAKE READY assume the most comfortable stance WITH
firearm still unloaded and holstered
b. LOAD a magazine upon hearing the command, LOAD keep finger off the trigger, and
maintain stance
c. Upon hearing the command to FIRE gently squeeze the trigger depressing until the firing pin
is released and the firearm discharges- fire 5 rounds into the designated center of the target
REPEAT this process until all magazines are used up- of the THREE magazines you loaded.
TAPE targets and RETRIEVE brass
Check your targets with assistance upon hearing RANGE IS COLD command and proceed to
Collect individual brass from the ground
Load three magazines of 5 rounds apiece and return to the 7 yard line
a. Repeat above process except at seven meters repeat as necessary

Legal Disclaimer In all cases the information given is suggested and is taken from applied cases and
real incidents of note. It should be noted also that the instructor recommends that all individuals
approach daily life in such a manner so as to avoid the potential for conflict as conflict cannot and never

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has solved any problem and is at the very least an unsavory task and at the most something to be
avoided. No legal liabilities are accepted by this instructor for this class unless it is taken as a paid class,
in which case liabilities are based on a separate waiver and approach, listed below which constitutes the
full liability of the instructor. Additionally the instructor retains all rights to submit adjustments to the
coursework as becomes necessary, these will not be submitted without fair warning (24-48 hour notice)
to parties concerned.
Liabilities accepted as follows At no time is the instructor to be called upon to testify for the
individuals taking the class. This is not a legalities class; it is a basic shooting instruction class. All views
and opinions expressed in the class are the sole opinion of the chief instructor and are not meant to be
construed as legal advice. At no time will legal advice be offered with this class. If legal advice is desired,
the instructor may make suggestions as to where to obtain that, however, as the class itself is not meant
to construe legal advice the students should refrain from asking with regards to that.
Adult Release, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement
1. I acknowledge and fully understand that I and all others engaged in shooting, observing and
training with firearms will be engaged in activities with substantial inherent risks of serious
personal injury including disability or death and severe social or economic losses which
might result from my actions or inactions or the actions or inactions of others; such risk
include but are not limited to:
a. my failure to abide firearms safety rules or to properly handle or use firearms or
ammunition;

INITIAL _____

b. the failure of others to abide by firearms safety rules or to properly handle or use
firearms or ammunition;

INITIAL _____

c. the characteristics, including the design, manufacturing or other defects, of any firearm
or ammunition being used by myself or others;

INITIAL_____

d. the inability of the instructor to, at all times, monitor or supervise all actions by myself,
guests, or others involved;

INITIAL_____

e. I recognize that I may be expelled from these facilities for violation of the safety rules of
conduct, Range Rules or for behavior deemed unsafe by the instructor;
f.

INITIAL_____

On behalf of myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, I hereby assume all
risk of personal injury and accept personal responsibility for any and all damages that

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may occur as a result of any such personal injury, disability or death. The word
damages includes, but is not limited to, the incurring of physical and emotional injury
of any kind, loss of physical function, ability or capacity, medical expenses, lost wages or
income, loss of consortium and any other compensatory damage.

INITIAL_____

g. On behalf of myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, I hereby agree to

indemnify and defend the Released Parties from any and all claims, demands, actions or
lawsuits for any personal injury, disability or death occurring to myself or any other
person which result entirely or in part from the actions, failure to act, or negligence of
myself, my guests for whom I am responsible.

INITIAL _____

h. I agree that this Adult Release, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement shall be
interpreted according to Arizona law and that any dispute shall be resolved in Arizona.
INITIAL _____
I hereby state that I, the actual signer of this Agreement, am an adult over the age of 18 years, that I
have read and initialed each of the above terms and conditions, that I understand everything set forth
above and that I have knowingly given up substantial legal rights by signing below, which I do
voluntarily.
Signature: _________________________________
Print full name: _________________________________Date_______________________
Permanent address: _________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________
Drivers License No.:______________________________
State of Issue: __________________________________
Identification address: __________________________________________________________

Witness Signature______________________________________________Date_____________