Firearms Training: Colorado POST Qualification Course

Official Colorado Law Enforcement Shooting Course (30-Round)

The Colorado POST Handgun Qualification Course is used by law enforcement statewide to test marksmanship and shooting fundamentals under stress. While we do not offer POST certification or police training, we encourage civilian shooters and security professionals to train to the same standard.

This 30-round course challenges your ability to draw, reload, and engage targets at distances from 1 to 25 yards — under time constraints. It’s one of the toughest state-level handgun quals in the country.

🔷 Course Overview

• Total Rounds: 30
• Target: POST Q silhouette (scored 10, 9, 8, 5 points)
• Scoring:
  • Max score: 300
  • Passing score: 210 (70%)
  • 💥 Any missed shots result in a DQ (law enforcement standard)
• Time Limits: Yes (per string)
• Reloads Required: Yes
• Start Position: From duty holster
• Gear: Semi-auto or revolver, 2+ mags/speedloaders

⚠️ For law enforcement qualification, any miss is a disqualification. For civilian use, use 70% (210/300) as a benchmark passing score.

📋 Full Breakdown: Colorado POST 30-Round Course of Fire

✅ Stage 1: Close Contact Engagement

• Distance: 1 yard
• Rounds: 2
• Drill:
  • From holster
  • Fire 1 round with dominant hand only
  • Transition and fire 1 round with support hand only
• Time: 6 seconds

✅ Stage 2: Fast Pairs at 3 Yards

• Distance: 3 yards
• Rounds: 6
• Drill:
  • String 1: Draw, fire 3 rounds
  • String 2: Repeat
• Time per string: 4 seconds

✅ Stage 3: Combat Reload at 7 Yards

• Distance: 7 yards
• Rounds: 12
• Drill:
  • 3 strings of 4 rounds
  • Each: Draw, fire 2 rounds, reload, fire 2 more
• Time per string: 8 seconds

✅ Stage 4: Mid-Range Accuracy

• Distance: 15 yards
• Rounds: 6
• Drill:
  • 2 strings of 3 rounds
  • Each: Draw, fire 3 rounds
• Time per string: 8 seconds

✅ Stage 5: Barricade Shooting at Distance

• Distance: 25 yards
• Rounds: 4
• Drill:
  • From cover:
    • Fire 2 rounds from kneeling
    • Fire 2 rounds from standing
• Time: 15 seconds

🎯 Scoring & Target Zones

The POST Q target is scored as follows:

• 10 ring = 10 pts
• 9 ring = 9 pts
• 8 ring = 8 pts
• Outside of 8 ring but on silhouette = 5 pts
• Miss = 0 pts and disqualification if you’re a sworn officer

As a civilian or security shooter training to this standard, we score your hits honestly — but you won’t be DQ’d unless you’re training to certify for a POST agency.

🖨️ Downloadable Target & Usage Guide

Colorado POST Q Target (Scaled for 8.5″ x 11″)

This is a scaled-down version of the official Colorado POST Q Target, designed to let you train at indoor ranges or shorter distances. It simulates the scoring zones used in the full-size target:

✅ Tip: These distances fit within most indoor shooting lanes and simulate the difficulty of the full-size POST target at regulation range.

Always verify your range allows drawing, movement, and rapid fire before running this course.

⬇️ See Below to Download Your Scaled Target ⬇️

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