CCW Classes & Firearms Training In Metro Denver & All Of Colorado
Tag: gun
Dive into a wide range of topics related to guns, including firearm reviews, training techniques, maintenance tips, legal updates, and responsible gun ownership. Our articles are designed to inform, educate, and support everyone from first-time buyers to experienced shooters.
To become an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, one of the key requirements is demonstrating safe gun handling and marksmanship. The shooting qualification for the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor course ensures that instructor candidates meet a minimum standard of accuracy and consistency.
Whether you’re preparing for certification or looking to test your skills, this drill is a great way to assess your shooting fundamentals.
The Drill: NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Qualification
This qualification is fired from a standing position at 15 yards (45 feet) with no time limit. Candidates must fire 20 rounds total. The goal is to place at least 16 out of 20 shots inside an 8-inch circle, and all of those must also fall within a 6-inch group. This ensures not only accuracy but consistency in shot placement.
Target Setup
Use a standard 8-inch circle printed or drawn onto an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper. You can print one by downloading our PDF version of the 8-inch circle target below.
Place the target at 15 yards (45 feet).
🎯 Download and print: See Below
Qualification Chart
String
Distance
Rounds
Time Limit
Scoring Standard
1
15 yards
20
No time limit
16/20 hits in 8″ circle; within 6″ group
What This Drill Teaches
✅ Fundamental accuracy ✅ Sight alignment and trigger control ✅ Consistency of shot placement ✅ Readiness for instructor certification
Tips for Success
Focus on your grip, stance, and breathing.
Use slow, deliberate trigger presses.
Watch for consistency—tight groups matter more than speed.
Want to Train for This Drill?
We offer professional firearms training that helps students prepare for instructor-level performance. Whether you’re a new shooter or on the path to becoming an NRA instructor, we’ve got you covered.
The FBI 5-Yard Round-Up is a short but effective shooting drill used to test your ability to shoot quickly and accurately at close range—under time pressure and using both one- and two-handed techniques. It’s an excellent benchmark for concealed carry holders, security guards, and armed professionals who want to improve close-quarters handgun fundamentals.
📋 Drill Breakdown
Distance: 5 yards
Total Rounds: 8
Target: FBI Q target, B-8 repair center, or silhouette with a defined scoring zone
Start Position: Low ready (or from the holster for advanced shooters)
Par Timer Required: Yes
🔁 Course of Fire
String
Action
Rounds
Par Time
1
Two-handed from low ready
2
2 sec
2
Strong-hand only
2
3 sec
3
Support-hand only
2
4 sec
4
Two-handed from low ready again
2
2 sec
All strings begin from the low ready unless modified. Shooters must complete each string before the par time buzzer ends. No extra shots allowed after time expires.
📊 FBI 5-Yard Round-Up (Scaled for 8.5″x11″ Milk Bottle Target)
String
Action
Rounds
Scaled Distance
Par Time
1
Two-handed from low ready
2
2.5 yards (7.5 ft)
2 seconds
2
Strong-hand only
2
2.5 yards (7.5 ft)
3 seconds
3
Support-hand only
2
2.5 yards (7.5 ft)
4 seconds
4
Two-handed from low ready
2
2.5 yards (7.5 ft)
2 seconds
✅ Total Rounds: 8 ✅ Target: Milk bottle silhouette printed on 8.5″x11″ paper ✅ Scoring: All hits must land inside the bottle zone within the par times
📄 See below to print out this drill You’ll find a downloadable version of the chart and the printable milk bottle target at the bottom of this page.
🎯 Scoring
Scoring is pass/fail based on hits inside the designated scoring zone within time limits. You can scale difficulty by using a tighter scoring zone such as the 8-ring of a B-8 target.
Basic Standard: 6/8 hits inside scoring zone under time
Pass Standard: 8/8 hits inside scoring zone under time
🧠 Skills Built
Close-quarters shot placement
One-handed accuracy (strong and support hand)
Time management and par-time discipline
Recoil control and sight tracking under pressure
💡 Modifications
Run it from concealment draw
Add verbal command or decision-making cue before draw
Repeat multiple reps per hand to strengthen one-handed control
Use reduced-size targets for advanced shooters
✅ Train With Us
This drill is a great way to build confidence for real-world encounters at close range. We regularly incorporate this and other high-value drills into our Colorado Concealed Carry Classes and armed guard training programs.
Security guards are trusted to maintain safety, enforce rules, and deter unlawful activity. They are, in theory and often in practice, part of the public safety framework. But when a guard violates the same laws they’re hired to uphold—especially gun laws—it undermines everything they stand for.
One of the most commonly overlooked areas of legal compliance is magazine capacity. Several states restrict how many rounds a handgun magazine can legally hold. If you’re carrying more than what your state allows, you’re not just violating policy—you’re potentially opening yourself up to criminal prosecution, civil liability, and career-ending consequences.
🗺 States With Magazine Capacity Limits
As of 2025, several states (and the District of Columbia) enforce magazine capacity laws. These typically restrict handgun magazines to 10 or 15 rounds. If you work as a security guard in one of these states, you must carry gear that complies with local law:
State
Handgun Mag Limit
Notes
California
10 rounds
Possession, sale, and transfer banned
Colorado
15 rounds
Grandfathered if owned before July 1, 2013
Connecticut
10 rounds
Pre-ban mags must be registered
Delaware
17 rounds
Some exemptions for permit holders
Hawaii
10 rounds
Applies to handguns only
Illinois
15 rounds
State-level limits; some localities (e.g., Cook County) cap at 10 rounds
Maryland
10 rounds
Possession legal; sale and transfer banned
Massachusetts
10 rounds
Pre-1994 mags exempt if legally owned
New Jersey
10 rounds
No grandfather clause—strict enforcement
New York
10 rounds
Law clarified to allow 10 rounds (7-round load rule removed)
Oregon
10 rounds
Law passed but under court injunction
Rhode Island
10 rounds
Ban includes possession
Vermont
15 rounds (handguns)
Rifles limited to 10 rounds
Washington State
10 rounds
Possession legal; sale/manufacture/import banned
Washington, D.C.
10 rounds
Ban includes possession
⚠ Always check local laws and city ordinances in addition to state statutes, as cities may impose stricter limits (e.g., Boulder, CO).
⚖ Legal Risks: Criminal & Civil Liability
Carrying an unlawful magazine is a criminal act in many states. If you’re caught, you’re no longer the protector—you’re the violator. And if you’re involved in a use-of-force incident with an illegal magazine, things can escalate fast.
In a courtroom, whether criminal or civil, the prosecutor or plaintiff will point to your unlawful magazine as a sign that you were reckless, unlawful, or even dangerous from the start.
❝“The guard broke the law the moment he stepped out the door. He violated the public’s trust. He carried the same kind of high-capacity magazines used by gang members and active shooters. This is not how a responsible professional behaves.”❞
You’re risking:
Felony or misdemeanor charges
Loss of your security license
Job termination
Civil damages
Total loss of credibility in court
📋 Licensing Risk: Your Gear Can Get You Suspended
I recently spoke with a guard who admitted to carrying 17-round magazines. He justified it by saying, “That’s what came with the Glock.”
But here’s the reality:
Colorado’s 15-round limit has been in place since July 1, 2013
He bought the gun in 2020
Therefore, his magazines are not grandfathered
Licensing agencies don’t ask when the magazine was made—they ask when you bought it and how old you were in 2013. If you were under 21 in 2013, there’s no legal way you could’ve possessed a grandfathered mag.
I’ve heard firsthand of guards:
Losing their license for 5 years
Getting hit with large fines
Causing their security company to its license
Causing companies to lose contracts
Being a guard is a privilege, not a right. One illegal mag can end your career.
📊 The 3-5 Rule and Real-World Data: You Don’t Need 17+ Rounds
The USCCA’s “3-5 Rule” holds true for most armed encounters:
3 to 5 yards, 3 to 5 seconds, and 3 to 5 rounds.
That’s not theory—it’s backed by hard data from law enforcement and private sector shootings:
Security guards—especially in plainclothes or retail settings—face the same types of threats as CCW holders and federal agents. Most deadly force encounters happen fast and up close, and they don’t require excessive ammo.
🔄 Redundancy Is Smart—But It Must Be Legal
If you’re worried about needing more ammo, the answer isn’t an illegal mag—it’s smart redundancy.
Personally, I carry:
A Glock 45 with 15+1
Three 15-round mags on my vest (all legal under Colorado law)
Four more loaded mags in my patrol car’s active shooter bag
An extra box of ammo secured in my vehicle
I believe in being ready for the worst—but I refuse to break the law to do it.
If I could legally carry high-capacity magazines, I would. But I’m not risking my license, my job, or my freedom.
🧠 Train Like You Carry: Reload Skills Matter
If you work in a mag-restricted state, you need to be extremely proficient in emergency reloads. It’s not optional—it’s survival.
Practice dry reloads at home with dummy rounds
Focus on slide-lock and tactical reloads
Train under stress and in different positions
Carrying backup mags is smart. Being able to use them under stress is what saves lives.
🔺 Final Considerations: More Reasons to Stay Compliant
1. 💼 Civil Lawsuits & Negligence Claims
Illegal gear opens the door to arguments of negligence. You’ll look reckless—and you could lose a civil case, even if your shooting was justified.
2. 💸 Insurance Coverage Can Be Denied
Many insurers won’t pay out if you were violating the law. That means you’ll face legal costs and civil suits alone.
3. 👵️ Client & Public Perception
Oversized mags don’t make you look professional. They make you look aggressive. That can hurt your company’s image and your own credibility.
4. 🔁 You Can Still Carry Smart
Carry extra mags
Use a go-bag
Keep spare ammo in your car
Stay lawful and ready
5. 🧐 Your Integrity is Everything
Lawful, well-equipped guards are respected. Law-breaking guards destroy trust. You are a representative of public safety—act like it.
✅ Conclusion: Carry Smart, Stay Legal, Protect Your Future
Carrying an illegal magazine doesn’t make you more prepared—it makes you more vulnerable. To legal action. To losing your license. To destroying your credibility.
Stay compliant. Stay trained. Stay professional.
📣 Get The Training & Coverage You Need
📅 Security Guard Insurance Involved in a use-of-force incident? Don’t risk your livelihood. Get coverage that protects you from criminal, civil, and administrative fallout. 👉 Compare Security Guard Self-Defense Insurance Plans
🕵️♂️ Security Guard Training Whether you’re renewing your license or getting certified for the first time, we offer professional training built around real-world threats and Colorado law. 👉 View Security Guard Training Programs
🏹 Colorado CCW Classes Get certified the right way—with live fire, legal education, and professional instruction. Our concealed carry courses meet Colorado’s updated 2025 standards. 👉 Book a Colorado Concealed Carry Class
🔒 Understand Colorado’s Self-Defense Laws We break down Colorado Revised Statutes, use-of-force laws, and landmark cases in plain English. 👉 Explore Colorado Self-Defense Law Guide
🧑🔫 About Instructor Mark Schneider Mark Schneider is the Senior Instructor at Concealed Carry Classes of Denver and Training Manager for a licensed security company. With thousands of hours of field experience, legal research, and hands-on instruction, Mark has trained hundreds of CCW holders, armed guards, and private citizens across Colorado. 👉 Learn More About Mark Schneider
