Some folks know I've been getting back into shooting after many years and I just got my pistol permit and picked up the new Ruger SR22. I never really did much with handguns and am finding out how different they truly are to shoot well!

A local gun club runs a Winchester Marksmanship Course on a regular basis and am wondering if people here have any expereince with it?

I got the Ruger last week and have been out 2x and have about 500 round through it. I'm shooting better already but figure I need some training. I've been having a lot of fun...probabaly too much! After just using my bolt action rifle, having a semi-auto makes pulling the trigger too easy maybe! lol

Any thoughts and advice are appreciated! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I have no experience with a Winchester Marksmanship Course, but I do recommend you get training soimewhere before you engrain any bad habits too deeply.

I would imagine Winchester wouldn't put their name on it if it sucks. That said, training, no matter how good the cirriculum is, is only as good as the individual instructor.

Take the class. Winchester partnered up with the NRA. It's a NRA sanctioned course eligible to anyone of any age. The courses start off with bb guns and go up. You can take specific courses such as pistol. Then there are advanced courses that follow. The NRA site has the course books or sale as well.

Tak the glass you will not regret it.

And congrats.

RN
Don't want to hijack but what is this "permit" you need to own a handgun in Ct.?
As bad as Cal. gun laws are we don't need a "permit", just a handgun safety card (20 something question test).

Thanks guys. Yeah JJ, I was thinking last night "That's about 500 rounds and even though I'm shooting better, god knows how my technique is and what I'm making mechanical." Better to learn right the 1st time than have to unlearn and learn again.

Thanks Sar- I figured shooter here would know something about it. It is the pistol class. Is it all shooting and such? Our 10 hour NRA class was 3 hours of you need to conceal carry/carry/you have to carry/you're gonna carry right?!

CT is pretty easy (I think). They require a NRA handgun class, apply at local PD (prints/background check, they approve and it's off to the State Police for Permit to Own and/or Carry. It's good for 5 years and you can buy handgun/long gun/shotgun and walk out the store with them. With no permit or hunting license you can buy a long gun or shotgun and you have a two week wait and no pistol buying without a permit. Think that's it, but Kenken is from CT and can correct me if he sees the thread. Took a smidge over a month from my class to permit to my little Ruger.

Wow a permit to buy a pistol! And after some googling I don't think it even allows you to carry. I think I saw you have do demonstrate live fire too. For some reason I thought all states had gone to insta check when buying a firearm. Walk in fingerprint phone call walk out with new gun.

Oh and practice really helps. Someone posted a target here awhile ago that let's you know what you're doing wrong while shooting. I'll see if I can find it.

Yeah, the conceal carry here seems as clear as mud to me. I'm not going to carry, so I'm not sweating it, but the permit itself says "State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers and Super Soakers"... well ok, maybe not the last part! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I say take the class, you might learn something new and useful. I am sorry that many of my fellow countrymen can not enjoy the freedoms out forefathers wanted for us--[censored] shame that people have to go through hoops like you did and do.

M'eh no biggee for me Sumo...better somebody eyeball a maroon like me before giving them a handgun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Funny! I forgot you and me are a very small minority here. I wouldn't care too much either but my problem is I really don't like waiting.

he he hee I joke. Mine could have gone slower actually. My town police actually interviews the neighbors usually. They didn't do it in my case..not sure why..maybe they figure social workers are like boy scouts?

I did have a funny chat with the officer about not interviewing the lady next door with the drug addict/larcenous husband- 'cause that man does not need to wonder what is in my house! we had a funny chat and having worked in prisons, he knew I understand crminality that we don't have so much in our small town....

Waiting! I think Martinus said that it took him 3 years to get his!