CHL

Took my CHL (Concealed Handgun License) course on July 11. Been meaning to do it for quite some time but time slipped away from me. I’d been hoping to use my Bersa Thunder 380 as my qualifying gun because that’s the gun I’d prefer to carry. But, with the ammo shortages, I haven’t been able to find any 380ACP ammo. So I used my Smith & Wesson Sigma 9mm instead.

The course consisted of 9 hours of instruction and a 50 question written exam, 1 hour of practice range time and 1 hour of range qualification. I passed the written exam with a score of 96.

The range qualification consisted of a firing proficiency demonstration at ranges of 3 yards, 7 yards, and 15 yards. A passing score is 175, with a maximum possible score of 250. The range qualification consisted of the following exercises:

3 yards distance (20 rounds)

• 1 shot exercise – 5 rounds (2 seconds allowed for each shot).
• 2 shot exercise – 10 rounds (3 seconds allowed for each pair of shots).
• 5 shot exercise – 5 rounds in 10 seconds.

7 yards distance (20 rounds)

• 5 shot exercise – 5 rounds in 10 seconds.
• 5 shot exercise
  … 2 shots in 4 seconds
  … 3 shots in 6 seconds.
• 1 shot exercise – 5 rounds (3 seconds allowed for each shot).
• 5 shot exercise – 5 rounds in 15 seconds.

15 yards distance (10 rounds)

• 5 shot exercise – 5 rounds in 10 seconds.
• 5 shot exercise – 5 rounds in 15 seconds.

The range qualification is scored according to the following guidelines:

My target after the range qualification:

5 points were lost for the one shot that did not hit the silhouette on the lower right. It does not matter that the point of impact was only 1/4″ – 1/2″ off the silhouette.

4 points were lost for the two shots in the silhouette that were not inside the rings on the left side of the body (2 points per shot).

2 points were lost for the hits inside the 7 ring (1 point per shot).

That left me with a range qualification score of 239.

The rapid fire exercises at the 15 yards distance were what cost me all my points. My S&W Sigma 9mm only has a double-action mode. Combine that with a long trigger pull and a stiff trigger (12 lbs), that was the reason for my errant shots. Now that I know my rapid fire exercises need work, I can concentrate on that at the range with that gun. With my carry pistol, the Bersa Thunder 380, I will not have those issues as it can function in single-action or double-action mode and has a very smooth trigger pull.

I am waiting on one bit of paperwork and then I can get my fingerprints taken and submit everything to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The turnaround time for the CHL license is approximately 3 months.