The Intermediate Pistol Course builds upon the fundamentals established in a Basic Pistol program and is designed to enhance the participant’s proficiency, efficiency, and confidence with the handgun. This course emphasizes improved marksmanship, weapon manipulation, and the application of pistol skills in more dynamic and realistic training environments.

Instruction focuses on refining shooting fundamentals while introducing intermediate-level concepts such as movement, reload techniques, malfunction recognition and clearance, target transitions, and positional shooting. Participants will also be exposed to increased performance standards and time constraints.

Live-fire training exercises are conducted under close instructor supervision and progressively increase in complexity. Safety, situational awareness, and strict adherence to established range procedures are emphasized at all times.

This course is intended for participants who have successfully completed a Basic Pistol Course or possess equivalent training and experience.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate consistent safe handgun handling in dynamic training environments.

2. Apply refined shooting fundamentals to improve accuracy and consistency at intermediate distances.

3. Perform efficient emergency and tactical reloads.

4. Recognize and clear common and intermediate-level handgun malfunctions under time constraints.

5. Engage multiple targets with effective target transitions and controlled shot placement.

6. Demonstrate accurate fire while moving and from multiple shooting positions.

7. Maintain situational awareness and proper trigger discipline during dynamic drills.

8. Explain and demonstrate safe holstering techniques under varying conditions.

Course Length and Format

• Total Duration: 4 hours

  • Classroom instruction: 1 hour

  • Range instruction / live fire: 3 hours

• Format:

  • Lecture and demonstration

  • Dry-fire drills

  • Live-fire range exercises

  • Performance-based drills with increasing complexity

(Course length and format may be adjusted based on agency standards, class size, and participant experience.)

Equipment Requirements

Participants are required to provide the following:

• Serviceable handgun 

• Minimum of 500–800 rounds of factory target ammunition.

• Minimum of 3–5 magazines 

• Holster that covers the trigger guard and allows safe re-holstering. (Serpa holsters prohibited)

• Magazine pouch(es) or equivalent load-bearing equipment

• Eye and ear protection (mandatory)

• Brimmed hat (recommended)

• Weather-appropriate clothing suitable for extended range activity

• Note-taking materials