The N.A.P.S.I. Basic Defensive Shooting Skills (BDSS) Course combines the dry and live-fire range work from FDP, with a review of Firearms Safety and Safe Gun Handling Practices, as well as discussion regarding the body's natural reactions to lethal force stress. BDSS will consume approximately 6 hours of time consisting mostly of dry and live-fire exercises on a shooting range. While a number of skills transfer from the recreational/target shooting sports to the defensive shooting world, there are numerous substantial differences between the two disciplines - differences that a typical basic handgun safety class will not address or recognize. As such, BDSS was developed to provide the student who has already taken some variety of formal handgun training, such as a basic handgun safety course or a Concealed Handgun Permit course, with a proper introduction to defensive shooting skills. Students who successfully complete the coursework will leave at a level of operational competence with a handgun. Students should expect to fire approximately 150 rounds of ammunition.

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Topics of instruction will include:

  • Review of Firearms Safety and Safe Gun Handling Practices
  • Range Safety Protocols
  • Introduction to Instinctive Reactions During Lethal Force Stress
  • Introduction to Defensive Shooting Fundamentals
  • Using Both Kinesthetic Alignment and Sighted Fire To Achieve Defensively Accurate Hits
  • Introduction to Balance of Speed And Precision Concept
  • Multiple Round Engagements
  • Introduction to Using Cover and Concealment
  • Shooting From Low and High Cover/Concealment
  • Verbal Challenge Techniques

Students will be required to show proof of prior training either by way of a Course Completion Certificate from a State-Approved or nationally recognized handgun safety course, or by displaying a valid Concealed Handgun Permit issued by a state with a training requirement.