Welcome to Blue Mesa Shooting Academy
Thanks for Visiting
Click Red Training Counselor Logo below for NRA Instructor Certification Information!

NRA Certified Instructor & Training Counselor (7 Disciplines)
Gunsite Graduate
Certified CHP (CCW) Instructor for Colorado, Utah, & Florida
Tactical Instruction

Bulletin Board
NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation)
First Shots Program (Handguns)

Would you like to learn basic firearm safety and to shoot, but feel a little uneasy or intimidated?

Montrose Rod & Gun Club has the answer! Free handgun classes are now being offered for absolute beginners just as you may have seen on one of the "First Shots" ads sponsored by the "National Shooting Sports Foundation" - NSSF

Larry McWhirter, with assistance from Candy & Jeff Epperson is offering these classes. You will become acquainted with firearm safety, general firearm knowledge, and fire handguns under the watchful eye of an instructor or experienced shooter. You'll have a great time and become much more comfortable and at ease with handguns and firearms in general. Classes generally last about 4 hours. And they're free! Students will fire .22 caliber rounds. Watch here for next Class date.

For further information contact Larry at 249-2771 or click here!
Color Uploadable Poster First Shots Web Site Class Enrollment Form

Nevada CCW Update!
As of July 1, 2009 Nevada no longer accepts Utah CCW permits!
Click here for further details!
Click here for further Utah information!!

Colorado CCW Update
The Montrose County Sheriff's Office has informed us that the CBI has ask that we start calling what we know as CCW's, Concealed Handgun Permits instead. (CHP) CCW indicates all weapons are able to be concealed, which is not the case. According to Colorado State Statute, handguns are the only things Concealed Permits Cover.

General Information for Blue Mesa Shooting Academy

Blue Mesa Shooting Academy is a full spectrum, family oriented, training facility. We offer over 20 classes designed to meet the needs of virtually everyone including a NRA non - firearm course, known as "Refuse to be a Victim".

We specialize in handgun training. We offer courses, from the most basic such as "Home Firearm Safety", to the most advanced and everything in between. Our two most popular classes are the one day CCW & our Academy Class, both Concealed Carry Handgun Classes. In addition we also offer the NRA Personal Protection In & Outside the Home, Rifle, Shotgun, and Range Safety Officer training.
We are sure to have a program to meet your needs. Most of our classes are NRA & we also offer instructor training & certification. We are also certified as a Utah CCW Instructor facility. Please look over the remainder of our web page and/or give us a call. Our classes are limited to a maximum of 10 -12 students so we may give each individual the attention they deserve!

We use Microsoft PowerPoint® presentations & large screen video to add visual clarity & interest to all our classroom presentations.

NON FIREARM CLASS
Refuse to be a Victim
What is "Refuse to be a Victim?"
This is a 4 hour (non-firearm) nationally recognized NRA crime prevention and personal safety program designed to provide men and women with information that assists in the development of their own personal safety strategies.

INTRODUCTORY FIREARM CLASSES
Home Firearm Safety Class
This is a four hour "classroom only" introductory class teaching the basics of home safety for pistol, rifle & shotgun. (No actual shooting.) A certificate of Completion will Be Awarded.

NRA "First Steps" classes are offered in the following disciplines:
Pistol (Handgun)
Rifle
Shotgun
These classes are more involved than the "Home Firearm Safety Class", are similar to the NSSF "First Shots" firearm program, but are firearm specific. I.E. Students are limited to shooting one specific firearm.

CHP TRAINING CLASSES
Concealed Handgun Permits Training
Formerly known as CCW Classes
For Colorado, Utah, & Florida!
With permits from all three states, you should be authorized to carry concealed in approximately 32 states.
Class # 1, below meets & exceeds training requirements for Colorado & Florida! Utah requires an additional 1 hour classroom only to cover Utah specific statutes.
Class # 2 requires an additional 3+ hour classroom session to meet Utah specific statutes.
Instructor is a graduate of "Gunsite Training Academy's 350 Pistol Class!
(To the best of our knowledge, the only active instructor in Western Colorado so qualified!)

Introduction

Blue Mesa Shooting Academy is a "Family Friendly" Training Facility. All classes are designed to provide a friendly, fun & practical educational experience for everyone, especially the ladies. We offer a wide range of classes (over 20 total) designed to meet the needs of virtually everyone. Six different Handgun Classes, including " Basic Handgun ", (#2 below), our "Academy class", (#1 below), the heart of our course curriculum, "Personal Protection in the Home" (#3 below), a more advanced NRA intermediate "Personal Protection Outside the Home" Class, (#4 below) an Advanced Handgun Class, (#5 below), "NRA Range Safety Officer" Class, (#6 below), Basic Rifle (#7 below), Basic Shotgun, (#8 below), Home Firearm Safety, (#9 below)
and
NRA Instructor Certification Clinics in the disciplines of "Basic Pistol", "Personal Protection in the Home", "Personal Protection Outside the Home" "Basic Rifle", "Basic Shotgun" & Home Firearm Safety (#10 below) round out our curriculum.
Defensive Shotgun Class
Click for details!
With a four student minimum, we will offer these classes any time!

Blue Mesa Shooting Academy is proud to offer the complete NRA series of handgun classes in addition to our Academy, Advanced & Extremely Advanced pistol courses. We also offer "Range Safety Officer", Basic Rifle & Basic Shotgun Training.

Specific Course Information
Pistol

#1. Academy Class (30 Hr. Course)
Our regular "Basic/Intermediate Handgun & Personal Protection/Home Defense Class" (CHP Training, formerly ccw, is designed for beginning and/or intermediate students. This is the heart of our curriculum & because it is based on Gunsite doctrine, we believe it is the most comprehensive & complete Course of its type on the Western Slope, maybe even the state. We cover awareness training, firearm presentation & carry options, home defense, and Colorado gun laws. We include an extended session covering circumstances warranting the use of deadly force & our final range session will introduce students to "Real Life" Tactical Shooting Scenarios including a night shoot!

When, and if, most of these subjects are covered by competitors, they are usually relegated to their "Advanced Classes." Because we believe they are so vitally important, we include them in this Course!

Consisting of a full 30 hours of training compared to most others lasting between 8 &18 hours, this course meets & exceeds the training requirements for obtaining a Concealed Carry Weapons Permit for Colorado, & Florida. Utah certification requires an additional hour of classroom only time to cover Utah specific statues. At course completion, graduates are able to draw a concealed firearm and fire two rounds accurately in approximately 2 seconds. With dedicated practice, many reduce this time to 1.5 seconds or less! Offered three or more times per year!
This is our Academy or Full Length Course & is not an NRA Course!

Click here for course outline & further details!

Download an Adobe .PDF Printable and Savable File of Our Academy (CHP) Course Outline!

Download an Adobe .pdf Course Flyer!
Course is offered three (3) or more times annually - Winter, Spring & Fall

Partial list of topics covered in our Academy class not addressed in our one day CHP class.

Class dates for our Academy Class (#1 above):
Classes begin at 7:00 P.M.
March 18, 2010
Sept. (Exact Date TBD)

#2. Basic Handgun (CHP) Class
Formerly CCW
Our "Basic Handgun Shooting Class" ( Concealed Handgun Permit Training Class)
consists of 11+ hours of instruction on Saturday & is offered once or twice a month. Designed primarily for students with a limited time schedule, it meets training requirements for Colorado & Florida Concealed Carry Permits. Utah CCW training requires an additional 3 classroom hours. Always offered on the second, and, often times, additional Saturdays of each month, depending on demand. With a minimum of four students, we will offer the class just about any time! Tuition is $100 plus a $10.00 range fee. Students supply their own ammunition. (100 rounds) Members of the Montrose Rod & Gun Club are exempt from the range fee. A non refundable deposit of $50.00 is required to guarantee your spot. Should you have to miss your scheduled class date, this deposit will normally be applied to a future class. Students who miss their second class will forfeit their deposit.

This is our Short Course & is based heavily on NRA's Basic Pistol Class, but is not an official NRA class! It is more heavily slanted toward Personal Protection (Combat) Shooting, which is what virtually all our students want as opposed to target or bull's eye shooting.
Class room is at 123 Akard Ave. - Montrose

Please bring the following to class:
Firearm - Loaners are available - Please do not purchase one prior to attending class
Holster - Loaners are available
Ammunition - minimum of 100 rounds. Please, no live ammunition in the classroom!
Hearing & Eye Protection
Water (For Range Session)
Class dates for above class:
All Saturday Classes begin promptly at 8:00 A.M.
Classes generally fill quickly!
Enrollment is normally limited to 10 - 12 students. Sign up now!
March 13
April 10
May 8

Click here for additional information on this Class!
Click Here for an Adobe .Pdf flyer on this Class!

Blue Mesa Shooting uses the Montrose Rod & Gun Club's
outdoor range. It is located on the left hand side of Highway 50, just prior to the
Black Canyon turnoff. This is a much safer shooting facility due to the ever increasing population
density encroaching on our former range. There is a usage fee depending on the number of classes.
For our one day classes, the fee is &10.00 per person. For our Academy Class the fee is $20.00. Club members are exempt from the fees.

#3. Personal Protection in the Home

This class exposes students to several schools of thought regarding defensive shooting techniques. It is much more than just a routine shooting course. The NRA Basic Personal Protection series is based on the building block approach, moving from the simple to the complex. The first course in this series is the Basic Pistol (CHP) Course, listed above. This is the second step. It builds on the skills learned in the Basic Pistol Course. The third step in the series is the new NRA "Personal Protection Outside the Home" Course. PPITH is offered quarterly.
Click Here for Color Flyer on this Class!

#4. "Personal Protection Outside the Home"
Level 1 (Basic - 9 hr. Course includes Both Classroom and Range Time)
Level 2 (Advanced) Requires an Additional 5 Hours Range Time
May be taken together as one course (Total 14 hrs.) "Advanced Certification"
or
you may split the two classes, taking the first 9 hr. class which will certify you as "Basic" and then complete the additional "Advanced" (5 hr.) portion at a later date to receive your "Advanced" Rating. Each course earns a separate "Certificate of Completion"
This course is classified by the NRA as an "Intermediate" Level Course.
Prerequisite is one of the following:
1. Completion of the "Personal Protection in the Home Course"
OR
2. Successfully complete the NRA "pre-course evaluation"
Our Academy graduates will have no trouble completing this!
You will need approximately 500 rounds of ammunition.
Call or E-Mail for Details
Click Here for Full Color Flyer on this Course
PPOTH is normally offered twice a year.
With a minimum of four students we will conduct a class anytime!

#5. Advanced Academy Handgun Class (Advanced CHP)
Offered annually. Fun & Extremely Practical!
"Real Life" Tactical Shooting Applications
Prerequisite is Class #1, PPOTH (listed above) or Equivalent. This is not an NRA class.
Click for Details and Course Outline
Advanced Class Outline in Adobe .pdf file
Photos of previous classes
Next Class
June, 2010

Utah CCW Class (Utah still calls it CCW Training)
Additional Requirements
Prerequisite is completion of either of our CCW Classes
OR
Present a certificate of CHP class completion from another certified instructor
or
a current Colorado CHP Permit!
Offered on an "On Demand" Basis, usually quarterly.

Defensive Shotgun Class
A “Personal Protection” Training Course!

This is not a class in trap, skeet, or target shooting. The focus is on personal defense. Numerous tactical aspects will be addressed. One does not need an expensive high end gun for self defense. As a matter of fact, practically any shotgun you have will work fine. The focus of this class is to learn to use what you’ve got. Due to the limited ammunition capacity of shotguns, another major emphasis will be on reloading, both tactical & speed.
One day ( 8 or 9 hr.) class will be fun and informative. Includes classroom and range work.
Priced at only $80.00
Watch for dates!
All classes except #'s 1, 2, 5 & our new Defensive Shotgun Class
are NRA Classes)

ADDITIONAL STUDENT CLASSES OFFERED

# 6. Range Safety Officer Class Date 06/05/2010
#7. Basic Rifle Class Date 03/27/2010
#8. Basic Shotgun Class Date 04/24/2010
#9. Home Firearm Safety
NSSF "First Shots" Handgun Classes
(A firearm safety program W/ shooting for absolute beginners )

(Instructor Clinics)

#10. "NRA Instructor Certification Classes"
offered in disciplines of:
"Basic Pistol"
"Personal Protection in the Home"
"Personal Protection Outside the Home"
"Basic Rifle"
"Basic Shotgun"
"Home Firearm Safety"

NRA Instructor Class Schedule

New for 2010!
Have Computer — Will Travel
(To Conduct NRA Instructor Classes)
Travel Agreement for Host Facilities
Class Enrollment Forms
Instructor Classes — General Information
Affordable Inns — Discount Rates for Students
Driving Directions to 123 Akard Ave.— Montrose

Unless otherwise noted, all instructor classes are held in Montrose, CO

Personal Protection Outside the Home
April 3
This is the only NRA dicipline that requires instructor candidates to take both the student portion of the course, then the Instructor portion of said course! It will, therefor, require at least three and probably four days to complete.

Basic Shotgun
May 1

Basic Pistol
May 15

Range Safety Officer
Certification Training
June 5
(This is not an Instructor Course)

Basic Pistol
June 20

Most Classes are offered on a regularly scheduled basis.
Others are offered on an on Demand Basis.
Call (970) 249-2771 for Information or to schedule a class.

Frequently Ask Questions - Click Here

General Information
Tueller Drill Discussion .PDF File
(From an Arizona DPS - Highway Patrol Newsletter)

Take a Look at Our Thoughts Page! Should be good for a grin or two. Click Here.

Download a .pdf file on Colorado's CHP Laws (Senate Bill 03-024) effective May 18, 2003

Download a .pdf file on Senate Bill 03-025 (Limiting the ability of local Gov. to Regulate Firearms)

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” Thomas Jefferson

Instructor Profile
NRA Certified Instructor & Training Counselor

Larry D. McWhirter (Owner, Course Director)
NRA Certified Instructor & Training Counselor in the Following Diciplines:

Home Firearm Safety
Pistol
Rifle
Shotgun
Personal Protection in the Home
Personal Protection Outside the Home
Chief Range Safety Officer
Refuse to be a Victim

Gunsite "350" Pistol Graduate
Colorado, Utah & Florida Certified CCW (CHP) Instructor

Larry's complete Shooting Profile

Basic Definitions

Tactics - any maneuver or adroit management to gain an objective
Tactical Short definition - CHEAT
Adroit synonyms - skillful, expert, practiced, able, clever, adept, competent, or accomplished
IWB - Type of holster (Inside waistband)
SOB - Type of holster (Small of Back)
Cover - Hidden from view using something that will stop a bullet E.G. Rock, tree, Engine Block, etc.
Concealment - Hidden from view using something that will not stop a bullet E.G. Grass, Shadows, etc.
Misfire - Cartridge does not fire after primer is struck by the firing pin.
Hangfire - a perceptible delay in the ignition of a cartridge after primer has been struck by the firing pin
Squib load - less than normal pressure or bullet velocity after ignition of the cartridge.
Compliant - doing exactly as instructed (ordered)