Welcome to Blue Mesa Shooting Academy
Thanks for Visiting

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. We also offer 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 offer instructor training & certification. Please look over the remainder of our web page and/or give us a call. Our classes are normally limited to a maximum of 10 students so we may give each individual the attention they need & deserve!

We use Microsoft PowerPoint® with a high end digital projector for large screen video presentations 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 3 to 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.
Class Date:
Thursday Oct. 9
6:00 P.M.
This class is co-sponsored by the Montrose Recreation District
Call Nicole at the Rec. Dist. (249-7831 Ext.16) or Blue Mesa for details

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.

"First Steps" classes are offered in the following disciplines:
Pistol
Rifle
Shotgun
These classes are more involved than the "Home Firearm Safety Class", are firearm specific & include a range session for live fire practice.

CCW TRAINING CLASSES
Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) AKA Concealed Carry Permit (CCP) Training
For Colorado, Utah, & Florida!
With permits from all three states, you will be authorized to carry concealed in 33 states.
(Nevada now recognizes Utah's & Florida's Permits as of 10/01/07)
Class # 1, below meets & exceeds training requirements for all three states! Class # 2 requires an additiional two hour classroom session to meet Utah requirements.
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 Pistol", (#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.
With a four student minimum, we will offer these classes any time in addition to our regularly scheduled classes!

Blue Mesa Shooting Academy is proud to offer a 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 Pistol & Personal Protection/Home Defense Class" (CCW Training) 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. 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 times per year, Winter, Spring, & Fall.
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 (CCW) Course Outline!

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

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

Class dates for our Academy Class (#1above):
Classes meet at 7:00 P.M.
Sept. 11 (Fall Class)
With a four student minimum, we will offer it at any tme!

#2. Basic Pistol (CCW) Class
Our "Basic Pistol Shooting Class" ( Concealed Carry Weapons 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 two classroom hours. Always offered on the second, and, often times the fourth Saturday of each month, depending on demand. Tuition is $100 plus a $10.00 range fee. Students supply their own ammunition. (100 to 125 rounds) Members of the Montrose Rod & Gun Club are exempt from the range fee.

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 125 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 students. Sign up Now!
Sept. 13
Oct. 18
Nov. 8

Blue Mesa Shooting has recently received permission from the Montrose Rod & Gun Club to use their
outdoor range to conduct classes. 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 usual range. There is a usage fee depending on the number of classes.
For our one day classes, the fee is &10.00 per person. Club members are exempt.
Click here for additional information on this Class!
Click Here for an Adobe .pd flyer on this Class!

#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 (CCW) 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 Pistol Class (Advanced CCW)
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
Click Here to Download an Adobe .pdf file on the Above Listed (#4) Advanced Class
Photos of previous classes

All classes listed except #'s 1, 2 & 5 are NRA Classes)

ADDITIONAL CLASSES OFFERED (Student)

# 6. Range Safety Officer
#7. Basic Rifle
#8. Basic Shotgun
#9. Home Firearm Safety

(Instructor Clinics)

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

Class #'s 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 are offered on a regularly scheduled basis.
Class #'s 6-10,"Refuse to be a Victim", & "First Steps" Classes are offered on an
On Demand Basis.
Call 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 CCW 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

About the Instructors
All are NRA Certified

Larry D. McWhirter (Owner, Course Director)
Graduated from both basic and advanced pistol classes offered by "Colorado Shooting Institute."
Graduated from Gunsite Intermediate #350 Pistol Course.
Completed course requirements for Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Utah & Nevada concealed carry permits.
Served as an assistant instructor for a course similar to our #1 above listed class given by "Colorado Shooting Institute."
Professional scuba diving instructor for entry level classes, specialty classes, advanced classes and instructor prep (Divecon) courses since 1975.
Also rated as an underwater photography instructor.
Graduated from NRA Instructor school for "Personal Protection" & "Basic Pistol."
Completed class given by Rob Letham.
Completed NRA "Training Counselor" Class. We train & Certify Instructors in the disciplines of "Basic Pistol" & "Personal Protection in the Home."
Completed Chief RSO (Range Safety Officer) Training Course. Classes in this discipline are now offered! See #5 above.
Completed Instructor Certification Training in the NRA disciplines of "Basic Rifle" and "Basic Shotgun" Classes are now offered.
Completed Instructor Certification Training for CCW Permit for State of Utah. Now certified as a Utah CCW Permit Instructor.
Served as Assistant Instructor for an extremely Advanced Combat - Tactical pistol class taught by David Mowry, an Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol ) Firearms instructor and S.W.A.T. Team Officer.
Completed both the Basic & Advanced new NRA "Personal Protection Outside the Home" class.
Completed the Instructor/Training Counselor portion of NRA "Personal Protection Outside the Home" Now certified both as an Instructor to train students and as a Training Counselor to train & Certify Instructors in this discipline.
Larry's complete Shooting Profile

Kyle Rice
Completed Blue Mesa Shooting Academy Pistol Course
Completed Blue Mesa Shooting Advanced Pistol Class
Served as assistant with various Blue Mesa Classes as Needed
Completed Advanced Pistol Class at Valhalla Training Center
Completed Scuba Assistant Instructor Rating (Divecon) & has Assisted with numerous Blue Mesa Scuba Classes
Completed Instructor Certification for NRA Basic Rifle Course
Completed NRA Range Safety Officer Course
Completed NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Course
Currently Certified in the above Three Discipline
Also — Certified as an "Open Water Diver" Scuba Instructor
Completed an extremely Advanced Combat - Tactical pistol class taught by David Mowry, an Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol) Firearms instructor and S.W.A.T. Team Officer.

Jim Armour
Completed Blue Mesa Shooting Academy Course (Pistol Class)
Completed Blue Mesa Shooting Advanced Pistol Class
Completed Instructor Certification for NRA Basic Rifle
Completed NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Course
Currently Certified in the above Two Discipline
Completed an extremely Advanced Combat - Tactical pistol class taught by David Mowry, an Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol) Firearms instructor and S.W.A.T. Team Officer.

David Mowry (Guest, Advanced Tactical/Combat Instructor)AZ DPS Highway Patrol
AZ POST Firearms Instructor
AZ POST General Instructor
AZ DPS SWAT
NMSP
DOE Officer Survival School
USMC Small Arms Instructor
USMC Military Police

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)