About Class ......
It is the mission of Friendly Village Firearms (FVF) to make everyone's firearms training opportunity a safe, comprehensive, and enjoyable learning experience.
Thanks beforehand to all students for their participation, cooperation and understanding as your instructor attempts to achieve that goal!
To that end, your instructor will try to give consideration to each student. As a student, please also be considerate of your fellow students. FVF is not a heel-clicking, by-the-exact-numbers environment, however, firearms training is very serious business. Occasionally there may be a moment or two of levity. However, as you will note during class time, safety will be always emphasized.
We use "dummy" handguns for a portion of our training. You will be handling real "hand"guns, too, so anticipate that your hands may experience a trace or two of gun oil thereafter and, also likely, a trace of gun powder as well after firing one or more handguns at the range.
Thanks beforehand to all students for their participation, cooperation and understanding as your instructor attempts to achieve that goal!
To that end, your instructor will try to give consideration to each student. As a student, please also be considerate of your fellow students. FVF is not a heel-clicking, by-the-exact-numbers environment, however, firearms training is very serious business. Occasionally there may be a moment or two of levity. However, as you will note during class time, safety will be always emphasized.
We use "dummy" handguns for a portion of our training. You will be handling real "hand"guns, too, so anticipate that your hands may experience a trace or two of gun oil thereafter and, also likely, a trace of gun powder as well after firing one or more handguns at the range.
Although we provide handguns and ammunition, eye and ear protection at the range, it is understandable that you would like to bring your own handgun, ammunition, eye and ear protection. You may bring your firearm to the class, but by no means bring any ammo into the classroom. You may bring your ammo only to the range. However, in this regard, the liability is yours for your personal firearm and ammo, as is its proper and safe use your responsibility while at the range.
Under no circumstances bring a loaded firearm to a class nor to the range. Firearms and magazines must be empty when you arrive at the range. You will be a guest of the range and a guest of FVF while you're at the range. After you're signed in at the range and when instructed by your Range Safety Officer (RSO), who, in this case, is your instructor, you may load magazines. Your RSO will tell you when to do just about everything except breathe! The safety of everyone who may be at the range demands that our students essentially do absolutely nothing, please, until instructed by your RSO.
You will especially be instructed in class beforehand that, when at the range for the shooting portion of your course, students are expected to observe proper range protocol at all times!
You will especially be instructed in class beforehand that, when at the range for the shooting portion of your course, students are expected to observe proper range protocol at all times!
Plan on this: Safety will be "the name of the drill" during class and especially before, during and after any shooting at the range. In class, as well at the range, different pistols, semi-automatics and revolvers, will be discussed, displayed, and demonstrated in various ways. Safe handling of a handgun, using a proper grip and assuming a proper firing stance will be stressed at all times.
Proper muzzle and trigger control etiquette will be the way of the day. NO FIREARM(S) WILL BE POINTED AT ANY PERSON AT ANY TIME DURING THE CLASS OR AT THE RANGE! Firearms will never be loaded in the classroom by a student or the instructor!
And, at no time will your trigger finger be inside the trigger guard of any firearm until you're instructed to step to the firing line; you're instructed to assume a proper firing stance; you're told to load your firearm; your firearm is aimed at the target and you're instructed to fire. You can probably tell that this is all about "instruction"!
During class there will be Power Point slides to view and a video or two, depending on the course. Of course, there will be oral instruction. During the instruction you may have difficulty hearing the instructor, the projector audio or video audio so .... early on, the class will be asked if anyone has difficulty hearing .... or difficulty seeing. This may be due to where you are sitting. The instructor will make adjustments to make viewing and hearing better. Remember to bring your eye glasses and your hearing aid(s), if you're so equipped! (-:
That said, don't hesitate to ask the instructor to speak up, turn up the volume, etc.. Also, if you're uncomfortable, perhaps the temperature or lighting is not what you'd prefer, inform the instructor and he will try to improve the situation.
Speaking of comfort, students completing the Maine Concealed Handgun Permit qualifying course should come to class dressed for the range. To clarify, when both the basic class and advanced class are taken consecutively is what we call our concealed carry course. Wear your "casuals", perhaps bring a sweater and/or a light jacket. Depending on the season, you may wish to layer more or layer less. Try to be aware of what Mother Nature may have in store for us during the day, especially later when we break to go to the range. Wear comfortable, but supportive foot gear. Hiking type shoes or low boots are recommended.
You may need rain gear, so, if showers are in the forecast, bring one of those light rain coats like you might have with you when traveling. A cap might also prove handy and possibly sun glasses, too. As handguns are fired, empty cartridge cases will be ejected. These cases are hot for a second or two. Enough so to make you aware of this if one lands on your bare arms or on your neck. Wear an outer garment with sleeves and a shirt (top) you may button at the neck. Yes. It's warm in the summer and you may be a bit uncomfortable, but you'll be more uncomfortable if a "hot round" (that is, a cartridge case from a fired round) lands on your bare skin! In reality, most empties will not land on you, but one might on occasion, so be prepared.
If you have a question, especially one which when answered may benefit the other students as well, raise your hand to get your instructor's attention. However, there is a lot of material to cover. Being ever mindful of that, your instructor will occasionally stop to ask if there are any questions, so, if possible, make brief notes to remind you of the gist of your question and wait for the instructor to ask if anyone has a question. Speaking of which, note taking is encouraged, but may also distract you to the point you may miss something, so take brief notes and, hopefully, they'll make sense to you later!
During class time, please either turn off your cell phone or place it on vibrate. If, with good reason, you do expect an important call, please let the instructor and the class know beforehand so we all can expect a justified interruption. With regard to interruptions, as mentioned on the "About Us" page, at planned intervals during the course, we will take a break for usually five minutes or so, and usually between course segments which typically run 30 to 45 minutes..
When attending a spring/summer/early fall eight hour course, you're encouraged to bring a lunch, although there are "eating spots" nearby, sort of, where one may go to get lunch. Bear in mind that the center of Harrison is a 10 mile round trip from the classroom; Naples, a 16-17 mile round trip and Bridgton about the same. We plan a one hour lunch break which may allow enough time to get a quick something in Harrison and make it back in time, especially if ordered, say, from the Village Tie Up or Harrison General before the noon break, but doing so is likely to be a "close fit". Please, be on time returning to class. Frankly, it would be better if you brought your lunch! (-:
If you have a question, especially one which when answered may benefit the other students as well, raise your hand to get your instructor's attention. However, there is a lot of material to cover. Being ever mindful of that, your instructor will occasionally stop to ask if there are any questions, so, if possible, make brief notes to remind you of the gist of your question and wait for the instructor to ask if anyone has a question. Speaking of which, note taking is encouraged, but may also distract you to the point you may miss something, so take brief notes and, hopefully, they'll make sense to you later!
During class time, please either turn off your cell phone or place it on vibrate. If, with good reason, you do expect an important call, please let the instructor and the class know beforehand so we all can expect a justified interruption. With regard to interruptions, as mentioned on the "About Us" page, at planned intervals during the course, we will take a break for usually five minutes or so, and usually between course segments which typically run 30 to 45 minutes..
When attending a spring/summer/early fall eight hour course, you're encouraged to bring a lunch, although there are "eating spots" nearby, sort of, where one may go to get lunch. Bear in mind that the center of Harrison is a 10 mile round trip from the classroom; Naples, a 16-17 mile round trip and Bridgton about the same. We plan a one hour lunch break which may allow enough time to get a quick something in Harrison and make it back in time, especially if ordered, say, from the Village Tie Up or Harrison General before the noon break, but doing so is likely to be a "close fit". Please, be on time returning to class. Frankly, it would be better if you brought your lunch! (-:
The following appears redundant and it is ... because it bears repeating 'again'! While at the range, your instructor will be your Range Safety Officer (RSO). The safety of each student, any others anywhere at the range (and your instructor) demands that each student adhere to strict range discipline at all times.
What is strict range discipline? Essentially it is this: You will do nothing until your RSO tells you what to do, where to do it and how to do it. In the interest of utilizing time efficiently at the range, your RSO may not include explaining why to do this or why to do that, unless he determines that it is necessary, particularly for safety reasons, to repeat what should have been learned during class time.
So while in class, pay attention! At the range, do not hesitate to raise your hand and ask a question!
Neither class time nor range time is intended to be an intimidating experience. So, rather than proceed and not be comfortable about doing what you are about to do, don't hesitate to get the Instructor/RSO's attention.
Neither class time nor range time is intended to be an intimidating experience. So, rather than proceed and not be comfortable about doing what you are about to do, don't hesitate to get the Instructor/RSO's attention.
You will receive instruction during class about what to anticipate at the range. That is, what to expect and what to do before, during and after firing, including what to do, if you experience a possible malfunction.... To quote a recent American Rifleman NRA monthly magazine insert: "Going to the range is fun and easy, once you know a few simple rules."
Speaking of the rules, the following eight tips provided by the NRA are a good summary about range etiquette:
Having read about us, read about a course and possibly registering for it, and also having read this page, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us about them. Thanks!
