It is no secret that life gets busy. As daily responsibilities begin to pile up, it can be easy to fall behind on your tactical training. This means that finding ways to practice at home when you cannot make the range a priority is essential. This is the purpose behind the P201 Pistol Home Study Course from Student of the Gun.
Why the Student of the Gun Home Study Course?
The most obvious solution to the time vs. training issue is to incorporate dry fire training into your routine. However, this is not always the answer. Sometimes training means taking the time to gather information on the dos and don’ts of shooting before you set foot on the firing range.
Often, practice can be as simple as sitting behind your laptop screen and taking a home study course to better educate yourself about your firearm.
So, I recently took the P201 Martial Application of the Pistol Home Study Course by Student of the Gun University. Here is how it went, along with some key information about the course.
About The P201 Martial Application of the Pistol Home Study Course
The P201 Martial Application of the Pistol Home Study Course is designed to give its students an overview of using a handgun as a tool to defend life and liberty. It is broken down into eleven lessons. Each one is designed to challenge you to consider new approaches to handling your firearm in tactical settings.
Participants can expect to learn the following topics:
- An introduction to the course
- A glossary of basic handgun terms
- Firearm safety rules
- Marksmanship principles
- Running the machine
- Optics on handguns
- Martial tactics
- The science of sight
- Ammunition and accessories
- Firearm malfunctions and how to clear each type
To progress to the next lesson, participants must complete a multiple-choice quiz. Once all lessons are finished, a final assessment is required to complete the home study.
I will note that the P201 Martial Application of the Pistol is a program designed with two steps in mind: home training and residency training. My review and experience are based solely on the home study portion of the program.
Meet the Instructor
This home study program is taught and instructed by Paul Markel, the founder of Student of the Gun University. While anyone can call themselves an “instructor,” Markel has a background in the military, law enforcement, and security. Likewise, he has decades of experience as a small arms and tactics instructor.
Paul knows exactly what he is talking about when it comes to the topic of using a handgun in defensive situations. Through his words and instructional videos, he ensured that each lesson was engaging, concise, and straightforward for anyone to understand.
My Experience and Takeaways
One aspect I appreciated about this training course was that there was no pressure or rush to complete the program within a specific timeframe. The average time to complete the study is five hours. However, I found that finishing one lesson a day worked the best for me and my schedule.
The combination of reading and watching videos struck a good balance between education and entertainment. But it wasn’t too overwhelming with information. Paul did a great job of clearly explaining each topic and helping you apply techniques for real-world situations.
The course helped me view firearm safety in ways I never thought I would. Likewise, it taught me how to properly dry fire and how to deal with different types of firearm malfunctions.
The program was full of all kinds of useful information that changed the way I view my firearm. But my absolute favorite lessons revolved around Paul’s education about how to operate in the world during a dangerous situation.
Testing Your Knowledge
The multiple-choice quiz after each lesson was a great way to see if you actually understood the topics or needed to go back and reread a section. Plus, you could retake the quizzes as many times as necessary.
I was nervous about failing. However, I quickly realized that if you have a willingness to learn and are paying attention to the material, you will have no issues passing with flying colors. The same mentality applies to the final assessment.
Overall, I highly recommend retaking the quizzes as a refresher before taking the final exam.
Student of the Gun Home Study Course Step Up Your Game
Whether you are a seasoned shooter or a novice stepping into the firearms world for the first time, this home study course is designed for anyone who wants to prioritize their personal safety.
I cannot recommend this course enough and am so happy that I took it. After taking the course, I feel much better educated about my handgun. Likewise, I am also more confident in my ability to effectively use my firearm in a tactical setting.
