Took the class this week and did not pass the skills test good enough to get a graduate certificate.  . I could not complete clearing a stage 3 malfunction in under 4.9 seconds.  I was ok on the 1 & 2 malfunctions but took about 6.5 seconds to clear a 3.  Also did not do that well in the time pressure test in getting two shots to the thoracic cavity.  Twice did not get off a second shot in the allowed time, which is very short, ranging from 1.6 to about 2.9 seconds depending on distance and you had to draw from concealment.  Distances were 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 yards.  The handgun range at my home is 25 yards so I have enough room to practice.  Couple problems I had was I only took loose fitting T shirts to cc in Vegas and it got hung up a couple of times wearing it tucked in and a light jacket as my concealment garment.  Next time I will take a tight fitting shirt.  Couple guys there were wearing biking shirts under a vest or jacket.  I had lasik surgery a few years ago and although I have 20/15 vision in my dominant right eye, the front sight is slightly blurry held at arm's length.  It is crystal clear with my left eye which is for reading.  I did not want to change my shooting style without practice, but I am going to experiment over the next few months and see if shooting cross dominant will help me.  I will also work on my malfunction drills a lot.  I decided to buy the FS Dry Practice app for my phone.  It is pricey at a $100, but it is an excellent tool.  A guy at the class said he paid that much for a regular shot timer and was going to buy that app.

I hope to take that class again later this year or early next year and get a graduate or hopefully distinguished graduate certificate instead of the certificate of achievement which a little over 50% of the class, including myself, got for completing the class.  There were 3 who got a DG certificate.  One of them said this was the 5th time.  All in all I had a great time and it was nice to be able to legally cc for the pass week. 

On the trip home, it was the first time the ticket agent took out the ammo boxes and weighed it.  8 boxes of 124 grain 9 mm weighed 11.5 lbs, but told her the box itself weighs at least an oz each which would make it exactly 11 lbs.  She let it go.  Later my name is paged and they tell me TSA wants the key to my gun case to inspect it.  All was good so I am back home and am going to start my time pressure shooting and malfunction tests with the FS app today.

Took the class this week and did not pass the skills test good enough to get a graduate certificate.  . I could not complete clearing a stage 3 malfunction in under 4.9 seconds.  I was ok on the 1 & 2 malfunctions but took about 6.5 seconds to clear a 3.  Also did not do that well in the time pressure test in getting two shots to the thoracic cavity.  Twice did not get off a second shot in the allowed time, which is very short, ranging from 1.6 to about 2.9 seconds depending on distance and you had to draw from concealment.  Distances were 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 yards.  The handgun range at my home is 25 yards so I have enough room to practice.  Couple problems I had was I only took loose fitting T shirts to cc in Vegas and it got hung up a couple of times wearing it tucked in and a light jacket as my concealment garment.  Next time I will take a tight fitting shirt.  Couple guys there were wearing biking shirts under a vest or jacket.  I had lasik surgery a few years ago and although I have 20/15 vision in my dominant right eye, the front sight is slightly blurry held at arm's length.  It is crystal clear with my left eye which is for reading.  I did not want to change my shooting style without practice, but I am going to experiment over the next few months and see if shooting cross dominant will help me.  I will also work on my malfunction drills a lot.  I decided to buy the FS Dry Practice app for my phone.  It is pricey at a $100, but it is an excellent tool.  A guy at the class said he paid that much for a regular shot timer and was going to buy that app.

I hope to take that class again later this year or early next year and get a graduate or hopefully distinguished graduate certificate instead of the certificate of achievement which a little over 50% of the class, including myself, got for completing the class.  There were 3 who got a DG certificate.  One of them said this was the 5th time.  All in all I had a great time and it was nice to be able to legally cc for the pass week. 

On the trip home, it was the first time the ticket agent took out the ammo boxes and weighed it.  8 boxes of 124 grain 9 mm weighed 11.5 lbs, but told her the box itself weighs at least an oz each which would make it exactly 11 lbs.  She let it go.  Later my name is paged and they tell me TSA wants the key to my gun case to inspect it.  All was good so I am back home and am going to start my time pressure shooting and malfunction tests with the FS app today.

I just came back in May from the 4 day defensive handgun class and 1 day ccw.  Everyone in my class of 41 earned at least graduate, and 3 received DG.  I understand that's not the norm, so we must have had the best group of instructors .

I noticed many in our class showed up early for instructor-lead dry fire drills before the 8AM start each day.  I'm sure that contributed to the results.

Yes, the malfunctions are not easy if you haven't ever practiced them before.  I was comfortable with 1 & 2 because I practiced at home with my kids, just not for time.  3 was tough the first time I tried, but once you have the right sequence (pull, look, move, check for mag in belt, lock slide, strip and drop mag, rack 3 times hard, insert mag from belt, rack slide, back on target), it's still a challenge!!  The malfunctions not only are graded on time, but also procedure.  Procedure counts off more than time, so it's better to practice getting it perfect, then use repetition to get it faster and faster.

The difference between Achievement and Graduate seems to me you get a silver seal on the laser printed certificate .  It won't even get you a cup of coffee at the lunch truck!  I also had a few returning students, mostly people bringing new students as guests like family and coworkers.  I guess I was catching on quick for my first time there, because 2 instructors said, "You've been here before, right?" 

Did you take the skill builder for a particular reason?  Have you already done the 2 or 4 day defensive handgun? Just curious, because most people tend to take the defensive course to try and get DG to qualify for the advanced.

I got a DG for the pistol and a G for the advanced tactical.  I can help get you trained up if you'd want.  Type 3's are difficult, so you want to score well on the rest of the test so that you can get the -6 time penalty on the type 3's and still make DG.

You should be practicing the drills at home.  Dryfiring out of the holster for speed and accuracy.  Get snap caps (dummy rounds) and work on your malfunctions.  Do it with your eyes closed.

At Koko Head bullseye range, practice everything like you are doing your test for FS.  Practice pointing in quickly from the ready position.  Keep a loaded magazine in your pocket and practice emergency/tactical reloads as you shoot.  Fill your magazines with random snap caps to check your flinching and practice your tap/racks.

Practice or enter competitions where you have to shoot, reload, and fix malfunctions under time and stress.  I had to do a type 3 malfunction during a timed event once and still got most of my shots off in time.

I don't think the FS app is really necessary.  Free shot timer phone app is all you need.

Did you take the skill builder for a particular reason?  Have you already done the 2 or 4 day defensive handgun? Just curious, because most people tend to take the defensive course to try and get DG to qualify for the advanced.

You need to successfully have completed the defensive course in order to take the skill builder, otherwise they won't let you take it.  The defensive course was easy and relaxed compared to the skill builder.  The skill builder is considered an advanced course.  I know what I need to practice on now and will be much better prepared the next time.

Zippz,
The FS app is much superior to the free shot timer app.  If you get it, you will see what I mean.  I live on the Big Island and have a handgun range in my backyard, so don't have to go to any range.  Three things I have to work on.  Type 3 malfunctions, quicker presentation from concealment and see if using my left eye to get a clear focus on the front sight will improve my accuracy.  That will mean leaning my head over a bit more.