Classes

The following are brief descriptions of the skills taught during each class offered by Common Man Training. With the exception of Defensive Handgun 1 and Defensive Carbine 1, pre-requites for each class are the generally successful completion of the class before it. As classes get more advanced, shooters should expect the pace and performance demands to increase. 

Common Man Training strives to maintain high standards for our students. Experience, skills and abilities vary widely between individuals. Likewise, practical shooting standards are often subjective and can vary widely between different organizations. However, those students with relevant prior experience may be allowed to validate (skip) some basic level classes if they can pass a short practical shooting drill and/or gain prior instructor approval. (See FAQs for more information).  

Defensive Handgun Courses

 

Defensive Handgun 101 (4-hours)

This course is for beginning or novice handgun shooters. It is designed to build solid foundations for practical defensive use of the handgun. The shooter will be introduced to foundational concepts and techniques necessary to properly utilize the pistol in a practical defensive manner to achieve first round hits, including fundamentals of safety, marksmanship, and gun handling. The course will consist of brief classroom instruction followed by practical application from the standing position and range drills inside 15 yards. Pre-requisite: None. Topics include:

  • Firearms Safety

  • Handgun Nomenclature and Operation

  • Marksmanship Fundamentals

  • Loading and Unloading

  • Slide Lock Reloads

  • Engagement Sequencing

  • Handgun Maintenance

Defensive Handgun 102 (4-hours)

This course builds on the foundational skills covered in Defensive Handgun 101. The shooter will learn how to safely and efficiently present (draw) the pistol from a suitable strong-side holster, how to acquire a flash sight picture, and shoot with the dominant hand only. Drills will include longer distances, higher accuracy standards and shorter time frames than demanded in Defensive Handgun 101.

Pre-requisite: Defensive Handgun 101 or equivalent

  • Firearms Safety

  • Presenting the Pistol from the Holster

  • In-battery Reloads (Speed and Tactical)

  • Marksmanship Fundamentals.

  • Shooting with the Dominant-Hand Only

Defensive Handgun 200 (Intermediate) (8-hours)

This course is for students who have had some relevant prior handgun shooting experience but are looking to improve upon their basic practical shooting skills. It builds upon skills learned in Defensive Handgun 1, with the introduction of new skills via more challenging drills with increasing distance and time requirements.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Defensive Handgun 100 series, CMT CCH, or equivalent. Topics include:

  • Review of Firearms Safety and Marksmanship Fundamentals

  • Shooting from Kneeling

  • Malfunction Clearances

  • Non-dominant Hand Shooting

  • Multiple Target Engagements

  • Use of Cover

Red Dot Pistol (RDP) (8-hours)

Red dot optics on pistols have increased in popularity in the past several years, and for good reason. Red dots allow for faster shots, greater precision, and may assist those with older eyes, but they can work against you without the proper training. This 8-hour course is for students who have mastered basic handgun skills and are looking to maximize the potential of a red dot on their pistol. Drills will be shot from 3-25 yards, at increased demands for accuracy and time on par with Defensive Handgun 200 to help students determine their current capabilities and limitations with the red dot.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Defensive Handgun 100, CMT CCH, or equivalent. Topics covered include:

  • Considerations in Choosing a Pistol Optic

  • Review/Refinement of Defensive Handgun 100 fundamentals for RDP

  • Zeroing

  • Alternate Sighting Methods

  • Shooting at Distance

NC Concealed Carry Handgun Basic (CCH) (9+-hours)

This course is a minimum of nine hours, and includes the Defensive Handgun 101 curriculum, as well as four hours of state mandated classes focused on the legal and practical aspects of carrying a concealed handgun responsibly. The classroom portion of the class will generally be completed before the practical (range) portion. Both a written exam and practical marksmanship test must be successfully competed to pass. Upon successful completion of course the student will receive the training certificate necessary to apply for a North Carolina CCH permit.  Pre-requisite: None.

Concealed Carry Enhanced (CCH-E) (8-hours)

This class combines Defensive Handgun 102 with the fundamentals needed to carry and draw from concealment, plus practical tactics to avoid or prevail in a violent self-defense situation. Carrying a concealed handgun routinely requires a change of habits and lifestyle not taught in most CCH classes or practiced frequently by many shooters. Safety, comfort and being prepared for the fight can be compromised if you are not ready. Holsters, clothing, accessing your pistol from positions other than standing or from alternate carry devices are but a few of the problems you may have to consider. Drills will be conducted from the open and from concealment. These drills will test your ability to use your CCH handgun under realistic timelines at practical engagement distances.

Pre-requisite: Satisfactory completion of Defensive Handgun 101, CMT CCH, or equivalent. Shooters who already have a valid CCH may also attend but should be able to safely and efficiently execute marksmanship fundamentals before attending this class. Topics include:

  • Review of Defensive Handgun 101 Fundamentals

  • Practicing a Concealed Carry Lifestyle

  • CCD Gear Considerations

  • Presenting your pistol from concealment (OWB, IWB, AIWB, Purse)

  • Tactical Fundamentals

  • Low Light Shooting Techniques

  • Shooting From Retention

Backup Gun (BUG) (8-hours)

Small-framed pistols, such as the Sig 365, Glock 43, and S&W Shield have become very popular in recent years. For many, these types of handguns serve not only as a backup, but often as a primary everyday carry (“EDC”) gun due to their ease of carry and concealability. However, while small guns are great to carry, they are generally less great to fight with when compared with larger models. This class will focus on helping the student appreciate the capabilities and limitations of the small-framed handgun, especially when carried and deployed from concealment. The class combines elements of Defensive Handgun 100 and CCD, including drills with both the dominant and non-dominant hands out to 25 yards. Students should have small-framed type handgun, a concealment garment, and suitable holster(s), including an inside the waistband (IWB) holster for appendix carry if possible. If possible, the student should bring a full-sized handgun with appropriate equipment in order to experience the differences between utilizing a BUG and larger handgun under stress.

Pre-requisite: Satisfactory completion of Defensive Handgun 101 and 102, CMT CCH-E or equivalent.

Defensive Handgun Classes with Patriot TAC (2-4 hours per class)

CMT is excited to be teaming up with Patriot TAC to bring you a series of defensive handgun classes starting in January 2024, combining instructors with over 60 years of practical shooting experience between them. These classes will be offered in 2-hour increments, and align closely with the Defensive Handgun 100 and 200 series offered by CMT. In the future CMT and Patriot TAC intend to offer an Advanced Concealed Carry, Pistol Mounted Optic and long gun courses as well. Sign up via the USCCA website with Patriot Training and Consulting, LLC at Patriot Training and Consulting, LLC | USCCA Training (usconcealedcarry.com)

Defensive Long Gun Courses

Defensive Carbine 101 (4-Hours)

The AR-15 is one of the most popular weapons platforms in the United States and the world for good reason. It is lightweight, hard-hitting, easy to handle, and versatile. This course is for shooters new to the AR-15 or those seeking to improve existing skill sets. It is designed to build solid foundations for practical defensive use of the carbine. Fundamentals of safety, marksmanship, and gun handling particular to the AR-15 platform will be reinforced. The course will consist of a short period of classroom instruction followed by practical application, including zeroing and range drills inside 50 yards.  Pre-requisites: None. Topics include:

  • Firearms Safety

  • Carbine Gear Considerations

  • Carbine Nomenclature and Operation

  • Rifle Marksmanship Fundamentals

  • Shooting from Prone

  • Zeroing

  • Engagement Sequencing

  • Loading and Unloading

  • Bolt-lock Reloads

Defensive Carbine 102 (4-hours)

This course builds on and reinforces the foundational skills covered in Defensive Carbine 101. The shooter will be introduced to concepts and techniques necessary to properly utilize the AR-15 carbine in a practical defensive manner to achieve first round hits, including how to conduct various types of reloads on demand, malfunction clearances, as well as how to properly clean and maintain their carbine. Drills will include longer distances, higher accuracy standards and shorter time frames than demanded in Defensive Carbine 101.

  • Firearms Safety

  • Bolt-forward Reloads

  • Engagement Sequencing

  • Malfunction Clearances

  • Carbine Maintenance

Defensive Carbine 200 (8-hours)

This course is for shooters who have had some prior carbine experience but are looking to improve upon their basic practical shooting skills. It builds upon skills learned in Carbine 100, with the introduction of new skills via more challenging drills with more demanding distance, accuracy and time requirements. Pre-requisite: Defensive Carbine 100 or equivalent. Topics include:

  • Review of Defensive Carbine 1 Fundamentals

  • Shooting from Kneeling and Sitting

  • Shooting from the Non-dominant Side

  • Pivots and Turns

  • Shooting from Cover

  • Multiple Target Engagement

 

 

Defensive Carbine 300 (8-Hours)

This course is for shooters who have firmly mastered basic practical carbine shooting skills and are looking to improve their practical marksmanship and gun handling further. It builds upon skills learned in Carbine 200, while introducing new skills with drills and standards of increasing difficulty. Pre-requisites: Defensive Carbine 1 and 2 or equivalent. Topics include:

  • Review of Defensive Carbine 1 and 2 Fundamentals

  • Shooting while Moving

  • Transitions to the Handgun

  • Low light Engagement 

  • Shooting from Non-traditional Positions

Defensive Shotgun 101 (4-hours) ($100)

The shotgun is an awesome defensive tool if properly used, but myths and misunderstandings about them abound. Good knowledge, training and practice is required to maximize a defensive shotgun to its potential. This introductory course is designed to help shooters understand the capabilities and limitations of their shotgun in self-defense situations. Following a short period of classroom instruction, shooters will pattern their shotguns out to 25 yards with buckshot and slug. They will then take part in drills that will demonstrate the potential of the shotgun with varying types of ammunition, while emphasizing safety, marksmanship and proper manipulation techniques. Pre-Requisite: None. Topics include:

  • Firearms Safety

  • Shotgun Considerations for Personal Defense

  • Shotgun Types

  • Shotgun Nomenclature

  • Shotgun Operation and Manipulation (Pump and Semi-Auto)

  • Shotgun Ammunition

  • Loading, Unloading and Re-loading

  • Patterning