General Policies
SAFETY
Students are expected to follow all range rules and obey the three NRA rules of gun safety:
1) ALWAYS keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
2) ALWAYS keep your finger out of the trigger until ready to shoot.
3) ALWAYS keep guns unloaded until ready to use.*
* Basic Pistol 1, Basic Pistol 2 and License to Carry classes are run as "cold" ranges where all guns are unloaded and put away in cases, bags or boxes except during drills. All other handgun courses are run as a "hot" range, where students are allowed (and expected) to keep their holstered handgun loaded at all times. Students with valid LTCs should arrive for class wearing their loaded, concealed handgun.
Each class will have additional safety rules specific to the facility and the
level of training being conducted.
A more detailed guide to range etiquette is here.
In order to maintain a safe learning environment for all students, the rules will be strictly enforced up to and including removal of problem students from the firing line or the facility itself.
Under the rules of the Texas License to Carry Handgun program, instructors are allowed to fail LTC students if their gunhandling is unsafe. These rules also allow LTC instructors not only to fail students with unsafe gun handling, but also to report them to DPS so that any future LTC application would be affected by the previous instructor's report.
ELIGIBILITY
Our training is open to any law abiding adult that can legally purchase firearms under local, state and federal law.
We do offer private training courses for minors, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Minors are welcome to attend any lecture or martial-arts oriented course, but minors are generally not allowed into adult shooting courses without pre-course evaluation by the course instructor.
Intermediate and advanced level courses have additional requirements, such as a valid Texas carry permit and/or completion of specific courses.
REFUNDS, CANCELLATIONS, AND WEATHER
Except in extreme situations, we hold classes rain or shine. If we reschedule a class due to weather or change in instructor availability, students that cannot attend the make-up date are given full refunds. Payments are non-refundable, but in most cases we convert the student's payment to tuition credit that can be used for other classes. This credit is valid for up to 5 years after payment. In some cases, such as NRA instructor training, deposits are used to purchase materials specific to that course. Once materials are purchased, they cannot be returned and converted back to tuition credit. The materials are kept by KR Training until the student can attend another session of the course for which the materials are required.
Payments may be subject to a rescheduling fee of $25, if the student contacts KR Training less than 3 days prior to class day and requests to reschedule the course. Students that pay and "no-show" on class day without contacting KR Training forfeit the entire payment. We suggest that students doing last minute rescheduling contact KR Training by phone at 512-633-8232 rather than email.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Firearms
For LTC courses: students must bring their own handgun and a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition. Only one magazine is required, but additional magazines are very useful.
For all non-LTC handgun classes (except Basic Pistol 1): students must bring their own handgun, .380 caliber or greater, and enough magazines or speedloaders that they can fire 30 rounds without having to stop and put loose rounds in magazines or speedloaders.
Bring a clean and well lubricated gun to class. It is almost impossible to over-lubricate a modern semi automatic firearm. Guns need more than the "3 drops of oil" some gunshop employees claim, and "new in box" guns that have never been fired need lubrication too. A good rule of thumb is to use about twice as much oil as you think you should, then work the slide and wipe off the excess. Use a product sold as gun oil, not Break Free, WD-40 or any combination "cleaner & lubricant".
MAGAZINES
We strongly recommend that every person that owns a semi-automatic handgun own a minimum of four (4) magazines for that gun. Ideally these magazines would be in addition to the 2-3 magazines also owned and used for personal defense. Magazines should be numbered or marked with a unique ID. This is useful both for identifying your own magazines from others belonging to other students, but also essential for diagnosing problems, should a particular magazine be the cause of a malfunction.
Students are encouraged to pre-load their magazines before arriving for class. For best results, magazines holding more than 10 rounds should be loaded "one round down" - one round less than the capacity claimed by the manufacturer. Downloading high capacity magazines by one round places the magazine spring under less strain and significantly reduces the likelihood of a first round failure to feed and significantly reduces the likelihood that the user will fail to properly seat the magazine when doing a speed reload (inserting magazine while a round remains in the chamber).
AMMUNITION
If the "round count" for the class is 150 rounds or less, we suggest bringing an additional 50 rounds. For classes that require more than 150 rounds, bringing an extra 100 rounds is advised. If you don't use the extra ammo, you'll have it for your next practice session. We do not sell ammunition on site.
The following types of ammunition are not allowed in our courses:
1) Any handgun ammunition that has aluminum cases (Blazer)
2) Frangible or shotshell handgun ammunition.
3) Steel-cored rifle ammunition.
4) Tracer or other explosive ammunition.
HOLSTERS
For all classes beyond the LTC level (Defensive Pistol Skills, AT classes, Beyond the Basics): students need a good quality belt holster (kydex or leather preferred - we recommend holsters from Comp-Tac and Blade-tech) that covers the trigger guard of the pistol. The plastic holsters now being included with many new guns are acceptable for use in classes.
We strongly recommend that students also have at least one magazine pouch for their belt, and a good quality belt capable of holding up the weight of a loaded, holstered pistol. Good gun belts are typically 1.5" wide and thicker/stronger than a lightweight dress belt. "Tactical" belts such as the Wilderness belt are also acceptable.
We do have a supply of loaner holsters and spare magazines and speedloaders for many different makes and models of firearms. These can be loaned to students by prior arrangement as well.
Students borrowing equipment are responsible for damage and/or loss of those items.
BLACKHAWK SERPA HOLSTER PROHIBITED IN KR TRAINING CLASSES
Based on an evaluation of policies implemented at other schools, and analysis of multiple incidents of self-inflicted gunshot wounds in training classes taught at other schools, individual incidents, and competitions, we have decided to prohibit the use of the Blackhawk SERPA holster in our classes.
This video shows a shooter firing a round into his leg while using a SERPA holster, and this video has a nice analysis of the fundamental design flaws in the SERPA holster and how they led to that (and many other) self-inflicted shootings.
LOANER GUNS AND EQUIPMENT
We have a limited set of loaner guns available. To use our loaner guns, contact us prior to class day. Depending on instructor preference, students will either purchase ammunition from the instructor or be required to purchase appropriate ammunition prior to class day. Students should not assume that any materials needed for class can be purchased from us on class day at the range. Costs for loaner guns varies by class and instructor.
FOOD AND DRINK
Most of our courses are held at private ranges in rural areas. Students are advised to always bring whatever food and drinks they might want on class day, including sufficient water to stay hydrated during the day. We always have water and cups available to students onsite, with sports drinks and sodas available for sale in our fridge.
Food options near our facilities are extremely limited. There are no places close enough that students can leave the facility, eat and return in one hour. For all classes held at the A-Zone, students should plan on bringing food for lunch and eating on site. Allowing students to attempt to eat "off campus" always results in students taking longer than planned, which causes class delays for everyone in class. We have limited food supplies available on site for those that forget to bring food.
CLOTHING
Shooting is an outdoor activity. Appropriate clothing includes athletic shoes (no slick soled boots, dress shoes, or sandals), a cap or hat (to deflect spent brass), and seasonal items such as raingear, coats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and bug spray. It is always better to bring extra items you don't use than to need a raincoat (or bug spray) and not have it. Texas weather is unpredictable.
A shirt with a closed collar and a baseball hat are highly recommended. You will be standing near other students on the firing line, and hot brass ejected from their guns can land on your head or fall into your clothing. Some brass is hot enough to cause minor burns, in addition to causing the individual being burned to have great difficulty concentrating on safe gun handling and accurate shooting.
EARLY AND LATE ARRIVALS
Please be on time. A common problem is that students underestimate driving times to the various facilities and arrive late. The first topic in every course is gun safety and specific range rules for that course. Every student must hear the safety briefing, so a single late arrival can delay the start of the course for all.
If you arrive early and the facility gate is closed, wait at the gate. For some classes the front gate is not opened until 30-45 minutes prior to class.
AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING
To preserve the privacy of our students, audio and video recording is not allowed during KR Training classes. Photography is allowed on a limited basis, with instructor approval, only of subjects who agree to be photographed. KR Training reserves the right to limit the content and distribution of any recordings made during our courses.
CELL PHONES and other mobile devices
All devices brought into the classroom or out on the range must be set to vibrate or mute. Texting and reading email on portable devices during class activities is not allowed except in emergency situations.
Some cell phones emit signals that produce audible, distracting, digital noise in many brands of electronic hearing protectors. If this occurs and your phone is a distraction to other students on the range, you may be asked to leave your phone in the classroom or in your range bag during the live fire portions of class.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions not answered here, contact us and we'll be happy to answer them.