Quick Course Overview

The IPSC Canada National Training program, better known as the “Black Badge Course” teaches a combination of safety, proficiency, and understanding of the international rules. The course is used to train competitors in the Action Shooting sports, giving them the basic skills necessary to participate in IPSC competitions world wide. Many students use the course to develop and or improve their personal dynamic gun handling.  A manual is provided to assist the students and will be used as a reference throughout the course.

Skills are learned by:

• Reading the materials that are provided with this course.
• Observing techniques demonstrated by the instructor.
• Repeating the techniques under the close supervision of the instructor.
• Substantial courses of live fire

The emphasis of the Black Badge Course is safety and proficiency. Recognizing this, many other clubs and organizations use the Black Badge Course as their standard for dynamic training and certification.

Students should expect to spend 3 hours in a classroom and 13 hours on the range. Here, they will learn procedures involved when moving with a drawn firearm, reloading and engaging targets under time pressure and utilizing a holster. 

A full day and a half is spent on the range, where students will practice the skills needed in dynamic competitions or to improve upon personal firearms handling skills. These include but are not limited to:

• Drawing from a holster
• Reloading
• Reloading and shooting on the move
• Moving with a firearm
• Shooting strong and weak handed
• Shooting from various positions
• Target acquisition and transitions
• Shooting around barricades
• Shooting through door / port openings
• Shooting while advancing and retreating and moving laterally / diagonally .
• Retrieving gear such as mags and gun then shooting.

Both new and experienced shooters are welcome.  This course will demonstrate all of the necessary skills to shoot a dynamic  course of fire safely, accurately and proficiently.

Upon completion of the 2-day course the students can expect to be very safe and sufficiently proficient to allow them to compete in competitions at local clubs and at Provincial, National and International events. Black Badge Certification will allow match entry at IPSC events and is also required at most non-IPSC sanctioned events. Certification is for Handgun rifle and shot gun.

Instructors must be current IPSC members, certified with IPSC Canada and certified with the NTO and NROI.

What to bring to the BBC (important, read carefully)

• Food and liquid for the day
• Wear appropriate attire for weather conditions as 85% of the course will be on the outdoor range
• Bring a cap to keep the sun (hopefully) out of your eyes.
• Pants with a minimum of 3 functional belt loops to hold your gun belt
• Minimum 600 rounds of ammo that works reliably in your firearm
• Minimum caliber of 9mm x 19mm (9mm luger) required
• Handgun that is in good condition, reliable and is safe to operate.
• Minimum of 4 magazines or 7 speed loaders (revolver) for your firearm 
• Gun belt that holds your equipment securely and safely
• A holster that holds your handgun securely and must cover the trigger guard of the handgun when holstered. If you’re not sure about your holster, call me to discuss.

Note: Holsters that incorporate a mechanical locking mechanism that uses a finger to unlock the gun from the holster are prohibited

• Minimum of 3 magazines or 4 moon clip pouch’s that are belt mounted.
• Eye (any glass’s) and ear protection (Electronic muffs preferred)
• Be familiar with and have some practice with the handgun and gear you will be using at the course. Makes it less awkward initially.
• Bring your gear ready to go on the first morning. We will take a bit of time making minor adjustments to your belt, holster, pouch’s if necessary. Do NOT bring your gear unassembled as this takes to much time to assemble at the course.