Course Description
Law enforcement firearms instructors are responsible for preparing armed professionals to prevail in high-risk encounters. Despite the efforts of skilled and dedicated trainers, the reality remains that many officers lack consistent, on-demand shooting performance under stress. Historically, approximately 80% of rounds fired in officer-involved shootings miss the intended threat entirely.
Addressing this problem requires more than technical shooting skill—it requires specialized instructional knowledge. Firearms instructors must be able to efficiently transmit hard-earned lessons within the time, budgetary, and logistical constraints that limit most agencies.
The 8-hour SureFire Master Coach Course equips firearms instructors with a comprehensive set of teaching tools designed to dramatically increase instructional effectiveness. Built on decades of training evolution and informed by modern neuroscience, the course delivers practical methods instructors can immediately apply on their home ranges with officers of varying aptitude.
Each student will receive a SureFire Stiletto flashlight, duplication masters of SureFire’s patented training targets, a copy of Building Shooters by Dustin Salomon, and an insider overview of current SureFire training technologies.
Subjects Covered
- Practical firearms safety on the range and in duty/off-duty contexts
- The realities and constraints of law enforcement firearms training in the 21st century
- Dynamically stablishing and maintaining a consistent firing grip
- Optimizing grip and stance for both training and operational performance
- Teaching the trigger cycle to maximize student performance
- Backwards chaining methods for teaching the draw stroke
- Visual verification of handgun alignment using iron sights and optical sights
- The Mudgett Method for teaching foundational handgun skills
- Developing realistic qualification standards and achieving them
- Drills and exercises using SureFire’s patented Surgical Speed Targets
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this class improve my shooting? -
While the drills and exercises may provide useful practice, the primary purpose of this course is instructor development. The focus is on teaching methodology—how to build skill in others, diagnose performance problems, and efficiently remediate deficiencies.
Does this class cover performance shooting? -
The course teaches grip, stance, aiming, and trigger manipulation methods developed through high-level competition and validated in real gunfights. However, accuracy and consistency are emphasized over speed, as appropriate for foundational training and use-of-force applications.
Does this class cover shooting in low light or darkness? -
No. This course is conducted in daylight or well-lit conditions. Low-light live-fire training is addressed in the SureFire Introduction to Low-Light Training Course, which is designed to follow this program.
What is the daily schedule? -
The course begins with classroom instruction, followed by a brief live-fire evaluation. Students then return to the classroom before spending the remainder of the day on the range, interspersed with breaks and a midday lunch period. A brief lecture on the neuroscience of training precedes final live-fire exercises and course conclusion.
Required Equipment
- Service handgun
- Minimum of three (3) magazines
- 200 rounds of training ammunition
- Duty holster and sturdy gun belt
- Magazine pouches
- Eye and ear protection
- Hat with brim
- Note-taking materials
- Clothing appropriate to weather
Sign Up
If you or your organization would like to sign up for this course, please see our Host Sign Up page for more information.