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Thoughts on CHL Training at Top Gun Range (Houston, TX)
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:35 am
by badkarma56
Hello Gents:
First, I'm new to the board, so I thought I'd start off by saying a
big howdy to all my shooting brothers and sisters.
Now for my inquiry, on 25 June, I filled out the online CHL application and payed the state fee via credit card. I then received the pre-filled application via
snail mail from DPS exactly four days later...
so far so good.
I subsequently registered for an all-day CHL class at Top Gun that will take place this Saturday, 7 July, from 8:30a-6:30p. I've visited this indoor range many times, and I like the general setup and staff alot. As such, I figured that I might as well do my CHL training there, especially since Top Gun offers an
all-inclusive deal (i.e., prints, pics, etc.) that can be completed in one day.
I'd like to know what sort of experience others had with CHL training at Top Gun. I don't know the name of the instructor for the class, but I've undoubtedly met him in passing on one of my previous trips to the range.
Thanks in advance,
-BK
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:47 am
by carlson1
Welcome to Forum badkarma56. I do not know your answer, but someone will come along before long with the answer. Enjoy your class.
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 am
by Kaizen
I took my class at Top Gun and everything went very smoothly.
I think my instructor's name was Ken (tall guy, looks sort of like Richard Petty). The class went about as well as any 10 hour class on state law can go

Just listen, follow instructions, and ask questions if you have any. I remember him being very thorough with checking the paperwork we needed to send in. I didn't have any delays with my application due to forgetting to sign anything or fill out something.
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:46 pm
by badkarma56
carlson1 wrote:Welcome to Forum badkarma56. I do not know your answer, but someone will come along before long with the answer. Enjoy your class.
Thanks Carlson1, I'm happy to be aboard!
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:51 pm
by badkarma56
Kaizen wrote:I took my class at Top Gun and everything went very smoothly.
I think my instructor's name was Ken (tall guy, looks sort of like Richard Petty). The class went about as well as any 10 hour class on state law can go

Just listen, follow instructions, and ask questions if you have any. I remember him being very thorough with checking the paperwork we needed to send in. I didn't have any delays with my application due to forgetting to sign anything or fill out something.
Kaizen:
I'm happy to hear your feedback about the course. A
thorough instructor is exactly what I had hoped for when I signed up...I don't want to have any issues with paperwork down the road!
As for the length and content of the course, I'll be sure to take plenty of
No-Doze and drink lots of coffee before leaving the house tomorrow morning!
Thanks,
-BK
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:26 pm
by badkarma56
Kaizen, Thanks again for the feedback. I took the class today and had a good time. I shot a 250 on the range test, and the instructor (Mark Rothkop) was super cool and informative. I'm very pleased to have done the CHL training at Top Gun.
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:01 pm
by Kaizen
Congratulations. Now it's time to send in that paperwork and patiently wait

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:05 pm
by badkarma56
Kaizen wrote:Congratulations. Now it's time to send in that paperwork and patiently wait

Dude, I know...I carefully reviewed my entire application three times before leaving Top Gun, and then
another three times when I got home. I photo-copied every form, and wrote my app.# at the top of every page of my packet. Finally, late last night, I decided that I had obsessed enough about my application and I took everything down to my local post office. I utilized the Automated Postal Center to pay for postage/print labels, and after saying a
little postage prayer 
I dropped everything into the outgoing mail slot.
FWIW, I decided to send the package via first class service,
with the certified mail/return receipt requested services selected. This cost me a total of six bucks, but in the interest of postal security
and my sanity I thought the extra services were worth it!
-BK
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:31 pm
by nuparadigm
badkarma56,
I don't know about the classes @ Top Gun, but my experience with the folks who work there has always been very positive.
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:56 am
by badkarma56
Nuparadigm:
Cool handle, btw. I concur with your assessment of the Top Gun staff. Aside from doing my CHL class there, I've been regularly shooting at their range for about a year now. My positive vibe from range visits greatly influenced my decision to register for their CHL course.
They're pretty good folks over there!
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:29 pm
by ProjectS15
Hi I'm new to the board
I was curious since you took your CHL at Top Gun
Did they supply you with a gun to use during the class or do you have to use your own?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:22 pm
by carlson1
Projects welcome to the Forum and I am sure they will answer your queston soon. This is the best place to be for the information. Good to have you.
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:45 am
by badkarma56
ProjectS15 wrote:Hi I'm new to the board
I was curious since you took your CHL at Top Gun
Did they supply you with a gun to use during the class or do you have to use your own?
ProjectS15,
Hey Dude. I used my own pistol (Beretta 92FS) for the range test, but Top Gun does have rentals available for attendees.
-BK
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:30 pm
by ProjectS15
the question was for my friend
I have a HK USP Subcompact .40 that i will be using
he was iffy to take the class with me or not since he doesnt have something to shoot with
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:12 am
by T3hK1w1
have him take the Class!!! He can always rent now and buy one later
Edit: I'm sure I will buy AT LEAST 1 gun while I am waiting for my plastic to come in, great way to pass the time.