Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

Shotgun

The shotgun is one of the best choices for a close quarters defensive weapons platform with its wide variety of ammo choices and configurations.

We’ve put together this series of shotgun classes to help you use and understand the shotgun’s capabilities in a defensive scenario. This course is open to all adult shooters, male and female, whether beginner or advanced.

The purpose of this course is to train people how to use THEIR shotgun for self defense. Loaner guns are available, but this course is intended to make people more familiar with the capabilities and limitations of THEIR specific shotgun.

The ideal shotgun is a 12 gauge semi-auto or pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity of five or more rounds. 20 gauge shotguns can suffice. Shorter barrel lengths are ideal but not required. Shoulder stocks are important, pistol grip only shotgun will not work for this course.

This class is designed to teach you how to safely shoot a defensive type shotgun correctly and to get good hits.

We will talk about shotgun fitting, how to pattern your shotgun, proper shooting position, proper aiming of the shotgun and proper ammo selection for intended use.

This is a 3-5 hour class. You will need a shotgun, 50 rounds of bird shot, 20 rounds 00 buck and 5 slugs as well as something to carry your shells in. Loaner shotguns are available if needed.

Course fee: $200
Course fee: $250 (night)

ASK Dynamic Defensive Shotgun II (ADVANCED)

This class we will take it a few steps farther than the basic class, we will talk about shooting in low light situations and the needed extra equipment, the use of cover and concealment, speed reloading and ammo management, multiple targets and how to deal with them.

This is a 4-6 hour class. You will need a shotgun, shotgun mounted lighting system, 100 rounds of bird shot, 20 rounds 00 buck and 10 slugs as well as something to carry your shells in, (a bandolier or speed pouches are highly recommended for this class).

Course fee: $300

============

A shotgun is still the best defensive weapon a person can own. Sadly, the shotgun is all but forgotten in the environment of semi-auto rifle platforms which are limited for home defense use due to the urban environment and uncontrolled penetration causing collateral damage to unintended victims and property. A shotgun platform provides the shooter with a variety of ammunition specific to a situation. A shotgun can use birdshot, buckshot and slug ammunition with loads per shotgun shell, of over one ounce with multiple projectiles at velocities between 1200 to 1600 feet per second. Controlled penetration can be achieved with birdshot for home defense to extreme penetration with a Rifle Slug at up to 300 yards for accuracy while “00” Buck average effective range is 40 yards. Lethality of “00” Buck is rated at 500 yards. The “Rifled Slugs” are rated at 1000 (+) yards.

Upon completion of this 16-hour two day Ask Defensive Shotgun Course, the student will be proficient in the below-listed areas with a pump or semi-auto shotgun commonly used in Law Enforcement, Military or “Home Defense” in the citizen community. Both the pump and semi-auto shotguns are available to rent from ASK Defensive Training Company.

This course schedule is subject to change as needed, due to the weather and range availability. Any changes will affect scheduling only and not the subject matter. The minimum 16 hours of shotgun instruction will include 4 hours of lecture and 12 hours of live-fire range.

Note: As of August 2019, the California P.O.S.T. Waiver Department confirmed this course will satisfy the California P.O.S.T. requirements for a former (or) out of state Law Enforcement Officer in the process of challenging the basic post shotgun training to qualify for participating in the California P.O.S.T. 136-hour recertification course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this 16-hour course, each Student will display proficiency with the shotgun (12-gauge for Law Enforcement) in the listed areas:

Safe Handling of the Shotgun
Nomenclature
Disassembly
Assembly
Care and Cleaning
Operations and Functions
Weapon Malfunctions
Rendering the Shotgun Unusable in the Field
Firing Pin inspection prior to Field Operation
Safe Handling, Loading and Downloading while on Department Property or Private Property
Slings (One, Two and Three Point)
Loading / Unloading / Tactical Loading / Combat Loading
Ammunition Ballistics of Birdshot, Buckshot, Rifled Slug
Aiming and Spread Patterns
Two Eye Shooting
Shooting Positions (Strong hand, weak hand, center vest, kneeling, prone, arm-tuck, barricade)
Multiple Threat
Weapon Transition to Handgun or Empty Hand Defensive Confrontations
Walking or Searching with a Shotgun
Weapon Retention
Operating the Shotgun while Injured
Threat, Danger Close to Victim
Shooting and Moving
Skip Shooting
Cover / Concealment
The Power of Penetration
Day to Night Transition
Muzzle Flash Control

EQUIPMENT

Below is a list of the minimum equipment needed for this class:

Shotgun (Rentals available)
Cleaning kit
Eye protection
Ear protection
150 Rounds of Birdshot
40 Rounds of 00 Buckshot
20 Rounds of Slugs
High-intensity handheld flashlight.
Weapon light (optional)
Extra batteries and/or a recharging system
Comfortable clothing and alternate warm clothing for night exercises
Light gloves
Cap or Hat
Basic first aid kit
Bug Repellent
Sunscreen
Water or a Camelbak hydration pack (Optional).

Optional Equipment:

Sidearm and Gun Belt
Ammunition and Magazines for Sidearm
Vest
Weapon Light
Law Enforcement Students Bring All Tactical Field Equipment (No Law Enforcement Uniforms)

Clothing:

Jeans or BDU’s
T-Shirts or Collared shirts
Boots or Hiking Shoes

Legal Notice: This course and the techniques taught are designed to be used in a defensive manner [Only] and are [Not] intended to be used in an offensive posture once the defender(s) has defeated the attacker(s) threat and the peril of great bodily injury or death no longer exists. Determination of the actual threat in each situation must be real and not just a simple fear or state of mind by the defender as pursuant to the applicable state, federal and case law decisions regarding the “Justifiable/Reasonable [California Law 08202019 has added “Necessary” ] Use of Force”. [No] instructor or class taught by “ASK” will direct a person/student to blindly use deadly force. The use of deadly force is the [Go/NoGo] decision of the person using force at the time of the confrontation.

Law Enforcement personnel must also be familiar with their agencies “Use of Force” policy relating to firearms, ammunition and deadly force. Law Enforcement Personnel cleared legally in a UOF incident, are subject to “Administrative Discipline” should a violation of department policy occur.