The National Rifle Association's Education and Training Division is now hosting a national basic pistol course taught by NRA-certified instructors.

The course, sponsored by Smith & Wesson, has been updated to include new techniques and methods, a 144-page color handbook titled “The NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting,” a reduction in course length from ten to eight hours, and a few optional components such as the one-handed shooting stance.

"We're very excited about the introduction of the new materials and lesson plan format for our instructors to use," said Bill Poole, director of the Education and Training Division. "We would also like to thank Smith & Wesson for their contribution to the new handbook."

For more information on the NRA's basic pistol course or on becoming an NRA-certified instructor, visit http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/index.asp or call NRA's national instructor trainer John Howard at 703-267-1423.