Handgun Course of Fire
Basic Practical	This rating is achieved by completing the practical exercise conducted during an NRA Basic Pistol Course.
Pro-Marksman	Getting Acquainted Event Position: Benchrest, two hands. Distance: 15 feet. Target: Paper plates or paper discs, 9" diameter. Time: No restrictions. Rating requirements: Acquire 10 plates with 5 shots in each plate. All shots must be inside a half-inch margin from the edge of the plate. The 10 plates do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.
Marksman	Warm-Up Event Position: Standing, two hands. Distance: 15 feet. Target: Paper plates/discs 9" diameter. Time: No restrictions. Rating requirements: Acquire 10 plates with 10 shots in each plate. All shots must be inside a 1½" margin from the edge of the plate. The 10 plates do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.
Marksman First Class	Slow Fire Event Position: Standing, two hands with strong side and weak side stages. Note: Strong side means the strong hand -- usually the writing hand -- grips the gun first and functions the trigger while the weak hand grips second. Weak side means the weak hand grips first and functions the trigger while the strong hand grips second. Distance: 25 feet. Target: D-1 precision target (trademarked as the Bianchi target). This event is conducted in two stages. Both stages must be completed in the same session to qualify as one completed course of fire. Stage 1: 5 shots in 3 minutes strong side. Stage 2: 5 shots in 3 minutes weak side. A total of 10 shots per target. Possible score per target: 100. Rating requirements: Acquire 10 targets, 5 with a score of 46 or better and 5 with a score of 56 or better. The 10 targets do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.
Sharpshooter	Sustained Fire Event Position: Standing, ready, two hands, with strong side and weak side stages. Distance: 25 feet. Target: D-1 precision target. This event is conducted in 2 stages. Both stages must be completed in the same session to qualify as one completed course of fire. Stage 1 strong side: 5 shots in 20 seconds. Stage 2 weak side: 5 shots in 20 seconds. A total of 10 shots per target. Possible score per target: 100. Rating requirements: Acquire 10 targets, 5 with a score of 60 or better and 5 with a score of 65 or better. The 10 targets do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.
Expert	Ambidextrous Event Position: Standing, ready, one hand, with strong side and weak side stages. Distance: 25 feet. Target: D-1 precision target. This event is conducted in 2 stages. Both stages must be completed in the same session to qualify as one completed course of fire. Stage 1 strong hand only: 5 shots in 3 minutes and 5 shots in 10 seconds. Stage 2 weak hand only: 5 shots in 3 minutes and 5 shots in 10 seconds. A total of 20 shots (10 per target). Possible score: 200. Rating requirements: 2 times over the course with a minimum score of 130 or better and 3 times over the course with a minimum score of 150 or better. The number of courses do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.
Distinguished Expert	Multiple Target Event Firing for the Distinguished Expert rating must be witnessed by an NRA member (with current ID number), or an NRA Instructor or coach (with current ID number). Position: Standing, ready, with two-hands, strong hand, and weak hand stages. Distance: 25 feet. Target: D-1 precision target. Target Setup: 3 targets hung with the top edges of the targets approximately 6 feet above ground level and not more than one foot apart edge to edge. This event is conducted in 4 stages. The 4 stages must be completed in the same session to qualify as one completed course of fire. Stage 1: Two rounds at each target, using two hands in 10 seconds. Stage 2: Two rounds at each target, using the strong hand only in 10 seconds. Stage 3: Two rounds at each target, using the weak hand only in 10 seconds. Stage 4: Two rounds at center target, two rounds at left target, two rounds at right target, using two hands in 10 seconds. A total of 24 rounds. Possible score 240. (Five-round handguns may do two rounds in first two, then one round in the third target in five seconds. Total of 20 rounds, possible score 200.) Rating requirements: Three times over the course with a minimum score of 168 (140 with five-shot handgun) and three times over the course with a minimum score of 192 (160 with five-shot handgun). The number of courses do not have to be fired in succession or on the same day.