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S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Good morning all! Below is a link to this week's installment in my law enforcement challenge video series. In this one I'm taking on a course from the Hawkeye state with my S&W Model 39-2. Check out the video to see how it goes!
Howard
https://youtu.be/R_9FfXLnBYE
Howard
https://youtu.be/R_9FfXLnBYE
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Interesting to see IA requirements....moving closer/going after the target. That to me is a more true-to-life incident action an LEO might face.
Your model 39 sure was dependable. Very good video and results. (Also nice to be out of the rain and in the sunshine!).
Thanks.
PT7
Your model 39 sure was dependable. Very good video and results. (Also nice to be out of the rain and in the sunshine!).
Thanks.
PT7
~Пока~
- markiver54
- Deputy Marshal
- Posts: 11112
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:49 am
- Location: Biue Ridge Mountains, NC

Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Another great job Howard!
That model 39 is nice!
That model 39 is nice!
I'm your Huckleberry
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Thank you! The fair weather gods didn't favor me for long. I was out yesterday trying to record a new qualification video for next week and I had to get off the range due to the arrival of a storm! The wind was blowing so hard I was afraid a tree might fall on me! Sometimes it's dangerous being a youtuberPT7 wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2019 9:06 amInteresting to see IA requirements....moving closer/going after the target. That to me is a more true-to-life incident action an LEO might face.
Your model 39 sure was dependable. Very good video and results. (Also nice to be out of the rain and in the sunshine!).
Thanks.
PT7
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Thank you!
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Nice video and shooting? The advancing on the target and close shooting seem appropriate. I noticed one course of fire was close on the time. Do you think the course be completed with a revolver?Hrfunk wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2019 8:02 amGood morning all! Below is a link to this week's installment in my law enforcement challenge video series. In this one I'm taking on a course from the Hawkeye state with my S&W Model 39-2. Check out the video to see how it goes!
Howard
https://youtu.be/R_9FfXLnBYE
Thanks
Actions speak louder than words (Matthew 7:16-20).
- JEBar
- Town Marshal / Deputy Admin
- Posts: 20410
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
- Location: central NC

Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
I too find the concept of moving closer/going after the target to be very interesting .... on several levels it makes good sense .... well done with your 9 mm ...
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Just outstanding, Howard! I don't know what the inspiration was for this series, but it's bound to develop a cult following!
Especially love the ending, where you get to plug your new sponsor and acknowledge your agency partner, not to mention your putting that nice cowboy hat at risk!
And, by virtue of the CHEWY.com backer-board behind your target, it would seem you're a "dog person," too, so there are bonus points for that!
Thanks for sharing!
Especially love the ending, where you get to plug your new sponsor and acknowledge your agency partner, not to mention your putting that nice cowboy hat at risk!
And, by virtue of the CHEWY.com backer-board behind your target, it would seem you're a "dog person," too, so there are bonus points for that!
Thanks for sharing!
BB Steel .357 | SGC 22LR | LR .308 | CCH 30-30 | BB Brass .45 Colt (Carbine) | Single Shot 20 gauge | Single Shot .223 | Single Shot 357
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
As always, that depends upon the shooter. I'm making a number of these videos with revolvers just to see if they can still make the cut. So far, I haven't failed a course with a wheelgun yet! The last one I made with my 625 actually resulted in a perfect score on the North Carolina course. Still, some of the courses I'm reviewing may present a challenge for a revolver based on the number of rounds required on a certain stage and the time limits imposed. I think this one is "passable" with a revolver, but I don't know if my score would have been as good.GFK wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2019 1:46 pmNice video and shooting? The advancing on the target and close shooting seem appropriate. I noticed one course of fire was close on the time. Do you think the course be completed with a revolver?Hrfunk wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2019 8:02 amGood morning all! Below is a link to this week's installment in my law enforcement challenge video series. In this one I'm taking on a course from the Hawkeye state with my S&W Model 39-2. Check out the video to see how it goes!
Howard
https://youtu.be/R_9FfXLnBYE
Thanks
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Thank you! This series actually evolved from some of the videos I made over the last year or two where I used the Ohio qualification courses. I was contacted by another LE firearms instructor from Nebraska, and asked to try the handgun and rifle courses from that state. From there, the idea of shooting a course from each of the 50 states came to my mind. So far, it's been fun and educational. Thanks for watching!ESquared wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2019 4:05 pmJust outstanding, Howard! I don't know what the inspiration was for this series, but it's bound to develop a cult following!
Especially love the ending, where you get to plug your new sponsor and acknowledge your agency partner, not to mention your putting that nice cowboy hat at risk!
And, by virtue of the CHEWY.com backer-board behind your target, it would seem you're a "dog person," too, so there are bonus points for that!
Thanks for sharing!
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Very interesting. Do you anticipate having any issues getting the state requirements from all 50 states, or is that already public information? I'm guessing your background and history would open most, if not all, of those doors for you!
BB Steel .357 | SGC 22LR | LR .308 | CCH 30-30 | BB Brass .45 Colt (Carbine) | Single Shot 20 gauge | Single Shot .223 | Single Shot 357
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
It seems to vary from state to state. Some are available online. Others, seem to be regarded as Top Secret! Oddly, California does not have a state mandated course. Instead, they allow individual agencies to develop their own. My plan is to simply use one of the local agency courses to represent the state, but I haven't even been able to get a local course yet. I'm hoping some accommodating instructor there will help me out.
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Surely there are some CA members here (or some with CA connections) who could help you out!
Let me know if you strike out. I have a connection in the Sacto area.
Let me know if you strike out. I have a connection in the Sacto area.
BB Steel .357 | SGC 22LR | LR .308 | CCH 30-30 | BB Brass .45 Colt (Carbine) | Single Shot 20 gauge | Single Shot .223 | Single Shot 357
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6823
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin

Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Little late, here, on my thank-you, but just wanted you to know how much I've enjoyed this whole series. Howard. Thank you so much. Also, my compliments to your daughter on the music. Very nice.
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Thanks! I was thinking something similar. It seems like that the time to reload a revolver would probably cause a few rounds not to be fired, before time has expired. Just wondering if the courses even take in to consideration as revolvers being an option. With the six shoots and then reload, it seems that this course does consider revolvers as a viable options.Hrfunk wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2019 9:25 amAs always, that depends upon the shooter. I'm making a number of these videos with revolvers just to see if they can still make the cut. So far, I haven't failed a course with a wheelgun yet! The last one I made with my 625 actually resulted in a perfect score on the North Carolina course. Still, some of the courses I'm reviewing may present a challenge for a revolver based on the number of rounds required on a certain stage and the time limits imposed. I think this one is "passable" with a revolver, but I don't know if my score would have been as good.GFK wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2019 1:46 pmNice video and shooting? The advancing on the target and close shooting seem appropriate. I noticed one course of fire was close on the time. Do you think the course be completed with a revolver?Hrfunk wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2019 8:02 amGood morning all! Below is a link to this week's installment in my law enforcement challenge video series. In this one I'm taking on a course from the Hawkeye state with my S&W Model 39-2. Check out the video to see how it goes!
Howard
https://youtu.be/R_9FfXLnBYE
Thanks
Howard
Actions speak louder than words (Matthew 7:16-20).
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
Thank you, I'll pass that on to her!North Country Gal wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2019 11:03 amLittle late, here, on my thank-you, but just wanted you to know how much I've enjoyed this whole series. Howard. Thank you so much. Also, my compliments to your daughter on the music. Very nice.
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
As time goes by and semi-autos become ever more entrenched in the collective consciousness of the law enforcement community, courses are evolving in such a way that revolvers are being squeezed out. About the only time you see an officer these days qualifying with a revolver is on a back-up or off duty course (and even that is on the decline).GFK wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2019 11:37 am
Thanks! I was thinking something similar. It seems like that the time to reload a revolver would probably cause a few rounds not to be fired, before time has expired. Just wondering if the courses even take in to consideration as revolvers being an option. With the six shoots and then reload, it seems that this course does consider revolvers as a viable options.
Howard
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
I know someone that is in law enforcement (retiring this Summer) and seems to prefer the revolver. But, agency's policy is a semi-auto.
Actions speak louder than words (Matthew 7:16-20).
Re: S&W M-39 vs. Iowa LE Qualification Course
I really can't remember the last time I saw an officer carrying a revolver as a duty weapon. That includes some large gatherings of uniformed officers from different agencies in which I periodically find myself.
Howard