Shiloh Shooters

Tuesday - April 5, 2010

2011-04-04T20:56:00.002-05:00

Today's class will focus on retention and disarms. Bring your holster, blue gun, and training knife if you have one. If not, we'll have plenty to borrow. If anyone wants to stay after a few minutes and shoot a short course of fire (25 rds) at the end of class, bring your range gear. I have a short CoF another instructor asked us to test this week. See you at the range.

Tuesday - March 29, 2010

2011-03-29T11:09:00.002-05:00

Be afraid.

Tuesday - March 22, 2010

2011-03-29T11:00:00.004-05:00

Today we'll work on shooting from awkward positions and talk about muzzle control when you're not on the square range. We'll also discuss the difference between "dangerous" and "unsafe" if forced to violate the normal safety rules due to your environment. We'll be shooting a modified version of the Iron Cross drill as well as working several other drills that most of you have probably not seen or practiced before to help you establish confidence in safely manipulating the muzzle in a non-typical environment. This is not a beginner class and safety violations will not be tolerated.

Tuesday - March 15, 2010

2011-03-29T10:57:00.002-05:00

Accuracy. Today we'll be working on accuracy by shooting at some further distances and talking about why you might want to shoot certain drills up close to help polish your accuracy at distance.

Tuesday - March 8, 2010

2011-03-07T22:30:00.002-06:00

Low Light Shooting. Make sure to bring your flashlights, because we'll be going over a few techniques with the lights on and the rest of the night's shooting will be with the lights off.

Tuesday - March 1, 2011

2011-02-28T21:12:00.003-06:00

It's first Tuesday, so that means this will not be a live-fire class. However, we're not going to cover the normal combatives material this week. Instead, we're going to spend some time talking about medical procedures and what to do if you or a loved one is on the receiving end of a gunshot. We'll talk about some of the products that are on the market and you'll get some hands on practice "treating" your classmates. We'll also discuss constructing your own trauma kit and the difference between a trauma kit and a first-aid kit.

Also, I have a surprise in store for everyone if my hillbilly technology permits. That second part will be a surprise. See you at the range.

Tuesday - February 22, 2011

2011-02-28T21:11:00.003-06:00

Today we'll cover the two biggest sticking points most people saw in their own shooting last week--time to first shot and reloads. We'll spend a lot of time shooting one-shot drills and the importance of making these a vital part of your practice sessions.

Tuesday - February 15, 2010

2011-02-14T09:01:00.003-06:00

Video and Performance Tracking. Today we're going to talk about performance tracking and how to monitor your progress as a shooter. We'll cover journaling, record-keeping, and how to set-up your own practice sessions that are tailored to your own specific skill development. We'll cover using video as a tool analyze your shooting and everyone in the class will get a chance to shoot a few basic drills on video. After recording, we'll watch the videos as a class and everyone will get a chance to critique their own shooting.

Bring all your normal range gear and 50 rounds of ammo.

Tuesday - February 8, 2011

2011-02-08T00:16:00.002-06:00

Bill Drills. We'll be using "Bill Drills" as a vehicle to talk about trigger maniupulation under speed and the concept of adequate sight picture, or "seeing what you need to see to see the shot you need to make." Depending on the number of shooters in the class, we could be shooting a lot. Bring 250 rounds just in case.

Tuesday - February 1, 2011

2011-01-31T09:56:00.002-06:00

Combatives Tuesday. It's the first Tuesday, so that means we'll be in the classroom working some combatives skills. This will not be a live-fire class.

For this class, we'll be focusing on developing our striking and understanding its proper context, particularly when faced with real-life threats where the number of adversaries may be more than it initially appears. We'll talk about the importance being able to strike and move, remaining mobile and keeping aware of your surroundings. We'll also talk about using an effective strike pre-emptively to buy time to escape or to deploy a tool. Everyone will have a chance to work the strikes on pads and on a padded opponent. At the end of class, there will be some force-on-force scenarios for those that want to participate in them and practice the skills against a live opponent.

Fitness level required for the class is at a minimum, but please make sure you are adequately hydrated and have eaten something since lunch.

See you at the range.

Tuesday - January 25, 2011

2011-01-24T22:01:00.002-06:00

Malfunction Clearances. Today we'll discuss malfunction clearances and why we use a non-diagnostic approach to get the pistol back up and running. We'll get a lot of reps practicing the standard methods and we'll also discuss some unorthodox ways to clear stoppages when you're reduced to using only one hand.

Bring 150 rounds and all your normal range gear. See you at the range.

Tuesday - January 18, 2011

2011-01-17T21:45:00.002-06:00

Standard Response. We've spent a lot of time lately focusing on specifics--shooting at distance, one-hand shooting, etc. Today we're going to take a break from that and just work on a more standard response--two hand shooting from concealment at 5-7 yards. At this distance, speed is a priority, but even more important is the ability to perform consistently and get the gun out quick, but sure, every time.

This should be a skill most of the class has a good grasp on already, so we'll just be getting in some repetitions and polishing up the edges a bit. Make sure to bring a concealment garment. Bring all your normal range gear and 200 rounds.

Tuesday - January 11, 2011

2011-01-10T11:23:00.002-06:00

It has been a while since we've had a night focusing on one-handed shooting, so for this class we're going to be working single-handed shooting and manipulation drills for the duration. After we shoot the FAST to warm-up, it will be one hand only the rest of the night. Bring 150 rounds plus all the normal range gear.

Tuesday - January 4, 2011

2011-01-03T20:38:00.002-06:00

We'll be working on defensive knife skills today and talking about how they can be used to supplement your sidearm and even some times where the knife might be a better choice than the gun. All training gear will be provided, but bring a trainer that duplicates your carry knife if you have one.

Tuesday - December 28, 2010

2010-12-27T16:19:00.002-06:00

Baselines and Standards. We'll be shooting some baselines and standards to track our progress from 2010 and to give ourself a starting point to measure progress in 2011. Bring 150 rounds plus all your normal range gear.

Drill: 700 Point Aggregate

2010-12-27T16:04:00.004-06:00

700 POINT AGGREGATE
also known as "The Humbler"

Range: 25yd
Target: NRA B-8
Start position: varies
Rounds fired: 70

The Humbler is the nickname for what is otherwise known as the 700 Point Aggregate. As of this writing, no one has ever claimed a perfect 700 on the drill.

The drill uses NRA B-8 bullseye targets at a range of 25 yards. A fresh target is used for each string to minimize scoring errors. Rounds impacting outside the marked scoring zones are zero points. I usually just use the B-8(c) repair center that you can get from Dillion Precision.

At most pistol ranges, the final stage (prone) will not be allowed. Omit the last ten shots and you have a 600 point aggregate. If you cannot kneel either, then you're at 500 points. Regardless of the sum, the goal is a minimum of 80%. For the full version that is 560 points. Without prone, your minimum is 480. Without prone or kneeling it is 400.

Stage 1
Slow Fire
10 rounds
freestyle
time limit: ten minutes

Stage 2
Timed Fire from the holster
5 rounds
freestyle from the holster
time limit: 20 seconds
repeat a second time for total of 10 rounds fired

Stage 3
Rapid Fire from the holster
5 rounds
freestyle from the holster
time limit: 10 seconds
repeat a second time for total of 10 rounds fired

Stage 4
SHO Slow Fire
5 rounds
strong hand only
time limit: five minutes

Stage 5
SHO Timed Fire from the holster
5 rounds
strong hand only from the holster
time limit: 20 seconds

Stage 6
SHO Rapid Fire from the holster
5 rounds
strong hand only from the holster
time limit: 10 seconds

Stage 7
WHO Slow Fire
5 rounds
weak hand only
time limit: five minutes

Stage 8
Kneeling Slow Fire
5 rounds
kneeling freestyle
time limit: five minutes

Stage 9
Kneeling Timed Fire from the holster
5 rounds
begin standing, draw and kneel at buzzer
time limit: 20 seconds

Stage 10
Prone Slow Fire
5 rounds
prone freestyle
time limit: five minutes

Stage 11
Prone Timed Fire from the holster
5 rounds
begin standing, draw and go prone at buzzer
time limit: 20 seconds

Tuesday - December 21, 2010

2010-12-18T23:17:00.001-06:00

Accuracy. We'll get in touch with our inner bullseye shooter and talk about some of the finer points of slow, accurate shooting and what can be gained from that type of practice. Bring the normal 150 rounds and all your normal range gear.

Tuesday - December 14, 2010

2010-12-13T21:39:00.003-06:00

Low light. Bring your flashlights, because tonight we'll be working low-light drills. Round count should be 150-200 rounds. Instruction will be at a minimum since most of you have had the low-light class before. We'll mostly be focused on everyone getting some low-light trigger time and we're also going to be working a lot of manipulations (reloads, malfunction clearances, etc) in low-light. Should be fun. See you at the range.

Tuesday - December 7, 2010

2010-12-06T09:57:00.002-06:00

Combatives, Part Two. Today we'll build on the basic empty-hand platform we started with last month. We'll discuss the role strikes play in combatives and show a few effective methods for delivering effective strikes in a street environment and why that environment is different from sport. For example, did you know most trained boxers still break their hands in street fights? And why would wearing shoes totally change the types of kicks you see in MMA sports? We will discuss the reasoning behind the strikes and then everyone will get hands-on time working the strikes on pads so we can focus on learning the basic elements of the technique and how to make them effective.

In the future, I have plans to implement scenario training where the role-players have all available options (escaping, empty-hand, knife, gun, etc). It's important to have training in all those areas, but it's even more important to have integrated training so that you can respond appropriately. For example, we limit ourselves when training with Airsoft without the ability to have an empty-hand solution. In the Airsoft scenario, the best solution might be an empty-hand response, but because of environment, experience, or lack of proper training equipment, we restrict ourselves to only using the gun.

Ideally, what we are working towards is a complete curriculum that covers all the ranges (striking, standing grappling, grounded grappling, weapons defense, weapon employment, knife, gun, etc) while still being a very minimalist, effective system. Once people have a basic foundation in those different ranges, we can begin stepping up the intensity with proper protective gear so that you guys will have technique that you know you can rely on under stress. Also, once the scenarios can be a little more true to life, I think it will give people a more realistic perception of conflict. For example, the more true-to-life the scenarios can be, the more you'll realize how important it is to be pre-emptive because there can be so much going on. What's behind the guy's back? A gun? A knife? How much time do you have to decide? A great quote from Kelly McCann is something along the lines of "The final confirmation of the advesary's intent is his attack." In other words, you probably won't know whether it's a knife until he sticks you with it. That's a sobering thought. When we train, let us not train to stoke our ego or make us feel good about ourself, let us train to win.

See you Tuesday!

Tuesday - November 30, 2010

2010-11-29T11:58:00.003-06:00

Shooting on the move. When do you shoot while moving and when do you "stand and deliver"? How do you adjust your technique for shooting while moving? Do you need to walk like a duck to shoot on the move? We'll talk about these questions and work a lot of shooting and moving drills this week. 150 rounds should be sufficient, but you should bring extra if you get a happy trigger finger when your feet are moving (Chuck!).

another book recommendation

2010-11-29T11:47:00.002-06:00

(click here for link to book on Amazon.com)

I just finished this book by Kelly McCann. The book is worth reading just for his explanation of mindset and the dynamics of fights. I do think most of his technique is very solid, but it's hard to pick up things like that from a book. However, the material does gel nicely with what we cover in our empty hand classes.

Also, all of Kelly's videos from Paladin Press are pretty exceptional. I've seen just about all of them and I imagine that the few I haven't seen are probably still pretty good as well.

Tuesday - November 23, 2010

2010-11-22T18:59:00.002-06:00

Reloads. We're going to work on the three main types of reloads: slide-lock reloads, tactical reloads, and speed reloads. We'll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each as well as working our technique to make them smoother and faster. You will need to bring at least three mags for the class and some way to carry them on your belt. Round count should be 100-150 rounds.

Tuesday - November 16, 2010

2010-11-16T12:47:00.002-06:00

Malfunction Clearances and Accuracy. Today we're going to work malfunction clearances and some accuracy drills. We'll also talk about what benefits you can get by practicing the two together. Bring 150 rounds and all your normal range gear.

brian enos quote

2010-11-13T12:39:00.002-06:00

"It's all in the hands. The hands are the part of the body that interact most directly with a handgun. And how the gun reacts to its own recoil depends on how the shooter grips it.

Ideally, what we want is a grip technique that causes the gun to point naturally at the target; we shouldn't have to waste any time searching for and aligning the sights. Also, when the gun fires, we want it to track consistently, e.g. return to the exact same spot with no effort on our part. If we make that happen and learn how to reset the trigger action while the gun is still in recoil (an entirely different topic), we can fire the gun as fast as it comes down out of recoil and still be accurate."

rare product endorsement

2010-11-10T12:23:00.005-06:00

Rarely do I ever push a particular holster, gun, or other product, but I did want to turn you guys on to some hand wipes that are made for removing heavy metals (like lead residue):

They're a cheap way to clean lead residue off your hands after shooting and they also work surprisingly well for gun-cleaning (for those of you who do that sort of thing). Most importantly, they're cheaper than lead-poisoning.

They can be purchased from Dillion Precision or Brownells.

another Saturday class??

2010-11-03T22:01:00.002-05:00

I need to know how many people would be interested in doing another 8 hour Saturday pistol class on November 20th, from 9-5. Cost would be $115 and we'll need 8-10 shooters. If you're interested, post to the blog here, tell me at class next week, or talk to Chris at Shiloh so we can get a head count.

Tuesday - November 9, 2010

2010-11-03T21:26:00.002-05:00

Recoil control. This class will cover recoil control and quickly shooting multiple shot strings. We'll talk about how stance, grip, and tension effect your control of the gun and how to fire quickly while still seeing the sights and making your hits. We will probably burn through a lot of ammo in this class depending on whether we run one relay or two. Bring 250 rounds just to be safe.

AAR :: 11/02/2010

2010-11-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

A quick review of the three main areas covered in class...

Default position. Avoid getting knocked down or knocked out in those first few moments. Remember that the left arm will be tight against your head, elbow directly in front of your face, chin tucked, and the right arm will be in contact with the right side of your head, going across and making contact with your right arm. Do not allow an opening in the middle for a straight shot to sneak through. Also, make sure you are dropping your weight and stepping in to avoid being run over by a larger opponent.

Pummeling or "Swimming" practice. Be comfortable fighting for arm position because it will help you control the movement of your opponent and deny him access to your tools.

Underhook and Pike. This is the control position we worked on. Remember to step back with the same foot as the pike arm as you establish that position. You want to be moving to the side of the opponent, so that your feet are perpendicular to his. This will give you an advantageous position for striking, tool deployment, or just driving the guy into whatever hard object is nearby.

Tuesday - November 2, 2010

2010-10-27T09:41:00.004-05:00

Shooting practice at the range is practicing a skill in isolation. You are standing on the range, knowing that you're there to shoot, and usually standing in front of a known target with a known start signal. What range practice cannot prepare you for is that sudden ambush moment when you were going about your day, working at your job, giving a stranger the time, or some other mundane task that suddenly turns into a violent confrontation.

In this week's class, we're going to work on some basic techniques for surviving that initial ambush moment long enough to recover, gain control, and access a tool or create an escape. This class will be in the upstairs classroom and there will be no live fire this week. All participants will be checked for weapons before we begin training to make sure that nothing dangerous is accidentally brought into the training environment.

There will be some physical contact during this class, but nothing so serious you'll need a mouthpiece or cup. However, I do suggest you bring a shirt that you don't care about, because it will likely be pulled on, stretched, or damaged at some point. Also, don't wear any shoes you wouldn't want stepped on. In other words, be prepared for some light physical training and dress accordingly.

developing index

2010-10-27T09:39:00.002-05:00

online dryfire

2010-10-25T20:58:00.003-05:00

I still suggest everyone have a timer for their own practice sessions (so you can dryfire with a 3x5 card, small sticker, etc), but for those who have asked, here are some online dry-fire drills.

Please, do not shoot your monitors. Click here for the drills.

My suggestion is to use the .5 sec exposures from extended ready, 1 second exposures from transition (even though that's a little slow) and the 2 second exposures for draws. Once you feel that you're easily making the 2.0 sec draw, try to work for the 1.5 sec draw.

Keep in mind that with these online drills you can not speed up incrementally, which is very important for developing a smooth progression of skill. However, they'll be a decent place to start for those without shot timers.

Tuesday - October 26, 2010

2010-10-25T15:25:00.002-05:00

Back to Basics, Part 2. Today we'll continue last week's progression. If you've been doing your homework, you should find yourself acquiring the sight faster and thereby getting on target and trigger earlier. This week's lesson will start off with a review of last week and we'll take it further by applying it to weapon hand only and support side only shooting. Towards the end of class, we'll also shoot some drills where you should see noticeable improvement from these focused reps.

Bring 200 rounds and all your normal range gear.

Tuesday - October 19, 2010

2010-10-18T11:55:00.003-05:00

Back To Basics, Part 1. Today we're going to break down the draw and presentation into some very fundamental aspects and use a combination of dry-fire and live-fire to help you correct problems you might be having. The goal is to improve your ability to acquire the front sight and get on target quicker. You'll even be given some *homework* to work on before Part 2 of the class (next week).

Bring 200 rounds and all your normal range gear.

**Homework is optional. So is improvement.**

Tuesday - October 12, 2010

2010-10-06T10:46:00.002-05:00

I'll be here instead of at class this week. Rick will be running the class while I'm gone. See you Oct 19th.

:: AAR :: 10/05/2010

2010-10-06T10:41:00.003-05:00

Results:
133.88 Justin
250.93 Rick
409.31 Jessie
413.27 Eric
422.05 Jim

Tuesday - October 5, 2010

2010-10-05T00:04:00.004-05:00

Today's topic is a surprise. Bring the gun and gear you normally carry along with 150 rounds of ammo and a flashlight. See you at the range.

Possibly the best Magpul product ever...

2010-09-29T08:26:00.003-05:00

Edited:
Hey guys, I just saw that the video did not fit on the blog's display because it was the wrong size. Rather than try to figure how to change the display size on the embed code or reconfigure the blog to make it look right, just click the jump to see the trailer for Magpul's Dynamic Shotgun video.

On one hand, I'm glad to see the shotgun which has long been the go-to long-arm for police get some serious training recognition. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to every shotgun accessory being in short supply for the next few months while every Magpul fanboy decides to buy a shotgun and kit it out.

By the way, anyone interested in doing some shotgun work at Impact in November or December?

AAR :: 09/28/2010

2010-09-29T08:01:00.004-05:00

Lessons learned?

1. Fixed blades are better than folders.

2. Simple, direct attacks to major muscle groups are the most effective targets.

3. Knives are quick and deadly business.

I think after last night's training session everyone has a more healthy respect for the knife and the damage it can do. Keep in mind we spent most of last class with the knife in our hand. If it's in the opponent's hand, don't assume he's an idiot. Believe he is just as trained as you and respond accordingly.

A question that was asked after class was how to retain and practice this skillset. My advice is to get a training knife (or two) that matches your carry knife and practice with a partner and focus on the basic concepts we talked about last night: control the nearest limb, access your knife, cut the closest major muscle group and shove the opponent off of you to create distance. Keep in mind that we are using the knife defensively to disengage from our opponent. I would be cautious about practicing stabs to the throat, face, or any other area that would paint you as the aggressor and not someone who was trying to escape. Also, be cautious of techniques that you can't practice with any speed or intent. You cannot stab someone in the throat, even with a soft training knife, but you can practice deep cuts to major muscle groups. You'll fight the way you train, so make sure what you're training is the same way you'd want to do it in a fight if that was a live blade.

Feedback seemed very positive on this class and the retention class a few months ago. I think we may start incorporating an empty-hand/knife/retention class every other month so that people can keep the techniques fresh. What's the opinion on that? Is that something you guys would be interested in or would you rather see the class stick to shooting on the range?

Tuesday - September 28, 2010

2010-09-27T10:38:00.003-05:00

Empty-hand and Knife. We're going to work in the classroom today on a basic foundation of empty-hand and knife skills that will help round out your skill set. Skill with firearms is fine, but keep in mind there are still some places you cannot carry a firearm and, more importantly, at close distances you will need to have a foundation of empty-hand skills to get the gun out into the fight at all. This is not a live-fire class and all participants will be searched for weapons before class. Bring a training knife and red gun if you have one, but no other gear is necessary.

Tuesday - September 21, 2010

2010-09-20T22:36:00.003-05:00

Transitions. We're going to talk about shooting multiple targets and how we transition between them. As shooters, its very common to getting into the habit of shooting on a single non-moving target, but this is not representative of real-world problems. You'll either be trying to track a moving target or shooting multiple threats. We'll talk about how to practice that on a single-target and how to incorporate transitions in your dry-fire practice. After that, we'll set up some multiple target arrays and put that into practice. We'll probably close out the night with the Triple Nickel for those who haven't had a chance to shoot that yet. See you there.

Tuesday - September 14, 2010

2010-09-20T22:34:00.003-05:00

Accuracy. We'll be talking about how to practice accuracy at short distances and why that's more beneficial for long-range skills than long-range shooting. Then, for the the second part of the class, we'll move over to the long range and shoot from 5 yards to 25 yards.

Tuesday - September 7, 2010

2010-09-06T11:10:00.002-05:00

Today's class will focus on low-light shooting. This would be a good time to bring weapon mounted-lights, lasers, or any other thing you bought for the purpose of low-light shooting but rarely practice with under low-light conditions. At minimum, you'll need a hand-held flashlight. We'll talk about the merits and limitations of some of those different pieces of gear in low-light shooting and whether you really need night sights. I should have an extra weapon-mounted light for anyone who would like to try one. Round count will be somewhere around 150 rounds.

Tuesday - August 31, 2010

2010-08-30T13:54:00.003-05:00

This week we're going to work some scored drills testing your accuracy (two of them are below). Bring all the normal range gear and 150 rounds.

By the way, I was very impressed with everyone's safety, muzzle discipline, and increasing comfort at handling more difficult pistol problems last week. After a certain point, skill progression is slow-gained and hard-earned. Under these conditions, you may not often notice your own improvement, but I see several of you are shooting noticeably better than a few months ago. Keep up the good work!

Drill - Vickers 30 Shot Draw and Fire Drill

2010-08-30T13:37:00.003-05:00

Target: NRA 25 yard Slow Fire Target

Rounds: 30

Distance: 5 yards / 10 yards / 15 yards

Time: 3 sec / 4 sec / 5 sec

Stage 1. 5 yards. Draw and fire one shot in 3 seconds (x10).

Stage 2. 10 yards. Draw and fire one shot in 4 seconds (x10).

Stage 3. 15 yards. Draw and fire one shot in 5 seconds (x10).

Possible score: 300 points

Drill - Vickers 30 Shot Drill

2010-08-30T13:29:00.004-05:00

Target: NRA 25 Yard Slowfire Target

Rounds: 30

Distance: 5 yards / 10 yards / 15 yards

Time: none

This drill is shot in 3 stages:

1. 5 yards - Support hand only - 10 shots

2. 10 yards - Strong hand only - 10 shots

3. 15 yards - Two handed - 10 shots

Score using NRA rings. Possible score: 300 points.

Variation: Shoot five rounds at the five and five rounds at the ten yard stage to make the drill a 20 shot drill with a possible score of 200 points.

Tuesday - August 24, 2010

2010-08-23T21:50:00.003-05:00

This class we'll be shooting exclusively with the dominant hand, strong-hand, 'right hand of justice' or whatever else you want to call it. The qualifier will be the only two-handed shooting we'll do all night. For those that don't spend enough time shooting with one hand, this would be a good night to be in class. We'll also be reloading and clearing malfunctions one-handed... yay!

Drill - Vice Presidente (and other variations)

2010-08-23T20:15:00.000-05:00

The El Presidente drill has evolved into multiple variations over time. The most popular is probably the Vice Presidente...

Vice Presidente

Range: 7 yards

Targets: 3 IPSC targets spaced 1 yard apart

Rounds: 12

Starting position: facing targets, hands at sides, pistol concealed

On the signal, draw and engage all three targets with two shots each, reload, and engage each target with two shots each again.

Other Variations

- On the first pass, shoot two shots to the body of each target. After the reload, shoot one shot to the head of each target.

- Same as above, but strong hand only (no reload).

- Same as above, support side only (no reload).

- Same as above, include one-handed reload.

- And so on...

Drill - El Presidente

2010-08-23T20:00:00.002-05:00

This drill originates from Jeff Cooper, the father of modern pistolcraft.

Range: 10 yards

Targets: 3 IPSC targets spaced 1 yard apart

Rounds: 12

Start position: Facing away from target, pistol concealed with hands above shoulder in "surrender" position.

At the signal, turn towards the targets, draw, and engage each target with two shots each (any order). Perform a reload, then fire two shots at each target again.

The standard in Cooper's day was to complete the drill under 10 seconds with all A-zone hits. Any misses equals failure.

Tuesday - August 17, 2010

2010-08-16T18:12:00.003-05:00

Today we'll work on improving skills via the FAST drill. We'll go more in-depth that just shooting it to qualify, breaking it down into separate components and practicing them individually to increase our overall performance. We'll also work some other variations of the drill that I think you'll like.

Bring all your normal range gear and 150 rounds of ammo. See you at the range.

relevant news...

2010-08-13T12:29:00.003-05:00

Here is an interesting story for you guys that re-enforces what we've always said about keeping your gun concealed until you need it (and then put it away when you're done). The police do not always know who the good and bad guys are. Lucky for everyone this didn't work out much worse.

-----------------------------------------------

Houston police mistake armed bar owner for burglar

By DALE LEZON and ALLAN TURNER HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Aug. 13, 2010, 12:10PM

Houston police fired at a man with a gun but missed him when officers suspected he and another man were possible burglars outside a bar early this morning in southeast Houston.

The shooting happened outside Smokin’ J’s Sports Bar in the 500 block of FM 1959 near Texas 3 about 5 a.m., police said. The men were not thieves, and the man with the gun was a bar co-owner.

No injuries were reported and no charges have been filed.

Typically, officers who discharge their weapon are automatically placed on three-days of administrative duty while an internal investigation is conducted, but HPD spokesman Kese Smith would not comment on whether that has happened in this case.

Police said three uniformed officers were in an alley behind the bar after they thought a burglary was in progress when they saw two men step outside the back door.

One of the men carried a pistol and refused to comply when officers identified themselves and ordered him to drop it, Smith said.

The man began to raise his arm and chambered a round in the gun, Smith said. That’s when two of the officers, fearing for their safety, each fired once, missing the man, Smith added.

The officers who fired have been identified as J. Frank and C. Rohling.

Smith said the confrontation began when an officer staking out the bar and another nearby business called for back up because he thought burglars were breaking into the bar.

He was parked near the bar in an unmarked car staking out the businesses because a rash of burglaries recently had been reported in the area, police said.

More than an hour after the bar closed for the night, the officer saw a car drive into the parking lot and a man get out and run inside.

Not long afterward, he saw another man run from the bar to the street and then dash back to the bar.

The officer called for other officers to help him investigate.

When the other officers arrived three went to the back of the building to an alley behind the bar. That’s when they saw the men step outside.

Smith said the first man came outside and raised his arms when police identified themselves and told him to stop. The other man then stepped out of the bar and refused to comply with the officers’ commands. The officers then fired.

He dropped the gun when the officers shot at him and dashed back inside the bar. Moments later he came outside and was taken into custody.

It was later determined that he was a bar co-owner and the other man an employee.

Daytime bartender Michelle Larrison identified the two men in the bar as employee Chris Trjan and co-owner Paul Brown.

The men were in the bar counting the night’s receipts and cleaning up, according to Larrison.

Since February the bar has been burglarized five times and in each episode buglers have broken in and stolen from a jukebox, bowling game and other entertainment machines. No alcohol was stolen and the cash register was always emptied before employees closed, according to Larrison.

After talking to reporters, Larrison briefly entered the bar before returning to announce that she’d just been fired for talking to the media.

TUESDAY - August 10, 2010

2010-08-06T09:47:00.006-05:00

This week we'll be working on ambidextrous shooting and non-standard positions. Force-on-force training shows that injuries to the hands are common in gunfights, so it's important that we are comfortable shooting with our support hand as well as our weapon hand (including drawing with our support hand if required). You'll also rarely see a perfect stance in dashboard cams or force-on-force drills either.

On another note, I've talked about it in the past, but this is the first week that we will begin instituting our qualifier. What's that? Well, the advanced class should be for advanced students. Having to scale back the class for students who have not solidly mastered the fundamentals hurts those in the class who have come prepared.

Beginning this week, we'll start shooting the qualifier at the beginning of every class. If you've never shot with the class before, you will have to pass the qualifier to attend the class. If you don't, there is a beginner's class on Wednesday to work on the fundamentals until you're ready to move up.

This week, bring all your normal range gear and 150 rounds. See you at the range.

Drill - Iron Cross

2010-08-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Iron Cross

Distance: 10 yards

Target: 8" circle

Number of Rounds: 24

Par time: 54 seconds

Scoring: Add 2.5 seconds for each miss

For all positions, start standing hands naturally at sides. Note: Muzzle awareness is paramount throughout the drill, as these shooting positions are non-standard and require advance gun manipulation skills.

Position 1: Facing down range

String 1: Draw and fire 1 round at the target free style (using 2 handed grip)

String 2: Draw and fire 1 round at the target using your dominant hand

String 3: Draw (dominant hand), transfer the gun to the support hand and fire 1 round at the target using your support hand

String 4: Draw using only your support hand and fire 1 round at the target using your support hand

Position 2: Facing 90 right of down range

Strings 1-4

Position 3: Facing up range

Strings 1-4 Rotate to the Left, Strings 1-4 Rotate to the Right

Position 4: Facing 90 left of down range

Strings 1-4

Position 5: Facing down range (same as Position 1)

Strings 1-4

TUESDAY - August 3, 2010

2010-07-30T23:20:00.005-05:00

We're going to work on shooting around different types of cover this week. Bring all your normal range gear and 200 rounds of ammo. See you at the range.

By the way, make sure to check the most recent announcement.

Wednesday - July 28, 2010

2010-07-27T16:20:00.003-05:00

This class we're going to work on the concept of "changing gears": the ability to transition quickly from close-range, high probability targets to low-probability targets (small targets, further distance, etc) and vice-versa.

Bring all your normal range gear and 150 rounds.

Wednesday - July 21, 2010

2010-07-18T23:56:00.002-05:00

This week we're going to talk about the combat drawstroke and shooting at distances closer than we're comfortable with. We'll talk about the problems involved in the close-quarters environment and work some live-fire practice from contact distance.

Bring 150 rounds and all your normal range gear.

:: AAR :: 07/14/2010

2010-07-18T23:27:00.002-05:00

In our last class, I gave a basic rundown of how to practice or, rather, how I practice. For those that were not there, I explained a pretty simple routine that has worked well for me:

Time, duration, equipment...

I don't usually practice for more than 2 hours or 300 rounds. I prefer regular, focused, short-duration practice as opposed to marathon sessions. Bring all your range equipment and practice the same way you carry.

Cold assessment...

I like to start with some kind of drill to assess my skills cold (no practice draws or trigger presses). I like the FASTest because it's easy to set-up, easy to score, and incorporates a lot of important skills. However, for those that do not have a timer, you can substitute other drills that do not require a timer. The important thing is that you use the same drill and that is is measurable, so you can record your progress over time. A suggestion for those without a timer is to take a repeatable target size (like a 3x5 card) and see how far you can stretch the distance before missing (two handed, strong, and support side). Record the distances and work on trying to increase them at each practice session.

Diagnostics...

I'll shoot 50-100 rounds covering all the bases (group shooting, single shot draws, transitions, reloads, etc). The recently posted Dot Torture is a good drill for this. I used similar drills before, but Dot Torture has a printable target with all the instructions on the target. This provides better structure and keeps me from forgetting anything.

Skill specific training...

From there I will transition to a specific skill to practice that day. For example, I might work on reloads and all my drills for the rest of the session will include reloads as a central part of the drill. If I'm working on sight-tracking and recoil recovery, I may be shooting a lot of Bill Drills. Regardless, I spend the rest of my ammo for the session focusing on a single aspect of my shooting. Lots of people try to cover everything in every practice session. In my experience, that doesn't work as well and keeps people from really improving at any one skill.

The last round...

Somewhere along the line I started incorporating the idea of a final "test" in my practice session. I set the target up at a distance (different each time) and draw to a single accurate shot (usually the eye box on an IPSC style target). I always do this with my last round of practice ammo so that I'm not tempted to take a make-up shot. This drill is more about working your mind than working a specific skill. Visualize a scenario where you MUST make the shot then draw and do it. It's pass or fail only, there is no almost. Do not set the target at an unreasonable distance for your current skill, but develop the skill to make a difficult shot on demand, the first time.

Drill - Dot Torture

2010-07-18T23:16:00.007-05:00

(click here for printable version)

Guys, here is the 50 round drill we shot at our practice session last week. It's a good tool and I incorporate it into most of my practice sessions now. Start at 10-12 feet and work on increasing distance as you improve. Good luck!

Wednesday - July 14, 2010

2010-07-12T23:38:00.002-05:00

This week we'll be doing a basic 50 round diagnostic test and talking a bit about how to structure your own practice sessions. After that we'll move to malfunction clearances (one and two handed) and you can see what's wrong with the above picture...

Bring 150 rounds and all your normal range gear. See you at the range.

:: AAR :: 07/09/2010

2010-07-09T08:35:00.002-05:00

We worked on shooting some accuracy drills and with only 4 people in the class (thanks to the weather) everyone had plenty of trigger time.

When it comes to accuracy, it all comes down to the sights and the trigger. Grip, stance, and all those other things people talk about don't really have much to do with accuracy. As demonstrated in the class, you can hold the gun upside down, pull the trigger with your left pinky finger and as long as it's a good trigger pull and you're watching the sights, the bullet will go where you want it to. I'm all for practicing the move and shoot "tactical" drills, but first and foremost you need to be able to hit the target on demand (right OR left handed). That said, let's break down some common problems on the trigger press...

The most common diagnosis of bad trigger press is "jerking the trigger." What does that mean? Generally, almost anytime someone is said to be "jerking" the trigger, what they are doing is anticipating the shot. While they may have a perfect sight picture right before the shot, at the moment the shot breaks they are flinching and yanking the gun off-target. That anticipation can begin before you even touch the trigger, yanking through the entire trigger motion and pulling the shot way off target. Or, that anticipation can manifest itself even in good shooters who are prepping the trigger, but still "jerking" from the prep point. Since the trigger is traveling a shorter distance at this point, it's less noticeable, but it is there. This is something to be looking at if you're shooting very tight groups, but slightly off-center of the target.

There are several things that you can do to help remedy that anticipation. First, and this is often overlooked, make sure you are wearing good hearing protection. It is difficult to overcome your instincts and your body will naturally anticipate and flinch from loud explosions that are happening a short distance from your face. I know the new Surefire plugs are very popular now, but I've noticed that people who shoot indoors with plugs only have a tendency to anticipate more. I've seen several shooters begin shooting better just by doubling up on hearing protection (plugs+muffs).

Another important aspect of shooting is dry-fire practice. If all you ever shoot is live-fire, you never really feel what that trigger break is truly like because at the time the trigger breaks you are distracted by the explosion of the shot firing. Dry-firing is an excellent way for you to get familiar with the trigger on your gun and to ingrain good body mechanics. That said, dry-fire alone is not enough because mentally you know that it's not a live fire shot.

A good middle ground between dry-fire and live fire practice with your defensive handgun is a rimfire. I'm a big fan of rimfire conversions for pistols. Sig makes an excellent conversion for their pistols available from the factory and there are several aftermarket options for most other popular pistols. A rimfire allows you to get a lot of cheap live fire marksmanship practice. Keep in mind that rimfire practice cannot teach recoil control or several other important aspects of defensive pistol shooting, but it is an excellent way to work on your marksmanship without the distraction and expense of higher powered defensive calibers.

Finally, when you're practicing with your defensive handgun, make sure to spend some time going back to the basics and working those things that may seem boring. Repetition is the mother of skill. The quality of your repetitions will determine the quality of your skill. It is important to have good reloads, recoil control, stance, etc, but the most important skill in defensive shooting is being able to hit the target on demand. Keep in mind that the target may not always be a wide, full-value, stationary target. When the marksmanship problem is more difficult, you will need to have skills that are up to the task. Your reloads and malfunction clearances will not matter if you are not able to put effective fire on target to stop the threat.

Trigger press is a constant process. It's sort of like a golf swing. There are many aspects to the game of golf, but if you don't have a good swing, things like strategy and club selection are irrelevant. Likewise, the trigger press is the foundation of shooting. And, just like a golf swing, it is something you will always be working on. No one was born with a gun or golf club in their hand. These are learned skills and they will perish without practice. Practice consistently with good drills that keep you accountable for every shot and you will find yourself improving.

See you next week!

Wednesday - July 07, 2010

2010-07-06T14:24:00.004-05:00

"Fast is fine, but accuracy is final." -Wyatt Earp

We're going to work drills today that emphasize accuracy with both two and one-hand shooting. Bring all your normal range gear and 200 rounds of ammo. See you at the range.

Shiloh Standards

2010-06-30T15:39:00.002-05:00

Wednesday - June 30, 2010

2010-06-28T13:29:00.002-05:00

We'll be working on several target transition drills like the El Presidente and maybe even the Triple Nickel for those that want to give it a shot. Like last week, we'll probably warm up with the FASTest. I think that may become a staple of the class as a warm-up/cold assessment.

Bring all the normal range gear. Round count will probably be a bit lower than normal since we can only set up so many targets at one time. Expect to shoot approximately 150 rounds.

See you at the range.

and now for something completely different...

2010-06-28T13:17:00.002-05:00

Supreme Court strikes down Chicago's handgun ban...

:: AAR :: 06/23/2010

2010-06-28T12:46:00.002-05:00

FASTest times for the group hovered around 8-9 seconds unadjusted with 3-5 seconds added for penalties on most runs.

In the same vein, the average score for the Standards was 60-something percent for the group and out of the 300 shots fired by all six shooters, only 3 shots were over the PAR time. In other words, almost every single penalty was from a missed shot, not from being over the time.

What these numbers should point out is that a lot of you guys are out-pacing your ability to hit the target. You need to slow down to make the required hits. I cannot emphasize that enough. Speed will come with efficiency of movement and practice. Sheerly trying to make yourself shoot faster is only going to make you miss and all those misses are just bad repetitions that you're programming into your motor skills.

The times for the Standard test were calculated in a very particular way. They're meant to be tight, but with enough time to make the required shot(s) for the string of fire at an intermediate skill level. Your goal should be to draw, make the shot, accept that some of your shots will fall after the par if you're not at that level yet. That is how the test was designed. Once you can complete the test with at least 90% on a regular basis, you either move up to the advanced times or shrink the target zone.

For example, let's take the stage of shooting one shot from the holster at 7 yards in 2.5 seconds. Many of you were shooting your shot before 2 seconds and missing. Half a second is an eternity to confirm a sight picture. I'd rather see you spend the extra time to confirm and shoot closer to the 2.4 mark with a hit, even if that means you sometimes overshoot it and miss the time. As you build confidence, you can push it. Once you are making hits easily and consistently under time, then move to a quicker time or a smaller target--but you'll only know when that progression time is if you make your hits. If you are missing, then you have no standard to judge your progression. I can take anyone off the street, show them the basic mechanics of the draw, and have them missing very quickly. It's only when you make your hits (even if they're over the PAR time) that we can dial in where you are at skill-wise.

Next time we shoot the standards I'd like to see more hits. I don't care if the scores stay the same, but I'd rather see a 60% score with 100% hits than a 60% score with 50% hits. It gives me a better measuring stick to see where the group is at and, more importantly, you're only performing slow repetitions, not bad ones.

Wednesday - June 23, 2010

2010-06-20T21:30:00.003-05:00

Today we're going to give everyone another chance to shoot the FASTest when they're not tired and it's not 100+ degrees. Then we're going to shoot our standards again. It's been several months since our last go at those and it will be good to see how people have progressed.

See you at the range.

Drill - FASTest

2010-06-20T21:08:00.007-05:00

(click here for printable .pdf file)

Above is the target we used in class for the Fundamentals, Accuracy, and Speed Test devised by Todd Green of pistol-training.com. I like this drill because it's a simple, low-round assessment of skill that covers several important areas: drawing to a precise shot, speed reload, and recoil control. The above target will only be scaled correctly if you print it on legal sized (8.5x14) paper, but you can use 3x5 cards and some 8" paper plates to duplicate it if you're too lazy to go to Kinko's.

Here's the drill...

FASTest

Range: 7 yards

Rounds: 6

Target: 3"x5" rectangle, 8" circle

The drill is simple in design. Start with two rounds in the gun and 4+ rounds in your extra mag. From concealment, draw and place two shots in the 3x5 box, perform a slide-lock reload, then put four shots into the 8" circle. Missed shots to the card add 2 seconds to your time. Missed shots to the body add 1 second to your time.

10+ seconds: Beginner

7-10 seconds: Intermediate

5-7 seconds: Advanced

less than 5 seconds: Expert

If you want to see a crazy fast example of this drill, go here to see Dave Sevigny shoot the drill in 3.56 seconds because he's a mutant cyborg shooting robot. (Sorry, no embedded video because it's disabled by Boobtube)

:: AAR :: 06/19/2010 (Intensive Marksmanship)

2010-06-20T20:58:00.004-05:00

Instead of putting my own observations up here, I thought I'd make a post and allow you guys (and girls) to comment on what you picked up in the class.

I enjoyed teaching the class and thanks for bearing with me through that afternoon heat. We'll schedule another one in the fall when we can worry more about our shooting and less about melting.

See you at the range.

Intensive Marksmanship update

2010-06-15T16:44:00.002-05:00

Alright, the class is a go for this Saturday. It looks like we'll have 8 shooters, so I think that will work out as a nice class size.

Now, on to the details...

First and foremost, it will be hot. The high for Saturday is supposed to be 94 with a humidity of 70%. That means the heat index will be over 100 degrees by lunch. Bring plenty of water, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat. Bring a sack lunch, because we'll take a quick lunch break at the range so that we can push through and wrap up early without suffering the full afternoon heat. Again, bring plenty of water.

Equipment... Bring your normal range gear and bring all the mags you have for your gun. The more mags you have, the less time we'll need to step off the line to load mags and the smoother the class will run. I would suggest at least 4 mags for the hi-cap guns and 7 or 8 mags for the 1911 shooters. Round count for the class should be approximately 700 rounds.

Class time: 7AM. We're starting early to beat the heat. We will be done and leaving the range by 3PM (for those of you making dinner plans).

Location: Impact Zone Range--Here is a map with the address at the top.

The gate is a metal farm gate with some skulls on the fencepost, directly across the street from the gate is a black mailbox with a target on its side pointed towards the gate. The gate is unlocked. Close the gate behind you and follow the road back to the range bays.

My cell is 281-222-6022. Please call and let us know if you're running late.

Wednesday - June 16, 2010

2010-06-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

We're going to work on two *VERY IMPORTANT* non-marksmanship skills this week that I continually see coming up in force-on-force--communication and scanning. We'll be doing some drills in two man teams where you'll have to pay attention to your partner, talk, and generally interact with another live human being (which we really just don't train enough of).

Since we're already in two man groups, we'll spend a little bit of time at the end of the class exposing you to principcles of two-man team tactics using red guns. However, we won't spend a whole lot of time on it for reasons I'll talk about in the class.

Round count should be a little lower than normal--less than 150 rounds. Bring all your normal range gear and a red gun matching your carry gun if you have it (and why don't you??!?).

Drill - Triple Nickel

2010-06-09T22:56:00.004-05:00

Target: 5 FBI Q targets

Range: 5 yards

Shots: 10

This is a tough drill that comes from a federal LE agency. Less than 1% of the agents can make the par time and anyone who can do it consistently is given a challenge coin. I like the drill because it tests several fundamentals: draw, splits, transitions, and ability to reload under stress.

The drill was originally intended for five FBI Q targets with any hit in the bottle scored as a hit. You can adjust it by using an IDPA target and counting the -0 and -1 zones as the A-zone, or you could use an IPSC target A-zone.

Set the five targets at a standard height with a minimum of 18 inches between targets. Shooter starts at five yards with pistol and spare mag concealed. On the buzzer, shooter draws from concealment, engages each target with two shots and somewhere between the first target and last target the shooter must perform a mandatory reload (speed load).

Par time is 5 seconds with no misses. Good luck!

5 targets - 5 yards - 5 seconds. That's the Triple Nickel.

:: AAR :: 06/09/2010

2010-06-09T22:20:00.002-05:00

A few key points from tonight's practice...

- Be aggressive on the gun. You can get away with an upright posture and loose grip when you're only shooting two or three rounds a second. If you want to push faster than that (and still stay on target) you need to lean in on that gun and hold on to it.

- To shoot faster, you need to be more comfortable on the trigger. If you're jerky on the trigger or have a very inefficient trigger press (holding the trigger to the rear long after the shot is over) then you're going to have a hard time speeding that up and still keeping your hits. Smooth out the edges with those two drills we worked tonight. I particularly like the first drill, shooting one shot and then coming back on the target PREPPED. In other words, by the time you see that second sight picture, the trigger needs to already be reset, prepped, and ready to go. If that gun settles back down and you're still holding the trigger back, you're not using efficient trigger technique.

- Inefficient draws really hurt your ability to make the times. The majority of the class is on a fairly level playing field when it comes to shooting. The biggest difference between those of you who can put 2 shots on the target in 2.5 seconds and those of you who can put six on target in the same amount of time, is the draw. If you look at the split times (time between shots), most of the class is on a fairly level playing field. However, if someone draws .75 seconds faster than you, that's just that much more time he has to shoot. The two biggest things I saw on the draw were people not clearing the cover garment well enough and unnecessary body movement (particularly the head). Don't be afraid to get in front of a mirror and go back to walking through the numbers of the drawstroke.

- Reloads... use your indexes! Anchor that elbow and put the gun up in your workspace in the same place every time. Index the magazine correctly and make sure to glance at the magwell for a moment as you insert it into the pistol. Jim pointed out that you cannot see the magwell in the dark, but the point is not seeing the magwell, the point is building good body mechanics for smooth, efficient reloads. Even if you can't see the magwell in the dark, I bet you can still get the mag in quicker if you are practicing good reloads (vs never looking and always practicing "stabbing" at the magwell). Your ability to perform a still under stress has a direct relation to how many good repetitions of that skill you have practiced. Build good reps.

That covers most of the high points from tonight. All in all, I was pretty impressed with the group. Track your progress by trying that first drill at a later date and see if you've progressed. As a reminder, the drill is how many hits can you put on a sheet of typing paper from 5 yards in 2.5 seconds--from concealment. Everyone in the class was able to consistently get at least three good shots off and some were shooting 5. A good goal for most in the class is 4 shots with 100% hits on demand. If you really want to push yourself, go for six or seven.

another dry-fire tool

2010-06-04T15:33:00.003-05:00

Guys, click here for another good dry-fire tool. This one is courtesy of Rangemaster in Memphis, TN. Tom Givens, head instructor of Rangemaster, just had his 52nd student-involved shooting. That's right, 52 of his students have been involved in defensive shootings. Memphis is home to more than just barbeque and the blues, it also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. Read the debrief of the incident on his newest newsletter.

His student survived by being able to place a fast, single, well-placed shot from the holster. Sound familiar? FYI, of the 52 student involved shootings Givens students has documented, only two students have been killed. Both had CHLs, but neither was armed at the time they were murdered. In the eloquent words of Tom Givens, "Carry your f*cking gun!"

Wednesday - June 09, 2010

2010-06-03T09:04:00.004-05:00

This week's topic? Speed! We're going to be working on speed during our draws, split times, and reloads. Round count will be approximately 200.

Why the Jessie Abbate picture? Because I want to. And because my wife doesn't read this.

And how about some comments on this blog? It would be nice to know if you guys are reading these posts, what you think of the classes, what you want to work on, etc.

Drill - Hackathorn's "The Test"

2010-06-03T08:36:00.006-05:00

I've decided to add a new feature to the blog. I'm going to post the drills we shoot in class from time to time and I will add links to the sidebar on the right so that you can pull them up whenever you want without searching through the whole blog. We'll start with the drill from last night. I like this drill because it is simple, easy to remember, and easy to score.

The Test - by Ken Hackathorn

Target: NRA 25 yard bulls-eye (B8) or any eight inch circle

Distance: 10 yards

Round count: 10 (8 for 1911s)

Time: 10 second par

From ten yards, start at the ready position. 1911s start in the holster to make up for two less rounds. On the buzzer shoot all rounds into the A zone under the par time. No misses allowed. Simple.

Sometimes Ken will add a second part to the drill... After the first 10 shots, move to 5 yards. Shoot 5 shots from the holster in under 5 seconds. Do it again. After you're finished, you should have 20 A-zone hits for the whole drill.

:: AAR :: 06/02/2010

2010-06-03T08:01:00.005-05:00

One handed shooting... It's one of those things that we often just don't work enough, particularly with the support side. Here are a few issues we saw last night:

Manual safeties - You need to be able to manipulate your safeties, decockers, etc with either hand. For some of you, that means finding a method that is comfortable, efficient and reliable with your current setup. For some of you that have very small hands and a single-sided safety, that means you might want to think about having an ambi-safety installed.

Traditional double-actions - If you end up having to start with the gun in the support hand, then you're stuck with a DA first shot and you need to practice for that. That probably means you may need to work that support hand a bit more than someone shooting a single-action or striker fired pistol. There's nothing wrong with that. You just need to be aware of it and dedicate some practice time to it.

Mental game - If you believe you're a bad shot with your support hand then you will be. And if you believe you don't shoot well weak-handed, it's probably because you never practice it. Analyze your own skill development and see what your weak areas are. When you've identified them, realize that you are wasting practice time shooting the drills you are already good at and develop those weak areas until they are strengths. The goal is to be well-rounded and confident enough in your shooting abilities to be able to perform any task you might need to under stress. Remember what Ken Hackathorn says, "If you're not confident in your ability to perform a given skill, you will not even attempt it under stress."

Also, for those that asked last night, I have been using an Ntac holster recently. I have been very impressed with the quality and they have a pretty quick turn-around compared to their competitor, Raven Concealment. However, Ntac only offers holsters for a handful of guns (mostly Glock and S&W). If they don't make a holster for your gun, then you're stuck with a several month wait from Raven. Either manufacturer makes the most concealable OWB design I've ever used though.

Wednesday - June 02, 2010

2010-06-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

Sorry guys, I didn't realize that I had not posted for this week yet. We'll be working on one-handed shooting tonight--both strong and support side. We'll also do some low-light shooting so make sure to bring a flashlight. I'll have some available if one of you has committed the cardinal sin of not carrying a flashlight.

Round count should be 150 or so. Bring all your normal range gear (+handheld light). See you tonight.

class announcement

2010-05-27T23:29:00.003-05:00

The Intensive Marksmanship class is scheduled for June 19th, 7a-3p, at Impact Zone. This class will focus on learning to shoot faster and more accurately. We won't be wasting any time talking about tactics or anything that doesn't have to do with shooting. It is a shooting intensive class and the round count will be approximately 700 rounds.

The class is at an outdoor range and you will need to pack a lunch and plenty of water. Shiloh can help you with directions. Shade is available and we are starting early to beat the heat, but it will probably still be hot. Dress appropriately.

Class cost is $115 and that includes the range fee. Stop by or call Shiloh to sign up. Ngoc can also get ammo for you if need it. Class size is limited to 12, so if you're planning on attending you should sign up soon.

:: AAR :: 05/26/2010

2010-05-27T22:33:00.007-05:00

What we saw Wednesday is how difficult it is to shoot well on the move. We're not talking about that one or two foot side step that really isn't much different than standing still, but really moving and getting away from the threat. Even at moderate paces it is difficult if your fundamentals are not sound. There is no free lunch. As we move and add other complexities to the situation, it gets harder to focus on things like good trigger press. Like any other skill, you have to ingrain those good habits through lots of repetition--good repetitions--to produce reliably under stress. A good example is a golf swing. Someone can explain the mechanics of a good swing so that you can memorize every key feature of a good swing, but if you rarely pick up a club, you will not be able to produce that swing you know so much about.

Now that Shiloh has started a membership program, I encourage you to join and get out more often to practice those fundamentals. To help with that, here are the targets that we often use in class:

Wednesday - May 26, 2010

2010-05-25T15:45:00.004-05:00

This week we'll be shooting on the move for the first part of the class and then transition to the 25 yard range for some accuracy work. Bring all your normal range gear and 150 rounds (200 if you get trigger happy shooting while moving).

Also, we will have an announcement tomorrow night for the Intensive Marksmanship class. The class will be an 8 hour class held on a Saturday focusing solely on marksmanship and shooting improvement. The date is June 19th, 7a-3p. More details will be coming soon.

:: AAR :: 05/19/2010

2010-05-21T13:38:00.004-05:00

The class was divided into two distinct parts: drills and scenarios.

During the drill portion, we explored some different ideas regarding movement, use of cover, etc. The benefit of FoF (Force on Force) training is that you can see a lot of the real-life dynamics at play that are impossible to replicate safely on a live-fire range. For example, it was quickly clear that movement based on the square-range was not effective enough to get you out of the way of a determined and aggressive adversary. Drastic diagonal or lateral movement to get off line of the threat is what you need and that's not something we can practice with a line full of shooters.

During the scenario portion, we focused on third-party intervention situations in public places and several key learning points were discovered:

- It will often be difficult to tell who the good and bad guys are. Sometimes you may not be able to tell at all.

- Sometimes the window for escape can be very slim and if you hesitate you'll be stuck in the situation.

- SCAN! Always expect one more bad guy than you can see.

- Usually, the more time you can buy yourself to figure out what is going on, the better. However, once you act, you'll need to act decisively to either escape or fight.

- You need to know what you're prepared to fight for and what you're prepared to walk away from. During the stress of the moment is not the time to be making value judgments.

All in all, I think most saw that the shooting problems were not difficult. In fact, I conduct a lot of this sort of training and it is fairly rare that I see people not "survive" scenarios because of poor marksmanship. When people don't survive the scenario, it is almost always because of decisions they made. That ability to make decisive decisions under stress with little information to go on... that's the whole point of scenario based training.

Wednesday - May 19, 2010

2010-05-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

Alright, we're going to do another force-on-force class before it gets too hot on the range and people don't want to wear long sleeves and masks. This will probably be the last airsoft session until the fall. This class will not have any of the classroom stuff from last time, it will be strictly scenarios. If you missed the airsoft class last time, I highly recommend you be there this week.

For protective gear, you need a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt and pants. For females, I would suggest a thick sweatshirt or well-padded bra. Bring a protective mask if you have it, though many will be available for your use. If you bring your own mask, it needs to be full coverage, from chin to forehead. I also recommend a ball cap to protect the crown of your head from those skipping shots that might break the skin. You can wear gloves if you want, but I find gloves that are thin enough to give you control of the gun and allow it to operate are not thick enough to protect you anyway.

NO LIVE WEAPONS will be allowed on the range for the force-on-force portion. You will be leaving your weapons in the car or in the classroom. See you Wednesday!

:: AAR :: 05/12/2010

2010-05-16T12:54:00.003-05:00

We covered it pretty throughly in class, but here is a quick run-down of the FASTT protocol:

Fight - Winning the fight is the first priority.

Assess - Did the shots work? Is the opponent out of the fight?

Scan - Break the tunnel vision effect. Look for other threats, nearby cover, avenues of escape, etc.

Talk - Guys, if we don't practice this on a routine basis we're going to stand there like statues afterwards. Ask bystanders if they're okay (helps establish you as the good guy) and get someone to call 911 (point them out specifically - "you, in the green shirt, call 911")

Top-Off - This is somewhat situationally dependent. If you carry a hi-cap 9 and were lucky enough to put the guy down with one or two shots, I wouldn't mess with the gun. However, if you are carrying a low-capacity gun or shot more than you can remember, I would probably top the gun off.

--------------------------

Some feedback on specific issues in the class:

Verbalizing before shooting. Guys, if you have to assess the situation, orient towards a threat, draw from concealment, etc, then you have plenty of time to give simple verbal commands. It does not need to be anything complicated. It can be something as simple as "STOP!" or "NO!" Whatever you say, it needs to be simple, short, and clear. If it makes the person drop their weapon or run before you have to fire, then it's certainly worth it. However, if it is going to go to guns regardless, you will want witnesses (and nearby recording devices) to see that you did try to warn the guy first.

Knowing your shooting capabilities. It's important to know what you and your gear are capable of. At certain close ranges, where the danger is greater, are you confident enough in your ability to go right for a headshot? At what distance should you transition to body shots for the sake of speed and certainty? In what situations are you better off just seeking cover because you do not have the shooting ability to help the situation? This could be due to many factors: distance, target exposure, speed required, presence of innocents, etc.

When will you shoot? This is an extremely important matter in defensive shooting but is not one that I can teach you on the range. In what circumstances are you willing to shoot? Only when you are personally threatened? What about a loved one? Would you shoot to save a stranger in an active shooter type situation if you could safely escape otherwise? Don't overlook the importance of psychological aftermath, both in situations were you do intervene and in ones where you don't. These are things only you can know about yourself and there are no right answers. However, you do need to know your answers and be confident and willing to act on them so that you can minimize your hesitation and delay under stress.

Be aggressive on the gun. We spent most of the class focusing on things that do not involve shooting technique, but one thing we did spend some time on was being aggressive on the gun. Here is a sample drill we did in the class:

At 4-5 yards, on a timer, shoot six shots to the A-zone from the ready position. Note the time. Then, get a little more aggressive on your posture, same grip, and do the drill again. Note the time. Then, keeping that more aggressive posture, grip the hell out of the gun and shoot the drill again. Note the time. You should notice the times going down between drills. Once you reach the point where the times level off (and you're making all your hits), that is the posture and grip you should be shooting with all the time because it gives you the most control and recoil recovery over the gun. Even if you were only trying to shoot a single headshot at distance, you'd still want that same posture because that quick recovery will be there in case you need a second shot.

A recent discussion of follow-through on another blog is also something you should read if you get the chance. Hope you guys enjoyed the class. See you Wednesday!

Wednesday - May 12, 2010

2010-05-10T23:45:00.002-05:00

We'll be working on the FASTT protocol this week. What does that mean? I guess you'll need to show up to the class to find out...

:: AAR :: 05/05/2010

2010-05-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

I don't really have much to add regarding the evaluation of individual skills from last week. You guys saw your times, saw your hits, and you know what you need to work on.

I did want to mention a few things about how you conduct your practice though. There are many skills that fall under the category of defensive shooting. I think those can be divided into four categories:

High probability, high importance. This includes skills such as drawing to multiple shots and drawing to a single, accurate shot. Shooting from the ready position would also fall into this category. These are the skills you should spend the majority of your practice time on.

High probability, low importance. A fine example is walking. There is way too much discussion given to how to walk "tactically" when we've been walking our whole lives. Your body can move you place to place all on its own. Focus on solving the problem. By the way, don't confuse being able to shoot on the move with the tactical 'groucho' walk. Those are two different skills (and you don't have to walk like that to make hits).

Low probability, high importance. This would include things like malfunction clearances, emergency reloads, and one handed gun manipulations. These skills, while not likely to occur in a gun-fight if you're using a reliable, high-capacity gun, will be of extreme importance if they do occur. These are something that should be practiced diligently so that you can stay in the fight if they do happen.

Low Probability, low importance. This category would include skills like the ability to make a handgun shot at greater than 25 yards. Is there is situation where that is possible? Yes, but it extremely unlikely. Is that important enough to dedicate serious practice time to? I don't think so. At that distance, retreat would probably be my best option. Tactical reloads would also fall under this category. These are something I practice once in a while when I think about it, but they are not a part of my regular practice regimen.

When you look at your practice sessions, keep these categories in mind. You want to always practice the HP/HI skills. Those are something I practice at every range session. You also want to practice the LP/HI skills every session as well. I will usually spend 80% of my time HP/HI and the remaining 20% on LP/HI. When it comes to LP/HI skills, I usually tend to work one skill each session. For example, in addition to working HP/HI skills, I'll work emergency reloads. Or one-handed shooting. Or one-handed reloads. And so on.

Also, in case you guys haven't noticed, I've changed the blog up a bit to make it more visually appealing. It would be nice if we could get some pictures of our practice sessions from time to time, so that I don't have to use Google images or post pictures of myself (hint).

Wednesday's topic will be posted later today.

Wednesday - May 05, 2010

2010-05-01T14:47:00.004-05:00

This week we'll be shooting drills that concentrate on two of the core skills for defensive pistol shooting: fast shots from the holster and the emergency (slidelock) reload. We will start off with a cold qualification and then move in to working the above skills adding the variables of movement and time pressure. Depending on the number of shooters, it could be a higher than normal round count. Bring at least 200 rounds so you don't run short. Also, having at least 4 mags for your pistol will keep the class running a lot smoother.

:: AAR :: 04/28/2010

2010-05-01T14:16:00.005-05:00

I hoped a lot of you found the class informative. I know most of you are not revolver shooters and that's fine. As I said in the class, the revolver performs certain functions well, but is not something that I recommend for everyone. It has some serious shortcomings when compared to the auto-pistol, but it is more than adequate in most cases as long as the shooter does his part.

Personally, I really think the revolver shines as a training tool. If you can master that trigger, then your Glock/XD/1911 trigger will be a piece of cake. I pull out my revolvers from time to time when I want to go back to the basics of sights and trigger press. I'm not the only one who thinks so either--I just ran across this blog article that talks about the benefits of using a revolver for dry-fire practice.

Thanks for indulging Tracy and I with the revolver night. It was a nice break from the norm. Speaking of training nights that cover other topics, you may want to start looking for a training knife that duplicates the knife you carry because we will be doing a folding knife class in June. I recommend the Spyderco trainers (because I carry Spyderco knives). Many of the larger knife companies have trainer versions of their knives as well.

Wednesday - April 28, 2010

2010-04-22T20:12:00.004-05:00

This Wednesday's class is going to revolve around the wheelgun. Did you catch that? Sorry, I couldn't resist. :)

We will start out in the classroom talking about some of the myths surrounding revolvers and some of the advantages. We will discuss gunhandling that is particular to revolvers, including the use of several different speedloader variants. Several revolvers will be available for use if you want to participate but don't currently own a revolver. This class is focused towards modern defensive-use double action revolvers (i.e., no single-actions or 6" .44 magnums).

Ammo: ~ 50 rounds. All provided revolvers will be .38 special. Shiloh will have .38 ammo available for purchase.

:: AAR :: 04/21/2010

2010-04-22T14:38:00.002-05:00

As we saw, shooting accurately is a pretty simple affair: see the sights, have a steady hold, and press the trigger without disturbing that hold. That's it. That's really all there is to placing an accurate shot. Of course, it's also easier said than done.

There is not much that can be done about your hold or trigger press besides practice. Keep in mind, practice only makes perfect when the practice is perfect. When you practice accuracy on your own, keep yourself accountable. Always work on calling your shots and paste the target often so that you're getting feedback from the target on your technique.

I did have a few questions regarding sights last night, so I thought I would provide some of my experience on sights and a few links to the sights I recommend.

Regarding pistol sights, I believe the best balance of speed and accuracy is the post and notch. There are several special-purpose sights on the market right now, such as XS Sights or Advantage Sights, that claim their version of non-traditional sight picture is more "combat-effective" (whatever that means). The problem with most of these sights is that they do not provide enough visual feedback to allow precise alignment. For example, XS claims that you cover the target with the dot at closer distances and put the target on top of the dot when it gets further away so that POA will match POI. Combine that with the inability to clearly align the sights PRECISELY and I find most shooters have to spend a longer time aligning the sights to get an accurate shot. The sight claims to shine at combat distances (10yds and in), but do you really even need sights that close?

Regarding the post and notch sights, there are a ton of variations out there. Here are my thoughts about some:

Adjustable - After having had a gun with adjustable sights that often adjusted themselves, I won't have adjustable sights on a defensive handgun.

3 dot - I've noticed two main issues with traditional three dots. First off, the dots don't always line up the same as the sights (Meprolights in particular). When you need to place an ACCURATE shot, do you line up the sights or the dots? Also, the eyes can only focus on one distance at a time. Why put dots on the rear sight if you can't focus there anyway?

Plain black rear - I have found that a plain-black rear sight is the least distracting and allows me to quickly focus on the front sight. It's also nice if it doesn't have sharp edges and it has a ledge somewhere for racking the gun with one hand.

High contrast front sight - A plain black front sight is great outdoors in good light, but any other time, you want something to draw your eye to that front sight. You can have a night sight, gold bead, fiber optic, or even just paint the front sight with a bright color.

Sight widths - A wide rear notch (> .140") and a narrow front (< .125") will provide a lot of daylight on both sides of the front sight and speed up your sight acquisition.

Here are some of the sights that I put on my guns:

Ameriglo. I like the Hackathorn option if you want a night sight. The DeFoor Tactical is the way to go if you're going to go with all black.

Warren Tactical. All of my M&Ps and most of my Glocks use these sights. All of his sights use a wide rear notch and narrow front sight. I have the Sevigny carry rear sights on my Glocks and the Warren tactical rear sights on my M&Ps. Most have a tritium front sight.

Heinie. Richard Heinie has been making some of the best sights for many years now. They're not cheap, but they're excellent sights. I like the Ledge variant with a wide rear notch. He has recently began finishing all the sights with Melonite (similar to the Glock finish) which makes them even more durable and resistant to wear.

10-8 Performance. These are another option. They are one of the few companies providing a gold/brass bead front sight. You would be surprised how visible that bead is in almost all light conditions. And it's not radioactive either -- you did know tritium was radioactive, right?

Wednesday - April 21, 2010

2010-04-17T14:55:00.003-05:00

This class is going to focus on accuracy. All the drills will be focused on helping you to make your shots on demand. We'll be working two-handed and one-handed shooting from 5 yards to 25 yards (yes, we will be shooting one-handed at 25 yards). Round count will vary based on attendance, but plan on shooting at least 100-150 rounds.

Also, I'm giving you an early warning that the April 28th class is going to be a revolver class. Even if you don't own a revolver, I encourage you to come that week and shoot someone else's revolver. I think it is important that you be comfortable shooting guns other than yours and working a long double-action revolver trigger will help you learn to manage your lighter semi-auto trigger. Revolvers chambered in .38 special will be available for you to use. However, you will need to supply your own ammo (Shiloh has .38 for sale).

:: AAR :: 04/14/2010

2010-04-15T10:12:00.004-05:00

Click the image above to see the night's scores.

I included a running total so you could see how you were shooting as the night progressed and what needs work. For almost all of you, what needs work is accuracy. As a whole, it was much closer than the final scores appear until the range increased on the last few stages. The scoring was purposely set-up to heavily penalize misses -- as noted by the drastic differences between many shooters raw time and adjusted time.

If the ultimate goal is defensive shooting proficiency, keep in mind that real shootings do not occur on a range with a safe backstop. You will be accountable for all of your shots. There is no 'mulligan' if you shoot a bystander. More importantly, you cannot miss fast enough to win the fight. You have to make your hits.

Ultimately, all shooting is a balance between speed and accuracy. What is the speed at which you can shoot considering the variables of target size, distance, and your skill level? You'll notice several shooters shot the last stage faster with their weak hand than with their strong hand. If you're one of those guys, ask yourself whether you're that much better with your weak hand or whether you rushed and your speed exceeded your ability.

Wednesday - April 14, 2010

2010-04-14T14:50:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the late post guys.

Today we're going to shoot all scenarios. No drills or instruction, just a chance to shoot a little "mini-match" with your real carry gear to evaluate your current abilities and problem areas. If you've been holding onto your carry ammo for a while, today would be a good day to shoot it up. Round count will be low--probably 50-100 rounds. Bring all your normal range gear and make sure to bring a flashlight for some low-light stages.

See you tonight.

:: AAR :: 04/07/2010

2010-04-13T10:07:00.003-05:00

Two things stood out:

Cover garments. When you're drawing from concealment, the cover garment plays a big factor in your draw. You need to be able to clear the garment consistently. It's better to have a consistent draw all the time than to have a technique that is .10 sec faster when it works, but often fails under stress. Most of you guys are using closed front cover garments (polo shirts or button-ups as opposed to open front vests). While this is slightly slower, it is far more realistic since most people do not wear vests outside of the range. Besides concealing the pistol, the most important consideration in closed front garments is the length. Some of you are fighting cover garments that are too long. The shirt only needs to be long enough to hide the pistol during normal movement. If you're wearing your gun IWB, 2-3 inches below the belt-line should be sufficient. If you're shirt is so long that you sit on it, it's probably too long. This can be easily remedied by buying your shirts the right size or having your current shirts hemmed a little shorter. Remember, not everyone is an exact shirt size (s, m, l, xl, etc). People will spend a mint on carry holsters, ammo, etc. Why not spend a few bucks and get that favorite shirt tailored to fit you right?

A gun in hand is faster than one in the holster. Duh. What seems obvious sometimes has to be pointed out with a timer so that you can see how much faster it really is to start from an established grip vs. having to access the gun. If your situation allows it, remember that getting your hand on the gun earlier helps you get the gun out faster and drastically reduces the chances of fouling the draw. As you dry practice and "what-if" situations in your head, think of adding that to your challenge position. As an aside, did anyone notice how fast the pocket guns were when someone started with their hand on the gun? Faster than most of you could access and draw a gun concealed in another method. You might want to think about how ready you are before you tell someone to "show me your hands."

Wednesday - April 07, 2010

2010-04-05T21:40:00.006-05:00

This class will focus on the draw. We're going to be doing a lot of presentations and concentrating on improving our speed to get fast, accurate hits from the holster. We'll also touch on some other subjects, such as speeding up your shooting from the ready position, how starting position effects your draw speed, and how to train dry-fire. Round count will probably be low (~100-125) since most strings of fire will be short.

If you get a chance, I'd suggest practicing some dry-fire before you come to the class Wednesday. Click here for a great dry-fire training tool. To get the most out of the program, figure out what PAR time you need to start with to see your sights easily when you break the shot. For most of you, that starting point is going to be about 2.3 seconds from concealment. Practice several draws and then subtract .10 from the PAR time. If you are still making the shots before PAR, keep subtracting the time. Stop once you reach a speed where you cannot see your sights in time to make the PAR.

By the way, practicing the above drill for 10 minutes a night 3-4 times a week will make DRASTIC improvements to your draw time and first shot hits. Remember that the first person to hit the opponent with a good shot will have a much greater chance of winning the fight. Be first.

Things to remember when training dry-fire...

1. Remove all ammunition from the gun and from your person.

2. Remove all ammunition from the room.

3. Double-check the chamber and magazine well with your finger to verify the gun is unloaded.

4. Always dry-fire in a safe direction.

5. After finishing your dry-fire practice, put the dry-fire target away, set the gun down, and do something else for a few minutes to mentally remove yourself from firing practice.

6. Before reloading the gun, state aloud, "I am done dry-firing. This is now a loaded gun."

PAY ATTENTION! IF YOU SHOOT SOMETHING, IT IS YOUR FAULT.

:: AAR :: 03/31/2010

2010-04-01T10:01:00.010-05:00

Last night we shot some drills that are a little more representative of real-world problems.

The biggest shortfall in a lot of tactical training is that we always shoot "full-value" targets that are facing us directly with no cover. That does not represent most actual shootings. Trained shooters do not have the monopoly on "getting off the x" or moving to cover. When it becomes a two-way gunfight, it is instinctive for most people to get behind things and attempt to make themselves small. Our targets should reflect that.

To test ourselves on this problem, we shot a target that popped in and out from behind cover, never fully exposed and never exposed for more than a second. The target was wearing a shirt so that you couldn't see your hits and many shooters were surprised to find afterwards that they missed many (or all) of their shots. You can ask the shooters from last night and they will tell you that it really drove home the need to have good marksmanship on demand. Everyone did much better on the second attempt because they slowed down and made their hits.

We also spent a large portion of the class shooting one-handed. A review of real-world shootings will show many shooters were forced to defend themselves with one hand because of injury to the other hand or arm. Injuries to the hands and arms are very common in deadly force encounters because it is instinctual to put them between us and a perceived threat. With the hands between us and the threat, they often get shot or stabbed. You should be prepared to shoot and manipulate the gun one-handed if necessary. In the drills, everyone did very well with their weapon-hand, and support side results were mixed. Some shooters need to spend a little more time developing their support side.

We closed the class out by shooting the Hackathorn 3-second Head Shot standards. Famous trainer Ken Hackathorn considers this drill the starting point for advanced shooters. Almost everyone in the class passed from concealment. Good job guys!

Here is the standard for those that were not there:

Hackathorn 3-Second Head Shot Standards
Range: 5 yards
Target: 3 IDPA or IPSC targets
Rounds fired: 9

Targets are placed at least two feet apart shoulder to shoulder at a range of five yards. PAR time is set to three seconds for each string. There are three strings of fire.

1. Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, left to right.
2. Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, right to left.
3. Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, starting in the center and finishing in any order.

A round anywhere in the scoring zone for the head counts as a hit. Shots fired after the 3-second PAR time count as misses. In total you will have fired nine rounds. Hackathorn considers a passing score to be seven hits, minimum.

Try the drill first from a standard ready position. If you can get all your hits, try it from a holster. Once you can get all your hits from the holster within the PAR time, try it from concealment.

Wednesday - March 31, 2010

2010-03-26T12:51:00.002-05:00

We're going to start the class off by shooting the 20 round course of fire again. If you were having trouble making your hits last week, I suggest doing some dry-fire practice before Wednesday.

After that we're going to move on to one-handed shooting and we will try to shoot a short one-handed course of fire before the end of class if we have time. Bring all your normal shooting gear. Projected roundcount is 100-150 rounds.

Last week we discussed the option of a revolver class and there only seemed to be a few people interested. However, Tracy will be getting a revolver soon to prep for the CHL instructor course. Since Jeff's wife has preference over all of you, there will be a revolver focused class on a future date TBA.

In the interim, I encourage those of you who carry J-frames or other revolvers to bring them to a few classes and practice with them. Learning to manage the DA trigger will make you a better auto shooter. Not to mention, you should practice with what you carry. If you just toss a J-frame in your pocket to run to the corner store, then you better know how to use it. The gunfight doesn't care whether you're just carrying your revolver. If you carry it, practice with it.

:: AAR :: 03/24/2010

2010-03-25T09:39:00.002-05:00

"Shooting is simple. Simple does not mean easy." Rob Leatham

Guys, it's billed as an advanced class, but that does not mean that what we are doing is complicated. Realistically, making hits comes down to two things: sights and trigger press. The twenty round course of fire we started with last night was meant to be a warm-up, not a challenge. I was very surprised that some of the scores were as low as they were. Keep in mind that 75% of the test was at 3 yards.

I want the group to do more "tactical" exercises, including shooting scenarios and having to think on your feet to solve problems. However, we're not going to move to that point until the marksmanship standard of the group improves. On the final scenario we shot last night with the one hand reload, some people missed the majority of their shots with the target at 7 yards. That was clearly a stimulus overload for some of you. We've talked before about the problem of finite mental resources and the need to ingrain the fundamentals to the point they don't degrade when the problem becomes more complicated. That only happens if you drill and practice them.

A good place to start is the 20 round course from last night:

20 Round Basic Standards Course

First Stage - 3 yards, 5 second PAR time
5 shots from concealment, two-handed shooting

Second Stage - 3 yards, 5 second PAR time
5 shots from concealment, weapon hand only

Third Stage - 3 yards, 5 second PAR time
5 shots from ready position, support side only

Fourth Stage - 7 yards, 5 seconds PAR time
5 shots from concealment, two-handed shooting

Target is a six-inch circle or the head of an IDPA/IPSC target. Each hit on the target counts for 5 points and any miss or shot after the par is zero. Once you can consistently score 90+, increase the distances to 5 yards and 10 yards.

Wednesday - March 24, 2010

2010-03-22T13:02:00.002-05:00

We will start the class with a short 20 round standards course before moving to some basic range drills. Bring all your normal range gear. Round count will vary with attendance, but should be somewhere around 150-200 rounds.

:: AAR :: 03/17/2010

2010-03-18T15:36:00.003-05:00

Well, due to the longer daylight hours and a sudden impulse, we changed the curriculum a bit from what was originally planned. For those that were not there, we used the nice weather and longer daylight hours to do some work around a vehicle in the parking lot--covering how to access the gun in the vehicle, dealing with seatbelt issues, etc.

Considering the amount of time most of us spend around vehicles I would suggest this be something you try to practice regularly. The techniques for clearing the seatbelt can be practiced everyday as you get in and out of your vehicle. You can practice the drawing portion in your closed garage with a inert practice gun such as the ones manufactured by Rings or ASP. If you don't have one of those duplicating your carry gun, you should. They are great practice tools for skills just like this.

After the vehicle work, we went back into the range and used the remaining time to shoot some basic drills on the timer. As a whole, I was happy with everyone's accuracy, but a significant number of you had trouble making the times. The times were fairly generous for an 'advanced' level class, so if you were one of the ones not making the time you need to be doing more practice outside of class. Just practicing a few dry draws with an EMPTY gun each evening will go a long way towards helping you get on target quicker. As I've said before, there are no timers in gunfights but there is a finite amount of time you have to solve the problem.

At the end of class I briefly covered how to reload a revolver one-handed at the request of one of the shooters. How many of you are closet revolver guys like myself? Revolvers were the American sidearm for many years and they are still as capable of defending you today as they were then. If there is enough interest, I would not mind doing a revolver focused class one Wednesday night. Revolvers are great guns, but they're not semi-autos and you don't run them the same way. If you own a revolver and would like to work revolver-specific skills one night, reply to this post and let me know. Also, if you're revolver curious, but don't currently own a revolver, reply and let me know. Depending on how many of you there are, we can probably scrounge up enough loaners to run a class.

Wednesday - March 17, 2009

2010-03-17T07:44:00.002-05:00

It is important to be comfortable with your gun and to be able to operate it reflexively. This week we will be doing several drills focusing on reloading, malfunction clearances, and other gun manipulations. Round count will probably be 100-150 rounds.