BassCliff
Professional
Greetings friends and neighbors!
I was a fun time at the range this evening. I took part in a USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals Clinic (Part 3) at Fletcher Arms. The clinic concentrated on your draw and defensive accuracy. There were eight students in the class and after the short lecture portion in the classroom we crowded into the "short range" part of the facility. There are five lanes, maximum of 17 feet, but we used only four lanes. The class was split into two squads of four to take turns in the lanes.
I really liked these targets. We used them for several fun and exciting drills. Since we were all using our holsters there were no benches in the lanes.
I was in squad 1 and got to put the first holes in the target I was sharing with a nice young man. The first drills involved center mass hits on command, one, two, five shots, whatever the instructor called. I did pretty good so far, everything in the center mass square. (Please count the line breaks!)
OK, fine, we'll zoom in a little to make sure.
The young fellow there on the right was sharing the lane with me. We encouraged and complimented each other through the whole class. He was shooting really well. When I would have a successful run I'd tell him, "I'm trying not to mess up your target." He got a kick out of that.
The next scenario involved most areas of the target. On command we'd put a few rounds on center mass, or try to hit one of the number dots, or a head shot. I was rushing a bit and missed a couple of dots and was a little out of the head shot triangle.
I guess I did OK on the 3, 4, 5, and 6 dots if you give me the line breaks. I missed my second shot at 3 (low and left), and was a little high on 2.
For the next drill we were given only six shots. We were to put a hole in each dot. We could not move on to the next dot until we hit the previous number.
I was warmed up by now. I put a hole in each dot. Yes, I love my line breaks.
For our last set of drills we went out in the bay one at a time to do what they called a Box Drill. Two shots on center mass to the right target, two center mass on the left target, head shot on the left target, head shot on the right target. Then we go in the opposite direction.
Above you see instructor John. He taught the last class I took. Ashley joined me when it was my turn to shoot this drill. I was quite pleased that she had nice things to say about my marksmanship and technique. I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. This picture is not me. I just thought it was cool because my camera caught the muzzle flash.
After the clinic we de-briefed and said our goodbyes. I perused the inventory on the way out.
My plan is to take at least one training class or skills clinic per month and then practice on the weeks I don't have any instruction. They have enough going on here to keep my skills up while having fun. Even when a class like this has a lot of review for me, I still lean something new. Ashley showed me how to improve my draw to get the gun in play a little sooner. I also learned to "get off the X" when performing a speed reload. If I had learned that in any of my previous training it's been forgotten. See? You can teach an old noob new tricks.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
I was a fun time at the range this evening. I took part in a USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals Clinic (Part 3) at Fletcher Arms. The clinic concentrated on your draw and defensive accuracy. There were eight students in the class and after the short lecture portion in the classroom we crowded into the "short range" part of the facility. There are five lanes, maximum of 17 feet, but we used only four lanes. The class was split into two squads of four to take turns in the lanes.
I really liked these targets. We used them for several fun and exciting drills. Since we were all using our holsters there were no benches in the lanes.
I was in squad 1 and got to put the first holes in the target I was sharing with a nice young man. The first drills involved center mass hits on command, one, two, five shots, whatever the instructor called. I did pretty good so far, everything in the center mass square. (Please count the line breaks!)
OK, fine, we'll zoom in a little to make sure.
The young fellow there on the right was sharing the lane with me. We encouraged and complimented each other through the whole class. He was shooting really well. When I would have a successful run I'd tell him, "I'm trying not to mess up your target." He got a kick out of that.
The next scenario involved most areas of the target. On command we'd put a few rounds on center mass, or try to hit one of the number dots, or a head shot. I was rushing a bit and missed a couple of dots and was a little out of the head shot triangle.
I guess I did OK on the 3, 4, 5, and 6 dots if you give me the line breaks. I missed my second shot at 3 (low and left), and was a little high on 2.
For the next drill we were given only six shots. We were to put a hole in each dot. We could not move on to the next dot until we hit the previous number.
I was warmed up by now. I put a hole in each dot. Yes, I love my line breaks.
For our last set of drills we went out in the bay one at a time to do what they called a Box Drill. Two shots on center mass to the right target, two center mass on the left target, head shot on the left target, head shot on the right target. Then we go in the opposite direction.
Above you see instructor John. He taught the last class I took. Ashley joined me when it was my turn to shoot this drill. I was quite pleased that she had nice things to say about my marksmanship and technique. I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. This picture is not me. I just thought it was cool because my camera caught the muzzle flash.
After the clinic we de-briefed and said our goodbyes. I perused the inventory on the way out.
My plan is to take at least one training class or skills clinic per month and then practice on the weeks I don't have any instruction. They have enough going on here to keep my skills up while having fun. Even when a class like this has a lot of review for me, I still lean something new. Ashley showed me how to improve my draw to get the gun in play a little sooner. I also learned to "get off the X" when performing a speed reload. If I had learned that in any of my previous training it's been forgotten. See? You can teach an old noob new tricks.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
