Shawn Dodson
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
- Messages
- 3,189
About 30% of my training routine involves weak hand only manipulations, in case my strong hand becomes disabled during a fight. I don't bother much with strong hand only manipulations (in case my weak hand is disabled) because, except for using the index finger to engage the slide lock and work the magazine release, the majority of weak hand only training carries directly over to the strong hand. (However this doesn’t mean that I don’t perform any training with just my strong hand – it means I just don’t do it as often. I perform the same one-handed manipulations, except I'm able to do it a little more fluidly with my strong hand.)
One-handed manipulations –
Whenever the pistol fails to fire I perform the following immediate actions to get the gun running.
Tap, Rack & Recover – I briskly strike the magazine baseplate against my thigh, hip or belt, snag the rear slight on my belt (or other suitable object) (keeping the muzzle pointed downward and angled away from my body), push down smartly on the pistol grip until the slide is fully retracted and then pull the pistol directly outward and away from my body (to keep clothing from becoming entangled the action). Then I Recover (assess the situation and determine if I need to shoot again.)
If Tap, Rack fails to clear the stoppage, I shift my attention from the gun to the danger and then decide what I need to do to mitigate the risk to my safety and then move with a purpose.
When time and conditions permit I attempt to perform a one-handed Combat Reload. I press the magazine release with my index finger to jettison the “spent” magazine and place the pistol backwards in my holster. I verify the magazine well is clear to receive the fresh magazine. If the magazine well is clear I obtain my spare magazine from the carrier, insert and seat it, acquire a firing grip on the pistol, remove it from the holster, and then Tap, Rack & Recover.
If the magazine did not jettison, I grasp the pistol, remove it from the holster, snag the rear sight on my belt, push down smartly on the pistol grip to retract the slide and engage the slide lock with my index finger. I then snag the front lip of the magazine baseplate against my belt/belt buckle, press the magazine release with my index finger and forcibly remove the “spent” magazine from the pistol. Afterward I snag the rear sight on my belt and smartly rack the slide three times to clear the chamber. I put the pistol backwards in my holster and complete the Combat Reload. After I’ve seated the magazine I perform Tap, Rack and Recover (as described above).
If the initial Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running (as described above), I attempt to perform a Combat Reload FIRST because I’m more likely to have shot my pistol to slide lock than to have encountered a double-feed stoppage. In this case a Combat Reload gets me back in the fight quicker than going through all the steps required to clear a double-feed stoppage.
When my pistol fails to fire whenever I press the trigger I don’t stop to examine it to determine what caused the stoppage. I immediately perform Tap, Rack. If Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running then I perform a Combat Reload. If the magazine didn’t jettison after I worked the magazine release then I perform the manipulations to clear a double-feed stoppage.
I don't care what caused the stoppage. I don't care what "type" or "level" it is. I just progress through a series of immediate actions until I get the pistol running. The non-diagnostic technique is quicker to accomplish than pausing to examine the pistol and then deciding what to do next. (Think OODA Loop. The nondiagnostic technique shortcuts the OODA Loop - "Observe" occurs when the pistol doesn't fire and then I progress directly to "Act". The diagnostic technique requires the shooter to examine the pistol (Observe), then identify the specific problem (Orient), then make a decision what action to perform (Decide) and then execute the decision (Act).)
I can successfully perform all my manipulations without the need to look at the pistol. They can be performed quickly in total darkness or if I’m on the move.
99% of manipulations training can be done at home with a few dummy cartridges. For those who are interested I suggest ST Action Pro dummy cartridges. See - http://www.stactionpro.com/ They can be ordered from www.amazon.com, www.letargets.com or you can do a Google search.
INSERTING STOPPAGES FOR TRAINING
At the range:
I randomly load a dummy cartridge in every magazine to thoroughly ingrain "Tap, Rack" manipulations when the pistol doesn't fire after I press the trigger. I also don’t load my magazines to full capacity (usually 5-7 rounds) when I’m training so I can maximize the opportunity to exercise my manipulation skills.
I routinely insert a doublefeed stoppage, which is the most time consuming to clear. I place a fired case in the chamber, seat a magazine, retract and release the slide to put it into "battery". This jams the top cartridge in the magazine into the head of the chambered case. I "simulate" firing the pistol by pressing the trigger. When the pistol doesn't fire I perform all the nondiagnostic immediate actions I described above.
I also chamber a cartridge and then press the magazine release to unseat the magazine and holster my pistol. I then draw my pistol and press the trigger. The pistol fires but fails to strip and chamber a cartridge from the magazine when the slide cycles, producing a "one shot wonder". When it doesn't fire I immediately perform "Tap, Rack" to get the gun running again.
In addition I'll insert a stovepipe or in-line stovepipe stoppage with an empty case and perform "Tap, Rack" when the pistol doesn't fire. Sometimes this produces a double-feed.
When the slide locks open on an empty magazine I still perform "Tap, Rack" first, attempt to fire again, and then progress to a Combat Reload. Although I may feel a difference in how much the slide retracts when I perform "Tap, Rack" as my primary immediate action, I don't know if the problem is caused by an empty magazine, an in-line stovepipe, a doublefeed, or an unusual feed/extract failure as they all feel about the same. However it simply doesn't matter what the problem is - I just progress through my immediate actions until I clear the stoppage. I maintain my tempo of non-diagnostic manipulations - and this practice is where my quickness in clearing stoppages comes from. I just drive-on - without skipping a beat.
At home:
I do the same things except ONLY with dummy cartridges. I don't need to go to the range to exercise and maintain my manipulation skills.
One-handed manipulations –
Whenever the pistol fails to fire I perform the following immediate actions to get the gun running.
Tap, Rack & Recover – I briskly strike the magazine baseplate against my thigh, hip or belt, snag the rear slight on my belt (or other suitable object) (keeping the muzzle pointed downward and angled away from my body), push down smartly on the pistol grip until the slide is fully retracted and then pull the pistol directly outward and away from my body (to keep clothing from becoming entangled the action). Then I Recover (assess the situation and determine if I need to shoot again.)
If Tap, Rack fails to clear the stoppage, I shift my attention from the gun to the danger and then decide what I need to do to mitigate the risk to my safety and then move with a purpose.
When time and conditions permit I attempt to perform a one-handed Combat Reload. I press the magazine release with my index finger to jettison the “spent” magazine and place the pistol backwards in my holster. I verify the magazine well is clear to receive the fresh magazine. If the magazine well is clear I obtain my spare magazine from the carrier, insert and seat it, acquire a firing grip on the pistol, remove it from the holster, and then Tap, Rack & Recover.
If the magazine did not jettison, I grasp the pistol, remove it from the holster, snag the rear sight on my belt, push down smartly on the pistol grip to retract the slide and engage the slide lock with my index finger. I then snag the front lip of the magazine baseplate against my belt/belt buckle, press the magazine release with my index finger and forcibly remove the “spent” magazine from the pistol. Afterward I snag the rear sight on my belt and smartly rack the slide three times to clear the chamber. I put the pistol backwards in my holster and complete the Combat Reload. After I’ve seated the magazine I perform Tap, Rack and Recover (as described above).
If the initial Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running (as described above), I attempt to perform a Combat Reload FIRST because I’m more likely to have shot my pistol to slide lock than to have encountered a double-feed stoppage. In this case a Combat Reload gets me back in the fight quicker than going through all the steps required to clear a double-feed stoppage.
When my pistol fails to fire whenever I press the trigger I don’t stop to examine it to determine what caused the stoppage. I immediately perform Tap, Rack. If Tap, Rack fails to get the gun running then I perform a Combat Reload. If the magazine didn’t jettison after I worked the magazine release then I perform the manipulations to clear a double-feed stoppage.
I don't care what caused the stoppage. I don't care what "type" or "level" it is. I just progress through a series of immediate actions until I get the pistol running. The non-diagnostic technique is quicker to accomplish than pausing to examine the pistol and then deciding what to do next. (Think OODA Loop. The nondiagnostic technique shortcuts the OODA Loop - "Observe" occurs when the pistol doesn't fire and then I progress directly to "Act". The diagnostic technique requires the shooter to examine the pistol (Observe), then identify the specific problem (Orient), then make a decision what action to perform (Decide) and then execute the decision (Act).)
I can successfully perform all my manipulations without the need to look at the pistol. They can be performed quickly in total darkness or if I’m on the move.
99% of manipulations training can be done at home with a few dummy cartridges. For those who are interested I suggest ST Action Pro dummy cartridges. See - http://www.stactionpro.com/ They can be ordered from www.amazon.com, www.letargets.com or you can do a Google search.
INSERTING STOPPAGES FOR TRAINING
At the range:
I randomly load a dummy cartridge in every magazine to thoroughly ingrain "Tap, Rack" manipulations when the pistol doesn't fire after I press the trigger. I also don’t load my magazines to full capacity (usually 5-7 rounds) when I’m training so I can maximize the opportunity to exercise my manipulation skills.
I routinely insert a doublefeed stoppage, which is the most time consuming to clear. I place a fired case in the chamber, seat a magazine, retract and release the slide to put it into "battery". This jams the top cartridge in the magazine into the head of the chambered case. I "simulate" firing the pistol by pressing the trigger. When the pistol doesn't fire I perform all the nondiagnostic immediate actions I described above.
I also chamber a cartridge and then press the magazine release to unseat the magazine and holster my pistol. I then draw my pistol and press the trigger. The pistol fires but fails to strip and chamber a cartridge from the magazine when the slide cycles, producing a "one shot wonder". When it doesn't fire I immediately perform "Tap, Rack" to get the gun running again.
In addition I'll insert a stovepipe or in-line stovepipe stoppage with an empty case and perform "Tap, Rack" when the pistol doesn't fire. Sometimes this produces a double-feed.
When the slide locks open on an empty magazine I still perform "Tap, Rack" first, attempt to fire again, and then progress to a Combat Reload. Although I may feel a difference in how much the slide retracts when I perform "Tap, Rack" as my primary immediate action, I don't know if the problem is caused by an empty magazine, an in-line stovepipe, a doublefeed, or an unusual feed/extract failure as they all feel about the same. However it simply doesn't matter what the problem is - I just progress through my immediate actions until I clear the stoppage. I maintain my tempo of non-diagnostic manipulations - and this practice is where my quickness in clearing stoppages comes from. I just drive-on - without skipping a beat.
At home:
I do the same things except ONLY with dummy cartridges. I don't need to go to the range to exercise and maintain my manipulation skills.
