This Saturday, I took Karl Rehn's Defensive Long Arm class. I decided to do it with my AR. I had previously done some shotgun classes but not an AR one.
You could take this class with either as it emphasized home defense usage.
The class was held at Karl's place (www.krtraining.com). The weather was horrific. I had a long drive from San Antonio and had to pass through the remains of what seemed to be a mini-tornado on I-35 near San Marcos. Luckily the outlet mall was spared -
. What gun for flying monkeys, Toto?
I did see a couple of pickups floating in the training ditches on the side of the road. One was about to try fit into the concrete arch of the ditch - ouch.
Sheets of water, lightning and thunder. But I made it.
The class emphasized using the gun from various positions, barricade, dominant and nondominant sides, with the gun not shoulder but a body index for an emergency. Sight pictures - etc. A nice go through of gun usage.
I shot pretty well for me - surprisingly I shot better on the nondominant side. Huh - Karl says that happens as we get more careful when we do that.
The gun ran fine except towards the end of the day with two failures to feed off a new mag after 150 rounds in the cold and rain. A generous helping of CLP aided that.
We also did some inside the house FOF scenarios which I think are some of the most important parts of training.
Basic scenarios were that you were in your house and heard the archetypal TV thief. Can you deal with it without getting killed?
The core strategy was to 'ambush' the bad guy and not be an explorer or commando except if you have to save a loved one.
Property was not worth fighting for. Despite claims that in TX you can just shoot away - Karl and his instructors made the point that depending on county, some TX DAs will take you or try to take you to trial on a defensive shooting. Internet commandos and lawyers be damned - one's head must rule the over the blood and guts rhetoric.
I (pat myself on the back) got through the scenarios by calling the cops and sternly dissuading the criminal to leave from a good ambush position. Having done this before, if one came to the bedroom door, I was in a good spot if I had to shoot.
Several folks hearing the bad guys, choose to explore and directly challenged. Some were easily ambushed themselves and disarmed. Some were shot. It was sobering for them.
Thus, I repeat that most folks, if serious - need some FOF. Reading some rather silly TX commando lads in recent threads - yeah, right.
About weapons choice - half the class was shotgun and 40% rifle- 223s (ARs, Mini-14s, AK-oids and a 223 Kel-tec) - the rest pistol caliber carbines.
One note first - the Kel-tec went belly up big time - the plastic back of the upper just crack clean off like a toy gun and toasted it. The owner commented that the gun had been back for repairs before. Oh, well. The ARs and AKs - no sweat for the most part - see above.
Karl said that his choice for a HD long arm was a rifle. Basically, shotguns are difficult to manipulate and shoot as compared to something like an AR. If a shotgun is to be used, he like a semi as compared to a pump. The latter became popular in classes because they are cheap and people bought them. Also, some folks like the image and the racking - sigh - the latter being baloney as a strategy. Strong verbal challenges serve you better. Stopping power is fundamentally the same for the two guns.
An HD rifle is best with a red dot for fast target acqisition at SD distances. I've been thinking this and currently have tritum night sights but I want an EOtech from the gun wish granter supernatural of choice.
All, in all - a great class, great instructors and a good time - despite the weather. On the way home, I stopped for some comfort food - French toast, eggs and coffee and read Enos' book. The storm had passed. Got home and saw the wife and kid. Took apart the AR - watched Saturday Night Live. Snored.
I have today off for MLK!
You could take this class with either as it emphasized home defense usage.
The class was held at Karl's place (www.krtraining.com). The weather was horrific. I had a long drive from San Antonio and had to pass through the remains of what seemed to be a mini-tornado on I-35 near San Marcos. Luckily the outlet mall was spared -
. What gun for flying monkeys, Toto?I did see a couple of pickups floating in the training ditches on the side of the road. One was about to try fit into the concrete arch of the ditch - ouch.
Sheets of water, lightning and thunder. But I made it.
The class emphasized using the gun from various positions, barricade, dominant and nondominant sides, with the gun not shoulder but a body index for an emergency. Sight pictures - etc. A nice go through of gun usage.
I shot pretty well for me - surprisingly I shot better on the nondominant side. Huh - Karl says that happens as we get more careful when we do that.
The gun ran fine except towards the end of the day with two failures to feed off a new mag after 150 rounds in the cold and rain. A generous helping of CLP aided that.
We also did some inside the house FOF scenarios which I think are some of the most important parts of training.
Basic scenarios were that you were in your house and heard the archetypal TV thief. Can you deal with it without getting killed?
The core strategy was to 'ambush' the bad guy and not be an explorer or commando except if you have to save a loved one.
Property was not worth fighting for. Despite claims that in TX you can just shoot away - Karl and his instructors made the point that depending on county, some TX DAs will take you or try to take you to trial on a defensive shooting. Internet commandos and lawyers be damned - one's head must rule the over the blood and guts rhetoric.
I (pat myself on the back) got through the scenarios by calling the cops and sternly dissuading the criminal to leave from a good ambush position. Having done this before, if one came to the bedroom door, I was in a good spot if I had to shoot.
Several folks hearing the bad guys, choose to explore and directly challenged. Some were easily ambushed themselves and disarmed. Some were shot. It was sobering for them.
Thus, I repeat that most folks, if serious - need some FOF. Reading some rather silly TX commando lads in recent threads - yeah, right.
About weapons choice - half the class was shotgun and 40% rifle- 223s (ARs, Mini-14s, AK-oids and a 223 Kel-tec) - the rest pistol caliber carbines.
One note first - the Kel-tec went belly up big time - the plastic back of the upper just crack clean off like a toy gun and toasted it. The owner commented that the gun had been back for repairs before. Oh, well. The ARs and AKs - no sweat for the most part - see above.
Karl said that his choice for a HD long arm was a rifle. Basically, shotguns are difficult to manipulate and shoot as compared to something like an AR. If a shotgun is to be used, he like a semi as compared to a pump. The latter became popular in classes because they are cheap and people bought them. Also, some folks like the image and the racking - sigh - the latter being baloney as a strategy. Strong verbal challenges serve you better. Stopping power is fundamentally the same for the two guns.
An HD rifle is best with a red dot for fast target acqisition at SD distances. I've been thinking this and currently have tritum night sights but I want an EOtech from the gun wish granter supernatural of choice.
All, in all - a great class, great instructors and a good time - despite the weather. On the way home, I stopped for some comfort food - French toast, eggs and coffee and read Enos' book. The storm had passed. Got home and saw the wife and kid. Took apart the AR - watched Saturday Night Live. Snored.
I have today off for MLK!
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