Thanks first to:
www.tigervalley.com
www.tsgunsandammo.com in Texas City
www.botach.com for the quick order of Glock mags
and T.J. Pilling of Tiger Valley
A few weeks ago I called and signed up my wife and myself for the 2/10-2/11 Level 1 Pistol class. This would be the first time that either of us has been off a public range where there were no speed limits. All I can say is WOW it was fun! Tiger Valley has 8 shooting "bays" that are surrounded by what appears to be 14' high berms on three sides. Each is laid out differently depending on the training that goes on in each. We were able to drive right up to the bay were we did most of our training which was nice especially when we had to take a break from the weather. Then there's the 1000 yard range that can field 27 simultaneous shooters. Until then, I'd never actually see 1000 yards and dang that's a long ways off.
Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when we showed up. I guess that my wife, Beth, was more focused on the aesthetics, which I really didn't think were too bad compared to some of the ranges in Houston. Her first comments as we entered the facility were that she hoped that we didn't get ripped off by some rednecks playing Rambo.
Then we met T.J. Pilling. He was very soft spoken and all smiles the whole time and I'm sure he kept things a little more casual than usual because of attendance. He informed us that it'd probably be a private lesson, which it was probably because of the weather. Both days, the weather was kind of crappy, somewhere in the mid 40's both days and fairly breezy which by midday Sunday took its toll on my wife. We did however manage to get through all but one of the drills that T.J. intended to take us through.
On Saturday, T.J. sat us down in the range office where we talked about our equipment, the layout of the range, where to wear the holster and mag pouch, how to reload quickly, and the drills we'd go over in the next two days. We talked about known shooting issues that Beth and I had identified in our shooting – Beth is right-handed and left eye dominant. We went over grip, presentation, and sight picture.
At the range, T.J. went over clearing, and how to reload while holstered, and other safety issues before actually shooting. Again, we went over stance/presentation and worked on single shots at 7 yards. Then things started to get fun, and started shooting at steel which just plain rocks! The targets were steel plates about 1' square with a "head" attached representing. We worked on single shots, double shots, and multiple targets, all from a stationary position. Between the two of us, we shot a little over 2000 rounds each. Having 14 magazines for our G17's helped also helped to get through so many drills on the first day.
Just for grins I wanted to shoot our backup guns before we packed up. T.J. was helping Beth shoot her PX4 at 25 yards while I searched frantically for the mystery 5th mag for my PT92. Apparently she was doing good so he moved her back to 40 yards. She had decocked the pistol so her first shot was DA and she nailed the steal. At this point, I was a bit impressed and forgot all about the mystery mag. (Never did find it because I don't think it ever existed. Oh well, it had been a long day.) She then ripped off four more shots standing slow fire SA and landed all 4. Ok, now I just unloaded my gun and was just along to watch. T.J. decided to walk her back to 50 yards at which point I'm grinning because there's no way she'll make this shot. I said, "I can't decide whether it's the girl or the gun." To which T.J. replied, "You know what they say, 'Sometimes it's the indian and some times it's the bow.'" Well, Beth missed her DA but drilled the remaining 4 shots. I was amazed. Just the weekend before she was literally having a difficult time putting rounds on paper at 7 yards with the G17! Well, we decided to pack up and got some dinner recommendations from T.J.. On the way home, I confessed at how impressed I was at Beth distance shooting and told her that had she wagered a bet, I'd have been out at least a month's salary and probably more. By the time we got to the Hotel (The Fairfield, which I would recommend although the A/C is dang loud in the rooms) we were both beat. I decided that we had better go eat before one of us (I) fall asleep. By the time we got home, our arms were starting to really hurt.
On Sunday, the weather was a little worse than before and we were both really sore from Saturday. It was misty in the morning, the sun never broke through, and the wind was blowing good. All three of us were bundled which made some of the drills interesting. We warmed up on plates and practiced shooting strings while T.J. made the ranges ready for the next series of drills. Mostly we worked on movement basics – how to actually walk forward, backwards, and side-to-side while maintaining sight picture. We ran drills where we would walk and along a path and engage multiple targets to one side and we engaged multiple targets on three sides while moving – my personal favorite. Then we shot reactive (fall-down plates) and then worked on drawing and firing in different scenarios. We ended the class around noon after going through a 50 round qualifier, I believe it was called. We only shot a little over 500 rounds when T.J. and I could tell that the weather and the workout from the previous day had gotten to Beth and I wasn't inclined to argue so we called it quits, right after we did some more long range shooting. Neither of us did very well, and I was particularly pitiful. I've found that at longer distances I have a problem staying focused on the front sight. So, after stopping for lunch, Beth and I beat feet back to Houston.
All in all it was an incredibly fun weekend and Beth and I both agree that we'll both go back. For the most part all the equipment worked well, although Beth G17's TruGlo from sight kept coming loose. The ammo which I have T's Guns and Ammo in Texas City (www.tsgunsandammo.com) to thank for was great. Thanks Travis for coming up with the 5000 rounds in such short notice! And T.J. was the best. He made a couple of newbies feel right at home and obviously helped us become better shooters and better aware of our shooting ability. The whole weekend, he stayed focused on us and our shooting/training even though the next day he had a shotgun course to set up for and teach and a 3-gun match the following Saturday.
Hats off to T.J. and Tiger Valley!
www.tigervalley.com
www.tsgunsandammo.com in Texas City
www.botach.com for the quick order of Glock mags
and T.J. Pilling of Tiger Valley
A few weeks ago I called and signed up my wife and myself for the 2/10-2/11 Level 1 Pistol class. This would be the first time that either of us has been off a public range where there were no speed limits. All I can say is WOW it was fun! Tiger Valley has 8 shooting "bays" that are surrounded by what appears to be 14' high berms on three sides. Each is laid out differently depending on the training that goes on in each. We were able to drive right up to the bay were we did most of our training which was nice especially when we had to take a break from the weather. Then there's the 1000 yard range that can field 27 simultaneous shooters. Until then, I'd never actually see 1000 yards and dang that's a long ways off.
Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when we showed up. I guess that my wife, Beth, was more focused on the aesthetics, which I really didn't think were too bad compared to some of the ranges in Houston. Her first comments as we entered the facility were that she hoped that we didn't get ripped off by some rednecks playing Rambo.
Then we met T.J. Pilling. He was very soft spoken and all smiles the whole time and I'm sure he kept things a little more casual than usual because of attendance. He informed us that it'd probably be a private lesson, which it was probably because of the weather. Both days, the weather was kind of crappy, somewhere in the mid 40's both days and fairly breezy which by midday Sunday took its toll on my wife. We did however manage to get through all but one of the drills that T.J. intended to take us through.
On Saturday, T.J. sat us down in the range office where we talked about our equipment, the layout of the range, where to wear the holster and mag pouch, how to reload quickly, and the drills we'd go over in the next two days. We talked about known shooting issues that Beth and I had identified in our shooting – Beth is right-handed and left eye dominant. We went over grip, presentation, and sight picture.
At the range, T.J. went over clearing, and how to reload while holstered, and other safety issues before actually shooting. Again, we went over stance/presentation and worked on single shots at 7 yards. Then things started to get fun, and started shooting at steel which just plain rocks! The targets were steel plates about 1' square with a "head" attached representing. We worked on single shots, double shots, and multiple targets, all from a stationary position. Between the two of us, we shot a little over 2000 rounds each. Having 14 magazines for our G17's helped also helped to get through so many drills on the first day.
Just for grins I wanted to shoot our backup guns before we packed up. T.J. was helping Beth shoot her PX4 at 25 yards while I searched frantically for the mystery 5th mag for my PT92. Apparently she was doing good so he moved her back to 40 yards. She had decocked the pistol so her first shot was DA and she nailed the steal. At this point, I was a bit impressed and forgot all about the mystery mag. (Never did find it because I don't think it ever existed. Oh well, it had been a long day.) She then ripped off four more shots standing slow fire SA and landed all 4. Ok, now I just unloaded my gun and was just along to watch. T.J. decided to walk her back to 50 yards at which point I'm grinning because there's no way she'll make this shot. I said, "I can't decide whether it's the girl or the gun." To which T.J. replied, "You know what they say, 'Sometimes it's the indian and some times it's the bow.'" Well, Beth missed her DA but drilled the remaining 4 shots. I was amazed. Just the weekend before she was literally having a difficult time putting rounds on paper at 7 yards with the G17! Well, we decided to pack up and got some dinner recommendations from T.J.. On the way home, I confessed at how impressed I was at Beth distance shooting and told her that had she wagered a bet, I'd have been out at least a month's salary and probably more. By the time we got to the Hotel (The Fairfield, which I would recommend although the A/C is dang loud in the rooms) we were both beat. I decided that we had better go eat before one of us (I) fall asleep. By the time we got home, our arms were starting to really hurt.
On Sunday, the weather was a little worse than before and we were both really sore from Saturday. It was misty in the morning, the sun never broke through, and the wind was blowing good. All three of us were bundled which made some of the drills interesting. We warmed up on plates and practiced shooting strings while T.J. made the ranges ready for the next series of drills. Mostly we worked on movement basics – how to actually walk forward, backwards, and side-to-side while maintaining sight picture. We ran drills where we would walk and along a path and engage multiple targets to one side and we engaged multiple targets on three sides while moving – my personal favorite. Then we shot reactive (fall-down plates) and then worked on drawing and firing in different scenarios. We ended the class around noon after going through a 50 round qualifier, I believe it was called. We only shot a little over 500 rounds when T.J. and I could tell that the weather and the workout from the previous day had gotten to Beth and I wasn't inclined to argue so we called it quits, right after we did some more long range shooting. Neither of us did very well, and I was particularly pitiful. I've found that at longer distances I have a problem staying focused on the front sight. So, after stopping for lunch, Beth and I beat feet back to Houston.
All in all it was an incredibly fun weekend and Beth and I both agree that we'll both go back. For the most part all the equipment worked well, although Beth G17's TruGlo from sight kept coming loose. The ammo which I have T's Guns and Ammo in Texas City (www.tsgunsandammo.com) to thank for was great. Thanks Travis for coming up with the 5000 rounds in such short notice! And T.J. was the best. He made a couple of newbies feel right at home and obviously helped us become better shooters and better aware of our shooting ability. The whole weekend, he stayed focused on us and our shooting/training even though the next day he had a shotgun course to set up for and teach and a 3-gun match the following Saturday.
Hats off to T.J. and Tiger Valley!
