Pat_Rogers
Member in memoriam
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 166
EAG conducted a Carbine Operators Course at Clinton OK, 19-21 Sept 2008. This was an open enrollment class, and was a collection of the usual suspects- Soldiers, Cops, and average people.
The range was located on the farm of a State Trooper, and while not sophisticated was more than sufficient for what we were doing. The terrain there is relatively flat, and the berms were the only terrain feature for 3007 yards, (yeah, we pinged it).
The WX could only be described as spectacular. No wind howling across the plains, no humidity, just good shooting WX.
Timing apparently is everything…
Once more we were blessed with experienced people, which means good guns and good gear. There were few problems, which translates into a lot of learning.
On T2 we had a buffer detent launch on an LMT, causing some grief. We also had two 6920’s with apparent gas problems. One of the T&E LWRCI guns (with approximately 15,000+ rounds) started throwing Type 2 malfs at the end.
There were a lot of hard shooting cops in this class, including a number of instructors. No surprise there as Southwestern Oklahoma State University is located down the road in Weatherford and they have a very active program ongoing.
We also had a father and son team (cop and Animal Control Officer)- clearly Dad and others had some significant influence in Travis weapon handling.
Several LF’s were on board, including BigDumbParatrooper who ran hard at this course. As is almost always the case, it was great to meet those who populate this board.
The Carbine Operators Course is currently my entry level course (though we will introduce a 2 day Basic Course next year), but it works much better when the students have more than a working knowledge of the carbine, and all hands here were well into the gun.
Steve Moses showed up with an AK and kept up with the AR’s, making it look too easy (OK, most of the time…).
Three student showed up with iron sights- one accepted a loaner T1, and one other shared a T&E LWRCI gun (with a T1) with a student on another relay.
The range was east facing, and no matter what the sights, looking into the sun is always difficult. But irons complicate the problem. Irons work well across a narrow spectrum, but they are less than optimal for anything asymmetrical- dim light, movement, multiple targets, sun from the side- the list goes on. The followers of Ned claim unreliability of optics, but the Aimpoint T1 and M4 have unbelievable battery life, and I routinely invert my carbines and drop them on the optic multiple times. Of course I run Aimpoint’s in Larue Tactical mounts, so I am not particularly worried.
Your mileage- based on what you run- may of course vary.
This was one of those classes that approach the magic state. No buffoons, but serious people. A great location, and while in the farmlands, great food and lodging close by. The City of Weatherford Hotel/ Motel Tax Committee paid for a BBQ that was catered by Willie’s diner in Weatherford. We ate in one of the farm buildings, and several brought their families.
While the “elite” and mainstream media think of places like Oklahoma as “flyover states”, the opposite is true. This is America. It is not the America of the left, in NY, Detroit, Chicago and LA/ San Fran, but the real America. This America shares the same traits as Boone County IN and a million other locations that do not include Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit Newark and other cesspools
Thanks to Mike for his hard work in keeping the class and the guns running. Thanks to Donna for her hard work in dealing with the admin issues- and there were a lot with this class.
Thanks as well to Chad Kinder and Steve Cornell for hosting us. They went the proverbial mile on this, and while the liberal feeding station was late in arrival. It was still greatly appreciated.
And of course special thanks to Larue Tactical, BravoCompany USA, TangoDown, Viking Tactics, Slip 2000, BlueForce Gear, H&K, Noveske, MagPul Tactical Springs and Aimpoint for continued and generous support.
We look forward to returning in Oct 2009.
The range was located on the farm of a State Trooper, and while not sophisticated was more than sufficient for what we were doing. The terrain there is relatively flat, and the berms were the only terrain feature for 3007 yards, (yeah, we pinged it).
The WX could only be described as spectacular. No wind howling across the plains, no humidity, just good shooting WX.
Timing apparently is everything…
Once more we were blessed with experienced people, which means good guns and good gear. There were few problems, which translates into a lot of learning.
On T2 we had a buffer detent launch on an LMT, causing some grief. We also had two 6920’s with apparent gas problems. One of the T&E LWRCI guns (with approximately 15,000+ rounds) started throwing Type 2 malfs at the end.
There were a lot of hard shooting cops in this class, including a number of instructors. No surprise there as Southwestern Oklahoma State University is located down the road in Weatherford and they have a very active program ongoing.
We also had a father and son team (cop and Animal Control Officer)- clearly Dad and others had some significant influence in Travis weapon handling.
Several LF’s were on board, including BigDumbParatrooper who ran hard at this course. As is almost always the case, it was great to meet those who populate this board.
The Carbine Operators Course is currently my entry level course (though we will introduce a 2 day Basic Course next year), but it works much better when the students have more than a working knowledge of the carbine, and all hands here were well into the gun.
Steve Moses showed up with an AK and kept up with the AR’s, making it look too easy (OK, most of the time…).
Three student showed up with iron sights- one accepted a loaner T1, and one other shared a T&E LWRCI gun (with a T1) with a student on another relay.
The range was east facing, and no matter what the sights, looking into the sun is always difficult. But irons complicate the problem. Irons work well across a narrow spectrum, but they are less than optimal for anything asymmetrical- dim light, movement, multiple targets, sun from the side- the list goes on. The followers of Ned claim unreliability of optics, but the Aimpoint T1 and M4 have unbelievable battery life, and I routinely invert my carbines and drop them on the optic multiple times. Of course I run Aimpoint’s in Larue Tactical mounts, so I am not particularly worried.
Your mileage- based on what you run- may of course vary.
This was one of those classes that approach the magic state. No buffoons, but serious people. A great location, and while in the farmlands, great food and lodging close by. The City of Weatherford Hotel/ Motel Tax Committee paid for a BBQ that was catered by Willie’s diner in Weatherford. We ate in one of the farm buildings, and several brought their families.
While the “elite” and mainstream media think of places like Oklahoma as “flyover states”, the opposite is true. This is America. It is not the America of the left, in NY, Detroit, Chicago and LA/ San Fran, but the real America. This America shares the same traits as Boone County IN and a million other locations that do not include Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit Newark and other cesspools
Thanks to Mike for his hard work in keeping the class and the guns running. Thanks to Donna for her hard work in dealing with the admin issues- and there were a lot with this class.
Thanks as well to Chad Kinder and Steve Cornell for hosting us. They went the proverbial mile on this, and while the liberal feeding station was late in arrival. It was still greatly appreciated.
And of course special thanks to Larue Tactical, BravoCompany USA, TangoDown, Viking Tactics, Slip 2000, BlueForce Gear, H&K, Noveske, MagPul Tactical Springs and Aimpoint for continued and generous support.
We look forward to returning in Oct 2009.
