Jenrick
Member
Training Review Twisted Trail Firearms Training Advance Pistol/Carbine
Name of Course: Advance Pistol and Carbine
Training Org: Twisted Trail Firearms Training
http://twistedtrailfirearms.com/Home_Page.php
Location: Florence TX, Twisted Trail range
Lead Instructor: Mike Hallmark
Date: 3-30-12 thru 3-31-12
Weather Conditions: Foggy and cool to start and ending clear and hot
This course was privately booked and held that Twisted Trail range located out in Florence. The range is open air, and includes a 100 yard flat range for handgun, carbine and shotgun classes, as well as two jungle lanes for the same weapon systems. There is also a 1000 yd metal target range for precision rifle classes.
I met Mike Hallmark approximately a year ago, but was unable to schedule a class with him until recently. To reference his biography from his website: "I am a twice retired police officer with 28 years of service in Texas. I retired from the Bryan, Texas Police Department first, where I was a patrol sergeant. I was the Tactical Response Team Leader there for 10 years as well. I retired the second time from the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, where I worked in the Fugitive Apprehension Unit and Special Missions Team. I was a sniper at the Sheriffs Office. I have been a member of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association since 1991. I have had my TCLEOSE Firearms Instructors' certificate since 1987 from the Texas A&M extension service, where I also got my NRA rifle instructor certificate. I look forward to meeting and training with you."
Myself and a friend scheduled a two day class with Mike, consisting of one day of pistol and one day of carbine work. Day one kicked off with several familiar drills such as one shot from the holster, one shot from the ready, etc. Mike didn't belabor any of the drills simply to pad the round count, or fill time. If the students were performing to standard, we went to another drill or skill until we hit something we weren't as proficient at. A variety of topics including support hand only malfunction clearances, shooting around barricades, target discrimination, target transitions, and many more were covered. We shot a scrambler type drill on both steel and paper featuring a good bit of movement and weapon manipulation. Several drills on steel, including a walk back, and a man-on-man shoot off rounded off the flat range portion of the day. In addition we were lucky enough to have access to a vehicle to test deflection and penetration off our duty ammo.
In the afternoon we transitioned to the jungle lane, were we ran the lane both singly and as a two man team. Target location and discrimination were a big part of the lanes, and required good co-ordination and covering the 540 to engage the right targets before they were bypassed. To finish the day off we returned to the flat range for one final drill. The day ended with a discussion of the aftermath of a shooting.
Day two started much like day one with a quick run through familiar standards. These were quickly finished and new topics introduced up to the failure point for the students. A variety of drills not normally seen in a carbine class were included, such as a 100yd three position shoot, and multiple other drills from the 100yd line. Steel was again used throughout the flat range portion of the day, culminating with a man-on-man shot off with carbines. Again penetration and deflection were tested on the vehicle on hand, with some interesting results. In the afternoon the jungle lane was again run. Some VERY interesting things were learned about 5.56 ammunition performance through brush, during the course of the lane.
Once the lanes were finished, we found ourselves at the start of the 1000yd range. Steel from 125 yds to approximately 500 yds was engaged. This was a great experience to be able to really stretch out with my carbine. I've shot High Power Service Rifle previously, but have never had the chance to take my work carbine out to that distance. With an EOTech hits were not an issue out to 300 yds. Further then this, was slightly more difficult in terms of holdover, but a low steady wind throughout the majority of the time simplified things immensely. Multiple hits on the 500 yd steel plate were had even using 55gr FMJ practice ammo. The day finished off on the flat range again, with one final drill.
Overall the course was excellent. Time wasn't spent rehashing skills that students had already mastered, rather time was spent working on skills and concepts the shooter didn't have a firm mastery of. Mike has great instructional manner, that makes it difficult not to pickup skills and information. The round count for the course was listed at 400 pistol, and 400 rifle. Actual count was closer to 500 rounds pistol, and 600 rounds rifle. The large disparity in rifle rounds, was due to putting a lot extra rounds down on the 1000 yd range beyond the required course of fire. I look forward to being able to train with Mike again.
A few course notes:
Both myself and my friend are what most would consider advanced shooters, less experienced shooters would perform different drills appropriate to their skill levels.
For the folks who are interested in gear (I know I am) day one was shot using an H&K USP 9mm w/ LEM trigger and UTL mounted, in a Hillsman Custom OWB holster. With a few drills shot, and one jungle lane run, using a Beretta 92FS for the heck of it. The gun was run on a Wilderness instructors belt, and OSOE double nylon mag pouch. Day two was run with my DD M4v1 with EOTech 512 on a LaRue mount, and DD vertical fore grip. Mags were all USGI w/ Magpul followers. Secondary weapon was a Rock Island tactical 1911 in 9mm, using Checkmate 9 round mags, and a single 10 rd wilson. Pistol was holstered again in a Hillsman custom strong side OWB holster. Rifle and pistol were supported off a Condor modular plate carrier with triple mag shingles for both pistol and rifle.
-Jenrick
Name of Course: Advance Pistol and Carbine
Training Org: Twisted Trail Firearms Training
http://twistedtrailfirearms.com/Home_Page.php
Location: Florence TX, Twisted Trail range
Lead Instructor: Mike Hallmark
Date: 3-30-12 thru 3-31-12
Weather Conditions: Foggy and cool to start and ending clear and hot
This course was privately booked and held that Twisted Trail range located out in Florence. The range is open air, and includes a 100 yard flat range for handgun, carbine and shotgun classes, as well as two jungle lanes for the same weapon systems. There is also a 1000 yd metal target range for precision rifle classes.
I met Mike Hallmark approximately a year ago, but was unable to schedule a class with him until recently. To reference his biography from his website: "I am a twice retired police officer with 28 years of service in Texas. I retired from the Bryan, Texas Police Department first, where I was a patrol sergeant. I was the Tactical Response Team Leader there for 10 years as well. I retired the second time from the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, where I worked in the Fugitive Apprehension Unit and Special Missions Team. I was a sniper at the Sheriffs Office. I have been a member of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association since 1991. I have had my TCLEOSE Firearms Instructors' certificate since 1987 from the Texas A&M extension service, where I also got my NRA rifle instructor certificate. I look forward to meeting and training with you."
Myself and a friend scheduled a two day class with Mike, consisting of one day of pistol and one day of carbine work. Day one kicked off with several familiar drills such as one shot from the holster, one shot from the ready, etc. Mike didn't belabor any of the drills simply to pad the round count, or fill time. If the students were performing to standard, we went to another drill or skill until we hit something we weren't as proficient at. A variety of topics including support hand only malfunction clearances, shooting around barricades, target discrimination, target transitions, and many more were covered. We shot a scrambler type drill on both steel and paper featuring a good bit of movement and weapon manipulation. Several drills on steel, including a walk back, and a man-on-man shoot off rounded off the flat range portion of the day. In addition we were lucky enough to have access to a vehicle to test deflection and penetration off our duty ammo.
In the afternoon we transitioned to the jungle lane, were we ran the lane both singly and as a two man team. Target location and discrimination were a big part of the lanes, and required good co-ordination and covering the 540 to engage the right targets before they were bypassed. To finish the day off we returned to the flat range for one final drill. The day ended with a discussion of the aftermath of a shooting.
Day two started much like day one with a quick run through familiar standards. These were quickly finished and new topics introduced up to the failure point for the students. A variety of drills not normally seen in a carbine class were included, such as a 100yd three position shoot, and multiple other drills from the 100yd line. Steel was again used throughout the flat range portion of the day, culminating with a man-on-man shot off with carbines. Again penetration and deflection were tested on the vehicle on hand, with some interesting results. In the afternoon the jungle lane was again run. Some VERY interesting things were learned about 5.56 ammunition performance through brush, during the course of the lane.
Once the lanes were finished, we found ourselves at the start of the 1000yd range. Steel from 125 yds to approximately 500 yds was engaged. This was a great experience to be able to really stretch out with my carbine. I've shot High Power Service Rifle previously, but have never had the chance to take my work carbine out to that distance. With an EOTech hits were not an issue out to 300 yds. Further then this, was slightly more difficult in terms of holdover, but a low steady wind throughout the majority of the time simplified things immensely. Multiple hits on the 500 yd steel plate were had even using 55gr FMJ practice ammo. The day finished off on the flat range again, with one final drill.
Overall the course was excellent. Time wasn't spent rehashing skills that students had already mastered, rather time was spent working on skills and concepts the shooter didn't have a firm mastery of. Mike has great instructional manner, that makes it difficult not to pickup skills and information. The round count for the course was listed at 400 pistol, and 400 rifle. Actual count was closer to 500 rounds pistol, and 600 rounds rifle. The large disparity in rifle rounds, was due to putting a lot extra rounds down on the 1000 yd range beyond the required course of fire. I look forward to being able to train with Mike again.
A few course notes:
Both myself and my friend are what most would consider advanced shooters, less experienced shooters would perform different drills appropriate to their skill levels.
For the folks who are interested in gear (I know I am) day one was shot using an H&K USP 9mm w/ LEM trigger and UTL mounted, in a Hillsman Custom OWB holster. With a few drills shot, and one jungle lane run, using a Beretta 92FS for the heck of it. The gun was run on a Wilderness instructors belt, and OSOE double nylon mag pouch. Day two was run with my DD M4v1 with EOTech 512 on a LaRue mount, and DD vertical fore grip. Mags were all USGI w/ Magpul followers. Secondary weapon was a Rock Island tactical 1911 in 9mm, using Checkmate 9 round mags, and a single 10 rd wilson. Pistol was holstered again in a Hillsman custom strong side OWB holster. Rifle and pistol were supported off a Condor modular plate carrier with triple mag shingles for both pistol and rifle.
-Jenrick
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