The shooting segments of most, but not all, CCW courses in my area are conducted in indoor "square" ranges with a backstop, targets at variable ranges, and places to put one's weapons and gear.
After most people start carrying, they go to such places for practice, shooting at a stationary target directly in front of them. They are not allowed to draw from a holster or to shoot while moving.
Unfortunately, that is not a very good way to develop effective defensive shooting skills.
As our member Creaky_Old_Cop put it in another thread, "what is important... is building the ability to do it under fight/flight, movement, pressure, oddball shooting positions, moving, loading, moving to cover, moving away from threats, in other words in and under all the conditions you can replicate as close to a fight as possible. Once you blend those things, you get a really good yardstick on what realistic hit potential will be in a fight".
That is spot on.
It is probably a good idea to add here, for those who are enamored with group size, that it is important to balance speed and precision for the situation at hand. Generally, an area the size of the upper chest area is sufficient in terms of precision. Regarding speed, just think about someone running at you at five meters per second form less than six meters away and factor in that it may take several shots to stop him.
Some years ago, a friend talked me into takin a course at a local facility that was put on by an adjunct of the Texas Defensive Shooting Association. All of the instructors, and there was one for every two students, were ranked competitors in the pistol shooting sports. For those to whom it may matter, the courses conducted at the Bench Rest Rifle Club of S. Louis. It was founded years ago by Col, Tounsebd Whelen, the "dean of American riflemen". I am old enough to remember him. They may still offer such programs from time to time.
After some ilia assessments and introductory demonstrations, we fired very fast at steel plates at seven yards--three of them--with many magazine changes. We were recorded on video. We had a different instructor each time we fired. After expending well over 1,000 rounds, we were are scored for time and hit percentage.
The next day brought running forward, backward, and sideways, and shooing under things. I could not complete that because of heat and humidity.
Man, did I learn a lot!
Or so I thought.
Here are the shortcomings, as I see now:
About three and a half years ago, the I.CE. PDN Combat Focus Shooing tour came here. The instructor was none other than Rob Pincus himself. We met for a couple of long days on the state facilities at Sparta, IL.
From the facility standpoint, the big advantage was the three-sided berm. Students would walk around in it, and then, when told, they would look around, identify which of the several target frames matched a verbal description, turn, move off line, draw while moving, and fire. Distances and direction were different each time. That's whole lot more reflective of reality than those El Presidente drills of my previous class.
Check out the I.C.E. PDN Tour schedule for a class within reasonable driving distance from you. It's well worth it. There are also self study classes with DVDs.
You will not see me at one, though I do recommend it. Balance and stamina problems have conspired to prevent it.
Another suggestion: several of my neighbors have been going to Asymmetric Solutions near Farmington, MO. Great facilities, qualified instructors, and great curricula, One young man came back and told me about using simunitions in parking lot scenarios with decoys, "tail gunners", sneak attackers, and innocent bystanders.
That's known as force on force training, or FoF. Best thing there is, for those who can get to a good on.
Dont ty to contact Asymmetric Solutions right now. All pf their staff and all of their wheeled equipment is in Texas helping out.
There is a gun shop near me with a facility with laser training--they load a scenario, and you might see someone who looks innocent and then turns on you, or a no-shoot drill.
The police use it. The entire view is of one plane. I saw a video of one with walls in three orthogonal planes, in which Rob Pincus happened into into an armed robbery in a shop. Don' discount it. The realism rattled Rob, and he missed a shot or two.
I don't know hare any of those are.
After most people start carrying, they go to such places for practice, shooting at a stationary target directly in front of them. They are not allowed to draw from a holster or to shoot while moving.
Unfortunately, that is not a very good way to develop effective defensive shooting skills.
As our member Creaky_Old_Cop put it in another thread, "what is important... is building the ability to do it under fight/flight, movement, pressure, oddball shooting positions, moving, loading, moving to cover, moving away from threats, in other words in and under all the conditions you can replicate as close to a fight as possible. Once you blend those things, you get a really good yardstick on what realistic hit potential will be in a fight".
That is spot on.
It is probably a good idea to add here, for those who are enamored with group size, that it is important to balance speed and precision for the situation at hand. Generally, an area the size of the upper chest area is sufficient in terms of precision. Regarding speed, just think about someone running at you at five meters per second form less than six meters away and factor in that it may take several shots to stop him.
Some years ago, a friend talked me into takin a course at a local facility that was put on by an adjunct of the Texas Defensive Shooting Association. All of the instructors, and there was one for every two students, were ranked competitors in the pistol shooting sports. For those to whom it may matter, the courses conducted at the Bench Rest Rifle Club of S. Louis. It was founded years ago by Col, Tounsebd Whelen, the "dean of American riflemen". I am old enough to remember him. They may still offer such programs from time to time.
After some ilia assessments and introductory demonstrations, we fired very fast at steel plates at seven yards--three of them--with many magazine changes. We were recorded on video. We had a different instructor each time we fired. After expending well over 1,000 rounds, we were are scored for time and hit percentage.
The next day brought running forward, backward, and sideways, and shooing under things. I could not complete that because of heat and humidity.
Man, did I learn a lot!
Or so I thought.
Here are the shortcomings, as I see now:
- We knew where the targets were. They were always at the same place.
- We fired at those known targets at the signal, having expected that we would be told to do so..
- They used a shot timer.
About three and a half years ago, the I.CE. PDN Combat Focus Shooing tour came here. The instructor was none other than Rob Pincus himself. We met for a couple of long days on the state facilities at Sparta, IL.
From the facility standpoint, the big advantage was the three-sided berm. Students would walk around in it, and then, when told, they would look around, identify which of the several target frames matched a verbal description, turn, move off line, draw while moving, and fire. Distances and direction were different each time. That's whole lot more reflective of reality than those El Presidente drills of my previous class.
Check out the I.C.E. PDN Tour schedule for a class within reasonable driving distance from you. It's well worth it. There are also self study classes with DVDs.
You will not see me at one, though I do recommend it. Balance and stamina problems have conspired to prevent it.
Another suggestion: several of my neighbors have been going to Asymmetric Solutions near Farmington, MO. Great facilities, qualified instructors, and great curricula, One young man came back and told me about using simunitions in parking lot scenarios with decoys, "tail gunners", sneak attackers, and innocent bystanders.
That's known as force on force training, or FoF. Best thing there is, for those who can get to a good on.
Dont ty to contact Asymmetric Solutions right now. All pf their staff and all of their wheeled equipment is in Texas helping out.
There is a gun shop near me with a facility with laser training--they load a scenario, and you might see someone who looks innocent and then turns on you, or a no-shoot drill.
The police use it. The entire view is of one plane. I saw a video of one with walls in three orthogonal planes, in which Rob Pincus happened into into an armed robbery in a shop. Don' discount it. The realism rattled Rob, and he missed a shot or two.
I don't know hare any of those are.