Practicing in various weather

[James Collins]

Ok this might be dumb but do you notice most incidents where someone stepped in to eliminate a threat the weather is nice and clear? Do people ever practice tactical skills in poor weather? I swear the mass incidents are on clear days. Is it just me who notices this?

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I think the reason you see incidents in clear weather (I'm thinking crime in general; you're thinking active shooter events) is that criminals don't like bad weather. Crime goes up in the summer.

As for training in cold weather, I used to do a lot of it. I used to shoot a 2-gun type league every week of the year. The lowest temp I've competed in was negative single digits. After a while, it got pretty old. I took this winter off.

I think training in inclement weather is something everyone shold do; it basically stress tests your fine motor skills as well as your equipment. It really highlights what doesn't work.

 

[rhino465]

I've taken classes and shot matches in cold weather many times in the past. It's a great test of gear and carry methods to make sure everything is squared away even when it's not 70 degF and sunny. I make sure to practice as much as possible in the winter months to keep familiar with drawing from concealment dressed the way I actually dress when it's cold. People who have never done live fire dressed in their cold weather attire who assume they'll be able to perform under stress really don't know how it's going to work (because they haven't tried it). Heavier clothing, multiple layers, gloves, and cold hands can dramatically affect what is easily and efficiently accomplished under more favorable conditions.

 

[OS/N]

I like to practice or do my shooting on warm sunny days. Your gun should work regardless so it shouldn't care.

If its super cold and you wear gloves it may be good to practice with gloves on but it doesn't have to actually be cold to practice with gloves on. Checking ammo function in your firearm in sub cold condictions may be benificial. You can always drop your handgun in a bucket of water, take it out, and see how it would work in the rain or after you fell in a lake.

If you use a AR and think you may have to use it in the mud: throw it in a mud hole, take it out, and see how it works for you (dont obstruct the bore). There's a lesson in there somewhere - take care of your weapon and it will take care of you.

If it makes you feel better go for it.

 

[Doc Samson]

I occasionally practice in rain or cold but not as often as I should.

 

[The Night Rider]

I was stationed at Fort Lewis for 3 years.

Looking East from the post Parade Field.

We had a saying that you could tell the weather by looking at Mount Rainier. If you could see the mountain it was going to rain if you couldn't see the mountain it was raining.

If I've paid for a class and I show up and it's raining I continue with the class. If I'm at the range and it starts raining I continue my practice.

Whether or not it's cold has no bearing on my training or practice schedule I know how to dress for cold.

The only thing that would hold me back is if I'm planning to go and the roads are nasty and that would hold me back in real life too.

When I retired my wife and I both decided that if we got up in the morning and the morning weather report advised staying home if at all possible or Fort Carson was closed or on a 2-hour delay we cancel our plans for the day and stay home.

Believe it or not that's one of my favorite perks of being retired

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I was stationed at Fort Lewis for 3 years.

View attachment 1197154
Looking East from the post Parade Field.

We had a saying that you could tell the weather by looking at Mount Rainier. If you could see the mountain it was going to rain if you couldn't see the mountain it was raining.

If I've paid for a class and I show up and it's raining I continue with the class. If I'm at the range and it starts raining I continue my practice.

So..what I hear you saying is...if it ain't rainin', we ain't trainin'

 

[trackskippy]

I shoot every week, year round, and in most weather. I don't usually shoot if its pouring rain or a blizzard, but I wont stop if it starts to rain or snow while I am if its not too heavy. Depending on what it is you're doing, its all educational.

 

[Rexster]

Cold weather, with resulting numb fingers, or with fingers inside bulky gloves, is one time that slip-shooting a single-action revolver would be truly useful. The trigger is pulled, first, then a thumb is use to pull the hammer to the full-cock position, at which point the thumb lets the hammer slip, intentionally. (The hammer does NOT half-cock, and does NOT cock, when the trigger is held* rearward, because the sear is kept free of the hammer notches!) Obviously, to stay within the Four Rules, the decision to shoot should be made before the trigger is pulled, and, in the context of slip shooting, the hammer being managed safely is fully as important as managing the trigger safety. The trigger is NOT a carry handle!

To be clear, I am NOT recommending that a single-action revolver be made into a “slip gun” by tying-back the trigger, or my removing the trigger! In the case of a “slip gun,” the hammer BECOMES THE TRIGGER, such that the spur catching on something could pull the hammer into a firing position, with no notches or sear being able to keep the hammer from subsequently falling, as soon as it is free of that which snagged it.

*Yes, indeed, this may be how a certain actor managed to drop the hammer on two of the crew. His perception that he did not “pull” the trigger could be because he was using the trigger as a gripping surface, before he cocked the hammer, what some in the cinema/acting industry apparently call “pinning” the trigger. Slip shooting, whether done intentionally, or not, is shooting.

 

[American_Fusilier]

While not the same as training, I've shot both an idpa match and sporting clays in heavy rain. It wasn't fun, and I wouldn't do it again.

That said, there's definitely something to training in all sorts of weather, and lighting environments.

 

[entropy]

I shoot Trap all year long, in WI and MN, and get out with the handguns at least once over the winter. Extra layers do affect holds, gloves change things, and with clays, the wind definitely does change things! Two weeks ago it was single digits, actually warm for Feb. here, but the wind was 25 mph gusting to over 40, made it a challenge, definitely!

 

[The Night Rider]

True story, this fuse (VT/Proximity) cannot be shot in the rain. a heavy rain will detonate it.

 

[Armored farmer]

Much like @entropy , I have competed and practiced in all weathers. Clothes, gloves, buttoned or zipped coats change everything.
I always stress is practicing in the dark. Bad things happen fast and usually in the dark.

 

[Art30/30]

I was stationed at Fort Lewis for 3 years.

View attachment 1197154
Looking East from the post Parade Field.

We had a saying that you could tell the weather by looking at Mount Rainier. If you could see the mountain it was going to rain if you couldn't see the mountain it was raining.

If I've paid for a class and I show up and it's raining I continue with the class. If I'm at the range and it starts raining I continue my practice.

Whether or not it's cold has no bearing on my training or practice schedule I know how to dress for cold.

The only thing that would hold me back is if I'm planning to go and the roads are nasty and that would hold me back in real life too.

When I retired my wife and I both decided that if we got up in the morning and the morning weather report advised staying home if at all possible or Fort Carson was closed or on a 2-hour delay we cancel our plans for the day and stay home.

Believe it or not that's one of my favorite perks of being retired

I almost died when I got to Ft Lewis in late December 2005! Just finished a looong 20 month deployment in Iraq. Flew to Kuwait and left the dry 90+ degree weather for that time of year. Landed in Ft Lewis and it was 35 degrees and raining. But what a peaceful and beautiful place.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Practicing under all conditions is the only way to identify gear and tools that do and don't work for you. And to determine what techniques you're good at, and which you need to work on.

Practice under all lighting conditions (dawn, dusk, day, night, natural and artificial lighting).

Practice under all concealment clothing you ever use. Wearing cold weather gear, rain gear, layers, open front/closed front, gloves both thick and thin. And under just a t-shirt.

Practice in the wind, when its calm, facing into the sun, with the sun at your back, with the sun high in the sky, and low on the horizon.

Practice seated, prone, supine, behind barriers of all heights, in addition to standing,


Some things I've learned and changed from practicing under all kinds of conditions:

1) Had Mrs. Luzyfuerza sew some pouches into the strong-side tail of open front shirts I like to wear as cover garments. I carry folders in these pouches. Keeps the shirts from blowing open in the wind.

2) Changed my cleaning routine when I found that shooting into the sun with a dusty RDS didn't work too well.

3) Instead of just imagining how it would be, I actually tried drawing quickly from the seated position while carrying IWB and in a pocket. I experienced first-hand that this really is difficult to impossible. Got off the dime and found a high-quality ankle holster that is all-day comfortable (https://www.ritchieholsters.com/catalog/p-100011/ankle). Then practiced drawing from the ankle while in the seated position. MUCH BETTER. Now, when I'm going to be behind the wheel for any length of time, I add a BUG in the ankle holster to supplement my IWB rig.

4) I can't tell you how many combinations of lumens and candela I've tried in handheld flashlights. Now, I have an indoor light (moderate lumens and broad throw) and an outdoor light (the most lumens I can find and tightly focused throw).

5) There's nothing like actually rolling around on the ground during practice to convince civilian gun carriers not to EDC that beautiful chromed revolver or that prized heirloom Colt 1911 in an alligator pancake holster. Every day is not a BBQ, I guess.


And so on, hundreds of times over.

None of these fixes will come as a surprise to anyone here. You know them. And I knew them. However, getting out and actually practicing under various conditions using my normal carry gear prodded me to implement them. And that's what matters.

 

[CapnMac]

Do people ever practice tactical skills in poor weather?

Well, for my 2¢ a person is well served by practicing any outdoor skill they have in any weather.
Unless that 'thing' is clearly a "fair weather" exercise like kite flying or hot-air ballooning, the time available determines when the thing is done, not the weather.

Now, that's not to advocate for going out in clearly dangerous conditions, like white-outs, tornadoes, hailstorms, at risk of either frostbite or heat stroke.

And to be fair, I grew up in an environment where "If it ain't rainin,' we ain't trainin' " was considered pretty normal.

 

[The Night Rider]

But what a peaceful and beautiful place.

You never went to Tacoma did you?

I'm in Colorado now. I live in a high plains desert.

I wouldn't exactly call it "rain" but we had some really watery snow last week and before that I think it rained in April of 23 but I'm still obsessed with keeping a rain coat with me.

Must be a Fort Lewis thing

 

[Art30/30]

You never went to Tacoma did you?

I'm in Colorado now. I live in a high plains desert.

I wouldn't exactly call it "rain" but we had some really watery snow last week and before that I think it rained in April of 23 but I'm still obsessed with keeping a rain coat with me.

Must be a Fort Lewis thing

did not get to Tacoma too much. Since I got injured in Iraq it was kind of a spot to stop. But after Iraq it was beautiful!! lol and the Army dining hall had the best food ever!! Lol

 

[fastbolt]

Sure. Not my favorite, but we held training and quals come rain or shine on pour outdoor ranges. Smart cops don't sign up to schedule rainy/cold weather quals, but sometimes if they wait until the end of the month for their alpha group, that might be all that's left.

Nobody liked to go to a kneeling position, let alone go prone or supine, in the rain puddles and wet sand. Not instructors, either.
We always posted the warning to 'dress for prevailing conditions' on the range schedules, but cops read such things about as often as gun owners read owner safety manuals.

It is what it is sometimes, though, and the upside was that sometimes during some rainy, windy and bitterly cold sessions, I'd have the range all to myself. I remember one miserable afternoon when the rain was coming down like a cow pissing on a flat rock, and while I was standing out in it, repeatedly loading magazines, I'd have to stop and pour rain out of the magazines I'd loaded, and my water-proof rain gear pockets were filled with about as much water, as ammo.

I do NOT miss those days, but they taught me a lot about different gear, and running it in inclement weather, and how the cold and wet could sometimes make you rethink tactics. Now, add night time (ranges) to that same mess.

Matter of fact, working ranges in inclement weather wasn't much different than working traffic, or a crime scene, in the same weather.

Nowadays I'm a fair weather shooter. I did my years in the nasty weather conditions. Hell, I've become spoiled by using the brand new short indoor pistol range at my former agency. Wish they'd had built it many years before I'd retired.

 

[.308 Norma]

Ok this might be dumb but do you notice most incidents where someone stepped in to eliminate a threat the weather is nice and clear? Do people ever practice tactical skills in poor weather? I swear the mass incidents are on clear days. Is it just me who notices this?

You could be right. I've never noticed.
However, the title of your thread is, "Practicing in various weather." To me, "various weather" means exactly that - various weather, not just bad weather.
We have a saying here in lovely SE Idaho. It goes like this, "If you don't like the weather here, wait 10 minutes. It will change."
In other words, if I didn't practice in "various" weather, I wouldn't practice at all. Just this morning, we got dumped on with about a foot of wet snow, (which was really strange for March in this part of the country) however all but about 4" of that snow was melted away by 5:00 this afternoon. I'd drive down to the county gravel pit to do some shooting tomorrow (despite the mud) if it wasn't for the fact my wife and I are both getting over covid and shouldn't leave the house even though the weather will probably be in the 40s.

 

[jmorris]

Do people ever practice tactical skills in poor weather?

A lot of my hunting is in poor weather. Does stalking and killing things count?

 

[herrwalther]

When I was in the military, we trained to fight in all weather and doing all sorts of activity. Ever gone to the range in a blizzard? Or a marksmanship test while skiing? Or Rappelling? I have. I don't see the need to do that anymore. But the training certainly was valuable. Shooting in the worst weather or while hanging off a cliff is not something most civilians will ever encounter much less need to train for. In one of the Wilson Combat videos, Ken Hackethorn covers this and one of the few things I agree with him on. In essence, you cannot train for every possible scenario. But you can and should train for the situations are most likely to encounter.

 

[armoredman]

We don't really have much difference in weather, only three season, hot wet, hot dry, and mildly cool. Of the three, the last is when everyone is out on the line...
When I qualified at the Academy, it was snowing, a very rare snowfall in Tucson in February. I didn't have an issue jacket, due to funds, and they wouldn't let me wear my civilian coat on the firing line, so this desert rat qualified in the snow in shirt sleeves. Got a 247 out of 250, too.
I've shot on the local range in the rain, but I don't like to.

The biggest problem is getting in and out on the dirt roads - 4WD is not something my little car can do right now.

 

[James Collins]

Appreciate the replies gents