Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Labor Day weekend I spent at
Tac Pro Shooting Center taking Bill Davison's Primary Pistol Course. Monday morning began with classroom instruction by Bill. Topics covered included caliber selection, weapon selection, advantages and disadvantages of different weapons systems and calibers. Balistics were also covered. Bill runs a cold range. The other pistol course that I had taken from another instructor was run on a hot range. Bill is adamant that NO AMMUNITION allowed in the classroom under any circumstances at any time. The reasons become apparent later in the class. Bill personally frisks all of the students to make sure that no ammo is present. Each student then demonstrates that his weapon is empty. The reason is that a number of demonstrations require the students weapons to be directed to "targets" that under normal circumstances might be considered taboo. There are good reasons. We are all taught over and over again not to point a weapon at a person. However, the whole point of the class is that if the conditions warrant, you will have to point your weapon at a person. Doing so is a strange feeling, but serves a very real and distinct purpose.
With all that past us, we moved to the range. The first session began with 8 1/2" X 11" targets with 12 quarter sized black dots. At 3 yards we began attempting to place rounds into the dots. Bill and Paul Gomez carefully observed. Those students that were consistently placing rounds needed no assistance, but those that weren't (me and some others) were carefully observed and coached individually. I was driving my pistol from ready to the full iscocolese position too hard and fast. This caused the muzzle to overtravel to a low position and thus I was consistantly placing rounds too low. Sounds simple, but until someone points it out to you it is almost impossible to diagnose by yourself. The rest of the day was spent on various accuracy drills.
Day two began with a brief classroom session and then to the range. Moving between two targets accurately was the drill. This was followed by moving between targets with speed. We then began speed drills where multiple rounds were placed on a target until they began to move outside the prescribed circle. The speed was them backed off until they all were in the black, and that is your maximum speed. The day was ended with more accuracy drills to re-emphasize the earlier lessons.
Day three started with shooting on the move. Techniques for moving left to right and right to left. We then moved to the plate racks for speed drills, and team drills. Then back to the classroom range for a run through on the previously learned skills. We then broke for lunch with the infamous "Jungle Run" looming for the after lunch activity.
We moved to the entrance of the jungle run. One at a time each student met the instructor and waited for the "Load and Make Ready" command. Once that is done, you begin moving down a trail that is covered in very fine loose sand. The first thing I see is a pepper popper at about 75 yards. Too long for a good shot (at least for me), so covering fire is laid down as I move downrange. Suddenly there is a popper immediately to my left. I turn and fire. It goes down and I begin moving further downrange. I can't remember what caused me to turn around and look, perhaps I was just scanning, but I caught Bill's head nodding to the left, and I backtracked and downed the popper that I completely missed the first time. I then proceeded down range and one by one took down the next 2 poppers. Each time I stepped out into the "view" of the long range popper, I laid down covering fire. Amazingly, there was a "DING", and down it went. WOW I was proud of that 50 or so yard shot! I then proceded to move methodically along and take all of the rest of the poppers down. When finished, I was sweating like like you can't believe, and wheezing and puffing like a locomotive. Bill then proceeded to critique my performance as we walked back. "The one round knock down is a total myth. You are placing one round on target and waiting for it to fall. If it does, you move to the next target. Place multiple rounds on each target. By the way that long shot ricocheted off the ground before it took down the target." Damn, that took the wind out of my sails. Everyone gathered back at the entrance of the run for comparison of notes and friendly banter while waiting for the next run.
I had made the Jungle Run three times at the end of the Shotgun course that I took from Bill, so I had an idea of what to expect. Still, I made the same mistakes on this one that I had on the shotgun class. Not aggressive enough. Too timid. On the second run, I charged each target putting at least two rounds on each one of them. I went as hard as my 57 year old overweight body would let me. At the end Bill said "Unload, Rack and roll, rack and roll, safely holster. Better, much better than the first run. However, you still need to work on your stoppage drills."
This was as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. It's hard. It's hot. Bill is strictly no nonsense, but you will learn. My shooting improved on each of the three days of the class. The first pistol class I took was all about tactics and mindset. It was good, and I learned a lot. However, this class was all about the basics. Shot placement. Immediate action drills. Stoppage drills. Proper stance. Proper grip. Proper trigger operation. Proper sight picture and follow through. Increasing speed while maintaining accuracy. Shooting accurately under stress situations. It is a testimony to the quality of the training that there were three police officers in this class at their own expense. One of them drove over 10 hours to get there. One of them is a training officer for a metropolitan police force.
Paul Gomez was assisting with the training, and he was an excellent coach. He is very knowledgeable and articulate and very good at analyzing problems and helping you to correct them.
Bill Davison is also excellent, and I doubt that there is anyone that has more knowledge about fighting with a pistol. Bill is 225 pounds of whip ass with the ability to pass those skills on to you. He has trained literally thousands of soldiers, policemen and private citizens all over the world. When Bill tells you something regarding firearms or fighting, it is not something he has heard, or something he thinks might work, it is from hardcore experience in the field.
Very good stuff, and highly recommended. As soon as I can save up my pennies I will be taking the Intermediate Pistol Course.
Tac Pro Shooting Center taking Bill Davison's Primary Pistol Course. Monday morning began with classroom instruction by Bill. Topics covered included caliber selection, weapon selection, advantages and disadvantages of different weapons systems and calibers. Balistics were also covered. Bill runs a cold range. The other pistol course that I had taken from another instructor was run on a hot range. Bill is adamant that NO AMMUNITION allowed in the classroom under any circumstances at any time. The reasons become apparent later in the class. Bill personally frisks all of the students to make sure that no ammo is present. Each student then demonstrates that his weapon is empty. The reason is that a number of demonstrations require the students weapons to be directed to "targets" that under normal circumstances might be considered taboo. There are good reasons. We are all taught over and over again not to point a weapon at a person. However, the whole point of the class is that if the conditions warrant, you will have to point your weapon at a person. Doing so is a strange feeling, but serves a very real and distinct purpose.
With all that past us, we moved to the range. The first session began with 8 1/2" X 11" targets with 12 quarter sized black dots. At 3 yards we began attempting to place rounds into the dots. Bill and Paul Gomez carefully observed. Those students that were consistently placing rounds needed no assistance, but those that weren't (me and some others) were carefully observed and coached individually. I was driving my pistol from ready to the full iscocolese position too hard and fast. This caused the muzzle to overtravel to a low position and thus I was consistantly placing rounds too low. Sounds simple, but until someone points it out to you it is almost impossible to diagnose by yourself. The rest of the day was spent on various accuracy drills.
Day two began with a brief classroom session and then to the range. Moving between two targets accurately was the drill. This was followed by moving between targets with speed. We then began speed drills where multiple rounds were placed on a target until they began to move outside the prescribed circle. The speed was them backed off until they all were in the black, and that is your maximum speed. The day was ended with more accuracy drills to re-emphasize the earlier lessons.
Day three started with shooting on the move. Techniques for moving left to right and right to left. We then moved to the plate racks for speed drills, and team drills. Then back to the classroom range for a run through on the previously learned skills. We then broke for lunch with the infamous "Jungle Run" looming for the after lunch activity.
We moved to the entrance of the jungle run. One at a time each student met the instructor and waited for the "Load and Make Ready" command. Once that is done, you begin moving down a trail that is covered in very fine loose sand. The first thing I see is a pepper popper at about 75 yards. Too long for a good shot (at least for me), so covering fire is laid down as I move downrange. Suddenly there is a popper immediately to my left. I turn and fire. It goes down and I begin moving further downrange. I can't remember what caused me to turn around and look, perhaps I was just scanning, but I caught Bill's head nodding to the left, and I backtracked and downed the popper that I completely missed the first time. I then proceeded down range and one by one took down the next 2 poppers. Each time I stepped out into the "view" of the long range popper, I laid down covering fire. Amazingly, there was a "DING", and down it went. WOW I was proud of that 50 or so yard shot! I then proceded to move methodically along and take all of the rest of the poppers down. When finished, I was sweating like like you can't believe, and wheezing and puffing like a locomotive. Bill then proceeded to critique my performance as we walked back. "The one round knock down is a total myth. You are placing one round on target and waiting for it to fall. If it does, you move to the next target. Place multiple rounds on each target. By the way that long shot ricocheted off the ground before it took down the target." Damn, that took the wind out of my sails. Everyone gathered back at the entrance of the run for comparison of notes and friendly banter while waiting for the next run.
I had made the Jungle Run three times at the end of the Shotgun course that I took from Bill, so I had an idea of what to expect. Still, I made the same mistakes on this one that I had on the shotgun class. Not aggressive enough. Too timid. On the second run, I charged each target putting at least two rounds on each one of them. I went as hard as my 57 year old overweight body would let me. At the end Bill said "Unload, Rack and roll, rack and roll, safely holster. Better, much better than the first run. However, you still need to work on your stoppage drills."
This was as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. It's hard. It's hot. Bill is strictly no nonsense, but you will learn. My shooting improved on each of the three days of the class. The first pistol class I took was all about tactics and mindset. It was good, and I learned a lot. However, this class was all about the basics. Shot placement. Immediate action drills. Stoppage drills. Proper stance. Proper grip. Proper trigger operation. Proper sight picture and follow through. Increasing speed while maintaining accuracy. Shooting accurately under stress situations. It is a testimony to the quality of the training that there were three police officers in this class at their own expense. One of them drove over 10 hours to get there. One of them is a training officer for a metropolitan police force.
Paul Gomez was assisting with the training, and he was an excellent coach. He is very knowledgeable and articulate and very good at analyzing problems and helping you to correct them.
Bill Davison is also excellent, and I doubt that there is anyone that has more knowledge about fighting with a pistol. Bill is 225 pounds of whip ass with the ability to pass those skills on to you. He has trained literally thousands of soldiers, policemen and private citizens all over the world. When Bill tells you something regarding firearms or fighting, it is not something he has heard, or something he thinks might work, it is from hardcore experience in the field.
Very good stuff, and highly recommended. As soon as I can save up my pennies I will be taking the Intermediate Pistol Course.
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