Gravy Sandwich
07-29-2011, 01:24
Course: BluCore Tactical Pistol 1
Dates: July 26 & 28, 2011 – Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: BluCore Shooting Center, Lakewood, Colorado. www.blucoreshootingcenter.com (http://www.blucoreshootingcenter.com/) This is a clean, extremely well ventilated indoor range. It is owned and operated by a group of recently retired Navy SEALs and EOD types. The course is run in the open bay, allowing students free movement and the ability to engage multiple targets. The range is “hot” for this course.
Two instructors, one being a recently retired Navy SEAL with vast training and combat experience, and the second a certified NRA instructor and experienced competitive shooter. Together, they are a dynamic duo offering both a military and civilian perspectives on techniques and tactics. Both have calm demeanors and impeccable teaching skills.
Students: 4, all civilian with a wide range of skill levels present. There were two students per instructor, and the instructors rotated with all students.
Pistols: HK P30ls 9mm, Glock 19, S&W M&P 40, HK USP 9mm Compact. Instructors shot a Sig Sauer P226 and a Springfield XD 45. The Glock and Sig each had one stoppage during the course.
Round Count: 450 to 500 rounds total spread over two nights.
Targets: A mix of IDPA, 4” Dots and 8” Dots. Most shooting and testing was at 5 to 6 yards.
Topics covered: Athletic fighting stance, thumbs-forward/combat grip, proper sight alignment, trigger preparation during press-out, “combat” (aka emergency) and tactical reloads with heavy emphasis on keeping the pistol in the “work zone”, use of cover, shooting on the move, facing movements, strong hand only and weak hand only shooting. Heavy emphasis on economy of motion in the draw, with extensive discussion and demonstration on where to “take time” and where to “make time” in the draw stroke and press out. Heavy emphasis on trigger manipulation, trigger reset, differences in trigger preparation between single action and double action pistols. Constant emphasis on the importance of trigger preparation with respect to accuracy and marksmanship.
Reloads: Types of reloads, economy of motion, and keeping pistol in the “work zone”. Heavy emphasis on “combat” reloads (emergency reload from slide lock). When, why and how to do a tactical reload (reload with retention).
Malfunctions: Simple and complex malfunction clearing procedures including tap/rack/bang, clearing double feeds and stovepipe failures.
Movement: Moving forward/backward/side to side, all around. Specific techniques regarding footwork, posture and the application of an “acceptable” sight picture when on the move.
Shooting drills: Drills start with presentation from high ready position, then progress to drawing from holster. Most drills focused on hitting a 4” dot from 5-6 yards. Trigger reset drills at speed, reload drills, facing movement drills (1/4 & 1/2 turn to face target), firing controlled pairs. Strong hand only and weak hand only drills.
Testing: All students receive a certificate of completion for the course, but are evaluated based on five timed tests given at the end of the second night. Students are ranked as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced based on the number of these tests they can complete at the Advanced level. Top scores will be posted in the range master’s area.
All tests done from 5.5 yards, and only two attempts at each test are allowed. All tests must be completed successfully for Advanced status.
1) Draw and hit a 4” dot in 2.0 seconds or less.
2) Draw and fire a controlled pair of shots on a 4” dot in less than 2.5 seconds.
3) Draw, fire one shot, combat/emergency reload, then fire a second shot on a 4” dot in less than 5.0 seconds.
4) Draw and fire 16 shots on an 8” circle in 12.0 seconds. A combat/emergency reload is required somewhere in the string.
5) El Presidente-style drill (all elements of El Pres, except done from 5.5 yards instead of 10 yards). “Advanced” test standard is 11.0 seconds.
The top student successfully completed four of the five tests at the advanced level, but threw one round out of the A zone in an 8.9 second run through the El Pres drill. All students are invited back to test at the end of future courses to try to improve their scores.
Summary: The course was some of the most fun I’ve had shooting in a long time, and the other students seemed to share my opinion. The techniques being taught are consistent with all of the fundamentals currently in vogue among competitive and combat shooters. The instructors are professional, knowledgeable and highly skilled in both teaching and shooting. The course flowed smoothly with no dead space or awkward transitions. Each student got a lot of individual attention, and the feedback we received was spectacular. The instructors have an Eagle eye for details, and relevant feedback was given instantaneously. I could feel my skills progress through every drill, and I made noticeable improvements in my times throughout the course. Each student received a steady flow of critiques and tweaks that showed immediate results.
For me, the greatest benefit of training with the BluCore guys came from watching the primary instructor demonstrate each drill and skill at full speed with perfect technique. Several of these images are burned in my brain, giving me an excellent mental picture to strive for in my training sessions. Other instructors I’ve worked with were only competent demonstrating skills at half-speed, making it difficult to envision the ideal “model” in the modeling, practice and feedback trifecta of motor learning. The course offered some of the highest quality instruction and feedback I’ve ever experienced in any discipline. Period.
Dates: July 26 & 28, 2011 – Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: BluCore Shooting Center, Lakewood, Colorado. www.blucoreshootingcenter.com (http://www.blucoreshootingcenter.com/) This is a clean, extremely well ventilated indoor range. It is owned and operated by a group of recently retired Navy SEALs and EOD types. The course is run in the open bay, allowing students free movement and the ability to engage multiple targets. The range is “hot” for this course.
Two instructors, one being a recently retired Navy SEAL with vast training and combat experience, and the second a certified NRA instructor and experienced competitive shooter. Together, they are a dynamic duo offering both a military and civilian perspectives on techniques and tactics. Both have calm demeanors and impeccable teaching skills.
Students: 4, all civilian with a wide range of skill levels present. There were two students per instructor, and the instructors rotated with all students.
Pistols: HK P30ls 9mm, Glock 19, S&W M&P 40, HK USP 9mm Compact. Instructors shot a Sig Sauer P226 and a Springfield XD 45. The Glock and Sig each had one stoppage during the course.
Round Count: 450 to 500 rounds total spread over two nights.
Targets: A mix of IDPA, 4” Dots and 8” Dots. Most shooting and testing was at 5 to 6 yards.
Topics covered: Athletic fighting stance, thumbs-forward/combat grip, proper sight alignment, trigger preparation during press-out, “combat” (aka emergency) and tactical reloads with heavy emphasis on keeping the pistol in the “work zone”, use of cover, shooting on the move, facing movements, strong hand only and weak hand only shooting. Heavy emphasis on economy of motion in the draw, with extensive discussion and demonstration on where to “take time” and where to “make time” in the draw stroke and press out. Heavy emphasis on trigger manipulation, trigger reset, differences in trigger preparation between single action and double action pistols. Constant emphasis on the importance of trigger preparation with respect to accuracy and marksmanship.
Reloads: Types of reloads, economy of motion, and keeping pistol in the “work zone”. Heavy emphasis on “combat” reloads (emergency reload from slide lock). When, why and how to do a tactical reload (reload with retention).
Malfunctions: Simple and complex malfunction clearing procedures including tap/rack/bang, clearing double feeds and stovepipe failures.
Movement: Moving forward/backward/side to side, all around. Specific techniques regarding footwork, posture and the application of an “acceptable” sight picture when on the move.
Shooting drills: Drills start with presentation from high ready position, then progress to drawing from holster. Most drills focused on hitting a 4” dot from 5-6 yards. Trigger reset drills at speed, reload drills, facing movement drills (1/4 & 1/2 turn to face target), firing controlled pairs. Strong hand only and weak hand only drills.
Testing: All students receive a certificate of completion for the course, but are evaluated based on five timed tests given at the end of the second night. Students are ranked as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced based on the number of these tests they can complete at the Advanced level. Top scores will be posted in the range master’s area.
All tests done from 5.5 yards, and only two attempts at each test are allowed. All tests must be completed successfully for Advanced status.
1) Draw and hit a 4” dot in 2.0 seconds or less.
2) Draw and fire a controlled pair of shots on a 4” dot in less than 2.5 seconds.
3) Draw, fire one shot, combat/emergency reload, then fire a second shot on a 4” dot in less than 5.0 seconds.
4) Draw and fire 16 shots on an 8” circle in 12.0 seconds. A combat/emergency reload is required somewhere in the string.
5) El Presidente-style drill (all elements of El Pres, except done from 5.5 yards instead of 10 yards). “Advanced” test standard is 11.0 seconds.
The top student successfully completed four of the five tests at the advanced level, but threw one round out of the A zone in an 8.9 second run through the El Pres drill. All students are invited back to test at the end of future courses to try to improve their scores.
Summary: The course was some of the most fun I’ve had shooting in a long time, and the other students seemed to share my opinion. The techniques being taught are consistent with all of the fundamentals currently in vogue among competitive and combat shooters. The instructors are professional, knowledgeable and highly skilled in both teaching and shooting. The course flowed smoothly with no dead space or awkward transitions. Each student got a lot of individual attention, and the feedback we received was spectacular. The instructors have an Eagle eye for details, and relevant feedback was given instantaneously. I could feel my skills progress through every drill, and I made noticeable improvements in my times throughout the course. Each student received a steady flow of critiques and tweaks that showed immediate results.
For me, the greatest benefit of training with the BluCore guys came from watching the primary instructor demonstrate each drill and skill at full speed with perfect technique. Several of these images are burned in my brain, giving me an excellent mental picture to strive for in my training sessions. Other instructors I’ve worked with were only competent demonstrating skills at half-speed, making it difficult to envision the ideal “model” in the modeling, practice and feedback trifecta of motor learning. The course offered some of the highest quality instruction and feedback I’ve ever experienced in any discipline. Period.