Observations From Classes

[BarryinIN]

I plan for this to be a continuing series of posts, with the plan of sharing one main point or observation from each class taken.  Feel free to add, and don’t stop at one item per class.  
 

My first observation:

Guns (and people) malfunction more in a class than in practice.  
 

And in turn, according those who have been there, it happens even more in life or death situations. 
 

I had a Close Quarters Pistol class last weekend, and was reminded of this fact.  People had a little trouble here and there with guns, including me, that left them saying “That never happened before”.   A little stress, a little shooting leading to some light crud or low lubrication as the day wore on, and things happen. I’m guessing most people make sure their guns are clean and lubed before class. But if you someday get caught with a need to use it, I doubt the gun got fresh lube the day before.  
 

Malfunctions happen. Be ready. 
Operator failures happen. Be ready for that also. 
Expect more problems when it’s all for real.  

[BarryinIN]

I was in a shotgun class this weekend.  As mentioned in the previous post, guns choked to the surprise of their owners. Pumps and autos both.  
 

Practice malfunction clearing.  
 

I’ve heard people say they have had X number of rounds through their gun so they don’t waste their time. Guess who is going to be most surprised when it happens. 

[BarryinIN]

OK, I do have a thought specific to last weekend’s class that keeps nagging at me. 
 

People tend to look at shotguns as simple tools.  Point it at something and blow it up.  Of all firearms training, shotgun classes have always received the least interest by far, and perhaps that’s a big reason why.  
 

During this class I got a text from a friend shortly after lunch.  A knowledgeable friend.  He asked if I was home yet since “how much can there be to teach about shotguns?”.  
Wow. 
 

Buckshot or slugs for this shot?   

Slug?  OK, now I have to switch because I’m loaded with buckshot.   With 870s, there is a technique to do this that works better than others.   It doesn’t work with Mossbergs.   If using a Rem 1100 or 11-87, I do different steps A, B, and C.   Bought a Benelli this year?  You can do it an easier way…but that means yet another method where you only do A and C, and they aren’t exactly the same either. 
 

No problem you say, you’re using a pump because they are simpler.  This is where they shine.  Simply hit the release latch to release the pump and open the acti…  Remington or Mossberg?  The release is in a different place.   If you own both, get it right.  
 

Got it. No problem.  I’m not an idiot, Barry.  Now you put a slug into the loading port.  Or is loading into the tube easier?   Can you do this smoothly every time?  No fumbling?  The shells hitting the ground every class is an answer to that. 
 

Wait, where did you get that slug you’re about to load?  From a sidesaddle?  Or do you use a butt cuff?  Chest rig?  Belt carrier?   Will you have time to put that chest or belt rig on when you really need the shotgun?   Oh, you used a sidesaddle?  OK, did you carry those rounds up or down?  And did you pass the slug over the top or underneath to load?  How did you hold the shell?   
 

Fine, you got it switched over.  Time to take the shot.  Are you using sights or bead?  Why?  Which kind of sights?  Why?  Or an optic?  Why?

Do your slugs hit to the same place as the center of your buckshot pattern?   Do you really know for sure?   OK, it’s a little different.  Most are.  What direction?  Low and left, alright.   This shot is twice as far as you are zeroed, so where do you hold?  Remember, you are already holding off due to a POI change with slugs anyway.  

Crap!  Maybe I should load all-slugs instead anyway, so I have half as much to keep up with?   And down another rabbit hole we go.  
 

That’s just from switching to slugs for one shot.  One little exercise.

[BarryinIN]

I had my annual-for-me lowlight/night shooting class last night.  I’ve taken this same class almost every year over the past 17 years and I always learn something.  I usually end up changing some method and/or hardware that I thought I was settled on. 
 

One thing that is almost guaranteed to happen in a lowlight/night shooting class is people come into it with a good idea of a certain flashlight hold (or weapon-mounted light, WML) they want to use.  Almost every time, this changes once they actually shoot with it in the dark.  
 

That’s how it started out.  Since this class had most of the same people attending each year, we’ve worked through most bad ideas and got sorted out what works.  Therefore, the changes haven’t been as regular the last few years.  
Due to some administrative changes in the way this class is handled, there was a different group of attendees this year. More people with no, or little, time shooting at night.  

I expected to once again see bubbles being burst all over. 
 

It didn’t quite happen that way.  A huge change since I first took this class has been the sweeping takeover of red dot sights.  Almost everyone used them last night, whereas I’m not sure if anyone had them that first year.  
 

People like to say a red dot is like cheating and it’s definitely true at night.  Maybe the biggest problem people ran into before was realizing that while they had to illuminate the target, they also had to get some light on their sights.  Finding a way to get the right amount of light on the target and at the right angle, PLUS getting the same on the sights was a challenge.  One challenge, added to the need to hold onto the light, shoot the gun with a changed (usually weaker) grip, etc.  

With a red dot, you take half that away.  You only have to get the target illuminated. The sights illuminate themselves. 

The learning curve flattened out a lot last night from the predominant use of red dots. 

Meanwhile, dinosaurs like me who have done most of their night shooting with iron sights caused our own problems. I was still holding the light the same way, in order to get some light on the sights. Not only is this unnecessary, it causes a huge problem by washing out that helpful glowing red dot. 
Idiot.