Attending Randy Cain's Tactical Handgun 101 this weekend, any hints/suggestions?

[Falconeer]

Greetings folks!
I'm attending TH101 this weekend. It's my first ever firearms class. Does anyone have any suggestions/hints on how to get the most out of the class?

 

[Gordon]

Listen and obey! Concentrate and smoothly apply (the real trick!) what you are taught. Make sure your equiptment works properly(2nd most important thing) and having extensively used the gear before hand helps ALOT on this.

 

[crofrog]

i've never taken that class specially, but:

1. Read the equipment list, bring everything it tells you to. Double check
2. Bring more ammo than it say's. You may not shoot it but it's better to have than to not have
3. Bring water if there is none on the range, as well as snacks
4. If your ammo is not loosed packed drop it all into a box. It's easier to grab and stuff a handfull at a time.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

Go there with an OPEN MIND.

Do everything the instructors way. You might have a way that you like better or think is superior but for the duration of the class do things his way, it goes back to the open mind thing above.

Don't be scared to ask questions.

Try to bring 2 of everything on the course list. EG, 2 flashlights, 2 guns etc etc

Nothing sucks like having your gun go tits up on day 1.


HAVE AN OPEN MIND

Chris

 

[pax]

Remember that you are going to class to learn, not to look better than the guy next to you on the line and not to impress the instructor. Leave your ego at home and you'll learn more.

Pay attention during the safety-rules part of the class. Yes, you've heard it before. But there's no such thing as a student who is too safe when he is sharing a line with a dozen or more other people.

If you don't understand something, ask. Chances are other people wondered the same thing.

Don't take over the class time. Asking stuff is okay, but if you cannot ask the question in less than three sentences, it's not a question. It's a speech.

Wear comfortable sturdy shoes. Bring a spare pair of socks and maybe an extra set of shoes for your drive home if it's a long way. By the end of the day, your feet will probably be pretty tired.

Drink lots of water. Start drinking extra water the day before. Bring water with you. No one learns well when dehydrated.

Stay safe and have fun.

pax

 

[Bix]

[have not taken a class from RC, but he's on the list.....]

As others have said, get your gear sorted out before you show up to class (to the extent you can). You don't want to be squandering precious class time dinking with equipment.

Also, have a plan to practice the things you learn after you get home. As this is your first formal training, you will likely be taught a lot of new skillsets. Budget time/money to getting out and regularly drill what you have been shown. You'll get a lot more out of the weekend than if you don't touch the stuff again until your next class.

Finally, if you begin to feel overwhelmed with information, sore, distracted, tired, and thirsty - - think about your muzzle and trigger finger. Alot.

Oh - and have fun!

 

[eagle10]

Since you'll be taking the class in the 'Swamp' don't forget your bug spray - but keep it away from your gun it does wonders for blueing. Band-aids, or new-skin for the blisters/cuts you will get from the continuous loading of your mags.

I took this class with Randy several years ago - he will spot stuff that you are doing and help you make it better. If you keep an open mind, you will leave with a LOT of good information and tips/drills to work on. Randy is a down to earth person and knowledgeable instructor. He gets the information across no matter what level of prior training you have had.

Have fun!

 

[Preacherman]

Generally good advice above. I'll offer two practical suggestions that have saved me much pain in classes.

1. Get a pair of shooting gloves - something like these from Uncle Mike's, or if you can't find them, a pair of thin neoprene officer's gloves from a police supply store, cutting off the fingers as needed. The gel inserts in shooting gloves really help reduce accumulated pain in your hands over a thousand rounds or so.

2. Get a HKS magazine loader to fit your gun's magazines (scroll down the link to get an idea of the selection). Your loading hand will thank you! It gets very painful loading hundreds of rounds without assistance.

You should be able to find both products at a local shooting store, or if not, try an online retailer, but call them and ask for overnight shipping TONIGHT. This will get them to you in time for the class.

 

[Gunstore Commando]

Remember the sun block, too! Your average outdoor range doesn't have a lot of shade, and you won't enjoy your Day 2 very much if you get a sunburn on Day 1.

Personally, when I go to one of these classes, I like to take along a gun cleaning kit and some basic gunsmithing tools. I've never actually needed them myself, but I've made a lot of new friends that way.

 

[jlbraun]

Make sure you bring factory magazines!! I took a class once with mags that worked fine at the range, but with dirt in them ("empty mags ALWAYS hit the ground, got it?"), I got stuck followers, misfeeds, the works.

 

[hso]

Wear normal clothing that you know you will be comfortable in. Wear a hat that will keep the sun off your neck as well as out of your eyes.

Wear the gear you will actually carry day to day instead of the 'low brow high price' stuff in the magazines. A spare mag carrier would be beneficial.

Baby wipes.

Snacks so that you can keep your energy level up.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Randy is a great guy. Lucky you!

 

[Tim Burke]

Don't be surprised when Randy starts off with stuff that is so basic it seems ridiculous. Pay attention, because each step has a teaching point. I've taken many classes, but THG 101 is the one I keep retaking.

 

[gc67]

definitely take a cleaning kit and some RemOil wipes. You will be sweating and you probably will want to be able to wipe you guns down. I would also take some baby wipes as they will allow you to wash you hands, and or/face when needed. Obvisously you will want to take a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if needed

 

[.45FMJoe]

Hey Falcon! I'll see you there! I can't wait, this is my first formal training class too. I'm going to try to meet them Saturday morning at 630 at the IHOP. I drive a white 4-door F-250 and I will be wearing a camo USF hat. Don't be shy, come up and punch me in the arm if you want and say hi. lol

ETA - Are you bringing your .357Sig to the class? I am bringing my Glock 32 (.357Sig)

 

[Falconeer]

Hay folks! First off, thanks for all the great advice!

MOST IMPORTANTLY

Go there with an OPEN MIND.

Do everything the instructors way. You might have a way that you like better or think is superior but for the duration of the class do things his way, it goes back to the open mind thing above.

Don't be scared to ask questions.

Yer darn tootin!

Drink lots of water. Start drinking extra water the day before. Bring water with you. No one learns well when dehydrated.

Good point. I'll bring water instead of soda. Thanks!

Also, have a plan to practice the things you learn after you get home. As this is your first formal training, you will likely be taught a lot of new skillsets. Budget time/money to getting out and regularly drill what you have been shown. You'll get a lot more out of the weekend than if you don't touch the stuff again until your next class.

Good idea! Help reinforce everything while it's still in my mind.

Since you'll be taking the class in the 'Swamp' don't forget your bug spray - but keep it away from your gun it does wonders for blueing. Band-aids, or new-skin for the blisters/cuts you will get from the continuous loading of your mags.

Rgr that on the bug spray. I have an HKS loader for my mags which takes the ouchies out.

1. Get a pair of shooting gloves - something like these from Uncle Mike's, or if you can't find them, a pair of thin neoprene officer's gloves from a police supply store, cutting off the fingers as needed. The gel inserts in shooting gloves really help reduce accumulated pain in your hands over a thousand rounds or so.

Good idea! I'll pick up a pair on my home from work tonight.

Remember the sun block, too! Your average outdoor range doesn't have a lot of shade, and you won't enjoy your Day 2 very much if you get a sunburn on Day 1.

Good idea!

Make sure you bring factory magazines!! I took a class once with mags that worked fine at the range, but with dirt in them ("empty mags ALWAYS hit the ground, got it?"), I got stuck followers, misfeeds, the works.

I only use factory mags (or Mec-Gar which is the same thing), but one of them may have a problem holding back the slide when empty. Thanks for reminding me; I'll load them up with snap caps and manually cycle and see if it's a consistent problem. I'll see if the local gun store has any P229 mags in stock, perhaps pick up another.

Randy is a great guy. Lucky you!

In a bunch of ways! My wife doesn't understand why I want to spend $425 to go shoot, but I'm getting to do it.

Don't be surprised when Randy starts off with stuff that is so basic it seems ridiculous. Pay attention, because each step has a teaching point. I've taken many classes, but THG 101 is the one I keep retaking.

I've heard that a lot; people retake TH101 numerous times and always get more out of it. I'm lucky in that he comes through Southern Exposure fairly often and I live close by.

definitely take a cleaning kit and some RemOil wipes. You will be sweating and you probably will want to be able to wipe you guns down. I would also take some baby wipes as they will allow you to wash you hands, and or/face when needed.

I'm taking my Otis tactical kit and CLP. Good idea on the baby wipes. I hate having my hands dirty.

Hey Falcon! I'll see you there! I can't wait, this is my first formal training class too. I'm going to try to meet them Saturday morning at 630 at the IHOP. I drive a white 4-door F-250 and I will be wearing a camo USF hat. Don't be shy, come up and punch me in the arm if you want and say hi. lol

ETA - Are you bringing your .357Sig to the class? I am bringing my Glock 32 (.357Sig)

Coolness! I live fairly close by so I'll probably eat at home and meet at the range. I'll be in a blue 'booney hat'. I will be bringing the P229 and a metric buttload of 357 Sig.

 

[mcg-doc]

Be ready to become a window-liker on a short bus!

 

[Falconeer]

Be ready to become a window-liker on a short bus!

Ack! I've seen the pics on the Southern Exposure site! I'll be sure to check my shoes.

 

[crofrog]

Coolness! I live fairly close by so I'll probably eat at home and meet at the range. I'll be in a blue 'booney hat'. I will be bringing the P229 and a metric buttload of 357 Sig.

Eat with your classmate's. It's often a good experince.