Rattlesnake
Member
For those who are interested here's my review of Badlands 3-gun course which I took in mid June
Chris
I recently had the opportunity to attend Badlands Tactical Training Center’s 5-day Tactical 3-Gun course. The course was designed after receiving requests that covered handguns, rifles, and shotguns in a more introductory manner than their 5-day specific courses. The course tuition was $500, for a rate of $100 for each day of instruction. Alumni of any Badlands courses have the opportunity to use Badlands ranges when available at no cost.
Badlands is located in the small, quiet town of Grandfield, Oklahoma. People attending courses or shooting at Badlands may stay at dorms located at Badlands’ headquarters. The HQ is located off US 70 right in the center of town and consists of a two story former factory building, dating to probably the 30s-40s. Upstairs is a main dining area/classroom, a small kitchen, two rooms with beds, three showers located in two restrooms. The empty second story factory floor is a training area for various training plans.
The course instructors included Rich Johnson, Robbie Telles, and Mike Harmer. All are/were from the Clovis, NM area, where they had all been employed at Clovis Police Department and served on the SWAT team. Rich is now employed by the Department of Energy. Badlands owner (and Tillman County Sheriff) Bobby Whittington also helped instruct the class.
The class of eight consisted half of interested citizens with no ties with law enforcement, however there were two officers from San Antonio Police Department, one deputy from Tillman County Sheriff’s Office, as well as myself. Experience among students varied from having limited experience with advanced training to having modest advanced firearms training. Most were well versed with pistols and rifles, however some were not quite so experienced with shotguns.
Day one consisted of instructor introductions and what occurs after a shooting. They covered a great circle of events and consequences that occur with a deadly force situation; the fight, the legal aftermath, the media, dealing with family and friends and lastly work/life. We later went out onto the training area where we ran some Tueller drills. The instructors also then had us use cover, distance, and ran their own modifications to the original Tueller drill. After lunch we covered use of force and the OODA loop, which ended up closing the day.
Day two covered pistol shooting. We started shooting at about the seven yard line to get to know where we were at. We were instructed to use the “wall” to our advantage. The “wall” being the trigger pull after all the slack has been taken out of the trigger and additional pressure would cause the firearm to discharge. We were taught after every time we fired to get back on the wall, in the event the target required further engagement. After that instructors started a box drill in which three small boxes were drawn on our targets, each a little larger than a business card. In the first box, we were required to hold the gun aimed at the box as best we could, as an instructor pulled the trigger, so they could find the trigger reset and wall. The second box we were required to aim at, with our fingers on the trigger and the instructor pulled the trigger for us. In the third box we were required to shoot, using the trigger reset and “wall” as we were monitored by an instructor. After that we started shooting out to 50 yards, doing command fire drills, getting used to the wall. We started implementing reload drills, shooting on the move, facing drills, and malfunction/clearance drills. Most of the day consisted of getting more familiar with our weapons.
Day three covered more pistol. We again started out shooting at 10-15 yards and after getting warmed up and ready, we moved our target stands. The targets were placed in two rows, about 5 yards apart, facing towards inward other, making an isle. Each stand was placed about 2 yards of the one next to it and were arranged in a checkerboard pattern, in which a target would face the opening, across the isle, between target frames. We then stood in the space between frames facing the target across the isle. To visualize it, the Xs below are the shooters and brackets the frames. Carrots indicate direction of fire:
[
X> ]
[
X> ]
During the course, instructors would walk up and down the isle while issuing commands to fire. If we did not have a shot, we not to make a shot, keeping in mind the meter rule. After that we did what was named “Moving Chaos.”
Our targets were moved back to the line and everyone lined up on the 10 yard line. After counting off, the odd numbered students moved to their target frames and faced away from the targets. On the command of move, all the students were to move in their lanes either towards their target or away from their target and would turn around either at the 10 yard line or when they reached their target, continuously moving. On the command of fire, we were to immediately engage our target, including turning around to address the target.
After running it for some time, we went back to basics, learning different shooting positions, such as California kneeling, braced and un-braced kneeling, and prone, and shot out to 50 yards before lunch time.
Later that afternoon, we ran scenarios from Clovis PD’s assessment. Instructors also started placing greater stress on us. Before starting the scenarios they’d devise ways of trying to get us off our level. Several guns were field stripped then had to be assembled while being yelled at. One guy was a Glock guy and was running low on ammo. He was given the choice of using his pistol with an unknown amount of ammo or shooting a pistol he had never handled with all the ammo he could carry. He took the guaranteed ammo. One guy’s glasses were taken and placed on a barricade, before starting the course. After running several different scenarios, we were instructed to get our carbines. We then checked and shot our zeros to 50 yards, concluding the day.
Thursday, day four, consisted of carbine work. We started out shooting groups at 10-15 yards, then started shooting from the “wall” and focusing on trigger reset. We shot some triangle, square, circle drills, which at first did not go off well. We finally got used to the instructions and got better at it. We also went over rifle malfunctions, clearance drills, and transitions. After several instructional evolutions we did Moving Chaos, with the instruction if we encountered rifle problems to transition to pistols. After doing that for some time and getting more ammo, we did it again but with the instructors calling out rifle or pistol, dictating transitions.
Later that afternoon, barricades were bought out and we ran some more of Clovis’ PD’s assessment drills. We practiced shooting over, under, around, and through different barricades, using rollover prone, scuba prone, kneeling, fighting from the ground up. An Isuzu trooper was brought out and some took the opportunity to shoot from a vehicle. Make sure to have your ears on for that! Due to the warm temperatures and high humidity the day was ended a little early. We, as students were given the choice of sticking it out longer in the heat and finishing the rifles or going home early and finishing rifles up on Friday. We went home early!
Day five was the last day of the course. We redid some of the things we did on Thursday, shooting Moving Chaos again, and doing more shooting on the move, including lateral movements. Rich also had us shoot our pistols while holding the slide with our weak hand, putting our thumb behind the slide to show the pistol would still function. Later in the morning we did some more stress drills, including what TJ called a “cheap parlor trick.” We grounded our rifles at the 50 yard line and rallied right in front of each of our targets. We cleared our pistols and field stripped them into major components. The slides went on the ground at the 15 yard line, the barrels on the 20, frames on near the 30, with ammo on the 5 yard line. We lined up in front of our targets and on Rich’s order, did 10 pushups, 10 sit-ups, jumped up ran down and put our pistols together and addressed our targets. After holstering our pistols we disassembled our rifles and did the same thing. All of us started to put our rifles together, that is until Rich got our attention and shot a target, with his 1911. The purpose of the evolution, use a gun which is up and running to address the target rather than screw around with something.
We did some addressing targets from the ground up as if we had been attacked and ended up on the ground. To add some emphasis, Rich had me lay in a fetal position and fell on me, deadweight, as if a body had landed on me. He did a similar incident with another police officer, while with another student he started screaming about a hurt child and grabbing at the student's waist from behind.
Friday afternoon we pulled out the shotguns. As I elaborated earlier, some were not quite so experienced with shotguns and a refresher took place before any shooting. We then went out and patterned our shotguns. We practiced a couple hostage-rescue shots to further establish our patterns. Rich, Robbie, and Mike had us practicing tac loads, speed loads, and select loads. They had us shooting out to 50, 75 yards in no time with slugs. Rich also showed how it was possible to skip rounds of the ground. To finish the day off, Rich and Robbie had Tom and I demonstrate a possible solution to the Hollywood shoot out. We both loaded our shotguns down and approaching a single target with about 45 degree spread between us, emptied our shotguns into the target as we approached. Cool stuff.
After concluding the day we debriefed the course, as the instructors had done everyday before. No great issues were lodged about the course which I, at least, can recall.
Some of the things I saw:
Some guns went down, but the instructors hooked them up with some gear.
Instructors debriefed everyday, asking the pros and cons of each day, from every student. They were very articulate and could dumb things down so some of us could understand. This is a great idea. Different discussions everyday. It was good to pick their brains and get ideas. They'd also stop by the dorms later and we'd watch Rich's collection of police videos, discussing them as well.
No night shoot. Some guys were wanting to do this, yet it did not happen. I could go either way on it; it didn't bother me much either way.
The instructors admitted to running the course by the seat of the pants. There was no real curriculum and situation dictated the evolutions they had us perform.
Rich, Robbie, and Mike wanted us thinking on our feet. Example being the "cheap parlor trick." The whole premise of the course is to make us aware, so we can attempt to avoid situations, yet prepare us for the time we "find a guy sitting on the hood of your car flicking a knife."
Conclusion: For a self proclaimed “Poor boy” operation, it was an outstanding course and I’m not saying that to hookup with Bobby’s daughter, Allie, either. The instructors were very knowledgeable and offered very good explanations, for instance why the standard defensive response is two rounds. Just ask them! I am recommending other guys I work with and know to take courses there. Very affordable, great instruction. Thanks Badlands for the great course! See ya later this year.
Chris
I recently had the opportunity to attend Badlands Tactical Training Center’s 5-day Tactical 3-Gun course. The course was designed after receiving requests that covered handguns, rifles, and shotguns in a more introductory manner than their 5-day specific courses. The course tuition was $500, for a rate of $100 for each day of instruction. Alumni of any Badlands courses have the opportunity to use Badlands ranges when available at no cost.
Badlands is located in the small, quiet town of Grandfield, Oklahoma. People attending courses or shooting at Badlands may stay at dorms located at Badlands’ headquarters. The HQ is located off US 70 right in the center of town and consists of a two story former factory building, dating to probably the 30s-40s. Upstairs is a main dining area/classroom, a small kitchen, two rooms with beds, three showers located in two restrooms. The empty second story factory floor is a training area for various training plans.
The course instructors included Rich Johnson, Robbie Telles, and Mike Harmer. All are/were from the Clovis, NM area, where they had all been employed at Clovis Police Department and served on the SWAT team. Rich is now employed by the Department of Energy. Badlands owner (and Tillman County Sheriff) Bobby Whittington also helped instruct the class.
The class of eight consisted half of interested citizens with no ties with law enforcement, however there were two officers from San Antonio Police Department, one deputy from Tillman County Sheriff’s Office, as well as myself. Experience among students varied from having limited experience with advanced training to having modest advanced firearms training. Most were well versed with pistols and rifles, however some were not quite so experienced with shotguns.
Day one consisted of instructor introductions and what occurs after a shooting. They covered a great circle of events and consequences that occur with a deadly force situation; the fight, the legal aftermath, the media, dealing with family and friends and lastly work/life. We later went out onto the training area where we ran some Tueller drills. The instructors also then had us use cover, distance, and ran their own modifications to the original Tueller drill. After lunch we covered use of force and the OODA loop, which ended up closing the day.
Day two covered pistol shooting. We started shooting at about the seven yard line to get to know where we were at. We were instructed to use the “wall” to our advantage. The “wall” being the trigger pull after all the slack has been taken out of the trigger and additional pressure would cause the firearm to discharge. We were taught after every time we fired to get back on the wall, in the event the target required further engagement. After that instructors started a box drill in which three small boxes were drawn on our targets, each a little larger than a business card. In the first box, we were required to hold the gun aimed at the box as best we could, as an instructor pulled the trigger, so they could find the trigger reset and wall. The second box we were required to aim at, with our fingers on the trigger and the instructor pulled the trigger for us. In the third box we were required to shoot, using the trigger reset and “wall” as we were monitored by an instructor. After that we started shooting out to 50 yards, doing command fire drills, getting used to the wall. We started implementing reload drills, shooting on the move, facing drills, and malfunction/clearance drills. Most of the day consisted of getting more familiar with our weapons.
Day three covered more pistol. We again started out shooting at 10-15 yards and after getting warmed up and ready, we moved our target stands. The targets were placed in two rows, about 5 yards apart, facing towards inward other, making an isle. Each stand was placed about 2 yards of the one next to it and were arranged in a checkerboard pattern, in which a target would face the opening, across the isle, between target frames. We then stood in the space between frames facing the target across the isle. To visualize it, the Xs below are the shooters and brackets the frames. Carrots indicate direction of fire:
[
X> ]
[
X> ]
During the course, instructors would walk up and down the isle while issuing commands to fire. If we did not have a shot, we not to make a shot, keeping in mind the meter rule. After that we did what was named “Moving Chaos.”
Our targets were moved back to the line and everyone lined up on the 10 yard line. After counting off, the odd numbered students moved to their target frames and faced away from the targets. On the command of move, all the students were to move in their lanes either towards their target or away from their target and would turn around either at the 10 yard line or when they reached their target, continuously moving. On the command of fire, we were to immediately engage our target, including turning around to address the target.
After running it for some time, we went back to basics, learning different shooting positions, such as California kneeling, braced and un-braced kneeling, and prone, and shot out to 50 yards before lunch time.
Later that afternoon, we ran scenarios from Clovis PD’s assessment. Instructors also started placing greater stress on us. Before starting the scenarios they’d devise ways of trying to get us off our level. Several guns were field stripped then had to be assembled while being yelled at. One guy was a Glock guy and was running low on ammo. He was given the choice of using his pistol with an unknown amount of ammo or shooting a pistol he had never handled with all the ammo he could carry. He took the guaranteed ammo. One guy’s glasses were taken and placed on a barricade, before starting the course. After running several different scenarios, we were instructed to get our carbines. We then checked and shot our zeros to 50 yards, concluding the day.
Thursday, day four, consisted of carbine work. We started out shooting groups at 10-15 yards, then started shooting from the “wall” and focusing on trigger reset. We shot some triangle, square, circle drills, which at first did not go off well. We finally got used to the instructions and got better at it. We also went over rifle malfunctions, clearance drills, and transitions. After several instructional evolutions we did Moving Chaos, with the instruction if we encountered rifle problems to transition to pistols. After doing that for some time and getting more ammo, we did it again but with the instructors calling out rifle or pistol, dictating transitions.
Later that afternoon, barricades were bought out and we ran some more of Clovis’ PD’s assessment drills. We practiced shooting over, under, around, and through different barricades, using rollover prone, scuba prone, kneeling, fighting from the ground up. An Isuzu trooper was brought out and some took the opportunity to shoot from a vehicle. Make sure to have your ears on for that! Due to the warm temperatures and high humidity the day was ended a little early. We, as students were given the choice of sticking it out longer in the heat and finishing the rifles or going home early and finishing rifles up on Friday. We went home early!
Day five was the last day of the course. We redid some of the things we did on Thursday, shooting Moving Chaos again, and doing more shooting on the move, including lateral movements. Rich also had us shoot our pistols while holding the slide with our weak hand, putting our thumb behind the slide to show the pistol would still function. Later in the morning we did some more stress drills, including what TJ called a “cheap parlor trick.” We grounded our rifles at the 50 yard line and rallied right in front of each of our targets. We cleared our pistols and field stripped them into major components. The slides went on the ground at the 15 yard line, the barrels on the 20, frames on near the 30, with ammo on the 5 yard line. We lined up in front of our targets and on Rich’s order, did 10 pushups, 10 sit-ups, jumped up ran down and put our pistols together and addressed our targets. After holstering our pistols we disassembled our rifles and did the same thing. All of us started to put our rifles together, that is until Rich got our attention and shot a target, with his 1911. The purpose of the evolution, use a gun which is up and running to address the target rather than screw around with something.
We did some addressing targets from the ground up as if we had been attacked and ended up on the ground. To add some emphasis, Rich had me lay in a fetal position and fell on me, deadweight, as if a body had landed on me. He did a similar incident with another police officer, while with another student he started screaming about a hurt child and grabbing at the student's waist from behind.
Friday afternoon we pulled out the shotguns. As I elaborated earlier, some were not quite so experienced with shotguns and a refresher took place before any shooting. We then went out and patterned our shotguns. We practiced a couple hostage-rescue shots to further establish our patterns. Rich, Robbie, and Mike had us practicing tac loads, speed loads, and select loads. They had us shooting out to 50, 75 yards in no time with slugs. Rich also showed how it was possible to skip rounds of the ground. To finish the day off, Rich and Robbie had Tom and I demonstrate a possible solution to the Hollywood shoot out. We both loaded our shotguns down and approaching a single target with about 45 degree spread between us, emptied our shotguns into the target as we approached. Cool stuff.
After concluding the day we debriefed the course, as the instructors had done everyday before. No great issues were lodged about the course which I, at least, can recall.
Some of the things I saw:
Some guns went down, but the instructors hooked them up with some gear.
Instructors debriefed everyday, asking the pros and cons of each day, from every student. They were very articulate and could dumb things down so some of us could understand. This is a great idea. Different discussions everyday. It was good to pick their brains and get ideas. They'd also stop by the dorms later and we'd watch Rich's collection of police videos, discussing them as well.
No night shoot. Some guys were wanting to do this, yet it did not happen. I could go either way on it; it didn't bother me much either way.
The instructors admitted to running the course by the seat of the pants. There was no real curriculum and situation dictated the evolutions they had us perform.
Rich, Robbie, and Mike wanted us thinking on our feet. Example being the "cheap parlor trick." The whole premise of the course is to make us aware, so we can attempt to avoid situations, yet prepare us for the time we "find a guy sitting on the hood of your car flicking a knife."
Conclusion: For a self proclaimed “Poor boy” operation, it was an outstanding course and I’m not saying that to hookup with Bobby’s daughter, Allie, either. The instructors were very knowledgeable and offered very good explanations, for instance why the standard defensive response is two rounds. Just ask them! I am recommending other guys I work with and know to take courses there. Very affordable, great instruction. Thanks Badlands for the great course! See ya later this year.