Bonus Check = Gun Skool???

[Chris Rhines]

Hi all,

Got a nice surprise on Friday - a $500 bonus check. Being a believer in the Law of Found Money, and having a few vacation days left this year, I was thinking about spending it on Gun Skool.

So, I'm looking for advice/suggestions on a shooting class in the DC/VA/MD/PA area. Someplace within driving distance of DC, probably 2- or 3-day format. Carbine? Handgun? Shotgun? Force-Ex? Haven't decided yet.

Brief review of my training to date: two informal 2-day pistol/carbine courses, two 3-day classes at the NRA range (SFI Intermediate Handgun and SFI Practical Carbine), USPSA B Limited. I shoot once a week (or more) and dryfire for half an hour every weekday.

Some places I've looked at:

Blackwater. I'd LOVE to do their Carbine Operator course (5-day carbine/pistol, but mostly stresses the carbine.) It'd be about $1200 exclusive of ammo and travel, but five bills would certainly make a dent... Tactical Pistol I would be fun, too.

Tactical Shooting Academy. I squadded with Daniel Horner at the RM3G, and to say I was impressed would be a drastic understatement. Not sure what class I'd take, though.

FIRE Institute. They offer some interesting tactics classes - I'd probably have to take at least the basic pistol course first to qualify. Tactical Pistol I and Tactics I would be a good combination. The schedule is kind of rough - they don't offer classes as often as I'd like.

Any others I should be looking at? Any advice, reviews, or suggestions? Let's hear 'em!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[spartacus2002]

www.rwva.org in Ramseur, NC (check the forum for upcoming events). The Korean War Sniper School is Dec. 10, only costs $45 in advance and takes one day. You learn basic rifle marksmanship skills, shoot the 25meter Army Qualification Test, and shoot at popup targets from 100 to 500 yards. Lots of fun -- just be sure to bring lunch, lotsa ammo, and dress in layers because it WILL be cold!

I've been to a few of RWVA's events -- lots of fun.

I've spoken to a fellow who went to a couple of these one-day shoots and then spent BIG money at a bigname shooting school for a two-day course -- he felt like there was less bravado and more value at the RWVA shoot.

 

[Norton]

I've been intrigued about the RWVA shoots since I started reading Shotgun News a while back and seeing Fred's articles in there. Then I ran into someone who had been through the whole AQT process at an RWVA and saw that he was shooting sub-MOA with his M1a from every position and I became VERY intrigued

As another suggestion there is this place: http://www.pgpft.com/

It's down below Lewisburg, WV and within spitting distance of my property down there. In fact, while up clearing some brush on our parents' land, Spot77 and I kept hearing gunfire that was atypical of hunting sounds. We asked the fella across the road what was going on and he euphemistically said, 'target shooting"

 

[Trebor]

Pat Goodale is in VA. He's a very accomplished trainer and well regarded. I don't have a link, but do a search and you should find him.

 

[Zak Smith]

The classes put on by Tactical Response are a GREAT value for the money ($150-200 per day, only).

For your background, I would suggest Force on Force. They have two classes scheduled in November (CA/IN I think, and in Jan in WA.. tickets are cheap).

-z

 

[Norton]

Pat Goodale is in VA. He's a very accomplished trainer and well regarded. I don't have a link, but do a search and you should find him.

Trebor,

Pat Goodale's link is in my previous post. His address (office?) says Covington, VA but the facility is between Lewisburg and Alderson, WV.

Glad to hear your positive feedback on Pat....we're (Spot77 and I) going to do some training with him as soon as possible, being as we can camp on my property or our parents' land.

 

[crofrog]

Come to the NC tactical pistol class put on by Tactical Repsonse. I'll be there, not that it means anything.

Here's a link to the calander:

http://www.tacticalresponse.com/training/schedule.php

They are doing an advanced class right after it, as well.
500 should cover Ammo and the class with money to spare if you are shooting a 9 like myself.

Chris

 

[MBane666]

FWIW, my first three choices would be:

1) GUNSITE
2) GUNSITE
3) GUNSITE

Take the 250 pistol class (which I did last week) and get rid of your bad habits.

I can also recommend Firearms Academy of Seattle (which is a LONG way from the East Coast!), Blackwater (which is, indeed, expensive) and Rob Pincus at Valhalla (you'll like Colorado in the winter).

Two you might NOT have thought about but that I can heartily recommend are John Farnam's Defensive Training International. Here's the link to his schedule (http://www.defense-training.com/sched/schedform.html). Johnis the Real Deal. Also, Bill Rogers' Rogers Shooting School (http://www.rogers-shooting-school.com/) in Ellejay, GA — not that far from you and a cheap place to stay. Also, the hardest pure shooting school in America...it ain't fun, but you get better. That why the FBI and the various and sundry SEAL teams go there.

Michael B

 

[Zak Smith]

Is it true that Gunsite does not teach modern isoceles, the most-used grip/stance in USPSA/IPSC, and what most people default to in FOF training?

 

[MBane666]

I took the 250 Pistol last week at shot every single round from isosceles and none of the four instructors said a word. They don't care, as long as you're acing the drills.

Yes, they teach Weaver as a baseline, but they don't hesitate to show you the other techniques and explain the strengths and weaknesses of both. Under Buzz Mills, GUNSITE has become an amazingly progressive school.

When I have the rare opportunity to teach, I draw a lot from the book I wrote with John Shaw in the Back When — if it feels uncomfortable, it probably won't work very well. Isoceles is fast to acquire and platform-independent in the sense that it doesn't matter where my legs and feet are. OTOH, in close-in stuff like house-clearings or working sim drills, I find myself falling back to Weaver for corners or when I want the gun closer to my body as a stability issue. On big boomers like .454s or .475 Linebaughs, I use a very modified Weaver push-pull to try and keep the d&%n things from smacking me on the forehead!

Absorb what is useful...

Michael B