possum
Member
Low light training AAR
Why:
Everybody needs low light training, but few do it as much as we should. Either because of the facilities to be able to allow us to do it, or other reasons. Since so many self defense encounters happen in low light or no light situations, it is key that we train in that facet.
Who:
Me, my training partner from the combat focus shooting course, and many training time on our home range, and a buddy of his that he has been training for a while.
What:
Gear:
SA XD Service model, once again the xd performed great and there were no issues of anykind through the training.
7x factory xd magazines, again no issues.
Bushmaster ar with the cmmg .22lr conversion kit, we would not have been allowed to shoot 5.56 in the indoor range but there were no issues with us using the .22lr conversion kit in there. And since we are all in the military it was good to get some low light training with the weapon system that we us in the sand box. There were no issues with the ammo, mags, or ar during the training, approx 250rds were fired through the conversion kit.
Surefire G2 handheld light, performed flawlessly with no issues.
M6, this light on the other hand didn’t want to stay on my xd’s rail for nothing. The thing that gets me is the fact that I have used this exact same light on many occasions in low light. For some reason 2 rounds and the light would come flying off the end, and I would have to transition to the g2 which was good training, and a good lesson that a second light is a must have.
Ammo:
For the XD Reloads, 155gr lead round nose. With 7.0gr unique, and oal of 1.130”. no issues with ammo at all. Went through, 290rds. I was expecting the round count to be much higher. But it was great training with lots of reps.
Other’s gear that was used.
1 sig and another XD was used by the two others, there were no issues at all with the weapon systems, they shot about the same amount of ammo. However both of my training partners used surefire weapon mounted lights the x300 which had no problem staying on the rail of their guns. They as well used surefire handheld lights, with out fail.
Drills conducted.
With all the lights on and around the range out we first we started with low light Familiarization drills with various light holding techniques, syringe, harris, neck index, weapon mounted, and since my weapon light was fubar, I got lots of work with the hand held light.
Next we went on too, doing a little shooting on the move, very basic, forward and back only.
Next we went to shooting behind cover, high, low, right and left etc.
Next we moved onto doing the Tueller drill. First with light and gun in hand, then with only light in hand, then with back to target, then with head shots, then gun and light both holstered. We all got several reps of this. It is a challenge and it is always a good idea to run this drill to remind yourself how much time you don’t have.
Then onto a few shot timmer drills, very few, as too many and you get too into trying to drop your time that you let accuracy go out the window.
Onto the 3 man volley fire drill. Basically there are 3 guys, one turns on the light the other 2 shoot. And you switch off, one man light on, 2 and 3 man shoot, 2 man light on, 1 and 3 man shoot etc.
Last but not least we went into doing the best drill ever created imho, the figure 8 drill. We had 5 targets, all with various numbers, then we went into the 2 man and 3 man figure 8 drills, it makes for a little bit of confusion, but it is a great, solid drill, and it makes you think, while watching out for your buddies, and watching the angles to prevent shoot throughs etc.
Though the handgun was the focus of this training we did do every drill at least once with the ar too.
Where:
Mission essential local indoor range, there are few facilities around that gives us the opportunity to do low light, and I was so glad to have been given the ability to rent the place out for the 3 of us to get some good low ligt training, about 3 hours worth, and it only cost us $20 a piece, they even opened up early for us so nobody would come in and bother us.
Pics to follow.
Why:
Everybody needs low light training, but few do it as much as we should. Either because of the facilities to be able to allow us to do it, or other reasons. Since so many self defense encounters happen in low light or no light situations, it is key that we train in that facet.
Who:
Me, my training partner from the combat focus shooting course, and many training time on our home range, and a buddy of his that he has been training for a while.
What:
Gear:
SA XD Service model, once again the xd performed great and there were no issues of anykind through the training.
7x factory xd magazines, again no issues.
Bushmaster ar with the cmmg .22lr conversion kit, we would not have been allowed to shoot 5.56 in the indoor range but there were no issues with us using the .22lr conversion kit in there. And since we are all in the military it was good to get some low light training with the weapon system that we us in the sand box. There were no issues with the ammo, mags, or ar during the training, approx 250rds were fired through the conversion kit.
Surefire G2 handheld light, performed flawlessly with no issues.
M6, this light on the other hand didn’t want to stay on my xd’s rail for nothing. The thing that gets me is the fact that I have used this exact same light on many occasions in low light. For some reason 2 rounds and the light would come flying off the end, and I would have to transition to the g2 which was good training, and a good lesson that a second light is a must have.
Ammo:
For the XD Reloads, 155gr lead round nose. With 7.0gr unique, and oal of 1.130”. no issues with ammo at all. Went through, 290rds. I was expecting the round count to be much higher. But it was great training with lots of reps.
Other’s gear that was used.
1 sig and another XD was used by the two others, there were no issues at all with the weapon systems, they shot about the same amount of ammo. However both of my training partners used surefire weapon mounted lights the x300 which had no problem staying on the rail of their guns. They as well used surefire handheld lights, with out fail.
Drills conducted.
With all the lights on and around the range out we first we started with low light Familiarization drills with various light holding techniques, syringe, harris, neck index, weapon mounted, and since my weapon light was fubar, I got lots of work with the hand held light.
Next we went on too, doing a little shooting on the move, very basic, forward and back only.
Next we went to shooting behind cover, high, low, right and left etc.
Next we moved onto doing the Tueller drill. First with light and gun in hand, then with only light in hand, then with back to target, then with head shots, then gun and light both holstered. We all got several reps of this. It is a challenge and it is always a good idea to run this drill to remind yourself how much time you don’t have.
Then onto a few shot timmer drills, very few, as too many and you get too into trying to drop your time that you let accuracy go out the window.
Onto the 3 man volley fire drill. Basically there are 3 guys, one turns on the light the other 2 shoot. And you switch off, one man light on, 2 and 3 man shoot, 2 man light on, 1 and 3 man shoot etc.
Last but not least we went into doing the best drill ever created imho, the figure 8 drill. We had 5 targets, all with various numbers, then we went into the 2 man and 3 man figure 8 drills, it makes for a little bit of confusion, but it is a great, solid drill, and it makes you think, while watching out for your buddies, and watching the angles to prevent shoot throughs etc.
Though the handgun was the focus of this training we did do every drill at least once with the ar too.
Where:
Mission essential local indoor range, there are few facilities around that gives us the opportunity to do low light, and I was so glad to have been given the ability to rent the place out for the 3 of us to get some good low ligt training, about 3 hours worth, and it only cost us $20 a piece, they even opened up early for us so nobody would come in and bother us.
Pics to follow.
