My Range Won't Let Me

[scottishclaymore]

For the month of December over at the Gentleman Adventurer (my personal, somewhat multi-topic blog; gun posts are on Wednesdays ), I’ll be posting a series of excerpts and photos from a new eBook I’m working on entitled My Range Won’t Let Me. The purpose of the book is to help establish meaningful training exercises for “normal” shooters – every day people who need to develop and maintain actual gunfighting skills but do not have access to a gun range that will allow them to do such things as “rapid” fire, drawing from concealment, shooting on the move – basically all the things they don’t appreciate you doing at a normal gun range (usually for good reason).

These exercises will also take into account the fact that most of us have limited budgets for ammunition, and can only expend so many rounds in an individual session. The idea isn’t that you get something for nothing – competency in any skill requires a certain level of investment. But I also believe there’s a lot of room for improvement and efficiency in how we spend our range time. And that’s what this eBook is about.

I intend for the eBook to be fairly short. Really, it's just the outgrowth of some thoughts I've had and observations I've made teaching private lessons in the DFW area. It's not intended to be a replacement for high-quality, professional instruction. Rather, I want to supplement that instruction by giving shooters - especially those who aren't gunnies - something they can use to regularly keep their skills sharp, beyond just punching paper at a range. And I want to get feedback from the excellent folks here at the High Road as I go along so that you can call me on my BS when it's BS.

For starters, I'd like your input on three very basic, very general questions:

• What are some things you do to maintain your skills on a regular basis?
  
• What are some frustrations you have with your range time and what are some ways you would like to see it improve?
  
• Is the gun that you carry the most the gun that you shoot the most? Why or why not?

 

[Sam1911]

Hey, this is a really good idea! There's tons of info here in S&T&T about drills, but probably not a whole lot about adapting them to restrictive ranges.

So, obviously there's blue-gun or air-soft (or RIGOROUSLY verified empty gun) drills at home for draw, presentation, retention, etc.

And airsoft can indeed be good for short-range work in your basement drilling shooting from retention or from the ground or from chairs and other realistic scenarios where accessing the gun and being able to shoot with a guy who's just about on top of you are the skills to train.

What else?

 

[Nushif]

A wife with a timer and a dry gun can really help on your draw time, especially on the move.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

1. For me, dry fire is a huge part of maintaining skills, regardless of whether you have a permissive or restrictive range. I prefer to remove all ammo from the room where I am dryfiring and I like to use an old tube TV as a target because in addition to providing different targets and moving targets, those old tube TVs will stop an intermediate caliber rifle round, even in FMJ, should you have an accident.

I also like to begin and end my shooting sessions with basic fundamentals; both to build confidence; but also to ingrain the fundamentals and sharpen any edges that might have gotten sloppy as I concentrated on speed rather than process.

2. My major frustration with range time is that travel time to a range that lets me practice how I want to practice eats up a lot of valuable time - and then I feel obligated to spend at least that much time at the range to make it worthwhile. At least I've got that option though...

3. Yes. It is a reinforcing cycle. You carry what you have confidence in and you tend to have the most confidence in what you use the most.

 

[Jon_Snow]

A wife with a timer and a dry gun can really help on your draw time, especially on the move.

Lacking a significant other with a timer, a video camera can do the same trick.

In answer to scottishclaymore's questions:

1) The next best thing to training for me is competition. USPSA, IDPA, Multi-gun, ICORE, whatever. Find out what’s available locally and you’ll get access to a ton of stuff you can do that a ‘square range’ won’t let you.
2) Transitioning from one target to another is one thing I haven’t been able to do outside of competition.
3) Living where I do, carry isn’t an option, but the handgun I shoot the most is the one I would carry, and will whenever my situation changes. I shoot my 22lr rifles a fair amount too, but that’s just for fun.

I’ll also toss out a couple of thoughts here based on my experience both as a shooter and as a range master.

Never assume that the rules are written in stone until someone tells you so. At my club, and I believe this is true at many club ranges; the range master has final say on the interpretations of the rules. “No rapid fire’ might mean ‘1 shot every 2 seconds’ to one RM and might mean ‘shoot as fast as you want as long as you keep it on paper’ to another. A range which prohibits drawing from a holster may still allow you to reload from mag carriers on your belt. ALWAYS politely ask for clarity on the rules when you show up, before you do any shooting. Be prepared to have them tell you can’t do what you want and don’t take it personally. If you show up on a different day with a different RM, ask again.

If you want to do something that falls in a grey area, plan on shooting when the range is relatively empty. If you came to me when we’re not busy I’d be more willing to let you fudge the rules for two reasons. 1) I can keep a closer eye on you to make sure you’re still being safe. 2) I’m less likely to have someone else demand to be allowed the same privileges because they see you doing it.

If you can’t work something out with the RM, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. For most of us, the draw stroke is a 4 count process. Most ranges only really prevent you from doing step 1, so work on steps 2-4 there and follow that up with 1 shot. Practice steps 1-4, minus the shooting part, at home with an empty gun. If you can’t rapid fire, load 1 round into the gun followed by a snap cap and dry fire a second shot to practice double-taps. Never underestimate the value of dry-fire practice.

 

[SSN Vet]

There's a short answer..... IDPA & roll your own

I've found the crowd in these parts to be very welcoming of guys (and gals) who just want to build skills and arent "pro-competitor" types. Yet you get to shoot right next to some serious pros, who are usually very supportive and helpfull.

Also...

I shoot at an old time "rod 'n gun" club that has self monitored rifle and handgun ranges. While these can be active on the weekends, they are dead as a door nail on weekdays.

I've never had anyone complaign about what I did when I was there alone

 

[scottishclaymore]

Wow, guys. VERY helpful responses.

There's a short answer..... IDPA & roll your own

I've found the crowd in these parts to be very welcoming of guys (and gals) who just want to build skills and arent "pro-competitor" types. Yet you get to shoot right next to some serious pros, who are usually very supportive and helpfull.

This is a great point and it's a major part of my training regimen (both IDPA and handloading). I plan on having a section in the book on how to get the most out of your IDPA training, since it's easy to fall into the trap of doing things that are good for your score but may not necessarily be prudent in an actual gunfight.

I shoot at an old time "rod 'n gun" club that has self monitored rifle and handgun ranges. While these can be active on the weekends, they are dead as a door nail on weekdays.

I've never had anyone complaign about what I did when I was there alone

At my local range, the RO's have actually told me that they "don't care what I do so long as they don't catch me at it." It's nice of them, and I try not to abuse it. Unfortunately not everybody gets to have this same kind of rapport with their RO's.

If you can’t work something out with the RM, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. For most of us, the draw stroke is a 4 count process. Most ranges only really prevent you from doing step 1, so work on steps 2-4 there and follow that up with 1 shot. Practice steps 1-4, minus the shooting part, at home with an empty gun. If you can’t rapid fire, load 1 round into the gun followed by a snap cap and dry fire a second shot to practice double-taps. Never underestimate the value of dry-fire practice.

Sound advice. I like that trick about double-taps. I'll make sure I credit you when I include it in the eBook.

A wife with a timer and a dry gun can really help on your draw time, especially on the move.

That's been my experience as well. My wife is pregnant right now and can't be at the range, so I actually have her doing an entire dry-fire routine at the house right now. The way I see it, it beats no practice at all.

Thanks everybody for all of your helpful responses. I'm looking forward to more feedback.

 

[sidheshooter]

#1, dry fire. I also do precision work every outing; one of my favorite drills is to shoot at a target of little rows of stars at 7 yards with my carry piece, one shot per star. For every miss, I have to buy a buddy a drink (honor system). Teaches me to focus on fundamentals and make each shot count.

I also try to take a class at least every 6 weeks or so; the range I frequent makes this affordable, and the supervised classes can bypass many of the rules (ie; one shot per second, or draw from conceal, etc...)

I don't have any frustrations (aside from days that I don't shoot all that well, of course). I can always find a way to mix it up; do a weak-side only day, etc. That said, the ability to practice barricade and *some* aspects of manipulation might stand improvement, although dry practice can help a lot there as well.

and, yes, my carry gun(s) get the lion's share of range time.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I wish I could be more insightful, but the extreme majority of my practice is done on a private range with 270 degree safe shooting and no restrictions on any weapon or firing style. I'm very lucky. I can have a mini Hogan's alley type set-up and literally run it, firing live ammunition (including rifles).

I will answer this, though:

Is the gun that you carry the most the gun that you shoot the most? Why or why not?

No, it isn't. I don't carry rifles, and I am first and foremost a rifleman. But......I do make it a point to practice with one of my CCW's whenever I am out, even if its just a couple draws and a couple magazines/cylinders emptied.

 

[Paul Gomez]

Here's an article that addresses this very issue.

Practicing in the Resource Constrained Environment by Claude Werner

 

[scottishclaymore]

Paul, thanks for that article. I'll be reading that over lunch today.

Meanwhile, the eBook is coming along very well. Here's an excerpt for one of the early sections in the book, laying down some ground rules for effective practice:

http://gentlemanadventurer.org/2011/12/07/my-range-wont-let-me-the-theory-behind-your-range-time/

 

[mortablunt]

What are some things you do to maintain your skills on a regular basis?

Well, I still practice things such as steadying my aim and trigger pulls with my nerf on a nightly basis.

What are some frustrations you have with your range time and what are some ways you would like to see it improve?

I need more range time and to take a professional course.

 

[Deaf Smith]

claymore,

Get a all metal replica of your gun (holster makers use them to mould the the holsters) and use it for all your practice inside the house. I do that as well as use a soft-air Glock I converted into a laser pistol.

Deaf

 

[scottishclaymore]

Pardon the zombie thread resurrection here, but I just wanted to note that this project has been resurrected in the form of a blog series over at The Excelsior Training Group. I will try to post updates here as I have them.

 

[Jeff22]

article "Drills for the Public Range" by Andy Kemp

http://midwesttraininggroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DrillsForPublicRange.pdf

Andy Kemp of the Midwent Training Group wrote this article for Combat Handguns magazine

 

[Ehtereon11B]

My NEW range lets me do more or less anything I want to. Including draw from concealment, stress shooting, rapid fire and *gasp* pick up brass. And its a free range. Only downsides are its a drive out of the way and paper targets only. No fun reactive, steel, or even soda bottles.

My old range was run by Nazis. No rapid shoot, draw from conceal, had to draw firearm in stages, announce lane hot even when empty, and no brass for the reload bench.

My favorite at home practice is to dry fire with my boresight in the barrel. Its similar to "penny drills" we do in the military to steady your trigger squeeze. You can really see how much you move your weapon in the course of pulling the trigger with a bright laser on the wall.

 

[Skribs]

And airsoft can indeed be good for short-range work in your basement drilling shooting from retention or from the ground or from chairs and other realistic scenarios where accessing the gun and being able to shoot with a guy who's just about on top of you are the skills to train.

Yep! Absolutely agree with this assessment. I'm also curious if this will apply to rifles/shotguns as well as pistols. One of the reasons I own shotguns instead of rifles, even though I'd rather have a rifle, is the only range that "will let me" practice the way I want to will not let me use a rifle.