Run and gun practice?

[HI express]

I know that if we stick to the licensed gun ranges, you seldom if ever are allowed to 1) draw and shoot 2) move and shoot.

Other than the commercial gun courses and competition shooting, how many of you get to practice shooting on the move? If so, isn't this more practical than standing and punching holes in paper?

I see this on TV news and programs that show the LEOs practicing house entries and other realistic scenarios. So they are better prepared to deal with real life incidences, right?

So how do us average guys get that kind of training and practice?

 

[Joejojoba111]

Is there a high liklihood of tripping? Maybe air pistols or something would be better?

I wonder what percentage of people shoot themselves while trying to do a somersault... 30?

 

[SRYnidan]

I guess it depends on where you live. Here in Las Vegas NV we just go to the oudoor range and shoot.
At my gun club we shoot IPSC, IDPA, Paladin, Submachine gun as well as the more sedate disaplines.

 

[.45&TKD]

Competition. The Rio Salado Range in Mesa AZ has Tuesday Night Steel with multiple targest and modest changes in position. And yes it is more practical.

When I first saw your thread I thought you might be suggesting running longer distances and then engaging targets to accustom yourself to shooting while under physical duress; which might be a good thing to practice, although I do not know where you could do that.

 

[Zak Smith]

You either find a range that isn't lame, or use monthly/weekly competitions as a vehicle to get it accepted.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Other than the commercial gun courses and competition shooting, how many of you get to practice shooting on the move?

I get to drive between 2 hours and 45 minutes to do it; but I usually practice this about once a month or so. I've been slacking on my pistol lately and working on rifle more.

If so, isn't this more practical than standing and punching holes in paper?

I think so.

So how do us average guys get that kind of training and practice?

Zak's reply pretty much nailed it. You either find a range that will work with you or you start attending IDPA, IPSC, SASS or other related competitions. Often the ranges that allow this activity are private or don't go out of their way to advertise it because they do not want someone whose sole training consists of having seen both Lethal Weapon AND Die Hard trying to "teach themselves"

Attending competitions sponsored by the organizations mentioned above and talking up the local participants can often lead you to ranges where you will be allowed a little more latitude in your practice.

If you don't have any of those groups locally, then it is up to you and anyone else you can get interested to do the grunt work to start one.

 

[ScorpioVI]

how many of you get to practice shooting on the move?

*raises hand*

I hate to brag, but even while I'm living in one of the most liberal area of northern California, I still manage to find plenty of venues to do action/tactical pistol shooting. If I wanted to, I can go to a action/tactical pistol match of the USPSA/IPSC/IDPA every weekend within a 1.5 hours drive.

My club also runs the municipal range for the city. Club members who volunteer as range officers have 24/7 access to the range. Sometimes I'd be up at 2:00AM in the morning, can't sleep, I'd go to the range, set up some drills and, pop a few rounds. The best part is that range is only 5 minutes from my house.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

HI Express, you didn't exactly say where you are located, so it is hard to try to help you. As noted, there are ranges out there. In the DFW area, there are at least 3 commercial ranges that allow shooting on the move with pistols, two of which allow work with rifles and shotguns as well. Beyond that, there is at least one additional range that allows limited shooting on the move work with various platforms.

Even so, I found that ranges still often have a variety of restrictions, some of which are very good for safety and some that are not so good for training.

So, the cops have a place to practice. It is their private range or one leased or shared for that activity. If you are the average Joe, then maybe you should consider such an option or buy your own land.

 

[YammyMonkey]

Over the last few years I've gotten in the habit of joining actual shooting clubs instead of visiting open to the public ranges. The clubs I've seen tend to have one or two "informal" ranges where, as long as you're safe, you can shoot what and as you please. I'd suggest doing a complete search of your local area, some clubs are pretty reasonable fee-wise; $120/year is the most I've paid for any of the 3 I joined.

 

[AZLibertarian]

Yep. This is one of the best things about--in my case--IDPA matches. I don't give a rat's behind about my score vs the rest of the group--or even my score against myself (within reason). I like that I can practice what I hope I never have to do in real-life, and equally importantly, not practice what I shouldn't do (stand up square to the target, take my time to carefully align the sights, and shoot from the open). Movement adds quite a bit the the whole thingi.

 

[Chris Rhines]

If a shooting club has a practical pistol program, then it has the facilities to practice shooting on the move. Find out which local clubs have IDPA and USPSA programs, and approach them about becoming a member.

Also, dryfire. I do 90% of my draw and movement practice at home, with an unloaded gun and 1/3-scale IPSC targets.

- Chris

 

[Smoke]

Got my own range. My rules. Shoot how I want, when I want. Move, static, handuns, long guns, transitions. Low light.

It's great.

Smoke

 

[Hardtarget]

I have a range on my parents small farm. We've done some of the shoot under duress type stuff. I stand at the shooting position as the shooter runs to rasie their heart rate. When they get to the shooting position I hand of the gun and they "do their best". It's fun... and I don't do very well. Need more practice. We also use plastic 5 gal bucket lids for moving targets. Rolled on the ground from safe concealment, they are good for two or three shots per roll. Its hard to do much more than that safely on our place. Like everywhere...more and more people living closer than in the past.
Mark.

 

[GRB]

Is there a high liklihood of tripping?

If you mean does that make it potentially more dangerous, maybe. I have fallen while shooting on the move, my gun remained poinbted in a safe direction, my finger came off the trigger and so on. If you are well versed and trained in firearms safety then shooting on the move at a proper range is not all that dangerous if well supervised. I ahve seen quite a few people stumble while shooting on the move, or simply while moving between targets on a tactical course while not actually shooting at that moment. One gu let loose with a 3 round burst out of aHK MP5, all the bullets went down range where they should have gone. Follow gun safety rules, and even if you fall flat on your face the chances are that the gun will be pointed in a safe direction and it will not go off, but if it does go off and you had it pointed right, well then it probably will be ok. The whole thing about learning to shoot while on the move, and learning to shoot at moving targets is that you are learning how to better handle your forearm. Try shooting on the move sometime while a firearms instructor supervises you. Shoot at stationary targets and see what you hit. You may be surprised at how much practice you will want to get.

 

[bill2]

I don't know about where you live, but here in the bay area in CA (I shoot at Chabot gun club) there is also 3 gun competion, using a varity of situations to test your skill with pistol and either shotgun/rifle. a great way to do some shooting beyond that of the average range. also IPSC, PPC. lots of ways to do this.

check out http://3gungear.com/ for some info and gear that you can buy.

 

[Kor]

I shoot IDPA every month, and second all the above recommendations for the same reasons.

As far as the tripping with a loaded gun thing goes, I've done it once, by accident...and as I felt myself going down, the uppermost thought in my mind was, "KEEP THE MUZZLE DOWNRANGE!!!" The rest of my squad told me that I slid a couple of feet in a picture-perfect Israeli-commando-style belly-flop onto the ground, finger off the trigger, and one guy suggested that instead of getting up to move to the cover position I had been running to, I should have just engaged the threat targets from prone.

As Glenn mentioned, as long as YOU are well-drilled in gun safety, and as long as you are properly supervised(as you WILL be if you shoot IDPA or IPSC), everything will be copacetic(except for the road-rash you might get if you're wearing shorts and a T-shirt like I was ).

 

[EricO]

Scorpio wrote, "... have 24/7 access to the range."
----------------
Now, that is unusual, being 24/7 within the Bay Area. I'm thinking that this may be the indoor 10th St. range, the one near the skating rink? Is this the range you wrote of? I've been in one class there, and then also had the opportunity to go there as a guest at an "off-time" and do some practice, including some low-light since the lights can be controlled. Not many places that one can practice at 0200 due to the noise. Definitely a big bonus. I'm jealous if that's the place you're writing of .
EricO

 

[ScorpioVI]

Now, that is unusual, being 24/7 within the Bay Area. I'm thinking that this may be the indoor 10th St. range, the one near the skating rink? Is this the range you wrote of? I've been in one class there, and then also had the opportunity to go there as a guest at an "off-time" and do some practice, including some low-light since the lights can be controlled. Not many places that one can practice at 0200 due to the noise. Definitely a big bonus. I'm jealous if that's the place you're writing of

Why the jealousy? You obviously know someone from the club, if you've been a guest there before. Ask that person to sponsor you into the club and you can have the same benefits.

 

[EricO]

Gotcha. You're right, of course, but I'm north of you and it's not as convenient. Besides, I've lost contact with the person. Not sure if he's still in the Bay Area. Anyways, didn't mean to come off the wrong way with my comment. Just noting that that's a fine setup! Enjoy!
EricO

 

[Harlie]

Regardless of

What it takes to practice your moving and shooting. Do it, as there is no other way to learn, to learn, especially, what you don't know, about what you thought you did know. IDPA, USPSA, IPSC or a training facility/school. Some people think it is easy and you'll do it naturally. A lot of LEO academies don't teach shoot and move, if they do, only at basic level. This stuff requires a intensive dedicated effort, to shoot accurately and to do so effectively while moving, recommend not waiting very long to start as time is required to become profrecient.

 

[BHPshooter]

I know a certain THR moderator who told me that he does some of his dry-fire practice while running on the treadmill. Wish I would have thought of that.

As far as actual live-fire practice, I shoot in the boonies, so I could "shoot and move" if I wanted to... I usually don't, however. It's something i should work on.

Wes

 

[CanteTinza]

I might have taken the poster wrong, but I think he is talking about shooting while moving, which I have not seen anywhere but at schools. I admit I am not very active in IDPA, IPSC etc. but from what I have done it's moving from one place to another then shooting.