Slow revolver

[Lucky Derby]

Shooting my qual today the "Instructor" made comments about how us revolver guys slowed down the line with reload, as we couldn't reload fast enough. He didn't like having to wait for us. (meaning me as there were no other revolvers.)
I was shooting my 4" Colt Trooper .357, while the rest of the line had autos of one sort or another. I will admit that I was using a light .38 load, but that was the "instructor's" choice, not mine.
This particular stage, the one with a mandatory reload, is 6 rounds standing, reload, shift to kneeling position and fire 8 rounds. Time limit is 25 seconds, although I don't know if time is enforced as well as it should be.
So with the second part of the stage being 8 rounds, I have to do an additional reload than the guys with autos, which are faster to reload, right? That reload is also only two rounds, I'm not allowed to put in a full speeloader full and dump the unused rounds, so I have to line them up to be next in line to fire. I should be a lot slower than the auto guys, right?
Well I had fired all rounds, ejected the empties, benched a cleared weapon and stepped back from the line before the next fastest shooter had fired his last round.
When the "instructor" also saw that I scored a "Perfect" on the entire course of fire he really didn't have much more to say.
So much for a "slow revolver".
I say those other shooters need to learn how to use thier weapons.

 

[Cosmoline]

There are a lot of little tricks you can use to speed up revolver reloads. Indexing the rounds or speed loader to load without looking, learning to load two rounds at a time, learning to do partial ejects and topping off. And of course various methods of ejection with either hand.

 

[Nushif]

Sounds like he had a grudge, or at least a chip on his shoulder. What kind of course was this anyhow?

 

[joneb]

the "Instructor" made comments about how us revolver guys slowed down the line with reload, as we couldn't reload fast enough.

Just practice a little more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsLx5ISBXw4&feature=related

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have to do an additional reload than the guys with autos, which are faster to reload, right? That reload is also only two rounds, I'm not allowed to put in a full speeloader full and dump the unused rounds, so I have to line them up to be next in line to fire.

I can't think of any course with those kind of strange restrictions, especially not locally anyway (we're in the same town)

Was this for a CCW course?...it just sounds strange

 

[BCRider]

That reload is also only two rounds, I'm not allowed to put in a full speeloader full and dump the unused rounds,

I'm with 9mm on this point. Why would you NOT be allowed to use a second speedloader? Yeah, sure you'll have to dump and pick up some live rounds. But that's only because it's a training run. If it were a real live situation you'd load from a speed loader for the first reload, a speed loader for the second and then hold those last 4 in readiness for use "just in case".

If the instructor said you HAD to load by hand he was either a jerk or set you up so he could yank at your chain a little. Hopefully in a good natured way that you may not have caught. Maybe his humor was a little too subtle for you? Is he British by origin by any chance?

 

[Lucky Derby]

This is the qualification for armed security in the state of California. The total course of fire is 50 rounds. You are not allowed to bring more than 50 rounds to the line. This is so that if you miss at one of the longer distances, you can't fix your score by shooting an extra round or three at one of the closer stages. If I had dumped 4 live rounds on the ground, I would be short those four rounds by the end of the course, and be unable to finish. Yes I realize that this is not how things work in the real world, but that is how CA wants it. this was not a requirement of the instructor. It is a requirement of the state of CA.

 

[Lucky Derby]

No he is not British. He is a know it all, I have known him for several years. He is a former Army Ranger who thinks because he was a Ranger he knows everything. No offense intended to any Army Rangers or other service members.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well, I think if the first six go where they are supposed to go, a fast reload becomes less important. At least this has seemed to be the case since revolvers were invented - and reloading was far slower then it is today.

As for the 8-round stage... Why? In the real world you would (I hope) reload with a speed loader, not drop in 2 loose rounds. If you are going to drop from standing (and thereby be unable to move) why not prone, where you would present a smaller target for an opponent?

I have had the good fortune of meeting and knowing a number of individuals who had real-life experience when it came to exchanging bullets in shooting incidents, and without exception they would kick this so-called instructor's butt all over the ballpark. :banghead:

Ah... So all this happened in California. Now I understand, but above points still hold.

 

[slicksleeve]

Good job. I just love it when a guy with a revolver proves to the tacticool crowd that it can still be done.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I know this is gamey and likely to incur the ire of the instructor, but my first thought for a stage that required that kind of ammo management would be to start with two rounds in the gun...already aligned to come up first...and reload with a speed loader after firing the first two.

If he said, "That isn't practical to only start with two rounds in the gun", I would have responded, "Neither is just loading two loose rounds"...but then I don't need a guard card.

This wasn't at Mangum indoor range was it?

 

[BCRider]

If that's the case then it's one of those times when you should just let it slide like water off a duck's back. Do what you have to do to make it through the course and smile innocently at such comments.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

That comment was unprofessional IMO. If he wanted you to reload your revolver faster he could have given you some tips on that.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I agree with that. We hadn't even started shooting yet.
As to the course, it is set by the state. It requires that you start with 6 loaded. The course was set by people who know nothing about guns, or how they are used in a real defensive shooting situation.
The instructor has nothing to do with setting the course of fire. I do not hold him to blame for the poor course, only his poor attitude.


9mm-yes that is the range.