Tactical Pistol Reloading Methods by D.R. Middlebrooks

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

OK, Guys, this the 1st of a series of segments on reloading the Fighting Pistol I'd like to present for your review. Here goes:



To be continued...

 

[Al Thompson]

What an utter muddle of justifications for what ever reloading method you'll present. First it's something to do with self-defense, then it's something to do with competition, then it's back to combat with magazine retention. Surprised you didn't mention Operation Gothic Serpent and Katrina too. Bet your going to have folks look at the firearm to reload.

Ever try to look at your firearm to reload at zero dark thirty in the morning? Kind of tough when there's no light.

TTPs that depend on immaculate square ranges with beautiful white fluffy clouds floating in impossibly blue skys fail miserably when it's 0300 and it's raining.

Know how I'd rather train.

 

[David E]

Al, that's harsh and unfair. These techniques are meant to give the student a place to start from.

If there's light enough to identify the target, there's almost certainly enough light to see what you're doing during the reload.

Curious, what range allows you to shoot there at 0300 in pitch black so you can train? In the rain, no less. How can you see your target?

 

[SconnieGirl]

... Surprised you didn't mention Operation Gothic Serpent and Katrina too. Bet your going to have folks look at the firearm to reload. ...

Al, good job with the "eye roll" and "barf" icon - that's super "high road" of you.

 

[taliv]

most trainers i've seen (even on youtube) bring the pistol up into their line of vision (aka workspace) to do mag changes. that way, you can see both. by looking down as shown in the vid, you lose awareness because you have very limited peripheral vision 'up'. most of your peripheral vision is left and right.

David, several ranges allow shooting in the dark. a range not far from me even has flashing blue police lights so officers (and anyone) can practice in realistic lighting conditions. lots of classes and matches incorporating shooting after dark as well.

 

[Bobson]

...for your review.

Glad to help. I won't bother commenting on what Al mentioned. I agree with him, but there are other things to point out.

The big thing, for me, is it comes off really mall-ninja/tacticool-ish. The way you throw the phrase "bad guy" around is a turn-off, and then later you mention getting ammo off a dead guy in the street. I dunno, to each his own, for sure, but I wouldn't proceed to other videos in your series if I was actually looking for training tips, and these are legitimate reasons why.

Alternative? Instead of describing rounds being "pointed toward the enemy" or "pointed toward the bad guy" in regards to orientation in the mag pouch, you could say "pointed downrange." Not only does it come off as more professional (my own opinion), it's also going to apply to all shooters, and not just those who envision themselves slaughtering the world's scumbags.

 

[David E]

"Bad guy" is a turn off? Who knew?

I agree that "Shottie" instead of "shotgun," or "cylinders" instead of chambers are red flags, But "bad guy?" What terms do you prefer? Perp? Scumbag? (Your word) VCA? (Violent Criminal Actor) Miscreant? Assailant? Mugger? What term wouldn't turn you off a trainer?

And bullets pointed down range (which he did say) isn't as correct as "bullets forward."

 

[Bobson]

"Bad guy" is a turn off? Who knew?

I agree that "Shottie" instead of "shotgun," or "cylinders" instead of chambers are red flags, But "bad guy?" What terms do you prefer? Perp? Scumbag? (Your word) VCA? (Violent Criminal Actor) Miscreant? Assailant? Mugger? What term wouldn't turn you off a trainer?

Yes, calling an assailant/threat a "bad guy" is a bit of a turn off for me. I didn't say it's a turn off for everyone, or that Mr. Middlebrooks would do well to focus on a different career and hobby.

And bullets pointed down range (which he did say) isn't as correct as "bullets forward."

My mistake - I missed it the first time.

Also, how is "bullets forward" more correct than "bullets downrange?" Whether you're looking left, right, or straight forward, downrange is always the same thing - forward.

 

[David E]

I don't care to quibble semantics, but some people have a problem with drills and techniques being performed on a square range on sunny days, blah blah. So "down range" might only apply to the backstop of a shooting facility.

Others say "towards the assailant" which isn't specific as the assailant (bad guy) could be behind the non-assailant. (Good guy)

"Bullets facing front" is easy for anyone to understand.

 

[Al Thompson]

Al, that's harsh and unfair. These techniques are meant to give the student a place to start from.

Why start a student out with a sub-optimal technique? Unless they are purely interested in competition, I'd rather work them with a reloading technique that they can use 24/7, 365. And this is Strategy, Tactics and Training, not "road map to Grand Master".

If there's light enough to identify the target, there's almost certainly enough light to see what you're doing during the reload.

That's an assumption. Last time I had to draw on someone, the light for target ID was my flashlight.

Curious, what range allows you to shoot there at 0300 in pitch black so you can train? In the rain, no less. How can you see your target?

Well, the rain seems to come and go around here, so scheduling a rainy day at the range is not much of a chore. As to simulating "darkness", I find that shutting my eyes or killing the lights works just fine and allows me to avoid distributing the neighbors.

 

[David E]

Why start a student out with a sub-optimal technique? Unless they are purely interested in competition, I'd rather work them with a reloading technique that they can use 24/7, 365. And this is Strategy, Tactics and Training, not "road map to Grand Master".



That's an assumption. Last time I had to draw on someone, the light for target ID was my flashlight.



Well, the rain seems to come and go around here, so scheduling a rainy day at the range is not much of a chore. As to simulating "darkness", I find that shutting my eyes or killing the lights works just fine and allows me to avoid distributing the neighbors.

What's sub par about it?

It sounds like your method of training folks NEW TO THIS is to take them out to a pitch black gun range at 0300 in the rain. Yeah, I'm sure there'd be scores of folks wanting to take that class right after they bought their first gun....

Why is it that when someone makes a post about teaching a technique to students, someone immediately has to critique it by saying all kinds of crap that simply doesn't apply to someone learning the technique for the first time?

What is YOUR reloading technique, specifically? What makes it "best?" How fast and consistent is it?

Ok, you practice shooting and reloading with your eyes closed or just reloading?

How do you reload while holding a flashlight?

Look, I'm not saying you shouldn't practice reloading with your eyes closed. (I teach that, in fact) I'm also not saying you should intently focus on your gun during the entire reloading process. But a quick 1/2 second look at the gun could save many seconds and wouldn't compromise keeping track of the threat.

The goal, as D. R. states, is to get your gun up and running as fast as possible. Would you agree with that, Art?
Testing a given technique in matches will reveal how well something does or doesn't work. It's better to discover what doesn't work at a match than in the gunfight.....or do you disagree?

I've shot several matches in pitch dark using a flashlight to illuminate the targets and find my way. Even had to do a reload. I learned a few valuable things without getting shot at. I think that's a better time than when bullets are coming your way.

"I'll figure it out" doesn't work well when you're getting shot at.

 

[Old Dog]

utter muddle of justifications for what ever reloading method you'll present.

Really? I didn't get that from the video.

Why start a student out with a sub-optimal technique?

You're gonna have to explain what's "sub-optimal" about his technique. It seems fairly consistent to a lot of what I'm seeing taught out there (although not what we teach at my department); for beginners, especially, they're gonna have to be looking at the pistol during reloads.
And what's the fuss about the term "bad guy?" Pretty standard at most mil/LE/civilian training courses I've attended -- although I might not have been privileged enough to attend Al's high-speed training classes. For most of us, if we're in an armed deadly force encounter, it's probably a sure bet we're facing a bad guy ... well, maybe the occasional bad boy or bad girl. And we don't take our officers to the range to learn low-light/night shooting until we've gotten past some basics, which is what I took this video to be addressing.

Seems like some of y'all just take yerselves way too seriously.

 

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

This guy looks at the gun when reloading too. But what does he know? Other than being a retired Sgt. Major Delta Force guy who was right in the middle of Blackhawk Down.

 

[Al Thompson]

"I'll figure it out" doesn't work well when you're getting shot at.

My point exactly.

You're gonna have to explain what's "sub-optimal" about his technique.

Old Dog, IMHO, once you get the new student OK with the "magazine goes in magazine well in one fluid motion", I think it's time to start having them ground their shooting elbow on their torso, rotate the handgun inboard so the magazine well points at the magazine pouch and then work with the off hand to reload. With the handgun in the workspace and the firing hand elbow grounded, the handgun will be in the same place, most of the time. This allows the student a reliable, repeatable index. Once they have this down, practice can commence eyes closed, in the (cold) shower if desired.

One caveat - if the shooter isn't getting the hits we expect, I wouldn't worry about teaching reloads other than the basics. I think a prioritized training curriculum with performance standards as gateways is the way to go.

 

[Al Thompson]

Frank Procter. What does he know?

.

 

[David E]

My point exactly.

Which is what, exactly?

Old Dog, IMHO, once you get the new student OK with the "magazine goes in magazine well in one fluid motion", I think it's time to start having them ground their shooting elbow on their torso, rotate the handgun inboard so the magazine well points at the magazine pouch and then work with the off hand to reload. With the handgun in the workspace and the firing hand elbow grounded, the handgun will be in the same place, most of the time. This allows the student a reliable, repeatable index. Once they have this down, practice can commence eyes closed, in the (cold) shower if desired.

One caveat - if the shooter isn't getting the hits we expect, I wouldn't worry about teaching reloads other than the basics. I think a prioritized training curriculum with performance standards as gateways is the way to go.

Your "Look, Ma, No eyes on the gun!" reloading method works great! On a square range....when standing upright......under no stress....

What about when you're running? Crouched behind cover? Yeah, exactly. It SUCKS.

The first issue DR raised was that by not looking, you could discover (eventually) that the mag did NOT drop free of the gun. What's your protocol for identifying, not to mention rectifying that without looking?

The second one was the gun locked open due to a jam, not because you are out of ammo. What's your protocol for identifying and rectifying that....without looking?

The third is that the "eyes on threat/target/bad guy" (all terms DR used in the vid) crowd is that they are slower and sloppier than the folks who steal a fast glance at their gun.

So, again, Art, how fast and consistently do your guys reload without looking at the gun?

Further, what, specifically, are your issues with the three problems DR brings up about reloading without looking at the gun?

 

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

Tactical Speed Reload

The fastest way to drop the slide is by using the slide stop and the off hand thumb. But most stock guns need to be set up with a slightly oversize mag button and slightly oversize slide stop to get it to work. The gun I'm using in the video is a BONE STOCK EAA Witness (made by Tanfoglio) with all factory parts.

Enjoy!

 

[Al Thompson]

So, again, Art, how fast and consistently do your guys reload without looking at the gun?

When they practice, very. Just like gun schools, I can show you the technique, your choice to see if it works for you. I've found that for me, the close in reload works better when running as I don't have to fight the flapping of my arms at extension.

BTW, the name is AL, not Art.

 

[Al Thompson]

The fastest way to drop the slide is by using the slide stop and the off hand thumb.

I would say fastest and most reliable. While I've looked hard at the "pre-loading" (via TLG) of the slide release, I seem to have every now and again an empty chamber. Not so with the off hand thumb and the over-hand method really has issues on pistols with slide-mounted safeties/decockers.

D.R., that was a much better video than the first one.

 

[Ankeny]

Al, that's harsh and unfair. These techniques are meant to give the student a place to start from.

I agree, but then again it's D.R and Fist Fire. Time for everyone to pile on.

 

[Sam1911]

Nope. No need to pile on. Maybe one of these days we'll work on how to communicate and debate without rancor and bruised feelings.

I think that's where some shades of nuance get lost in so many of these discussions and drive folks apart when really they could come to the same point of agreement if they could stand on the range together and discuss.

Should you be able to reload with your eyes shut? Sure! And most of us would, without a bobble.

Is it worthwhile to keep your eyes on the threat? Of course!

Does it make sense to bring the gun up to the "work zone" instead of reloading down at your waist? Yup.

Does having the gun up in your work zone let you see it peripherally and use your visual cues to help complete the task? Sure. Can it also help you identify advanced stoppages and get to fixing them, instead of bulling on through to compound a failure-to-eject sort of problem? Uh huh!

Does having the gun up in your work zone help you by letting you focus on it if there is a need, and still keep the threat vector in your field of view? Yes.

Do any of us advocate REFUSING to look at the gun while reloading? Nope.

Do any of us advocate STARING FIXEDLY at the gun while reloading? Nope.

Does darkness or rain or some other environmental factor negate or refute any of these techniques? Nope.

Are there reasons to do a hand-over slide-release? Yup. Does it work well, and sometimes faster, to do a slide-stop release? Yup.

Could these and a hundred more points of vitriolic contention be sorted out amicably, to the betterment of both novice students, and advanced students (i.e.: trainers)? I sure would like to think so.