Thank you Springfield Armory and Rob Leatham (long)

[RTFM]

Let me first say what a great day Saturday July 22, 2006. A local (regional) sportsman’s store Sportsman Warehouse had a manufactures day at our local range.

All of the manufactures reps of the lines they carry were there, S&W, Ruger, Thompson, Barrett, Springfield Armory, Glock, Sig, Winchester, Remington, Baretta, Kimber and Taurus.

I know I’m forgetting a few, sorry.

Tetra was there as well giving and performing gun cleaning seminars, allowing owners to bring in their stubborn guns and they would hold seminars on real dirty guns, looked like good stuff, especially using real world cases for the classes.

The fun part of the day was shooting (isn’t it always the fun part…) what the manufacturers provided were their weapons from black powder all the way up to full auto in all calibers and barrel sizes.

So if you were in the market for a new firearm, they were all there to try and compare. You could bring your own ammo, or they sold ammo there (by the box or the single round (at a slightly inflated price, but not too far off in store retail)) and Dairy Queen made a killing with their tow away gut truck – blizzards, water, burgers….. All in the 106deg F Idaho desert! mmmmm

I was looking for a sub-compact 3” for a carry on a motorcycle, and was able to shoot the Glock, Springfield Armory, Taurus. As long as you had ammo you could shoot with a factory rep.

I think because of the heat attendance was down, although for the 5 hours I was there, attendance was approx 150+ constant people milling about, but lines were short, and company was good.

Now on to the GREAT part of the day. For Springfield Armory Rob Leatham was one of the three people attending the companies booth and giving pointers and assistance where needed to the Springfield pistol shooters.

Yup ROB L. was free for the taking so to speak. While coming back to the Springfield booth for my 2nd go round on the XD 3” they halted the firing line for Rob to do a 30+ min show for the attendees, and because I was inside the red tape, live fire area when they called a cease fire, I was allowed to stay and watch up close and personal.

I was no more than 6’ from Rob for the whole display, catching his brass in the chest and feet. Grinning like the Cheshire cat. After the show people went back about their business. No one wanted to shoot the Springfield pistols so I had Rob to my self, personal attention on trigger control, magazine changes and shot placement from none other than Rob Latham.

I’m just flabbergasted. Sure people would come shoot a few rounds, the reps and Rob would talk a little, but they would leave and we would pick up where we left off. Rob, Mark, James (the Springfield reps) and I shot and talked shop for 3 ½ solid hours.

He is a truly nice individual, and a great ambassador to our sport. Rob signed a few of his targets for me and he thanked us as shooters for coming out.

I’ll try to post my pictures (only had my 700k cell phone to snap with…) when I get them off loaded and online.

RTFM



Edit for spelling Rob's name wrong... Bad me... BAAAAAAD ME :banghead:

 

[Jim Watson]

Nice guy like that, you could have spelled his name right. Rob Leatham.

 

[RTFM]

Oh well, things happen huh?

I'll be sure to correct it.

Here are the two "best" pictures I could recover from the phone.

 

[sturmruger]

A lot of people that aren't involved with the shooting sports don't know what a great shooter Rob is. I met him at the NRA annual meeting this year. He was super nice and took some time to talk with me about my shooting techniques. What he can do with a gun really is a thing of beauty.

 

[RTFM]

The bottom picture where he has his hand in the air.
He was about to shoot the "El Presidente'"

Face away from 3 targets, turn draw.
3 in each of the 3
reload
3 in each of the 3
reload
2 in each of the three strong hand only
reload
2 in each of the three weak hand only

all in 10 or less seconds.....

His fastest time on Sat was 6.71

He asked a question about what was the MOST IMPORTANT thing in this drill?

Typical shout outs - "reload speed" - "Shot placement" - "grouping"
He said while all those are good, turning around to face the targets was better....

He said if the buzzer rings and he forgets to turn - no one in the bleachers should move - because movement draws his hand eye reflex....

(Nervous laugh from the bleachers)

 

[cyanide]

Good guy

great shooter

 

[TaxPhd]

He was about to shoot the "El Presidente'"

Face away from 3 targets, turn draw.
3 in each of the 3
reload
3 in each of the 3
reload
2 in each of the three strong hand only
reload
2 in each of the three weak hand only

all in 10 or less seconds.....

His fastest time on Sat was 6.71

Um. . . That is not an El Presidente. An El Prez is two shots on each, reload, and two more shots on each. If what you describe is accurate, it is pretty incredible. 30 shots, 3 reloads, a draw and turn, plus both strong hand and weak hand shooting. Even with world class times on the draw and reloads, that would require split times of about .10 (or less) for EVERY shot, with a limited gun. I'll say it again - pretty incredible.





Scott

 

[IV Troop]

I was there as well. We must have talked or you must have been standing right next to me. My partner and I were posting new targets and shooting Robs guns between demos. His personal XD's have the nicest triggers I have ever shot on a non 1911 gun.

Didja see some guy teaching a couple of people how to properly run a full auto M4 with a can on it?

 

[RTFM]

TaxPhd, that's what he called it, hopefully IV Troop can also remember the sequence also. But he shot the above and called the El Pres.

IV Troop, were you the guy(s) trying to help the M4 shooter by having him lean more in to it and placing your hand(s) on his back?
Or were you the shooter?

That's the only one I remember seeing.

It was a great day!

Sending you a PM-IV

 

[buzz_knox]

In June 2000, I was at the Ducks Unlimited show in Memphis. I wanted to try the Springfield Professional, so a bearded factory rep walked me to the line. Three years later, I'm watching American Shooter when this same guy is featured and identified. Yup, it was Mr. Leatham. I rapidly searched my memory to see if I'd said anything stupid (which I probably did). All I could remember was saying "this is how I shoot a 1911. How do you do it?" I don't recall his answer, but it was probably very different than what it should have been. :banghead:

 

[IV Troop]

RTFM, Yep that was me with my hand on his back to make sure none went over the berm. The guy I was teaching has never shot a full auto. He is a buddy. The manufacturer of the suppressor was showing me his design.

 

[RTFM]

Nope Buz you did the right thing, in my eyes.
Rob appears to be a very grounded individual, who connects to real people. I'm sure he's seen his fill of posers and hey look at me types.

Your "this is how I do it - how do you" question is the same as I asked but on rapid mag changes. I asked "Hey Rob, I noticed you move the heel of your hand and palm the mag well out when you change mags... Why? I have always let my Sig mags drop and install vertically"

Is all that it took to spending a few hours with him.

Small world isn't it IV Troop. My friend from Boston is actually planning on coming out next year for the event. He was out here end of June to July 9th and is regretting not coming later now.
Let's hope it happens again next year for year number 3.

RTFM

 

[foob]

Dude share the tips and tricks you learned that day. Even the basics would help.