Thunder Ranch DVD's

[dovedescending]

From what I understand Clint Smith is highly respected and an excellent instructor. His videos are a little pricey, though, and I don't want to buy them unless I know for sure that whatever he says can't be found for free online somewhere else. I know he has to make a living, but I'm on a budget.

Also, if you had to choose 2 (or if you must 3) of his DVD's, which ones would you choose?

 

[cleardiddion]

I've got the a few of his DVD's ripped. They're alright I guess.

What I have at the moment is urban rifle and defensive handgun.

 

[Hann]

I've seen several of the videos and they are good training aids in my opinion, they can introduce you to concepts so you are familiar with them when you eventually do receive live training (which you should do). Clint will even tell you in the videos that they are training aids and not a substitute for real, live training.

All the videos I have seen are broken up into a lecture portion and a range portion. You may find the lecture portion boring and be tempted to skip straight to the range portion but watch it anyway, it has as much, if not more good information than the range portion. The range portion also builds on what is covered in the lecture portion, keep that in mind.

If I were going to pick only two it would probably be Defensive Handgun and Urban Rifle.

 

[Glamdring]

Do they offer anything useful outside of very basic basics?

I have taken a few classes and have several videos. But Southnarc's video is the only one I have that I feel was really worth the money for anyone that has some actual training.

If your just starting out most of the name ones are okay to good, but I have gotten a couple of shotgun DVD's from well known instructors and the DVD covers LESS than what I have done on my own.

Just one example, I went through the trouble of pattern testing one of my shotguns with OO buck at 1 pace intervals from 5 yards out to 25.

That way I knew what difference a step or two could make, part of the reason I don't like buckshot for anything outside of average room. Note this was done BEFORE flitecontrol loads were around.

 

[Wheeler]

At the risk of starting a flame war, I think Clint Smith is a much better marketer than firearms trainer. After watching his handling of revolvers and smaller "back-up" style guns on a segment shown on PDTV, I was underwhelmed with his his handling abilities and marksmanship. If you're gonna teach it, you should be able to do it.

Wheeler