Train as you fight?

[MNine]

I am getting ready to take a tactical rifle course. We need our own rifle/ carbine and a handgun as well.
I plan on taking my M4gery but I am torn between taking my 1911 or M9 w/me.
The reason is that I am in an National Guard MP unit and we are issued M4s and M9s, but I just plain enjoy shooting the 1911 more.
Am I better off taking the class with the M9 because that is what I am issued on deployment or will I get the equivilant results taking the 1911 along?
If only the Army stuck with the 1911! (a thread thrashed already!)

 

[ACP230]

If you are going to be deployed soon and will carry the M9, I'd shoot it in the course.

If not, I don't think shooting the 1911 would be a big mistake.

I just went to a two-day course last weekend. Because I'm considering starting to carry my BHP I shot that.
I brought a Colt Commander 9mm along, in case I changed my mind, but never used it.

 

[Rob Pincus]

Train like you want or are likely to fight... and make sure that what you want is practical, efficient and works with what your body does naturally. Since you are issued a double/single 9mm Beretta, you should want to learn how to fight with it.

The fundamentals of combat shooting and tactics are the same regardless of what type of weapon you use, but the details of weapons handling will be different for the two weapon systems you mentioned.

 

[CAS700850]

Use the Beretta. Odds are, if you are deployed, the skills you gain will be very useful. The trigger time with the DA/SA a plus.

 

[MNine]

Yeah that was the debate going on for me. I'll use the M9. It does make sense from a training standpoint. Besides, the plus is it is a course concentrating on rifle skills anyway!

 

[Jeff White]

Take the Beretta 92F. I faced the same decsion a couple weeks ago when I took my son through Pat Rogers' carbine course in preparation for his deployment. I could have let him take one of my 1911s and I know he would have shot it better, but the chance of someone handing him a 1911 in Iraq is pretty slim (he's a gunner on an M2 Bradley IFV). So he used my Beretta 92F.

Rob is absolutely right, the manipulation of the M9 is very different then that of the 1911. You don't want to develop a lot of muscle memory on one system then use another in combat.

Jeff

 

[Moondoggie]

Defintely take the M9!

There are a couple of active duty Army folks who shoot 3-gun with my IPSC club. They always shoot in their tactical gear, and never shoot the course for speed. They always reload behind cover/concealment and never charge through doors like the other "gamers" do. For them, this is training not playing.

Same goes for some of the LEO's at local matches...you can tell that they are preserving their tactical skills vs. gaming for time; and nobody faults them for it.

 

[Johnny_Yuma]

Take the M9

Your results from the training will show in your Guard duty and you are more likely to have to do it "for real" in your official duties. With quality training you will find yourself becoming pretty confident when you don your utilities and gear.

I do almost all of my practice and training with my carry weapon. The result: I am very confident in my abilities and in my gear. I know for a fact that my Glock 23 will shoot 2 inches high of POA at 25 M and dead center left to right. At 15 M it's about 1 inch high and pretty much dead on from 10 M on back. I know my gear and I am really, really good with it because I train with it. I've got some other weapons I enjoy shooting better. But I'm the best shooter I can be when I'm with my Glock.