Training DVDs - Worth it?

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Let me preface this by saying I try to go to the range and practice, as well as attend real life courses as much as I can and afford, so I'm not really looking for "just go to the range" types of answers. But I am wondering if training DVDs, such as the ones from Magpul, are really worth it as a training aid. Is there any value in watching something at home, and practicing it dry in your living room? Or are firearms skills something that you can really only get from live range practice and real instruction? For those of us who can't afford to attend Magpul courses and such, it seems like the skills taught on DVDs like their "Dynamic Handgun" or "Art of the Tactical Carbine" would be worth knowing. But since by simply watching and emulating, you don't have the chance to be watched and corrected by real instructors. Would that lack of correction and learning the skills while really shooting make it not worth it? Have any of you seen any training DVDs, Magpul in particular, and do you feel they have helped your weapon handling skills?

 

[uspJ]

I think watching and learning what you can from the dvd's would put you ahead of the curve when and if you attended a class. You may still need some adjusting or fine tunning of the techniques. You would allready have a basic understanding of what they were asking of you vs someone who hasn't seen the dvd and is learning everything as they are being taught by the instructors. The time you save having learned what you could in advance may allow you to get even more out of any classes you attend in the future.

A friend let me borrow a tactical shotgun dvd a few years ago, I learned a great deal from it just practicing what I saw, and then applying it when I went shooting. I probably would have benefited even more if I had been able to attend a class or two after learning what I had, but make do with what you've got. There alot of people who don't even practice.

 

[Kuglespritz]

Yes, the Magpul training DVD's are excellent. One of the disks contains drills to do. They are well worth the money!

 

[bensdad]

They seemed to me to be pretty helpful, but I've only watched a couple. I've attended about six formal, paid trainings.

If you are the type who can learn from watching, then they'll be good. If you have to be taught "hands on" then they won't help much. For example, my daughter can watch golf on t.v., then go swing a club like the pros do. My son doesn't get it until somebody stands there and says, "Keep your head down. Arms should be strait, bend at the knees, not THAT much, etc." You even have to put hands on him and make adjustments. If you're like him, then DVD's won't help.

Interesting thing about attending/watching multiple trainers is the subtle differences.

 

[basicblur]

Being much of a self-taught type of individual, I'd say go for 'em!

Lenny MaGill's stuff can be a mixed bag, but I thought the Nightmaster: Low Light Shooting Techniques and House Clearing and Cornering were both excellent (both with Ken Hackathorn and Bill Wilson).
I don't get 'em on cable, so I bought the first 3 seasons of Tom Gresham's Personal Defense TV on DVD. Good stuff, but covers a wide range of topics, and of course doesn't go into nearly as much detail as something like the two DVDs mentioned above.

I think Lenny Magill currently has a 5 for $79 sale going on-not bad, and I'm sure there other good videos at his site?

 

[KellyTTE]

I like them, they have uses to refresh certain drills or movements.

Having said that:

"A picture of a rice cake does not satisfy hunger" - Zen saying

Spend the money and energy and get thyself to a real class.

 

[Trebor]

I think they are best used as a refresher AFTER you have learned the skills in a class.

Take a class, learn the skills with an instructor, and practice the skills on your own. Use the DVD before a range session to help you remember the techniques before your practice sesssion.

That said, a well put together DVD by a good instructor can have a lof of good info.

 

[strambo]

I have done lots of DVD training with firearms and hand to hand combat as well as many live courses in each. The advantages of DVDs are pretty self-evident: you get inexpensive exposure to the best instructors there are.

Ideally in a discipline, you will go to a 3-5 day course from a top school 1st, let's say the Gunsite 556 carbine course. This builds some basic to intermediate skills and starts to burn them into a neural pathway (muscle memory). Then sustain these skills with training at home.

The DVDs come in now because you can expose yourself to new techniques from different instructors and add them in building on an already strong base. I have the Magpul Carbine II Dvds and I took their method of speed reloads, shoulder transitions and urban prone, adding it to my military carbine training.

On occasion I have trained off videos before going to live training. I found I was doing things about 80-90% right when I finally made it to live training. An 80% solution applied with violence of action is better IMO than not having a trained solution yet because you haven't made it to training, yet your critical incident didn't wait for your schedule to clear.

I also believe in buying DVDs from the top instructors in the field....the most expensive are about $49/per. I'd rather have world class instruction @ $49 than so-so from the $19 sale DVD from a less credentialed person.

 

[sidheshooter]

^^^ this

Sounds about right, IME.

 

[mustang_steve]

DVDs are fine to absorb new ideas and concepts...they are education, not practice however.

For example, one can learn in a martial arts class how to deal with two assailants at once, but until in the real deal, you have no idea how brutal such an event will ever be...nor how you will emotionally cope with it. Some people who seem all gung-ho about it will likely curl up into a ball, while the timid may suddenly unleash their inner beast and run them all off. Practice is about learning yourself as much as it is learning the weapon....if you don't challenge yourself, you won't improve.

 

[possum]

some are worth it, and some are not.

The Magpul dvd's are for sure, and for me like dry fire, the vids are agumented with my live fire range practice. i watch the whole video and even though the "basics" or "fundamentals" aren't always fun, or "highspeed" you can never review and practice the fundamentals enough.

 

[basicblur]

I also believe in buying DVDs from the top instructors in the field....the most expensive are about $49/per. I'd rather have world class instruction @ $49 than so-so from the $19 sale DVD from a less credentialed person.

I'll have to let you tell Hackathorn and Wilson they're "less credentialed"!

 

[strambo]

I'll have to let you tell Hackathorn and Wilson they're "less credentialed"!

What does that mean? I didn't mention any instructors...feel free to insert instructors and prices of choice...

I was merely saying not to go with a DVD just based on price, if a top instructor (like off the top of my head; Bill Wilson) has one for $19.99 (or $9.99), great! Another instructor was mentioned as being a "mixed bag"...just sayin' for my dollar I'd usually rather avoid a hit or miss instructor. .

 

[basicblur]

What does that mean? I didn't mention any instructors...feel free to insert instructors and prices of choice…

Well, the aforementioned Night Master and House Clearing DVDs by Lenny Magill (featuring Hackathorn and Wilson) would be $15.80 each at Lenny’s current sale.
Obviously, at that price they can’t be worthy of consideration…

Wait a minute…he could go to Amazon and pay $39.95 each for ‘em!
Personally, I’m waiting for ‘em to raise the price another $10 before I’ll sully my DVD player with ‘em!

Another instructor was mentioned as being a "mixed bag"...

Ah, I see…you understood what you thought I said…
I didn’t say instructor Lenny Magill-I was referring to producer/site owner Lenny.
While he does instruct on some DVDs, if it gets too deep/specialized, he produces using experts in their field (like Hackathorn, Wilson, Ayoob, and others).

I was merely saying not to go with a DVD just based on price…

I can fully agree with that-just because it’s $49.95….

 

[Zip06]

Training tapes are good for a variety of reasons. They show technique and a decent definition of acceptable performance. . . . . something you can use as a goal. While no replacement for professional training these adjuncts are much better than nothing.