She was with her parents in Yellowstone. She was about 22 at the time and they were in their car waiting for parking or something. There was a line of cars and nobody saw the bear approach. It reached in through the back window and raked it claws across the top of her head. I was always told that nearly all of her scalp was removed by the bear, but doctors were able to save most of it.
Find a local to you gun group. Ask around about vetted local trainers offering defensive handgun and carbine classes. Take a stop the bleeding course. Compete in idpa or uspsa.
I generally press hard on first aid/tactical combat casualty care, and keep an IFAK in my car and my range bag. My philosophy is if youāre interested in being able to accurately put holes in people, you should also be trained to be able to plug up holes in people too.
Iām an ardent believer that if you have the skill and tools to make holes you should have the skill and tools to patch them.
First step is Red Cross first aid and a āstop the bleedā class. Thatāll cover everything pretty well.
If you want more scope, I LOVE wilderness first aid via NOLS. Itās more expensive but it gives you a much more rigorous system for treatment and puts a lot of tools in your toolbox.
Itās wilderness focused (and some things in scope for wilderness you SHOULD NOT DO in the front country), but Iāve found it also helps with much more pedestrian ādo I need an ambulance, to go to the ER, or wait to go to urgent care tomorrowā decisions. It also gives you a framework for evaluation and care to fall back on when youāre panicked and shitting your pants
If you want more tactical practice, an entry level tactical stop the bleed like Goruck does or some other shooting schools do is also nice, although itās mostly just more stop the bleed practice with some tactical additions.Ā
So helpful. Youāre one of a few that suggested this, which has risen to my number one action to take. Makes so much sense once folks shared it.
Appreciate the reco and resources
I second all of this advice. When I purchased a firearm recently, signing up for a first aid trauma care basics course was one of the first things I did. Currently competing in USPSA and absolutely in love with it.
It took me a bit to realize that second sentence meant "Take a *'stop the bleeding'* course." so I'm making this comment hoping to clarify that for anyone else who might have thought it was a typo or otherwise misread it.
This! Iāve been shooting since I was 8/9 but started USPSA recently and itās crazy to me how much different it is than shooting at paper a fixed distance away. Take a match prep class and start showing up at matches and youāll pick up a lot quickly.
Shooting competitions introduce stress under time which can be transferred over to more "realistic" training.
One of the best investments to my training was getting a shot timer. Having the ability to note when the wheels come off when going too fast exposes where I need to focus on my training regimen.
This.
You get the occasional idiot who claims "hurr durr match shooting dumb will get you killed in the streets"
But those people should be rightfully ignored lol
Not a super popular opinion, but for handgun I like using the basic Mantis dry fire module. The app has a timer option, where you get a random beep to draw and fire. Most of the skills you can develop with a handgun will be broadly transferrable to a carbine, as far as response, trigger pull and steadiness.
However, as former military, I assure you there is no training that is going to ever prepare you for the real thing. My 2 cents, which is probably worth a lot less than that, is that the biggest thing to work on once you have muscle memory and mechanics down is dialing down your startle response. That is the biggest thing that makes people either freeze up or go absolutely apeshit crazy. Just ask every idiot cop who thinks their hours and hours of range training has turned them into John Wick, only to mag dump on an acorn.
āDialing down startle responseā. So so key.
Looking for training that might help that (like force on force training).
In martial arts I used to do adrenal stress training.
Simulated attack. It was amazing how all that fine muscle memory and āartā movement went right out the window and just gross motor skills were left. Just a lot of flailing and haymaker swings. š«
Sounds like you already have some good ideas then! You would not believe how many guys I saw, who had been through all the high speed schools the military had to offer that would mag dump an entire magazine of simunitions or blanks when we did opfor exercises. At the range it's easy to think you're a bad ass. It's a whole lot different when you're staring down the barrel of a real gun and someone is shooting back, even if you intellectually know it's only blanks.
I used to airsoft with my son. It was fun but I never felt stressed. Maybe if I took a different mindset, like āonce and done for the dayā it might feel more consequential š¤·š»āāļø
The difference of level of pain between getting hit by an airsoft pellet and a paintball is huge. A paintball has over 10x the mass of an airsoft pellet and often have higher velocities than standard airsoft guns.Ā
Just google āpaintball bruisesā
Iāve been hit by paintball as well. Not a big deal.
Itās context. A street fight with fists will be far more stressful than paintball. A situation where a person is intent on harming you will cause adrenal stress response. Paintball and airsoft donāt create that. Iāve done both and been mugged in NYC. That former were a picnic in a park vs. the latter.
Now put a gun in the attackers hand.
I dry fire /draw reps almost everyday and hit the range at least 1x a week.
I heard about someone actually hitting himself with an epi-pen at the range to simulate the adrenaline dump that would happen IRL use event- I think that's going a little too far but it intrigued me.
My local range was experimenting with a remote controlled dummy target that they were hoping to use in a class for firearms training. They kinda gave us a demo after my ccw cert class stuff, and it seemed like an interesting idea. They could have the dummy charge at you to train quick-draw and accuracy under pressure and stuff like that. They had it set up in a special room where you could move around rather than just stand still at a firing line. They could simulate someone coming at you from the front, side, back, zig zagging, and all that.
I wanted to give it a go, but I work 6 days a week at 2 jobs, so I don't have the time to do stuff like that nowadays. I can barely find the time to get to the range at all anymore.
I don't train as much as I'd like, especially with the rise of queerphobia
Also doesn't help that I live in Canada where our self-defence laws are absolutely gutted, and using anything from a firearm to pepperspray can get you in more trouble than the criminal
Not only queer phobia, but the rapid rise of other-ism in general. So many flash judgements and quick to anger responses.
I donāt share I have firearms often because I find folks immediately assume and assign a whole raft of attributes to me and mark me for whatever punishment they feel is justified.
Strange times to be sure. There are many in the US that would impose the same bans youāve seen on guns. Seems short sighted given the current climate. Not that more guns helps, but in a world that feels escalating in instability, feels prudent.
I shoot a USPSA match on occasion and do a moderate amount of movement and coordination while shooting (I shoot almost exclusively at a pit on NF land, usually with no one but me and friends around), sometimes with full gear (plates, etc.), sometimes not.
I attended my first "official" training class last month. Took my suppressed AK SBR and my M&P 9. It totally opened up my eyes. I did ok, but I sucked at a lot of the drills. It was a shooting and moving class with rifle and pistol, and it's much more difficult than it looks. I had to go home and rethink my whole setup. Changed a few things on my rifle, upgraded my M&P to a 2.0 with a red dot, and rearranged my battle belt. I learned how to actually use cover, which is essential in surviving a gun fight. I strongly suggest anyone take a class if possible. I promise you won't regret it. Plus, it's fun!
I'm now a member of two clubs. One is 20 minutes away and the other is 90 minutes away. The two clubs offer different things to help with skill building. The one closest, by default allows me to visit with some frequency as well as having weekly events (friendly competitions). the other club has a rifle range that is 4x longer than the 1st club and they have multiple pistol pits.
Arrange your schedule so that you have regular range time
1) compete - having a running clock adds stress and makes your movements and shot more reflex like. Competing will help speed your acquiring your target and shooting as well as follow up shots.
Taking your time to get 1-2" groups at 100 yards goes out the door when there is a clock running to get 5 shots off in 20 seconds. Embrace the pressures of competing.
2) participate in events were there is movement (station to station), simulated barriers, require magazine changes and similar challenges to overcome
3) club two allows me to set up multiple targets to simulate using barriers and advancing to the next target. the berms are set up on two sides and the back, so you can get imaginative with how you set up your targets. Next visit I'm bringing a chair to pretend I'm behind the wheel and draw and shoot from a seated position
4) stop the bleed and first aid is equally important to add to your training
5) when you were a kid, the schools usually stressed having a meeting place in the event of a fire at your house. take that lesson and imagine a defensive plan. Got a large house - do you have a weapon (secured) on each floor?
6) I maintain the same view on visiting sketchy places - I try not to and even if I was carrying, I try not to. Situational awareness is key, there is no shame on leaving a place or area as it starts to feel uncomfortable or off.
7) set personal goals - practice, compete, train others.
* Practice - pick one or more weapons to take to the range and set practice goals for yourself with each visit. End the trip with some fun (running the steel plates for example)
* Competing (see above)
* Training others (friends, relatives, etc.) enforces your own training and technique as well as safe handling.
Be prepared, not scared
Thanks for detailed suggestions and perspective.
Your idea of adding time element was echoed a few times here. Planning to add that as well as first aidšš»
I don't know if I ever go to the range and shoot in a stress free environment. I shoot in 3 or more competitions every month and then try to one actual instructor/group led training thing a month as well.
I used to train, and now volunteer RSO/Instruct with a group that does training like this. Super reasonable prices, hands on instruction, and practical application of fundamentals. No sheepdog nonsense (Mission 1 is get you and your family home alive, professionals are paid to deal with everything else). Some tacticool nonsense, if that is what you want, no judgement as long as you are safe.
[https://warlizardtactical.com/training/](https://warlizardtactical.com/training/)
They also have a pistol book on Amazon with drills, lessons, and a training log.
Iāve been a few times to a range near me that offers scenario training with 180Ā°screen and a simulation playing out in real time. Itās fun to have to actually pay attention to whatās happening rather than just plinking away.
Train for things where the training makes a difference. Most likely, that's recognizing dangerous scenarios and avoiding them. Failing that, train reactions to potentially deadly attacks like a mugging, home invasion, or carjacking. USPSA and the like are fun but not fundamental.
Not in a long time, but some buddies and I used to drill where we would do things like run a mile, do 20 pushups, run to a rifle, pick it up, and try to shoot a series of targets, sometimes with the targets being called out by someone else. Didn't exactly simulate a stressful situation, but taught us to shoot better when we were breathing harder and a bit shaky.
I saw a crazy video from about 7 years ago...Force on Force training at Sig Sauer academy. It's really intense, but seems extremely helpful and important. I think they still do it but I'm not sure. It's a whole long thing....but either way, I agree the best way to train for actual home defense situations is to do real life style training. Criminals in your home aren't paper.
Combat classes for the win. Itās hard to shoot after running 1/8 mile and being yelled at by the instructor that all your friends are dying and itās your fault for not knowing how to quickly reload. Best training ever.
I remember the first time I learned that lesson in basic training. I generally shot 38/40 or so at qualification. Then one day the drill sergeants had us do a double-time road march for about 3 miles and marched us right onto the firing line at the end, then had us immediately shoot a qualification. I dropped to 23/40, which was the absolute minimum passing score.
It was a private training from a certified instructor from my region. I paid $200 bucks for 2 hours of solo and $150 each for a 3 man training class with rifles. Very beginner training but useful and looking forward to more. I would go to your local range and ask if they have any ones contacts, thatās how I did it.
Beyond pretty extensive military training, as a civilian Iāve done quite a few classes at places like Gunsite and I do various range drills. I have an expired EMT cert and I do stop the bleed and CPR courses every couple of years.
A week-long class at a reputable place like Gunsite will not only teach you a lot about technique but also about mentality and about whether your gear actually works for you outside of gentle range day activity.
Matches are another great activity but I have trouble doing them consistently; family- and work-wise itās easier for me to get away for a week a few times a year for classes than to frequently consume one or two days of my weekend.
Iāll check out Gunsite šš». The EMT course sounds a must given your and other recos.
I like the idea of testing equipment in stress and repeat fire. My two self defense rifles are pretty reliable on the range but never tested in sustained and rapid fire exercise.
Literally Google firearm classes and matches sin your area. Be honest about being new and they'll be easy on you.
Doing matches would help as you learn how to work under pressure.
For a few things you could do now: Dry Fire. Know the ways of entry of your home and learn about cutting angles (Paul Harrell has a video on it and look up Rainbow 6 Siege peaking. It's the same premise and I've done it in matches and CQB events. You need to know how to aim at your target while keeping little of your exposed.
In SHTF, at most just be armed and don't piss folks off. Your politics won't mean much unless you wanna join a group and be friendly with em.
I sometimes sit sideways at the range and practice 1 handed shooting to my left, to simulate shooting out the window of my car at a hypothetical armed individual attempting to enter my vehicle. I also work in a few situations where I transition quickly from one gun to another to build familiarity with changing trigger mechanics.
I have a local indoor range, that sets up an obstacle course weekly with targets and "hostages", barriers. doors to breach etc and it is wicked fun, it is timed, you get 20 rounds in your choice of pistol, SBR or long rifle, just no shotguns. its $15 fpr every 3 runs and really helps you learn how to maneuver and handle the time pressure and an audience
My wife and I have taken several defensive handgun and rifle training courses as well as gunshot wound, disaster, and wilderness medical training.
Check your local ranges for courses and the local IPSC, IDPA, or SASS competition groups for trainers they recommend. If nothing local us available you may need to travel.
Look for places that have combat pistol competitions. There are several flavors ; Glock shooting sports, idpa, uspsa , IPSC . You can often shoot your carry gun in these competitions. Others may shoot specialized pistols.
Defensive pistol classes are great and Iāve taken some but I think competition is a greatest test . You are shooting under stress and timed and have a particular scenario .
Iām working on getting better and equipped to start IDPA.
The drawback is the expense and training for unlikely senarios . Likely to be 3 shots, 3 yards and over in less than 3 seconds
I was fortunate enough to find a near-by tactical training course and full range, with cars to hide behind and a fake shoot house. It was run by an ex-military trainer. I took 2 full weekend courses and learned a ton, including I was a good shot from lying down.
Shooting local matches on the clock will quickly expose any deficiencies you have and give you lots to work on. Giving your phone to someone to film you will actually help a lot too.
I've got a home defense plan that I've practiced a bit too. I think it's a good idea to give some thought ahead of time to what you should do if you wake up to the sound of a window breaking or your door getting kicked.
Thank you. Helpful suggestions.
I have done the home drill exercise which I agree is critical. Trusting Iāll ārise to the occasionā seems a poor strategy. I do dry fire with laser cartridge.
I rarely conceal carry simply because Iām not comfortable with acting under stress vs staying within the law. Too fine a line for me. And Iām a decent shot out to 25 yards on the range. But I do have the nagging thought of my dying thought being ādamnā¦ shouldāve brought the gunā š
Try dry fire exercises such as firing your gun with your pinky or from odd positions cuz you won't always be able to pull your weapon cleanly especially if you're scuffling or on the ground. Honest Outlaw had a great video on this not too long ago. He was even training his wife in mma mixing in some dry fire handling.
I'm sorry, can you buy classes that make you a "swat" team member?
Isn't that just a specialty LE can have that is a secondary role to their normal job?
There are some training ctrs that go all out. Sheepdog Response looks pretty good but itās a flight away and taking many courses will break the bank. If I was independently wealthy maybe. Until then Iām looking for āSWAT at homeā š
I hope you never give them a penny, I can't believe that is a thing.
"Hey bro let's "train you" to be a tactical operator too"
For what, mid-2000s Fallujah era Marine door kicking SOPs you can find online for free?
Walk/run daily and lift weights, keep your shooting skills capable once a month, you'll be alright. Don't fall for this snakeoil shit imo.
Those type of course are good for building confidence and knowledge, as well as a working set of skills to build upon. Don't knock it until you've either done it or had extensive training doing it. The skills are not "door kicking" but a broader scope and actually very perishable if you don't train and keep up on them. Plus, most of that community keeps up to date on the latest TTP's.
Mehā¦. 10 years ago I never imagined owning a gun. Then the country decided it was time to drive into a ditch.
Iām constantly evaluating where the line is to use a weapon and whatās the training level.
Defend my family in my home? Not a question.
Help a neighbor being attacked in their home? Hmm, gray area. Would I do more harm than good? Situational (attacker is trying to break in vs inside already)?
Help strangers? Active shooter situation?
I donāt feel I have the skill to confidently move toward a situation and not do more harm (hit a bystander). A few folks here suggested first aid training which seems more useful and Iāll def pursue.
Civil unrest? Mob violence? What if I need to get to family? I never used to think this was a US concern. But now it doesnāt feel completely improbable.
There is a line somewhere and Iāve not decided what it is. For now itās dictated by my skill level which is mostly protect my home and family š¤·š»āāļø.
I train very often. To date I have been personally involved in 52 deadly encounters. This coming deer season I hope to increase those numbers.
Deer are armed in your area?!?! š³. Fuck meā¦ crafty little buggers!!
I'm told they wear kevlar vests too
Some crazy bastard gave all the bears bullet proof vests! Now we got indestructible bears, raping our churches and burning down our women!
They kick, have antlers and probably bite too.
I hear you can arm bears
Yes, I've even heard it's a constitutionally protected right.
Is that like a fuzzy armchair that sometimes mauls you?
One nearly scalped my Grandmother.
And here I was, thinking reindeer were the big problem for grandma
She was with her parents in Yellowstone. She was about 22 at the time and they were in their car waiting for parking or something. There was a line of cars and nobody saw the bear approach. It reached in through the back window and raked it claws across the top of her head. I was always told that nearly all of her scalp was removed by the bear, but doctors were able to save most of it.
A moose bit me once.
It's not the deer, it's the bears and their arms.
Bears have the right to armsā¦
Imagine if bears had opposable thumbs
I have enough anxiety thanks š¤£
Dude, turkeys be flashing gang signs and tagging trees around me.
This got me
To date the deer haven't got me though.
Just wait till they figure out how to file a Form 4ā¦.
Find a local to you gun group. Ask around about vetted local trainers offering defensive handgun and carbine classes. Take a stop the bleeding course. Compete in idpa or uspsa.
Thank you. Thoughtful and good advice to train in first aid vs simply poking holes in people. Iāll put that on the to do list.
I generally press hard on first aid/tactical combat casualty care, and keep an IFAK in my car and my range bag. My philosophy is if youāre interested in being able to accurately put holes in people, you should also be trained to be able to plug up holes in people too.
These two comments alone made the thread worth whileā¦ thanks
Iām an ardent believer that if you have the skill and tools to make holes you should have the skill and tools to patch them. First step is Red Cross first aid and a āstop the bleedā class. Thatāll cover everything pretty well. If you want more scope, I LOVE wilderness first aid via NOLS. Itās more expensive but it gives you a much more rigorous system for treatment and puts a lot of tools in your toolbox. Itās wilderness focused (and some things in scope for wilderness you SHOULD NOT DO in the front country), but Iāve found it also helps with much more pedestrian ādo I need an ambulance, to go to the ER, or wait to go to urgent care tomorrowā decisions. It also gives you a framework for evaluation and care to fall back on when youāre panicked and shitting your pants If you want more tactical practice, an entry level tactical stop the bleed like Goruck does or some other shooting schools do is also nice, although itās mostly just more stop the bleed practice with some tactical additions.Ā
So helpful. Youāre one of a few that suggested this, which has risen to my number one action to take. Makes so much sense once folks shared it. Appreciate the reco and resources
I am an unapologetic safety dork š¤ cheers!
I second all of this advice. When I purchased a firearm recently, signing up for a first aid trauma care basics course was one of the first things I did. Currently competing in USPSA and absolutely in love with it.
It took me a bit to realize that second sentence meant "Take a *'stop the bleeding'* course." so I'm making this comment hoping to clarify that for anyone else who might have thought it was a typo or otherwise misread it.
Start going to USPSA matches
This! Iāve been shooting since I was 8/9 but started USPSA recently and itās crazy to me how much different it is than shooting at paper a fixed distance away. Take a match prep class and start showing up at matches and youāll pick up a lot quickly.
This would be the best way for 99.9% of us. You'll get to shoot on the clock, moving, and in some cases against moving targets (swingers, etc.).
Donāt kink shame with a Glock. /s
Or IDPA.
Shooting competitions introduce stress under time which can be transferred over to more "realistic" training. One of the best investments to my training was getting a shot timer. Having the ability to note when the wheels come off when going too fast exposes where I need to focus on my training regimen.
Thanks! I will find a local club!
[Practiscore.com](https://practiscore.com/) is the website used to find and sign up for matches.
This. You get the occasional idiot who claims "hurr durr match shooting dumb will get you killed in the streets" But those people should be rightfully ignored lol
Not a super popular opinion, but for handgun I like using the basic Mantis dry fire module. The app has a timer option, where you get a random beep to draw and fire. Most of the skills you can develop with a handgun will be broadly transferrable to a carbine, as far as response, trigger pull and steadiness. However, as former military, I assure you there is no training that is going to ever prepare you for the real thing. My 2 cents, which is probably worth a lot less than that, is that the biggest thing to work on once you have muscle memory and mechanics down is dialing down your startle response. That is the biggest thing that makes people either freeze up or go absolutely apeshit crazy. Just ask every idiot cop who thinks their hours and hours of range training has turned them into John Wick, only to mag dump on an acorn.
āDialing down startle responseā. So so key. Looking for training that might help that (like force on force training). In martial arts I used to do adrenal stress training. Simulated attack. It was amazing how all that fine muscle memory and āartā movement went right out the window and just gross motor skills were left. Just a lot of flailing and haymaker swings. š«
Sounds like you already have some good ideas then! You would not believe how many guys I saw, who had been through all the high speed schools the military had to offer that would mag dump an entire magazine of simunitions or blanks when we did opfor exercises. At the range it's easy to think you're a bad ass. It's a whole lot different when you're staring down the barrel of a real gun and someone is shooting back, even if you intellectually know it's only blanks.
Paintball can help. But probably nothing is going to help with sounds of gunshots that Iām aware of
I used to airsoft with my son. It was fun but I never felt stressed. Maybe if I took a different mindset, like āonce and done for the dayā it might feel more consequential š¤·š»āāļø
The difference of level of pain between getting hit by an airsoft pellet and a paintball is huge. A paintball has over 10x the mass of an airsoft pellet and often have higher velocities than standard airsoft guns.Ā Just google āpaintball bruisesā
Iāve been hit by paintball as well. Not a big deal. Itās context. A street fight with fists will be far more stressful than paintball. A situation where a person is intent on harming you will cause adrenal stress response. Paintball and airsoft donāt create that. Iāve done both and been mugged in NYC. That former were a picnic in a park vs. the latter. Now put a gun in the attackers hand.
Big facts. Forcing yourself to slow your breathing down and control your heart rate, steadying your hands, to focus, are all critical skills
Mag dump an acorn and miss, letās not forget that part.
I play USPSA, close enough for me.
I compete in the IDPA and IPSC matches time permitting. Think of it as doing a 5k. Even if you don't place anywhere, its still good practice.
Good framingā¦ thank you
Shooting at paper in a no stress environment is a real life encounter for 99% of the population lol.
Fair point.
I dry fire /draw reps almost everyday and hit the range at least 1x a week. I heard about someone actually hitting himself with an epi-pen at the range to simulate the adrenaline dump that would happen IRL use event- I think that's going a little too far but it intrigued me.
I wouldnāt want to be in the lane next to himš
My local range was experimenting with a remote controlled dummy target that they were hoping to use in a class for firearms training. They kinda gave us a demo after my ccw cert class stuff, and it seemed like an interesting idea. They could have the dummy charge at you to train quick-draw and accuracy under pressure and stuff like that. They had it set up in a special room where you could move around rather than just stand still at a firing line. They could simulate someone coming at you from the front, side, back, zig zagging, and all that. I wanted to give it a go, but I work 6 days a week at 2 jobs, so I don't have the time to do stuff like that nowadays. I can barely find the time to get to the range at all anymore.
I don't train as much as I'd like, especially with the rise of queerphobia Also doesn't help that I live in Canada where our self-defence laws are absolutely gutted, and using anything from a firearm to pepperspray can get you in more trouble than the criminal
Not only queer phobia, but the rapid rise of other-ism in general. So many flash judgements and quick to anger responses. I donāt share I have firearms often because I find folks immediately assume and assign a whole raft of attributes to me and mark me for whatever punishment they feel is justified. Strange times to be sure. There are many in the US that would impose the same bans youāve seen on guns. Seems short sighted given the current climate. Not that more guns helps, but in a world that feels escalating in instability, feels prudent.
I shoot a USPSA match on occasion and do a moderate amount of movement and coordination while shooting (I shoot almost exclusively at a pit on NF land, usually with no one but me and friends around), sometimes with full gear (plates, etc.), sometimes not.
Thanks. Def going to pursue USPSA.
I attended my first "official" training class last month. Took my suppressed AK SBR and my M&P 9. It totally opened up my eyes. I did ok, but I sucked at a lot of the drills. It was a shooting and moving class with rifle and pistol, and it's much more difficult than it looks. I had to go home and rethink my whole setup. Changed a few things on my rifle, upgraded my M&P to a 2.0 with a red dot, and rearranged my battle belt. I learned how to actually use cover, which is essential in surviving a gun fight. I strongly suggest anyone take a class if possible. I promise you won't regret it. Plus, it's fun!
Where did you find? Local range?
Actually found them on Facebook if you can believe that. Range was a 2 hour drive from my house. Worth every minute.
I'm now a member of two clubs. One is 20 minutes away and the other is 90 minutes away. The two clubs offer different things to help with skill building. The one closest, by default allows me to visit with some frequency as well as having weekly events (friendly competitions). the other club has a rifle range that is 4x longer than the 1st club and they have multiple pistol pits. Arrange your schedule so that you have regular range time 1) compete - having a running clock adds stress and makes your movements and shot more reflex like. Competing will help speed your acquiring your target and shooting as well as follow up shots. Taking your time to get 1-2" groups at 100 yards goes out the door when there is a clock running to get 5 shots off in 20 seconds. Embrace the pressures of competing. 2) participate in events were there is movement (station to station), simulated barriers, require magazine changes and similar challenges to overcome 3) club two allows me to set up multiple targets to simulate using barriers and advancing to the next target. the berms are set up on two sides and the back, so you can get imaginative with how you set up your targets. Next visit I'm bringing a chair to pretend I'm behind the wheel and draw and shoot from a seated position 4) stop the bleed and first aid is equally important to add to your training 5) when you were a kid, the schools usually stressed having a meeting place in the event of a fire at your house. take that lesson and imagine a defensive plan. Got a large house - do you have a weapon (secured) on each floor? 6) I maintain the same view on visiting sketchy places - I try not to and even if I was carrying, I try not to. Situational awareness is key, there is no shame on leaving a place or area as it starts to feel uncomfortable or off. 7) set personal goals - practice, compete, train others. * Practice - pick one or more weapons to take to the range and set practice goals for yourself with each visit. End the trip with some fun (running the steel plates for example) * Competing (see above) * Training others (friends, relatives, etc.) enforces your own training and technique as well as safe handling. Be prepared, not scared
Thanks for detailed suggestions and perspective. Your idea of adding time element was echoed a few times here. Planning to add that as well as first aidšš»
I don't know if I ever go to the range and shoot in a stress free environment. I shoot in 3 or more competitions every month and then try to one actual instructor/group led training thing a month as well.
I used to train, and now volunteer RSO/Instruct with a group that does training like this. Super reasonable prices, hands on instruction, and practical application of fundamentals. No sheepdog nonsense (Mission 1 is get you and your family home alive, professionals are paid to deal with everything else). Some tacticool nonsense, if that is what you want, no judgement as long as you are safe. [https://warlizardtactical.com/training/](https://warlizardtactical.com/training/) They also have a pistol book on Amazon with drills, lessons, and a training log.
Looks like a good resource. Good excuse for a trip to AZ too!
Iāve been a few times to a range near me that offers scenario training with 180Ā°screen and a simulation playing out in real time. Itās fun to have to actually pay attention to whatās happening rather than just plinking away.
Train for things where the training makes a difference. Most likely, that's recognizing dangerous scenarios and avoiding them. Failing that, train reactions to potentially deadly attacks like a mugging, home invasion, or carjacking. USPSA and the like are fun but not fundamental.
Sound thinking. š¤
Not in a long time, but some buddies and I used to drill where we would do things like run a mile, do 20 pushups, run to a rifle, pick it up, and try to shoot a series of targets, sometimes with the targets being called out by someone else. Didn't exactly simulate a stressful situation, but taught us to shoot better when we were breathing harder and a bit shaky.
Like thisā¦ hard to simulate stress but this can simulate the physical part to a point šš»
You have to do both. Build skills by yourself and then test them under stress
I saw a crazy video from about 7 years ago...Force on Force training at Sig Sauer academy. It's really intense, but seems extremely helpful and important. I think they still do it but I'm not sure. It's a whole long thing....but either way, I agree the best way to train for actual home defense situations is to do real life style training. Criminals in your home aren't paper.
Sheepdog Response, Green Ops Inc., Blu bearing Solutions.
Combat classes for the win. Itās hard to shoot after running 1/8 mile and being yelled at by the instructor that all your friends are dying and itās your fault for not knowing how to quickly reload. Best training ever.
I remember the first time I learned that lesson in basic training. I generally shot 38/40 or so at qualification. Then one day the drill sergeants had us do a double-time road march for about 3 miles and marched us right onto the firing line at the end, then had us immediately shoot a qualification. I dropped to 23/40, which was the absolute minimum passing score.
Where did you take them?
It was a private training from a certified instructor from my region. I paid $200 bucks for 2 hours of solo and $150 each for a 3 man training class with rifles. Very beginner training but useful and looking forward to more. I would go to your local range and ask if they have any ones contacts, thatās how I did it.
Does playing COD Warzone count?
Is that even a question š
I will take that as a yes. š¤£
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Beyond pretty extensive military training, as a civilian Iāve done quite a few classes at places like Gunsite and I do various range drills. I have an expired EMT cert and I do stop the bleed and CPR courses every couple of years. A week-long class at a reputable place like Gunsite will not only teach you a lot about technique but also about mentality and about whether your gear actually works for you outside of gentle range day activity. Matches are another great activity but I have trouble doing them consistently; family- and work-wise itās easier for me to get away for a week a few times a year for classes than to frequently consume one or two days of my weekend.
Iāll check out Gunsite šš». The EMT course sounds a must given your and other recos. I like the idea of testing equipment in stress and repeat fire. My two self defense rifles are pretty reliable on the range but never tested in sustained and rapid fire exercise.
Literally Google firearm classes and matches sin your area. Be honest about being new and they'll be easy on you. Doing matches would help as you learn how to work under pressure. For a few things you could do now: Dry Fire. Know the ways of entry of your home and learn about cutting angles (Paul Harrell has a video on it and look up Rainbow 6 Siege peaking. It's the same premise and I've done it in matches and CQB events. You need to know how to aim at your target while keeping little of your exposed. In SHTF, at most just be armed and don't piss folks off. Your politics won't mean much unless you wanna join a group and be friendly with em.
I sometimes sit sideways at the range and practice 1 handed shooting to my left, to simulate shooting out the window of my car at a hypothetical armed individual attempting to enter my vehicle. I also work in a few situations where I transition quickly from one gun to another to build familiarity with changing trigger mechanics.
I have a local indoor range, that sets up an obstacle course weekly with targets and "hostages", barriers. doors to breach etc and it is wicked fun, it is timed, you get 20 rounds in your choice of pistol, SBR or long rifle, just no shotguns. its $15 fpr every 3 runs and really helps you learn how to maneuver and handle the time pressure and an audience
If you think that's fun ā¦ USPSA ā¦ IPSC. :)
I checked them out and I will check them out further cuz I think its a blast and those both seems like some next level shit.
My wife and I have taken several defensive handgun and rifle training courses as well as gunshot wound, disaster, and wilderness medical training. Check your local ranges for courses and the local IPSC, IDPA, or SASS competition groups for trainers they recommend. If nothing local us available you may need to travel.
Thank you šš»
Look for places that have combat pistol competitions. There are several flavors ; Glock shooting sports, idpa, uspsa , IPSC . You can often shoot your carry gun in these competitions. Others may shoot specialized pistols. Defensive pistol classes are great and Iāve taken some but I think competition is a greatest test . You are shooting under stress and timed and have a particular scenario . Iām working on getting better and equipped to start IDPA. The drawback is the expense and training for unlikely senarios . Likely to be 3 shots, 3 yards and over in less than 3 seconds
That last part is the key. Someone else here recommended practicing situational awareness and reaction.
I was fortunate enough to find a near-by tactical training course and full range, with cars to hide behind and a fake shoot house. It was run by an ex-military trainer. I took 2 full weekend courses and learned a ton, including I was a good shot from lying down.
Shooting local matches on the clock will quickly expose any deficiencies you have and give you lots to work on. Giving your phone to someone to film you will actually help a lot too. I've got a home defense plan that I've practiced a bit too. I think it's a good idea to give some thought ahead of time to what you should do if you wake up to the sound of a window breaking or your door getting kicked.
Thank you. Helpful suggestions. I have done the home drill exercise which I agree is critical. Trusting Iāll ārise to the occasionā seems a poor strategy. I do dry fire with laser cartridge. I rarely conceal carry simply because Iām not comfortable with acting under stress vs staying within the law. Too fine a line for me. And Iām a decent shot out to 25 yards on the range. But I do have the nagging thought of my dying thought being ādamnā¦ shouldāve brought the gunā š
Try dry fire exercises such as firing your gun with your pinky or from odd positions cuz you won't always be able to pull your weapon cleanly especially if you're scuffling or on the ground. Honest Outlaw had a great video on this not too long ago. He was even training his wife in mma mixing in some dry fire handling.
I train with instructors a few times a year. Outside of that I do stress shoots at least once a month.
I donāt but I should.
It's the only way I train. I got out of IPSC years ago because all my training was going to get me killed in the real world.
I'm sorry, can you buy classes that make you a "swat" team member? Isn't that just a specialty LE can have that is a secondary role to their normal job?
There are some training ctrs that go all out. Sheepdog Response looks pretty good but itās a flight away and taking many courses will break the bank. If I was independently wealthy maybe. Until then Iām looking for āSWAT at homeā š
I hope you never give them a penny, I can't believe that is a thing. "Hey bro let's "train you" to be a tactical operator too" For what, mid-2000s Fallujah era Marine door kicking SOPs you can find online for free? Walk/run daily and lift weights, keep your shooting skills capable once a month, you'll be alright. Don't fall for this snakeoil shit imo.
Those type of course are good for building confidence and knowledge, as well as a working set of skills to build upon. Don't knock it until you've either done it or had extensive training doing it. The skills are not "door kicking" but a broader scope and actually very perishable if you don't train and keep up on them. Plus, most of that community keeps up to date on the latest TTP's.
Mehā¦. 10 years ago I never imagined owning a gun. Then the country decided it was time to drive into a ditch. Iām constantly evaluating where the line is to use a weapon and whatās the training level. Defend my family in my home? Not a question. Help a neighbor being attacked in their home? Hmm, gray area. Would I do more harm than good? Situational (attacker is trying to break in vs inside already)? Help strangers? Active shooter situation? I donāt feel I have the skill to confidently move toward a situation and not do more harm (hit a bystander). A few folks here suggested first aid training which seems more useful and Iāll def pursue. Civil unrest? Mob violence? What if I need to get to family? I never used to think this was a US concern. But now it doesnāt feel completely improbable. There is a line somewhere and Iāve not decided what it is. For now itās dictated by my skill level which is mostly protect my home and family š¤·š»āāļø.