Compactness

I love running through shoot houses or practicing CQB. Truthfully, it is the battleground my strengths shine. In all the years of being responsible for this mission and then training others for the same mission I’m convinced it is the superior platform. You get the same configuration, only shorter. Meaning, chambered in 5.56mm, 30-round standard magazine, a flat-top and various mounting options for mission critical gear. Running with a short barrel rifle being 4-6 inches shorter really makes a difference. Plus, it allows me to run suppressed; which when indoors is almost necessary. In the tight spaces of an internal structure I have blind spots and danger zones I’m always prosecuting so the shorter overall length gives me a tactical advantage to exploit.

Lightweight

Cutting 4-6 inches off the barrel length not only cuts weight of the barrel, but the fore-end as well. This reduces the overall weight; which is always a good thing. The magic number is 8 pounds or less, but there is a catch. That’s equipped with a suppressor. You see, the real advantage of having the shorter barrel is being able to run with a suppressor and still keep it to about 14.5 inches overall. Running this short barrel rifle configuration indoors is HUGE. All it takes is for you to run through a concrete shoot house with all the sound abatement and you realize the disruptive nature from over-pressurization. Yes, ear safe conditions are nice, but it is the over-pressurization that is the real problem. Every time that rifle goes off, whether your’s or a team member the shockwave is similar to the blast wave propagation from an explosion…albeit a much smaller one. It’s the cumulative effect that produces long term medical issues.

Running Suppressed

From a home defense rifle condition, having a compact and lightweight rifle equipped with a suppressor is the ideal setup. If you are responding to a home invasion, chances you will grab hearing protection are virtually zero. But, grabbing your suppressed SBR and now we have a party. Aside from being ear safe for you, the rest of your family benefits from this condition. The flash reduction will also aide in night time conditions and I’ve found the larger surface area of a suppressor produces an improved response from a weapon strike for those are skilled in that department.

Travel & Discretion

Any short barrel rifle must come with permission from the government. A real pain and hopefully something for repeal consideration. SBR’s are cost prohibitive for many, not to mention the tax stamp for Uncle Sam. Since the purchase of any firearm by a prohibited possessor is well…prohibited it seems an unnecessary infringement. That’s my opinion. I feel there is plenty of room to debate this subject and look forward to making that opportunity. In the meantime, traveling with an SBR comes with additional headache. First, they are not legal in every state. Make sure to do your own research in advance of any travel outside the state the SBR is registered. Second, there is more paperwork necessary to legally travel outside the registered state. Once, you’ve obtained the paperwork then traveling is pretty straightforward. The big advantage is I can shove them into smaller, more discrete bags other than the traditional rifle cases. Moving in an out of hotels or other public spaces is less of an attention getter when there is little to draw someone’s attention. For porting once at my travel destination I use smaller, less obvious bags. I’ve even used a messenger bag where I dissembled the upper from lower receiver.

The Downside

There is no free lunch and in this case, the shorter barrel means we need to ensure we are running at peak reliability. There are three things to consider here. The gas port size, buffer weight and maintenance interval. Running a shorter barrel length will typically mean you need to have a larger or more forgiving gas port. Most rifle manufactures already favor the oversized gas port due to the wide variety of ammunition available. This will allow enough gas to cycle the action when most of the gas is exiting the barrel. Then, because of the shorter overall action the bolt cycling needs to be slowed down a bit with a heavier buffer and buffer spring. The heavier buffer & buffer spring will slow the bolt’s cycling so it doesn’t out run the magazine spring when feeding. If you run it suppressed the amount of carbon built up is a lot more and this can strain the reliability at the higher round counts. I’ve run this setup hard with thousands of rounds suppressed as well as seeing hundreds of students doing the same. But, we pay a heavy price when it comes to cleaning. Keeping the rifle adequately lubricated durning training and after will help eliminate stoppages due to fouling.

Closing

If you are asking me, I believe every American should at the very least know how to safely use a rifle if not own one personally. The more rifles in the hands of competent armed citizens, the safer our country. Plus, owning a rifle is a reminder of our freedoms. Our forefathers fought for our freedoms with rifles. In today’s evolving world, threats to our well being and safety abound. Defending one’s home is complex problem to solve. One of the solutions is a short-barreled rifle. The short barrel rifle gives us a compact, maneuverable shoulder fired firearm. Easy to carry, shoulder and shoot. Due to their smaller size, they are lighter. Being lighter has a direct relationship with being more accurate. The shorter nature of the rifle allows me to run suppressed with a much smaller footprint. Granted, I’m extended the length and weight, but because I’ve cut down the barrel it has a balancing feel. Travel can be a pain, but with planning and preparation it makes for a discrete option while on the road. Reliability is one of the bigger downsides. Some simple steps can greatly increase the reliability and ensure the rifle runs and runs hard. If you are in the market for a new rifle in the New Year, maybe consider adding an SBR to your inventory.

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Stability and Position

The first principle of rifle marksmanship is establishing a stable shooting position. I sometimes reference a “shooting platform” going all the way back to my Navy days. The position must provide a stable foundation to manage the rifle’s recoil and maintain sight alignment. Stability comes from using bone support as oppossed to muscles, which tire quickly and introduce inconsistencies. Learn to use the natural point of aim at all times in all the positions. The three primary shooting positions to master are:

• Prone: The most stable, as the body is closest to the ground.
• Kneeling: Offers some stability with quick mobility.
• Standing: Least stable but essential for moving targets or tactical situations.

The goal for each position is to comfortably stabilize the rifle while absorbing recoil. The purpose behind each position is irrelevant, mastering the positions and letting the situation dictate is the objective.

Grip and Control

A proper grip on the rifle is necessary for control, making good hits on target. With a rifle there are a total of four points of contact; the weak hand, strong hand, shoulder pocket and cheek weld. The weak hand stabilizes the rifle’s weight by gripping the fore-end firmly and pulling into the shoulder pocket for a solid connection. The strong hand grips the rifle with equal tension to avoid imbalances with access to all appropriate controls.  Too much pressure or uneven gripping can pull shots off target. The shoulder pocket positions the buttstock of the rifle high and slightly inboard of the shoulder joint. The more connection with the buttstock, the better the recoil control. The cheek weld is the connection with the top surface of the buttstock. The cheekbone will literally rest on top the buttstock. When gripping the rifle, remember:

• Use the weak hand to stabilize the rifle, controlling it firmly.
• Maintain a relaxed but controlled grip with the strong hand.
• Place the buttstock in the shoulder pocket low and slightly inboard.
• Rest the cheek bone on the buttstock in the same position.

Consistent and equal grip pressure along with more connection will help stabilize the rifle and manage recoil. The more connected to the rifle, the more opportunity for consistency. The better the connection, the more stable the rifle.

Sight Alignment and Sight Picture

The use of red dot sights (RDS) and low powered variable optics (LPVO) has revolutionized the rifle shooting world. For RDS ensure both eyes are open, focused on the target. Use enough intensity so the dot is crisp, not fuzzy on the edges. For LPVO’s that can be run like an RDS apply the same technique. When magnification is utilized, use the dominant eye only and focus on the proper reference in the reticle. LPVO’s with tactical reticles pose an additional challenge of ensuring the correct reference, whether the crosshairs or stadia lines to hit targets at various distances. The default setting for LPVO’s should be the lowest magnification, cranking up when necessary. This provides the user RDS capability for immediate threats. When aiming following these guidelines:

• For RDS, keep both eyes open, focused on the target
• Use the lowest magnification to maintain the widest field of view
• For back up sights or LPVO with magniciation, focus on the front sight post or reticle.
• Keep the rear sight or scope slightly blurred.
• Ensure the front sight or crosshair is centered on the target.

Ensure the optic is properly installed and use the best zero optimized for the mission. Then be familiar with how to exploit tactical reticles.

Trigger Control

Trigger control is often where shots are made or missed. Squeezing the trigger too quickly or with excessive force can throw off the shot. The goal is to apply steady pressure until the shot breaks, almost as a surprise. This ensures the rifle stays steady with minimal disruption to the aiming process. Key tips include:

• Place enough of the index finger on the trigger to apply power, not force.
• Ensure the tip of the index finger is at 90° to the face of the trigger.
• Apply smooth, even pressure past the shot breaking.
• Avoid jerking or slapping the trigger.

Follow-Through

Once the shot is fired, follow-through is crucial and often forgotten. Keeping the rifle steady and maintaining the sight picture ensures you’re not inadvertently moving the rifle after the shot, which can affect accuracy. Follow-through allows the observation of the shot’s impact when using RDS or LPVO’s. When necessary it allows for immediate aiming adjustments for subsequent shots. Being target focus and observing the shot’s impact becomes a huge tactical advantage.

The five rifle marksmanship principles require discipline and practice. Mastering the principles of position, grip, aiming, trigger control, and follow-through not only improves accuracy but builds confidence. These fundamentals lay the groundwork for consistently hitting the target, no matter the situation.

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Course Description:

The Tactical Rifle 2 (203) is a 2-day intermediate rifle course designed to equip the modern rifleman with shooting skills necessary for close range urban defensive settings. In this intermediate rifle course, students learn essential rifle skills & standards from 5 to 50 yards. Close range shooting will focus on speed, while mid-range shooting will focus on accuracy. Students will constantly be exposed to challenging drills designed to shoot under pressure. Subjects covered include: proper zeroing procedures, shooting positions, gun handling and combat marksmanship. A major objective for the Tactical Rifle 2 is the ability to mount the rifle quickly to deliver effective fire at urban distances measured against time and accuracy standards. Additional subjects include shooter diagnostics, surgical shots, movement, use of cover and ammunition management.

Gear List:

• AR15/M4 rifle/carbine
• Adjustable rifle sling
• Red dot sight or low powered variable optic
• Defensive pistol
• 1,000 rounds of factory rifle ammunition (500 rounds minimum)
• 50 rounds of factory pistol ammunition
• 5 x rifle magazines minimum
• 5 x inert/dummy rifle training rounds
• 2 x pistol magazines
• Range attire: long pants, comfortable shirt, athletic shoes and ball cap
• Elbow/knee pads or shooting pad (optional)
• Basic loadout: rigid belt, on the waistband (OWB) holster, magazine pouches and dump pouch
• Chest rig capable of holding 4 rifle magazines
• Handheld flashlight
• Multi-tool
• Clear/tinted wrap around ballistic eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Water, snacks, sunscreen and appropriate inclement weather clothing
• Firearms cleaning kit and quality lubrication
• Notebook and pencil
• Open mind

Course Prerequisites:

Basic Rifle 1 or similar. The below drills are suggested as minimum skill requirements to meet the prerequisites. All drills are shot starting from the low ready position of at least 45 degrees downward. The recommended target is the TRICON TCT-MK4 available from Action Target or TRICON B8 printable target.

• Rifle Standards, Alpha: at the 25 yard line, fire 10 rounds (9 reload 1) in 15 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 points or higher.
• Rifle Standards, Hotel: at the 25 yard line, fire 4 rounds standing to the body, then drop to kneeling and fire 2 rounds to the head in 10 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 or higher.
• Rifle Standards, Juliet: at the 50 yard line, fire 10 rounds from any position in 60 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 or higher.

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

The post Tactical Rifle 2 appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Course Description:

The Tactical Rifle 2 (203) is a 2-day intermediate rifle course designed to equip the modern rifleman with shooting skills necessary for close range urban defensive settings. In this intermediate rifle course, students learn essential rifle skills & standards from 5 to 50 yards. Close range shooting will focus on speed, while mid-range shooting will focus on accuracy. Students will constantly be exposed to challenging drills designed to shoot under pressure. Subjects covered include: proper zeroing procedures, shooting positions, gun handling and combat marksmanship. A major objective is the ability to mount the rifle quickly to deliver effective fire at urban distances measured against time and accuracy standards. Additional subjects include shooter diagnostics, surgical shots, movement, use of cover and ammunition management.

Gear List:

• AR15/M4 rifle/carbine
• Adjustable rifle sling
• Red dot sight or low powered variable optic
• Defensive pistol
• 1,000 rounds of factory rifle ammunition (500 rounds minimum)
• 50 rounds of factory pistol ammunition
• 5 x rifle magazines minimum
• 5 x inert/dummy rifle training rounds
• 2 x pistol magazines
• Range attire: long pants, comfortable shirt, athletic shoes and ball cap
• Elbow/knee pads or shooting pad (optional)
• Basic loadout: rigid belt, on the waistband (OWB) holster, magazine pouches and dump pouch
• Chest rig capable of holding 4 rifle magazines
• Handheld flashlight
• Multi-tool
• Clear/tinted wrap around ballistic eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Water, snacks, sunscreen and appropriate inclement weather clothing
• Firearms cleaning kit and quality lubrication
• Notebook and pencil
• Open mind

Course Prerequisites:

Basic Rifle 1 or similar. The below drills are suggested as minimum skill requirements to meet the prerequisites. All drills are shot starting from the low ready position of at least 45 degrees downward. The recommended target is the TRICON TCT-MK4 available from Action Target or TRICON B8 printable target.

• TRICON Rifle Test (Alpha): at the 25 yard line, fire 10 rounds (9 reload 1) in 15 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 points or higher.
• TRICON Rifle Bill Drill (Hotel): at the 25 yard line, fire 4 rounds standing to the body, then drop to kneeling and fire 2 rounds to the head in 10 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 or higher.
• TRICON Rifle Slow Fire Test (Juliet): at the 50 yard line, fire 10 rounds from any position in 60 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 70/100 or higher.

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

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Register Now for Advanced Rifle 3

The Advanced Rifle 3 (303) is an expert level 2-day course designed to push the student and equipment to the 300 meter range or maximum effective range of the M4/AR15 5.56mm platform. In the Advanced Rifle 3 course, students learn how to deliver effective fire at mid-ranges from 10m to 300m (further engagements range are class specific) through an expanded understanding of marksmanship principles and equipment. A brief discussion on environmental factors at the further ranges will give a basic understanding of limitations and how to work around them. Subjects include; proper zeroing procedures, Point Blank Range theory, known and unknown distance shooting, target analysis and shooting positions optimally suited for mid-range engagements. A major objective of this course is the ability to achieve first-round lethal strikes at unknown distances. The course material has a heavy emphasis on the rapid assumption and movement from various shooting positions and thus physically demanding. Rifle weight and mission essential gear are discussed relevant to performance and in specific the degradation of performance when rifles weigh more than nine pounds unloaded. Supporting objectives include shot calling, ammunition selection, low powered magnified optics benefits and sling supported techniques.

Gear & Equipment:

• AR15/M4 rifle/carbine chambered in 5.56mm
• Adjustable rifle sling
• Red dot sight or low powered variable optic
• 1,000 rounds of factory ammunition (2-3 magazines of 5.56mm match grade recommended)
• 5 x magazines
• Range attire: long pants, comfortable shirt, athletic shoes and ball cap
• 1^st Line gear (rigid belt, sturdy holster, magazine pouches and dump pouch)
• Clear and tinted wrap around ballistic eye and electronic hearing protection
• Shooting pad or knee/elbow pads
• Shooting rest or sandbags (bi-pod optional)
• Clear/tinted ballistic wrap around eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Firearm cleaning kit and lubrication
• Notebook and pencil
• Water, food, snacks and appropriate clothing for inclement weather
• Open mind

Course Prerequisites:

Tactical Rifle 2 or similar. The below drills are suggested as minimum skill requirements to meet the prerequisites. All drills are shot using a low ready position of at least 45 degrees downward. The recommended target is the TRICON TCT-MK4 available from Action Target or TRICON B8 target.

• Rifle Standards Alpha: at the 25 yard line, fire 10 rounds (9 reload 1) in 12 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 80/100 points or higher.
• Rifle Standards Hotel: at the 25 yard line, fire 4 rounds standing to the body, then drop to kneeling and fire 2 rounds to the head in 12 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 80/100 or higher.
• Rifle Standards Juliet: at the 50 yard line, fire 10 rounds from any position in 60 seconds or less. Must be below par and score 80/100 or higher.

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

Want to see other classes coming up this year? Check out the Class Schedule.

The post Advanced Rifle 3 appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Get Behind Something

When we look at typical scenarios in an urban setting where you might respond with a defensive rifle you quickly realize the distance is short. Shorter than you might think. The approximate distance of an intersection is 100 feet and most full size trucks are 20 feet. These approximations give us a visual interpretation of distance. The point I’m trying to make is distance is well within the performance capabilities of a good aggressive standing or off-hand position. At these distances using a position for stabilization seems a bit overkill, unnecessary and time consuming. Why then would I still want to develop my shooting positions. The answer has to do with minimizing your exposure or taking advantage of cover and concealment.

Improve Your Position

In an urban environment it is far more likely shooting positions will be used for protection from enemy fire or detection. When we understand the terrain, we use the terrain to our advantage. Not everything will stop projectiles from striking soft targets, but anything is better than nothing but air. The next series of maxims would be to “improve your position and/or improve your weaponry”. Getting behind something is a great example of improving your position. However, once you are there being able to return fire to stop advances and flanking maneuvers becomes critical.

The Laundry List of Positions

We break shooting positions into three heights; high, medium and low. When it comes to a high position there is standing and the high squat. Standing is pretty obvious, but the high squat gets overlooked. It is nothing more than a 3/4 traditional squat. Of course any shooting position will be dependent on the situation and the height of the object. When the high squat becomes to strenuous for long term use we move to medium heights. You have the high knee, supported kneeling, hunters kneeling and double kneeling. When double kneeling is too high or strenuous you move to low height. Here we have sitting, prone, supine and urban prone positions. That’s a lot of different positions to practice. If I had limited time to practice all of them, I’d pick five to do really well. Standing, high knee, double knee, prone and urban prone would be my picks. Between these positions, you should be able to address most scenarios in an urban environment.

Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze

We spend so much of our training and practice shooting standing the other positions get little attention. Having a familiarity with them is one thing, being able to drop into the position ready to fire is a whole other problem. On top of that, being in an urban environment typically means things are developing quickly. Positions that take long to assume and recover from may not be worth the squeeze. Even at the extreme ranges of urban environments such as 50 yards you can return accurate fire quickly from a standing versus taking what little time it would take to assume a kneeling, any kneeling position to return accurate fire. So going prone is even worse.

Go Kneeling For The Win

In an urban environment, I put more stock in kneeling and various adaptions of kneeling over prone. The key is being able to adapt each of these positions to best accommodate the shot required and the type of cover or concealment present. You may find the height or angle is off just enough to increase muscular fatigue and decrease stability. Adjust, even if it is not the textbook position if it solves the immediate problem that is what matters. What I try to do is take each position and further adapt them to hybrid positions. I take the advantages from each and exploit them. What allows me to do this is a deeper understanding of each position. With this deeper understanding you know where you can push and pull.

Urban environments call for quick thinking and aggressive action. If you can take advantage of the terrain it greatly improves your survivability rate no matter the type of encounter.

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Course Description:

The AR Pistol Techniques (ART) is a 1-day basic course designed to introduce the AR pistol as defensive firearm. In this course, students will become familiar with the characteristics, features, and controls of the most popular AR type pistol. They will learn the pros & cons to ownership, shooting and setup. Close range shooting will focus on how to shoot the AR pistol faster with improved recoil management. Standoff range shooting will focus on how to shoot the AR pistol accurately with improved trigger control. Students are exposed to a battery of drills designed to improve their shooting technique with both speed and accuracy standards. Subjects include overall capability, sling selection, recoil control, sling method and bag deployment. A major objective is the consistent ability to deliver rapid hits at close range then transition to accurate hits at standoff range. Additional subjects include accessory selection, pistol shooting method, bag/case selection, shooting positions, barricade use.

Basic Gear:

• AR Pistol chambered in 9mm, 5.56mm or 300BLK w/red dot sight
• 500 rounds of factory ammunition
• 3x magazines minimum
• Adjustable sling
• Range attire: long pants, comfortable shirt, athletic shoes, and ball cap
• Basic loadout: rigid belt, on the waistband (OWB) holster and magazine pouches
• Wrap around ballistic eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Gloves and knee pads (optional)
• Water, snacks, sunscreen, and appropriate inclement weather clothing
• Firearms cleaning kit and quality lubrication
• Notebook and pencil

Course Prerequisites:

Rifle 1 or similar

Registration fee does not include any associated range fees.

Want to see other classes coming up this year? Check out the Class Schedule.

The post AR Pistol appeared first on Trident Concepts.

Before They Sunset

I don’t know if anyone can really predict what is going to happen. We will all have to wait to see how the various appeals and lawsuits filed will affect the outcome. In the meantime, many have decided to invest in the various types of AR Pistols currently available. Adding them to their existing inventory. This may be the last time you are offered the opportunity if the ATF has their way. Something to consider is even if the ATF gets its way and imposes a ban you still have options. Removing the brace can circumvent the ban while still providing you a viable defensive option.

A Normal Check Weld

Not every AR Pistol will fall into this category, but a lot are small enough they can still be used in a non-traditional method. Years ago when the primary long gun for assaults was the venerated H&K MP5 we worked tirelessly to improve our skills under a variety of conditions. Some of those conditions required us to shoot while wearing protective gear such as gas masks up to full on hazmat suits. In these conditions you absolutely could not achieve a traditional check weld. Due to the respirators worn the bulk and placement of various features denied access. The usual space the butt-stock would interface with the shoulder pocket was no longer available, thus denying access to a normal check weld.

The “Sling” Method

Along came the “sling” method for shooting the sub-gun. Believe me, it wasn’t as sexy as it sounds when you spent hours in a gas mask. However, it was essential everyone be able to do their job none the less. The sling method worked partly because the sling designed for use with the MP5 was a three point sling. All but extinct in today’s rifle sling options, the three point sling was excellent on the sub-gun. What made it unique was a portion of the sling traversed down the side of the upper receiver producing force or as it would turn out stability.

Seeing Your Sights

Flash forward to modern times and AR pistols. Should the worse occur, one of the options would be to completely remove and dispose of the brace. If you run a sling on your AR pistol you theoretically should be able to accurately engage targets inside close range with relative ease using the sling method. To do so, you may need to adjust the tension in your sling. At full extension you want enough stability through the tension to see your sights. In this position, you should be able to achieve a decent sight picture whether using iron sights or red dot sights. Even set on the lowest magnification, low powered variable optics will be challenging. The necessary check weld to avoid scope shadow may prove too inconsistent for true defensive use.

More Skills in the Skill Set

With proper tension through the sling, you should achieve a consistent and acceptable sight picture. With a little practice, you can find what might have started out cumbersome to be manageable. Even rapid fire drills with high round counts can be successfully achieved. As can reduced targets at close range when precision is required. Dry fire is a great option to help familiarize yourself with the nuance of this method. The good news is even if the ATF does not get their way, this is still a viable option you might consider exploring. There is little chance I will choose to run the sling over deploying the brace if given the option. But, if I do decide for whatever reason to run the sling, I’m skilled enough to allow the situation dictate.

Like millions of Americans, I’m not happy about the ATF’s decision to change their minds. Don’t despair as you can still make a AR pistol work with just a sling.

The post AR Pistols appeared first on Trident Concepts.

It seems in today’s world the term “slow is smooth and smooth is fast” will get you labeled as someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about or my favorite, “putting out dated information”. I generally avoid the subject, not because I agree with those who are opposed to this idea. I avoid it because the conversation requires a higher understanding of the idea in the first place.

An Origin Story

A good place to start is where did this phrase come from, where did it originate? The credit gets tossed around a lot, but it originated from the special operations community. The wet side, a long time ago. Those who have an opposing view don’t know the origin or the history. What is troublesome when you don’t know the history is how it was originally intended and applied. This concepts has far reaching applications, not just shooting. In the shooting world, it is typically applied from a single plane. There is either a lack of ability or experience to see it from multiple planes. It is not just a mistake thinking it is strictly one dimensional, it’s counterproductive.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

When moving at full speed, the top of the food chain make their actions look fluid and automatic. Mind you, I’m not just talking about shooting. If we were to shift focus to assaults, a chaotic and complex operation you might develop a deeper understanding and appreciation. One will see this carefully orchestrated activity be executed with incredible results in some of the most dangerous situations imaginable. There has been an extensive train up to allow for the chaos in the most efficient manner possible. We did not arrive at this ability simply by ignoring decades of development in the training. There is a meticulously executed training plan to build up to the ability to not only run at full speed, but make critical decisions in compressed time periods under enormous stress. The bigger picture.

Outrunning Your Headlights

How does one accomplish this task? It is simple, but not easy. First, it doesn’t happen overnight. For these skills to be truly developed to an automated nature it takes time and making a lot of mistakes. When I was tasked to deliver this training I used simple ways to determine if the individual was outrunning their headlights. During their run, there were simple problems, almost too simple, where if the assaulter was moving beyond their capabilities would make a mistake. When debriefed and queried why they made the mistake most of the time it had to do with not “seeing” the problem. I cannot tell you how many times I would have to tell someone to slow down to avoid making the same mistakes again. To remind them making a mistake at this level is unacceptable, but more importantly avoidable. The mistakes were avoidable if, and this was a big if, they could see the correct series of actions and decisions before required to execute said actions or decisions. Those who made the most mistakes and repeated mistakes were easy to spot. They were moving way faster than they could prosecute the available information.

A Linear Progression Approach

The term, “crawl, walk then run” was often used in conjunction with “slow is smooth”. The assaulters needed to start off slow, like at a literal crawl pace in order to learn the techniques. When they could slow down and see their decisions being made in real time, learning was much easier. It was those who insisted on going faster their skill level that tripped over themselves, at times literally. So, how does this apply to the shooting world. Before you can be expected to execute any action or activity, it must first be flawlessly developed. The only way to accomplish this task is by slowing down so the end user can see the action required, to the level of precision needed to complete the task. Before you can expect to have a one second drawstroke, you must first understand and be able to apply the fundamentals of the drawstroke. You developed this skill by thinking your way through each step so you can apply the required level of precision to your movements.

Master the Fundamentals

I was asked a long time ago how to develop speed in shooting. My answer to this day remains the same. You minimize the amount of movement necessary, then perform said minimal movement precisely enough for the task at hand. You want to shoot faster, then master the fundamentals. The absolute minimal amount of movement necessary. When we look at shooters technique at the granular level it is often covered in dirt. It is not clean. All that dirt prevents you from moving as precisely as you can or as necessary as the shot requires. This to me epitomizes the notion of “slow is smooth and smooth is fast”. Because when trained properly, the thousands of work hours allows the observer a glimpse into the closest thing to perfection we can possibly attain.

The Forging Process

There will remain flaws in our techniques. These flaws exist because for some reason we prioritized something else in the required action and performed them less precise than what the situation dictated. I preach the slow is smooth mantra anytime we are teaching assaults or tactics. But I also preach it when we are teaching shooting. It comes out of my mouth about a 100 different ways in class. Most of the time in the form of a question. Why is this shot not where you were aiming? I’m looking to see what the student can recall. What did they feel, and see at the moment the shot was fired. Most of the time they cannot recall. They cannot recall because they were moving faster than their capabilities allowed. When the student can slow their movements down it allows them to perfect their technique. This smoothing out of their technique then allows them to incrementally accelerate simply by being more efficient. They accelerate to the point of failure. When they can recognize this failure point they truly have arrived as a competent gunman.

Where Does the Smooth Come From

The standing order I give all students is only shoot as fast as they can guarantee the required hits. Those that have been exposed to the slow is smooth mantra have a higher success rate than those who have not. Starting slower gets you to your goal faster. You ingrain the proper neural pathways and therefore it helps to accelerate the learning process. When you slow down you can start to internalize the tacit knowledge. This knowledge is difficult to express or verbalize. It is more like intuition that is developed with experience and this is where the smooth comes from.

It’s About Making Fewer Mistakes

At some point we do want to be going fast, but fast without the proper building blocks is a sham. Anyone who tries to tell you anything different is suspect at best. When you begin to perform at the top levels and are producing excellent results, it is because you have followed a simple formula. You developed your technique or the mechanics to almost a flawless level. It took you slowing down to accomplish this task. Then you applied your technique over and over building competency through consistency. It is as this point you become efficient or smooth. Then you start to see your movement speed performed with fewer and fewer errors or overall time. The byproduct is you are faster. Not because you are moving faster, of course that is a byproduct. You are faster because you are making fewer mistakes at the granular level and producing results.

When I ask people if their goal is to perform whatever their skill to the subconscious competent level they invariably answer of course. When I ask them how they intend on getting there I get a response that reminds me of banging your head into the wall. The fastest way to see progress is by understanding there is a process; technique (slow), consistency (smooth) and then intensity (fast). When you come to this understanding, you improvements mean more and you start to understand what it means to festina lente.

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The Cart Before the Horse

Before you can truly appreciate any piece of gear or equipment, you need to be skilled enough to see the benefit…literally. Think of it like having a high performance racing machine, but you’ve never felt g-force going into a turn. You will not be able to exploit the higher end attributes. You can still drive the racing machine on the streets, but that’s about as far as it goes. However, when you take the time to develop your driving skill, say through an advanced vehicle dynamics course now you have been exposed to what the machine’s capability are under your control. We can see the same thing in the shooting world when it comes to levels of precision for your equipment.

Repeatable Performance Is the Goal

During our rifle classes I get the chance to really expand on this subject. I talk in depth about the system you are employing. The system being the environment, rifle, optic, ammunition and the most important part of the system…you. What are you capable of repeatedly performing. That is the key, repeatability. Another way to look at it is consistency is accuracy and accuracy is nothing more than being consistent. I like to start by exploring the means to measure your accuracy and the most common method is through measuring the overall spread of your shot group in inches then converting that into another measurement referenced minute of angle.

Defining a Minute

Minute of angle is nothing more than angular measurements. There are plenty of other resources that do a great job of diving deep into the subject. For our purposes we want to understand what is commonly referenced as a “shooter’s minute”. Since a precise minute of angle measures 1.047 inches at 100 yards we round down to an even inch. So, one inch equals one minute of angle at 100 yards. This measurement is proportionate so as the distance increases so to does the measurement. For example, at 200 yards one minute of angle (1MOA) equals 2 inches and at 400 yards it equals 4 inches and at 800 yards it equals 8 inches. The precision of a rifle is usually measured in the shot group spread at 100 yards expressed in MOA. If your rifle is capable of shooting a shot group that is 1 inch, it is said to be a 1MOA rifle.

The Relevancy of Accuracy Standards

This might be the true potential of the rifle, but what are you capable of doing on command consistently. The standard of accuracy for both the student and equipment in our classes is 4MOA. What that means is I’m asking the student to consistently and on command shoot to within a 4MOA shot group when demonstrating their accuracy such as when zeroing the rifle. Going back to our earlier formula, we know that at 100 yards, 1 inch equals 1MOA, but what is it at the 50 yard line? If you are good at math, you would’ve calculated ½ inch. So, at 50 yards, trying to shoot to a 4MOA group means your shot group is no more than 2 inches. If you are capable of achieving this level of performance then theoretically you should be able to hold this shot group at various distances.

The 4MOA Factors

At the 100 yard line, the shot group size would be 4 inches and at the 200 yard line the shot group would be 8 inches. That to me is the best distance to evaluate performance. If you can maintain an 8 inch group or better at 200 yards then your understanding of the marksmanship fundamentals are pretty solid. I know what you are thinking, at this point in the article why am I content with 4MOA. To be honest, I’m not. However, what my experience has shown me is most shooters are not skilled enough to repeatedly shoot a tighter group. The goal, therefore slightly shifts to more about repeatability rather than precision. If they can repeatedly produce groups at the 3MOA that is great, if they can do it at 2MOA, even better. The 4MOA standard gives everyone a start point as they work towards refining their marksmanship fundamentals.

Adding Maintenance to the Equation

This again is where consistency comes into the equation. When you can consistently demonstrate a 4MOA shot group at various yard lines you start to understand what it takes to accomplish this task. You realize it is definitely the indian and not as much the arrow. I love seeing students repeatedly meet this standard. It is a huge confidence builder. It also paves the way for improvements. Because when the shooter is consistent, they start to see their shot group get tighter and there is where precision comes into the equation. It becomes easier and easier for them to maintain this standard. If you are not on the rifle as often as you want, but you can still deliver the 4MOA group in my opinion you are good to go.

Careful Investment into the Art

The other benefit to the 4MOA accuracy standard is it allows new shooters to wade into the game at a more reasonable upfront investment. An off the shelf rifle from a reputable manufacture with a decent optic properly mounted and zeroed firing reliable ammunition can accomplish this task with relative ease. We have seen this demonstrated in our Rifle 3 classes on a pretty regular basis. I even have had my doubts about some rifles, but the shooter steps up to the plate and delivers the 4MOA group. It is only when they consistently perform to this accuracy standard they can see the value of “upgrades”. Upgrades like rifles built for precision. Ammunition made to match standards and optics that are ultra fine in their adjustments.

Start With a Basic Rifle and Go From There

What I see in classes oftentimes the reverse of the process described above. The idea high end upgraded equipment can substitute for lack of skill has been costly to many. I mean costly in the literal terms. Instead, take the equipment you have and invest in quality training and regular practice. You will see far greater return on your investment. There is also a better appreciation for the process of developing the skill and how to exploit said skill. Don’t mistake what I’m saying for meaning you won’t see any improvements with high end upgraded gear, the problem is you probably won’t see it for a while.

I love shooting rifles, I love the precision they allow me to demonstrate. I love the discipline needed to demonstrate said precision. I invested in a quality rifle, then use the most precise ammunition I can afford in bulk and practice, practice a lot. That is the secret to really being a rifleman.

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