hog slayer
Expert
So, I received a bit of a spanking (yes, I enjoyed it) for wrongful placement of this post. I have hopefully made necessary corrections:
Low Light Pistol
IÂ’m writing a review of an upcoming course that I have taken a few times from ACT, out of Terre Haute, IN. I must include a brief bio of myself before continuing so that I may give due credit to the ACT crew and you may all prejudge whether I could have anything of value to say or just hot air. I spent a fair career on Active Duty Marine Corps in the black chevron mafia; trained over 22,000 shooters myself and received firearms and weapons handling training across the globe. Some good, some bad, some government funded, others out of my pocket. All different. Different environments. Different gear. Different guns. Different instructors. Different purposes and different range facilities.
The ACT low light course usually unofficially begins at BandanaÂ’s BBQ joint in Terre haute, just 15 minutes from the range, and for a reasonable price one can be well fed and get to know most of the other shooters before arriving at Riley Conservation ClubÂ’s clubhouse for the necessary classroom portion of the course. YouÂ’ll receive standard fair classroom instruction on proper weapons handling, gear manipulation, and safe conduct while on the range. DonÂ’t forget, itÂ’s a low light course and things are different with the lights turned off. John Viray is no spring chicken, has a storied history in the combat arena long before we all wore tan cammies, and knows his stuff. To that end, most of the lack-of knowledge in students is predominantly gear related. John will identify many issues before they bite you on the range.
RCC: the conservation club charges an incredibly reasonable annual family membership fee for use of the range, fishing ponds and woods. Their range is one of the best I have had the luxury to use in all of my time. Sure, there are no truly long ranges. But, if you can stretch your legs on that 22lr to the available 265-yard line, youÂ’re the man. There are numerous pistol bays, and all are outfitted with loads of steel and in various configurations. There are barrels, snow fence obstacles, and makeshift walls and windows throughout to include awnings, tables, chairs and nearly anything else a guy could ask for on a range. It truly is fantastic and at an unbeatable price for (did I say family) membership. My wife and kids had a wonderful time on numerous picnic outings with dad at the range. Not something that could be easily pulled off just anywhere, and safely. Many of the bays allow shooting in three directions and there is rarely a crowd. I used to take sandbag and KB and PT on the range. Nothing to check your skills like a racing heartbeat intermingled with trigger time. But, I digress.
The classroom portion complete, it is time to head to the range. Things begin on the range as soon as the sun sets. Not when then sun is still out, but when itÂ’s actually dark outside. I saw numerous shooters with decked out blasters, having lasers and lights and handheld lights and night sights and whatnot but couldnÂ’t get rounds on target because they had never actually used the gear. Spend all the money you want on gadgets, but itÂ’s time behind the trigger on a range that you need. Many shooters wouldnÂ’t work the bugs out until 30 minutes into the course. You might want to sort this out before you decide to use your piece in real life and death engagements, and this professionally supervised training is the best place to do just that. This is not a high round count course and there is no requirement for gear outside basic light and pea shooter, ears and eyes, which, as a significant but side note, makes this class incredibly affordable. I chose to carry just as I would in every day life. This meant a wheel gun and surefire pen light. I know some choose to carry a full combat load out, but thatÂ’s not most, regardless of what you want to say on social media, and besides, that mess of gear is welcome at the class, too. I just chose to carry as I would any other time. I didnÂ’t buy any additional gear and didnÂ’t need it. I can say without hesitation, I learned more on this course than I could have expected. ItÂ’s the only shooting course I actually want to attend annually (ThatÂ’s every year, for my fellow crayon eaters) without the need to change anything. All other training is intentionally rotated, but this is the one that canÂ’t be missed if any.
Low Light Pistol
IÂ’m writing a review of an upcoming course that I have taken a few times from ACT, out of Terre Haute, IN. I must include a brief bio of myself before continuing so that I may give due credit to the ACT crew and you may all prejudge whether I could have anything of value to say or just hot air. I spent a fair career on Active Duty Marine Corps in the black chevron mafia; trained over 22,000 shooters myself and received firearms and weapons handling training across the globe. Some good, some bad, some government funded, others out of my pocket. All different. Different environments. Different gear. Different guns. Different instructors. Different purposes and different range facilities.
The ACT low light course usually unofficially begins at BandanaÂ’s BBQ joint in Terre haute, just 15 minutes from the range, and for a reasonable price one can be well fed and get to know most of the other shooters before arriving at Riley Conservation ClubÂ’s clubhouse for the necessary classroom portion of the course. YouÂ’ll receive standard fair classroom instruction on proper weapons handling, gear manipulation, and safe conduct while on the range. DonÂ’t forget, itÂ’s a low light course and things are different with the lights turned off. John Viray is no spring chicken, has a storied history in the combat arena long before we all wore tan cammies, and knows his stuff. To that end, most of the lack-of knowledge in students is predominantly gear related. John will identify many issues before they bite you on the range.
RCC: the conservation club charges an incredibly reasonable annual family membership fee for use of the range, fishing ponds and woods. Their range is one of the best I have had the luxury to use in all of my time. Sure, there are no truly long ranges. But, if you can stretch your legs on that 22lr to the available 265-yard line, youÂ’re the man. There are numerous pistol bays, and all are outfitted with loads of steel and in various configurations. There are barrels, snow fence obstacles, and makeshift walls and windows throughout to include awnings, tables, chairs and nearly anything else a guy could ask for on a range. It truly is fantastic and at an unbeatable price for (did I say family) membership. My wife and kids had a wonderful time on numerous picnic outings with dad at the range. Not something that could be easily pulled off just anywhere, and safely. Many of the bays allow shooting in three directions and there is rarely a crowd. I used to take sandbag and KB and PT on the range. Nothing to check your skills like a racing heartbeat intermingled with trigger time. But, I digress.
The classroom portion complete, it is time to head to the range. Things begin on the range as soon as the sun sets. Not when then sun is still out, but when itÂ’s actually dark outside. I saw numerous shooters with decked out blasters, having lasers and lights and handheld lights and night sights and whatnot but couldnÂ’t get rounds on target because they had never actually used the gear. Spend all the money you want on gadgets, but itÂ’s time behind the trigger on a range that you need. Many shooters wouldnÂ’t work the bugs out until 30 minutes into the course. You might want to sort this out before you decide to use your piece in real life and death engagements, and this professionally supervised training is the best place to do just that. This is not a high round count course and there is no requirement for gear outside basic light and pea shooter, ears and eyes, which, as a significant but side note, makes this class incredibly affordable. I chose to carry just as I would in every day life. This meant a wheel gun and surefire pen light. I know some choose to carry a full combat load out, but thatÂ’s not most, regardless of what you want to say on social media, and besides, that mess of gear is welcome at the class, too. I just chose to carry as I would any other time. I didnÂ’t buy any additional gear and didnÂ’t need it. I can say without hesitation, I learned more on this course than I could have expected. ItÂ’s the only shooting course I actually want to attend annually (ThatÂ’s every year, for my fellow crayon eaters) without the need to change anything. All other training is intentionally rotated, but this is the one that canÂ’t be missed if any.
