AAR Tactical Rifle byDefensive Shooting Concepts
Atlanta ConservationClub, Bay 8
Sat 6-17-17 from 9amto 3 pm Instructor Jonathan Tindal
There was a very good class description on the DefensiveShooting Concepts web site but those are pulled down after the scheduled date.
You can access upcoming class descriptions though and the site is regularly updated with the upcoming month’s options. Link here:
Central Indiana Firearms Training - Defensive Shooting Concepts
After the initial paperwork and obligatory safety talk wechecked zero’s from around 20-25 yards. I think we shot three, maybe four, three
round groups to confirm we were on paper. Noting our respective sight offsets we shot a few more groups concentrating on hitting the
bullseye. This is always fun as inevitably someone forgets about their sight offset.
In my opinion Jonathan puts more emphasis on precision/accuracy than similar classes of this type that I have taken. I think this is from his
LEO background and it was something that I personally needed to refocus upon. My shooting had become a little‘loose’ and the added emphasis
on improved accuracy was welcome. This class was not all about throwing lead down range but definitely about speed and accuracy. Round
count was right at 300 rounds for the day. I believe the targets were VTAC torsotargets which showed human vital organs. They also had ‘boxes’
illustrating the ocular triangle, thoracic cavity and pelvic girdle. We repeated numerous exercises at randomly selected head, chest and/or pelvic zones.
Whether we were to fire a single shot, controlled pair, double tap, or other variation like a mag change was also incorporated into these drills.
Jonathan broke out the shot timer and suddenly everything fell apart!
The shot timer remained out the rest of the day for various activities and to set baselines and monitor any improvements we were making.
Sure there were fumbles,which are always fun, but everyone improved significantly despite being under timer stress.
These guys were VERY competitive but all in a FUN way.
We moved on to shooting while moving. Forwards, backwards, laterally, diagonally. Again different target area’s and round counts to mix it up.
We practiced mag changes and malfunction drills (type 1, 2& 3). While I have practiced these previously I had a SOB type 3 double feed, that we had created,
and I couldn’t believe what it took to clear that. I was at the point where I thought I had seriously broken something since it took so much physical effort to
force the charging handle back. Worth the price of the class just for that.
Onto obstacles/barricades. We had to shoot through two 9 hole obstacles. Left handed and right handed obstacles. I had shot these before but not having
to use every single position consecutively plus left and right extremes. Each COF (course of fire) was 11 rounds in either the‘head, chest or pelvis’ boxes
against the clock. Knee pads are a must on gravel/rock for this one and I’d recommend elbow pads also. This one wiped me out after a few runs and always
looks easier when you are watching. One ‘miss’ and you wereout the running. I almost forget to mention that at every transition you had to put the safety on.
This is another exercise, and yes it was an exercise alright a physical exercise, that I need to work on and practice.. This one got the heart rate pumping alright.
Serpentine drill. We moved on to a straight line of double stacked barrels spaced about six feet apart. I believe there were 6 or 7barrels, stacked two high.
Two targets at the end of the line, one just to the lefthand side and one to the right hand side of the centerline of the barrels. There was a hostage
and a bad guy on each of the targets. We had to serpentine down the line weaving in and out of the barrels while engaging only the bad guy.
Minimal body exposure dictated off hand transitions were a good choice. We had to do this while moving forward to the target and the backwards to the
start position while incorporating a mag change. Oh and don’t forget that safety between shots. For me this is where the earlier emphasis ontight groups
and only hits count really paid dividends.
We rounded out the day with two more hostage type scenarios.
The first was simply a single shot drill at about 5-7 yards. A single shot to the hostage takers head against the shot timer. Several bouts of this drill were
performed. Besides emphasizing speed and accuracy it was just fun going faster and faster until we reached our limit on both and started missing.
We wrapped up the day with another hostage style shoot situation. We were positioned about 7 yards away from two realistic heads.
The realistic heads were spaced about a foot apart mounted in line atop a wooden post by means if a 2x4. The 2x4 acted like a mechanical turntable.
We had to move sufficiently enough to get a line of sight/shot on the bad guy. As we were moving Jonathan moved the heads thwarting your chance at a shot.
If youtook too long you lost your opportunity and had to keep working at it until you made the shot. It was very frustrating trying to get a shot off but
this drill is far more realistic to what you would likely encounter. Once again this alone was worth the price of admission.
Wrap up:
The fundamentals in any of these type classes are somewhat similar. Point the gun at the threat,obey all safety rules, and neutralize the threat as necessary,
rinse lather repeat. It’s the way the material is presented and the way the trainer engages the student that made this class stand out for me.
Jonathan ‘Jon’ Tindal does a fantastic job and I wanted to share this local resource with everyone else.
Not sure of all their prices but the last two one day classes I took were $150 and you get a $25 discount after your initial course.
Plus you also get the opportunity to win a coveted T shirt if you are the best of the best for that class!
You also get a certificate of completion e-mailed post class.
Defensive Shooting Concepts post classes about a month in advance so it is worth checking out their offerings (new or updated offerings monthly).
I stumbled onto them and they offer some great classes at very reasonable prices right here 45 mins or so from Indianapolis.
I know I’ll be back and hope to see some of you there too.
Nigel
Atlanta ConservationClub, Bay 8
Sat 6-17-17 from 9amto 3 pm Instructor Jonathan Tindal
There was a very good class description on the DefensiveShooting Concepts web site but those are pulled down after the scheduled date.
You can access upcoming class descriptions though and the site is regularly updated with the upcoming month’s options. Link here:
Central Indiana Firearms Training - Defensive Shooting Concepts
After the initial paperwork and obligatory safety talk wechecked zero’s from around 20-25 yards. I think we shot three, maybe four, three
round groups to confirm we were on paper. Noting our respective sight offsets we shot a few more groups concentrating on hitting the
bullseye. This is always fun as inevitably someone forgets about their sight offset.
In my opinion Jonathan puts more emphasis on precision/accuracy than similar classes of this type that I have taken. I think this is from his
LEO background and it was something that I personally needed to refocus upon. My shooting had become a little‘loose’ and the added emphasis
on improved accuracy was welcome. This class was not all about throwing lead down range but definitely about speed and accuracy. Round
count was right at 300 rounds for the day. I believe the targets were VTAC torsotargets which showed human vital organs. They also had ‘boxes’
illustrating the ocular triangle, thoracic cavity and pelvic girdle. We repeated numerous exercises at randomly selected head, chest and/or pelvic zones.
Whether we were to fire a single shot, controlled pair, double tap, or other variation like a mag change was also incorporated into these drills.
Jonathan broke out the shot timer and suddenly everything fell apart!
The shot timer remained out the rest of the day for various activities and to set baselines and monitor any improvements we were making.
Sure there were fumbles,which are always fun, but everyone improved significantly despite being under timer stress.
These guys were VERY competitive but all in a FUN way.
We moved on to shooting while moving. Forwards, backwards, laterally, diagonally. Again different target area’s and round counts to mix it up.
We practiced mag changes and malfunction drills (type 1, 2& 3). While I have practiced these previously I had a SOB type 3 double feed, that we had created,
and I couldn’t believe what it took to clear that. I was at the point where I thought I had seriously broken something since it took so much physical effort to
force the charging handle back. Worth the price of the class just for that.
Onto obstacles/barricades. We had to shoot through two 9 hole obstacles. Left handed and right handed obstacles. I had shot these before but not having
to use every single position consecutively plus left and right extremes. Each COF (course of fire) was 11 rounds in either the‘head, chest or pelvis’ boxes
against the clock. Knee pads are a must on gravel/rock for this one and I’d recommend elbow pads also. This one wiped me out after a few runs and always
looks easier when you are watching. One ‘miss’ and you wereout the running. I almost forget to mention that at every transition you had to put the safety on.
This is another exercise, and yes it was an exercise alright a physical exercise, that I need to work on and practice.. This one got the heart rate pumping alright.
Serpentine drill. We moved on to a straight line of double stacked barrels spaced about six feet apart. I believe there were 6 or 7barrels, stacked two high.
Two targets at the end of the line, one just to the lefthand side and one to the right hand side of the centerline of the barrels. There was a hostage
and a bad guy on each of the targets. We had to serpentine down the line weaving in and out of the barrels while engaging only the bad guy.
Minimal body exposure dictated off hand transitions were a good choice. We had to do this while moving forward to the target and the backwards to the
start position while incorporating a mag change. Oh and don’t forget that safety between shots. For me this is where the earlier emphasis ontight groups
and only hits count really paid dividends.
We rounded out the day with two more hostage type scenarios.
The first was simply a single shot drill at about 5-7 yards. A single shot to the hostage takers head against the shot timer. Several bouts of this drill were
performed. Besides emphasizing speed and accuracy it was just fun going faster and faster until we reached our limit on both and started missing.
We wrapped up the day with another hostage style shoot situation. We were positioned about 7 yards away from two realistic heads.
The realistic heads were spaced about a foot apart mounted in line atop a wooden post by means if a 2x4. The 2x4 acted like a mechanical turntable.
We had to move sufficiently enough to get a line of sight/shot on the bad guy. As we were moving Jonathan moved the heads thwarting your chance at a shot.
If youtook too long you lost your opportunity and had to keep working at it until you made the shot. It was very frustrating trying to get a shot off but
this drill is far more realistic to what you would likely encounter. Once again this alone was worth the price of admission.
Wrap up:
The fundamentals in any of these type classes are somewhat similar. Point the gun at the threat,obey all safety rules, and neutralize the threat as necessary,
rinse lather repeat. It’s the way the material is presented and the way the trainer engages the student that made this class stand out for me.
Jonathan ‘Jon’ Tindal does a fantastic job and I wanted to share this local resource with everyone else.
Not sure of all their prices but the last two one day classes I took were $150 and you get a $25 discount after your initial course.
Plus you also get the opportunity to win a coveted T shirt if you are the best of the best for that class!
You also get a certificate of completion e-mailed post class.
Defensive Shooting Concepts post classes about a month in advance so it is worth checking out their offerings (new or updated offerings monthly).
I stumbled onto them and they offer some great classes at very reasonable prices right here 45 mins or so from Indianapolis.
I know I’ll be back and hope to see some of you there too.
Nigel
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