This AAR is from <span style="font-weight: bold">BobinNC</span> if you want to contact him more on this.
The class in question: <span style="font-weight: bold">Link on SH</span>
After Action Report: IMT Training
The following is a modest critique of I.M.T. training as offered by John Boyette @ Juniper Swamp Dec. 11 & 12, 2009.
If I could have theme music playing, it would be the music from the Good, the Bad and Ugly. But to preface my remarks up-front, the course was all Good, and very little Bad, and almost nothing Ugly. But that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.....
The Good
In this 2 day training the course is divided into two parts:
Day one is .22lr's galore. Many of the fundamental principles that John teaches he utilizes the 22 long rifle as the primary training tool. John teaches and emphasizes the prone, sitting and off-hand positions, with a sling. This part of the course is worth the price of admission alone. By the end of day one, each student is not only comfortable, but proficient in the use of a sling: in the prone, sitting and off-hand, positions. John knows more about positions than the guy that wrote the Kama Sutra. And at the end of day one, so will the student.
I expended about 400 rounds of 22lr, to complete day one. But the student must have a suitable sling (TAB or TIS, or?), a Bi pod on your 22 is nice, but you won't need it much, and a good scope allowing to focus at close ranges. A ten round mag works better than a five round, but either will do.
Day 2 is center fire and Long range shooting. John will walk each student through his paces, and have you ringing steel with alacrity, using dialing, reticle come-ups, and come downs. Next is mechanical offsets, which is an eye opening exercise. And more ringing of steel, out to 700yds or so. Everything you learned on day one, can be applied to day 2, and some entirely new concepts will be taught.
Every student could successfully ring the steel @ 700yds, and in fact made such shots easily. I expended about 120-160 rounds of ammo, and good optics, with repeatable adjustments, are a must.
A shooting pad of some kind is also nice to have. You don't need your LRF, or spotting scope, but bring them along, to have fun with while others are shooting.
In summary, the course is well worth the money and energy you will expend. I would pay twice as much, as John charges. As a teacher he is knowledgeable, literate, and patient. And as a student you will learn.
The Bad
The bad part of this course, is not the fault of the teacher, but of the student. It may seem fundamental, but as a student you are required to have your 22lr properly sighted in @ 50 yds, and your center fire properly sighted in from somewhere 100-300 yds. Sometime was wasted and ammo expended, because student(s) were not prepared.
John should not assume that his students are savvy enough to come prepared to class. Perhaps the first evolution on day one, should be a zero check @ 50yds with your 22lr.
On day 2 the first evolution should be a zero check @ 100yds. with your center fire. Good planning is one thing, actually executing that plan is another. Stuff happens, rifles get out of zero, shooters dink with their scopes, change ammo/loads, it's colder/hotter here than at home, and Juniper Swamp is damn near below sea level (actually about 90 FT ASL).
Continuing on the students not being prepared theme; as a student it is required that you have your come-ups/downs for your center fire memorized. It is not enough just to have a drop chart that you can consult. Have them committed to memory. I'm mean it's only 7 numbers: drops to 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700yds. Both dialing and mils on the reticle. It's not much to retain in memory, and the course will go smoother, for both you and John.
The Ugly
The range is called Juniper Swamp. And it's not a range but a working farm. The Fields have been fresh plowed, and with 10" of rain in the past 30 days, it's swamp like and muddy. I mean major league mud. Also the facilities are primitive. Primitive in this context means: non-existent. There isn't no clubhouse to get warm in or cool off. If it's hot out, you will be hot. If it's cold, you will be cold, and if it's raining you will get wet. This is not the back nine at Augusta National, and there isn't no toddy waiting for you at the clubhouse.
There is a porta-potty, which is as first class as the facilities get. But the instruction is priceless, the steel rings good, and there is lot of shooting, and much knowledge is imparted. John does not promise you a rose garden, and none is to be found.
Dress for the weather, be comfortable on the ground, bring your own beverages, and have fun shooting. Because that's what IMT is all about.
The class in question: <span style="font-weight: bold">Link on SH</span>
After Action Report: IMT Training
The following is a modest critique of I.M.T. training as offered by John Boyette @ Juniper Swamp Dec. 11 & 12, 2009.
If I could have theme music playing, it would be the music from the Good, the Bad and Ugly. But to preface my remarks up-front, the course was all Good, and very little Bad, and almost nothing Ugly. But that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.....
The Good
In this 2 day training the course is divided into two parts:
Day one is .22lr's galore. Many of the fundamental principles that John teaches he utilizes the 22 long rifle as the primary training tool. John teaches and emphasizes the prone, sitting and off-hand positions, with a sling. This part of the course is worth the price of admission alone. By the end of day one, each student is not only comfortable, but proficient in the use of a sling: in the prone, sitting and off-hand, positions. John knows more about positions than the guy that wrote the Kama Sutra. And at the end of day one, so will the student.
I expended about 400 rounds of 22lr, to complete day one. But the student must have a suitable sling (TAB or TIS, or?), a Bi pod on your 22 is nice, but you won't need it much, and a good scope allowing to focus at close ranges. A ten round mag works better than a five round, but either will do.
Day 2 is center fire and Long range shooting. John will walk each student through his paces, and have you ringing steel with alacrity, using dialing, reticle come-ups, and come downs. Next is mechanical offsets, which is an eye opening exercise. And more ringing of steel, out to 700yds or so. Everything you learned on day one, can be applied to day 2, and some entirely new concepts will be taught.
Every student could successfully ring the steel @ 700yds, and in fact made such shots easily. I expended about 120-160 rounds of ammo, and good optics, with repeatable adjustments, are a must.
A shooting pad of some kind is also nice to have. You don't need your LRF, or spotting scope, but bring them along, to have fun with while others are shooting.
In summary, the course is well worth the money and energy you will expend. I would pay twice as much, as John charges. As a teacher he is knowledgeable, literate, and patient. And as a student you will learn.
The Bad
The bad part of this course, is not the fault of the teacher, but of the student. It may seem fundamental, but as a student you are required to have your 22lr properly sighted in @ 50 yds, and your center fire properly sighted in from somewhere 100-300 yds. Sometime was wasted and ammo expended, because student(s) were not prepared.
John should not assume that his students are savvy enough to come prepared to class. Perhaps the first evolution on day one, should be a zero check @ 50yds with your 22lr.
On day 2 the first evolution should be a zero check @ 100yds. with your center fire. Good planning is one thing, actually executing that plan is another. Stuff happens, rifles get out of zero, shooters dink with their scopes, change ammo/loads, it's colder/hotter here than at home, and Juniper Swamp is damn near below sea level (actually about 90 FT ASL).
Continuing on the students not being prepared theme; as a student it is required that you have your come-ups/downs for your center fire memorized. It is not enough just to have a drop chart that you can consult. Have them committed to memory. I'm mean it's only 7 numbers: drops to 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700yds. Both dialing and mils on the reticle. It's not much to retain in memory, and the course will go smoother, for both you and John.
The Ugly
The range is called Juniper Swamp. And it's not a range but a working farm. The Fields have been fresh plowed, and with 10" of rain in the past 30 days, it's swamp like and muddy. I mean major league mud. Also the facilities are primitive. Primitive in this context means: non-existent. There isn't no clubhouse to get warm in or cool off. If it's hot out, you will be hot. If it's cold, you will be cold, and if it's raining you will get wet. This is not the back nine at Augusta National, and there isn't no toddy waiting for you at the clubhouse.
There is a porta-potty, which is as first class as the facilities get. But the instruction is priceless, the steel rings good, and there is lot of shooting, and much knowledge is imparted. John does not promise you a rose garden, and none is to be found.
Dress for the weather, be comfortable on the ground, bring your own beverages, and have fun shooting. Because that's what IMT is all about.
