Evaluating Training

[ExSniper]

I recently completed a two-day Patrol Rifle school as part of my continuing Law Enforcement certification. I have been shooting AR type rifles for over 35 years, ever since the Army handed me my first M-16. Much of the training was excellent, but several items that were hammered home quite dogmatically, seemed to be superfluous issues or even bad techniques. When I questioned some of these techniques, I was told that was the current way of doing it!
Disagreement with their techniques resulted in comments that I was "out of touch" with current training. Since I try to stay current on everything that I can find about shooting I believe that what we had was a disagreement about the validity of a technique. Most of us will modify or adapt techniques to fit our physical limitations and past training. How do you determine that any training or technique is valid and will work for you in real life or even on the range?
Example: We were told that the best way to check and verify a weapon has an empty chamber is to lock the bolt to the rear, insert your trigger finger through the mag well and into the chamber. I stated, and later demonstrated that no one on the range that day could do that and actually touch a round left in the chamber, so it was both worthless and dangerous. Why teach someone a technique that you know will not work for the majority of shooters?
There were several other examples, but it is not the specifics of any technique that I am questioning. What I want to know is how do each of you determine whether any technique is valid and worth using?

 

[Jim_D303]

Re: Evaluating Training

Good question.

I honestly think the best bet is to train with as many different camps as possible. Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive and time consuming.

The next best thing, would be to cross train with people who've had different experiences than you, and trained with those different camps.

There's always the "YMMV" aspect of almost any TTP, but discussion boards where people are interested in learning (and not thumping their chest) can be a huge help.

For example, I haven't had a lot of formal carbine training, personally. However, I've had some of my best shooting buddies train with Insights, Larry Vickers, Jeff Gonzales, Paul Howe, Dave Harrington, Pat Rogers, etc.

We all sit around and chat about different stuff. Jeff Gonzales does some things very different from Larry Vickers. If you read Jeff's book - Combative Fundamentals, An Unconventional Approach http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=287 You'll begin to understand WHY he teaches what he teaches.

If you read Paul Howe's book, or read some of his articles:http://www.combatshootingandtactics.com/published.htm you can understand why he has his preferences.

Different people with different hand-sizes, left handers than run RH weapon's, guys who operate predominatly at night with NOD's, or who swim in to their targets...all have different criteria than the others for what their TTP needs to do for them.

One small example for me is dropping the slide on a pistol. My hands are so big, for me to drop the slide with my support hand thumb, I'd have to adjust almost my whole grip to do it. Larry Vickers advised me to use the support hand thumb at class...he has small hands. Once he saw my mitts, he said "drive on, dude." Ken Hackathorn advocated sling-shoting the slide on a Glock, but pressing the release on a 1911. This decision was driven in part due to how easy/hard it is on each weapon to use that control. I can hit a Glock slide release just as easy as most people can hit a 1911 slide release.

This doesn't mean they're wrong because their advice on this contradicts each other, or didn't work for me...it means my own situation has defined what the best way for me is. When I coach a new shooter...I'll show them all of the above, and let them figure out what delivers for them.

As for what's BS on AR's...check out Jeff Gonzales's book, check out Kyle Lamb's book, check out Paul Howe's book, and soon LAV will have some DVD's out. See what they have in common, think about how it lines up with your own needs, and pick what works best for you.

I can guarentee that Larry Vickers doesn't do exactly the same things some of his mentors taught him (Rob Leatham, and Ken Hackathorn). We all have to figure out our own best way.

 

[Oodin]

Re: Evaluating Training

Excellent question and one, now that you bring it up, worries me as well.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim D</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We all have to figure out our own best way. </div></div>I think this is what it always comes down to, and your own best way will not be found without practice and experience.

 

[fargo007]

Re: Evaluating Training

A good instructor (to me) will never insist there is only one correct way of doing anything, to the exclusion of any differing approach. "A" way rather than "THE" way.

Evaluating alternate techniques I sort of go through a checklist:

1 - Does it work?
2 - Can it be done amid distraction/stress?
3 - Does it create a vacuum or does it have some consequence?

If something doesn't work for one shooter they can try a different approach. The instructor should celebrate that, and demonstrate to the rest of the class another way of accomplishing the task. People attend courses to be taught and to learn, not to be indoctrinated or brainwashed. At least I continue to hope so.

--Fargo007

 

[Emilio]

Re: Evaluating Training

Like fargo said, its not THE way but A way. I took fighting rifle with Tactical Response and was told that every class you take are like tools in your tool box. Use what works for you.

 

[ExSniper]

Re: Evaluating Training

Thanks for the replies. I have been shooting and instructing for nearly four decades in military and law enforcement and I don't think I have ever rejected a new method just because it is new. Always try to make sure I am open to new ideas and concepts but too often new just means renamed or re-packaged so some instructor can charge for something else.