Training Value Part 1

 Training Value 1

What is training value?  It is the worth of a certain activity of training to the individual or team.  This training has many factors.  Time, cost, difficulty, terms of what the training actually teaches.  In this series we’ll explore the many different training avenues available and talk about their worth.

 

Number 1 is Range time.  We all like to go to the range.  I tell my wife I have to blow things up so that I can do self-therapy.  It is therapy, and a healing balm to my soul.   I love the sights, the smells, the feel of an outdoor shooting range.

Every shooting range is different.  My range doesn’t have a RO (range officer).  It is very low key and there is plenty of room for several people to shoot at the same time.  I can do many different things as far as shooting from many different positions.  I also shoot from various distances concentrating on 5 to 10 feet.

If you go to the range, standing, worrying only about stance, grip, aim, press and you’re expecting to be ready for a defensive shooting or a firefight, you may be deadly mistaken.  Standing and shooting paper or steel is fun, but ineffective.  When I competed, and I use the word “competed” lightly, I would run a course over and over until I got it perfect.  It did not make me a dead shot, it did not make me a dangerous threat to criminals or terrorists, it made me a mediocre competitor.  Quality range time means improving in the reason you carry a gun.  If you carry a gun for defense, you need to train for defense. This is much more than basic marksmanship.  If you have little to no experience shooting basic marksmanship is where you start. But remember that there is more to it all than just marksmanship.

Your range time should be more than just recreational.  Even though it’s ALL recreational to me!   

It takes some preparation to make your time at a range productive.  Here are some ideas to help.

Prepare your range bag a head of time.  Make sure to have personal protection equipment for safety.  Ear and eye protection, gloves if you feel the need.  But include targets and a cleaning kit, plenty of ammo, a timer and record book.  A range bag can be a personal thing.  I include a first aid kit.  A well thought out bag ready to go can save time, money, and make the most of your visit.  I load all magazines and take plenty so I don’t have to use time loading.  I usually take only one gun although lately I’ve been taking a .22 pistol along with a 9mm.  .22 Ammo is cheaper and I have plenty of it.  Focusing on one or two particular areas is better than trying to cover many.     

Decide ahead of time what are going to do.  If you’re limited with time this is especially important.  When I go to the range I limit myself to 50 rounds.  Unless the drills happen to require more.  If I’m limited to 50 rounds I won’t blow through 200 rounds.  I enjoy it all too much.  By limiting my rounds I can take my time and give myself more critical training.  By critical I mean really looking at each firing and critiquing myself for improvement.  Be specific in your planning.  For example:

• Maintaining proper grip.
• Proper sight picture and alignment.
• Maintaining focus on the front sight post.
• Regaining proper site alignment after each shot.
• Proper posture, stance, and arm position.
• Executing proper trigger pull.
• Reloading.
• Strong or weak hand shooting (for pistol shooters).
• Proper cheek weld (for long gun shooters).

Some of these are not extremely important.  Some you may not have trouble with.  Pick skills where you’re weak.

One of the reasons I limit my rounds is it also limits my time.  There is a point where you’ve shot enough and you won’t improve because of fatigue.  I limit my rounds, you can limit your time.

There are many places in this country to shoot.  In door or out door ranges use paper or steel.  Some may have reactive or moving targets.  Some ranges have room for you to move.  A shoot house is a great realistic way to train.  All of these are available in the U.S. but you may be limited to what is in your area.  If you have the room to safely shoot on your property, and it is legal in your area, building your own personal range.  Doing this is usually very versatile.  

Using a shooting range is an important part of training.  It’s as close as you can come to the real deal.  Use it to your advantage as much as you can.

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn