The Home Schooled Shootist:
Training to Fight With a Carbine
by
Joe Nobody
Copyright © 2012-2013
Kemah Bay Marketing LLC.
All rights reserved.
Edited by:
E. T. Ivester
Contributors:
D. Hall
D. Allen
www.holdingyourground.com
www.prepperpress.com
Other Books by Joe Nobody:
- Holding Your Ground: Preparing for Defense if it All Falls Apart
- The TEOTWAWKI Tuxedo: Formal Survival Attire
- Without Rule of Law: Advanced Skill to Help You Survive
- Holding Their Own: A Story of Survival
Dedication
Credit goes to my mother for my love of firearms as well as many of my skills. Mother Nobody was/is a skilled shooter with both sidearm and shoulder-fired weapons. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my mom and me taking turns with a single shot .22 Marlin bolt action rifle, firing at tin cans and tennis balls. Just like milk and ice cream, she always made sure we had a box of shells around the house. When I announced that I wanted a shotgun for
Christmas, at an age that would shock many parents today, she made sure Santa delivered. I remember watching her compete in trap events and being proud that my Mom could outshoot most of the folks there, including the men. As a teenager, when my buddies came over to shoot pistols, she took the time to come out and routinely embarrass us all.
What was more important than the acceptance of firearms was the overall attitude she instilled from an early age. Obviously, safety was a priority, but beyond that she stressed practice, patience, and the perspective of humility.
Introduction
This book is intended to provide intermediate to advanced concepts, tools, and techniques for anyone who wants to improve their fighting skills with a carbine. Shootist is primarily for individuals who wish to develop advanced capabilities in order to dominate practically any gunfight. It assumes the reader has prior training or experience and has mastered rudimentary skills, such as how to clear a jammed weapon, basic shooting positions, and other fundamental knowledge.
The American tradition of excellence with shoulder-fired weapons dates back hundreds of years. A rugged, free, and often unsettled land provided strong motivational factors. Throughout history, those who didn’t develop exceptional skills with a weapon often didn’t survive. While most early Americans used their shooting abilities to put food on the table or defend their families, there were times when our very existence as a country depended on a population well-versed at putting lead on target.
Today, more Americans than ever are exercising their 2nd Amendment right by purchasing firearms. Like many others, this Joe Nobody believes strongly in a free society’s right to bear arms. What most of my countrymen don’t realize is how technology and tactics have impacted the use of these weapons. Long gone are the days when marksmanship and bravery were enough. In just the last 10 years, the technology available to the combat shooter has advanced
so much that the tactics and capabilities of even 20 years ago are now obsolete. Practically every single component of the individual light fighter’s equipment has seen rapid advancements all aimed at one single goal – a more effective, efficient gunfighter.
Both the M16 and AK47 battle rifles have exceeded 50 years of service and are still the primary weapons found on most battlefields today. Outside of the physical appearance of the weapons, very little remains the same internally. The materials, machining specifications, feed ramp design, trigger modifications and numerous other changes have improved those original designs. Even ammunition has seen a wave of design improvements over the last few years. Imagine telling a unit armorer in 1966 that one day we would have 77 grain bullets for the M16. In addition, tell him these rounds will have ballistic performance similar to the .308 sniper rifles employed at the time. He would have thought you were crazy. The material sciences, computer modeling and manufacturing processes being applied to ammunition are game changers. Technology is being utilized for practically every aspect of performance. Today, Doppler radar systems are used to gather empirical ballistic data and have proven traditional mathematical models to be inaccurate.
The list of improvements for the modern day shooter goes on and on. Practically every piece of kit has been upgraded, improved, or didn’t even exist 10 years ago. Take the holographic weapon’s sight as an example. This device reduces target acquisition time significantly. It shortens the learning curve for recruits and increases the effectiveness of experienced soldiers. Accessories of this type have, in dozens of small ways, modified small unit tactics being used all over the world.
Even the lowly sling has seen improvement. Not only have we moved the rifle around to the front of the shooter, we have allowed him to maneuver faster and cleaner than ever before. The modern sling allows the operator to switch from strong to weak side as fast as he can move the rifle from one shoulder to the other.
Today, the well-equipped threat can put more rounds on target in less time than ever before. The antagonist can stay in the fight longer, move faster, and project power at longer distances. Take body armor as another example. Compared to the flak jackets of old, modern plates are lighter, breathe better, cover more of the body, and can withstand far greater punishment. Our boots are lighter, as is our basic clothing. We can carry more water on our backs in comfort than the unbalanced canteens allowed us just a few years ago.
Night fighting capabilities have improved drastically as well. Technology has increased the effectiveness of low light operations to the point where they are equal to, or closely approaching that of daylight levels.
Training and mindset for most civilians has not kept pace with these advancements. Practically any citizen can now acquire advanced weapons and equipment but have no concept as how to train or utilize the capabilities afforded. It seems everything we buy nowadays is a miracle of engineering. Consider: how many of us underutilize the features of our computers because we simply don’t take the time to master our machines?
With so many opportunities to expand our horizons, why would any common person want or need to learn the skills outlined in this text? You need venture no further than your daily worldwide news source for the answer to that question. Violence is trending alongside the upward curve of lethality, enabled by technology. No doubt there are folks loose in civilized societies who have spent the time to do their homework and hone their skills.
The killing spree in Norway during 2011 resulted in over 300 casualties. The criminal, Anders Behring Breivik, used a Ruger Mini-14 rifle with ten 30 round magazines of .223 ammunition as his primary weapon. While many of the injuries and eight of the deaths were due to a bomb, the vast majority of fatalities were due to a shooting spree with the Ruger.
Can you imagine the results if Charles Whitman had been equipped with modern capabilities when he opened fire from the Texas University Bell Tower on August 1st, 1966? His M1 Carbine and 6mm bolt action rifle (with 4x scope) would be considered anemic by today’s standards. Had Whitman been equipped with an auto-loading sniper rifle, laser range finder, body armor and high-powered optic, he could have inflicted far greater damage and been more difficult to stop.
As this book was being edited, the horrific events at Aurora, Colorado occurred. Over 70 people were killed or injured by a lone, disturbed gunman. The suspect (as of this writing) is reported to have been equipped with body armor, tear gas, AR15, shotgun and pistol(s). The shooter was reported to have moved quickly through the theater and even when apprehended, still had considerable ammunition available. According to some news reports, his primary weapon (the AR15) jammed. One can only speculate on the level of carnage if the gunman had possessed the skill to clear that weapon.
The list of examples could go on and on. Tragedies at Columbine, Fort Hood and the University of Virginia are all events where the level of violence escalated due to the capabilities of the weapons used. As close as modern day Mexico, we commonly see far more extreme instances.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 How to use this book ... 14
Items used to build the targets in this book: ... 15
Nice to have ... 17
The Loop... 17
Natural Point of Aim ... 20
Minute of Angle ... 21 Magazine or Clip ... 22 Chapter 2 Evaluation ... 24 Hanging Targets ... 26 Measuring Improvement ... 28 Evaluation Drills ... 29
Supported Mag Dump (Drill # 1) ... 29
Supported Mag Dump with Reload (Drill # 2) ... 29
Offhand Mag Dump (Drill #3)... 30
Offhand Mag Dump with Reload (Drill # 4) ... 30
Weak to Strong: 10 Minimum – Offhand (Drill #5) ... 30
Pistol Offhand – Mag Dump (Drill #6) ... 30
Rifle Zip Line - 25 Meters (Drill #7) ... 31
Pistol Zip Line - 15 Meters (Drill #8) ... 36
Flying Saucers (Drill #9) ... 36
Numbers Game: Rifle (Drill #10) ... 39
Numbers Game: Pistol (Drill #11) ... 41
Chapter 3 Evaluation Summary ... 42
Supported Mag Dump (#1) ... 42
Offhand Mag Dump (#3) ... 44
Offhand Mag Dump with Reload (#4) ... 45
Weak to Strong: 10 Minimum – Offhand (#5) ... 46
Pistol Offhand – Mag Dump (#6) ... 47
Rifle Zip Line - 25 Meters (#7) ... 47
Pistol Zip Line - 15 Meters (#8) ... 50
Flying Saucers (#9) ... 50
Numbers Game: Rifle (#10) ... 51
Numbers Game: Pistol (#11) ... 52
Chapter 4 Improvement ... 53
Equipment Check ... 53
Stance ... 57
Rifle Fulcrum ... 63
Rifle Side Grip ... 65
Sight Picture ... 66
Pulling the Trigger ... 69
Digit Double-Taps ... 70
Zeroing Mid-range Rifles ... 70
Reloads – Tactical and Strategic ... 74
Chapter 5 Off-range Trigger Time ... 79
Dry Firing ... 80
Weight Training ... 84
Laser Pointers ... 86
Chapter 6 Fixed Range Trigger Time ... 89
The Numbers Game ... 89
The Numbers Game – Variants and Deviations ... 91
Chapter 7 Shooting and Cover... 92
The Barrier ... 92
Shooting Sideways ... 97
The Dreaded Corner ... 98
Chapter 8 Moving Targets ... 101
Zip Line - Deviations and Stress ... 101
The Radical Robot ... 102
The Radical Robot - Deviations and Stress ... 105
Flying Saucers ... 105
Flying Saucers – Deviation and Stress ... 105
Chapter 9 Waterboarding ... 107
Chapter 10 Additional Stressors ... 112
Chapter 11 Other Training Methods and Targets ... 115
Chapter 12 Accuracy and Marksmanship ... 117
The System ... 120
Equipment Preparations ... 120
Position ... 125
Point of Aim ... 127
What is the BC? ... 131
Step 1: Baseline BC... 133
Step 2: Weapon’s Velocity ... 134
Step 3: Establishing the BC at Zero ... 135
Step 4: BC at Shot... 140
Step 5: Angle ... 140
Step 6: Distance ... 144
Step 7: Wind... 150
Click, Click, Click ... 156
Control ... 157
Trigger ... 159
Zeroing Mid-Range Rifles ... 159
Summary on Distance to Zero... 163
Level Playing Field ... 163
Accuracy versus Consistency ... 165
Conditions at Zero ... 165
Chapter 13 DOPERS ... 166
DOPE Hoarding ... 169
Chapter 14 Ballistics and Reloading ... 172
Overview ... 172
Reloading and the Shootist ... 173
Establishing Requirements ... 175
Case Prep ... 178
Bullet Seating and Inspection ... 185
Discovery and Verification ... 188
Uncle Joe’s Favorite Brews ... 190
Bonus Section The Nutritional Advantage ... 193
Forward by Joe Nobody ... 193
Why your firearm skills start with what you eat ... 196
Neurotoxic substances in your food, medicine and personal care products ... 196
Things that damage your brain ... 197
Processed food... 198
The Yeast Extract Deception ... 198
Medications ... 199
Why Mercury Eats Your Brain ... 200
How to protect yourself from vaccines ... 201
Psychiatric drugs ... 201
Psych drugs cause diabetes ... 202
Statin drugs ... 202
Statin drugs nearly kill a Tucson police captain ... 203
FDA admits statin drugs are dangerous ... 204
Personal care products ... 205
Lawn Chemicals Kill Your Brain Big Time ... 205
Other Sources of Toxicity ... 206
Neuro-supportive Substances ... 207
Why Macho Men are Growing Infertile ... 208
Neuro-supportive Supplements ... 209
Astaxanthin ... 210
Vitamin D3 ... 212
The Power of Combination ... 213
Neuro-supportive Foods & Superfoods ... 214
My Best-kept Super Performance Secret... 215
Conclusion ... 217
About the Contributor ... 218
Chapter 1
How to use this book
This work is divided into five basic sections:1. Evaluation (Chapters 1 – 3) 2. Improvement (Chapters 4 – 11)
3. Advanced Concepts and Drills (Chapter 11) 4. Accuracy and Marksmanship (Chapter 12 -13) 5. Ballistics and Reloading (Chapter 14)
The first few chapters begin with the operator executing a series of drills in order to quantify current skill levels. The section devoted to Evaluation contains several chapters describing how the results of the drills can be used to evaluate and improve an individual’s capabilities. At the beginning of each assessment exercise, you will find the following details:
The materials checklist contains all of the required items to build or create the exercise. Instructions show how to create and execute the exercise.
The intended benefit of the exercise is explained. Typical results are outlined.
The purpose of the evaluation is twofold. First, it will provide a baseline of measurement so you can judge what is working for you and what is not. Secondly, it helps with focusing your training on the areas where you need the most improvement. One of my favorite mottos is:
How can you improve if you don’t measure?
Section II, Improvement, contains information, concepts and methods to help you get better. While repetition and practice will result in gains, there are also critical factors involved that have nothing to do with eye-hand coordination or muscle memory.
We all, over time, allow bad habits to creep into our daily routines, so the information here is intended to help readers identify fundamentals which may have gone awry. This section will also be the most controversial for many readers. Combat shooting is different than any other
category of firearms usage. You will find processes, suggestions, and techniques here that most people have never considered before.
Section III, Advanced Concepts and Drills, takes things to an extreme level. I included this section for those who want to reach the ultimate level of self-taught training. The drills included in this section are not for everyone and should be executed with extreme caution.
In order to execute the drills, exercises and instruction contained within, you will need the items listed in the following section.
Items used to build the targets in this book:
A place to shoot. This point is critical in that most of the exercises contained in this book cannot be performed at a public gun range. Where applicable, drills that can be
accomplished at commercial ranges have been included, but to really improve your combat shooting skills, you need more flexibility than the typical public range will allow. A magazine-fed long gun (rifle) or carbine weapon. This will be referred to as the primary weapon.
A pistol. This will be referred to as the secondary weapon.
Rope, twine, or cord. Between 75 and 100 feet should be enough. Para-cord (550-cord) is used in most examples.
A small pulley. These can be purchased at most home improvement stores (in the chain and rope section) for less than $3. Look for models used for outdoor clotheslines. A supply of balloons. Regular old birthday party balloons will do just fine. A large bag should be less than $1. If your wife is mad at you because you spend too much on firearms, balloons that say “Happy Anniversary” may enhance your training experience… or at minimum promote marital bliss.
Three or more snap caps or dummy rounds for both your primary and secondary weapon. Most gun stores sell these in the various calibers needed for the exercises. A radio-controlled toy vehicle, preferably the largest unit you can afford within reason. Typically, $50 or less investment will provide for an adequately-sized target. The toy should have a radio range of 100 meters.
A coat hanger or similar size stiff wire.
A supply of Frisbees. I have found that dollar stores are a good source of these cheap throwing targets.
A supply of regular typing paper (8.5x11), white. The size closely simulates center mass targets. If you don’t know what the term “center mass” means, hold a piece of typing paper up to your chest. Congratulations - you just located “center mass.”
Large paper binders or clothespins. Normally found in office supply stores, a couple of dollars purchases enough. Clothespins are inexpensive, ingenious contraptions used to secure paper targets. Have 20-30 of these as they are often obliterated by an errant bullet.
An ankle weight, baseball bat swing weight, or other flexible weight that can be attached to your rifle barrel. I purchased a soft model at a sporting goods store for less than $5. It wraps around the barrel of the rifle and attaches with velcro. Anything weighing between 2-4 lbs. that can be securely attached to your primary weapon barrel will suffice. Ankle weights are another common option.
A stopwatch or timer. While a dedicated shooting timer (shown below) would be best, these cost some money ($130 or so). These devices do offer some advantages in that they can be operated if training by yourself, have some advanced functions (measuring time between shots, etc.) and store historical performance data. If the cost is
prohibitive, you can use any old stopwatch or kitchen timer and still realize benefits. Some smart phones have free shooting timers that can be downloaded. I have found these programs to be of limited use on my model of phone, but others report they work well.
A tape recorder (or the voice recorder on your cell phone), and an earplug. The earplug should be of sufficient fit to replace one side of your hearing protection or fit inside of your headphones if that is your preferred method of protection. The device should generate enough volume to be heard while shooting.
A notepad and paper for recording your results and keeping track of your progress. Sections below contains pre-printed score cards and DOPE logs.
A roll of duct tape.
Nice to have
A shooting buddy. While every reasonable attempt has been made to design the included training drills and exercises for solo execution, many of them are more productive if performed with a partner.
A significant length of garden hose and miscellaneous sprinkler heads.
The Loop
Much has been written regarding the topic of OODA loops. The acronym stands for Observe Orient Decide Act. Attributed to United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd (January 23, 1927 – March 9, 1997), the OODA loop is considered by many to be a standard in military, sports, and business training processes. Colonel Boyd was a fighter pilot whose work eventually pointed his distinguished career into the realm of military strategy. He is considered to be one of the primary architects of the Coalition’s successful strategies during the first Gulf War.
Early on, Colonel Boyd believed that the training process for fighter pilots would benefit if there were a simple description of the mental steps executed during dogfighting. If students and instructors all spoke the same language, the process of education and knowledge transfer would be more effective and efficient.
His concepts were so profound that they were quickly applied (by military standards) to more than just aerial combat. Today, his work is broadly accepted by strategists from large
corporations to professional sports teams and is considered doctrine by many military organizations worldwide.
So what does this have to do with being a Shootist? Well, just like Colonel Boyd and the fighter pilots, our training process will be enhanced if operators and instructors use the same terms and definitions. Whether you comprehend it or not, you are executing an OODA loop every time you engage a target. Some experienced operators might think of a gunfighting OODA loop more akin to the diagram (Figure 1.3) below:
In reality, you will execute an OODA loop dozens, if not hundreds, of times for each shot in a gunfight. The mere act of determining where to take cover after being fired upon could be twenty or more cycles of the loop.
The Shootist works hard to reduce the number of cycles. All of the practice, techniques, equipment and tactics have one simple goal:
Sound simple? It should be, but like so many activities in life, it doesn’t turn out that way. Many of my clients get caught up in endless mind games that cloud the issue and produce negative results. Even simple decisions regarding equipment can impact the OODA count.
Every training method (or lack thereof) impacts the number of cycles. Every tactical skill (or lack thereof) can make the difference between your putting lead on target first – or coming in 2nd place during an encounter. Second place is not where you want to be when high velocity lead is flying through the air.
This point is worth driving home for several reasons. As you progress through this book or any other type of training, you will benefit the most from keeping your loop count in the forefront. As you go to the gun show to browse for equipment, always be thinking – Will this piece of equipment enable me to process OODA faster, better or fewer times?
An in-depth discussion on reaction times, instinct, eye-hand coordination, and muscle memory is worthy and definitely a factor in survivability on the battlefield. For the purposes of this writing, all of these issues are secondary. It is only common sense that if you can’t hit the broad side of a large, red barn, having the fastest reaction time won’t do you a bit of good. On the other hand, you can be the best shot on the battlefield, but if it takes you an hour to pull the trigger, you will most likely lose.
While this is not a book on equipment, the topic cannot be ignored. Though the latest gizmos do not guarantee an advantage, using a muzzle loader during a modern day gunfight is probably not the best idea either. On the other hand, the latest greatest thing-ah-mah-bob is not always a wise choice. Everything is a compromise. An example of this decision process would be my personal secondary weapon. I like an old-fashioned 1911 sidearm. Now, to those who know pistols, my choice would not seem logical. There are many battle-proven, high capacity weapons available. Why would I choose a pistol that only holds 7-10 rounds when there are dozens of excellent choices that would increase that capacity? I hope by the end of this book you will at least understand my logic even though you may disagree with my choice.
Natural Point of Aim
Throughout this work, you will see the phrase Natural Point of Aim, or NPA referenced several times. For snipers, this can be described as a position (or stance) where the weapon is naturally pointed at the target with as little support from the shooter’s body as possible.
Try taking aim at a target and then removing your weak hand from the weapon. How much did the firearm move? Do the same exercise with the strong hand – how much did the point of aim change? Does adjusting your stance (normally the feet and angle of the body) impact how much the weapon moves?
To further demonstrate impact of NPA, take your normal firing stance and twist (at the hips) as far right or left as your body allows, and then remove either hand. Most people’s aim will change considerably more as compared to when the body is in a normal, straight-on position. Endurance and stability are the reasons why NPA is so important. Your endurance and the stability of aim will be greatly reduced if you are fighting with gravity more than necessary. It is also a fact that pulling the trigger from a strong NPA position will result in less barrel movement than if the weapon is being supported artificially by muscle and bone.
NPA is one of several key factors to becoming a Shootist and the subject is worthy of a dedicated book on its own. Once the basics are mastered here, I would encourage you to investigate NPA further.
Minute of Angle
Another common term used by shooters of all levels is Minute of Angle or MOA. This term references an area or space in the dimensions of height and width. When dealing with practically any long gun, you will see discussion revolving around MOA, and this book is no exception. Most shooters use a rounded value of:
1 MOA = 1 inch at 100 yards
Mathematically, 1 MOA equals 1.047 inches at 100 yards, but practically everyone rounds down. MOA in rifle-speak has become quite the popular term in recent years as everyone seems to own a “sub-MOA” rifle of one kind or another. This point of bravado indicates that the weapon is capable of grouping shots in a one inch or less diameter area at 100 yards.
As the distance to the target increases, so does the referenced area of MOA:
Distance to Target Area of 1 MOA
500 yards 5 inches (rounded)
1,000 yards 10 inches (rounded)
So if we have a 1 MOA rifle that groups shots within 1 inch at 100 yards, the same rifle should group shots within 10 inches at 1,000 yards.
Magazine or Clip
The proper term for the container of bullets that feeds the weapon is magazine. This was finally decided just a few decades ago by some little known organization and for what purpose – I’m really not sure, nor do I care. What amazes me is the number of people out there who do care. According to the National Rifle Association, a “clip” is used to feed a magazine. A magazine is used to feed a weapon. On AR15’s and AK’s, the technically correct term is “removable box magazine.” This is just silly. I’ve never heard of a “banana magazine.” The area on a ship used to store gunpowder is called a “powder magazine,” but directly feeds no gun. What about the speed loader used on some revolvers – a moon, or half-moon magazine? I have some
“magazines” purchased at a recent gun show for my son’s .22 plinker. They are labeled “Marlin Rifle Clips” on the package. According to some people, the guys at Marlin should be hung from the yardarms for committing such an egregious sin.
Go to Remington’s webpage and look at their “clips.” Surely to god they know a little something about weapons.
In reality, I include this term to make another point:
Don’t be an elitist
In my day, the difference between a magazine and a clip depended on capacity. Others have informed me that they were taught that a pistol used a clip while a rifle used a magazine. I run into so many people who think their vocabulary of the latest, greatest terminology bolsters their position as a shooter, or makes them more of a “professional.”
You will find this vanity throughout the shooting world. I’ve been guilty as well. Some time ago, I had the chance to shoot with a few members of Group Delta. Now for those who aren’t familiar with the Special Forces community, Group Delta is in the upper echelons of lethality. These gentlemen can operate with a carbine. As I watched these professionals run through various drills, I found it odd that they broke several rules I had been preaching for years. An example
was my belief that the strong side arm should be kept close to the body. I watched guys who were very high speed, low drag individuals randomly throw that “chicken wing” out there whenever it suited them. No granite jawed DI popped out of the ground and belittled them. They have one basic measurement in regards to shooting – get lead on the target before the target gets lead on you. Their results are difficult to argue with.
Knowledge of firearms and terminology is good, and many gents with advanced skills spend considerable time researching and learning about the topic. This is a positive attribute. What you should avoid is thinking any learned tactic, term, method or process is the best way or the only way. Eventually, you will be proven wrong by someone with more refined skills and experience.
I have been doing this for so long and have been put in my place so many times, I’ve lost count. There is always someone faster, better or sporting a new technique that blows traditional wisdom right out of the water.
My advice to the reader is to be aggressive in mind, body and spirit, but remain humble and absorbent. If you approach a class, range session, or training with the attitude of, “I’m just a Joe Nobody,” you will be better off in the long run and might learn something in the process.
Chapter 2
Evaluation
It is difficult to duplicate the exact range and circumstances across multiple training sessions and different locations. The targets and drills set up on Monday may be slightly different on
Thursday. On a few of the exercises that follow, a stiff breeze can greatly increase the difficulty. With that fact in mind, you should take your evaluation results with a small grain of salt.
If you interpret the results too literally, you may become frustrated and that state of mind won’t benefit the average shooter.
Before beginning the evaluation drills, consider this philosophy regarding skills with a firearm. Look at overall expertise and capabilities with weapons as a triangle:
Anyone willing to invest the time, energy and expense should expect to achieve a high level of expertise in any two of the three sides.
Speed includes target acquisition and placing multiple hits onto multiple threats at reasonable combat distances.
Utility is maneuver (or mobility), application and longevity in any environment or terrain. I’ve never met, nor heard of anyone who could excel in all three without exchanging equipment. I don’t believe it possible. If it were, every soldier would be a Special Forces operator, sniper, and expert infantryman all rolled into one.
This tenet is an important part of anyone’s mindset while training. For example: To be a sniper, your firearms training should focus on accuracy and utility.
A police officer who primarily uses a sidearm in the line of duty would desire speed and accuracy.
The typical infantryman concentrates on speed and utility.
This is not to say that an infantryman can’t put lead on target. The typical infantry qualification is considered combat accurate. After achieving a certain baseline level of accuracy, most infantry units focus the majority of their training time on utility and speed.
Consider the example of police officers. With a sidearm, they need to be accurate to avoid collateral damage. They spend a lot of training cycles developing the skills to acquire targets quickly. Their utility however, is limited. They cannot assault a heavily-fortified drug den – that’s why SWAT teams were developed.
Even the best sniper, who perhaps came up through the infantry ranks, cannot dominate in all three disciplines without equipment changes. The sniping optic is set up for long-range accuracy, not close quarters battle. Even the latest auto-loading sniper rifles would become ammunition-starved in a prolonged gunfight as compared to a modern, purpose-dedicated battle rifle. The extra equipment carried for long-distance shooting would weigh an individual down and limit his capacity in a running, short-range gunfight.
Since shooting skills are perishable, it would be difficult to imagine someone having enough time and resources to keep all three sides of the triangle at peak capability at the same time. After all, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Hanging Targets
Nothing is more frustrating than having your training time limited by something as mundane as hanging targets. Over the years, I have had to adopt some pretty creative methods just to provide something useful to shoot. How creative you need to be depends on the location and terrain of your training area. If there are trees or posts available, running two paralleled lengths of para-cord with 10 inches of spacing between them works very well. I use clothespins to attach the paper targets to the cord.
The lower, or second line, is required for paper targets if there is any breeze blowing at all. Simply attach the bottom and top of the target to the two lines with the pins.
If the bullet stop or general terrain does not have any vertical supports, then you are going to have to get inventive. One of my favorite ways to hang targets is using old camera tri-pods.
I have also been seen using a pair of old cymbal stands from a drum set, and they worked quite well. I have used sawhorses, industrial lighting stands, and even old scaffolding.
One of the best solutions was utilizing the posts of a badminton net the kids had stopped using months before. My point is this: avoid using anything too fancy or valuable as there is a chance the item will be the victim of a misplaced round. Most garages and attics are filled with target practice makeshift equipment. You should also consider the aspect of mobility when acquiring vertical supports. The camera tri-pods, for example, fold up into a small compact space and can be thrown into the truck when the day is finished.
Para-cord, as of this writing, was around $6 per hundred feet. A bag of clothespins was $1. I found the tri-pods pictured above on sale for $12 each. I have purchased used cymbal stands for as little as $5 each. Take plenty of these supplies with you. The key is to use something
Tip – if the stands used to hang line from are too lightweight, you may have some trouble with them tipping over. Counterweights, driving the legs into the ground, or counterbalance support wires will normally do the trick.
Measuring Improvement
Before you perform the following evaluation drills, you will need a scorecard. I use a very simple method, and it is easy to duplicate with access to a pen and paper or a computer. You can also download an example from www. holdingyourground. com/Scorecard. php.
Evaluation Drills
The following sections describe the 11 evaluation drills: Supported Mag Dump (Drill # 1)
This drill is a combination of time and accuracy. A paper target is used at a distance of 50 meters. The target should be 8x10 inches, so a standard sheet of white typing paper is fine. The operator is allowed to use any shooting position desired. Prone, take a knee, use a tree…it really doesn’t matter. The operator is to get into the most comfortable, ready position possible. The operator is to place as many shots into the target as possible in 20 seconds. Reloads are not a part of this exercise.
Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Example: Operator fires 30 rounds at the target. A count finds 25 hits. The net score is 20, or 25 hits – the 5 misses.
Supported Mag Dump with Reload (Drill # 2)
This drill is identical to Drill #1 with the exception of a forced reload. Take the number of hits made in Drill #1 and divide in half. The result is the maximum number of rounds loaded in the first magazine.
Example:
On Drill #1, 25 shots hit the target. The operator should load 13 rounds (one-half rounded up) into the first magazine. Subsequent magazines can be fully loaded. The purpose here is to force a reload.
The operator is to place as many shots into the target as possible in 20 seconds. Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Offhand Mag Dump (Drill #3)
This drill is identical to #1, but shooting from the offhand position. In addition, the operator should start with his hands off of the rifle, feet parallel.
The operator is to place as many shots into the target as possible in 20 seconds. Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Offhand Mag Dump with Reload (Drill # 4)
This drill is identical to #2, but shooting from the offhand position. In addition, the operator should start with his hands off of the rifle, feet parallel.
The operator is to place as many shots into the target as possible in 20 seconds. Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Weak to Strong: 10 Minimum – Offhand (Drill #5)
This drill requires two targets. Each target should be 8x10 inches and the same distance away (50 meters). The duration is to be 20 seconds. The operator is to put at least 10 rounds into the weak side target before switching to the strong side, firing on the other target.
Reloads are allowed.
Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Pistol Offhand – Mag Dump (Drill #6)
Target is to be 8x10 inches and placed at a distance of 15 meters. Operator is to place as many rounds into the target as possible in 20 seconds.
Reloads are allowed.
Net Score = (Hits – Misses)
Rifle Zip Line - 25 Meters (Drill #7)
One of my favorite drills is the “Zip Line.” This simple, inexpensive device requires the following items:
1. 50-100 feet of Para-cord or other thin rope 2. A pulley (technically a trolley in the case) 3. Balloons
4. A tent stake or other anchor 5. A short piece of fishing line 6. A few fishing weights
The concept is simple and straightforward. You secure one end of the zip line to a tree or post and the other end to some sort of anchor. An old camping tent stake works well, but I have used a concert block, another tree, or even my shooting bag (heavy and full of mags) in a pinch. The zip line is higher at one end than the other. The more downward angle you have on the line, the faster the target will move.
Tip: The line must be super tight. There should be no dip or give in it at all.
Tip: Tie the higher end of the line in a fashion where you can undo it quickly. You will want to repeat this training, which will require unfastening the high end. Any sort of hook or clip will allow for more shooting and less setup.
Setting up the target is simple as well. I purchased a common pulley (used for clotheslines) from a local home improvement store. They are inexpensive; mine was less than $2, small and lightweight.
The first thing I do is blow up six balloons. This step also serves the purpose of oxygenating the blood, which depending on your physical condition, may produce a feeling similar to an adrenalin rush in the extremities.
I then take a short piece of fishing line (about 20 inches) and secure a weight at one end. How much weight you require depends on the type of line and trolley. Starting a few inches from the non-weighted end, I sew on the balloons. I have found that using a large eye needle with a thin fishing line works best. I use the needle and stitch the small “ear” or “flap” that is created on the balloon when it is tied.
The balloon color doesn’t matter, nor does the size to which the balloons are inflated. Keep in mind you are going to be shooting them, so inflate the balloons to a size to challenge your existing skill level. By that I mean this, the smaller the balloon, the greater the exercise difficulty. Save one of your inflated balloons as it will serve as the “brake.”
Once you have the zip line, target string, and trolley all set up, the last step is to install the brake. This is another balloon, normally smaller in size. The picture below shows an example. Tip: Have spares of everything in the zip line setup. You will accidentally hit the trolley, para-cord, and weights. I even hit the fishing line now and then.
Tip: Making up several strings of targets beforehand is an option. If you’re like me, once you begin training, you don’t want to stop and blow up balloons and restring fishing line. On the other hand, in certain circumstances, a little down time, used to re-rig targets, can be a good thing. It all depends on the day’s schedule and situation. Don’t
The brake serves a couple of purposes. First of all, it keeps the trolley at the high end of the zip line, ready to roll downhill as a moving target. Once everyone is safely in position, shooting the balloon releases the trolley, and the target begins to roll downhill. If you inflate the brake balloon so that it is smaller in size, it can be a bit of a challenge to hit. This causes a surprise release and requires the shooter to reacquire the target string.
One critical component to the zip line exercise is the hostage balloon. Pick a color (or colors) that is off-limits, or not a valid target. Over the years, we have started calling the selected color the hostage. The logic for this rule is simple: With modern assault weapons, it’s easy to just pour rounds into the string of balloons, and that voids the intent of the drill. If you pick a color that is out-of-bounds, it forces the shooter to acquire and select the target.
Attaching the string of balloons to the zip line and pulley should be done in the following order: A. Untie (or unhook) the high end of the zip line.
B. Apply the trolley brake balloon.
C. Run the zip line through the pulley and let the wheel rest against the brake balloon. D. Reattach (tie) the zip line.
E. Tie the fishing line (string of balloons) to the pulley’s eyelet.
Set up a single hostage balloon in the middle of the string. The operator should be 25 meters away, and when released, the trolley should travel slightly faster than a person walking. The run time of the trolley should be just over two seconds. The balloons should be inflated to pineapple size. The break balloon should be the size of a small grapefruit. The operator should pop the brake balloon and then hit as many targets as possible without popping the hostage balloon. Net Score = (Hits multiplied by 10)
If hostage balloon is hit, score is zero.
Pistol Zip Line - 15 Meters (Drill #8)
This drill is identical to #7 with the one exception of the operator being at 15 meters and using a sidearm.
Net Score = (Hits multiplied by 10)
If hostage balloon is hit, the score is zero.
Flying Saucers (Drill #9)
WARNING – This drill requires extreme diligence in both the area used for training, as well as the muzzle discipline and safety of all personnel. This technique should not be attempted unless a bullet stop of proper height and condition exists.
Many people have tried skeet or trap shooting with a shotgun. This activity is a valid training tool and a popular sport. Some years ago, I started using a variation of this type of shooting for training with rifles. Substituting a Frisbee for the smaller clay targets used with scatterguns, this training enhances many different combat skills and has become very popular with those wishing to be Honous of hollow points.
It is easy to find cheap Frisbees for around a dollar each. I would recommend you purchase the brightest colors you can find. With a 5.56 NATO cartridge, they can often be reused two or three times – depending on the type of bullet and the plastic used to mold the disk.
The drill is simple. The operator stands ready with his or her weapon in any position desired, and then throws the Frisbee to engage. Critical note: The operator has to throw the disk It’s really not that difficult to hit the flying target if someone else throws it – but the sequence of throwing the target and then raising the weapon to engage takes some skill.
WARNING – A 5.56 NATO round, at optimum arch, can travel over 3,600 meters – over two miles. Shooting at any target without the proper bullet stop is dangerous and illegal. You should never engage any target without knowing that the area, both to and behind the target, is clear.
Since most people don’t throw one of these toys all that well, the direction, elevation and speed of the target are all unknown. These variables, coupled with the operator’s ability to maneuver back into the shooting position when the target appears, allow this training exercise to develop skills that are apt to be needed in a real emergency reaction shot.
The element of surprise is always difficult to overcome in a combat situation. Shooters who process a clean OODA loop for this type of off-balance drill have a better chance of surviving. While no one could claim throwing a child’s toy in the air as a target recreates the actual stress experienced in combat – the steps and process are all the same.
One of the unique attributes to throwing a Frisbee is that you hurl it across your body, not from the dominate side like throwing a ball. For right-handed people, this means that your right foot would be forward and your weight would be shifting to your right side. Throwing a ball would be the opposite. The same right-handed operator, when shooting a rifle, would position the left foot forward.
This equates to the operator being completely out of position as the target leaves the hand. The rifle is most likely dangling via its sling, the shooter’s weight is completely on the wrong foot, and balance is not perfect due to throwing action. Being out of position is more realistic, as most people don’t walk around with a weapon up and ready to engage. Since the shooter is forced to move into a shooting position before acquiring the small, moving target, this exercise becomes very challenging and realistic.
It is interesting to observe people’s reaction to this exercise. Initially most operators don’t believe they can hit the target – regardless of skill level. I normally overcome this by first demonstrating it can be done and then by having an instructor toss the target while the
operator stands ready. Once the student realizes it is possible to hit the target, it then becomes a matter of getting into a proper stance quickly. Wouldn’t most combat situations require the same?
After establishing the initial confidence that the shot is possible, most operators still don’t quite get it. They focus on executing a better throw in order to give themselves more time. This results in bad throws, being even more off balance, and fewer hits. The goal of this training is to improve the shooter’s capability to get into a proper stance while acquiring a moving target. The secret is to decrease the time of raising the rifle and getting into a NPA, not in how far a Frisbee can be tossed.
Another benefit of this exercise is familiarity with the weapon and more specifically, the sight pattern. The typical person can throw a Frisbee between 25 and 40 meters. This is well inside the distance involved in a military engagement (over 75 meters). Anyone who has zeroed a rifle at 100 meters will have to execute a holdover on the target.
The Frisbee travels just a little faster than a person who is running. While the average toss moves the target away from the shooter, these flying disks rarely travel in a straight line. This exercise helps the operator determine if they need to lead the moving target.
Net Score = (Hits multiplied by 25)
Note: There are some people who, no matter how hard they try, can’t throw a Frisbee. If, after several practice throws, it’s clearly not going to work out, then it is acceptable for the instructor to throw the disk while standing next to the operator as long as the operator mimics the motion of the toss.
Numbers Game: Rifle (Drill #10)
For this evaluation drill you will need to create a target similar to the one pictured below (Figure 2.11).
Each circle should be 4 inches in diameter and clearly marked with the numbers. I have found the lid of an appropriately sized jar makes a good template to trace. A black marker and cardboard make this an inexpensive target.
You will also require a tape recorder or similar (most smart phones have recording capability) as well as an earpiece that can be worn while shooting. You should prerecord a cadence of eight random numbers between one and six. It should take eight seconds for the string of numbers to be heard, allowing one number per second. One number should be left out of the cadence and three numbers should be duplicated once each. The following string is an example:
4 – 5 – 2 – 5 – 1 – 6 – 2 – 6
The trainee listening to the pre-recorded string shoots the associated number as it is called. Start at 50 meters from the target. Any position is allowed.
Hits are scored as any round touching a circle. The count per circle should be compared to the string of numbers. In the example above, the numbers 2, 5 and 6 should have two holes. The number 3 should not have any.
Subtract 1 for each round that is not in the correct circle or misses the target.
Numbers Game: Pistol (Drill #11)
This drill is identical to #10, but should be performed with a unique string of numbers. The operator uses the secondary (pistol) from a distance of 15 meters.
Net Score = Hits
Chapter 3
Evaluation Summary
You will notice that there is no total of the evaluation scores on the sample scorecard. This is intentional. Each of the eleven drills is intended to tell its own story about the operator’s skill level with certain aspects of combat shooting. Everyone always wants to know how they
compare to others who have taken the course. Despite my advice that it really doesn’t matter, it is understandable to be curious. For this reason, I will include an unscientific summary of skill levels in the following sections.
Supported Mag Dump (#1)
The Mag Dump Drills are intended to measure one of the most basic variables of shooting – recoil management. If the shooter has proper stance, grip, and body positioning (NPA), Drill #1 should produce consistent hits in less than one second each. This drill also teaches a level of shot management. Since reloads are not allowed, the operator has to find the right combination of accuracy and speed. My average score is always 28 because that is the number of rounds I load into an AR15 magazine. Most experienced shooters will score over 20.
The average person, who typically is already a very experienced shooter, will score between 20-30 points on this drill. With a score below 20, there is a problem somewhere that we need to find and fix. Here are some items I look for:
Tight Groupings – If the groupings are too tight, the operator either doesn’t understand the purpose of the drill or has other issues. This issue is remedied by explaining the need to sacrifice a little accuracy in exchange for more rounds on target.
High number of misses – Again, given the shooter understands the purpose of the drill, a high number of misses (shots fired but completely miss the paper) indicates rushing the shots. Equipment can also play a role here as I have found loose scope mounts, wobbly rails, and other kit-based reasons for misses.
Low number of shots attempted – This is normally a mindset problem. Even beginners should be able to align and fire at one shot per second, or 20 rounds attempted.
High number of shots attempted (finish the mag well before the time is up) – Spray and pray, or suppressive fire, is not the intent of this drill. It is almost a certainty that this issue will also result in a high number of misses. I have found suppressive fire is overrated, especially for the individual involved in a gunfight. This tactical method has its purposes if maneuvering, but from a fixed position its value is limited unless being used in a team environment.
Supported Mag Dump with Reload (#2)
It is always interesting to see the operator’s choice of position on this drill. Identical in setup to #1 (above), the shooter is given the option of how to execute the drill. Given the limited number of rounds permitted in the first magazine, knowing that a mag change is going to be required can cause many people to go into analysis paralysis.
For accuracy, going prone would be most people’s initial thought. However, a mag change, while prone, is typically not a fast maneuver. While there is no right or wrong way to execute this drill, it does provide an early indication of how comfortable a student is with their rudimental skills. It’s normally the first lesson of the day about creative thinking.
I’ve really made some operators angry when, after they shoot the drill, I pull a full mag off of my vest, toss it down to the ground and then go prone to take my turn. “You cheated,” is a common statement, to which I normally answer, “No, I was thinking.” I have also been known to shoot the drill offhand, trading the speed of a strategic magazine change for the accuracy of a supported weapon. Remember, we are shooting at a rather large target at only 50 meters. Grouping counts for nothing – putting lead on target is everything.
A mag change should be no more than a two-second affair. If you are good, you lose less time than that. I like to take the average number of shots per second (can be less than one) and determine exactly how long this common task takes.
Over the years, I have filmed a few of my clients to assist in debriefing them later. It is amazing to watch, in slow motion, what eats up the most time. Here is a quick summary of cause and effect:
a. Removing the full mag from load gear. This is commonly the beginning of the problems and one of the easiest to solve. Practice will solve this issue. Rarely is it an equipment problem. Given the different types of pouches (flap, bungee cord, Velcro) practice with your specific gear is the key.
b. Insertion of the full mag. This is where most people eat up the largest segment of time. There are several different schools of thought regarding the proper method for
slamming in a full mag. Some of these are weapon specific, so if you are using an AK, you will execute a slightly different process than an M4.
c. Reacquisition of the target. Surprisingly, this process takes more time than it should on almost every shooter I teach. During the process of ejection, acquiring a full mag, insertion, and reacquiring the target, most shooters get their feet and body out of position.
The topic of mag changes is covered in more detail in the section Improvement – Reloads Tactical and Strategic.
Another bad habit I commonly see involves the empty magazine. Even the most experienced shooters will release the empty, put it in their dump pouch, and then reach for the full mag. In a gunfight, this is just plain wasteful. I know many departments and military units require shooters to manage their empties. The problem is that this action becomes habit and under stress, people tend to execute their redundancy-enforced movements. Hit the release button, rattle the rifle, and let that empty fall. Your free hand should be reaching for the full mag before the empty is leaving the rifle. We will go back and police up your equipment later – after we carry the day.
Throughout the remainder of this book, you will encounter several exercises and drills designed to address these problems. Don’t believe that standing around in your backyard popping mags in and out of your AK is going to fix all of the issues. Under stress (the clock in our case), in different situations, your muscle memory may cause more problems than it solves.
The average operator drops to a score of 15-20 on this drill. My average goes up from Drill #1 to Drill #2. It’s not uncommon for me to score 35 on this drill. I’ve seen scores above 40.
Offhand Mag Dump (#3)
This drill demonstrates, what in my personal opinion, is one of the shortcomings of some shooting competitions. You will not always have your weapon in a ready position, facing the threat. Even in an active combat zone, your hands are used for balance, opening doors,
scratching an itch or taking a drink. You must develop the skills to grasp your weapon and bring your body into a fighting position in a quick, efficient motion.
Changing from a supported firing position to offhand really shouldn’t make much difference in the scoring on this drill. For a proper evaluation, I deduct the amount of time the shooter takes to fire the first shot and then average out the hits per second without that delay.
Obviously, the mechanics of bringing the weapon into play is one area of improvement this drill will point out. The second, and probably more important symptom that may appear, is a large difference in hits or number of shots attempted due to the offhand stance.
In initial hostile encounters, offhand is going to be the most common position you will find yourself in. There is no logical reason why the number of trigger pulls should be less than drill #1. If the shooter executes properly, the number of hits should be identical or at least within one or two.
Offhand Mag Dump with Reload (#4)
By the time you execute this fourth drill, it should start becoming redundant. The same observations and comments apply to this drill as to #2 (above). The fact that most people practice reloads in an offhand position should help the average operator feel more comfortable and obtain a slightly better score than a prone or supported position.
As with #2 above, I want to know what switching magazines costs in time. More specifically, I want that loss of precious seconds broken down into three sub-sections:
How long did it take to get the fresh mag in my hand? How long did it take to insert it and verify it had seated? How long did it take me to reacquire the target?
Each of these three usages of time is addressed differently.
Several observations can be made while watching or even filming someone switch mags. One of the most obvious advantages concerns the operator’s line of sight. While it is not safe for the observer to stand in front of the shooter and watch, I’ve developed the habit of standing parallel and paying close attention to the shooter’s line of vision during the process.
There are a few quick fixes for some bad habits. One of the most obvious examples is how full magazines are carried. If, for instance, you are using load gear and have the spares on your chest, you should have them turned in the right direction to facilitate loading. This saves the time of checking to see which way the rounds are pointed. Even if I pull magazines from my
dump pouch, I know by feeling the curve (AR15 mags) which is the proper way to insert them. Do you?
A beginner stands and fumbles through the swap, taking 4-5 seconds to execute. An
experienced shooter will use the “work space” method and complete the action in 2-3 seconds. Others never take their eyes off of the threat and can reload in less than 2 seconds while the rifle never wanders far from the ready position.
This is more than just showing off. Statistically, there is a high probably of fighting at night. This drill translates into being able to execute a reload without using your eyes.
We will discuss mag changes in more detail in the section Improvement – Reloads Tactical and Strategic.
Weak to Strong: 10 Minimum – Offhand (#5)
For many, this is the most difficult drill in the mix. The switch from weak side to strong,
hopefully under duress, will point out any eye dominance or basic issues with obtaining a sight picture. This drill can also bring sling problems to light. This topic is addressed in Chapter 4 – Equipment Check.
Probably more than any other drill in the initial evaluation, the rapid change from weak to strong side can be improved with equipment. Keeping both eyes open during shooting as well as a proper sling arrangement can make a tremendous difference in this exercise. These two items combined with a reasonable practice routine using the weak side can produce the desired results. Most professional operators can perform from the weak side with 80% or more efficiency as compared to their strong side.
My personal score is normally around 28 on this drill. If I don’t use a sling (cheating) then I can usually reach 30-35 rounds on target. Running the drill without a sling is interesting if you want to eliminate hardware as a factor. This sub-exercise is not scored because it is unrealistic to be in a combat situation without a sling.
The average shooter can score well over 20 on this drill. Anything less than 20 and there are probably other fundamental issues that should be addressed.
Pistol Offhand – Mag Dump (#6)
Many of my clients better my personal score on this exercise. My secondary weapon is a 1911A (.45) with very hot rounds, and thus a lot of recoil to manage. I don’t like any of the high capacity magazines and load up with the standard eight rounder. My extra magazines for my sidearm are not a priority either. Many shooters have them as accessible as their rifle spares. Mine are off to the side and stored in a secured pouch.
This situation often generates a lot of discussion and perhaps seems hypocritical given my view concerning long guns. My logic, typical area of operation, and skill with a carbine make it my primary. My handgun is my secondary. It is only used in event of failure or when the rare environmental need, such as a tunnel, requires it. That role may not match yours. If you are a police officer, you most likely reach for your sidearm far more often than you retrieve the patrol rifle from the trunk. If I were training for your role, my pistol would receive more attention – both in training and weapon’s selection.
This is not to say the secondary isn’t important to the Shootist. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s only meant to imply that different professions have different needs from a capabilities point of view. A 1911A fits my needs, and I put lead on target with it.
On this drill, my average score is 15. With operators, I see a wide range of results, with the best pistoleros being in the mid-20s. If your score is less than 10, there is some work to be done. Even if your secondary is a pug .357 magnum revolver, you should be able to speed load and get 10 shots onto the target.
Misses are important here. The missed shot should be rare at this range. If you are experiencing a lot of misses, there is most likely a kink in your basics that has crept into your stance, sight picture, or trigger pull.
Rifle Zip Line - 25 Meters (#7)
Now the fun has begun. When I am working with an operator, I learn more from watching a shooter execute this drill than any other. For years, advanced training facilities have used moving targets to help train their scholars of lead. One of my biggest complaints about most of these exercises has been that the target moved on a flat horizontal line.
While still helpful, this trajectory requires controlling a weapon on a single plane. This makes the drill less realistic for combat shooting as it is the rare occasion where multiple targets are on the same plane.
One of the first concepts I teach for the zipper (we give nicknames to everything) is forward foot placement.
The diagram above shows an incorrect placement. The shooter aligns the stance on the starting point on the trolley (A) and then swivels the hips (B) to follow and fire at the target as it moves right to left. The zip line is intended to simulate a likely avenue of approach being used by multiple threats. This avenue of approach could be a street, alley, or just an assigned area to cover.
The more a shooter has to twist the hips to align on the target, the less recoil management and control can be applied to the weapon. While the amount of flexibility will vary from person to person, no one can control a rifle as well with hips torqued.
Some shooters execute the zip line, body alignment initially aimed at the starting point, and then change once the target brake is hit. This additional movement again wastes time. The proper method is to align on the center of the zip line and twist only slightly to pop the brake balloon. As the rabbit (target string of balloons) gains speed, the shooter is following and gaining the proper degree of alignment on every shot until the target passes through the center of the line. This initial alignment is shown below:
If you are having trouble hitting any of the balloons, don’t hesitate to tie a larger target or single balloon and practice. I have encountered numerous, very experienced shooters who have never executed a drill against a moving target and need some time to adjust.
On all but the worst days, I can eliminate all targets with the hostage balloon surviving. The average shooter will get one or two of the targets and will hit the hostage balloon one out of three times. Drill repetition can eliminate this problem. I can’t remember the last time I hit the hostage balloon.
Pistol Zip Line - 15 Meters (#8)
You should expect identical results with this drill as #7 above. If there is a significant difference in your score, it can probably be attributed to the amount of experience and practice spent with one weapon versus the other.
About the only statistical difference I experience is hitting the hostage balloon more often. While still rare, it does seem to happen, and I mentally blame it on the recoil of my weapon.
Flying Saucers (#9)
This is my favorite drill for a variety of reasons. First of all, most operators are apprehensive about this drill. For some reason it looks much more difficult than it really is. Throwing the disk is often the hard part. I reassure people that if they don’t rush the throw and concentrate on initial body alignment (NPA) they will be surprised at how easy this is.
One would think that experienced trap and skeet shooters would smirk at this drill and perform better than those who have no experience with the sport. This has not proven to be true. What I have learned is people who have hunted grouse (a game bird) seem to excel at this test. I think the reason is in the nature of the hunt. For those who have never hunted grouse, the little demons remain still on the ground until you practically step on them and then explode with a fury of feathers and noise – seemingly right from under your foot. The successful hunter adapts to achieve NPA quickly, even when surprised.
Like the zip line above, I find the average shooter leads the target too much, resulting in misses. The distances involved using the typical assault rifle do not require any adjustment for leading the target.
On all but the worst days, I can hit five out of five disks. Wind and small pockets of thermal air can make this drill a real challenge. Everyone misses now and then. I can hit 19 or 20 throws in normal conditions, often landing more than one shot on the disk.
The average operator will hit two of five tosses, but quickly improve after realizing that the drill is not so difficult.
Numbers Game: Rifle (#10)
Up until this point, all of the drills have limited the number of OODA loop variables. Drills #10 and #11 add a new sensory input to the shooting experience – audio. On the surface, there is no situational equivalent with this test and combat. Numbered threats do not approach you while some commander shouts out the order for you to engage.
But in a firefight, audio sensory input can be critical, especially at night. Fighting in an urban area would be another example where using your ears as well as your eyes can be a lifesaving skill. Of all of the drills so far, the Numbers Game is the most difficult to improve one’s scoring once you reach a certain point. Simple practice will help somewhat, but it is very difficult to achieve noticeable gains after executing this drill ten or so times.
Most people struggle with the accuracy versus speed dilemma. Is it better to hit 4 of 8 shots in two seconds, or 8 of 8 in ten seconds? This assumes an honest set of random numbers
(memorization is cheating) and good pace of cadence.
I always advise operators to emphasize accuracy until their shots start consistently being
centered in the circle. After that, work on speed up to the point where misses become common. Different people may choose to do things the opposite way, but focusing effort in the above order has worked for me.
This drill will also initiate some serious debates on optics. The circles are not that large, and some operators believe magnification helps with this drill. I happen to agree with them; others do not. It is always interesting to exchange weapons with an operator and compare how they
