I recently completed two days of pistol training followed by a day of carbine training, taught by ICE Training (Rob Pincus).
I.C.E. Training | Home
Based on this experience, I thought it would be useful to share the following with the INGO community:
1. training is worth the $. Most of us spend a lot of money on firearms and ammo, but never really learn to use them well. We mimic what we see, and make up stuff on our own, but there are better methods out there, we just need knowledgable and experienced people to show us. Some trainers may be teaching old ways of doing things, but I think Pincus is up to date and even developing new efficient methods and techniques. Putting rounds down range and static target shooting does not make one a competent shooter in a dynamic setting. Proper training opens up completely new ways to look at firearm use and handling. Most ranges don't allow holster draws or running with a weapon, but these are important, possibly life saving skills. Many common practices actually create bad habits, such as shooting until slide lock and then holstering the pistol without reloading.
2. Not all pistols are equally easy to use or reliable. At least for this "combat focus" type training, the Glocks and S&W M&Ps were clearly easier to use and more reliable. After hundreds of holster draws and reholsters, any pistol with a manual thumb safety (1911) or decocker (M9, Sig) were wearing out the users. Not to mention all the times people dangerously forgot to engage the safety or decocker. I overheard some people state they they would probably trade their Beretta/1911/FN/Ruger/etc. in on a Glock/M&P/Springfield xD based on this experience. Strangely no one brought a Springfield xD. All pistols work equally well sitting in the gun safe, but when you use them all day for three days, and put 1200 rounds through them, they start to sort themselves out.
3. Caliber didn't matter. 9mm, 40, and 45 were all used, as was factory ammo and reloads. Except for the occasional reload issue (which provided opportunity to practice malfunction clearing, the ammo and caliber were not significant. Both cast lead (except for Glocks!) and jacketed bullets were successfully used.
4. Plastic P mags don't fit in all AR15 / M4 lower receivers. Notably the Superior lower receiver.
5. Only buy good holsters. BlackHawk and Fobus holsters got the job done, Uncle Mike's should be left home. Not having a hood or release button seemed to be an advantage.
6. Basic corrective move is "tap and rack", tap the magazine upward and work the slide. That fixes 90% of problems. If that fails, second move is to dump the mag, work the slide, insert new mag, work the slide. These moves proved themselves during stressful drills.
7. AR15 mags should always be loaded one or two rounds less than capacity or they may not latch, and when inserted, should be pulled to make sure they are latched in. A couple of times the mag wasn't fully latched.
I learned and experienced much more, but this is some of the highlights. I'd like to hear your opinions about this stuff. Flame away.
I.C.E. Training | Home
Based on this experience, I thought it would be useful to share the following with the INGO community:
1. training is worth the $. Most of us spend a lot of money on firearms and ammo, but never really learn to use them well. We mimic what we see, and make up stuff on our own, but there are better methods out there, we just need knowledgable and experienced people to show us. Some trainers may be teaching old ways of doing things, but I think Pincus is up to date and even developing new efficient methods and techniques. Putting rounds down range and static target shooting does not make one a competent shooter in a dynamic setting. Proper training opens up completely new ways to look at firearm use and handling. Most ranges don't allow holster draws or running with a weapon, but these are important, possibly life saving skills. Many common practices actually create bad habits, such as shooting until slide lock and then holstering the pistol without reloading.
2. Not all pistols are equally easy to use or reliable. At least for this "combat focus" type training, the Glocks and S&W M&Ps were clearly easier to use and more reliable. After hundreds of holster draws and reholsters, any pistol with a manual thumb safety (1911) or decocker (M9, Sig) were wearing out the users. Not to mention all the times people dangerously forgot to engage the safety or decocker. I overheard some people state they they would probably trade their Beretta/1911/FN/Ruger/etc. in on a Glock/M&P/Springfield xD based on this experience. Strangely no one brought a Springfield xD. All pistols work equally well sitting in the gun safe, but when you use them all day for three days, and put 1200 rounds through them, they start to sort themselves out.
3. Caliber didn't matter. 9mm, 40, and 45 were all used, as was factory ammo and reloads. Except for the occasional reload issue (which provided opportunity to practice malfunction clearing, the ammo and caliber were not significant. Both cast lead (except for Glocks!) and jacketed bullets were successfully used.
4. Plastic P mags don't fit in all AR15 / M4 lower receivers. Notably the Superior lower receiver.
5. Only buy good holsters. BlackHawk and Fobus holsters got the job done, Uncle Mike's should be left home. Not having a hood or release button seemed to be an advantage.
6. Basic corrective move is "tap and rack", tap the magazine upward and work the slide. That fixes 90% of problems. If that fails, second move is to dump the mag, work the slide, insert new mag, work the slide. These moves proved themselves during stressful drills.
7. AR15 mags should always be loaded one or two rounds less than capacity or they may not latch, and when inserted, should be pulled to make sure they are latched in. A couple of times the mag wasn't fully latched.
I learned and experienced much more, but this is some of the highlights. I'd like to hear your opinions about this stuff. Flame away.
