Edmund Rowe
New member
Last weekend I attended Randy Cain's Practical Rifle class. Great class! In a nutshell it's learning "how to fight with your lever or bolt action rifle".
We had a wide variety of bolt action rifles represented in class: From accurized Scout configuration rifles (not Steyr brand) to off the shelf factory stock models, iron sights, scout scopes, 10X Leupold Mark 4, 3-10X variable, Lee-Enfield #4 Mark 2, Ishapore .308 Lee-Enfield, nylon web slings, Ching slings, etc. One shooter had a CZ bolt gun in 7.62x39. Except for me shooting .303 British, everyone else shot .308 Winchester.
As it turned out, everyone attending had previous rifle experience with Randy or other well known schools, so he turned it up a notch to a somewhat advanced level. That doesn't mean we got magic pills, just that we spent less time explaining some basics and more on shooting/drills.
Most of day 1 was spent zeroing and shooting for groups in different positions and ranges. Drills became progressively faster and with more stress. This isn't static range shooting! Position assumption, shooting around simulated cover, keeping your rifle topped off, sling technique, night shooting, field exercises, and some other unique things all combined to integrate us into becoming very familiar with our rifles. By the third day, the familiarity we had gained was obvious. For example, on day 1 Randy explained 2 different hand manipulations of the bolt. One way had more positive force applied while the other was a tad faster. We tried both. By the third day I couldn't tell you which one I was using but my bolt technique was fluid and fast and my hits were good (mostly).
Being a very much semi-auto type of guy, this was in many ways a new experience for me. I really enjoyed the learning experience. The thump of my LE #4 got to be a very soul-satisfying feel in my arms/shoulder. Not that it was a perfect rifle. Most everyone in class found limits to their equipment. But I feel that knowing your limits is a good sign of knowing your potential.
If I didn't make it clear, this isn't a touchy-feely PC class where you come away thinking you're perfect. (at least I didn't). I had plenty of OOPS DOOM ON ME moments.
It was a great bunch to train with under a great instructor. I recommend this and other Cain classes highly and will take this and others again.
Edmund
We had a wide variety of bolt action rifles represented in class: From accurized Scout configuration rifles (not Steyr brand) to off the shelf factory stock models, iron sights, scout scopes, 10X Leupold Mark 4, 3-10X variable, Lee-Enfield #4 Mark 2, Ishapore .308 Lee-Enfield, nylon web slings, Ching slings, etc. One shooter had a CZ bolt gun in 7.62x39. Except for me shooting .303 British, everyone else shot .308 Winchester.
As it turned out, everyone attending had previous rifle experience with Randy or other well known schools, so he turned it up a notch to a somewhat advanced level. That doesn't mean we got magic pills, just that we spent less time explaining some basics and more on shooting/drills.
Most of day 1 was spent zeroing and shooting for groups in different positions and ranges. Drills became progressively faster and with more stress. This isn't static range shooting! Position assumption, shooting around simulated cover, keeping your rifle topped off, sling technique, night shooting, field exercises, and some other unique things all combined to integrate us into becoming very familiar with our rifles. By the third day, the familiarity we had gained was obvious. For example, on day 1 Randy explained 2 different hand manipulations of the bolt. One way had more positive force applied while the other was a tad faster. We tried both. By the third day I couldn't tell you which one I was using but my bolt technique was fluid and fast and my hits were good (mostly).
Being a very much semi-auto type of guy, this was in many ways a new experience for me. I really enjoyed the learning experience. The thump of my LE #4 got to be a very soul-satisfying feel in my arms/shoulder. Not that it was a perfect rifle. Most everyone in class found limits to their equipment. But I feel that knowing your limits is a good sign of knowing your potential.
If I didn't make it clear, this isn't a touchy-feely PC class where you come away thinking you're perfect. (at least I didn't). I had plenty of OOPS DOOM ON ME moments.
It was a great bunch to train with under a great instructor. I recommend this and other Cain classes highly and will take this and others again.
Edmund