Tom Givens of Rangemaster - Combative Handgun I - Off Site class in Baton Rouge, LA.
Being an abject training junkie with a phenomenally permissive, beautiful and wonderful wife has benefits. I leave Tiger Mckee’s 5 day Precision Rifle II, class Friday afternoon from Gadsden, AL and kick in the afterburners. 0900 Saturday, I meet Tom Givens for Rangemaster's Combative Handgun course in Baton Rouge, LA.
I have been to several classes with Thunder Ranch and Shootrite, and they teach almost identical doctrines. Both schools have encouraged me to train with as many others as possible. Rangemaster has a solid reputation for mindset presentation and general instruction, so I decided to take the opportunity to examine a different philosophy. My primary interest is to compare and contrast the doctrines of the schools.
Saturday morning Mr. Givens goes through introductions and gives the safety lecture.
We discuss the four safety rules and an overview of how to handle your weapon. His presentation is involving with elements of comedy and non-PC truths that keep the class on our toes. The main issues he addresses:
Your Stance – Mr. Givens does not endorse Weaver or Iso. The preferred method is the “fighting stance”. Weak foot forward, lean into the target, etc.
Your Grip – You learn how to grip your gun regarding lateral and linear forces, where to put your extra digits, etc. We are encouraged to get our fingers WAY off the trigger when not on target, specifically to rest them on the slide. 1911 shooters are cautioned to keep thumbs on the safety and pointers off the slide stop pin.
The Draw – Weak hand to the solar plexus, strong hand on the gun with a firing grip while still in the holster. Bring the gun straight up, rotate 90 degrees into a retention position, punch out, bringing the weak hand onto the grip in the process, reach full extension. Holstering is the same in reverse.
Semi-auto manipulation – To load, unload, and clear malfunctions - take your weak hand and come over the top, grip the entire slide and rip it to the rear. You will not break your gun. This works on every semi auto every time… it is also a gross motor skill you should be able to handle under a lot of stress. Mr. Givens, Clint Smith and Tiger Mckee all advocate this technique without exception regardless of skill level.
Breathing- Addressed as a non-issue for up close and personal encounters.
Mindset – Excellent presentation and reminders throughout the class. This class confirms that pistols are a notch above worthless. There is a discussion of projectile weight and velocity, anecdotes from personal experience, and video/discussion sections.
Range protocol – The class is broken into two relays. This allows us to shoot a lot without lost time– normally you fire 14-21 rounds then relays switch. The downside is someone messes up your target.
DAY ONE –
On the line we unload and work dry drills. Initially marksmanship drills start at 15-20 feet. Marksmanship is the focus for several rotations. The next lesson is how to keep the gun refueled. Under Rangemaster doctrine the primary reload is the “speedload”. You will dump the partially full magazine you’ve been using and put in a full one quickly, so you should carry extra magazines. Throughout the class speedloads are the preferred reload. The empty load is secondary and taught as a malfunction. An empty load isn’t quite as fast as a speedload since you have to cycle the slide, but it isn’t slow either. The tac load isn’t addressed until the end of the class.
There is a lot of one handed shooting. Actual shootings and simulations show that if you are in a gun fight you are likely to get hit in the hands and arms, so you should practice strong hand only and weak hand only drills.
A wrong handed friend practicing weak hand only.
Steel targets are set up to illustrate the relationship between accuracy and rate of fire. Students line up at about 20 feet and fire, back to 35, then back to 50.
Upon completing the steel drill, we put up new targets. There are several different target designs throughout the class. This helps reminds us you shouldn’t ever decide what a target is going to look like.
A stopwatch arrives on the scene... Mr. Givens states emphatically that there is a timer at every gunfight, and the Grim Reaper presses the start and stop button. Time adds stress to the situation. You have to complete a drill before the whistle. We work on every type of drill on the clock, including drawing from concealment. Speaking of concealment, we learn how to draw from several types.
Around 4:30 we break for an early dinner with the plan to return around 6 for low light and night work.
Upon returning, Mr. Givens lectures on low light techniques and how the gun works in low light – specifically, the exact same way as during the day – line up the sights and press the trigger. The issue is in lower light tracking movement becomes difficult. Dusk is when “night” sights pay their rent. Aligning your sights is MUCH easier with a little tritium.
As dusk becomes night we gather under the pavilion to discuss the use of flashlights. Mr. Givens addresses several considerations, specifically crime tends to take place between 6PM and 6AM in urban environments. Parking lots at shopping centers, gas stations and so forth are bright enough for you to see with no problem. For many people, the darkest place they regularly go is their driveway. This is a simple fix – more lights. Mr. Givens states the use of a flashlight is unlikely to be necessary in urban environments but it is still a good skill. He demonstrates a variety of techniques but suggests the “neck index” method. You put the light in your weak hand, bring it to your ear, cheek or other repeatable index then fire strong hand only. This technique works very well for me. While it is totally dark, another word on night sights - at “night” they aren’t good for anything other than finding the gun at your bedside. If you can’t see the target, you shouldn’t be shooting. We wrap up at 7:30 PM.
DAY TWO –
9:00 AM… a few warm up drills and a short lecture on the physiology of what happens in gunfights. Mr. Givens explains the basics of auditory exclusion and tunnel vision.
The class simulating tunnel vision.
He emphasizes your opponent is equally susceptible. You should consider moving since that might get you out of your opponents immediate line of sight, and a host of other positive things.
The first movement we explore is one big step to the side. This is simple – whichever way you want to go, take one big step, leading with the outside foot, then a half step with the other foot to catch up and keep you in the “fighting stance”. We do this while drawing, shooting and reloading to illustrate the point your feet and hands are two separate systems that operate independently.
Mr. Givens issues us dummy rounds to use in failure drills. Failure to fire, stovepipes and double feeds are addressed. The first clearance drill is the tap rack bang, or in Memphis, the “smack ‘em, jack ‘em, whack ‘em”. T-R-B can be done very quickly. There is a demonstration of how to clear double feeds on the clock, and the methods take between 3.5 and 5 seconds. Since the “average” fight is over in that amount of time Mr. Givens suggests you run flat out to cover or concealment if experience a double feed so that you can clear it en route, once there, whatever - become a moving target, and get behind cover.
At this point we break for the video and mindset lecture. There are some technical issues at the facility. I live about 15 minutes from the range, so (thanks to my lovely and gracious wife) Casa Pangris became the Rangemaster Theater. We watch and discuss three videos – the unfortunate experience of Deputy Dinkeller, a 60 minutes segment on Lance Thomas, and the FBI report on the Miami shootout.
With the video section complete, we return to the range. More movement is taught. Mr. Givens advocates pointing your feet in the direction you want to travel if you need to move more than one step. He also discusses closing distance with an opponent instead of moving backwards to create distance. Mr. Givens primary objection to rearward movement is you can not see where you are going. Moving backward into traffic, or down a stairwell, or into a glass patio door would be bad. He contends movement forward at an oblique angle eliminates those hazards while making it hard to hit you. We practice this dry then try it on steel, moving forward from about 50 feet to within 20 feet. We also move side to side using our torso as a turret, pointing our feet where we are going while shooting to the side.
We learn about tactical reloads but suffice to say Mr. Givens does not like tac loads.
The moment of truth – qualification time. I don’t remember the exact drills but they are all on the clock and address drawing from concealment, strong/weak hand only drills, moving forward to close distance, and reloading.
My target... I make a passing score on the course of fire and earn a Rangemaster certificate.
Being an abject training junkie with a phenomenally permissive, beautiful and wonderful wife has benefits. I leave Tiger Mckee’s 5 day Precision Rifle II, class Friday afternoon from Gadsden, AL and kick in the afterburners. 0900 Saturday, I meet Tom Givens for Rangemaster's Combative Handgun course in Baton Rouge, LA.
I have been to several classes with Thunder Ranch and Shootrite, and they teach almost identical doctrines. Both schools have encouraged me to train with as many others as possible. Rangemaster has a solid reputation for mindset presentation and general instruction, so I decided to take the opportunity to examine a different philosophy. My primary interest is to compare and contrast the doctrines of the schools.
Saturday morning Mr. Givens goes through introductions and gives the safety lecture.
We discuss the four safety rules and an overview of how to handle your weapon. His presentation is involving with elements of comedy and non-PC truths that keep the class on our toes. The main issues he addresses:
Your Stance – Mr. Givens does not endorse Weaver or Iso. The preferred method is the “fighting stance”. Weak foot forward, lean into the target, etc.
Your Grip – You learn how to grip your gun regarding lateral and linear forces, where to put your extra digits, etc. We are encouraged to get our fingers WAY off the trigger when not on target, specifically to rest them on the slide. 1911 shooters are cautioned to keep thumbs on the safety and pointers off the slide stop pin.
The Draw – Weak hand to the solar plexus, strong hand on the gun with a firing grip while still in the holster. Bring the gun straight up, rotate 90 degrees into a retention position, punch out, bringing the weak hand onto the grip in the process, reach full extension. Holstering is the same in reverse.
Semi-auto manipulation – To load, unload, and clear malfunctions - take your weak hand and come over the top, grip the entire slide and rip it to the rear. You will not break your gun. This works on every semi auto every time… it is also a gross motor skill you should be able to handle under a lot of stress. Mr. Givens, Clint Smith and Tiger Mckee all advocate this technique without exception regardless of skill level.
Breathing- Addressed as a non-issue for up close and personal encounters.
Mindset – Excellent presentation and reminders throughout the class. This class confirms that pistols are a notch above worthless. There is a discussion of projectile weight and velocity, anecdotes from personal experience, and video/discussion sections.
Range protocol – The class is broken into two relays. This allows us to shoot a lot without lost time– normally you fire 14-21 rounds then relays switch. The downside is someone messes up your target.
DAY ONE –
On the line we unload and work dry drills. Initially marksmanship drills start at 15-20 feet. Marksmanship is the focus for several rotations. The next lesson is how to keep the gun refueled. Under Rangemaster doctrine the primary reload is the “speedload”. You will dump the partially full magazine you’ve been using and put in a full one quickly, so you should carry extra magazines. Throughout the class speedloads are the preferred reload. The empty load is secondary and taught as a malfunction. An empty load isn’t quite as fast as a speedload since you have to cycle the slide, but it isn’t slow either. The tac load isn’t addressed until the end of the class.
There is a lot of one handed shooting. Actual shootings and simulations show that if you are in a gun fight you are likely to get hit in the hands and arms, so you should practice strong hand only and weak hand only drills.
A wrong handed friend practicing weak hand only.
Steel targets are set up to illustrate the relationship between accuracy and rate of fire. Students line up at about 20 feet and fire, back to 35, then back to 50.
Upon completing the steel drill, we put up new targets. There are several different target designs throughout the class. This helps reminds us you shouldn’t ever decide what a target is going to look like.
A stopwatch arrives on the scene... Mr. Givens states emphatically that there is a timer at every gunfight, and the Grim Reaper presses the start and stop button. Time adds stress to the situation. You have to complete a drill before the whistle. We work on every type of drill on the clock, including drawing from concealment. Speaking of concealment, we learn how to draw from several types.
Around 4:30 we break for an early dinner with the plan to return around 6 for low light and night work.
Upon returning, Mr. Givens lectures on low light techniques and how the gun works in low light – specifically, the exact same way as during the day – line up the sights and press the trigger. The issue is in lower light tracking movement becomes difficult. Dusk is when “night” sights pay their rent. Aligning your sights is MUCH easier with a little tritium.
As dusk becomes night we gather under the pavilion to discuss the use of flashlights. Mr. Givens addresses several considerations, specifically crime tends to take place between 6PM and 6AM in urban environments. Parking lots at shopping centers, gas stations and so forth are bright enough for you to see with no problem. For many people, the darkest place they regularly go is their driveway. This is a simple fix – more lights. Mr. Givens states the use of a flashlight is unlikely to be necessary in urban environments but it is still a good skill. He demonstrates a variety of techniques but suggests the “neck index” method. You put the light in your weak hand, bring it to your ear, cheek or other repeatable index then fire strong hand only. This technique works very well for me. While it is totally dark, another word on night sights - at “night” they aren’t good for anything other than finding the gun at your bedside. If you can’t see the target, you shouldn’t be shooting. We wrap up at 7:30 PM.
DAY TWO –
9:00 AM… a few warm up drills and a short lecture on the physiology of what happens in gunfights. Mr. Givens explains the basics of auditory exclusion and tunnel vision.
The class simulating tunnel vision.
He emphasizes your opponent is equally susceptible. You should consider moving since that might get you out of your opponents immediate line of sight, and a host of other positive things.
The first movement we explore is one big step to the side. This is simple – whichever way you want to go, take one big step, leading with the outside foot, then a half step with the other foot to catch up and keep you in the “fighting stance”. We do this while drawing, shooting and reloading to illustrate the point your feet and hands are two separate systems that operate independently.
Mr. Givens issues us dummy rounds to use in failure drills. Failure to fire, stovepipes and double feeds are addressed. The first clearance drill is the tap rack bang, or in Memphis, the “smack ‘em, jack ‘em, whack ‘em”. T-R-B can be done very quickly. There is a demonstration of how to clear double feeds on the clock, and the methods take between 3.5 and 5 seconds. Since the “average” fight is over in that amount of time Mr. Givens suggests you run flat out to cover or concealment if experience a double feed so that you can clear it en route, once there, whatever - become a moving target, and get behind cover.
At this point we break for the video and mindset lecture. There are some technical issues at the facility. I live about 15 minutes from the range, so (thanks to my lovely and gracious wife) Casa Pangris became the Rangemaster Theater. We watch and discuss three videos – the unfortunate experience of Deputy Dinkeller, a 60 minutes segment on Lance Thomas, and the FBI report on the Miami shootout.
With the video section complete, we return to the range. More movement is taught. Mr. Givens advocates pointing your feet in the direction you want to travel if you need to move more than one step. He also discusses closing distance with an opponent instead of moving backwards to create distance. Mr. Givens primary objection to rearward movement is you can not see where you are going. Moving backward into traffic, or down a stairwell, or into a glass patio door would be bad. He contends movement forward at an oblique angle eliminates those hazards while making it hard to hit you. We practice this dry then try it on steel, moving forward from about 50 feet to within 20 feet. We also move side to side using our torso as a turret, pointing our feet where we are going while shooting to the side.
We learn about tactical reloads but suffice to say Mr. Givens does not like tac loads.
The moment of truth – qualification time. I don’t remember the exact drills but they are all on the clock and address drawing from concealment, strong/weak hand only drills, moving forward to close distance, and reloading.
My target... I make a passing score on the course of fire and earn a Rangemaster certificate.