STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I am not and have never been a member of the SAS, RLI, Selous Scouts, SF, SEALs, or Luxembourg Royal Mounted House Guard. I do not jump out of helicopters wearing black with some silly "tactical" (i.e. black) knife in my mouth. I'm former LEO, but only had 2 birddog arrests (thousands of convictions only 2 arrests). I do not live in a violent community or swagger down the "mean streets." My last fight was over the last blueberry scone at the foo-foo coffee shop.
I walk the earf and seek knowledge because I know nothing. Those who do know everything and as THE Pat Rogers sez are too cool to train would be better off reading something else.
From April 15 to 17th I had the opportunity to attend the Shotgun class at Thunder Ranch in sunny, scenic Mountain Home, Tejas. I took the class because when I was down for DHG2 I encountered a gentleman (Clint called him "Batman", I cannot remember his correct name) from Illinois who had been to TR 23 times and proclaimed Shotgun as his favorite class (Triad was his second, but Clint stopped teaching this class).
I flew down to Holy Tony's on Saturday and was met by my reception committee. I got a hotel downtown (complete with sushi bar and foo-foo coffee bar--heaven on earth) on the river and we went shopping and then to "The County Line" on the Riverwalk thingy. Great time. We then went to Mad Dog's for a couple of Flat Tires and to talk to girls. Ahhh, Texas women. They were great--beautiful, friendly. No one asked to see my tax return from last year. No one asked what kind of cars I owned or how many square feet my house was. It was great.
San Antonio is a wonderful city--Sea World (yeah, I know, I'm a big kid), the Riverwalk, el Mercado (picked up some great Tejano music including the Garcia Brothers [now] award-winning albums). If you do not go to TR, you should go just to see SA.
I had a great time in Tejas as always. The only hard time I got was when I went to Kerrville. I noticed their K-Mart was closing (people were standing on the streets with signs) and went to see if any ammo was left (you never know). As I entered the store I heard an employee speaking Spanish and asked him in Spanish where the ammunition was. Another man became quite bellicose over lanky, geeky me speaking, if I remember right, "that dirty, beaner language." I told him to perform an unnatural act in German. He blinked at me in ignorance (yeah, I thought so) and I smiled and wished him a nice day.
I drove out to Kerrville late Sunday afternoon and got a hotel. After cleaning the guns and a run, I went to Mamacita's. Still great. Apparently they are building a new one in SA. Something to keep in mind. Yum.
Monday morning the class started. I recognized the instructors immediately--Steve (of "60 Minutes" renown), Jack of Gunsite fame, Tim of Gunsite and DOE fame and Bill the former head of the FTU for SAPD (Bill's wisdom is only exceeded by his cool accent, but I bet he thinks I have an accent). Clint had the A Team in for this class.
After checking in I had my first and only snag at TR. Apparently UPS had lost part of my ammo or an armadillo broke into the admin building and took off with my buckshot and slugs. I called UPS; they blamed the armadillo. However, TR bent their no ammo policy and allowed me to purchase some buckshot and slugs. Steve even brought it out to the range for me.
The first half of the first day is devoted to Clint's lecture. The lecture alone is worth the price of the tuition. It is the refined product of decades of firearms instructing. It is a thing of beauty.
The lectures main focus included safety, "firearms generate violence, death and destruction" no place to be a moron, purpose of the weapon, to stop violence ("I have no idea what Sporting Clays is; I can't eat one of them."), basic nomenclature of the weapon, and destruction of gunshop commando myths, including the boulder of destruction myth, can't miss myth, instant death ray myth, and the perfect gun myth and the kick-you-to-death myth.
Clint also lectured on the correct way to hold the weapon. Many people are afraid of shotguns because of the perceived recoil of the weapon. As recoil is our friend, you just have to be more educated than the weapon. Clint showed the class the correct shoulder placement, hand and elbow placement, and where to place your thumb of the trigger hand (if right-handed, the starboard side, especially important in prone and when moving with the weapon).
After a break for lunch, we went to the range (Yellow) for a range lecture from Tim on the importance of handling long weapons and the dos and don't of range manners. We began by patterning our weapons at varying ranges from 3 to 40 yards with birdshot and buckshot. As we did, new hints and lessons were added on our gunhandling.
During this patterning I managed to induce my only malfunction with my weapon. I created a double feed by failing to seat a cartridge in the magazine in a manly manner. Steve wondered over to view my latest gunfu jam the weapon technique and I cleared it by sticking my right index finger in the action and reseated the round. Good to clear mals in front of the instructors, gives the illusion that I was learning.
We closed the first day by exectuing the Rolling Thunder Drill that Clint popularized during his deputy daze with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. This is always a great time and a good way to put pressure on the student without the instructors doing anything.
It works like this: 5 shooters on the line facing 5 targets (they were steel in this case). Everyone loads (either 5 or 3 or 1 or whatever). The guy on the left shoots one round at the first target and everyone does the same one after the other. Until the 5th guy shoots and shouts "Out" (or whatever). You repeat until all five targets are engaged. The focus of the drill is to focus the student on reloading under pressure. Tim also pointed out that there was no distinction between a self-loading weapon and a slide-action weapon in terms of speed. Sort of like why NASCAR drivers like manual transmissions as they do not have to wait for the gears to shift, but do it themselves.
On the second day we studied mal drills, transition drills and shot a few slugs on steel targets and practiced positions--kneeling, braced kneeling, San Fan kneeling, and prone. "Teaching points" are always brought up and the students are allowed and encouraged to ask questions. No one is left to feel the fool for asking. For example, one of the instructors expressed his preference for butt cuffs. I asked how he shot from the off side as if it were me, a big wimp, I would get an owie on my face, but as he was a hairy-chested square stater and could laugh at pain. He explained that he held the stock on its angle so the extra rounds would not gouge him. (The "doh!" was audible in San Marcos I am told).
The third day we shot slugs on paper and made sure of our zeros.
I found that my rear sight was knocked loose. Not the gun's fault. I bloodied my mouth by going into prone a little zealously. I hit myself with the ghost-ring rear sight in the lower lip. The scar's slowly going away. However, chicks dig scars (so I tell myself). Speaking of scars, I always get a little range rash from that small black gravel. It goes away, but I usually wear a Baja shirt to protect my elbows.
We then shot more moving drills, changing cartridges (e.g. slug to buck), worked around cover, one handed shooting and the Rolling Thunder drill again. Lots of fun.
After lunch on the third day, we went to the Terminator (a "shooting house") and received a lecture on tactics. We went through a couple different sides of the Terminator dry (traps have a hard time with shotguns) and then went for a stroll on a jungle walk with Steve in pairs.
The purpose was to teach communication and the value of teamwork. I had a great partner, a for real Danger Ranger, veteran copper and grizzled veteran of several shooting skuls. I learned a lot from him. I could not have done better if I picked a partner (I was going down with MPFreeman). (He even let me shoot one of his guns when we were shooting slugs--a Rem 11-87 from ST, great gun). Gracias, vato.
Great class. Maybe Clint can be lobbied to bring back Triad???
THE GUNS: It is the man, not the tool. In so much as it matters, i took two Wilson/ST 870s, the old "FBI model" style. Light, sling, sidesaddle, short stocks, standard mags. I prefer this weapon as did most of the class. Students may bring what they wish. No one told me I had to bring an 870. I like a light because I like to see what I am shooting as I do not trust my excellent night vision and have been involved in a couple of horrific mistaken ID shootings in the dark. Can you say Diallo? I like a short stock for manuever and handling. I like the standard mag as it keeps the weight of the weapon down and increases reliability. All guns break, bring two. I brought a Les Baer TRS and a Cylinder&Slide Colt Custom for sidearms.
If Wilson can change one thing, I would have them change the slings on the weapons. They come with those silly gunshop commando slings with nice metal buckles to make noise. I want just a plain nylon strap.
FLYING: No problems with my guns. I was molested at the Indianapolis airport but I am dealing with that in the correct criminal and civil fashion. Several of my fellow passengers were bleating about arming the pilots. Why would you want some blue suiter that has 0.0 hours of training carrying when people with 100s of hours of training cannot carry? The pilot is not coming out of his hardened door to save you, Sally Soccermommie. Frustrating to no end.
I learned a lot and enjoyed myself. I cannot get over the instructors--brilliant. I thank them.
I walk the earf and seek knowledge because I know nothing. Those who do know everything and as THE Pat Rogers sez are too cool to train would be better off reading something else.
From April 15 to 17th I had the opportunity to attend the Shotgun class at Thunder Ranch in sunny, scenic Mountain Home, Tejas. I took the class because when I was down for DHG2 I encountered a gentleman (Clint called him "Batman", I cannot remember his correct name) from Illinois who had been to TR 23 times and proclaimed Shotgun as his favorite class (Triad was his second, but Clint stopped teaching this class).
I flew down to Holy Tony's on Saturday and was met by my reception committee. I got a hotel downtown (complete with sushi bar and foo-foo coffee bar--heaven on earth) on the river and we went shopping and then to "The County Line" on the Riverwalk thingy. Great time. We then went to Mad Dog's for a couple of Flat Tires and to talk to girls. Ahhh, Texas women. They were great--beautiful, friendly. No one asked to see my tax return from last year. No one asked what kind of cars I owned or how many square feet my house was. It was great.
San Antonio is a wonderful city--Sea World (yeah, I know, I'm a big kid), the Riverwalk, el Mercado (picked up some great Tejano music including the Garcia Brothers [now] award-winning albums). If you do not go to TR, you should go just to see SA.
I had a great time in Tejas as always. The only hard time I got was when I went to Kerrville. I noticed their K-Mart was closing (people were standing on the streets with signs) and went to see if any ammo was left (you never know). As I entered the store I heard an employee speaking Spanish and asked him in Spanish where the ammunition was. Another man became quite bellicose over lanky, geeky me speaking, if I remember right, "that dirty, beaner language." I told him to perform an unnatural act in German. He blinked at me in ignorance (yeah, I thought so) and I smiled and wished him a nice day.
I drove out to Kerrville late Sunday afternoon and got a hotel. After cleaning the guns and a run, I went to Mamacita's. Still great. Apparently they are building a new one in SA. Something to keep in mind. Yum.
Monday morning the class started. I recognized the instructors immediately--Steve (of "60 Minutes" renown), Jack of Gunsite fame, Tim of Gunsite and DOE fame and Bill the former head of the FTU for SAPD (Bill's wisdom is only exceeded by his cool accent, but I bet he thinks I have an accent). Clint had the A Team in for this class.
After checking in I had my first and only snag at TR. Apparently UPS had lost part of my ammo or an armadillo broke into the admin building and took off with my buckshot and slugs. I called UPS; they blamed the armadillo. However, TR bent their no ammo policy and allowed me to purchase some buckshot and slugs. Steve even brought it out to the range for me.
The first half of the first day is devoted to Clint's lecture. The lecture alone is worth the price of the tuition. It is the refined product of decades of firearms instructing. It is a thing of beauty.
The lectures main focus included safety, "firearms generate violence, death and destruction" no place to be a moron, purpose of the weapon, to stop violence ("I have no idea what Sporting Clays is; I can't eat one of them."), basic nomenclature of the weapon, and destruction of gunshop commando myths, including the boulder of destruction myth, can't miss myth, instant death ray myth, and the perfect gun myth and the kick-you-to-death myth.
Clint also lectured on the correct way to hold the weapon. Many people are afraid of shotguns because of the perceived recoil of the weapon. As recoil is our friend, you just have to be more educated than the weapon. Clint showed the class the correct shoulder placement, hand and elbow placement, and where to place your thumb of the trigger hand (if right-handed, the starboard side, especially important in prone and when moving with the weapon).
After a break for lunch, we went to the range (Yellow) for a range lecture from Tim on the importance of handling long weapons and the dos and don't of range manners. We began by patterning our weapons at varying ranges from 3 to 40 yards with birdshot and buckshot. As we did, new hints and lessons were added on our gunhandling.
During this patterning I managed to induce my only malfunction with my weapon. I created a double feed by failing to seat a cartridge in the magazine in a manly manner. Steve wondered over to view my latest gunfu jam the weapon technique and I cleared it by sticking my right index finger in the action and reseated the round. Good to clear mals in front of the instructors, gives the illusion that I was learning.
We closed the first day by exectuing the Rolling Thunder Drill that Clint popularized during his deputy daze with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. This is always a great time and a good way to put pressure on the student without the instructors doing anything.
It works like this: 5 shooters on the line facing 5 targets (they were steel in this case). Everyone loads (either 5 or 3 or 1 or whatever). The guy on the left shoots one round at the first target and everyone does the same one after the other. Until the 5th guy shoots and shouts "Out" (or whatever). You repeat until all five targets are engaged. The focus of the drill is to focus the student on reloading under pressure. Tim also pointed out that there was no distinction between a self-loading weapon and a slide-action weapon in terms of speed. Sort of like why NASCAR drivers like manual transmissions as they do not have to wait for the gears to shift, but do it themselves.
On the second day we studied mal drills, transition drills and shot a few slugs on steel targets and practiced positions--kneeling, braced kneeling, San Fan kneeling, and prone. "Teaching points" are always brought up and the students are allowed and encouraged to ask questions. No one is left to feel the fool for asking. For example, one of the instructors expressed his preference for butt cuffs. I asked how he shot from the off side as if it were me, a big wimp, I would get an owie on my face, but as he was a hairy-chested square stater and could laugh at pain. He explained that he held the stock on its angle so the extra rounds would not gouge him. (The "doh!" was audible in San Marcos I am told).
The third day we shot slugs on paper and made sure of our zeros.
I found that my rear sight was knocked loose. Not the gun's fault. I bloodied my mouth by going into prone a little zealously. I hit myself with the ghost-ring rear sight in the lower lip. The scar's slowly going away. However, chicks dig scars (so I tell myself). Speaking of scars, I always get a little range rash from that small black gravel. It goes away, but I usually wear a Baja shirt to protect my elbows.
We then shot more moving drills, changing cartridges (e.g. slug to buck), worked around cover, one handed shooting and the Rolling Thunder drill again. Lots of fun.
After lunch on the third day, we went to the Terminator (a "shooting house") and received a lecture on tactics. We went through a couple different sides of the Terminator dry (traps have a hard time with shotguns) and then went for a stroll on a jungle walk with Steve in pairs.
The purpose was to teach communication and the value of teamwork. I had a great partner, a for real Danger Ranger, veteran copper and grizzled veteran of several shooting skuls. I learned a lot from him. I could not have done better if I picked a partner (I was going down with MPFreeman). (He even let me shoot one of his guns when we were shooting slugs--a Rem 11-87 from ST, great gun). Gracias, vato.
Great class. Maybe Clint can be lobbied to bring back Triad???
THE GUNS: It is the man, not the tool. In so much as it matters, i took two Wilson/ST 870s, the old "FBI model" style. Light, sling, sidesaddle, short stocks, standard mags. I prefer this weapon as did most of the class. Students may bring what they wish. No one told me I had to bring an 870. I like a light because I like to see what I am shooting as I do not trust my excellent night vision and have been involved in a couple of horrific mistaken ID shootings in the dark. Can you say Diallo? I like a short stock for manuever and handling. I like the standard mag as it keeps the weight of the weapon down and increases reliability. All guns break, bring two. I brought a Les Baer TRS and a Cylinder&Slide Colt Custom for sidearms.
If Wilson can change one thing, I would have them change the slings on the weapons. They come with those silly gunshop commando slings with nice metal buckles to make noise. I want just a plain nylon strap.
FLYING: No problems with my guns. I was molested at the Indianapolis airport but I am dealing with that in the correct criminal and civil fashion. Several of my fellow passengers were bleating about arming the pilots. Why would you want some blue suiter that has 0.0 hours of training carrying when people with 100s of hours of training cannot carry? The pilot is not coming out of his hardened door to save you, Sally Soccermommie. Frustrating to no end.
I learned a lot and enjoyed myself. I cannot get over the instructors--brilliant. I thank them.
TR, Inc. does not serve food, but does have Gatorade and soda in one of the outside refrigs. You can get a box lunch if you stay at the YO or there's a HEB (grocery store) on 27.
