Firearms Training

When point shooting in CQB is good to go

For every shooter there is a certain range that they reach their limit of proficiency at, of course this is not a constant but changes with time and practice; as skill improves, so does the distance. This point of proficiency is the furthest distance the shooter can effectively engage point targets with an almost constant successful hit to miss ratio. So, in layman’s terms, a distance that you can hit the target every time but still require the use of sights. Now, somewhere between that distance and the shooter is a point where they can achieve perfect hits without aiming but rather pointing the gun in the targets direction. This is the maximum effective range for the individual’s ability to “point shoot” or basically use their bodies natural point of aim to engage a target effectively.

Point shooting is not a particularly difficult task, but to execute it correctly a subconscious grasp of marksmanship fundamentals must be achieved first. If this has been done, there’s a simple way to master point shooting in a training environment. Determine where your maximum distance is and close the gap accordingly to a distance where you can hit the target without using the sights intentionally. Now repeat the process with training to a point where you subconsciously grasp that known distance on the fly. When point shooting, always aim center mass and keep your eyes up — on the threats around you. The true benefit is having better situational awareness due to the lack of sight fixation; tunnel vision can still occur (especially those who have less “experience”) so keep your head (or eyes) on a swivel.

Point shooting can be an incredibly valuable technique, especially in a Close Quarters Combat (CQB) scenario. Point shooting pairs well with rapid fire or a quick string of semi-automatic shots on a target. This is because of the close proximity and margin of error inherent to rapid fire. At point shooting range the deviation of rapid fire shots should still meet the “minute of man” requirements to hit the target (a pun off minute of angle or MOA, a system of measurement relative to shooting). Point shooting is incredibly fast as the shooter focuses on the simple act of engaging targets quickly. Really, it’s only going to shave off milliseconds from the time it would take to use sights but in a CQB setting that can mean a lot given how confined the engagement may be. The real-time saver here is that the ability to squeeze the trigger before sights have been acquired is an option.

For myself the maximum distance I would ever feel comfortable attempting point shooting is probably around 7 meters, about the size of an average living room. This is because no matter what, it doesn’t pay to miss at close quarters range; suppressive fire is not nearly as effective in that setting. Point shooting is a very relative technique and should only be applied to a scenario where it is applicable obviously. Again, this is an advanced shooting skill that takes practice and a full grasp of the fundamentals first, so take it slow and train safely. If you’re having a hard time grasping the concept, try this: Point your finger at a door in your house, do it from various distances. I bet you can do it every time centered on the door from a particular range. Same concept but instead you are using a gun.

Featured image courtesy of the author

*Originally published on SOFREP and written by Kurt T

WATCH: Tactical thought – CQB in compressed environments

A compressed environment is perhaps one of the most dangerous and relentless setting you can deal with in CQB.

It can be inside of a car, suburban terrain, a corridor or a room – the principle is simple, a tight environment without many possibilities and a quick cause-effect relationship.

The main issue with compressed environments is the tight angles and the influence they have on our ability to earn the shot (establishing an angle on a threat while another shooter is in priority) Further more, from a behavioral point of view, the individual will experience a greater mental load as they are forced to find solutions in short intervals.

Some considerations worth looking through when working in compressed environments.

Your system setup, with focus over the barrel & accessories. For example, many guys tend to place their mounted laser or flashlights in the wrong position on the gun, limiting their devices performance or increasing exposure of the weapon around corners.
Sling. Get a good one and don’t let it hinder you. Make sure it isn’t flying around loose. Ensure that it doesn’t get caught on your gear or the environment
Flashlights & improper placement of PTTs
Muzzle awareness, not only for safety reasons but telegraphing your position as well. Don’t let the enemy gain a visual advantage.
Any loose items like dump pouches, straps, etc should be secured. Don’t let those frames, closets, door handles and other stuff on the wall the grab you!
Pre-planned evacuation procedure. Think of it as if an ally is wounded and their body blocks the hallway. What next? Can he self-extract? Can the team keep pressure on the threat while a proper extraction is taking place?
There is no unemployment in CQB. Dig your corners and earn that angle.

One of the greatest benefits of fighting from the door in a compressed environment is that we have the ability – by default – to fight from cover, and to know what our next move is going to be. In terms of violent encounters, that will allow an officer who just engaged or eliminated a threat to stop, breathe and prepare himself mentally for their next move.

Often, in settings like in the video below, moving quickly into rooms (in the majority of contexts) will result in an injury. You can’t be too careful, it is all about increasing your chance of survival.

Disclaimer : The video was conducted with a student who was just introduced to this methodology. Mistakes are made and that is why we recorded this video. Got questions? Hit us up.

This article was written by Eli for NEWSREP

Pistol training in your living room with the Laser Bullet from Hits Arms

I just received a great new product for dry firing when you cannot get to the range. Hits Arms 9MM laser bullet and it is also available in 38 Special, 7.62X39, .223/5.56 Nato, 308, 30:06 and 12 gauge at www.ahitsarms.com

The two firearms that I used for my dry fire practice were a Beretta 92 and RIA 9MM 1911.

Before you begin using the laser bullet please ensure that the firearm magazine is removed, the action cleared and live ammo is nowhere near the firearm. Now repeat that just to be safe!! Unscrew the laser bullet to expose the batteries and remove the plastic cap on the batteries. Now you are ready to load the laser bullet into your empty 9MM magazine. It will feed like a live round so nothing special has to be done to chamber the laser bullet. The Hits Arms 9MM laser bullet is the same dimension as a live 9MM round. It has been tested to 5000 shots but I have heard of some that went beyond 10,000 shots. It is also good out to 200 + yards for practicing at night. As with any laser please do not point at people or any moving vehicles (aircraft included). Also, please do not drop the laser bullet or expose to extreme temperatures.

Loaded into a double action firearm, a pull of the trigger will produce a laser light shot every time. For single action firearms a half rack of the slide is all that is needed for every shot. This is a safe way for indoor practice and improving your aiming skills when you cannot get to the range. Removing the laser bullet is as simple as pulling back the slide to remove as in ejecting a live round. Practice can be done in the comfort of your home but if you do use outside, please use responsibly and be considerate of neighbors.

This is the best laser bullet that I have found to use for practice. It is true to the dimensions of a 9MM round and feeding the round for use and ejection after use is a simple normal loading and unloading procedure.

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This article was written by John P. DeBeasso Jr.

John retired in 2011 after 35 years with the federal government and went to work for Armscor/Rock Island Armory to head up their Dealer Stocking Rebate Program, Range Program and the Military Commemorative Firearms Program. He enjoys all of the shooting sports from hunting to target shooting. He currently resides in Virginia Beach, Viginia with his wife and four dogs.

Shoot Better with SIRT Trainers: Laser Beams Make Everything Better

The SIRT is a useful training tool to augment live fire training exercises. The resetting trigger allows the user to “fire” the gun without having to action the slide and the shot indicating lasers provide immediate feedback for shot accuracy.

SIRT is an acronym for Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger. As the name suggests, the trigger of the SIRT emulates the trigger pull of the Glock after which it is modeled, but after the the pull has been completed, the trigger “resets” as though a round was cycled.

The metal slide helps to give the SIRT comparable weight and balance to the Glock, but it does not move. Although, the dry fire pistol does have a functioning magazine release, and its magazine is molded and weighted to resemble an actual Glock magazine.

Dry fire is an important element to firearms training off the range. But, while it helps train skills such as, drawing from a holster, changing magazines, and trigger control, it can be monotonous and uninteresting. Fortunately, there are some ways to make dry fire training more interesting, like using the SIRT Dry Fire Training Pistol.

A feature of the SIRT that makes it more interesting for dry fire training is its shot indicating laser. During the trigger pull, a red laser will light up to indicate that the trigger is “prepped.” A second green laser emits when the trigger pull is completed. This secondary beam indicates where the shot would have been placed, were it a live fire drill. The laser positioning is adjustable, and the SIRT also features a switch to engage or disengage the red trigger prep indicating laser.

As the SIRT features a rail for mounting light or laser accessories. This allows the user to train with a tool that more closely emulates their own pistol while performing exercises like speed reloads, mock IDPA courses, or even force-on-force training.

There are a variety of models. The 110 models emulate the key functional features of a Glock 17/22. The 107 Models emulate the functional features of the Smith&Wesson M&P. Coming soon; a pocket pistol sized SIRT.

The Next Level Training Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger Training Pistol is an essential training and teaching tool. You cannot understand the full impact of this device on your life until you get one. Don’t wait. The basic model is $239. It doesn’t take much ammo savings to pay for one. There are a number of models for different needs.

Use Discount Code “GreenBeret” (not case sensitive) and get 10% off your new SIRT

There are some great training videos at Next Level Training.

Photo courtesy of Next Level Training

This post first appeared on paragraph4.media and is re-posted with permission.

Live Fire Drills for Law Enforcement Training

In the following video are three different training scenarios that Loadout Room writer, Wes Nanny goes through during his firearms training sessions at the local Law Enforcement agency he works for.

1st Drill

Just like running and lifting weights, it’s important to warm up before you shoot too. You should run some simple drills to get you ready to go to include all the weapons that you are going to be utilizing during your training. The video shows some of the drills I do every time before I start my real training drills.

3-5 rounds of each of the following:

1. Pistol from the holster, single shot on steel
2. Pistol from the holster, double tap on steel
3. Rifle to pistol transition, single rifle shot on paper, run dry, transition, single pistol shot on steel.
4. Rifle to pistol transition, double tap rifle on paper, transition, single pistol shot on steel.

Remember to set your rifle mags up so that you run dry before your transition, that way you correlate the feel of running dry on your rifle with the transitioning to your pistol. Use a shot timer to push yourself. Some other things I like to do is mix some reloads into it too.

2nd Drill

Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things a law enforcement Officer can do. With that in mind, there are drills that you can do in order to train for that specific situation. In this video, we are running a drill as if we are conducting a real traffic approach. We make our approach and utilize a shot timer to indicate when the “suspect” exhibits a weapon. We also add a little audible recognition by stating out loud, between 1 and 5, how many shots are to be fired. We move off the “X” and engage the threat in the seat. In this case, we put a target in the seat so that we could assess our shots afterward.

3rd Drill

The final drill we ran, in the video below, revolves around fighting using the most common cover around, vehicles. Vehicles are everywhere and chances are, if you get in a gunfight in the U.S, you will be close enough to a vehicle to use if to your advantage. In the drill below, we set up five steel targets approximately 7-10 yards from the vehicle. One at the 9 O’Clock position, 11 O’Clock, 12 O’Clock, 1 O’Clock, and 3 O, Clock. We started with a short 15-meter sprint to the rear of the car. Once there, your partner yells out one of the target positions, using the clock method, while you move around the vehicle to position yourself with maximum cover and still being able to engage the threat. This can go on for as long as you want. We also ran it with a rifle and pistol transition. Another twist we threw in was randomly loading each other’s magazines so that you have to conduct an unexpected reload at some point during the drill.

Author – Wes Nanny is a former Marine with combat deployments to Afghanistan. He is currently serving in local law enforcement in Texas.

What Quality Training Looks Like: A Lesson From SFAUCC

What quality training looks like: A lesson from the Special Forces Urban Combat Course

Up until the last 4 years of my stint in the Army, every school I attended was either planning oriented or some form of infiltration to the battlefield, which always revolved around some form of student attrition. I constantly found myself in courses where the instructors were particularly prideful in their ability to weed out individuals. Keep in mind, I’m not disagreeing with some form of hazing and or selection process. Hazing is what made me the man I am today. In fact, hazing to an extent is necessary, it helps us identify who has the intestinal fortitude to press on towards the mission at any cost. But that is not the point of this article. Until my transition to Special Operations, I had no idea what quality training looked like, or what I wanted it to be. But I was finally here a cherry qualified Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller (SOTACC) eager to make a positive impact to the organization. In order to allow me to better support the A-Teams in a direct capacity, my boss sent me to the basic SF Close Quarters Battle (CQB) School called the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course (SFAUCC).

SFAUCC’s origins go back to the Special Operations Training (SOT) Course (closed in the early 90s), which was stood up right after 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) shut down Blue Light (An interim counter-terrorism unit before Delta Force). Learning lessons from the famed events during Operation Gothic Serpent (depicted in the film “Blackhawk Down” ), and understanding that future conflicts would involve the need to conduct direct action operations in an urban environment, led to the birth of SFAUCC in 2000. The course is a month-long school (run at the Group level) geared toward providing the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) and individuals, a baseline of training in conducting advanced urban direction action. By 2009 it was officially recognized by Army Human Resources Command as an accredited course (Mil Education Code: VAB, if you’re a Green Beret and didn’t know that… you’re welcome).

Being a product of all military courses I was deeply concerned I did not have the requisite background to be successful. To be frank, it had been over a year since I fired a handgun and the course was one week away. Panicked, I called the instructors to share my concerns, and inquire about what I should do to get ready. They simply replied, “Good, you won’t have any bad habits. You won’t believe how hard it is to break those with Team guys. Just show up with an open mind, and do everything we tell you.” I was immediately surprised. If this were any other conventional Army course I’m certain you would have heard a different and indifferent response from the instructors. However, I was not disappointed; this course was geared toward the warfighter. The break-down of the course is rather simple: week 1 is flat range week, weeks 2 and 3 are live fire CQB and breaching, and week 4 is force on force training. Upon starting the first day the instructors had us confirm zero on our rifles and covered the fundamentals of combat marksmanship. They touched upon safety (loading-unloading procedures), touch-points (your grip from holster), to different pistol positions, and trigger prep, and your second sight picture. They stressed all the fundamentals at nauseam. Every morning began with a cold-start graded shoot. The belief behind this practice is that you will never be warmed up for your best run when a fight presents itself, so you must be tested at your worst. Throughout the week the instructors were true coaches unless there was an unsafe act, there was no screaming and or physical punishment. When I didn’t know my touch points from the holster and a proper thumbs forward grip, they showed me by placing the weapon in my hands and made the instruction relatable. The team cared so much about proper instruction they had a sports psychologist on staff to help the students. This concept was completely foreign to me. They cared deeply about their students….and it showed. Week 1 ended with a series of stress shoots designed by the staff to push you to the limits of your training. I was thoroughly surprised when the staff posted the range week scores and realized I had shot my way into the top third of the class.

Weeks 2 and 3 were live fire CQB and breaching, it began with a classroom instruction block by powerpoint and a dry run. Any students that didn’t meet the minimum flat range requirements would receive a blue barrel (simunitions ammo), and would continue on, but not receive a graduation certificate. The instructors then transported us to the shoothouse, where they demonstrated techniques for different types of rooms we would encounter. We then individually entered the room to live fire alone, purely as the number one man and received critique, then as the number two man, and so on, until we demonstrated a firm understanding. As training progressed, the staff incorporated the rest of the stack (or cell) into the equation allows us to complete the live fire collectively. It was clear the training was always building towards an endstate, a functional team with the confidence and competence to execute an urban raid. We continued on with different structures, hallways, stairwells, and breaching techniques as the instructors gradually added new variables forcing us to always think before we commit to a target. By the end of week 3 most of us were able to flow through any structure with confidence.

Week 4 was force on force utilizing simunitions. After all, how do you know your techniques are effective if they are untested? Force on force training teaches you a continued lesson…. the opposing force has a vote, it preaches performance on demand. Throughout this last week the course becomes married with the Sniper Locker students to bring all elements into play. We executed multiple raids, both day and night, under white light or night vision. Some missions were successful, and others not; but every engagement was followed with an After Action Review (AAR), and another raid. We conducted our last complex night raid graduating at the stroke of midnight. Tired and muddy, we received our graduation certificates or some…certificates of training if you did not meet course standards.

By course end, students were trained in advanced combat rifle and pistol marksmanship, as well as urban movement, mechanical and ballistic breaching, rappelling, FAST-roping, and to successfully take down single and multi-entry point, single and multi-story objectives. The course establishes a baseline of skill for its students, but also acknowledges that trained once does not mean trained forever. Operational teams must not only graduate this course the first time, but must either go back through periodically or conduct an SFAUC focused training event at the team level to ensure currency. This practice ensures everyone maintains the standard. The month-long school taught me so much, but also taught me that I had so much more to learn. So in essence, the big question is “Why is this important to me?…. a regular shooter.” I challenge you to seek out trainers who foster your growth as a shooter, regardless of skill level. The best instructors out there are able to establish a baseline of class talent, and apply their structured learning objectives to the class in front of them. They must be coaches and mentors above all else. If you ever find yourself in a class where the instructor is demeaning without cause in order to grow their ego… it’s time to pack your gear and leave.

Recommended Vendor Training:

JD Potynsky, Northern Red Training
Houston Shaw, Shaw Shooting
Kyle Defoor, Defoor Proformance Shooting
Travis Haley, Haley Strategic
Drew Estell, BAER Solutions
Garett Schwindel, Kagwerks

Jonathan Fietkau is a former SOTACC from 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, and a graduate of the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course (SFAUCC). He is a combat veteran of Iraq, and other theaters of operation, with previous service in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions.