Dennis,
Gunfights are what THEY want to be - not what the participants want them to be.
At least half of a gunfight is not getting shot. Only half of it is shooting.
Good instructors teach their students - ALL their students. At the level the students can manage. This isn't Delta selection we're talking here. A 3-day class IS long, no doubt about it. And grueling, especially in the summer (I did my first one in NC in May). It IS demanding, yes. But gunfights aren't picnics, and the stress and adrenalin dump is only partly - yes, PARTLY - equaled by what happens in class. Learning how to run the gun with a fogged-up brain is the best reason in the world for taking a good class. A good instructor knows that, and will impose more stress than most can imagine taking place on a flat range.
Paul Howe's place in in Nacogdoches, if you want to go world class. Here's his note to students-
NOTE TO STUDENTS:
I welcome all good Americans to train with CSAT. LE, Military, Contractors, Civilians are all welcome.
I will treat you professionally if you act professionally.
For example, if you are a professional contractor and act accordingly, I will treat you with the respect due someone who is overseas protecting America’s interests. If you act like an immature Army Spec 4. I will also treat you accordingly. If you’re arrogant or rude, in my mind you are an overpaid security guard who I should not waste my time critiquing and will shortly remove you from the course.
Feel free to bring cameras, notebooks and recording equipment. Take notes. Do not post any video or recordings on the internet without first getting my permission.
Ask questions.
Don’t argue, nod your head and take care of business. Generally I have been watching you make the mistake several times before I addressed you with a correction. You are paying me for feedback accept it or ignore it, but don’t be rude.
I don’t care what rifle or pistol you shoot. I will teach you how to shoot your weapon better and keep it running. Don’t be a shooting snob. Most snobs don’t know how much they don’t know and come with a closed mind and cannot shoot to any degree of proficiency.
If you are a gamer, leave that attitude and gear somewhere else. If you shoot accurate and well slick with a comp, red dot and Gucci gun, good for you. Do it all in your tactical gear with your combat rifle and I will be impressed. I would then be happy to shake your hand and recognize you in front of the group.
If you have one of those obnoxious compensators that annoy all shooters around you, leave it at home. If you don’t, you will find yourself on one end of the line by yourself. It also bothers us.
Do not mistake my laid back attitude for not caring or for not having a combat mindset. I do care and I still have an aggressive combat mindset that I keep in its place.
Make sure your mind is right, heart is pure and you endeavor to stay humble and train hard and we will get along…
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http://www.combatshootingandtactics.com/about.htm
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At least leave room for some professional training in your thinking- no need to worry about deciding who/when/where right now. Getting the time to do a class was always the biggest difficulty for me while I was still working.
Most shooters, I'd guess well over 90%, don't ever seek professional training. Most think they don't need it, and a lot of folks get away without having it. I see mostly the same faces no matter where I go for training. Training is pretty much another one of those questions of odds versus stakes. Thing is, most of us for all of our lives so far have never run much of a chance of really needing a gun, and using one was even further down on the percentages.
There's a flock of little birdies out there telling me that's very likely to change in the years just ahead. It's just one more aspect of prepping as far as I'm concerned...
Please excuse me for dragging this thread so far off into the weeds, but it's a topic that's important to me, and just owning a gun by itself just won't cut it when the chips are down. I'll leave it alone now on this thread, promise.
We have put up a few of our friends who are going to front sight over the years in our guest room. During the down time after class, I can pretty much teach you anything you need to know about the AR system.
. I hope this addresses a few of your (valid) concerns. I'll never be a combat guy, I just want a firearm that A) is off-paper, and B) will give me at least a fighting chance against the zombie hordes. At least for a few minutes, which would hopefully allow me to withdraw the area. Rapidly.
